10-Q 1 ucc-2012x1q10q.htm ucc-2012-1Q10Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012
 
Commission File Number: 1-1463
 
UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New York
(State or other jurisdiction of
     incorporation or organization)
 
13-1421730
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1254 Enclave Parkway, Houston, Texas  77077
(Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip Code)
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  281-966-2727

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.
R Yes    o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
R Yes    o No

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

Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer   R
Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
o Yes    R No

At March 31, 2012, 1,000 shares of common stock were outstanding, all of which were held by the registrant’s parent, The Dow Chemical Company.
 
The registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instructions H(1)(a) and (b) for Form 10-Q and is therefore filing this form with a reduced disclosure format.




Union Carbide Corporation
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
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2


PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. Financial Statements.

Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income

 
Three Months Ended
In millions (Unaudited)
Mar 31,
2012

 
Mar 31,
2011

Net trade sales
$
54

 
$
45

Net sales to related companies
1,674

 
1,566

Total Net Sales
1,728

 
1,611

Cost of sales
1,658

 
1,429

Research and development expenses
10

 
10

Selling, general and administrative expenses
3

 
2

Restructuring charges
3

 

Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates
17

 
17

Sundry income (expense) - net
(13
)
 
(30
)
Interest income
5

 
11

Interest expense and amortization of debt discount
7

 
9

Income Before Income Taxes
56

 
159

Provision for income taxes
19

 
53

Net Income Attributable to Union Carbide Corporation
$
37

 
$
106

 
 
 
 
Depreciation
$
58

 
$
62

Capital Expenditures
$
37

 
$
28

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


3


Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

 
Three Months Ended
In millions (Unaudited)
Mar 31,
2012

 
Mar 31,
2011

Net Income Attributable to Union Carbide Corporation
$
37

 
$
106

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax
 

 
 

Translation adjustments
(2
)
 

Adjustments to pension and other postretirement benefit plans
9

 
15

Other comprehensive income
7

 
15

Comprehensive Income Attributable to Union Carbide Corporation
$
44

 
$
121

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


4


Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets

In millions (Unaudited)
Mar 31,
2012

 
Dec 31,
2011

Assets
Current Assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
20

 
$
26

Accounts receivable:


 


Trade (net of allowance for doubtful receivables - 2012: $1; 2011: $1)
31

 
23

Related companies
406

 
385

Other
141

 
158

Notes receivable from related companies
3,032

 
3,261

Inventories
215

 
207

Deferred income taxes and other current assets
87

 
93

Total current assets
3,932

 
4,153

Investments
 

 
 

Investments in related companies
971

 
971

Investments in nonconsolidated affiliates
142

 
132

Other investments
6

 
6

Noncurrent receivables
45

 
45

Noncurrent receivables from related companies
134

 
136

Total investments
1,298

 
1,290

Property
 

 
 

Property
7,129

 
7,099

Less accumulated depreciation
5,795

 
5,745

Net property
1,334

 
1,354

Other Assets
 

 
 

Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization 2012: $142; 2011: $141)
8

 
8

Deferred income tax assets - noncurrent
666

 
675

Asbestos-related insurance receivables - noncurrent
168

 
172

Deferred charges and other assets
54

 
53

Total other assets
896

 
908

Total Assets
$
7,460

 
$
7,705

Liabilities and Equity
Current Liabilities
 

 
 

Notes payable - related companies
$
23

 
$
15

Long-term debt due within one year

 
37

Accounts payable:


 


Trade
277

 
256

Related companies
440

 
382

Other
24

 
31

Asbestos-related liabilities - current
72

 
73

Accrued and other current liabilities
170

 
157

Total current liabilities
1,006

 
951

Long-Term Debt
470

 
470

Other Noncurrent Liabilities
 

 
 

Pension and other postretirement benefits - noncurrent
1,013

 
1,062

Asbestos-related liabilities - noncurrent
591

 
608

Other noncurrent obligations
175

 
179

Total other noncurrent liabilities
1,779

 
1,849

Stockholder's Equity
 

 
 

Common stock (authorized and issued: 1,000 shares of $0.01 par value each)

 

Additional paid-in capital
312

 
312

Retained earnings
5,016

 
5,253

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(1,125
)
 
(1,132
)
Union Carbide Corporation's stockholder's equity
4,203

 
4,433

Noncontrolling interests
2

 
2

Total equity
4,205

 
4,435

Total Liabilities and Equity
$
7,460

 
$
7,705

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

5


Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 
Three Months Ended
In millions (Unaudited)
Mar 31,
2012

 
Mar 31,
2011

Operating Activities
 
 
 
Net Income
$
37

 
$
106

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
66

 
68

Provision (credit) for deferred income tax
2

 
(21
)
Earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates in excess of dividends received
(14
)
 

Restructuring charges
3

 

Pension contributions
(40
)
 

Net loss on early extinguishment of debt

 
6

Other gains, net
(1
)
 

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts and notes receivable
(9
)
 
3

Related company receivables
208

 
39

Inventories
(9
)
 
(54
)
Accounts payable
28

 
(45
)
Related company payables
66

 
93

Other assets and liabilities
3

 
79

Cash provided by operating activities
340

 
274

Investing Activities
 

 
 

Capital expenditures
(37
)
 
(28
)
Change in noncurrent receivable from related company
3

 

Purchases of investments

 
(5
)
Proceeds from sales of investments

 
5

Cash used in investing activities
(34
)
 
(28
)
Financing Activities
 

 
 

Dividends paid to stockholder
(275
)
 
(175
)
Payments on long-term debt
(37
)
 
(69
)
Cash used in financing activities
(312
)
 
(244
)
Summary
 

 
 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(6
)
 
2

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
26

 
22

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
20

 
$
24

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


6


Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Equity

 
Three Months Ended
In millions (Unaudited)
Mar 31,
2012

 
Mar 31,
2011

Common Stock
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of year and end of period
$

 
$

Additional Paid-in Capital
 

 
 

Balance at beginning of year and end of period
312

 
312

Retained Earnings
 

 
 

Balance at beginning of year
5,253

 
5,990

Net income
37

 
106

Dividends declared
(275
)
 
(175
)
Other
1

 

Balance at end of period
5,016

 
5,921

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 

 
 

Balance at beginning of year
(1,132
)
 
(1,026
)
Other comprehensive income
7

 
15

Balance at end of period
(1,125
)
 
(1,011
)
Union Carbide Corporation's Stockholder's Equity
4,203

 
5,222

Noncontrolling Interests
2

 
2

Total Equity
$
4,205

 
$
5,224

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


7

 Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Table of Contents



NOTE A - CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Union Carbide Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Corporation” or “UCC”) were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and reflect all adjustments (including normal recurring accruals) which, in the opinion of management, are considered necessary for the fair presentation of the results for the periods presented.

The Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”). In accordance with the accounting guidance for earnings per share, the presentation of earnings per share is not required in financial statements of wholly owned subsidiaries.

The Corporation’s business activities comprise components of Dow’s global operations rather than stand-alone operations. Dow conducts its worldwide operations through global businesses. Because there are no separable reportable business segments for UCC under the accounting guidance related to segment reporting and no detailed business information is provided to a chief operating decision maker regarding the Corporation’s stand-alone operations, the Corporation’s results are reported as a single operating segment.

Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation. Transactions with the Corporation’s parent company, Dow and other Dow subsidiaries have been reflected as related company transactions in the consolidated financial statements. See Note K for further discussion.

These statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011.


NOTE B - RECENT ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance
On January 1, 2012, the Corporation adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2011-05, "Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income," as amended by ASU 2011-12, "Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05." This standard improves the comparability, consistency and transparency of financial reporting and increases the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income. See the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and Note L.

8

 Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

On January 1, 2012, the Corporation adopted ASU 2011-04, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS." which provides common requirements for measuring fair value and disclosing information about fair value measurements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). See Note G for additional information about fair value measurements.
Accounting Guidance Issued But Not Adopted as of March 31, 2012
In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2011-11, "Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities," which requires entities to disclose both gross and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting agreement. The objective of the disclosure is to facilitate comparison between those entities that prepare their financial statements on the basis of U.S. GAAP and those entities that prepare their financial statements on the basis of IFRS. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after January 1, 2013. Retrospective presentation for all comparative periods presented is required. The Corporation is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.


NOTE C - INVENTORIES

The following table provides a breakdown of inventories:
Inventories
In millions
Mar 31,
2012

 
Dec 31,
2011

Finished goods
$
79

 
$
71

Work in process
5

 
6

Raw materials
52

 
51

Supplies
79

 
79

Total inventories
$
215

 
$
207


The reserves reducing inventories from the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis to the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) basis amounted to $175 million at March 31, 2012 and $162 million at December 31, 2011.


NOTE D - NONCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES
The table below presents summarized financial information for Univation Technologies, LLC, a significant nonconsolidated affiliate (at 100 percent):
Summarized Income Statement Information
Three Months Ended
for Univation Technologies, LLC
In millions
Mar 31,
2012

 
Mar 31,
2011

Sales
$
74

 
$
65

Gross profit
$
50

 
$
46

Net income attributable to Univation Technologies, LLC
$
31

 
$
32




9

 Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

NOTE E - INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The following table provides information regarding the Corporation’s intangible assets:

Intangible Assets
At March 31, 2012
 
At December 31, 2011
In millions
Gross
Carrying Amount

 
Accumulated Amortization

 
Net

 
Gross
Carrying Amount

 
Accumulated Amortization

 
Net

Intangible assets with finite lives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Licenses and intellectual property
$
33

 
$
(33
)
 
$

 
$
33

 
$
(33
)
 
$

Software
117

 
(109
)
 
8

 
116

 
(108
)
 
8

Total intangible assets
$
150

 
$
(142
)
 
$
8

 
$
149

 
$
(141
)
 
$
8


Amortization expense for software, which is included in “Cost of sales” in the consolidated statements of income, was $1 million in the first quarter of 2012 and $1 million in the first quarter of 2011. Amortization expense for intangible assets (not including software) was immaterial in the first quarter of 2012 and 2011.

Total estimated amortization expense for 2012 and the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows:

Estimated Amortization Expense
In millions
2012
$
2

2013
$
2

2014
$
1

2015
$
1

2016
$
1

2017
$
1



NOTE F - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Investments
The Corporation’s investments in marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale.

Investing Results
Three Months Ended
In millions
Mar 31, 2012

 
Mar 31, 2011

Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities
$

 
$
3


Portfolio managers regularly review all of the Corporation’s holdings to determine if any investments are other-than-temporarily impaired. The analysis includes reviewing the amount of the impairment, as well as the length of time it has been impaired. In addition, specific guidelines for each instrument type are followed to determine if an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, there were no impairment indicators or circumstances that would result in a material adjustment of these investments.

The Corporation’s investments in debt securities had contractual maturities of less than 10 years at March 31, 2012.


10

 Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
At March 31, 2012
 
At December 31, 2011
In millions
Cost

 
Gain

 
Loss

 
Fair Value

 
Cost

 
Gain

 
Loss

 
Fair Value

Marketable securities (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities
$
3

 
$

 
$

 
$
3

 
$
3

 
$

 
$

 
$
3

Total marketable securities
$
3

 
$

 
$

 
$
3

 
$
3

 
$

 
$

 
$
3

Long-term debt including debt due within one year
$
(470
)
 
$

 
$
(129
)
 
$
(599
)
 
$
(507
)
 
$

 
$
(148
)
 
$
(655
)
(1)
Included in “Other investments” in the consolidated balance sheets.

Cost approximates fair value for all other financial instruments.

The Corporation enters into foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge various currency exposures, primarily related to assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. The primary business objective of the activity is to optimize the U.S. dollar value of the Corporation’s assets and liabilities. Assets and liabilities denominated in the same foreign currency are netted, and only the net exposure is hedged. At March 31, 2012, the Corporation had forward contracts to buy, sell or exchange foreign currencies with maturities in the second quarter of 2012; these contracts were immaterial. The Corporation did not designate any derivatives as hedges at March 31, 2012 or December 31, 2011.


