OLIN Corp: Form 10-Q for the period ended Jun 30, 2024

BUSINESS BACKGROUND

Olin Corporation (Olin) is a Virginia corporation, incorporated in 1892, having its principal executive offices in Clayton, MO. We are a leading vertically integrated global manufacturer and distributor of chemical products and a leading U.S. manufacturer of ammunition. Our operations are concentrated in three business segments: Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls, Epoxy and Winchester. All of our business segments are capital-intensive manufacturing businesses. The Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls segment manufactures and sells chlorine and caustic soda, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride monomer, methyl chloride, methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, perchloroethylene, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, bleach products and potassium hydroxide. The Epoxy segment produces and sells a full range of epoxy materials and precursors, including aromatics (acetone and phenol), allyl chloride, epichlorohydrin, liquid epoxy resins, solid epoxy resins and systems and growth products such as converted epoxy resins and additives. The Winchester segment produces and sells sporting ammunition, reloading components, small caliber military ammunition and components, industrial cartridges and clay targets.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Overview

Net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 was $74.2 million and $122.8 million, respectively, compared to $146.9 million and $303.2 million, for the prior year periods, respectively. The decrease of $72.7 million and $180.4 million, respectively, in net income from the prior year periods was primarily due to a decline in operating results across our chemicals business segments, partially offset by improved operating results from our Winchester segment. Net income for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 also reflects a gain of $27.0 million for the sale of our domestic private trucking fleet and operations. Diluted net income per share was $0.62 and $1.01 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, compared to $1.13 and $2.29 in the prior year periods, respectively, a decrease of $0.51 and $1.28 per share, or 45% and 56%, respectively.

Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls reported segment income was $99.3 million and $175.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively. Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls segment results were lower than the comparable prior year periods due to lower caustic soda pricing, partially offset by lower costs associated with product purchased from other parties and lower raw material and operating costs.

Epoxy reported a segment loss of $3.0 million and $14.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively. Epoxy segment results were lower than the comparable prior year periods primarily due to lower product pricing, partially offset by increased volumes.

Winchester reported segment income of $70.3 million and $142.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively. Winchester segment results were higher than the comparable prior year periods due to higher sales volumes, which included White Flyer results, partially offset by lower product pricing.

Liquidity and Share Repurchases

During the six months ended June 30, 2024, we repurchased and retired 3.9 million shares of common stock at a total value of $211.4 million. As of June 30, 2024, we had $787.0 million of remaining authorized common stock to be repurchased under our 2022 Repurchase Authorization Program.

During the six months ended June 30, 2024, we had net borrowings of $238.9 million with $343.0 million borrowed under our Senior Revolving Credit Facility, which was utilized to repay $70.0 million of tax-exempt variable-rate bonds and $29.7 million under our Receivables Financing Agreement.

Other Items

On July 10, 2024, we announced a temporary disruption of operations at our Freeport, TX, facility as a result of Hurricane Beryl. In response to this disruption, we declared a system-wide Force Majeure for our Chlor Alkali Products & Vinyls products and aromatics shipments for our Epoxy segment. This disruption is a result of hurricane-related damage to Olin facilities in Freeport, TX, impacting Olin’s normal production and logistics capabilities including access to power, raw materials, and other essential feedstocks and services. During July 2024, we safely returned many Freeport, TX plants to operation. Wind damage to ancillary equipment has prevented some assets from returning to operation. Once this critical equipment is restored, those remaining assets, including our vinyl chloride monomer and phenol/acetone plants, will be restarted. We expect our third quarter 2024 Chemical businesses’ results to be reduced by approximately $100 million due to incremental costs to restore operations, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs, and reduced profit from lost sales.

Epoxy segment results in 2024 continue to be impacted by significant exports out of Asia into the European and North American markets, negatively impacting pricing and volumes. On April 3, 2024, we announced the filing of anti-dumping and countervailing duty petitions against China, India, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission relating to certain epoxy resins, as part of the U.S. Epoxy Resin Producers Ad Hoc Coalition. The petitions were filed in response to large volumes of low-priced imports of epoxy resins into the U.S. from the subject countries over the past three years that have injured U.S. domestic epoxy resin producers.

On July 1, 2024, we announced the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding by the European Commission against China, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Thailand concerning low-priced imports of epoxy resins into the European Union (EU), as a result of a complaint lodged by the Ad Hoc Coalition of Epoxy Resin Producers. The complaint alleges that exporting producers in the four targeted countries have injured the European epoxy resin producers by selling their products on the EU market at unfairly low prices that significantly undercut the prices of European producers.

