secondquarter2007confcall.htm

KINGSPORT, Tenn., July 26, 2007 – Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) today announced earnings of $1.22 per diluted share for second quarter 2007 versus earnings of $1.37 per diluted share for second quarter 2006. Excluding the items described in the following paragraph, second-quarter 2007 earnings were $1.34 per diluted share, while second-quarter 2006 earnings were $1.40 per diluted share. For reconciliations to reported company and segment earnings, see Tables 3, 5 and 6 in the accompanying second-quarter 2007 financial tables.

Included in the results for second quarter 2007 were accelerated depreciation costs of $14 million resulting from continuing actions at the company's Longview, Texas, and Columbia, S.C., facilities and asset impairments and restructuring charges of $2 million primarily related to the recently completed sale of the company's San Roque, Spain, PET facility. Second-quarter 2006 results included asset impairments and restructuring charges of $3 million.

(In millions, except per share amounts)	2Q2007	2Q2006
Sales revenue	$1,895	$1,929
Earnings per diluted share	$1.22	$1.37
Earnings per diluted share excluding accelerated depreciation costs and asset impairments and restructuring charges*	$1.34	$1.40
Net cash provided by operating activities	$165	$126

* For reconciliations to reported company and segment earnings see Tables 3, 5 and 6 in the accompanying second-quarter 2007 financial tables.

Sales revenue for second quarter 2007 was $1.9 billion, similar to second quarter 2006. Second-quarter 2007 sales revenue included contract ethylene sales resulting from the fourth-quarter 2006 divestiture of the polyethylene business while second-quarter 2006 sales revenue included sales from divested product lines. Excluding the contract ethylene sales and sales from the divested product lines, sales revenue increased by 6 percent due primarily to higher selling prices. For reconciliations to reported company and segment sales revenue, see Tables 4 and 5 in the accompanying second-quarter 2007 financial tables.

Operating earnings in second quarter 2007 were $168 million compared with operating earnings of $190 million in second quarter 2006. Excluding accelerated depreciation costs from second quarter 2007 and asset impairments and restructuring charges from both second quarter 2007 and second quarter 2006, operating earnings were $184 million in second quarter 2007 compared with $193 million in second quarter 2006. The decline was due primarily to lower operating results in the Performance Polymers and Fibers segments. The company's second-quarter 2007 raw material and energy costs increased by approximately $50 million compared with second quarter 2006.

Coatings, Adhesives, Specialty Polymers and Inks– Sales revenue increased by 4 percent as higher selling prices, a favorable shift in product mix, and the favorable effect of a strengthening Euro versus the U.S. dollar were partially offset by lower sales volume. The lower sales volume was due to the divestiture of the company's Epolene product lines in fourth quarter 2006. Excluding asset impairments and restructuring charges of $1 million for second quarter 2006, operating earnings for the segment were $66 million in second quarter 2007 compared with best-ever results of $69 million in second quarter 2006.

Fibers– Sales revenue was unchanged as higher selling prices were offset by lower sales volume. The higher selling prices were due to efforts to offset higher raw material and energy costs, particularly for wood pulp. The lower sales volume was attributed to customer buying patterns for acetate tow and lower demand for acetyl chemicals as a result of a customer operational disruption. Operating earnings were $51 million in second quarter 2007 compared with $61 million in second quarter 2006 primarily due to lower sales volume and higher raw material and energy costs.

Performance Chemicals and Intermediates– Sales revenue increased by 28 percent due to higher sales volume, with both sales volume and selling prices significantly impacted by contract ethylene sales resulting from the divestiture of the polyethylene business. Excluding the contract ethylene sales and divested product lines, PCI's sales revenue increased 19 percent due to an increase in sales volume of 13 percent and higher selling prices. As a result, operating earnings excluding accelerated depreciation costs increased to $64 million in the second quarter, which was PCI's best quarterly performance in 10 years. This compares with $45 million in operating earnings in the second quarter 2006. The higher sales revenue and operating earnings were attributed to strong demand, particularly for olefin-based derivative products and acetyl chemicals in Asia Pacific and the United States.

