OREANDA-NEWS. February 01, 2016. Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) today announced earnings, excluding non-core items, of \\$1.59 per diluted share for fourth quarter 2015 versus \\$1.64 per diluted share for fourth quarter 2014. Reported earnings were \\$0.83 per diluted share in fourth quarter 2015 versus \\$0.11 per diluted share in fourth quarter 2014. For detail of the excluded items and reconciliation to reported company and segment earnings, see Tables 3A and 4.

“We delivered our sixth consecutive year of solid earnings growth and record cash from operations in 2015,” said Mark Costa, chairman and CEO. “These results reflect the strength and robustness of our strategy to transform towards a specialty portfolio as we managed through a very challenging global business environment. We benefitted from volume growth in specialty businesses, mix upgrade in Advanced Materials from growth of high value, innovative products, accretion from high quality specialty acquisitions, and continued disciplined cost management.” See “Outlook” for the items excluded from annual earnings comparisons.

(in millions, except per share amounts)

4Q15

4Q14

FY15

FY14

Sales revenue

\\$2,225

\\$2,349

\\$9,648

\\$9,527

Earnings per diluted share

\\$0.83

\\$0.11

\\$5.66

\\$4.95

Earnings per diluted share excluding non-core items*

\\$1.59

\\$1.64

\\$7.28

\\$7.07

Net cash provided by operating activities    

\\$562

\\$460

\\$1,612

\\$1,408

 *For reconciliation to reported company and segment earnings, see Tables 3A and 4.

Corporate Results 4Q 2015 versus 4Q 2014
Sales revenue for fourth quarter 2015 was \\$2.2 billion versus \\$2.3 billion for fourth quarter 2014, primarily due to lower selling prices more than offsetting sales revenue from the Taminco Corporation and Commonwealth Laminating & Coating, Inc. businesses acquired in December 2014. Excluding non-core items, fourth-quarter 2015 operating earnings were \\$343 million compared with \\$362 million for fourth quarter 2014 as earnings from the acquired businesses and increased Advanced Materials sales volume were more than offset by propane hedges and lower acetate tow sales volume. Reported fourth-quarter 2015 operating earnings were \\$172 million compared with \\$27 million for fourth quarter 2014. Fourth-quarter 2015 and 2014 non-core items included losses from annual mark-to-market of pension and other post-retirement benefit plans, and fourth quarter 2015 non-core items included restructuring severance costs.


Segment Results 4Q 2015 versus 4Q 2014

Additives & Functional Products – Sales revenue increased primarily due to sales of products of the acquired Taminco specialty amines and crop protection businesses. These revenues were partially offset by lower coatings and other formulated products selling prices, primarily due to lower raw material and energy costs. Excluding non-core items in fourth quarter 2014, operating earnings decreased to \\$97 million for fourth quarter 2015 compared with \\$99 million for fourth quarter 2014 as earnings from the acquired businesses were more than offset by propane hedges.

Adhesives & Plasticizers – Sales revenue decreased primarily due to lower selling prices. Lower plasticizers selling prices were primarily in response to lower raw material and energy costs and continued competitive pressure resulting from weak demand in Asia Pacific. Operating earnings increased to \\$49 million for fourth quarter 2015 compared with \\$41 million for fourth quarter 2014 primarily due to lower raw material and energy costs exceeding lower selling prices.

Advanced Materials – Sales revenue increased primarily due to increased sales volume and sales of products of the acquired Commonwealth performance films business. These revenues were partially offset by lower selling prices primarily for copolyesters due to lower raw material and energy costs. Excluding non-core items in fourth quarter 2014, operating earnings increased to \\$83 million for fourth quarter 2015 compared with \\$62 million for fourth quarter 2014 primarily due to higher sales volume and earnings from the acquired business.

Fibers – Sales revenue decreased primarily due to lower acetate tow sales volume, especially in China. Excluding non-core items in fourth quarter 2015, operating earnings decreased to \\$107 million for fourth quarter 2015 compared with \\$122 million for fourth quarter 2014 primarily due to lower acetate tow sales volume.

Specialty Fluids & Intermediates – Sales revenue decreased primarily due to lower selling prices and lower chemical and other intermediates sales volume more than offsetting sales of products of the acquired Taminco functional amines business. The lower selling prices were primarily in response to lower raw material and energy costs. Excluding non-core items in fourth quarter 2014, operating earnings decreased to \\$20 million for fourth quarter 2015 compared to \\$49 million for fourth quarter 2014 as propane hedges and lower selling prices more than offset lower raw material and energy costs and earnings from the acquired business.


