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HUNTSMAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES 2004 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K TABLE OF CONTENTS
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

Commission file number 001-32427

HUNTSMAN CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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

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

        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 o    NO ý

        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 the 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. ý

        Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). YES o    NO ý

        On June 30, 2004, the last business day of the Registrant's second fiscal quarter, no shares of the Registrant's common stock were outstanding. Accordingly, the market value of common stock held by non-affiliates was zero. On March 4, 2005, 204,354,058 shares of common stock of the Registrant were outstanding.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

        None.

HUNTSMAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
2004 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

HUNTSMAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
2004 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

        Some of the statements contained in this report are forward-looking in nature. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates" or "intends" or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. You are cautioned that our business and operations are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, and, consequently, our actual results may materially differ from those projected by any forward-looking statements. Some of those risks and uncertainties are discussed below in "Item 7—Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Cautionary Statement for Forward-Looking Information" and elsewhere in this report.

        This report includes information with respect to market share, industry conditions and forecasts that we obtained from internal industry research, publicly available information (including industry publications and surveys), and surveys and market research provided by consultants. The publicly available information and the reports, forecasts and other research provided by consultants generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but there can be no assurance as to the accuracy and completeness of such information. We have not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources, nor have we ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon therein. Similarly, our internal research and forecasts are based upon our management's understanding of industry conditions, and such information has not been verified by any independent sources.

        For convenience in this report, the terms "Company," "our," "us" or "we" may be used to refer to Huntsman Corporation and, unless the context otherwise requires, its subsidiaries. In this report, "HI" refers to Huntsman International LLC, and, unless the context otherwise requires, its subsidiaries, "HIH" refers to Huntsman International Holdings LLC, "Huntsman Specialty" refers to Huntsman Specialty Chemicals Corporation, "Huntsman LLC" or "HLLC" refers to Huntsman LLC, and, unless the context otherwise requires, its subsidiaries, "AdMat" refers to Huntsman Advanced Materials LLC and, unless the context otherwise requires, its subsidiaries, "HMP" refers to HMP Equity Holdings Corporation, "Huntsman Holdings" refers to Huntsman Holdings, LLC, "Huntsman Family Holdings" refers to Huntsman Family Holdings LLC, "Investments Trust" refers to HMP Equity Trust and "MatlinPatterson" refers to MatlinPatterson Global Opportunities Partners L.P. and its affiliates.

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

History

        Our Company, a Delaware corporation, was formed in 2004 to hold the Huntsman businesses. Jon M. Huntsman founded the predecessor to our Company in the early 1970s as a small packaging company. Since then, we have grown through a series of significant acquisitions and now own a global portfolio of commodity and differentiated businesses. In 1993, we purchased the LAB and maleic anhydride businesses of The Monsanto Company. In 1994, we purchased the global chemical business from what was formerly Texaco Inc. In 1997, we purchased our PO business from Texaco. Also in 1997, we acquired Rexene Corporation, significantly increasing the size of our Polymers business. In 1999, we acquired certain polyurethanes, pigments and European petrochemicals businesses from ICI. In 2000, we completed the acquisition of the Morton global TPU business from The Rohm and Haas Company. In 2001, we completed our acquisition of the global ethyleneamines business of Dow Chemical Company, and we completed our acquisition of the Albright & Wilson European surfactants business from Rhodia S.A. In 2003, we completed our acquisition of 88% of our Advanced Materials business through the purchase of Vantico Group S.A., and we now own approximately 90% of AdMat. Due in part to the financing of these acquisitions, our subsidiaries have accumulated a significant amount of

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indebtedness, which totaled $6,299.5 million as of December 31, 2004. We have also divested certain non-core businesses, including our packaging subsidiary in 1997 and our global styrenics business in 1998.

Recent Developments

Initial Public Offering and Use of Proceeds

        On February 16, 2005, we completed an initial public offering of 55,681,819 shares of our common stock sold by us and 13,579,546 shares of our common stock sold by a selling stockholder, in each case at a price to the public of $23 per share, and 5,750,000 shares of our 5% mandatory convertible preferred stock sold by us at a price to the public of $50 per share. Each share of preferred stock will be convertible into between approximately 1.77 and approximately 2.17 shares of our common stock, subject to anti-dilution adjustments, depending upon the trading price of our common stock prior to the third anniversary of the initial public offering. This will result in between approximately 10.2 million and approximately 12.5 million additional shares of our common stock outstanding upon conversion.

        The net proceeds to us from our initial public offering of common and preferred stock were approximately $1,500 million, substantially all of which are being used to repay outstanding indebtedness of certain of our subsidiaries, including HMP, Huntsman LLC and HIH, as follows:

•

On February 16, 2005, we used $41.6 million of net proceeds from the offering to redeem in full the subordinated note due Horizon Ventures LLC.



•

On February 28, 2005, we used $1,216.7 million of net proceeds from the offering, along with $35.0 million in available cash, to redeem



•

all of the outstanding 15% senior secured discount notes due 2008 of HMP (the "HMP Senior Discount Notes");



•

$452.3 million of the outstanding 13.375% senior discount notes due 2009 of HIH (the "HIH Senior Discount Notes"); and



•

$159.4 million of the outstanding 11.625% senior secured notes due 2010 of Huntsman LLC (the "HLLC Senior Secured Notes").



•

On March 14, 2005, we expect to use $151.7 million of net cash proceeds from the offering to redeem the remaining outstanding HIH Senior Discount Notes, $78.0 million of the outstanding 11.5% senior notes due 2012 of Huntsman LLC (the "HLLC Senior Notes") and to pay $7.8 million to HMP warrant holders for a consent fee pursuant to an amendment in connection with the Reorganization Transaction (defined below). On March 17, 2005, we expect to use $26.8 million of net cash proceeds from the offering to redeem an additional $24.0 million of the HLLC Senior Notes.

        In connection with the repayment of the indebtedness discussed above, we expect to report a loss on early extinguishment of debt during the first quarter of 2005 of approximately $235 million.

Reorganization Transaction

        In connection with the completion of our initial public offering, we consummated a reorganization transaction (the "Reorganization Transaction"). In the Reorganization Transaction, our predecessor, Huntsman Holdings, became our wholly owned subsidiary, and the existing beneficial holders of the common and preferred membership interests of Huntsman Holdings received shares of our common stock in exchange for their interests.

        As a result of our cash contributions that were used to redeem the HIH Senior Discount Notes and our contribution to HIH of the senior subordinated reset discount notes due 2009 of HIH that

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were originally issued to ICI (the "HIH Senior Subordinated Discount Notes"), our ownership interest in HIH increased from 40% to 58%, and, accordingly, Huntsman LLC's interest in HIH decreased from 60% to 42%.

        In connection with our initial public offering and as part of the Reorganization Transaction, we exercised our right under the outstanding warrants to purchase common stock of HMP (the "HMP Warrants") to require that all the HMP Warrants and any shares of HMP equity securities issued upon exercise of the HMP Warrants be exchanged for newly issued shares of our common stock. Under the terms of the HMP Warrants, an aggregate of approximately 16.9 million shares of our common stock will be issued in exchange for the outstanding HMP Warrants on March 14, 2005.

Ownership and Structure

        Immediately following the Reorganization Transaction and the initial public offering discussed above, Investments Trust held approximately 59% of our outstanding common stock. Jon M. Huntsman and Peter R. Huntsman control the voting of the shares of our common stock held by Investments Trust. However, the shares of our common stock held by Investments Trust will not be voted in favor of certain fundamental corporate actions without the consent of MatlinPatterson, through its representatives David J. Matlin or Christopher R. Pechock. In addition, Jon M. Huntsman and Peter R. Huntsman have agreed to cause all of the shares of our common stock held by Investments Trust to be voted in favor of the election to our board of directors of two nominees designated by MatlinPatterson. MatlinPatterson will have control over the disposition of the shares of our common stock held by Investments Trust that are allocated to its beneficial interest in Investments Trust. Huntsman Family Holdings will have control over the disposition of the shares of our common stock held by Investments Trust that are allocated to its beneficial interest in Investments Trust. Huntsman Family Holdings is controlled by Jon M. Huntsman.

        We operate our businesses through three principal operating subsidiaries: Huntsman LLC, HI and AdMat. Each of our principal operating subsidiaries is separately financed, its debt is non-recourse to us (with the exception of certain limited guarantees described in "Part II. Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Off Balance Sheet Arrangements—Financing Chinese MDI Joint Ventures"), and we have no contractual obligations to fund its respective operations. Moreover, the debt of Huntsman LLC is non-recourse to HI and AdMat, the debt of HI is non-recourse to Huntsman LLC and AdMat, and the debt of AdMat is non-recourse to Huntsman LLC and HI.

        Prior to May 9, 2003, we owned, indirectly, approximately 61% of the membership interests of HI's parent, HIH. At that time, Imperial Chemical Industries PLC ("ICI") owned 30% and institutional investors owned the remaining approximately 9% of the HIH membership interests. We accounted for our investment in HIH on the equity method due to the significant management participation rights formerly granted to ICI pursuant to the HIH limited liability company agreement. On May 9, 2003, our indirect subsidiary, HMP, exercised an option that it held and purchased the ICI subsidiary that held its 30% membership interest in HIH. HMP also purchased the remaining HIH membership interests held by institutional investors (the "HIH Consolidation Transaction"). As a result of the HIH Consolidation Transaction, we (indirectly) own 100% of the HIH membership interests. Effective May 1, 2003, HIH became a consolidated subsidiary and from that time was no longer accounted for on an equity basis.

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        The chart below shows our current organizational structure:

Overview

        We are among the world's largest global manufacturers of differentiated and commodity chemical products. We manufacture a broad range of chemical products and formulations, which are marketed in more than 100 countries to a diversified group of consumer and industrial customers. Our products are used in a wide range of applications, including those in the adhesives, aerospace, automotive, construction products, durable and non-durable consumer products, electronics, medical, packaging, paints and coatings, power generation, refining and synthetic fiber industries. We are a leading global producer in many of our key product lines, including MDI, amines, surfactants, epoxy-based polymer formulations, maleic anhydride and titanium dioxide. We operate 62 manufacturing facilities located in 22 countries and employ over 11,300 associates. Our businesses benefit from significant integration, large production scale and proprietary manufacturing technologies, which allow us to maintain a low-cost position.

Our Products and Segments

        Our business is organized around our six segments: Polyurethanes, Advanced Materials, Performance Products, Pigments, Polymers and Base Chemicals. These segments can be divided into

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two broad categories: differentiated and commodity. We produce differentiated products primarily in our Polyurethanes, Advanced Materials and Performance Products segments. These products serve diverse end markets and are generally characterized by historical growth in excess of GDP growth resulting from product substitution and new product development, proprietary manufacturing processes and product formulations and a high degree of customer loyalty. Demand for these products tends to be driven by the value-added attributes that they create in our customers' end-use applications. While the demand for these differentiated products is also influenced by worldwide economic conditions and GDP growth, our differentiated products have tended to produce more stable profit margins and higher demand growth rates than our commodity products.

        In our commodity chemical businesses, we produce titanium dioxide derived from titanium-bearing ores in our Pigments segment and petrochemical-based olefins, aromatics and polyolefins products in our Polymers and Base Chemicals segments. Since the coatings industry consumes a substantial portion of titanium dioxide production, seasonal demand patterns in the coatings industry drive the profitability of our Pigments segment; profitability is also driven by industry-wide operating rates, with a lag of up to twelve months due to the effects of stocking and destocking by customers and suppliers. The profitability of our petrochemical-based commodity products is cyclical and has been experiencing a down cycle for the last several years, resulting primarily from significant new capacity additions, a decrease in demand reflecting weak global economic conditions and high raw material costs. Certain industry fundamentals have recently improved and, we believe, point to increased profitability in the markets for the major commodity products that we manufacture.

*

Percentage allocations in the segment revenues chart above reflect the allocation of all inter-segment revenue eliminations to our Base Chemicals segment. Percentage allocations in the segment EBITDA chart above do not give effect to $72.3 million of corporate and other unallocated items and exclude $299.3 million of restructuring and plant closing costs. For a detailed discussion of our revenues, net income (loss), total assets and EBITDA by segment, see "Note 26. Operating Segment Information" to our Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report. For a discussion of EBITDA and a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income, see "Part II—Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations."

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        The following table identifies the key products, their principal end markets and applications and representative customers of each of our segments:

Polyurethanes

General

        We are a leading global manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of polyurethane chemicals, including MDI, PO, polyols, PG, TDI and TPU. Polyurethane chemicals are used to produce rigid and flexible foams, as well as coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers. We focus on the higher-margin, higher-growth markets for MDI and MDI-based polyurethane systems. Growth in our Polyurethanes segment has been driven primarily by the continued substitution of MDI-based products for other

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materials across a broad range of applications. We operate four primary Polyurethanes manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Europe. We also operate 14 Polyurethanes formulation facilities, which are located in close proximity to our customers worldwide. We have a significant interest in a manufacturing joint venture that has recently begun construction of a low-cost, world-scale, integrated MDI production facility near Shanghai, China. We expect production at this facility to commence in 2006.

        Our customers produce polyurethane products through the combination of an isocyanate, such as MDI or TDI, with polyols, which are derived largely from PO and EO. While the range of TDI-based products is relatively limited, we are able to produce over 2,000 distinct MDI-based polyurethane products by varying the proportion and type of polyol used and by introducing other chemical additives to our MDI formulations. As a result, polyurethane products, especially those derived from MDI, are continuing to replace traditional products in a wide range of end-use markets, including insulation in construction and appliances, cushioning for automotive and furniture, adhesives, wood binders, footwear and other specialized engineering applications.

        We are a leading North American producer of PO. We and some of our customers process PO into derivative products such as polyols for polyurethane products, PG and various other chemical products. End uses for these derivative products include applications in the home furnishings, construction, appliance, packaging, automotive and transportation, food, paints and coatings and cleaning products industries We also produce MTBE as a co-product of our PO manufacturing process. MTBE is an oxygenate that is blended with gasoline to reduce harmful vehicle emissions and to enhance the octane rating of gasoline. See "—Environmental, Health and Safety Matters—MTBE Developments" for a further discussion of legal and regulatory developments that may curtail or eliminate the use of MTBE in gasoline in the U.S. and elsewhere in the future.

        In 1992, we were the first global supplier of polyurethane chemicals to open a technical service center in China. We have since expanded this facility to include an integrated polyurethanes formulation facility. In January 2003, we entered into two related joint ventures to build MDI production facilities near Shanghai, China. Our MDI joint ventures will enable us to strengthen our long-standing presence in China and to further capitalize on the growth in demand for MDI in Asia.

Industry Overview

        MDI is used primarily in rigid foam applications and in a wide variety of customized higher-value flexible foam and coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers; conversely, TDI is used primarily in commodity flexible foam applications. Polyols, including polyether and polyester polyols, are used in conjunction with MDI and TDI in rigid foam, flexible foam and other non-foam applications. PO is one of the principal raw materials for producing polyether polyols. The following chart illustrates the range of product types and end uses for polyurethane chemicals:

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Polyurethane chemicals are sold to customers who combine the chemicals to produce polyurethane products. Depending on their needs, customers will use either commodity polyurethane chemicals produced for mass sales or polyurethane systems tailored for their specific requirements. By varying the blend, additives and specifications of the polyurethane chemicals, manufacturers are able to produce and develop a breadth and variety of polyurethane products

        MDI.    MDI has a substantially larger market size and a higher growth rate than TDI. This is primarily because MDI can be used to make polyurethanes with a broader range of properties and can therefore be used in a wider range of applications than TDI. We believe that future growth of MDI is expected to be driven by the continued substitution of MDI-based polyurethane for fiberglass and other materials currently used in rigid insulation foam for construction. We expect that other markets, such as binders for reconstituted wood board products, specialty cushioning applications and coatings will further contribute to the continued growth of MDI.

        The U.S. and European markets currently consume the largest quantities of MDI. With the recent rapid growth of the developing Asian economies, the Asian markets are becoming an increasingly important market for MDI, and we currently believe that per-capita demand for MDI in Asia will continue to increase as its less-developed economies continue to grow.

        There are four major global producers of MDI: Bayer, our Company, BASF and Dow. We believe it is unlikely that any new global producers of MDI will emerge in the foreseeable future due to the substantial requirements for entry such as the limited availability of licenses for MDI technology and the substantial capital commitment and integration that is required to develop both the necessary technology and the infrastructure to manufacture and market MDI.

        TDI.    The consumers of TDI consist primarily of numerous manufacturers of flexible foam blocks sold for use as furniture cushions and mattresses. Flexible foam is typically the first polyurethane market to become established in developing countries because smaller local plants can be constructed using technology and intermediate chemicals that are easier to obtain than those required for MDI production. As a result, TDI production typically precedes MDI production in developing markets.

        TPU.    TPU is a high-quality fully formulated thermal plastic derived from the reaction of MDI or an aliphatic isocyanate with polyols to produce unique qualities such as durability, flexibility, strength, abrasion-resistance, shock absorbency and chemical resistance. We can tailor the performance characteristics of TPU to meet the specific requirements of our customers. TPU is used in injection molding and small components for the automotive and footwear industries. It is also extruded into films, wires and cables for use in a wide variety of applications in the coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers markets.

        Polyols.    Polyols are combined with MDI, TDI and other isocyanates to create a broad spectrum of polyurethane products. Demand for specialty polyols has been growing at approximately the same rate at which MDI consumption has grown.