NOTE G - FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The following table summarizes the basis used to measure certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis:

Basis of Fair Value Measurements
on a Recurring Basis
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
 (Level 2)

 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
 (Level 2)

 
In millions
Mar 31,
2012

 
Dec 31,
2011

Assets at fair value:
 
 
 
    Debt securities (1)
$
3

 
$
3

Liabilities at fair value:
 
 
 
    Long-term debt (2)
$
599

 
$
655

(1)
Included in “Other investments” in the consolidated balance sheets.
(2)
See Note F for information on fair value adjustments to long-term debt included at cost in the consolidated balance sheets.

For assets and liabilities classified as Level 2 measurements, where the security is frequently traded in less active markets, fair value is based on the closing price at the end of the period; where the security is less frequently traded, fair value is based on the price a dealer would pay for the security or similar securities, adjusted for any terms specific to that asset or liability, or by using observable market data points of similar, more liquid securities to imply the price. Market inputs are obtained from well-established and recognized vendors of market data and subjected to tolerance/quality checks.

Assets that are measured using significant other observable inputs are primarily valued by reference to quoted prices of similar assets in active markets, adjusted for any terms specific to that asset. For all other assets for which observable inputs are used, fair value is derived through the use of fair value models, such as a discounted cash flow model or other standard pricing models. There were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2 in the first quarter of 2012 or the year ended December 31, 2011.



11

 Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

NOTE H - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Environmental Matters
Accruals for environmental matters are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated, based on current law and existing technologies.

At March 31, 2012, the Corporation had accrued obligations of $101 million for probable environmental remediation and restoration costs, including $22 million for the remediation of Superfund sites. This is management’s best estimate of the costs for remediation and restoration with respect to environmental matters for which the Corporation has accrued liabilities, although it is reasonably possible that the ultimate cost with respect to these particular matters could range up to approximately twice that amount. Consequently, it is reasonably possible that environmental remediation and restoration costs in excess of amounts accrued could have a material impact on the Corporation’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. It is the opinion of the Corporation’s management, however, that the possibility is remote that costs in excess of the range disclosed will have a material impact on the Corporation’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Inherent uncertainties exist in these estimates primarily due to unknown environmental conditions, changing governmental regulations and legal standards regarding liability, and emerging remediation technologies for handling site remediation and restoration. At December 31, 2011, the Corporation had accrued obligations of $101 million for probable environmental remediation and restoration costs, including $21 million for the remediation of Superfund sites.

Litigation
The Corporation is involved in a number of legal proceedings and claims with both private and governmental parties. These cover a wide range of matters, including, but not limited to: product liability; trade regulation; governmental regulatory proceedings; health, safety and environmental matters; employment; patents; contracts; taxes; and commercial disputes.

Separately, the Corporation is and has been involved in a large number of asbestos-related suits filed primarily in state courts during the past three decades. These suits principally allege personal injury resulting from exposure to asbestos-containing products and frequently seek both actual and punitive damages. The alleged claims primarily relate to products that UCC sold in the past, alleged exposure to asbestos-containing products located on UCC’s premises, and UCC’s responsibility for asbestos suits filed against a former UCC subsidiary, Amchem Products, Inc. (“Amchem”). In many cases, plaintiffs are unable to demonstrate that they have suffered any compensable loss as a result of such exposure, or that injuries incurred in fact resulted from exposure to the Corporation’s products.

Influenced by the bankruptcy filings of numerous defendants in asbestos-related litigation and the prospects of various forms of state and national legislative reform, the rate at which plaintiffs filed asbestos-related suits against various companies, including UCC and Amchem, increased in 2001, 2002 and the first half of 2003. Since then, the rate of filing has significantly abated. The Corporation expects more asbestos-related suits to be filed against it and Amchem in the future, and will aggressively defend or reasonably resolve, as appropriate, both pending and future claims.

Based on a study completed by Analysis, Research & Planning Corporation (“ARPC”) in January 2003, the Corporation increased its December 31, 2002 asbestos-related liability for pending and future claims for the 15-year period ending in 2017 to $2.2 billion, excluding future defense and processing costs. Since then, the Corporation has compared current asbestos claim and resolution activity to the results of the most recent ARPC study at each balance sheet date to determine whether the accrual continues to be appropriate. In addition, the Corporation has requested ARPC to review the Corporation’s historical asbestos claim and resolution activity each November since 2004 to determine the appropriateness of updating the most recent ARPC study.

In November 2010, the Corporation requested ARPC to review the Corporation’s historical asbestos claim and resolution activity and determine the appropriateness of updating its most recent study completed in December 2008. In response to that request, ARPC reviewed and analyzed data through October 31, 2010. The resulting study, completed by ARPC in December 2010, stated that the undiscounted cost of resolving pending and future asbestos related claims against UCC and Amchem, excluding future defense and processing costs, through 2025 was estimated to be between $744 million and $835 million. As in its earlier studies, ARPC provided estimates for a longer period of time in its December 2010 study, but also reaffirmed its prior advice that forecasts for shorter periods of time are more accurate than those for longer periods of time.


12

 Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

In December 2010, based on ARPC’s December 2010 study and the Corporation’s own review of the asbestos claim and resolution activity, the Corporation decreased its asbestos-related liability for pending and future claims to $744 million, which covered the 15-year period ending 2025, excluding future defense and processing costs. The reduction was $54 million and was shown as “Asbestos-related credit” in the consolidated statements of income. At December 31, 2010, the asbestos-related liability for pending and future claims was $728 million.

In November 2011, the Corporation requested ARPC to review the Corporation's 2011 asbestos claim and resolution activity and determine the appropriateness of updating its December 2010 study. In response to that request, ARPC reviewed and analyzed data through October 31, 2011. In January 2012, ARPC stated that an update of its study would not provide a more likely estimate of future events than the estimate reflected in its December 2010 study and, therefore, the estimate in that study remained applicable. Based on the Corporation's own review of the asbestos claim and resolution activity and ARPC's response, the Corporation determined that no change to the accrual was required. At December 31, 2011, the Corporation's asbestos-related liability for pending and future claims was $668 million. At December 31, 2011, approximately 18 percent of the recorded liability related to pending claims and approximately 82 percent related to future claims.