Corporate Results 2015 versus 2014
Sales revenue was \\$9.6 billion, a 1 percent increase compared with 2014 due to sales of products of acquired businesses partially offset by lower selling prices, particularly in the Specialty Fluids & Intermediates segment. Excluding the non-core items described in Tables 3A and 4, operating earnings for 2015 were \\$1.7 billion, a 6 percent increase compared with 2014 primarily due to earnings of the acquired businesses and lower raw material and energy costs exceeding lower selling prices. Reported 2015 operating earnings were \\$1.4 billion compared with \\$1.2 billion for 2014.


Segment Results 2015 versus 2014

Additives & Functional Products – Sales revenue increased primarily due to sales of products of the acquired Taminco specialty amines and crop protection businesses. These revenues were partially offset by lower coatings and other formulated products selling prices, primarily due to lower raw material and energy costs and an unfavorable shift in foreign currency exchange rates. Excluding non-core items in 2014, operating earnings increased to \\$462 million for 2015 compared with \\$398 million for 2014 primarily due to earnings from acquired businesses and lower raw material and energy costs exceeding lower selling prices, partially offset by propane hedges.

Adhesives & Plasticizers – Sales revenue decreased primarily due to lower plasticizers selling prices and an unfavorable shift in foreign currency exchange rates. Lower plasticizers selling prices were primarily in response to lower raw material and energy costs and continued competitive pressure. Operating earnings increased to \\$239 million for 2015 compared with \\$196 million for 2014 primarily due to lower raw material and energy costs exceeding lower selling prices, partially offset by propane hedges and an unfavorable shift in foreign currency exchange rates.

Advanced Materials – Sales revenue increased due to increased sales volume and sales of products of the acquired Commonwealth performance films business, partially offset by an unfavorable shift in foreign currency exchange rates and lower selling prices, primarily for copolyesters due to lower raw material and energy costs. Excluding non-core items, operating earnings increased to \\$409 million for 2015 compared with \\$293 million for 2014 primarily due to higher sales volume and improved product mix, earnings from the acquired business, and lower raw material and energy costs exceeding lower selling prices, partially offset by an unfavorable shift in foreign currency exchange rates.

Fibers – Sales revenue decreased primarily due to lower acetate tow sales volume attributed to customer inventory destocking, especially in China, and lower acetyl chemicals sales volume due to decreased sales to the cellulose acetate flake joint venture in Kingsport. Excluding non-core items for 2015, operating earnings decreased to \\$390 million for 2015 compared with \\$474 million for 2014 primarily due to lower acetate tow and acetyl chemicals sales volume.

Specialty Fluids & Intermediates – Sales revenue decreased primarily due to lower selling prices and lower chemical and other intermediates sales volume more than offsetting sales of products of the acquired Taminco functional amines and aviation turbine oil businesses. The lower selling prices were primarily in response to lower raw material and energy costs. Excluding non-core items in 2014, operating earnings decreased to \\$253 million for 2015 compared to \\$305 million for 2014 primarily due to propane hedges more than offsetting earnings from the acquired businesses.


Provision for Income Taxes
Excluding the tax impact of non-core items, the fourth-quarter 2015 effective tax rate was 17 percent. The fourth quarter 2015 tax rate included benefit from the extension in December 2015 of favorable U.S. federal tax provisions. Excluding the tax impact of non-core items, the full-year 2015 effective tax rate was 25 percent compared to 26 percent for full year 2014.


Cash Flow
Cash from operating activities was \\$1.6 billion in 2015. Free cash flow (defined as cash from operating activities minus capital expenditures) was a record \\$960 million in 2015. During 2015 the company reduced net debt (defined as total borrowings less cash and cash equivalents) by \\$589 million, contributed \\$125 million to its U.S. defined benefit pension plans, and repurchased \\$103 million of shares.


Outlook
Commenting on the outlook for full year 2016, Costa said: “We enter 2016 well positioned to benefit from our strong portfolio of specialty businesses which leverage world-class technology platforms to deliver solid growth in attractive end markets and accelerated earnings growth from our high value, innovative specialty products. However, we face increasing challenges including stagnant global economic growth, the collapse in the price of oil, and weakening currencies in Asia and Europe. In this environment, we are taking decisive actions to accelerate our innovation and market development activities and significantly increase our cost reduction efforts. Given current business conditions, we are driving hard to deliver 2016 earnings per share that approach 2015 earnings per share.” Non-core and any non-recurring items are excluded from the earnings per share projection.

The earnings for 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009 referenced in the second paragraph of this release are non-GAAP and exclude the non-core items detailed, with reconciliation to GAAP earnings, in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011.