        Aniline.    Aniline is an intermediate chemical used primarily to manufacture MDI. Generally, most aniline is either consumed internally by the producers of the aniline or is sold to third parties under long-term supply contracts. We believe that the lack of a significant spot market for aniline means that in order to remain competitive, MDI manufacturers must either be integrated with an aniline manufacturing facility or have a long-term cost-competitive aniline supply contract.

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        PO.    PO is an intermediate chemical used mainly to produce a wide range of polyols and PG. Demand for PO depends largely on overall economic demand, especially that of consumer durables. The following chart illustrates the primary end markets and applications for PO.

        MTBE.    We currently use our entire production of TBA, a co-product of our PO production process, to produce MTBE. MTBE is an oxygenate that is blended with gasoline to reduce harmful vehicle emissions and to enhance the octane rating of gasoline. Historically, the refining industry utilized tetra ethyl lead as the primary additive to increase the octane rating of gasoline until health concerns resulted in the removal of tetra ethyl lead from gasoline. This led to the increasing use of MTBE as a component in gasoline during the 1980s. MTBE has experienced historical growth due to its ability to satisfy the oxygenation requirement of amendments to the Clean Air Act of 1990 (the "Clean Air Act") with respect to exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions from automobile engines. Some regions of the U.S. adopted this oxygenate requirement to improve air quality even though they were not mandated to do so by the Clean Air Act. The use of MTBE is controversial in the U.S. and elsewhere and may be substantially curtailed or eliminated in the future by legislation or regulatory action. See "—Environmental, Health and Safety Matters—MTBE Developments."

Sales and Marketing

        We manage a global sales force, with 40 locations in 35 countries, which sells our polyurethane chemicals to over 2,000 customers in more than 90 countries. Our sales and technical resources are organized to support major regional markets, as well as key end-use markets which require a more global approach. These key end-use markets include the appliance, automotive, footwear, furniture and coatings, construction products, adhesives, sealants and elastomers industries.

        We provide a wide variety of polyurethane solutions as components (i.e., the isocyanate or the polyol) or in the form of "systems" in which we provide the total isocyanate and polyol formulation to our customers in ready-to-use form. Our ability to deliver a range of polyurethane solutions and technical support tailored to meet our customers needs is critical to our long term success. We have

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strategically located our polyurethane formulation facilities, commonly referred to in the chemicals industry as "systems houses," close to our customers, enabling us to focus on customer support and technical service. We believe this customer support and technical service system contributes to customer retention and also provides opportunities for identifying further product and service needs of customers. We manufacture TDI and polyols primarily to support our MDI customers' requirements.

        We believe that the extensive market knowledge and industry experience of our sales teams and technical experts, in combination with our strong emphasis on customer relationships, have facilitated our ability to establish and maintain long-term customer supply positions. Due to the specialized nature of our markets, our sales force must possess technical knowledge of our products and their applications. Our strategy is to continue to increase sales to existing customers and to attract new customers by providing innovative solutions, quality products, reliable supply, competitive prices and superior customer service.

Manufacturing and Operations

        Our MDI production facilities are located in Geismar, Louisiana and Rozenburg, Netherlands. These facilities receive aniline, which is a primary material used in the production of MDI, from our facilities located in Geismar, Louisiana and Wilton, U.K. We believe that this relative scale and product integration of our large facilities provide a significant competitive advantage over other producers. In addition to reducing transportation costs for our raw materials, integration helps reduce our exposure to cyclical prices. Since 1996, we have invested over $600 million to significantly enhance our production capabilities through the rationalization of our older, less efficient facilities and the modernization of our newer facilities at Rozenburg and Geismar.

        The following table sets forth the annual production capacity of polyurethane chemicals at each of our polyurethanes facilities:

(1)

Millions of gallons.

(2)

Represents our approximately 78% share of capacity under our Rubicon LLC manufacturing joint venture with Crompton Corporation.

        At both our Geismar and Rozenburg facilities we utilize sophisticated proprietary technology to produce our MDI. This technology, which will be used in our world-scale joint venture in Shanghai, China, contributes to our position as a low cost MDI producer. In addition to MDI, we use a proprietary manufacturing process to manufacture PO. We own or license all technology, know-how and patents developed and utilized at our PO facility. Our process combines isobutane and oxygen in proprietary oxidation (peroxidation) reactors, thereby forming TBHP and TBA, which are further processed into PO and MTBE, respectively. Because our PO production process is less expensive relative to other technologies and allows all of our PO co-products to be processed into saleable or useable materials, we believe that our PO production technology possesses several distinct advantages over its alternatives.

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        We also operate polyurethane systems houses in Deerpark, Australia; Shanghai, China; Cartagena, Colombia; Deggendorf, Germany; Thane (Maharashtra), India; Ternate, Italy; Tlalnepantla, Mexico; Mississauga, Ontario; Kuan Yin, Taiwan; and Samuprakam, Thailand.

        We currently market approximately 95% of our MTBE to customers located in the U.S. for use as a gasoline additive. If the use of MTBE in gasoline in the U.S. is further curtailed or eliminated in the future, we believe that we will be able to export MTBE to Europe, Asia or South America, although this may produce a lower level of cash flow than the sale of MTBE in the U.S. We may also elect to use all or a portion of our precursor TBA to produce saleable products other than MTBE. If we opt to produce products other than MTBE, necessary modifications to our facilities will require us to make significant capital expenditures and the sale of such other products may produce a lower level of cash flow than the sale of MTBE.

Joint Ventures

        Rubicon Joint Venture.    We and Crompton Corporation own Rubicon LLC, which owns aniline, nitrobenzene and DPA manufacturing facilities in Geismar, Louisiana. We are entitled to approximately 78% of the nitrobenzene and aniline production capacity of Rubicon LLC, and Crompton Corporation is entitled to 100% of the DPA production. In addition to operating the joint venture's owned aniline, nitrobenzene and DPA facilities, Rubicon LLC also operates our wholly owned MDI, TDI and polyol facilities at Geismar and is responsible for providing other auxiliary services to the entire Geismar complex. As a result of this joint venture, we are able to achieve greater scale and lower costs for our products than we would otherwise have been able to obtain.

        Chinese MDI Joint Ventures.    In January 2003, we entered into two related joint venture agreements to build MDI production facilities near Shanghai, China. The manufacturing joint venture with BASF and three Chinese chemical companies (the "Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV") will build three plants to manufacture MNB, aniline, and crude MDI. We effectively own 35% of the Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV. The other joint venture with Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical Company, Ltd. (the "Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV"), will build a plant to manufacture pure MDI, polymeric MDI and MDI variants. We own 70% of the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV. A feasibility study for the project has been approved by the appropriate Chinese authorities, preliminary engineering work has commenced and a business license was issued in March 2003, making the joint ventures the first entities with foreign investors to receive a license to construct an integrated MDI plant in China.

        The project is funded by a combination of equity invested by the joint venture partners and borrowed funds. We anticipate that our equity investment in the joint ventures will be approximately $85 million, and of this amount approximately $42 will be an investment in an unconsolidated affiliate. The remaining approximately $43 million will be invested in a consolidated affiliate, which we expect will have approximately $125 million of total capital expenditures through project completion. Upon expected completion in 2006, the production capacity of this facility will be 525 million pounds per year.

Raw Materials

        The primary raw materials for MDI-based polyurethane chemicals are benzene and PO. Benzene is a widely available commodity that is the primary feedstock for the production of MDI and aniline. Historically, benzene has been the largest component of our raw material costs. We use the benzene produced in our Base Chemicals segment and purchase benzene from third parties to manufacture nitrobenzene and aniline, almost all of which we then use to produce MDI. Our vertical integration provides us with a competitively priced supply of feedstocks and reduces our exposure to supply interruption.

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        A major cost in the production of polyols is attributable to the costs of PO. The integration of our PO business with our polyurethane chemicals business gives us access to a competitively priced, strategic source of PO and the opportunity to develop polyols that enhance our range of MDI products. The primary raw materials used in our PO production process are butane/isobutane, propylene, methanol and oxygen, which accounted for 55%, 29%, 14% and 2%, respectively, of total raw material costs in 2004. We purchase our raw materials primarily under long-term contracts. While most of these feedstocks are commodity materials generally available to us from a wide variety of suppliers at competitive prices in the spot market, all the propylene used in the production of our PO is produced internally and delivered through a pipeline connected to our PO facility.

Competition

        Our competition in the polyurethane chemicals business includes BASF, Bayer, Dow and Lyondell. While these competitors and others produce various types and quantities of polyurethane chemicals, we focus on MDI and MDI-based polyurethane systems. We compete based on technological innovation, technical assistance, customer service and product reliability. Our polyurethane chemicals business competes in two basic ways: (1) where price is the dominant element of competition, our polyurethane chemicals business differentiates itself by its high level of customer support including cooperation on technical and safety matters; and (2) elsewhere, we compete on the basis of product performance and our ability to react quickly to changing customer needs and by providing customers with innovative solutions to their needs.

Advanced Materials

General

        We are a leading global manufacturer and marketer of technologically advanced epoxy, acrylic and polyurethane-based polymer products. We focus on formulations and systems that are used to address customer-specific needs in a wide variety of industrial and consumer applications. Our products are used either as replacements for traditional materials such as metal, wood, clay, glass, stone and ceramics, or in applications where traditional materials do not meet demanding engineering specifications. For example, structural adhesives are used to replace metal rivets and advanced composites are used to replace traditional aluminum panels in the manufacture of aerospace components. Revenue growth for much of our product portfolio has historically been well in excess of global GDP growth. Our Advanced Materials segment is characterized by the breadth of our product offering, our expertise in complex chemistry, our long-standing relationships with our customers and our ability to develop and adapt our technology and our applications expertise for new markets and new applications. We operate 14 Advanced Materials synthesis and formulating facilities in North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. We market over 6,000 products to more than 5,000 customers in over 20 end-markets, which are grouped as follows:

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        Since completing the AdMat Transaction in June 2003, we have initiated a comprehensive restructuring program designed to reduce our costs and transform our Advanced Materials segment from a product-driven business to a market-focused business. This program includes optimization of our global supply chain, reductions in general and administrative costs and the consolidation and centralization of support functions across Advanced Materials and with our other businesses. We have closed or announced the closure of manufacturing facilities in Quillan, France, Thomastown, Australia and Kaohsiung, Taiwan and have significantly reduced or downsized the scale of our operations in Bergkamen, Germany and East Lansing, Michigan. We have also closed sales and administrative offices in seven locations.

Market and Product Overview

        Adhesives.    Overview.    The high-growth structural adhesives market requires high-strength "engineering" adhesives for use in the manufacture and repair of items to bond various engineering substrates. Our business focus is on engineering adhesives based on epoxy, polyurethane, acrylic and other technologies which are used to bond materials such as steel, aluminum, engineering plastics and composites in substitution of traditional joining techniques. Our Araldite® brand name has considerable value in the industrial and consumer adhesives markets. In many countries, Araldite® is synonymous with high-performance adhesives and we generally believe that this is the value-added segment of the market where recognition of our long-standing Araldite® brand is a key competitive advantage. We also believe that products marketed under the Araldite® name are generally less price-sensitive than the brands of our competitors. Packaging is a key characteristic of our adhesives products. Our range of adhesives is sold in a variety of packs and sizes, specifically targeted to three specific end-markets and sold through specifically targeted routes to market:

•

General industrial bonding.    We sell a broad range of advanced formulated adhesives to a broad base of small-to medium-sized customers, including specialist distributors, who generally require relatively small quantities of easy-to-use products and a moderate level of instruction and support.



•

Industry specific.    We sell our adhesive products into diverse, global industry-specific markets, which include the aerospace, DVD, wind power generation and LNG transport markets. Our target markets are chosen because we believe it is worthwhile to utilize our highly trained direct sales force and applications experts to tailor products and services to suit the needs and performance specifications of the specific market segments. We often provide a turnkey solution and the customer often commits to an investment in capital equipment to use the materials provided.



•

Consumer/DIY.    We package and sell consumer adhesives through strategic distribution arrangements with a number of the major marketers of consumer/DIY adhesives, such as Bostik and Shelleys. These products are sold globally through a number of major retail outlets, often under the Araldite® brand name.

        Market Trends.    We have observed the following significant trends emerging in the markets for our products used in adhesives applications:

•

Increased usage of non-metal substrates for lighter weight and lower total cost construction, which we expect to drive continued high growth for advanced formulated adhesives.



•

End-users of adhesives, including the aerospace, road transport, marine, rail, electronics/ communication, sports and leisure and energy industries are continuing to substitute new substrates with low weight and cost-efficient characteristics on developing applications.



•

We expect steel and wood substrates to be replaced with aluminum, engineering plastics and composites, driving continued high growth demand for high-performance adhesives to replace traditional metal joining techniques.



•

There is increasing emphasis in high growth markets on offering the "total" engineering solution to customer needs with increasing need for adhesive bonding to form part of that solution.

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•

Skill and know-how of personnel is a key competitive advantage in sales, research and development and application technology.

        Competition.    We face substantial competition for the sale of our products for adhesives applications. Competition in the industry specific market segments is based on an understanding of the relevant industry sector and the ability to provide highly reliable and tailored engineering solutions, applications expertise and ease of use with the customer's processing equipment. Competition in the consumer market segment is based on branding, packaging and making widely available, easy-to-use products on which our customers can rely. We believe that our competitive strengths are our focus on defined market needs, provision of a high level of service and recognition as a quality supplier in the chosen sectors, all of which are exemplified by our strong Araldite® brand name. The principal participants in the structural adhesives market include Henkel/Loctite, ITW, National Starch, Sika, 3M and many other regional or industry specific competitors.

        Electrical and Electronics Materials.    Overview.    Our electrical materials are formulated polymer systems, which make up the insulation materials used in equipment for the generation, transmission and distribution of electrical power, such as transformers, switch gears, ignition coils, sensors, motors, and magnets, and for the protection of electrical and electronic devices and components. The purpose of these products is to insulate, protect or shield either the environment from electrical current or electrical devices from the environment, such as temperature or humidity. Our electrical insulating materials target two key market segments, the heavy electrical equipment market and the light electrical equipment market.

        Products for the heavy electrical equipment market segment are used in power plant components, devices for power grids and insulating parts and components. In addition, there are numerous devices, such as motors and magnetic coils used in trains and medical equipment, which are manufactured using epoxy and related technologies. Products for the light electrical equipment market segment are used in applications such as industrial automation and control, consumer electronics, car electronics and electrical components. The end customers in the electrical insulating materials market encompass the relevant original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") as well as numerous manufacturers of components used in the final products.

        We also develop, manufacture and market materials used in the production of printed circuit boards. Our products are ultimately used in industries ranging from telecommunications and personal computer mother board manufacture to automotive electronic systems manufacture. Our printed circuit board technologies business has three product lines:

•

soldermasks, which are heat, chemical and environmentally resistant coatings that allow various components and circuitry to be soldered to the surface of printed circuit boards;



•

liquid inner layer resists, which are temporary, photo-imageable materials which enable the generation of circuitry on the inner layers of printed circuit boards; and



•

dielectric materials, which are materials with electrical insulation properties that constitute an insulating layer in high-density, multi-layer printed circuit boards.

        Soldermasks are our most important product line in the printed circuit board technologies business, particularly in Europe. Sales are made mainly under the Probimer®, Probimage®, and Probelec® trademarks. Probimer® is a widely recognized brand name for soldermasks.

        Market Trends.    We have observed the following significant trends emerging in the markets for our products used for electrical and electronics materials:

        Heavy electrical:

•

Increased demand for energy in the rapidly developing countries of Asia is requiring construction of local infrastructure and increasing demand for our products in the region.

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•

Deregulation and privatization of public utilities, mainly in Europe, has resulted in a shake-up of the market having positive effects, such as increased capital investment in equipment using our products, and negative effects, such as increased pricing pressure.



•

Concentration among power plant manufacturers is increasing worldwide.

        Light electrical:

•

End-user industries, particularly automotive and electronics, are applying pricing pressures on their suppliers.



•

Rapid change in the electronics industry is driving innovation of light electrical equipment.



•

Non-traditional formulation competitors are becoming increasingly active.

        Printed circuit board:

•

The printed circuit board materials industry is characterized by continually changing specifications and product criteria.



•

There is an ongoing shift of production underway in the industry, with manufacturing of printed circuit boards being focused in China.



•

These dynamics stem from the need for printed circuit boards with ever-improving performance, in reduced sizes and at cheaper prices. Given these dynamics, printed circuit board designs also have relatively short life spans of 12 to 18 months.

        Competition.    Competition for electrical insulating materials applications is based on technology, know-how, applications expertise, formulations expertise, reliability, performance and price. Manufacturers of heavy electrical equipment place more importance on reliability and level of support, while manufacturers of light electrical equipment choose materials offering the lowest cost, but also the required quality and performance. As a result, epoxy products, which offer a combination of price and performance superior to competing polyurethane and silicone and conventional glass and ceramic products, are widely used in heavy electrical equipment, and both epoxy and cheaper polyurethane products are used in light electrical equipment.

        We believe that our competitive strengths in the electrical materials market are our long-standing customer relationships, product reliability and technical performance. Our key products used in heavy electrical and light electrical applications, such as resins, hardeners and auxiliaries, are tested and certified according to industry standards established by Underwriters Laboratories, International Electrotechnical Commission or Cenelec and also to customer-specific requirements. Our main competitors in the electrical insulating materials market segment include Altana, Bakelite, Schenectady, Wuxi, Dexter-Hysol, Hitachi Chemical, Nagase Chemtex, Toshiba Chemical and Vagnone & Boeri.