Based on the Corporation’s review of 2012 activity, it was determined that no adjustment to the accrual was required at March 31, 2012. The Corporation’s asbestos-related liability for pending and future claims was $646 million at March 31, 2012. Approximately 20 percent of the recorded liability related to pending claims and approximately 80 percent related to future claims.

At December 31, 2002, the Corporation increased the receivable for insurance recoveries related to its asbestos liability to $1.35 billion, substantially exhausting its asbestos product liability coverage. The insurance receivable related to the asbestos liability was determined by the Corporation after a thorough review of applicable insurance policies and the 1985 Wellington Agreement, to which the Corporation and many of its liability insurers are signatory parties, as well as other insurance settlements, with due consideration given to applicable deductibles, retentions and policy limits, and taking into account the solvency and historical payment experience of various insurance carriers. The Wellington Agreement and other agreements with insurers are designed to facilitate an orderly resolution and collection of the Corporation’s insurance policies and to resolve issues that the insurance carriers may raise.

In September 2003, the Corporation filed a comprehensive insurance coverage case, now proceeding in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, seeking to confirm its rights to insurance for various asbestos claims and to facilitate an orderly and timely collection of insurance proceeds (the “Insurance Litigation”). The Insurance Litigation was filed against insurers that were not signatories to the Wellington Agreement and/or do not otherwise have agreements in place with the Corporation regarding their asbestos-related insurance coverage, in order to facilitate an orderly resolution and collection of such insurance policies and to resolve issues that the insurance carriers may raise. Since the filing of the case, the Corporation has reached settlements with several of the carriers involved in the Insurance Litigation, including settlements reached with two significant carriers in the fourth quarter of 2009. The Insurance Litigation is ongoing.

The Corporation’s receivable for insurance recoveries related to its asbestos liability was $40 million at March 31, 2012 and $40 million at December 31, 2011. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, all of the receivable for insurance recoveries was related to insurers that are not signatories to the Wellington Agreement and/or do not otherwise have agreements in place regarding their asbestos-related insurance coverage.

In addition to the receivable for insurance recoveries related to its asbestos liability, the Corporation had receivables for defense and resolution costs submitted to insurance carriers that have settlement agreements in place regarding their asbestos-related insurance coverage.

The following table summarizes the Corporation’s receivables related to its asbestos-related liability:

Receivables for Asbestos-Related Costs
In millions
Mar 31,
2012

 
Dec 31,
2011

Receivables for defense costs – carriers with settlement agreements
$
19

 
$
20

Receivables for resolution costs - carriers with settlement agreements
155

 
158

Receivables for insurance recoveries - carriers without settlement agreements
40

 
40

Total
$
214

 
$
218


13

 Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)


The Corporation expenses defense costs as incurred. The pretax impact for defense and resolution costs, net of insurance, was $25 million in the first quarter of 2012 ($13 million in the first quarter of 2011) and was reflected in “Cost of sales” in the consolidated statements of income.

After a review of its insurance policies, with due consideration given to applicable deductibles, retentions and policy limits, and after taking into account the solvency and historical payment experience of various insurance carriers; existing insurance settlements; and the advice of outside counsel with respect to the applicable insurance coverage law relating to the terms and conditions of its insurance policies, the Corporation continues to believe that its recorded receivable for insurance recoveries from all insurance carriers is probable of collection.

Summary
The amounts recorded by the Corporation for the asbestos-related liability and related insurance receivable described above were based upon current, known facts. However, future events, such as the number of new claims to be filed and/or received each year, the average cost of disposing of each such claim, coverage issues among insurers and the continuing solvency of various insurance companies, as well as the numerous uncertainties surrounding asbestos litigation in the United States, could cause the actual costs and insurance recoveries for the Corporation to be higher or lower than those projected or those recorded.

Because of the uncertainties described above, the Corporation's management cannot estimate the full range of the cost of resolving pending and future asbestos-related claims facing UCC and Amchem. The Corporation's management believes that it is reasonably possible that the cost of disposing of the Corporation’s asbestos-related claims, including future defense costs, could have a material impact on the Corporation's results of operations and cash flows for a particular period and on the consolidated financial position of the Corporation.

While it is not possible at this time to determine with certainty the ultimate outcome of any of the legal proceedings and claims referred to in this filing, management believes that adequate provisions have been made for probable losses with respect to pending claims and proceedings, and that, except for the asbestos-related matters described above, the ultimate outcome of all known and future claims, after provisions for insurance, will not have a material adverse impact on the results of operations, cash flows and financial position of the Corporation. Should any losses be sustained in connection with any of such legal proceedings and claims in excess of provisions provided and available insurance, they will be charged to income when determinable.

Purchase Commitments
At December 31, 2011, the Corporation had various outstanding commitments for take-or-pay agreements, with terms extending from one to fifteen years. Such commitments were not in excess of current market prices. The fixed and determinable portion of obligations under purchase commitments at December 31, 2011 is presented in the table below. There have been no material changes to purchase commitments since December 31, 2011.

Fixed and Determinable Portion of Take-or-Pay Obligations
at December 31, 2011
In millions
2012
$
11

2013
11

2014
11

2015
8

2016
6

2017 and beyond
16

Total
$
63



14

 Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Asset Retirement Obligations
The Corporation has recognized asset retirement obligations related to capping activities at landfill sites in the United States. The aggregate carrying amount of these asset retirement obligations was $4 million at March 31, 2012 and $4 million at December 31, 2011. The Corporation also has recognized conditional asset retirement obligations related to asbestos encapsulation as a result of planned demolition and remediation activities at manufacturing and administrative sites in the United States. The aggregate carrying amount of conditional asset retirement obligations was $10 million at March 31, 2012 and $10 million at December 31, 2011. The discount rate used to calculate the Corporation’s asset retirement obligations and conditional asset retirement obligations was 1.96 percent at March 31, 2012 and 1.96 percent at December 31, 2011. These obligations are included in the consolidated balance sheets as "Accrued and other current liabilities" and "Other noncurrent obligations."

