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Divestiture of Majority Interest in Decorative Surfaces Segment
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Divestiture of Majority Interest in Decorative Surfaces Segment [Abstract]  
Divestiture of Majority Interest in Former Decorative Surfaces Segment
DIVESTITURE OF MAJORITY INTEREST IN FORMER DECORATIVE SURFACES SEGMENT

On August 15, 2012, the Company entered into a definitive agreement (the “Investment Agreement”) to divest a 51% majority interest in its Decorative Surfaces segment to certain funds managed by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC (“CD&R”). The transaction closed on October 31, 2012, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $933 million ($632 million after-tax) in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Under the terms of the Investment Agreement, the Company contributed the assets and stock of the Decorative Surfaces segment to a newly formed entity, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC (“Wilsonart”). Through a combination of CD&R's equity investment in Wilsonart and new third party borrowings by a subsidiary of Wilsonart, the Company and its subsidiaries received payments of approximately $1.05 billion from Wilsonart and its subsidiaries as well as common units (the “Common Units”) initially representing approximately 49% (on an as-converted basis) of the total outstanding equity of Wilsonart immediately following the closing of the transaction. CD&R contributed $395 million to Wilsonart in exchange for newly issued cumulative convertible participating preferred units (the “Preferred Units”) of Wilsonart initially representing approximately 51% (on an as-converted basis) of the total outstanding equity immediately following the closing of the transaction. The Preferred Units rank senior to the Common Units as to dividends and liquidation preference, and accrue dividends at a rate of 10.00% per annum.

As of October 31, 2012, the Company ceased consolidating the results of the Decorative Surfaces segment and now reports its ownership interest in Wilsonart using the equity method of accounting. As the Company's investment in Wilsonart is structured as a partnership for U.S. tax purposes, U.S. taxes are recorded separately from the equity investment. The Company's equity in the earnings of Wilsonart was $4 million of loss for the three month period and $6 million of loss for the nine month period ended September 30, 2013, which was included in Other income (expense).

Due to the Company's continuing involvement through its 49% interest in Wilsonart, the historical operating results of Decorative Surfaces are presented in continuing operations. Additionally, as of November 1, 2012, the operating results of Decorative Surfaces were no longer reviewed by senior management of the Company and therefore, effective the fourth quarter of 2012, Decorative Surfaces was no longer a reportable segment of the Company.

Historical operating results of the former Decorative Surfaces segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 were as follows:
(In millions)
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2012
 
September 30, 2012
Operating revenues
$
267

 
$
828

Operating income
41

 
131