        Competition in the printed circuit board materials business is based on price, technological innovation and the ability to provide process expertise and customer support. Consolidation among our customers has led to increased pricing pressure. We believe that our competitive strengths are our fully developed technology, our application technology center in Basel, Switzerland and our technology center under construction in Panyu, China, our global presence and long-standing relationships with key customers and OEMs, and the approval of our products by global OEMs. Major competitors of our soldermask business include Atotec, Coates, Cookson, Goo, Peters, Taiyo Ink and Tamura. Major competitors for our liquid resist business include Chung Yu, Eternal and Shipley.

        Structural Composites.    Overview.    A structural composite is made by combining two or more different materials such as fibers, resins and other specialty additives to create a product with enhanced structural properties. Specifically, structural composites are lightweight, high-strength, rigid materials with high resistance to chemicals, moisture and high temperatures. Our product range comprises basic and advanced epoxy resins, curing agents, other advanced chemicals and additives and formulated

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polymer systems utilizing a variety of these products used in reinforced structures. The four key target markets for our structural composites are aerospace, industrial (mainly windmill blades for wind power generation and automotive applications), recreational (mainly sports equipment such as skis and tennis racquets) and electronic laminates used to manufacture printed circuit boards. Structural composites continue to be substituted for traditional materials, such as metals and wood, in a wide variety of applications due to their light weight, strength and durability. A key industry trend is the increased emphasis on customer collaboration, especially in the aerospace industry, where consistent quality of products is essential. Customers are increasingly seeking higher performance characteristics (such as improved temperature resistance).

        Market Trends.    We have observed the following significant trends emerging in the markets for our products used in structural composite applications:

        Aerospace:

•

We expect composites as a percentage of total aircraft weight to reach their highest level in history with the expected 2005 introduction of the Airbus A380 and to increase with the Boeing 7E7. We believe orders for commercial aircraft are increasing.



•

We expect military aerospace spending on composite materials per plane to increase with programs including the F-22 advanced tactical fighter, the C-17 cargo plane, the Eurofighter and the F-35 Joint Strike fighter.



•

We believe demand for advanced composites will increase in the growing satellite market.

        Automotive, industrial and recreational:

•

Increased use of composites for lighter and more durable automotive, industrial and recreational products should increase demand for our composite resins.



•

The reduction of overall costs for finished products should increase the demand for our composite resins.



•

Demand is growing in the rapidly developing wind energy generation market.

        Electronic laminates:

•

Reduction in the size of boards and components is leading to higher operating temperatures, and the resultant need to remove halogens is favoring our high-performance systems.



•

The electronic laminates industry is consolidating and migrating to Asia.



•

The return of growth of telecommunications and computing after several years of weakness is driving demand; however, recent weakness in these markets has had a negative impact on demand growth.

        Competition.    Competition in structural composites applications varies but is primarily driven by technology, know-how, applications expertise, formulations expertise, product performance, customer service and customer certification. We believe that our competitive strengths are our strong technology base, broad range of value-added products, leading market positions, diverse customer base and reputation for customer service. Pricing dynamics differ greatly among the various end-markets, largely due to their differing structures. Pricing in the aerospace market very much reflects the advanced technology and applications know-how which we provide to customers. Pricing is typically more competitive in the industrial and recreational markets due to the more standardized requirements of the end-user market and higher sales volumes compared to those of the aerospace business. Competition in the electrical laminates industry is largely price-driven due to the standard nature of the products supplied, the highly price-sensitive nature of the electronics industry and the ability of customers to source globally. Our competitors in the structural composites business include Bakelite, DIC, Dow, Mitsui, Resolution Performance Products and Sumitomo. In the aerospace business, we

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compete principally with Mitsui and Sumitomo. Our competitors in the automotive, industrial and recreational business include Resolution Performance Products, Dow and Bakelite. Finally, our competitors in the laminates business include all of these companies as well as NanYa.

        Surface Technologies.    Overview.    Our surface technologies products are used for the protection of steel and concrete substrates, such as floorings, metal furniture and appliances, buildings, linings of storage tanks and food and beverage cans, and the primer coat of automobile bodies and ships, among other applications. Epoxy-based surface coatings are among the most widely used industrial coatings, due to their structural stability and broad application functionality combined with overall economic efficiency. We focus our efforts in coating systems applications in utilizing our applications expertise and broad product range to provide formulated polymer systems to our customers. We believe our range of curing agents, matting agents, accelerators, cross-linkers, reactive diluents and thermoplastic polyamides, together with our basic and advanced epoxy resin compounds, distinguish us in the various end markets for coating systems.

        Market Trends.    Trends in the markets for our various coating systems applications generally are being driven to a great extent by regulation, including the imposition of tougher environmental regulations regarding volatile organic compounds. These regulations have caused coatings manufacturers to seek to replace solvent-based coatings with water-based, high solids, powder and ultraviolet curable coatings. In our major markets for coating systems, we have identified the following significant trends:

•

We expect infrastructure projects and renovation to underpin growth in civil engineering applications.



•

Customers are requiring curing agents and additives which give superior coating performance, together with ease of use.



•

New application segments like powder coating of wood, paper and plastic are driving growth, whereas traditional applications such as domestic appliances and metal furniture are reaching maturity.



•

Concentration among manufacturers is increasing.

        Competition.    Competition in coating systems is primarily driven by product performance, service and customer certification. We believe that the competitive strengths of our coating systems business are our strong technology base, broad range of value-added products, leading market positions, diverse customer base and reputation for customer service. Our major competitors for formulated polymer systems and complex chemicals and additives used in coatings systems are Air Products, Arizona, Bakelite, Cognis, Cray Valley and Degussa.

        Competition in basic liquid and solid epoxy resins is primarily driven by price. There are two major manufacturers of basic epoxy resins used in industrial protective coatings, Dow and Resolution Performance Products. Other participants in this market include Air Products, BASF, Kukdo, Leuna and NanYa. Competition in coating systems is increasingly becoming more global, with trends toward industry consolidation and the emergence of new competitors in Asia. Our competitors are considerably more fragmented in Asia than in Europe and North America.

        Tooling and Modeling Materials.    Overview.    We produce mainly polyurethane-based and epoxy formulated polymer systems used in the production of models, prototypes, patterns, molds and a variety of related products for design, prototyping and short-run manufacture. Our products are used extensively in the automotive, aerospace and industrial markets as productivity tools to quickly and efficiently create accurate prototypes and develop experimental models, and to lower the cost of manufacturing items in limited quantities primarily using computer-aided-design techniques. Our tooling and modeling materials are used because of their strength, resilience, high temperature resistance or dimensional stability coupled with low shrinkage and ease of cure. In applications where

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ease and speed of processing, size of finished product and low abrasion are more important, polyurethane resins are gaining increasing recognition. We separate the overall tooling and modeling materials market into two distinct groups: standard tooling and modeling materials and stereolithography technology.

        Our standard tooling and modeling materials are polymer-based materials used by craftsmen to make the traditional patterns, molds, models, jigs and fixtures required by the foundry, automotive, ceramics and other such industries. Techniques have evolved with computer-aided-design and modern engineering processes. Customers wishing to produce a model of a design require a rapid method of producing such a model. We provide consumables to be used in high technology machinery made by manufacturers to produce these models. In developing these solutions, we have worked closely with consumers to meet their demands. We are well-placed to drive the development of the market through our strong leadership position and wide breadth of application expertise.

        Stereolithography is a technology that is used to accurately produce physical three-dimensional models directly from computer-aided-design data without cutting, machining or tooling. The models are produced by selectively curing a light-sensitive liquid resin with a laser beam. Stereolithography is the most accurate technology commercially available for producing complex three-dimensional models. Models produced using this technology have a high-quality finish with fine detail. Stereolithography can be used for a variety of applications, including the production of concept models, master models, prototypes used for functional testing, tools and for short-run production parts. We sell our stereolithography products to customers in the aerospace, appliance, automotive, consumer, electronics and medical markets.

        Market Trends.    We have observed the following significant trends emerging in the markets for our tooling and modeling products:

•

New computer-aided design applications are eliminating traditional prototyping processes. Computer-aided-design leads to faster and ultimately cheaper production prototyping and tooling.



•

New high-end applications are allowing improved quality with cheaper and faster processing opening entirely new fields of activity (e.g., liquid transfer molding).



•

Frequent product design changes are driving the demand for our products.



•

Metal tools are being replaced with polymer tools in standard solutions.



•

Our products with high structural integrity can be used as materials for short production series.

        Competition.    Competition in standard tooling and modeling solutions is based on quality of service, technical solutions, range, competitive prices and prompt supply, including 24-hour delivery if required. This market segment is generally characterized by pricing pressure and intense competition. Competition in stereolithography is driven by the requirement for innovative solutions. We believe that our competitive strength is our broad range of products, which we make available on a global basis, covering all of the needs of both our standard tooling and modeling and stereolithography customers. A few large manufacturers (including Axson, DSM and Sika), as well as many small, local manufacturers provide a limited product range to local regions in the plastic tooling and modeling solutions market but none have our breadth of product offering.

Sales and Marketing

        We maintain multiple routes to market to service our diverse customer base. These routes to market range from using our own direct sales force to targeted, technically-oriented distribution to mass general distribution. Our direct sales force targets sales and specifications to engineering solutions decision-makers at major customers who purchase significant amounts of products from us. We use technically-oriented specialist distributors to augment our sales effort in niche markets and applications

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where we do not believe it is appropriate to develop direct sales resources. We use mass general distribution channels to sell our products into a wide range of general applications where technical expertise is less important to the user of the products to reduce our overall selling expenses. We believe our use of multiple routes to market enables us to reach a broader customer base at an efficient cost.

        We conduct the sales activities for our market groups through separate dedicated regional sales forces in the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East ("EAME") and Asia. Our global customers are covered by key account managers who are familiar with the specific requirements of their clients. The management of long-standing customer relationships, some of which are 20 to 30 years old, is at the heart of the sales and marketing process. We are also supported by a strong network of distributors. We serve a highly fragmented customer base.

        For our consumer adhesives, we have entered into exclusive branding and distribution arrangements with, for example, Bostik in Europe and Shelleys in Australia. Under these arrangements, our distribution partners fund advertising and sales promotions, negotiate and sell to major retail chains, own inventories and provide store deliveries (and sometimes shelf merchandising) in exchange for a reliable, high-quality supply of Araldite® branded, ready-to-sell packaged products.

Manufacturing and Operations

        We are a global business serving customers in three principal geographic regions: EAME; North and South America; and Asia Pacific. To service our customers efficiently, we maintain 14 manufacturing plants around with the world with a strategy of global, regional and local manufacturing employed to optimize the level of service and minimize the cost to our customers. The table below summarizes the plants that we currently operate:

(1)

We shut down our base resin production line at this facility in the first quarter of 2004.

(2)

76%-owned manufacturing joint venture with Tamilnadu Petroproducts Limited.

(3)

Leased land and/or building.

(4)

95%-owned manufacturing joint venture with Guangdong Panyu Shilou Town Economic Development Co. Ltd.

(5)

We have announced that we intend to close this facility in 2005.

        Our facilities in Asia are well-positioned to take advantage of the market growth that is expected in this region. Furthermore, we believe that we are the largest producer of epoxy resin compounds in India.

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Raw Materials

        The principal raw materials we purchase for the manufacture of basic and advanced epoxy resins are epichlorohydrin, bisphenol A, tetrabromobisphenol A and BLR. We also purchase amines, polyols, isocyanates, acrylic materials, hardeners and fillers for the production of our formulated polymer systems and complex chemicals and additives. Raw material costs constitute a sizeable percentage of sales for certain applications, particularly surface technologies. We have supply contracts with a number of suppliers, including, for example, Dow. The terms of our supply contracts vary. In general, these contracts contain provisions that set forth the quantities of product to be supplied and purchased and formula based pricing.

        Additionally, we produce some of our most important raw materials, such as BLR and its basic derivatives, which are the basic building blocks of many of our products. We are the third largest producer of BLR in the world. Approximately 50% of the BLR we produce is consumed in the production of our formulated polymer systems. The balance of our BLR is sold as liquid or solid resin in the merchant market, allowing us to increase the utilization of our production plants and lower our overall BLR production cost. We believe that manufacturing a substantial proportion of our principal raw material gives us a competitive advantage over other epoxy-based polymer systems formulators, most of whom must buy BLR from third-party suppliers. This position helps protect us from pricing pressure from BLR suppliers and aids in providing us a stable supply of BLR in difficult market conditions.

        We consume certain amines produced by our Performance Products segment and isocyanates produced by our Polyurethanes segment, which we use to formulate advanced materials products. In some cases, we use tolling arrangements with third parties to convert our Base Chemicals products into certain of our key raw materials.

Performance Products

General

        Our Performance Products segment is organized around three business groups, performance specialties, performance intermediates, and maleic anhydride and licensing, and serves a wide variety of consumer and industrial end markets. In performance specialties, we are a leading global producer of amines, carbonates and certain specialty surfactants. Growth in demand in our performance specialties business tends to be driven by the end-performance characteristics that our products deliver to our customers. These products are manufactured for use in a growing number of niche industrial end uses and have been characterized by growing demand and stable profitability. For example, we are one of two significant global producers of polyetheramines, for which our sales volumes have grown at a compound annual rate of over 13% in the last ten years due to strong demand in a number of industrial applications, such as epoxy curing agents, fuel additives and civil construction materials. In performance intermediates, we consume internally produced and third-party-sourced base petrochemicals in the manufacture of our surfactants, LAB and ethanolamines products, which are primarily used in detergent and consumer products applications. We also produce EG, which is primarily used in the production of polyester fibers and PET packaging, and EO, all of which is consumed internally in the production of our downstream products. We believe we are North America's largest and lowest-cost producer of maleic anhydride. Maleic anhydride is the building block for UPRs, mainly used in the production of fiberglass reinforced resins for marine, automotive and construction products. We are the leading global licensor of maleic anhydride manufacturing technology and are also the largest supplier of catalyst used in the manufacture of maleic anhydride. We operate 16 Performance Products manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Australia.

        Our Products.    We have the annual capacity to produce approximately 960 million pounds of more than 250 amines and other performance chemicals. We believe we are the largest global producer of polyetheramines, propylene carbonates, ethylene carbonates and morpholine, the second-largest global

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producer of ethyleneamines and the third-largest North American producer of ethanolamines. We also produce DGA™ and substituted propylamines. These products are manufactured at our Port Neches, Conroe and Freeport, Texas facilities and at our facilities in Llanelli, U.K. and Petfurdo, Hungary. We use internally produced ethylene, EO, EG and PO in the manufacture of many of our amines. Our amines are used in a wide variety of consumer and industrial applications, including personal care products, polyurethane foam, fuel and lubricant additives, paints and coatings, solvents and catalysts. Our key amines customers include Akzo, ChevronTexaco, Cognis, Hercules, Monsanto and PPG.

        We have the capacity to produce approximately 2.8 billion pounds of surfactant products annually at our 10 facilities located in North America, Europe and Australia. Our surfactants business is a leading global manufacturer of nonionic, anionic, cationic and amphotenic surfactants products and is characterized by its breadth of product offering and market coverage. Our surfactant products are primarily used in consumer detergent and industrial cleaning applications. In addition, we manufacture and market a diversified range of mild surfactants and specialty formulations for use in baby shampoos and other personal care applications. We are also a leading European producer of powder and liquid laundry detergents and other cleaners. In addition, we offer a wide range of surfactants and formulated specialty products for use in various industrial applications such as leather and textile treatment, foundry and construction, agrochemicals, polymers and coatings. Our key surfactants customers include Ecolab, Huish, L'Oreal, Monsanto, Nufarm, Procter & Gamble and Unilever.

        We are North America's second-largest producer of LAB, with capacity of 400 million pounds per year at our plant in Chocolate Bayou, Texas. LAB is a surfactant intermediate which is converted into LAS, a major anionic surfactant used worldwide for the production of consumer, industrial and institutional laundry detergents. We have also developed a process for the manufacture of a higher-molecular-weight LAB product to be used as an additive to lubricants. Our key customers for LAB include Colgate, Henkel, Lubrizol, Procter & Gamble and Unilever.

        We are North America's largest producer of maleic anhydride, a highly versatile chemical intermediate that is used to produce UPRs, which are mainly used in the production of fiberglass reinforced resins for marine, automotive and construction products. We have the capacity to produce approximately 240 million pounds annually at our facility located in Pensacola, Florida. We also own a 50% interest in Sasol-Huntsman GmbH & Co. KG, which owns and operates a facility in Moers, Germany with an annual capacity of 125 million pounds. We supply our catalysts to licensees and to worldwide merchant customers, including supplying catalyst to two of the three other U.S. maleic anhydride producers. As a result of our long-standing research and development efforts aided by our pilot and catalyst preparation plants, we have successfully introduced six generations of our maleic anhydride catalysts. Revenue from licensing and catalyst comes from new plant commissioning, as well as current plant retrofits and catalyst change schedules. Our key maleic anhydride customers include AOC, ChevronTexaco, Cook Composites, Dixie, Lubrizol and Reichhold.

        We also have the capacity to produce approximately 945 million pounds of EG annually at our facilities in Botany, Australia and Port Neches, Texas.

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Industry Overview

        Performance Specialties.    The following table shows the end-market applications for our performance specialties products:

        Our performance specialties products are organized around the following end markets: coatings, polymers and resins; process additives; resources, fuels and lubricants; and agrochemicals.

