10-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

(Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission file number 1-1070

OLIN CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Virginia	13-1872319
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
190 Carondelet Plaza, Suite 1530, Clayton, MO (Address of principal executive offices)	63105-3443 (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (314) 480-1400

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $1 per share	New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes    x    No    ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes    ¨    No    x

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

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

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 x Accelerated Filer ¨ Non-accelerated Filer ¨ Smaller Reporting Company ¨

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

As of June 30, 2011, the aggregate market value of registrant’s common stock, par value $1 per share, held by non-affiliates of registrant was approximately $1,805,764,093 based on the closing sale price as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.

As of January 31, 2012, 80,058,320 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the following document are incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K

as indicated herein:

Document	Part of 10-K into which incorporated
Proxy Statement relating to Olin’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2012	Part III

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PART I

Item 1.  BUSINESS

GENERAL

Olin Corporation is a Virginia corporation, incorporated in 1892, having its principal executive offices in Clayton, MO.  We are a manufacturer concentrated in two business segments:  Chlor Alkali Products and Winchester.  Chlor Alkali Products manufactures and sells chlorine and caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, bleach products and potassium hydroxide, which represent 71% of 2011 sales.  Winchester products, which represent 29% of 2011 sales, include sporting ammunition, reloading components, small caliber military ammunition and components, and industrial cartridges.  See our discussion of our segment disclosures contained in Item 7—“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

On February 28, 2011, we acquired PolyOne Corporation’s (PolyOne) 50% interest in the SunBelt Chlor Alkali Partnership, which we refer to as SunBelt.  The SunBelt chlor alkali plant, which is located within our McIntosh, AL facility, has approximately 350,000 tons of membrane technology capacity.  Previously, we had a 50% ownership interest in SunBelt, which was accounted for using the equity method of accounting.  Accordingly, prior to the acquisition, we included only our share of SunBelt results in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates.  Since the date of acquisition, SunBelt’s results are no longer included in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates but are consolidated in our accompanying financial statements.

GOVERNANCE

We maintain an Internet website at www.olin.com.  Our reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 8-K, as well as amendments to those reports, are available free of charge on our website, as soon as reasonably practicable after we file the reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  Additionally, a copy of our SEC filings can be obtained from the SEC at their Office of Investor Education and Advocacy at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 or by calling that office of the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.  Also, a copy of our electronically filed materials can be obtained at www.sec.gov.  Our Principles of Corporate Governance, Committee Charters and Code of Conduct are available on our website at www.olin.com in the Governance Section under Governance Documents and Committees.

In May 2011, our Chief Executive Officer executed the annual Section 303A.12(a) CEO Certification required by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), certifying that he was not aware of any violation of the NYSE’s corporate governance listing standards by us.  Additionally, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer executed the required Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) Sections 302 and 906 certifications relating to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are filed with the SEC as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND STRATEGIES

Chlor Alkali Products

Products and Services

We have been involved in the U.S. chlor alkali industry for more than 100 years and are a major participant in the North American chlor alkali market.  Chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen are co-produced commercially by the electrolysis of salt.  These co-products are produced simultaneously, and in a fixed ratio of 1.0 ton of chlorine to 1.1 tons of caustic soda and 0.03 tons of hydrogen.  The industry refers to this as an Electrochemical Unit or ECU.  With a demonstrated capacity as of the end of 2011 of 2.2 million ECUs per year, we are the third largest chlor alkali producer, measured by production volume of chlorine and caustic soda, in North America, according to data from Chemical Market Associates, Inc. (CMAI).  CMAI is a global petrochemical, plastics and fibers consulting firm established in 1979.  Approximately 58% of our caustic soda production is high purity membrane and rayon grade, which, according to CMAI data, normally commands a premium selling price in the market.  According to data from CMAI, we are the largest North American producer of industrial bleach, which is manufactured using both chlorine and caustic soda.

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Our manufacturing facilities in Augusta, GA; McIntosh, AL; Charleston, TN; St. Gabriel, LA; Henderson, NV; Becancour, Quebec; and a portion of our facility in Niagara Falls, NY are ISO 9002 certified.  In addition, Augusta, GA; McIntosh, AL; Charleston, TN; St. Gabriel, LA; Henderson, NV; and Niagara Falls, NY are ISO 14001 certified.  ISO 9000 (which includes ISO 9001 and ISO 9002) and ISO 14000 (which includes ISO 14001) are sets of related international standards on quality assurance and environmental management developed by the International Organization for Standardization to help companies effectively document the quality and environmental management system elements to be implemented to maintain effective quality and environmental management systems.  Our facilities in Augusta, GA; McIntosh, AL; Charleston, TN; Niagara Falls, NY; and St. Gabriel, LA have also achieved Star status in the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  OSHA’s VPP is a program in which companies voluntarily participate that recognizes facilities for their exemplary safety and health programs.  Our Augusta, GA; McIntosh, AL; Charleston, TN; St. Gabriel, LA; Henderson, NV; and Niagara Falls, NY chlor alkali manufacturing sites and the division headquarters are accredited under the RC 14001 Responsible Care® (RC 14001) standard.  Supported by the chemical industry and recognized by government and regulatory agencies, RC 14001 establishes requirements for the management of safety, health, environmental, security, transportation, product stewardship, and stakeholder engagement activities for the business.

Chlorine is used as a raw material in the production of thousands of products for end-uses including vinyls, chlorinated intermediates, isocyanates, and water treatment.  A significant portion of U.S. chlorine production is consumed in the manufacture of ethylene dichloride, or EDC, a precursor for polyvinyl chloride, or PVC.  PVC is a plastic used in applications such as vinyl siding, plumbing and automotive parts.  We estimate that approximately 17% of our chlorine produced is consumed in the manufacture of EDC.  While much of the chlorine produced in the U.S. is consumed by the producing company to make downstream products, we sell most of the chlorine we produce to third parties in the merchant market.

Caustic soda has a wide variety of end-use applications.  The largest of which in North America is in the pulp and paper industry.  Caustic soda is used in the delignification and bleaching portions of the pulping process.  Caustic soda is also used in the production of detergents and soaps, alumina and a variety of other inorganic and organic chemicals.

The chlor alkali industry is cyclical, both as a result of changes in demand for each of the co-products and as a result of the large increments in which new capacity is added and removed.  Because chlorine and caustic soda are produced in a fixed ratio, the supply of one product can be constrained both by the physical capacity of the production facilities and/or by the ability to sell the co-product.  Prices for both products respond rapidly to changes in supply and demand.  Our ECU netbacks (defined as gross selling price less freight and discounts) averaged approximately $560, $475 and $520 per ECU in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Beginning late in the fourth quarter of 2008 and continuing through 2009, demand for caustic soda weakened significantly, and fell below the demand for chlorine.  This created excess supply in North America, which caused caustic soda prices to fall.  The over supply of caustic soda caused industry operating rates to be constrained, which resulted in chlorine price increase announcements of $300 per ton during the second quarter of 2009.  Caustic soda prices declined precipitously in the second quarter of 2009 and these declines continued into the third quarter of 2009.  During the third quarter of 2009, chlorine and caustic soda demand became more balanced eliminating the oversupply of caustic soda.  We began realizing increases in chlorine prices in the third quarter of 2009 with most of the improvement in the fourth quarter of 2009.  ECU netbacks, in our system, bottomed out in the third quarter of 2009.  During the fourth quarter of 2009, as caustic soda demand improved, chlorine production declined due to seasonally weaker demand.  This resulted in a supply and demand imbalance for caustic soda in North America.  As a result of this imbalance, in December 2009, a $75 per ton caustic soda price increase was announced.  We began realizing the benefits of this price increase in caustic soda in the first half of 2010.

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Our 2010 ECU netbacks of approximately $475 were 9% lower than the 2009 netbacks of approximately $520; however, the pricing trend was positive throughout 2010 as ECU netbacks increased sequentially from the low level of approximately $375 in the third quarter of 2009.  The fourth quarter of 2010 ECU netback was approximately $515.  As business conditions improved throughout 2010, our quarterly chlor alkali operating rates improved year-over-year reaching a 91% operating rate during the summer demand season.  A significant portion of the North American chlor alkali demand improvement came from exports of products made from chlorine, driven by the energy advantage the North American chemical producers enjoy by using natural gas as compared to crude oil.  With demand for both chlorine and caustic soda improving, price increases were announced throughout 2010.  During February 2010, an $80 per ton caustic soda price increase was announced.  We began realizing a portion of this price increase in caustic soda in the second quarter of 2010.  Caustic soda demand continued to improve, and as a result, during the third quarter of 2010, three additional caustic soda price increases were announced totaling $135 per ton.  We began realizing the benefits from these price increases and from contracts that re-set on an annual basis in the first half of 2011.

Our 2011 ECU netbacks of approximately $560 were 18% higher than the 2010 netbacks of approximately $475.  The 2011 SunBelt ECU netback was approximately $605.  In the first quarter of 2011, three caustic soda price increases were announced totaling $150 per ton.  In March 2011, we also announced a $60 per ton chlorine price increase.  In the third quarter of 2011, an additional caustic soda price increase was announced for $65 per ton, which replaced a late second quarter announced caustic soda price increase of $25 per ton.  Finally, in the fourth quarter of 2011, an additional caustic soda price increase was announced for $80 per ton.  The fourth quarter ECU netback was approximately $580, which was the first decline in price since the low point in our system in the third quarter of 2009.   ECU netbacks in the fourth quarter declined slightly from the third quarter levels of approximately $590 as chlorine prices weakened, driven by a reduced level of chlorine demand, which more than offset increases in caustic soda prices.  ECU netbacks in the first quarter of 2012 are forecast to decline slightly from the fourth quarter of 2011 as we expect the fourth quarter chlorine and caustic soda pricing trends to continue into the first quarter of 2012.  While the success of the third quarter 2011 $65 per ton caustic soda price increase is not yet known, the majority of the benefits of this price increase, if realized, would impact our system in the first quarter of 2012.  While the success of the fourth quarter 2011 $80 per ton caustic soda price increase is not yet known, we believe that it is unlikely that any benefit of this price increase will be realized in the first quarter of 2012.

Electricity and salt are the major purchased raw materials for our Chlor Alkali Products segment.  Raw materials represent approximately 47% of the total cost of producing an ECU.  Electricity is the single largest raw material component in the production of chlor alkali products.  We are supplied by utilities that primarily utilize coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, and nuclear power.  The commodity nature of this industry places an emphasis on cost management and we believe that we have managed our manufacturing costs in a manner that makes us one of the low cost producers in the industry.

During the fourth quarter of 2009, we completed a conversion and expansion project at our St. Gabriel, LA facility and initiated production.  This project increased capacity at this location from 197,000 ECUs to 246,000 ECUs and significantly reduced the site’s manufacturing costs.  In addition, as market demand requires, we believe the design of the SunBelt facility, as well as the new design of the St. Gabriel, LA facility, would allow us to expand capacity cost-effectively at these locations.  In December 2010, we announced a plan to convert our Charleston, TN facility to 200,000 tons of membrane capacity capable of producing both potassium hydroxide and caustic soda.  The conversion of the Charleston, TN plant to membrane technology will reduce the electricity usage per ECU produced by approximately 25% and the configuration of the new plant will result in an increase in our capacity to produce potassium hydroxide.  In addition, in December 2010, we announced our intention to reconfigure our Augusta, GA facility to manufacture bleach and distribute caustic soda, while discontinuing chlor alkali manufacturing at this site.  When complete, this plan will reduce our overall chlor alkali production capacity by 160,000 ECUs or 7% of our demonstrated capacity.  We currently expect to complete the conversion and reconfiguration by the end of 2012.

We also manufacture and sell other chlor alkali-related products.  These products include chemically processed salt, hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), hydrogen, and potassium hydroxide.  We refer to these other chlor alkali-related products as co-products.  Sales of co-products represented approximately 30% of Chlor Alkali Products’ sales in 2011.  We have recently invested in capacity and product upgrades in bleach and hydrochloric acid.  In the fourth quarter of 2009, we initiated bleach manufacturing and shipping by railroad expansion projects at three of our chlor alkali facilities.  In 2010, we initiated a capital project to construct a low salt, high strength bleach facility located at our McIntosh, AL chlor alkali site and in 2011 we initiated two additional low salt, high strength bleach facilities at our Niagara Falls, NY and Henderson, NV sites.  We expect to complete the first low salt, high strength bleach facility at McIntosh, AL in the first quarter of 2012.  The two remaining low salt, high strength bleach facilities are expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2012.  These three new facilities will increase total bleach manufacturing capacity by an additional 50% over the 2011 capacity.  These low salt, high strength bleach facilities will double the concentration of the bleach we manufacture, which should significantly reduce transportation costs.

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The following table lists products of our Chlor Alkali Products business, with principal products on the basis of annual sales highlighted in bold face.

Products & Services	Major End Uses	Plants & Facilities	Major Raw Materials & Components for Products/Services
Chlorine/caustic soda	Pulp & paper processing, chemical manufacturing, water purification, manufacture of vinyl chloride, bleach, swimming pool chemicals & urethane chemicals	Augusta, GA Becancour, Quebec Charleston, TN Henderson, NV McIntosh, AL Niagara Falls, NY St. Gabriel, LA	salt, electricity
Sodium hypochlorite (bleach)	Household cleaners, laundry bleaching, swimming pool sanitizers, semiconductors, water treatment, textiles, pulp & paper and food processing	Augusta, GA Becancour, Quebec Charleston, TN Henderson, NV McIntosh, AL Niagara Falls, NY Santa Fe Springs, CA Tacoma, WA Tracy, CA	chlorine, caustic soda
Hydrochloric acid	Steel, oil & gas, plastics, organic chemical synthesis, water and wastewater treatment, brine treatment, artificial sweeteners, pharmaceuticals, food processing and ore and mineral processing	Augusta, GA Becancour, Quebec Charleston, TN Henderson, NV McIntosh, AL Niagara Falls, NY	chlorine, hydrogen
Potassium hydroxide	Fertilizer manufacturing, soaps, detergents and cleaners, battery manufacturing, food processing chemicals and deicers	Charleston, TN	potassium chloride, electricity
Hydrogen	Fuel source, hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid	Augusta, GA Becancour, Quebec Charleston, TN Henderson, NV McIntosh, AL Niagara Falls, NY St. Gabriel, LA	salt, electricity

Strategies

Continued Role as a Preferred Supplier to Merchant Market Customers.   Based on our market research, we believe our Chlor Alkali Products business is viewed as a preferred supplier by our merchant market customers.  We will continue to focus on providing quality customer service support and developing relationships with our valued customers.

Pursue Incremental Expansion Opportunities.   We have invested in capacity and product upgrades in our chemically processed salt, hydrochloric acid, bleach, potassium hydroxide and hydrogen businesses.  These expansions increase our captive use of chlorine while increasing the sales of these co-products.  These businesses provide opportunities to upgrade chlorine and caustic soda to higher value-added applications.  We also have the opportunity, when business conditions permit, to pursue incremental chlorine and caustic soda expansions at our SunBelt and St. Gabriel, LA facilities.

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Winchester

Products and Services

In 2011, Winchester was in its 145th year of operation and its 81st year as part of Olin.  Winchester is a premier developer and manufacturer of small caliber ammunition for sale to domestic and international retailers (commercial customers), law enforcement agencies and domestic and international militaries.  We believe we are a leading U.S. producer of ammunition for recreational shooters, hunters, law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Armed Forces.

During 2011, Winchester was awarded the U.S. Army’s “Second Source” ammunition contract, which has the potential to generate $300 million of sales over five years.  The contract provides for the production of .50 caliber, 5.56 millimeter, and 7.62 millimeter ammunition.  In 2011, the U.S. Army also awarded Winchester a new five-year contract for 9mm NATO ammunition, which has the potential to generate $80 million of sales over the five years.

In January 2012, Winchester announced it had formed a joint venture named U.S. Munitions with BAE Systems to submit a proposal for the operation and maintenance of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.  The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant is the U.S. Army’s primary manufacturing location for small caliber ammunition.  We believe U.S. Munitions provides the best opportunity for Winchester to participate in the Lake City competition.  It is expected that a decision will be made during the fourth quarter of 2012 and that after a one-year transition period, the selected contractor will assume responsibility for the plant on October 1, 2013.  This represents a long-term opportunity for Winchester.

Our legendary Winchester® product line includes all major gauges and calibers of shotgun shells, rimfire and centerfire ammunition for pistols and rifles, reloading components and industrial cartridges.  We believe we are the leading U.S. supplier of small caliber commercial ammunition.  In support of our continuous improvement initiatives, our manufacturing facilities in East Alton, IL, achieved ISO recertification to the ISO 9001:2008 standard in December 2009.  Additionally, our facilities in Oxford, MS and Australia achieved ISO 9001:2008 recertification in 2011.

Winchester has strong relationships throughout the sales and distribution chain and strong ties to traditional dealers and distributors.  Winchester has also built its business with key high volume mass merchants and specialty sporting goods retailers.  We have consistently developed industry-leading ammunition.  In 2009, Winchester was named “Ammunition Manufacturer of the Year” for the second consecutive year by the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers and Winchester was recognized by wholesaler Big Rock Sports as its 2009 “Hunting/Shooting Vendor of the Year.”

Winchester has consistently developed industry-leading ammunition.  In 2011, Winchester ammunition products received numerous industry recognitions, including: Winchester® Blind Side® waterfowl loads received the 2011 “Best of the Best” award from Field & Stream magazine, were selected as “Top Choice” for duck hunting in Field & Stream’s “Ultimate Shotshell Guide,” were named “Editor’s Choice” as the top overall ammo in Outdoor Life’s 2011 “Ammo of the Year” awards, and were recommended to ammunition retailers as “a best bet to make the register ring” by the editors of SHOT Business.  In addition, Winchester® Power-Core 95/5™ Lead-Free Big Game Cartridges received the 2011 “Best of the Best” award from Field & Stream magazine, the Winchester® .17HMR Varmint Lead-Free round was awarded Top Rimfire Ammo in Outdoor Life’s 2011 “Ammo of the Year” awards, and Field & Stream’s 2011 “Ultimate Shotshell Guide” named Winchester® AA® Heavy Target Loads the “Top Choice” for upland bird hunting.

Winchester purchases raw materials such as copper-based strip and ammunition cartridge case cups and lead from vendors based on a conversion charge or premium.  These conversion charges or premiums are in addition to the market prices for metal as posted on exchanges such as the Commodity Exchange, or COMEX, and London Metals Exchange, or LME.  Winchester’s other main raw material is propellant, which is purchased predominantly from one of the United States’ largest propellant suppliers.

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The following table lists products and services of our Winchester business, with principal products on the basis of annual sales highlighted in bold face.

Products & Services	Major End Uses	Plants & Facilities	Major Raw Materials & Components for Products/Services
Winchester® sporting ammunition (shot-shells, small caliber centerfire & rimfire ammunition)	Hunters & recreational shooters, law enforcement agencies	East Alton, IL Oxford, MS Geelong, Australia	brass, lead, steel, plastic, propellant, explosives
Small caliber military ammunition	Infantry and mounted weapons	East Alton, IL Oxford, MS	brass, lead, propellant, explosives
Industrial products (8 gauge loads & powder-actuated tool loads)	Maintenance applications in power & concrete industries, powder-actuated tools in construction industry	East Alton, IL Oxford, MS Geelong, Australia	brass, lead, plastic, propellant, explosives

On November 3, 2010, we announced that we had made the decision to relocate the Winchester centerfire pistol and rifle ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  In October 2011, we opened the new centerfire production facility in Oxford, MS and the pistol ammunition manufacturing equipment is in the process of being relocated and started up in Oxford, MS.  During 2011, Winchester began manufacturing pistol ammunition in Oxford, MS.  This relocation, when completed, is forecast to reduce Winchester’s annual operating costs by approximately $30 million.  We currently expect to complete this relocation by the end of 2015.  Once completed, Winchester expects to have the most modern centerfire ammunition production facility in North America.

Strategies

Leverage Existing Strengths.   Winchester plans to seek new opportunities to leverage the legendary Winchester brand name and will continue to offer a full line of ammunition products to the markets we serve, with specific focus on investments that lower our costs and that make Winchester ammunition the retail brand of choice.

Focus on Product Line Growth.   With a long record of pioneering new product offerings, Winchester has built a strong reputation as an industry innovator.  This includes the introduction of reduced-lead and non-lead products, which are growing in popularity for use in indoor shooting ranges and for outdoor hunting.

INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

Our subsidiary, Olin Canada ULC, formerly PCI Chemicals Canada Company/Société PCI Chimie Canada, operates one chlor alkali facility in Becancour, Quebec, which sells chlor alkali-related products within Canada and to the United States.  Our subsidiary, Winchester Australia Limited, loads and packs sporting and industrial ammunition in Australia.  See the Note “Segment Information” of the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8, for geographic segment data.  We are incorporating our segment information from that Note into this section of our Form 10-K.

CUSTOMERS AND DISTRIBUTION

During 2011, no single customer accounted for more than 7% of sales.  Sales to all U.S. government agencies and sales under U.S. government contracting activities in total accounted for approximately 5% of sales in 2011.  Products we sell to industrial or commercial users or distributors for use in the production of other products constitute a major part of our total sales.  We sell some of our products, such as caustic soda and sporting ammunition, to a large number of users or distributors, while we sell others, such as chlorine, in substantial quantities to a relatively small number of industrial users.  We discuss the customers for each of our two businesses in more detail above under “Products and Services.”

We market most of our products and services primarily through our sales force and sell directly to various industrial customers, mass merchants, retailers, wholesalers, other distributors, and the U.S. Government and its prime contractors.

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Because we engage in some government contracting activities and make sales to the U.S. Government, we are subject to extensive and complex U.S. Government procurement laws and regulations.  These laws and regulations provide for ongoing government audits and reviews of contract procurement, performance and administration.  Failure to comply, even inadvertently, with these laws and regulations and with laws governing the export of munitions and other controlled products and commodities could subject us or one or more of our businesses to civil and criminal penalties, and under certain circumstances, suspension and debarment from future government contracts and the exporting of products for a specified period of time.

BACKLOG

The total amount of contracted backlog was approximately $136.8 million and $178.1 million as of January 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  The backlog orders are in our Winchester business.  Backlog is comprised of all open customer orders not yet shipped.  Approximately 75% of contracted backlog as of January 31, 2012 is expected to be filled during 2012.

COMPETITION

We are in active competition with businesses producing the same or similar products, as well as, in some instances, with businesses producing different products designed for the same uses.

Chlor alkali manufacturers in North America, with approximately 16 million tons of chlorine and 17 million tons of caustic soda capacity, account for approximately 18% of worldwide chlor alkali production capacity.  According to CMAI, the Dow Chemical Company (Dow), and the Occidental Chemical Corporation (OxyChem), are the two largest chlor alkali producers in North America.  Approximately 75% of the total North American capacity is located in the U.S. Gulf Coast region.

Many of our competitors are integrated producers of chlorine, using some, or all, of their chlorine production in the manufacture of other downstream products.  In contrast, we are primarily a merchant producer of chlorine and sell the majority of our chlorine to merchant customers.  As a result, we supply a greater share of the merchant chlorine market than our share of overall industry capacity.  We do utilize chlorine to manufacture industrial bleach and hydrochloric acid.  There is a worldwide market for caustic soda, which attracts imports and allows exports depending on market conditions.  All of our competitors and the integrated producers of chlorine sell caustic soda into the North American merchant market.

The chlor alkali industry in North America is highly competitive, and many of our competitors, including Dow and OxyChem, are substantially larger and have greater financial resources than we do.  While the technologies to manufacture and transport chlorine and caustic soda are widely available, the production facilities require large capital investments, and are subject to significant regulatory and permitting requirements.

We are among the largest manufacturers in the United States of commercial small caliber ammunition based on independent market research sponsored by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.  Founded in 1926, SAAMI is an association of the nation’s leading manufacturers of sporting firearms, ammunition and components.  According to SAAMI, our Winchester business, Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) and Remington Arms Company, Inc. (Remington) are the three largest commercial ammunition manufacturers in the United States.  The ammunition industry is highly competitive with us, ATK, Remington, numerous smaller domestic manufacturers and foreign producers competing for sales to the commercial ammunition customers.  Many factors influence our ability to compete successfully, including price, delivery, service, performance, product innovation and product recognition and quality, depending on the product involved.

EMPLOYEES

As of December 31, 2011, we had approximately 3,800 employees, with 3,500 working in the United States and 300 working in foreign countries, primarily Canada.  Various labor unions represent a majority of our hourly-paid employees for collective bargaining purposes.

The following labor contract is scheduled to expire in 2012:

Location	Number of Employees	Expiration Date
Becancour (Chlor Alkali)	130	April 2012

While we believe our relations with our employees and their various representatives are generally satisfactory, we cannot assure that we can conclude this labor contract or any other labor agreements without work stoppages and cannot assure that any work stoppages will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

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RESEARCH ACTIVITIES; PATENTS

Our research activities are conducted on a product-group basis at a number of facilities.  Company-sponsored research expenditures were $2.7 million in 2011, $2.1 million in 2010 and $2.2 million in 2009.

We own or license a number of patents, patent applications, and trade secrets covering our products and processes.  We believe that, in the aggregate, the rights under our patents and licenses are important to our operations, but we do not consider any individual patent or license or group of patents and licenses related to a specific process or product to be of material importance to our total business.

RAW MATERIALS AND ENERGY

We purchase the major portion of our raw material requirements.  The principal basic raw materials for our production of chlor alkali products are salt, electricity, potassium chloride, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen.  A portion of the salt used in our Chlor Alkali Products segment is produced from internal resources.  Lead, brass, and propellant are the principal raw materials used in the Winchester business.  We typically purchase our electricity, salt, potassium chloride, sulfur dioxide, ammunition cartridge case cups and copper-based strip, and propellants pursuant to multi-year contracts.  We provide additional information with respect to specific raw materials in the tables set forth under “Products and Services.”

Electricity is the predominant energy source for our manufacturing facilities.  Most of our facilities are served by utilities which generate electricity principally from coal, hydroelectric and nuclear power except at St. Gabriel, LA and Henderson, NV which predominantly use natural gas.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROLS

In the United States, the establishment and implementation of federal, state and local standards to regulate air, water and land quality affect substantially all of our manufacturing locations.  Federal legislation providing for regulation of the manufacture, transportation, use and disposal of hazardous and toxic substances, and remediation of contaminated sites has imposed additional regulatory requirements on industry, particularly the chemicals industry.  In addition, implementation of environmental laws, such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Clean Air Act, has required and will continue to require new capital expenditures and will increase operating costs.  Our Canadian facility is governed by federal environmental laws administered by Environment Canada and by provincial environmental laws enforced by administrative agencies.  Many of these laws are comparable to the U.S. laws described above.  We employ waste minimization and pollution prevention programs at our manufacturing sites and we are a party to various governmental and private environmental actions associated with former waste disposal sites and past manufacturing facilities.  Charges or credits to income for investigatory and remedial efforts were material to operating results in the past three years and may be material to operating results in future years.

See our discussion of our environmental matters in Item 3, “Legal Proceedings” below, the Note “Environmental” of the notes to consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8, and Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Item 1A.  RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information in this Form 10-K, the following factors should be considered in evaluating Olin and our business.  All of our forward-looking statements should be considered in light of these factors.  Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of or that we currently deem immaterial also may become important factors that affect us.

Sensitivity to Global Economic Conditions and Cyclicality—Our operating results could be negatively affected during economic downturns.

The business of most of our customers, particularly our vinyl, urethanes, and pulp and paper customers are, to varying degrees, cyclical and have historically experienced periodic downturns.  These economic and industry downturns have been characterized by diminished product demand, excess manufacturing capacity and, in some cases, lower average selling prices.  Therefore, any significant downturn in our customers’ businesses or in global economic conditions could result in a reduction in demand for our products and could adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.

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Although we do not generally sell a large percentage of our products directly to customers abroad, a large part of our financial performance is dependent upon a healthy economy beyond North America.  Our customers sell their products abroad.  As a result, our business is affected by general economic conditions and other factors in Western Europe, South America and most of East Asia, particularly China and Japan, including fluctuations in interest rates, customer demand, labor and energy costs, currency changes, and other factors beyond our control.  The demand for our customers’ products, and therefore, our products, is directly affected by such fluctuations.  In addition, our customers could decide to move some or all of their production to lower cost, offshore locations, and this could reduce demand in North America for our products.  We cannot assure you that events having an adverse effect on the industries in which we operate will not occur or continue, such as a downturn in the Western European, South American, Asian or world economies, increases in interest rates, or unfavorable currency fluctuations.  Economic conditions in other regions of the world, predominantly Asia and Europe, can increase the amount of caustic soda produced and available for export to North America.  The increased caustic soda supply can put downward pressure on our caustic soda prices, negatively impacting our profitability.

Cyclical Pricing Pressure—Our profitability could be reduced by declines in average selling prices of our products, particularly declines in the ECU netback for chlorine and caustic soda.

Our historical operating results reflect the cyclical and sometimes volatile nature of the chemical and ammunition industries.  We experience cycles of fluctuating supply and demand in each of our business segments, particularly in Chlor Alkali Products, which result in changes in selling prices.  Periods of high demand, tight supply and increasing operating margins tend to result in increases in capacity and production until supply exceeds demand, generally followed by periods of oversupply and declining prices.  There have been capacity additions of approximately 1.8 million tons announced by Formosa Plastics Corporation, Shintech, Inc., Westlake Chemical Corporation, a Dow/Mitsui & Co. Ltd. joint venture, and K2 Pure Solutions.  These announced capacity expansions are forecast by CMAI to come on line ratably over the next three years.  In 2010, we announced plans to convert our Charleston, TN facility from 260,000 tons of mercury cell capacity to 200,000 tons of membrane capacity and our intention to reconfigure our Augusta, GA facility to discontinue chlor alkali manufacturing.  We currently expect to complete the conversion and configuration by the end of 2012.  Together, these actions will reduce our overall chlor alkali production capacity by 160,000 ECUs.  Another factor influencing demand and pricing for chlorine and caustic soda is the price of natural gas.  Higher natural gas prices increase our customers’ and competitors’ manufacturing costs, and depending on the ratio of crude oil to natural gas prices, could make them less competitive in world markets.  Continued expansion offshore, particularly in Asia, will continue to have an impact on the ECU values as imported caustic soda replaces some capacity in North America.

Price in the chlor alkali industry is the major supplier selection criterion.  We have little or no ability to influence prices in this large commodity market.  Decreases in the average selling prices of our products could have a material adverse effect on our profitability.  For example, assuming all other costs remain constant and internal consumption remains approximately the same, a $10 per ECU selling price change equates to an approximate $18 million annual change in our revenues and pretax profit when we are operating at full capacity.  While we strive to maintain or increase our profitability by reducing costs through improving production efficiency, emphasizing higher margin products, and by controlling transportation, selling, and administration expenses, we cannot assure you that these efforts will be sufficient to offset fully the effect of possible decreases in pricing on operating results.

Because of the cyclical nature of our businesses, we cannot assure you that pricing or profitability in the future will be comparable to any particular historical period, including the most recent period shown in our operating results.  We cannot assure you that the chlor alkali industry will not experience adverse trends in the future, or that our operating results and/or financial condition will not be adversely affected by them.

Our Winchester segment is also subject to changes in operating results as a result of cyclical pricing pressures, but to a lesser extent than the Chlor Alkali Products segment.  Selling prices of ammunition are affected by changes in raw material costs and availability and customer demand, and declines in average selling prices of products of our Winchester segment could adversely affect our profitability.

Imbalance in Demand for Our Chlor Alkali Products—A loss of a substantial customer for our chlorine or caustic soda could cause an imbalance in demand for these products, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

Chlorine and caustic soda are produced simultaneously and in a fixed ratio of 1.0 ton of chlorine to 1.1 tons of caustic soda.  The loss of a substantial chlorine or caustic soda customer could cause an imbalance in demand for our chlorine and caustic soda products.  An imbalance in demand may require us to reduce production of both chlorine and caustic soda or take other steps to correct the imbalance.  Since we cannot store large quantities of chlorine, we may not be able to respond to an imbalance in demand for these products as quickly or efficiently as some of our competitors.  If a substantial imbalance occurred, we would need to reduce prices or take other actions that could have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

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Environmental Costs—We have ongoing environmental costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

The nature of our operations and products, including the raw materials we handle, exposes us to the risk of liabilities or claims with respect to environmental matters.  In addition, we are party to various governmental and private environmental actions associated with past manufacturing facilities and former waste disposal sites.  We have incurred, and expect to incur, significant costs and capital expenditures in complying with environmental laws and regulations.

The ultimate costs and timing of environmental liabilities are difficult to predict.  Liabilities under environmental laws relating to contaminated sites can be imposed retroactively and on a joint and several basis.  One liable party could be held responsible for all costs at a site, regardless of fault, percentage of contribution to the site or the legality of the original disposal.  We could incur significant costs, including cleanup costs, natural resource damages, civil or criminal fines and sanctions and third-party lawsuits claiming, for example, personal injury and/or property damage, as a result of past or future violations of, or liabilities under, environmental or other laws.

In addition, future events, such as changes to or more rigorous enforcement of environmental laws, could require us to make additional expenditures, modify or curtail our operations and/or install pollution control equipment.

Accordingly, it is possible that some of the matters in which we are involved or may become involved may be resolved unfavorably to us, which could materially adversely affect our financial position or results of operations.  See Item 7—“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Environmental Matters.”

Litigation and Claims—We are subject to litigation and other claims, which could cause us to incur significant expenses.

We are a defendant in a number of pending legal proceedings relating to our present and former operations.  These include proceedings alleging injurious exposure of plaintiffs to various chemicals and other substances (including proceedings based on alleged exposures to asbestos).  Frequently, such proceedings involve claims made by numerous plaintiffs against many defendants.  However, because of the inherent uncertainties of litigation, we are unable to predict the outcome of these proceedings and therefore cannot determine whether the financial impact, if any, will be material to our financial position or results of operations.

Security and Chemicals Transportation—New regulations on the transportation of hazardous chemicals and/or the security of chemical manufacturing facilities and public policy changes related to transportation safety could result in significantly higher operating costs.

The chemical industry, including the chlor alkali industry, has proactively responded to the issues related to national security and environmental concerns by starting new initiatives relating to the security of chemicals industry facilities and the transportation of hazardous chemicals in the United States.  Government at the local, state, and federal levels could implement new regulations that would impact the security of chemical plant locations and the transportation of hazardous chemicals.  Our Chlor Alkali business could be adversely impacted by the cost of complying with any new regulations.  Our business also could be adversely affected if an incident were to occur at one of our facilities or while transporting product.  The extent of the impact would depend on the requirements of future regulations and the nature of an incident, which are unknown at this time.

Effects of Regulation—Changes in legislation or government regulations or policies, including tax policies, could have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Legislation that may be passed by Congress or other legislative bodies or new regulations that may be issued by federal and other administrative agencies could significantly affect the sales, costs and profitability of our business.  The chemical and ammunition industries are subject to legislative and regulatory actions, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Credit and Capital Market Conditions—Adverse conditions in the credit and capital markets may limit or prevent our ability to borrow or raise capital.

While we believe we have facilities in place that should allow us to borrow funds as needed, adverse conditions in the credit and financial markets could prevent us from obtaining financing, if the need arises.  Our ability to invest in our businesses and refinance or repay maturing debt obligations could require access to the credit and capital markets and sufficient bank credit lines to support cash requirements.  If we are unable to access the credit and capital markets, we could experience a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

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Information Security—A failure of our information technology systems, or an interruption in their operation, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our operations are dependent on our ability to protect our information systems, computer equipment and information databases from systems failures.  We rely on our information technology systems generally to manage the day-to-day operation of our business, operate elements of our chlor alkali manufacturing facilities, manage relationships with our customers, fulfill customer orders, and maintain our financial and accounting records.  Failures of our information technology systems could be caused by internal or external events, such as incursions by intruders or hackers, computer viruses, failures in hardware or software, power fluctuations or cyber-attacks.  The failure of our information technology systems to perform as anticipated for any reason or any significant breach of security could disrupt our business and result in numerous adverse consequences, including reduced effectiveness and efficiency of operations, increased costs or loss of important information, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.  We have technology and information security processes and disaster recovery plans in place to mitigate our risk to these vulnerabilities.  However, these measures may not be adequate to ensure that our operations will not be disrupted, should such an event occur.

Production Hazards—Our facilities are subject to operating hazards, which may disrupt our business.

We are dependent upon the continued safe operation of our production facilities.  Our production facilities are subject to hazards associated with the manufacture, handling, storage and transportation of chemical materials and products and ammunition, including leaks and ruptures, explosions, fires, inclement weather and natural disasters, unexpected utility disruptions or outages, unscheduled downtime and environmental hazards.  From time to time in the past, we have had incidents that have temporarily shut down or otherwise disrupted our manufacturing, causing production delays and resulting in liability for workplace injuries and fatalities.  Some of our products involve the manufacture and/or handling of a variety of explosive and flammable materials.  Use of these products by our customers could also result in liability if an explosion, fire, spill or other accident were to occur.  We cannot assure you that we will not experience these types of incidents in the future or that these incidents will not result in production delays or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Cost Control—Our profitability could be reduced if we continue to experience increasing raw material, utility, transportation or logistics costs, or if we fail to achieve our targeted cost reductions.

Our operating results and profitability are dependent upon our continued ability to control, and in some cases further reduce, our costs.  If we are unable to do so, or if costs outside of our control, particularly our costs of raw materials, utilities, transportation and similar costs, increase beyond anticipated levels, our profitability will decline.

For example, our Chlor Alkali product transportation costs, particularly railroad shipment costs, are a significant portion of our cost of sales, and have been increasing over the past several years.  If the cost increases continue, and we are unable to control those costs or pass the increased costs on to customers, our profitability in our Chlor Alkali business would be negatively affected.  Similarly, costs of commodity metals and other materials used in our Winchester business, such as copper and lead, can vary.  If we experience significant increases in these costs and are unable to raise our prices to offset the higher costs, the profitability in our Winchester business would be negatively affected.

Credit Facilities—Weak industry conditions could affect our ability to comply with the financial maintenance covenants in our senior revolving credit facility and certain tax-exempt bonds.

Our senior revolving credit facility includes certain financial maintenance covenants requiring us to not exceed a maximum leverage ratio and to maintain a minimum coverage ratio.  During the fourth quarter of 2010, $153.0 million of Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 (Go Zone) and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Zone) tax-exempt bonds sponsored by Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee were issued with final maturities of between 2024 and 2035.  The financial covenants in the credit agreements associated with the Go Zone and Recovery Zone bonds mirror those in our senior revolving credit facility.

Our senior revolving credit facility will expire in October 2012.  We cannot be assured that we will be able to refinance this facility or that we will be able to refinance the facility with similar terms and conditions, including financial maintenance covenants.  Our senior revolving credit facility contains a $110 million letter of credit subfacility, which is used to support certain long-term debt and certain workers compensation insurance policies.

Depending on the magnitude and duration of chlor alkali cyclical downturns, including deterioration in prices and volumes, there can be no assurance that we will continue to be in compliance with these ratios.  If we failed to comply with either of these covenants in a future period and were not able to obtain waivers from the lenders thereunder, we would need to refinance our current senior revolving credit facility and the Go Zone and Recovery Zone bonds.  However, there can be no assurance that such refinancing would be available to us on terms that would be acceptable to us or at all.

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Pension Plans—The impact of declines in global equity and fixed income markets on asset values and any declines in interest rates used to value the liabilities in our pension plans may result in higher pension costs and the need to fund the pension plans in future years in material amounts.

Under Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) 715 “Compensation–Retirement Benefits” (ASC 715), formerly Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans,” (SFAS No. 158), we recorded an after-tax charge of $29.0 million ($46.8 million pretax) to shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2011 for our pension and other postretirement plans.  This charge reflected a 40-basis point decrease in the plans’ discount rate and an unfavorable actuarial assumption change related to mortality tables, partially offset by the favorable performance on plan assets during 2011.  In 2010, we recorded an after-tax charge of $26.0 million ($42.3 million pretax) to shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2010 for our pension and other postretirement plans.  This charge reflected a 45-basis point decrease in the plans’ discount rate, partially offset by the favorable performance on plan assets during 2010.  In 2009, we recorded an after-tax charge of $27.3 million ($41.7 million pretax) to shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2009 for our pension and other postretirement plans.  This charge reflected a 50-basis point decrease in the plans’ discount rate, partially offset by the favorable performance on plan assets during 2009.  The non-cash charges to shareholders’ equity do not affect our ability to borrow under our senior revolving credit facility.

The determinations of pension expense and pension funding are based on a variety of rules and regulations.  Changes in these rules and regulations could impact the calculation of pension plan liabilities and the valuation of pension plan assets.  They may also result in higher pension costs, additional financial statement disclosure, and accelerate the need to fully fund the pension plan.  During the third quarter of 2006, the “Pension Protection Act of 2006” became law, amended by “The Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act,” during the fourth quarter of 2008.  Among the stated objectives of the laws were the protection of both pension beneficiaries and the financial health of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).  To accomplish these objectives, the new laws required sponsors to fund defined benefit pension plans earlier than previous requirements and to pay increased PBGC premiums.  The laws require defined benefit pension plans to be fully funded for 2011.  Based on our plan assumptions and estimates, we will not be required to make any cash contributions to the domestic defined benefit pension plan at least through 2013.  We do have a small Canadian defined benefit pension plan to which we made $0.9 million and $9.8 million of cash contributions in 2011 and 2010, respectively, and we anticipate less than $5 million of cash contributions in 2012.  At December 31, 2011, the market value of assets in our qualified defined benefit pension plans of $1,906.9 million exceeded the projected benefit obligation by $19.2 million.

In addition, the impact of declines in global equity and fixed income markets on asset values may result in higher pension costs and may increase and accelerate the need to fund the pension plans in future years.  For example, holding all other assumptions constant, a 100-basis point decrease or increase in the assumed rate of return on plan assets would have decreased or increased, respectively, the 2011 defined benefit pension plans income by approximately $16.3 million.

Holding all other assumptions constant, a 50-basis point decrease in the discount rate used to calculate pension income for 2011 and the projected benefit obligation as of December 31, 2011 would have decreased pension income by $0.5 million and increased the projected benefit obligation by $97.0 million.  A 50-basis point increase in the discount rate used to calculate pension income for 2011 and the projected benefit obligation as of December 31, 2011 would have increased pension income by $1.9 million and decreased the projected benefit obligation by $99.0 million.

Indebtedness—Our indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition and limit our ability to grow and compete, which could prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under our indebtedness.

As of December 31, 2011, we had $536.4 million of indebtedness outstanding, including $2.2 million representing the fair value related to $80.8 million of interest rate swaps and $10.5 million representing the unrecognized gain related to $125.0 million of interest rate swaps at December 31, 2011.  This outstanding indebtedness does not include our $240.0 million senior revolving credit facility of which we had $231.5 million available as of December 31, 2011 because we had issued $8.5 million of letters of credit.  As of December 31, 2011, our indebtedness represented 35.2% of our total capitalization.  At December 31, 2011, $12.2 million of our indebtedness was due within one year.

Our indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition and limit our ability to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes, to accommodate growth by reducing funds otherwise available for other corporate purposes, and to compete, which in turn could prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under our indebtedness.  In addition, our indebtedness could make us more vulnerable to any continuing downturn in general economic conditions and reduce our ability to respond to changing business and economic conditions.  Despite our level of indebtedness, the terms of our senior revolving credit facility and our existing indentures permit us to borrow additional money.  If we borrow more money, the risks related to our indebtedness could increase.

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Labor Matters—We cannot assure you that we can conclude future labor contracts or any other labor agreements without work stoppages.

Various labor unions represent a majority of our hourly-paid employees for collective bargaining purposes.  The following labor contract is scheduled to expire in 2012:

Location	Number of Employees	Expiration Date
Becancour (Chlor Alkali)	130	April 2012

While we believe our relations with our employees and their various representatives are generally satisfactory, we cannot assure that we can conclude this labor contract or any other labor agreements without work stoppages and cannot assure that any work stoppages will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

Debt Service—We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service our debt, which may require us to refinance our indebtedness or default on our scheduled debt payments.

Our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to make scheduled payments on our debt depends on a range of economic, competitive and business factors, many of which are outside our control.  We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations.  If we are unable to meet our expenses and debt obligations, we may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity, sell assets or raise equity.  We cannot assure you that we would be able to refinance any of our indebtedness, sell assets or raise equity on commercially reasonable terms or at all, which could cause us to default on our obligations and impair our liquidity.  Our inability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our debt obligations, or to refinance our obligations on commercially reasonable terms, would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as on our ability to satisfy our debt obligations.  See Item 7—“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”  See Item 7A—“Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” and “Liquidity and Other Financing Arrangements.”

Item 1B.  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not applicable.

Item 2.  PROPERTIES

We have manufacturing sites at 13 separate locations in ten states, Canada and Australia.  Most manufacturing sites are owned although a number of small sites are leased.  We listed the locations at or from which our products and services are manufactured, distributed, or marketed in the tables set forth under the caption “Products and Services.”

We lease warehouses, terminals and distribution offices and space for executive and branch sales offices and service departments.

Item 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Saltville

We have completed all work in connection with remediation of mercury contamination at the site of our former mercury cell chlor alkali plant in Saltville, VA required to date.  In mid-2003, the Trustees for natural resources in the North Fork Holston River, the Main Stem Holston River, and associated floodplains, located in Smyth and Washington Counties in Virginia and in Sullivan and Hawkins Counties in Tennessee notified us of, and invited our participation in, an assessment of alleged damages to natural resources resulting from the release of mercury.  The Trustees also notified us that they have made a preliminary determination that we are potentially liable for natural resource damages in said rivers and floodplains.  We agreed to participate in the assessment.  We and the Trustees have entered into discussions concerning a resolution of this matter.  In light of the ongoing discussions and inherent uncertainties of the assessment, we cannot at this time determine whether the financial impact, if any, of this matter will be material to our financial position or results of operations.  See “Environmental Matters” contained in Item 7—“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Other

As part of the continuing environmental investigation by federal, state, and local governments of waste disposal sites, we have entered into a number of settlement agreements requiring us to participate in the investigation and cleanup of a number of sites.  Under the terms of such settlements and related agreements, we may be required to manage or perform one or more elements of a site cleanup, or to manage the entire remediation activity for a number of parties, and subsequently seek recovery of some or all of such costs from other Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs).  In many cases, we do not know the ultimate costs of our settlement obligations at the time of entering into particular settlement agreements, and our liability accruals for our obligations under those agreements are often subject to significant management judgment on an ongoing basis.  Those cost accruals are provided for in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and our accounting policies set forth in the environmental matters section in Item 7—“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

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We, and our subsidiaries, are defendants in various other legal actions (including proceedings based on alleged exposures to asbestos) incidental to our past and current business activities.  At December 31, 2011 and 2010, our consolidated balance sheets included liabilities for these legal actions of $16.4 million and $18.1 million, respectively.  These liabilities do not include costs associated with legal representation.  Based on our analysis, and considering the inherent uncertainties associated with litigation, we do not believe that it is reasonably possible that these legal actions will materially adversely affect our financial position or results of operations in the near term.

Item 4.  REMOVED AND RESERVED

Executive Officers of the Registrant as of February 24, 2012

Name and Age	Office	Served as an Olin Officer Since
Joseph D. Rupp (61)	Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer	1996
Frank W. Chirumbole (53)	President, Chlor Alkali Products	2011
Stephen C. Curley (60)	Vice President and Treasurer	2005
Dolores J. Ennico (59)	Vice President, Human Resources	2009
John E. Fischer (56)	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	2004
G. Bruce Greer, Jr. (51)	Vice President, Strategic Planning and Information Technology	2005
John L. McIntosh (57)	Senior Vice President, Operations	1999
Thomas J. O’Keefe (53)	President, Winchester	2011
George H. Pain (61)	Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary	2002
Todd A. Slater (48)	Vice President, Finance and Controller	2005

No family relationship exists between any of the above named executive officers or between any of them and any of our directors.  Such officers were elected to serve, subject to the By-laws, until their respective successors are chosen.

All executive officers, except Messrs. Chirumbole and O’Keefe and Ms. Ennico, have served as executive officers for more than five years.

Frank W. Chirumbole was appointed President, Chlor Alkali Products effective October 1, 2010.  From 2009 until September 2010, he served as Vice President, General Manager – Bleach; from 2007 to 2009 he served as Vice President, Supply Management; and from 2001 to 2007 he served as Vice President, Manufacturing and Engineering, all in the Chlor Alkali Products Division.

Dolores J. Ennico was elected Vice President, Human Resources effective May 1, 2009.  Prior to that time and since October 2005, she served as Corporate Vice President, Human Resources.  From March 2004 to September 2005, she served as Vice President, Administration for Olin's Winchester Division and former Metals group.

Thomas J. O’Keefe was appointed President, Winchester effective January 1, 2011.  From 2008 to 2010, he served as Vice President, Operations and Planning and from 2006 to 2008 he was Vice President, Manufacturing Operations, in each case, in the Winchester Division.  From 2001 to 2006, he was Vice President, Manufacturing and Engineering for Olin’s former Brass Division.

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PART II

Item 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

As of January 31, 2012, we had 4,338 record holders of our common stock.

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

The high and low sales prices of our common stock during each quarterly period in 2011 and 2010 are listed below.  A dividend of $0.20 per common share was paid during each of the four quarters in 2011 and 2010.

2011	First Quarter		Second Quarter		Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter
Market price of common stock per New York Stock Exchange composite transactions
High	$	23.04	$	27.16	$	24.09	$	21.75
Low		17.97		20.60		17.64		16.11
2010
Market price of common stock per New York Stock Exchange composite transactions
High	$	19.94	$	22.39	$	20.99	$	21.57
Low		15.30		14.35		17.25		17.90

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Period	Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased		Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit)	Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Maximum Number of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
October 1-31, 2011	—		N/A	—
November 1-30, 2011	113,971	$	17.91	113,971
December 1-31, 2011	—		N/A	—
Total					4,761,483	(1)

(1) On July 21, 2011, we announced a share repurchase program approved by the board of directors for the purchase of up to 5 million shares of common stock that will terminate on July 21, 2014.  Through December 31, 2011, 238,517 shares had been repurchased, and 4,761,483 shares remained available for purchase under that program.

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

	(a)			(b)			(c)
Plan Category	Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights(1)			Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants  and rights			Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans excluding securities reflected in column (a)(1)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(2)		4,702,958	(3)	$	17.73	(3)		2,905,735
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders		N/A			N/A			N/A
Total		4,702,958		$	17.73	(3)		2,905,735

(1) Number of shares is subject to adjustment for changes in capitalization for stock splits and stock dividends and similar events.

(2) Consists of the 2000 Long Term Incentive Plan, the 2003 Long Term Incentive Plan, the 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan, the 2009 Long Term Incentive Plan and the 1997 Stock Plan for Non-employee Directors.  Does not include information about the equity compensation plan listed in the table below, which has expired.  No additional awards may be granted under this expired plan. As of December 31, 2011:

Plan Name	Expiration date	Number of securities issuable under outstanding options	Weighted average exercise price		Weighted average remaining term
1996 Stock Option Plan for Key Employees of Olin Corporation and Subsidiaries	1/25/06	66,536	$	23.78	3.1 years

(3)      Includes:

• 3,698,334 shares issuable upon exercise of options with a weighted average exercise price of $17.73, and a weighted average remaining term of 6.2 years,

• 256,130 shares issuable under restricted stock unit grants, with a weighted average remaining term of 0.8 years,

• 414,750 shares issuable in connection with outstanding performance share awards, with a weighted average term of 1.0 years remaining in the performance measurement period, and

• 333,744 shares under the 1997 Stock Plan for Non-employee Directors which represent stock grants for retainers, other board and committee fees, and dividends on deferred stock under the plan.

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Performance Graph

This graph compares the total shareholder return on our common stock with the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor’s 1000 Index (the “S&P 1000”) and a customized peer group of six companies comprised of: Alliant Techsystems, The Dow Chemical Company, Georgia Gulf Corporation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation, PPG Industries, Inc. and Westlake Chemical Corporation.

Data is for the five-year period from December 31, 2006 through December 31, 2011.  The cumulative return includes reinvestment of dividends.  The Peer Group is weighted in accordance with market capitalization (closing stock price multiplied by the number of shares outstanding) as of the beginning of each of the five years covered by the performance graph.  We calculated the weighted return for each year by multiplying (a) the percentage that each corporation’s market capitalization represented of the total market capitalization for all corporations in the Peer Group for such year by (b) the total shareholder return for that corporation for such year.

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Item 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

TEN-YEAR SUMMARY

	2011			2010			2009			2008			2007			2006			2005			2004			2003			2002
Operations	($ and shares in millions, except per share data)
Sales	$	1,961		$	1,586		$	1,532		$	1,765		$	1,277		$	1,040		$	955		$	766		$	703		$	604
Cost of goods sold		1,574			1,350			1,223			1,377			1,035			792			682			639			588			551
Selling and administration		161			134			135			137			129			129			128			90			78			70
Loss on restructuring of businesses		(11	)		(34	)		—			—			—			—			—			(10	)		—			—
Other operating income		9			2			9			1			2			7			9			6			—			—
Earnings (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates		10			30			38			39			46			45			37			9			6			(8	)
Interest expense		30			25			12			13			22			20			20			20			20			26
Interest and other income (expense)		176			2			1			(20	)		12			12			20			5			3			4
Income (loss) before taxes from continuing operations		380			77			210			258			151			163			191			27			26			(47	)
Income tax provision (benefit)		138			12			74			100			50			39			74			8			8			(4	)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		242			65			136			158			101			124			117			19			18			(43	)
Discontinued operations, net		—			—			—			—			(110	)		26			21			36			(20	)		12
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net		—			—			—			—			—			—			(5	)		—			(22	)		—
Net income (loss)	$	242		$	65		$	136		$	158		$	(9	)	$	150		$	133		$	55		$	(24	)	$	(31	)
Financial position
Cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash	$	357		$	561		$	459		$	247		$	333		$	276		$	304		$	147		$	190		$	136
Working capital, excluding cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments		76			33			91			24			(14	)		223			191			232			168			233
Property, plant and equipment, net		885			675			695			630			504			251			227			205			202			214
Total assets		2,450			2,049			1,932			1,720			1,731			1,642			1,802			1,621			1,448			1,426
Capitalization:
Short-term debt		12			78			—			—			10			2			1			52			27			2
Long-term debt		524			418			398			252			249			252			257			261			314			346
Shareholders’ equity		986			830			822			705			664			543			427			356			176			231
Total capitalization	$	1,522		$	1,326		$	1,220		$	957		$	923		$	797		$	685		$	669		$	517		$	579
Per share data
Basic:
Continuing operations	$	3.02		$	0.82		$	1.74		$	2.08		$	1.36		$	1.70		$	1.65		$	0.27		$	0.30		$	(0.87	)
Discontinued operations, net		—			—			—			—			(1.48	)		0.36			0.30			0.53			(0.34	)		0.24
Accounting changes, net		—			—			—			—			—			—			(0.08	)		—			(0.38	)		—
Net income (loss)	$	3.02		$	0.82		$	1.74		$	2.08		$	(0.12	)	$	2.06		$	1.87		$	0.80		$	(0.42	)	$	(0.63	)
Diluted:
Continuing operations	$	2.99		$	0.81		$	1.73		$	2.07		$	1.36		$	1.70		$	1.65		$	0.27		$	0.30		$	(0.87	)
Discontinued operations, net		—			—			—			—			(1.48	)		0.36			0.29			0.53			(0.34	)		0.24
Accounting changes, net		—			—			—			—			—			—			(0.08	)		—			(0.38	)		—
Net income (loss)	$	2.99		$	0.81		$	1.73		$	2.07		$	(0.12	)	$	2.06		$	1.86		$	0.80		$	(0.42	)	$	(0.63	)
Common Cash Dividends		0.80			0.80			0.80			0.80			0.80			0.80			0.80			0.80			0.80			0.80
Market price of common stock:
High		27.16			22.39			19.79			30.39			24.53			22.65			25.35			22.99			20.53			22.60
Low		16.11			14.35			8.97			12.52			15.97			14.22			16.65			15.20			14.97			13.85
Year end		19.65			20.52			17.52			18.08			19.33			16.52			19.68			22.02			20.06			15.55
Other
Capital expenditures	$	201		$	85		$	138		$	180		$	76		$	62		$	63		$	38		$	33		$	24
Depreciation		97			85			70			68			47			38			36			33			40			51
Common dividends paid		64			63			63			61			59			58			57			56			47			39
Purchases of common stock		4			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			3
Current ratio		2.0			2.3			2.8			1.7			1.8			2.2			2.3			2.1			2.1			2.4
Total debt to total capitalization		35.2	%		37.4	%		32.6	%		26.4	%		28.1	%		31.8	%		37.7	%		46.8	%		65.9	%		60.0	%
Effective tax rate		36.3	%		15.7	%		35.4	%		38.8	%		33.1	%		24.2	%		38.4	%		29.6	%		30.8	%		n/a
Average common shares outstanding - diluted		80.8			79.9			78.3			76.1			74.3			72.8			71.6			68.4			58.3			49.4
Shareholders		4,400			4,600			4,900			5,100			5,300			5,700			6,100			6,400			6,800			7,200
Employees(1)		3,800			3,700			3,700			3,600			3,600			3,100			2,900			2,800			2,700			3,000

Our Selected Financial Data reflects the following businesses as discontinued operations: Metals business in 2007 and Olin Aegis in 2004.  Since August 31, 2007, our Selected Financial Data reflects the Pioneer acquisition.  Since February 28, 2011, our Selected Financial Data reflects the acquisition of the remaining 50% of SunBelt.

(1)      Employee data exclude employees who worked at government-owned/contractor-operated facilities.

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Item 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

BUSINESS BACKGROUND

Our manufacturing operations are concentrated in two business segments:  Chlor Alkali Products and Winchester.  Both are capital intensive manufacturing businesses.  Chlor Alkali operating rates are closely tied to the general economy.  Each segment has a commodity element to it, and therefore, our ability to influence pricing is quite limited on the portion of the segment’s business that is strictly commodity.  Our Chlor Alkali Products business is a commodity business where all supplier products are similar and price is the major supplier selection criterion.  We have little or no ability to influence prices in this large, global commodity market.  Cyclical price swings, driven by changes in supply/demand, can be abrupt and significant and, given capacity in our Chlor Alkali Products business, can lead to very significant changes in our overall profitability.  Winchester also has a commodity element to its business, but a majority of Winchester ammunition is sold as a branded consumer product where there are opportunities to differentiate certain offerings through innovative new product development and enhanced product performance.  While competitive pricing versus other branded ammunition products is important, it is not the only factor in product selection.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS

2011 Year

SunBelt Acquisition

On February 28, 2011, we acquired PolyOne’s 50% interest in SunBelt for $132.3 million in cash plus the assumption of a PolyOne guarantee related to the SunBelt Notes.  With this acquisition, Olin now owns 100% of SunBelt.  The SunBelt chlor alkali plant, which is located within our McIntosh, AL facility, has approximately 350,000 tons of membrane technology capacity.  We also agreed to a three year earn out, which has no guaranteed minimum or maximum, based on the performance of SunBelt.  In conjunction with the acquisition, we consolidated the SunBelt Notes with a fair value of $87.3 million for the remaining principal balance of $85.3 million as of February 28, 2011.

Since February 28, 2011, our consolidated results included $170.5 million of SunBelt sales and $27.2 million of additional SunBelt pretax income ($38.7 million included in Chlor Alkali Products segment income; less $0.8 million of acquisition costs, $4.0 million of interest expense and $6.7 million of expense for our earn out liability) on the 50% interest we acquired.  Finally, the 2011 results included a one-time pretax, non-cash gain of $181.4 million associated with the remeasurement of our previously held 50% equity interest in SunBelt.  In conjunction with this remeasurement, a discrete deferred tax expense of $76.0 million was recorded.

Restructurings

 On December 9, 2010, our board of directors approved a plan to eliminate our use of mercury in the manufacture of chlor alkali products.  Under the plan, the 260,000 tons of mercury cell capacity at our Charleston, TN facility will be converted to 200,000 tons of membrane capacity capable of producing both potassium hydroxide and caustic soda.  The project has an estimated capital cost of approximately $160 million.  The board of directors also approved a plan to reconfigure our Augusta, GA facility to manufacture bleach and distribute caustic soda, while discontinuing chlor alkali manufacturing at this site.  This action will reduce our chlor alkali manufacturing capacity by 100,000 tons.  We based our decision to convert and reconfigure on several factors.  First, during 2009 and 2010 we had experienced a steady increase in the number of customers unwilling to accept our products manufactured using mercury cell technology.  Second, there was federal legislation passed in 2008 governing the treatment of mercury that significantly limits our recycling options after December 31, 2012.  We concluded that exiting mercury cell technology production after 2012 represented an unacceptable future cost risk.  Further, the conversion of the Charleston, TN plant to membrane technology will reduce the electricity usage per ECU produced by approximately 25% and the configuration of the new plant will result in an increase in our capacity to produce potassium hydroxide.  The decision to reconfigure the Augusta, GA facility to manufacture bleach and distribute caustic soda removes the highest cost production capacity from our system.  We currently expect to complete the conversion and reconfiguration by the end of 2012.

 On November 3, 2010, we announced that we had made the decision to relocate the Winchester centerfire pistol and rifle ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  This relocation, when completed, is forecast to reduce Winchester’s annual operating costs by approximately $30 million.  Consistent with this relocation decision we have initiated an estimated $110 million five-year project, which includes approximately $80 million of capital spending.  The State of Mississippi and local governments have provided incentives which should offset approximately 40 percent of the capital spending.  In October 2011, we opened the new centerfire production facility in Oxford, MS and the pistol ammunition manufacturing equipment is in the process of being relocated and started up in Oxford, MS.  During 2011, approximately 12% of Winchester’s pistol ammunition was manufactured in Oxford, MS.  We currently expect to complete this relocation by the end of 2015.  Once completed, Winchester expects to have the most modern centerfire ammunition production facility in North America.

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Our total restructuring charges for 2011 and 2010 related to these actions were $10.7 million and $34.2 million, respectively.  The restructuring charges included write-off of equipment and facility costs, acceleration of asset retirement obligations, employee severance and related benefit costs, non-cash pension and other postretirement benefits curtailment charges, lease and other contract termination costs, employee relocation costs, and facility exit costs.  We expect to incur approximately $25 million of additional restructuring charges associated with these actions through the end of 2016.

Other Highlights

In 2011, Chlor Alkali Products’ segment income was $245.0 million, which more than doubled compared with the prior year.  Chlor Alkali Products’ segment income included $38.7 million of additional income from the acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in SunBelt.  Chlor Alkali Products’ also realized improved ECU prices for 2011 compared to the prior year.  Operating rates in Chlor Alkali Products for 2011 and 2010 were 80% and 82%, respectively.  The combination of planned multi-month outages by two chlorine customers and a weakening of chlorine demand negatively impacted shipment volumes in 2011.

Our 2011 ECU netbacks of approximately $560 were 18% higher than the 2010 netbacks of approximately $475.  The 2011 SunBelt ECU netback was approximately $605.  In the first quarter of 2011, three caustic soda price increases were announced totaling $150 per ton.  In March 2011, we also announced a $60 per ton chlorine price increase.  In the third quarter of 2011, an additional caustic soda price increase was announced for $65 per ton, which replaced a late second quarter announced caustic soda price increase of $25 per ton.  Finally, in the fourth quarter of 2011, an additional caustic soda price increase was announced for $80 per ton.  The fourth quarter ECU netback was approximately $580, which was the first decline in price since the low point in our system in the third quarter of 2009.   ECU netbacks in the fourth quarter declined slightly from the third quarter levels of approximately $590 as chlorine prices weakened, driven by a reduced level of chlorine demand, which more than offset increases in caustic soda prices.  ECU netbacks in the first quarter of 2012 are forecast to decline slightly from the fourth quarter of 2011 as we expect the fourth quarter chlorine and caustic soda pricing trends to continue into the first quarter of 2012.  While the success of the third quarter 2011 $65 per ton caustic soda price increase is not yet known, the majority of the benefits of this price increase, if realized, would impact our system in the first quarter of 2012.  While the success of the fourth quarter 2011 $80 per ton caustic soda price increase is not yet known, we believe that it is unlikely that any benefit of this price increase will be realized in the first quarter of 2012.

Winchester segment income was $37.9 million in 2011 compared to $63.0 million in 2010.  The Winchester segment income has declined from the surge levels of 2010 and 2009; however, 2011 represented the third most profitable year in at least the last two decades.  The decrease in 2011 compared to the prior year reflected the impact of higher commodity metals and other material costs, higher manufacturing costs and incremental costs associated with our ongoing relocation of the centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations to Oxford, MS, partially offset by higher selling prices.

Other operating income for 2011 included a gain of $3.7 million on the sale of a former manufacturing site and $1.9 million of insurance recoveries related to our Oxford, MS and St. Gabriel, LA facilities.

Income before taxes for 2011 and 2010 included $11.4 million and $7.2 million, respectively, of recoveries from third parties for environmental costs incurred and expensed in prior periods.

Income tax expense for 2011 included $7.3 million of adjustments associated with a remeasurement of deferred taxes due to an increase in state tax effective rates, the expiration of statutes of limitation in federal and state jurisdictions, and the finalization of our 2010 domestic and Canadian income tax returns.  Income tax expense for 2011 also included a discrete deferred tax expense of $76.0 million related to the tax effect of the gain recorded on the remeasurement of our previously held 50% equity interest in SunBelt.  Income tax expense for 2010 included $13.5 million of favorable adjustments associated with the expiration of statutes of limitation in domestic and foreign jurisdictions and a reduction in expense related to the release of a valuation allowance recorded against the foreign tax credit carryforward deferred tax asset generated by our Canadian operations.

In December 2011, we repaid the $75.0 million 9.125% Senior Notes (2011 Notes) issued in 2001, and $12.2 million due under the annual requirements of the SunBelt Notes.  These were redeemed using cash.  Also during December 2011, we drew the remaining $36.0 million of variable rate Go Zone bonds that were issued in 2010.  The associated cash was classified as a restricted long-term asset.  On December 31, 2011, there was a $51.7 million restricted cash balance that is required to be used to fund capital projects in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

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Capital spending of $200.9 million for 2011 included $51.0 million for our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations and $60.0 million for the conversion of our Charleston, TN facility from mercury cell technology to membrane technology.  The capital spending for the ongoing Winchester relocation of $51.0 million was partially financed by $31.0 million of grants received by the State of Mississippi and local governments.  The full amounts of these grants were received in 2011.  The Charleston, TN mercury cell conversion is expected to be completed in the second half of 2012.  The 2011 capital spending also included approximately $20 million for the construction of low salt, high strength bleach facilities at our McIntosh, AL; Henderson, NV; and Niagara Falls, NY chlor alkali sites.  We expect to complete the first low salt, high strength bleach facility at McIntosh, AL in the first quarter of 2012.  The two remaining low salt, high strength bleach facilities are expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2012.  These three new facilities will increase total bleach manufacturing capacity by an additional 50% over the 2011 capacity.  These low salt, high strength bleach facilities will double the concentration of the bleach we manufacture, which should significantly reduce transportation costs.

2010 Year

In 2010, Chlor Alkali Products’ segment income was $117.2 million, a decrease of 7% compared with 2009.  Chlor Alkali Products’ began to experience improved chlorine and caustic soda demand during 2010 and experienced a record level of bleach sales.  Volumes for chlorine and caustic soda improved 15% compared to 2009, while volumes for bleach improved 18%.  Operating rates in Chlor Alkali Products for 2010 and 2009 were 82% and 70%, respectively.

Our 2010 ECU netbacks of approximately $475 were 9% lower than the 2009 netbacks of approximately $520; however, the pricing trend was positive throughout 2010 as ECU netbacks increased sequentially from the low level of approximately $375 in the third quarter of 2009.  The fourth quarter of 2010 ECU netback was approximately $515.  As business conditions improved throughout 2010, our quarterly chlor alkali operating rates improved year-over-year reaching a 91% operating rate during the summer demand season.  A significant portion of the North American chlor alkali demand improvement came from exports of products made from chlorine, driven by the energy advantage the North American chemical producers enjoy by using natural gas as compared to crude oil.  With demand for both chlorine and caustic soda improving, price increases were announced throughout the year.  During February 2010, an $80 per ton caustic soda price increase was announced.  We began realizing a portion of this price increase in caustic soda in the second quarter of 2010.  Caustic soda demand continued to improve, and as a result, during the third quarter of 2010, three additional caustic soda price increases were announced totaling $135 per ton.  We began realizing the benefits from these price increases and from contracts that re-set on an annual basis in the first half of 2011.

