FORM 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
 
Form 10-Q
 
 
     
þ
  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007
or
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
001-32410
(Commission File Number)
 
 
 
 
CELANESE CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 
 
     
Delaware   98-0420726
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     
1601 West LBJ Freeway, Dallas, TX
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  75234-6034
(Zip Code)
 
 
(972) 443-4000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer þ     Accelerated Filer o     Non-accelerated filer o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
 
Yes o     No þ
 
The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s Series A common stock, $0.0001 par value, as of July 25, 2007 was 149,244,751.
 


 

 
CELANESE CORPORATION
 
Form 10-Q
For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2007
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
                 
        Page
 
Part I  Financial Information
Item 1.
  Financial Statements    
      2
      3
      4
      5
      6
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   35
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk   53
  Controls and Procedures   53
 
  Legal Proceedings   54
  Risk Factors   54
  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds   55
  Defaults Upon Senior Securities   55
  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders   55
  Other Information   56
  Exhibits   56
  57
  58
 EX-10.1: FORM OF DIRECTOR PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
 EX-10.2: SEPARATION AGREEMENT
 EX-10.3: OFFER LETTER AGREEMENT
 EX-31.1: CERTIFICATION
 EX-31.2: CERTIFICATION
 EX-32.1: CERTIFICATION
 EX-32.2: CERTIFICATION


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Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
 
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
    (In $ millions, except for share and per share data)  
 
Net sales
    1,556       1,457       3,111       2,877  
Cost of sales
    (1,219 )     (1,121 )     (2,415 )     (2,217 )
                                 
Gross profit
    337       336       696       660  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    (122 )     (136 )     (238 )     (273 )
Amortization of intangible assets (customer related)
    (17 )     (18 )     (35 )     (32 )
Research and development expenses
    (19 )     (16 )     (36 )     (33 )
Other (charges) gains, net
    (105 )     (12 )     (106 )     (12 )
Foreign exchange loss, net
          (1 )           (1 )
Loss on disposition of assets, net
    (3 )     (1 )     (4 )     (1 )
                                 
Operating profit
    71       152       277       308  
Equity in net earnings of affiliates
    23       18       41       36  
Interest expense
    (61 )     (73 )     (133 )     (144 )
Refinancing expenses
    (256 )           (256 )      
Interest income
    11       8       25       16  
Dividend income - cost investments
    49       39       64       46  
Other income (expense), net
    (5 )     (10 )     (15 )     (11 )
                                 
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax and minority interests
    (168 )     134       3       251  
Income tax (provision) benefit
    44       (38 )     (5 )     (68 )
                                 
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before minority interests
    (124 )     96       (2 )     183  
Minority interests
          (1 )           (1 )
                                 
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
    (124 )     95       (2 )     182  
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations:
                               
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations
    (5 )     11       38       56  
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations
    16       1       47       1  
Income tax (provision) benefit
    (4 )     (4 )     1       (19 )
                                 
Earnings from discontinued operations
    7       8       86       38  
                                 
Net earnings (loss)
    (117 )     103       84       220  
Cumulative preferred stock dividend
    (3 )     (2 )     (5 )     (5 )
                                 
Net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders
    (120 )     101       79       215  
                                 
Earnings (loss) per common share — basic:
                               
Continuing operations
    (0.81 )     0.59       (0.04 )     1.12  
Discontinued operations
    0.05       0.05       0.54       0.24  
                                 
Net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders
    (0.76 )     0.64       0.50       1.36  
                                 
Earnings (loss) per common share — diluted:
                               
Continuing operations
    (0.81 )     0.55       (0.04 )     1.06  
Discontinued operations
    0.05       0.05       0.54       0.22  
                                 
Net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders
    (0.76 )     0.60       0.50       1.28  
                                 
Weighted average shares — basic:
    156,932,929       158,562,161       158,102,411       158,562,161  
Weighted average shares — diluted:
    156,932,929       172,066,546       158,102,411       171,974,477  
 
See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.


