ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE [Abstract]

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES

On December 20, 2016, we entered into a three year, $250.0 million Receivables Financing Agreement with PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (Receivables Financing Agreement). Under the Receivables Financing Agreement, our eligible trade receivables are used for collateralized borrowings and continue to be serviced by us. As of September 30, 2017, $363.0 million of our trade receivables were pledged as collateral and we had $250.0 million drawn under the agreement. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, we borrowed $40.0 million under the Receivables Financing Agreement and used the proceeds to fund a portion of the payment to TDCC associated with a long-term ethylene supply contract to reserve additional ethylene at producer economics. As of September 30, 2017, we had no additional borrowing capacity under the Receivables Financing Agreement. As of December 31, 2016, $282.3 million of our trade receivables were pledged as collateral and $210.0 million was drawn under the agreement. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the proceeds of the Receivables Financing Agreement were used to repay $210.0 million of the $800.0 million Sumitomo term loan facility (the Sumitomo Credit Facility). In addition, the Receivables Financing Agreement incorporates the leverage and coverage covenants that are contained in the senior revolving credit facilities.

On June 29, 2016, we entered into a trade accounts receivable factoring arrangement and, on December 22, 2016, we entered into a separate trade accounts receivable factoring arrangement, which were both subsequently amended (collectively the AR Facilities). Pursuant to the terms of the AR Facilities, certain of our subsidiaries may sell their accounts receivable up to a maximum of $293.0 million. We will continue to service such accounts.  These receivables qualify for sales treatment under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 860 “Transfers and Servicing” (ASC 860) and, accordingly, the proceeds are included in net cash provided by operating activities in the condensed statements of cash flows.  The gross amount of receivables sold for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 totaled $446.5 million and $209.9 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 totaled $1,224.1 million and $236.7 million, respectively.  The factoring discount paid under the AR Facilities is recorded as interest expense on the condensed statements of operations. The factoring discount was $1.4 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $2.9 million and $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The agreements are without recourse and therefore no recourse liability has been recorded as of September 30, 2017.  As of September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016 and September 30, 2016, $187.3 million, $126.1 million and $85.0 million, respectively, of receivables qualifying for sales treatment were outstanding and will continue to be serviced by us.