The Corporation has not recognized conditional asset retirement obligations for which a fair value cannot be reasonably estimated in its consolidated financial statements. It is the opinion of management that the possibility is remote that such conditional asset retirement obligations, when estimable, will have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements based on current costs.


NOTE I - NOTES PAYABLE AND LONG-TERM DEBT

Notes Payable
In millions
Mar 31,
2012

 
Dec 31,
2011

Notes payable – related companies
$
23

 
$
15

Period-end average interest rates
0.89
%
 
0.95
%

 Long-Term Debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 In millions
2012
Average
Rate

 
Mar 31,
2012

 
2011
Average
Rate

 
Dec 31,
2011

Promissory notes and debentures:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debentures due 2023
7.875
%
 
$
175

 
7.875
%
 
$
175

Debentures due 2025
6.79
%
 
12

 
6.79
%
 
12

Debentures due 2025
7.50
%
 
150

 
7.50
%
 
150

Debentures due 2096
7.75
%
 
135

 
7.75
%
 
135

Other facilities:


 


 


 


Pollution control/industrial revenue bonds, maturity 2012

 

 
5.09
%
 
37

Unamortized debt discount

 
(2
)
 

 
(2
)
Long term debt due within one year

 

 

 
(37
)
Long-term debt

 
$
470

 

 
$
470


The Corporation does not have any maturities related to long-term debt during the next five years.

In the first quarter of 2012, the Corporation redeemed $37 million aggregate principal amount of pollution control/industrial revenue bonds that matured on January 1, 2012.

On March 22, 2011, the Corporation concluded a cash tender offer for $65 million aggregate principal amount of certain notes issued by the Corporation. As a result of the tender offer, the Corporation redeemed $65 million of the notes and recognized a $6 million pretax loss on early extinguishment of debt, included in “Sundry income (expense) - net” in the consolidated statements of income.


15

 Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

The Corporation’s outstanding public debt has been issued under indentures which contain, among other provisions, covenants that the Corporation must comply with while the underlying notes are outstanding. Such covenants are typically based on the Corporation’s size and financial position and include, subject to the exceptions and qualifications contained in the indentures, obligations not to (i) allow liens on principal U.S. manufacturing facilities, (ii) enter into sale and lease-back transactions with respect to principal U.S. manufacturing facilities, or (iii) merge into or consolidate with any other entity or sell or convey all or substantially all of its assets. Failure of the Corporation to comply with any of these covenants could, after the passage of any applicable grace period, result in a default under the applicable indenture which would allow the note holders to accelerate the due date of the outstanding principal and accrued interest on the subject notes. Management believes the Corporation was in compliance with the covenants referred to above at March 31, 2012.


NOTE J - PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

Net Periodic Benefit Cost for All Significant Plans
Three Months Ended
In millions
Mar 31,
2012

 
Mar 31,
2011

Defined Benefit Pension Plans:
 
 
 
Service cost
$
7

 
$
6

Interest cost
47

 
50

Expected return on plan assets
(59
)
 
(63
)
Amortization of prior service cost
2

 
2

Amortization of net loss
15

 
21

Net periodic benefit cost
$
12

 
$
16

 
Other Postretirement Benefits:


 


Interest cost
$
4

 
$
5

Net periodic benefit cost
$
4

 
$
5



NOTE K - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Corporation sells its products to Dow to simplify the customer interface process. Products are sold to and purchased from Dow at market-based prices in accordance with the terms of Dow’s long-standing intercompany pricing policies. The Corporation also procures certain commodities and raw materials through a Dow subsidiary and pays a commission to that Dow subsidiary based on the volume and type of commodities and raw materials purchased. The commission expense is included in “Sundry income (expense) - net” in the consolidated statements of income. Purchases from that Dow subsidiary were $840 million in the first quarter of 2012 ($771 million in the first quarter of 2011).

The Corporation has a master services agreement with Dow whereby Dow provides services including, but not limited to, accounting, legal, treasury (investments, cash management, risk management, insurance), procurement, human resources, environmental, health and safety, and business management for UCC. Under the master services agreement with Dow, general administrative and overhead type services that Dow routinely allocates to various businesses are charged to UCC. The master services agreement cost allocation basis is headcount and includes a 10 percent service fee. 

This agreement resulted in expense of approximately $8 million in the first quarter of 2012 ($12 million in the first quarter of 2011), for general administrative and overhead type services and the 10 percent service fee, included in “Sundry income(expense) - net.” The remaining activity-based costs were approximately $12 million in the first quarter of 2012 ($4 million in the first quarter of 2011) and were included in “Cost of sales.”

Management believes the method used for determining expenses charged by Dow is reasonable. Dow provides these services by leveraging its centralized functional service centers to provide services at a cost that management believes provides an advantage to the Corporation.

The monitoring and execution of risk management policies related to interest rate and foreign currency risks, which are based on Dow’s risk management philosophy, are provided as a service to UCC.

16

 Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)


As part of Dow’s cash management process, UCC is a party to revolving loans with Dow that have interest rates based on LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) with varying maturities. At March 31, 2012, the Corporation had a note receivable of $3.0 billion ($3.2 billion at December 31, 2011) from Dow under a revolving loan agreement. The Corporation may draw from this note receivable in support of its daily working capital requirements and, as such, the net effect of cash inflows and outflows under this revolving loan agreement is presented in the consolidated statements of cash flows as an operating activity.

The Corporation also has a separate revolving credit agreement with Dow that allows the Corporation to borrow or obtain credit enhancements up to an aggregate of $1 billion that matures December 31, 2012. Dow may demand repayment with a 30-day written notice to the Corporation, subject to certain restrictions. A related collateral agreement provides for the replacement of certain existing pledged assets, primarily equity interests in various subsidiaries and joint ventures, with cash collateral. At March 31, 2012, $854 million ($870 million at December 31, 2011) was available under the revolving credit agreement. The cash collateral is reported as “Noncurrent receivables from related companies” in the consolidated balance sheets.