        Amines.    Amines broadly refers to the family of intermediate chemicals that are produced by reacting ammonia with various ethylene and propylene derivatives. Generally, amines are valued for their properties as a reactive, emulsifying, dispersant, detergent, solvent or corrosion inhibiting agent. Growth in demand for amines is highly correlated with GDP growth due to its strong links to general industrial and consumer products markets. However, certain segments of the amines market, such as polyetheramines, have grown at rates well in excess of GDP growth due to new product development, technical innovation, and substitution and replacement of competing products. For example, polyetheramines are used by customers who demand increasingly sophisticated performance characteristics as an additive in the manufacture of highly customized epoxy formulations, enabling the customers to penetrate new markets and substitute for traditional curing materials. As amines are generally sold based upon the performance characteristics that they provide to customer-specific end use application, pricing does not generally fluctuate with movements in underlying raw materials.

        Morpholine/DGA™.    Morpholine and DGA™ are produced as co-products by reacting ammonia with DEG. Morpholine is used in a number of niche industrial applications including rubber curing (as an accelerator) and flocculants for water treatment. DGA™ is primarily used in gas treating, electronics, herbicides and metalworking end-use applications.

        Carbonates.    Ethylene and propylene carbonates are manufactured by reacting EO and PO with carbon dioxide. Carbonates are used as solvents and as reactive diluents in polymer and coating applications. They are also increasingly being used as a photo-resist solvent in the manufacture of printed circuit boards and the production of lithium batteries. Also, propylene carbonates have recently received EPA approval for use as a solvent in certain agricultural applications. We expect these solvents to replace traditional aromatic solvents that are increasingly subject to legislative restrictions and prohibitions.

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        Performance Intermediates.    The following table sets forth the end markets for products made in our performance intermediates business:

        Surfactants.    Surfactants or "surface active agents" are substances that combine a water-soluble component with a water insoluble component in the same molecule. While surfactants are most commonly used for their detergency in cleaning applications, they are also valued for their emulsification, foaming, dispersing, penetrating and wetting properties in a variety of industries

        Demand growth for surfactants is relatively stable and exhibits little cyclicality. The main consumer product applications for surfactants can demand new formulations with unproved performance characteristics, and as a result life cycles for these consumer end products can often be quite short. This affords considerable opportunity for innovative surfactants manufacturers like us to provide surfactants and blends with differentiated specifications and properties. For basic surfactants, pricing tends to have a strong relationship to underlying raw material prices and usually lags petrochemical price movements. However, pricing in recent years has also been adversely affected by the growing purchasing power of "soapers," such as Procter & Gamble and Unilever. The "big box" stores, such as Wal-mart and Costco have also placed pricing pressure along the surfactant value chain.

        Ethanolamines.    Ethanolamines are a range of chemicals produced by the reaction of EO with ammonia. They are used as intermediates in the production of a variety of industrial, agricultural and consumer products. There are a limited number of competitors due the technical and cost barriers to entry. Growth in this sector has typically been higher than GDP and in the last few years has benefited in particular from the conversion to ethanolamines in the formulation of wood treatment products. We believe the ethanolamine market in North America is tight with industry operating rates currently running in excess of 90% of stated capacity. Despite these high operating rates in ethanolamines, there

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are no new announced capacity expansions. We expect all producers to evaluate debottlenecking initiatives to meet the expected market demand.

        LAB.    LAB is a surfactant intermediate which is produced through the reaction of benzene with either normal paraffins or linear alpha olefins. Nearly all the LAB produced globally is converted into LAS, a major anionic surfactant used worldwide for the production of consumer, industrial and institutional laundry detergents.

        Four major manufacturers lead the traditional detergency market for LAB in North America: Procter & Gamble, Henkel, Unilever and Colgate Palmolive. We believe that two thirds of the capacity lies in the hands of seven producers, with two or three major players in each of the three regional markets. Although the North American market for LAB is mature, we expect the South American market to grow as detergent demand grows at a faster rate than in more developed countries. We expect any excess LAB capacity in North America to be sold into the growing South American markets.

        For several years through 2002, our LAB business benefited from a market environment where the supply/demand balance for LAB in the Americas was favorable for producers and prices for alternate products had not been very competitive. From a competition perspective, compounds derived from alcohol and its derivatives can be used in place of LAB in certain detergent formulations. In the past several years, a significant amount of new alcohol production capacity has come on stream resulting in lower prices for these alcohol-based compounds. As a result, LAB has become less attractive to buyers who have the option to formulate their products with either of these two raw materials and as a result, margins for LAB producers have come under pressure.

        EG.    We consume our internally produced EO to produce three types of EG: MEG, DEG and TEG. MEG is consumed primarily in the polyester (fiber and bottle resin) and antifreeze end markets. EG is also used in a wide variety of industrial applications including synthetic lubricants, plasticizers, solvents and emulsifiers.

        Maleic Anhydride and Licensing.    The following table sets forth the end markets for products made in our maleic anhydride business:

        Maleic anhydride is a chemical intermediate that is produced by oxidizing either benzene or normal butane through the use of a catalyst. The largest use of maleic anhydride in the U.S. is in the production of UPRs, which we believe account for approximately 57% of U.S. maleic anhydride demand. UPR is the main ingredient in fiberglass reinforced resins, which are used for marine and automotive applications and commercial, and residential construction products.

        Our maleic anhydride technology is a proprietary fixed bed process with solvent recovery and is characterized by low butane consumption and an energy-efficient, high-percentage-recovery solvent recovery system. This process competes against two other processes, the fluid bed process and the fixed bed process with water recovery. We believe that our process is superior in the areas of feedstock and energy efficiency and solvent recovery. The maleic anhydride-based route to BDO manufacture is currently the preferred process technology and is favored over the other routes, which include PO, butadiene and acetylene as feedstocks. As a result, the growth in demand for BDO has resulted in increased demand for our maleic anhydride technology.

        Total U.S. demand for maleic anhydride is approximately 525 million pounds. Over time, demand for maleic anhydride has generally grown at rates that slightly exceed GDP growth. However, given its

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dependence on the UPR market, which is heavily influenced by construction end markets, demand can be cyclical. Pricing for maleic anhydride in North America over the past several years has been stable. Generally, changes in price have resulted from changes in industry capacity utilization as opposed to changes in underlying raw material costs.

Sales and Marketing

        We sell over 2,000 products to over 4,000 customers globally through our marketing group, which has extensive market knowledge, considerable chemical industry experience and well established customer relationships.

        Our performance specialties businesses are organized around end-use market applications, such as coatings, polymers and resins and agrochemical. In these end uses, our marketing efforts are focused on how our product offerings perform in certain customer applications. We believe that this approach enhances the value of our product offerings and creates opportunities for on-going differentiation in our development activities with our customers. Our performance intermediates and maleic anhydride businesses organize their marketing efforts around their products and geographic regions served. We also provide extensive pre-and post-sales technical service support to our customers where our technical service professionals work closely with our research and development functions to tailor our product offerings to meet our customers unique and changing requirements. Finally, these technical service professionals interact closely with our market managers and business leadership teams to help guide future offerings and market approach strategies.

        In addition to our focused direct sales efforts, we maintain an extensive global network of distributors and agents that also sell our products. These distributors and agents typically promote our products to smaller end use customers who cannot cost effectively be served by our direct sales forces.

Manufacturing and Operations

        Our Performance Products segment has the capacity to produce approximately 6.5 billion pounds annually of a wide variety of specialty, intermediate and commodity products and formulations at 16 manufacturing locations in North America, Europe and Australia.

        These production capacities are as follows:

(1)

Includes up to 30 million pounds of ethyleneamines that are made available from Dow's Terneuzen, Netherlands facility by way of a long-term tolling arrangement.

(2)

Represents total capacity of a facility owned by Sasol-Huntsman GmbH & Co. KG, of which we own a 50% interest and Sasol owns the remaining 50% interest.

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        Our surfactants and amines facilities are located globally, with broad capabilities in amination, sulfonation and ethoxylation. These facilities have a competitive cost base and use modern manufacturing units that allow for flexibility in production capabilities and technical innovation.

        Our primary EO, EG and ethanolamines facilities are located in Port Neches, Texas and adjacent to the olefins facility operated by our Base Chemicals segment, which results in a stable, cost-effective source of raw material for these ethylene derivatives. The Port Neches, Texas facility also benefits from extensive logistics infrastructure, which allows for efficient sourcing of other raw materials and distribution of finished products.

        Our LAB facility in Chocolate Bayou, Texas and our maleic anhydride facility in Pensacola, Florida are both located within large, integrated petrochemical manufacturing complexes operated by Solutia. We believe this results in greater scale and lower costs for our products than we would be able to obtain if these facilities were stand-alone operations.

        We have recently announced our intention to restructure our European surfactants business. This restructuring is expected to result in a significant downsizing of our Whitehaven, U.K. facility. This downsizing, along with actions at other European facilities, is expected to result in the reduction of approximately 320 employees throughout Europe over the next 15 months.

Raw Materials

        We currently use approximately 850 million pounds of ethylene produced each year at our Port Arthur and Port Neches, Texas facilities in the production of EO and ethyleneamines. We consume all of our EO in the manufacture of our EG, surfactants and amines products. We also use internally produced PO and DEG in the manufacture of these products.

        In addition to internally produced raw materials, our performance specialties business purchases over 250 compounds in varying quantities, the largest of which includes ethylene dichloride, caustic soda, synthetic alcohols, paraffin, nonyl phenol, ammonia, methylamines and acrylonitrile. The majority of these raw materials are available from multiple sources in the merchant market at competitive prices.

        In our performance intermediates business, our primary raw materials, in addition to internally produced and third-party sourced EO, are synthetic and natural alcohols, paraffin, benzene and nonyl phenol. All of these raw materials are widely available in the merchant market at competitive prices.

        Maleic anhydride is produced by the reaction of n-butane with oxygen using our proprietary catalyst. The principal raw material is n-butane which is purchased pursuant to long-term contracts and delivered to our Pensacola, Florida site by barge. Our maleic anhydride catalyst is toll-manufactured by Engelhard under a long-term contract according to our proprietary methods.

Competition

        In our performance specialties business, there are few competitors for many of our products due to the considerable customization of product formulations, the proprietary nature of many of our product applications and manufacturing processes and the relatively high research and development and technical costs involved. Some of our global competitors include BASF, Air Products, Dow, and Akzo. We compete primarily on the basis of product performance, new product innovation and, to a lesser extent, on the basis of price.

        There are numerous global producers of many of our performance intermediates products. Our main competitors include global companies such as Dow, Sasol, BASF, Petresa, Equistar, Shell, Cognis, Stepan and Kao, as well as various smaller or more local competitors. We compete on the basis of price with respect to the majority of our product offerings and, to a lesser degree, on the basis of product availability, performance and service with respect to certain of our more value-added products.

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        In our maleic anhydride business, we compete primarily on the basis of price, customer service and plant location. Our competitors include Lanxess, Koch, Ashland, Lonza and BASF. We are the leading global producer of maleic anhydride catalyst. Competitors in our maleic anhydride catalyst business include Scientific Design and BP. In our maleic anhydride technology licensing business, our primary competitor is Scientific Design. We compete primarily on the basis of technological performance and service.

Pigments

General

        We are a leading global manufacturer and marketer of titanium dioxide, which is a white pigment used to impart whiteness, brightness and opacity to products such as paints, plastics, paper, printing inks, fibers and ceramics. The global titanium dioxide market is characterized by a small number of large, global producers. We operate eight chloride-based and sulfate-based titanium dioxide manufacturing facilities located in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

        We offer an extensive range of products that are sold worldwide to approximately 1,500 customers in all major titanium dioxide end markets and geographic regions. The geographic diversity of our manufacturing facilities allows our Pigments segment to service local customers, as well as global customers that require delivery to more than one location. Our diverse customer base includes Ampacet, A. Schulman, Akzo Nobel, Atofina, BASF, Cabot, Clariant, ICI, Jotun and PolyOne. Our pigments business has an aggregate annual nameplate capacity of approximately 550,000 tonnes at our eight production facilities. Five of our titanium dioxide manufacturing plants are located in Europe, one is in North America, one is in Asia, and one is in South Africa. Our North American operation consists of a 50% interest in a manufacturing joint venture with Kronos Worldwide, Inc.

        Our Pigments segment is focused on cost control and productivity. In July 2004, we idled 15,000 tonnes of nameplate capacity at our Umbogintwini, South Africa facility, and in November 2004 we idled 40,000 tonnes of nameplate capacity at our Grimsby, U.K. facility, which together represent about 10% of our total titanium dioxide production capacity. Through these closures and other cost saving measures, we will improve our cost position and enhance our ability to compete in the global marketplace. Our other cost saving measures include the optimization of the geographic distribution of our sales, the consolidation of back-office functions and the continued reduction of our fixed and variable costs at each of our manufacturing facilities.

Industry Overview

        Historically, global titanium dioxide demand growth rates tend to closely track global GDP growth rates. However, the demand growth rate and its relationship with the GDP growth rate varies by region. Developed markets such as the U.S. and Western Europe exhibit higher absolute consumption but lower demand growth rates, while emerging markets such as Asia exhibit much higher demand growth rates. The titanium dioxide industry experiences some seasonality in its sales because paint sales generally peak during the spring and summer months in the northern hemisphere, resulting in greater sales volumes during the second and third quarters of the year.

        There are two manufacturing processes for the production of titanium dioxide, the sulfate process and the chloride process. Most recent capacity additions have employed the chloride process technology and, currently, we believe that the chloride process accounts for approximately 70% of global production capacity. However, the global distribution of sulfate- and chloride-based titanium dioxide capacity varies by region, with the sulfate process being predominant in Europe, our primary market. The chloride process is the predominant process used in North America, and both processes are used in Asia. While most end-use applications can use pigments produced by either process, market preferences typically favor products that are locally available. We believe the chloride and sulfate manufacturing processes compete effectively in the marketplace.

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        The global titanium dioxide market is characterized by a small number of large global producers. The titanium dioxide industry currently has five major producers. Titanium dioxide supply has historically kept pace with increases in demand as producers increased capacity through low cost incremental debottlenecks and efficiency improvements. During periods of low titanium dioxide demand, the industry experiences high stock levels and consequently reduces production to manage working capital. Because pricing in the industry is driven primarily by supply/demand balance, prices have tended to be driven down by lower capacity utilization during periods of weak demand. The last major greenfield titanium dioxide capacity addition was in 1994. Based upon current price levels and the long lead times for planning, governmental approvals and construction, we do not expect significant additional greenfield capacity in the near future.

        We believe that demand has recovered in 2004. In addition, capacity additions have been limited. These factors have resulted in higher industry operating rates and lower inventory levels.

Sales and Marketing

        Approximately 85% of our titanium dioxide sales are made through our direct sales and technical services network, enabling us to cooperate more closely with our customers and to respond to our increasingly global customer base. Our concentrated sales effort and local manufacturing presence have allowed us to achieve our leading market shares in a number of the countries where we manufacture titanium dioxide.

        In addition, we have focused on marketing products to higher growth industries. For example, we believe that our pigments business is well-positioned to benefit from the projected growth in the plastics sector which, we expect to grow faster than the overall titanium dioxide market over the next several years.

Manufacturing and Operations

        Our pigments business has eight manufacturing sites in seven countries with a total capacity of approximately 550,000 tonnes per year. Approximately 72% of our titanium dioxide capacity is located in Western Europe. The following table presents information regarding our titanium dioxide facilities:

(1)

Reflects the idling of 40,000 tonnes of nameplate capacity at our Grimsby, U.K. facility in November 2004.

(2)

This facility is owned and operated by Louisiana Pigment Company, L.P., a manufacturing joint venture that is owned 50% by us and 50% by Kronos Worldwide. The capacity shown reflects our 50% interest in Louisiana Pigment Company L.P.

(3)

Reflects the idling of 15,000 tonnes of nameplate capacity at our Umbogintwini, South Africa facility in July 2004.

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        We are well positioned to implement a number of low cost expansions of our Greatham, U.K. and Huelva, Spain plants. We are also well positioned to selectively invest in new plant capacity based upon our ICON chloride technology. ICON technology allows for the construction of new capacity with world-scale economics at a minimum nameplate size of 65,000 tonnes. We believe competing chloride technologies typically require a minimum capacity of 100,000 tonnes to achieve comparable economics. Our chloride additions can be more easily absorbed into the market, which provides higher investment returns than larger capacity additions.

Joint Ventures

        We own a 50% interest in Louisiana Pigment Company L.P., a manufacturing joint venture located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The remaining 50% interest is held by our joint venture partner, Kronos Worldwide. We share production offtake and operating costs of the plant equally with Kronos Worldwide, though we market our share of the production independently. The operations of the joint venture are under the direction of a supervisory committee on which each partner has equal representation.

Raw Materials

        The primary raw materials used to produce titanium dioxide are titanium-bearing ores. We purchase the majority of our ore under long-term supply contracts with a number of ore suppliers. The majority of titanium-bearing ores are sourced from Australia, South Africa and Canada. Ore accounts for approximately 40% of pigment variable manufacturing costs, while utilities (electricity, gas and steam), sulfuric acid and chlorine collectively account for approximately 25% of our variable manufacturing costs.

        The world market for titanium-bearing ores is dominated by Rio Tinto and Iluka, which account for approximately 55% of global supply. Both companies produce a range of ores for use in chloride and sulfate processes. We purchase approximately 75% of our ore from these two producers. New players, such as Taicor in South Africa and VV Minerals in India, have recently entered the market, however, creating an oversupply of most products. Consequently, the price of most titanium-bearing ores has declined in the last five years, and the ability of major producers to control prices has diminished. Given the small number of suppliers and end-users of titanium-bearing ores, we typically enter into longer-term supply agreements with beneficial terms. Approximately 80% of our ore purchases are made under agreements with terms of three to five years.

