PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]



		December 31,
	Useful Lives	2013			2012
		($ in millions)
Land and improvements to land	10-20 Years	$	156.2		$	155.9
Buildings and building equipment	10-30 Years	205.0			204.3
Machinery and equipment	3-15 Years	1,835.4			1,739.5
Leasehold improvements		2.5			2.5
Construction in progress		47.8			96.1
Property, plant and equipment		2,246.9			2,198.3
Accumulated depreciation		(1,259.1		)	(1,164.0		)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$	987.8		$	1,034.3

The weighted average useful life of machinery and equipment at December 31, 2013 was 10 years. Depreciation expense was $120.7 million, $104.4 million and $97.4 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Interest capitalized was $1.1 million, $7.4 million and $1.2 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Maintenance and repairs charged to operations amounted to $134.7 million, $124.4 million and $135.7 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, included a $7.9 million, $17.4 million and $(23.7) million, respectively, increase (decrease) 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, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

During 2013, 2012 and 2011 we entered into sale/leaseback transactions for caustic soda barges and chlorine, caustic soda and bleach railcars and bleach trailers. In 2013, 2012 and 2011 we received proceeds from the sales of $35.8 million, $4.4 million and $3.2 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

During 2013, assets of $4.2 million were acquired under capital leases and are included in machinery and equipment as of December 31, 2013. As of December 31, 2012, leased assets capitalized and included above are not significant.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Includes, but is not limited to, accounting policies and methodology, roll forwards, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, including composite depreciation, accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, useful lives and method used, income statement disclosures, assets held for sale and public utility disclosures.

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