In the first quarter of 2012, the Corporation declared and paid a dividend of $275 million to Dow. In the first quarter of 2011, the Corporation declared and paid a dividend of $175 million to Dow.

The Corporation received cash dividends from its related company investments of $7 million in the first quarter of 2012. These dividends are included in “Sundry income (expense) - net.” No dividends were received in the first quarter of 2011.


NOTE L - ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

The following table provides an analysis of the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Three Months Ended
In millions
Mar 31, 2012

 
Mar 31, 2011

Cumulative Translation Adjustments at beginning of year
$
(52
)
 
$
(55
)
Translation adjustments
(2
)
 

Cumulative Translation Adjustments at end of period
$
(54
)
 
$
(55
)
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans at beginning of year
$
(1,080
)
 
$
(971
)
Adjustments to pension and other postretirement benefit plans
9

 
15

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans at end of period
$
(1,071
)
 
$
(956
)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss
$
(1,125
)
 
$
(1,011
)



17

Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries

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

Pursuant to General Instruction H of Form 10-Q “Omission of Information by Certain Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries,” this section includes only management's narrative analysis of the results of operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, the most recent period, compared with the three-month period March 31, 2011, the corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year.

References below to “Dow” refer to The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, except as otherwise indicated by the context.

Dow conducts its worldwide operations through global businesses. Union Carbide Corporation’s (the “Corporation” or “UCC”) business activities comprise components of Dow’s global operations rather than stand-alone operations. Because there are no separable reportable business segments for UCC and no detailed business information is provided to a chief operating decision maker regarding the Corporation’s stand-alone operations, the Corporation’s results are reported as a single operating segment.

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Corporation. This section covers the current performance and outlook of the Corporation. The forward-looking statements contained in this section and in other parts of this document involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the Corporation's operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as more fully discussed elsewhere and in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the Corporation's expectations will be realized. The Corporation assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Total net sales for the first quarter of 2012 were $1,728 million compared with $1,611 million for the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 7 percent.

Net sales to related companies, principally to Dow based on market prices for the related products, for the first quarter of 2012 were $1,674 million compared with $1,566 million for the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 7 percent. Sales volumes increased for most products in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the first quarter of 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, turnarounds, including a planned maintenance turnaround at the St. Charles, Louisiana manufacturing facility, and the September 30, 2011 divestiture of the Polypropylene business dampened the increase in sales volumes. Price trends varied across businesses as price increases in polyglycols and surfactants were partially offset by price declines in ethyleneamines and ethylene glycols.

Cost of sales increased 16 percent to $1,658 million in the first quarter of 2012 from $1,429 million in the first quarter of 2011, principally due to higher sales, increased turnaround costs and start-up costs related to the restart of an ethylene cracker in St. Charles, Louisiana, scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2012.

Research and development expenses of $10 million for the first quarter of 2012 were flat compared with the first quarter of 2011.

In the first quarter of 2012, the Corporation recorded restructuring charges totaling $3 million related to a workforce reduction of approximately 20 employees.

Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates was $17 million in the first quarters of 2012 and 2011.
  
Sundry income (expense) - net includes a variety of income and expense items such as the gain or loss on foreign currency exchange, dividends from investments, commissions, charges for management services provided by Dow and gains and losses on sales of investments and assets. Sundry income (expense) - net for the first quarter of 2012 was expense of $13 million compared with expense of $30 million for the first quarter of 2011 primarily due to increased dividends in the first quarter of 2012 and a loss of $6 million related to the early extinguishment of debt in the first quarter of 2011. See Note I to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

18

Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries


Interest income was $5 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared with $11 million in the first quarter of 2011. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in the notes receivable from related companies and lower interest rates.

Interest expense and amortization of debt discount was $7 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared with $9 million in the first quarter of 2011. This decrease was primarily due to a reduction in long-term debt, which resulted from the early extinguishment of debt in the first quarter of 2011. See Note I to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

The Corporation reported a tax provision of $19 million in the first quarter of 2012, which resulted in an effective tax rate of 33.9 percent. This compares with a tax provision of $53 million in the first quarter of 2011, which resulted in an effective tax rate of 33.3 percent. The effective tax rate fluctuates based on, among other factors, where income is earned, the level of after-tax income from joint ventures, dividends received from investments in related companies and the level of income relative to tax credits available.

The Corporation reported net income of $37 million for the first quarter of 2012, down from $106 million for the first quarter of 2011, reflecting margin compression, increased turnaround costs and costs related to the restart of an ethylene cracker.

OTHER MATTERS

Recent Accounting Guidance
See Note B to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of recent accounting guidance.

Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Note A to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 (“2011 10-K/A”) describes the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Corporation’s critical accounting policies that are impacted by judgments, assumptions and estimates are described in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Corporation’s 2011 10-K/A. Since December 31, 2011, there have been no material changes in the Corporation’s critical accounting policies.

Asbestos-Related Matters
Introduction
The Corporation is and has been involved in a large number of asbestos-related suits filed primarily in state courts during the past three decades. These suits principally allege personal injury resulting from exposure to asbestos-containing products and frequently seek both actual and punitive damages. The alleged claims primarily relate to products that UCC sold in the past, alleged exposure to asbestos-containing products located on UCC’s premises, and UCC’s responsibility for asbestos suits filed against a former UCC subsidiary, Amchem Products, Inc. (“Amchem”). In many cases, plaintiffs are unable to demonstrate that they have suffered any compensable loss as a result of such exposure, or that injuries incurred in fact resulted from exposure to the Corporation’s products.