        Titanium dioxide producers extract titanium from ores and process it into pigmentary titanium dioxide using either the chloride or sulfate process. Once an intermediate titanium dioxide pigment has been produced, it is "finished" into a product with specific performance characteristics for particular end-use applications. The finishing process is common to both the sulfate and chloride processes and is a major determinant of the final product's performance characteristics.

        The sulfate process generally uses less-refined ores that are cheaper to purchase but produce more co-product than the chloride process. Co-products from both processes require treatment prior to disposal in order to comply with environmental regulations. In order to reduce our disposal costs and to increase our cost competitiveness, we have developed and marketed the co-products of our pigments business. We sell over 50% of the co-products generated by our business.

Competition

        The global markets in which our pigments business operates are highly competitive. Competition is based primarily on price. In addition, we also compete on the basis of product quality and service. The major global producers against whom we compete are DuPont, Kerr McGee, Kronos and Lyondell. We believe that our competitive product offerings, combined with our presence in numerous local markets,

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makes us an effective competitor in the global market, particularly with respect to those global customers demanding presence in the various regions in which they conduct business.

Polymers

General

        We manufacture and market polypropylene, polyethylene, EPS, EPS packaging and APAO. We consume internally produced and third-party-sourced base petrochemicals, including ethylene and propylene, as our primary raw materials in the manufacture of these products. In our polyethylene, APAO and certain of our polypropylene product lines, we pursue a targeted marketing strategy by focusing on those customers and end use applications that require customized polymer formulations. We produce these products at our smaller and more flexible Polymers manufacturing facilities and generally sell them at premium prices. In our other product lines, including the balance of our polypropylene, EPS and EPS packaging, we maintain leading regional market positions and operate cost-competitive manufacturing facilities. We operate six primary Polymers manufacturing facilities in North America and Australia. We are expanding the geographic scope of our polyethylene business and improving the integration of our European Base Chemicals business through the construction of an integrated, low-cost, world-scale LDPE plant to be located adjacent to our existing olefins facility in Wilton, U.K. Upon completion of this facility, which we expect will occur in late 2007, we will consume approximately 50% of the output from our U.K. ethylene unit in the production of LDPE.

Our Products

        We have the capacity to produce approximately 430 million pounds of LDPE and 270 million pounds of LLDPE annually at our integrated Odessa, Texas facility. Our polyethylene customer base includes Ashland, Pliant and Sealed Air.

        We produce a variety of grades of LDPE using both the tubular and autoclave processes. Many of the resins are designed to meet specific requirements of particular end users. Various types of conversion equipment, including extension coating, blown and cast film extrusion, injection and blow molding, and other proprietary methods of extrusion, use these differentiated polyethylene resins to provide high clarity, durability and sealability performance characteristics. Liner grade (general-purpose) polyethylene ordinarily competes principally on the basis of price, while more differentiated polyethylene competes principally on the basis of product quality, performance specifications and, to a lesser extent, price. We participate in both market areas, but concentrate our efforts primarily in more differentiated areas.

        Our LLDPE products contain octene copolymers and are sold into applications that require high performance properties such as strength, clarity, processability, and contains few resin imperfections (low gel). These products are used in wide variety of applications such as high performance flexible packaging, high clarity shrink films, barrier films, medical, artificial turf, and irrigation tubing. With our higher-performing product line, we compete with a limited number of competitors on the basis of product performance, and to a lesser extent, price.

        We have the capacity to produce approximately 1 billion pounds of polypropylene annually at three production facilities: Longview, Texas with a capacity of approximately 720 million pounds per year; Marysville, Michigan with a capacity of approximately 185 million pounds per year; and Odessa, Texas with a capacity of approximately 120 million pounds per year. Our polypropylene customer base includes Advanced Composites, Ashland, Kerr, PolyOne and Precise Technologies.

        We employ a variety of technologies to produce different grades of polypropylene, allowing us to participate in a wide range of polypropylene applications. We provide product solutions to processors and OEMs that require special or unique formulations or characteristics. Our products are used extensively in medical applications, caps and closures, higher value automotive parts, consumer

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durables, and furniture. Our in-reactor TPO products produced at our Marysville, Michigan facility have replaced more expensive compounded plastics. Our Odessa, Texas facility produces grades of polypropylene utilized for medical applications, specialty films and sheets and electronics packaging. These applications have allowed us to realize substantial premium prices over commodity polypropylene.

        We have the capacity to produce approximately 95 million pounds of Rextac® APAO annually at our facility in Odessa, Texas. We are one of only two on-purpose producers of APAO in the U.S. Rextac® APAO is a proprietary, patented, low molecular weight, amorphous material that utilizes polypropylene as its primary raw material. It is used extensively in roofing materials, hot melt adhesives, laminations and wire and cable coatings. Our products are sold primarily in the U.S., although we also participate in the rapidly growing Asian market. Our APAO customer base includes Firestone Building Products, Kimberly-Clark and Johns Manville.

        We have the capacity to produce approximately 250 million pounds of EPS annually at our facilities in North America and Australia. We sell into the construction industry, where the product is used for insulation, and into the small but rapidly growing insulated concrete form business. The products also are used in electronics and produce packaging applications. Our specialty grades include R-mer™ rubber modified EPS, fire retardant grades and low-pentane formulations. Our EPS customer base includes Aptco, Cellofoam, Life Like Products and Premier Industries.

        We believe that the cost position of our Wilton, U.K. olefins facility uniquely positions it to be the site of a world-scale polyethylene production facility. While we export approximately one-third of our ethylene production each year from Wilton, U.K. to continental Europe, incurring significant shipping and handling costs, the U.K. annually imports approximately 1.9 billion pounds of polyethylene. We believe this provides an opportunity to capitalize on the low-cost operating position and extensive petrochemical infrastructure and logistics at the Wilton site. The announced LDPE facility is planned to have the capacity to produce approximately 900 million pounds of LDPE annually and is estimated to cost approximately $330 million to construct. A grant of approximately $30 million has been awarded by the U.K. government, leaving a cost of $300 million to be borne by us. The facility is expected be operational in late 2007.

Industry Overview

        Polymers markets are global commodity markets. Demand for polymers tends to be less susceptible to economic cycles than some of our base petrochemicals, as the products are generally sold into the packaging and consumer markets. Demand for LLDPE, which represents the growth segment of the polyethylene sector, and polypropylene has grown at rates well in excess of GDP growth as these products have replaced other polymers and materials (including wood, paper, glass and aluminum) due to their superior performance characteristics. Our polymers are subject to fluctuations in price as a result of supply and demand imbalances and feedstock price movements.

        Competition is based on price, product performance, product quality, product deliverability and customer service. Polymers profitability is affected by the worldwide level of demand for polymers, along with vigorous price competition that may result from, among other things, new domestic and foreign industry capacity. In general, demand is a function of economic growth in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere around the world.

        Polypropylene is one of the most versatile and among the fastest growing of the major polymers. Polypropylene is used in a wide variety of applications including toys, housewares, bottle caps, outdoor furniture, utensils and packaging film. Although polypropylene comes in many formulations, there are three basic grades: homopolymers (derived from the polymerization of propylene), random copolymers (derived from the polymerization of propylene and a small amount of ethylene), and impact copolymers (derived by first polymerizing propylene and then adding a small amount of polymerized ethylene). Polypropylene is rising in popularity relative to other higher cost polymers due to its overall product

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performance and its relatively low cost of production. Different polypropylene formulations are custom manufactured with a variety of characteristics to accommodate end users. These characteristics include high stiffness, dimensional stability, low moisture absorption, good electrical insulation and optical properties and resistance to acids, alkalis and solvents. New applications have accounted for significant growth in the past decade in areas such as polypropylene film and automotive parts for the replacement of heavier, more expensive materials.

        Polyethylene represents by sales volume the most widely produced thermoplastic resin in the world. There are two basic grades of polyethylene resin, high density and low density. Within low density, there is a further differentiation between LDPE and LLDPE. LDPE is used in a wide variety of applications, including film packaging, molded furniture, toys, wire and cable insulation. While LLDPE is used in many of the same applications as LDPE, it is also used in caps and closures, stretch and shrink binding films and heavy duty shipping sacks due to its high strength characteristics. LLDPE and LDPE are used in a wide variety of industrial and consumer applications, the largest of which is the film market. Flexible films are used in food and consumer packaging, medical applications and wrap film. Liner grade (general purpose) polyethylene ordinarily competes principally on the basis of price, while more differentiated polyethylene competes principally on the basis of product quality, performance specifications and, to a lesser extent, price.

        EPS serves two primary end markets: the "block" EPS market and the "shape" EPS market. Block EPS is used largely by the construction industry and shape EPS is used largely in packaging applications. Historically, EPS has not been traded as an international commodity. As a result, we believe EPS prices have generally been significantly less volatile than those of other petrochemicals. Producers typically maintain strong links to the approximate 400 domestic molders, leading to product differentiation and customization for clients. Molders are typically small, privately held companies that rely on strong supplier relationships.

Sales and Marketing

        Our polymers business markets over 85% of its products through a direct, salaried sales force. Our sales force is organized by product line and by geographic region. We also utilize distributors to market certain of our products to smaller customers. Due to the diversity of products, technologies, and grades, we are able to compete across a broad range of markets without relying upon a few large customers. Approximately 6% of our polymers sales are channeled through two large distributors, which market to many small customers. No one customer constitutes more than 3% of sales.

Manufacturing and Operations

        We have the capacity to produce approximately 2.3 billion pounds of polymers at our six plants located in North America and Australia.

        Information regarding these facilities is set forth in the following chart:

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        Our Odessa, Texas olefins plant produces both ethylene and propylene. Ethylene is transferred to LDPE and LLDPE for polymerization, and is also utilized in polypropylene and APAO copolymer production. Ethylene capacity is greater than current polymer capacity. To maximize ethylene production, we produce cryogenic ethylene and sell it via tank car to customers without pipeline access. There are only two significant sellers of liquid ethylene, Sunoco and ourselves. This product is sold at a significant premium to market pricing for pipeline delivered ethylene.

        Our Longview, Texas facility is among the newest, most technologically advanced and lowest cost facilities in North America. Incorporating the UNIPOL® gas phase production technology, this facility has the capability to produce a broad range of polypropylene grades. This facility is connected by pipeline to the Mont Belvieu, Texas propylene supply grid and has recently added railcar unloading infrastructure, giving it maximum raw material supply flexibility.

        Our Marysville, Michigan facility's technology is ideally suited to produce special grades of co-polymer polypropylene. This technology allows the plant to produce higher value TPOs, which are used extensively in high-value specialty-automotive applications.

        Our Peru, Illinois EPS facility is one of the world's largest EPS production facilities, with five reactors. The use of our proprietary one-step EPS production technology keeps production costs at the Peru facility among the lowest in the industry. Our Mansonville, Quebec EPS plant is a smaller plant with three reactors. The EPS is used primarily to produce packaging, which has historically been a premium market.

        Our West Footscray, Australia facility, located near Melbourne, is Australia's only producer of styrene and EPS. We also produce phenolic and polyester resins and, in a 50% joint venture with Dow, polystyrene. We also own Australia's largest EPS/EPP molding business, with seven operations around the country.

Raw Materials

        Our Odessa, Texas facility has access to numerous sources of NGL feedstocks. We operate a feedstock fractionator which separates ethane from other feedstock streams for use in our olefins unit.

        Propylene is the most significant raw material used in the production of polypropylene. At our Longview, Texas and Marysville, Michigan sites we purchase chemical-grade propylene from third parties.

        The primary raw material in the production of EPS is styrene. We purchase styrene for our Peru, Illinois and Mansonville, Quebec facilities at market price from unaffiliated third parties.

Competition

        In 2004, there were approximately nine domestic producers of LDPE resins, either as LDPE or as LLDPE. The five largest domestic producers of both LDPE and LLDPE in 2004 were ExxonMobil, Dow, Equistar, Westlake and ChevronPhillips.

        There are currently 14 U.S. producers of polypropylene, operating 24 plants. The largest producer and marketer is ExxonMobil, followed by BP, Basell and Atofina. We are the eighth-largest U.S. producer of polypropylene.

        There are ten producers of EPS in North America. We are the second-largest producer of EPS in North America. The other major EPS producers are BASF, NOVA Chemicals, Polioles SA and Styrochem.

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Base Chemicals

General

        We are a highly integrated North American and European producer of olefins and aromatics. We consume a substantial portion of our Base Chemicals products, such as ethylene, propylene and benzene, in our Performance Products and Polyurethanes segments. We believe this integration leads to higher operating rates for our Base Chemical assets, improved reliability of raw material supply for our other segments and reduced logistics and transportation costs. We operate four Base Chemicals manufacturing facilities located on the Texas Gulf Coast and in northeast England. These facilities are equipped to process a variety of oil- and natural gas-based feedstocks and benefit from their close proximity to multiple sources of these raw materials. This flexibility allows us to optimize our operating costs. These facilities also benefit from extensive underground storage capacity and logistics infrastructure, including pipelines, deepwater jetties and ethylene liquefaction facilities.

Olefins

        In the U.S., we produce ethylene and propylene at our Port Arthur and Port Neches, Texas olefins manufacturing facilities. The Port Arthur steam cracker has the capacity to produce approximately 1.4 billion pounds of ethylene and approximately 800 million pounds of propylene per year and has the capability to process both light and heavy feedstock, giving us the opportunity to maximize profitability with an optimal selection of raw materials. The Port Neches facility has the capacity to produce approximately 400 million pounds of ethylene and approximately 400 million pounds of propylene per year and has the capability to process ethane and propane and to recover ethylene and propylene from refinery off-gas. Ethylene production at our Port Neches facility was idled in June 2001 and has been recently restarted, with full production beginning in the fourth quarter of 2004. Substantial portions of our ethylene and propylene are used downstream in our Performance Products and Polyurethanes segments.

        We believe that our olefins facility at Wilton, U.K. is one of Europe's largest single-site and lowest cost olefins facilities. Our Wilton facility has the capacity to produce approximately 1.9 billion pounds of ethylene, 880 million pounds of propylene and 225 million pounds of butadiene per year. The Wilton olefins facility benefits from its North Sea location and significant feedstock flexibility, which allows for processing of naphthas, condensates and NGLs. In addition, the facility benefits from extensive underground storage capacity and logistics infrastructure, including pipelines, deepwater jetties and ethylene liquefaction facilities.

        We are among the largest U.S. producers of butadiene with annual capacity of approximately 900 million pounds. We sell all the butadiene we produce to several large consumers, including Bayer, Bridgestone/Firestone, Invista and Goodyear, who process it further into products such as synthetic rubber for tires, fiber for nylon carpet and foam for carpet backing. Feedstock for our large U.S. butadiene plant includes all of the crude butadiene produced as a byproduct in our olefins unit and crude butadiene purchased on long-term contracts from other olefin producers. Our U.S. butadiene production facility is located in close proximity to a number of our customers' plant locations, allowing us to connect to these customers by pipelines. Our smaller U.K. butadiene facility mainly processes our byproduct mixed C4s butadiene and ships this product almost entirely to customers located in the U.K.; however, butadiene from this facility is also shipped to customers which are primarily located in the U.K., but also to Europe and the U.S.

Aromatics

        We are among the largest U.S. producers of cyclohexane and have the capacity to produce approximately 630 million pounds of cyclohexane annually at our Port Arthur, Texas facility. Virtually all cyclohexane is converted to other intermediate chemicals used to produce Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6 synthetic fibers and resins. The nylon fibers are used to manufacture products such as hosiery,

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upholstery, carpet and tire cord, and the resins are used in engineered plastic applications. The Port Arthur facility extracts benzene from byproduct streams produced by our olefins facility. We also purchase byproduct streams from neighboring facilities.

        We produce aromatics in Europe at our two integrated manufacturing facilities located in Wilton, U.K. and North Tees, U.K. We are a leading European producer of cyclohexane with 725 million pounds of annual capacity, a leading producer of paraxylene with 800 million pounds of annual capacity and are among Europe's larger producers of benzene with 1,200 million pounds of annual capacity. We use most of the benzene produced by our aromatics operations internally in the production of nitrobenzene for our Polyurethanes business and for the production of cyclohexane. The balance of our European aromatics production is sold to several key customers.

        We also have the capacity to produce approximately 160 million gallons of MTBE annually at our Port Neches, Texas facility. In 2004, we produced approximately 123 million gallons of MTBE from the conversion of byproduct isobutylenes that we extracted from our unit and neighboring refineries. MTBE is blended into gasoline as an octane enhancer and as an oxygenate, which reduces carbon monoxide and other harmful motor vehicle emissions. See "—Environmental, Health and Safety Matters—MTBE Developments."

Industry Overview

        Petrochemical markets are global commodity markets. However, the olefins market is subject to some regional price differences due to the more limited inter-regional trade resulting from the high costs of product transportation. The global petrochemicals market is cyclical and is subject to pricing swings due to supply and demand imbalances, feedstock prices (primarily driven by crude oil and natural gas prices) and general economic conditions.

        The olefins markets in both North America and Western Europe are supplied by numerous producers, none of whom has a dominant position in terms of its share of production capacity. Major producers include BP, Dow, Equistar, ExxonMobil, Sabic and Shell.