Winchester segment income of $63.0 million in 2010, which represented the second highest level of segment income in at least the last two decades, declined 8% compared to 2009 segment income of $68.6 million.  The higher than normal levels of commercial demand that began in the fourth quarter of 2008 continued through the second quarter of 2010.  Beginning with the third quarter of 2010, Winchester began to experience a decline in commercial demand from the 2009 levels.  However, the second half of 2010 commercial demand remained stronger than 2007 levels.  Commercial volumes, excluding rimfire, for 2010 decreased approximately 12% from 2009 levels.

Income before taxes for 2010 included $7.2 million of recoveries from third parties for environmental costs incurred and expensed in prior periods.  For 2009, income before taxes included $82.1 million of recoveries from third parties for environmental costs incurred and expensed in prior periods.

Income tax expense for 2010 included $13.5 million of favorable adjustments associated with the expiration of statutes of limitation in domestic and foreign jurisdictions and a reduction in expense related to the release of a valuation allowance recorded against the foreign tax credit carryforward deferred tax asset generated by our Canadian operations.  Income tax expense for 2009 included $6.0 million of favorable adjustments associated with the expiration of statutes of limitation in domestic and foreign jurisdictions and reductions in expense associated with the finalization of the 2008 income tax returns.

In September 2010, we redeemed industrial development and environmental improvement tax-exempt bonds (industrial revenue bonds) totaling $18.9 million, with maturity dates of February 2016 and March 2016.  We paid a premium of $0.4 million to the bond holders, which was included in interest expense.  We also recognized a $0.3 million deferred gain in interest expense related to the interest rate swaps, which were terminated in April 2010, on these industrial revenue bonds.  In October 2010, we redeemed additional industrial revenue bonds totaling $1.8 million, with a maturity date of October 2014.

In October 2010, we completed a financing of Go Zone and Recovery Zone tax-exempt bonds totaling $70.0 million due 2024.  We had the option to borrow up to the entire $70.0 million in a series of draw downs through December 31, 2011.  During 2010, we drew $34.0 million of these bonds.  The proceeds from these bonds are required to be used to fund capital project spending at our McIntosh, AL facility.  In December 2010, we completed a financing of Recovery Zone tax exempt bonds totaling $83.0 million due in 2033 and 2035.  During 2010, we drew the entire $83.0 million of the bonds.  The proceeds from the bonds are required to be used to fund the Charleston, TN facility mercury cell conversion and our ongoing Winchester relocation.  Of the $117.0 million drawn from the Go Zone and Recovery Zone bonds as of December 31, 2010, $102.0 million of the associated cash was classified as a noncurrent asset on our consolidated balance sheet as restricted cash, until such time as we could request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used to fund the capital projects in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

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The Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010 and the Healthcare and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 was signed into law on March 31, 2010 (collectively the Healthcare Acts).  The impact of the Healthcare Acts did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

2009 Year

In 2009, Chlor Alkali Products’ segment income was $125.4 million, a decline of 62% compared with 2008.  Chlor Alkali Products continued to experience the weak product demand that began in the fourth quarter of 2008.  Volumes for chlorine and caustic soda decreased 22% compared to 2008.  Volumes for bleach, which accounted for approximately 12% of Chlor Alkali Products’ sales, increased 17% compared to 2008.  Operating rates in Chlor Alkali Products for 2009 and 2008 were 70% and 82%, respectively.  These operating rates assume that 100% of our demonstrated capacity was available for use.  The capacity of our St. Gabriel, LA facility had been shutdown since late November 2008 and the facility was not available for use until the conversion and expansion project was completed in the fourth quarter of 2009.  In addition, in response to low levels of customer demand for chlorine and caustic soda, an additional 5% of our chlorine and caustic soda capacity was idled by us in 2009.  After taking these capacity reduction actions into consideration, our effective operating rate for 2009 was 78%.

Our 2009 ECU netbacks of approximately $520 were 18% lower than the 2008 netbacks of approximately $635, reflecting the changes in the pricing dynamics in North America.  During 2008, North American demand for caustic soda was strong, while supply continued to be constrained by the weakness in chlorine demand.  This resulted in a significant supply and demand imbalance for caustic soda in North America, which resulted in record caustic soda pricing.  The result was a record ECU netback, in our system, in the first quarter of 2009 of approximately $765.  Beginning late in the fourth quarter of 2008 and continuing through 2009, demand for caustic soda weakened significantly, and fell below the demand for chlorine.  This created excess supply in North America, which caused caustic soda prices to fall.  The over supply of caustic soda caused industry operating rates to be constrained, which resulted in chlorine price increase announcements of $300 per ton during the second quarter of 2009.  Caustic soda prices declined precipitously in the second quarter of 2009 and these declines continued into the third quarter of 2009.  During the third quarter of 2009, chlorine and caustic soda demand became more balanced eliminating the oversupply of caustic soda.  We began realizing increases in chlorine prices in the third quarter of 2009 with most of the improvement in the fourth quarter of 2009.  ECU netbacks, in our system, bottomed out in the third quarter of 2009.  During the fourth quarter of 2009, as caustic soda demand improved, chlorine production declined due to seasonally weaker demand.  This resulted in a supply and demand imbalance for caustic soda in North America.  As a result of this imbalance, in December 2009, a $75 per ton caustic soda price increase was announced.  We began realizing the benefits of this price increase in caustic soda in the first half of 2010.

Winchester segment income of $68.6 million in 2009, which represented the highest level of segment income in at least the last two decades, improved 110% compared to 2008 segment income of $32.6 million.  Winchester continued to experience the above normal levels of demand during 2009 that began around the November 2008 presidential election.  The increase in demand was across the majority of Winchester’s product offerings, including rifle, pistol and rimfire ammunition.  On a volume basis, Winchester’s unit shipments increased 14% in 2009 compared to 2008, which was driven by the higher level of commercial sales.  Winchester’s results reflected the impact of increased volumes and higher selling prices, and lower commodity and other material costs.

Income from continuing operations before taxes for 2009 included $82.1 million of recoveries from third parties for environmental costs incurred and expensed in prior periods.

On August 19, 2009, we sold $150.0 million of 8.875% Senior Notes (2019 Notes) with a maturity date of August 15, 2019.  The 2019 Notes were issued at 99.19% of par value, providing a yield to maturity to investors of 9.0%.  Interest is paid semi-annually in arrears on each February 15 and August 15.  Proceeds of $145.5 million, after expenses of $3.3 million, from the 2019 Notes were used to further strengthen our long-term liquidity.

During the fourth quarter of 2009, we completed a conversion and expansion project at our St. Gabriel, LA facility and initiated production.  This project increased capacity at this location from 197,000 ECUs to 246,000 ECUs and significantly reduced the site’s manufacturing costs.  Our capital spending included $69.6 million and $87.2 million for the St. Gabriel, LA facility conversion and expansion project in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

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CHLOR ALKALI PRODUCTS PRICING

In accordance with industry practice, we calculate Chlor Alkali Products’ prices on an ECU netback basis, reporting and analyzing prices net of the cost of transporting the products to customers to allow for a comparable means of price comparisons between periods and with respect to our competitors.  For purposes of determining our ECU netback, we use prices that we realize as a result of sales of chlorine and caustic soda to our customers, and we do not include the value of chlorine and caustic soda that is incorporated in other products that we manufacture and sell.

Quarterly and annual average ECU netbacks, excluding SunBelt, for 2011, 2010, and 2009 were as follows:

	2011		2010		2009
First quarter	$	525	$	440	$	765
Second quarter		550		470		585
Third quarter		590		465		375
Fourth quarter		580		515		425
Annual average		560		475		520

Beginning late in the fourth quarter of 2008 and continuing through 2009, demand for caustic soda weakened significantly, and fell below the demand for chlorine.  This created excess supply in North America, which caused caustic soda prices to fall.  The over supply of caustic soda caused industry operating rates to be constrained, which resulted in chlorine price increase announcements of $300 per ton during the second quarter of 2009.  Caustic soda prices declined precipitously in the second quarter of 2009 and these declines continued into the third quarter of 2009.  During the third quarter of 2009, chlorine and caustic soda demand became more balanced eliminating the oversupply of caustic soda.  We began realizing increases in chlorine prices in the third quarter of 2009 with most of the improvement in the fourth quarter of 2009.  ECU netbacks, in our system, bottomed out in the third quarter of 2009.  During the fourth quarter of 2009, as caustic soda demand improved, chlorine production declined due to seasonally weaker demand.  This resulted in a supply and demand imbalance for caustic soda in North America.  As a result of this imbalance, in December 2009, a $75 per ton caustic soda price increase was announced.  We began realizing the benefits of this price increase in caustic soda in the first half of 2010.

Our 2010 ECU netbacks of approximately $475 were 9% lower than the 2009 netbacks of approximately $520; however, the pricing trend was positive throughout 2010 as ECU netbacks increased sequentially from the low level of approximately $375 in the third quarter of 2009.  The fourth quarter of 2010 ECU netback was approximately $515.  As business conditions improved throughout 2010, our quarterly chlor alkali operating rates improved year-over-year reaching a 91% operating rate during the summer demand season.  A significant portion of the North American chlor alkali demand improvement came from exports of products made from chlorine, driven by the energy advantage the North American chemical producers enjoy by using natural gas as compared to crude oil.  With demand for both chlorine and caustic soda improving, price increases were announced throughout 2010.  During February 2010, an $80 per ton caustic soda price increase was announced.  We began realizing a portion of this price increase in caustic soda in the second quarter of 2010.  Caustic soda demand continued to improve, and as a result, during the third quarter of 2010, three additional caustic soda price increases were announced totaling $135 per ton.  We began realizing the benefits from these price increases and from contracts that re-set on an annual basis in the first half of 2011.

Our 2011 ECU netbacks of approximately $560 were 18% higher than the 2010 netbacks of approximately $475.  The 2011 SunBelt ECU netback was approximately $605.  In the first quarter of 2011, three caustic soda price increases were announced totaling $150 per ton.  In March 2011, we also announced a $60 per ton chlorine price increase.  In the third quarter of 2011, an additional caustic soda price increase was announced for $65 per ton, which replaced a late second quarter announced caustic soda price increase of $25 per ton.  Finally, in the fourth quarter of 2011, an additional caustic soda price increase was announced for $80 per ton.  The fourth quarter ECU netback was approximately $580, which was the first decline in price since the low point in our system in the third quarter of 2009.  ECU netbacks in the fourth quarter declined slightly from the third quarter levels of approximately $590 as chlorine prices weakened, driven by a reduced level of chlorine demand, which more than offset increases in caustic soda prices.  ECU netbacks in the first quarter of 2012 are forecast to decline slightly from the fourth quarter of 2011 as we expect the fourth quarter chlorine and caustic soda pricing trends to continue into the first quarter of 2012.  While the success of the third quarter 2011 $65 per ton caustic soda price increase is not yet known, the majority of the benefits of this price increase, if realized, would impact our system in the first quarter of 2012.  While the success of the fourth quarter 2011 $80 per ton caustic soda price increase is not yet known, we believe that it is unlikely that any benefit of this price increase will be realized in the first quarter of 2012.

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PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

Under ASC 715, formerly SFAS No. 158, we recorded an after-tax charge of $29.0 million ($46.8 million pretax) to shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2011 for our pension and other postretirement plans.  This charge reflected a 40-basis point decrease in the plans’ discount rate and an unfavorable actuarial assumption change related to mortality tables, partially offset by the favorable performance on plan assets during 2011.  In 2010, we recorded an after-tax charge of $26.0 million ($42.3 million pretax) to shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2010 for our pension and other postretirement plans.  This charge reflected a 45-basis point decrease in the plans’ discount rate, partially offset by the favorable performance on plan assets during 2010.  In 2009, we recorded an after-tax charge of $27.3 million ($41.7 million pretax) to shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2009 for our pension and other postretirement plans.  This charge reflected a 50-basis point decrease in the plans’ discount rate, partially offset by the favorable performance on plan assets during 2009.  The non-cash charges to shareholders’ equity do not affect our ability to borrow under our senior revolving credit facility.

During the third quarter of 2006, the “Pension Protection Act of 2006”, amended by “The Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act,” during the fourth quarter of 2008, became law.  Among the stated objectives of the laws are the protection of both pension beneficiaries and the financial health of the PBGC.  To accomplish these objectives, the new laws require sponsors to fund defined benefit pension plans earlier than previous requirements and to pay increased PBGC premiums.  The laws require defined benefit pension plans to be fully funded for 2011.  Based on our plan assumptions and estimates, we will not be required to make any cash contributions to the domestic defined benefit pension plan at least through 2013.  We do have a small Canadian defined benefit pension plan to which we made $0.9 million and $9.8 million of cash contributions in 2011 and 2010, respectively, and we anticipate less than $5 million of cash contributions in 2012.  At December 31, 2011, the market value of assets in our qualified defined benefit pension plans of $1,906.9 million exceeded the projected benefit obligation by $19.2 million.

Components of net periodic benefit (income) costs were:

	Years ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Pension benefits	$	(22.5	)	$	(17.7	)	$	(16.7	)
Other postretirement benefits		7.8			7.3			7.3

In June 2011, we recorded a curtailment charge of $1.1 million related to the ratification of a new five and one half year Winchester, East Alton, IL union labor agreement.  In December 2010, we recorded a curtailment charge for pension benefits of $3.2 million and a credit for other postretirement benefits of $0.2 million associated with our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  These curtailment charges were included in restructuring charges.

In March 2010, we recorded a charge of $1.3 million associated with an agreement to withdraw our Henderson, NV chlor alkali hourly workforce from a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan.

The service cost and the amortization of prior service cost components of pension expense related to employees of the operating segments are allocated to the operating segments based on their respective estimated census data.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

	Years ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
	($ in millions, except per share data)
Sales	$	1,961.1	$	1,585.9	$	1,531.5
Cost of goods sold		1,573.9		1,349.9		1,222.7
Gross margin		387.2		236.0		308.8
Selling and administration		161.4		134.4		135.3
Restructuring charges		10.7		34.2		—
Other operating income		8.8		2.5		9.1
Operating income		223.9		69.9		182.6
Earnings of non-consolidated affiliates		9.6		29.9		37.7
Interest expense		30.4		25.4		11.6
Interest income		1.2		1.0		1.1
Other income		175.1		1.5		0.1
Income before taxes		379.4		76.9		209.9
Income tax provision		137.7		12.1		74.2
Net income	$	241.7		64.8	$	135.7
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	3.02		0.82	$	1.74
Diluted	$	2.99		0.81	$	1.73

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2011 Compared to 2010

Sales for 2011 were $1,961.1 million compared to $1,585.9 million last year, an increase of $375.2 million, or 24%.  Chlor Alkali Products’ sales increased $352.5 million, or 34%, primarily due to the inclusion of SunBelt sales of $170.5 million, higher ECU prices and increased sales of co-products.  Our ECU netbacks, excluding SunBelt, increased 18% compared to last year.  Winchester sales increased by $22.7 million, or 4%, from 2010 primarily due to increased shipments to domestic commercial customers, military and international customers.

Gross margin increased $151.2 million, or 64%, from 2010, primarily as a result of increased Chlor Alkali Products’ gross margin due to the contribution from SunBelt and increased ECU netbacks, partially offset by reduced Winchester gross margin resulting from higher commodity and other material costs.  Gross margin as a percentage of sales increased to 20% in 2011 from 15% in 2010.

Selling and administration expenses in 2011 increased $27.0 million, or 20%, from 2010 primarily due to increased expenses associated with the inclusion of SunBelt’s selling and administration expenses of $9.3 million, higher recruiting and relocation charges of $5.2 million, increased salary and benefit costs of $5.1 million, an unfavorable foreign currency impact of $2.4 million, higher bad debt costs of $1.1 million, higher consulting charges of $1.0 million, SunBelt acquisition costs of $0.8 million, and increased management incentive compensation of $0.5 million, which included mark-to-market adjustments on stock-based compensation.  Selling and administration expenses as a percentage of sales were 8% in 2011 and 2010.

Restructuring charges in 2011 and 2010 of $10.7 million and $34.2 million, respectively, were primarily associated with exiting the use of mercury cell technology in the chlor alkali manufacturing process by the end of 2012 and our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.

Other operating income in 2011 increased $6.3 million from 2010.  Other operating income for 2011 included a gain of $3.7 million on the sale of a former manufacturing site and $1.9 million of insurance recoveries related to our Oxford, MS and St. Gabriel, LA facilities.

The earnings of non-consolidated affiliates were $9.6 million for 2011, a decrease of $20.3 million from 2010, primarily due to the acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in SunBelt that was completed on February 28, 2011.  Since the date of acquisition, SunBelt’s results are no longer included in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates but are consolidated in our consolidated financial statements.

Interest expense increased by $5.0 million in 2011, primarily due to a higher level of outstanding debt, which includes the SunBelt Notes, partially offset by lower interest rates.

Other income in 2011 included a pretax gain of $181.4 million as a result of remeasuring our previously held 50% equity interest in SunBelt, partially offset by $6.7 million of expense for our earn out liability from the SunBelt acquisition.  Other income in 2010 included a $1.4 million recovery from an investment in corporate debt securities that was written off in 2008.

The effective tax rate for 2011 included a benefit of $4.9 million related to remeasurement of deferred taxes due to an increase in state tax effective rates, a $4.2 million benefit related to the expiration of statutes of limitations in federal and state jurisdictions, a $1.8 million expense associated with the finalization of our 2010 domestic and Canadian income tax returns and a deferred tax expense of $76.0 million related to the tax effect of the gain recorded on the remeasurement of our previously held 50% equity interest in SunBelt.  After giving consideration to these four items of $68.7 million and the SunBelt pretax gain of $181.4 million, the effective tax rate of 34.8% for 2011 was lower than the 35% U.S. federal statutory rate, primarily due to favorable permanent tax deduction items, including the domestic manufacturing deduction and tax deductible dividends paid to the Contributing Employee Ownership Plan (CEOP), which were partially offset by state income taxes.  The effective tax rate for 2010 included a $9.2 million reduction in expense associated with the expiration of statutes of limitation in domestic and foreign jurisdictions, and a $4.3 million reduction in expense related to the release of a valuation allowance recorded against the foreign tax credit carryforward deferred tax asset generated by our Canadian operations.  After giving consideration to these two items of $13.5 million, the effective rate for 2010 of 33.3% was lower than the 35% U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to favorable tax benefits of permanent tax deduction items, including the domestic manufacturing deduction and tax deductible dividends paid to the CEOP, which were offset in part by state income taxes.

2010 Compared to 2009

Our total sales for 2010 were $1,585.9 million compared to $1,531.5 million in 2009, an increase of $54.4 million, or 4%.  Chlor Alkali Products’ sales increased by $72.8 million, or 8%, primarily due to increased shipment volumes partially offset by lower ECU prices.  Our ECU netbacks, excluding SunBelt, decreased 9% compared to 2009.  Winchester sales decreased by $18.4 million, or 3%, from 2009 primarily due to the decline in shipments to commercial customers, partially offset by higher shipments to military, international, industrial and law enforcement customers.

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Gross margin decreased $72.8 million, or 24%, from 2009, primarily due to the impact of decreased recoveries from third parties for environmental costs incurred and expensed in prior periods.  Gross margin in 2010 was also impacted by lower Winchester gross margin resulting from decreased volumes and decreased Chlor Alkali gross margin resulting from lower ECU netbacks, partially offset by higher volumes.  Gross margin as a percentage of sales decreased to 15% in 2010 from 20% in 2009.

Selling and administration expenses in 2010 decreased $0.9 million, or 1%, from 2009, primarily due to lower bad debt costs of $6.7 million, resulting from a deterioration in customer credit in 2009, lower salary and benefit costs of $3.4 million, and decreased consulting charges of $1.4 million.  These decreases were offset by higher non-income taxes of $4.7 million, primarily due to a favorable resolution of a Canadian capital tax matter in 2009, a higher level of legal and legal-related settlement expenses of $3.2 million, increased stock-based compensation expense of $1.9 million, primarily due to mark-to-market adjustments, and increased recruiting and relocation charges of $1.1 million.  Selling and administration expenses as a percentage of sales were 8% in 2010 and 9% in 2009.

Restructuring charges in 2010 of $34.2 million included charges associated with the implementation of plans to exit the use of mercury cell technology in the chlor alkali manufacturing process by the end of 2012 and our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.

Other operating income for 2010 decreased by $6.6 million from 2009.  Other operating income for 2010 and 2009 included $1.1 million and $1.6 million, respectively, of gains on the disposition of property, plant and equipment primarily associated with the St. Gabriel, LA conversion and expansion project.  Other operating income for 2009 also included a $3.7 million gain on the sale of land, a $1.2 million gain on the disposition of a former manufacturing facility and a $0.8 million gain for the sale of other assets.

The earnings of non-consolidated affiliates were $29.9 million for 2010, a decrease of $7.8 million from 2009, primarily due to lower ECU prices at SunBelt.

Interest expense increased by $13.8 million for 2010 primarily due to a higher level of outstanding debt and a decrease of $8.8 million in capitalized interest primarily associated with our St. Gabriel, LA facility conversion and expansion project, which was completed in the fourth quarter of 2009, partially offset by lower interest rates.

Interest income decreased by $0.1 million, or 9%, compared to 2009, primarily due to lower short-term interest rates, partially offset by higher average cash balances.

Other income in 2010 included a $1.4 million recovery from an investment in corporate debt securities that was written off in 2008.

The effective tax rate for 2010 included a $9.2 million reduction in expense associated with the expiration of statutes of limitation in domestic and foreign jurisdictions, and a $4.3 million reduction in expense related to the release of a valuation allowance recorded against the foreign tax credit carryforward deferred tax asset generated by our Canadian operations.  After giving consideration to these two items of $13.5 million, the effective tax rate for 2010 of 33.3% was lower than the 35% U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to favorable tax benefits of permanent tax deduction items, including the domestic manufacturing deduction and tax deductible dividends paid to the CEOP, which were offset in part by state income taxes.  During periods of low earnings, our effective tax rate can be significantly impacted by permanent tax reduction items, return to provision adjustments, changes in tax contingencies and valuation allowances, and tax credits.  The effective tax rate for 2009 included a $2.8 million reduction in expense primarily associated with the finalization of the 2008 income tax returns, which resulted in lower state tax expense, and a $3.2 million reduction in expense primarily associated with the expiration of statutes of limitation in domestic and foreign jurisdictions.  After giving consideration to these two items of $6.0 million, the effective tax rate for 2009 of 38.2%, was higher than the 35% U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to state income taxes, which were offset in part by the utilization of certain state tax credits.

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SEGMENT RESULTS

We define segment results as income (loss) before interest expense, interest income, other operating income, other income, and income taxes and include the results of non-consolidated affiliates.  Consistent with the guidance in ASC 280 “Segment Reporting” (ASC 280), formerly SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” (SFAS No. 131), we have determined it is appropriate to include the operating results of non-consolidated affiliates in the relevant segment financial results.

	Years ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Sales:	($ in millions)
Chlor Alkali Products	$	1,389.1		$	1,036.6		$	963.8
Winchester		572.0			549.3			567.7
Total sales	$	1,961.1		$	1,585.9		$	1,531.5
Income before taxes:
Chlor Alkali Products(1)	$	245.0		$	117.2		$	125.4
Winchester		37.9			63.0			68.6
Corporate/Other:
Pension income(2)		27.8			24.6			22.3
Environmental (expense) income(3)		(7.9	)		(9.1	)		58.0
Other corporate and unallocated costs		(67.4	)		(64.2	)		(63.1	)
Restructuring charges(4)		(10.7	)		(34.2	)		—
Other operating income(5)		8.8			2.5			9.1
Interest expense(6)		(30.4	)		(25.4	)		(11.6	)
Interest income		1.2			1.0			1.1
Other income(7)		175.1			1.5			0.1
Income before taxes	$	379.4		$	76.9		$	209.9

(1) Earnings of non-consolidated affiliates are included in the Chlor Alkali Products segment results consistent with management’s monitoring of the operating segment.  The earnings from non-consolidated affiliates were $9.6 million, $29.9 million and $37.7 million for the years ended 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  On February 28, 2011, we acquired the remaining 50% interest in SunBelt.  Since the date of acquisition, SunBelt’s results are no longer included in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates but are consolidated in our consolidated financial statements.

(2) The service cost and the amortization of prior service cost components of pension expense related to the employees of the operating segments are allocated to the operating segments based on their respective estimated census data.  All other components of pension costs are included in corporate/other and include items such as the expected return on plan assets, interest cost and recognized actuarial gains and losses.  Pension income for the year ended 2010 included a charge of $1.3 million associated with an agreement to withdraw our Henderson, NV chlor alkali hourly workforce from a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan.

(3) Environmental (expense) income for the years ended 2011, 2010 and 2009 included $11.4 million, $7.2 million and $82.1 million, respectively, of recoveries from third parties for costs incurred and expensed in prior periods.  Environmental (expense) income is included in cost of goods sold in the consolidated statements of operations.

(4) Restructuring charges for the years ended 2011 and 2010 were primarily associated with exiting the use of mercury cell technology in the chlor alkali manufacturing process by the end of 2012 and our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.

(5) Other operating income for the year ended 2011 included a gain of $3.7 million on the sale of a former manufacturing site and $1.9 million of insurance recoveries related to our Oxford, MS and St. Gabriel, LA facilities.  Other operating income for 2009 included a $3.7 million gain on the sale of land, a $1.2 million gain on the disposition of a former manufacturing facility and $0.8 million for the sale of other assets.

(6) Interest expense was reduced by capitalized interest of $1.2 million, $0.9 million and $9.7 million for the years ended 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

(7) Other income for the year ended 2011 included a pretax gain of $181.4 million as a result of remeasuring our previously held 50% equity interest in SunBelt, partially offset by $6.7 million of expense for our earn out liability from the SunBelt acquisition.  The income tax provision for the year ended 2011 included a $76.0 million discrete deferred tax expense as a result of the remeasurement of the SunBelt investment.  Other income for the year ended 2010 included a $1.4 million recovery from a $26.6 million investment in corporate debt securities, whose full value was written off in 2008.  We are currently unable to utilize the capital loss resulting from the impairment of these corporate debt securities; therefore, no tax benefit has been recognized for the impairment loss.

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Chlor Alkali Products

2011 Compared to 2010

Chlor Alkali Products’ sales for 2011 were $1,389.1 million compared to $1,036.6 million for 2010, an increase of $352.5 million, or 34%.  The acquisition of SunBelt contributed sales of $170.5 million for 2011.  Chlor Alkali Products’ sales, excluding SunBelt, increased $182.0 million, or 18%.  The sales increase was primarily due to higher ECU pricing, which increased 18% from 2010.  Chlorine and caustic soda volumes increased 1% from 2010.  Bleach volumes increased 15% for 2011 compared to last year, and hydrochloric acid volumes increased 12% compared to 2010.  Our ECU netback, excluding SunBelt, was approximately $560 for 2011 compared to approximately $475 for 2010.  The SunBelt ECU netback for 2011 was approximately $605.  Freight costs included in the ECU netback increased 20% for 2011 compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher railroad freight rates.  Our operating rate for 2011 was 80% compared to our operating rate of 82% in 2010.  The 2011 operating rate was affected by the combination of planned multi-month outages by two chlorine customers and a weakening of chlorine demand.

Chlor Alkali Products posted segment income of $245.0 million for 2011, compared to $117.2 million for 2010, an increase of $127.8 million, or 109%.  Chlor Alkali Products segment income was higher primarily due to higher ECU netbacks ($112.5 million), higher SunBelt earnings ($53.8 million) and increased volumes ($8.0 million).  The higher SunBelt earnings primarily related to $38.7 million of additional income on the remaining 50% interest we acquired and higher ECU netbacks.  These increases were partially offset by increased operating costs ($46.5 million), primarily raw materials and electricity.

2010 Compared to 2009

Chlor Alkali Products’ sales for 2010 were $1,036.6 million compared to $963.8 million for 2009, an increase of $72.8 million, or 8%.  The sales increase was primarily due to higher chlorine and caustic soda volumes of 15%, partially offset by lower ECU pricing, which decreased 9% from 2009.  Volumes for potassium hydroxide increased 58% for 2010 primarily reflecting a raw material supply disruption that impacted the first half of 2009 volumes.  Bleach volumes and hydrochloric acid volumes also increased 18% and 10%, respectively, for 2010.  Sales for potassium hydroxide, bleach, and hydrochloric acid represented approximately 25% of Chlor Alkali Products’ sales in 2010.  Our ECU netbacks, excluding SunBelt, were approximately $475 compared to approximately $520 for 2009.  Freight costs included in the ECU netback decreased 4% for 2010 compared to 2009, and reflected the benefits of increased pipeline shipments associated with the full year operations of our St. Gabriel, LA facility, which more than offset higher railroad freight rates.  Our operating rate for 2010 was 82%, compared to our operating rate of 70% for 2009.  The higher operating rate for 2010 resulted from higher chlorine, bleach and hydrochloric acid demand.

Chlor Alkali Products’ posted segment income of $117.2 million for 2010 compared to $125.4 million for 2009, a decrease of $8.2 million, or 7%.  Chlor Alkali segment income was lower primarily due to lower ECU netbacks ($109.2 million) and lower earnings of non-consolidated affiliates ($7.8 million), primarily related to lower ECU netbacks at SunBelt, partially offset by increased volumes ($97.3 million) and decreased operating costs ($11.5 million), primarily raw materials and electricity.  The operating results from SunBelt included interest expense of $3.5 million and $4.0 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively, on the SunBelt Notes.

Winchester

2011 Compared to 2010

Winchester sales were $572.0 million for 2011 compared to $549.3 million for 2010, an increase of $22.7 million, or 4%.  Sales of ammunition to domestic commercial customers increased $10.2 million, shipments to military and international customers increased $7.9 million and $7.2 million, respectively, and shipments to industrial customers, who primarily supply the construction sector, increased $1.2 million.  These increases were partially offset by lower shipments to law enforcement agencies of $3.8 million.

Winchester reported segment income of $37.9 million for 2011 compared to $63.0 million for 2010, a decrease of $25.1 million, or 40%.  The decrease was primarily due to the impact of increased commodity and other material costs and higher operating costs ($40.8 million), partially offset by higher selling prices ($15.7 million).

2010 Compared to 2009

Winchester sales were $549.3 million for 2010 compared to $567.7 million for 2009, a decrease of $18.4 million, or 3%.  Sales of ammunition to domestic commercial customers decreased $38.8 million.  Beginning with the third quarter of 2010, Winchester began to experience a decline in commercial demand from the 2009 levels.  These decreases in domestic commercial sales were partially offset by higher shipments to military customers of $7.9 million, higher shipments to international customers of $5.4 million and increased shipments to industrial customers, who primarily supply the construction sector, of $4.1 million.  Shipments to law enforcement agencies also increased $2.7 million.

29

Winchester reported segment income of $63.0 million for 2010 compared to $68.6 million for 2009, a decrease of $5.6 million, or 8%.  The decrease was primarily due to the combination of lower volumes, a less favorable product mix and higher operating costs ($11.3 million), partially offset by improved pricing, decreased commodity and other material costs, and lower bad debt costs ($5.7 million).

Corporate/Other

2011 Compared to 2010

For 2011, pension income included in corporate/other was $27.8 million compared to $24.6 million for 2010.  Pension income for 2010 included a charge of $1.3 million associated with an agreement to withdraw our Henderson, NV chlor alkali hourly workforce from a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan.  On a total company basis, defined benefit pension income for 2011 was $22.5 million compared to $17.7 million for 2010.  Pension income on a total company basis for 2011 and 2010 included curtailment charges of $1.1 million and $3.2 million, respectively, associated with our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS, which were included in the restructuring charges for 2011 and 2010.

Charges to income for environmental investigatory and remedial activities were $7.9 million for 2011 compared to $9.1 million for 2010, which included $11.4 million and $7.2 million, respectively, of recoveries from third parties for costs incurred and expensed in prior periods.  Without these recoveries, charges to income for environmental investigatory and remedial activities would have been $19.3 million for 2011 compared with $16.3 million for 2010.  These charges related primarily to expected future investigatory and remedial activities associated with past manufacturing operations and former waste disposal sites.

For 2011, other corporate and unallocated costs were $67.4 million compared to $64.2 million for 2010, an increase of $3.2 million, or 5%.  The increase was primarily due to higher salary and benefit costs of $2.6 million, increased asset retirement obligation and legacy site charges of $1.2 million, an unfavorable foreign currency impact of $1.0 million, SunBelt acquisition costs of $0.8 million, and higher consulting charges of $0.5 million.  These increases were partially offset by a lower level of legal and legal-related settlement expenses of $2.6 million and decreased management incentive compensation of $0.5 million, primarily due to mark-to-market adjustments on stock-based compensation.

2010 Compared to 2009

For 2010, pension income included in corporate/other was $24.6 million compared to $22.3 million for 2009.  Pension income for 2010 included a charge of $1.3 million associated with an agreement to withdraw our Henderson, NV chlor alkali hourly workforce from a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan.  On a total company basis, defined benefit pension income for 2010 was $17.7 million compared to $16.7 million for 2009.  Pension income on a total company basis for 2010 included a curtailment charge of $3.2 million associated with our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS, which was included in the restructuring charges for 2010.

Charges to income for environmental investigatory and remedial activities were $9.1 million for 2010 compared to credits to income of $58.0 million for 2009, which included $7.2 million and $82.1 million, respectively, of recoveries from third parties for costs incurred and expensed in prior periods.  Without these recoveries, charges to income for environmental investigatory and remedial activities would have been $16.3 million for 2010 compared with $24.1 million for 2009.  These charges relate primarily to expected future investigatory and remedial activities associated with past manufacturing operations and former waste disposal sites.

For 2010, other corporate and unallocated costs were $64.2 million compared with $63.1 million for 2009, an increase of $1.1 million, or 2%.  The increase was primarily due to higher non-income taxes of $4.6 million, resulting from a favorable resolution of a Canadian capital tax matter in 2009, increased management incentive compensation costs of $2.3 million, which includes mark-to-market adjustments on stock-based compensation, and increased legal and legal-related settlement expenses of $1.9 million, partially offset by lower asset retirement obligation charges of $5.8 million, primarily related to decreases in estimated costs for certain assets and lower spending than expected on projects completed in 2010, and decreased salary and benefit costs of $1.9 million.

30

2012 OUTLOOK

Net income in the first quarter of 2012 is projected to be in the $0.35 to $0.40 per diluted share range.

 In Chlor Alkali Products, the first quarter of 2012 segment earnings are expected to increase compared to both the fourth quarter of 2011 earnings of $50.3 million and the first quarter of 2011 earnings of $45.2 million.  The expected improved segment earnings compared to the first quarter of 2011 anticipates higher ECU netbacks and a full quarter of 100% ownership of SunBelt.  The expected improved earnings compared to the fourth quarter of 2011 anticipates higher chlorine and caustic soda shipment volumes.  The Chlor Alkali Products’ operating rate in the first quarter of 2012 is forecast to be in the 80% range, which is an improvement from the fourth quarter of 2011 level of 70% and comparable to the first quarter of 2011 level of 80%.

ECU netbacks in the fourth quarter of approximately $580 declined slightly from the third quarter level of approximately $590, as chlorine price declines more than offset increases in caustic soda prices.  ECU netbacks in the first quarter of 2012 are forecast to decline slightly from the fourth quarter of 2011 as we expect the fourth quarter chlorine and caustic soda pricing trends to continue into the first quarter of 2012.  While the success of the third quarter 2011 $65 per ton caustic soda price increase is not yet known, the majority of the benefits of this price increase, if realized, would impact our system in the first quarter of 2012.  While the success of the fourth quarter 2011 $80 per ton caustic soda price increase is not yet known, we believe that it is unlikely that any benefit of this price increase will be realized in the first quarter of 2012.

Winchester first quarter 2012 segment earnings are expected to be comparable with the first quarter of 2011 segment earnings of $12.5 million.  Higher commodity costs and lower levels of commercial demand compared to the first quarter of 2011 are expected to offset higher selling prices.

Winchester’s 2011 acquired cost of all commodity metals increased compared to 2010 levels.  The purchase price of copper increased 28%, the price of lead increased 14% and the price of zinc increased 7%.  Winchester utilizes approximately three times as much lead as copper and three times as much copper as zinc.  As we look forward into 2012, the price of commodity metals will likely continue to present a significant challenge.

During 2011, Winchester was awarded the U.S. Army’s “Second Source” ammunition contract, which has the potential to generate $300 million of sales over five years.  The contract provides for the production of .50 caliber, 5.56 millimeter, and 7.62 millimeter ammunition.  As a result of this contract, Winchester anticipates that sales to military customers will increase in 2012 compared to 2011, while sales to law enforcement customers are expected to decline in 2012 from 2011 due to state and local government budget pressures.

In January 2012, Winchester announced it had formed a joint venture named U.S. Munitions with BAE Systems to submit a proposal for the operation and maintenance of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.  The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant is the U.S. Army’s primary manufacturing location for small caliber ammunition.  We believe U.S. Munitions provides the best opportunity for Winchester to participate in the Lake City competition.  It is expected that a decision by the U.S. Army will be made during the fourth quarter of 2012 and that after a one-year transition period, the selected contractor will assume responsibility for the plant on October 1, 2013.  This represents a long-term opportunity for Winchester.

We anticipate that 2012 charges for environmental investigatory and remedial activities will be in the $20 million range, which is comparable with the 2011 level of $19.3 million, before the recoveries of environmental costs incurred and expensed in prior periods are considered.  We do not believe that there will be additional recoveries of environmental costs incurred and expensed in prior periods in 2012.

We expect defined benefit pension plan income in 2012 to be similar to the 2011 level.  Based on the December 31, 2011 funding status, we will not be required to make any cash contributions to our domestic defined benefit pension plan in 2012.  We do have a small Canadian defined benefit pension plan to which we made contributions of $0.9 million and $9.8 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively, and we anticipate cash contributions of less than $5 million in 2012.

During the first quarter of 2012, we are anticipating pretax restructuring charges of approximately $2.5 million primarily associated with our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS and exiting the use of mercury cell technology in the chlor alkali manufacturing process by the end of 2012.  We are expecting total pretax restructuring charges for 2012 related to these projects to be approximately $10 million.  We expect to incur restructuring charges through 2016 totaling approximately $17 million related to our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  We also expect to incur restructuring charges through 2013 totaling approximately $8 million related to exiting the use of mercury cell technology in the chlor alkali manufacturing process.

We believe the 2012 effective tax rate will be in the 36% to 37% range.

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In 2012, we expect capital spending to be in the $215 million to $245 million range, which includes spending for the conversion of our Charleston, TN facility from mercury cell technology to membrane technology, the low salt, high strength bleach facilities at our McIntosh, AL; Henderson, NV; and Niagara Falls, NY chlor alkali sites, the reconfiguration of our Augusta, GA facility to manufacture bleach and distribute caustic soda, and our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations.  We anticipate the start-up of the converted Charleston, TN chlor alkali facility in the second half of 2012.  We expect to complete the first low salt, high strength bleach facility at McIntosh, AL in the first quarter of 2012.  The two remaining low salt, high strength bleach facilities are expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2012.  These three new facilities will increase total bleach manufacturing capacity by an additional 50% over the 2011 capacity.  These low salt, high strength bleach facilities will double the concentration of the bleach we manufacture, which should significantly reduce transportation costs.  We expect 2012 depreciation expense to be approximately $110 million.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

	Years ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Cash outlays (receipts):	($ in millions)
Remedial and investigatory spending (charged to reserve)	$	23.3		$	15.7		$	19.0
Recoveries from third parties		(11.4	)		(7.2	)		(82.1	)
Capital spending		2.5			1.3			2.9
Plant operations (charged to cost of goods sold)		26.1			24.1			24.4
Total cash outlays (receipts)	$	40.5		$	33.9		$	(35.8	)

Our liabilities for future environmental expenditures were as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	167.6		$	166.1		$	158.9
Charges to income		19.3			16.3			24.1
Remedial and investigatory spending		(23.3	)		(15.7	)		(19.0	)
Currency translation adjustments		(0.3	)		0.9			2.1
Ending balance	$	163.3		$	167.6		$	166.1

Total environmental-related cash outlays in 2011 increased compared to 2010,  primarily driven by remedial and investigatory spending due to the implementation of a remedial action plan at a former waste disposal site in 2011, partially offset by increased recoveries from third parties of costs incurred and expensed in prior periods.  Total environmental-related cash outlays in 2010 increased compared to 2009 due to the lower recoveries from third parties of costs incurred and expensed in prior periods.  Remedial and investigatory spending was lower in 2010 than 2009 due to completing a remedial action at a site in 2009 and principally completing an investigation at a former manufacturing site in 2009.  Total environmental-related cash outlays for 2012 are estimated to be approximately $60 million, of which approximately $30 million is expected to be spent on investigatory and remedial efforts, approximately $4 million on capital projects and approximately $26 million on normal plant operations.  Remedial and investigatory spending is anticipated to be higher in 2012 than 2011 due to the ongoing remedial actions at a former waste disposal site and the implementation of remedial actions at another former manufacturing site.  Historically, we have funded our environmental capital expenditures through cash flow from operations and expect to do so in the future.

Cash outlays for remedial and investigatory activities associated with former waste sites and past operations were not charged to income but instead were charged to reserves established for such costs identified and expensed to income in prior years.  Cash outlays for normal plant operations for the disposal of waste and the operation and maintenance of pollution control equipment and facilities to ensure compliance with mandated and voluntarily imposed environmental quality standards were charged to income.

In the United States, the establishment and implementation of federal, state, and local standards to regulate air, water and land quality affect substantially all of our manufacturing locations.  Federal legislation providing for regulation of the manufacture, transportation, use, and disposal of hazardous and toxic substances, and remediation of contaminated sites, has imposed additional regulatory requirements on industry, particularly the chemicals industry.  In addition, implementation of environmental laws, such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Clean Air Act, has required and will continue to require new capital expenditures and will increase plant operating costs.  Our Canadian facility is governed by federal environmental laws administered by Environment Canada and by provincial environmental laws enforced by administrative agencies.  Many of these laws are comparable to the U.S. laws described above.  We employ waste minimization and pollution prevention programs at our manufacturing sites.

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We are party to various governmental and private environmental actions associated with past manufacturing facilities and former waste disposal sites.  Associated costs of investigatory and remedial activities are provided for in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles governing probability and the ability to reasonably estimate future costs.  Our ability to estimate future costs depends on whether our investigatory and remedial activities are in preliminary or advanced stages.  With respect to unasserted claims, we accrue liabilities for costs that, in our experience, we may incur to protect our interests against those unasserted claims.  Our accrued liabilities for unasserted claims amounted to $3.2 million at December 31, 2011.  With respect to asserted claims, we accrue liabilities based on remedial investigation, feasibility study, remedial action and operation, maintenance and monitoring (OM&M) expenses that, in our experience, we may incur in connection with the asserted claims.  Required site OM&M expenses are estimated and accrued in their entirety for required periods not exceeding 30 years, which reasonably approximates the typical duration of long-term site OM&M.  Charges or credits to income for investigatory and remedial efforts were material to operating results in 2011, 2010 and 2009 and may be material to operating results in future years.

Environmental provisions charged (credited) to income, which are included in cost of goods sold, were as follows:

	Years ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Charges to income	$	19.3		$	16.3		$	24.1
Recoveries from third parties of costs incurred and expensed in prior periods		(11.4	)		(7.2	)		(82.1	)
Total environmental expense (income)	$	7.9		$	9.1		$	(58.0	)

These charges relate primarily to remedial and investigatory activities associated with past manufacturing operations and former waste disposal sites.

Our total estimated environmental liability at the end of 2011, was attributable to 70 sites, 17 of which were USEPA National Priority List (NPL) sites.  Ten sites accounted for 78% of our environmental liability and, of the remaining 60 sites, no one site accounted for more than 3% of our environmental liability.  At one of these ten sites, a remedial action plan is being implemented.  At five of the ten sites, part of the site is subject to a remedial investigation and another part is in the long-term OM&M stage.  At one of these ten sites, a remedial investigation is being performed.  At one site, part of the site is subject to a remedial action plan and part of the site to long-term OM&M.  The two remaining sites are in long-term OM&M.  All ten sites are either associated with past manufacturing operations or former waste disposal sites.  None of the ten largest sites represents more than 20% of the liabilities reserved on our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 for future environmental expenditures.

Our consolidated balance sheets included liabilities for future environmental expenditures to investigate and remediate known sites amounting to $163.3 million at December 31, 2011, and $167.6 million at December 31, 2010, of which $132.3 million and $139.6 million, respectively, were classified as other noncurrent liabilities.  Our environmental liability amounts did not take into account any discounting of future expenditures or any consideration of insurance recoveries or advances in technology.  These liabilities are reassessed periodically to determine if environmental circumstances have changed and/or remediation efforts and our estimate of related costs have changed.  As a result of these reassessments, future charges to income may be made for additional liabilities.  Of the $163.3 million included on our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 for future environmental expenditures, we currently expect to utilize $92.2 million of the reserve for future environmental expenditures over the next 5 years, $24.4 million for expenditures 6 to 10 years in the future, and $46.7 million for expenditures beyond 10 years in the future.  These estimates are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, as described in Item 1A “Risk Factors—Environmental Costs.”

Annual environmental-related cash outlays for site investigation and remediation, capital projects, and normal plant operations are expected to range between $50 million to $70 million over the next several years, $20 million to $40 million of which is for investigatory and remedial efforts, which are expected to be charged against reserves recorded on our consolidated balance sheet.  While we do not anticipate a material increase in the projected annual level of our environmental-related cash outlays, there is always the possibility that such an increase may occur in the future in view of the uncertainties associated with environmental exposures.  Environmental exposures are difficult to assess for numerous reasons, including the identification of new sites, developments at sites resulting from investigatory studies, advances in technology, changes in environmental laws and regulations and their application, changes in regulatory authorities, the scarcity of reliable data pertaining to identified sites, the difficulty in assessing the involvement and financial capability of other PRPs, our ability to obtain contributions from other parties and the lengthy time periods over which site remediation occurs.  It is possible that some of these matters (the outcomes of which are subject to various uncertainties) may be resolved unfavorably to us, which could materially adversely affect our financial position or results of operations.  At December 31, 2011, we estimate it is reasonably possible that we may have additional contingent environmental liabilities of $40 million in addition to the amounts for which we have already recorded as a reserve.

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LEGAL MATTERS AND CONTINGENCIES

We, and our subsidiaries, are defendants in various legal actions (including proceedings based on alleged exposures to asbestos) incidental to our past and current business activities.  We describe some of these matters in “Item 3—Legal Proceedings.”  At December 31, 2011 and 2010, our consolidated balance sheets included liabilities for these legal actions of $16.4 million and $18.1 million, respectively.  These liabilities do not include costs associated with legal representation.  Based on our analysis, and considering the inherent uncertainties associated with litigation, we do not believe that it is reasonably possible that these legal actions will materially adversely affect our financial position or results of operations in the near term.

During the ordinary course of our business, contingencies arise resulting from an existing condition, situation, or set of circumstances involving an uncertainty as to the realization of a possible gain contingency.  In certain instances such as environmental projects, we are responsible for managing the cleanup and remediation of an environmental site.  There exists the possibility of recovering a portion of these costs from other parties.  We account for gain contingencies in accordance with the provisions of ASC 450 “Contingencies” (ASC 450), formerly SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” (SFAS No. 5), and therefore do not record gain contingencies and recognize income until it is earned and realizable.

LIQUIDITY, INVESTMENT ACTIVITY AND OTHER FINANCIAL DATA

Cash Flow Data

	Years ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Provided by (used for)	($ in millions)
Gain on remeasurement of investment in SunBelt	$	(181.4	)	$	—		$	—
Net operating activities		215.9			115.5			200.2
Capital expenditures		(200.9	)		(85.3	)		(137.9	)
Business acquired in purchase transaction, net of cash acquired		(123.4	)		—			—
Restricted cash activity, net		50.3			(102.0	)		—
Net investing activities		(259.6	)		(159.7	)		(87.7	)
Long-term debt (repayments) borrowings, net		(51.2	)		96.3			150.3
Net financing activities		(110.1	)		44.3			99.5

Operating Activities

For 2011, cash provided by operating activities increased by $100.4 million from 2010, primarily due to higher earnings, partially offset by a larger increase in working capital.  In 2011, working capital increased $22.0 million compared with an increase of $9.7 million in 2010.  Receivables increased during 2011 by $26.2 million as a result of higher sales in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to 2010.  Inventories increased from December 31, 2010 by $17.0 million, partially due to our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased from December 31, 2010 by $15.6 million.  The 2011 cash from operations was also impacted by a $47.4 million increase in cash tax payments.  In 2011, we made cash contributions to our Canadian qualified defined benefit pension plan of $0.9 million compared with $9.8 million in 2010.

For 2010, cash provided by operating activities decreased by $84.7 million from 2009 primarily due to lower earnings partially offset by a smaller increase in working capital.  In 2010, working capital increased $9.7 million compared with an increase of $22.6 million in 2009.  Our days sales outstanding decreased by approximately two days compared to 2009.  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased from December 31, 2009 by $14.1 million.  Inventories increased from December 31, 2009 by $31.8 million, primarily due to higher commodity costs and a return to a more normal level of inventory at Winchester.  The 2010 cash from operations was also affected by a $27.0 million decrease in cash tax payments.  In 2010, we made cash contributions to our Canadian qualified defined benefit pension plan of $9.8 million.

Capital Expenditures

Capital spending was $200.9 million, $85.3 million, and $137.9 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Capital spending for 2011 included $51.0 million for our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations and $60.0 million for the conversion of our Charleston, TN facility from mercury cell technology to membrane technology.  The capital spending for the ongoing Winchester relocation was partially financed by $31 million of grants provided by the State of Mississippi and local governments.  The full amounts of these grants were received in 2011.  The 2011 capital spending also included approximately $20 million for the construction of low salt, high strength bleach facilities at our McIntosh, AL; Henderson, NV; and Niagara Falls, NY chlor alkali sites.  Capital spending in 2010 included bleach manufacturing and bleach shipping by railroad expansion projects at three of our Chlor Alkali facilities.  Capital spending in 2009 included $69.6 million for the St. Gabriel, LA facility conversion and expansion project and also increased investments in our bleach operations.  Capital spending was 206%, 100%, and 196% of depreciation in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

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In 2012, we expect our capital spending to be in the $215 million to $245 million range, which includes spending for the conversion of our Charleston, TN facility from mercury cell technology to membrane technology, the low salt, high strength bleach facilities, the reconfiguration of our Augusta, GA facility to manufacture bleach and distribute caustic soda, and our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations.  We anticipate the start-up of the converted Charleston, TN chlor alkali facility in the second half of 2012.  We expect to complete the first low salt, high strength bleach facility at McIntosh, AL in the first quarter of 2012.  The two remaining low salt, high strength bleach facilities are expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2012.  These three new facilities will increase total bleach manufacturing capacity by an additional 50% over the 2011 capacity.  These low salt, high strength bleach facilities will double the concentration of the bleach we manufacture, which should significantly reduce transportation costs.

Investing Activities

In 2011 and 2010, we drew $36.0 million and $117.0 million, respectively, of Go Zone and Recovery Zone bonds issued in 2010.  The proceeds of these bonds are required to be used to fund capital projects in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.  As of December 31, 2011, $51.7 million of the proceeds have not been used and are classified as a noncurrent asset on our consolidated balance sheet as restricted cash.  In 2011 and 2010, we utilized $86.3 million and $15.0 million, respectively, of the Go Zone and Recovery Zone proceeds to fund qualifying capital spending.

The 2010 and 2009 distributions from affiliated companies primarily reflected the cash impact of our share of SunBelt’s earnings.

On February 28, 2011, we acquired the remaining 50% interest in SunBelt and paid cash of $123.4 million, net of $8.9 million of cash acquired.

During the fourth quarter of 2011, we entered into a sale/leaseback transaction for chlorine railcars that we acquired in 2011.  We received proceeds from the sale of $3.2 million.

Financing Activities

In December 2011, we repaid the $75.0 million 2011 Notes, which became due, and repaid $12.2 million due under the annual requirements of the SunBelt Notes.

In December 2010, we completed a financing of Recovery Zone bonds totaling $83.0 million due 2033 and 2035.  During December 2010, we drew the entire $83.0 million of the bonds.  As of December 31, 2011, $40.1 million of the proceeds remain with the trustee and are classified as a noncurrent asset on our consolidated balance sheet as restricted cash, until such time as we request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used for the Charleston, TN facility mercury cell conversion and our ongoing Winchester relocation.

In October 2010, we completed a financing of Go Zone and Recovery Zone bonds totaling $70.0 million due 2024.  We drew $36.0 million of these bonds in 2011 and $34.0 million in 2010.  As of December 31, 2011, $11.6 million of the proceeds remain with the trustee and are classified as a noncurrent asset on our consolidated balance sheet as restricted cash, until such time as we request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used for capital project spending at our McIntosh, AL facility.

In September 2010, we redeemed industrial revenue bonds totaling $18.9 million, with maturity dates of February 2016 and March 2016.  We paid a premium of $0.4 million to the bond holders, which was included in interest expense.  We also recognized a $0.3 million deferred gain in interest expense related to the interest rate swaps, which were terminated in April 2010, on these industrial revenue bonds.  In October 2010, we redeemed additional industrial revenue bonds totaling $1.8 million, with a maturity date of October 2014.

In August 2009, we sold $150.0 million of 2019 Notes with a maturity date of August 15, 2019.  The 2019 Notes were issued at 99.19% of par value, providing a yield to maturity to investors of 9.0%.  Interest is paid semi-annually in arrears on each February 15 and August 15.  Proceeds of $145.5 million, after expenses of $3.3 million, from the 2019 Notes were used to further strengthen our long-term liquidity.

In February 2009, we reissued $1.5 million of variable rate Mississippi industrial revenue bonds, which were redeemed by us at par value in October 2008.  These were originally issued in 2005 in conjunction with our relocation of a portion of our Winchester operations to Oxford, MS.

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In 2011, 2010 and 2009, we issued 0.5 million; 0.2 million; and less than 0.1 million shares with a total value of $9.3 million, $3.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, representing stock options exercised.  In addition, during 2011, 2010 and 2009, we issued zero; 0.5 million; and 1.3 million shares of common stock, respectively, with a total value of zero, $10.2 million and $16.9 million, respectively, to the Olin CEOP.  Effective September 23, 2010, our CEOP began to purchase shares in the open market in lieu of our issuing shares to satisfy the investment in our common stock resulting from employee contributions, our matching contributions, retirement contributions and re-invested dividends.  Effective February 1, 2011, we reinstated the match on all salaried and certain non-bargained hourly employees’ contributions, which had previously been suspended effective January 1, 2010.

In 2011, we purchased and retired 0.2 million shares with a total value of $4.2 million under the share repurchase program approved by our board of directors on July 21, 2011.

The percent of total debt to total capitalization decreased to 35.2% at December 31, 2011, from 37.4% at year-end 2010 and 32.6% at year-end 2009.  The 2011 decrease was due primarily to higher shareholders’ equity resulting from the net income for the year ended December 31, 2011, partially offset by a higher level of long-term debt at December 31, 2011.  The 2010 increase from 2009 was due primarily to the higher level of long-term debt at December 31, 2010 resulting from the issuance of Go Zone and Recovery Zone bonds, partially offset by higher shareholders’ equity resulting from the net income for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Dividends per common share were $0.80 in 2011, 2010 and 2009.  Total dividends paid on common stock amounted to $64.0 million, $63.3 million and $62.5 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  On January 27, 2012, our board of directors declared a dividend of $0.20 per share on our common stock, payable on March 9, 2012 to shareholders of record on February 10, 2012.

The payment of cash dividends is subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will be determined in light of then-current conditions, including our earnings, our operations, our financial condition, our capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors.  In the future, our board of directors may change our dividend policy, including the frequency or amount of any dividend, in light of then-existing conditions.

LIQUIDITY AND OTHER FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

Our principal sources of liquidity are from cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, cash flow from operations, and short-term borrowings under our senior revolving credit facility.  Additionally, we believe that we have access to the debt and equity markets.

Cash flow from operations is variable as a result of both the seasonal and the cyclical nature of our operating results, which have been affected by seasonal and economic cycles in many of the industries we serve, such as the vinyls, urethanes, bleach, ammunition and pulp and paper.  The seasonality of the ammunition business, which is typically driven by the fall hunting season, and the seasonality of the vinyls and bleach businesses, which are stronger in periods of warmer weather, typically cause working capital to fluctuate between $50 million to $100 million over the course of the year.  Cash flow from operations is affected by changes in ECU selling prices caused by the changes in the supply/demand balance of chlorine and caustic soda, resulting in the chlor alkali business having significant leverage on our earnings and cash flow.  For example, assuming all other costs remain constant and internal consumption remains approximately the same, a $10 per ECU selling price change equates to an approximate $18 million annual change in our revenues and pretax profit when we are operating at full capacity.

For 2011, cash provided by operating activities increased by $100.4 million from 2010, primarily due to higher earnings, partially offset by a larger increase in working capital.  In 2011, working capital increased $22.0 million compared with an increase of $9.7 million in 2010.  Receivables increased during 2011 by $26.2 million as a result of higher sales in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to 2010.  Inventories increased from December 31, 2010 by $17.0 million, partially due to our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased from December 31, 2010 by $15.6 million.  The 2011 cash from operations was also impacted by a $47.4 million increase in cash tax payments.  In 2011, we made cash contributions to our Canadian qualified defined benefit pension plan of $0.9 million compared with $9.8 million in 2010.

Capital spending was $200.9 million, $85.3 million, and $137.9 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Capital spending for 2011 included $51.0 million for our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations and $60.0 million for the conversion of our Charleston, TN facility from mercury cell technology to membrane technology.  The capital spending for the ongoing Winchester relocation was partially financed by $31 million of grants provided by the State of Mississippi and local governments.  The full amounts of these grants were received in 2011.  The 2011 capital spending also included approximately $20 million for the construction of low salt, high strength bleach facilities at our McIntosh, AL; Henderson, NV; and Niagara Falls, NY chlor alkali sites.  Capital spending in 2010 included bleach manufacturing and bleach shipping by railroad expansion projects at three of our Chlor Alkali facilities.  Capital spending in 2009 included $69.6 million for the St. Gabriel, LA facility conversion and expansion project and also increased investments in our bleach operations.  Capital spending was 206%, 100%, and 196% of depreciation in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

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In 2012, we expect our capital spending to be in the $215 million to $245 million range, which includes spending for the conversion of our Charleston, TN facility from mercury cell technology to membrane technology, the low salt, high strength bleach facilities, the reconfiguration of our Augusta, GA facility to manufacture bleach and distribute caustic soda, and our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations.  We anticipate the start-up of the converted Charleston, TN chlor alkali facility in the second half of 2012.  We expect to complete the first low salt, high strength bleach facility at McIntosh, AL in the first quarter of 2012.  The two remaining low salt, high strength bleach facilities are expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2012.  These three new facilities will increase total bleach manufacturing capacity by an additional 50% over the 2011 capacity.  These low salt, high strength bleach facilities will double the concentration of the bleach we manufacture, which should significantly reduce transportation costs.

The overall use of cash of $153.8 million in 2011 primarily reflects the acquisition of the remaining 50% equity interest in SunBelt and the debt repayments in December 2011.  Based on our December 31, 2011 unrestricted cash balance of $304.8 million, the restricted cash balance of $51.7 million, and the availability of approximately $231.5 million of liquidity from our senior revolving credit facility, we believe we have sufficient liquidity to meet our short-term and long-term needs.  Additionally, we believe that we have access to the debt and equity markets.

On July 21, 2011, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to 5 million shares of common stock that will terminate in three years for any remaining shares not yet repurchased.  Since the date of authorization, 0.2 million shares were purchased and retired under this program at a cost of $4.2 million.  As of December 31, 2011, we had purchased a total of 0.2 million shares under this program and 4.8 million shares remained authorized to be purchased.  The repurchases will be effected from time to time on the open market, or in privately negotiated transactions.

Pursuant to a note purchase agreement dated December 22, 1997, SunBelt sold $97.5 million of Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2017, Series O, and $97.5 million of Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2017, Series G.  We refer to these notes as the SunBelt Notes.  The SunBelt Notes bear interest at a rate of 7.23% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on each June 22 and December 22.  Beginning on December 22, 2002 and each year through 2017, SunBelt is required to repay $12.2 million of the SunBelt Notes, of which $6.1 million is attributable to the Series O Notes and of which $6.1 million is attributable to the Series G Notes.  In conjunction with the SunBelt acquisition, we consolidated the SunBelt Notes with a fair value of $87.3 million for the remaining principal balance of $85.3 million as of February 28, 2011.  In December 2011, $12.2 million was repaid on these SunBelt Notes.

In December 2011, we repaid the $75.0 million 2011 Notes, which became due in 2011.

In December 2010, we completed a financing of Recovery Zone tax-exempt bonds totaling $41.0 million due 2035.  The bonds were issued by the Industrial Development Board of the County of Bradley and the City of Cleveland, TN (TN Authority) pursuant to a trust indenture between the TN Authority and U. S. Bank National Association, as trustee.  The bonds were sold to PNC Bank, National Association (PNC Bank), as administrative agent for itself and a syndicate of participating banks, in a private placement under a Credit and Funding Agreement dated December 27, 2010, between us and PNC Bank.  Proceeds of the bonds will be loaned by the TN Authority to us under a loan agreement, whereby we are obligated to make loan payments to the TN Authority sufficient to pay all debt service and expenses related to the bonds.  Our obligations under the loan agreement and related note bear interest at a fluctuating rate based on London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR).  The financial covenants in the credit agreement mirror those in our senior revolving credit facility.  The bonds may be tendered to us (without premium) periodically beginning November 1, 2015.  During December 2010, we drew $41.0 million of the bonds.  The proceeds from the bonds are required to be used to fund capital project spending for our Charleston, TN facility mercury cell conversion.  As of December 31, 2011, $26.0 million of the proceeds remain with the trustee and are classified as a noncurrent asset on our consolidated balance sheet as restricted cash, until such time as we request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used for the Charleston, TN facility mercury cell conversion.

In December 2010, we completed a financing of Recovery Zone tax-exempt bonds totaling $42.0 million due 2033.  The bonds were issued by the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation (MS Finance) pursuant to a trust indenture between MS Finance and U. S. Bank National Association, as trustee.  The bonds were sold to PNC Bank as administrative agent for itself and a syndicate of participating banks, in a private placement under a Credit and Funding Agreement dated December 1, 2010, between us and PNC Bank.  Proceeds of the bonds will be loaned by MS Finance to us under a loan agreement, whereby we are obligated to make loan payments to MS Finance sufficient to pay all debt service and expenses related to the bonds.  Our obligations under the loan agreement and related note bear interest at a fluctuating rate based on LIBOR.  The financial covenants in the credit agreement mirror those in our senior revolving credit facility.  The bonds may be tendered to us (without premium) periodically beginning November 1, 2015.  During December 2010, we drew $42.0 million of the bonds.  The proceeds from the bonds are required to be used to fund capital project spending for our ongoing relocation of the Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  As of December 31, 2011, $14.1 million of the proceeds remain with the trustee and are classified as a noncurrent asset on our consolidated balance sheet as restricted cash, until such time as we request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used for the Oxford, MS Winchester relocation.

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In October 2010, we completed a financing of tax-exempt bonds totaling $70.0 million due 2024.  The bonds include $50.0 million of Go Zone and $20.0 million of Recovery Zone.  The bonds were issued by the Industrial Development Authority of Washington County, AL (AL Authority) pursuant to a trust indenture between the AL Authority and U. S. Bank National Association, as trustee.  The bonds were sold to PNC Bank as administrative agent for itself and a syndicate of participating banks, in a private placement under a Credit and Funding Agreement dated October 14, 2010, between us and PNC Bank.  Proceeds of the bonds will be loaned by the AL Authority to us under a loan agreement, whereby we are obligated to make loan payments to the AL Authority sufficient to pay all debt service and expenses related to the bonds.  Our obligations under the loan agreement and related note bear interest at a fluctuating rate based on LIBOR.  The financial covenants in the credit agreement mirror those in our senior revolving credit facility.  The bonds may be tendered to us (without premium) periodically beginning November 1, 2015.  We had the option to borrow up to the entire $70.0 million in a series of draw downs through December 31, 2011.  We drew $36.0 million of the bonds in 2011 and $34.0 million in 2010.  The proceeds from the bonds are required to be used to fund capital project spending at our McIntosh, AL facility.  As of December 31, 2011, $11.6 million of the proceeds remain with the trustee and are classified as a noncurrent asset on our consolidated balance sheet as restricted cash, until such time as we request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used for capital project spending at our McIntosh, AL facility.

In September 2010, we redeemed industrial revenue bonds totaling $18.9 million, with maturity dates of February 2016 and March 2016.  We paid a premium of $0.4 million to the bond holders, which was included in interest expense.  We also recognized a $0.3 million deferred gain in interest expense related to the interest rate swaps, which were terminated in April 2010, on these industrial revenue bonds.  In October 2010, we redeemed additional industrial revenue bonds totaling $1.8 million, with a maturity date of October 2014.

In August 2009, we sold $150.0 million of 2019 Notes with a maturity date of August 15, 2019.  The 2019 Notes were issued at 99.19% of par value, providing a yield to maturity to investors of 9.0%.  Interest is paid semi-annually in arrears on each February 15 and August 15.  Proceeds of $145.5 million, after expenses of $3.3 million, from the 2019 Notes were used to further strengthen our long-term liquidity.

At December 31, 2011, we had $231.5 million available under our $240 million senior revolving credit facility, because we had issued $8.5 million of letters of credit under a $110 million subfacility. The senior revolving credit facility will expire in October 2012.  Under the senior revolving credit facility, we may select various floating rate borrowing options.  The actual interest rate paid on borrowings under the senior revolving credit facility is based on a pricing grid which is dependent upon the leverage ratio as calculated under the terms of the facility at the end of the prior fiscal quarter.  The facility includes various customary restrictive covenants, including restrictions related to the ratio of debt to earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization (leverage ratio) and the ratio of earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization to interest expense (coverage ratio).  Compliance with these covenants is determined quarterly based on the operating cash flows for the last four quarters.  We were in compliance with all covenants and restrictions under all our outstanding credit agreements as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and no event of default had occurred that would permit the lenders under our outstanding credit agreements to accelerate the debt if not cured.  In the future, our ability to generate sufficient operating cash flows, among other factors, will determine the amounts available to be borrowed under these facilities.  As of December 31, 2011, there were no covenants or other restrictions that limited our ability to borrow.

At December 31, 2011, we had total letters of credit of $34.4 million outstanding, of which $8.5 million were issued under our $240 million senior revolving credit facility.  In addition to our senior revolving credit facility, we have two letter of credit facilities totaling $28 million, which we reduced from $38 million during 2010.  The letters of credit were used to support certain long-term debt and certain workers compensation insurance policies.

We had a $75 million, 364-day accounts receivable securitization facility (Accounts Receivable Facility), renewable annually for five years, which would have expired in July 2012.  During the second quarter of 2010, we terminated the Accounts Receivable Facility.  Based on the liquidity from cash and cash equivalents, cash flow from operations, and borrowings under our senior revolving credit facility, the Accounts Receivable Facility was no longer necessary.  There had been no borrowings under the Accounts Receivable Facility since 2007.  The Accounts Receivable Facility provided for the sale of our eligible trade receivables to a third party conduit through a wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote, special purpose entity that was consolidated for financial statement purposes.  The Accounts Receivable Facility contained specific covenants relating to the ability of the lender to obtain or maintain a first priority lien on the receivables.  In addition, the Accounts Receivable Facility incorporated the leverage and coverage covenants that are contained in the senior revolving credit facility.