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Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2007     2006  
    (In $ millions, except share amounts)  
 
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
    470       791  
Restricted cash
          46  
Receivables:
               
Trade receivables — third party and affiliates, net
    857       1,001  
Other receivables
    467       475  
Inventories
    575       653  
Deferred income taxes
    76       76  
Other assets
    51       69  
                 
Total current assets
    2,496       3,111  
                 
Investments
    745       763  
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $744 million and $687 million as of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively
    2,176       2,155  
Deferred income taxes
    67       22  
Other assets
    565       506  
Goodwill
    869       875  
Intangible assets, net
    437       463  
                 
Total assets
    7,355       7,895  
                 
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt — third party and affiliates
    187       309  
Trade payables — third party and affiliates
    667       823  
Other current liabilities
    731       787  
Deferred income taxes
    8       18  
Income taxes payable
    11       279  
                 
Total current liabilities
    1,604       2,216  
                 
Long-term debt
    3,198       3,189  
Deferred income taxes
    301       297  
Benefit obligations
    898       889  
Other liabilities
    693       443  
Minority interests
    5       74  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 9,600,000 issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively
           
Series A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 400,000,000 shares authorized, 160,000,096 issued and 152,726,710 outstanding as of June 30, 2007 and 158,668,666 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2006
           
Series B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 0 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively
           
Treasury stock, at cost: 7,273,386 shares as of June 30, 2007 and 0 shares as of December 31, 2006
    (258 )      
Additional paid-in capital
    392       362  
Retained earnings
    474       394  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net
    48       31  
                 
Total shareholders’ equity
    656       787  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
    7,355       7,895  
                 
 
See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
                                                                                 
                Series A
                            Accumulated
       
    Preferred Stock
    Common Stock
                            Other
       
    Outstanding     Outstanding     Treasury Stock     Additional
          Comprehensive
    Total
 
    Number of
          Number of
          Number of
          Paid-In
    Retained
    Income (Loss),
    Shareholders’
 
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Capital     Earnings     Net     Equity  
                            (In $ millions, except share amounts)                    
 
Balance at December 31, 2005
    9,600,000             158,562,161                         337       24       (126 )     235  
Issuance of Series A shares related to stock option exercises, including related tax benefits
                106,505                         2                   2  
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
                                                                               
Net earnings
                                              406             406  
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                                                                               
Unrealized gain on securities
                                                    13       13  
Unrealized gain on derivative contracts
                                                    2       2  
Pension and postretirement benefits (revised)
                                                    269       269  
Foreign currency translation
                                                    5       5  
                                                                                 
Other comprehensive income (revised)
                                                    289       289  
                                                                                 
Comprehensive income (revised)
                                                          695  
Adjustment to initially apply FASB Statement No. 158, net of tax (revised)
                                                    (132 )     (132 )
Indemnification of demerger liability
                                        3                   3  
Common stock dividends
                                              (26 )           (26 )
Preferred stock dividends
                                              (10 )           (10 )
Stock-based compensation
                                        20                   20  
                                                                                 
Balance at December 31, 2006
    9,600,000             158,668,666                         362       394       31       787  
                                                                                 
Issuance of Series A common stock related to stock option exercises, including related tax benefits
                1,324,030                         21                   21  
Issuance of Series A common stock
                7,400                                            
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees
                (7,273,386 )           7,273,386       (258 )                       (258 )
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
                                                                               
Net earnings
                                              84             84  
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                                                                               
Unrealized gain on securities
                                                    22       22  
Unrealized gain on derivative contracts
                                                    20       20  
Pension and postretirement benefits
                                                    (45 )     (45 )
Foreign currency translation
                                                    20       20  
                                                                                 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
                                                    17       17  
                                                                                 
Comprehensive income
                                                          101  
Indemnification of demerger liability
                                        2                   2  
Common stock dividends
                                              (13 )           (13 )
Preferred stock dividends
                                              (5 )           (5 )
Stock-based compensation
                                        7                   7  
Adoption of FIN 48
                                              14             14  
                                                                                 
Balance at June 30, 2007
    9,600,000             152,726,710             7,273,386       (258 )     392       474       48       656  
                                                                                 
 
See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
                 
    Six Months
    Six Months
 
    Ended
    Ended
 
    June 30, 2007     June 30, 2006  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Operating activities:
               
Net earnings
    84       220  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Other (charges) gains, net of amounts used
    11       (23 )
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
    158       162  
Deferred income taxes, net
    (26 )     25  
Gain on disposition of assets, net
    (44 )      
Loss on extinguishment of debt
    256        
Other, net
    6       8  
Operating cash used in discontinued operations
    (101 )     (28 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Trade receivables — third party and affiliates, net
    55       (46 )
Inventories
    24       9  
Other assets
    12       (9 )
Trade payables — third party and affiliates
    (106 )     (31 )
Other liabilities
    (250 )     (120 )
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    79       167  
Investing activities:
               
Capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment
    (116 )     (113 )
Acquisitions and related fees, net of cash acquired
    (269 )      
Net proceeds from sale of businesses and assets
    658        
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities
    34       54  
Purchases of marketable securities
    (32 )     (48 )
Changes in restricted cash
    46       (42 )
Investing cash used in discontinued operations
          (2 )
Other, net
    (26 )     (13 )
                 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    295       (164 )
Financing activities:
               
Short-term borrowings (repayments), net
    (30 )     (24 )
Proceeds from long-term debt
    2,857       7  
Repayments of long-term debt
    (3,038 )     (16 )
Refinancing costs
    (240 )      
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees
    (258 )      
Stock option exercises
    21        
Dividend payments on Series A common stock and preferred stock
    (18 )     (18 )
                 
Net cash used in financing activities
    (706 )     (51 )
Exchange rate effects on cash
    11       12  
                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (321 )     (36 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    791       390  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
    470       354  
                 
 
See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1.   Description of the Company and Basis of Presentation
 
Description of the Company
 
Celanese Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively the “Company”) is an integrated global hybrid chemical company. The Company’s business involves processing chemical raw materials, such as methanol, carbon monoxide and ethylene, and natural products, including wood pulp, into value-added chemicals, thermoplastic polymers and other chemical-based products.
 
Basis of Presentation
 
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the term “Celanese” refers to Celanese Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and not its subsidiaries. The term “Celanese US” refers to the Company’s subsidiary Celanese US Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, formally known as BCP Crystal US Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, and not its subsidiaries. The term “Purchaser” refers to the Company’s subsidiary, Celanese Europe Holding GmbH & Co. KG, formerly known as BCP Crystal Acquisition GmbH & Co. KG, a German limited partnership, and not its subsidiaries, except where otherwise indicated. The term “Original Shareholders” refers, collectively, to Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 1, Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 2, Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 3 and BA Capital Investors Sidecar Fund, L.P. The terms “Sponsor” and “Advisor” refer to certain affiliates of The Blackstone Group.
 
As used in this document, the term “CAG” refers to (i) prior to the Organizational Restructuring (as defined in Note 2 below), Celanese AG and Celanese Americas Corporation (“CAC”), their consolidated subsidiaries, their non-consolidated subsidiaries, ventures and other investments, and (ii) following the Organizational Restructuring, Celanese AG, its consolidated subsidiaries, its non-consolidated subsidiaries, ventures and other investments, except that with respect to shareholder and similar matters where the context indicates, “CAG” refers to Celanese AG.
 
The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 and as of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 contained in this Quarterly Report were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for all periods presented. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and other financial information included in this Quarterly Report, unless otherwise specified, have been presented to separately show the effects of discontinued operations.
 
In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and shareholders’ equity include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items, necessary for their fair presentation in conformity with U.S. GAAP. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted in accordance with rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Celanese Corporation and Subsidiaries consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006, as filed on February 21, 2007 with the SEC as part of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “2006 Form 10-K”).
 
Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.
 
Estimates and Assumptions
 
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues,


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

expenses and allocated charges during the reporting period. Significant estimates pertain to purchase price allocations, impairments of intangible assets and other long-lived assets, restructuring costs, other (charges) gains, income taxes, pension and other postretirement benefits, asset retirement obligations, environmental liabilities and loss contingencies, among others. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
As discussed in Note 3, the Company adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”) on January 1, 2007. The Company considers many factors when evaluating and estimating its tax positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic adjustments and which may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes. Tax positions are recognized only when it is more-likely-than-not (likelihood of greater than 50%), based on technical merits, that the positions will be sustained upon examination. Tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not threshold are measured using a probability weighted approach as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. Whether the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is met for a tax position is a matter of judgment based on the individual facts and circumstances of that position evaluated in light of all available evidence.
 
Restricted Cash
 
As of December 31, 2006, the Company had $46 million of restricted cash. The cash was paid in January 2007 to certain CAG shareholders pursuant to the terms of the Squeeze-Out as discussed in Note 4.
 
Reclassifications
 
The Company has reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to current period’s presentation.
 
