LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 7    LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

We, or certain of our subsidiaries, are involved, in the normal course of business, in lawsuits, environmental and other claims and other contingencies that seek, among other things, compensation for alleged personal injury, breach of contract, property damage or other losses, punitive damages, civil penalties, or injunctive or declaratory relief. We accrue reserves for currently outstanding lawsuits, claims and proceedings when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the liability can be reasonably estimated. Reserve balances at December 31, 2014 and 2013 were not material to our balance sheets as of such dates.  We also evaluate the amount of reasonably possible losses that we could incur as a result of these matters. We believe that reasonably possible losses that we could incur in excess of reserves accrued on our balance sheet would not be material to our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

We have certain commitments under contracts, including purchase commitments for goods and services. At December 31, 2014, total purchase obligations were approximately $364 million, which included approximately $70 million, $47 million, $32 million, $186 million and $18 million that will be paid in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.  Included in the purchase obligations are commitments for major fixed and determinable capital investments during 2015 and thereafter, which were approximately $264 million.

We, our subsidiaries, or both, have indemnified various parties against specific liabilities those parties might incur in the future in connection with the Spin-off, purchases and other transactions that they have entered into with us.  These indemnities include indemnities made to Occidental against certain tax-related liabilities that may be incurred by Occidental relating to the Spin-off and liabilities related to operation of our business while it was still owned by Occidental.  As of December 31, 2014, we are not aware of circumstances that we believe would reasonably be expected to lead to indemnity claims that would result in payments materially in excess of reserves.