Performance Polymers– Sales revenue declined by 26 percent due mainly to the divestiture of the polyethylene business. Sales revenue for PET polymers product lines decreased 3 percent due primarily to lower sales volume partially offset by higher selling prices. The lower sales volume was primarily attributed to lower sales volume in the European region resulting from the divestiture of the Spain PET facility. The decrease in sales volume was partially offset by higher sales volume in North America due to increased operating rates for the company's South Carolina PET facility based on IntegRex™ technology. Second-quarter 2007 results included asset impairments and restructuring charges of $1 million and accelerated depreciation costs of $6 million. Excluding those items, operating results for continuing PET product lines were a loss of $6 million in second quarter 2007 compared to a loss of $1 million in second quarter 2006. The change, primarily in North America, was attributed to continued volatile raw material and energy costs and low PET industry operating rates which resulted in compressed gross margins. The change was partially offset by improved results for PET in Europe due to strong end-market demand and improved cost structure resulting from the divestiture of the Spain site.

Specialty Plastics– Sales revenue increased by 7 percent due primarily to higher selling prices in response to higher raw material and energy costs. Sales volume increased slightly as higher volumes in copolyester and cellulosic products were mostly offset by a decline in demand for polyester products used in photographic and optical films. Second quarter 2007 operating earnings included asset impairments and restructuring charges of $1 million and accelerated depreciation costs of $1 million. Excluding those items, operating earnings increased to $20 million in second quarter 2007 from $14 million in second quarter 2006. The increase was due primarily to higher selling prices more than offsetting higher raw material and energy costs.

Eastman generated $165 million in cash from operating activities during second quarter 2007. The company completed its 2007 contribution of $100 million to its U.S. defined benefit pension plans during the first quarter 2007. Priorities for use of available cash continue to be to pay the dividend, fund targeted growth initiatives, and to repurchase shares under the authorized share repurchase plan. During the second quarter, share repurchases totaled $53 million.

Commenting on the outlook for third quarter 2007, Ferguson said, "During the third quarter, we expect continued solid results in all of our segments, with the exception of Performance Polymers outside the U.S. We also expect continued high and volatile raw material and energy costs for the company. As a result, we expect third quarter 2007 earnings per share excluding items related to ongoing strategic decisions to be slightly above third quarter 2006 earnings per share excluding items of $1.24."

Eastman will host a conference call with industry analysts on July 27 at 8:00 a.m. EDT. To listen to the live webcast of the conference call, go to www.eastman.com, Investors, Presentations. To listen via telephone, the dial-in number is (719) 457-2617, passcode number 2394993. A telephone replay will be available continuously from 11:00 a.m. EDT, July 27, to 12:00 midnight EDT, August 3, at 888-203-1112, passcode number 2394993.

Eastman manufactures and markets chemicals, fibers and plastics worldwide. It provides key differentiated coatings, adhesives and specialty plastics products; is the world’s largest producer of PET polymers for packaging; and is a major supplier of cellulose acetate fibers. As a Responsible Care® company, Eastman is committed to achieving the highest standards of health, safety, environmental and security performance. Founded in 1920 and headquartered in Kingsport, Tenn., Eastman is a FORTUNE 500 company with 2006 sales of $7.5 billion and approximately 11,000 employees. For more information about Eastman and its products, visit www.eastman.com.

Forward Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements concerning current expectations for future economic and business conditions; raw material and energy costs; operation of new manufacturing facilities; costs of and improved financial performance from strategic restructuring decisions and actions; and earnings of the company and its segments for third-quarter 2007. Such expectations are based upon certain preliminary information, internal estimates, and management assumptions, expectations and plans, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties inherent in projecting future conditions, events, and results. Actual results could differ materially from expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements if one or more of the underlying assumptions or expectations prove to be inaccurate or are unrealized. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such expectations are and will be detailed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Form 10-Q filed for the first quarter 2007 and the Form 10-Q to be filed for the second quarter 2007, available on the Eastman web site at www.eastman.com in the Investors, SEC filings section.

Item		Page

TABLE 1	Statements of Earnings	1

TABLE 2A	Other Sales Information	2

TABLE 2B	Sales Revenue Change	2

TABLE 2C	Sales by Region	3

TABLE 2D	Percentage Growth in Sales Volume by Region	3

TABLE 3	Operating Earnings (Loss), Accelerated Depreciation and Asset Impairments and Restructuring Charges	4

TABLE 4	Eastman Chemical Company Detail of Sales Revenue	5

TABLE 5	Performance Polymers Segment Detail of Sales Revenue, Operating Earnings (Loss), Accelerated Depreciation and Asset Impairments and Restructuring Charges	6

TABLE 6	Operating Earnings, Net Earnings, and Earnings Per Share Reconciliation	8

TABLE 7	Statements of Cash Flows	10

TABLE 8	Selected Balance Sheet Items	11

		Second Quarter				First Six Months
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)		2007		2006		2007		2006

Sales	$	1,895	$	1,929	$	3,690	$	3,732
Cost of sales		1,575		1,579		3,077		3,051
Gross profit		320		350		613		681

Selling, general and administrative expenses		113		113		214		211
Research and development expenses		37		44		73		86
Asset impairments and restructuring charges, net		2		3		23		10
Operating earnings		168		190		303		374

Interest expense, net		15		21		33		41
Other (income) charges, net		(3)		(2)		(6)		(3)
Earnings before income taxes		156		171		276		336
Provision for income taxes		51		57		94		117
Net earnings	$	105	$	114	$	182	$	219

Earnings per share
Basic	$	1.24	$	1.39	$	2.16	$	2.68
Diluted	$	1.22	$	1.37	$	2.13	$	2.64

Shares (in millions) outstanding at end of period		84.0		82.7		84.0		82.7

Shares (in millions) used for earnings per share calculation
Basic		84.2		81.9		84.1		81.7
Diluted		85.5		83.0		85.3		82.7

		Second Quarter ⁽¹⁾				First Six Months ⁽¹⁾
(Dollars in millions)		2007		2006		2007		2006
Sales by Segment
Coatings, Adhesives, Specialty Polymers, and Inks	$	376	$	362	$	721	$	711
Fibers		239		238		473		468
Performance Chemicals and Intermediates		552		431		1,050		823
Performance Polymers		513		696		1,019		1,341
Specialty Plastics		215		202		427		389
Total Sales by Segment		1,895		1,929		3,690		3,732
Other		--		--		--		--
Total Eastman Chemical Company	$	1,895	$	1,929	$	3,690	$	3,732

	Second Quarter 2007 Compared to Second Quarter 2006
		Change in Sales Revenue Due To
	Revenue % Change	Volume Effect	Price Effect	Product Mix Effect	Exchange Rate Effect

Coatings, Adhesives, Specialty Polymers, and Inks ⁽¹⁾	4 %	(4) %	4 %	2 %	2 %
Fibers	-- %	(4) %	4 %	-- %	-- %
Performance Chemicals and Intermediates ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾	28 %	31 %	-- %	(3) %	-- %
Performance Polymers ⁽¹⁾	(26) %	(30) %	2 %	1 %	1 %
Specialty Plastics	7 %	1 %	3 %	2 %	1 %

Total Eastman Chemical Company	(2) %	(5) %	2 %	-- %	1 %


	First Six Months 2007 Compared to First Six Months 2006
		Change in Sales Revenue Due To
	Revenue % Change	Volume Effect	Price Effect	Product Mix Effect	Exchange Rate Effect

Coatings, Adhesives, Specialty Polymers, and Inks ⁽¹⁾	1 %	(6) %	4 %	1 %	2 %
Fibers	1 %	(4) %	4 %	1 %	-- %
Performance Chemicals and Intermediates ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾	28 %	33 %	(6) %	-- %	1 %
Performance Polymers ⁽¹⁾	(24) %	(27) %	1 %	-- %	2 %
Specialty Plastics	10 %	5 %	3 %	1 %	1 %

Total Eastman Chemical Company	(1) %	(4) %	1 %	1 %	1 %

⁽¹⁾Included in 2006 sales revenue are the divested product lines of the Company's Batesville, Arkansas manufacturing facility and related assets in the Performance Chemicals and Intermediates ("PCI") segment and its polyethylene ("PE") and Epolene polymer businesses and related assets of the Performance Polymers and Coatings, Adhesives, Specialty Polymers, and Inks ("CASPI") segments.

