KINGSPORT, Tenn., March 6, 2012- Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) announced it has changed its method of accounting for actuarial gains and losses for its pension and other postretirement benefit (OPEB) plans to a more preferable method as permitted under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The new accounting method, adopted in first quarter 2012, will be retrospectively applied to the company's financial results for all periods. See the adjusted statements of earnings on pages 1-3 in the accompanying Schedules providing for the effect of the accounting change on the statements of earnings for 2011, 2010, and 2009.
Under the newly adopted method of accounting for actuarial gains and losses for its pension and OPEB plans, the company expects its 2012 pension and OPEB costs to be lower than previously anticipated by approximately $75 million, pre-tax, excluding the fourth quarter mark-to-market (MTM) adjustment. These lower costs are expected to result in an increase in the outlook for diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.30 for full-year 2012.
"We believe this accounting change will provide greater transparency that will allow investors to more clearly evaluate the company's operating performance by recognizing actuarial gains and losses in its operating results in the year in which the gains and losses occur, rather than amortizing them over future periods," said Curt Espeland, senior vice president and chief financial officer. "Importantly, this accounting change has no impact on benefits received by participants of the pension and OPEB plans or on pension plan funding obligations or decisions."
Historically, Eastman has recognized pension and OPEB actuarial gains and losses annually in its Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income and Loss as a component of Stockholders' Equity, and then amortized these gains and losses each quarter in its Statements of Earnings. The expected return on assets component of Eastman's pension expense has historically been calculated using a five-year smoothing of asset gains and losses, and the gain or loss component of pension and OPEB expense has historically been based on amortization of actuarial gains and losses that exceed 10 percent of the greater of plan assets or projected benefit obligations over the average future service period of active employees.
Under the new method of accounting, Eastman's pension and OPEB costs consist of two elements: 1) ongoing costs recognized quarterly, which are comprised of service and interest costs, expected returns on plan assets, and amortization of prior service credits; and 2) MTM gains and losses recognized annually, in the fourth quarter of each year, resulting from changes in actuarial assumptions and the differences between actual and expected returns on plan assets and discount rates. Any interim remeasurements triggered by a curtailment, settlement, or significant plan changes will be recognized as an MTM adjustment in the quarter in which such remeasurement event occurs.
As a result of the retrospective application of this change, Eastman's diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2011 decreased from $4.59 to $4.24. Excluding the fourth-quarter MTM adjustment and asset impairment gains and charges, net, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for 2011 would have increased from $4.56 to $4.81 for 2011. For reconciliation to reported company and segment earnings for 2011, 2010, and 2009, see pages 4-11 in the accompanying Schedules.
Eastman management believes that this change in accounting will improve transparency of reporting of its operating results by recognizing the effects of economic and interest rate trends on pension and OPEB plan investments and assumptions in the year these actuarial gains and losses are incurred. These gains and losses will be measured annually at the plans' December 31 measurement date and recorded as an MTM adjustment in the fourth quarter of each year. This methodology is preferable under GAAP since it aligns more closely with fair value principles and does not delay the recognition of gains and losses into future periods.
Eastman's operating segment results follow internal management reporting, which is used for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Historically, total pension and OPEB costs have been allocated to each segment. In conjunction with the change in accounting principle, the service cost, which represents the benefits earned by active employees during the period, and amortization of prior service credits will continue to be allocated to each segment. Interest costs, expected return on assets, and the MTM adjustment for actuarial gains and losses will be included in corporate expense and not allocated to segments. Management believes this change in expense allocation will better reflect the operating results of each business. See the accompanying Schedules for adjusted segment earnings providing for the effect of the accounting change on reported segment earnings on pages 4-6 and page 11 for 2011, 2010, and 2009.
In connection with the above change in accounting for pension and OPEB costs, management has also elected to change its method of accounting for certain related costs included in inventory. Management has elected, effective in first quarter 2012, to exclude the portion of pension and OPEB costs attributable to former employees (inactives) as a component of inventoriable costs and instead charge them directly to the cost of sales line item as a period cost. Applying this change in inventory retrospectively did not have a material impact on previously reported inventory, cost of sales, or financial results in any prior period and, as such, prior period results have not been retrospectively adjusted for this change in accounting for certain related costs included in inventory.
Eastman's chemicals, fibers and plastics are used as key ingredients in products that people use every day. Approximately 10,000 Eastman employees around the world blend technical expertise and innovation to deliver practical solutions. The company is committed to finding sustainable business opportunities within the diverse markets and geographies it serves. A global company headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA, Eastman had 2011 sales of $7.2 billion. For more information, visit www.eastman.com.
Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements concerning current expectations for 2012 pension and OPEB costs and the impact of such costs on 2012 earnings per share. Such expectations are based upon certain preliminary information, internal estimates, and management assumptions, expectations, and plans, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties inherent in projecting future conditions, events, and results. Actual results could differ materially from expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements if one or more of the underlying assumptions or expectations prove to be inaccurate or are unrealized. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such expectations are and will be detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Form 10-K filed for 2011 and available on the Eastman web site at www.eastman.com in the Investors, SEC filings section.
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Eastman Contacts:
Media: Tracy Broadwater
423-224-0498 / tkbroadwater@eastman.com
Investors: Greg Riddle
212-835-1620 / griddle@eastman.com