2.   Domination Agreement and Organizational Restructuring
 
Domination Agreement
 
The domination and profit and loss transfer agreement (the “Domination Agreement”) was approved at the CAG extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on July 31, 2004. The Domination Agreement between CAG and the Purchaser became effective on October 1, 2004 and cannot be terminated by the Purchaser in the ordinary course of business until September 30, 2009. The Company’s subsidiaries, Celanese International Holdings Luxembourg S.à r.l. (“CIH”), formerly Celanese Caylux Holdings Luxembourg S.C.A., (“Celanese Caylux”), and Celanese US, have each agreed to provide the Purchaser with financing to strengthen the Purchaser’s ability to fulfill its obligations under, or in connection with, the Domination Agreement and to ensure that the Purchaser will perform all of its obligations under, or in connection with, the Domination Agreement when such obligations become due, including, without limitation, the obligation to compensate CAG for any statutory annual loss incurred by CAG during the term of the Domination Agreement. If CIH and/or Celanese US are obligated to make payments under such guarantees or other security to the Purchaser, the Company may not have sufficient funds for payments on its indebtedness when due. The Company has not had to compensate CAG for an annual loss for any period during which the Domination Agreement has been in effect. See additional discussion in the 2006 Form 10-K.
 
The Domination Agreement was further challenged in eight Null and Void actions in the Frankfurt District Court. These actions were seeking to have the shareholders’ resolution approving the Domination Agreement declared null and void based on an alleged violation of formal requirements relating to the invitation for the shareholders’ meeting. During the three months ended June 30, 2007, the Frankfurt District Court dismissed all Null and Void actions.


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Organizational Restructuring
 
In October 2004, Celanese and certain of its subsidiaries completed an organizational restructuring (the “Organizational Restructuring”) pursuant to which the Purchaser effected, by giving a corresponding instruction under the Domination Agreement, the transfer of all of the shares of CAC from Celanese Holding GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CAG, to Celanese Caylux, which resulted in Celanese Caylux owning 100% of the equity of CAC and indirectly, all of its assets, including subsidiary stock. This transfer was effected by CAG selling all outstanding shares in CAC for a €291 million note. This note eliminates in consolidation.
 
3.   Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In July 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in tax positions. The interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement criteria for financial statement recognition of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 requires that the Company recognize in its financial statements the impact of a tax position if that position is more-likely-than-not of being sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The interpretation also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting during interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007. The Company recorded the initial impact of FIN 48 as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle recorded as an adjustment to opening retained earnings and as an adjustment to Goodwill. See the unaudited interim consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity and Note 15 for additional information related to the impact of the adoption of FIN 48.
 
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS No. 157”), which defines fair value, establishes guidelines for measuring fair value and expands disclosures regarding fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used for financial and non-financial assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 157 does not require any new fair value measurements but rather eliminates inconsistencies in guidance found in various prior accounting pronouncements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS No. 157 on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
 
On February 15, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (“SFAS No. 159”). This standard permits companies to choose to measure many financial assets and liabilities and certain other items at fair value. A company will report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The fair value option may be applied on an instrument-by-instrument basis, with several exceptions, such as those investments accounted for by the equity method, and once elected, the option is irrevocable unless a new election date occurs. The fair value option can be applied only to entire instruments and not to portions thereof. SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 159 on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
 
In May 2007, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FIN 48-1, Definition of Settlement in FIN 48. This FSP clarifies FIN 48 to provide guidance that a company may recognize a previously unrecognized tax benefit if the tax position is effectively (as opposed to “ultimately”) settled through examination, negotiation or litigation. The Company incorporated the guidance in this FSP when it initially adopted FIN 48 in January 2007.
 
In June 2007, the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a conclusion on EITF Issue No. 06-11, Accounting for Income Tax Benefits of Dividends on Share-Based Payment Awards (“EITF No. 06-11”). The scope of EITF No. 06-11 consists of the application to share-based payment arrangements with dividend protection


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

features that entitle employees to receive (a) dividends on equity-classified non-vested shares, (b) dividend equivalents on equity-classified non-vested share units or (c) payments equal to the dividends paid on the underlying shares while an equity-classified share option is outstanding, when those dividends or dividend equivalents are charged to retained earnings under SFAS No. 123(R), Share Based Payment (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), and result in an income tax deduction for the employer. EITF No. 06-11 should be applied prospectively to the income tax benefits of dividends on equity-classified employee share-based payment awards that are declared in fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2007. The Company does not expect the impact of adopting EITF No. 06-11 to be material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
 