During 2024, the U.S. Army awarded Winchester a contract for the construction of the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) manufacturing facility at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. The project will be the first new manufacturing plant built at the Lake City facility in decades. The new manufacturing facility will provide safe, reliable, and advanced NGSW ammunition to the U.S. warfighter. Winchester will manage all aspects of the government-funded construction project, which commenced in the second quarter of 2024.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

($ in millions, except per share data)

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

Sales for the three months ended June 30, 2024 were $1,644.0 million compared to $1,702.7 million in the same period last year, a decrease of $58.7 million, or 3%. Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls sales decreased by $82.0 million primarily due to lower caustic soda pricing, partially offset by increased volumes which were primarily associated with products purchased from other parties. Epoxy sales decreased by $16.1 million, primarily due to lower product pricing, partially offset by increased sales volumes. Winchester sales increased by $39.4 million, primarily due to second quarter 2024 sales from White Flyer and increased sales to international military customers.

Gross margin decreased $72.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the prior year. Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls gross margin decreased by $77.8 million primarily due to lower caustic soda pricing. Epoxy gross margin decreased by $4.4 million primarily due to lower product pricing, partially offset by increased volumes. Winchester gross margin increased by $2.9 million primarily due to higher sales volumes, including White Flyer, partially offset by lower product pricing. Gross margin as a percentage of sales decreased to 14% in 2024 from 18% in 2023, across all segments.

Selling and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2024 were $94.6 million, a decrease of $6.6 million from the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to lower stock-based compensation expense of $6.7 million, which includes mark-to-market adjustments. Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales was 6% for both the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

Restructuring charges for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 were $6.8 million and $19.2 million, respectively. The decrease in charges was primarily due to a decline in charges associated with our 2023 actions to reconfigure our global Epoxy asset footprint to optimize the most productive and cost effective assets to support our strategic operating model, which resulted in pretax restructuring charges of $5.8 million and $13.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Other operating income for the three months ended June 30, 2023 included a gain of $27.0 million for the sale of our domestic private trucking fleet and operations.

Interest expense increased by $1.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 from the prior year, primarily due to higher average interest rates.

Non-operating pension income includes all components of pension and other postretirement net periodic benefit (income) cost, other than service costs. Non-operating pension income was higher for the three months ended June 30, 2024 primarily due to a decrease in the discount rate used to determine interest costs, partially offset by higher actuarial losses recognized to income.

The effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2024 included a net $0.6 million tax benefit, primarily associated with stock-based compensation and U.S. Federal tax credits purchased at a discount, partially offset by an expense from prior year tax positions and a change in tax contingencies. Excluding these items, the effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2024 of 25.8% was higher than the 21.0% U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to state income tax and foreign income inclusions, partially offset by favorable permanent salt depletion deductions. The effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2023 included a net $12.0 million tax benefit, primarily associated with stock-based compensation and prior year tax positions, partially offset by an expense from a net increase in the valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets in foreign jurisdictions and from a change in tax contingencies. Excluding these items, the effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2023 of 25.4% was higher than the 21.0% U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to state income tax and an increase in the valuation allowance related to losses in foreign jurisdictions, partially offset by favorable permanent salt depletion deductions.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

Sales for the six months ended June 30, 2024 were $3,279.3 million compared to $3,547.0 million in the same period last year, a decrease of $267.7 million, or 8%. Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls sales decreased by $314.5 million primarily due to lower caustic soda pricing, partially offset by increased sales volumes associated with product purchased from other parties. Epoxy sales decreased by $35.5 million, primarily due to lower product pricing, partially offset by increased sales volumes. Winchester sales increased by $82.3 million, primarily due to 2024 sales from White Flyer, higher commercial ammunition sales volumes, and increased sales to international military customers.

Gross margin decreased $267.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the prior year. Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls gross margin decreased by $243.2 million primarily due to lower caustic soda pricing, partially offset by lower costs. Epoxy gross margin decreased by $39.9 million primarily due to lower product pricing, partially offset by increased volumes. Winchester gross margin increased by $11.0 million primarily due to higher sales volume, including White Flyer, partially offset by lower product pricing. Gross margin as a percentage of sales decreased to 14% in 2024 from 20% in 2023, across all segments.

Selling and administration expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2024 were $196.5 million, a decrease of $16.5 million from the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to lower stock-based compensation expense of $4.9 million, which includes mark-to-market adjustments, lower costs of $4.8 million associated with consulting and contract services and a favorable foreign currency impact of $3.8 million. Selling and administration expenses as a percentage of sales was 6% for both the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

Restructuring charges for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 were $15.1 million and $80.1 million, respectively. The decrease in charges was primarily due to a decline in charges associated with our 2023 actions to reconfigure our global Epoxy asset footprint to optimize the most productive and cost effective assets to support our strategic operating model, which resulted in pretax restructuring charges of $9.3 million and $71.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Other operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2023 included a gain of $27.0 million for the sale of our domestic private trucking fleet and operations.