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Our current debt structure is used to fund our business operations.  As of December 31, 2011, we had long-term borrowings, including the current installment, of $536.4 million, of which $155.9 million was at variable rates.  Annual maturities of long-term debt are $12.2 million in 2012, $23.6 million in 2013, $12.2 million in 2014, $12.2 million in 2015, $147.7 million in 2016 and a total of $328.5 million thereafter.  We have entered into interest rate swaps on $80.8 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us fixed rates.  The counterparties to these agreements are Citibank, N.A. (Citibank) ($7.7 million) and Wells Fargo, N.A. (Wells Fargo) ($73.1 million).  We have designated the swap agreements as fair value hedges of the risk of changes in the value of fixed-rate debt due to changes in interest rates for a portion of our fixed-rate borrowings.  Accordingly, the swap agreements have been recorded at their fair market value of $2.2 million and are included in other assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, with a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of related debt.  No gain or loss has been recorded as the contracts met the criteria to qualify for hedge accounting treatment with no ineffectiveness.  Commitments from banks under our senior revolving credit facility are an additional source of liquidity.

Of the $80.8 million of interest rate swaps outstanding at December 31, 2011, $73.1 million were entered into in May 2011 on the SunBelt Notes.  The counterparty to this agreement is Wells Fargo.  In April 2010, Citibank terminated $18.9 million of interest rate swaps on our industrial revenue bonds due in 2016.  The result was a gain of $0.4 million, which would have been recognized through 2016.  In September 2010, the industrial revenue bonds were redeemed by us, and as a result, the remaining $0.3 million gain was recognized in interest expense during 2010.

In March 2010, we entered into interest rate swaps on $125 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us fixed rates.  The counterparty to these agreements is Citibank, a major financial institution.  In October 2011, we entered into $125 million of interest rate swaps with equal and opposite terms as the $125 million variable interest rate swaps on the 6.75% senior notes due 2016 (2016 Notes).  We have agreed to pay a fixed rate to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us variable rates.  The counterparty to this agreement is also Citibank.  The result was a gain of $11.0 million on the $125 million variable interest rate swaps, which will be recognized through 2016.  As of December 31, 2011, $10.5 million of this gain was included in long-term debt.  In October 2011, we de-designated our $125 million interest rate swaps that had previously been designated as fair value hedges.  The $125 million variable interest rate swaps and the $125 million fixed interest rate swaps do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting.  All changes in the fair value of these interest rate swaps are recorded currently in earnings.

In 2001 and 2002, we entered into interest rate swaps on $75 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us fixed rates.  The counterparty to these agreements was Citibank.  In January 2009, we entered into a $75 million fixed interest rate swap with equal and opposite terms as the $75 million variable interest rate swaps on the 2011 Notes.  We agreed to pay a fixed rate to a counterparty who, in turn, paid us variable rates.  The counterparty to this agreement was Bank of America, N.A. (Bank of America), a major financial institution.  The result was a gain of $7.9 million on the $75 million variable interest rate swaps, which was recognized through 2011.  In January 2009, we de-designated our $75 million interest rate swaps that had previously been designated as fair value hedges.  The $75 million variable interest rate swaps and the $75 million fixed interest rate swap did not meet the criteria for hedge accounting.  All changes in the fair value of these interest rate swaps were recorded currently in earnings.

We have registered an undetermined amount of securities with the SEC, so that, from time-to-time, we may issue debt securities, preferred stock and/or common stock and associated warrants in the public market under that registration statement.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

Our operating lease commitments are primarily for railroad cars but also include distribution, warehousing and office space and data processing and office equipment.  Virtually none of our lease agreements contain escalation clauses or step rent provisions.  Assets under capital leases are not significant.

In conjunction with the St. Gabriel, LA conversion and expansion project, which was completed in the fourth quarter of 2009, we entered into a twenty-year brine and pipeline supply agreement with PetroLogistics Olefins, LLC (PetroLogistics).  PetroLogistics installed, owns and operates, at its own expense, a pipeline supplying brine to the St. Gabriel, LA facility.  Beginning November 2009, we are obligated to make a fixed annual payment over the life of the contract of $2.0 million for use of the pipeline, regardless of the amount of brine purchased.  We also have a minimum usage requirement for brine of $8.4 million over the first five-year period of the contract.  After the first five-year period, the contract contains a buy out provision exercisable by us for $12.0 million.

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On December 31, 1997, we entered into a long-term, sulfur dioxide supply agreement with Alliance Specialty Chemicals, Inc. (Alliance), formerly known as RFC SO2, Inc.  Alliance has the obligation to deliver annually 36,000 tons of sulfur dioxide.  Alliance owns the sulfur dioxide plant, which is located at our Charleston, TN facility and is operated by us.  The price for the sulfur dioxide is fixed over the life of the contract and, under the terms of the contract, we are obligated to make a monthly payment of $0.2 million regardless of the amount of sulfur dioxide purchased.  Commitments related to this agreement are $0.6 million in 2012.  This supply agreement expires in 2012.

Our long-term contractual commitments, including the on and off-balance sheet arrangements, consisted of the following:

	Payments Due by Period
Contractual Obligations	Total		Less than 1 Year		1-3 Years		3-5 Years		More than 5 Years
	($ in millions)
Debt obligations	$	536.4	$	12.2	$	35.8	$	159.9	$	328.5
Interest payments under debt obligations and interest rate swap agreements(a)		194.1		27.1		50.6		45.0		71.4
Contingent tax liability		37.2		0.9		11.4		2.9		22.0
Qualified pension plan contributions(b)		2.7		2.7		—		—		—
Non-qualified pension plan payments		61.7		4.1		17.4		7.9		32.3
Postretirement benefit payments		74.9		6.3		11.5		10.8		46.3
Off-Balance Sheet Commitments:
Noncancelable operating leases		221.7		40.3		67.9		50.3		63.2
Purchasing commitments:
Raw materials		151.6		65.4		71.6		14.6		—
Capital expenditures		40.6		39.1		0.8		0.7		—
Utilities		1.9		1.4		0.3		0.2		—
Total	$	1,322.8	$	199.5	$	267.3	$	292.3	$	563.7

(a) For the purposes of this table, we have assumed for all periods presented that there are no changes in the principal amount of any variable rate debt from the amounts outstanding on December 31, 2011 and that there are no changes in the rates from those in effect at December 31, 2011 which ranged from 1.78% to 8.875%.

(b) These amounts are only estimated payments assuming an annual expected rate of return on pension plan assets of 8.25%, and a discount rate on pension plan obligations of 4.9%.  These estimated payments are subject to significant variation and the actual payments may be more than the amounts estimated.  Given the inherent uncertainty as to actual minimum funding requirements for qualified defined benefit pension plans, no amounts are included in this table for any period beyond one year.  Based on the current funding requirements, we will not be required to make any cash contributions to the domestic defined benefit pension plan at least through 2013.  We do have a small Canadian defined benefit pension plan to which we made $0.9 million and $9.8 million of cash contributions in 2011 and 2010, respectively, and we anticipate less than $5 million of cash contributions in 2012.  See discussion on “Pension Protection Act of 2006” amended by “The Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act” in “Pension Plans” in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Non-cancelable operating leases and purchasing commitments are utilized in our normal course of business for our projected needs.  For losses that we believe are probable and which are estimable we have accrued for such amounts in our consolidated balance sheets.  In addition to the table above, we have various commitments and contingencies including: defined benefit and postretirement healthcare plans (as described below), environmental matters (see “Environmental Matters” included in Item 7—“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”), and litigation claims (see Item 3—“Legal Proceedings”).

We have several defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, as described in the “Pension Plans” note in the notes to consolidated financial statements.  We fund the defined benefit pension plans based on the minimum amounts required by law plus such amounts we deem appropriate.  We have postretirement healthcare plans that provide health and life insurance benefits to certain retired employees and their beneficiaries, as described in the "Postretirement Benefits" note in the notes to consolidated financial statements.  These other postretirement plans are not pre-funded and expenses are paid by us as incurred.

We also have standby letters of credit of $34.4 million of which $8.5 million have been issued through our senior revolving credit facility.  At December 31, 2011, we had $231.5 million available under our senior revolving credit facility.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.  Significant estimates in our consolidated financial statements include goodwill recoverability, environmental, restructuring and other unusual items, litigation, income tax reserves including deferred tax asset valuation allowances, pension, postretirement and other benefits and allowance for doubtful accounts.  We base our estimates on prior experience, facts and circumstances and other assumptions.  Actual results may differ from these estimates.

We believe the following critical accounting policies affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill

Goodwill is not amortized, but is reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter and/or when circumstances or other events indicate that impairment may have occurred.  Circumstances that could trigger an impairment test include but are not limited to:  a significant adverse change in the business climate; a significant adverse legal judgment; adverse cash flow trends; an adverse action or assessment by a government agency; unanticipated competition; decline in our stock price; and a significant restructuring charge within a reporting unit.  The annual impairment test involves the comparison of the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount.  We define reporting units at the business segment level or one level below the business segment, which for our Chlor Alkali Products segment are the U.S. operations and Canadian operations.  For purposes of testing goodwill for impairment, goodwill has been allocated to these reporting units to the extent it relates to each reporting unit.

We use a discounted cash flow approach to develop the estimated fair value of a reporting unit.  Management judgment is required in developing the assumptions for the discounted cash flow model.  We also corroborate our discounted cash flow analysis by evaluating a market-based approach that considers earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) multiples from a representative sample of comparable public companies in the chemical industry.  An impairment would be recorded if the carrying amount exceeded the estimated fair value.  No impairment charges were recorded for 2011, 2010 or 2009.

The discount rate, profitability assumptions, terminal growth rate and cyclical nature of our chlor alkali business are the material assumptions utilized in the discounted cash flow model used to estimate the fair value of each reporting unit.  The discount rate reflects a weighted-average cost of capital, which is calculated based on observable market data.  Some of these data (such as the risk free or treasury rate and the pretax cost of debt) are based on the market data at a point in time.  Other data (such as the equity risk premium) are based upon market data over time for a peer group of companies in the chemical manufacturing industry with a market capitalization premium added, as applicable.

The discounted cash flow analysis requires estimates, assumptions and judgments about future events.  Our analysis uses our internally generated long-range plan.  Our discounted cash flow analysis uses the assumptions in our long-range plan about terminal growth rates, forecasted capital expenditures, and changes in future working capital requirements to determine the implied fair value of each reporting unit.  The long-range plan reflects management judgment, supplemented by independent chemical industry analyses which provide multi-year chlor alkali industry operating and pricing forecasts.

We believe the assumptions used in our discounted cash flow analysis are appropriate and result in reasonable estimates of the implied fair value of each reporting unit.  However, given the economic environment and the uncertainties regarding the impact on our business, there can be no assurance that our estimates and assumptions, made for purposes of our goodwill impairment testing during the fourth quarter of 2011, will prove to be an accurate prediction of the future.  In order to evaluate the sensitivity of the fair value calculations on the goodwill impairment test, we applied a hypothetical 10% decrease to the fair value of each reporting unit.  In all cases, the estimated fair value of the reporting units exceeded the carrying value of the reporting units by a substantial amount.  We also applied a hypothetical decrease of 100-basis points in our terminal growth rate or an increase of 100-basis points in our weighted-average cost of capital to test the fair value calculation.  The estimated fair value of the reporting units derived in these calculations also exceeded our book value by a substantial amount for each of our reporting units.  If our assumptions regarding forecasted sales or gross margins are not achieved, we may be required to record goodwill impairment charges in future periods.  It is not possible at this time to determine if any such future impairment charge would result or, if it does, whether such charge would be material.

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Environmental

Accruals (charges to income) 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 upon current law and existing technologies.  These amounts, which are not discounted and are exclusive of claims against third parties, are adjusted periodically as assessments and remediation efforts progress or additional technical or legal information becomes available.  Environmental costs are capitalized if the costs increase the value of the property and/or mitigate or prevent contamination from future operations.  Environmental costs and recoveries are included in costs of goods sold.

Environmental exposures are difficult to assess for numerous reasons, including the identification of new sites, developments at sites resulting from investigatory studies, advances in technology, changes in environmental laws and regulations and their application, changes in regulatory authorities, the scarcity of reliable data pertaining to identified sites, the difficulty in assessing the involvement and financial capability of other PRPs and our ability to obtain contributions from other parties and the lengthy time periods over which site remediation occurs.  It is possible that some of these matters (the outcomes of which are subject to various uncertainties) may be resolved unfavorably to us, which could materially adversely affect our financial position or results of operations.

Pension and Postretirement Plans

We account for our defined benefit pension plans and non-pension postretirement benefit plans using actuarial models required by ASC 715, formerly SFAS No. 87 “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions” (SFAS No. 87) and SFAS No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other than Pension” (SFAS No. 106), respectively.  These models use an attribution approach that generally spreads the financial impact of changes to the plan and actuarial assumptions over the average remaining service lives of the employees in the plan.  Changes in liability due to changes in actuarial assumptions such as discount rate, rate of compensation increases and mortality, as well as annual deviations between what was assumed and what was experienced by the plan are treated as gains or losses.  The principle underlying the required attribution approach is that employees render service over their average remaining service lives on a relatively smooth basis and, therefore, the accounting for benefits earned under the pension or non-pension postretirement benefits plans should follow the same relatively smooth pattern.  Substantially all defined benefit pension plan participants are no longer accruing benefits; therefore, actuarial gains and losses are amortized based upon the remaining life expectancy of the inactive plan participants.  For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the average remaining life expectancy of the inactive participants in the defined benefit pension plan was 18 years and 19 years, respectively.

One of the key assumptions for the net periodic pension calculation is the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, used to determine the “market-related value of assets.”  (The “market-related value of assets” recognizes differences between the plan’s actual return and expected return over a five year period).  The required use of an expected long-term rate of return on the market-related value of plan assets may result in recognized pension income that is greater or less than the actual returns of those plan assets in any given year.  Over time, however, the expected long-term returns are designed to approximate the actual long-term returns and, therefore, result in a pattern of income and expense recognition that more closely matches the pattern of the services provided by the employees.  As differences between actual and expected returns are recognized over five years, they subsequently generate gains and losses that are subject to amortization over the average remaining life expectancy of the inactive plan participants, as described in the preceding paragraph.

We use long-term historical actual return information, the mix of investments that comprise plan assets, and future estimates of long-term investment returns and inflation by reference to external sources to develop the expected return on plan assets as of December 31.

The discount rate assumptions used for pension and non-pension postretirement benefit plan accounting reflect the rates available on high-quality fixed-income debt instruments on December 31 of each year.  The rate of compensation increase is based upon our long-term plans for such increases.  For retiree medical plan accounting, we review external data and our own historical trends for healthcare costs to determine the healthcare cost trend rates.

Changes in pension costs may occur in the future due to changes in these assumptions resulting from economic events.  For example, holding all other assumptions constant, a 100-basis point decrease or increase in the assumed rate of return on plan assets would have decreased or increased, respectively, the 2011 defined benefit pension plan income by approximately $16.3 million.  Holding all other assumptions constant, a 50-basis point decrease in the discount rate used to calculate pension income for 2011 and the projected benefit obligation as of December 31, 2011 would have decreased pension income by $0.5 million and increased the projected benefit obligation by $97.0 million.  A 50-basis point increase in the discount rate used to calculate pension income for 2011 and the projected benefit obligation as of December 31, 2011 would have increased pension income by $1.9 million and decreased the projected benefit obligation by $99.0 million.  For additional information on long-term rates of return, discount rates and projected healthcare costs projections, see “Pension Plans” and “Postretirement Benefits” in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2011-08 “Testing Goodwill for Impairment” (ASU 2011-08), which amends ASC 350 “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other” (ASC 350).  This update permits entities to make a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount before applying the two-step goodwill impairment test.  If an entity concludes that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it would not be required to perform the two-step impairment test for that reporting unit.  This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011.  This update will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

During 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05 “Presentation of Comprehensive Income” (ASU 2011-05) and ASU 2011-12 “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” (ASU 2011-12).  These updates require entities to present items of net income and other comprehensive income either in one continuous statement, referred to as the statement of comprehensive income, or in two separate, but consecutive, statements of net income and other comprehensive income.  These updates are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with retrospective applications required.  These updates will require modification of our consolidated financial statements presentation in the first quarter of 2012.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04 “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in US GAAP and IFRSs,” (ASU 2011-04), which amends ASC 820.  This update clarifies the existing guidance and amends the wording used to describe many of the requirements in US GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements.  This update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with prospective application required.  This update will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-29 “Disclosure of Supplementary Pro Forma Information for Business Combinations” (ASU 2010-29), which amends ASC 805 “Business Combinations” (ASC 805).  This update clarified that an entity is required to disclose pro forma revenue and earnings as though the business combination that occurred during the current period had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only.  In addition, this standard expands the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings.  We adopted the provisions of ASU 2010-29 on January 1, 2011.  The adoption of this update required additional disclosures for our acquisition of the remaining 50% equity interest in SunBelt.  This update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2010-06 “Improving Disclosures About Fair Value Measurements” (ASU 2010-06), which amends ASC 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (ASC 820).  This update adds new fair value disclosure requirements about transfers into and out of Level 1 and 2 and separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements related to Level 3 measurements.  This update expands disclosures on valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value.  This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the requirement to provide the Level 3 activity of purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010.  We adopted the provisions of ASU 2010-06 on January 1, 2010, except for the requirement to provide the additional Level 3 activity, which was adopted on January 1, 2011.  The adoption of this update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 166, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets” (SFAS No. 166), which was incorporated into ASC 860 “Transfers and Servicing” (ASC 860) and SFAS No. 167, “Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)” (SFAS No. 167), which was incorporated into ASC 810 “Consolidation” (ASC 810).  These statements changed the way entities account for securitizations and special-purpose entities.  The new standards eliminate existing exceptions, strengthen the standards relating to securitizations and special-purpose entities, and enhance disclosure requirements.  These statements became effective for us on January 1, 2010.  The adoption of these statements did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165, “Subsequent Events” (SFAS No. 165), which was incorporated into ASC 855 “Subsequent Events” (ASC 855).  ASC 855 provides guidance on management’s assessment of subsequent events.  The statement is not expected to significantly change practice because its guidance is similar to that in American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Professional Standards U.S. Auditing Standards Section 560, “Subsequent Events,” with some modifications.  This statement became effective for us on June 15, 2009.  The adoption of this statement did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.  In February 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-09 “Subsequent Events – Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure Requirements,” which removed the requirements in ASC 855 for an SEC filer to disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated for both issued and revised financial statements.  This update became effective upon issuance for us and the adoption of this update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

43

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” (ASC 815), formerly SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” (SFAS No. 133), required an entity to recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position and measure those instruments at fair value.  We use hedge accounting treatment for substantially all of our business transactions whose risks are covered using derivative instruments.  The accounting treatment of changes in fair value is dependent upon whether or not a derivative instrument is designated as a hedge and, if so, the type of hedge.  For derivatives designated as a fair value hedge, the changes in the fair value of both the derivative and the hedged item are recognized in earnings.  For derivatives designated as a cash flow hedge, the change in fair value of the derivative is recognized in other comprehensive loss until the hedged item is recognized in earnings.  Ineffective portions are recognized currently in earnings.  Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting are recognized currently in earnings.  All derivatives recognized in earnings impact the expense line item on our consolidated statement of operations that is consistent with the nature of the underlying hedged item.

We enter into forward sales and purchase contracts to manage currency risk resulting from purchase and sale commitments denominated in foreign currencies (principally Canadian dollar and Euro).  All of the currency derivatives expire within one year and are for United States dollar equivalents.  At December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had forward contracts to buy foreign currencies with a notional value of zero and $0.3 million, respectively.

We use cash flow hedges for certain raw material and energy costs such as copper, zinc, lead, electricity, and natural gas to provide a measure of stability in managing our exposure to price fluctuations associated with forecasted purchases of raw materials and energy costs used in our manufacturing process.  For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the change in fair value of the derivative is recognized as a component of other comprehensive loss until the hedged item is recognized into earnings.  Gains and losses on the derivatives representing hedge ineffectiveness are recognized currently in earnings.  Gains on settled futures contracts were $10.3 million ($6.3 million, net of taxes) and $8.8 million ($5.4 million, net of taxes) in 2011 and 2010, respectively, which were included in cost of goods sold.  Losses on settled futures contracts were $20.4 million, ($12.5 million, net of taxes) in 2009, which were included in cost of goods sold.  At December 31, 2011, we had open positions in futures contracts through 2016 totaling $105.6 million (2010—$53.4 million).  If all open futures contracts had been settled on December 31, 2011, we would have recognized a pretax loss of $8.8 million.

At December 31, 2011, accumulated other comprehensive loss included a loss, net of taxes, in fair value on commodity forward contracts of $5.3 million.  If commodity prices were to remain at the levels they were at December 31, 2011, approximately $4.2 million of deferred losses, net of tax, would be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months.  The actual effect on earnings will be dependent on commodity prices when the forecasted transactions occur.  At December 31, 2010, accumulated other comprehensive loss included a gain, net of taxes, in fair value on commodity forward contracts of $11.6 million.

We use interest rate swaps as a means of managing interest expense and floating interest rate exposure to optimal levels.  The accounting for gains and losses associated with changes in fair value of the derivative and the effect on the consolidated financial statements will depend on the hedge designation and whether the hedge is effective in offsetting changes in fair value of cash flows of the asset or liability being hedged.  For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in current earnings.  We include the gain or loss on the hedged items (fixed-rate borrowings) in the same line item, interest expense, as the offsetting loss or gain on the related interest rate swaps.  As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the total notional amount of our interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges were $80.8 million and $132.7 million, respectively.

In March 2010, we entered into interest rate swaps on $125 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us fixed rates.  The counterparty to these agreements is Citibank.  In October 2011, we entered into $125 million of interest rate swaps with equal and opposite terms as the $125 million variable interest rate swaps on the 2016 Notes.  We have agreed to pay a fixed rate to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us variable rates.  The counterparty to this agreement is also Citibank.  The result was a gain of $11.0 million on the $125 million variable interest rate swaps, which will be recognized through 2016.  As of December 31, 2011, $10.5 million of this gain was included in long-term debt.  In October 2011, we de-designated our $125 million interest rate swaps that had previously been designated as fair value hedges.  The $125 million variable interest rate swaps and the $125 million fixed interest rate swaps do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting.  All changes in the fair value of these interest rate swaps are recorded currently in earnings.

In 2001 and 2002, we entered into interest rate swaps on $75 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, paid us fixed rates.  In January 2009, we entered into a $75 million fixed interest rate swap with equal and opposite terms as the $75 million variable interest rate swaps on the 2011 Notes.  We agreed to pay a fixed rate to a counterparty who, in turn, paid us variable rates.  The result was a gain of $7.9 million on the $75 million variable interest rate swaps, which was recognized through 2011.  In January 2009, we de-designated our $75 million interest rate swaps that had previously been designated as fair value hedges.  The $75 million variable interest rate swaps and the $75 million fixed interest rate swap did not meet the criteria for hedge accounting.  All changes in the fair value of these interest rate swaps were recorded currently in earnings.

44

The fair value of our derivative asset and liability balances were:

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
Other current assets	$	—	$	20.7
Other assets		13.8		5.3
Total derivative asset	$	13.8	$	26.0
Current installments of long-term debt	$	—	$	2.8
Accrued liabilities		10.2		1.4
Other liabilities		1.0		—
Long-term debt		12.7		5.3
Total derivative liability	$	23.9	$	9.5

The ineffective portion of changes in fair value resulted in zero, zero and $0.1 million credited to earnings for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Our foreign currency forward contracts, certain commodity derivatives, and our $125 million and $75 million fixed and variable interest rate swaps did not meet the criteria to qualify for hedge accounting.  The effect on operating results of items not qualifying for hedge accounting was a charge of $1.7 million, $0.8 million and $2.7 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Item 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to market risk in the normal course of our business operations due to our purchases of certain commodities, our ongoing investing and financing activities, and our operations that use foreign currencies.  The risk of loss can be assessed from the perspective of adverse changes in fair values, cash flows and future earnings.  We have established policies and procedures governing our management of market risks and the use of financial instruments to manage exposure to such risks.

Energy costs including electricity used in our Chlor Alkali Products segment, and certain raw materials and energy costs, namely copper, lead, zinc, electricity, and natural gas used primarily in our Winchester segment are subject to price volatility.  Depending on market conditions, we may enter into futures contracts and put and call option contracts in order to reduce the impact of commodity price fluctuations.  As of December 31, 2011, we maintained open positions on futures contracts totaling $105.6 million ($53.4 million at December 31, 2010).  Assuming a hypothetical 10% increase in commodity prices, which are currently hedged, as of December 31, 2011, we would experience a $10.6 million ($5.3 million at December 31, 2010) increase in our cost of inventory purchased, which would be substantially offset by a corresponding increase in the value of related hedging instruments.

We are exposed to changes in interest rates primarily as a result of our investing and financing activities.  The effect of interest rates on investing activity is not material to our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.  Our current debt structure is used to fund business operations, and commitments from banks under our senior revolving credit facility are a source of liquidity.  As of December 31, 2011, we had long-term borrowings of $536.4 million ($496.0 million at December 31, 2010) of which $155.9 million ($119.9 million at December 31, 2010) was issued at variable rates.  We have entered into $80.8 million of interest rate swaps, whereby we agree to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us fixed rates.  The counterparties to these agreements are Citibank ($7.7 million) and Wells Fargo ($73.1 million).  In all cases the underlying index for the variable rates is six-month LIBOR.  Accordingly, payments are settled every six months and the terms of the swaps are the same as the underlying debt instruments.

Of the $80.8 million of interest rate swaps outstanding at December 31, 2011, $73.1 million were entered into in May 2011 on the SunBelt Notes.  The counterparty to this agreement is Wells Fargo.  In April 2010, Citibank terminated $18.9 million of interest rate swaps on our industrial revenue bonds due in 2016.  The result was a gain of $0.4 million, which would have been recognized through 2016.  In September 2010, the industrial revenue bonds were redeemed by us, and as a result, the remaining $0.3 million gain was recognized in interest expense in 2010.

In March 2010, we entered into interest rate swaps on $125 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us fixed rates.  The counterparty to these agreements is Citibank.  In October 2011, we entered into $125 million of interest rate swaps with equal and opposite terms as the $125 million variable interest rate swaps on the 2016 Notes.  We have agreed to pay a fixed rate to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us variable rates.  The counterparty to this agreement is also Citibank.  The result was a gain of $11.0 million on the $125 million variable interest rate swaps, which will be recognized through 2016.  As of December 31, 2011, $10.5 million of this gain was included in long-term debt.  In October 2011, we de-designated our $125 million interest rate swaps that had previously been designated as fair value hedges.  The $125 million variable interest rate swaps and the $125 million fixed interest rate swaps do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting.  All changes in the fair value of these interest rate swaps are recorded currently in earnings.

45

In 2001 and 2002, we entered into interest rate swaps on $75 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, paid us fixed rates.  The counterparty to these agreements was Citibank.  In January 2009, we entered into a $75 million fixed interest rate swap with equal and opposite terms as the $75 million variable interest rate swaps on the 2011 Notes.  We agreed to pay a fixed rate to a counterparty who, in turn, paid us variable rates.  The counterparty to this agreement was Bank of America, a major financial institution.  The result was a gain of $7.9 million on the $75 million variable interest rate swaps, which was recognized through 2011.

Assuming no changes in the $155.9 million of variable-rate debt levels from December 31, 2011, we estimate that a hypothetical change of 100-basis points in the LIBOR interest rates from 2011 would impact annual interest expense by $1.6 million.

The following table reflects the swap activity related to certain debt obligations:

Underlying Debt Instrument	Swap Amount		Date of Swap	December 31, 2011
	($ in millions)			Olin Pays Floating Rate:
6.75%, due 2016	$	65.0	March 2010	3.75-4.75	%(a)
6.75%, due 2016	$	60.0	March 2010	3.75-4.75	%(a)
7.23%, SunBelt Notes	$	73.1	May 2011	5.5-6.5	%(a)
Industrial development obligation at a fixed interest rate of 6.625% due 2017	$	7.7	March 2002	0.81	%
				Olin Receives Floating Rate:
6.75%, due 2016	$	65.0	October 2011	3.75-4.75	%(a)
6.75%, due 2016	$	60.0	October 2011	3.75-4.75	%(a)

(a) Actual rate is set in arrears.  We project the rate will fall within the range shown.

These interest rate swaps reduced interest expense by $7.2 million, $7.0 million and $3.0 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

If the actual change in interest or commodities pricing is substantially different than expected, the net impact of interest rate risk or commodity risk on our cash flow may be materially different than that disclosed above.

We do not enter into any derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This report includes forward-looking statements.  These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on management’s beliefs, certain assumptions made by management, forecasts of future results and current expectations, estimates and projections about the markets and economy in which we and our various segments operate.  The statements contained in this report that are not statements of historical fact may include forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.

We have used the words “anticipate,” “intend,” “may,” “expect,” “believe,” “should,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” and variations of such words and similar expressions in this report to identify such forward-looking statements.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control.  Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those matters expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.  We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.

The risks, uncertainties, and assumptions involved in our forward-looking statements include those discussed under Item 1A. Risk Factors.  You should consider all of our forward-looking statements in light of these factors.  In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we consider immaterial could affect the accuracy of our forward-looking statements.

46

Item 8.  CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

MANAGEMENT REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

The management of Olin Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.  Olin’s internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to the company’s management and board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations.  Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation, and may not prevent or detect all misstatements.

The management of Olin Corporation has assessed the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011.  In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework to guide our analysis and assessment.  Based on our assessment as of December 31, 2011, the company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective based on those criteria.

Our independent registered public accountants, KPMG LLP, have audited and issued a report on our internal controls over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 10-K.

/s/ Joseph D. Rupp

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ John E. Fischer

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

47

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Olin Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Olin Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2011.  We also have audited Olin Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based oncriteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).  Olin Corporation’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and an opinion on Olin Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk.  Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Olin Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.  Also in our opinion, Olin Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the COSO.

/s/ KPMG LLP

St. Louis, Missouri

February 24, 2012

48

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

December 31

(In millions, except per share data)

Assets	2011			2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	304.8		$	458.6
Receivables, net:
Trade		220.6			167.9
Other		16.5			19.0
Income taxes receivable		0.7			6.1
Inventories		176.6			155.6
Current deferred income taxes		50.9			46.0
Other current assets		10.2			29.6
Total current assets		780.3			882.8
Property, plant and equipment, net		885.4			675.0
Prepaid pension costs		19.2			16.3
Restricted cash		51.7			102.0
Other assets		85.6			72.3
Goodwill		627.4			300.3
Total assets	$	2,449.6		$	2,048.7
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	$	12.2		$	77.8
Accounts payable		149.7			115.5
Accrued liabilities		237.2			197.7
Total current liabilities		399.1			391.0
Long-term debt		524.2			418.2
Accrued pension liability		59.1			58.6
Deferred income taxes		99.6			23.5
Other liabilities		381.8			327.1
Total liabilities		1,463.8			1,218.4
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, par value $1 per share:
Authorized, 120.0 shares;
Issued and outstanding, 80.1 shares (79.6 in 2010)		80.1			79.6
Additional paid-in capital		852.0			842.3
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(294.2	)		(261.8	)
Retained earnings		347.9			170.2
Total shareholders’ equity		985.8			830.3
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	2,449.6		$	2,048.7

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Years ended December 31

(In millions, except per share data)

	2011		2010		2009
Sales	$	1,961.1	$	1,585.9	$	1,531.5
Operating expenses:
Cost of goods sold		1,573.9		1,349.9		1,222.7
Selling and administration		161.4		134.4		135.3
Restructuring charges		10.7		34.2		—
Other operating income		8.8		2.5		9.1
Operating income		223.9		69.9		182.6
Earnings of non-consolidated affiliates		9.6		29.9		37.7
Interest expense		30.4		25.4		11.6
Interest income		1.2		1.0		1.1
Other income		175.1		1.5		0.1
Income before taxes		379.4		76.9		209.9
Income tax provision		137.7		12.1		74.2
Net income	$	241.7	$	64.8	$	135.7
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	3.02	$	0.82	$	1.74
Diluted	$	2.99	$	0.81	$	1.73
Average common shares outstanding:
Basic		80.0		79.2		78.1
Diluted		80.8		79.9		78.3

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In millions, except per share data)

	Common Stock						Additional Paid-In Capital			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Retained Earnings			Total Shareholders’ Equity
	Shares Issued			Par Value
Balance at January 1, 2009		77.3		$	77.3		$	801.6		$	(269.4	)	$	95.5		$	705.0
Comprehensive income:
Net income		—			—			—			—			135.7			135.7
Translation adjustment		—			—			—			4.6			—			4.6
Net unrealized gains on derivative contracts		—			—			—			36.6			—			36.6
Pension and postretirement liability adjustment, net		—			—			—			(27.3	)		—			(27.3	)
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses, net		—			—			—			7.3			—			7.3
Comprehensive income																	156.9
Dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.80 per share)		—			—			—			—			(62.5	)		(62.5	)
Common stock issued for:
Stock options exercised		—			—			0.2			—			—			0.2
Employee benefit plans		1.3			1.3			15.6			—			—			16.9
Other transactions		0.1			0.1			2.4			—			—			2.5
Stock-based compensation		—			—			3.3			—			—			3.3
Balance at December 31, 2009		78.7			78.7			823.1			(248.2	)		168.7			822.3
Comprehensive income:
Net income		—			—			—			—			64.8			64.8
Translation adjustment		—			—			—			0.9			—			0.9
Pension and postretirement liability adjustment, net		—			—			—			(26.0	)		—			(26.0	)
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses, net		—			—			—			11.5			—			11.5
Comprehensive income																	51.2
Dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.80 per share)		—			—			—			—			(63.3	)		(63.3	)
Common stock issued for:
Stock options exercised		0.2			0.2			2.9			—			—			3.1
Employee benefit plans		0.6			0.6			9.6			—			—			10.2
Other transactions		0.1			0.1			2.2			—			—			2.3
Stock-based compensation		—			—			4.5			—			—			4.5
Balance at December 31, 2010		79.6			79.6			842.3			(261.8	)		170.2			830.3
Comprehensive income:
Net income		—			—			—			—			241.7			241.7
Translation adjustment		—			—			—			1.4			—			1.4
Net unrealized losses on derivative contracts		—			—			—			(16.9	)		—			(16.9	)
Pension and postretirement liability adjustment, net		—			—			—			(29.0	)		—			(29.0	)
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses, net		—			—			—			12.1			—			12.1
Comprehensive income																	209.3
Dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.80 per share)		—			—			—			—			(64.0	)		(64.0	)
Common stock repurchased and retired		(0.2	)		(0.2	)		(4.0	)		—			—			(4.2	)
Common stock issued for:
Stock options exercised		0.5			0.5			8.8			—			—			9.3
Other transactions		0.2			0.2			3.6			—			—			3.8
Stock-based compensation		—			—			1.3			—			—			1.3
Balance at December 31, 2011		80.1		$	80.1		$	852.0		$	(294.2	)	$	347.9		$	985.8

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Years ended December 31

(In millions)

	2011			2010			2009
Operating Activities
Net income	$	241.7		$	64.8		$	135.7
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used for) operating activities:
Gain on remeasurement of investment in SunBelt		(181.4	)		—			—
Earnings of non-consolidated affiliates		(9.6	)		(29.9	)		(37.7	)
Other operating income—gains on disposition of property, plant and equipment		(6.2	)		(1.1	)		(6.5	)
Stock-based compensation		5.8			6.7			5.8
Depreciation and amortization		99.3			86.9			71.7
Deferred taxes		92.6			11.2			72.3
Write-off of equipment and facility included in restructuring charges		—			17.5			―
Qualified pension plan contributions		(0.9	)		(9.8	)		(4.5	)
Qualified pension plan income		(26.4	)		(21.6	)		(21.8	)
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans		—			1.0			2.1
Change in assets and liabilities:
Receivables		(26.2	)		(3.6	)		29.7
Income taxes receivable		5.0			13.3			(20.0	)
Inventories		(17.0	)		(31.8	)		7.6
Other current assets		0.6			(1.7	)		3.6
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		15.6			14.1			(43.5	)
Other assets		(0.2	)		2.0			(2.1	)
Other noncurrent liabilities		25.6			(2.0	)		10.2
Other operating activities		(2.4	)		(0.5	)		(2.4	)
Net operating activities		215.9			115.5			200.2
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures		(200.9	)		(85.3	)		(137.9	)
Business acquired in purchase transaction, net of cash acquired		(123.4	)		—			—
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of equipment		3.2			—			—
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment		7.9			3.1			8.5
Distributions from affiliated companies, net		1.9			23.6			37.1
Restricted cash activity, net		50.3			(102.0	)		—
Other investing activities		1.4			0.9			4.6
Net investing activities		(259.6	)		(159.7	)		(87.7	)
Financing Activities
Long-term debt:
Borrowings		36.0			117.0			150.3
Repayments		(87.2	)		(20.7	)		—
Issuance of common stock		—			9.2			14.8
Common stock repurchased and retired		(4.2	)		—			—
Stock options exercised		8.3			2.9			0.2
Excess tax benefits from stock options exercised		1.0			0.2			—
Dividends paid		(64.0	)		(63.3	)		(62.5	)
Deferred debt issuance costs		—			(1.0	)		(3.3	)
Net financing activities		(110.1	)		44.3			99.5
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(153.8	)		0.1			212.0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year		458.6			458.5			246.5
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$	304.8		$	458.6		$	458.5
Cash paid (received) for interest and income taxes:
Interest	$	24.8		$	24.6		$	13.9
Income taxes, net of refunds	$	41.5		$	(5.9	)	$	21.1

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Olin Corporation is a Virginia corporation, incorporated in 1892.  We are a manufacturer concentrated in two business segments:  Chlor Alkali Products and Winchester.  Chlor Alkali Products, with nine U.S. manufacturing facilities and one Canadian manufacturing facility, produces chlorine and caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, bleach products and potassium hydroxide.  Winchester, with its principal manufacturing facilities in East Alton, IL and Oxford, MS, produces and distributes sporting ammunition, reloading components, small caliber military ammunition and components, and industrial cartridges.

On February 28, 2011, we acquired PolyOne’s 50% interest in the SunBelt Chlor Alkali Partnership, which we refer to as SunBelt.  The SunBelt chlor alkali plant, which is located within our McIntosh, AL facility, has approximately 350,000 tons of membrane technology capacity.  Previously, we had a 50% ownership interest in SunBelt, which was accounted for using the equity method of accounting.  Accordingly, prior to the acquisition, we included only our share of SunBelt results in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates.  Since the date of acquisition, SunBelt’s results are no longer included in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates but are consolidated in our accompanying financial statements.

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported and disclosed in the financial statements and related notes.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Olin Corporation and all majority-owned subsidiaries.  Investment in our affiliates are accounted for on the equity method.  Accordingly, we include only our share of earnings or losses of these affiliates in consolidated net income.  Certain reclassifications were made to prior year amounts to conform to the 2011 presentation.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recognized on sales of product at the time the goods are shipped and the risks of ownership have passed to the customer.  Shipping and handling fees billed to customers are included in sales.  Allowances for estimated returns, discounts and rebates are recognized when sales are recorded and are based on various market data, historical trends and information from customers.  Actual returns, discounts and rebates have not been materially different from estimates.

Cost of Goods Sold and Selling and Administration Expenses

Cost of goods sold includes the costs of inventory sold, related purchasing, distribution and warehousing costs, costs incurred for shipping and handling, depreciation and amortization expense related to these activities, and environmental remediation costs and recoveries.  Selling and administration expenses include personnel costs associated with sales, marketing and administration, research and development, legal and legal-related costs, consulting and professional services fees, advertising expenses, depreciation expense related to these activities and other similar costs and foreign currency translation.

Other Operating Income

Other operating income consists of miscellaneous operating income items, which are related to our business activities, and gains (losses) on disposition of property, plant and equipment.

Included in other operating income were the following:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
		($ in millions)
Gains (losses) on disposition of property, plant and equipment, net	$	1.4	$	1.1	$	1.6
Amortization of 2007 gain on intangible asset sale (recognized through 2012)		1.2		1.2		1.1
Gains on sale of land		0.3		—		3.7
Gains on dispositions of former manufacturing facilities		3.7		—		1.2
Gains on insurance recoveries		1.9		—		—
Gains on sale of other assets		—		—		0.8
Other		0.3		0.2		0.7
Other operating income	$	8.8	$	2.5	$	9.1

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The gains on disposition of property, plant and equipment in 2011 were primarily associated with the Charleston, TN conversion project, and in 2010 and 2009 were primarily associated with the St. Gabriel, LA facility conversion and expansion project, which was completed in the fourth quarter of 2009.  The gains on insurance recoveries in 2011 related to our Oxford, MS and St. Gabriel, LA facilities.

Other Income

Other income consists of non-operating income items which are not related to our primary business activities.  Other income in 2011 included a pretax gain of $181.4 million as a result of remeasuring our previously held 50% equity interest in SunBelt, partially offset by $6.7 million of expense for our earn out liability from the SunBelt acquisition.  Other income in 2010 included a $1.4 million recovery from a $26.6 million investment in corporate debt securities, whose full value was written off in 2008.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency for our Canadian subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar; accordingly, gains and losses resulting from balance sheet translations are included in selling and administration.  Other foreign affiliates’ balance sheet amounts are translated at the exchange rates in effect at year-end, and operations statement amounts are translated at the average rates of exchange prevailing during the year.  Translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid investments, with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase, are considered to be cash equivalents.

Short-Term Investments

We classify our marketable securities as available-for-sale, which are reported at fair market value with unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of applicable taxes.  The fair value of marketable securities is determined by quoted market prices.  Realized gains and losses on sales of investments, as determined on the specific identification method, and declines in value of securities judged to be other-than-temporary are included in other income in the consolidated statements of operations.  Interest and dividends on all securities are included in interest income and other income, respectively.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable

We evaluate the collectibility of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors.  We estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts as a percentage of net sales based on historical bad debt experience.  This estimate is periodically adjusted when we become aware of a specific customer's inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filing) or as a result of changes in the overall aging of accounts receivable.  While we have a large number of customers that operate in diverse businesses and are geographically dispersed, a general economic downturn in any of the industry segments in which we operate could result in higher than expected defaults, and, therefore, the need to revise estimates for the provision for doubtful accounts could occur.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, with cost being determined principally by the dollar value last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of inventory accounting.  Cost for other inventories has been determined principally by the average-cost (primarily operating supplies, spare parts and maintenance parts) method.  Elements of costs in inventories include raw materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost.  Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets.  Interest costs incurred to finance expenditures for major long-term construction projects are capitalized as part of the historical cost and included in property, plant and equipment and are depreciated over the useful lives of the related assets.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of the lease or the estimated useful life of the improvement, whichever is shorter.  Start-up costs are expensed as incurred.  Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred while the costs of significant improvements, which extend the useful life of the underlying asset, are capitalized.

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Property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment when conditions indicate that the carrying values of the assets may not be recoverable.  Such impairment conditions include an extended period of idleness or a plan of disposal.  If such impairment indicators are present or other factors exist that indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, we determine whether impairment has occurred through the use of an undiscounted cash flow analysis at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows exist.  The amount of impairment loss, if any, is measured by the difference between the net book value of the assets and the estimated fair value of the related assets.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash, which is restricted as to withdrawal or usage, is classified separately from cash and cash equivalents on our consolidated balance sheet.  A portion of the proceeds of the bonds issued by Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, along with their accrued interest income, remain with a trustee and are classified on our consolidated balance sheet as a noncurrent asset until such time as we request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used to fund capital projects in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Asset Retirement Obligations

We record the fair value of an asset retirement obligation associated with the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset as a liability in the period incurred.  The liability is measured at discounted fair value and is adjusted to its present value in subsequent periods as accretion expense is recorded.  The corresponding asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset and depreciated over the asset’s useful life.  Asset retirement obligations are reviewed annually in the fourth quarter and/or when circumstances or other events indicate that changes underlying retirement assumptions may have occurred.

The activity of our asset retirement obligation was as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	70.5		$	70.2
Accretion		5.0			5.0
Spending		(7.3	)		(9.9	)
Currency translation adjustments		(0.2	)		0.6
Adjustments		(0.1	)		4.6
Ending balance	$	67.9		$	70.5

At December 31, 2011 and 2010, our consolidated balance sheets included an asset retirement obligation of $55.9 million and $56.8 million, respectively, which were classified as other noncurrent liabilities.

In 2011, we had net adjustments that decreased the asset retirement obligation by $0.1 million, due to a favorable settlement of our $1.5 million obligation at one site offset by increased estimated costs for certain assets.

In 2010, we had net adjustments that increased the asset retirement obligation by $4.6 million, which included a restructuring charge of $6.7 million related to the acceleration of costs for our Charleston, TN facility and our Augusta, GA facility.  This charge was offset by decreases in estimated costs for certain assets and lower spending than expected on projects completed in 2010.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss consists of foreign currency translation adjustments, pension and postretirement liability adjustments, pension and postretirement amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses, net unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts, and net unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities.  We do not provide for U.S. income taxes on foreign currency translation adjustments since we do not provide for such taxes on undistributed earnings for foreign subsidiaries that have been permanently reinvested.

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Goodwill

Goodwill is not amortized, but is reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter and/or when circumstances or other events indicate that impairment may have occurred.  Circumstances that could trigger an impairment test include but are not limited to:  a significant adverse change in the business climate; a significant adverse legal judgment; adverse cash flow trends; an adverse action or assessment by a government agency; unanticipated competition; decline in our stock price; and a significant restructuring charge within a reporting unit.  The annual impairment test involves the comparison of the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount.  We define reporting units at the business segment level or one level below the business segment, which for our Chlor Alkali Products segment are the U.S. operations and Canadian operations.  For purposes of testing goodwill for impairment, goodwill has been allocated to these reporting units to the extent it relates to each reporting unit.  The fair value is determined based on a variety of assumptions including estimated future cash flows of the reporting unit, discount rates and comparable company trading multiples.  An impairment would be recorded if the carrying amount exceeded the estimated fair value.  No impairment charges were recorded for 2011, 2010 or 2009.

We use a discounted cash flow approach “income approach” to develop the estimated fair value of a reporting unit.  Management judgment is required in developing the assumptions for the discounted cash flow model.  We also corroborate our discounted cash flow analysis by evaluating a market-based approach that considers earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) multiples from a representative sample of comparable public companies in the chemical industry.  An impairment would be recorded if the carrying amount exceeded the estimated fair value.

The discount rate, profitability assumptions, terminal growth rate and cyclical nature of our chlor alkali business are the material assumptions utilized in the discounted cash flow model used to estimate the fair value of each reporting unit.  The discount rate reflects a weighted-average cost of capital, which is calculated based on observable market data.  Some of these data (such as the risk free or treasury rate and the pretax cost of debt) are based on the market data at a point in time.  Other data (such as the equity risk premium) are based upon market data over time for a peer group of companies in the chemical manufacturing industry with a market capitalization premium added, as applicable.

The discounted cash flow analysis requires estimates, assumptions and judgments about future events.  Our analysis uses our internally generated long-range plan.  Our discounted cash flow analysis uses the assumptions in our long-range plan about terminal growth rates, forecasted capital expenditures, and changes in future working capital requirements to determine the implied fair value of each reporting unit.  The long-range plan reflects management judgment, supplemented by independent chemical industry analyses which provide multi-year chlor alkali industry operating and pricing forecasts.

All of our recorded goodwill, which is associated with acquisitions, is included in the Chlor Alkali Products segment.  Given the economic environment and the uncertainties regarding the impact on our business, there can be no assurance that our estimates and assumptions, made for purposes of our goodwill impairment testing during the fourth quarter of 2011, will prove to be an accurate prediction of the future.  If our assumptions regarding forecasted sales or gross margins are not achieved, we may be required to record goodwill impairment charges in future periods.  It is not possible at this time to determine if any such future impairment charge would result or, if it does, whether such charge would be material.

Other Assets

Included in other assets were the following:

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates	$	27.6	$	25.9
Intangible assets (less accumulated amortization of $6.9 million and $5.0 million, respectively)		19.2		15.2
Deferred debt issuance costs		14.2		16.4
Interest rate swaps		13.8		5.3
Other		10.8		9.5
Other assets	$	85.6	$	72.3

The February 28, 2011 valuation of identifiable intangible assets that were obtained from the SunBelt acquisition included $5.8 million associated with customers, customer contracts and relationships and are being amortized over fifteen years on a straight-line basis.  The identifiable intangible assets obtained from the Pioneer acquisition included $19.0 million associated with customers, customer contracts and relationships, and $1.2 million associated with internally developed and purchased software.  These assets are being amortized over fifteen years and five years, respectively, on a straight-line basis.  Amortization expense was $1.9 million in 2011 and $1.5 million in 2010 and 2009.  We estimate that amortization expense will be approximately $1.8 million in 2012 and $1.7 million in each of the next four years.  Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter and/or when circumstances or other events indicate that impairment may have occurred.

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Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures

Accruals (charges to income) 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 upon current law and existing technologies.  These amounts, which are not discounted and are exclusive of claims against third parties, are adjusted periodically as assessment and remediation efforts progress or additional technical or legal information becomes available.  Environmental costs are capitalized if the costs increase the value of the property and/or mitigate or prevent contamination from future operations.

Income Taxes

Deferred taxes are provided for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.  A valuation allowance is provided to offset deferred tax assets if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the value of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We are exposed to market risk in the normal course of our business operations due to our purchases of certain commodities, our ongoing investing and financing activities, and our operations that use foreign currencies.  The risk of loss can be assessed from the perspective of adverse changes in fair values, cash flows and future earnings.  We have established policies and procedures governing our management of market risks and the use of financial instruments to manage exposure to such risks.  We use hedge accounting treatment for substantially all of our business transactions whose risks are covered using derivative instruments.  The hedge accounting treatment provides for the deferral of gains or losses (included in other comprehensive loss) on derivative instruments until such time as the related transactions occur.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Accounts receivable is the principal financial instrument which subjects us to a concentration of credit risk.  Credit is extended based upon the evaluation of a customer’s financial condition and, generally, collateral is not required.  Concentrations of credit risk with respect to receivables are somewhat limited due to our large number of customers, the diversity of these customers’ businesses and the geographic dispersion of such customers.  The majority of our accounts receivable are derived from sales denominated in U.S. dollars.  We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon the expected collectibility of all trade receivables.

Fair Value

Fair value is defined as the price at which an asset could be exchanged in a current transaction between knowledgeable, willing parties or the amount that would be paid to transfer a liability to a new obligor, not the amount that would be paid to settle the liability with the creditor.  Where available, fair value is based on observable market prices or parameters or derived from such prices or parameters.  Where observable prices or inputs are not available, valuation models are applied.  These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the instruments or market and the instruments’ complexity.

Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value.  Hierarchical levels, defined by ASC 820, formerly SFAS No. 157, and directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair valuation of these assets and liabilities, are as follows:

Level 1 — Inputs were unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

Level 2 — Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) were either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instrument’s anticipated life.

Level 3 — Inputs reflected management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.  Consideration was given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model.

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Retirement-Related Benefits

We account for our defined benefit pension plans and non-pension postretirement benefit plans using actuarial models required by ASC 715, formerly SFAS No. 87 and SFAS No. 106, respectively.  These models use an attribution approach that generally spreads the financial impact of changes to the plan and actuarial assumptions over the average remaining service lives of the employees in the plan.  Changes in liability due to changes in actuarial assumptions such as discount rate, rate of compensation increases and mortality, as well as annual deviations between what was assumed and what was experienced by the plan are treated as gains or losses.  The principle underlying the required attribution approach is that employees render service over their average remaining service lives on a relatively smooth basis and, therefore, the accounting for benefits earned under the pension or non-pension postretirement benefits plans should follow the same relatively smooth pattern.  Substantially all defined benefit pension plan participants are no longer accruing benefits; therefore, actuarial gains and losses are amortized based upon the remaining life expectancy of the inactive plan participants.  For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the average remaining life expectancy of the inactive participants in the defined benefit pension plan was 18 years and 19 years, respectively.

One of the key assumptions for the net periodic pension calculation is the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, used to determine the “market-related value of assets.”  The “market-related value of assets” recognizes differences between the plan’s actual return and expected return over a five year period.  The required use of an expected long-term rate of return on the market-related value of plan assets may result in a recognized pension income that is greater or less than the actual returns of those plan assets in any given year.  Over time, however, the expected long-term returns are designed to approximate the actual long-term returns and, therefore, result in a pattern of income and expense recognition that more closely matches the pattern of the services provided by the employees.  As differences between actual and expected returns are recognized over five years, they subsequently generate gains and losses that are subject to amortization over the average remaining life expectancy of the inactive plan participants, as described in the preceding paragraph.

We use long-term historical actual return information, the mix of investments that comprise plan assets, and future estimates of long-term investment returns and inflation by reference to external sources to develop the expected return on plan assets as of December 31.

The discount rate assumptions used for pension and non-pension postretirement benefit plan accounting reflect the rates available on high-quality fixed-income debt instruments on December 31 of each year.  The rate of compensation increase is based upon our long-term plans for such increases.  For retiree medical plan accounting, we review external data and our own historical trends for healthcare costs to determine the healthcare cost trend rates.

Stock-Based Compensation

We measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments, such as stock options, performance shares, and restricted stock, based on the grant-date fair value of the award.  This cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, the requisite service period (usually the vesting period).  An initial measurement is made of the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of liability instruments based on its current fair value and the value of that award is subsequently remeasured at each reporting date through the settlement date.  Changes in fair value of liability awards during the requisite service period are recognized as compensation cost over that period.

The fair value of each option granted, which typically vests ratably over three years, but not less than one year, was estimated on the date of grant, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

	2011			2010			2009
Dividend yield		4.32	%		4.32	%		4.26	%
Risk-free interest rate		3.05	%		3.00	%		2.32	%
Expected volatility		42	%		42	%		40	%
Expected life (years)		7.0			7.0			7.0
Grant fair value (per option)	$	5.48		$	4.61		$	3.85
Exercise price	$	18.78		$	15.68		$	14.28
Shares granted		575,000			803,750			866,250

Dividend yield was based on a historical average.  Risk-free interest rate was based on zero coupon U.S. Treasury securities rates for the expected life of the options.  Expected volatility was based on our historical stock price movements, as we believe that historical experience is the best available indicator of the expected volatility.  Expected life of the option grant was based on historical exercise and cancellation patterns, as we believe that historical experience is the best estimate for future exercise patterns.

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RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In September 2011, FASB issued ASU 2011-08, which amends ASC 350.  This update permits entities to make a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount before applying the two-step goodwill impairment test.  If an entity concludes that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it would not be required to perform the two-step impairment test for that reporting unit.  This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011.  This update will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

During 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05 and ASU 2011-12.  These updates require entities to present items of net income and other comprehensive income either in one continuous statement, referred to as the statement of comprehensive income, or in two separate, but consecutive, statements of net income and other comprehensive income.  These updates are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with retrospective applications required.  These updates will require modification of our consolidated financial statements presentation in the first quarter of 2012.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, which amends ASC 820.  This update clarifies the existing guidance and amends the wording used to describe many of the requirements in US GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements.  This update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with prospective application required.  This update will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-29, which amends ASC 805.  This update clarified that an entity is required to disclose pro forma revenue and earnings as though the business combination that occurred during the current period had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only.  In addition, this standard expands the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings.  We adopted the provisions of ASU 2010-29 on January 1, 2011.  The adoption of this update required additional disclosures for our acquisition of the remaining 50% equity interest in SunBelt.  This update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, which amends ASC 820.  This update adds new fair value disclosure requirements about transfers into and out of Level 1 and 2 and separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements related to Level 3 measurements.  This update expands disclosures on valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value.  This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the requirement to provide the Level 3 activity of purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010.  We adopted the provisions of ASU 2010-06 on January 1, 2010, except for the requirement to provide the additional Level 3 activity, which was adopted on January 1, 2011.  The adoption of this update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 166, which was incorporated into ASC 860, and SFAS No. 167, which was incorporated into ASC 810.  These statements changed the way entities account for securitizations and special-purpose entities.  The new standards eliminate existing exceptions, strengthen the standards relating to securitizations and special-purpose entities, and enhance disclosure requirements.  These statements became effective for us on January 1, 2010.  The adoption of these statements did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165, which was incorporated into ASC 855.  ASC 855 provides guidance on management’s assessment of subsequent events.  The statement is not expected to significantly change practice because its guidance is similar to that in American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Professional Standards U.S. Auditing Standards Section 560, “Subsequent Events,” with some modifications.  This statement became effective for us on June 15, 2009.  The adoption of this statement did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.  In February 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-09 “Subsequent Events – Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure Requirements,” which removed the requirements in ASC 855 for an SEC filer to disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated for both issued and revised financial statements.  This update became effective upon issuance for us and the adoption of this update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

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ACQUISITION

On February 28, 2011, we acquired PolyOne’s 50% interest in SunBelt for $132.3 million in cash plus the assumption of a PolyOne guarantee related to the SunBelt Notes.  With this acquisition, Olin now owns 100% of SunBelt.  The SunBelt chlor alkali plant, which is located within our McIntosh, AL facility, has approximately 350,000 tons of membrane technology capacity.  We also agreed to a three year earn out, which has no guaranteed minimum or maximum, based on the performance of SunBelt.  In addition, during the second quarter of 2011, we remitted to PolyOne $6.0 million, which represented 50% of distributable cash generated by SunBelt from January 1, 2011 through February 28, 2011.

Pursuant to a note purchase agreement dated December 22, 1997, SunBelt sold $97.5 million of Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2017, Series O, and $97.5 million of Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2017, Series G.  The SunBelt Notes bear interest at a rate of 7.23% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on each June 22 and December 22.  Beginning on December 22, 2002 and each year through 2017, SunBelt is required to repay $12.2 million of the SunBelt Notes, of which $6.1 million is attributable to the Series O Notes and of which $6.1 million is attributable to the Series G Notes.  In conjunction with the acquisition, we consolidated the SunBelt Notes with a fair value of $87.3 million for the remaining principal balance of $85.3 million as of February 28, 2011.

We have guaranteed the Series O Notes, and PolyOne, our former SunBelt partner, has guaranteed the Series G Notes, in both cases pursuant to customary guaranty agreements.  We have agreed to indemnify PolyOne for any payments or other costs under the guarantee in favor of the purchasers of the Series G Notes, to the extent any payments or other costs arise from a default or other breach under the SunBelt Notes.  If SunBelt does not make timely payments on the SunBelt Notes, whether as a result of a failure to pay on a guarantee or otherwise, the holders of the SunBelt Notes may proceed against the assets of SunBelt for repayment.

From January 1, 2011 to February 28, 2011, we recorded $6.3 million of equity earnings of non-consolidated affiliates for our 50% ownership in SunBelt.  The value of our investment in SunBelt was $(0.8) million.  We remeasured our equity interest in SunBelt to fair value upon the close of the transaction.  As a result, we recognized a pretax gain of $181.4 million, which was classified in other income in our consolidated statement of operations.  In conjunction with this remeasurement, a discrete deferred tax expense of $76.0 million was recorded.

The transaction has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting which requires, among other things, that assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their fair values as of the acquisition date.  We finalized our purchase price allocation during the second quarter of 2011.  The following table summarizes the final allocation of the purchase price to SunBelt’s assets and liabilities:

	February 28, 2011
	($ in millions)
Total current assets	$	37.6
Property, plant and equipment		87.4
Deferred income taxes		0.4
Other assets		5.8
Total assets acquired		131.2
Total current liabilities		42.7
Long-term debt		75.1
Other liabilities		27.6
Total liabilities assumed		145.4
Less:  Investment in SunBelt		(0.8	)
Net liabilities assumed		(13.4	)
Liabilities for uncertainties		48.3
Gain on remeasurement of investment in SunBelt		(181.4	)
Goodwill		327.1
Fair value of assets acquired	$	180.6

Included in total current assets are cash and cash equivalents of $8.9 million.  Included in total current liabilities is $12.2 million of current installments of long-term debt.

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Based on final valuations, we allocated $5.8 million of the purchase price to intangible assets relating to customers, customer contracts and relationships, which management estimates to have a useful life of fifteen years.  These identifiable intangible assets were included in other assets.  Based on final valuations, $327.1 million was assigned to goodwill.  For tax purposes, $163.7 million of the goodwill is deductible.  The goodwill represents the fair value of SunBelt that is in addition to the fair values of the other net assets acquired.  The primary reason for the acquisition and the principal factors that contributed to a SunBelt purchase price that resulted in the recognition of goodwill is the strategic fit with our Chlor Alkali operations and SunBelt’s low cost membrane capacity.

For segment reporting purposes, SunBelt has been included in Chlor Alkali Products.  The SunBelt results of operations have been included in our consolidated results for the period subsequent to the effective date of the acquisition.  Our consolidated results for the year ended December 31, 2011 included $170.5 million of SunBelt sales and $27.2 million of additional SunBelt pretax income ($38.7 million included in Chlor Alkali Products segment income; less $0.8 million of acquisition costs, $4.0 million of interest expense and $6.7 million of expense for our earn out liability) on the 50% interest we acquired.  The following pro forma summary presents the condensed statements of income as if the acquisition of SunBelt had occurred on January 1, 2009 (unaudited).

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
	($ in millions, except per share data)
Sales	$	1,987.4	$	1,743.2	$	1,698.9
Net income		140.6		80.4		154.7
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	1.76	$	1.02	$	1.98
Diluted	$	1.74	$	1.01	$	1.98

The pro forma statements of income were prepared based on historical financial information and have been adjusted to give effect to pro forma adjustments that are (i) directly attributable to the transaction, (ii) factually supportable and (iii) expected to have a continuing impact on the combined results.  The pro forma statements of income use estimates and assumptions based on information available at the time.  Management believes the estimates and assumptions to be reasonable; however, actual results may differ significantly from this pro forma financial information.  The pro forma information does not reflect any cost savings that might be achieved from operating the business under a single owner and is not intended to reflect the actual results that would have occurred had the companies actually been combined during the periods presented.  The pro forma data reflect the application of the following adjustments:

·   Elimination of the pretax gain resulting from the remeasurement of our previously held 50% equity interest in SunBelt, which is considered non-recurring ($181.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011).

·   Additional amortization expense related to the fair value of acquired identifiable intangible assets ($0.1 million, $0.3 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively).

·   Reduction of depreciation expense related to the fair value adjustment to property, plant and equipment ($1.0 million, $5.8 million and $5.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively).

·   Reduction in interest expense as a result of increasing the carrying value of acquired debt obligations to its estimated fair value ($0.1 million, $0.5 million and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively).

·   Additional accretion expense for the earn out liability that was recorded as a result of the acquisition ($0.4 million, $2.7 million and $2.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively).

·   Elimination of transaction costs incurred in 2011 that are directly related to the transaction, and do not have a continuing impact on our combined operating results ($0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011).

In addition, the pro forma data reflect the tax effect of all of the above adjustments.  The pro forma tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2011 reflects a reduction of $76.0 million related to the elimination of the gain resulting from the remeasurement of our previously held 50% equity interest in SunBelt.  The pro forma tax provision reflects an increase of $2.3 million, $7.3 million and $10.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, associated with the incremental pretax income and the fair value adjustments for acquired intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and the SunBelt Notes, which reflects the marginal tax of the adjustments in the various jurisdictions where such adjustments occurred.

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RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

On December 9, 2010, our board of directors approved a plan to eliminate our use of mercury in the manufacture of chlor alkali products.  Under the plan, the 260,000 tons of mercury cell capacity at our Charleston, TN facility will be converted to 200,000 tons of membrane capacity capable of producing both potassium hydroxide and caustic soda.  The project has an estimated capital cost of approximately $160 million.  The board of directors also approved plans to reconfigure our Augusta, GA facility to manufacture bleach and distribute caustic soda, while discontinuing chlor alkali manufacturing at this site.  This action will reduce our chlor alkali manufacturing capacity by 100,000 tons.  We based our decision to convert and reconfigure on several factors.  First, during 2009 and 2010 we had experienced a steady increase in the number of customers unwilling to accept our products manufactured using mercury cell technology.  Second, there was federal legislation passed in 2008 governing the treatment of mercury that significantly limits our recycling options after December 31, 2012.  We concluded that exiting mercury cell technology production after 2012 represented an unacceptable future cost risk.  Further, the conversion of the Charleston, TN plant to membrane technology will reduce the electricity usage per ECU produced by approximately 25% and the configuration of the new plant will result in an increase in our capacity to produce potassium hydroxide.  The decision to reconfigure the Augusta, GA facility to manufacture bleach and distribute caustic soda removes the highest cost production capacity from our system.  We currently expect to complete the conversion and reconfiguration by the end of 2012.  We recorded a pretax restructuring charge of $28.0 million associated with these actions in the fourth quarter of 2010.  The restructuring charge included write-off of equipment and facility costs, acceleration of asset retirement obligations, employee severance and related benefit costs and lease and other contract termination costs.  For the year ended December 31, 2011, we recorded additional pretax restructuring charges of $2.8 million for employee severance and related benefit costs and facility exit costs.  We expect to incur additional restructuring charges through 2013 of approximately $8 million related to the implementation of plans to exit the use of mercury cell technology in the chlor alkali manufacturing process.

On November 3, 2010, we announced that we made the decision to relocate the Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  This relocation, when completed, is forecast to reduce Winchester’s annual operating costs by approximately $30 million.  Consistent with this decision we have initiated an estimated $110 million five-year project, which includes approximately $80 million of capital spending.  The State of Mississippi and local governments have provided incentives which should offset approximately 40 percent of the capital spending.  We currently expect to complete this relocation by the end of 2015.  We recorded a pretax restructuring charge of $6.2 million associated with these actions in the fourth quarter of 2010.  The restructuring charge included employee severance and related benefit costs and a non-cash pension and other postretirement benefits curtailment charge.  For the year ended December 31, 2011, we recorded additional pretax restructuring charges of $7.0 million for employee severance and related benefits costs, a non-cash pension curtailment charge, employee relocation costs and facility exit costs.  These restructuring charges related primarily to the second quarter 2011 ratification of a new five and one half year Winchester, East Alton, IL union labor agreement.  We expect to incur additional restructuring charges through 2016 of approximately $17 million related to the transfer of these operations.

The following table summarizes the 2011 and 2010 activity by major component of these restructuring actions and the remaining balances of accrued restructuring costs as of December 31, 2011:

	Employee severance and job related benefits			Pension and other postretirement benefits curtailment			Lease and other contract termination costs			Employee relocation costs			Facility exit costs			Write-off of equipment and facility			Total
				($ in millions)
Balance January 1, 2010	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
2010 restructuring charges		6.0			3.0			1.0			—			6.7			17.5			34.2
Amounts utilized		—			(3.0	)		—			—			(6.7	)		(17.5	)		(27.2	)
Balance at December 31, 2010		6.0			—			1.0			—			—			—			7.0
2011 restructuring charges		6.4			1.1			—			2.2			1.0			—			10.7
Amounts utilized		(1.1	)		(1.1	)		(0.2	)		(2.2	)		(1.0	)		—			(5.6	)
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	11.3		$	—		$	0.8		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	12.1

As of December 31, 2011, we have incurred cash expenditures of $4.5 million related to these restructuring actions.  The remaining balance of $12.1 million is expected to be paid out in 2012 through 2016.

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EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic and diluted income per share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  Diluted net income per share reflects the dilutive effect of stock-based compensation.