        The aromatics market, which is primarily composed of cyclohexane, benzene and paraxylene, is characterized by several major producers, including BP, ChevronPhillips, Dow, ExxonMobil and Shell. We believe the global markets for most aromatics products have recently recovered from the cyclical lows experienced over the last several years as demand has increased due to recent growth in demand for certain derivative products, including polyester fibers and PET packaging resins. Also, new capacity additions have been limited, which has resulted in higher industry operating rates.

Sales and Marketing

        In recent years, our sales and marketing efforts have focused on developing long-term contracts with customers to operate our facilities at maximum rates, while maintaining very low selling expenses and administration costs. In 2004, over 81% and 83% of our external primary petrochemicals sales volume in North America and Europe, respectively, was made under contracts of a year or more. In addition, we delivered over 78% and 52% of our primary external petrochemical products volume in North America and Europe, respectively, in 2004 by pipeline. Major aromatics customers include BASF, Bayer, Dupont SA, Invista, Rhodia and Solutia. Major olefins customers include BP, Dow, DuPont, EVC, Nova, Shell and Solvay.

        In North America, we benefit from our pipeline system that extends over 600 miles, which we use to transport feedstocks and intermediate and finished products. In the U.K., we own or have access to major pipeline systems connecting our plants to our customers. Our finished product pipelines allow us to ship ethylene, propylene and butadiene directly to our customers at very low cost. Addition of new pipeline connections represents a significant barrier to potential competitors. We believe that the wide coverage of our pipeline system, coupled with the proximity of both customers and suppliers, gives us a

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competitive advantage both in receiving raw materials and in delivering ethylene and propylene to our key customers.

Manufacturing and Operations

        The annual production capacities of our olefins and aromatics facilities is set forth below:

(1)

Our Odessa, Texas olefins unit primarily provides raw materials for our Polymers segment. As such, the operations of this unit are accounted for in the Polymers segment. See "—Polymers—Manufacturing and Operations" and "—Polymers—Raw Materials."

(2)

Our Port Neches, Texas olefins plant was idled in June 2001 and has been recently restarted with full production beginning in the fourth quarter of 2004.

(3)

Millions of gallons.

Raw Materials

        The primary raw materials that we use as feedstocks in our Base Chemicals business are hydrocarbons produced as byproducts of the refining crude oil and natural gas, such as ethane, propane and butane. These materials are actively traded on the spot and futures markets and are readily available from multiple sources. We benefit from our locations in Texas, where we neighbor Mont Belvieu, which is a hub for the distribution of these feedstocks, and in the U.K., where we are able to take advantage of our pipeline system and our proximity to refineries located near the North Sea.

        In the U.S., pipelines allow us to transport liquid hydrocarbon feedstocks from Mont Belvieu, Texas to our Port Arthur and Port Neches facilities. We are tied into the extensive industry pipeline grid for receipt of natural gases and NGLs, and have dock and tank facilities for receipt of feedstocks by tanker and barge.

        Our North Tees facility, situated on the northeast coast of England, is near a substantial supply of oil, natural gas and chemical feedstocks. Due to our location at North Tees, we have the option to purchase feedstocks from a variety of sources. However, we have elected to procure the majority of our naphtha, condensates and NGLs from local producers as they have been the most economical sources. In order to secure the optimal mix of the required quality and type of feedstock for our petrochemical operations at fully competitive prices, we regularly engage in the purchase and sale of feedstocks.

Competition

        The markets in which our base chemicals business operates are highly competitive. Our competitors in the olefins and aromatics business include BP, Dow, Equistar, ExxonMobil, Sabic and Shell. While the market for most of these products is global, prices tend to be set regionally. These industries are characterized by companies that have large market shares in specific regions. The primary factors for competition in this business are price, reliability of supply and customer service. The technology used in these businesses is mature and widely available.

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Research and Development

        On a historical basis, for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, we spent $83.0 million, $65.6 million and $23.8 million, respectively, on research and development of our products.

        We support our business with a major commitment to research and development, technical services and process engineering improvement. Our research and development centers are currently located in Austin, Texas and Everberg, Belgium. Other regional development/technical service centers are located in Odessa, Texas (polymers); Billingham, England (pigments); Auburn Hills, Michigan (polymers and polyurethanes for the automotive industry); West Deptford, New Jersey, Derry, New Hampshire, Shanghai, China, Deggendorf, Germany and Ternate, Italy (polyurethanes); Ascot Vale, Australia and Oldbury, U.K. (surfactants), and Port Neches, Texas and Wilton, U.K. for process engineering support. We have announced that we intend to close our Austin facility in mid-2005 and our West Deptford and Oldbury facilities in late 2005. We intend to relocate the research and development capabilities of the Austin and West Deptford facilities to a new research and development center in The Woodlands, Texas that we expect to open in 2005.

        We have leading technology positions, which contribute to our status as a low cost producer. Coordinated research, engineering and manufacturing activities across production and research and development locations facilitate these low cost positions.

Intellectual Property Rights

        Proprietary protection of our processes, apparatuses, and other technology and inventions is important to our businesses. We own approximately 638 unexpired U.S. patents, approximately 148 patent applications (including provisionals) currently pending at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and approximately 3,667 foreign counterparts, including both issued patents and pending patent applications. While a presumption of validity exists with respect to issued U.S. patents, we cannot assure that any of our patents will not be challenged, invalidated, circumvented or rendered unenforceable. Furthermore, we cannot assure the issuance of any pending patent application, or that if patents do issue, that these patents will provide meaningful protection against competitors or against competitive technologies. Additionally, our competitors or other third parties may obtain patents that restrict or preclude our ability to lawfully produce or sell our products in a competitive manner.

        We also rely upon unpatented proprietary know-how and continuing technological innovation and other trade secrets to develop and maintain our competitive position. There can be no assurance, however, that confidentiality agreements into which we enter and have entered will not be breached, that they will provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets or proprietary know-how, or that adequate remedies will be available in the event of an unauthorized use or disclosure of such trade secrets and know-how. In addition, there can be no assurance that others will not obtain knowledge of these trade secrets through independent development or other access by legal means.

        In addition to our own patents and patent applications and proprietary trade secrets and know-how, we are a party to certain licensing arrangements and other agreements authorizing us to use trade secrets, know-how and related technology and/or operate within the scope of certain patents owned by other entities. We also have licensed or sub-licensed intellectual property rights to third parties.

        We have associated brand names with a number of our products, and we have approximately 139 U.S. trademark registrations (including applications for registration currently pending at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office), and approximately 4,318 foreign counterparts, including both registrations and applications for registration. However, there can be no assurance that the trademark registrations will provide meaningful protection against the use of similar trademarks by competitors, or that the value of our trademarks will not be diluted.

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Employees

        As of December 31, 2004, we employed approximately 11,300 people in our operations around the world. Approximately 3,200 of these employees are located in the U.S., while approximately 8,100 are located in other countries. We believe our relations with our employees are good.

Environmental, Health and Safety Matters

General

        We are subject to extensive federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations, rules and ordinances relating to pollution, protection of the environment and the generation, storage, handling, transportation, treatment, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances and waste materials. In the ordinary course of business, we are subject to frequent environmental inspections and monitoring and occasional investigations by governmental enforcement authorities. In addition, our production facilities require operating permits that are subject to renewal, modification and, in certain circumstances, revocation. Actual or alleged violations of environmental laws or permit requirements could result in restrictions or prohibitions on plant operations, substantial civil or criminal sanctions, as well as, under some environmental laws, the assessment of strict liability and/or joint and several liability. Moreover, changes in environmental regulations could inhibit or interrupt our operations, or require us to modify our facilities or operations. Accordingly, environmental or regulatory matters may cause us to incur significant unanticipated losses, costs or liabilities.

Environmental, Health and Safety Systems

        We are committed to achieving and maintaining compliance with all applicable environmental, health and safety ("EHS") legal requirements, and we have developed policies and management systems that are intended to identify the multitude of EHS legal requirements applicable to our operations, enhance compliance with applicable legal requirements, ensure the safety of our employees, contractors, community neighbors and customers and minimize the production and emission of wastes and other pollutants. Although EHS legal requirements are constantly changing and are frequently difficult to comply with, these EHS management systems are designed to assist us in our compliance goals while also fostering efficiency and improvement and minimizing overall risk to us.

EHS Capital Expenditures

        We may incur future costs for capital improvements and general compliance under EHS laws, including costs to acquire, maintain and repair pollution control equipment. For the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, our capital expenditures for EHS matters totaled $55.4 million, $47.8 million and $30.3 million, respectively. Since capital expenditures for these matters are subject to evolving regulatory requirements and depend, in part, on the timing, promulgation and enforcement of specific requirements, we cannot provide assurance that our recent expenditures will be indicative of future amounts required under EHS laws.

Governmental Enforcement Proceedings

        On occasion, we receive notices of violation, enforcement and other complaints from regulatory agencies alleging non-compliance with applicable EHS law. By way of example, we are aware of the individual matters set out below, which we believe to be the most significant presently pending matters and unasserted claims. Although we may incur costs or penalties in connection with the governmental proceedings discussed below, based on currently available information and our past experience, we believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

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        In May 2003, the State of Texas settled an air enforcement case with us relating to our Port Arthur plant. Under the settlement, we are required to pay a civil penalty of $7.5 million over more than four years, undertake environmental monitoring projects totaling about $1.5 million in costs, and pay $375,000 in attorney's fees to the Texas Attorney General. As of December 31, 2004, we have paid $1.8 million toward the penalty and $375,000 for the attorney's fees. The monitoring projects are underway and on schedule. We do not anticipate that this settlement will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

        In the third quarter of 2004, our Jefferson County, Texas facilities received notification from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ("TCEQ") of potential air emission violations relating to the operation of cooling towers at two of our plants, alleged nuisance odors, and alleged upset air emissions. We have investigated the allegations and responded in writing to TCEQ. TCEQ has proposed a penalty of $9,300 for the alleged nuisance odor violations, $174,219 for the alleged upset violations and $83,250 for the alleged cooling tower violations. Negotiations are anticipated between us and TCEQ with respect to the resolution of these alleged violations. We do not believe that the final cost to resolve these matters will be material.

        Our subsidiary Huntsman Advanced Materials (U.K.) Ltd is tentatively scheduled to appear in Magistrates Court in the U.K. in July 2005 with regard to charges filed following an investigation by the U.K. Health and Safety Executive. The charges arise from alleged failures to follow applicable regulations for the management of asbestos contamination caused by construction activity at the Duxford, U.K. Advanced Materials facility between November 2002 and January 2003. We believe that some or all of the alleged violations arise from conduct by a third party contractor occurring before we assumed responsibility for the Duxford facility. Our subsidiary has been in discussions with the prosecution in an effort to settle this matter. As a result, our subsidiary has entered pleas of guilty to two of the five charges, and the prosecution has agreed to drop the remaining three. We expect that a monetary fine will be imposed with regard to the two charges on which pleas were entered. Based on penalties imposed in the United Kingdom for similar alleged violations by other companies, we do not believe this matter will result in the imposition of costs material to our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

        By letter dated November 29, 2004, the TCEQ notified us that it intends to pursue an enforcement action as a result of approximately 25 separate upset emission events occurring at our Port Arthur facility between August 2003 and September 2004. TCEQ alleges that each upset event is a separate violation of its air emission rules. TCEQ has not yet proposed a penalty associated with these alleged violations. In a similar vein, the TCEQ issued a Notice of Enforcement to us on February 16, 2005 for alleged violations at our Port Neches plants arising out of upset emission events on various dates in 2004. TCEQ has not yet proposed a penalty in this second matter, although we anticipate that it will. We will seek to negotiate a settlement with TCEQ on all of the alleged violations. We do not believe that the resolution of these matters will result in the imposition of costs material to our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

        See "—Legal Proceedings" for a discussion of environmental lawsuits brought by private party plaintiffs.

Remediation Liabilities

        We have incurred, and we may in the future incur, liability to investigate and clean up waste or contamination at our current or former facilities or facilities operated by third parties at which we may have disposed of waste or other materials. Similarly, we may incur costs for the cleanup of wastes that were disposed of prior to the purchase of our businesses. Under some circumstances, the scope of our liability may extend to damages to natural resources. Specifically, under the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA"), and similar state laws, a current or former owner or operator of real property may be liable for remediation

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costs regardless of whether the release or disposal of hazardous substances was in compliance with law at the time it occurred, and a current owner or operator may be liable regardless of whether it owned or operated the facility at the time of the release. In addition, under the U.S. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended ("RCRA"), and similar state laws, we may be required to remediate contamination originating from our properties as a condition to our hazardous waste permit. For example, our Odessa, Port Arthur, and Port Neches facilities in Texas are the subject of ongoing remediation requirements under RCRA authority. In many cases, our potential liability arising from historical contamination is based on operations and other events occurring prior to our ownership of the relevant facility. In these situations, we frequently obtained an indemnity agreement from the prior owner addressing remediation liabilities arising from pre-closing conditions. We have successfully exercised our rights under these contractual covenants for a number of sites, and where applicable, mitigated our ultimate remediation liability. We cannot assure you, however, that all of such matters will be subject to indemnity or that our existing indemnities will be sufficient to cover our liabilities for such matters.

        Some of our manufacturing sites have an extended history of industrial chemical manufacturing and use, including on-site waste disposal. We are aware of soil, groundwater and surface water contamination from past operations at some of our sites, and we may find contamination at other sites in the future. For example, we are aware that there is significant contamination, largely related to a landfill and lagoons, at our McIntosh, Alabama plant site. Further, soil and groundwater contamination have been identified at our plants in Duxford, U.K. and Monthey, Switzerland. Pursuant to certain agreements with respect to these Advanced Materials sites, we expect that Ciba will have primary financial responsibility for such matters, although we may be required to contribute to the costs of remediation in certain instances, and we believe that Ciba has the intention and ability to honor these agreements. Based on available information and the indemnification rights we believe are likely to be available, we believe that the costs to investigate and remediate known contamination will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, and therefore we have made no accrual for such liabilities as of December 31, 2004. However, if such indemnities are unavailable or do not fully cover the costs of investigation and remediation or we are required to contribute to such costs, and if such costs are material, then such expenditures may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. At the current time, we are unable to estimate the full cost, exclusive of indemnification benefits, to remediate known contamination sites.

        We have been notified by third parties of claims against us or our subsidiaries for cleanup liabilities at approximately 12 former facilities and other third party sites, including but not limited to sites listed under CERCLA. Based on current information and past experience at other CERCLA sites, we do not expect any of these third-party claims to result in material liability to us.

        One of these sites, the North Maybe Canyon CERCLA site, includes an abandoned phosphorous mine located in a U.S. National Forest in Idaho. The North Maybe Canyon mine may have been operated by one of our predecessors for approximately two out of the eight years (1964 to 1972) during which it held mining leases in the area. In 2004, we received from the Forest Service a notice of potential liability for the mine under CERCLA. According to information from the U.S. government, North Maybe Canyon was actively mined for a total of about 20 years. The current owner, NuWest Industries, Inc., a subsidiary of Agrium, Inc., operated the mine for at least six of those years. Under an administrative order with the Forest Service and other governmental agencies, NuWest is currently undertaking an investigation of the site, with a specific focus on the release of selenium-contaminated surface water into streams in the area. To date, no emergency removal action or other high priority cleanup has been proposed. One of the previous operators of the site, Washington Group International, Inc., has been the subject of bankruptcy proceedings in which the U.S. Department of Justice asserted a claim for investigation and remediation costs at North Maybe Canyon and South Maybe Canyon (which we did not own or operate), a similar nearby mine that also is currently under

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investigation. The government claimed $15.7 million in investigation and remediation costs for South Maybe Canyon and $3 million in investigation costs for North Maybe Canyon. The government stated that cleanup costs at North Maybe Canyon had not yet been estimated. We do not currently have sufficient information to estimate actual remediation costs or our actual liability, if any, for investigation and cleanup of the North Maybe Canyon site.

Environmental Reserves

        We have established financial reserves relating to anticipated environmental cleanup obligations, site reclamation and closure costs and known penalties. Liabilities are recorded when potential liabilities are either known or considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. Our liability estimates are based upon available facts, existing technology and past experience. On a consolidated basis, we have accrued approximately $35.1 million and $34.9 million for environmental liabilities as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Of these amounts, approximately $7.7 million and $8.6 million are classified as accrued liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and approximately $27.4 million and $26.3 million are classified as other noncurrent liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. These accruals include approximately $13.9 million and $6.5 million, respectively, for environmental remediation liabilities. In certain cases, our remediation liabilities are payable over periods of up to 30 years. We may incur losses for environmental remediation in excess of the amounts accrued; however, we are not able to estimate the amount or range of such losses.

Regulatory Developments

        Under the European Union ("EU") Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive ("IPPC"), EU member governments are to adopt rules and implement a cross-media (air, water and waste) environmental permitting program for individual facilities. While the EU countries are at varying stages in their respective implementation of the IPPC permit program, we have submitted all necessary IPPC permit applications required to date, and in some cases received completed permits from the applicable government agency. We expect to submit all other IPPC applications and related documents on a timely basis as the various countries implement the IPPC permit program. Although we do not know with certainty what each IPPC permit will require, we believe, based upon our experience with the permits received to date, that the costs of compliance with the IPPC permit program will not be material to our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

        In October 2003, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new EU regulatory framework for chemicals. Under this proposed new system called "REACH" (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals), companies that manufacture or import more than one ton of a chemical substance per year would be required to register such manufacture or import in a central database. The REACH initiative, as proposed, would require risk assessment of chemicals, preparations (e.g., soaps and paints) and articles (e.g., consumer products) before those materials could be manufactured or imported into EU countries. Where warranted by a risk assessment, hazardous substances would require authorizations for their use. This regulation could impose risk control strategies that would require capital expenditures by us. As proposed, REACH would take effect in three primary stages over the eleven years following the final effective date (assuming final approval). The impacts of REACH on the chemical industry and on us are unclear at this time because the parameters of the program are still being actively debated.