		Second Quarter				First Six Months
(Dollars in millions)		2007		2006		2007		2006

Sales by Region
United States and Canada ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾	$	1,065	$	1,094	$	2,032	$	2,167
Europe, Middle East, and Africa ⁽¹⁾		376		384		749		709
Asia Pacific		270		248		523		459
Latin America ⁽¹⁾		184		203		386		397
	$	1,895	$	1,929	$	3,690	$	3,732

		Second Quarter				First Six Months
(Dollars in millions)		2007		2006		2007		2006
Operating Earnings by Segment and Certain Items
Coatings, Adhesives, Specialty Polymers, and Inks
Operating earnings	$	66	$	68	$	131	$	123
Asset impairments and restructuring charges		--		1		--		8
Operating earnings excluding items		66		69		131		131

Fibers
Operating earnings		51		61		110		127

Performance Chemicals and Intermediates
Operating earnings		57		45		111		86
Accelerated depreciation included in costs of goods sold		7		--		14		--
Operating earnings excluding items		64		45		125		86

Performance Polymers
Operating earnings (loss)		(13)		14		(64)		31
Accelerated depreciation included in costs of goods sold		6		--		13		--
Asset impairments and restructuring charges		1		--		22		--
Operating earnings (loss) excluding items		(6)		14		(29)		31

Specialty Plastics
Operating earnings		18		14		36		32
Accelerated depreciation included in costs of goods sold		1		--		1		--
Asset impairments and restructuring charges		1		--		1		--
Operating earnings excluding items		20		14		38		32

Total Operating Earnings by Segment and Items
Total operating earnings		179		202		324		399
Total accelerated depreciation included in costs of goods sold		14		--		28		--
Total asset impairments and restructuring charges		2		1		23		8
Total operating earnings excluding items		195		203		375		407

Other
Operating loss		(11)		(12)		(21)		(25)
Asset impairments and restructuring charges		--		2		--		2
Operating loss excluding items		(11)		(10)		(21)		(23)

Total Eastman Chemical Company
Total operating earnings	$	168	$	190	$	303	$	374
Total accelerated depreciation included in costs of goods sold		14		--		28		--
Total asset impairments and restructuring charges		2		3		23		10
Total operating earnings excluding items		184		193		354		384

		First Quarter		Second Quarter		Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter		Twelve Months
(Dollars in millions)		2006		2006		2006		2006		2006

Sales Revenue	$	1,803	$	1,929	$	1,966	$	1,752	$	7,450
Less: divested product lines
Coatings, Adhesives, Specialty Polymers and Inks ⁽²⁾		18		17		18		12		65
Performance Chemicals and Intermediates ⁽³⁾		30		29		38		14		111
Performance Polymers ⁽²⁾		180		168		169		118		635
Sales revenue – continuing product lines	$	1,575	$	1,715	$	1,741	$	1,608	$	6,639

		First Quarter		Second Quarter
(Dollars in millions)		2007		2007

Sales Revenue
Performance Polymers divested product lines	$	--	$	--
Continuing product lines		506		513
Total sales revenue	$	506	$	513

Operating loss
Performance Polymers divested product lines⁽¹⁾	$	--	$	--
Continuing product lines		(51)		(13)
Total operating loss	$	(51)	$	(13)
Accelerated depreciation included in costs of goods sold
Performance Polymers divested product lines	$	--	$	--
Continuing product lines		7		6
Total accelerated depreciation	$	7	$	6
Asset impairments and restructuring charges, net
Performance Polymers divested product lines	$	--	$	--
Continuing product lines		21		1
Total asset impairments and restructuring charges, net	$	21	$	1

		First Quarter		Second Quarter		Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter		Twelve Months
(Dollars in millions)		2006		2006		2006		2006		2006

Sales Revenue
Performance Polymers divested product lines	$	180	$	168	$	169	$	118	$	635
Continuing product lines		465		528		558		456		2,007
Total sales revenue	$	645	$	696	$	727	$	574	$	2,642