Influenced by the bankruptcy filings of numerous defendants in asbestos-related litigation and the prospects of various forms of state and national legislative reform, the rate at which plaintiffs filed asbestos-related suits against various companies, including the Corporation and Amchem, increased in 2001, 2002 and the first half of 2003. Since then, the rate of filing has significantly abated. The Corporation expects more asbestos-related suits to be filed against it and Amchem in the future, and will aggressively defend or reasonably resolve, as appropriate, both pending and future claims.

19

Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries


The table below provides information regarding asbestos-related claims pending against the Corporation and Amchem, based on criteria developed by Union Carbide and its external consultants:
 
2012

 
2011

Claims unresolved at January 1
53,225

 
62,582

Claims filed
1,896

 
2,039

Claims settled, dismissed or otherwise resolved
(12,303
)
 
(3,372
)
Claims unresolved at March 31
42,818

 
61,249

Claimants with claims against both UCC and Amchem
(12,671
)
 
(18,475
)
Individual claimants at March 31
30,147

 
42,774


Plaintiffs’ lawyers often sue numerous defendants in individual lawsuits or on behalf of numerous claimants. As a result, the damages alleged are not expressly identified as to UCC, Amchem or any other particular defendant, even when specific damages are alleged with respect to a specific disease or injury. In fact, there are no personal injury cases in which only the Corporation and/or Amchem are the sole named defendants. For these reasons and based upon the Corporation’s litigation and settlement experience, the Corporation does not consider the damages alleged against it and Amchem to be a meaningful factor in its determination of any potential asbestos-related liability.

Estimating the Liability
Based on a study completed by Analysis, Research & Planning Corporation (“ARPC”) in January 2003, the Corporation increased its December 31, 2002 asbestos-related liability for pending and future claims for the 15-year period ending in 2017 to $2.2 billion, excluding future defense and processing costs. Since then, the Corporation has compared current asbestos claim and resolution activity to the results of the most recent ARPC study at each balance sheet date to determine whether the accrual continues to be appropriate. In addition, the Corporation has requested ARPC to review Union Carbide’s historical asbestos claim and resolution activity each November since 2004 to determine the appropriateness of updating the most recent ARPC study.

In November 2010, the Corporation requested ARPC to review the Corporation’s historical asbestos claim and resolution activity and determine the appropriateness of updating its most recent study completed in December 2008. In response to that request, ARPC reviewed and analyzed data through October 31, 2010. The resulting study, completed by ARPC in December 2010, stated that the undiscounted cost of resolving pending and future asbestos related claims against UCC and Amchem, excluding future defense and processing costs, through 2025 was estimated to be between $744 million and $835 million. As in its earlier studies, ARPC provided estimates for a longer period of time in its December 2010 study, but also reaffirmed its prior advice that forecasts for shorter periods of time are more accurate than those for longer periods of time.

In December 2010, based on ARPC’s December 2010 study and the Corporation’s own review of the asbestos claim and resolution activity, the Corporation decreased its asbestos-related liability for pending and future claims to $744 million, which covered the 15-year period ending 2025, excluding future defense and processing costs. The reduction was $54 million and was shown as “Asbestos-related credit” in the consolidated statements of income. At December 31, 2010, the asbestos-related liability for pending and future claims was $728 million.

In November 2011, the Corporation requested ARPC to review the Corporation's 2011 asbestos claim and resolution activity and determine the appropriateness of updating its December 2010 study. In response to that request, ARPC reviewed and analyzed data through October 31, 2011. In January 2012, ARPC stated that an update of its study would not provide a more likely estimate of future events than the estimate reflected in its December 2010 study and, therefore, the estimate in that study remained applicable. Based on the Corporation's own review of the asbestos claim and resolution activity and ARPC's response, the Corporation determined that no change to the accrual was required. At December 31, 2011, the Corporation's asbestos-related liability for pending and future claims was $668 million. At December 31, 2011, approximately 18 percent of the recorded liability related to pending claims and approximately 82 percent related to future claims.

Based on the Corporation’s review of 2012 activity, it was determined that no adjustment to the accrual was required at March 31, 2012. The Corporation’s asbestos-related liability for pending and future claims was $646 million at March 31, 2012. Approximately 20 percent of the recorded liability related to pending claims and approximately 80 percent related to future claims.


20

Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries

Defense and Resolution Costs
The following table provides information regarding defense and resolution costs related to asbestos-related claims filed against the Corporation and Amchem:

Defense and Resolution Costs
Three Months Ended
 
Aggregate Costs to

In millions
Mar 31,
2012

 
Mar 31,
2011

 
Date as of
Mar 31, 2012

Defense costs
$
25

 
$
13

 
$
887

Resolution costs
$
22

 
$
9

 
$
1,605


The average resolution payment per asbestos claimant and the rate of new claim filings has fluctuated both up and down since the beginning of 2001. The Corporation’s management expects such fluctuations to continue in the future based upon a number of factors, including the number and type of claims settled in a particular period, the jurisdictions in which such claims arose, and the extent to which any proposed legislative reform related to asbestos litigation is being considered.

The Corporation expenses defense costs as incurred. The pretax impact for defense and resolution costs, net of insurance, was $25 million in the first quarter of 2012 ($13 million in the first quarter of 2011), and was reflected in “Cost of sales” in the consolidated statements of income.

Insurance Receivables
At December 31, 2002, the Corporation increased the receivable for insurance recoveries related to its asbestos liability to $1.35 billion, substantially exhausting its asbestos product liability coverage. The insurance receivable related to the asbestos liability was determined by the Corporation after a thorough review of applicable insurance policies and the 1985 Wellington Agreement, to which the Corporation and many of its liability insurers are signatory parties, as well as other insurance settlements, with due consideration given to applicable deductibles, retentions and policy limits, and taking into account the solvency and historical payment experience of various insurance carriers. The Wellington Agreement and other agreements with insurers are designed to facilitate an orderly resolution and collection of the Corporation’s insurance policies and to resolve issues that the insurance carriers may raise.