MTBE Developments

        The use of MTBE is controversial in the U.S. and elsewhere and may be substantially curtailed or eliminated in the future by legislation or regulatory action. The presence of MTBE in some groundwater supplies in California and other states (primarily due to gasoline leaking from underground storage tanks) and in surface water (primarily from recreational watercraft) has led to

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public concern about MTBE's potential to contaminate drinking water supplies. Heightened public awareness regarding this issue has resulted in state, federal and foreign initiatives to rescind the federal oxygenate requirements for reformulated gasoline or restrict or prohibit the use of MTBE in particular. For example, California, New York and Connecticut have adopted rules that prohibit the use of MTBE in gasoline sold in those states as of January 1, 2004. Overall, states that have taken some action to prohibit or restrict the use of MTBE in gasoline account for a substantial portion of the "pre-ban" U.S. MTBE market. Thus far, attempts by others to challenge these state bans in federal court under the reformulated gasoline provisions of the federal Clean Air Act have been unsuccessful.

        The U.S. Congress has been considering legislation that would eliminate the oxygenated fuels requirements in the Clean Air Act and phase out or curtail MTBE use over a period of several years. To date, no such legislation has become law. If it were to become law it could result in a federal phase-out of the use of MTBE in gasoline in the U.S., but it would not prevent us from manufacturing MTBE in our plants. In addition, in March 2000, the EPA announced its intention, through an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking, to phase out the use of MTBE under authority of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. EPA has not yet acted on this proposal, however. In Europe, the EU issued a final risk assessment report on MTBE in September 2002. No ban of MTBE was recommended, though several risk reduction measures relating to storage and handling of MTBE-containing fuel were recommended.

        We currently market approximately 95% of our MTBE to customers located in the U.S. for use as a gasoline additive. Any phase-out or other future regulation of MTBE in other jurisdictions, nationally or internationally, may result in a significant reduction in demand for our MTBE and in a material loss in revenues or material costs or expenditures. In the event that there should be a complete phase-out of MTBE in the U.S., we believe we will be able to export MTBE to Europe, Asia or South America, although this may produce a lower level of cash flow than the sale of MTBE in the U.S. We may also elect to use all or a portion of our precursor TBA to produce saleable products other than MTBE. If we opt to produce products other than MTBE, necessary modifications to our facilities may require significant capital expenditures and the sale of the other products may produce a materially lower level of cash flow than the sale of MTBE.

        In addition to the use limitations described above, a number of lawsuits have been filed, primarily against gasoline manufacturers, marketers and distributors, by persons seeking to recover damages allegedly arising from the presence of MTBE in groundwater. While we have not been named as a defendant in any litigation concerning the environmental effects of MTBE, we cannot provide assurances that we will not be involved in any such litigation or that such litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

Available Information

        We maintain an Internet website at http://www.huntsman.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to these reports are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file this material with the SEC. We also provide electronic or paper copies of our SEC filings free of charge upon request.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

        We own or lease chemical manufacturing and research facilities in the locations indicated in the list below which we currently believe are adequate for our short-term and anticipated long-term needs. We own or lease office space and storage facilities throughout the U.S. and many foreign countries. Our principal executive offices are located at 500 Huntsman Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108. The following is a list of our material owned or leased properties where manufacturing, research and main office facilities are located.

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(1)

Leased land and/or building.

(2)

The Geismar facility is owned as follows: we own 100% of the MDI, TDI and polyol facilities, and Rubicon LLC, a manufacturing joint venture with Crompton Corporation in which we own a 50% interest, owns the aniline and nitrobenzene facilities. Rubicon LLC is a separate legal entity that operates both the assets that we own jointly with Crompton Corporation and our wholly-owned assets at Geismar.

(3)

We intend to close this facility in late 2005.

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(4)

The Port Neches ethylene plant was idled in 2001 and was recently re-started, with full production beginning in the fourth quarter of 2004.

(5)

We shut down our base resin production line at this facility in the first quarter of 2004.

(6)

76%-owned manufacturing joint venture with Tamilnadu Petroproducts Limited.

(7)

95%-owned manufacturing joint venture with Guangdong Panyu Shilou Town Economic Development Co. Ltd.

(8)

We intend to close this facility in 2005.

(9)

We intend to close this facility in mid-2005. We will relocate the operations to a new facility in The Woodlands, Texas. Please see "—Research and Development."

(10)

These plants are operated by Solutia under long-term operating agreements. Solutia and certain of its affiliates have filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. We expect that Solutia will continue to operate these plants, although no assurance can be given at this time. During the course of the bankruptcy proceeding, it is possible that Solutia may reject any of the agreements under which it operates the plants. It is also possible that Solutia's reorganization under Chapter 11 may fail and that it would proceed to a liquidation under Chapter 7. If Solutia were to discontinue operation of any of these plants, it may be difficult to arrange for uninterrupted operation.

(11)

We intend to close this facility in the second half of 2005.

(12)

We intend to substantially reduce our operations at this site.

(13)

50%-owned manufacturing joint venture with Kronos Louisiana, Inc., a subsidiary of Kronos Worldwide, Inc.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        We have settled certain claims relating to discoloration of unplasticized polyvinyl chloride products allegedly caused by our titanium dioxide ("Discoloration Claims") during and prior to the second quarter of 2004. Substantially all of the titanium dioxide that was the subject of these claims was manufactured prior to our acquisition of our titanium dioxide business from ICI in 1999. Net of amounts we have received from insurers and pursuant to contracts of indemnity, we have paid approximately £8 million ($14.9 million) in costs and settlement amounts for Discoloration Claims as of December 31, 2004.

        The following table presents information about the number of Discoloration Claims for the periods indicated. Claims include all claims for which service has been received by us, and each such claim represents a plaintiff who is pursuing a claim against us.

        The five Discoloration Claims unresolved at the end of 2002 included three claims that did not quantify monetary damages and two claims asserting aggregate damages of approximately $4.5 million. During the year ended December 31, 2003, we settled claims for approximately $77.7 million, all of which was paid by our insurers or ICI. The four Discoloration Claims unresolved at the end of 2003 included two claims that did not quantify monetary damages and two claims asserting aggregate damages of approximately $4.5 million. During the year ended December 31, 2004, we settled claims for approximately $45.3 million, approximately $30.4 million of which was paid by our insurers or ICI and approximately $14.9 million of which was paid by us. During 2004, we recorded charges of $15.1 million relating to Discoloration Claims. The three Discoloration Claims unresolved on December 31, 2004 asserted aggregate damages of approximately $6.7 million. A liability has been accrued for these Discoloration Claims. In March 2005, one of these Discoloration Claims was

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amended to assert additional damages of approximately $56 million. Based on our understanding of the merits of this claim and our rights under contracts of indemnity and insurance, we do not believe that the net impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity will be material.

        While additional Discoloration Claims may be made in the future, we cannot reasonably estimate the amount of loss related to such claims. Although we may incur additional costs as a result of future claims (including settlement costs), based on our history with Discoloration Claims to date, the fact that substantially all of the titanium dioxide that has been the subject of these Discoloration Claims was manufactured and sold more than five years ago, and the fact that we have rights under contract to indemnity, including from ICI, we do not believe that any unasserted possible Discoloration Claims, if any, will have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Based on this conclusion and our inability to reasonably estimate our expected costs with respect to these unasserted possible claims, we have made no accruals in our financial statements as of December 31, 2004 for costs associated with unasserted possible Discoloration Claims, if any.

        Certain insurers have denied coverage with respect to certain Discoloration Claims. We brought suit against these insurers to recover the amounts we believe are due to us. The court found in favor of the insurers, and we lodged an application for leave to appeal that decision. Leave to appeal was granted in December 2004. We expect the appeal to be heard during the third quarter of 2005.

        Vantico concluded that certain of the products of its former Electronics division may have infringed patents owned by Taiyo and it entered into a license agreement in October 2001 with Taiyo to obtain the right to use the Taiyo patents. This license agreement required payment of approximately $4.2 million in back royalties and agreement to pay periodic royalties for future use. We believe that Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holdings Inc. ("Ciba") is liable under the indemnity provisions of certain agreements in connection with the leveraged buy out transaction in 2000 involving Ciba and Vantico for certain payments made under the license agreement and related costs and expenses, and we initiated an arbitration proceeding against Ciba. In July 2004, we entered into a settlement agreement with Ciba with respect to this matter. In general, the settlement agreement provided that Ciba would pay us $10.9 million in 2004 and provide us with approximately $11 million of credits over the next five years against payments for certain services provided by Ciba at one of our Advanced Materials facilities. We received additional consideration in the form of modifications to certain agreements between our Advanced Materials business and Ciba. In August 2004, we received payment of the $10.9 million settlement. As of December 31, 2004, we have incurred approximately $2.2 million in costs in connection with the arbitration proceedings against Ciba.

        We are a party to various lawsuits brought by persons alleging personal injuries and/or property damage based upon alleged exposure to toxic air emissions. For example, since June 2003, a number of lawsuits have been filed in state district court in Jefferson County, Texas against several local chemical plants and refineries, including our subsidiary, Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation. Generally, these lawsuits allege that the refineries and chemical plants located in the vicinity of the plaintiffs' homes discharged chemicals into the air that interfere with use and enjoyment of property and cause health problems and/or property damages. None of these lawsuits includes the amount of damages being sought. Because these cases are still in the initial stages, we do not have sufficient information at the present time to estimate the amount or range of reasonably possible loss. The following table presents information about the number of claims asserting damages based upon alleged exposure to toxic air

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emissions for the periods indicated. Claims include all claims for which service has been received by us, and each such claim represents a plaintiff who is pursuing a claim against us.

We believe that we have valid defenses to these claims and, to the extent that we are not able to otherwise reach an appropriate resolution of these claims, we intend to defend them vigorously.

        In addition, we have been named as a "premises defendant" in a number of asbestos exposure cases, typically a claim by a non-employee of exposure to asbestos while at a facility. These cases typically involve multiple plaintiffs bringing actions against multiple defendants, and the complaint does not indicate which plaintiffs are making claims against which defendants, where or how the alleged injuries occurred, or what injuries each plaintiff claims. These facts, which are central to any estimate of probable loss, can be learned only through discovery.

        Where the alleged exposure occurred prior to our ownership or operation of the relevant "premises," the prior owners and operators generally have contractually agreed to retain liability for, and to indemnify us against, asbestos exposure claims. This indemnification is not subject to any time or dollar amount limitations. Upon service of a complaint in one of these cases, we tender it to the prior owner or operator. None of the complaints in these cases state the amount of damages being sought. The prior owner or operator accepts responsibility for the conduct of the defense of the cases and payment of any amounts due to the claimants. In our ten-year experience with tendering these cases, we have not made any payment with respect to any tendered asbestos cases. We believe that the prior owners or operators have the intention and ability to continue to honor their indemnities, although we cannot assure you that they will continue to do so or that we will not be liable for these cases if they do not.

        The following table presents for the periods indicated certain information about cases for which service has been received that we have tendered to the prior owner or operator, all of which have been accepted.

We have never made any payments with respect to these cases. As of December 31, 2004, we had an accrued liability of $12.5 million relating to these cases and a corresponding receivable of $12.5 million relating to our indemnity protection with respect to these cases. We cannot assure you that our liability will not exceed our accruals or that our liability associated with these cases would not be material to our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

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        Certain cases in which we are a "premises defendant" are not subject to indemnification by prior owners or operators. The following table presents for the periods indicated certain information about these cases. Cases include all cases for which service has been received by us.

We paid gross settlement costs for asbestos exposure cases that are not subject to indemnification of approximately $1.1 million in 2002, approximately $0.25 million in 2003 and approximately $0.9 million in 2004.

        As of December 31, 2004, we had accrued reserves of $0.9 million relating to three of these 31 cases. We cannot assure you that our liability will not exceed our accruals or that our liability associated with these cases would not be material to our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

        We are a party to various other proceedings instituted by private plaintiffs, governmental authorities and others arising under provisions of applicable laws, including various environmental, products liability and other laws. Except as otherwise disclosed in this report, we do not believe that the outcome of any of these matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. See "Item 1—Business—Environmental, Health and Safety Matters" for a discussion of environmental proceedings.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

        During the fourth quarter of 2004, no matters were submitted to a vote of our security holders.

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PART II

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

Market Information and Holders

        Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HUN." As of March 11, 2005, there were approximately 41 stockholders of record.

        Prior to our initial public offering in February 2005, there was no established trading market for our common stock. Our common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on February 11, 2005. Accordingly, no sales price information is available for our common stock for the periods covered by this report.

Dividends

        We do not currently anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock. Instead, we currently intend to retain our earnings, if any, to invest in our businesses, to repay indebtedness and to use for general corporate purposes. Subject to the terms of our mandatory convertible preferred stock, our board of directors has the authority to declare and pay dividends on the common stock, in its discretion, as long as there are funds legally available to do so. However, amounts available to pay dividends will be restricted by the terms of the credit agreements and indentures of our subsidiaries. See "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources."

Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities

        We filed a registration statement on Form S-1 (file no. 333-120749) with respect to the offer and sale of 60,227,274 shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value (the "Firm Shares"), and an additional 9,034,091 shares (the "Over-Allotment Shares") of our common stock to be sold solely to cover over-allotments, if any. Of the 60,227,274 Firm Shares offered pursuant to the registration statement, 55,681,819 shares were offered by us and 4,545,455 shares were offered by a selling stockholder. All of the Over-Allotment Shares were offered by the selling stockholder. The registration statement also registered the offer and sale of 5,000,000 shares of our 5% mandatory convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, and an additional 750,000 shares of our 5% mandatory convertible preferred stock to be sold solely to cover over-allotments, if any. All shares of the 5% mandatory convertible preferred stock were offered by us. The mandatory convertible preferred stock will convert into common stock on February 16, 2008, unless converted earlier in certain circumstances.

        The registration statement was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 10, 2005. As contemplated by the registration statement, we entered into two underwriting agreements with respect to the offerings of the common stock and the preferred stock. The managing underwriters for both offerings were Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. The transactions contemplated by the underwriting agreements were consummated on February 16, 2005, including the exercise by the underwriters in full of the respective over-allotment options.

        The following table illustrates the number of shares of common stock registered and the aggregate price of the shares registered for our account and for the selling stockholder's account. We did not receive any proceeds from the sales made by the selling stockholder.

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        The following table illustrates the number of shares of 5% mandatory convertible preferred stock registered and the aggregate price of the shares registered for our account. There were no selling stockholders with respect to the preferred stock.

        Underwriting discounts and commissions amounted to $1.035 per share of common stock offered and $1.50 per share of preferred stock offered. We incurred an aggregate of $57.6 million in underwriting discounts and commissions with respect to the common shares sold by us, and an aggregate of $8.6 million in underwriting discounts and commissions with respect to the preferred shares sold by us. We incurred approximately $14 million in other expenses in connection with the offerings. None of such expenses were direct or indirect payments to our directors or officers, to persons owning 10 percent or more of any class of our equity securities or to any of our affiliates. The net offering proceeds received by us from the offerings after deducting the total expenses were approximately $1,500 million.

        Approximately $41 million of such proceeds were used to purchase treasury securities to be held as collateral to secure our dividend payment obligations under the mandatory convertible preferred stock. Substantially all of the remainder of the proceeds will be used to repay certain indebtedness of our subsidiaries, including HMP, Huntsman LLC and HIH. On February 28, 2005, we used $1,216.7 million of net proceeds from the offering, along with $35.0 million in available cash, to redeem all of the outstanding senior secured discount notes due 2008 of HMP, $452.3 million of the outstanding senior discount notes due 2009 of HIH, and $159.4 million of senior secured notes due 2010 of Huntsman LLC. In addition, we expect to use $170.7 million of the net cash proceeds from the offering to redeem the remaining outstanding senior discount notes due 2009 of HIH and $78.0 million of the HLLC Senior Notes on March 14, 2005 and to redeem an additional $24.0 million of HLLC Senior Notes on March 17, 2005.

        On February 16, 2005, we used $41.6 million of net proceeds from the offering to redeem in full the subordinated note due Horizon Ventures LLC. Horizon Ventures LLC is owned by Jon M. Huntsman. Jon M. Huntsman is the Chairman of the Board and a Director of our Company and is indirectly a person owning more than 10% of our common stock. Other than the payment to Horizon Ventures LLC, none of the foregoing uses of proceeds resulted in direct or indirect payments to directors or officers of the Company, persons owning 10% or more of any class of equity securities of the Company or to affiliates of the Company.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        The selected historical financial data set forth below presents the historical financial data of our predecessor Huntsman Holdings as of and for the dates and periods indicated. In such financial data, HIH is accounted for using the equity method of accounting through April 30, 2003. Effective May 1, 2003, as a result of the HIH Consolidation Transaction (as defined in "Note 1. General—HIH Consolidation Transaction"), we have consolidated the financial results of HIH. Effective July 1, 2003, as a result of the AdMat Transaction, we have consolidated the financial results of Advanced Materials. As a result, the financial information as of and for the year ended December 31, 2003 is not comparable to the prior years' historical financial data presented herein, and the financial information as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004 is not comparable to the financial information as of and for the year ended December 31, 2003. You should read the selected financial data in conjunction

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with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and our Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this report.

