NOTE 2: DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
In 2005, we sold substantially all the assets of our Chemicals business to Basic Chemicals, a subsidiary of Occidental Chemical Corporation. In addition to the initial cash proceeds, Basic Chemicals was required to make payments under two earn-out agreements subject to certain conditions. During 2007, we received the final payment under the ECU (electrochemical unit) earn-out, bringing cumulative cash receipts to its $150,000,000 cap.
Proceeds under the second earn-out agreement are based on the performance of the hydrochlorocarbon product HCC-240fa (commonly referred to as 5CP) from the closing of the transaction through December 31, 2012 (5CP earn-out). The primary determinant of the value for this earn-out is the level of growth in 5CP sales volume.
During 2013, we received the final payment under the 5CP earn-out of $13,031,000 related to performance during 2012. During 2012 and 2011, we received payments of $11,369,000 and $12,284,000, respectively, under the 5CP earn-out related to the respective years 2011 and 2010. Through December 31, 2013, we have received a total of $79,391,000 under the 5CP earn-out, a total of $46,290,000 in excess of the receivable recorded on the date of disposition.
We were liable for a cash transaction bonus payable annually (2009 – 2013) to certain former key Chemicals employees based on the prior year’s 5CP earn-out results. Payments for the transaction bonus were $1,303,000 in 2013, $1,137,000 in 2012 and $1,228,000 in 2011. We have paid a total of $5,071,000 of these transaction bonuses through December 31, 2013.
The financial results of the Chemicals business are classified as discontinued operations in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for all periods presented. There were no net sales or revenues from discontinued operations for the years presented. Results from discontinued operations are as follows:
|
in thousands |
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||
|
Discontinued Operations |
||||||||
|
Pretax loss |
$ (5,744) |
$ (8,017) |
$ (3,669) |
|||||
|
Gain on disposal, net of transaction bonus |
11,728 | 10,232 | 11,056 | |||||
|
Income tax provision |
(2,358) | (882) | (2,910) | |||||
|
Earnings on discontinued operations, |
||||||||
|
net of income taxes |
$ 3,626 |
$ 1,333 |
$ 4,477 |
The 2013 and 2012 pretax losses from discontinued operations of $5,744,000 and $8,017,000 were due primarily to general and product liability costs, including legal defense costs, and environmental remediation costs associated with our former Chemicals business. The 2011 pretax loss from discontinued operations of $3,669,000 includes a $7,575,000 pretax gain recognized on recovery from an insurer in lawsuits involving perchloroethylene (perc). This gain was offset by general and product liability costs, including legal defense costs, and environmental remediation costs.