4.   Acquisitions, Ventures and Divestitures
 
Acquisitions
 
On January 31, 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of the cellulose acetate flake, tow and film business of Acetate Products Limited (“APL”), a subsidiary of Corsadi B.V. The purchase price for the transaction was approximately £57 million ($112 million), in addition to direct acquisition costs of approximately £4 million ($7 million). Pro forma financial information has not been provided as the acquisition did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations. As contemplated prior to closing, on March 14, 2007, the Company announced plans to close the acquired tow production plant at Little Heath, United Kingdom during 2007. In accordance with the Company’s sponsor services agreement dated January 26, 2005, as amended, the Company paid the Advisor $1 million in connection with the acquisition of APL.
 
The following table presents the preliminary allocation of APL acquisition costs to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based on their fair values. This preliminary allocation is subject to change upon finalization of purchase accounting.
 
         
    (In $ millions)  
 
Accounts receivable
    34  
Inventories
    28  
Property, plant, and equipment
    88  
Goodwill
    24  
Intangible assets
    1  
Other current assets/liabilities, net
    (45 )
Non-current liabilities
    (11 )
         
Net assets acquired
    119  
         
 
On April 6, 2004, the Company acquired 84% of CAG (the “Acquisition”). During 2005, the Company acquired an additional 14% of CAG. See additional discussion of these acquisitions in the 2006 Form 10-K. On May 30, 2006, CAG’s shareholders approved a transfer to the Purchaser of all shares owned by minority shareholders against payment of cash compensation in the amount of €66.99 per share (the “Squeeze-Out”). The Squeeze-Out was registered in the commercial register in Germany on December 22, 2006, after several lawsuits by minority shareholders challenging the shareholders’ resolution approving the Squeeze-Out were withdrawn pursuant to a settlement agreement entered into between plaintiff shareholders, the Purchaser and CAG on the same day. An aggregate purchase price of approximately €62 million was paid to minority shareholders in January 2007 as fair cash compensation for the acquisition of their shares in CAG, excluding direct acquisition costs of approximately €2 million. As a result of this acquisition, the Company recorded an increase to Goodwill of approximately $5 million during the six months ended June 30, 2007. The amount of the fair cash compensation of €66.99 per share could increase based on the outcome of award proceedings pending in German courts. As of June 30, 2007, the Company’s ownership percentage in CAG was 100%.


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Ventures
 
On March 28, 2007, the Company announced that it entered into a strategic partnership with Accsys Technologies PLC (“Accsys”), and its subsidiary Titan Wood, to become the exclusive supplier of acetyl products to Titan Wood’s technology licensees for use in wood acetylation. In conjunction with this partnership, in May 2007, the Company acquired 8,115,883 shares of Accsys’ common stock representing approximately 5.45% of the total voting shares of Accsys for €22 million ($30 million). The investment is treated as an available-for-sale security and is included as a component of long-term Other assets on the Company’s unaudited consolidated balance sheet.
 
Divestitures
 
In connection with the Company’s strategy to optimize its portfolio and divest non-core operations, the Company announced on December 13, 2006 its agreement to sell its Chemical Products segment’s oxo products and derivatives businesses, including European Oxo GmbH (“EOXO”), a 50/50 venture between Celanese AG and Degussa AG (“Degussa”), to Advent International, for a purchase price of €480 million subject to final agreement adjustments and the successful exercise of the Company’s option to purchase Degussa’s 50% interest in EOXO. On February 23, 2007, the option was exercised and the Company acquired Degussa’s interest in the venture for a purchase price of €30 million ($39 million), in addition to €22 million ($29 million) paid to extinguish EOXO’s debt upon closing of the transaction. The Company completed the sale of its oxo products and derivatives businesses, including the acquired 50% interest in EOXO, on February 28, 2007. The sale included the oxo and derivatives businesses at the Oberhausen, Germany, and Bay City, Texas facilities as well as portions of its Bishop, Texas facility. Also included were EOXO’s facilities within the Oberhausen and Marl, Germany plants. The former oxo and derivatives businesses acquired by Advent International was renamed Oxea. Taking into account agreed deductions by the buyer for pension and other employee benefits and various costs for separation activities, the Company received proceeds of approximately €443 million ($585 million) at closing. The transaction resulted in the recognition of a $31 million pre-tax gain in the first quarter of 2007. The Company recorded an additional pre-tax gain of approximately $16 million during the second quarter of 2007 primarily related to working capital and other adjustments as specified in the sale agreement. Due to certain lease-back arrangements between the Company and the buyer and related environmental obligations of the Company, approximately $49 million of the transaction proceeds attributable to the fair value of the underlying land at Bay City and Oberhausen is deferred as an other long-term liability, and divested land with a book value of $14 million remains on the Company’s unaudited consolidated balance sheet.
 