Interest expense increased by $3.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 from the prior year primarily due to higher average interest rates.

Non-operating pension income includes all components of pension and other postretirement net periodic benefit (income) cost, other than service costs. Non-operating pension income was higher for the six months ended June 30, 2024 primarily due to a decrease in the discount rate used to determine interest costs, partially offset by higher actuarial losses recognized to income.

The effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2024 included a net $3.3 million tax benefit, primarily associated with stock-based compensation and U.S. Federal tax credits purchased at a discount, partially offset by an expense from prior year tax positions and a change in tax contingencies. Excluding these items, the effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2024 of 25.6% was higher than the 21.0% U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to state income tax and foreign income inclusions, partially offset by favorable permanent salt depletion deductions. The effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2023 included a net $17.2 million tax benefit, primarily associated with stock-based compensation, remeasurement of deferred taxes due to a decrease in our state effective tax rates, and prior year tax positions, partially offset by an expense from a net increase in the valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets in foreign jurisdictions and from a change in tax contingencies. Excluding these items, the effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2023 of 24.5% was higher than the 21.0% U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to state income tax and an increase in the valuation allowance related to losses in foreign jurisdictions, partially offset by favorable permanent salt depletion deductions.

SEGMENT RESULTS

We define segment results as income (loss) before interest expense, interest income, other operating income (expense), non-operating pension income, other income and income taxes. We have three operating segments: Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls, Epoxy and Winchester. The three operating segments reflect the organization used by our management for purposes of allocating resources and assessing performance. Chlorine and caustic soda used in our Epoxy segment is transferred at cost from the Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls segment.

($ in millions)

Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls sales for the three months ended June 30, 2024 were $920.3 million compared to $1,002.3 million for the same period in 2023, a decrease of $82.0 million, or 8%. The sales decrease was primarily due to lower caustic soda pricing, partially offset by increased volumes which were primarily associated with products purchased from other parties.

Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls segment income was $99.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $180.1 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in segment results of $80.8 million was primarily due to lower caustic soda pricing ($243.4 million), partially offset by lower raw material and operating costs ($85.7 million), lower costs associated with product purchased from other parties ($40.5 million) and increased volumes ($36.4 million). Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls second quarter 2023 segment results were negatively impacted by the maintenance turnaround and subsequent operating issues with the vinyl chloride monomer plant at the Freeport, TX facility, resulting in higher costs and reduced profit from lost sales. Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls segment results included depreciation and amortization expense of $105.8 million and $113.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls sales for the six months ended June 30, 2024 were $1,804.9 million compared to $2,119.4 million for the same period in 2023, a decrease of $314.5 million, or 15%. The sales decrease was primarily due to lower caustic soda pricing, partially offset by increased sales volumes associated with products purchased from other parties.

Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls segment income was $175.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $426.0 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in segment results of $250.1 million was primarily due to lower caustic soda pricing ($396.6 million), and an unfavorable product mix ($82.7 million), partially offset by lower costs associated with products purchased from other parties ($117.7 million) and lower raw material and operating costs ($111.5 million). Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls second quarter 2023 segment results were negatively impacted by the maintenance turnaround and subsequent operating issues with the vinyl chloride monomer plant at the Freeport, TX facility, resulting in higher costs and reduced profit from lost sales. Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls segment results included depreciation and amortization expense of $212.6 million and $227.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Epoxy

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

Epoxy sales for the three months ended June 30, 2024 were $317.7 million compared to $333.8 million for the same period in 2023, a decrease of $16.1 million, or 5%. The sales decrease was primarily due to lower product prices ($35.5 million) and an unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation ($1.9 million), partially offset by increased sales volumes ($21.3 million).

Epoxy segment loss was $3.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to segment loss of $0.5 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in segment results of $2.5 million was primarily due to lower product prices ($35.5 million), which continue to be impacted by significant exports out of Asia into Europe and North America markets, partially offset by increased volumes and improved product mix ($25.1 million) and lower raw material and operating costs ($7.9 million). A significant percentage of our Euro denominated sales are of products manufactured within Europe. As a result, the impact of foreign currency translation on revenue is primarily offset by the impact of foreign currency translation on raw materials and manufacturing costs also denominated in Euros. Epoxy segment results included depreciation and amortization expense of $13.4 million and $15.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

Epoxy sales for the six months ended June 30, 2024 were $659.0 million compared to $694.5 million for the same period in 2023, a decrease of $35.5 million, or 5%. The sales decrease was primarily due to lower product prices ($133.6 million) and an unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation ($2.4 million), partially offset by increased sales volumes ($100.5 million).

Epoxy segment loss was $14.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to segment income of $20.9 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in segment results of $35.7 million was primarily due to lower product prices ($133.6 million), which continues to be impacted by significant exports out of Asia into the European and North American markets, partially offset by increased volumes and improved product mix ($83.5 million) and lower raw material and operating costs ($14.4 million). A significant percentage of our Euro denominated sales are of products manufactured within Europe. As a result, the impact of foreign currency translation on revenue is primarily offset by the impact of foreign currency translation on raw materials and manufacturing costs also denominated in Euros. Epoxy segment results included depreciation and amortization expense of $26.9 million and $29.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Winchester

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

Winchester sales were $406.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $366.6 million for the same period in 2023, an increase of $39.4 million, or 11%. The increase was due to higher sales to commercial customers ($22.6 million), higher sales to domestic and international military customers ($20.5 million), partially offset by lower sales to law enforcement agencies ($3.7 million). Commercial sales were primarily impacted by 2024 sales from White Flyer, partially offset by lower ammunition volumes. The increase in sales to military customers was due to international military sales more than doubling in 2024 compared to 2023.

Winchester segment income was $70.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $64.7 million for the same period in 2023, an increase of $5.6 million. The increase in segment results was due to higher sales volumes ($11.7 million), which includes White Flyer, partially offset by higher commodity and operating costs ($3.6 million) and lower product pricing ($2.5 million). Winchester segment income included depreciation and amortization expense of $8.3 million and $6.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

Winchester sales were $815.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $733.1 million for the same period in 2023, an increase of $82.3 million, or 11%. The increase was due to higher sales to commercial customers ($64.9 million), higher sales to domestic and international military customers ($26.6 million), partially offset by lower sales to law enforcement agencies ($9.2 million). Commercial sales were primarily impacted by 2024 sales from White Flyer and increased ammunition volumes. The increase in sales to military customers was primarily due to international military sales increasing 165% compared to 2023.

Winchester segment income was $142.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $125.7 million for the same period in 2023, an increase of $16.8 million. The increase in segment results was due to higher sales volumes ($23.0 million), which includes White Flyer, and lower commodity and operating costs ($0.4 million), partially offset by lower product pricing ($6.6 million). Winchester segment income included depreciation and amortization expense of $16.2 million and $12.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Corporate/Other

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

For the three months ended June 30, 2024, charges to income for environmental investigatory and remedial activities were $6.4 million compared to $13.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. These charges related primarily to expected future investigatory and remedial activities associated with past manufacturing operations and former waste disposal sites.

For the three months ended June 30, 2024, other corporate and unallocated costs were $17.0 million compared to $22.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, a decrease of $5.4 million. The decrease was primarily due to lower variable incentive compensation costs ($2.1 million), which includes mark-to-market adjustments on stock-based compensation expense, lower legal and legal-related settlement expenses ($1.3 million) and a favorable foreign currency impact ($1.3 million).

Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, charges to income for environmental investigatory and remedial activities were $12.2 million compared to $16.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. These charges related primarily to expected future investigatory and remedial activities associated with past manufacturing operations and former waste disposal sites.

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, other corporate and unallocated costs were $42.8 million compared to $56.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, a decrease of $13.9 million. The decrease was primarily due to lower variable incentive compensation costs ($6.6 million), which includes mark-to-market adjustments on stock-based compensation expense, a favorable foreign currency impact ($3.8 million) and lower legal and legal-related settlement expenses ($2.1 million).

Restructurings

In connection with the previously announced Epoxy Optimization Plan, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, we recorded restructuring charges of $5.8 million and $13.3 million, respectively, and for the six month ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, we recorded restructuring charges of $9.3 million and $71.1 million, respectively. We expect to incur additional restructuring charges through 2025 of approximately $15 million related to these actions.

For the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, we incurred charges of $1.0 million and $5.9 million, respectively, and for the six month ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, we incurred charges of $5.8 million and $9.0 million, respectively, associated with other previously disclosed restructuring plans. We expect to incur additional restructuring charges through 2027 of approximately $40 million related to these actions. Discussion on our restructuring activity, including a description of each plan, is referenced under Item 1, within Note 4, “Restructuring Charges.” Pretax restructuring charges related to our actions include facility exit costs, lease and other contract termination costs, employee severance and related benefits costs and the write-off of equipment and facilities.

OUTLOOK

In the second quarter 2024, we saw sequential improvement in our Chemical businesses. As a result of the temporary disruption of operations at our Freeport, TX, facility from Hurricane Beryl, we expect our third quarter 2024 Chemical businesses’ results to be reduced by approximately $100 million due to incremental costs to restore operations, unabsorbed fixed manufacturing costs, and reduced profit from lost sales. Before considering the effects of Hurricane Beryl, we had anticipated our Chemical businesses’ third quarter 2024 results to be comparable to second quarter 2024.

In the second quarter 2024, our Winchester business achieved significant military growth, offset by lower commercial ammunition volumes and increased costs. We expect our Winchester business third quarter results to improve from second quarter levels with seasonally stronger commercial ammunition demand and continued military growth.

Other corporate and unallocated costs in 2024 are expected to be comparable with the $106.3 million in 2023.

During 2024, we anticipate environmental expenses in the $25 million to $35 million range, compared to $23.7 million in 2023.

We expect non-operating pension income in 2024 to be similar to the $24.0 million in 2023. Based on our plan assumptions and estimates, we will not be required to make any cash contributions to our domestic qualified defined benefit pension plan in 2024. We have several international qualified defined benefit pension plans for which we anticipate cash contributions of less than $5 million in 2024.

In 2024, we currently expect our capital spending to be in the $225 million range, including $10 million of additional capital associated with Hurricane Beryl, and we expect to make payments under other long-term supply contracts of approximately $50 million for energy modernization on the U.S. Gulf Coast. We expect 2024 depreciation and amortization expense to be in the $500 million to $525 million range.

We currently believe the 2024 effective tax rate will be in the 25% to 30% range and our cash tax rate to be in the 30% range.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

Environmental provisions charged to income, which are included in costs of goods sold, were $6.4 million and $13.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and were $12.2 million and $16.2 million for the six month ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The following table summarizes the environmental liability activity:

($ in millions)

Environmental investigatory and remediation activities spending was associated with former waste disposal sites and past manufacturing operations. Spending in 2024 for investigatory and remedial efforts, the timing of which is subject to regulatory approvals and other uncertainties, is estimated to be approximately $30 million. Cash outlays for remedial and investigatory activities associated with former waste disposal sites and past manufacturing operations were not charged to income, but instead, were charged to reserves established for such costs identified and expensed to income in prior periods. Associated costs of investigatory and remedial activities are provided for in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles governing probability and the ability to reasonably estimate future costs. Our ability to estimate future costs depends on whether our investigatory and remedial activities are in preliminary or advanced stages. With respect to unasserted claims, we accrue liabilities for costs that, in our experience, we expect to incur to protect our interests against those unasserted claims. Our accrued liabilities for unasserted claims amounted to $11.7 million at June 30, 2024. With respect to asserted claims, we accrue liabilities based on remedial investigation, feasibility study, remedial action and operation, maintenance and monitoring (OM&M) expenses that, in our experience, we expect to incur in connection with the asserted claims. Required site OM&M expenses are estimated and accrued in their entirety for required periods not exceeding 30 years, which reasonably approximates the typical duration of long-term site OM&M. Charges to income for investigatory and remedial efforts may be material to our operating results in 2024.

The condensed balance sheets included reserves for future environmental expenditures to investigate and remediate known sites amounting to $155.3 million, $153.6 million and $151.8 million at June 30, 2024, December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023, respectively, of which $123.3 million, $121.6 million and $126.8 million, respectively, were classified as other noncurrent liabilities. These amounts do not take into account any discounting of future expenditures or any consideration of insurance recoveries or advances in technology. These liabilities are reassessed periodically to determine if environmental circumstances have changed and/or remediation efforts and our estimate of related costs have changed. As a result of these reassessments, future charges to income may be made for additional liabilities.

Environmental exposures are difficult to assess for numerous reasons, including the identification of new sites, developments at sites resulting from investigatory studies, advances in technology, changes in environmental laws and regulations and their application, changes in regulatory authorities, the scarcity of reliable data pertaining to identified sites, the difficulty in assessing the involvement and financial capability of other Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs), our ability to obtain contributions from other parties and the lengthy time periods over which site remediation occurs. It is possible that some of these matters (the outcomes of which are subject to various uncertainties) may be resolved unfavorably to us, which could materially adversely affect our financial position or results of operations.

LEGAL MATTERS AND CONTINGENCIES

Discussion of legal matters and contingencies can be referred to under Item 1, within Note 18, “Commitments and Contingencies.”

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash Flow Data

($ in millions)

Operating Activities

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, cash provided by operating activities decreased by $171.4 million from the six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily due to a decrease in operating results, partially offset by a smaller increase in working capital compared with the prior year. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, working capital increased $166.3 million compared to an increase of $213.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. Inventories increased by $19.3 million from December 31, 2023, which reflects normal seasonal growth, partially offset by inventory reduction efforts over the last year. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities decreased $63.8 million from December 31, 2023, primarily as a result of timing of payments during the first half of 2024.

Investing Activities

Capital spending was $100.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $128.8 million for the comparable period in 2023. Our capital spending forecast represents normal capital spending to maintain our current operating facilities. For the full year 2024, we expect our capital spending to be in the $225 million range, including $10 million of additional capital associated with Hurricane Beryl. We expect 2024 depreciation and amortization expense to be in the $500 million to $525 million range.

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, payments under other long-term supply contracts was $46.7 million for energy modernization on the U.S. Gulf Coast. We expect to make payments for the full year 2024 of approximately $50 million.

For the six months ended June 30, 2023, we received $28.5 million of cash proceeds for the sale of our domestic private trucking fleet and operations.

Financing Activities

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, we had long-term debt borrowings, net of repayments of $238.9 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, we had long-term debt borrowings, net of repayments of $143.7 million.

For the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, 3.9 million and 7.1 million shares, respectively, of common stock were repurchased and retired at a total value of $211.4 million and $393.0 million, respectively.

We issued 0.8 million and 0.4 million shares representing stock options exercised for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, with a total value of $21.7 million and $11.9 million, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, we withheld and paid $10.5 million for employee taxes on share-based payment arrangements.

For the six months ended June 30, 2023, we received $44.1 million of cash contributions from noncontrolling interests for BWA.

The percent of total debt to total capitalization increased to 57.3% as of June 30, 2024 from 54.1% as of December 31, 2023, primarily as a result of a higher level of debt outstanding, partially offset by lower shareholders’ equity, primarily due to common stock repurchases, partially offset by our operating results.

In the first and second quarters of 2024 and 2023, we paid a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share. Dividends paid for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, were $47.6 million and $51.8 million, respectively. On July 24th, 2024, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.20 per share on our common stock, payable on September 13th, 2024, to shareholders of record on August 8th, 2024.

The payment of cash dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be determined in light of then-current conditions, including our earnings, our operations, our financial condition, our capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. In the future, our Board of Directors may change our dividend policy, including the frequency or amount of any dividend, in light of then-existing conditions.

Liquidity and Other Financing Arrangements

Our principal sources of liquidity are from cash and cash equivalents, cash flow from operations and borrowings under our Senior Revolving Credit Facility, Receivables Financing Agreement (as defined below) and AR Facilities (as defined below). Additionally, we believe that we have access to the high-yield debt and equity markets.

We maintain a $1,550.0 million senior credit facility (Senior Credit Facility) which includes a senior term loan facility with aggregate commitments of $350.0 million (Term Loan Facility) and a senior revolving credit facility with aggregate commitments of $1,200.0 million (Senior Revolving Credit Facility). The Term Loan Facility was fully drawn on the closing date with the proceeds of the Term Loan Facility used to refinance the loans and commitments outstanding under the existing facility. The Term Loan Facility requires principal amortization payments which began on March 31, 2023 at a rate of 0.625% per quarter through the end of 2024, increasing to 1.250% per quarter thereafter until maturity. The maturity date for the Senior Credit Facility is October 11, 2027.

The Senior Revolving Credit Facility includes a $100.0 million letter of credit subfacility. At June 30, 2024, we had $788.6 million available under our $1,200.0 million Senior Revolving Credit Facility because we had $411.0 million borrowed under the facility and issued $0.4 million of letters of credit. During the second quarter of 2024, we utilized our Senior Revolving Credit Facility to repay $50.0 million of Go Zone and $20.0 million of Recovery Zone tax-exempt variable-rate bonds.

We were in compliance with all covenants and restrictions under all our outstanding credit agreements as of June 30, 2024, and no event of default had occurred that would permit the lenders under our outstanding credit agreements to accelerate the debt if not cured. In the future, our ability to generate sufficient operating cash flows, among other factors, will determine the amounts available to be borrowed under these facilities. As a result of our restrictive covenant related to the net leverage ratio, the maximum additional borrowings available to us could be limited in the future. The limitation, if an amendment or waiver from our lenders is not obtained, could restrict our ability to borrow the maximum amounts available under the Senior Revolving Credit Facility and the Receivables Financing Agreement. As of June 30, 2024, there were no covenants or other restrictions that limited our ability to borrow.

We believe, based on current and projected levels of cash flow from our operations, together with our cash and cash equivalents on hand and the availability to borrow under our Senior Revolving Credit Facility and AR Facilities, we have sufficient liquidity to meet our short-term and long-term needs to make required payments of interest on our debt, fund our operating needs, working capital and our capital expenditure requirements, and comply with the financial ratios in our debt agreements.

On July 28, 2022, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for the purchase of shares of common stock at an aggregate price of up to $2.0 billion. This program will terminate upon the purchase of $2.0 billion of common stock.

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, 3.9 million shares of common stock have been repurchased and retired at a total value of $211.4 million. As of June 30, 2024, 23.2 million shares of common stock have been repurchased and retired at a total value of $1,213.0 million under the 2022 Repurchase Authorization program, and $787.0 million of common stock remained authorized to be repurchased under the program.

We maintain a $425.0 million Receivables Financing Agreement (Receivables Financing Agreement) that is scheduled to mature on October 14, 2025. Under the Receivables Financing Agreement, our eligible trade receivables are used for collateralized borrowings and continue to be serviced by us. In addition, the Receivables Financing Agreement incorporates the net leverage ratio covenant that is contained in the Senior Credit Facility. As of June 30, 2024, December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023, we had $298.8 million, $328.5 million and $234.8 million, respectively, drawn under the agreement. As of June 30, 2024, $429.8 million of our trade receivables were pledged as collateral and we had $0.5 million additional borrowing capacity under the Receivables Financing Agreement, which was limited by our borrowing base.

Olin also has trade accounts receivable factoring arrangements (AR Facilities) and pursuant to the terms of the AR Facilities, certain of our domestic subsidiaries may sell their accounts receivable up to a maximum of $175.5 million and certain of our foreign subsidiaries may sell their accounts receivable up to a maximum of €22.0 million. We will continue to service the outstanding accounts sold. These receivables qualify for sales treatment under ASC 860 and, accordingly, the proceeds are included in net cash provided by operating activities in the condensed statements of cash flows.

The following table summarizes the AR facilities activity:

($ in millions)

The factoring discount paid under the AR Facilities is recorded as interest expense on the condensed statements of operations. The factoring discount was $1.1 million and $1.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $2.1 million and $2.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The agreements are without recourse and therefore no recourse liability has been recorded as of June 30, 2024.

At June 30, 2024, we had total letters of credit of $135.2 million outstanding, of which $0.4 million were issued under our Senior Revolving Credit Facility. The letters of credit were used to support certain long-term debt obligations, workers compensation insurance policies, plant closure and post-closure obligations, international payment obligations and international pension funding requirements.

Our current debt structure is used to fund our business operations. As of June 30, 2024, we had long-term borrowings, including the current installment, of $2,910.9 million, of which $1,132.6 million were at variable rates. Included within long-term borrowings on the condensed balance sheets were deferred debt issuance costs and unamortized bond original issue discount of $14.9 million as of June 30, 2024. Commitments from banks under our Senior Revolving Credit Facility and AR Facilities are additional sources of liquidity.

We have registered an undetermined amount of securities with the SEC, so that, from time-to-time we may issue debt securities, preferred stock and/or common stock and associated warrants in the public market under that registration statement.

Credit Ratings

We receive ratings from three independent credit rating agencies: Fitch Ratings (Fitch), Moody's Investor Service (Moody's) and Standard & Poor's (S&P). The following table summarizes our credit ratings as of June 30, 2024:

On June 24, 2024, Moody’s affirmed Olin’s Ba1 rating and stable outlook. On March 14, 2024, Fitch affirmed Olin’s BBB- rating and stable outlook. On April 30, 2023, S&P affirmed Olin’s BB+ rating and positive outlook.

Contractual Obligations

Purchasing commitments are utilized in our normal course of business for our projected needs. We have supply contracts with various third parties for certain raw materials including ethylene, electricity, propylene and benzene. These agreements are maintained through long-term cost based contracts that provide us with a reliable supply of key raw materials. There have been no material changes in our contractual obligations and commitments as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 other than those which occur in the ordinary course of business.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Discussion of new accounting pronouncements can be referred to under Item 1, within Note 2, “Recent Accounting Pronouncements.”

We are exposed to market risk in the normal course of our business operations due to our purchases of certain commodities, our ongoing investing and financing activities and our operations that use foreign currencies. The risk of loss can be assessed from the perspective of adverse changes in fair values, cash flows and future earnings. We have established policies and procedures governing our management of market risks and the use of financial instruments to manage exposure to such risks.

Energy costs, including electricity and natural gas, and certain raw materials used in our production processes are subject to price volatility. Depending on market conditions, we may enter into futures contracts, forward contracts, commodity swaps and put and call option contracts in order to reduce the impact of commodity price fluctuations. As of June 30, 2024, we maintained open positions on commodity contracts with a notional value totaling $208.1 million ($191.0 million at December 31, 2023 and $244.1 million at June 30, 2023). Assuming a hypothetical 10% increase in commodity prices which are currently hedged, as of June 30, 2024, we would experience a $20.8 million ($19.1 million at December 31, 2023 and $24.4 million at June 30, 2023) increase in our cost of inventory purchased, which would be substantially offset by a corresponding increase in the value of related hedging instruments.

We transact business in various foreign currencies other than the USD which exposes us to movements in exchange rates which may impact revenue and expenses, assets and liabilities and cash flows. Our significant foreign currency exposure is denominated with European currencies, primarily the Euro, although exposures also exist in other currencies of Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. For all derivative positions, we evaluated the effects of a 10% shift in exchange rates between those currencies and the USD, holding all other assumptions constant. Unfavorable currency movements of 10% would negatively affect the fair values of the derivatives held to hedge currency exposures by $15.2 million. These unfavorable changes would generally have been offset by favorable changes in the values of the underlying exposures.