	Years ended December 31,
Computation of Income per Share	2011		2010		2009
	(In millions, except per share data)
Net income	$	241.7	$	64.8	$	135.7
Basic shares:		80.0		79.2		78.1
Basic net income per share	$	3.02	$	0.82	$	1.74
Diluted shares:
Basic shares		80.0		79.2		78.1
Stock-based compensation		0.8		0.7		0.2
Diluted shares		80.8		79.9		78.3
Diluted net income per share	$	2.99	$	0.81	$	1.73

The computation of dilutive shares from stock-based compensation does not include 0.9 million, 1.3 million and 3.2 million shares in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES

Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable consisted of the following:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	4.8		$	3.3
Provisions charged (credited)		0.8			(0.3	)
(Write-offs) recoveries, net		(2.4	)		1.8
Ending balance	$	3.2		$	4.8

INVENTORIES

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Supplies	$	35.0		$	30.8
Raw materials		75.7			56.5
Work in process		31.9			24.7
Finished goods		111.7			104.4
		254.3			216.4
LIFO reserves		(77.7	)		(60.8	)
Inventories	$	176.6		$	155.6

In conjunction with the acquisition of SunBelt, we obtained inventories with a fair value of $4.0 million, as of February 28, 2011.  Inventories valued using the LIFO method comprised 72% of the total inventories at December 31, 2011 and 2010.  If the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method of inventory accounting had been used, inventories would have been $77.7 million and $60.8 million higher than that reported at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

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PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

		December 31,
	Useful Lives	2011			2010
		($ in millions)
Land and improvements to land	10-20 Years	$	149.4		$	141.5
Buildings and building equipment	10-25 Years		183.9			163.5
Machinery and equipment	3-15 Years		1,540.3			1,379.0
Leasehold improvements			2.5			2.1
Construction in progress			153.3			57.0
Property, plant and equipment			2,029.4			1,743.1
Accumulated depreciation			(1,144.0	)		(1,068.1	)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$	885.4		$	675.0

Depreciation expense was $97.4 million, $85.4 million and $70.2 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Leased assets capitalized and included above are not significant.  Interest capitalized was $1.2 million, $0.9 million and $9.7 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Maintenance and repairs charged to operations amounted to $135.7 million, $128.8 million and $135.0 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, included a $(23.7) million, $2.3 million and $2.6 million, respectively, (decrease) increase to capital expenditures, with the corresponding change to accounts payable and accrued liabilities, related to purchases of property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

During the fourth quarter of 2011, we entered into a sale/leaseback transaction for chlorine railcars that we acquired in 2011 for $3.2 million.

INVESTMENTS—AFFILIATED COMPANIES

Prior to the acquisition of SunBelt, we held a 50% ownership interest, which was accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

On November 16, 2007, we purchased for cash an $11.6 million equity interest in a limited liability company that owns a bleach and related chemical manufacturing facility (bleach joint venture).  As part of the investment we also entered into several commercial agreements, including agreements by which we will supply raw materials and services, and we will have marketing responsibility for bleach and caustic soda.

We hold a 9.1% limited partnership interest in Bay Gas Storage Company, Ltd. (Bay Gas), an Alabama limited partnership, in which EnergySouth, Inc. (EnergySouth), which was acquired in 2008 by Sempra Energy, is the general partner with interest of 90.9%.  Bay Gas owns, leases, and operates underground gas storage and related pipeline facilities, which are used to provide storage in the McIntosh, AL area and delivery of natural gas to EnergySouth customers.

The following table summarizes our investments in our non-consolidated equity affiliates:

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
SunBelt	$	—	$	0.1
Bay Gas		17.1		14.8
Bleach joint venture		10.5		11.0
Investments in equity affiliates	$	27.6	$	25.9

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The following table summarizes our equity earnings of non-consolidated affiliates:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
	($ in millions)
SunBelt	$	6.3	$	26.6	$	33.2
Bay Gas		2.4		2.2		1.9
Bleach joint venture		0.9		1.1		2.6
Equity earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	$	9.6	$	29.9	$	37.7

We received net distributions from our non-consolidated affiliates of $1.9 million, $23.6 million and $37.1 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

DEBT

Credit Facility

At December 31, 2011, we had $231.5 million available under our $240 million senior revolving credit facility, because we had issued $8.5 million of letters of credit under a $110 million subfacility.  The senior revolving credit facility will expire in October 2012.  Under the senior revolving credit facility, we may select various floating rate borrowing options.  The actual interest rate paid on borrowings under the senior revolving credit facility is based on a pricing grid which is dependent upon the leverage ratio as calculated under the terms of the facility at the end of the prior fiscal quarter.  The facility includes various customary restrictive covenants, including restrictions related to the ratio of debt to earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization (leverage ratio) and the ratio of earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization to interest expense (coverage ratio).  Compliance with these covenants is determined quarterly based on the operating cash flows for the last four quarters.  We were in compliance with all covenants and restrictions under all our outstanding credit agreements as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and no event of default had occurred that would permit the lenders under our outstanding credit agreements to accelerate the debt if not cured.  In the future, our ability to generate sufficient operating cash flows, among other factors, will determine the amounts available to be borrowed under these facilities.  As of December 31, 2011, there were no covenants or other restrictions that limited our ability to borrow.

At December 31, 2011, we had total letters of credit of $34.4 million outstanding, of which $8.5 million were issued under our $240 million senior revolving credit facility.  In addition to our senior revolving credit facility, we have two letter of credit facilities totaling $28 million, which we reduced from $38 million during 2010.  The letters of credit are used to support certain long-term debt and certain workers compensation insurance policies.

Long-Term Debt

	December 31,
	2011		2010
Notes payable:	($ in millions)
Variable-rate Go Zone bonds, due 2024 (1.78% and 1.76% at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively)	$	50.0	$	14.0
Variable-rate Recovery Zone bonds, due 2024-2035 (1.78% and 1.76% at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively)		103.0		103.0
9.125%, due 2011 (includes interest rate swaps of $2.8 million in 2010)		—		77.8
6.5%, due 2013		11.4		11.4
6.75%, due 2016 (includes interest rate swaps of $10.5 million and $4.6 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively)		135.5		129.6
8.875%, due 2019 (includes unamortized discount of $1.0 million in 2011 and $1.1 million in 2010)		149.0		148.9
7.23%, SunBelt Notes due 2012-2017 (includes unamortized fair value premium of $1.6 million and interest rate swaps of $1.9 million in 2011)		76.6		—
Industrial development and environmental improvement obligations at a fixed interest rate of 6.625%, due 2017-2025 (includes interest rate swaps of $0.3 million in 2011 and $0.7 million in 2010)		10.9		11.3
Total debt		536.4		496.0
Amounts due within one year		12.2		77.8
Total long-term debt	$	524.2	$	418.2

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Pursuant to a note purchase agreement dated December 22, 1997, SunBelt sold $97.5 million of Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2017, Series O, and $97.5 million of Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2017, Series G.  The SunBelt Notes bear interest at a rate of 7.23% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on each June 22 and December 22.  Beginning on December 22, 2002 and each year through 2017, SunBelt is required to repay $12.2 million of the SunBelt Notes, of which $6.1 million is attributable to the Series O Notes and of which $6.1 million is attributable to the Series G Notes.  In conjunction with the SunBelt acquisition, we consolidated the SunBelt Notes with a fair value of $87.3 million for the remaining principal balance of $85.3 million as of February 28, 2011.  In December 2011, $12.2 million was repaid on these SunBelt Notes.

In December 2011, we repaid the $75.0 million 2011 Notes, which became due in 2011.

In December 2010, we completed a financing of Recovery Zone tax-exempt bonds totaling $41.0 million due 2035.  The bonds were issued by the TN Authority pursuant to a trust indenture between the TN Authority and U. S. Bank National Association, as trustee.  The bonds were sold to PNC Bank, as administrative agent for itself and a syndicate of participating banks, in a private placement under a Credit and Funding Agreement dated December 27, 2010, between us and PNC Bank.  Proceeds of the bonds will be loaned by the TN Authority to us under a loan agreement, whereby we are obligated to make loan payments to the TN Authority sufficient to pay all debt service and expenses related to the bonds.  Our obligations under the loan agreement and related note bear interest at a fluctuating rate based on LIBOR.  The financial covenants in the credit agreement mirror those in our senior revolving credit facility.  The bonds may be tendered to us (without premium) periodically beginning November 1, 2015.  During December 2010, we drew $41.0 million of the bonds.  The proceeds from the bonds are required to be used to fund capital project spending for our Charleston, TN facility mercury cell conversion.  As of December 31, 2011, $26.0 million of the proceeds remain with the trustee and are classified as a noncurrent asset on our consolidated balance sheet as restricted cash, until such time as we request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used for the Charleston, TN facility mercury cell conversion.

In December 2010, we completed a financing of Recovery Zone tax-exempt bonds totaling $42.0 million due 2033.  The bonds were issued by MS Finance pursuant to a trust indenture between MS Finance and U. S. Bank National Association, as trustee.  The bonds were sold to PNC Bank, as administrative agent for itself and a syndicate of participating banks, in a private placement under a Credit and Funding Agreement dated December 1, 2010, between us and PNC Bank.  Proceeds of the bonds will be loaned by MS Finance to us under a loan agreement, whereby we are obligated to make loan payments to MS Finance sufficient to pay all debt service and expenses related to the bonds.  Our obligations under the loan agreement and related note bear interest at a fluctuating rate based on LIBOR.  The financial covenants in the credit agreement mirror those in our senior revolving credit facility.  The bonds may be tendered to us (without premium) periodically beginning November 1, 2015.  During December 2010, we drew $42.0 million of the bonds.  The proceeds from the bonds are required to be used to fund capital project spending for our ongoing relocation of the Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  As of December 31, 2011, $14.1 million of the proceeds remain with the trustee and are classified as a noncurrent asset on our consolidated balance sheet as restricted cash, until such time as we request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used for the Oxford, MS Winchester relocation.

In October 2010, we completed a financing of tax-exempt bonds totaling $70.0 million due 2024.  The bonds include $50.0 million of Go Zone and $20.0 million of Recovery Zone.  The bonds were issued by the AL Authority pursuant to a trust indenture between the AL Authority and U. S. Bank National Association, as trustee.  The bonds were sold to PNC Bank, as administrative agent for itself and a syndicate of participating banks, in a private placement under a Credit and Funding Agreement dated October 14, 2010, between us and PNC Bank.  Proceeds of the bonds will be loaned by the AL Authority to us under a loan agreement, whereby we are obligated to make loan payments to the AL Authority sufficient to pay all debt service and expenses related to the bonds.  Our obligations under the loan agreement and related note bear interest at a fluctuating rate based on LIBOR.  The financial covenants in the credit agreement mirror those in our senior revolving credit facility.  The bonds may be tendered to us (without premium) periodically beginning November 1, 2015.  We had the option to borrow up to the entire $70.0 million in a series of draw downs through December 31, 2011.  We drew $36.0 million of the bonds in 2011 and $34.0 million in 2010.  The proceeds from the bonds are required to be used to fund capital project spending at our McIntosh, AL facility.  As of December 31, 2011, $11.6 million of the proceeds remain with the trustee and are classified as a noncurrent asset on our consolidated balance sheet as restricted cash, until such time as we request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used for capital project spending at our McIntosh, AL facility.

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In September 2010, we redeemed industrial revenue bonds totaling $18.9 million, with maturity dates of February 2016 and March 2016.  We paid a premium of $0.4 million to the bond holders, which was included in interest expense.  We also recognized a $0.3 million deferred gain in interest expense related to the interest rate swaps, which were terminated in April 2010, on these industrial revenue bonds.  In October 2010, we redeemed additional industrial revenue bonds totaling $1.8 million, with a maturity date of October 2014.

We had a $75 million Accounts Receivable Facility, renewable annually for five years, which would have expired in July 2012.  During the second quarter of 2010, we terminated the Accounts Receivable Facility.  Based on the liquidity from cash and cash equivalents, cash flow from operations, and borrowings under our senior revolving credit facility, the Accounts Receivable Facility was no longer necessary.  There had been no borrowings under the Accounts Receivable Facility since 2007.  The Accounts Receivable Facility provided for the sale of our eligible trade receivables to a third party conduit through a wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote, special purpose entity that was consolidated for financial statement purposes.  The Accounts Receivable Facility contained specific covenants relating to the ability of the lender to obtain or maintain a first priority lien on the receivables.  In addition, the Accounts Receivable Facility incorporated the leverage and coverage covenants that are contained in the senior revolving credit facility.

Annual maturities of long-term debt are $12.2 million in 2012, $23.6 million in 2013, $12.2 million in 2014, $12.2 million in 2015, $147.7 million in 2016 and a total of $328.5 million thereafter.

We have entered into interest rate swaps, as disclosed below, whereby we agree to pay variable and fixed rates to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us fixed and variable rates.  In all cases the underlying index for variable rates is the six-month LIBOR.  Accordingly, payments are settled every six months and the terms of the swaps are the same as the underlying debt instruments.

The following table reflects the swap activity related to certain debt obligations:

Underlying Debt Instrument	Swap Amount		Date of Swap	December 31, 2011
		($ in millions)		Olin Pays Floating Rate:
6.75%, due 2016	$	65.0	March 2010	3.75-4.75	%(a)
6.75%, due 2016	$	60.0	March 2010	3.75-4.75	%(a)
7.23%, SunBelt Notes	$	73.1	May 2011	5.5-6.5	%(a)
Industrial development obligation at a fixed interest rate of 6.625% due 2017	$	7.7	March 2002	0.81	%
				Olin Receives Floating Rate:
6.75%, due 2016	$	65.0	October 2011	3.75-4.75	%(a)
6.75%, due 2016	$	60.0	October 2011	3.75-4.75	%(a)

(a) Actual rate is set in arrears.  We project the rate will fall within the range shown.

In March 2010, we entered into interest rate swaps on $125 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us fixed rates.  The counterparty to these agreements is Citibank.  In October 2011, we entered into $125 million of interest rate swaps with equal and opposite terms as the $125 million variable interest rate swaps on the 2016 Notes.  We have agreed to pay a fixed rate to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us variable rates.  The counterparty to this agreement is also Citibank.  The result was a gain of $11.0 million on the $125 million variable interest rate swaps, which will be recognized through 2016.  As of December 31, 2011, $10.5 million of this gain was included in long-term debt.  In October 2011, we de-designated our $125 million interest rate swaps that had previously been designated as fair value hedges.  The $125 million variable interest rate swaps and the $125 million fixed interest rate swaps do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting.  All changes in the fair value of these interest rate swaps are recorded currently in earnings.

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In 2001 and 2002, we entered into interest rate swaps on $75 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, paid us fixed rates.  The counterparty to these agreements was Citibank.  In January 2009, we entered into a $75 million fixed interest rate swap with equal and opposite terms as the $75 million variable interest rate swaps on the 2011 Notes.  We agreed to pay a fixed rate to a counterparty who, in turn, paid us variable rates.  The counterparty to this agreement was Bank of America.  The result was a gain of $7.9 million on the $75 million variable interest rate swaps, which was recognized through 2011.

The remaining $80.8 million of interest rate swaps have been designated as fair value hedges of the risk of changes in the value of our fixed-rate debt due to changes in interest rates for a portion of our fixed-rate borrowings.  Accordingly, the interest rate swaps have been recorded at their fair market value of $2.2 million at December 31, 2011 and are included in other assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, with a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of the related debt.  No gain or loss has been recorded as the swaps meet the criteria to qualify for hedge accounting treatment with no ineffectiveness.  The counterparties to these agreements are Citibank ($7.7 million) and Wells Fargo ($73.1 million).  Of the $80.8 million of interest rate swaps outstanding, $73.1 million were entered into in May 2011 on the SunBelt Notes.

Our loss in the event of nonperformance by these counterparties could be significant to our financial position and results of operations.  These interest rate swaps reduced interest expense by $7.2 million, $7.0 million and $3.0 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The difference between interest paid and interest received is included as an adjustment to interest expense.

PENSION PLANS

Most of our employees participate in defined contribution pension plans.  We provide a contribution to an individual retirement contribution account maintained with the CEOP primarily equal to 5% of the employee’s eligible compensation if such employee is less than age 45, and 7.5% of the employee’s eligible compensation if such employee is age 45 or older.  The defined contribution pension plans expense was $14.6 million, $13.3 million and $12.7 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

A portion of our bargaining hourly employees continue to participate in our domestic defined benefit pension plans under a flat-benefit formula.  Our funding policy for the defined benefit pension plans is consistent with the requirements of federal laws and regulations.  Our foreign subsidiaries maintain pension and other benefit plans, which are consistent with statutory practices.  Our defined benefit pension plan provides that if, within three years following a change of control of Olin, any corporate action is taken or filing made in contemplation of, among other things, a plan termination or merger or other transfer of assets or liabilities of the plan, and such termination, merger or transfer thereafter takes place, plan benefits would automatically be increased for affected participants (and retired participants) to absorb any plan surplus (subject to applicable collective bargaining requirements).

During the third quarter of 2006, the “Pension Protection Act of 2006,” amended by “The Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act,” during the fourth quarter of 2008, became law.  Among the stated objectives of the laws were the protection of both pension beneficiaries and the financial health of the PBGC.  To accomplish these objectives, the new laws require sponsors to fund defined benefit pension plans earlier than previous requirements and to pay increased PBGC premiums.  The laws require defined benefit pension plans to be fully funded in 2011.

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Pension Obligations and Funded Status

Changes in the benefit obligation and plan assets were as follows:

	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
Change in Benefit Obligation		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Benefit obligation at beginning of year		$	1,790.0		$	55.6		$	1,845.6				1,727.3		$	50.2		$	1,777.5
Service cost			2.9			0.6			3.5				2.8			0.7			3.5
Interest cost			91.2			3.0			94.2				95.5			3.1			98.6
Actuarial loss			126.2			10.1			136.3				86.9			5.2			92.1
Benefits paid			(126.5	)		(3.3	)		(129.8	)			(125.3	)		(6.6	)		(131.9	)
Curtailment			1.1			—			1.1				2.8			—			2.8
Currency translation adjustments			—			(1.5	)		(1.5	)			—			3.0			3.0
Benefit obligation at end of year		$	1,884.9		$	64.5		$	1,949.4			$	1,790.0		$	55.6		$	1,845.6
	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
Change in Plan Assets		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Fair value of plans’ assets at beginning of year		$	1,734.9		$	65.5		$	1,800.4			$	1,670.6		$	51.4		$	1,722.0
Actual return on plans’ assets			229.6			2.5			232.1				185.6			7.4			193.0
Employer contributions			4.6			1.1			5.7				4.0			10.0			14.0
Benefits paid			(126.5	)		(3.3	)		(129.8	)			(125.3	)		(6.6	)		(131.9	)
Currency translation adjustments			—			(1.5	)		(1.5	)			—			3.3			3.3
Fair value of plans’ assets at end of year		$	1,842.6		$	64.3		$	1,906.9			$	1,734.9		$	65.5		$	1,800.4
	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
Funded Status		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Qualified plans		$	17.4		$	1.8		$	19.2			$	4.6		$	11.7		$	16.3
Non-qualified plans			(59.7	)		(2.0	)		(61.7	)			(59.7	)		(1.8	)		(61.5	)
Total funded status		$	(42.3	)	$	(0.2	)	$	(42.5	)		$	(55.1	)	$	9.9		$	(45.2	)

Under ASC 715, formerly SFAS No. 158, we recorded a $25.9 million after-tax charge ($41.8 million pretax) to shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2011 for our pension plans.  This charge reflected a 40-basis point decrease in the plans’ discount rate and an unfavorable actuarial assumption change related to mortality tables, partially offset by the favorable performance on plan assets during 2011.  In 2010, we recorded a $23.7 million after-tax charge ($38.7 million pretax) to shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2010 for our pension plans.  This charge reflected a 45-basis point decrease in the plans’ discount rate, partially offset by the favorable performance on plan assets during 2010.

The $136.3 million actuarial loss for 2011 was primarily due to a 40-basis point decrease in the plans’ discount rate and an unfavorable actuarial assumption charge related to mortality tables.  The $92.1 million actuarial loss for 2010 was primarily due to a 45-basis point decrease in the plans’ discount rate.

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consisted of:

	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Prepaid benefit cost		$	17.4		$	1.8		$	19.2			$	4.6		$	11.7		$	16.3
Accrued benefit in current liabilities			(3.9	)		(0.2	)		(4.1	)			(4.1	)		(0.1	)		(4.2	)
Accrued benefit in noncurrent liabilities			(55.8	)		(1.8	)		(57.6	)			(55.6	)		(1.7	)		(57.3	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			415.4			19.8			435.2				401.9			8.2			410.1
Net balance sheet impact		$	373.1		$	19.6		$	392.7			$	346.8		$	18.1		$	364.9

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At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the benefit obligation of non-qualified pension plans was $61.7 million and $61.5 million, respectively, and was included in the above pension benefit obligation.  There were no plan assets for these non-qualified pension plans.  Benefit payments for the non-qualified pension plans are expected to be as follows:  2012—$4.1 million; 2013—$5.4 million; 2014—$12.0 million; 2015—$3.1 million; and 2016—$4.8 million.  Benefit payments for the qualified plans are projected to be as follows:  2012—$120.3 million; 2013—$114.6 million; 2014—$109.9 million; 2015—$106.1 million; and 2016—$102.5 million.

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Projected benefit obligation	$	1,949.4		$	1,845.6
Accumulated benefit obligation		1,941.2			1,831.9
Fair value of plan assets		1,906.9			1,800.4
	Years Ended December 31,
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Income	2011			2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Service cost	$	6.1		$	6.0		$	5.8
Interest cost		94.2			98.6			103.0
Expected return on plans’ assets		(139.5	)		(138.8	)		(135.5	)
Amortization of prior service cost		0.8			0.7			0.7
Recognized actuarial loss		14.8			12.6			9.3
Curtailments		1.1			3.2			—
Net periodic benefit income	$	(22.5	)	$	(17.7	)	$	(16.7	)
Included in Other Comprehensive Loss (Pretax)
Liability adjustment	$	41.8		$	38.7		$	35.0
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses		(16.7	)		(16.5	)		(10.0	)

In June 2011, we recorded a curtailment charge of $1.1 million related to the ratification of a new five and one half year Winchester, East Alton, IL union labor agreement.  In December 2010, we recorded a curtailment charge of $3.2 million associated with our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  These curtailment charges were included in restructuring charges.

In March 2010, we recorded a charge of $1.3 million associated with an agreement to withdraw our Henderson, NV chlor alkali hourly workforce from a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan.

The service cost and the amortization of prior service cost components of pension expense related to the employees of the operating segments are allocated to the operating segments based on their respective estimated census data.

Pension Plan Assumptions

Certain actuarial assumptions, such as discount rate and long-term rate of return on plan assets, have a significant effect on the amounts reported for net periodic benefit cost and accrued benefit obligation amounts.  We use a measurement date of December 31 for our pension plans.

	U.S. Pension Benefits									Foreign Pension Benefits
Weighted Average Assumptions:	2011			2010			2009			2011			2010			2009
Discount rate—periodic benefit cost		5.3	%		5.75	%		6.25	%		5.5	%		6.5	%		7.5	%
Expected return on assets		8.25	%		8.50	%		8.50	%		8.0	%		7.5	%		7.5	%
Rate of compensation increase		3.0	%		3.0	%		3.0	%		3.5	%		3.5	%		3.5	%
Discount rate—benefit obligation		4.9	%		5.3	%		5.75	%		4.4	%		5.5	%		6.5	%

The discount rate is based on a hypothetical yield curve represented by a series of annualized individual zero-coupon bond spot rates for maturities ranging from one-half to thirty years.  The bonds used in the yield curve must have a rating of AA or better per Standard & Poor’s, be non-callable, and have at least $250 million par outstanding.  The yield curve is then applied to the projected benefit payments from the plan.  Based on these bonds and the projected benefit payment streams, the single rate that produces the same yield as the matching bond portfolio, rounded to the nearest quarter point, is used as the discount rate.

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The long-term expected rate of return on plan assets represents an estimate of the long-term rate of returns on the investment portfolio consisting of equities, fixed income, and alternative investments.  We use long-term historical actual return information, the allocation mix of investments that comprise plan assets, and forecast estimates of long-term investment returns, including inflation rates, by reference to external sources.  The historic rate of return on plan assets has been 11.2% for the last 5 years, 10.0% for the last 10 years, and 9.2% for the last 15 years.  The following rates of return by asset class were considered in setting the long-term rate of return assumption:

U.S. equities	9	%	to	13	%
Non-U.S. equities	10	%	to	14	%
Fixed income/cash	5	%	to	9	%
Alternative investments	5	%	to	15	%
Absolute return strategies	8	%	to	12	%

Plan Assets

Our pension plan asset allocation at December 31, 2011 and 2010, by asset class was as follows:

	Percentage of Plan Assets
Asset Class	2011			2010
U.S. equities		5	%		5	%
Non-U.S. equities		8	%		10	%
Fixed income/cash		56	%		49	%
Alternative investments		16	%		16	%
Absolute return strategies		15	%		20	%
Total		100	%		100	%

The Alternative Investments asset class includes hedge funds, real estate, and private equity investments.  The Alternative Investment class is intended to help diversify risk and increase returns by utilizing a broader group of assets.

Absolute Return Strategies further diversify the plan’s assets through the use of asset allocations that seek to provide a targeted rate of return over inflation.  The investment managers allocate funds within asset classes that they consider to be undervalued in an effort to preserve gains in overvalued asset classes and to find opportunities in undervalued asset classes.

A master trust was established by our pension plan to accumulate funds required to meet benefit payments of our plan and is administered solely in the interest of our plan’s participants and their beneficiaries.  The master trust’s investment horizon is long term.  Its assets are managed by professional investment managers or invested in professionally managed investment vehicles.

Our pension plan maintains a portfolio of assets designed to achieve an appropriate risk adjusted return.  The portfolio of assets is also structured to protect the funding level from the negative impacts of interest rate changes on the asset and liability values.  This is accomplished by investing in a portfolio of assets with a maturity duration that approximately matches the duration of the plan liabilities.  Risk is managed by diversifying assets across asset classes whose return patterns are not highly correlated, investing in passively and actively managed strategies and in value and growth styles, and by periodic rebalancing of asset classes, strategies and investment styles to objectively set targets.

As of December 31, 2011, the following target allocation and ranges have been set for each asset class:

Asset Class	Target Allocation		Target Range
U.S. equities	7.5	%	0-14	%
Non-U.S. equities	7.5	%	0-14	%
Fixed income/cash	56	%	44-76	%
Alternative investments	9	%	0-28	%
Absolute return strategies	20	%	10-30	%

For our domestic qualified pension plans, based on current funding requirements, we will not be required to make any cash contributions at least through 2013.  We do have a small Canadian qualified pension plan to which we made $0.9 million and $9.8 million of cash contributions in 2011 and 2010, respectively, and we anticipate less than $5 million of cash contributions in 2012.

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Determining which hierarchical level an asset or liability falls within requires significant judgment.  The following table summarizes our domestic and foreign defined benefit pension plan assets measured at fair value as of December 31, 2011:

Asset class	Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
	($ in millions)
Equity securities
U.S. equities	$	78.8	$	14.9	$	—	$	93.7
Non-U.S. equities		51.4		107.6		—		159.0
Fixed income / cash
Cash		50.1		—		—		50.1
Government treasuries		—		476.2		5.5		481.7
Corporate debt instruments		3.1		395.5		2.9		401.5
Asset-backed securities		—		122.2		—		122.2
Alternative investments
Hedge fund of funds		—		—		258.3		258.3
Real estate funds		—		—		33.9		33.9
Private equity funds		—		—		16.8		16.8
Absolute return strategies		—		254.5		35.2		289.7
Total assets	$	183.4	$	1,370.9	$	352.6	$	1,906.9

The following table summarizes our domestic and foreign defined benefit pension plan assets measured at fair value as of December 31, 2010:

Asset class	Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
	($ in millions)
Equity securities
U.S. equities	$	53.4	$	46.7	$	—	$	100.1
Non-U.S. equities		—		172.0		—		172.0
Fixed income / cash
Cash		43.3		—		—		43.3
Government treasuries		—		296.2		5.5		301.7
Corporate debt instruments		1.7		407.7		2.2		411.6
Asset-backed securities		—		119.2		—		119.2
Alternative investments
Hedge fund of funds		—		—		251.6		251.6
Real estate funds		—		—		23.8		23.8
Private equity funds		—		—		15.7		15.7
Absolute return strategies		—		307.5		53.9		361.4
Total assets	$	98.4	$	1,349.3	$	352.7	$	1,800.4

U.S. equities—This class included actively and passively managed equity investments in common stock and commingled funds comprised primarily of large-capitalization stocks with value, core and growth strategies.

Non-U.S. equities—This class included actively managed equity investments in commingled funds comprised primarily of international large-capitalization stocks from both developed and emerging markets.

Fixed income and cash—This class included commingled funds comprised of debt instruments issued by the US and Canadian Treasury, U.S. Agencies, corporate debt instruments, asset- and mortgage-backed securities and cash.

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Hedge fund of funds – This class included a hedge fund which invests in the following types of hedge funds:

Event driven hedge funds—This class included hedge funds that invest in securities to capture excess returns that are driven by market or specific company events including activist investment philosophies and the arbitrage of equity and private and public debt securities.

Market neutral hedge funds—This class included investments in U.S. and international equities and fixed income securities while maintaining a market neutral position in those markets.

Other hedge funds—This class primarily included long-short equity strategies and a global macro fund which invested in fixed income, equity, currency, commodity and related derivative markets.

At December 31, 2011, the asset allocation included investment in approximately 20% event driven hedge funds, 35% market neutral hedge funds, and 45% other hedge funds.  At December 31, 2010, the asset allocation included investment in approximately 30% event driven hedge funds, 30% market neutral hedge funds, and 40% other hedge funds.

Real estate funds—This class included several funds that invest primarily in U.S. commercial real estate.

Private equity funds—This class included several private equity funds that invest primarily in infrastructure and U.S. power generation and transmission assets.

Absolute return strategies—This class included multiple strategies which use asset allocations that seek to provide a targeted rate of return over inflation.  The investment managers allocate funds within asset classes that they consider to be undervalued in an effort to preserve gains in overvalued asset classes and to find opportunities in undervalued asset classes.  At December 31, 2011, the asset allocation included investment in approximately 25% equities, 60% cash and fixed income, and 15% alternative investments.  At December 31, 2010, the asset allocation included investments in approximately 30% equities, 60% cash and fixed income, and 10% alternative investments.

U.S. equities and non-U.S. equities are primarily valued at the net asset value provided by the independent administrator or custodian of the commingled fund.  The net asset value is based on the value of the underlying equities, which are traded on an active market.  U.S. equities are also valued at the closing price reported in an active market on which the individual securities are traded.  Fixed income investments are primarily valued at the net asset value provided by the independent administrator or custodian of the fund.  The net asset value is based on the underlying assets, which are valued using inputs such as the closing price reported, if traded on an active market, values derived from comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings, or under a discounted cash flow approach that utilizes observable inputs, such as current yields of similar instruments, but includes adjustments for risks that may not be observable such as certain credit and liquidity risks.  Alternative investments are primarily valued at the net asset value as determined by the independent administrator or custodian of the fund.  The net asset value is based on the underlying investments, which are valued using inputs such as quoted market prices of identical instruments, discounted future cash flows, independent appraisals, and market-based comparable data.  Absolute return strategies are commingled funds which reflect the fair value of our ownership interest in these funds.  The investments in these commingled funds include some or all of the above asset classes and are primarily valued at net asset values based on the underlying investments, which are valued consistent with the methodologies described above for each asset class.

The following table summarizes the activity for our defined benefit pension plans level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2011:

	December 31, 2010		Realized Gain/(Loss)		Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Relating to Assets Held at Period End			Purchases, Sales, and Settlements			Transfers In/(Out)		December 31, 2011
	($ in millions)
Fixed income / cash
Government treasuries	$	5.5	$	—	$	(0.2	)	$	0.2		$	—	$	5.5
Corporate debt instruments		2.2		0.3		(0.6	)		1.0			—		2.9
Alternative investments
Hedge fund of funds		251.6		—		6.7			—			—		258.3
Real estate funds		23.8		—		3.7			6.4			—		33.9
Private equity funds		15.7		—		1.1			—			—		16.8
Absolute return strategies		53.9		—		0.6			(19.3	)		—		35.2
Total level 3 assets	$	352.7	$	0.3	$	11.3		$	(11.7	)	$	—	$	352.6

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The following table summarizes the activity for our defined benefit pension plans level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2010:

	December 31, 2009		Realized Gain/(Loss)		Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Relating to Assets Held at Period End			Purchases, Sales, and Settlements		Transfers In/(Out)			December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)
Fixed income / cash
Government treasuries	$	2.0	$	—	$	0.3		$	3.2	$	—		$	5.5
Corporate debt instruments		2.2		—		0.2			0.1		(0.3	)		2.2
Asset-backed securities		0.2		—		—			—		(0.2	)		—
Alternative investments
Hedge fund of funds		225.5		—		24.1			2.0		—			251.6
Real estate funds		22.3		—		(6.0	)		7.5		—			23.8
Private equity funds		12.9		0.1		0.7			2.0		—			15.7
Absolute return strategies		51.0		—		1.7			1.2		—			53.9
Total level 3 assets	$	316.1	$	0.1	$	21.0		$	16.0	$	(0.5	)	$	352.7

POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

We provide certain postretirement health care (medical) and life insurance benefits for eligible active and retired domestic employees.  The health care plans are contributory with participants’ contributions adjusted annually based on medical rates of inflation and plan experience.  We use a measurement date of December 31 for our postretirement plans.

Other Postretirement Benefits Obligations and Funded Status

Changes in the benefit obligation were as follows:

	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
Change in Benefit Obligation		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Benefit obligation at beginning of year		$	64.5		$	9.3		$	73.8			$	66.4		$	7.6		$	74.0
Service cost			1.1			0.2			1.3				1.2			0.1			1.3
Interest cost			3.0			0.5			3.5				3.3			0.5			3.8
Actuarial loss			2.8			2.3			5.1				3.0			0.9			3.9
Benefits paid			(8.1	)		(0.4	)		(8.5	)			(9.1	)		(0.3	)		(9.4	)
Curtailment			—			—			—				(0.3	)		—			(0.3	)
Currency translation adjustments			—			(0.3	)		(0.3	)			—			0.5			0.5
Benefit obligation at end of year		$	63.3		$	11.6		$	74.9			$	64.5		$	9.3		$	73.8
	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Funded status		$	(63.3	)	$	(11.6	)	$	(74.9	)		$	(64.5	)	$	(9.3	)	$	(73.8	)

Under ASC 715, formerly SFAS No. 158, we recorded a $3.1 million after-tax charge ($5.0 million pretax) to shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2011 for our other postretirement plans.  In 2010, we recorded a $2.3 million after-tax charge ($3.6 million pretax) to shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2010 for our other postretirement plans.

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Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consisted of:

	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Accrued benefit in current liabilities		$	(6.0	)	$	(0.4	)	$	(6.4	)		$	(6.7	)	$	(0.4	)	$	(7.1	)
Accrued benefit in noncurrent liabilities			(57.3	)		(11.2	)		(68.5	)			(57.8	)		(8.9	)		(66.7	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			35.0			1.7			36.7				35.2			(0.5	)		34.7
Net balance sheet impact		$	(28.3	)	$	(9.9	)	$	(38.2	)		$	(29.3	)	$	(9.8	)	$	(39.1	)

	Years Ended December 31,
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost	2011			2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Service cost	$	1.3		$	1.3		$	1.2
Interest cost		3.5			3.8			4.2
Amortization of prior service cost		(0.2	)		(0.2	)		(0.2	)
Recognized actuarial loss		3.2			2.6			2.1
Curtailment		—			(0.2	)		—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	7.8		$	7.3		$	7.3
Included in Other Comprehensive Loss (Pretax)
Liability adjustment	$	5.0		$	3.6		$	6.7
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses		(3.0	)		(2.2	)		(1.9	)

The service cost and amortization of prior service cost components of postretirement benefit expense related to the employees of the operating segments are allocated to the operating segments based on their respective estimated census data.

In December 2010, we recorded a curtailment credit of $0.2 million associated with our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  This credit was included in restructuring charges for 2010.

Other Postretirement Benefits Plan Assumptions

Certain actuarial assumptions, such as discount rate, have a significant effect on the amounts reported for net periodic benefit cost and accrued benefit obligation amounts.

	December 31,
Weighted Average Assumptions:	2011			2010			2009
Discount rate—periodic benefit cost		4.90	%		5.25	%		6.25	%
Discount rate—benefit obligation		4.60	%		4.90	%		5.25	%

The discount rate is based on a hypothetical yield curve represented by a series of annualized individual zero-coupon bond spot rates for maturities ranging from one-half to thirty years.  The bonds used in the yield curve must have a rating of AA or better per Standard & Poor’s, be non-callable, and have at least $250 million par outstanding.  The yield curve is then applied to the projected benefit payments from the plan.  Based on these bonds and the projected benefit payment streams, the single rate that produces the same yield as the matching bond portfolio, rounded to the nearest quarter point, is used as the discount rate.

We review external data and our own internal trends for healthcare costs to determine the healthcare cost for the post retirement benefit obligation.  The assumed healthcare cost trend rates for pre-65 retirees were as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
Healthcare cost trend rate assumed for next year		9.5	%		9.5	%
Rate that the cost trend rate gradually declines to		5.0	%		5.0	%
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate rate	2020			2019

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For post-65 retirees, we provide a fixed dollar benefit, which is not subject to escalation.

Assumed healthcare cost trend rates have an effect on the amounts reported for the healthcare plans.  A one-percentage-point change in assumed healthcare cost trend rates would have the following effects:

	One-Percentage Point Increase		One-Percentage Point Decrease
	($ in millions)
Effect on total of service and interest costs	$	0.3	$	(0.2	)
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation		3.5		(3.0	)

We expect to make payments of approximately $6 million for each of the next five years under the provisions of our other postretirement benefit plans.

INCOME TAXES

	Years ended December 31,
Components of Income Before Taxes	2011		2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Domestic	$	360.3	$	74.4		$	193.9
Foreign		19.1		2.5			16.0
Income before taxes	$	379.4	$	76.9		$	209.9
Components of Income Tax Provision
Current expense:
Federal	$	39.5	$	6.7		$	5.3
State		6.1		6.4			(3.5	)
Foreign		5.5		(2.7	)		—
		51.1		10.4			1.8
Deferred		86.6		1.7			72.4
Income tax provision	$	137.7	$	12.1		$	74.2

The following table accounts for the difference between the actual tax provision and the amounts obtained by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 35% to the income before taxes.

	Years ended December 31,
Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation (Percent)	2011			2010			2009
Statutory federal tax rate		35.0	%		35.0	%		35.0	%
Foreign rate differential		(0.1	)		(0.6	)		(0.1	)
Domestic manufacturing/export tax incentive		(1.0	)		(0.9	)		(0.3	)
Dividends paid to CEOP		(0.3	)		(1.5	)		(0.6	)
State income taxes, net		1.1			1.6			2.6
Change in tax contingencies		(1.1	)		(11.9	)		(0.9	)
Change in valuation allowance		0.1			(5.6	)		0.1
Return to provision		0.5			(0.8	)		(0.7	)
Remeasurement of deferred taxes		(1.3	)		—			—
Incremental tax effect of SunBelt remeasurement		3.3			—			—
Other, net		0.1			0.4			0.3
Effective tax rate		36.3	%		15.7	%		35.4	%

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	December 31,
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Deferred tax assets:
Pension and postretirement benefits	$	48.4		$	43.4
Environmental reserves		66.5			68.7
Asset retirement obligations		28.5			29.8
Accrued liabilities		42.4			46.8
Tax credits		10.2			15.7
Federal and state net operating losses		5.7			5.7
Capital loss carryforward		15.0			14.7
Other miscellaneous items		13.7			2.8
Total deferred tax assets		230.4			227.6
Valuation allowance		(24.1	)		(23.0	)
Net deferred tax assets		206.3			204.6
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment		147.8			157.1
Intangible amortization		10.5			10.4
Inventory and prepaids		4.3			7.4
Partnerships		92.4			7.2
Total deferred tax liabilities		255.0			182.1
Net deferred tax (liability) asset	$	(48.7	)	$	22.5

Realization of the net deferred tax assets, irrespective of indefinite lived deferred tax liabilities, is dependent on future reversals of existing temporary differences and adequate future taxable income, exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards.  Although realization is not assured, we believe that it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets will be realized.

At December 31, 2011, we had no actual foreign tax credit carryforwards.  At December 31, 2010, we had federal tax benefits of $2.1 million relating to actual foreign tax credit carryforwards.  During 2010, our Pioneer Canada subsidiary realized a net operating loss, which was carried back under Canadian tax law to obtain a refund for Canadian taxes paid in 2007 and 2008.  With this carryback of the net operating losses, the foreign tax credits generated by those taxes paid were eliminated, thus removing the foreign tax credit carryforward and the associated valuation allowance.  Our tax benefits for the foreign tax credit carryforwards and the associated valuation allowance were as follows:

	Foreign Tax Benefit			Valuation Allowance
	($ in millions)
Balance at January 1, 2010	$	3.8		$	(3.8	)
Increases for prior year limitation		0.8			(0.8	)
Increases for current year limitation		2.4			—
Decreases for carryback of current year foreign losses		(4.9	)		4.6
Balance at December 31, 2010		2.1			—
Decreases for prior year utilization		(1.8	)		—
Increases for current year generation		3.0			—
Decreases for current year utilization		(3.3	)		—
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	—		$	—

In 2007, we acquired federal tax benefits of $4.8 million as part of the Pioneer acquisition associated with the expected future foreign tax credits that will be generated by the deferred tax liabilities of Pioneer’s Canadian subsidiary.  At December 31, 2011, we had federal tax benefits of $0.9 million recorded associated with the expected future foreign tax credits.  Realization of the tax benefits associated with such foreign tax credits is dependent upon reversal of Canadian temporary differences, future U.S. taxable income and future foreign source taxable income.  We believe that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax benefits will be realized and no valuation allowance is necessary.

77

We acquired a U.S. net operating loss carryforward (NOL) of approximately $6.6 million (representing $2.3 million of deferred tax assets) as part of the Pioneer acquisition.  At December 31, 2011, we had approximately $4.1 million (representing $1.4 million of deferred tax assets) remaining, that will expire in years 2017 through 2020, if not utilized.  The utilization of this NOL is limited under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code to $0.5 million in each year through 2020.  We believe that it is more likely than not that the NOL will be realized and no valuation allowance is necessary.

At December 31, 2011, we had deferred state tax benefits of $2.0 million relating to state NOLs, which are available to offset future state taxable income through 2030.  Due to uncertainties regarding realization of the tax benefits, a valuation allowance of $0.7 million has been applied against the deferred state tax benefits at December 31, 2011.

At December 31, 2011, we had deferred state tax benefits of $9.3 million relating to state tax credits, which are available to offset future state tax liabilities through 2026.  Due to uncertainties regarding the realization of these state tax credits, a valuation allowance of $8.4 million has been applied against the deferred state tax credits at December 31, 2011.

At December 31, 2011, we had a capital loss carryforward of $38.7 million (representing $15.0 million of deferred tax assets) that is available to offset future consolidated capital gains that will expire in years 2012 through 2016 if not utilized.  Due to uncertainties regarding the realization of the capital loss carryforward, a valuation allowance of $15.0 million has been applied against the deferred tax benefit at December 31, 2011.

The total amount of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries was approximately $12.9 million at December 31, 2011.  Deferred taxes are provided for earnings of non-U.S. affiliates when we plan to remit those earnings.  A portion of the undistributed earnings have been permanently reinvested and for those earnings no deferred taxes have been provided.  Deferred taxes have not been provided on the excess book basis in the shares of certain foreign subsidiaries because these basis differences are not expected to reverse in the foreseeable future.  The undistributed earnings and excess book basis differences could reverse through a sale, receipt of dividends from the subsidiaries, as well as various other events.  It is not practical to calculate the residual income tax that would result if these basis differences reversed due to the complexities of the tax law and the hypothetical nature of the calculations.

As of December 31, 2011, we had $37.9 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits, which would have a net $36.1 million impact on the effective tax rate, if recognized.  If these tax benefits are not recognized, the result would be cash tax payments of $28.5 million.  As of December 31, 2010, we had $41.5 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits, all of which would have a net $39.4 million impact on the effective tax rate, if recognized.  The change for 2011 primarily relates to additional gross unrecognized benefits for current year tax positions, as well as the expiration of the statute of limitations in domestic jurisdictions and settlement of ongoing audits.  The reduction included $2.1 million of tax positions associated with discontinued operations.  The amounts of unrecognized tax benefits were as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	41.5		$	50.8
Increase for prior year tax positions		0.1			0.2
Decrease for prior year tax positions		—			(0.9	)
Increase for current year tax positions		—			1.7
Decrease due to tax settlements		(0.1	)		(2.3	)
Reductions due to statute of limitations		(3.6	)		(8.0	)
Ending balance	$	37.9		$	41.5

We recognize interest and penalty expense related to unrecognized tax positions as a component of the income tax provision.  As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, interest and penalties accrued were $3.2 million and $3.5 million, respectively.  For 2011, 2010 and 2009, we expensed interest and penalties of $0.7 million, $0.8 million and $1.1 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2011, we believe it is reasonably possible that our total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by approximately $2.4 million over the next twelve months.  The anticipated reduction primarily relates to settlements with tax authorities and the expiration of federal, state, and foreign statutes of limitation.

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We operate primarily in North America and file income tax returns in numerous jurisdictions.  Our tax returns are subject to examination by various federal, state and local authorities.  For our primary tax jurisdictions, the tax years that remain subject to examination are as follows:

	Tax Years
U.S. federal income tax	2007-2010
U.S. state income tax	2005-2010
Canadian federal income tax	2007-2010
Canadian provincial income tax	2007-2010

During third quarter 2010, the IRS completed an audit of our U.S. income tax return for 2006.  During second quarter 2010, the Canada Revenue Agency completed an audit of a portion of our Canadian tax returns for the 2005 to 2007 tax years.  No issues arose under either the U.S. audit or the Canadian audit that required an additional tax liability to be recognized.  We believe we have adequately provided for all tax positions; however, amounts asserted by taxing authorities could be greater than our accrued position.

ACCRUED LIABILITIES

Included in accrued liabilities were the following:

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
Accrued compensation and payroll taxes	$	42.7	$	32.1
Accrued employee benefits		43.7		45.6
Environmental (current portion only)		31.0		28.0
Legal and professional costs		24.4		25.0
Asset retirement obligation (current portion only)		12.0		13.7
Earn out		18.6		—
Other		64.8		53.3
Accrued liabilities	$	237.2	$	197.7

CONTRIBUTING EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

The CEOP is a defined contribution plan available to essentially all domestic employees.  Company matching contributions are invested in the same investment allocation as the employee’s contribution.  Our matching contributions for eligible employees amounted to $5.2 million, $2.0 million and $5.0 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Effective February 1, 2011, we reinstated the match on all salaried and certain non-bargained hourly employees’ contributions, which had previously been suspended effective January 1, 2010.

Employees become vested in the value of the contributions we make to the CEOP according to a schedule based on service.  After two years of service, participants are 25% vested.  They vest in increments of 25% for each additional year and after five years of service, they are 100% vested in the value of the contributions that we have made to their accounts.

Employees may transfer any or all of the value of the investments, including Olin common stock, to any one or combination of investments available in the CEOP.  Employees may transfer balances daily and may elect to transfer any percentage of the balance in the fund from which the transfer is made.  However, when transferring out of a fund, employees are prohibited from trading out of the fund to which the transfer was made for seven calendar days.  This limitation does not apply to trades into the money market fund or the Olin Common Stock Fund.

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock-based compensation expense was allocated to the operating segments for the portion related to employees whose compensation would be included in cost of goods sold with the remainder recognized in corporate/other.  There were no significant capitalized stock-based compensation costs.  Stock-based compensation granted includes stock options, performance stock awards, restricted stock awards, and deferred directors’ compensation.  Stock-based compensation expense was as follows:

	Years ended December 31,
	2011			2010		2009
	($ in millions)
Stock-based compensation	$	8.8		$	10.1	$	8.6
Mark-to-market adjustments		(0.5	)		1.2		0.8
Total expense	$	8.3		$	11.3	$	9.4

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Stock Plans

Under the stock option and long-term incentive plans, options may be granted to purchase shares of our common stock at an exercise price not less than fair market value at the date of grant, and are exercisable for a period not exceeding ten years from that date.  Stock options, restricted stock and performance shares typically vest over three years.  We issue shares to settle stock options, restricted stock, and share-based performance awards.  On April 23, 2009, the shareholders approved the 2009 Long Term Incentive Plan which authorized an additional 3.0 million shares available for grant.  In 2011, 2010, and 2009 long-term incentive awards included stock options, performance share awards, and restricted stock.  The stock option exercise price was set at the fair market value of common stock on the date of the grant, and the options have a ten-year term.

Stock option transactions were as follows:

								Exercisable
	Shares			Option Price		Weighted Average Option Price		Options		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at January 1, 2011		3,849,411		$	6.98-23.78	$	17.53		2,336,195	$	18.73
Granted		575,000			18.78		18.78
Exercised		(508,247	)		6.98-23.78		16.59
Canceled		(151,294	)		6.98-20.67		17.69
Outstanding at December 31, 2011		3,764,870		$	14.28-23.78	$	17.84		2,415,347	$	18.46

At December 31, 2011, the average exercise period for all outstanding and exercisable options was 74 months and 59 months, respectively.  At December 31, 2011, the aggregate intrinsic value (the difference between the exercise price and market value) for outstanding options was $9.1 million and exercisable options was $4.9 million.  The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $4.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

The total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options at December 31, 2011 was $3.4 million and was expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.2 years.

The following table provides certain information with respect to stock options exercisable at December 31, 2011:

Range of Exercise Prices		Options Exercisable		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Options Outstanding		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Under $16.00			669,241	$	14.83		1,443,764	$	15.03
	$16.00 – $20.00		586,914	$	16.99		1,161,914	$	17.88
Over $20.00			1,159,192	$	21.30		1,159,192	$	21.30
			2,415,347				3,764,870

At December 31, 2011, common shares reserved for issuance and available for grant or purchase under the following plans consisted of:

	Number of Shares
Stock Option Plans	Reserved for Issuance		Available for Grant or Purchase(1)
2000 long term incentive plan		629,563		24,780
2003 long term incentive plan		919,496		63,676
2006 long term incentive plan		2,456,127		122,516
2009 long term incentive plan		3,000,000		2,425,000
		7,005,186		2,635,972
1996 stock option plan (plan expired)		66,536		—
Total under stock option plans		7,071,722		2,635,972

	Number of Shares
Stock Purchase Plans	Reserved for Issuance		Available for Grant or Purchase
1997 stock plan for non-employee directors		603,507		269,763
Employee deferral plan		46,561		45,669
Total under stock purchase plans		650,068		315,432

(1) All available to be issued as stock options, but includes a sub-limit for all types of stock awards of 1,710,972 shares.

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Under the stock purchase plans, our non-employee directors may defer certain elements of their compensation into shares of our common stock based on fair market value of the shares at the time of deferral.  Non-employee directors annually receive stock grants as a portion of their director compensation.  Of the shares reserved under the stock purchase plans at December 31, 2011, 334,631 shares were committed.

Performance share awards are denominated in shares of our stock and are paid half in cash and half in stock.  Payouts are based on Olin’s average annual return on capital over a three-year performance cycle in relation to the average annual return on capital over the same period among a portfolio of public companies which are selected in concert with outside compensation consultants.  The expense associated with performance shares is recorded based on our estimate of our performance relative to the respective target.  If an employee leaves the company before the end of the performance cycle, the performance shares may be prorated based on the number of months of the performance cycle worked and are settled in cash instead of half in cash and half in stock when the three-year performance cycle is completed.  Performance share transactions were as follows:

	To Settle in Cash					To Settle in Shares
	Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value per Share		Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value per Share
Outstanding at January 1, 2011		312,625		$	20.65		303,875		$	16.71
Granted		65,250			18.78		65,250			18.78
Paid/Issued		(112,083	)		20.65		(105,000	)		20.29
Converted from shares to cash		5,972			14.62		(5,972	)		14.62
Canceled		(4,028	)		20.65		(4,028	)		15.08
Outstanding at December 31, 2011		267,736		$	19.78		254,125		$	15.83
Total vested at December 31, 2011		200,236		$	19.78		186,625		$	15.16

The summary of the status of our unvested performance shares to be settled in cash were as follows:

	Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value per Share
Unvested at January 1, 2011		91,542		$	20.65
Granted		65,250			18.78
Vested		(85,264	)		19.78
Canceled		(4,028	)		20.65
Unvested at December 31, 2011		67,500		$	19.78

At December 31, 2011, the liability recorded for performance shares to be settled in cash totaled $4.0 million.  The total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested performance shares at December 31, 2011 was $2.5 million and was expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.1 years.

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SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

During 2011, 2010 and 2009, we issued 0.5 million; 0.2 million; and less than 0.1 million shares with a total value of $9.3 million, $3.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, representing stock options exercised.  In addition, during 2011, 2010 and 2009, we issued zero; 0.5 million; and 1.3 million shares of common stock, respectively, with a total value of zero, $10.2 million and $16.9 million, respectively, to the CEOP.  Effective September 23, 2010, our CEOP began to purchase shares in the open market in lieu of our issuing shares to satisfy the investment in our common stock resulting from employee contributions, our matching contributions, retirement contributions and re-invested dividends.  Effective February 1, 2011, we reinstated the match on all salaried and certain non-bargained hourly employees’ contributions, which had previously been suspended effective January 1, 2010.

On July 21, 2011, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to 5 million shares of common stock that will terminate in three years for any of the remaining shares not yet repurchased.  Since the date of authorization, 0.2 million shares were purchased and retired under this program at a cost of $4.2 million.  As of December 31, 2011, we had purchased a total of 0.2 million shares under this program and 4.8 million shares remained authorized to be purchased.

We have registered an undetermined amount of securities with the SEC, so that, from time-to-time, we may issue debt securities, preferred stock and/or common stock and associated warrants in the public market under that registration statement.

The following table represents the activity included in accumulated other comprehensive loss:

	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivative Contracts (net of taxes)			Pension and Postretirement Benefits (net of taxes)			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
	($ in millions)
Balance at January 1, 2009	$	(5.1	)		(25.0	)	$	(239.3	)	$	(269.4	)
Unrealized gains (losses)		4.6			24.2			(27.3	)		1.5
Reclassification adjustments into income		—			12.4			7.3			19.7
Balance at December 31, 2009		(0.5	)		11.6			(259.3	)		(248.2	)
Unrealized gains (losses)		0.9			5.4			(26.0	)		(19.7	)
Reclassification adjustments into income		—			(5.4	)		11.5			6.1
Balance at December 31, 2010		0.4			11.6			(273.8	)		(261.8	)
Unrealized gains (losses)		1.4			(10.6	)		(29.0	)		(38.2	)
Reclassification adjustments into income		—			(6.3	)		12.1			5.8
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	1.8		$	(5.3	)	$	(290.7	)	$	(294.2	)

Pension and postretirement benefits (net of taxes) activity in other comprehensive loss included the amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses and pension and postretirement liability adjustments.

Unrealized gains and losses on derivative contracts (net of taxes) activity in other comprehensive loss included a deferred tax (benefit) provision for 2011, 2010 and 2009 of $(10.7) million, zero and $23.2 million, respectively.  Pension and postretirement benefits (net of taxes) activity in other comprehensive loss included a deferred tax benefit for 2011, 2010 and 2009 of $10.2 million, $9.1 million and $9.7 million, respectively.

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SEGMENT INFORMATION

We define segment results as income (loss) before interest expense, interest income, other operating income, other income, and income taxes, and include the results of non-consolidated affiliates.  Consistent with the guidance in ASC 280, formerly SFAS No. 131, we have determined it is appropriate to include the operating results of non-consolidated affiliates in the relevant segment financial results.

	Years ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Sales:	($ in millions)
Chlor Alkali Products	$	1,389.1		$	1,036.6		$	963.8
Winchester		572.0			549.3			567.7
Total sales	$	1,961.1		$	1,585.9		$	1,531.5
Income before taxes:
Chlor Alkali Products	$	245.0		$	117.2		$	125.4
Winchester		37.9			63.0			68.6
Corporate/Other		(47.5	)		(48.7	)		17.2
Restructuring charges		(10.7	)		(34.2	)		—
Other operating income		8.8			2.5			9.1
Interest expense		(30.4	)		(25.4	)		(11.6	)
Interest income		1.2			1.0			1.1
Other income		175.1			1.5			0.1
Income before taxes	$	379.4		$	76.9		$	209.9
Earnings of non-consolidated affiliates:
Chlor Alkali Products	$	9.6		$	29.9		$	37.7
Depreciation and amortization expense:
Chlor Alkali Products	$	85.6		$	74.8		$	59.8
Winchester		10.9			10.1			9.8
Corporate/Other		2.8			2.0			2.1
Total depreciation and amortization expense	$	99.3		$	86.9		$	71.7
Capital spending:
Chlor Alkali Products	$	134.2		$	67.6		$	123.8
Winchester		63.9			15.2			12.4
Corporate/Other		2.8			2.5			1.7
Total capital spending	$	200.9		$	85.3		$	137.9
	December 31,
	2011			2010
Assets:	($ in millions)
Chlor Alkali Products	$	1,652.3		$	1,130.8
Winchester		328.6			268.5
Corporate/Other		468.7			649.4
Total assets	$	2,449.6		$	2,048.7
Investments—affiliated companies (at equity):
Chlor Alkali Products	$	27.6		$	25.9

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Segment assets include only those assets which are directly identifiable to an operating segment.  All goodwill, which is associated with its acquisitions, is included in the assets of the Chlor Alkali Products segment.  Assets of the corporate/other segment include primarily such items as cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, deferred taxes, restricted cash and other assets.

	Years ended December 31,
Geographic Data:	2011			2010			2009
Sales:	($ in millions)
United States	$	1,774.0		$	1,425.7		$	1,375.9
Foreign		187.1			160.2			155.6
Transfers between areas:
United States		50.0			39.4			29.6
Foreign		95.3			66.1			73.3
Eliminations		(145.3	)		(105.5	)		(102.9	)
Total sales	$	1,961.1		$	1,585.9		$	1,531.5
	December 31,
	2011			2010
Assets:	($ in millions)
United States	$	2,208.8		$	1,774.5
Foreign		240.8			274.2
Total assets	$	2,449.6		$	2,048.7

Transfers between geographic areas are priced generally at prevailing market prices.  Export sales from the United States to unaffiliated customers were $22.0 million, $22.1 million and $20.9 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

ENVIRONMENTAL

In the United States, the establishment and implementation of federal, state and local standards to regulate air, water and land quality affect substantially all of our manufacturing locations.  Federal legislation providing for regulation of the manufacture, transportation, use and disposal of hazardous and toxic substances, and remediation of contaminated sites, has imposed additional regulatory requirements on industry, particularly the chemicals industry.  In addition, implementation of environmental laws, such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Clean Air Act, has required and will continue to require new capital expenditures and will increase plant operating costs.  Our Canadian facility is governed by federal environmental laws administered by Environment Canada and by provincial environmental laws enforced by administrative agencies.  Many of these laws are comparable to the U.S. laws described above.  We employ waste minimization and pollution prevention programs at our manufacturing sites.

We are party to various governmental and private environmental actions associated with past manufacturing facilities and former waste disposal sites.  Associated costs of investigatory and remedial activities are provided for in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles governing probability and the ability to reasonably estimate future costs.  Our ability to estimate future costs depends on whether our investigatory and remedial activities are in preliminary or advanced stages.  With respect to unasserted claims, we accrue liabilities for costs that, in our experience, we may incur to protect our interests against those unasserted claims.  Our accrued liabilities for unasserted claims amounted to $3.2 million at December 31, 2011.  With respect to asserted claims, we accrue liabilities based on remedial investigation, feasibility study, remedial action and OM&M expenses that, in our experience, we may incur in connection with the asserted claims.  Required site OM&M expenses are estimated and accrued in their entirety for required periods not exceeding 30 years, which reasonably approximates the typical duration of long-term site OM&M.

Our liabilities for future environmental expenditures were as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	167.6		$	166.1
Charges to income		19.3			16.3
Remedial and investigatory spending		(23.3	)		(15.7	)
Currency translation adjustments		(0.3	)		0.9
Ending balance	$	163.3		$	167.6

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At December 31, 2011 and 2010, our consolidated balance sheets included environmental liabilities of $132.3 million and $139.6 million, respectively, which were classified as other noncurrent liabilities.  Our environmental liability amounts did not take into account any discounting of future expenditures or any consideration of insurance recoveries or advances in technology.  These liabilities are reassessed periodically to determine if environmental circumstances have changed and/or remediation efforts and our estimate of related costs have changed.  As a result of these reassessments, future charges to income may be made for additional liabilities.  Of the $163.3 million included on our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 for future environmental expenditures, we currently expect to utilize $92.2 million of the reserve for future environmental expenditures over the next 5 years, $24.4 million for expenditures 6 to 10 years in the future, and $46.7 million for expenditures beyond 10 years in the future.

Our total estimated environmental liability at December 31, 2011, was attributable to 70 sites, 17 of which were USEPA NPL sites.  Ten sites accounted for 78% of our environmental liability and, of the remaining 60 sites, no one site accounted for more than 3% of our environmental liability.  At one of these ten sites, a remedial action plan is being implemented.  At five of the ten sites, part of the site is subject to a remedial investigation and another part is in the long-term OM&M stage.  At one of these ten sites, a remedial investigation is being performed.  At one site, part of the site is subject to a remedial action plan and part of the site to long-term OM&M.  The two remaining sites are in long-term OM&M.  All ten sites are either associated with past manufacturing operations or former waste disposal sites.  None of the ten largest sites represents more than 20% of the liabilities reserved on our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 for future environmental expenditures.

Charges or credits to income for investigatory and remedial efforts were material to operating results in 2011, 2010 and 2009 and may be material to operating results in future years.

Environmental provisions charged (credited) to income, which are included in cost of goods sold, were as follows:

	Years ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Charges to income	$	19.3		$	16.3		$	24.1
Recoveries from third parties of costs incurred and expensed in prior periods		(11.4	)		(7.2	)		(82.1	)
Total environmental expense (income)	$	7.9		$	9.1		$	(58.0	)

These charges relate primarily to remedial and investigatory activities associated with past manufacturing operations and former waste disposal sites.

Annual environmental-related cash outlays for site investigation and remediation are expected to range between approximately $20 million to $40 million over the next several years, which are expected to be charged against reserves recorded on our consolidated balance sheet.  While we do not anticipate a material increase in the projected annual level of our environmental-related cash outlays, there is always the possibility that such an increase may occur in the future in view of the uncertainties associated with environmental exposures.  Environmental exposures are difficult to assess for numerous reasons, including the identification of new sites, developments at sites resulting from investigatory studies, advances in technology, changes in environmental laws and regulations and their application, changes in regulatory authorities, the scarcity of reliable data pertaining to identified sites, the difficulty in assessing the involvement and financial capability of other PRPs, our ability to obtain contributions from other parties and the lengthy time periods over which site remediation occurs.  It is possible that some of these matters (the outcomes of which are subject to various uncertainties) may be resolved unfavorably to us, which could materially adversely affect our financial position or results of operations.  At December 31, 2011, we estimate that it is reasonably possible that we may have additional contingent environmental liabilities of $40 million in addition to the amounts for which we have already recorded as a reserve.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The following table summarizes our contractual commitments under non-cancelable operating leases and purchase contracts as of December 31, 2011:

	Operating Leases		Purchase Commitments
	($ in millions)
2012	$	40.3	$	105.9
2013		36.6		55.9
2014		31.3		16.8
2015		27.2		14.7
2016		23.1		0.8
Thereafter		63.2		—
Total commitments	$	221.7	$	194.1

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Our operating lease commitments are primarily for railroad cars but also include distribution, warehousing and office space and data processing and office equipment.  Virtually none of our lease agreements contain escalation clauses or step rent provisions.  Total rent expense charged to operations amounted to $53.8 million, $51.2 million and $45.4 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively (sublease income is not significant).  The above purchase commitments include raw material and utility purchasing commitments utilized in our normal course of business for our projected needs.

In conjunction with the St. Gabriel, LA conversion and expansion project, which was completed in the fourth quarter of 2009, we entered into a twenty-year brine and pipeline supply agreement with PetroLogistics.  PetroLogistics installed, owns and operates, at its own expense, a pipeline supplying brine to the St. Gabriel, LA facility.  Beginning November 2009, we are obligated to make a fixed annual payment over the life of the contract of $2.0 million for use of the pipeline, regardless of the amount of brine purchased.  We also have a minimum usage requirement for brine of $8.4 million over the first five-year period of the contract.  After the first five-year period, the contract contains a buy out provision exercisable by us for $12.0 million.

On December 31, 1997, we entered into a long-term, sulfur dioxide supply agreement with Alliance, formerly known as RFC SO2, Inc.  Alliance has the obligation to deliver annually 36,000 tons of sulfur dioxide.  Alliance owns the sulfur dioxide plant, which is located at our Charleston, TN facility and is operated by us.  The price for the sulfur dioxide is fixed over the life of the contract, and under the terms of the contract, we are obligated to make a monthly payment of $0.2 million regardless of the sulfur dioxide purchased.  Commitments related to this agreement are $0.6 million in 2012. This supply agreement expires in 2012.

We, and our subsidiaries, are defendants in various legal actions (including proceedings based on alleged exposures to asbestos) incidental to our past and current business activities.  At December 31, 2011 and 2010, our consolidated balance sheets included liabilities for these legal actions of $16.4 million and $18.1 million, respectively.  These liabilities do not include costs associated with legal representation.  Based on our analysis, and considering the inherent uncertainties associated with litigation, we do not believe that it is reasonably possible that these legal actions will materially adversely affect our financial position or results of operations in the near term.

During the ordinary course of our business, contingencies arise resulting from an existing condition, situation, or set of circumstances involving an uncertainty as to the realization of a possible gain contingency.  In certain instances such as environmental projects, we are responsible for managing the cleanup and remediation of an environmental site.  There exists the possibility of recovering a portion of these costs from other parties.  We account for gain contingencies in accordance with the provisions of ASC 450, formerly SFAS No. 5, and therefore do not record gain contingencies and recognize income until it is earned and realizable.

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

We are exposed to market risk in the normal course of our business operations due to our purchases of certain commodities, our ongoing investing and financing activities, and our operations that use foreign currencies.  The risk of loss can be assessed from the perspective of adverse changes in fair values, cash flows and future earnings.  We have established policies and procedures governing our management of market risks and the use of financial instruments to manage exposure to such risks.  ASC 815, formerly SFAS No. 133, required an entity to recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position and measure those instruments at fair value.  We use hedge accounting treatment for substantially all of our business transactions whose risks are covered using derivative instruments.  In accordance with ASC 815, we designate commodity forward contracts as cash flow hedges of forecasted purchases of commodities and certain interest rate swaps as fair value hedges of fixed-rate borrowings.  We do not enter into any derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Energy costs, including electricity used in our Chlor Alkali Products segment, and certain raw materials and energy costs, namely copper, lead, zinc, electricity, and natural gas used primarily in our Winchester segment, are subject to price volatility.  Depending on market conditions, we may enter into futures contracts and put and call option contracts in order to reduce the impact of commodity price fluctuations.  The majority of our commodity derivatives expire within one year.  Those commodity contracts that extend beyond one year correspond with raw material purchases for long-term fixed-price sales contracts.

We enter into forward sales and purchase contracts to manage currency risk resulting from purchase and sale commitments denominated in foreign currencies (principally Canadian dollar and Euro).  All of the currency derivatives expire within one year and are for United States dollar equivalents.  Our foreign currency forward contracts do not meet the criteria to qualify for hedge accounting.  At December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had forward contracts to buy foreign currencies with a notional value of zero and $0.3 million, respectively.

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In March 2010, we entered into interest rate swaps on $125 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us fixed rates.  The counterparty to these agreements is Citibank.  In October 2011, we entered into $125 million of interest rate swaps with equal and opposite terms as the $125 million variable interest rate swaps on the 2016 Notes.  We have agreed to pay a fixed rate to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us variable rates.  The counterparty to this agreement is also Citibank.  The result was a gain of $11.0 million on the $125 million variable interest rate swaps, which will be recognized through 2016.  As of December 31, 2011, $10.5 million of this gain was included in long-term debt.  In October 2011, we de-designated our $125 million interest rate swaps that had previously been designated as fair value hedges.  The $125 million variable interest rate swaps and the $125 million fixed interest rate swaps do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting.  All changes in the fair value of these interest rate swaps are recorded currently in earnings.