(a)

In 2002, we adopted SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations," resulting in an increase of $169.7 million in the carrying value of our investment in HIH to reflect the proportionate share of the underlying net assets. In 2001, we adopted SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," resulting in a cumulative increase in net loss of $0.1 million.

(b)

All shares and per share information have been restated to give effect to the shares issued in connection with the February 16, 2005 Reorganization Transaction and initial public offering of common stock and the shares to be issued in connection with the exchange of the HMP Warrants on March 14, 2005.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

        We are among the world's largest global manufacturers of differentiated and commodity chemical products. We manufacture a broad range of chemical products and formulations, which we market in more than 100 countries to a diversified group of consumer and industrial customers. Our products are used in a wide range of applications, including those in the adhesives, aerospace, automotive, construction products, durable and non-durable consumer products, electronics, medical, packaging, paints and coatings, power generation, refining and synthetic fiber industries. We are a leading global producer in many of our key product lines, including MDI, amines, surfactants, epoxy-based polymer formulations, maleic anhydride and titanium dioxide. We operate 62 manufacturing facilities located in 22 countries and employ approximately 11,300 associates. Our businesses benefit from significant vertical integration, large production scale and proprietary manufacturing technologies, which allow us to maintain a low-cost position. We had revenues for the year ended December 31, 2004 of $11.5 billion and pro forma revenues for the year ended December 31, 2003 of $9.3 billion, respectively.

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        Our business is organized around our six segments: Polyurethanes, Advanced Materials, Performance Products, Pigments, Polymers and Base Chemicals. These segments can be divided into two broad categories: differentiated and commodity. Our Polyurethanes, Advanced Materials and Performance Products segments produce differentiated products, and our Pigments, Polymers and Base Chemicals segments produce commodity chemicals. Among our commodity products, our Pigments business, while cyclical, is influenced largely by seasonal demand patterns in the coatings industry. Certain products in our Polymers segment also follow different trends than petrochemical commodities as a result of our niche marketing strategy for such products that focuses on supplying customized formulations. Nevertheless, each of our six operating segments is impacted to some degree by economic conditions, prices of raw materials and global supply and demand pressures.

        Growth in our Polyurethanes and Advanced Materials segments has been driven by the continued substitution of our products for other materials across a broad range of applications as well as the level of global economic activity. Historically, demand for many of these products has grown at rates in excess of GDP growth. In Polyurethanes, this growth, particularly in Asia, has recently resulted in improved demand and higher industry capacity utilization rates for many of our key products, including MDI. In 2004, the profitability of our Polyurethanes and Advanced Materials segments improved due to increased demand in several of our key industrial end markets, including aerospace, automotive and construction products. This has allowed us to increase selling prices, which has more than offset increases in the cost of our primary raw materials, including benzene, propylene and chlorine.

        The global PO market is influenced by supply and demand imbalances. PO demand is largely driven by growth in the polyurethane industry, and, as a result, growth rates for PO have generally exceeded GDP growth rates. As a co-product of our PO manufacturing process, we also produce MTBE. MTBE is an oxygenate that is blended with gasoline to reduce harmful vehicle emissions and to enhance the octane rating of gasoline. See "Item 1—Business—Environmental, Health and Safety Matters—MTBE Developments" above for more information on the legal and regulatory developments that may curtail or eliminate the use of MTBE in gasoline in the U.S.

        In our Performance Products segment, demand for our performance specialties has generally continued to grow at rates in excess of GDP as overall demand is significantly influenced by new product and application development. In 2004, overall demand for most of our performance intermediates has generally been stable or improving, but excess surfactant manufacturing capacity in Europe and a decline in the use of LAB in new detergent formulations have limited our ability to increase prices in response to higher raw material costs. In EG, higher industry capacity utilization rates in 2004 due to stronger demand in the PET resin and Asian fiber markets have resulted in higher profitability.

        Historically, demand for titanium dioxide pigments has grown at rates approximately equal to global GDP growth. Pigment prices have historically reflected industry-wide operating rates but have typically lagged behind movements in these rates by up to twelve months due to the effects of product stocking and destocking by customers and producers, contract arrangements and seasonality. The industry experiences some seasonality in its sales because sales of paints, the largest end use for titanium dioxide, generally peak during the spring and summer months in the northern hemisphere. This results in greater sales volumes in the second and third quarters of the year.

        The profitability of our Polymers and Base Chemicals segments has historically been cyclical in nature. The industry has recently operated in a down cycle that resulted from significant new capacity additions, weak demand reflecting soft global economic conditions and high crude oil and natural gas-based raw material costs. Despite continued high feedstock costs, the profitability of our Base Chemicals segment has improved in 2004 as demand has strengthened and average selling prices and profit margins have increased in most of our product lines.

        For a discussion of recent developments affecting our Company, see "Part I. Item 1. Business—Recent Developments".

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Results of Operations

        The businesses of our predecessor Huntsman Holdings underwent significant changes as a result of a number of transactions that were completed in 2003. As a result, the financial information as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004 is not comparable to the financial information as of and for the year ended December 31, 2003. In order to present data that is useful for comparative purposes, we have included pro forma information for the year ended December 31, 2003. The pro forma information for the year ended December 31, 2003 has been prepared as if the HIH Consolidation Transaction, and the AdMat Transaction occurred on January 1, 2003. HIH became a consolidated subsidiary effective as of May 1, 2003, and Advanced Materials became a consolidated subsidiary effective as of June 30, 2003. We believe the use of pro forma results for the periods covered in this report provides a more meaningful comparison of our results between the applicable periods. These results do not necessarily reflect the results that would have been obtained if we had completed the transactions described above on the dates indicated or that may be expected in the future. For a period to period comparison of our historical results of operations, see "—Historical Results of Operations."

Year Ended December 31, 2004 (Historical) Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2003 (Pro Forma) (unaudited) (Dollars in Millions)

NM—Not meaningful

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        Included in EBITDA are the following unusual items of (expense) income:

(1)

EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We believe that EBITDA enhances an investor's understanding of our financial performance and our ability to satisfy principal and interest obligations with respect to our indebtedness. However, EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or viewed as a substitute for net income, cash flow from operations or other measures of performance as defined by generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("GAAP"). Moreover, EBITDA as used herein is not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies due to potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation. Our management uses EBITDA to assess financial performance and debt service capabilities. In assessing financial performance, our management reviews EBITDA as a general indicator of economic performance compared to prior periods. Because EBITDA excludes interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, EBITDA provides an indicator of general economic performance that is not affected by debt restructurings, fluctuations in interest rates or effective tax rates, or levels of depreciation and amortization. Accordingly, our management believes this type of measurement is useful for comparing general operating performance from period to period and making certain related management decisions. EBITDA is also used by securities analysts, lenders and others in their evaluation of different companies because it excludes certain items that can vary widely across different industries or among companies within the same industry. For example, interest expense can be highly dependent on a company's capital structure, debt levels and credit ratings. Therefore, the impact of interest expense on earnings can vary significantly among companies. In addition, the tax positions of companies can vary because of their differing abilities to take advantage of tax benefits and because of the tax policies of the various jurisdictions in which they operate. As a result, effective tax rates and tax expense can vary considerably among companies. Finally, companies employ productive assets of different ages and utilize different methods of acquiring and depreciating such assets. This can result in considerable variability in the relative costs of productive assets and the depreciation and amortization expense among companies. Our management also believes that our investors use EBITDA as a measure of our ability to service indebtedness as well as to fund capital expenditures and working capital requirements. Nevertheless, our management recognizes that there are material limitations associated with the use of EBITDA in the evaluation of our Company as compared to net income, which reflects overall financial performance, including the effects of interest, income taxes, depreciation and

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amortization. EBITDA excludes interest expense. Because we have borrowed money in order to finance our operations, interest expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to generate revenue. Therefore, any measure that excludes interest expense has material limitations. EBITDA also excludes taxes. Because the payment of taxes is a necessary element of our operations, any measure that excludes tax expense has material limitations. Finally, EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization expense. Because we use capital assets, depreciation and amortization expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to generate revenue. Therefore, any measure that excludes depreciation and amortization expense has material limitations. Our management compensates for the limitations of using EBITDA by using it to supplement GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone. Our management also uses other metrics to evaluate capital structure, tax planning and capital investment decisions. For example, our management uses credit ratings and net debt ratios to evaluate capital structure, effective tax rate by jurisdiction to evaluate tax planning, and payback period and internal rate of return to evaluate capital investments. Our management also uses trade working capital to evaluate its investment in accounts receivable and inventory, net of accounts payable.

We believe that net income (loss) is the performance measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP that is most directly comparable to EBITDA. We reconcile our net loss to EBITDA in the table above.

We believe that cash provided by (used in) operating activities is the liquidity measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP that is most directly comparable to EBITDA. For a reconciliation of historical EBITDA to our historical cash provided by operations, see "—Results of Operations (Historical)" below.

Year ended December 31, 2004 (Historical) compared to year ended December 31, 2003 (Pro Forma)

        For the year ended December 31, 2004, we had a net loss of $227.7 million on revenues of $11,485.8 million compared to a net loss of $426.1 million on revenues of $9,252.4 million for 2003. The decrease of $198.4 million in net loss was the result of the following items:

•

Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2004 increased by $2,233.4 million, or 24%, from 2003 due to higher average selling prices in all of our operating segments and higher sales volumes in our Polyurethanes, Advanced Materials, Pigments, Polymers and Base Chemicals segments. For details of our changes in selling prices and sales volumes from the prior period, see the discussion by operating segment below.



•

Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2004 increased by $399.3 million, or 40%, from 2003. This increase, which occurred in all our segments, was mainly due to higher contribution margins as average selling prices increased more than raw material and energy costs in the 2004 period as compared to 2003.



•

Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2004 decreased by $35.3 million, or 5%, from 2003. Higher costs resulting from the strength of the major European currencies and the Australian dollar versus the U.S. dollar were more than offset by cost savings resulting from our ongoing restructuring efforts. We also incurred reorganization costs of $27.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2003 related to a number of cost reduction programs by the predecessor company of Advanced Materials. In addition, foreign exchange gains were higher in 2004 as compared to 2003.



•

Restructuring and plant closing costs for the year ended December 31, 2004 increased to $299.3 million from $55.0 million in 2003. For further discussion of restructuring activities, see "—Restructuring and Plant Closing Costs" below.



•

Net interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2004 increased by $34.8 million, or 6%, from 2003 primarily due to additional debt and higher interest rates on our borrowings in 2004

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compared to 2003. In addition, interest expense increased as a result of the compounding of interest on the HMP Senior Discount Notes and the HIH Senior Discount Notes, the accrued interest of which is added to the principal balance and is not paid in cash.

•

In the year ended December 31, 2004, losses on our accounts receivable securitization program decreased $16.8 million, or 52%, when compared with 2003. This decrease is mainly attributable to reduced losses on foreign currency hedge contracts in the 2004 period as compared to the 2003 period, primarily in response to an amendment to our accounts receivable securitization program that permits euro-denominated debt, thereby reducing the need for foreign currency hedge contracts.



•

Income tax benefit increased by $61.2 million to a benefit of $29.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to an expense of $32.1 million for 2003. Our tax obligations are affected by the mix of income and losses in the tax jurisdictions in which we operate. Increased tax benefit was largely due to changes in pre-tax income in certain tax jurisdictions. During 2004, additional pre-tax losses were recorded in jurisdictions where tax benefits were provided and additional pre-tax income was recorded in jurisdictions where tax expense was not provided, net of valuation allowances. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2004 we recognized non-recurring benefits in Spain, France and Holland of approximately $28.3 million associated with enacted changes in tax rates, the settlement of tax authority examinations and the reversal of previously established valuation allowances.

        The following table sets forth the revenues and EBITDA for each of our operating segments (dollars in millions):

NM—Not meaningful

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Polyurethanes

        For the year ended December 31, 2004, Polyurethanes revenues increased by $579.9 million, or 25%, as compared to 2003, primarily from higher average selling prices and higher sales volumes for MDI. MDI revenues increased by 31%, resulting from 17% higher average selling prices and 12% higher sales volumes. The increase in MDI average selling prices resulted principally from improved market demand coupled with tighter supply, the strength of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar and in response to higher raw material and energy costs. Higher MDI volumes reflect further extension of markets for MDI and recent improvements in global economic conditions.

        For the year ended December 31, 2004, Polyurethanes segment EBITDA increased by $130.6 million, or 56%, as compared to 2003. Restructuring and plant closing costs of $36.9 million and $28.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, were included in segment EBITDA. For further discussion of restructuring activities, see "—Restructuring and Plant Closing Costs" below. Excluding restructuring charges, segment EBITDA increased by $139.4 million in 2004, resulting mainly from higher contribution margins as average selling prices increased more than raw material and energy costs.

Advanced Materials

        Advanced Materials revenues for the year ended December 31, 2004 increased by $112.8 million, or 11%, from 2003. Higher revenues were attributable to a 12% increase in average selling prices, with stable sales volumes. Average selling prices were higher due to price increase initiatives in certain markets in response to improved demand, higher raw material costs and the effect of the strength of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar. Our ongoing portfolio re-alignment activities resulted in higher sales volumes in certain of our structural composites, adhesives and electrical materials end markets, which were largely offset by lower sales volumes of basic epoxy resins and electronic laminates products.

        For the year ended December 31, 2004, Advanced Materials segment EBITDA increased by $137.9 or 286%, primarily due to higher contribution margins as average selling prices increased more than raw material costs, and $18.5 million lower reorganization costs and restructuring and plant closing costs. For further discussion of restructuring activities, see "—Restructuring and Plant Closing Costs" below. In addition during 2004, the Advanced Materials segment recorded a legal settlement gain of $8.5 million compared with a contract termination charge of $5.5 million in 2003 and a $26.3 million increase in foreign currency transaction gains.

Performance Products

        For the year ended December 31, 2004, Performance Products revenues increased by $238.2 million, or 14%, as compared to 2003 primarily as a result of higher average selling prices for all products, offset somewhat by lower sales volumes in certain product lines. Overall, average selling prices increased by 16% in response to higher raw material and energy costs, improved market conditions and the strength of the European and Australian currencies versus the U.S. dollar. Sales volumes declined by 1% as higher sales volumes of amines and maleic anhydride were more than offset by lower sales volumes of surfactants and LAB. The reduction in surfactants sales volumes was due to reduced customer demand in certain product lines and increased competition in the marketplace.

        For the year ended December 31, 2004, Performance Products segment EBITDA decreased by $37.3 million, or 29%, as compared to 2003. During the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Performance Products segment recorded restructuring and plant closing charges of $97.5 million and $22.1 million, respectively. For further discussion of restructuring activities, see "—Restructuring and Plant Closing Costs" below. Excluding these restructuring charges, Performance Products segment

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EBITDA increased by $38.1 million resulting primarily from higher contribution margins as average selling prices increased more than raw material and energy costs.

Pigments

        For the year ended December 31, 2004, Pigments revenues increased by $38.1 million, or 4%, as compared to 2003, resulting principally from 4% higher average selling prices. Average selling prices benefited primarily from the strengthening of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar.

        Pigments segment EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2004 decreased by $135.4 million to a loss of $30.0 million from income of $105.4 million in 2003. The decrease is mainly the result of an increase in restructuring and plant closing costs of $116.8 million and charges of $15.1 million relating to the payment of costs and settlement amounts relating to Discoloration Claims recorded in 2004. The remaining decrease in segment EBITDA of $3.5 million resulted principally from a $14.5 million reduction in EBITDA primarily in response to the strengthening of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar, offset somewhat by lower fixed costs resulting from cost reduction initiatives. During 2004 and 2003, our Pigments segment recorded restructuring and plant closing charges of $123.3 million and $6.5 million, respectively. For further discussion of restructuring activities, see "—Restructuring and Plant Closing Costs" below.

Polymers

        For the year ended December 31, 2004, Polymers revenues increased by $296.3 million, or 26%, as compared to 2003 due mainly to 22% higher average selling prices and 3% higher sales volumes. Higher average selling prices were primarily in response to higher raw material and energy costs while sales volumes increased principally as a result of stronger customer demand.

        For the year ended December 31, 2004, Polymers segment EBITDA decreased by $3.2 million, or 4%, as compared to 2003. During the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Polymers segment recorded restructuring and plant closing charges of $13.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively. For further discussion of restructuring activities, see "—Restructuring and Plant Closing Costs" below. Excluding these restructuring charges, Polymers segment EBITDA increased by $9.6 million resulting primarily from higher contribution margins as average selling prices increased more than raw material and energy costs.

Base Chemicals

        For the year ended December 31, 2004, Base Chemicals revenues increased $1,219.1 million, or 46%, as compared to 2003 due mainly to a 38% increase in average selling prices and a 6% increase in sales volumes. Higher average selling prices were primarily due to tighter supply conditions in the marketplace and in response to higher raw material and energy costs and the strengthening of major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar. Sales volumes increased for all key products driven by increased sales volumes of ethylene, propylene and cyclohexane of 9%, 13% and 14%, respectively, principally as a result of increased demand.

        For the year ended December 31, 2004, Base Chemicals segment EBITDA increased by $204.5 million, or 285%, as compared to 2003 primarily as a result of higher contribution margins, as average selling prices increased more than raw material and energy costs. During the year ended December 31, 2004, our Base Chemicals segment recorded restructuring charges of $16.7 million related to workforce reductions primarily at our Wilton and North Tees, U.K. facilities. For further discussion of restructuring activities, see "—Restructuring and Plant Closing Costs" below.

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