In September 2003, the Corporation filed a comprehensive insurance coverage case, now proceeding in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, seeking to confirm its rights to insurance for various asbestos claims and to facilitate an orderly and timely collection of insurance proceeds (the “Insurance Litigation”). The Insurance Litigation was filed against insurers that are not signatories to the Wellington Agreement and/or do not otherwise have agreements in place with the Corporation regarding their asbestos-related insurance coverage, in order to facilitate an orderly resolution and collection of such insurance policies and to resolve issues that the insurance carriers may raise. Since the filing of the case, UCC has reached settlements with several of the carriers involved in the Insurance Litigation, including settlements reached with two significant carriers in the fourth quarter of 2009. The Insurance Litigation is ongoing.
 
The Corporation’s receivable for insurance recoveries related to its asbestos liability was $40 million at March 31, 2012 and $40 million at December 31, 2011. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, all of the receivable for insurance recoveries was related to insurers that are not signatories to the Wellington Agreement and/or do not otherwise have agreements in place regarding their asbestos-related insurance coverage.
 
In addition to the receivable for insurance recoveries related to the asbestos-related liability, the Corporation had receivables for defense and resolution costs submitted to insurance carriers that have settlement agreements in place regarding their asbestos-related insurance coverage.

The following table summarizes the Corporation’s receivables related to its asbestos-related liability:

Receivables for Asbestos-Related Costs
In millions
Mar 31,
2012

 
Dec 31,
2011

Receivables for defense costs - carriers with settlement agreements
$
19

 
$
20

Receivables for resolution costs - carriers with settlement agreements
155

 
158

Receivables for insurance recoveries - carriers without settlement agreements
40

 
40

Total
$
214

 
$
218



21

Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries

After a review of its insurance policies, with due consideration given to applicable deductibles, retentions and policy limits, after taking into account the solvency and historical payment experience of various insurance carriers; existing insurance settlements; and the advice of outside counsel with respect to the applicable insurance coverage law relating to the terms and conditions of its insurance policies, the Corporation continues to believe that its recorded receivable for insurance recoveries from all insurance carriers is probable of collection.

Summary
The amounts recorded for the asbestos-related liability and related insurance receivable described above were based upon current, known facts. However, future events, such as the number of new claims to be filed and/or received each year, the average cost of disposing of each such claim, coverage issues among insurers, and the continuing solvency of various insurance companies, as well as the numerous uncertainties surrounding asbestos litigation in the United States, could cause the actual costs and insurance recoveries to be higher or lower than those projected or those recorded.
 
Because of the uncertainties described above, management cannot estimate the full range of the cost of resolving pending and future asbestos-related claims facing the Corporation and Amchem. Management believes that it is reasonably possible that the cost of disposing of the Corporation’s asbestos-related claims, including future defense costs, could have a material impact on the Corporation’s results of operations and cash flows for a particular period and on the consolidated financial position of the Corporation.

22

Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries


ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

Omitted pursuant to General Instruction H of Form 10-Q.


ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Corporation carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Corporation's Disclosure Committee and the Corporation's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Corporation's disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to paragraph (b) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15.  Based  upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Corporation's disclosure controls and procedures were not effective solely as a result of the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting that was identified during management's review of the financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2012 as described in Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting contained in the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Other than with respect to the ongoing remediation of the material weakness referenced above in Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures, there were no changes in the Corporation's internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 that was conducted during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2012 and through the date of this filing that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation's internal control over financial reporting.   


PART II – OTHER INFORMATION


ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

No material developments in asbestos-related matters occurred during the first quarter of 2012. For a summary of the history and current status of asbestos-related matters, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Asbestos-Related Matters; and Note H to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS.

The following risk factor was updated in the first quarter of 2012:

Raw Materials: Availability of purchased feedstocks and energy and the volatility of these costs impact the Corporation's operating costs and adds variability to earnings.
Purchased feedstock and energy costs account for a substantial portion of the Corporation's total production costs and operating expenses. The Corporation purchases hydrocarbon raw materials including ethane, propane and naphtha as feedstocks. The Corporation also purchases certain monomers, primarily ethylene and propylene, to supplement internal production, as well as other raw materials. The Corporation purchases natural gas, mainly to generate electricity, and purchases electric power.

Feedstock and energy costs generally follow price trends in crude oil and natural gas, which are sometimes volatile. Ultimately, the ability to pass on underlying cost increases is dependent on market conditions. Conversely, when feedstock and energy costs decline, selling prices generally decline as well. As a result, volatility in these costs could impact the Corporation's results of operations.
The Corporation intends to take advantage of increasing supplies of low-cost natural gas and natural gas liquids ("NGLs") from shale gas by re-starting an ethylene cracker in St. Charles, Louisiana, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2012. As a result of this action, the Corporation's exposure to purchased ethylene and propylene is expected to decline, offset by increased exposure to ethane and propane feedstocks.

23

Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries

While the Corporation expects abundant and cost-advantaged supplies of NGLs in the United States to persist for the foreseeable future, if NGLs were to become significantly less advantaged than crude oil-based feedstocks, it could have a negative impact on the Corporation's operations and future investments.
Also, if the Corporation's key suppliers of feedstocks and energy are unable to provide the raw materials required for production, it could have a negative impact on the Company's results of operations.

ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

Not applicable.


ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS.

See the Exhibit Index on page 26 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for exhibits filed with this report.


24


 
Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
Signatures
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
 
UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION
 
 
Registrant
 
 
 
Date: May 2, 2012
 
 
 
By:
/s/ RONALD C. EDMONDS
 
 
Ronald C. Edmonds
 
 
Vice President and Controller
 
 
The Dow Chemical Company
 
 
Authorized Representative of
 
 
Union Carbide Corporation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ EUDIO GIL
 
 
Eudio Gil
 
 
Vice President, Treasurer and
 
 
Chief Financial Officer


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 Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries
Exhibit Index
 
 
EXHIBIT NO.
 
DESCRIPTION
 
 
 
 
 
 
23
 
Analysis, Research & Planning Corporation’s Consent.
 
 
 
31.1
 
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
31.2
 
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
32.1
 
Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
32.2
 
Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document (1)
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (1)
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (1)
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (1)
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (1)
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (1)

(1) Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, this interactive data file is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

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