In 2001 and 2002, we entered into interest rate swaps on $75 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, paid us fixed rates.  The counterparty to these agreements was Citibank.  In January 2009, we entered into a $75 million fixed interest rate swap with equal and opposite terms as the $75 million variable interest rate swaps on the 2011 Notes.  We agreed to pay a fixed rate to a counterparty who, in turn, paid us variable rates.  The counterparty to this agreement was Bank of America, a major financial institution.  The result was a gain of $7.9 million on the $75 million variable interest rate swaps, which was recognized through 2011.  In January 2009, we de-designated our $75 million interest rate swaps that had previously been designated as fair value hedges.  The $75 million variable interest rate swaps and the $75 million fixed interest rate swap did not meet the criteria for hedge accounting.  All changes in the fair value of these interest rate swaps were recorded currently in earnings.

Cash Flow Hedges

ASC 815 requires that all derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at their fair value.  For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the change in fair value of the derivative is recognized as a component of other comprehensive loss until the hedged item is recognized into earnings.  Gains and losses on the derivatives representing hedge ineffectiveness are recognized currently in earnings.

We had the following notional amount of outstanding commodity forward contracts that were entered into to hedge forecasted purchases:

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
Copper	$	52.1	$	25.1
Zinc		7.3		3.2
Lead		37.9		19.6
Natural gas		8.3		5.5

As of December 31, 2011, the counterparty to $80.1 million of these commodity forward contracts was Wells Fargo, a major financial institution.

We use cash flow hedges for certain raw material and energy costs such as copper, zinc, lead, electricity, and natural gas to provide a measure of stability in managing our exposure to price fluctuations associated with forecasted purchases of raw materials and energy used in our manufacturing process.  At December 31, 2011, we had open positions in futures contracts through 2016.  If all open futures contracts had been settled on December 31, 2011, we would have recognized a pretax loss of $8.8 million.

If commodity prices were to remain at December 31, 2011 levels, approximately $6.9 million of deferred losses would be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months.  The actual effect on earnings will be dependent on actual commodity prices when the forecasted transactions occur.

Fair Value Hedges

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in current earnings.  We include the gain or loss on the hedged items (fixed-rate borrowings) in the same line item, interest expense, as the offsetting loss or gain on the related interest rate swaps.  As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the total notional amount of our interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges were $80.8 million and $132.7 million, respectively.

Of the $80.8 million of interest rate swaps outstanding at December 31, 2011, $73.1 million were entered into in May 2011 on the SunBelt Notes.  In April 2010, Citibank terminated $18.9 million of interest rate swaps on our industrial revenue bonds due in 2016.  The result was a gain of $0.4 million, which would have been recognized through 2016.  In September 2010, the industrial revenue bonds were redeemed by us, and as a result, the remaining $0.3 million gain was recognized in interest expense during 2010.

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We use interest rate swaps as a means of managing interest expense and floating interest rate exposure to optimal levels.  These interest rate swaps are treated as fair value hedges.  The accounting for gains and losses associated with changes in fair value of the derivative and the effect on the consolidated financial statements will depend on the hedge designation and whether the hedge is effective in offsetting changes in fair value of cash flows of the asset or liability being hedged.  We have entered into $80.8 million of such swaps, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us fixed rates.  The counterparties to these agreements are Citibank ($7.7 million) and Wells Fargo ($73.1 million).  In all cases, the underlying index for the variable rates is six-month LIBOR.  Accordingly, payments are settled every six months and the terms of the swaps are the same as the underlying debt instruments.

Financial Statement Impacts

We present our derivative assets and liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets on a net basis.  We net derivative assets and liabilities whenever we have a legally enforceable master netting agreement with the counterparty to our derivative contracts.  We use these agreements to manage and substantially reduce our potential counterparty credit risk.

The following table summarizes the location and fair value of the derivative instruments on our consolidated balance sheets.  The table disaggregates our net derivative assets and liabilities into gross components on a contract-by-contract basis before giving effect to master netting arrangements:

	Asset Derivatives					Liability Derivatives
		Fair Value					Fair Value
		December 31,					December 31,
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments	Balance Sheet Location		2011		2010	Balance Sheet Location		2011			2010
		($ in millions)					($ in millions)
Interest rate contracts	Other current assets	$	—	$	—	Current installments of long-term debt	$	—		$	2.8
Interest rate contracts	Other assets		2.2		5.3	Long-term debt		12.7			5.3
Commodity contracts – gains	Other current assets		—		16.9	Accrued liabilities		(2.5	)		—
Commodity contracts – losses	Other current assets		—		—	Accrued liabilities		11.2			—
		$	2.2	$	22.2		$	21.4		$	8.1
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Interest rate contracts	Other current assets	$	—	$	3.8	Accrued liabilities	$	—		$	1.2
Interest rate contracts	Other assets		11.6		—	Other liabilities		1.0			—
Commodity contracts – gains	Other current assets		—		—	Accrued liabilities		—			(0.1	)
Commodity contracts – losses	Other current assets		—		—	Accrued liabilities		1.5			0.3
		$	11.6	$	3.8		$	2.5		$	1.4
Total derivatives(1)		$	13.8	$	26.0		$	23.9		$	9.5

(1)      Does not include the impact of cash collateral received from or provided to counterparties.

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 The following table summarizes the effects of derivative instruments on our consolidated statements of operations:

		Amount of Gain (Loss)
		Years Ended December 31,
	Location of Gain (Loss)	2011			2010			2009
Derivatives – Cash Flow Hedges		($ in millions)
Recognized in other comprehensive loss (effective portion)	———	$	(17.3	)	$	8.8		$	39.3
Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into income (effective portion)	Cost of goods sold	$	10.3		$	8.8		$	(20.4	)
Recognized in income (ineffective portion)	Cost of goods sold		—			—			0.1
		$	10.3		$	8.8		$	(20.3	)
Derivatives – Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate contracts	Interest expense	$	6.7		$	6.7		$	3.4
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Interest rate contracts	Interest expense	$	0.5		$	0.3		$	(0.4	)
Commodity contracts	Cost of goods sold		(2.2	)		(1.1	)		(2.3	)
		$	(1.7	)	$	(0.8	)	$	(2.7	)

Credit Risk and Collateral

By using derivative instruments, we are exposed to credit and market risk.  If a counterparty fails to fulfill its performance obligations under a derivative contract, our credit risk will equal the fair-value gain in a derivative.  Generally, when the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, this indicates that the counterparty owes us, thus creating a repayment risk for us.  When the fair value of a derivative contract is negative, we owe the counterparty and, therefore, assume no repayment risk.  We minimize the credit (or repayment) risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with high-quality counterparties.  We monitor our positions and the credit ratings of our counterparties and we do not anticipate non-performance by the counterparties.

Based on the agreements with our various counterparties, cash collateral is required to be provided when the net fair value of the derivatives, with the counterparty, exceed a specific threshold.  If the threshold is exceeded, cash is either provided by the counterparty to us if the value of the derivatives is our asset, or cash is provided by us to the counterparty if the value of the derivatives is our liability.  As of December 31, 2011, the amount recognized in accrued liabilities for cash collateral provided by us to counterparties was $3.9 million.  As of December 31, 2010, the amount recognized in other current assets for cash collateral provided by counterparties to us was $3.2 million.  In all instances where we are party to a master netting agreement, we offset the receivable or payable recognized upon payment of cash collateral against the fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments that have also been offset under such master netting agreements.

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value.  Hierarchical levels are directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair valuation of these assets and liabilities.  We are required to separately disclose assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, from those measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.  Nonfinancial assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are intangible assets and goodwill, which are reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter and/or when circumstances or other events indicate that impairment may have occurred.  Determining which hierarchical level an asset or liability falls within requires significant judgment.  The following table summarizes the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets:

Balance at December 31, 2011	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total
Assets	($ in millions)
Interest rate swaps		$	—		$	13.8		$	—	$	13.8
Liabilities
Interest rate swaps			—			13.7			—		13.7
Commodity forward contracts			2.5			7.7			—		10.2
Earn out			—			—			49.0		49.0
Balance at December 31, 2010
Assets
Interest rate swaps		$	—		$	9.1		$	—	$	9.1
Commodity forward contracts			7.0			9.9			—		16.9
Liabilities
Interest rate swaps			—			9.3			—		9.3
Commodity forward contracts			—			0.2			—		0.2

For the year ended December 31, 2011, there were no transfers into or out of Level 1 and Level 2.

The following table summarizes the activity for our financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	—		$	—
Purchases, sales and settlements		(42.3	)		—
Unrealized loss included in other income		(6.7	)		—
Ending balance	$	(49.0	)	$	—

Short-Term Investments

We classified our marketable securities as available-for-sale which were reported at fair market value.  Unrealized gains and losses, to the extent such losses are considered temporary in nature, are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of applicable taxes.  At such time as the decline in fair market value and the related unrealized loss is determined to be a result of impairment of the underlying instrument, the loss is recorded as a charge to earnings.  Fair values for marketable securities are based upon prices and other relevant information observable in market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities or prices obtained from independent third-party pricing services.  The third-party pricing services employ various models that take into consideration such market-based factors as recent sales, risk-free yield curves, prices of similarly rated bonds, and direct discussions with dealers familiar with these types of securities.

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Interest Rate Swaps

The fair value of the interest rate swaps was included in other current assets, other assets, current installments of long-term debt, accrued liabilities, long-term debt and other liabilities as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.  These financial instruments were valued using the “income approach” valuation technique.  This method used valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single present amount.  The measurement was based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts.  We use interest rate swaps as a means of managing interest expense and floating interest rate exposure to optimal levels.

Commodity Forward Contracts

The fair value of the commodity forward contracts was classified in other current assets and accrued liabilities as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, with unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of applicable taxes.  These financial instruments were valued primarily based on prices and other relevant information observable in market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities including both forward and spot prices for commodities.  We use commodity forward contracts for certain raw materials and energy costs such as copper, zinc, lead, and natural gas to provide a measure of stability in managing our exposure to price fluctuations.

Foreign Currency Contracts

We had no fair value of foreign currency contracts as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.  The gains and losses of foreign currency contracts were included in selling and administration expense as these financial instruments do not meet the criteria to qualify for hedge accounting.  These financial instruments were valued primarily based on prices and other relevant information observable in market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities including both forward and spot prices for foreign currencies.  We enter into forward sales and purchase contracts to manage currency risk resulting from purchase and sale commitments denominated in foreign currencies (principally Canadian dollar and Euro).

Financial Instruments

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximated fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.  The fair value of our long-term debt was determined based on current market rates for debt of similar risk and maturities.  At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the estimated fair value of debt was $552.3 million and $530.3 million, respectively, which compares to debt recorded on the consolidated balance sheets of $536.4 million and $496.0 million, respectively.

Earn Out

The fair value of the earn out associated with the SunBelt acquisition was estimated using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model.  This fair value measurement is based on significant inputs not observed in the market.  Key assumptions in determining the fair value of the earn out include the discount rate and cash flow projections for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, we record assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as required by ASC 820.  There were no assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.  At February 28, 2011, $180.6 million of assets were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.  We recognized a gain of $181.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 on our previously held investment in SunBelt, which had been accounted for under the equity method of accounting prior to the acquisition.  We remeasured our equity interest in SunBelt of $(0.8) million based on our purchase of PolyOne’s 50% interest in SunBelt.  We used Level 1 inputs for the cash payments and Level 3 inputs for the estimated earn out.

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OTHER FINANCIAL DATA

Quarterly Data (Unaudited)

($ in millions, except per share data)

2011	First Quarter		Second Quarter		Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter		Year
Sales	$	436.0	$	529.1	$	550.2	$	445.8	$	1,961.1
Cost of goods sold		359.2		413.7		432.7		368.3		1,573.9
Net income		133.7		42.1		47.2		18.7		241.7
Net income per common share:
Basic		1.68		0.53		0.59		0.23		3.02
Diluted		1.66		0.52		0.58		0.23		2.99
Common dividends per share		0.20		0.20		0.20		0.20		0.80
Market price of common stock(1)
High		23.04		27.16		24.09		21.75		27.16
Low		17.97		20.60		17.64		16.11		16.11
2010
Sales	$	362.0	$	405.7	$	432.8	$	385.4	$	1,585.9
Cost of goods sold		312.5		347.7		366.5		323.2		1,349.9
Net income		14.1		16.9		31.8		2.0		64.8
Net income per common share:
Basic		0.18		0.21		0.40		0.03		0.82
Diluted		0.18		0.21		0.40		0.02		0.81
Common dividends per share		0.20		0.20		0.20		0.20		0.80
Market price of common stock(1)
High		19.94		22.39		20.99		21.57		22.39
Low		15.30		14.35		17.25		17.90		14.35

(1) NYSE composite transactions.

Item 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.

Item 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2011.  Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information Olin is required to disclose in the reports that it files or submits with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and to ensure that information required to be disclosed in such reports is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

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PART III

Item 10.  DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

We incorporate the biographical information relating to our Directors under the heading “Item 1- Proposal for the Election of Directors” in our Proxy Statement relating to our 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Proxy Statement”) by reference in this Report.  See also the list of executive officers following Item 4 in Part I of this Report.  We incorporate the information regarding compliance with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, contained in the paragraph entitled “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” under the heading “Security Ownership of Directors and Officers” in our Proxy Statement by reference in this Report.

The information with respect to our audit committee, including the audit committee financial expert, is incorporated by reference in this Report to the information contained in the paragraph entitled “What are the committees of the Board?” under the heading “Corporate Governance Matters” in our Proxy Statement.  We incorporate by reference in this Report information regarding procedures for shareholders to nominate a director for election, in the Proxy Statement under the headings “Miscellaneous-How can I directly nominate a director for election to the Board at the 2012 Annual Meeting?” and “Corporate Governance Matters-What is Olin’s director nomination process?”

We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers and employees, known as the Code of Conduct.  The Code is available in the About Olin, Ethics section of our website at www.olin.com.

Item 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information in the Proxy Statement under the heading “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” on page 17 and the information on pages 23 through 56, (beginning with the information under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” through the information under the heading “Compensation Committee Report,”) are incorporated by reference in this Report.

Item 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

We incorporate the information concerning holdings of our common stock by certain beneficial owners contained under the heading “Certain Beneficial Owners” in our Proxy Statement, and the information concerning beneficial ownership of our common stock by our directors and officers under the heading “Security Ownership of Directors and Officers” in our Proxy Statement by reference in this Report.

Item 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

We incorporate the information under the headings “Review, Approval, or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons” and “Which board members are independent?” in our Proxy Statement by reference in this Report.

Item 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

We incorporate the information concerning the accounting fees and services of our independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP under the heading “Item 3—Proposal to Ratify Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in our Proxy Statement by reference in this Report.

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PART IV

Item 15.  EXHIBITS; CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)      1.  Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated financial statements of the registrant are included in Item 8 above.

2.  Financial Statement Schedules

Schedules not included herein are omitted because they are inapplicable or not required or because the required information is given in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

Separate consolidated financial statements of our 50% or less owned subsidiaries accounted for by the equity method are not summarized herein and have been omitted because, in the aggregate, they would not constitute a significant subsidiary.

3.  Exhibits

See the Exhibit Index immediately prior to the exhibits which is hereby incorporated by reference.  The following exhibits, listed on the Exhibit Index, are filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

Exhibit No.	Description
11	Computation of Per Share Earnings (included in the Note–“Earnings Per Share” to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8)
12	Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Unaudited)
21	List of Subsidiaries
23	Consent of KPMG LLP
31.1	Section 302 Certification Statement of Chief Executive Officer
31.2	Section 302 Certification Statement of Chief Financial Officer
32	Section 906 Certification Statement of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
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, the Interactive Data Files on Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

 Any exhibit is available from the Company by writing to: Mr. George H. Pain, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Olin Corporation, 190 Carondelet Plaza, Suite 1530, Clayton, MO 63105-3443.

Shareholders may obtain information from Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, our registrar and transfer agent, who also manages our Dividend Reinvestment Plan by writing to:  Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, PO Box 64874, St. Paul, MN 55164-0874, by telephone at (800) 468-9716 or via the Internet at www.shareowneronline.com, click on “contact us”.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

Date: February 24, 2012

OLIN CORPORATION
	By  /s/    JOSEPH D. RUPP
	Joseph D. Rupp Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Signature	Title	Date
/s/    JOSEPH D. RUPP Joseph D. Rupp	Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)	February 24, 2012
/s/    GRAY G. BENOIST Gray G. Benoist	Director	February 24, 2012
/s/    DONALD W. BOGUS Donald W. Bogus	Director	February 24, 2012
/s/    C. ROBERT BUNCH C. Robert Bunch	Director	February 24, 2012
/s/    RANDALL W. LARRIMORE Randall W. Larrimore	Director	February 24, 2012
/s/    JOHN M. B. O’CONNOR John M. B. O’Connor	Director	February 24, 2012
/s/    RICHARD M. ROMPALA Richard M. Rompala	Director	February 24, 2012
/s/    PHILIP J. SCHULZ Philip J. Schulz	Director	February 24, 2012
/s/    VINCENT J. SMITH Vincent J. Smith	Director	February 24, 2012
/s/    JOHN E. FISCHER John E. Fischer	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)	February 24, 2012
/s/    TODD A. SLATER Todd A. Slater	Vice President, Finance and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)	February 24, 2012

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Management contracts and compensatory plans and arrangements are listed as Exhibits 10(a) through 10(bb) below.

3	(a)	Olin’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation as amended effective May 2, 2011—Exhibit 3.1 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated May 3, 2011.*
	(b)	Bylaws of Olin as amended effective December 9, 2010—Exhibit 3.1 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated December 10, 2010.*
4	(a)	Indenture between Olin and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. dated as of June 26, 2006—Exhibit 4.1 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated June 26, 2006.*
	(b)	6.75% Senior Note Due 2016—Exhibit 4.1 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated July 28, 2006.*
	(c)	First Supplemental Indenture between Olin and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. dated July 28, 2006—Exhibit 4.2 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated July 28, 2006.*
	(d)	Registration Rights Agreement among Olin, Banc of America Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC dated July 28, 2006—Exhibit 4.3 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated July 28, 2006.*
	(e)	Indenture dated as of August 19, 2009, between Olin Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company—Exhibit 4.1 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated August 19, 2009.*
	(f)	First Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 19, 2009, between Olin Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company—Exhibit 4.2 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated August 19, 2009.*
	(g)	Form of 8.875% Senior Note due 2019—Exhibit 4.3 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated August 19, 2009.*
	(h)	Trust Indenture effective October 1, 2010 between The Industrial Development Authority of Washington County and U. S. Bank, National Association, as trustee—Exhibit 4.1 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated October 20, 2010.*
	(i)	Loan Agreement effective October 1, 2010 between The Industrial Development Authority of Washington County and Olin Corporation—Exhibit 4.2 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated October 20, 2010.*
	(j)	Bond Purchase Agreement dated October 14, 2010 between The Industrial Development Authority of Washington County, Olin Corporation and PNC Bank National Association, as administrative agent—Exhibit 4.3 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated October 20, 2010.*
	(k)	Trust Indenture effective December 1, 2010 between the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation and U. S. Bank, National Association, as trustee—Exhibit 4.1 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated December 10, 2010.*
	(l)	Loan Agreement effective December 1, 2010 between the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation and Olin Corporation—Exhibit 4.2 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated December 10, 2010.*
	(m)	Bond Purchase Agreement dated December 9, 2010 between the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, Olin Corporation and PNC Bank National Association, as administrative agent—Exhibit 4.3 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated December 10, 2010.*
	(n)	Amended and Restated Credit and Funding Agreement dated December 9, 2010 between Olin Corporation, as borrower; PNC Bank National Association, as administrative agent; PNC Capital Markets, LLC, as lead arranger; and the Lenders party thereto—Exhibit 4.4 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated December 10, 2010.*
	(o)	First Amendment dated December 27, 2010 to the Amended and Restated Credit and Funding Agreement dated December 9, 2010 between Olin Corporation, as borrower; PNC Bank National Association, as administrative agent; PNC Capital Markets, LLC, as lead arranger; and the Lenders party thereto—Exhibit 4.4 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated December 29, 2010.*
	(p)	Trust Indenture effective December 27, 2010 between the Industrial Development Board of the County of Bradley and the City of Cleveland, TN and U. S. Bank, National Association, as trustee—Exhibit 4.1 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated December 29, 2010.*
	(q)	Loan Agreement effective December 27, 2010 between the Industrial Development Board of the County of Bradley and the City of Cleveland, Tennessee and Olin Corporation—Exhibit 4.2 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated December 29, 2010.*
	(r)	Bond Purchase Agreement dated December 27, 2010 between the Industrial Development Board of the County of Bradley and the City of Cleveland, Tennessee, Olin Corporation and PNC Bank National Association, as administrative agent—Exhibit 4.3 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated December 29, 2010.*
		We are party to a number of other instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt. No such instrument authorizes an amount of securities in excess of 10% of the total assets of Olin and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. Olin agrees to furnish a copy of each instrument to the Commission upon request.
10	(a)	Employee Deferral Plan as amended and restated effective as of January 30, 2003 and as amended effective January 1, 2005—Exhibit 10(b) to Olin’s Form 10-K for 2002 and Exhibit 10(b)(1) to Olin’s Form 10-K for 2005, respectively.*
	(b)	Olin Senior Executive Pension Plan amended and restated effective October 24, 2008—Exhibit 10.1 to Olin’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.*

96

(c)	Olin Supplemental Contributing Employee Ownership Plan as amended and restated effective October 24, 2008 and as amended effective February 19, 2009—Exhibit 10.3 to Olin’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 and Exhibit 10.1 to Olin’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, respectively.*
(d)	Olin Corporation Key Executive Life Insurance Program—Exhibit 10(e) to Olin’s Form 10-K for 2002.*
(e)	Form of executive agreement between Olin and certain executive officers—Exhibit 99.1 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated January 26, 2005.*
(f)	Form of executive change-in-control agreement between Olin and certain executive officers—Exhibit 99.2 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated January 26, 2005.*
(g)	Form of amendment to executive agreement between Olin and Messrs. Curley and Fischer dated November 9, 2007—Exhibit 10(g) to Olin’s Form 10-K for 2007.*
(h)	Form of amendment to executive change-in-control agreement between Olin and Messrs. Curley and Fischer dated November 9, 2007—Exhibit 10(h) to Olin’s Form 10-K for 2007.*
(i)	Form of amendment to executive agreement between Olin and G. Bruce Greer, Jr. dated November 9, 2007—Exhibit 10(i) to Olin’s Form 10-K for 2007.*
(j)	Form of amendment to executive change-in-control agreement between Olin and G. Bruce Greer, Jr. dated November 9, 2007—Exhibit 10(j) to Olin’s Form 10-K for 2007.*
(k)	Form of executive agreement between Olin and Messrs. Rupp, McIntosh and Pain dated November 1, 2007—Exhibit 10.1 to Olin’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.*
(l)	Form of executive change-in-control agreement between Olin and Messrs. Rupp, McIntosh and Pain dated November 1, 2007—Exhibit 10.2 to Olin’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.*
(m)	Form of amendment dated October 25, 2010 to executive agreements with Messrs. Curley, Fischer, Greer, McIntosh, Pain and Rupp—Exhibit 10.1 to Olin’s Form 10-K for 2010.*
(n)	Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors as amended and restated effective April 22, 2010—Appendix A to Olin’s Proxy Statement dated March 10, 2010.*
(o)	Amended and Restated Olin Senior Management Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective April 22, 2010—Appendix B to Olin’s Proxy Statement dated March 10, 2010.*
(p)	Description of Restricted Stock Unit Awards granted under the 2000, 2003, 2006 or 2009 Long Term Incentive Plans—Exhibit 10(p) to Olin’s Form 10-K for 2008.*
(q)	1996 Stock Option Plan for Key Employees of Olin Corporation and Subsidiaries as amended as of January 30, 2003—Exhibit 10(l) to Olin’s Form 10-K for 2002.*
(r)	Olin Supplementary and Deferral Benefit Pension Plan as amended and restated effective October 24, 2008—Exhibit 10.2 to Olin’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.*
(s)	Olin Corporation 2000 Long Term Incentive Plan as amended and restated effective October 22, 2008—Exhibit 10.6 to Olin’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.*
(t)	Olin Corporation 2003 Long Term Incentive Plan as amended and restated effective October 22, 2008—Exhibit 10.7 to Olin’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.*
(u)	Olin Corporation 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan as amended and restated effective October 22, 2008—Exhibit 10.8 to Olin’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.*
(v)	Olin Corporation 2009 Long Term Incentive Plan—Appendix A to Olin’s Proxy Statement dated March 11, 2009.*
(w)	Performance Share Program codified to reflect amendments through December 31, 2010—Exhibit 10.2 to Olin’s Form 10-K for 2010.*
(x)	Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Award Certificate—Exhibit 10(bb) to Olin’s Form 10-K for 2007.*
(y)	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Certificate—Exhibit 10(cc) to Form 10-K for 2007.*

97

	(z)	Form of Performance Award and Senior Performance Award Certificates—Exhibit 10(dd) to Olin’s Form 10-K for 2007.*
	(aa)	Summary of Stock Option Continuation Policy—Exhibit 10.2 to Olin’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.*
	(bb)	Olin Corporation Contributing Employee Ownership Plan Amended and Restated effective as of December 31, 2009—Exhibit 10(dd) to Olin’s Form 10-K for 2009.*
	(cc)	Distribution Agreement between Olin Corporation and Arch Chemicals, Inc., dated as of February 1, 1999—Exhibit 2.1 to Olin’s Form 8-K filed February 23, 1999.*
	(dd)	Purchase Agreement dated as of February 28, 2011, by and among PolyOne Corporation, 1997 Chloralkali Venture, LLC, Olin Corporation and Olin SunBelt II, Inc.—Exhibit 2.1 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated March 3, 2011.*
	(ee)	Note Purchase Agreement dated December 22, 1997 between the SunBelt Chlor Alkali Partnership and the Purchasers named therein—Exhibit 99.5 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated December 3, 2001.*
	(ff)	Guarantee Agreement dated December 22, 1997 between Olin and the Purchasers named therein—Exhibit 99.6 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated December 3, 2001.*
	(gg)	Subordination Agreement dated December 22, 1997 between Olin and the Subordinated Parties named therein—Exhibit 99.7 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated December 3, 2001.*
	(hh)	Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 20, 2007, among Olin Corporation, Princeton Merger Corp., and Pioneer Companies, Inc.—Exhibit 2.1 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated May 21, 2007.*
	(ii)	Purchase Agreement dated as of October 15, 2007, among Global Brass and Copper Acquisition Co. and Olin Corporation—Exhibit 2.1 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated October 15, 2007.*
	(jj)	Credit Agreement dated as of October 29, 2007 among Olin and the banks named therein—Exhibit 10.1 to Olin’s Form 8-K dated October 29, 2007.*
11		Computation of Per Share Earnings (included in the Note—“Earnings Per Share” to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8).
12		Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (unaudited).
21		List of Subsidiaries.
23		Consent of KPMG LLP.
31.1		Section 302 Certification Statement of Chief Executive Officer.
31.2		Section 302 Certification Statement of Chief Financial Officer.
32		Section 906 Certification Statement of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
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)

*Previously filed as indicated and incorporated herein by reference.  Exhibits incorporated by reference are located in SEC file No. 1-1070 unless otherwise indicated.

(1) Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files on Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

 

98

EX-12

Exhibit 12

OLIN CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009			2008			2007
Earnings:
Income from continuing operations before taxes(1)	$	379.4		$	76.9		$	209.9		$	257.5		$	150.7
Add (deduct):
Equity in income of non-consolidated affiliates		(9.6	)		(29.9	)		(37.7	)		(39.4	)		(46.0	)
Dividends received from non-consolidated affiliates		1.4			2.0			3.5			0.2			―
Capitalized interest		(1.2	)		(0.9	)		(9.7	)		(5.0	)		(0.2	)
Fixed charges as described below		49.5			43.4			36.4			33.7			33.4
Total	$	419.5		$	91.5		$	202.4		$	247.0		$	137.9
Fixed charges:
Interest expensed and capitalized	$	31.6		$	26.3		$	21.3		$	18.3		$	22.3
Estimated interest factor in rent expense(2)		17.9			17.1			15.1			15.4			11.1
Total	$	49.5		$	43.4		$	36.4		$	33.7		$	33.4
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		8.5			2.1			5.6			7.3			4.1

(1) The income from continuing operations before taxes for the year ended December 31, 2011 included a pretax gain of $181.4 million as a result of remeasuring our previously held 50% equity interest in SunBelt.

(2)   Amounts represent those portions of rent expense that are reasonable approximations of interest costs.

EX-21

Exhibit 21

SUBSIDIARIES OF OLIN CORPORATION1

(as of December 31, 2011)

Company	% Ownership (Direct/Indirect)	Jurisdiction
Bridgeport Brass Corporation2	100	IN
Hunt Trading Co.	100	MO
Imperial West Chemical Co.3	100	NV
KNA California, Inc.4	100	DE
KWT, Inc.5	100	DE
LTC Reserve Corp.	100	DE
Monarch Brass & Copper Corp.	100	NY
Monarch Brass & Copper of New England Corp.6	100	RI
New Haven Copper Company6	100	CT
Olin Benefits Management, Inc.	100	CA
Olin Business Holdings7	100	DE
Olin Chlor Alkali Logistics Inc.	100	DE
Olin Engineered Systems, Inc.	100	DE
Olin Far East, Limited	100	DE
Olin Financial Services Inc.	100	DE
Olin Funding Company LLC	100	DE
Olin North American Holdings, Inc.	100	DE
Olin Sunbelt, Inc.	100	DE
Olin Sunbelt II, Inc.	100	DE
Pioneer Americas LLC8	100	DE
Pioneer Companies, LLC	100	DE
Pioneer (East), Inc.3	100	DE
Pioneer Licensing, Inc.3	100	DE
Pioneer Transportation LLC9	100	DE
Pioneer Water Technologies, Inc.3	100	DE
Ravenna Arsenal, Inc.	100	OH
Sunbelt Chlor Alkali Partnership	100	DE
U.S. Munitions, LLC10	49	DE
Waterbury Rolling Mills, Inc.6	100	CT
Winchester Ammunition, Inc.	100	DE
Winchester Defense, LLC11	100	DE
Nutmeg Insurance Limited	100	Bermuda
Olin Canada ULC12	100	Nova Scotia, Canada
Olin Hunt Specialty Products S.r.l.	100	Italy
Olin (UK) Limited	100	United Kingdom
Reductone Brasil Ltda.	100	Brazil
Winchester Australia Limited13	100	Australia

1 Omitted from the following list are the names of certain subsidiaries which, if considered in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, would not constitute a significant subsidiary

2 d/b/a "Olin Brass, Indianapolis" and "Olin Brass, Indianapolis Facility" in CA, IL, IN, NJ, NC, OH, PA,  RI and TX

3 Indirect subsidiary, wholly-owned by Olin’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Pioneer Companies, LLC

4 Indirect subsidiary, wholly-owned by Imperial West Chemical Co.

5 Indirect subsidiary, wholly-owned by Pioneer Water Technologies, Inc.

6 Indirect subsidiary, wholly-owned by  Monarch Brass & Copper Corp.

7 This entity was formerly named A. J. Oster Co. a Delaware partnership of which Olin Corporation owns 62.05% and Olin’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, Olin Engineered Systems, Inc. owns 36.15% and Pioneer Americas LLC owns 1.80%

8 Indirect subsidiary, Olin Canada ULC is the sole member of Pioneer Americas LLC

9 Indirect subsidiary, Olin Business Holdings holds its membership interest

10 Indirect subsidiary, Olin’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Winchester Defense, LLC owns 49% of this Joint Venture and BAE Systems Ordnance Systems, Inc. owns 51% of the joint venture.

11 This entity holds the 49% ownership of the joint venture company, U.S. Munitions, LLC.  BAE Systems Ordnance Systems, Inc. owns the other 51% of the joint venture company.

12 Indirect subsidiary, wholly-owned by Olin North American Holdings, Inc.  Reorganization of Canadian entities PCI Chemicals Canada Company and Olin Canada Inc. occurred on January 1, 2011 and the two companies were amalgamated under the name of Olin Canada ULC

13 Olin Australia Limited was renamed Winchester Australia Limited effective 12/5/2007

EX-23

Exhibit 23

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Olin Corporation:

We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements No. 333-178460 on Form S-3 and Nos. 333-05097, 333-18619, 333-39305, 333-39303, 333-31098, 333-35818, 333-97759, 333-88990, 333-110135, 333-110136, 333-124483, 333-133731, 333-148918, 333-153183, 333-158799, 333-166288, and 333-176432 on Form S-8 of Olin Corporation of our report dated February 24, 2012 with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Olin Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2011, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, which report appears in the December 31, 2011 annual report on Form 10-K of Olin Corporation.

/s/ KPMG LLP

St. Louis, Missouri

February 24, 2012

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Joseph D. Rupp, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Olin Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 24, 2012	/s/ Joseph D. Rupp
	Joseph D. Rupp Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, John E. Fischer, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Olin Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 24, 2012	/s/ John E. Fischer
	John E. Fischer Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-32

Exhibit 32

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED

PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Olin Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2011 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), I, Joseph D. Rupp, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and I, John E. Fischer, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to our knowledge: (1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its Staff upon request.

/s/ Joseph D. Rupp

Joseph D. Rupp

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated: February 24, 2012

/s/ John E. Fischer 

John E. Fischer

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Dated: February 24, 2012

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INVESTMENTS-AFFILIATED COMPANIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Investment in non-consolidated equity affiliates

The following table summarizes our investments in our non-consolidated equity affiliates:

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
SunBelt	$	-	$	0.1
Bay Gas		17.1		14.8
Bleach joint venture		10.5		11.0
Investments in equity affiliates	$	27.6	$	25.9

Summary of equity earnings of non-consolidated affiliates

The following table summarizes our equity earnings of non-consolidated affiliates:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
	($ in millions)
SunBelt	$	6.3	$	26.6	$	33.2
Bay Gas		2.4		2.2		1.9
Bleach joint venture		0.9		1.1		2.6
Equity earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	$	9.6	$	29.9	$	37.7

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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS (Details)	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2011
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership in SunBelt prior to acquiring remaining 50%		50.00%
Percent of ownership acquired in SunBelt		50.00%
Membrane technology capacity of plant		350,000
Number of business segments	2
Number of US manufacturing facilities	9
Number of Canadian manufacturing facilities	1

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ENVIRONMENTAL (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

ENVIRONMENTAL [Abstract]

Rollforward of environmental liabilities

Our liabilities for future environmental expenditures were as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	167.6		$	166.1
Charges to income		19.3			16.3
Remedial and investigatory spending		(23.3	)		(15.7	)
Currency translation adjustments		(0.3	)		0.9
Ending balance	$	163.3		$	167.6

Environmental Provisions Charged (Credited) to Income Table

Environmental provisions charged (credited) to income, which are included in cost of goods sold, were as follows:

	Years ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Charges to income	$	19.3		$	16.3		$	24.1
Recoveries from third parties of costs incurred and expensed in prior periods		(11.4	)		(7.2	)		(82.1	)
Total environmental expense (income)	$	7.9		$	9.1		$	(58.0	)

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SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Sales [Abstract]
Sales	$ 445.8	$ 550.2	$ 529.1	$ 436.0	$ 385.4	$ 432.8	$ 405.7	$ 362.0	$ 1,961.1	$ 1,585.9	$ 1,531.5
Income before taxes [Abstract]
Income before taxes by segment									379.4	76.9	209.9
Restructuring charge									(10.7)	(34.2)	0
Other operating income									8.8	2.5	9.1
Interest expense									(30.4)	(25.4)	(11.6)
Interest income									1.2	1.0	1.1
Other income									175.1	1.5	0.1
Earnings of non-consolidated affiliates [Abstract]
Total earnings of non-consolidated affiliates									9.6	29.9	37.7
Depreciation and amortization expense [Abstract]
Total depreciation and amortization expense									99.3	86.9	71.7
Capital spending [Abstract]
Total capital spending									200.9	85.3	137.9
Assets [Abstract]
Total assets	2,449.6				2,048.7				2,449.6	2,048.7
Investments-Affiliated Companies (at equity) [Abstract]
Total investments-affiliated companies	27.6				25.9				27.6	25.9
Sales By Geographic Area [Abstract]
Segment reporting information revenue	445.8	550.2	529.1	436.0	385.4	432.8	405.7	362.0	1,961.1	1,585.9	1,531.5
Total assets	2,449.6				2,048.7				2,449.6	2,048.7
Export sales from the United States to unaffiliated customers									22.0	22.1	20.9
United States [Member]
Sales [Abstract]
Sales									1,774.0	1,425.7	1,375.9
Assets [Abstract]
Total assets	2,208.8				1,774.5				2,208.8	1,774.5
Sales By Geographic Area [Abstract]
Segment reporting information revenue									1,774.0	1,425.7	1,375.9
Transfers between areas									50.0	39.4	29.6
Total assets	2,208.8				1,774.5				2,208.8	1,774.5
Foreign [Member]
Sales [Abstract]
Sales									187.1	160.2	155.6
Assets [Abstract]
Total assets	240.8				274.2				240.8	274.2
Sales By Geographic Area [Abstract]
Segment reporting information revenue									187.1	160.2	155.6
Transfers between areas									95.3	66.1	73.3
Total assets	240.8				274.2				240.8	274.2
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Sales By Geographic Area [Abstract]
Transfers between areas									(145.3)	(105.5)	(102.9)
Chlor Alkali Products Segment [Member]
Sales [Abstract]
Sales									1,389.1	1,036.6	963.8
Income before taxes [Abstract]
Income before taxes by segment									245.0	117.2	125.4
Restructuring charge									(2.8)	(28.0)
Earnings of non-consolidated affiliates [Abstract]
Total earnings of non-consolidated affiliates									9.6	29.9	37.7
Depreciation and amortization expense [Abstract]
Total depreciation and amortization expense									85.6	74.8	59.8
Capital spending [Abstract]
Total capital spending									134.2	67.6	123.8
Assets [Abstract]
Total assets	1,652.3				1,130.8				1,652.3	1,130.8
Investments-Affiliated Companies (at equity) [Abstract]
Total investments-affiliated companies	27.6				25.9				27.6	25.9
Sales By Geographic Area [Abstract]
Segment reporting information revenue									1,389.1	1,036.6	963.8
Total assets	1,652.3				1,130.8				1,652.3	1,130.8
Winchester Segment [Member]
Sales [Abstract]
Sales									572.0	549.3	567.7
Income before taxes [Abstract]
Income before taxes by segment									37.9	63.0	68.6
Restructuring charge									(7.0)	(6.2)
Depreciation and amortization expense [Abstract]
Total depreciation and amortization expense									10.9	10.1	9.8
Capital spending [Abstract]
Total capital spending									63.9	15.2	12.4
Assets [Abstract]
Total assets	328.6				268.5				328.6	268.5
Sales By Geographic Area [Abstract]
Segment reporting information revenue									572.0	549.3	567.7
Total assets	328.6				268.5				328.6	268.5
Corporate/Other [Member]
Income before taxes [Abstract]
Income before taxes by segment									(47.5)	(48.7)	17.2
Depreciation and amortization expense [Abstract]
Total depreciation and amortization expense									2.8	2.0	2.1
Capital spending [Abstract]
Total capital spending									2.8	2.5	1.7
Assets [Abstract]
Total assets	468.7				649.4				468.7	649.4
Sales By Geographic Area [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 468.7				$ 649.4				$ 468.7	$ 649.4

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ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Feb. 28, 2011	Dec. 31, 2008	Dec. 31, 2011 Facility Exit Costs Asset Retirement Obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Facility Exit Costs Asset Retirement Obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Customers, customer contracts and relationships [Member] Pioneer [Member]	Aug. 31, 2007 Customers, customer contracts and relationships [Member] Pioneer [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Customers, customer contracts and relationships [Member] SunBelt [Member]	Feb. 28, 2011 Customers, customer contracts and relationships [Member] SunBelt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Internally developed and purchased software [Member] Pioneer [Member]	Aug. 31, 2007 Internally developed and purchased software [Member] Pioneer [Member]
Components of other operating income [Abstract]
Gains (losses) on disposition of property, plant and equipment	$ 1.4	$ 1.1	$ 1.6
Amortization of 2007 gain on intangible asset sale (recognized through 2012)	1.2	1.2	1.1
Gains on sale of land	0.3	0	3.7
Gains on dispositions of former manufacturing facilities	3.7	0	1.2
Gains on insurance recoveries	1.9	0	0
Gains on sale of other assets	0	0	0.8
Other	0.3	0.2	0.7
Other operating income	8.8	2.5	9.1
Expense for earnout liability	6.7
Recovery of investment written off		1.4
Corporate debt securities					26.6
Pretax gain on acquisition of SunBelt	181.4
Previous equity percentage in Sunbelt (in hundredths)				50.00%
Asset retirement obligation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	70.5	70.2
Accretion	5.0	5.0
Spending	(7.3)	(9.9)
Currency translation adjustments	(0.2)	0.6
Adjustments	(0.1)	4.6
Ending balance	67.9	70.5	70.2
Asset retirement obligation non-current	55.9	56.8
Asset retirement obligation favorable settlement	1.5
Components of other assets [Abstract]
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates	27.6	25.9
Intangible assets (less accumulated amortization of $6.9 million and $5.0 million, respectively)	19.2	15.2
Deferred debt issuance costs	14.2	16.4
Interest rate swaps	13.8	5.3
Other	10.8	9.5
Other assets	85.6	72.3
Accumulated amortization	6.9	5.0
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquired intangible assets									19.0		5.8		1.2
Amortization period (in years)								15		15		5
Amortization expense	1.9	1.5	1.5
Amortization expense expected in year one	1.8
Amortization expense expected in year two	1.7
Amortization expense expected in year three	1.7
Amortization expense expected in year four	1.7
Amortization expense expected in year five	1.7
Black-Sholes assumptions [Abstract]
Dividend yield (in hundredths)	4.32%	4.32%	4.26%
Risk-free interest rate (in hundredths)	3.05%	3.00%	2.32%
Expected volatility (in hundredths)	42.00%	42.00%	40.00%
Expected life (years)	7.0	7.0	7.0
Grant fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 5.48	$ 4.61	$ 3.85
Exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 18.78	$ 15.68	$ 14.28
Shares granted (in shares)	575,000	803,750	866,250
Options granted vesting period minimum (in years)	one
Options granted vesting period maximum (in years)	three
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Average remaining life expectancy of the inactive participants in the defined benefit pension plan (in years)	18	19
Restructuring charges	$ 10.7	$ 34.2	$ 0			$ 1.0	$ 6.7
The period used to recognize the difference between the plan's actual return and expected return (in years)	5

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SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY [Abstract]

Activity included in accumulated other comprehensive loss table

The following table represents the activity included in accumulated other comprehensive loss:

	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivative Contracts (net of taxes)			Pension and Postretirement Benefits (net of taxes)			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
	($ in millions)
Balance at January 1, 2009	$	(5.1	)		(25.0	)	$	(239.3	)	$	(269.4	)
Unrealized gains (losses)		4.6			24.2			(27.3	)		1.5
Reclassification adjustments into income		-			12.4			7.3			19.7
Balance at December 31, 2009		(0.5	)		11.6			(259.3	)		(248.2	)
Unrealized gains (losses)		0.9			5.4			(26.0	)		(19.7	)
Reclassification adjustments into income		-			(5.4	)		11.5			6.1
Balance at December 31, 2010		0.4			11.6			(273.8	)		(261.8	)
Unrealized gains (losses)		1.4			(10.6	)		(29.0	)		(38.2	)
Reclassification adjustments into income		-			(6.3	)		12.1			5.8
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	1.8		$	(5.3	)	$	(290.7	)	$	(294.2	)

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ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

Other Operating Income

Included in other operating income were the following:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
		($ in millions)
Gains (losses) on disposition of property, plant and equipment, net	$	1.4	$	1.1	$	1.6
Amortization of 2007 gain on intangible asset sale (recognized through 2012)		1.2		1.2		1.1
Gains on sale of land		0.3		-		3.7
Gains on dispositions of former manufacturing facilities		3.7		-		1.2
Gains on insurance recoveries		1.9		-		-
Gains on sale of other assets		-		-		0.8
Other		0.3		0.2		0.7
Other operating income	$	8.8	$	2.5	$	9.1

Asset retirement obligation activity

The activity of our asset retirement obligation was as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	70.5		$	70.2
Accretion		5.0			5.0
Spending		(7.3	)		(9.9	)
Currency translation adjustments		(0.2	)		0.6
Adjustments		(0.1	)		4.6
Ending balance	$	67.9		$	70.5

Other Assets

Included in other assets were the following:

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates	$	27.6	$	25.9
Intangible assets (less accumulated amortization of $6.9 million and $5.0 million, respectively)		19.2		15.2
Deferred debt issuance costs		14.2		16.4
Interest rate swaps		13.8		5.3
Other		10.8		9.5
Other assets	$	85.6	$	72.3

Schedule of assumptions for the Black-Scholes option pricing model

The fair value of each option granted, which typically vests ratably over three years, but not less than one year, was estimated on the date of grant, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

	2011			2010			2009
Dividend yield		4.32	%		4.32	%		4.26	%
Risk-free interest rate		3.05	%		3.00	%		2.32	%
Expected volatility		42	%		42	%		40	%
Expected life (years)		7.0			7.0			7.0
Grant fair value (per option)	$	5.48		$	4.61		$	3.85
Exercise price	$	18.78		$	15.68		$	14.28
Shares granted		575,000			803,750			866,250

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended																													12 Months Ended																																							12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cash Flow Hedging [Member] Cost of goods sold [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Cash Flow Hedging [Member] Cost of goods sold [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Cash Flow Hedging [Member] Cost of goods sold [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Variable Interest Rate Swaps 75 M [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Variable Interest Rate Swaps 125 M [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed Interest Rate Swaps 75 M [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed Interest Rate Swaps 125 M [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Copper Commodity Forward Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Copper Commodity Forward Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Zinc Commodity Forward Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Zinc Commodity Forward Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Lead Commodity Forward Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Lead Commodity Forward Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Natural Gas Commodity Forward Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Natural Gas Commodity Forward Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Forward Contracts Buy Foreign Currency [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Forward Contracts Buy Foreign Currency [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Interest Rate Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Fair Value Hedging [Member] Interest Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Fair Value Hedging [Member] Interest Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Fair Value Hedging [Member] Interest Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Interest Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Interest Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Interest Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Current Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Current Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Current Installments of Long-term Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Current Installments of Long-term Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Long-term Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Long-term Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Current Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Current Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Accrued Liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Accrued Liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commodity Contracts Gains [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Current Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commodity Contracts Gains [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Current Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commodity Contracts Gains [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Accrued Liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commodity Contracts Gains [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Accrued Liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commodity Contracts Gains [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Current Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commodity Contracts Gains [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Current Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commodity Contracts Gains [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Accrued Liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commodity Contracts Gains [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Accrued Liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commodity Contracts Losses [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Current Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commodity Contracts Losses [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Current Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commodity Contracts Losses [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Accrued Liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commodity Contracts Losses [Member] Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Accrued Liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commodity Contracts Losses [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Current Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commodity Contracts Losses [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Other Current Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commodity Contracts Losses [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Accrued Liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commodity Contracts Losses [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Accrued Liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commodity Contract [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commodity Contract [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Cost of goods sold [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commodity Contract [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Cost of goods sold [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Commodity Contract [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] Cost of goods sold [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 SunBelt Notes [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional amount																														$ 0	$ 0.3	$ 80.8	$ 132.7																																											$ 73.1
Asset Derivatives		13.8	26.0																							2.2	22.2	11.6	3.8											0	0	2.2	5.3					0	3.8	11.6	0					0	16.9			0	0			0	0			0	0
Liability Derivatives		23.9	9.5																							21.4	8.1	2.5	1.4															0	2.8	12.7	5.3					0	1.2	1.0	0			(2.5)	0			0	(0.1)			11.2	0			1.5	0.3
Notional amount of interest rate derivatives with Citibank																																7.7
Notional amount of derivatives with Wells Fargo																																73.1																																								80.1
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain on variable interest rate swaps														7.9	11.0
Amount of gain included in long-term debt				0.3											10.5
Notional amount														75.0	125.0	75.0	125.0	52.1	25.1	7.3	3.2	37.9	19.6	8.3	5.5
Cash flow hedges [Abstract]
Losses if all open futures contracts were settled		8.8
Approximate amount of deferred losses would be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months		(6.9)
Fair value hedges [Abstract]
Amount of terminated interest rate swaps on our industrial revenue bonds				18.9
Gain on terminated interest rate swaps on our industrial revenue bonds				0.4
Gain on terminated interest rate swaps recognized in interest expense upon redemption of our industrial revenue bonds	0.3
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Recognized in other comprehensive loss (effective portion)					(17.3)	8.8	39.3
Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into income (effective portion)								10.3	8.8	(20.4)
Recognized in income (ineffective portion)								0	0	0.1
Amount of gain (loss)					10.3	8.8	(20.3)				(1.7)	(0.8)	(2.7)																					6.7	6.7	3.4	0.5	0.3	(0.4)																																		(2.2)	(1.1)	(2.3)
Credit risk and collateral [Abstract]
Amounts recognized in other current assets or (accrued liabilities) for cash collateral provided to us by counterparties			3.2
Amounts recognized in other current assets or (accrued liabilities) for cash colleteral provided by us to counterparties		$ (3.9)

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EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Computation of Basic Income per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 18.7	$ 47.2	$ 42.1	$ 133.7	$ 2.0	$ 31.8	$ 16.9	$ 14.1	$ 241.7	$ 64.8	$ 135.7
Basic									80.0	79.2	78.1
Basic net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ 0.59	$ 0.53	$ 1.68	$ 0.03	$ 0.40	$ 0.21	$ 0.18	$ 3.02	$ 0.82	$ 1.74
Computation of Diluted Income per Share [Abstract]
Basic									80.0	79.2	78.1
Stock-based compensation (in shares)									0.8	0.7	0.2
Diluted									80.8	79.9	78.3
Diluted net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ 0.58	$ 0.52	$ 1.66	$ 0.02	$ 0.40	$ 0.21	$ 0.18	$ 2.99	$ 0.81	$ 1.73
Antidilutive shares excluded from the computation of earnings per share (in shares)									0.9	1.3	3.2

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ACQUISITION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended			2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Feb. 28, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 SunBelt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 SunBelt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 SunBelt [Member]	Feb. 28, 2011 SunBelt [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 SunBelt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 SunBelt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 Series O [Member]	Dec. 22, 1997 Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 Series O [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 Series G [Member]	Dec. 22, 1997 Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 Series G [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
PolyOne Corporation's interest in SunBelt (in hundredths)				50.00%
Cash consideration for SunBelt purchase								$ 132.3
Olin's ownership percentage of SunBelt after acquisition of PolyOne's interest (in hundredths)								100.00%
Membrane technology capacity of plant								350,000
Earn out agreement term (in years)								3
Cash remitted to PolyOne for distributable cash generated by SunBelt									6.0
Distributable cash non-consolidated affiliate (in hundreths)									50.00%
Required annual debt repayment for Series O and Series G notes										12.2	6.1		6.1
Remaining principal balance of consolidated notes								85.3
Previous equity percentage in Sunbelt (in hundredths)				50.00%
Discrete deferred tax expense relating to the SunBelt acquisition								76.0
Total current assets								37.6
Property, plant and equipment								87.4
Deferred income taxes								0.4
Other assets								5.8
Total assets acquired								131.2
Total current liabilities								42.7
Long-term debt								75.1
Other liabilities								27.6
Total liabilities assumed								145.4
Less: Investment in SunBelt	27.6	25.9						(0.8)
Net liabilities assumed								(13.4)
Liabilities for uncertainties								48.3
Gain on remeasurement of investment in SunBelt	181.4							181.4
Goodwill								327.1
Fair value of assets acquired								180.6
Cash and cash equivalents								8.9
Current installment of long-term debt								12.2
Pretax gain on acquisition of SunBelt	181.4							181.4
Face amount of senior secured notes												97.5		97.5
Interest rate												7.23%		7.23%
Fair value of acquired debt								87.3
Final valuation of intangible assets relating to customers, customer contracts and relationships								5.8
Estimated useful life of intangible assets (in years)								15
Tax deductible portion of goodwill								163.7
SunBelt sales										170.5
SunBelt pretax income										27.2
Expense for earnout liability	6.7
Total earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	9.6	29.9	37.7					6.3
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
SunBelt pretax income included in Chlor Alkali Products					38.7
Sunbelt acquisition costs					0.8
SunBelt interest expense					4.0
Sales					1,987.4	1,743.2	1,698.9
Net income					140.6	80.4	154.7
Net income per common share basic (in dollars per share)					$ 1.76	$ 1.02	$ 1.98
Net income per common share diluted (in dollars per share)					$ 1.74	$ 1.01	$ 1.98
Additional amortization expense related to the fair value of acquired identifiable intangible assets					0.1	0.3	0.3
Reduction of depreciation expense related to the fair value adjustment to property, plant and equipment					1.0	5.8	5.9
Reduction in interest expense as a result of increasing the carrying value of acquired debt obligations to its estimated fair value					0.1	0.5	0.5
Additional accretion expense for the earn out liability that was recorded as a result of the acquisition					0.4	2.7	2.7
Pro forma increase of tax provision due to fair value adjustments					$ 2.3	$ 7.3	$ 10.6

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ENVIRONMENTAL (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
ENVIRONMENTAL [Abstract]
Accrued liabilities for unasserted claims	$ 3.2
Maximum period for required site OM and M expense accrual (in years)	30
Accrual for environmental loss contingencies [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	167.6	166.1
Charges to income	19.3	16.3	24.1
Remedial and investigatory spending	(23.3)	(15.7)
Currency translation adjustments	(0.3)	0.9
Ending balance	163.3	167.6	166.1
Reserves for environmental expenditures-noncurrent	132.3	139.6
Future environmental expenditures expected to be utilized over the next 5 years	92.2
Future environmental expenditures expected to be utilized over the next 6 to 10 years	24.4
Future environmental expenditures expected to be utilized beyond 10 years	46.7
Number of sites included in the total estimated environmental liability	70
Number of USEPA NPL sites	17
Number of sites which constituted the largest portion of the environmental liability	10
Percentage of environmental liability that the larger sites made up (in hundredths)	78.00%
Number of sites which constituted the smallest portion of the environmental liability	60
Percentage of environmental liability any one of the smallest sites made up, maximum (in hundredths)	3.00%
Number of largest sites in which a remedial plan is being implemented	1
Number of largest sites in which part of the site is subject to a remedial investigation and another part is in the long-term OM and M stage	5
Number of largest sites in which a remedial investigation is being performed	1
Number of largest sites in which part of the site is subject to a remedial action plan and part of the site to long-term OM and M	1
Number of largest sites which are in long-term OM and M	2
Number of largest sites which are either associated with past manufacturing operations or former waste disposal sites	10
Percentage of environmental liability any one of the largest sites made up., maximum (in hundredths)	20.00%
Environmental provisions charged (credited) to income [Abstract]
Charges to income	19.3	16.3	24.1
Recoveries from third parties of costs incurred and expensed in prior periods	(11.4)	(7.2)	(82.1)
Total environmental expense (income)	7.9	9.1	(58.0)
Expected annual environmental-related cash outlay for site investigation and remediation, minimum	20.0
Expected annual environmental-related cash outlay for site investigation and remediation, maximum	40.0
Possible additional contingent environmental liabilities	$ 40.0

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SEGMENT INFORMATION

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

SEGMENT INFORMATION [Abstract]

SEGMENT INFORMATION

SEGMENT INFORMATION

We define segment results as income (loss) before interest expense, interest income, other operating income, other income, and income taxes, and include the results of non-consolidated affiliates.  Consistent with the guidance in ASC 280, formerly SFAS No. 131, we have determined it is appropriate to include the operating results of non-consolidated affiliates in the relevant segment financial results.

	Years ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Sales:	($ in millions)
Chlor Alkali Products	$	1,389.1		$	1,036.6		$	963.8
Winchester		572.0			549.3			567.7
Total sales	$	1,961.1		$	1,585.9		$	1,531.5
Income before taxes:
Chlor Alkali Products	$	245.0		$	117.2		$	125.4
Winchester		37.9			63.0			68.6
Corporate/Other		(47.5	)		(48.7	)		17.2
Restructuring charges		(10.7	)		(34.2	)		-
Other operating income		8.8			2.5			9.1
Interest expense		(30.4	)		(25.4	)		(11.6	)
Interest income		1.2			1.0			1.1
Other income		175.1			1.5			0.1
Income before taxes	$	379.4		$	76.9		$	209.9
Earnings of non-consolidated affiliates:
Chlor Alkali Products	$	9.6		$	29.9		$	37.7
Depreciation and amortization expense:
Chlor Alkali Products	$	85.6		$	74.8		$	59.8
Winchester		10.9			10.1			9.8
Corporate/Other		2.8			2.0			2.1
Total depreciation and amortization expense	$	99.3		$	86.9		$	71.7
Capital spending:
Chlor Alkali Products	$	134.2		$	67.6		$	123.8
Winchester		63.9			15.2			12.4
Corporate/Other		2.8			2.5			1.7
Total capital spending	$	200.9		$	85.3		$	137.9
	December 31,
	2011			2010
Assets:	($ in millions)
Chlor Alkali Products	$	1,652.3		$	1,130.8
Winchester		328.6			268.5
Corporate/Other		468.7			649.4
Total assets	$	2,449.6		$	2,048.7
Investments-affiliated companies (at equity):
Chlor Alkali Products	$	27.6		$	25.9

Segment assets include only those assets which are directly identifiable to an operating segment.  All goodwill, which is associated with its acquisitions, is included in the assets of the Chlor Alkali Products segment.  Assets of the corporate/other segment include primarily such items as cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, deferred taxes, restricted cash and other assets.

	Years ended December 31,
Geographic Data:	2011			2010			2009
Sales:	($ in millions)
United States	$	1,774.0		$	1,425.7		$	1,375.9
Foreign		187.1			160.2			155.6
Transfers between areas:
United States		50.0			39.4			29.6
Foreign		95.3			66.1			73.3
Eliminations		(145.3	)		(105.5	)		(102.9	)
Total sales	$	1,961.1		$	1,585.9		$	1,531.5
	December 31,
	2011			2010
Assets:	($ in millions)
United States	$	2,208.8		$	1,774.5
Foreign		240.8			274.2
Total assets	$	2,449.6		$	2,048.7

Transfers between geographic areas are priced generally at prevailing market prices.  Export sales from the United States to unaffiliated customers were $22.0 million, $22.1 million and $20.9 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS [Abstract]

Schedule of derivative instruments

We had the following notional amount of outstanding commodity forward contracts that were entered into to hedge forecasted purchases:

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
Copper	$	52.1	$	25.1
Zinc		7.3		3.2
Lead		37.9		19.6
Natural gas		8.3		5.5

Summary of location and fair value of derivative instruments on condensed balance sheets

The following table summarizes the location and fair value of the derivative instruments on our consolidated balance sheets.  The table disaggregates our net derivative assets and liabilities into gross components on a contract-by-contract basis before giving effect to master netting arrangements:

	Asset Derivatives					Liability Derivatives
		Fair Value					Fair Value
		December 31,					December 31,
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments	Balance Sheet Location		2011		2010	Balance Sheet Location		2011			2010
		($ in millions)					($ in millions)
Interest rate contracts	Other current assets	$	-	$	-	Current installments of long-term debt	$	-		$	2.8
Interest rate contracts	Other assets		2.2		5.3	Long-term debt		12.7			5.3
Commodity contracts - gains	Other current assets		-		16.9	Accrued liabilities		(2.5	)		-
Commodity contracts - losses	Other current assets		-		-	Accrued liabilities		11.2			-
		$	2.2	$	22.2		$	21.4		$	8.1
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Interest rate contracts	Other current assets	$	-	$	3.8	Accrued liabilities	$	-		$	1.2
Interest rate contracts	Other assets		11.6		-	Other liabilities		1.0			-
Commodity contracts - gains	Other current assets		-		-	Accrued liabilities		-			(0.1	)
Commodity contracts - losses	Other current assets		-		-	Accrued liabilities		1.5			0.3
		$	11.6	$	3.8		$	2.5		$	1.4
Total derivatives(1)		$	13.8	$	26.0		$	23.9		$	9.5

(1)         Does not include the impact of cash collateral received from or provided to counterparties.

Summary of effects of derivative instruments on consolidated statements of operations

The following table summarizes the effects of derivative instruments on our consolidated statements of operations:

		Amount of Gain (Loss)
		Years Ended December 31,
	Location of Gain (Loss)	2011			2010			2009
Derivatives - Cash Flow Hedges		($ in millions)
Recognized in other comprehensive loss (effective portion)	---	$	(17.3	)	$	8.8		$	39.3
Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into income (effective portion)	Cost of goods sold	$	10.3		$	8.8		$	(20.4	)
Recognized in income (ineffective portion)	Cost of goods sold		-			-			0.1
		$	10.3		$	8.8		$	(20.3	)
Derivatives - Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate contracts	Interest expense	$	6.7		$	6.7		$	3.4
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Interest rate contracts	Interest expense	$	0.5		$	0.3		$	(0.4	)
Commodity contracts	Cost of goods sold		(2.2	)		(1.1	)		(2.3	)
		$	(1.7	)	$	(0.8	)	$	(2.7	)

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POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS Disclosure [Abstract]

Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheet

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consisted of:

	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Accrued benefit in current liabilities		$	(6.0	)	$	(0.4	)	$	(6.4	)		$	(6.7	)	$	(0.4	)	$	(7.1	)
Accrued benefit in noncurrent liabilities			(57.3	)		(11.2	)		(68.5	)			(57.8	)		(8.9	)		(66.7	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			35.0			1.7			36.7				35.2			(0.5	)		34.7
Net balance sheet impact		$	(28.3	)	$	(9.9	)	$	(38.2	)		$	(29.3	)	$	(9.8	)	$	(39.1	)

Components of net periodic benefit cost

	Years Ended December 31,
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost	2011			2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Service cost	$	1.3		$	1.3		$	1.2
Interest cost		3.5			3.8			4.2
Amortization of prior service cost		(0.2	)		(0.2	)		(0.2	)
Recognized actuarial loss		3.2			2.6			2.1
Curtailment		-			(0.2	)		-
Net periodic benefit cost	$	7.8		$	7.3		$	7.3
Included in Other Comprehensive Loss (Pretax)
Liability adjustment	$	5.0		$	3.6		$	6.7
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses		(3.0	)		(2.2	)		(1.9	)

Schedule of actuarial assumption

	December 31,
Weighted Average Assumptions:	2011			2010			2009
Discount rate-periodic benefit cost		4.90	%		5.25	%		6.25	%
Discount rate-benefit obligation		4.60	%		4.90	%		5.25	%

Assumed healthcare cost trend rates

The assumed healthcare cost trend rates for pre-65 retirees were as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
Healthcare cost trend rate assumed for next year		9.5	%		9.5	%
Rate that the cost trend rate gradually declines to		5.0	%		5.0	%
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate rate	2020			2019

Effects of one percent change in the assumed health care cost trend rates

A one-percentage-point change in assumed healthcare cost trend rates would have the following effects:

	One-Percentage Point Increase		One-Percentage Point Decrease
	($ in millions)
Effect on total of service and interest costs	$	0.3	$	(0.2	)
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation		3.5		(3.0	)

Postretirement plan change in benefit obligation

Changes in the benefit obligation were as follows:

	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
Change in Benefit Obligation		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Benefit obligation at beginning of year		$	64.5		$	9.3		$	73.8			$	66.4		$	7.6		$	74.0
Service cost			1.1			0.2			1.3				1.2			0.1			1.3
Interest cost			3.0			0.5			3.5				3.3			0.5			3.8
Actuarial loss			2.8			2.3			5.1				3.0			0.9			3.9
Benefits paid			(8.1	)		(0.4	)		(8.5	)			(9.1	)		(0.3	)		(9.4	)
Curtailment			-			-			-				(0.3	)		-			(0.3	)
Currency translation adjustments			-			(0.3	)		(0.3	)			-			0.5			0.5
Benefit obligation at end of year		$	63.3		$	11.6		$	74.9			$	64.5		$	9.3		$	73.8
	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Funded status		$	(63.3	)	$	(11.6	)	$	(74.9	)		$	(64.5	)	$	(9.3	)	$	(73.8	)

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OTHER FINANCIAL DATA (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA [Abstract]
Sales	$ 445.8	$ 550.2	$ 529.1	$ 436.0	$ 385.4	$ 432.8	$ 405.7	$ 362.0	$ 1,961.1	$ 1,585.9	$ 1,531.5
Cost of goods sold	368.3	432.7	413.7	359.2	323.2	366.5	347.7	312.5	1,573.9	1,349.9	1,222.7
Net income	$ 18.7	$ 47.2	$ 42.1	$ 133.7	$ 2.0	$ 31.8	$ 16.9	$ 14.1	$ 241.7	$ 64.8	$ 135.7
Net income per common share [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ 0.59	$ 0.53	$ 1.68	$ 0.03	$ 0.40	$ 0.21	$ 0.18	$ 3.02	$ 0.82	$ 1.74
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ 0.58	$ 0.52	$ 1.66	$ 0.02	$ 0.40	$ 0.21	$ 0.18	$ 2.99	$ 0.81	$ 1.73
Common dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.20	$ 0.20	$ 0.20	$ 0.20	$ 0.20	$ 0.20	$ 0.20	$ 0.80	$ 0.80
Market price of common stock [Abstract]
High (in dollars per share)	$ 21.75	$ 24.09	$ 27.16	$ 23.04	$ 21.57	$ 20.99	$ 22.39	$ 19.94	$ 27.16	$ 22.39
Low (in dollars per share)	$ 16.11	$ 17.64	$ 20.60	$ 17.97	$ 17.90	$ 17.25	$ 14.35	$ 15.30	$ 16.11	$ 14.35

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INVENTORIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

INVENTORIES [Abstract]

Inventories Table

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Supplies	$	35.0		$	30.8
Raw materials		75.7			56.5
Work in process		31.9			24.7
Finished goods		111.7			104.4
		254.3			216.4
LIFO reserves		(77.7	)		(60.8	)
Inventories	$	176.6		$	155.6

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OTHER FINANCIAL DATA (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA [Abstract]

Quarterly Data (Unaudited)

($ in millions, except per share data)

2011	First Quarter		Second Quarter		Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter		Year
Sales	$	436.0	$	529.1	$	550.2	$	445.8	$	1,961.1
Cost of goods sold		359.2		413.7		432.7		368.3		1,573.9
Net income		133.7		42.1		47.2		18.7		241.7
Net income per common share:
Basic		1.68		0.53		0.59		0.23		3.02
Diluted		1.66		0.52		0.58		0.23		2.99
Common dividends per share		0.20		0.20		0.20		0.20		0.80
Market price of common stock(1)
High		23.04		27.16		24.09		21.75		27.16
Low		17.97		20.60		17.64		16.11		16.11
2010
Sales	$	362.0	$	405.7	$	432.8	$	385.4	$	1,585.9
Cost of goods sold		312.5		347.7		366.5		323.2		1,349.9
Net income		14.1		16.9		31.8		2.0		64.8
Net income per common share:
Basic		0.18		0.21		0.40		0.03		0.82
Diluted		0.18		0.21		0.40		0.02		0.81
Common dividends per share		0.20		0.20		0.20		0.20		0.80
Market price of common stock(1)
High		19.94		22.39		20.99		21.57		22.39
Low		15.30		14.35		17.25		17.90		14.35

(1) NYSE composite transactions.