Operating earnings (loss)
Performance Polymers divested product lines⁽¹⁾	$	23	$	15	$	15	$	83	$	136
Continuing product lines		(6)		(1)		5		(80)		(82)
Total operating earnings	$	17	$	14	$	20	$	3	$	54
Accelerated depreciation included in costs of goods sold
Performance Polymers divested product lines	$	--	$	--	$	--	$	--	$	--
Continuing product lines		--		--		--		7		7
Total accelerated depreciation	$	--	$	--	$	--	$	7	$	7
Asset impairments and restructuring charges, net
Performance Polymers divested product lines	$	--	$	--	$	--	$	--	$	--
Continuing product lines		--		--		--		46		46
Total asset impairments and restructuring charges, net	$	--	$	--	$	--	$	46	$	46
Other operating (income) charges
Performance Polymers divested product lines	$	--	$	--	$	--	$	(75)	$	(75)
Continuing product lines		--		--		--		--		--
Total other operating (income) charges	$	--	$	--	$	--	$	(75)	$	(75)

		Second Quarter 2007
(Dollars in millions)		Operating Earnings		Earnings Before Tax		Net Earnings		Net Earnings Per Diluted Share

As reported	$	168	$	156	$	105	$	1.22

Certain Items:
Accelerated depreciation included in costs of goods sold		14		14		8		0.11
Asset impairments and restructuring charges		2		2		1		0.01
Excluding certain items	$	184	$	172	$	114	$	1.34

		First Six Months 2007
(Dollars in millions)		Operating Earnings		Earnings Before Tax		Net Earnings		Net Earnings Per Diluted Share

As reported	$	303	$	276	$	182	$	2.13

Certain Items:
Accelerated depreciation included in costs of goods sold		28		28		18		0.21
Asset impairments and restructuring charges		23		23		16		0.19
Excluding certain items	$	354	$	327	$	216	$	2.53

		First Six Months
(Dollars in millions)		2007		2006

Cash flows from operating activities
Net earnings	$	182	$	219

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		169		150
Asset impairments		22		8
Provision (benefits) for deferred income taxes		(18)		29
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in receivables		(59)		(156)
(Increase) decrease in inventories		(18)		(49)
Increase (decrease) in trade payables		(63)		59
Increase (decrease) in liabilities for employee benefits and incentive pay		(121)		(74)
Other items, net		5		(23)

Net cash provided by operating activities		99		163

Cash flows from investing activities
Additions to properties and equipment		(198)		(169)
Proceeds from sale of assets and investments		43		11
Additions to capitalized software		(5)		(8)
Other items, net		14		(1)

Net cash (used in) investing activities		(146)		(167)

Cash flows from financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in commercial paper, credit facility and other borrowings		75		23
Dividends paid to stockholders		(75)		(72)
Treasury stock purchases		(86)		--
Proceeds from stock option exercises and other items		88		24

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		2		(25)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(3)		2

Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(48)		(27)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		939		524

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	891	$	497

		June 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in millions)		2007		2006

Current Assets	$	2,501	$	2,422

Net Properties		3,040		3,069

Other Assets		699		682

Total Assets	$	6,240	$	6,173


Payables and Other Current Liabilities	$	1,028	$	1,056

Short-term Borrowings		72		3

Long-term Borrowings		1,507		1,589

Other Liabilities		1,463		1,496

Stockholders’ Equity		2,170		2,029

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	6,240	$	6,173

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	Second Quarter	First Six Months
Regional sales volume growth
United States and Canada	3 %	-- %
Europe, Middle East, and Africa	(15) %	(6) %
Asia Pacific	(6) %	2 %
Latin America	(16) %	(6) %

		Second Quarter 2006
(Dollars in millions)		Operating Earnings		Earnings Before Tax		Net Earnings		Net Earnings Per Diluted Share

As reported	$	190	$	171	$	114	$	1.37

Certain Items:
Asset impairments and restructuring charges		3		3		2		0.03
Excluding certain items	$	193	$	174	$	116	$	1.40

		First Six Months 2006
(Dollars in millions)		Operating Earnings		Earnings Before Tax		Net Earnings		Net Earnings Per Diluted Share

As reported	$	374	$	336	$	219	$	2.64

Certain Items:
Asset impairments and restructuring charges		10		10		9		0.12
Excluding certain items	$	384	$	346	$	228	$	2.76