1. GENERAL

Definitions

For convenience in this report, the terms “Company,” “our” or “we” may be used to refer to Huntsman Corporation and, unless the context otherwise requires, its subsidiaries and predecessors. In this report, “Huntsman International” refers to Huntsman International LLC (our wholly-owned subsidiary) and, unless the context otherwise requires, its subsidiaries; “AAC” refers to Arabian Amines Company, our consolidated manufacturing joint venture with the Zamil Group; “HPS” refers to Huntsman Polyurethanes Shanghai Ltd. (our consolidated splitting joint venture with Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical Company, Ltd); and “SLIC” refers to Shanghai Liengheng Isocyanate Company (our unconsolidated manufacturing joint venture with BASF and three Chinese chemical companies).

In this report, we may use, without definition, the common names of competitors or other industry participants. We may also use the common names or abbreviations for certain chemicals or products.

Description of Business

We are a global manufacturer of differentiated organic chemical products. We operate in four segments: Polyurethanes, Performance Products, Advanced Materials and Textile Effects. Our products comprise a broad range of chemicals and formulations, which we market globally 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, insulation, medical, packaging, coatings and construction, power generation, refining, synthetic fiber, textile chemicals and dye industries. We are a leading global producer in many of our key product lines, including MDI, amines, maleic anhydride, epoxy-based polymer formulations, textile chemicals and dyes.

Company

Our Company, a Delaware corporation, was formed in 2004 to hold the Huntsman businesses, which were founded by Jon M. Huntsman. Mr. Huntsman founded the predecessor to our Company in 1970 as a small polystyrene plastics packaging company. Since then, we have grown through a series of acquisitions and now own a global portfolio of businesses.

Currently, we operate all of our businesses through Huntsman International, our wholly-owned subsidiary. Huntsman International is a Delaware limited liability company and was formed in 1999.

Recent Developments

COVID-19 Update 

The outbreak of the COVID-19 has spread from China to many other countries, including the U.S. In March 2020, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. As of December 31, 2020, there have not been any significant interruptions in our ability to provide our products and support to our customers. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted economic conditions throughout the U.S. and the world, including the markets in which we operate. Demand for our products declined at a rapid pace in the second quarter 2020, which led to a meaningful adverse impact on our revenues and financial results. Although we have experienced improved conditions in most of our core markets in the second half of 2020, there continues to be many uncertainties regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the scope of scientific and health issues, the anticipated duration of the pandemic and the extent of local, regional and worldwide economic, social and political disruption. Given such uncertainties, it is difficult to estimate the magnitude COVID-19 may impact our future business, but we expect any adverse impact to continue for some time.

In response to the impact of COVID-19, we have implemented, and may continue to implement, cost saving initiatives, including:

For more information regarding our 2020 restructuring activities, see “Note 13. Restructuring, Impairment and Plant Closing Costs (Credits).”

Redemption of the 2021 Senior Notes

On January 15, 2021, we redeemed in full €445 million (approximately $541 million) in aggregate principal amount of our 2021 Senior Notes at the redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date.

Acquisition of Gabriel Performance Products

On January 15, 2021, we completed the acquisition of Gabriel, a North American specialty chemical manufacturer of specialty additives and epoxy curing agents for the coatings, adhesives, sealants and composite end-markets, from funds affiliated with Audax Private Equity in an all-cash transaction of approximately $250 million, subject to customary closing adjustments, funded from available liquidity. The acquired business will be integrated into our Advanced Materials segment.

Sale of Assets at our Basel, Switzerland Site

In November 2020, we entered into a sale and leaseback agreement to sell certain properties in Basel, Switzerland for approximately CHF 67 million (approximately $73 million) and to lease those properties back for five years. This transaction resulted in a pretax gain of approximately CHF 30 million (approximately $33 million). 

Sale of India-Based Do-It-Yourself Consumer Adhesives Business

On November 3, 2020, we completed the sale of the India-based DIY business, previously part of our Advanced Materials segment, to Pidilite Industries Ltd. and received cash of approximately $257 million. Under the terms of the agreement, we may receive up to approximately $28 million of additional cash under an earnout within 18 months if the business achieves certain sales revenue targets in line with the DIY business' 2019 performance. In connection with this sale, we recognized a pretax gain of $247 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, which was recorded in gain on sale of India-based DIY business in our consolidated statements of operations.

Sale of Venator Interest 

On December 23, 2020, we completed the sale of approximately 42.4 million ordinary shares of Venator to funds advised by SK Capital Partners, LP. We received approximately $99 million in cash, which included $8 million for a 30-month option as described below. In addition to the cash proceeds received from the sale, we achieved immediate cash tax savings of approximately $150 million by offsetting the capital loss on the sale of Venator shares against the capital gain realized on the sale of our Chemical Intermediates Businesses. See “Note 4. Discontinued Operations and Business Dispositions—Separation and Deconsolidation of Venator.”

Concurrently with the sale of Venator ordinary shares, we entered into an option agreement, pursuant to which we granted an option to funds advised by SK Capital Partners, LP to purchase the remaining approximate 9.7 million ordinary shares we hold in Venator at $2.15 per share. The option will expire on June 23, 2023 and will not be exercisable so long as such exercise would result in a default or an "Event of Default" under Venator’s Term Loan Credit Agreement and Revolving Credit Agreement. 

In connection with the 2017 initial public offering of Venator, we recorded a receivable of approximately $34 million related to certain income tax benefits that was reduced upon completion of the sale of Venator shares to SK Capital Partners, LP due to a change of control limitation on specific Venator tax attributes. Accordingly, we wrote off approximately $31 million of this receivable upon completion of the sale of the Venator ordinary shares in December 2020.

Other Significant Developments During 2020

Other significant developments that occurred during 2020 were as follows:

Huntsman Corporation and Huntsman International Financial Statements

Except where otherwise indicated, these notes relate to the consolidated financial statements for both our Company and Huntsman International. The differences between our consolidated financial statements and Huntsman International’s consolidated financial statements relate primarily to the following: