DowDuPont Inc. and Subsidiaries
Throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as otherwise noted by the context, the terms "Company" or "DowDuPont" used herein mean DowDuPont Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “target,” and similar expressions and variations or negatives of these words.
On December 11, 2015, The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (“DuPont”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, as amended on March 31, 2017, (the “Merger Agreement”) under which the companies would combine in an all-stock merger of equals transaction (the “Merger”). Effective August 31, 2017, the Merger was completed and each of Dow and DuPont became subsidiaries of DowDuPont (Dow and DuPont, and their respective subsidiaries, collectively referred to as the "Subsidiaries").
Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to varying degrees, uncertain, including the intended separation, subject to approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, of DowDuPont’s agriculture, materials science and specialty products businesses in one or more tax efficient transactions on anticipated terms (the “Intended Business Separations”). Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events which may not be realized. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Some of the important factors that could cause DowDuPont’s, Dow’s or DuPont’s actual results to differ materially from those projected in any such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) costs to achieve and achieving the successful integration of the respective agriculture, materials science and specialty products businesses of Dow and DuPont, anticipated tax treatment, unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, productivity actions, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the combined operations; (ii) costs to achieve and achievement of the anticipated synergies by the combined agriculture, materials science and specialty products businesses; (iii) risks associated with the Intended Business Separations, including conditions which could delay, prevent or otherwise adversely affect the proposed transactions, including possible issues or delays in obtaining required regulatory approvals or clearances related to the Intended Business Separations, associated costs, disruptions in the financial markets or other potential barriers; (iv) disruptions or business uncertainty, including from the Intended Business Separations, could adversely impact DowDuPont’s business (either directly or as conducted by and through Dow or DuPont), or financial performance and its ability to retain and hire key personnel; (v) uncertainty as to the long-term value of DowDuPont common stock; and (vi) risks to DowDuPont’s, Dow’s and DuPont’s business, operations and results of operations from: the availability of and fluctuations in the cost of energy and feedstocks; balance of supply and demand and the impact of balance on prices; failure to develop and market new products and optimally manage product life cycles; ability, cost and impact on business operations, including the supply chain, of responding to changes in market acceptance, rules, regulations and policies and failure to respond to such changes; outcome of significant litigation, environmental matters and other commitments and contingencies; failure to appropriately manage process safety and product stewardship issues; global economic and capital market conditions, including the continued availability of capital and financing, as well as inflation, interest and currency exchange rates; changes in political conditions, business or supply disruptions; security threats, such as acts of sabotage, terrorism or war, natural disasters and weather events and patterns which could result in a significant operational event for the Company, adversely impact demand or production; ability to discover, develop and protect new technologies and to protect and enforce the Company’s intellectual property rights; failure to effectively manage acquisitions, divestitures, alliances, joint ventures and other portfolio changes; unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism or outbreak of war or hostilities, as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors. While the list of factors presented here is, considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on DowDuPont’s, Dow’s or DuPont’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, credit rating or liquidity. None of DowDuPont, Dow or DuPont assumes any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws. A detailed discussion of some of the significant risks and uncertainties which may cause results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in the section titled “Risk Factors” (Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K).
DowDuPont Inc.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
THE COMPANY
DowDuPont is a holding company comprised of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company ("DuPont") with the intent to form strong, independent, publicly traded companies in the agriculture, materials science and specialty products sectors that will lead their respective industries through productive, science-based innovation to meet the needs of customers and help solve global challenges. DowDuPont is a Delaware corporation formed on December 9, 2015, for the purpose of effecting an all-stock merger of equals transactions between Dow and DuPont. Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 11, 2015, as amended on March 31, 2017, Dow and DuPont each merged with subsidiaries of DowDuPont and, as a result, became subsidiaries of DowDuPont.
The Company's principal executive offices are located at:
c/o The Dow Chemical Company
2030 Dow Center
Midland, Michigan 48674
c/o E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
974 Centre Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19805
Available Information
The Company's annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, are available free of charge through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website (www.dow-dupont.com/investors), as soon as reasonably practicable after the reports are electronically filed or furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The SEC maintains a website that contains these reports as well as proxy statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically. The SEC's website is at www.sec.gov. The Company's website and its content are not deemed incorporated by reference into this report.
BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND PRODUCTS
DowDuPont’s worldwide operations are managed through global businesses, which are reported in eight reportable segments: Agriculture; Performance Materials & Coatings; Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure; Packaging & Specialty Plastics; Electronics & Imaging; Nutrition & Biosciences; Transportation & Advanced Polymers; and, Safety & Construction. Corporate contains the reconciliation between the totals for the reportable segments and the Company’s totals. See Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note 24 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information concerning the Company’s operating segments.
In the following business descriptions, unaudited pro forma net sales by segment has been included. Pro forma adjustments used in the calculation of pro forma net sales were determined in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X and were based on the historical consolidated financial statements of Dow and DuPont, adjusted to give effect to the Merger as if it had been consummated on January 1, 2016. For additional information on the pro forma adjustments made, see Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information in Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
AGRICULTURE
The Agriculture segment leverages the Company’s technology, customer relationships and industry knowledge to improve the quantity, quality and safety of the global food supply and the global agriculture industry. Land available for worldwide agricultural production is increasingly limited so production growth will need to be achieved principally through improving crop yields and productivity. The segment’s two global businesses, Seed and Crop Protection, deliver a broad portfolio of products and services that are specifically targeted to achieve gains in crop yields and productivity, including well-established brands of seed products, crop chemicals, seed treatment, agronomy and digital services. Research and development ("R&D") focuses on leveraging germplasm and plant science technology to increase farmer productivity and to enhance the value of grains and oilseeds through improved seed traits, superior seed germplasm and effective use of crop protection solutions.
Seed is a global leader in developing and supplying advanced plant genetic products and technologies. The Seed business is a global leader in developing, producing and marketing hybrid corn seed and soybean seed varieties, primarily under the PIONEER® brand name, which improve the productivity and profitability of its customers. Additionally, the Seed business develops, produces and markets canola, cotton, sunflower, sorghum, wheat and rice seed, as well as silage inoculants.
Crop Protection
Crop Protection serves the global agriculture industry with crop protection products for field crops such as wheat, corn, soybean and rice, and specialty crops such as fruit, nut, vine and vegetables. Principle crop protection products are weed control, disease control and insect control offerings for foliar or soil application or as a seed treatment.
Merger Remedies - Dow and DuPont
As a condition of regulatory approval for the Merger, in addition to other requirements, Dow was required to divest a portion of Dow AgroSciences’ Brazil Corn Seed business and DuPont was required to divest certain assets related to its crop protection business and R&D organization, as discussed below.
Dow Merger Remedy - Divestiture of a Portion of Dow AgroSciences' Brazil Corn Seed Business