VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES [Abstract]

Consolidated Variable Interest Entities ("VIEs")

The Company holds a variable interest in the following joint ventures or entities for which it is the primary beneficiary:

Asia Pacific joint ventures

The Company has variable interests in two joint ventures that own and operate manufacturing and logistics facilities, which produce chemicals and provide services in Asia Pacific. The Company's variable interests in these joint ventures relate to arrangements between the joint ventures and the Company, involving the majority of the output on take-or-pay terms with pricing ensuring a guaranteed return to the joint ventures.

The Company was a 50 percent indirect owner in a propylene oxide ("PO") manufacturing joint venture in Asia Pacific. The Company had a variable interest in this joint venture relating to arrangements between the joint venture and the Company involving the majority of the output on take-or-pay terms, with pricing ensuring a guaranteed return to the joint venture. On April 30, 2019, the Company executed an agreement to acquire full ownership in the PO manufacturing joint venture. The transaction closed on October 1, 2019, for a cash purchase price of $331 million. Approximately half of the purchase price was attributed to the Company’s proportionate equity interest in the entity that owned the PO manufacturing joint venture, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting, and was classified as "Investments in and loans to nonconsolidated affiliates" in the consolidated statements of cash flows. The remaining $166 million was classified as "Purchases of noncontrolling interests" in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Ethylene storage joint venture

The Company has variable interests in a joint venture that provides ethylene storage in Alberta, Canada. The Company's variable interests relate to arrangements involving a majority of the joint venture's storage capacity on take-or-pay terms with pricing ensuring a guaranteed return to the joint venture; and favorably priced leases provided to the joint venture. The Company provides the joint venture with operation and maintenance services and utilities.

Cogeneration in Brazil

The Company holds variable interests in a cogeneration facility in Brazil related to the production of ethanol from sugarcane. The Company's variable interests are the result of a tolling arrangement where it provides fuel to the entity and purchases a majority of the cogeneration facility’s output on terms that ensure a return to the entity’s equity holders.

Assets and Liabilities of Consolidated VIEs

The Company's consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities and results of operations of VIEs for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The other equity holders’ interests are reflected in "Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests" in the consolidated statements of income and "Noncontrolling interests" in the consolidated balance sheets.

The following table summarizes the carrying amounts of these entities’ assets and liabilities included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2019 and 2018:



Assets and Liabilities of Consolidated VIEs at Dec 31
In millions	2019		2018
Cash and cash equivalents	$	37	$	71
Other current assets	51		101
Net property	330		683
Other noncurrent assets	18		14
Total assets ¹	$	436	$	869
Current liabilities	$	141	$	307
Long-term debt	34		75
Other noncurrent obligations	21		14
Total liabilities ²	$	196	$	396


1.	All assets were restricted at December 31, 2019 and 2018.


2.	All liabilities were nonrecourse at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets and the table above as restricted assets or nonrecourse obligations relating to consolidated VIEs at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are adjusted for intercompany eliminations and parental guarantees.

Nonconsolidated VIEs

The Company holds a variable interest in the following entities for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary:

Silicon joint ventures

The Company holds minority voting interests in certain joint ventures that produce silicon inputs for the Company. These joint ventures operate under supply agreements that sell inventory to the equity owners using pricing mechanisms that guarantee a return, therefore shielding the joint ventures from the obligation to absorb expected losses. As a result of the pricing mechanisms of these agreements, these entities are determined to be VIEs. The Company is not the primary beneficiary, as it does not hold the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of these entities; therefore, the entities are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The Company's maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with these variable interest entities is determined to be the carrying value of the investment in these entities. At December 31, 2019, the Company's investment in these joint ventures was $100 million ($100 million at December 31, 2018), classified as "Investment in nonconsolidated affiliates" in the consolidated balance sheets, representing the Company's maximum exposure to loss.

AgroFresh Solutions Inc.

The Company held a variable interest in AgroFresh Solutions Inc. ("AFSI"), a company that produces and sells proprietary technologies for the horticultural market. The variable interest in AFSI related to a tax receivable agreement that entitled the Company to additional consideration in the form of tax savings, which was contingent on the operations and earnings of AFSI. The Company was not the primary beneficiary, as it is a minority shareholder in AFSI and AFSI is governed by a board of directors, the composition of which is mandated by AFSI's corporate governance requirements that a majority of the directors be independent. In December 2019, the Company and AFSI settled the tax receivable agreement and the Company's receivable with AFSI was zero at December 31, 2019 ($8 million at December 31, 2018, classified as "Accounts and notes receivable - Other" in the consolidated balance sheets). The Company continues to be a minority shareholder, but does not have a controlling financial interest in AFSI.