We are exposed to changes in interest rates primarily as a result of our investing and financing activities. Our current debt structure is used to fund business operations, and commitments from banks under our Senior Revolving Credit Facility and AR Facilities are additional sources of liquidity. As of June 30, 2024, December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023, we had long-term borrowings, including current installments and finance lease obligations, of $2,910.9 million, $2,670.1 million and $2,726.3 million, respectively, of which $1,132.6 million, $893.7 million and $951.3 million at June 30, 2024, December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023, respectively, were issued at variable rates. Included within long-term borrowings on the condensed balance sheets were deferred debt issuance costs and unamortized bond original issue discount.

Assuming no changes in the $1,132.6 million of variable-rate debt levels from June 30, 2024, we estimate that a hypothetical change of 100-basis points in the secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) would impact annual interest expense by $11.3 million.

If the actual changes in commodities, foreign currency, or interest pricing is substantially different than expected, the net impact of commodity risk, foreign currency risk, or interest rate risk on our cash flow may be materially different than that disclosed above.

We do not enter into any derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

Our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2024. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information Olin is required to disclose in the reports that it files or submits with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and to ensure that information we are required to disclose in such reports is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2024, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on management’s beliefs, certain assumptions made by management, forecasts of future results, and current expectations, estimates and projections about the markets and economy in which we and our various segments operate. The statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q that are not statements of historical fact may include forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.

We have used the words “anticipate,” “intend,” “may,” “expect,” “believe,” “should,” “plan,” “outlook,” “project,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “optimistic,” “target,” and variations of such words and similar expressions in this quarterly report to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s intent to repurchase, from time to time, the Company’s common stock. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those matters expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise. The payment of cash dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be determined in light of then-current conditions, including our earnings, our operations, our financial conditions, our capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. In the future, our Board of Directors may change our dividend policy, including the frequency or amount of any dividend, in light of then-existing conditions.

The risks, uncertainties and assumptions involved in our forward-looking statements, many of which are discussed in more detail in our filings with the SEC, including without limitation the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports furnished or filed with the SEC, include, but are not limited to, the following:

Business, Industry and Operational Risks

• sensitivity to economic, business and market conditions in the United States and overseas, including economic instability or a downturn in the sectors served by us;
• declines in average selling prices for our products and the supply/demand balance for our products, including the impact of excess industry capacity or an imbalance in demand for our chlor alkali products;
• unsuccessful execution of our strategic operating model, which prioritizes Electrochemical Unit (ECU) margins over sales volumes;
• failure to identify, attract, develop, retain and motivate qualified employees throughout the organization and ability to manage executive officer and other key senior management transitions;
• failure to control costs and inflation impacts or failure to achieve targeted cost reductions;
• our reliance on a limited number of suppliers for specified feedstock and services and our reliance on third-party transportation;
• the occurrence of unexpected manufacturing interruptions and outages, including those occurring as a result of labor disruptions and production hazards;
• exposure to physical risks associated with climate-related events or increased severity and frequency of severe weather events;
• availability of and/or higher-than-expected costs of raw material, energy, transportation, and/or logistics;
• the failure or an interruption, including cyber-attacks, of our information technology systems;
• our inability to complete future acquisitions or joint venture transactions or successfully integrate them into our business;
• risks associated with our international sales and operations, including economic, political or regulatory changes;
• our indebtedness and debt service obligations;
• weak industry conditions affecting our ability to comply with the financial maintenance covenants in our senior credit facility;
• adverse conditions in the credit and capital markets, limiting or preventing our ability to borrow or raise capital;
• the effects of any declines in global equity markets on asset values and any declines in interest rates or other significant assumptions used to value the liabilities in, and funding of, our pension plans;
• our long-range plan assumptions not being realized causing a non-cash impairment charge of long-lived assets;

Legal, Environmental and Regulatory Risks

• changes in, or failure to comply with, legislation or government regulations or policies, including changes regarding our ability to manufacture or use certain products and changes within the international markets in which we operate;
• new regulations or public policy changes regarding the transportation of hazardous chemicals and the security of chemical manufacturing facilities;
• unexpected outcomes from legal or regulatory claims and proceedings;
• costs and other expenditures in excess of those projected for environmental investigation and remediation or other legal proceedings;
• various risks associated with our Lake City U.S. Army Ammunition Plant contract and performance under other governmental contracts; and
• failure to effectively manage environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and related regulations, including climate change and sustainability.

All of our forward-looking statements should be considered in light of these factors. In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we consider immaterial could affect the accuracy of our forward-looking statements.