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CONTRIBUTING EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CONTRIBUTING EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN [Abstract]
Employer matching contributions to employee ownership plan	$ 5.2	$ 2.0	$ 5.0
Initial vesting period (in years)	two
Initial vesting period vested percentage	25.00%
Additional vesting percentage for each additional year of service	25.00%
Years of service for full vesting	five
Vesting percentage after five years	100.00%
Number of days an employee is prohibited from trading out of the fund to which the transfer was made	seven

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INVESTMENTS-AFFILIATED COMPANIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Feb. 28, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 SunBelt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 SunBelt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 SunBelt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bay Gas [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bay Gas [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Bay Gas [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bleach Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bleach Joint Venture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Bleach Joint Venture [Member]	Nov. 16, 2007 Bleach Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in equity affiliates														$ 11.6
Limited partner interest (in hundredths)								9.10%
Previous equity percentage in Sunbelt (in hundredths)				50.00%
Condensed income statement data [Abstract]
Distributions from our non-consolidated affiliates	1.9	23.6	37.1
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates	27.6	25.9			0	0.1		17.1	14.8		10.5	11.0
Limited partner interest (in hundredths)								9.10%
General partner interest (in hundredths)								90.90%
Equity earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	9.6	29.9	37.7		6.3	26.6	33.2	2.4	2.2	1.9	0.9	1.1	2.6
Distributions from our non-consolidated affiliates	$ 1.9	$ 23.6	$ 37.1

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SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

SEGMENT INFORMATION [Abstract]

Segment Information

	Years ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Sales:	($ in millions)
Chlor Alkali Products	$	1,389.1		$	1,036.6		$	963.8
Winchester		572.0			549.3			567.7
Total sales	$	1,961.1		$	1,585.9		$	1,531.5
Income before taxes:
Chlor Alkali Products	$	245.0		$	117.2		$	125.4
Winchester		37.9			63.0			68.6
Corporate/Other		(47.5	)		(48.7	)		17.2
Restructuring charges		(10.7	)		(34.2	)		-
Other operating income		8.8			2.5			9.1
Interest expense		(30.4	)		(25.4	)		(11.6	)
Interest income		1.2			1.0			1.1
Other income		175.1			1.5			0.1
Income before taxes	$	379.4		$	76.9		$	209.9
Earnings of non-consolidated affiliates:
Chlor Alkali Products	$	9.6		$	29.9		$	37.7
Depreciation and amortization expense:
Chlor Alkali Products	$	85.6		$	74.8		$	59.8
Winchester		10.9			10.1			9.8
Corporate/Other		2.8			2.0			2.1
Total depreciation and amortization expense	$	99.3		$	86.9		$	71.7
Capital spending:
Chlor Alkali Products	$	134.2		$	67.6		$	123.8
Winchester		63.9			15.2			12.4
Corporate/Other		2.8			2.5			1.7
Total capital spending	$	200.9		$	85.3		$	137.9
	December 31,
	2011			2010
Assets:	($ in millions)
Chlor Alkali Products	$	1,652.3		$	1,130.8
Winchester		328.6			268.5
Corporate/Other		468.7			649.4
Total assets	$	2,449.6		$	2,048.7
Investments-affiliated companies (at equity):
Chlor Alkali Products	$	27.6		$	25.9

Segment geographic data

	Years ended December 31,
Geographic Data:	2011			2010			2009
Sales:	($ in millions)
United States	$	1,774.0		$	1,425.7		$	1,375.9
Foreign		187.1			160.2			155.6
Transfers between areas:
United States		50.0			39.4			29.6
Foreign		95.3			66.1			73.3
Eliminations		(145.3	)		(105.5	)		(102.9	)
Total sales	$	1,961.1		$	1,585.9		$	1,531.5
	December 31,
	2011			2010
Assets:	($ in millions)
United States	$	2,208.8		$	1,774.5
Foreign		240.8			274.2
Total assets	$	2,449.6		$	2,048.7

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ACCOUNTING POLICIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported and disclosed in the financial statements and related notes.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Olin Corporation and all majority-owned subsidiaries.  Investment in our affiliates are accounted for on the equity method.  Accordingly, we include only our share of earnings or losses of these affiliates in consolidated net income.  Certain reclassifications were made to prior year amounts to conform to the 2011 presentation.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recognized on sales of product at the time the goods are shipped and the risks of ownership have passed to the customer.  Shipping and handling fees billed to customers are included in sales.  Allowances for estimated returns, discounts and rebates are recognized when sales are recorded and are based on various market data, historical trends and information from customers.  Actual returns, discounts and rebates have not been materially different from estimates.

Cost of Goods Sold and Selling and Administration Expenses

Cost of goods sold includes the costs of inventory sold, related purchasing, distribution and warehousing costs, costs incurred for shipping and handling, depreciation and amortization expense related to these activities, and environmental remediation costs and recoveries.  Selling and administration expenses include personnel costs associated with sales, marketing and administration, research and development, legal and legal-related costs, consulting and professional services fees, advertising expenses, depreciation expense related to these activities and other similar costs and foreign currency translation.

Other Operating Income

Other operating income consists of miscellaneous operating income items, which are related to our business activities, and gains (losses) on disposition of property, plant and equipment.

Included in other operating income were the following:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
		($ in millions)
Gains (losses) on disposition of property, plant and equipment, net	$	1.4	$	1.1	$	1.6
Amortization of 2007 gain on intangible asset sale (recognized through 2012)		1.2		1.2		1.1
Gains on sale of land		0.3		-		3.7
Gains on dispositions of former manufacturing facilities		3.7		-		1.2
Gains on insurance recoveries		1.9		-		-
Gains on sale of other assets		-		-		0.8
Other		0.3		0.2		0.7
Other operating income	$	8.8	$	2.5	$	9.1

The gains on disposition of property, plant and equipment in 2011 were primarily associated with the Charleston, TN conversion project, and in 2010 and 2009 were primarily associated with the St. Gabriel, LA facility conversion and expansion project, which was completed in the fourth quarter of 2009.  The gains on insurance recoveries in 2011 related to our Oxford, MS and St. Gabriel, LA facilities.

Other Income

Other income consists of non-operating income items which are not related to our primary business activities.  Other income in 2011 included a pretax gain of $181.4 million as a result of remeasuring our previously held 50% equity interest in SunBelt, partially offset by $6.7 million of expense for our earn out liability from the SunBelt acquisition.  Other income in 2010 included a $1.4 million recovery from a $26.6 million investment in corporate debt securities, whose full value was written off in 2008.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency for our Canadian subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar; accordingly, gains and losses resulting from balance sheet translations are included in selling and administration.  Other foreign affiliates' balance sheet amounts are translated at the exchange rates in effect at year-end, and operations statement amounts are translated at the average rates of exchange prevailing during the year.  Translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid investments, with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase, are considered to be cash equivalents.

Short-Term Investments

We classify our marketable securities as available-for-sale, which are reported at fair market value with unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of applicable taxes.  The fair value of marketable securities is determined by quoted market prices.  Realized gains and losses on sales of investments, as determined on the specific identification method, and declines in value of securities judged to be other-than-temporary are included in other income in the consolidated statements of operations.  Interest and dividends on all securities are included in interest income and other income, respectively.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable

We evaluate the collectibility of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors.  We estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts as a percentage of net sales based on historical bad debt experience.  This estimate is periodically adjusted when we become aware of a specific customer's inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filing) or as a result of changes in the overall aging of accounts receivable.  While we have a large number of customers that operate in diverse businesses and are geographically dispersed, a general economic downturn in any of the industry segments in which we operate could result in higher than expected defaults, and, therefore, the need to revise estimates for the provision for doubtful accounts could occur.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, with cost being determined principally by the dollar value last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of inventory accounting.  Cost for other inventories has been determined principally by the average-cost (primarily operating supplies, spare parts and maintenance parts) method.  Elements of costs in inventories include raw materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost.  Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets.  Interest costs incurred to finance expenditures for major long-term construction projects are capitalized as part of the historical cost and included in property, plant and equipment and are depreciated over the useful lives of the related assets.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of the lease or the estimated useful life of the improvement, whichever is shorter.  Start-up costs are expensed as incurred.  Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred while the costs of significant improvements, which extend the useful life of the underlying asset, are capitalized.

Property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment when conditions indicate that the carrying values of the assets may not be recoverable.  Such impairment conditions include an extended period of idleness or a plan of disposal.  If such impairment indicators are present or other factors exist that indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, we determine whether impairment has occurred through the use of an undiscounted cash flow analysis at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows exist.  The amount of impairment loss, if any, is measured by the difference between the net book value of the assets and the estimated fair value of the related assets.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash, which is restricted as to withdrawal or usage, is classified separately from cash and cash equivalents on our consolidated balance sheet.  A portion of the proceeds of the bonds issued by Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, along with their accrued interest income, remain with a trustee and are classified on our consolidated balance sheet as a noncurrent asset until such time as we request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used to fund capital projects in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Asset Retirement Obligations

We record the fair value of an asset retirement obligation associated with the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset as a liability in the period incurred.  The liability is measured at discounted fair value and is adjusted to its present value in subsequent periods as accretion expense is recorded.  The corresponding asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset and depreciated over the asset's useful life.  Asset retirement obligations are reviewed annually in the fourth quarter and/or when circumstances or other events indicate that changes underlying retirement assumptions may have occurred.

The activity of our asset retirement obligation was as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	70.5		$	70.2
Accretion		5.0			5.0
Spending		(7.3	)		(9.9	)
Currency translation adjustments		(0.2	)		0.6
Adjustments		(0.1	)		4.6
Ending balance	$	67.9		$	70.5

At December 31, 2011 and 2010, our consolidated balance sheets included an asset retirement obligation of $55.9 million and $56.8 million, respectively, which were classified as other noncurrent liabilities.

In 2011, we had net adjustments that decreased the asset retirement obligation by $0.1 million, due to a favorable settlement of our $1.5 million obligation at one site offset by increased estimated costs for certain assets.

In 2010, we had net adjustments that increased the asset retirement obligation by $4.6 million, which included a restructuring charge of $6.7 million related to the acceleration of costs for our Charleston, TN facility and our Augusta, GA facility.  This charge was offset by decreases in estimated costs for certain assets and lower spending than expected on projects completed in 2010.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss consists of foreign currency translation adjustments, pension and postretirement liability adjustments, pension and postretirement amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses, net unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts, and net unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities.  We do not provide for U.S. income taxes on foreign currency translation adjustments since we do not provide for such taxes on undistributed earnings for foreign subsidiaries that have been permanently reinvested.

Goodwill

Goodwill is not amortized, but is reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter and/or when circumstances or other events indicate that impairment may have occurred.  Circumstances that could trigger an impairment test include but are not limited to:  a significant adverse change in the business climate; a significant adverse legal judgment; adverse cash flow trends; an adverse action or assessment by a government agency; unanticipated competition; decline in our stock price; and a significant restructuring charge within a reporting unit.  The annual impairment test involves the comparison of the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount.  We define reporting units at the business segment level or one level below the business segment, which for our Chlor Alkali Products segment are the U.S. operations and Canadian operations.  For purposes of testing goodwill for impairment, goodwill has been allocated to these reporting units to the extent it relates to each reporting unit.  The fair value is determined based on a variety of assumptions including estimated future cash flows of the reporting unit, discount rates and comparable company trading multiples.  An impairment would be recorded if the carrying amount exceeded the estimated fair value.  No impairment charges were recorded for 2011, 2010 or 2009.

We use a discounted cash flow approach "income approach" to develop the estimated fair value of a reporting unit.  Management judgment is required in developing the assumptions for the discounted cash flow model.  We also corroborate our discounted cash flow analysis by evaluating a market-based approach that considers earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) multiples from a representative sample of comparable public companies in the chemical industry.  An impairment would be recorded if the carrying amount exceeded the estimated fair value.

The discount rate, profitability assumptions, terminal growth rate and cyclical nature of our chlor alkali business are the material assumptions utilized in the discounted cash flow model used to estimate the fair value of each reporting unit.  The discount rate reflects a weighted-average cost of capital, which is calculated based on observable market data.  Some of these data (such as the risk free or treasury rate and the pretax cost of debt) are based on the market data at a point in time.  Other data (such as the equity risk premium) are based upon market data over time for a peer group of companies in the chemical manufacturing industry with a market capitalization premium added, as applicable.

The discounted cash flow analysis requires estimates, assumptions and judgments about future events.  Our analysis uses our internally generated long-range plan.  Our discounted cash flow analysis uses the assumptions in our long-range plan about terminal growth rates, forecasted capital expenditures, and changes in future working capital requirements to determine the implied fair value of each reporting unit.  The long-range plan reflects management judgment, supplemented by independent chemical industry analyses which provide multi-year chlor alkali industry operating and pricing forecasts.

All of our recorded goodwill, which is associated with acquisitions, is included in the Chlor Alkali Products segment.  Given the economic environment and the uncertainties regarding the impact on our business, there can be no assurance that our estimates and assumptions, made for purposes of our goodwill impairment testing during the fourth quarter of 2011, will prove to be an accurate prediction of the future.  If our assumptions regarding forecasted sales or gross margins are not achieved, we may be required to record goodwill impairment charges in future periods.  It is not possible at this time to determine if any such future impairment charge would result or, if it does, whether such charge would be material.

Other Assets

Included in other assets were the following:

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates	$	27.6	$	25.9
Intangible assets (less accumulated amortization of $6.9 million and $5.0 million, respectively)		19.2		15.2
Deferred debt issuance costs		14.2		16.4
Interest rate swaps		13.8		5.3
Other		10.8		9.5
Other assets	$	85.6	$	72.3

The February 28, 2011 valuation of identifiable intangible assets that were obtained from the SunBelt acquisition included $5.8 million associated with customers, customer contracts and relationships and are being amortized over fifteen years on a straight-line basis.  The identifiable intangible assets obtained from the Pioneer acquisition included $19.0 million associated with customers, customer contracts and relationships, and $1.2 million associated with internally developed and purchased software.  These assets are being amortized over fifteen years and five years, respectively, on a straight-line basis.  Amortization expense was $1.9 million in 2011 and $1.5 million in 2010 and 2009.  We estimate that amortization expense will be approximately $1.8 million in 2012 and $1.7 million in each of the next four years.  Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter and/or when circumstances or other events indicate that impairment may have occurred.

Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures

Accruals (charges to income) 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 upon current law and existing technologies.  These amounts, which are not discounted and are exclusive of claims against third parties, are adjusted periodically as assessment and remediation efforts progress or additional technical or legal information becomes available.  Environmental costs are capitalized if the costs increase the value of the property and/or mitigate or prevent contamination from future operations.

Income Taxes

Deferred taxes are provided for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.  A valuation allowance is provided to offset deferred tax assets if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the value of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We are exposed to market risk in the normal course of our business operations due to our purchases of certain commodities, our ongoing investing and financing activities, and our operations that use foreign currencies.  The risk of loss can be assessed from the perspective of adverse changes in fair values, cash flows and future earnings.  We have established policies and procedures governing our management of market risks and the use of financial instruments to manage exposure to such risks.  We use hedge accounting treatment for substantially all of our business transactions whose risks are covered using derivative instruments.  The hedge accounting treatment provides for the deferral of gains or losses (included in other comprehensive loss) on derivative instruments until such time as the related transactions occur.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Accounts receivable is the principal financial instrument which subjects us to a concentration of credit risk.  Credit is extended based upon the evaluation of a customer's financial condition and, generally, collateral is not required.  Concentrations of credit risk with respect to receivables are somewhat limited due to our large number of customers, the diversity of these customers' businesses and the geographic dispersion of such customers.  The majority of our accounts receivable are derived from sales denominated in U.S. dollars.  We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon the expected collectibility of all trade receivables.

Fair Value

Fair value is defined as the price at which an asset could be exchanged in a current transaction between knowledgeable, willing parties or the amount that would be paid to transfer a liability to a new obligor, not the amount that would be paid to settle the liability with the creditor.  Where available, fair value is based on observable market prices or parameters or derived from such prices or parameters.  Where observable prices or inputs are not available, valuation models are applied.  These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the instruments or market and the instruments' complexity.

Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value.  Hierarchical levels, defined by ASC 820, formerly SFAS No. 157, and directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair valuation of these assets and liabilities, are as follows:

Level 1 - Inputs were unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

Level 2 - Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) were either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instrument's anticipated life.

Level 3 - Inputs reflected management's best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.  Consideration was given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model.

Retirement-Related Benefits

We account for our defined benefit pension plans and non-pension postretirement benefit plans using actuarial models required by ASC 715, formerly SFAS No. 87 and SFAS No. 106, respectively.  These models use an attribution approach that generally spreads the financial impact of changes to the plan and actuarial assumptions over the average remaining service lives of the employees in the plan.  Changes in liability due to changes in actuarial assumptions such as discount rate, rate of compensation increases and mortality, as well as annual deviations between what was assumed and what was experienced by the plan are treated as gains or losses.  The principle underlying the required attribution approach is that employees render service over their average remaining service lives on a relatively smooth basis and, therefore, the accounting for benefits earned under the pension or non-pension postretirement benefits plans should follow the same relatively smooth pattern.  Substantially all defined benefit pension plan participants are no longer accruing benefits; therefore, actuarial gains and losses are amortized based upon the remaining life expectancy of the inactive plan participants.  For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the average remaining life expectancy of the inactive participants in the defined benefit pension plan was 18 years and 19 years, respectively.

One of the key assumptions for the net periodic pension calculation is the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, used to determine the "market-related value of assets."  The "market-related value of assets" recognizes differences between the plan's actual return and expected return over a five year period.  The required use of an expected long-term rate of return on the market-related value of plan assets may result in a recognized pension income that is greater or less than the actual returns of those plan assets in any given year.  Over time, however, the expected long-term returns are designed to approximate the actual long-term returns and, therefore, result in a pattern of income and expense recognition that more closely matches the pattern of the services provided by the employees.  As differences between actual and expected returns are recognized over five years, they subsequently generate gains and losses that are subject to amortization over the average remaining life expectancy of the inactive plan participants, as described in the preceding paragraph.

We use long-term historical actual return information, the mix of investments that comprise plan assets, and future estimates of long-term investment returns and inflation by reference to external sources to develop the expected return on plan assets as of December 31.

The discount rate assumptions used for pension and non-pension postretirement benefit plan accounting reflect the rates available on high-quality fixed-income debt instruments on December 31 of each year.  The rate of compensation increase is based upon our long-term plans for such increases.  For retiree medical plan accounting, we review external data and our own historical trends for healthcare costs to determine the healthcare cost trend rates.

Stock-Based Compensation

We measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments, such as stock options, performance shares, and restricted stock, based on the grant-date fair value of the award.  This cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, the requisite service period (usually the vesting period).  An initial measurement is made of the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of liability instruments based on its current fair value and the value of that award is subsequently remeasured at each reporting date through the settlement date.  Changes in fair value of liability awards during the requisite service period are recognized as compensation cost over that period.

The fair value of each option granted, which typically vests ratably over three years, but not less than one year, was estimated on the date of grant, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

	2011			2010			2009
Dividend yield		4.32	%		4.32	%		4.26	%
Risk-free interest rate		3.05	%		3.00	%		2.32	%
Expected volatility		42	%		42	%		40	%
Expected life (years)		7.0			7.0			7.0
Grant fair value (per option)	$	5.48		$	4.61		$	3.85
Exercise price	$	18.78		$	15.68		$	14.28
Shares granted		575,000			803,750			866,250

Dividend yield was based on a historical average.  Risk-free interest rate was based on zero coupon U.S. Treasury securities rates for the expected life of the options.  Expected volatility was based on our historical stock price movements, as we believe that historical experience is the best available indicator of the expected volatility.  Expected life of the option grant was based on historical exercise and cancellation patterns, as we believe that historical experience is the best estimate for future exercise patterns.

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DEBT (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Apr. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 SunBelt [Member]	Feb. 28, 2011 SunBelt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 Series O [Member]	Dec. 22, 1997 Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 Series O [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 Series G [Member]	Dec. 22, 1997 Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 Series G [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Variable -Rate Go Zone Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Variable -Rate Go Zone Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Variable-Rate Recovery Zone Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Variable-Rate Recovery Zone Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Notes payable due 2011 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Notes payable due 2011 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Notes payable due 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Notes payable due 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Notes payable due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Notes payable due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Notes payable due 2019 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Notes payable due 2019 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Industrial Development and Environmental Improvement Obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Industrial Development and Environmental Improvement Obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Recovery Zone Tax-Exempt Bonds due 2035 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Recovery Zone Tax-Exempt Bonds due 2035 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Recovery Zone tax Exempt Bonds due 2033 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Recovery Zone tax Exempt Bonds due 2033 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 SunBelt Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 SunBelt Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Tax Exempt Bond [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Tax Exempt Bond [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Tax Exempt Bond [Member] Tax Exempt Bonds Go Zone due 2024 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Tax Exempt Bond [Member] Tax Exempt Bonds Recovery Zone due 2024 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Swaps Designated As Fair Value Hedges [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Variable Interest Rate Swaps 75M [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Variable Interest Rate Swaps 125M [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed Interest Rate Swaps 75M [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed Interest Rate Swaps 125 M [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Industrial Development Obligation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Variable Interest Rate Swap - Due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Variable Interest Rate Swap - Due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed Interest Rate Swap - Due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed Interest Rate Swap - Due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 SunBelt Notes [Member]
Underlying debt instrument [Abstract]
Swap Amount																																						$ 80.8	$ 75.0	$ 125.0	$ 75.0	$ 125.0	$ 7.7	$ 60.0	$ 65.0	$ 65.0	$ 60.0	$ 73.1
Date of Swap																																											March 2002	March 2010	March 2010	October 2011	October 2011	May 2011
Floating interest rate paid (in hundredths)																																											0.81%
Floating interest rate, minimum (in hundredths)																																												3.75%	3.75%	3.75%	3.75%	5.50%
Floating interest rate, maximum (in hundredths)																																												4.75%	4.75%	4.75%	4.75%	6.50%
Gain on variable interest rate swaps																																							7.9	11.0
Amount of gain included in long-term debt						0.3																																		10.5
Fair market value of interest rate swaps																																						2.2
Reduction in interest expense due to interest rate swaps			7.2	7.0	3.0
Notional amount of interest rate derivatives with Citibank																																					7.7
Notional amount of derivatives with Wells Fargo																																					73.1
Revolving credit facility [Abstract]
Available credit under senior revolving credit facility			231.5
Maximum amount of senior revolving credit facility			240.0
Amount of letters of credit issued under subfacility			8.5
Letter of credit subfacility amount			110.0
Expiration date of senior revolving credit			October 2012
Total letters of credit outstanding			34.4
Available letter of credit facility			28.0
Original amount of letter of credit facility			38.0
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Notes payable			536.4	496.0									50.0	14.0	103.0	103.0	0	77.8	11.4	11.4	135.5	129.6	149.0	148.9	10.9	11.3	41.0		42.0		76.6	0		70.0	50.0	20.0
Interest rate swap																		2.8			10.5	4.6			0.3	0.7					1.9
Interest rate										7.23%		7.23%	1.78%	1.76%	1.78%	1.76%		9.125%	6.50%		6.75%		8.875%		6.625%						7.23%
Maturity date of instruments													2024					2011	2013		2016		2019
Minimum maturity date		February 2016													2024										2017						2012
Maximum maturity date		March 2016													2035										2025						2017
Unamortized discount																							1.0	1.1
Amounts due within one year			12.2	77.8
Total long-term debt			524.2	418.2
Drawings on notes																											41.0		42.0				36.0	34.0
Amount of bond proceeds with trustee classified as noncurrent assets			51.7	102.0																								26.0		14.1			11.6
Unamortized fair value premium																															1.6
Industrial revenue bond activity [Abstract]
Redemption of industrial revenue bonds	1.8	18.9
Minimum maturity date		February 2016													2024										2017						2012
Maximum maturity date		March 2016													2035										2025						2017
Premium paid to the bond holders		0.4
Deferred gain recognized						0.3																																		10.5
Interest rate swaps termination date		April, 2010
Maturity date of additional bond redeemed	October 2014
Required annual debt repayment for Series O and Series G notes							12.2		6.1		6.1
Long Term Debt Repayments [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt Repayments			(87.2)	(20.7)	0												75.0														12.2
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Required annual debt repayment for Series O and Series G notes							12.2		6.1		6.1
Face amount of senior secured notes										97.5		97.5
Interest rate										7.23%		7.23%	1.78%	1.76%	1.78%	1.76%		9.125%	6.50%		6.75%		8.875%		6.625%						7.23%
Long Term Debt Repayment [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt Repayments			(87.2)	(20.7)	0												75.0														12.2
Fair value of acquired debt								87.3
Remaining principal balance of consolidated notes								85.3
Accounts receivable facility [Abstract]
Accounts Receivable Facility				75.0
Renewable period of account receivable facility (in years)				five
Expected maturities of long-term debt [Abstract]
2012			12.2
2013			23.6
2014			12.2
2015			12.2
2016			147.7
Thereafter			$ 328.5

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INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

INCOME TAXES [Abstract]

Components of income tax provision

	Years ended December 31,
Components of Income Before Taxes	2011		2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Domestic	$	360.3	$	74.4		$	193.9
Foreign		19.1		2.5			16.0
Income before taxes	$	379.4	$	76.9		$	209.9
Components of Income Tax Provision
Current expense:
Federal	$	39.5	$	6.7		$	5.3
State		6.1		6.4			(3.5	)
Foreign		5.5		(2.7	)		-
		51.1		10.4			1.8
Deferred		86.6		1.7			72.4
Income tax provision	$	137.7	$	12.1		$	74.2

Effective tax rate reconciliation

The following table accounts for the difference between the actual tax provision and the amounts obtained by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 35% to the income before taxes.

	Years ended December 31,
Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation (Percent)	2011			2010			2009
Statutory federal tax rate		35.0	%		35.0	%		35.0	%
Foreign rate differential		(0.1	)		(0.6	)		(0.1	)
Domestic manufacturing/export tax incentive		(1.0	)		(0.9	)		(0.3	)
Dividends paid to CEOP		(0.3	)		(1.5	)		(0.6	)
State income taxes, net		1.1			1.6			2.6
Change in tax contingencies		(1.1	)		(11.9	)		(0.9	)
Change in valuation allowance		0.1			(5.6	)		0.1
Return to provision		0.5			(0.8	)		(0.7	)
Remeasurement of deferred taxes		(1.3	)		-			-
Incremental tax effect of SunBelt remeasurement		3.3			-			-
Other, net		0.1			0.4			0.3
Effective tax rate		36.3	%		15.7	%		35.4	%

Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities

	December 31,
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Deferred tax assets:
Pension and postretirement benefits	$	48.4		$	43.4
Environmental reserves		66.5			68.7
Asset retirement obligations		28.5			29.8
Accrued liabilities		42.4			46.8
Tax credits		10.2			15.7
Federal and state net operating losses		5.7			5.7
Capital loss carryforward		15.0			14.7
Other miscellaneous items		13.7			2.8
Total deferred tax assets		230.4			227.6
Valuation allowance		(24.1	)		(23.0	)
Net deferred tax assets		206.3			204.6
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment		147.8			157.1
Intangible amortization		10.5			10.4
Inventory and prepaids		4.3			7.4
Partnerships		92.4			7.2
Total deferred tax liabilities		255.0			182.1
Net deferred tax (liability) asset	$	(48.7	)	$	22.5

Rollforward of tax benefits for the foreign tax credit carry-forwards and associated valuation allowance

Our tax benefits for the foreign tax credit carryforwards and the associated valuation allowance were as follows:

	Foreign Tax Benefit			Valuation Allowance
	($ in millions)
Balance at January 1, 2010	$	3.8		$	(3.8	)
Increases for prior year limitation		0.8			(0.8	)
Increases for current year limitation		2.4			-
Decreases for carryback of current year foreign losses		(4.9	)		4.6
Balance at December 31, 2010		2.1			-
Decreases for prior year utilization		(1.8	)		-
Increases for current year generation		3.0			-
Decreases for current year utilization		(3.3	)		-
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	-		$	-

Unrecognized tax benefits

The amounts of unrecognized tax benefits were as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	41.5		$	50.8
Increase for prior year tax positions		0.1			0.2
Decrease for prior year tax positions		-			(0.9	)
Increase for current year tax positions		-			1.7
Decrease due to tax settlements		(0.1	)		(2.3	)
Reductions due to statute of limitations		(3.6	)		(8.0	)
Ending balance	$	37.9		$	41.5

Tax years subject to examination

For our primary tax jurisdictions, the tax years that remain subject to examination are as follows:

	Tax Years
U.S. federal income tax	2007-2010
U.S. state income tax	2005-2010
Canadian federal income tax	2007-2010
Canadian provincial income tax	2007-2010

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS [Abstract]

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value.  Hierarchical levels are directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair valuation of these assets and liabilities.  We are required to separately disclose assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, from those measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.  Nonfinancial assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are intangible assets and goodwill, which are reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter and/or when circumstances or other events indicate that impairment may have occurred.  Determining which hierarchical level an asset or liability falls within requires significant judgment.  The following table summarizes the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets:

Balance at December 31, 2011	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total
Assets	($ in millions)
Interest rate swaps		$	-		$	13.8		$	-	$	13.8
Liabilities
Interest rate swaps			-			13.7			-		13.7
Commodity forward contracts			2.5			7.7			-		10.2
Earn out			-			-			49.0		49.0
Balance at December 31, 2010
Assets
Interest rate swaps		$	-		$	9.1		$	-	$	9.1
Commodity forward contracts			7.0			9.9			-		16.9
Liabilities
Interest rate swaps			-			9.3			-		9.3
Commodity forward contracts			-			0.2			-		0.2

For the year ended December 31, 2011, there were no transfers into or out of Level 1 and Level 2.

The following table summarizes the activity for our financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	-		$	-
Purchases, sales and settlements		(42.3	)		-
Unrealized loss included in other income		(6.7	)		-
Ending balance	$	(49.0	)	$	-

Short-Term Investments

We classified our marketable securities as available-for-sale which were reported at fair market value.  Unrealized gains and losses, to the extent such losses are considered temporary in nature, are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of applicable taxes.  At such time as the decline in fair market value and the related unrealized loss is determined to be a result of impairment of the underlying instrument, the loss is recorded as a charge to earnings.  Fair values for marketable securities are based upon prices and other relevant information observable in market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities or prices obtained from independent third-party pricing services.  The third-party pricing services employ various models that take into consideration such market-based factors as recent sales, risk-free yield curves, prices of similarly rated bonds, and direct discussions with dealers familiar with these types of securities.

Interest Rate Swaps

The fair value of the interest rate swaps was included in other current assets, other assets, current installments of long-term debt, accrued liabilities, long-term debt and other liabilities as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.  These financial instruments were valued using the "income approach" valuation technique.  This method used valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single present amount.  The measurement was based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts.  We use interest rate swaps as a means of managing interest expense and floating interest rate exposure to optimal levels.

Commodity Forward Contracts

The fair value of the commodity forward contracts was classified in other current assets and accrued liabilities as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, with unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of applicable taxes.  These financial instruments were valued primarily based on prices and other relevant information observable in market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities including both forward and spot prices for commodities.  We use commodity forward contracts for certain raw materials and energy costs such as copper, zinc, lead, and natural gas to provide a measure of stability in managing our exposure to price fluctuations.

Foreign Currency Contracts

We had no fair value of foreign currency contracts as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.  The gains and losses of foreign currency contracts were included in selling and administration expense as these financial instruments do not meet the criteria to qualify for hedge accounting.  These financial instruments were valued primarily based on prices and other relevant information observable in market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities including both forward and spot prices for foreign currencies.  We enter into forward sales and purchase contracts to manage currency risk resulting from purchase and sale commitments denominated in foreign currencies (principally Canadian dollar and Euro).

Financial Instruments

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximated fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.  The fair value of our long-term debt was determined based on current market rates for debt of similar risk and maturities.  At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the estimated fair value of debt was $552.3 million and $530.3 million, respectively, which compares to debt recorded on the consolidated balance sheets of $536.4 million and $496.0 million, respectively.

Earn Out

The fair value of the earn out associated with the SunBelt acquisition was estimated using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model.  This fair value measurement is based on significant inputs not observed in the market.  Key assumptions in determining the fair value of the earn out include the discount rate and cash flow projections for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, we record assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as required by ASC 820.  There were no assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.  At February 28, 2011, $180.6 million of assets were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.  We recognized a gain of $181.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 on our previously held investment in SunBelt, which had been accounted for under the equity method of accounting prior to the acquisition.  We remeasured our equity interest in SunBelt of $(0.8) million based on our purchase of PolyOne's 50% interest in SunBelt.  We used Level 1 inputs for the cash payments and Level 3 inputs for the estimated earn out.

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS [Abstract]

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

We are exposed to market risk in the normal course of our business operations due to our purchases of certain commodities, our ongoing investing and financing activities, and our operations that use foreign currencies.  The risk of loss can be assessed from the perspective of adverse changes in fair values, cash flows and future earnings.  We have established policies and procedures governing our management of market risks and the use of financial instruments to manage exposure to such risks.  ASC 815, formerly SFAS No. 133, required an entity to recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position and measure those instruments at fair value.  We use hedge accounting treatment for substantially all of our business transactions whose risks are covered using derivative instruments.  In accordance with ASC 815, we designate commodity forward contracts as cash flow hedges of forecasted purchases of commodities and certain interest rate swaps as fair value hedges of fixed-rate borrowings.  We do not enter into any derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Energy costs, including electricity used in our Chlor Alkali Products segment, and certain raw materials and energy costs, namely copper, lead, zinc, electricity, and natural gas used primarily in our Winchester segment, are subject to price volatility.  Depending on market conditions, we may enter into futures contracts and put and call option contracts in order to reduce the impact of commodity price fluctuations.  The majority of our commodity derivatives expire within one year.  Those commodity contracts that extend beyond one year correspond with raw material purchases for long-term fixed-price sales contracts.

We enter into forward sales and purchase contracts to manage currency risk resulting from purchase and sale commitments denominated in foreign currencies (principally Canadian dollar and Euro).  All of the currency derivatives expire within one year and are for United States dollar equivalents.  Our foreign currency forward contracts do not meet the criteria to qualify for hedge accounting.  At December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had forward contracts to buy foreign currencies with a notional value of zero and $0.3 million, respectively.

In March 2010, we entered into interest rate swaps on $125 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us fixed rates.  The counterparty to these agreements is Citibank.  In October 2011, we entered into $125 million of interest rate swaps with equal and opposite terms as the $125 million variable interest rate swaps on the 2016 Notes.  We have agreed to pay a fixed rate to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us variable rates.  The counterparty to this agreement is also Citibank.  The result was a gain of $11.0 million on the $125 million variable interest rate swaps, which will be recognized through 2016.  As of December 31, 2011, $10.5 million of this gain was included in long-term debt.  In October 2011, we de-designated our $125 million interest rate swaps that had previously been designated as fair value hedges.  The $125 million variable interest rate swaps and the $125 million fixed interest rate swaps do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting.  All changes in the fair value of these interest rate swaps are recorded currently in earnings.

In 2001 and 2002, we entered into interest rate swaps on $75 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, paid us fixed rates.  The counterparty to these agreements was Citibank.  In January 2009, we entered into a $75 million fixed interest rate swap with equal and opposite terms as the $75 million variable interest rate swaps on the 2011 Notes.  We agreed to pay a fixed rate to a counterparty who, in turn, paid us variable rates.  The counterparty to this agreement was Bank of America, a major financial institution.  The result was a gain of $7.9 million on the $75 million variable interest rate swaps, which was recognized through 2011.  In January 2009, we de-designated our $75 million interest rate swaps that had previously been designated as fair value hedges.  The $75 million variable interest rate swaps and the $75 million fixed interest rate swap did not meet the criteria for hedge accounting.  All changes in the fair value of these interest rate swaps were recorded currently in earnings.

Cash Flow Hedges

ASC 815 requires that all derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at their fair value.  For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the change in fair value of the derivative is recognized as a component of other comprehensive loss until the hedged item is recognized into earnings.  Gains and losses on the derivatives representing hedge ineffectiveness are recognized currently in earnings.

We had the following notional amount of outstanding commodity forward contracts that were entered into to hedge forecasted purchases:

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
Copper	$	52.1	$	25.1
Zinc		7.3		3.2
Lead		37.9		19.6
Natural gas		8.3		5.5

As of December 31, 2011, the counterparty to $80.1 million of these commodity forward contracts was Wells Fargo, a major financial institution.

We use cash flow hedges for certain raw material and energy costs such as copper, zinc, lead, electricity, and natural gas to provide a measure of stability in managing our exposure to price fluctuations associated with forecasted purchases of raw materials and energy used in our manufacturing process.  At December 31, 2011, we had open positions in futures contracts through 2016.  If all open futures contracts had been settled on December 31, 2011, we would have recognized a pretax loss of $8.8 million.

If commodity prices were to remain at December 31, 2011 levels, approximately $6.9 million of deferred losses would be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months.  The actual effect on earnings will be dependent on actual commodity prices when the forecasted transactions occur.

Fair Value Hedges

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in current earnings.  We include the gain or loss on the hedged items (fixed-rate borrowings) in the same line item, interest expense, as the offsetting loss or gain on the related interest rate swaps.  As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the total notional amount of our interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges were $80.8 million and $132.7 million, respectively.

Of the $80.8 million of interest rate swaps outstanding at December 31, 2011, $73.1 million were entered into in May 2011 on the SunBelt Notes.  In April 2010, Citibank terminated $18.9 million of interest rate swaps on our industrial revenue bonds due in 2016.  The result was a gain of $0.4 million, which would have been recognized through 2016.  In September 2010, the industrial revenue bonds were redeemed by us, and as a result, the remaining $0.3 million gain was recognized in interest expense during 2010.

We use interest rate swaps as a means of managing interest expense and floating interest rate exposure to optimal levels.  These interest rate swaps are treated as fair value hedges.  The accounting for gains and losses associated with changes in fair value of the derivative and the effect on the consolidated financial statements will depend on the hedge designation and whether the hedge is effective in offsetting changes in fair value of cash flows of the asset or liability being hedged.  We have entered into $80.8 million of such swaps, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us fixed rates.  The counterparties to these agreements are Citibank ($7.7 million) and Wells Fargo ($73.1 million).  In all cases, the underlying index for the variable rates is six-month LIBOR.  Accordingly, payments are settled every six months and the terms of the swaps are the same as the underlying debt instruments.

Financial Statement Impacts

We present our derivative assets and liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets on a net basis.  We net derivative assets and liabilities whenever we have a legally enforceable master netting agreement with the counterparty to our derivative contracts.  We use these agreements to manage and substantially reduce our potential counterparty credit risk.

The following table summarizes the location and fair value of the derivative instruments on our consolidated balance sheets.  The table disaggregates our net derivative assets and liabilities into gross components on a contract-by-contract basis before giving effect to master netting arrangements:

	Asset Derivatives					Liability Derivatives
		Fair Value					Fair Value
		December 31,					December 31,
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments	Balance Sheet Location		2011		2010	Balance Sheet Location		2011			2010
		($ in millions)					($ in millions)
Interest rate contracts	Other current assets	$	-	$	-	Current installments of long-term debt	$	-		$	2.8
Interest rate contracts	Other assets		2.2		5.3	Long-term debt		12.7			5.3
Commodity contracts - gains	Other current assets		-		16.9	Accrued liabilities		(2.5	)		-
Commodity contracts - losses	Other current assets		-		-	Accrued liabilities		11.2			-
		$	2.2	$	22.2		$	21.4		$	8.1
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Interest rate contracts	Other current assets	$	-	$	3.8	Accrued liabilities	$	-		$	1.2
Interest rate contracts	Other assets		11.6		-	Other liabilities		1.0			-
Commodity contracts - gains	Other current assets		-		-	Accrued liabilities		-			(0.1	)
Commodity contracts - losses	Other current assets		-		-	Accrued liabilities		1.5			0.3
		$	11.6	$	3.8		$	2.5		$	1.4
Total derivatives(1)		$	13.8	$	26.0		$	23.9		$	9.5

(1)         Does not include the impact of cash collateral received from or provided to counterparties.

The following table summarizes the effects of derivative instruments on our consolidated statements of operations:

		Amount of Gain (Loss)
		Years Ended December 31,
	Location of Gain (Loss)	2011			2010			2009
Derivatives - Cash Flow Hedges		($ in millions)
Recognized in other comprehensive loss (effective portion)	---	$	(17.3	)	$	8.8		$	39.3
Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into income (effective portion)	Cost of goods sold	$	10.3		$	8.8		$	(20.4	)
Recognized in income (ineffective portion)	Cost of goods sold		-			-			0.1
		$	10.3		$	8.8		$	(20.3	)
Derivatives - Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate contracts	Interest expense	$	6.7		$	6.7		$	3.4
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Interest rate contracts	Interest expense	$	0.5		$	0.3		$	(0.4	)
Commodity contracts	Cost of goods sold		(2.2	)		(1.1	)		(2.3	)
		$	(1.7	)	$	(0.8	)	$	(2.7	)

Credit Risk and Collateral

By using derivative instruments, we are exposed to credit and market risk.  If a counterparty fails to fulfill its performance obligations under a derivative contract, our credit risk will equal the fair-value gain in a derivative.  Generally, when the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, this indicates that the counterparty owes us, thus creating a repayment risk for us.  When the fair value of a derivative contract is negative, we owe the counterparty and, therefore, assume no repayment risk.  We minimize the credit (or repayment) risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with high-quality counterparties.  We monitor our positions and the credit ratings of our counterparties and we do not anticipate non-performance by the counterparties.

Based on the agreements with our various counterparties, cash collateral is required to be provided when the net fair value of the derivatives, with the counterparty, exceed a specific threshold.  If the threshold is exceeded, cash is either provided by the counterparty to us if the value of the derivatives is our asset, or cash is provided by us to the counterparty if the value of the derivatives is our liability.  As of December 31, 2011, the amount recognized in accrued liabilities for cash collateral provided by us to counterparties was $3.9 million.  As of December 31, 2010, the amount recognized in other current assets for cash collateral provided by counterparties to us was $3.2 million.  In all instances where we are party to a master netting agreement, we offset the receivable or payable recognized upon payment of cash collateral against the fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments that have also been offset under such master netting agreements.

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RESTRUCTURING CHARGE (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 09, 2010
RESTRUCTURING CHARGES [Abstract]
Previous mercury cell capacity tonnage at Charleston, TN facility (in tons)				260,000
Membrane capacity tonnage capacity at Charleston, TN facility (in tons)				200,000
Estimated capital cost converting Charleston, TN facility	$ 160.0
Tonnage reduction in chlor alkali manufacturing capacity (in tons)				100,000
Percentage reduction of electricity usage per ECU produced (in hundredths)	25.00%
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	10.7	34.2	0
Amounts Utilized	(5.6)	(27.2)
Accrued Restructuring Costs	12.1	7.0	0
Cash expenditures incurred	4.5
Employee severance and job related benefits [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	6.4	6.0
Amounts Utilized	(1.1)	0
Accrued Restructuring Costs	11.3	6.0	0
Write-off of equipment and facility costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	0	17.5
Amounts Utilized	0	(17.5)
Accrued Restructuring Costs	0	0	0
Facility Exit Costs Asset Retirement Obligations [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1.0	6.7
Amounts Utilized	(1.0)	(6.7)
Accrued Restructuring Costs	0	0	0
Pension and other postretirement benefits curtailment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1.1	3.0
Amounts Utilized	(1.1)	(3.0)
Accrued Restructuring Costs	0	0	0
Lease and other contract termination costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	0	1.0
Amounts Utilized	(0.2)	0
Accrued Restructuring Costs	0.8	1.0	0
Employee relocation costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	2.2	0
Amounts Utilized	(2.2)	0
Accrued Restructuring Costs	0	0	0
Chlor Alkali Products Segment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	2.8	28.0
Additional restructuring and related expected cost	8.0
Winchester Segment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	7.0	6.2
Forecast to reduce Winchester's annual operating costs	30.0
Estimated five-year project cost for Winchester relocation	110.0
Estimated capital spending for Winchester relocation	80.0
Percentage of capital spending offset provided by State of Mississippi tax incentives (in hundredths)	40.00%
Additional restructuring and related expected cost	$ 17.0

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ACCRUED LIABILITIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

ACCRUED LIABILITIES [Abstract]

Accrued Liabilities

Included in accrued liabilities were the following:

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
Accrued compensation and payroll taxes	$	42.7	$	32.1
Accrued employee benefits		43.7		45.6
Environmental (current portion only)		31.0		28.0
Legal and professional costs		24.4		25.0
Asset retirement obligation (current portion only)		12.0		13.7
Earn out		18.6		-
Other		64.8		53.3
Accrued liabilities	$	237.2	$	197.7

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OTHER FINANCIAL DATA

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA [Abstract]

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA

Quarterly Data (Unaudited)

($ in millions, except per share data)

2011	First Quarter		Second Quarter		Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter		Year
Sales	$	436.0	$	529.1	$	550.2	$	445.8	$	1,961.1
Cost of goods sold		359.2		413.7		432.7		368.3		1,573.9
Net income		133.7		42.1		47.2		18.7		241.7
Net income per common share:
Basic		1.68		0.53		0.59		0.23		3.02
Diluted		1.66		0.52		0.58		0.23		2.99
Common dividends per share		0.20		0.20		0.20		0.20		0.80
Market price of common stock(1)
High		23.04		27.16		24.09		21.75		27.16
Low		17.97		20.60		17.64		16.11		16.11
2010
Sales	$	362.0	$	405.7	$	432.8	$	385.4	$	1,585.9
Cost of goods sold		312.5		347.7		366.5		323.2		1,349.9
Net income		14.1		16.9		31.8		2.0		64.8
Net income per common share:
Basic		0.18		0.21		0.40		0.03		0.82
Diluted		0.18		0.21		0.40		0.02		0.81
Common dividends per share		0.20		0.20		0.20		0.20		0.80
Market price of common stock(1)
High		19.94		22.39		20.99		21.57		22.39
Low		15.30		14.35		17.25		17.90		14.35

(1) NYSE composite transactions.

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ACQUISITION

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

ACQUISITION [Abstract]

ACQUISITION

ACQUISITION

On February 28, 2011, we acquired PolyOne's 50% interest in SunBelt for $132.3 million in cash plus the assumption of a PolyOne guarantee related to the SunBelt Notes.  With this acquisition, Olin now owns 100% of SunBelt.  The SunBelt chlor alkali plant, which is located within our McIntosh, AL facility, has approximately 350,000 tons of membrane technology capacity.  We also agreed to a three year earn out, which has no guaranteed minimum or maximum, based on the performance of SunBelt.  In addition, during the second quarter of 2011, we remitted to PolyOne $6.0 million, which represented 50% of distributable cash generated by SunBelt from January 1, 2011 through February 28, 2011.

Pursuant to a note purchase agreement dated December 22, 1997, SunBelt sold $97.5 million of Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2017, Series O, and $97.5 million of Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2017, Series G.  The SunBelt Notes bear interest at a rate of 7.23% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on each June 22 and December 22.  Beginning on December 22, 2002 and each year through 2017, SunBelt is required to repay $12.2 million of the SunBelt Notes, of which $6.1 million is attributable to the Series O Notes and of which $6.1 million is attributable to the Series G Notes.  In conjunction with the acquisition, we consolidated the SunBelt Notes with a fair value of $87.3 million for the remaining principal balance of $85.3 million as of February 28, 2011.

We have guaranteed the Series O Notes, and PolyOne, our former SunBelt partner, has guaranteed the Series G Notes, in both cases pursuant to customary guaranty agreements.  We have agreed to indemnify PolyOne for any payments or other costs under the guarantee in favor of the purchasers of the Series G Notes, to the extent any payments or other costs arise from a default or other breach under the SunBelt Notes.  If SunBelt does not make timely payments on the SunBelt Notes, whether as a result of a failure to pay on a guarantee or otherwise, the holders of the SunBelt Notes may proceed against the assets of SunBelt for repayment.

From January 1, 2011 to February 28, 2011, we recorded $6.3 million of equity earnings of non-consolidated affiliates for our 50% ownership in SunBelt.  The value of our investment in SunBelt was $(0.8) million.  We remeasured our equity interest in SunBelt to fair value upon the close of the transaction.  As a result, we recognized a pretax gain of $181.4 million, which was classified in other income in our consolidated statement of operations.  In conjunction with this remeasurement, a discrete deferred tax expense of $76.0 million was recorded.

The transaction has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting which requires, among other things, that assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their fair values as of the acquisition date.  We finalized our purchase price allocation during the second quarter of 2011.  The following table summarizes the final allocation of the purchase price to SunBelt's assets and liabilities:

	February 28, 2011
	($ in millions)
Total current assets	$	37.6
Property, plant and equipment		87.4
Deferred income taxes		0.4
Other assets		5.8
Total assets acquired		131.2
Total current liabilities		42.7
Long-term debt		75.1
Other liabilities		27.6
Total liabilities assumed		145.4
Less:  Investment in SunBelt		(0.8	)
Net liabilities assumed		(13.4	)
Liabilities for uncertainties		48.3
Gain on remeasurement of investment in SunBelt		(181.4	)
Goodwill		327.1
Fair value of assets acquired	$	180.6

Included in total current assets are cash and cash equivalents of $8.9 million.  Included in total current liabilities is $12.2 million of current installments of long-term debt.

Based on final valuations, we allocated $5.8 million of the purchase price to intangible assets relating to customers, customer contracts and relationships, which management estimates to have a useful life of fifteen years.  These identifiable intangible assets were included in other assets.  Based on final valuations, $327.1 million was assigned to goodwill.  For tax purposes, $163.7 million of the goodwill is deductible.  The goodwill represents the fair value of SunBelt that is in addition to the fair values of the other net assets acquired.  The primary reason for the acquisition and the principal factors that contributed to a SunBelt purchase price that resulted in the recognition of goodwill is the strategic fit with our Chlor Alkali operations and SunBelt's low cost membrane capacity.

For segment reporting purposes, SunBelt has been included in Chlor Alkali Products.  The SunBelt results of operations have been included in our consolidated results for the period subsequent to the effective date of the acquisition.  Our consolidated results for the year ended December 31, 2011 included $170.5 million of SunBelt sales and $27.2 million of additional SunBelt pretax income ($38.7 million included in Chlor Alkali Products segment income; less $0.8 million of acquisition costs, $4.0 million of interest expense and $6.7 million of expense for our earn out liability) on the 50% interest we acquired.  The following pro forma summary presents the condensed statements of income as if the acquisition of SunBelt had occurred on January 1, 2009 (unaudited).

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
	($ in millions, except per share data)
Sales	$	1,987.4	$	1,743.2	$	1,698.9
Net income		140.6		80.4		154.7
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	1.76	$	1.02	$	1.98
Diluted	$	1.74	$	1.01	$	1.98

The pro forma statements of income were prepared based on historical financial information and have been adjusted to give effect to pro forma adjustments that are (i) directly attributable to the transaction, (ii) factually supportable and (iii) expected to have a continuing impact on the combined results.  The pro forma statements of income use estimates and assumptions based on information available at the time.  Management believes the estimates and assumptions to be reasonable; however, actual results may differ significantly from this pro forma financial information.  The pro forma information does not reflect any cost savings that might be achieved from operating the business under a single owner and is not intended to reflect the actual results that would have occurred had the companies actually been combined during the periods presented.  The pro forma data reflect the application of the following adjustments:

�   Elimination of the pretax gain resulting from the remeasurement of our previously held 50% equity interest in SunBelt, which is considered non-recurring ($181.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011).

�   Additional amortization expense related to the fair value of acquired identifiable intangible assets ($0.1 million, $0.3 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively).

�   Reduction of depreciation expense related to the fair value adjustment to property, plant and equipment ($1.0 million, $5.8 million and $5.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively).

�   Reduction in interest expense as a result of increasing the carrying value of acquired debt obligations to its estimated fair value ($0.1 million, $0.5 million and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively).

�   Additional accretion expense for the earn out liability that was recorded as a result of the acquisition ($0.4 million, $2.7 million and $2.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively).

�   Elimination of transaction costs incurred in 2011 that are directly related to the transaction, and do not have a continuing impact on our combined operating results ($0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011).

In addition, the pro forma data reflect the tax effect of all of the above adjustments.  The pro forma tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2011 reflects a reduction of $76.0 million related to the elimination of the gain resulting from the remeasurement of our previously held 50% equity interest in SunBelt.  The pro forma tax provision reflects an increase of $2.3 million, $7.3 million and $10.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, associated with the incremental pretax income and the fair value adjustments for acquired intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and the SunBelt Notes, which reflects the marginal tax of the adjustments in the various jurisdictions where such adjustments occurred.

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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS [Abstract]

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Olin Corporation is a Virginia corporation, incorporated in 1892.  We are a manufacturer concentrated in two business segments:  Chlor Alkali Products and Winchester.  Chlor Alkali Products, with nine U.S. manufacturing facilities and one Canadian manufacturing facility, produces chlorine and caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, bleach products and potassium hydroxide.  Winchester, with its principal manufacturing facilities in East Alton, IL and Oxford, MS, produces and distributes sporting ammunition, reloading components, small caliber military ammunition and components, and industrial cartridges.

On February 28, 2011, we acquired PolyOne's 50% interest in the SunBelt Chlor Alkali Partnership, which we refer to as SunBelt.  The SunBelt chlor alkali plant, which is located within our McIntosh, AL facility, has approximately 350,000 tons of membrane technology capacity.  Previously, we had a 50% ownership interest in SunBelt, which was accounted for using the equity method of accounting.  Accordingly, prior to the acquisition, we included only our share of SunBelt results in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates.  Since the date of acquisition, SunBelt's results are no longer included in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates but are consolidated in our accompanying financial statements.

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ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Olin Corporation and all majority-owned subsidiaries.  Investment in our affiliates are accounted for on the equity method.  Accordingly, we include only our share of earnings or losses of these affiliates in consolidated net income.  Certain reclassifications were made to prior year amounts to conform to the 2011 presentation.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recognized on sales of product at the time the goods are shipped and the risks of ownership have passed to the customer.  Shipping and handling fees billed to customers are included in sales.  Allowances for estimated returns, discounts and rebates are recognized when sales are recorded and are based on various market data, historical trends and information from customers.  Actual returns, discounts and rebates have not been materially different from estimates.

Cost of Goods Sold and Selling and Administration Expenses

Cost of Goods Sold and Selling and Administration Expenses

Cost of goods sold includes the costs of inventory sold, related purchasing, distribution and warehousing costs, costs incurred for shipping and handling, depreciation and amortization expense related to these activities, and environmental remediation costs and recoveries.  Selling and administration expenses include personnel costs associated with sales, marketing and administration, research and development, legal and legal-related costs, consulting and professional services fees, advertising expenses, depreciation expense related to these activities and other similar costs and foreign currency translation.

Other Operating Income

Other Operating Income

Other operating income consists of miscellaneous operating income items, which are related to our business activities, and gains (losses) on disposition of property, plant and equipment.

Included in other operating income were the following:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
		($ in millions)
Gains (losses) on disposition of property, plant and equipment, net	$	1.4	$	1.1	$	1.6
Amortization of 2007 gain on intangible asset sale (recognized through 2012)		1.2		1.2		1.1
Gains on sale of land		0.3		-		3.7
Gains on dispositions of former manufacturing facilities		3.7		-		1.2
Gains on insurance recoveries		1.9		-		-
Gains on sale of other assets		-		-		0.8
Other		0.3		0.2		0.7
Other operating income	$	8.8	$	2.5	$	9.1

The gains on disposition of property, plant and equipment in 2011 were primarily associated with the Charleston, TN conversion project, and in 2010 and 2009 were primarily associated with the St. Gabriel, LA facility conversion and expansion project, which was completed in the fourth quarter of 2009.  The gains on insurance recoveries in 2011 related to our Oxford, MS and St. Gabriel, LA facilities.

Other Income

Other Income

Other income consists of non-operating income items which are not related to our primary business activities.  Other income in 2011 included a pretax gain of $181.4 million as a result of remeasuring our previously held 50% equity interest in SunBelt, partially offset by $6.7 million of expense for our earn out liability from the SunBelt acquisition.  Other income in 2010 included a $1.4 million recovery from a $26.6 million investment in corporate debt securities, whose full value was written off in 2008.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency for our Canadian subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar; accordingly, gains and losses resulting from balance sheet translations are included in selling and administration.  Other foreign affiliates' balance sheet amounts are translated at the exchange rates in effect at year-end, and operations statement amounts are translated at the average rates of exchange prevailing during the year.  Translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid investments, with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase, are considered to be cash equivalents.

Short-Term Investments

Short-Term Investments

We classify our marketable securities as available-for-sale, which are reported at fair market value with unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of applicable taxes.  The fair value of marketable securities is determined by quoted market prices.  Realized gains and losses on sales of investments, as determined on the specific identification method, and declines in value of securities judged to be other-than-temporary are included in other income in the consolidated statements of operations.  Interest and dividends on all securities are included in interest income and other income, respectively.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable

We evaluate the collectibility of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors.  We estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts as a percentage of net sales based on historical bad debt experience.  This estimate is periodically adjusted when we become aware of a specific customer's inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filing) or as a result of changes in the overall aging of accounts receivable.  While we have a large number of customers that operate in diverse businesses and are geographically dispersed, a general economic downturn in any of the industry segments in which we operate could result in higher than expected defaults, and, therefore, the need to revise estimates for the provision for doubtful accounts could occur.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, with cost being determined principally by the dollar value last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of inventory accounting.  Cost for other inventories has been determined principally by the average-cost (primarily operating supplies, spare parts and maintenance parts) method.  Elements of costs in inventories include raw materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost.  Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets.  Interest costs incurred to finance expenditures for major long-term construction projects are capitalized as part of the historical cost and included in property, plant and equipment and are depreciated over the useful lives of the related assets.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of the lease or the estimated useful life of the improvement, whichever is shorter.  Start-up costs are expensed as incurred.  Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred while the costs of significant improvements, which extend the useful life of the underlying asset, are capitalized.

Property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment when conditions indicate that the carrying values of the assets may not be recoverable.  Such impairment conditions include an extended period of idleness or a plan of disposal.  If such impairment indicators are present or other factors exist that indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, we determine whether impairment has occurred through the use of an undiscounted cash flow analysis at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows exist.  The amount of impairment loss, if any, is measured by the difference between the net book value of the assets and the estimated fair value of the related assets.

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash, which is restricted as to withdrawal or usage, is classified separately from cash and cash equivalents on our consolidated balance sheet.  A portion of the proceeds of the bonds issued by Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, along with their accrued interest income, remain with a trustee and are classified on our consolidated balance sheet as a noncurrent asset until such time as we request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used to fund capital projects in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations

We record the fair value of an asset retirement obligation associated with the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset as a liability in the period incurred.  The liability is measured at discounted fair value and is adjusted to its present value in subsequent periods as accretion expense is recorded.  The corresponding asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset and depreciated over the asset's useful life.  Asset retirement obligations are reviewed annually in the fourth quarter and/or when circumstances or other events indicate that changes underlying retirement assumptions may have occurred.

The activity of our asset retirement obligation was as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	70.5		$	70.2
Accretion		5.0			5.0
Spending		(7.3	)		(9.9	)
Currency translation adjustments		(0.2	)		0.6
Adjustments		(0.1	)		4.6
Ending balance	$	67.9		$	70.5

At December 31, 2011 and 2010, our consolidated balance sheets included an asset retirement obligation of $55.9 million and $56.8 million, respectively, which were classified as other noncurrent liabilities.

In 2011, we had net adjustments that decreased the asset retirement obligation by $0.1 million, due to a favorable settlement of our $1.5 million obligation at one site offset by increased estimated costs for certain assets.

In 2010, we had net adjustments that increased the asset retirement obligation by $4.6 million, which included a restructuring charge of $6.7 million related to the acceleration of costs for our Charleston, TN facility and our Augusta, GA facility.  This charge was offset by decreases in estimated costs for certain assets and lower spending than expected on projects completed in 2010.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss consists of foreign currency translation adjustments, pension and postretirement liability adjustments, pension and postretirement amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses, net unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts, and net unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities.  We do not provide for U.S. income taxes on foreign currency translation adjustments since we do not provide for such taxes on undistributed earnings for foreign subsidiaries that have been permanently reinvested.

Goodwill

Goodwill

Goodwill is not amortized, but is reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter and/or when circumstances or other events indicate that impairment may have occurred.  Circumstances that could trigger an impairment test include but are not limited to:  a significant adverse change in the business climate; a significant adverse legal judgment; adverse cash flow trends; an adverse action or assessment by a government agency; unanticipated competition; decline in our stock price; and a significant restructuring charge within a reporting unit.  The annual impairment test involves the comparison of the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount.  We define reporting units at the business segment level or one level below the business segment, which for our Chlor Alkali Products segment are the U.S. operations and Canadian operations.  For purposes of testing goodwill for impairment, goodwill has been allocated to these reporting units to the extent it relates to each reporting unit.  The fair value is determined based on a variety of assumptions including estimated future cash flows of the reporting unit, discount rates and comparable company trading multiples.  An impairment would be recorded if the carrying amount exceeded the estimated fair value.  No impairment charges were recorded for 2011, 2010 or 2009.

We use a discounted cash flow approach "income approach" to develop the estimated fair value of a reporting unit.  Management judgment is required in developing the assumptions for the discounted cash flow model.  We also corroborate our discounted cash flow analysis by evaluating a market-based approach that considers earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) multiples from a representative sample of comparable public companies in the chemical industry.  An impairment would be recorded if the carrying amount exceeded the estimated fair value.

The discount rate, profitability assumptions, terminal growth rate and cyclical nature of our chlor alkali business are the material assumptions utilized in the discounted cash flow model used to estimate the fair value of each reporting unit.  The discount rate reflects a weighted-average cost of capital, which is calculated based on observable market data.  Some of these data (such as the risk free or treasury rate and the pretax cost of debt) are based on the market data at a point in time.  Other data (such as the equity risk premium) are based upon market data over time for a peer group of companies in the chemical manufacturing industry with a market capitalization premium added, as applicable.

The discounted cash flow analysis requires estimates, assumptions and judgments about future events.  Our analysis uses our internally generated long-range plan.  Our discounted cash flow analysis uses the assumptions in our long-range plan about terminal growth rates, forecasted capital expenditures, and changes in future working capital requirements to determine the implied fair value of each reporting unit.  The long-range plan reflects management judgment, supplemented by independent chemical industry analyses which provide multi-year chlor alkali industry operating and pricing forecasts.

All of our recorded goodwill, which is associated with acquisitions, is included in the Chlor Alkali Products segment.  Given the economic environment and the uncertainties regarding the impact on our business, there can be no assurance that our estimates and assumptions, made for purposes of our goodwill impairment testing during the fourth quarter of 2011, will prove to be an accurate prediction of the future.  If our assumptions regarding forecasted sales or gross margins are not achieved, we may be required to record goodwill impairment charges in future periods.  It is not possible at this time to determine if any such future impairment charge would result or, if it does, whether such charge would be material.

Other Assets

Other Assets

Included in other assets were the following:

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates	$	27.6	$	25.9
Intangible assets (less accumulated amortization of $6.9 million and $5.0 million, respectively)		19.2		15.2
Deferred debt issuance costs		14.2		16.4
Interest rate swaps		13.8		5.3
Other		10.8		9.5
Other assets	$	85.6	$	72.3

The February 28, 2011 valuation of identifiable intangible assets that were obtained from the SunBelt acquisition included $5.8 million associated with customers, customer contracts and relationships and are being amortized over fifteen years on a straight-line basis.  The identifiable intangible assets obtained from the Pioneer acquisition included $19.0 million associated with customers, customer contracts and relationships, and $1.2 million associated with internally developed and purchased software.  These assets are being amortized over fifteen years and five years, respectively, on a straight-line basis.  Amortization expense was $1.9 million in 2011 and $1.5 million in 2010 and 2009.  We estimate that amortization expense will be approximately $1.8 million in 2012 and $1.7 million in each of the next four years.  Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter and/or when circumstances or other events indicate that impairment may have occurred.

Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures

Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures

Accruals (charges to income) 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 upon current law and existing technologies.  These amounts, which are not discounted and are exclusive of claims against third parties, are adjusted periodically as assessment and remediation efforts progress or additional technical or legal information becomes available.  Environmental costs are capitalized if the costs increase the value of the property and/or mitigate or prevent contamination from future operations.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Deferred taxes are provided for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.  A valuation allowance is provided to offset deferred tax assets if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the value of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments

We are exposed to market risk in the normal course of our business operations due to our purchases of certain commodities, our ongoing investing and financing activities, and our operations that use foreign currencies.  The risk of loss can be assessed from the perspective of adverse changes in fair values, cash flows and future earnings.  We have established policies and procedures governing our management of market risks and the use of financial instruments to manage exposure to such risks.  We use hedge accounting treatment for substantially all of our business transactions whose risks are covered using derivative instruments.  The hedge accounting treatment provides for the deferral of gains or losses (included in other comprehensive loss) on derivative instruments until such time as the related transactions occur.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

Accounts receivable is the principal financial instrument which subjects us to a concentration of credit risk.  Credit is extended based upon the evaluation of a customer's financial condition and, generally, collateral is not required.  Concentrations of credit risk with respect to receivables are somewhat limited due to our large number of customers, the diversity of these customers' businesses and the geographic dispersion of such customers.  The majority of our accounts receivable are derived from sales denominated in U.S. dollars.  We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon the expected collectibility of all trade receivables.

Fair Value

Fair Value

Fair value is defined as the price at which an asset could be exchanged in a current transaction between knowledgeable, willing parties or the amount that would be paid to transfer a liability to a new obligor, not the amount that would be paid to settle the liability with the creditor.  Where available, fair value is based on observable market prices or parameters or derived from such prices or parameters.  Where observable prices or inputs are not available, valuation models are applied.  These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the instruments or market and the instruments' complexity.

Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value.  Hierarchical levels, defined by ASC 820, formerly SFAS No. 157, and directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair valuation of these assets and liabilities, are as follows:

Level 1 - Inputs were unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

Level 2 - Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) were either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instrument's anticipated life.

Level 3 - Inputs reflected management's best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.  Consideration was given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model.

Retirement-Related Benefits

Retirement-Related Benefits

We account for our defined benefit pension plans and non-pension postretirement benefit plans using actuarial models required by ASC 715, formerly SFAS No. 87 and SFAS No. 106, respectively.  These models use an attribution approach that generally spreads the financial impact of changes to the plan and actuarial assumptions over the average remaining service lives of the employees in the plan.  Changes in liability due to changes in actuarial assumptions such as discount rate, rate of compensation increases and mortality, as well as annual deviations between what was assumed and what was experienced by the plan are treated as gains or losses.  The principle underlying the required attribution approach is that employees render service over their average remaining service lives on a relatively smooth basis and, therefore, the accounting for benefits earned under the pension or non-pension postretirement benefits plans should follow the same relatively smooth pattern.  Substantially all defined benefit pension plan participants are no longer accruing benefits; therefore, actuarial gains and losses are amortized based upon the remaining life expectancy of the inactive plan participants.  For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the average remaining life expectancy of the inactive participants in the defined benefit pension plan was 18 years and 19 years, respectively.

One of the key assumptions for the net periodic pension calculation is the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, used to determine the "market-related value of assets."  The "market-related value of assets" recognizes differences between the plan's actual return and expected return over a five year period.  The required use of an expected long-term rate of return on the market-related value of plan assets may result in a recognized pension income that is greater or less than the actual returns of those plan assets in any given year.  Over time, however, the expected long-term returns are designed to approximate the actual long-term returns and, therefore, result in a pattern of income and expense recognition that more closely matches the pattern of the services provided by the employees.  As differences between actual and expected returns are recognized over five years, they subsequently generate gains and losses that are subject to amortization over the average remaining life expectancy of the inactive plan participants, as described in the preceding paragraph.

We use long-term historical actual return information, the mix of investments that comprise plan assets, and future estimates of long-term investment returns and inflation by reference to external sources to develop the expected return on plan assets as of December 31.

The discount rate assumptions used for pension and non-pension postretirement benefit plan accounting reflect the rates available on high-quality fixed-income debt instruments on December 31 of each year.  The rate of compensation increase is based upon our long-term plans for such increases.  For retiree medical plan accounting, we review external data and our own historical trends for healthcare costs to determine the healthcare cost trend rates.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

We measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments, such as stock options, performance shares, and restricted stock, based on the grant-date fair value of the award.  This cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, the requisite service period (usually the vesting period).  An initial measurement is made of the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of liability instruments based on its current fair value and the value of that award is subsequently remeasured at each reporting date through the settlement date.  Changes in fair value of liability awards during the requisite service period are recognized as compensation cost over that period.

The fair value of each option granted, which typically vests ratably over three years, but not less than one year, was estimated on the date of grant, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

	2011			2010			2009
Dividend yield		4.32	%		4.32	%		4.26	%
Risk-free interest rate		3.05	%		3.00	%		2.32	%
Expected volatility		42	%		42	%		40	%
Expected life (years)		7.0			7.0			7.0
Grant fair value (per option)	$	5.48		$	4.61		$	3.85
Exercise price	$	18.78		$	15.68		$	14.28
Shares granted		575,000			803,750			866,250

Dividend yield was based on a historical average.  Risk-free interest rate was based on zero coupon U.S. Treasury securities rates for the expected life of the options.  Expected volatility was based on our historical stock price movements, as we believe that historical experience is the best available indicator of the expected volatility.  Expected life of the option grant was based on historical exercise and cancellation patterns, as we believe that historical experience is the best estimate for future exercise patterns.

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DEBT (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

DEBT [Abstract]

Schedule of long-term debt

Long-Term Debt

	December 31,
	2011		2010
Notes payable:	($ in millions)
Variable-rate Go Zone bonds, due 2024 (1.78% and 1.76% at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively)	$	50.0	$	14.0
Variable-rate Recovery Zone bonds, due 2024-2035 (1.78% and 1.76% at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively)		103.0		103.0
9.125%, due 2011 (includes interest rate swaps of $2.8 million in 2010)		-		77.8
6.5%, due 2013		11.4		11.4
6.75%, due 2016 (includes interest rate swaps of $10.5 million and $4.6 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively)		135.5		129.6
8.875%, due 2019 (includes unamortized discount of $1.0 million in 2011 and $1.1 million in 2010)		149.0		148.9
7.23%, SunBelt Notes due 2012-2017 (includes unamortized fair value premium of $1.6 million and interest rate swaps of $1.9 million in 2011)		76.6		-
Industrial development and environmental improvement obligations at a fixed interest rate of 6.625%, due 2017-2025 (includes interest rate swaps of $0.3 million in 2011 and $0.7 million in 2010)		10.9		11.3
Total debt		536.4		496.0
Amounts due within one year		12.2		77.8
Total long-term debt	$	524.2	$	418.2

Swap activity related to certain debt obligations

The following table reflects the swap activity related to certain debt obligations:

Underlying Debt Instrument	Swap Amount		Date of Swap	December 31, 2011
		($ in millions)		Olin Pays Floating Rate:
6.75%, due 2016	$	65.0	March 2010	3.75-4.75	%(a)
6.75%, due 2016	$	60.0	March 2010	3.75-4.75	%(a)
7.23%, SunBelt Notes	$	73.1	May 2011	5.5-6.5	%(a)
Industrial development obligation at a fixed interest rate of 6.625% due 2017	$	7.7	March 2002	0.81	%
				Olin Receives Floating Rate:
6.75%, due 2016	$	65.0	October 2011	3.75-4.75	%(a)
6.75%, due 2016	$	60.0	October 2011	3.75-4.75	%(a)

(a) Actual rate is set in arrears.  We project the rate will fall within the range shown.

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ACQUISITION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

ACQUISITION [Abstract]

Summary of the final allocation of purchase price to SunBelt's assets and liabilities

The following table summarizes the final allocation of the purchase price to SunBelt's assets and liabilities:

	February 28, 2011
	($ in millions)
Total current assets	$	37.6
Property, plant and equipment		87.4
Deferred income taxes		0.4
Other assets		5.8
Total assets acquired		131.2
Total current liabilities		42.7
Long-term debt		75.1
Other liabilities		27.6
Total liabilities assumed		145.4
Less:  Investment in SunBelt		(0.8	)
Net liabilities assumed		(13.4	)
Liabilities for uncertainties		48.3
Gain on remeasurement of investment in SunBelt		(181.4	)
Goodwill		327.1
Fair value of assets acquired	$	180.6

Pro forma summary

The following pro forma summary presents the condensed statements of income as if the acquisition of SunBelt had occurred on January 1, 2009 (unaudited).

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
	($ in millions, except per share data)
Sales	$	1,987.4	$	1,743.2	$	1,698.9
Net income		140.6		80.4		154.7
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	1.76	$	1.02	$	1.98
Diluted	$	1.74	$	1.01	$	1.98

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Future minimum operating leases [Abstract]
2012	$ 40.3
2013	36.6
2014	31.3
2015	27.2
2016	23.1
Thereafter	63.2
Total operating leases	221.7
Future minimum purchase commitments [Abstract]
2012	105.9
2013	55.9
2014	16.8
2015	14.7
2016	0.8
Thereafter	0
Total purchase commitments	194.1
Total rent expense charged to operations	53.8	51.2	45.4
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Length of brine and pipeline purchase agreement with PetroLogistics (in years)				twenty
Fixed annual payment over the life of the contract for the use of the pipeline	2.0
Amount of the minimum usage requirement for brine over the first five-year period of the contract	8.4
Amount of buy out provision exercisable by Company after first five-year period	12.0
Annual obligation vendor has to deliver sulfur dioxide (in tons)	36,000
Monthly payment Company is obligated to make to vendor for sulfur dioxide regardless of the quantity purchased	0.2
Commitment Company is obligated to pay vendor in 2012	0.6
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Legal action liabilities	$ 16.4	$ 18.1

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 304.8	$ 458.6
Receivables, net:
Trade	220.6	167.9
Other	16.5	19.0
Income taxes receivable	0.7	6.1
Inventories	176.6	155.6
Current deferred income taxes	50.9	46.0
Other current assets	10.2	29.6
Total current assets	780.3	882.8
Property, plant and equipment, net	885.4	675.0
Prepaid pension costs	19.2	16.3
Restricted cash	51.7	102.0
Other assets	85.6	72.3
Goodwill	627.4	300.3
Total assets	2,449.6	2,048.7
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	12.2	77.8
Accounts payable	149.7	115.5
Accrued liabilities	237.2	197.7
Total current liabilities	399.1	391.0
Long-term debt	524.2	418.2
Accrued pension liability	59.1	58.6
Deferred income taxes	99.6	23.5
Other liabilities	381.8	327.1
Total liabilities	1,463.8	1,218.4
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, par value $1 per share: Authorized, 120.0 shares; Issued and outstanding, 80.1 shares (79.6 in 2010)	80.1	79.6
Additional paid-in capital	852.0	842.3
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(294.2)	(261.8)
Retained earnings	347.9	170.2
Total shareholders' equity	985.8	830.3
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 2,449.6	$ 2,048.7

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STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION [Abstract]

Stock-based compensation expense

Stock-based compensation expense was as follows:

	Years ended December 31,
	2011			2010		2009
	($ in millions)
Stock-based compensation	$	8.8		$	10.1	$	8.6
Mark-to-market adjustments		(0.5	)		1.2		0.8
Total expense	$	8.3		$	11.3	$	9.4

Stock Options Activity

Stock option transactions were as follows:

								Exercisable
	Shares			Option Price		Weighted Average Option Price		Options		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at January 1, 2011		3,849,411		$	6.98-23.78	$	17.53		2,336,195	$	18.73
Granted		575,000			18.78		18.78
Exercised		(508,247	)		6.98-23.78		16.59
Canceled		(151,294	)		6.98-20.67		17.69
Outstanding at December 31, 2011		3,764,870		$	14.28-23.78	$	17.84		2,415,347	$	18.46

Stock Options Exercisable, Exercise Price Range

The following table provides certain information with respect to stock options exercisable at December 31, 2011:

Range of Exercise Prices		Options Exercisable		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Options Outstanding		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Under $16.00			669,241	$	14.83		1,443,764	$	15.03
	$16.00 - $20.00		586,914	$	16.99		1,161,914	$	17.88
Over $20.00			1,159,192	$	21.30		1,159,192	$	21.30
			2,415,347				3,764,870

Common shares reserved and available for grant or purchase

At December 31, 2011, common shares reserved for issuance and available for grant or purchase under the following plans consisted of:

	Number of Shares
Stock Option Plans	Reserved for Issuance		Available for Grant or Purchase(1)
2000 long term incentive plan		629,563		24,780
2003 long term incentive plan		919,496		63,676
2006 long term incentive plan		2,456,127		122,516
2009 long term incentive plan		3,000,000		2,425,000
		7,005,186		2,635,972
1996 stock option plan (plan expired)		66,536		-
Total under stock option plans		7,071,722		2,635,972

	Number of Shares
Stock Purchase Plans	Reserved for Issuance		Available for Grant or Purchase
1997 stock plan for non-employee directors		603,507		269,763
Employee deferral plan		46,561		45,669
Total under stock purchase plans		650,068		315,432

(1) All available to be issued as stock options, but includes a sub-limit for all types of stock awards of 1,710,972 shares.

Performance Shares Transactions

 Performance share transactions were as follows:

	To Settle in Cash					To Settle in Shares
	Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value per Share		Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value per Share
Outstanding at January 1, 2011		312,625		$	20.65		303,875		$	16.71
Granted		65,250			18.78		65,250			18.78
Paid/Issued		(112,083	)		20.65		(105,000	)		20.29
Converted from shares to cash		5,972			14.62		(5,972	)		14.62
Canceled		(4,028	)		20.65		(4,028	)		15.08
Outstanding at December 31, 2011		267,736		$	19.78		254,125		$	15.83
Total vested at December 31, 2011		200,236		$	19.78		186,625		$	15.16

Summary of Unvested Performance Shares

The summary of the status of our unvested performance shares to be settled in cash were as follows:

	Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value per Share
Unvested at January 1, 2011		91,542		$	20.65
Granted		65,250			18.78
Vested		(85,264	)		19.78
Canceled		(4,028	)		20.65
Unvested at December 31, 2011		67,500		$	19.78

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY [Abstract]
Dividends paid (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80	$ 0.80	$ 0.80

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INVENTORIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
INVENTORIES [Abstract]
Supplies	$ 35.0		$ 30.8
Raw materials	75.7		56.5
Work in process	31.9		24.7
Finished goods	111.7		104.4
Inventory, Gross	254.3		216.4
LIFO reserves	(77.7)		(60.8)
Inventories	176.6		155.6
Percentage of inventory using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of inventory accounting (in hundredths)	72.00%		72.00%
Inventories obtained through acquisition at fair value		$ 4.0

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EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Net income per common share [Abstract]

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share Table

	Years ended December 31,
Computation of Income per Share	2011		2010		2009
	(In millions, except per share data)
Net income	$	241.7	$	64.8	$	135.7
Basic shares:		80.0		79.2		78.1
Basic net income per share	$	3.02	$	0.82	$	1.74
Diluted shares:
Basic shares		80.0		79.2		78.1
Stock-based compensation		0.8		0.7		0.2
Diluted shares		80.8		79.9		78.3
Diluted net income per share	$	2.99	$	0.81	$	1.73

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INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 U.S Federal Income Tax [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 U.S State Income Tax [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Canadian Federal Income Tax [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Canadian Provincial Income Tax [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Pioneer Acquisition [Member]	Aug. 31, 2007 Pioneer Acquisition [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Foreign Tax Benefit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Foreign Tax Benefit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Valuation Allowance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Valuation Allowance [Member]
Components of Income Before Taxes [Abstract]
Domestic income before taxes	$ 360.3	$ 74.4	$ 193.9
Foreign income before taxes	19.1	2.5	16.0
Income before taxes	379.4	76.9	209.9
Components of Income Tax Provision
Federal	39.5	6.7	5.3
State	6.1	6.4	(3.5)
Foreign	5.5	(2.7)	0
Total current income tax expense	51.1	10.4	1.8
Deferred expense [Abstract]
Deferred	86.6	1.7	72.4
Income tax provision	137.7	12.1	74.2
Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation (Percent)
Statutory federal tax rate (in hundredths)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Foreign rate differential (in hundredths)	(0.10%)	(0.60%)	(0.10%)
Domestic manufacturing/export tax incentive (in hundredths)	(1.00%)	(0.90%)	(0.30%)
Dividends paid to CEOP (in hundredths)	(0.30%)	(1.50%)	(0.60%)
State income taxes, net (in hundredths)	1.10%	1.60%	2.60%
Change in tax contingencies (in hundredths)	(1.10%)	(11.90%)	(0.90%)
Change in valuation allowance (in hundredths)	0.10%	(5.60%)	0.10%
Return to provision (in hundredths)	0.50%	(0.80%)	(0.70%)
Remeasurement of deferred taxes (in hundredths)	(1.30%)	0.00%	0.00%
Incremental tax effect of SunBelt remeasurement (in hundredths)	3.30%	0.00%	0.00%
Other, net (in hundredths)	0.10%	0.40%	0.30%
Effective tax rate (in hundredths)	36.30%	15.70%	35.40%
Deferred tax assets [Abstract]
Pension and postretirement benefits	48.4	43.4
Environmental reserves	66.5	68.7
Asset retirement obligations	28.5	29.8
Accrued liabilities	42.4	46.8
Tax credits	10.2	15.7
Federal and state net operating losses	5.7	5.7						1.4	2.3
Capital loss carryforward	15.0	14.7
Other miscellaneous items	13.7	2.8
Total deferred tax assets	230.4	227.6
Valuation allowance	(24.1)	(23.0)
Net deferred tax assets	206.3	204.6
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment	147.8	157.1
Intangible amortization	10.5	10.4
Inventory and prepaids	4.3	7.4
Partnerships	92.4	7.2
Total deferred tax liabilities	255.0	182.1
Net deferred tax (liability) asset	(48.7)	22.5
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax benefits balance, beginning of period										2.1	3.8	0	(3.8)
Decreases for prior year utilization										(1.8)		0
Decreases for current year utilization										(3.3)		0
Increases (decreases) for prior year limitation											0.8		(0.8)
Increases (decreases) for current year generation										3.0		0
Increases (decreases) for current year limitation											2.4		0
Increase (decrease) for carryback of current year foreign losses											(4.9)		4.6
Tax benefits balance, end of period										0	2.1	0	0
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Federal tax benefits on acquisition of Pioneer, expected future foreign tax credits								0.9	4.8
Net operating loss carry-forward (NOL)								4.1	6.6
Net operating loss carry-forward (NOL), Deferred tax assets	5.7	5.7						1.4	2.3
Deferred state tax benefits relating to net operating losses	2.0
Deferred state tax benefits, operating loss carryforwards, valuation allowance	0.7
State tax credit carryforward	9.3
State tax credit carryforward valuation allowance	8.4
Capital loss carry-forward	38.7
Capital loss carry-forward valuation allowance	15.0
Capital loss carry-forward, Deferred tax assets	15.0	14.7
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries	12.9
Unrecognized tax benefits [Abstract]
Cash tax payments, if unrecognized tax benefits are not realized	28.5
Impact on the effective tax rate, if recognized	36.1	39.4
Portion of tax benefit previously included in discontinued operations	2.1
Net operating loss carry-forward (NOL), Deferred tax assets	5.7	5.7						1.4	2.3
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	41.5	50.8
Increases for prior year tax positions	0.1	0.2
Decreases for prior year tax positions	0	(0.9)
Increases for current year tax positions	0	1.7
Decreases due to tax settlements	(0.1)	(2.3)
Reductions due to statute of limitations	(3.6)	(8.0)
Balance at end of period	37.9	41.5	50.8
Reasonable possibility that unrecognized tax benefits will decrease over next twelve months	2.4
Interest and penalties accrued	3.2	3.5
Interest and penalties expensed	$ 0.7	$ 0.8	$ 1.1
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Tax years				2007-2010	2005-2010	2007-2010	2007-2010

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CONTRIBUTING EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

CONTRIBUTING EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN [Abstract]

CONTRIBUTING EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

CONTRIBUTING EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

The CEOP is a defined contribution plan available to essentially all domestic employees.  Company matching contributions are invested in the same investment allocation as the employee's contribution.  Our matching contributions for eligible employees amounted to $5.2 million, $2.0 million and $5.0 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Effective February 1, 2011, we reinstated the match on all salaried and certain non-bargained hourly employees' contributions, which had previously been suspended effective January 1, 2010.

Employees become vested in the value of the contributions we make to the CEOP according to a schedule based on service.  After two years of service, participants are 25% vested.  They vest in increments of 25% for each additional year and after five years of service, they are 100% vested in the value of the contributions that we have made to their accounts.

Employees may transfer any or all of the value of the investments, including Olin common stock, to any one or combination of investments available in the CEOP.  Employees may transfer balances daily and may elect to transfer any percentage of the balance in the fund from which the transfer is made.  However, when transferring out of a fund, employees are prohibited from trading out of the fund to which the transfer was made for seven calendar days.  This limitation does not apply to trades into the money market fund or the Olin Common Stock Fund.

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ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES [Abstract]

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable

Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable consisted of the following:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	4.8		$	3.3
Provisions charged (credited)		0.8			(0.3	)
(Write-offs) recoveries, net		(2.4	)		1.8
Ending balance	$	3.2		$	4.8

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SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY [Abstract]

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

During 2011, 2010 and 2009, we issued 0.5 million; 0.2 million; and less than 0.1 million shares with a total value of $9.3 million, $3.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, representing stock options exercised.  In addition, during 2011, 2010 and 2009, we issued zero; 0.5 million; and 1.3 million shares of common stock, respectively, with a total value of zero, $10.2 million and $16.9 million, respectively, to the CEOP.  Effective September 23, 2010, our CEOP began to purchase shares in the open market in lieu of our issuing shares to satisfy the investment in our common stock resulting from employee contributions, our matching contributions, retirement contributions and re-invested dividends.  Effective February 1, 2011, we reinstated the match on all salaried and certain non-bargained hourly employees' contributions, which had previously been suspended effective January 1, 2010.

On July 21, 2011, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to 5 million shares of common stock that will terminate in three years for any of the remaining shares not yet repurchased.  Since the date of authorization, 0.2 million shares were purchased and retired under this program at a cost of $4.2 million.  As of December 31, 2011, we had purchased a total of 0.2 million shares under this program and 4.8 million shares remained authorized to be purchased.

We have registered an undetermined amount of securities with the SEC, so that, from time-to-time, we may issue debt securities, preferred stock and/or common stock and associated warrants in the public market under that registration statement.

The following table represents the activity included in accumulated other comprehensive loss:

	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivative Contracts (net of taxes)			Pension and Postretirement Benefits (net of taxes)			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
	($ in millions)
Balance at January 1, 2009	$	(5.1	)		(25.0	)	$	(239.3	)	$	(269.4	)
Unrealized gains (losses)		4.6			24.2			(27.3	)		1.5
Reclassification adjustments into income		-			12.4			7.3			19.7
Balance at December 31, 2009		(0.5	)		11.6			(259.3	)		(248.2	)
Unrealized gains (losses)		0.9			5.4			(26.0	)		(19.7	)
Reclassification adjustments into income		-			(5.4	)		11.5			6.1
Balance at December 31, 2010		0.4			11.6			(273.8	)		(261.8	)
Unrealized gains (losses)		1.4			(10.6	)		(29.0	)		(38.2	)
Reclassification adjustments into income		-			(6.3	)		12.1			5.8
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	1.8		$	(5.3	)	$	(290.7	)	$	(294.2	)

Pension and postretirement benefits (net of taxes) activity in other comprehensive loss included the amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses and pension and postretirement liability adjustments.

Unrealized gains and losses on derivative contracts (net of taxes) activity in other comprehensive loss included a deferred tax (benefit) provision for 2011, 2010 and 2009 of $(10.7) million, zero and $23.2 million, respectively.  Pension and postretirement benefits (net of taxes) activity in other comprehensive loss included a deferred tax benefit for 2011, 2010 and 2009 of $10.2 million, $9.1 million and $9.7 million, respectively.

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STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Apr. 23, 2009
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation	$ 8.8	$ 10.1	$ 8.6
Mark-to-market adjustments	(0.5)	1.2	0.8
Total expense	8.3	11.3	9.4
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options, restricted stock and performance shares vesting period (in years)	three
Long Term Incentive Plan authorized additional shares reserved for issuance (in shares)				3,000,000
Stock Options Activity [Rollforward]
Outstanding at January 1, 2011 (in shares)	3,849,411
Granted (in shares)	575,000	803,750	866,250
Exercised (in shares)	(508,247)	(200,000)	0
Canceled (in shares)	(151,294)
Outstanding, December 31, 2011 (in shares)	3,764,870	3,849,411
Option Price, outstanding, beginning of period, minimum (in dollars per share)	$ 6.98
Option price, outstanding, beginning of period, maximum (in dollars per share)	$ 23.78
Option price, granted (in dollars per share)	$ 18.78
Option price, exercised, minimum (in dollars per share)	$ 6.98
Option price exercised, maximum (in dollars per share)	$ 23.78
Option price, canceled, minimum (in dollars per share)	$ 6.98
Option price, canceled, maximum (in dollars per share)	$ 20.67
Option price, outstanding, minimum, end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 14.28
Option price, outstanding, maximum, end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 23.78
Weighted average option price, beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 17.53
Weighted average option price, granted (in dollars per share)	$ 18.78	$ 15.68	$ 14.28
Weighted average option price, exercised (in dollars per share)	$ 16.59
Weighted average option price, canceled (in dollars per share)	$ 17.69
Weighted average option price, outstanding, end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 17.84	$ 17.53
Options exercisable, beginning of period (in shares)	2,336,195
Options exercisable, end of period (in shares)	2,415,347	2,336,195
Weighted average exercise price, exercisable , beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 18.73
Weighted average exercise price, exercisable, end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 18.46	$ 18.73
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Options exercisable (in shares)	2,415,347
Options outstanding (in shares)	3,764,870
Under $16 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of exercise price, maximum, (in dollars per share)	$ 16.00
Options exercisable (in shares)	669,241
Weighted average exercise price, exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 14.83
Options outstanding (in shares)	1,443,764
Weighted average exercise price, outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 15.03
$16-$20[Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of exercise price, minimum, (in dollars per share)	$ 16.00
Range of exercise price, maximum, (in dollars per share)	$ 20.00
Options exercisable (in shares)	586,914
Weighted average exercise price, exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 16.99
Options outstanding (in shares)	1,161,914
Weighted average exercise price, outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 17.88
Over $20 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Range of exercise price, minimum, (in dollars per share)	$ 20.00
Options exercisable (in shares)	1,159,192
Weighted average exercise price, exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 21.30
Options outstanding (in shares)	1,159,192
Weighted average exercise price, outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 21.30
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock option and long-term incentive plans, exercisable period (in years)	10
Long Term Incentive Plan authorized additional shares reserved for issuance (in shares)	7,071,722
Number of shares available for grant or purchase (in shares)	2,635,972
Sub-limit for all types of stock awards included in available to be issued stock options (in shares)	1,710,972
Average exercise period for outstanding options (in months)	74
Average exercise period for exercisable options (in months)	59
Aggregate intrinsic value for outstanding options	9.1
Aggregate intrinsic value for exercisable options	4.9
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	4.2	0.9
Total unrecognized compensation, unvested	3.4
Total unrecognized compensation, unvested, weighted average recognition period (in years)	1.2
Performance Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance share award cycle (in years)	3
Liability recorded for performance shares to be settled in cash	4.0
Total unrecognized compensation, unvested	$ 2.5
Total unrecognized compensation, unvested, weighted average recognition period (in years)	1.1
Performance Shares [Member] | To Settle in Cash [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares outstanding at January 1, 2011, performance shares (in shares)	312,625
Granted, performance shares (in shares)	65,250
Paid/Issued, performance shares (in shares)	(112,083)
Converted from shares to cash (in shares)	5,972
Canceled, performance shares (in shares)	(4,028)
Shares outstanding at December 31, 2011, performance shares (in shares)	267,736
Total vested, at December 31, 2011, performance shares (in shares)	200,236
Weighted average fair value, outstanding, at January 1, 2011, performance shares (in dollars per share)	$ 20.65
Weighted average fair value, granted, performance shares (in dollars per share)	$ 18.78
Weighted average fair value, paid/issued, performance shares (in dollars per share)	$ 20.65
Weighted average fair value, converted from shares to cash, performance shares (in dollars per share)	$ 14.62
Weighted average fair value, canceled, performance shares (in dollars per share)	$ 20.65
Weighted average fair value, outstanding, at December 31, 2011, performance shares (in dollars per share)	$ 19.78
Weighted average fair value, total vested, at December 31, 2011, performance shares (in dollars per share)	$ 19.78
Performance Shares [Member] | To Settle in Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares outstanding at January 1, 2011, performance shares (in shares)	303,875
Granted, performance shares (in shares)	65,250
Paid/Issued, performance shares (in shares)	(105,000)
Converted from shares to cash (in shares)	(5,972)
Canceled, performance shares (in shares)	(4,028)
Shares outstanding at December 31, 2011, performance shares (in shares)	254,125
Total vested, at December 31, 2011, performance shares (in shares)	186,625
Weighted average fair value, outstanding, at January 1, 2011, performance shares (in dollars per share)	$ 16.71
Weighted average fair value, granted, performance shares (in dollars per share)	$ 18.78
Weighted average fair value, paid/issued, performance shares (in dollars per share)	$ 20.29
Weighted average fair value, converted from shares to cash, performance shares (in dollars per share)	$ 14.62
Weighted average fair value, canceled, performance shares (in dollars per share)	$ 15.08
Weighted average fair value, outstanding, at December 31, 2011, performance shares (in dollars per share)	$ 15.83
Weighted average fair value, total vested, at December 31, 2011, performance shares (in dollars per share)	$ 15.16
Unvested Performance Shares [Rollforward]
Unvested, beginning of period (in shares)	91,542
Granted (in shares)	65,250
Vested (in shares)	(85,264)
Canceled (in shares)	(4,028)
Unvested, end of period (in shares)	67,500
Weighted average fair value per share, beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 20.65
Weighted average fair value per share, granted (in dollars per share)	$ 18.78
Weighted average fair value, vested (in dollars per share)	$ 19.78
Weighted average fair value, end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 19.78
Weighted average fair value, canceled (in dollars per share)	$ 20.65
2000 Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Long Term Incentive Plan authorized additional shares reserved for issuance (in shares)	629,563
Number of shares available for grant or purchase (in shares)	24,780
2003 Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Long Term Incentive Plan authorized additional shares reserved for issuance (in shares)	919,496
Number of shares available for grant or purchase (in shares)	63,676
2006 Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Long Term Incentive Plan authorized additional shares reserved for issuance (in shares)	2,456,127
Number of shares available for grant or purchase (in shares)	122,516
2009 Long Term Incentive Plan[Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Long Term Incentive Plan authorized additional shares reserved for issuance (in shares)	3,000,000
Number of shares available for grant or purchase (in shares)	2,425,000
Stock Option Plan 1996 (Plan Expired) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Long Term Incentive Plan authorized additional shares reserved for issuance (in shares)	66,536
Number of shares available for grant or purchase (in shares)	0
Long Term Incentive Stock Option Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Long Term Incentive Plan authorized additional shares reserved for issuance (in shares)	7,005,186
Number of shares available for grant or purchase (in shares)	2,635,972
1997 Stock Plan For Non Employee Directors [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Long Term Incentive Plan authorized additional shares reserved for issuance (in shares)	603,507
Number of shares available for grant or purchase (in shares)	269,763
Employee deferral Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Long Term Incentive Plan authorized additional shares reserved for issuance (in shares)	46,561
Number of shares available for grant or purchase (in shares)	45,669
Stock Purchase Plans [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Long Term Incentive Plan authorized additional shares reserved for issuance (in shares)	650,068
Number of shares available for grant or purchase (in shares)	315,432
Committed shares reserved under the stock purchase plans for non employee Directors (in shares)	334,631

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating Activities
Net income	$ 241.7	$ 64.8	$ 135.7
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used for) operating activities:
Gain on remeasurement of investment in SunBelt	(181.4)	0	0
Earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	(9.6)	(29.9)	(37.7)
Other operating income-gains on disposition of property, plant and equipment	(6.2)	(1.1)	(6.5)
Stock-based compensation	5.8	6.7	5.8
Depreciation and amortization	99.3	86.9	71.7
Deferred taxes	92.6	11.2	72.3
Write-off of equipment and facility included in restructuring charges	0	17.5	0
Qualified pension plan contributions	(0.9)	(9.8)	(4.5)
Qualified pension plan income	(26.4)	(21.6)	(21.8)
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans	0	1.0	2.1
Change in assets and liabilities:
Receivables	(26.2)	(3.6)	29.7
Income taxes receivable	5.0	13.3	(20.0)
Inventories	(17.0)	(31.8)	7.6
Other current assets	0.6	(1.7)	3.6
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	15.6	14.1	(43.5)
Other assets	(0.2)	2.0	(2.1)
Other noncurrent liabilities	25.6	(2.0)	10.2
Other operating activities	(2.4)	(0.5)	(2.4)
Net operating activities	215.9	115.5	200.2
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(200.9)	(85.3)	(137.9)
Business acquired in purchase transaction, net of cash acquired	123.4	0	0
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of equipment	3.2	0	0
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment	7.9	3.1	8.5
Distributions from affiliated companies, net	1.9	23.6	37.1
Restricted cash activity, net	50.3	(102.0)	0
Other investing activities	1.4	0.9	4.6
Net investing activities	(259.6)	(159.7)	(87.7)
Financing Activities
Long-Term Debt Borrowings	36.0	117.0	150.3
Long-Term Debt Repayments	(87.2)	(20.7)	0
Issuance of common stock	0	9.2	14.8
Common stock repurchased and retired	(4.2)	0	0
Stock options exercised	8.3	2.9	0.2
Excess tax benefits from stock options exercised	1.0	0.2	0
Dividends paid	(64.0)	(63.3)	(62.5)
Deferred debt issuance costs	0	(1.0)	(3.3)
Net financing activities	(110.1)	44.3	99.5
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(153.8)	0.1	212.0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	458.6	458.5	246.5
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	304.8	458.6	458.5
Cash paid (received) for interest and income taxes:
Interest	24.8	24.6	13.9
Income taxes, net of refunds	$ 41.5	$ (5.9)	$ 21.1

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1.00	$ 1.00
Common stock, authorized (in shares)	120.0	120.0
Common stock, issued (in shares)	80.1	79.6
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)	80.1	79.6

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DEBT

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

DEBT [Abstract]

DEBT

DEBT

Credit Facility

At December 31, 2011, we had $231.5 million available under our $240 million senior revolving credit facility, because we had issued $8.5 million of letters of credit under a $110 million subfacility.  The senior revolving credit facility will expire in October 2012.  Under the senior revolving credit facility, we may select various floating rate borrowing options.  The actual interest rate paid on borrowings under the senior revolving credit facility is based on a pricing grid which is dependent upon the leverage ratio as calculated under the terms of the facility at the end of the prior fiscal quarter.  The facility includes various customary restrictive covenants, including restrictions related to the ratio of debt to earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization (leverage ratio) and the ratio of earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization to interest expense (coverage ratio).  Compliance with these covenants is determined quarterly based on the operating cash flows for the last four quarters.  We were in compliance with all covenants and restrictions under all our outstanding credit agreements as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and no event of default had occurred that would permit the lenders under our outstanding credit agreements to accelerate the debt if not cured.  In the future, our ability to generate sufficient operating cash flows, among other factors, will determine the amounts available to be borrowed under these facilities.  As of December 31, 2011, there were no covenants or other restrictions that limited our ability to borrow.

At December 31, 2011, we had total letters of credit of $34.4 million outstanding, of which $8.5 million were issued under our $240 million senior revolving credit facility.  In addition to our senior revolving credit facility, we have two letter of credit facilities totaling $28 million, which we reduced from $38 million during 2010.  The letters of credit are used to support certain long-term debt and certain workers compensation insurance policies.

Long-Term Debt

	December 31,
	2011		2010
Notes payable:	($ in millions)
Variable-rate Go Zone bonds, due 2024 (1.78% and 1.76% at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively)	$	50.0	$	14.0
Variable-rate Recovery Zone bonds, due 2024-2035 (1.78% and 1.76% at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively)		103.0		103.0
9.125%, due 2011 (includes interest rate swaps of $2.8 million in 2010)		-		77.8
6.5%, due 2013		11.4		11.4
6.75%, due 2016 (includes interest rate swaps of $10.5 million and $4.6 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively)		135.5		129.6
8.875%, due 2019 (includes unamortized discount of $1.0 million in 2011 and $1.1 million in 2010)		149.0		148.9
7.23%, SunBelt Notes due 2012-2017 (includes unamortized fair value premium of $1.6 million and interest rate swaps of $1.9 million in 2011)		76.6		-
Industrial development and environmental improvement obligations at a fixed interest rate of 6.625%, due 2017-2025 (includes interest rate swaps of $0.3 million in 2011 and $0.7 million in 2010)		10.9		11.3
Total debt		536.4		496.0
Amounts due within one year		12.2		77.8
Total long-term debt	$	524.2	$	418.2

Pursuant to a note purchase agreement dated December 22, 1997, SunBelt sold $97.5 million of Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2017, Series O, and $97.5 million of Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2017, Series G.  The SunBelt Notes bear interest at a rate of 7.23% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on each June 22 and December 22.  Beginning on December 22, 2002 and each year through 2017, SunBelt is required to repay $12.2 million of the SunBelt Notes, of which $6.1 million is attributable to the Series O Notes and of which $6.1 million is attributable to the Series G Notes.  In conjunction with the SunBelt acquisition, we consolidated the SunBelt Notes with a fair value of $87.3 million for the remaining principal balance of $85.3 million as of February 28, 2011.  In December 2011, $12.2 million was repaid on these SunBelt Notes.

In December 2011, we repaid the $75.0 million 2011 Notes, which became due in 2011.

In December 2010, we completed a financing of Recovery Zone tax-exempt bonds totaling $41.0 million due 2035.  The bonds were issued by the TN Authority pursuant to a trust indenture between the TN Authority and U. S. Bank National Association, as trustee.  The bonds were sold to PNC Bank, as administrative agent for itself and a syndicate of participating banks, in a private placement under a Credit and Funding Agreement dated December 27, 2010, between us and PNC Bank.  Proceeds of the bonds will be loaned by the TN Authority to us under a loan agreement, whereby we are obligated to make loan payments to the TN Authority sufficient to pay all debt service and expenses related to the bonds.  Our obligations under the loan agreement and related note bear interest at a fluctuating rate based on LIBOR.  The financial covenants in the credit agreement mirror those in our senior revolving credit facility.  The bonds may be tendered to us (without premium) periodically beginning November 1, 2015.  During December 2010, we drew $41.0 million of the bonds.  The proceeds from the bonds are required to be used to fund capital project spending for our Charleston, TN facility mercury cell conversion.  As of December 31, 2011, $26.0 million of the proceeds remain with the trustee and are classified as a noncurrent asset on our consolidated balance sheet as restricted cash, until such time as we request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used for the Charleston, TN facility mercury cell conversion.

In December 2010, we completed a financing of Recovery Zone tax-exempt bonds totaling $42.0 million due 2033.  The bonds were issued by MS Finance pursuant to a trust indenture between MS Finance and U. S. Bank National Association, as trustee.  The bonds were sold to PNC Bank, as administrative agent for itself and a syndicate of participating banks, in a private placement under a Credit and Funding Agreement dated December 1, 2010, between us and PNC Bank.  Proceeds of the bonds will be loaned by MS Finance to us under a loan agreement, whereby we are obligated to make loan payments to MS Finance sufficient to pay all debt service and expenses related to the bonds.  Our obligations under the loan agreement and related note bear interest at a fluctuating rate based on LIBOR.  The financial covenants in the credit agreement mirror those in our senior revolving credit facility.  The bonds may be tendered to us (without premium) periodically beginning November 1, 2015.  During December 2010, we drew $42.0 million of the bonds.  The proceeds from the bonds are required to be used to fund capital project spending for our ongoing relocation of the Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  As of December 31, 2011, $14.1 million of the proceeds remain with the trustee and are classified as a noncurrent asset on our consolidated balance sheet as restricted cash, until such time as we request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used for the Oxford, MS Winchester relocation.

In October 2010, we completed a financing of tax-exempt bonds totaling $70.0 million due 2024.  The bonds include $50.0 million of Go Zone and $20.0 million of Recovery Zone.  The bonds were issued by the AL Authority pursuant to a trust indenture between the AL Authority and U. S. Bank National Association, as trustee.  The bonds were sold to PNC Bank, as administrative agent for itself and a syndicate of participating banks, in a private placement under a Credit and Funding Agreement dated October 14, 2010, between us and PNC Bank.  Proceeds of the bonds will be loaned by the AL Authority to us under a loan agreement, whereby we are obligated to make loan payments to the AL Authority sufficient to pay all debt service and expenses related to the bonds.  Our obligations under the loan agreement and related note bear interest at a fluctuating rate based on LIBOR.  The financial covenants in the credit agreement mirror those in our senior revolving credit facility.  The bonds may be tendered to us (without premium) periodically beginning November 1, 2015.  We had the option to borrow up to the entire $70.0 million in a series of draw downs through December 31, 2011.  We drew $36.0 million of the bonds in 2011 and $34.0 million in 2010.  The proceeds from the bonds are required to be used to fund capital project spending at our McIntosh, AL facility.  As of December 31, 2011, $11.6 million of the proceeds remain with the trustee and are classified as a noncurrent asset on our consolidated balance sheet as restricted cash, until such time as we request reimbursement of qualifying amounts used for capital project spending at our McIntosh, AL facility.

In September 2010, we redeemed industrial revenue bonds totaling $18.9 million, with maturity dates of February 2016 and March 2016.  We paid a premium of $0.4 million to the bond holders, which was included in interest expense.  We also recognized a $0.3 million deferred gain in interest expense related to the interest rate swaps, which were terminated in April 2010, on these industrial revenue bonds.  In October 2010, we redeemed additional industrial revenue bonds totaling $1.8 million, with a maturity date of October 2014.

We had a $75 million Accounts Receivable Facility, renewable annually for five years, which would have expired in July 2012.  During the second quarter of 2010, we terminated the Accounts Receivable Facility.  Based on the liquidity from cash and cash equivalents, cash flow from operations, and borrowings under our senior revolving credit facility, the Accounts Receivable Facility was no longer necessary.  There had been no borrowings under the Accounts Receivable Facility since 2007.  The Accounts Receivable Facility provided for the sale of our eligible trade receivables to a third party conduit through a wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote, special purpose entity that was consolidated for financial statement purposes.  The Accounts Receivable Facility contained specific covenants relating to the ability of the lender to obtain or maintain a first priority lien on the receivables.  In addition, the Accounts Receivable Facility incorporated the leverage and coverage covenants that are contained in the senior revolving credit facility.

Annual maturities of long-term debt are $12.2 million in 2012, $23.6 million in 2013, $12.2 million in 2014, $12.2 million in 2015, $147.7 million in 2016 and a total of $328.5 million thereafter.

We have entered into interest rate swaps, as disclosed below, whereby we agree to pay variable and fixed rates to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us fixed and variable rates.  In all cases the underlying index for variable rates is the six-month LIBOR.  Accordingly, payments are settled every six months and the terms of the swaps are the same as the underlying debt instruments.

The following table reflects the swap activity related to certain debt obligations:

Underlying Debt Instrument	Swap Amount		Date of Swap	December 31, 2011
		($ in millions)		Olin Pays Floating Rate:
6.75%, due 2016	$	65.0	March 2010	3.75-4.75	%(a)
6.75%, due 2016	$	60.0	March 2010	3.75-4.75	%(a)
7.23%, SunBelt Notes	$	73.1	May 2011	5.5-6.5	%(a)
Industrial development obligation at a fixed interest rate of 6.625% due 2017	$	7.7	March 2002	0.81	%
				Olin Receives Floating Rate:
6.75%, due 2016	$	65.0	October 2011	3.75-4.75	%(a)
6.75%, due 2016	$	60.0	October 2011	3.75-4.75	%(a)

(a) Actual rate is set in arrears.  We project the rate will fall within the range shown.

In March 2010, we entered into interest rate swaps on $125 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us fixed rates.  The counterparty to these agreements is Citibank.  In October 2011, we entered into $125 million of interest rate swaps with equal and opposite terms as the $125 million variable interest rate swaps on the 2016 Notes.  We have agreed to pay a fixed rate to a counterparty who, in turn, pays us variable rates.  The counterparty to this agreement is also Citibank.  The result was a gain of $11.0 million on the $125 million variable interest rate swaps, which will be recognized through 2016.  As of December 31, 2011, $10.5 million of this gain was included in long-term debt.  In October 2011, we de-designated our $125 million interest rate swaps that had previously been designated as fair value hedges.  The $125 million variable interest rate swaps and the $125 million fixed interest rate swaps do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting.  All changes in the fair value of these interest rate swaps are recorded currently in earnings.

In 2001 and 2002, we entered into interest rate swaps on $75 million of our underlying fixed-rate debt obligations, whereby we agreed to pay variable rates to a counterparty who, in turn, paid us fixed rates.  The counterparty to these agreements was Citibank.  In January 2009, we entered into a $75 million fixed interest rate swap with equal and opposite terms as the $75 million variable interest rate swaps on the 2011 Notes.  We agreed to pay a fixed rate to a counterparty who, in turn, paid us variable rates.  The counterparty to this agreement was Bank of America.  The result was a gain of $7.9 million on the $75 million variable interest rate swaps, which was recognized through 2011.

The remaining $80.8 million of interest rate swaps have been designated as fair value hedges of the risk of changes in the value of our fixed-rate debt due to changes in interest rates for a portion of our fixed-rate borrowings.  Accordingly, the interest rate swaps have been recorded at their fair market value of $2.2 million at December 31, 2011 and are included in other assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, with a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of the related debt.  No gain or loss has been recorded as the swaps meet the criteria to qualify for hedge accounting treatment with no ineffectiveness.  The counterparties to these agreements are Citibank ($7.7 million) and Wells Fargo ($73.1 million).  Of the $80.8 million of interest rate swaps outstanding, $73.1 million were entered into in May 2011 on the SunBelt Notes.

Our loss in the event of nonperformance by these counterparties could be significant to our financial position and results of operations.  These interest rate swaps reduced interest expense by $7.2 million, $7.0 million and $3.0 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The difference between interest paid and interest received is included as an adjustment to interest expense.

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Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Entity Registrant Name	Olin Corporation
Entity Central Index Key	0000074303
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 1,805,764,093
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		80,058,320
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011

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PENSION PLANS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

PENSION PLANS [Abstract]

PENSION PLANS

PENSION PLANS

Most of our employees participate in defined contribution pension plans.  We provide a contribution to an individual retirement contribution account maintained with the CEOP primarily equal to 5% of the employee's eligible compensation if such employee is less than age 45, and 7.5% of the employee's eligible compensation if such employee is age 45 or older.  The defined contribution pension plans expense was $14.6 million, $13.3 million and $12.7 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

A portion of our bargaining hourly employees continue to participate in our domestic defined benefit pension plans under a flat-benefit formula.  Our funding policy for the defined benefit pension plans is consistent with the requirements of federal laws and regulations.  Our foreign subsidiaries maintain pension and other benefit plans, which are consistent with statutory practices.  Our defined benefit pension plan provides that if, within three years following a change of control of Olin, any corporate action is taken or filing made in contemplation of, among other things, a plan termination or merger or other transfer of assets or liabilities of the plan, and such termination, merger or transfer thereafter takes place, plan benefits would automatically be increased for affected participants (and retired participants) to absorb any plan surplus (subject to applicable collective bargaining requirements).

During the third quarter of 2006, the "Pension Protection Act of 2006," amended by "The Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act," during the fourth quarter of 2008, became law.  Among the stated objectives of the laws were the protection of both pension beneficiaries and the financial health of the PBGC.  To accomplish these objectives, the new laws require sponsors to fund defined benefit pension plans earlier than previous requirements and to pay increased PBGC premiums.  The laws require defined benefit pension plans to be fully funded in 2011.

Pension Obligations and Funded Status

Changes in the benefit obligation and plan assets were as follows:

	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
Change in Benefit Obligation		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Benefit obligation at beginning of year		$	1,790.0		$	55.6		$	1,845.6				1,727.3		$	50.2		$	1,777.5
Service cost			2.9			0.6			3.5				2.8			0.7			3.5
Interest cost			91.2			3.0			94.2				95.5			3.1			98.6
Actuarial loss			126.2			10.1			136.3				86.9			5.2			92.1
Benefits paid			(126.5	)		(3.3	)		(129.8	)			(125.3	)		(6.6	)		(131.9	)
Curtailment			1.1			-			1.1				2.8			-			2.8
Currency translation adjustments			-			(1.5	)		(1.5	)			-			3.0			3.0
Benefit obligation at end of year		$	1,884.9		$	64.5		$	1,949.4			$	1,790.0		$	55.6		$	1,845.6
	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
Change in Plan Assets		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Fair value of plans' assets at beginning of year		$	1,734.9		$	65.5		$	1,800.4			$	1,670.6		$	51.4		$	1,722.0
Actual return on plans' assets			229.6			2.5			232.1				185.6			7.4			193.0
Employer contributions			4.6			1.1			5.7				4.0			10.0			14.0
Benefits paid			(126.5	)		(3.3	)		(129.8	)			(125.3	)		(6.6	)		(131.9	)
Currency translation adjustments			-			(1.5	)		(1.5	)			-			3.3			3.3
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year		$	1,842.6		$	64.3		$	1,906.9			$	1,734.9		$	65.5		$	1,800.4
	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
Funded Status		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Qualified plans		$	17.4		$	1.8		$	19.2			$	4.6		$	11.7		$	16.3
Non-qualified plans			(59.7	)		(2.0	)		(61.7	)			(59.7	)		(1.8	)		(61.5	)
Total funded status		$	(42.3	)	$	(0.2	)	$	(42.5	)		$	(55.1	)	$	9.9		$	(45.2	)

Under ASC 715, formerly SFAS No. 158, we recorded a $25.9 million after-tax charge ($41.8 million pretax) to shareholders' equity as of December 31, 2011 for our pension plans.  This charge reflected a 40-basis point decrease in the plans' discount rate and an unfavorable actuarial assumption change related to mortality tables, partially offset by the favorable performance on plan assets during 2011.  In 2010, we recorded a $23.7 million after-tax charge ($38.7 million pretax) to shareholders' equity as of December 31, 2010 for our pension plans.  This charge reflected a 45-basis point decrease in the plans' discount rate, partially offset by the favorable performance on plan assets during 2010.

The $136.3 million actuarial loss for 2011 was primarily due to a 40-basis point decrease in the plans' discount rate and an unfavorable actuarial assumption charge related to mortality tables.  The $92.1 million actuarial loss for 2010 was primarily due to a 45-basis point decrease in the plans' discount rate.

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consisted of:

	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Prepaid benefit cost		$	17.4		$	1.8		$	19.2			$	4.6		$	11.7		$	16.3
Accrued benefit in current liabilities			(3.9	)		(0.2	)		(4.1	)			(4.1	)		(0.1	)		(4.2	)
Accrued benefit in noncurrent liabilities			(55.8	)		(1.8	)		(57.6	)			(55.6	)		(1.7	)		(57.3	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			415.4			19.8			435.2				401.9			8.2			410.1
Net balance sheet impact		$	373.1		$	19.6		$	392.7			$	346.8		$	18.1		$	364.9

At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the benefit obligation of non-qualified pension plans was $61.7 million and $61.5 million, respectively, and was included in the above pension benefit obligation.  There were no plan assets for these non-qualified pension plans.  Benefit payments for the non-qualified pension plans are expected to be as follows:  2012-$4.1 million; 2013-$5.4 million; 2014-$12.0 million; 2015-$3.1 million; and 2016-$4.8 million.  Benefit payments for the qualified plans are projected to be as follows:  2012-$120.3 million; 2013-$114.6 million; 2014-$109.9 million; 2015-$106.1 million; and 2016-$102.5 million.

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Projected benefit obligation	$	1,949.4		$	1,845.6
Accumulated benefit obligation		1,941.2			1,831.9
Fair value of plan assets		1,906.9			1,800.4
	Years Ended December 31,
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Income	2011			2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Service cost	$	6.1		$	6.0		$	5.8
Interest cost		94.2			98.6			103.0
Expected return on plans' assets		(139.5	)		(138.8	)		(135.5	)
Amortization of prior service cost		0.8			0.7			0.7
Recognized actuarial loss		14.8			12.6			9.3
Curtailments		1.1			3.2			-
Net periodic benefit income	$	(22.5	)	$	(17.7	)	$	(16.7	)
Included in Other Comprehensive Loss (Pretax)
Liability adjustment	$	41.8		$	38.7		$	35.0
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses		(16.7	)		(16.5	)		(10.0	)

In June 2011, we recorded a curtailment charge of $1.1 million related to the ratification of a new five and one half year Winchester, East Alton, IL union labor agreement.  In December 2010, we recorded a curtailment charge of $3.2 million associated with our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  These curtailment charges were included in restructuring charges.

In March 2010, we recorded a charge of $1.3 million associated with an agreement to withdraw our Henderson, NV chlor alkali hourly workforce from a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan.

The service cost and the amortization of prior service cost components of pension expense related to the employees of the operating segments are allocated to the operating segments based on their respective estimated census data.

Pension Plan Assumptions

Certain actuarial assumptions, such as discount rate and long-term rate of return on plan assets, have a significant effect on the amounts reported for net periodic benefit cost and accrued benefit obligation amounts.  We use a measurement date of December 31 for our pension plans.

	U.S. Pension Benefits									Foreign Pension Benefits
Weighted Average Assumptions:	2011			2010			2009			2011			2010			2009
Discount rate-periodic benefit cost		5.3	%		5.75	%		6.25	%		5.5	%		6.5	%		7.5	%
Expected return on assets		8.25	%		8.50	%		8.50	%		8.0	%		7.5	%		7.5	%
Rate of compensation increase		3.0	%		3.0	%		3.0	%		3.5	%		3.5	%		3.5	%
Discount rate-benefit obligation		4.9	%		5.3	%		5.75	%		4.4	%		5.5	%		6.5	%

The discount rate is based on a hypothetical yield curve represented by a series of annualized individual zero-coupon bond spot rates for maturities ranging from one-half to thirty years.  The bonds used in the yield curve must have a rating of AA or better per Standard & Poor's, be non-callable, and have at least $250 million par outstanding.  The yield curve is then applied to the projected benefit payments from the plan.  Based on these bonds and the projected benefit payment streams, the single rate that produces the same yield as the matching bond portfolio, rounded to the nearest quarter point, is used as the discount rate.

The long-term expected rate of return on plan assets represents an estimate of the long-term rate of returns on the investment portfolio consisting of equities, fixed income, and alternative investments.  We use long-term historical actual return information, the allocation mix of investments that comprise plan assets, and forecast estimates of long-term investment returns, including inflation rates, by reference to external sources.  The historic rate of return on plan assets has been 11.2% for the last 5 years, 10.0% for the last 10 years, and 9.2% for the last 15 years.  The following rates of return by asset class were considered in setting the long-term rate of return assumption:

U.S. equities	9	%	to	13	%
Non-U.S. equities	10	%	to	14	%
Fixed income/cash	5	%	to	9	%
Alternative investments	5	%	to	15	%
Absolute return strategies	8	%	to	12	%

Plan Assets

Our pension plan asset allocation at December 31, 2011 and 2010, by asset class was as follows:

	Percentage of Plan Assets
Asset Class	2011			2010
U.S. equities		5	%		5	%
Non-U.S. equities		8	%		10	%
Fixed income/cash		56	%		49	%
Alternative investments		16	%		16	%
Absolute return strategies		15	%		20	%
Total		100	%		100	%

The Alternative Investments asset class includes hedge funds, real estate, and private equity investments.  The Alternative Investment class is intended to help diversify risk and increase returns by utilizing a broader group of assets.

Absolute Return Strategies further diversify the plan's assets through the use of asset allocations that seek to provide a targeted rate of return over inflation.  The investment managers allocate funds within asset classes that they consider to be undervalued in an effort to preserve gains in overvalued asset classes and to find opportunities in undervalued asset classes.

A master trust was established by our pension plan to accumulate funds required to meet benefit payments of our plan and is administered solely in the interest of our plan's participants and their beneficiaries.  The master trust's investment horizon is long term.  Its assets are managed by professional investment managers or invested in professionally managed investment vehicles.

Our pension plan maintains a portfolio of assets designed to achieve an appropriate risk adjusted return.  The portfolio of assets is also structured to protect the funding level from the negative impacts of interest rate changes on the asset and liability values.  This is accomplished by investing in a portfolio of assets with a maturity duration that approximately matches the duration of the plan liabilities.  Risk is managed by diversifying assets across asset classes whose return patterns are not highly correlated, investing in passively and actively managed strategies and in value and growth styles, and by periodic rebalancing of asset classes, strategies and investment styles to objectively set targets.

As of December 31, 2011, the following target allocation and ranges have been set for each asset class:

Asset Class	Target Allocation		Target Range
U.S. equities	7.5	%	0-14	%
Non-U.S. equities	7.5	%	0-14	%
Fixed income/cash	56	%	44-76	%
Alternative investments	9	%	0-28	%
Absolute return strategies	20	%	10-30	%

For our domestic qualified pension plans, based on current funding requirements, we will not be required to make any cash contributions at least through 2013.  We do have a small Canadian qualified pension plan to which we made $0.9 million and $9.8 million of cash contributions in 2011 and 2010, respectively, and we anticipate less than $5 million of cash contributions in 2012.

Determining which hierarchical level an asset or liability falls within requires significant judgment.  The following table summarizes our domestic and foreign defined benefit pension plan assets measured at fair value as of December 31, 2011:

Asset class	Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
	($ in millions)
Equity securities
U.S. equities	$	78.8	$	14.9	$	-	$	93.7
Non-U.S. equities		51.4		107.6		-		159.0
Fixed income / cash
Cash		50.1		-		-		50.1
Government treasuries		-		476.2		5.5		481.7
Corporate debt instruments		3.1		395.5		2.9		401.5
Asset-backed securities		-		122.2		-		122.2
Alternative investments
Hedge fund of funds		-		-		258.3		258.3
Real estate funds		-		-		33.9		33.9
Private equity funds		-		-		16.8		16.8
Absolute return strategies		-		254.5		35.2		289.7
Total assets	$	183.4	$	1,370.9	$	352.6	$	1,906.9

The following table summarizes our domestic and foreign defined benefit pension plan assets measured at fair value as of December 31, 2010:

Asset class	Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
	($ in millions)
Equity securities
U.S. equities	$	53.4	$	46.7	$	-	$	100.1
Non-U.S. equities		-		172.0		-		172.0
Fixed income / cash
Cash		43.3		-		-		43.3
Government treasuries		-		296.2		5.5		301.7
Corporate debt instruments		1.7		407.7		2.2		411.6
Asset-backed securities		-		119.2		-		119.2
Alternative investments
Hedge fund of funds		-		-		251.6		251.6
Real estate funds		-		-		23.8		23.8
Private equity funds		-		-		15.7		15.7
Absolute return strategies		-		307.5		53.9		361.4
Total assets	$	98.4	$	1,349.3	$	352.7	$	1,800.4

U.S. equities-This class included actively and passively managed equity investments in common stock and commingled funds comprised primarily of large-capitalization stocks with value, core and growth strategies.

Non-U.S. equities-This class included actively managed equity investments in commingled funds comprised primarily of international large-capitalization stocks from both developed and emerging markets.

Fixed income and cash-This class included commingled funds comprised of debt instruments issued by the US and Canadian Treasury, U.S. Agencies, corporate debt instruments, asset- and mortgage-backed securities and cash.

Hedge fund of funds - This class included a hedge fund which invests in the following types of hedge funds:

Event driven hedge funds-This class included hedge funds that invest in securities to capture excess returns that are driven by market or specific company events including activist investment philosophies and the arbitrage of equity and private and public debt securities.

Market neutral hedge funds-This class included investments in U.S. and international equities and fixed income securities while maintaining a market neutral position in those markets.

Other hedge funds-This class primarily included long-short equity strategies and a global macro fund which invested in fixed income, equity, currency, commodity and related derivative markets.

At December 31, 2011, the asset allocation included investment in approximately 20% event driven hedge funds, 35% market neutral hedge funds, and 45% other hedge funds.  At December 31, 2010, the asset allocation included investment in approximately 30% event driven hedge funds, 30% market neutral hedge funds, and 40% other hedge funds.

Real estate funds-This class included several funds that invest primarily in U.S. commercial real estate.

Private equity funds-This class included several private equity funds that invest primarily in infrastructure and U.S. power generation and transmission assets.

Absolute return strategies-This class included multiple strategies which use asset allocations that seek to provide a targeted rate of return over inflation.  The investment managers allocate funds within asset classes that they consider to be undervalued in an effort to preserve gains in overvalued asset classes and to find opportunities in undervalued asset classes.  At December 31, 2011, the asset allocation included investment in approximately 25% equities, 60% cash and fixed income, and 15% alternative investments.  At December 31, 2010, the asset allocation included investments in approximately 30% equities, 60% cash and fixed income, and 10% alternative investments.

U.S. equities and non-U.S. equities are primarily valued at the net asset value provided by the independent administrator or custodian of the commingled fund.  The net asset value is based on the value of the underlying equities, which are traded on an active market.  U.S. equities are also valued at the closing price reported in an active market on which the individual securities are traded.  Fixed income investments are primarily valued at the net asset value provided by the independent administrator or custodian of the fund.  The net asset value is based on the underlying assets, which are valued using inputs such as the closing price reported, if traded on an active market, values derived from comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings, or under a discounted cash flow approach that utilizes observable inputs, such as current yields of similar instruments, but includes adjustments for risks that may not be observable such as certain credit and liquidity risks.  Alternative investments are primarily valued at the net asset value as determined by the independent administrator or custodian of the fund.  The net asset value is based on the underlying investments, which are valued using inputs such as quoted market prices of identical instruments, discounted future cash flows, independent appraisals, and market-based comparable data.  Absolute return strategies are commingled funds which reflect the fair value of our ownership interest in these funds.  The investments in these commingled funds include some or all of the above asset classes and are primarily valued at net asset values based on the underlying investments, which are valued consistent with the methodologies described above for each asset class.

The following table summarizes the activity for our defined benefit pension plans level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2011:

	December 31, 2010		Realized Gain/(Loss)		Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Relating to Assets Held at Period End			Purchases, Sales, and Settlements			Transfers In/(Out)		December 31, 2011
	($ in millions)
Fixed income / cash
Government treasuries	$	5.5	$	-	$	(0.2	)	$	0.2		$	-	$	5.5
Corporate debt instruments		2.2		0.3		(0.6	)		1.0			-		2.9
Alternative investments
Hedge fund of funds		251.6		-		6.7			-			-		258.3
Real estate funds		23.8		-		3.7			6.4			-		33.9
Private equity funds		15.7		-		1.1			-			-		16.8
Absolute return strategies		53.9		-		0.6			(19.3	)		-		35.2
Total level 3 assets	$	352.7	$	0.3	$	11.3		$	(11.7	)	$	-	$	352.6

The following table summarizes the activity for our defined benefit pension plans level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2010:

	December 31, 2009		Realized Gain/(Loss)		Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Relating to Assets Held at Period End			Purchases, Sales, and Settlements		Transfers In/(Out)			December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)
Fixed income / cash
Government treasuries	$	2.0	$	-	$	0.3		$	3.2	$	-		$	5.5
Corporate debt instruments		2.2		-		0.2			0.1		(0.3	)		2.2
Asset-backed securities		0.2		-		-			-		(0.2	)		-
Alternative investments
Hedge fund of funds		225.5		-		24.1			2.0		-			251.6
Real estate funds		22.3		-		(6.0	)		7.5		-			23.8
Private equity funds		12.9		0.1		0.7			2.0		-			15.7
Absolute return strategies		51.0		-		1.7			1.2		-			53.9
Total level 3 assets	$	316.1	$	0.1	$	21.0		$	16.0	$	(0.5	)	$	352.7

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]
Sales	$ 1,961.1	$ 1,585.9	$ 1,531.5
Operating expenses:
Cost of goods sold	1,573.9	1,349.9	1,222.7
Selling and administration	161.4	134.4	135.3
Restructuring charges	10.7	34.2	0
Other operating income	8.8	2.5	9.1
Operating income	223.9	69.9	182.6
Earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	9.6	29.9	37.7
Interest expense	30.4	25.4	11.6
Interest income	1.2	1.0	1.1
Other income	175.1	1.5	0.1
Income before taxes	379.4	76.9	209.9
Income tax provision	137.7	12.1	74.2
Net income	$ 241.7	$ 64.8	$ 135.7
Net income per common share:
Basic	$ 3.02	$ 0.82	$ 1.74
Diluted	$ 2.99	$ 0.81	$ 1.73
Average common shares outstanding:
Basic	80.0	79.2	78.1
Diluted	80.8	79.9	78.3

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EARNINGS PER SHARE

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Net income per common share [Abstract]

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic and diluted income per share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  Diluted net income per share reflects the dilutive effect of stock-based compensation.

	Years ended December 31,
Computation of Income per Share	2011		2010		2009
	(In millions, except per share data)
Net income	$	241.7	$	64.8	$	135.7
Basic shares:		80.0		79.2		78.1
Basic net income per share	$	3.02	$	0.82	$	1.74
Diluted shares:
Basic shares		80.0		79.2		78.1
Stock-based compensation		0.8		0.7		0.2
Diluted shares		80.8		79.9		78.3
Diluted net income per share	$	2.99	$	0.81	$	1.73

The computation of dilutive shares from stock-based compensation does not include 0.9 million, 1.3 million and 3.2 million shares in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

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RESTRUCTURING CHARGE

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

RESTRUCTURING CHARGES [Abstract]

RESTRUCTURING CHARGE

RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

On December 9, 2010, our board of directors approved a plan to eliminate our use of mercury in the manufacture of chlor alkali products.  Under the plan, the 260,000 tons of mercury cell capacity at our Charleston, TN facility will be converted to 200,000 tons of membrane capacity capable of producing both potassium hydroxide and caustic soda.  The project has an estimated capital cost of approximately $160 million.  The board of directors also approved plans to reconfigure our Augusta, GA facility to manufacture bleach and distribute caustic soda, while discontinuing chlor alkali manufacturing at this site.  This action will reduce our chlor alkali manufacturing capacity by 100,000 tons.  We based our decision to convert and reconfigure on several factors.  First, during 2009 and 2010 we had experienced a steady increase in the number of customers unwilling to accept our products manufactured using mercury cell technology.  Second, there was federal legislation passed in 2008 governing the treatment of mercury that significantly limits our recycling options after December 31, 2012.  We concluded that exiting mercury cell technology production after 2012 represented an unacceptable future cost risk.  Further, the conversion of the Charleston, TN plant to membrane technology will reduce the electricity usage per ECU produced by approximately 25% and the configuration of the new plant will result in an increase in our capacity to produce potassium hydroxide.  The decision to reconfigure the Augusta, GA facility to manufacture bleach and distribute caustic soda removes the highest cost production capacity from our system.  We currently expect to complete the conversion and reconfiguration by the end of 2012.  We recorded a pretax restructuring charge of $28.0 million associated with these actions in the fourth quarter of 2010.  The restructuring charge included write-off of equipment and facility costs, acceleration of asset retirement obligations, employee severance and related benefit costs and lease and other contract termination costs.  For the year ended December 31, 2011, we recorded additional pretax restructuring charges of $2.8 million for employee severance and related benefit costs and facility exit costs.  We expect to incur additional restructuring charges through 2013 of approximately $8 million related to the implementation of plans to exit the use of mercury cell technology in the chlor alkali manufacturing process.

On November 3, 2010, we announced that we made the decision to relocate the Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  This relocation, when completed, is forecast to reduce Winchester's annual operating costs by approximately $30 million.  Consistent with this decision we have initiated an estimated $110 million five-year project, which includes approximately $80 million of capital spending.  The State of Mississippi and local governments have provided incentives which should offset approximately 40 percent of the capital spending.  We currently expect to complete this relocation by the end of 2015.  We recorded a pretax restructuring charge of $6.2 million associated with these actions in the fourth quarter of 2010.  The restructuring charge included employee severance and related benefit costs and a non-cash pension and other postretirement benefits curtailment charge.  For the year ended December 31, 2011, we recorded additional pretax restructuring charges of $7.0 million for employee severance and related benefits costs, a non-cash pension curtailment charge, employee relocation costs and facility exit costs.  These restructuring charges related primarily to the second quarter 2011 ratification of a new five and one half year Winchester, East Alton, IL union labor agreement.  We expect to incur additional restructuring charges through 2016 of approximately $17 million related to the transfer of these operations.

The following table summarizes the 2011 and 2010 activity by major component of these restructuring actions and the remaining balances of accrued restructuring costs as of December 31, 2011:

	Employee severance and job related benefits			Pension and other postretirement benefits curtailment			Lease and other contract termination costs			Employee relocation costs			Facility exit costs			Write-off of equipment and facility			Total
				($ in millions)
Balance January 1, 2010	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-
2010 restructuring charges		6.0			3.0			1.0			-			6.7			17.5			34.2
Amounts utilized		-			(3.0	)		-			-			(6.7	)		(17.5	)		(27.2	)
Balance at December 31, 2010		6.0			-			1.0			-			-			-			7.0
2011 restructuring charges		6.4			1.1			-			2.2			1.0			-			10.7
Amounts utilized		(1.1	)		(1.1	)		(0.2	)		(2.2	)		(1.0	)		-			(5.6	)
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	11.3		$	-		$	0.8		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	12.1

As of December 31, 2011, we have incurred cash expenditures of $4.5 million related to these restructuring actions.  The remaining balance of $12.1 million is expected to be paid out in 2012 through 2016.

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STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION [Abstract]

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock-based compensation expense was allocated to the operating segments for the portion related to employees whose compensation would be included in cost of goods sold with the remainder recognized in corporate/other.  There were no significant capitalized stock-based compensation costs.  Stock-based compensation granted includes stock options, performance stock awards, restricted stock awards, and deferred directors' compensation.  Stock-based compensation expense was as follows:

	Years ended December 31,
	2011			2010		2009
	($ in millions)
Stock-based compensation	$	8.8		$	10.1	$	8.6
Mark-to-market adjustments		(0.5	)		1.2		0.8
Total expense	$	8.3		$	11.3	$	9.4

Stock Plans

Under the stock option and long-term incentive plans, options may be granted to purchase shares of our common stock at an exercise price not less than fair market value at the date of grant, and are exercisable for a period not exceeding ten years from that date.  Stock options, restricted stock and performance shares typically vest over three years.  We issue shares to settle stock options, restricted stock, and share-based performance awards.  On April 23, 2009, the shareholders approved the 2009 Long Term Incentive Plan which authorized an additional 3.0 million shares available for grant.  In 2011, 2010, and 2009 long-term incentive awards included stock options, performance share awards, and restricted stock.  The stock option exercise price was set at the fair market value of common stock on the date of the grant, and the options have a ten-year term.

Stock option transactions were as follows:

								Exercisable
	Shares			Option Price		Weighted Average Option Price		Options		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at January 1, 2011		3,849,411		$	6.98-23.78	$	17.53		2,336,195	$	18.73
Granted		575,000			18.78		18.78
Exercised		(508,247	)		6.98-23.78		16.59
Canceled		(151,294	)		6.98-20.67		17.69
Outstanding at December 31, 2011		3,764,870		$	14.28-23.78	$	17.84		2,415,347	$	18.46

At December 31, 2011, the average exercise period for all outstanding and exercisable options was 74 months and 59 months, respectively.  At December 31, 2011, the aggregate intrinsic value (the difference between the exercise price and market value) for outstanding options was $9.1 million and exercisable options was $4.9 million.  The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $4.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

The total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options at December 31, 2011 was $3.4 million and was expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.2 years.

The following table provides certain information with respect to stock options exercisable at December 31, 2011:

Range of Exercise Prices		Options Exercisable		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Options Outstanding		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Under $16.00			669,241	$	14.83		1,443,764	$	15.03
	$16.00 - $20.00		586,914	$	16.99		1,161,914	$	17.88
Over $20.00			1,159,192	$	21.30		1,159,192	$	21.30
			2,415,347				3,764,870

At December 31, 2011, common shares reserved for issuance and available for grant or purchase under the following plans consisted of:

	Number of Shares
Stock Option Plans	Reserved for Issuance		Available for Grant or Purchase(1)
2000 long term incentive plan		629,563		24,780
2003 long term incentive plan		919,496		63,676
2006 long term incentive plan		2,456,127		122,516
2009 long term incentive plan		3,000,000		2,425,000
		7,005,186		2,635,972
1996 stock option plan (plan expired)		66,536		-
Total under stock option plans		7,071,722		2,635,972

	Number of Shares
Stock Purchase Plans	Reserved for Issuance		Available for Grant or Purchase
1997 stock plan for non-employee directors		603,507		269,763
Employee deferral plan		46,561		45,669
Total under stock purchase plans		650,068		315,432

(1) All available to be issued as stock options, but includes a sub-limit for all types of stock awards of 1,710,972 shares.

Under the stock purchase plans, our non-employee directors may defer certain elements of their compensation into shares of our common stock based on fair market value of the shares at the time of deferral.  Non-employee directors annually receive stock grants as a portion of their director compensation.  Of the shares reserved under the stock purchase plans at December 31, 2011, 334,631 shares were committed.

Performance share awards are denominated in shares of our stock and are paid half in cash and half in stock.  Payouts are based on Olin's average annual return on capital over a three-year performance cycle in relation to the average annual return on capital over the same period among a portfolio of public companies which are selected in concert with outside compensation consultants.  The expense associated with performance shares is recorded based on our estimate of our performance relative to the respective target.  If an employee leaves the company before the end of the performance cycle, the performance shares may be prorated based on the number of months of the performance cycle worked and are settled in cash instead of half in cash and half in stock when the three-year performance cycle is completed.  Performance share transactions were as follows:

	To Settle in Cash					To Settle in Shares
	Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value per Share		Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value per Share
Outstanding at January 1, 2011		312,625		$	20.65		303,875		$	16.71
Granted		65,250			18.78		65,250			18.78
Paid/Issued		(112,083	)		20.65		(105,000	)		20.29
Converted from shares to cash		5,972			14.62		(5,972	)		14.62
Canceled		(4,028	)		20.65		(4,028	)		15.08
Outstanding at December 31, 2011		267,736		$	19.78		254,125		$	15.83
Total vested at December 31, 2011		200,236		$	19.78		186,625		$	15.16

The summary of the status of our unvested performance shares to be settled in cash were as follows:

	Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value per Share
Unvested at January 1, 2011		91,542		$	20.65
Granted		65,250			18.78
Vested		(85,264	)		19.78
Canceled		(4,028	)		20.65
Unvested at December 31, 2011		67,500		$	19.78

At December 31, 2011, the liability recorded for performance shares to be settled in cash totaled $4.0 million.  The total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested performance shares at December 31, 2011 was $2.5 million and was expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.1 years.

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POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS Disclosure [Abstract]

POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

We provide certain postretirement health care (medical) and life insurance benefits for eligible active and retired domestic employees.  The health care plans are contributory with participants' contributions adjusted annually based on medical rates of inflation and plan experience.  We use a measurement date of December 31 for our postretirement plans.

Other Postretirement Benefits Obligations and Funded Status

Changes in the benefit obligation were as follows:

	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
Change in Benefit Obligation		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Benefit obligation at beginning of year		$	64.5		$	9.3		$	73.8			$	66.4		$	7.6		$	74.0
Service cost			1.1			0.2			1.3				1.2			0.1			1.3
Interest cost			3.0			0.5			3.5				3.3			0.5			3.8
Actuarial loss			2.8			2.3			5.1				3.0			0.9			3.9
Benefits paid			(8.1	)		(0.4	)		(8.5	)			(9.1	)		(0.3	)		(9.4	)
Curtailment			-			-			-				(0.3	)		-			(0.3	)
Currency translation adjustments			-			(0.3	)		(0.3	)			-			0.5			0.5
Benefit obligation at end of year		$	63.3		$	11.6		$	74.9			$	64.5		$	9.3		$	73.8
	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Funded status		$	(63.3	)	$	(11.6	)	$	(74.9	)		$	(64.5	)	$	(9.3	)	$	(73.8	)

Under ASC 715, formerly SFAS No. 158, we recorded a $3.1 million after-tax charge ($5.0 million pretax) to shareholders' equity as of December 31, 2011 for our other postretirement plans.  In 2010, we recorded a $2.3 million after-tax charge ($3.6 million pretax) to shareholders' equity as of December 31, 2010 for our other postretirement plans.

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consisted of:

	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Accrued benefit in current liabilities		$	(6.0	)	$	(0.4	)	$	(6.4	)		$	(6.7	)	$	(0.4	)	$	(7.1	)
Accrued benefit in noncurrent liabilities			(57.3	)		(11.2	)		(68.5	)			(57.8	)		(8.9	)		(66.7	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			35.0			1.7			36.7				35.2			(0.5	)		34.7
Net balance sheet impact		$	(28.3	)	$	(9.9	)	$	(38.2	)		$	(29.3	)	$	(9.8	)	$	(39.1	)

	Years Ended December 31,
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost	2011			2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Service cost	$	1.3		$	1.3		$	1.2
Interest cost		3.5			3.8			4.2
Amortization of prior service cost		(0.2	)		(0.2	)		(0.2	)
Recognized actuarial loss		3.2			2.6			2.1
Curtailment		-			(0.2	)		-
Net periodic benefit cost	$	7.8		$	7.3		$	7.3
Included in Other Comprehensive Loss (Pretax)
Liability adjustment	$	5.0		$	3.6		$	6.7
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses		(3.0	)		(2.2	)		(1.9	)

The service cost and amortization of prior service cost components of postretirement benefit expense related to the employees of the operating segments are allocated to the operating segments based on their respective estimated census data.

In December 2010, we recorded a curtailment credit of $0.2 million associated with our ongoing relocation of our Winchester centerfire ammunition manufacturing operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS.  This credit was included in restructuring charges for 2010.

Other Postretirement Benefits Plan Assumptions

Certain actuarial assumptions, such as discount rate, have a significant effect on the amounts reported for net periodic benefit cost and accrued benefit obligation amounts.

	December 31,
Weighted Average Assumptions:	2011			2010			2009
Discount rate-periodic benefit cost		4.90	%		5.25	%		6.25	%
Discount rate-benefit obligation		4.60	%		4.90	%		5.25	%

The discount rate is based on a hypothetical yield curve represented by a series of annualized individual zero-coupon bond spot rates for maturities ranging from one-half to thirty years.  The bonds used in the yield curve must have a rating of AA or better per Standard & Poor's, be non-callable, and have at least $250 million par outstanding.  The yield curve is then applied to the projected benefit payments from the plan.  Based on these bonds and the projected benefit payment streams, the single rate that produces the same yield as the matching bond portfolio, rounded to the nearest quarter point, is used as the discount rate.

We review external data and our own internal trends for healthcare costs to determine the healthcare cost for the post retirement benefit obligation.  The assumed healthcare cost trend rates for pre-65 retirees were as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
Healthcare cost trend rate assumed for next year		9.5	%		9.5	%
Rate that the cost trend rate gradually declines to		5.0	%		5.0	%
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate rate	2020			2019

For post-65 retirees, we provide a fixed dollar benefit, which is not subject to escalation.

Assumed healthcare cost trend rates have an effect on the amounts reported for the healthcare plans.  A one-percentage-point change in assumed healthcare cost trend rates would have the following effects:

	One-Percentage Point Increase		One-Percentage Point Decrease
	($ in millions)
Effect on total of service and interest costs	$	0.3	$	(0.2	)
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation		3.5		(3.0	)

We expect to make payments of approximately $6 million for each of the next five years under the provisions of our other postretirement benefit plans.

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PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT [Abstract]

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

		December 31,
	Useful Lives	2011			2010
		($ in millions)
Land and improvements to land	10-20 Years	$	149.4		$	141.5
Buildings and building equipment	10-25 Years		183.9			163.5
Machinery and equipment	3-15 Years		1,540.3			1,379.0
Leasehold improvements			2.5			2.1
Construction in progress			153.3			57.0
Property, plant and equipment			2,029.4			1,743.1
Accumulated depreciation			(1,144.0	)		(1,068.1	)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$	885.4		$	675.0

Depreciation expense was $97.4 million, $85.4 million and $70.2 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Leased assets capitalized and included above are not significant.  Interest capitalized was $1.2 million, $0.9 million and $9.7 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Maintenance and repairs charged to operations amounted to $135.7 million, $128.8 million and $135.0 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, included a $(23.7) million, $2.3 million and $2.6 million, respectively, (decrease) increase to capital expenditures, with the corresponding change to accounts payable and accrued liabilities, related to purchases of property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

During the fourth quarter of 2011, we entered into a sale/leaseback transaction for chlorine railcars that we acquired in 2011 for $3.2 million.

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PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	$ 2,029.4	$ 1,743.1
Accumulated depreciation	(1,144.0)	(1,068.1)
Property, plant and equipment, net	885.4	675.0
Depreciation expense	97.4	85.4	70.2
Interest capitalized	1.2	0.9	9.7
Maintenance and repairs	135.7	128.8	135.0
(Decrease) Increase in capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(23.7)	2.3	2.6
Net book value of asset sold under sale/leaseback transaction	3.2
Land and improvements to land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	149.4	141.5
Property, plant and equipment, useful life minimum (in years)	10
Property, plant and equipment, useful life maximum (in years)	20
Building and building equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	183.9	163.5
Property, plant and equipment, useful life minimum (in years)	10
Property, plant and equipment, useful life maximum (in years)	25
Machinery and equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	1,540.3	1,379.0
Property, plant and equipment, useful life minimum (in years)	3
Property, plant and equipment, useful life maximum (in years)	15
Leasehold improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	2.5	2.1
Construction in progress [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment	$ 153.3	$ 57.0

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ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES [Abstract]

ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES

ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES

Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable consisted of the following:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	4.8		$	3.3
Provisions charged (credited)		0.8			(0.3	)
(Write-offs) recoveries, net		(2.4	)		1.8
Ending balance	$	3.2		$	4.8

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INVENTORIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

INVENTORIES [Abstract]

INVENTORIES

INVENTORIES

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Supplies	$	35.0		$	30.8
Raw materials		75.7			56.5
Work in process		31.9			24.7
Finished goods		111.7			104.4
		254.3			216.4
LIFO reserves		(77.7	)		(60.8	)
Inventories	$	176.6		$	155.6

In conjunction with the acquisition of SunBelt, we obtained inventories with a fair value of $4.0 million, as of February 28, 2011.  Inventories valued using the LIFO method comprised 72% of the total inventories at December 31, 2011 and 2010.  If the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method of inventory accounting had been used, inventories would have been $77.7 million and $60.8 million higher than that reported at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

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INVESTMENTS-AFFILIATED COMPANIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

INVESTMENTS-AFFILIATED COMPANIES

INVESTMENTS-AFFILIATED COMPANIES

Prior to the acquisition of SunBelt, we held a 50% ownership interest, which was accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

On November 16, 2007, we purchased for cash an $11.6 million equity interest in a limited liability company that owns a bleach and related chemical manufacturing facility (bleach joint venture).  As part of the investment we also entered into several commercial agreements, including agreements by which we will supply raw materials and services, and we will have marketing responsibility for bleach and caustic soda.

We hold a 9.1% limited partnership interest in Bay Gas Storage Company, Ltd. (Bay Gas), an Alabama limited partnership, in which EnergySouth, Inc. (EnergySouth), which was acquired in 2008 by Sempra Energy, is the general partner with interest of 90.9%.  Bay Gas owns, leases, and operates underground gas storage and related pipeline facilities, which are used to provide storage in the McIntosh, AL area and delivery of natural gas to EnergySouth customers.

The following table summarizes our investments in our non-consolidated equity affiliates:

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
SunBelt	$	-	$	0.1
Bay Gas		17.1		14.8
Bleach joint venture		10.5		11.0
Investments in equity affiliates	$	27.6	$	25.9

The following table summarizes our equity earnings of non-consolidated affiliates:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
	($ in millions)
SunBelt	$	6.3	$	26.6	$	33.2
Bay Gas		2.4		2.2		1.9
Bleach joint venture		0.9		1.1		2.6
Equity earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	$	9.6	$	29.9	$	37.7

We received net distributions from our non-consolidated affiliates of $1.9 million, $23.6 million and $37.1 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

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POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$ 1,845.6	$ 1,777.5
Service cost	3.5	3.5
Interest cost	94.2	98.6	103.0
Actuarial loss	136.3	92.1
Benefits paid	129.8	131.9
Curtailment	1.1	2.8
Currency translation adjustments	(1.5)	3.0
Benefit obligation at end of year	1,949.4	1,845.6	1,777.5
Funded status	(42.5)	(45.2)
Shareholders' Equity Charges
Pretax amount of after-tax charge recorded in shareholders' equity	41.8	38.7	35.0
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheet [Abstract]
Accrued benefit in current liabilities	(4.1)	(4.2)
Accrued benefit in noncurrent liabilities	(57.6)	(57.3)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	435.2	410.1
Net balance sheet impact	392.7	364.9
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Service cost	3.5	3.5
Interest cost	94.2	98.6	103.0
Amortization of prior service cost	0.8	0.7	0.7
Net periodic benefit cost	(22.5)	(17.7)	(16.7)
Included in Other Comprehensive Loss (Pretax) [Abstract]
Liability adjustment	41.8	38.7	35.0
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses	(16.7)	(16.5)	(10.0)
US Postretirement Plans [Member]
Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	64.5	66.4
Service cost	1.1	1.2
Interest cost	3.0	3.3
Actuarial loss	2.8	3.0
Benefits paid	(8.1)	(9.1)
Curtailment	0	(0.3)
Currency translation adjustments	0	0
Benefit obligation at end of year	63.3	64.5
Funded status	(63.3)	(64.5)
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheet [Abstract]
Accrued benefit in current liabilities	(6.0)	(6.7)
Accrued benefit in noncurrent liabilities	(57.3)	(57.8)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	35.0	35.2
Net balance sheet impact	(28.3)	(29.3)
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Service cost	1.1	1.2
Interest cost	3.0	3.3
Foreign Plans [Member]
Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	9.3	7.6
Service cost	0.2	0.1
Interest cost	0.5	0.5
Actuarial loss	2.3	0.9
Benefits paid	(0.4)	(0.3)
Curtailment	0	0
Currency translation adjustments	(0.3)	0.5
Benefit obligation at end of year	11.6	9.3
Funded status	(11.6)	(9.3)
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheet [Abstract]
Accrued benefit in current liabilities	(0.4)	(0.4)
Accrued benefit in noncurrent liabilities	(11.2)	(8.9)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	1.7	(0.5)
Net balance sheet impact	(9.9)	(9.8)
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Service cost	0.2	0.1
Interest cost	0.5	0.5
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	73.8	74.0
Service cost	1.3	1.3	1.2
Interest cost	3.5	3.8	4.2
Actuarial loss	5.1	3.9
Benefits paid	(8.5)	(9.4)
Curtailment	0	(0.3)
Currency translation adjustments	(0.3)	0.5
Benefit obligation at end of year	74.9	73.8	74.0
Funded status	(74.9)	(73.8)
Shareholders' Equity Charges
After-tax charge to shareholders' equity for other postretirement plans	3.1	2.3
Pretax amount of after-tax charge recorded in shareholders' equity	5.0	3.6	6.7
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheet [Abstract]
Accrued benefit in current liabilities	(6.4)	(7.1)
Accrued benefit in noncurrent liabilities	(68.5)	(66.7)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	36.7	34.7
Net balance sheet impact	(38.2)	(39.1)
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Service cost	1.3	1.3	1.2
Interest cost	3.5	3.8	4.2
Amortization of prior service cost	(0.2)	(0.2)	(0.2)
Recognized actuarial loss	3.2	2.6	2.1
Curtailment	0	(0.2)	0
Net periodic benefit cost	7.8	7.3	7.3
Included in Other Comprehensive Loss (Pretax) [Abstract]
Liability adjustment	5.0	3.6	6.7
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses	(3.0)	(2.2)	(1.9)
Weighted Average Assumptions [Abstract]
Discount rate-periodic benefit cost (in hundredths)	4.90%	5.25%	6.25%
Discount rate-benefit obligation (in hundredths)	4.60%	4.90%	5.25%
Maturity range of annualized individual zero-coupon bond spot rates, minimum (in years)	one-half
Maturity range of annualized individual zero-coupon bond spot rates, maximum (in years)	thirty
Par outstanding value of non-callable zero coupon bond used to determine the hypothetical yield curve	250.0
Assumed healthcare cost trend rates [Abstract]
Healthcare cost trend rate assumed for next year (in hundredths)	9.50%	9.50%
Rate that the cost trend rate gradually declines to (in hundredths)	5.00%	5.00%
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate rate	2020	2019
One-Percentage Point Increase [Abstract]
Effect of one percentage point increase on total of service and interest costs	0.3
Effect of one percentage point increase on postretirement benefit obligation	3.5
One-Percentage Point Decrease [Abstract]
Effect of one percentage point decrease on total of service and interest costs	(0.2)
Effect of one percentage point decrease on postretirement benefit obligation	(3.0)
Expected benefit payment to be made in next year	6.0
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments in Year Two	6.0
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments in Year Three	6.0
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments in Year Four	6.0
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments in Year Five	$ 6.0

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ACCRUED LIABILITIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
ACCRUED LIABILITIES [Abstract]
Accrued compensation and payroll taxes	$ 42.7	$ 32.1
Accrued employee benefits	43.7	45.6
Environmental (current portion only)	31.0	28.0
Legal and professional costs	24.4	25.0
Asset retirement obligation (current portion only)	12.0	13.7
Earn out	18.6	0
Other	64.8	53.3
Accrued liabilities	$ 237.2	$ 197.7

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PENSION PLANS (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
PENSION PLANS [Abstract]
Contribution to an individual retirement account as a percentage of employee's eligible compensation under age 45 (in hundredths)	5.00%
Contribution to an individual retirement account as a percentage of employee's eligible compensation age 45 and older (in hundredths)	7.50%
Expenses of the defined contribution pension plans	$ 14.6	$ 13.3	$ 12.7
Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	1,845.6	1,777.5
Service cost	3.5	3.5
Interest cost	94.2	98.6	103.0
Actuarial loss	136.3	92.1
Benefits paid	(129.8)	(131.9)
Curtailment	1.1	2.8
Currency translation adjustments	(1.5)	3.0
Benefit obligation at end of year	1,949.4	1,845.6	1,777.5
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at beginning of year	1,800.4	1,722.0
Actual return on plans' assets	232.1	193.0
Employer contributions	5.7	14.0
Benefits paid	(129.8)	(131.9)
Currency translation adjustments	(1.5)	3.3
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	1,906.9	1,800.4	1,722.0
Funded Status [Abstract]
Total funded status	(42.5)	(45.2)
After-tax charge to shareholders' equity	25.9	23.7
Liability adjustment	41.8	38.7	35.0
Basis point decrease in the plans' discount rate reflected in charge to shareholders' equity	40	45
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Prepaid benefit cost	19.2	16.3
Accrued benefit in current liabilities	(4.1)	(4.2)
Accrued benefit in noncurrent liabilities	(57.6)	(57.3)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	435.2	410.1
Net balance sheet impact	392.7	364.9
Weighted Average Assumptions [Abstract]
Maturity range for series of annualized individual zero-coupon bond used as a basis for the discount rate, minimum, (in years)	one-half
Maturity range for series of annualized individual zero-coupon bond used as a basis for the discount rate, maximum, (in years)	thirty
Par outstanding value of bonds used to determine the discount rate yield curve	250.0
Historic rate of return on plan assets in the last 5 year period (in hundredths)	11.20%
Historic rate of return on plan assets in the last 10 year period (in hundredths)	10.00%
Historic rate of return on plan assets in the last 15 year period (in hundredths)	9.20%
Short-term period used for historic rate of return on plan assets (in years)	5
Medium-term period used for historic rate of return on plan assets (in years)	10
Long-term period used for historic rate of return on plan assets (in years)	15
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,906.9	1,800.4	1,722.0
Percentage of event driven hedge funds included in asset allocation (in hundredths)	20.00%	30.00%
Percentage of market neutral hedge funds included in asset allocation (in hundredths)	35.00%	30.00%
Percentage of other hedge funds investments included in asset allocation (in hundredths)	45.00%	40.00%
Percentage of equities investment included in asset allocation (in hundredths)	25.00%	30.00%
Percentage of cash and fixed income investment included in asset allocation (in hundredths)	60.00%	60.00%
Percentage of alternative investments included in asset allocation (in hundredths)	15.00%	10.00%
Assets measured with significant unobservable input [Roll Forward]
Balance, Beginning Period	352.7	316.1
Realized Gain/(Loss)	0.3	0.1
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Relating to Assets Held at Period End	11.3	21.0
Purchases, Sales, and Settlements	(11.7)	16.0
Transfers In/(Out)	0	(0.5)
Balance, Ending Period	352.6	352.7	316.1
Benefits paid	129.8	131.9
Projected and accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan asset [Abstract]
Accumulated benefit obligation	1,941.2	1,831.9
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Income [Abstract]
Service cost	6.1	6.0	5.8
Interest cost	94.2	98.6	103.0
Expected return on plans' assets	(139.5)	(138.8)	(135.5)
Amortization of prior service cost	0.8	0.7	0.7
Recognized actuarial loss	14.8	12.6	9.3
Curtailments	1.1	3.2	0
Net periodic benefit income	(22.5)	(17.7)	(16.7)
Included in Other Comprehensive Loss (Pretax) [Abstract]
Pretax amount of after-tax charge recorded to shareholders' equity	41.8	38.7	35.0
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses	(16.7)	(16.5)	(10.0)
Curtailment charge associated with the relocation of business	1.1	3.2
Withdrawal from a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan		1.3
Long-term rate of return assumption by asset class [Abstract]
U.S. equities, minimum (in hundredths)	9.00%
U.S. equities, maximum (in hundredths)	13.00%
Non-U.S. equities, minimum (in hundredths)	10.00%
Non-U.S. equities, maximum (in hundredths)	14.00%
Fixed income/cash, minimum (in hundredths)	5.00%
Fixed income/cash, maximum (in hundredths)	9.00%
Alternative investments, minimum (in hundredths)	5.00%
Alternative investments, maximum (in hundredths)	15.00%
Absolute return strategies, minimum (in hundredths)	8.00%
Absolute return strategies, maximum (in hundredths)	12.00%
Plan asset allocation by asset Class [Abstract]
U.S. equities (in hundredths)	5.00%	5.00%
Non-U.S. equities (in hundredths)	8.00%	10.00%
Fixed income/cash (in hundredths)	56.00%	49.00%
Alternative investments (in hundredths)	16.00%	16.00%
Absolute return strategies (in hundredths)	15.00%	20.00%
Total (in hundredths)	100.00%	100.00%
Target Allocation [Abstract]
U.S. equities (in hundredths)	7.50%
Non-U.S. equities (in hundredths)	7.50%
Fixed income/cash (in hundredths)	56.00%
Alternative investments (in hundredths)	9.00%
Absolute return strategies (in hundredths)	20.00%
Target Range [Abstract]
U.S. equities, minimum, (in hundredths)	0.00%
U.S. equities, maximum, (in hundredths)	14.00%
Non-U.S. equities, minimum, (in hundredths)	0.00%
Non-U.S. equities, maximum, (in hundredths)	14.00%
Fixed income/cash, minimum, (in hundredths)	44.00%
Fixed income/cash, maximum, (in hundredths)	76.00%
Alternative investments, minimum (in hundredths)	0.00%
Alternative investments, maximum, (in hundredths)	28.00%
Absolute return strategies, minimum, (in hundredths)	10.00%
Absolute return strategies, maximum, (in hundredths)	30.00%
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	183.4	98.4
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	183.4	98.4
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	1,370.9	1,349.3
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,370.9	1,349.3
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	352.6	352.7
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	352.6	352.7
Cash [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	50.1	43.3
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	50.1	43.3
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	50.1	43.3
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	50.1	43.3
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Government Treasuries [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at beginning of year	301.7
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	481.7	301.7
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	481.7	301.7
Assets measured with significant unobservable input [Roll Forward]
Balance, Beginning Period		2.0
Realized Gain/(Loss)	0	0
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Relating to Assets Held at Period End	(0.2)	0.3
Purchases, Sales, and Settlements	0.2	3.2
Transfers In/(Out)	0	0
Government Treasuries [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Government Treasuries [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	476.2	296.2
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	476.2	296.2
Government Treasuries [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	5.5	5.5
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	5.5	5.5
Corporate Debt Instruments [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at beginning of year	411.6
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	401.5	411.6
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	401.5	411.6
Assets measured with significant unobservable input [Roll Forward]
Balance, Beginning Period		2.2
Realized Gain/(Loss)	0.3	0
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Relating to Assets Held at Period End	(0.6)	0.2
Purchases, Sales, and Settlements	1.0	0.1
Transfers In/(Out)	0	(0.3)
Corporate Debt Instruments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	3.1	1.7
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	3.1	1.7
Corporate Debt Instruments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	395.5	407.7
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	395.5	407.7
Corporate Debt Instruments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	2.9	2.2
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	2.9	2.2
Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	122.2	119.2
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	122.2	119.2
Assets measured with significant unobservable input [Roll Forward]
Balance, Beginning Period		0.2
Realized Gain/(Loss)		0
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Relating to Assets Held at Period End		0
Purchases, Sales, and Settlements		0
Transfers In/(Out)		(0.2)
Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	122.2	119.2
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	122.2	119.2
Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hedge Fund of Funds [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at beginning of year	251.6
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	258.3	251.6
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	258.3	251.6
Assets measured with significant unobservable input [Roll Forward]
Balance, Beginning Period		225.5
Realized Gain/(Loss)	0	0
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Relating to Assets Held at Period End	6.7	24.1
Purchases, Sales, and Settlements	0	2.0
Transfers In/(Out)	0	0
Hedge Fund of Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hedge Fund of Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hedge Fund of Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	258.3	251.6
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	258.3	251.6
Real Estate Funds [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at beginning of year	23.8
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	33.9	23.8
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	33.9	23.8
Assets measured with significant unobservable input [Roll Forward]
Balance, Beginning Period		22.3
Realized Gain/(Loss)	0	0
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Relating to Assets Held at Period End	3.7	(6.0)
Purchases, Sales, and Settlements	6.4	7.5
Transfers In/(Out)	0	0
Real Estate Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Real Estate Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Real Estate Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	33.9	23.8
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	33.9	23.8
Private Equity Funds [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at beginning of year	15.7
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	16.8	15.7
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	16.8	15.7
Assets measured with significant unobservable input [Roll Forward]
Balance, Beginning Period		12.9
Realized Gain/(Loss)	0	0.1
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Relating to Assets Held at Period End	1.1	0.7
Purchases, Sales, and Settlements	0	2.0
Transfers In/(Out)	0	0
Private Equity Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Private Equity Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Private Equity Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	16.8	15.7
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	16.8	15.7
Absolute Return Strategies [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at beginning of year	361.4
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	289.7	361.4
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	289.7	361.4
Assets measured with significant unobservable input [Roll Forward]
Balance, Beginning Period		51.0
Realized Gain/(Loss)	0	0
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Relating to Assets Held at Period End	0.6	1.7
Purchases, Sales, and Settlements	(19.3)	1.2
Transfers In/(Out)	0	0
Absolute Return Strategies [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Absolute Return Strategies [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	254.5	307.5
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	254.5	307.5
Absolute Return Strategies [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	35.2	53.9
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	35.2	53.9
U. S. Equities [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	93.7	100.1
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	93.7	100.1
U. S. Equities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	78.8	53.4
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	78.8	53.4
U. S. Equities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	14.9	46.7
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	14.9	46.7
U. S. Equities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Non-U. S. Equities [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	159.0	172.0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	159.0	172.0
Non-U. S. Equities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	51.4	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	51.4	0
Non-U. S. Equities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	107.6	172.0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	107.6	172.0
Non-U. S. Equities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Qualified Pension Plan [Member]
Funded Status [Abstract]
Total funded status	19.2	16.3
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Abstract]
2012	120.3
2013	114.6
2014	109.9
2015	106.1
2016	102.5
Non-Qualified Pension Plan [Member]
Funded Status [Abstract]
Total funded status	(61.7)	(61.5)
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Abstract]
2012	4.1
2013	5.4
2014	12.0
2015	3.1
2016	4.8
U.S. Pension Plans [Member]
Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	1,790.0	1,727.3
Service cost	2.9	2.8
Interest cost	91.2	95.5
Actuarial loss	126.2	86.9
Benefits paid	(126.5)	(125.3)
Curtailment	1.1	2.8
Currency translation adjustments	0	0
Benefit obligation at end of year	1,884.9	1,790.0	1,727.3
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at beginning of year	1,734.9	1,670.6
Actual return on plans' assets	229.6	185.6
Employer contributions	4.6	4.0
Benefits paid	(126.5)	(125.3)
Currency translation adjustments	0	0
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	1,842.6	1,734.9	1,670.6
Funded Status [Abstract]
Total funded status	(42.3)	(55.1)
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Prepaid benefit cost	17.4	4.6
Accrued benefit in current liabilities	(3.9)	(4.1)
Accrued benefit in noncurrent liabilities	(55.8)	(55.6)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	415.4	401.9
Net balance sheet impact	373.1	346.8
Weighted Average Assumptions [Abstract]
Discount rate-periodic benefit cost (in hundredths)	5.30%	5.75%	6.25%
Expected return on assets (in hundredths)	8.25%	8.50%	8.50%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	3.00%	3.00%	3.00%
Discount rate-benefit obligation (in hundredths)	4.90%	5.30%	5.75%
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,842.6	1,734.9	1,670.6
Assets measured with significant unobservable input [Roll Forward]
Benefits paid	126.5	125.3
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Income [Abstract]
Interest cost	91.2	95.5
Target Range [Abstract]
Anticipated employer contribution for next year	0
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Qualified Pension Plan [Member]
Funded Status [Abstract]
Total funded status	17.4	4.6
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plan [Member]
Funded Status [Abstract]
Total funded status	(59.7)	(59.7)
Foreign Plans [Member]
Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	55.6	50.2
Service cost	0.6	0.7
Interest cost	3.0	3.1
Actuarial loss	10.1	5.2
Benefits paid	(3.3)	(6.6)
Curtailment	0	0
Currency translation adjustments	(1.5)	3.0
Benefit obligation at end of year	64.5	55.6	50.2
Change in Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plans' assets at beginning of year	65.5	51.4
Actual return on plans' assets	2.5	7.4
Employer contributions	1.1	10.0
Benefits paid	(3.3)	(6.6)
Currency translation adjustments	(1.5)	3.3
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year	64.3	65.5	51.4
Funded Status [Abstract]
Total funded status	(0.2)	9.9
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Prepaid benefit cost	1.8	11.7
Accrued benefit in current liabilities	(0.2)	(0.1)
Accrued benefit in noncurrent liabilities	(1.8)	(1.7)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	19.8	8.2
Net balance sheet impact	19.6	18.1
Weighted Average Assumptions [Abstract]
Discount rate-periodic benefit cost (in hundredths)	5.50%	6.50%	7.50%
Expected return on assets (in hundredths)	8.00%	7.50%	7.50%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	3.50%	3.50%	3.50%
Discount rate-benefit obligation (in hundredths)	4.40%	5.50%	6.50%
Cash Employer contributions	0.9	9.8
Defined benefit pension plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	64.3	65.5	51.4
Assets measured with significant unobservable input [Roll Forward]
Benefits paid	3.3	6.6
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Income [Abstract]
Interest cost	3.0	3.1
Target Range [Abstract]
Anticipated employer contribution for next year	5.0
Foreign Plans [Member] | Qualified Pension Plan [Member]
Funded Status [Abstract]
Total funded status	1.8	11.7
Foreign Plans [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plan [Member]
Funded Status [Abstract]
Total funded status	$ (2.0)	$ (1.8)

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RESTRUCTURING CHARGE (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

RESTRUCTURING CHARGES [Abstract]

Schedule of major components of the restructuring actions

The following table summarizes the 2011 and 2010 activity by major component of these restructuring actions and the remaining balances of accrued restructuring costs as of December 31, 2011:

	Employee severance and job related benefits			Pension and other postretirement benefits curtailment			Lease and other contract termination costs			Employee relocation costs			Facility exit costs			Write-off of equipment and facility			Total
				($ in millions)
Balance January 1, 2010	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-
2010 restructuring charges		6.0			3.0			1.0			-			6.7			17.5			34.2
Amounts utilized		-			(3.0	)		-			-			(6.7	)		(17.5	)		(27.2	)
Balance at December 31, 2010		6.0			-			1.0			-			-			-			7.0
2011 restructuring charges		6.4			1.1			-			2.2			1.0			-			10.7
Amounts utilized		(1.1	)		(1.1	)		(0.2	)		(2.2	)		(1.0	)		-			(5.6	)
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	11.3		$	-		$	0.8		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	12.1

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS [Abstract]

Activity summary of financial instruments measured at fair value using level 3 inputs

The following table summarizes the activity for our financial instruments measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	-		$	-
Purchases, sales and settlements		(42.3	)		-
Unrealized loss included in other income		(6.7	)		-
Ending balance	$	(49.0	)	$	-

Table of financial instruments measured at fair value

The following table summarizes the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets:

Balance at December 31, 2011	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total
Assets	($ in millions)
Interest rate swaps		$	-		$	13.8		$	-	$	13.8
Liabilities
Interest rate swaps			-			13.7			-		13.7
Commodity forward contracts			2.5			7.7			-		10.2
Earn out			-			-			49.0		49.0
Balance at December 31, 2010
Assets
Interest rate swaps		$	-		$	9.1		$	-	$	9.1
Commodity forward contracts			7.0			9.9			-		16.9
Liabilities
Interest rate swaps			-			9.3			-		9.3
Commodity forward contracts			-			0.2			-		0.2

For the year ended December 31, 2011, there were no transfers into or out of Level 1 and Level 2.

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ACCRUED LIABILITIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

ACCRUED LIABILITIES [Abstract]

ACCRUED LIABILITIES

ACCRUED LIABILITIES

Included in accrued liabilities were the following:

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
Accrued compensation and payroll taxes	$	42.7	$	32.1
Accrued employee benefits		43.7		45.6
Environmental (current portion only)		31.0		28.0
Legal and professional costs		24.4		25.0
Asset retirement obligation (current portion only)		12.0		13.7
Earn out		18.6		-
Other		64.8		53.3
Accrued liabilities	$	237.2	$	197.7

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ENVIRONMENTAL

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

ENVIRONMENTAL [Abstract]

ENVIRONMENTAL

ENVIRONMENTAL

In the United States, the establishment and implementation of federal, state and local standards to regulate air, water and land quality affect substantially all of our manufacturing locations.  Federal legislation providing for regulation of the manufacture, transportation, use and disposal of hazardous and toxic substances, and remediation of contaminated sites, has imposed additional regulatory requirements on industry, particularly the chemicals industry.  In addition, implementation of environmental laws, such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Clean Air Act, has required and will continue to require new capital expenditures and will increase plant operating costs.  Our Canadian facility is governed by federal environmental laws administered by Environment Canada and by provincial environmental laws enforced by administrative agencies.  Many of these laws are comparable to the U.S. laws described above.  We employ waste minimization and pollution prevention programs at our manufacturing sites.

We are party to various governmental and private environmental actions associated with past manufacturing facilities and former waste disposal sites.  Associated costs of investigatory and remedial activities are provided for in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles governing probability and the ability to reasonably estimate future costs.  Our ability to estimate future costs depends on whether our investigatory and remedial activities are in preliminary or advanced stages.  With respect to unasserted claims, we accrue liabilities for costs that, in our experience, we may incur to protect our interests against those unasserted claims.  Our accrued liabilities for unasserted claims amounted to $3.2 million at December 31, 2011.  With respect to asserted claims, we accrue liabilities based on remedial investigation, feasibility study, remedial action and OM&M expenses that, in our experience, we may incur in connection with the asserted claims.  Required site OM&M expenses are estimated and accrued in their entirety for required periods not exceeding 30 years, which reasonably approximates the typical duration of long-term site OM&M.

Our liabilities for future environmental expenditures were as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	167.6		$	166.1
Charges to income		19.3			16.3
Remedial and investigatory spending		(23.3	)		(15.7	)
Currency translation adjustments		(0.3	)		0.9
Ending balance	$	163.3		$	167.6

At December 31, 2011 and 2010, our consolidated balance sheets included environmental liabilities of $132.3 million and $139.6 million, respectively, which were classified as other noncurrent liabilities.  Our environmental liability amounts did not take into account any discounting of future expenditures or any consideration of insurance recoveries or advances in technology.  These liabilities are reassessed periodically to determine if environmental circumstances have changed and/or remediation efforts and our estimate of related costs have changed.  As a result of these reassessments, future charges to income may be made for additional liabilities.  Of the $163.3 million included on our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 for future environmental expenditures, we currently expect to utilize $92.2 million of the reserve for future environmental expenditures over the next 5 years, $24.4 million for expenditures 6 to 10 years in the future, and $46.7 million for expenditures beyond 10 years in the future.

Our total estimated environmental liability at December 31, 2011, was attributable to 70 sites, 17 of which were USEPA NPL sites.  Ten sites accounted for 78% of our environmental liability and, of the remaining 60 sites, no one site accounted for more than 3% of our environmental liability.  At one of these ten sites, a remedial action plan is being implemented.  At five of the ten sites, part of the site is subject to a remedial investigation and another part is in the long-term OM&M stage.  At one of these ten sites, a remedial investigation is being performed.  At one site, part of the site is subject to a remedial action plan and part of the site to long-term OM&M.  The two remaining sites are in long-term OM&M.  All ten sites are either associated with past manufacturing operations or former waste disposal sites.  None of the ten largest sites represents more than 20% of the liabilities reserved on our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 for future environmental expenditures.

Charges or credits to income for investigatory and remedial efforts were material to operating results in 2011, 2010 and 2009 and may be material to operating results in future years.

Environmental provisions charged (credited) to income, which are included in cost of goods sold, were as follows:

	Years ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Charges to income	$	19.3		$	16.3		$	24.1
Recoveries from third parties of costs incurred and expensed in prior periods		(11.4	)		(7.2	)		(82.1	)
Total environmental expense (income)	$	7.9		$	9.1		$	(58.0	)

These charges relate primarily to remedial and investigatory activities associated with past manufacturing operations and former waste disposal sites.

Annual environmental-related cash outlays for site investigation and remediation are expected to range between approximately $20 million to $40 million over the next several years, which are expected to be charged against reserves recorded on our consolidated balance sheet.  While we do not anticipate a material increase in the projected annual level of our environmental-related cash outlays, there is always the possibility that such an increase may occur in the future in view of the uncertainties associated with environmental exposures.  Environmental exposures are difficult to assess for numerous reasons, including the identification of new sites, developments at sites resulting from investigatory studies, advances in technology, changes in environmental laws and regulations and their application, changes in regulatory authorities, the scarcity of reliable data pertaining to identified sites, the difficulty in assessing the involvement and financial capability of other PRPs, our ability to obtain contributions from other parties and the lengthy time periods over which site remediation occurs.  It is possible that some of these matters (the outcomes of which are subject to various uncertainties) may be resolved unfavorably to us, which could materially adversely affect our financial position or results of operations.  At December 31, 2011, we estimate that it is reasonably possible that we may have additional contingent environmental liabilities of $40 million in addition to the amounts for which we have already recorded as a reserve.

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES [Abstract]

Contractual commitments under non-cancelable operating leases and purchase contracts

The following table summarizes our contractual commitments under non-cancelable operating leases and purchase contracts as of December 31, 2011:

	Operating Leases		Purchase Commitments
	($ in millions)
2012	$	40.3	$	105.9
2013		36.6		55.9
2014		31.3		16.8
2015		27.2		14.7
2016		23.1		0.8
Thereafter		63.2		-
Total commitments	$	221.7	$	194.1

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PENSION PLANS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

PENSION PLANS [Abstract]

Changes in benefit obligation and plan assets

Changes in the benefit obligation and plan assets were as follows:

	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
Change in Benefit Obligation		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Benefit obligation at beginning of year		$	1,790.0		$	55.6		$	1,845.6				1,727.3		$	50.2		$	1,777.5
Service cost			2.9			0.6			3.5				2.8			0.7			3.5
Interest cost			91.2			3.0			94.2				95.5			3.1			98.6
Actuarial loss			126.2			10.1			136.3				86.9			5.2			92.1
Benefits paid			(126.5	)		(3.3	)		(129.8	)			(125.3	)		(6.6	)		(131.9	)
Curtailment			1.1			-			1.1				2.8			-			2.8
Currency translation adjustments			-			(1.5	)		(1.5	)			-			3.0			3.0
Benefit obligation at end of year		$	1,884.9		$	64.5		$	1,949.4			$	1,790.0		$	55.6		$	1,845.6
	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
Change in Plan Assets		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Fair value of plans' assets at beginning of year		$	1,734.9		$	65.5		$	1,800.4			$	1,670.6		$	51.4		$	1,722.0
Actual return on plans' assets			229.6			2.5			232.1				185.6			7.4			193.0
Employer contributions			4.6			1.1			5.7				4.0			10.0			14.0
Benefits paid			(126.5	)		(3.3	)		(129.8	)			(125.3	)		(6.6	)		(131.9	)
Currency translation adjustments			-			(1.5	)		(1.5	)			-			3.3			3.3
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year		$	1,842.6		$	64.3		$	1,906.9			$	1,734.9		$	65.5		$	1,800.4
	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
Funded Status		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Qualified plans		$	17.4		$	1.8		$	19.2			$	4.6		$	11.7		$	16.3
Non-qualified plans			(59.7	)		(2.0	)		(61.7	)			(59.7	)		(1.8	)		(61.5	)
Total funded status		$	(42.3	)	$	(0.2	)	$	(42.5	)		$	(55.1	)	$	9.9		$	(45.2	)

Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheets

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consisted of:

	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)										($ in millions)
		U.S.			Foreign			Total				U.S.			Foreign			Total
Prepaid benefit cost		$	17.4		$	1.8		$	19.2			$	4.6		$	11.7		$	16.3
Accrued benefit in current liabilities			(3.9	)		(0.2	)		(4.1	)			(4.1	)		(0.1	)		(4.2	)
Accrued benefit in noncurrent liabilities			(55.8	)		(1.8	)		(57.6	)			(55.6	)		(1.7	)		(57.3	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			415.4			19.8			435.2				401.9			8.2			410.1
Net balance sheet impact		$	373.1		$	19.6		$	392.7			$	346.8		$	18.1		$	364.9

Schedule of projected and accumulated benefit obligation, and fair value of plan assets

	December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
Projected benefit obligation	$	1,949.4	$	1,845.6
Accumulated benefit obligation		1,941.2		1,831.9
Fair value of plan assets		1,906.9		1,800.4

Components of net periodic benefit income (loss)

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Income	2011			2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Service cost	$	6.1		$	6.0		$	5.8
Interest cost		94.2			98.6			103.0
Expected return on plans' assets		(139.5	)		(138.8	)		(135.5	)
Amortization of prior service cost		0.8			0.7			0.7
Recognized actuarial loss		14.8			12.6			9.3
Curtailments		1.1			3.2			-
Net periodic benefit income	$	(22.5	)	$	(17.7	)	$	(16.7	)
Included in Other Comprehensive Loss (Pretax)
Liability adjustment	$	41.8		$	38.7		$	35.0
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses		(16.7	)		(16.5	)		(10.0	)

Assumptions used in calculations

	U.S. Pension Benefits									Foreign Pension Benefits
Weighted Average Assumptions:	2011			2010			2009			2011			2010			2009
Discount rate-periodic benefit cost		5.3	%		5.75	%		6.25	%		5.5	%		6.5	%		7.5	%
Expected return on assets		8.25	%		8.50	%		8.50	%		8.0	%		7.5	%		7.5	%
Rate of compensation increase		3.0	%		3.0	%		3.0	%		3.5	%		3.5	%		3.5	%
Discount rate-benefit obligation		4.9	%		5.3	%		5.75	%		4.4	%		5.5	%		6.5	%

Rate of returns by asset class considered in setting long-term rate of return assumption

The following rates of return by asset class were considered in setting the long-term rate of return assumption:

U.S. equities	9	%	to	13	%
Non-U.S. equities	10	%	to	14	%
Fixed income/cash	5	%	to	9	%
Alternative investments	5	%	to	15	%
Absolute return strategies	8	%	to	12	%

Pension plan asset allocation by asset class

Our pension plan asset allocation at December 31, 2011 and 2010, by asset class was as follows:

	Percentage of Plan Assets
Asset Class	2011			2010
U.S. equities		5	%		5	%
Non-U.S. equities		8	%		10	%
Fixed income/cash		56	%		49	%
Alternative investments		16	%		16	%
Absolute return strategies		15	%		20	%
Total		100	%		100	%

Target allocation and ranges

As of December 31, 2011, the following target allocation and ranges have been set for each asset class:

Asset Class	Target Allocation		Target Range
U.S. equities	7.5	%	0-14	%
Non-U.S. equities	7.5	%	0-14	%
Fixed income/cash	56	%	44-76	%
Alternative investments	9	%	0-28	%
Absolute return strategies	20	%	10-30	%

Domestic and foreign defined benefit pension plan assets measured at fair value

The following table summarizes our domestic and foreign defined benefit pension plan assets measured at fair value as of December 31, 2011:

Asset class	Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
	($ in millions)
Equity securities
U.S. equities	$	78.8	$	14.9	$	-	$	93.7
Non-U.S. equities		51.4		107.6		-		159.0
Fixed income / cash
Cash		50.1		-		-		50.1
Government treasuries		-		476.2		5.5		481.7
Corporate debt instruments		3.1		395.5		2.9		401.5
Asset-backed securities		-		122.2		-		122.2
Alternative investments
Hedge fund of funds		-		-		258.3		258.3
Real estate funds		-		-		33.9		33.9
Private equity funds		-		-		16.8		16.8
Absolute return strategies		-		254.5		35.2		289.7
Total assets	$	183.4	$	1,370.9	$	352.6	$	1,906.9

The following table summarizes our domestic and foreign defined benefit pension plan assets measured at fair value as of December 31, 2010:

Asset class	Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
	($ in millions)
Equity securities
U.S. equities	$	53.4	$	46.7	$	-	$	100.1
Non-U.S. equities		-		172.0		-		172.0
Fixed income / cash
Cash		43.3		-		-		43.3
Government treasuries		-		296.2		5.5		301.7
Corporate debt instruments		1.7		407.7		2.2		411.6
Asset-backed securities		-		119.2		-		119.2
Alternative investments
Hedge fund of funds		-		-		251.6		251.6
Real estate funds		-		-		23.8		23.8
Private equity funds		-		-		15.7		15.7
Absolute return strategies		-		307.5		53.9		361.4
Total assets	$	98.4	$	1,349.3	$	352.7	$	1,800.4

Summary of activity for defined benefit plan with significant unobservable inputs

The following table summarizes the activity for our defined benefit pension plans level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2011:

	December 31, 2010		Realized Gain/(Loss)		Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Relating to Assets Held at Period End			Purchases, Sales, and Settlements			Transfers In/(Out)		December 31, 2011
	($ in millions)
Fixed income / cash
Government treasuries	$	5.5	$	-	$	(0.2	)	$	0.2		$	-	$	5.5
Corporate debt instruments		2.2		0.3		(0.6	)		1.0			-		2.9
Alternative investments
Hedge fund of funds		251.6		-		6.7			-			-		258.3
Real estate funds		23.8		-		3.7			6.4			-		33.9
Private equity funds		15.7		-		1.1			-			-		16.8
Absolute return strategies		53.9		-		0.6			(19.3	)		-		35.2
Total level 3 assets	$	352.7	$	0.3	$	11.3		$	(11.7	)	$	-	$	352.6

The following table summarizes the activity for our defined benefit pension plans level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2010:

	December 31, 2009		Realized Gain/(Loss)		Unrealized Gain/(Loss) Relating to Assets Held at Period End			Purchases, Sales, and Settlements		Transfers In/(Out)			December 31, 2010
	($ in millions)
Fixed income / cash
Government treasuries	$	2.0	$	-	$	0.3		$	3.2	$	-		$	5.5
Corporate debt instruments		2.2		-		0.2			0.1		(0.3	)		2.2
Asset-backed securities		0.2		-		-			-		(0.2	)		-
Alternative investments
Hedge fund of funds		225.5		-		24.1			2.0		-			251.6
Real estate funds		22.3		-		(6.0	)		7.5		-			23.8
Private equity funds		12.9		0.1		0.7			2.0		-			15.7
Absolute return strategies		51.0		-		1.7			1.2		-			53.9
Total level 3 assets	$	316.1	$	0.1	$	21.0		$	16.0	$	(0.5	)	$	352.7

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 77.3	$ 801.6	$ (269.4)	$ 95.5	$ 705.0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008	77,300,000
Comprehensive income:
Net income	0	0	0	135.7	135.7
Translation adjustment	0	0	4.6	0	4.6
Net unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts	0	0	36.6	0	36.6
Pension and postretirement liability adjustment, net	0	0	(27.3)	0	(27.3)
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses, net	0	0	7.3	0	7.3
Comprehensive income					156.9
Dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.80 per share)	0	0	0	(62.5)	(62.5)
Common stock issued for:
Stock options exercised	0	0.2	0	0	0.2
Stock options exercised (in shares)	0				0
Employee benefit plans	1.3	15.6	0	0	16.9
Employee benefit plans (in shares)	1,300,000
Other transactions	0.1	2.4	0	0	2.5
Other transactions (in shares)	100,000
Stock-based compensation	0	3.3	0	0	3.3
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	78.7	823.1	(248.2)	168.7	822.3
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009	78,700,000
Comprehensive income:
Net income	0	0	0	64.8	64.8
Translation adjustment	0	0	0.9	0	0.9
Pension and postretirement liability adjustment, net	0	0	(26.0)	0	(26.0)
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses, net	0	0	11.5	0	11.5
Comprehensive income					51.2
Dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.80 per share)	0	0	0	(63.3)	(63.3)
Common stock issued for:
Stock options exercised	0.2	2.9	0	0	3.1
Stock options exercised (in shares)	200,000				200,000
Employee benefit plans	0.6	9.6	0	0	10.2
Employee benefit plans (in shares)	600,000
Other transactions	0.1	2.2	0	0	2.3
Other transactions (in shares)	100,000
Stock-based compensation	0	4.5	0	0	4.5
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	79.6	842.3	(261.8)	170.2	830.3
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	79,600,000
Comprehensive income:
Net income	0	0	0	241.7	241.7
Translation adjustment	0	0	1.4	0	1.4
Net unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts	0	0	(16.9)	0	(16.9)
Pension and postretirement liability adjustment, net	0	0	(29.0)	0	(29.0)
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses, net	0	0	12.1	0	12.1
Comprehensive income					209.3
Dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.80 per share)	0	0	0	(64.0)	(64.0)
Common stock issued for:
Stock options exercised	0.5	8.8	0	0	9.3
Stock options exercised (in shares)	500,000				508,247
Other transactions	0.2	3.6	0	0	3.8
Other transactions (in shares)	200,000
Stock-based compensation	0	1.3	0	0	1.3
Common stock repurchased and retired	(0.2)	(4.0)	0	0	(4.2)
Common stock repurchased and retired (in shares)	(200,000)				(200,000)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 80.1	$ 852.0	$ (294.2)	$ 347.9	$ 985.8
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	80,100,000

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RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS [Abstract]

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In September 2011, FASB issued ASU 2011-08, which amends ASC 350.  This update permits entities to make a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit's fair value is less than its carrying amount before applying the two-step goodwill impairment test.  If an entity concludes that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it would not be required to perform the two-step impairment test for that reporting unit.  This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011.  This update will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

During 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05 and ASU 2011-12.  These updates require entities to present items of net income and other comprehensive income either in one continuous statement, referred to as the statement of comprehensive income, or in two separate, but consecutive, statements of net income and other comprehensive income.  These updates are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with retrospective applications required.  These updates will require modification of our consolidated financial statements presentation in the first quarter of 2012.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, which amends ASC 820.  This update clarifies the existing guidance and amends the wording used to describe many of the requirements in US GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements.  This update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with prospective application required.  This update will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-29, which amends ASC 805.  This update clarified that an entity is required to disclose pro forma revenue and earnings as though the business combination that occurred during the current period had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only.  In addition, this standard expands the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings.  We adopted the provisions of ASU 2010-29 on January 1, 2011.  The adoption of this update required additional disclosures for our acquisition of the remaining 50% equity interest in SunBelt.  This update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, which amends ASC 820.  This update adds new fair value disclosure requirements about transfers into and out of Level 1 and 2 and separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements related to Level 3 measurements.  This update expands disclosures on valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value.  This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the requirement to provide the Level 3 activity of purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010.  We adopted the provisions of ASU 2010-06 on January 1, 2010, except for the requirement to provide the additional Level 3 activity, which was adopted on January 1, 2011.  The adoption of this update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 166, which was incorporated into ASC 860, and SFAS No. 167, which was incorporated into ASC 810.  These statements changed the way entities account for securitizations and special-purpose entities.  The new standards eliminate existing exceptions, strengthen the standards relating to securitizations and special-purpose entities, and enhance disclosure requirements.  These statements became effective for us on January 1, 2010.  The adoption of these statements did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165, which was incorporated into ASC 855.  ASC 855 provides guidance on management's assessment of subsequent events.  The statement is not expected to significantly change practice because its guidance is similar to that in American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Professional Standards U.S. Auditing Standards Section 560, "Subsequent Events," with some modifications.  This statement became effective for us on June 15, 2009.  The adoption of this statement did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.  In February 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-09 "Subsequent Events - Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure Requirements," which removed the requirements in ASC 855 for an SEC filer to disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated for both issued and revised financial statements.  This update became effective upon issuance for us and the adoption of this update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

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ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 4.8	$ 3.3
Provisions charged (credited)	0.8	(0.3)
Recoveries, net		1.8
Write-offs, net	(2.4)
Balance at end of period	$ 3.2	$ 4.8

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SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Jul. 21, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options exercised (in shares)	508,247	200,000	0
Total value of stock options exercised	$ 9.3	$ 3.1	$ 0.2
Shares issued in connection with CEOP Plan (in shares)	0	500,000	1,300,000
Value of common shares for issued CEOP	0	10.2	16.9
Authorized share repurchase program (in shares)				5,000,000
Stock repurchase program period in force (in years)				3
Common stock repurchased and retired (in shares)	200,000
Value of common stock repurchased and retired	4.2
Remaining shares authorized to be purchased (in shares)	4,800,000
Foreign currency translation adjustment [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	0.4	(0.5)	(5.1)
Unrealized gains (losses)	1.4	0.9	4.6
Ending balance	1.8	0.4	(0.5)
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts (net of taxes) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	11.6	11.6	(25.0)
Unrealized gains (losses)	(10.6)	5.4	24.2
Reclassification adjustments into income	(6.3)	(5.4)	12.4
Ending balance	(5.3)	11.6	11.6
Pension and postretirement benefits (net of taxes) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(273.8)	(259.3)	(239.3)
Unrealized gains (losses)	(29.0)	(26.0)	(27.3)
Reclassification adjustments into income	12.1	11.5	7.3
Ending balance	(290.7)	(273.8)	(259.3)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(261.8)	(248.2)	(269.4)
Unrealized gains (losses)	(38.2)	(19.7)	1.5
Reclassification adjustments into income	5.8	6.1	19.7
Ending balance	(294.2)	(261.8)	(248.2)
Deferred tax (benefit) provision on unrealized gains and losses on derivative contracts	(10.7)	0	23.2
Deferred tax (benefit) provision on pension and postretirement benefits	$ 10.2	$ 9.1	$ 9.7

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The following table summarizes our contractual commitments under non-cancelable operating leases and purchase contracts as of December 31, 2011:

	Operating Leases		Purchase Commitments
	($ in millions)
2012	$	40.3	$	105.9
2013		36.6		55.9
2014		31.3		16.8
2015		27.2		14.7
2016		23.1		0.8
Thereafter		63.2		-
Total commitments	$	221.7	$	194.1

Our operating lease commitments are primarily for railroad cars but also include distribution, warehousing and office space and data processing and office equipment.  Virtually none of our lease agreements contain escalation clauses or step rent provisions.  Total rent expense charged to operations amounted to $53.8 million, $51.2 million and $45.4 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively (sublease income is not significant).  The above purchase commitments include raw material and utility purchasing commitments utilized in our normal course of business for our projected needs.

In conjunction with the St. Gabriel, LA conversion and expansion project, which was completed in the fourth quarter of 2009, we entered into a twenty-year brine and pipeline supply agreement with PetroLogistics.  PetroLogistics installed, owns and operates, at its own expense, a pipeline supplying brine to the St. Gabriel, LA facility.  Beginning November 2009, we are obligated to make a fixed annual payment over the life of the contract of $2.0 million for use of the pipeline, regardless of the amount of brine purchased.  We also have a minimum usage requirement for brine of $8.4 million over the first five-year period of the contract.  After the first five-year period, the contract contains a buy out provision exercisable by us for $12.0 million.

On December 31, 1997, we entered into a long-term, sulfur dioxide supply agreement with Alliance, formerly known as RFC SO2, Inc.  Alliance has the obligation to deliver annually 36,000 tons of sulfur dioxide.  Alliance owns the sulfur dioxide plant, which is located at our Charleston, TN facility and is operated by us.  The price for the sulfur dioxide is fixed over the life of the contract, and under the terms of the contract, we are obligated to make a monthly payment of $0.2 million regardless of the sulfur dioxide purchased.  Commitments related to this agreement are $0.6 million in 2012. This supply agreement expires in 2012.

We, and our subsidiaries, are defendants in various legal actions (including proceedings based on alleged exposures to asbestos) incidental to our past and current business activities.  At December 31, 2011 and 2010, our consolidated balance sheets included liabilities for these legal actions of $16.4 million and $18.1 million, respectively.  These liabilities do not include costs associated with legal representation.  Based on our analysis, and considering the inherent uncertainties associated with litigation, we do not believe that it is reasonably possible that these legal actions will materially adversely affect our financial position or results of operations in the near term.

During the ordinary course of our business, contingencies arise resulting from an existing condition, situation, or set of circumstances involving an uncertainty as to the realization of a possible gain contingency.  In certain instances such as environmental projects, we are responsible for managing the cleanup and remediation of an environmental site.  There exists the possibility of recovering a portion of these costs from other parties.  We account for gain contingencies in accordance with the provisions of ASC 450, formerly SFAS No. 5, and therefore do not record gain contingencies and recognize income until it is earned and realizable.

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Feb. 28, 2011
Assets [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	$ 13.8	$ 9.1
Commodity forward contracts		16.9
Liabilities [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	13.7	9.3
Commodity forward contracts	10.2	0.2
Earn Out Liability Fair Value Disclosure	49.0
Estimated fair value of debt	552.3	530.3
Balance at beginning of year	0	0
Purchases, sales and settlements	(42.3)	0
Unrealized loss included in other income	(6.7)	0
Balance at end of period	(49.0)	0	0
Notes payable	536.4	496.0
Assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis				180.6
Gain on remeasurement of investment in SunBelt	(181.4)	0	0
PolyOne Corporation's interest in SunBelt (in hundredths)				50.00%
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates	27.6	25.9
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Liabilities [Abstract]
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates				(0.8)
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	0	0
Commodity forward contracts		7.0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	0	0
Commodity forward contracts	2.5	0
Earn Out Liability Fair Value Disclosure	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	13.8	9.1
Commodity forward contracts		9.9
Liabilities [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	13.7	9.3
Commodity forward contracts	7.7	0.2
Earn Out Liability Fair Value Disclosure	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	0	0
Commodity forward contracts		0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	0	0
Commodity forward contracts	0	0
Earn Out Liability Fair Value Disclosure	$ 49.0

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PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT [Abstract]

Schedule of property, plant and equipment along with respective useful lives

		December 31,
	Useful Lives	2011			2010
		($ in millions)
Land and improvements to land	10-20 Years	$	149.4		$	141.5
Buildings and building equipment	10-25 Years		183.9			163.5
Machinery and equipment	3-15 Years		1,540.3			1,379.0
Leasehold improvements			2.5			2.1
Construction in progress			153.3			57.0
Property, plant and equipment			2,029.4			1,743.1
Accumulated depreciation			(1,144.0	)		(1,068.1	)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$	885.4		$	675.0

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INCOME TAXES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

INCOME TAXES [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

	Years ended December 31,
Components of Income Before Taxes	2011		2010			2009
	($ in millions)
Domestic	$	360.3	$	74.4		$	193.9
Foreign		19.1		2.5			16.0
Income before taxes	$	379.4	$	76.9		$	209.9
Components of Income Tax Provision
Current expense:
Federal	$	39.5	$	6.7		$	5.3
State		6.1		6.4			(3.5	)
Foreign		5.5		(2.7	)		-
		51.1		10.4			1.8
Deferred		86.6		1.7			72.4
Income tax provision	$	137.7	$	12.1		$	74.2

The following table accounts for the difference between the actual tax provision and the amounts obtained by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 35% to the income before taxes.

	Years ended December 31,
Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation (Percent)	2011			2010			2009
Statutory federal tax rate		35.0	%		35.0	%		35.0	%
Foreign rate differential		(0.1	)		(0.6	)		(0.1	)
Domestic manufacturing/export tax incentive		(1.0	)		(0.9	)		(0.3	)
Dividends paid to CEOP		(0.3	)		(1.5	)		(0.6	)
State income taxes, net		1.1			1.6			2.6
Change in tax contingencies		(1.1	)		(11.9	)		(0.9	)
Change in valuation allowance		0.1			(5.6	)		0.1
Return to provision		0.5			(0.8	)		(0.7	)
Remeasurement of deferred taxes		(1.3	)		-			-
Incremental tax effect of SunBelt remeasurement		3.3			-			-
Other, net		0.1			0.4			0.3
Effective tax rate		36.3	%		15.7	%		35.4	%

	December 31,
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Deferred tax assets:
Pension and postretirement benefits	$	48.4		$	43.4
Environmental reserves		66.5			68.7
Asset retirement obligations		28.5			29.8
Accrued liabilities		42.4			46.8
Tax credits		10.2			15.7
Federal and state net operating losses		5.7			5.7
Capital loss carryforward		15.0			14.7
Other miscellaneous items		13.7			2.8
Total deferred tax assets		230.4			227.6
Valuation allowance		(24.1	)		(23.0	)
Net deferred tax assets		206.3			204.6
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment		147.8			157.1
Intangible amortization		10.5			10.4
Inventory and prepaids		4.3			7.4
Partnerships		92.4			7.2
Total deferred tax liabilities		255.0			182.1
Net deferred tax (liability) asset	$	(48.7	)	$	22.5

Realization of the net deferred tax assets, irrespective of indefinite lived deferred tax liabilities, is dependent on future reversals of existing temporary differences and adequate future taxable income, exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards.  Although realization is not assured, we believe that it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets will be realized.

At December 31, 2011, we had no actual foreign tax credit carryforwards.  At December 31, 2010, we had federal tax benefits of $2.1 million relating to actual foreign tax credit carryforwards.  During 2010, our Pioneer Canada subsidiary realized a net operating loss, which was carried back under Canadian tax law to obtain a refund for Canadian taxes paid in 2007 and 2008.  With this carryback of the net operating losses, the foreign tax credits generated by those taxes paid were eliminated, thus removing the foreign tax credit carryforward and the associated valuation allowance.  Our tax benefits for the foreign tax credit carryforwards and the associated valuation allowance were as follows:

	Foreign Tax Benefit			Valuation Allowance
	($ in millions)
Balance at January 1, 2010	$	3.8		$	(3.8	)
Increases for prior year limitation		0.8			(0.8	)
Increases for current year limitation		2.4			-
Decreases for carryback of current year foreign losses		(4.9	)		4.6
Balance at December 31, 2010		2.1			-
Decreases for prior year utilization		(1.8	)		-
Increases for current year generation		3.0			-
Decreases for current year utilization		(3.3	)		-
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	-		$	-

In 2007, we acquired federal tax benefits of $4.8 million as part of the Pioneer acquisition associated with the expected future foreign tax credits that will be generated by the deferred tax liabilities of Pioneer's Canadian subsidiary.  At December 31, 2011, we had federal tax benefits of $0.9 million recorded associated with the expected future foreign tax credits.  Realization of the tax benefits associated with such foreign tax credits is dependent upon reversal of Canadian temporary differences, future U.S. taxable income and future foreign source taxable income.  We believe that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax benefits will be realized and no valuation allowance is necessary.

We acquired a U.S. net operating loss carryforward (NOL) of approximately $6.6 million (representing $2.3 million of deferred tax assets) as part of the Pioneer acquisition.  At December 31, 2011, we had approximately $4.1 million (representing $1.4 million of deferred tax assets) remaining, that will expire in years 2017 through 2020, if not utilized.  The utilization of this NOL is limited under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code to $0.5 million in each year through 2020.  We believe that it is more likely than not that the NOL will be realized and no valuation allowance is necessary.

At December 31, 2011, we had deferred state tax benefits of $2.0 million relating to state NOLs, which are available to offset future state taxable income through 2030.  Due to uncertainties regarding realization of the tax benefits, a valuation allowance of $0.7 million has been applied against the deferred state tax benefits at December 31, 2011.

At December 31, 2011, we had deferred state tax benefits of $9.3 million relating to state tax credits, which are available to offset future state tax liabilities through 2026.  Due to uncertainties regarding the realization of these state tax credits, a valuation allowance of $8.4 million has been applied against the deferred state tax credits at December 31, 2011.

At December 31, 2011, we had a capital loss carryforward of $38.7 million (representing $15.0 million of deferred tax assets) that is available to offset future consolidated capital gains that will expire in years 2012 through 2016 if not utilized.  Due to uncertainties regarding the realization of the capital loss carryforward, a valuation allowance of $15.0 million has been applied against the deferred tax benefit at December 31, 2011.

The total amount of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries was approximately $12.9 million at December 31, 2011.  Deferred taxes are provided for earnings of non-U.S. affiliates when we plan to remit those earnings.  A portion of the undistributed earnings have been permanently reinvested and for those earnings no deferred taxes have been provided.  Deferred taxes have not been provided on the excess book basis in the shares of certain foreign subsidiaries because these basis differences are not expected to reverse in the foreseeable future.  The undistributed earnings and excess book basis differences could reverse through a sale, receipt of dividends from the subsidiaries, as well as various other events.  It is not practical to calculate the residual income tax that would result if these basis differences reversed due to the complexities of the tax law and the hypothetical nature of the calculations.

As of December 31, 2011, we had $37.9 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits, which would have a net $36.1 million impact on the effective tax rate, if recognized.  If these tax benefits are not recognized, the result would be cash tax payments of $28.5 million.  As of December 31, 2010, we had $41.5 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits, all of which would have a net $39.4 million impact on the effective tax rate, if recognized.  The change for 2011 primarily relates to additional gross unrecognized benefits for current year tax positions, as well as the expiration of the statute of limitations in domestic jurisdictions and settlement of ongoing audits.  The reduction included $2.1 million of tax positions associated with discontinued operations.  The amounts of unrecognized tax benefits were as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	($ in millions)
Beginning balance	$	41.5		$	50.8
Increase for prior year tax positions		0.1			0.2
Decrease for prior year tax positions		-			(0.9	)
Increase for current year tax positions		-			1.7
Decrease due to tax settlements		(0.1	)		(2.3	)
Reductions due to statute of limitations		(3.6	)		(8.0	)
Ending balance	$	37.9		$	41.5

We recognize interest and penalty expense related to unrecognized tax positions as a component of the income tax provision.  As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, interest and penalties accrued were $3.2 million and $3.5 million, respectively.  For 2011, 2010 and 2009, we expensed interest and penalties of $0.7 million, $0.8 million and $1.1 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2011, we believe it is reasonably possible that our total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by approximately $2.4 million over the next twelve months.  The anticipated reduction primarily relates to settlements with tax authorities and the expiration of federal, state, and foreign statutes of limitation.

We operate primarily in North America and file income tax returns in numerous jurisdictions.  Our tax returns are subject to examination by various federal, state and local authorities.  For our primary tax jurisdictions, the tax years that remain subject to examination are as follows:

	Tax Years
U.S. federal income tax	2007-2010
U.S. state income tax	2005-2010
Canadian federal income tax	2007-2010
Canadian provincial income tax	2007-2010

During third quarter 2010, the IRS completed an audit of our U.S. income tax return for 2006.  During second quarter 2010, the Canada Revenue Agency completed an audit of a portion of our Canadian tax returns for the 2005 to 2007 tax years.  No issues arose under either the U.S. audit or the Canadian audit that required an additional tax liability to be recognized.  We believe we have adequately provided for all tax positions; however, amounts asserted by taxing authorities could be greater than our accrued position.