Subsequent to closing, the Company and Oxea have certain site service and product supply arrangements. The site services include, but are not limited to, administrative, utilities, health and safety, waste water treatment and maintenance activities for terms which range from one to fifteen years. Product supply agreements contain initial terms of up to fifteen years. The Company has no contractual ability through these agreements or any other arrangements to significantly influence the operating or financial policies of Oxea. The Company concluded, based on the nature and limited projected magnitude of the continuing business relationship between the Company and Oxea, that the divestiture of the oxo products and derivatives businesses should be accounted for as a discontinued operation.
 
Third party sales include $0 million and $9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $5 million and $18 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, that would have been eliminated upon consolidation were the divestiture not accounted for as a discontinued operation. These amounts relate to sales from the continuing operations of the Company to the divested business.
 
In accordance with the Company’s sponsor services agreement dated January 26, 2005, as amended, the Company paid the Advisor $6 million in connection with the sale of the oxo products and derivatives businesses.


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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

During the third quarter of 2006, the Company discontinued its Pentaerythritol (“PE”) operations, which were included in the Chemical Products segment. During the second quarter of 2007, the Company discontinued its Edmonton, Canada methanol operations, which were included in the Chemical Products segment. As a result, the earnings (loss) from operations related to the Edmonton methanol and PE operations are reflected as components of discontinued operations in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations.
 
The following table summarizes the results of the discontinued operations for the periods presented in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
 
    2007(1)     2006     2007(1)     2006  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Net sales
    6       218       197       450  
Cost of sales
    (8 )     (205 )     (150 )     (393 )
                                 
Gross profit (loss)
    (2 )     13       47       57  
                                 
Operating profit (loss)
    (5 )     11       38       56  
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations
    16       1       47       1  
Income tax benefit (provision) from operation of discontinued operations
    2       (4 )     (12 )     (19 )
Income tax benefit (provision) from gain on disposal of discontinued operations
    (6 )           13 (2)      
                                 
Earnings from discontinued operations
    7       8       86       38  
                                 
 
 
(1) The three and six months ended June 30, 2007 include only two months of operations for the oxo products and derivatives businesses as these businesses were sold on February 28, 2007.
 
(2) Income tax benefit on gain from disposal of discontinued operations of $13 million is comprised of $29 million tax expense related to the divestiture of facilities in the U.S., offset by $42 million tax benefit on the divestiture of facilities and investments in Germany.
 
The following table presents the major classes of assets and liabilities of the oxo products and derivatives businesses divested:
 
         
    (In $ millions)  
 
Trade receivables — third party and affiliates, net
    145  
Inventories
    75  
Other assets — current
    8  
Investments(1)
    125  
Property, plant and equipment
    139  
Other assets
    21  
Goodwill
    42  
Intangible assets, net
    10  
         
Total assets
    565  
         
Current liabilities
    4  
Other liabilities
    19  
         
Total liabilities
    23  
         
 
 
(1) Includes the Company’s 50% investment in EOXO and the 50% interest in EOXO purchased from Degussa in February 2007.


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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 
Cost Method Investment
 
In February 2007, the Company wrote-off its remaining €1 million ($1 million) cost investment in European Pipeline Development Company B.V. (“EPDC”). In addition, the Company expensed €7 million ($9 million) associated with contingent liabilities that became payable due to the Company’s decision to exit the pipeline development project. The investment in EPDC related to the construction of a pipeline system, solely dedicated to the transportation of propylene, which was to connect Rotterdam via Antwerp, Netherlands, with the Company’s Oberhausen and Marl production facilities in Germany. However, on February 15, 2007, EPDC shareholders voted to cease the pipeline project as originally envisaged and go into liquidation. The Company was a 12.5% shareholder of EPDC.
 
5.   Receivables, net
 
                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30, 2007     December 31, 2006  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Trade receivables — third party and affiliates
    870       1,017  
Allowance for doubtful accounts — third party and affiliates
    (13 )     (16 )
                 
Subtotal
    857       1,001  
Reinsurance receivables
    79       85  
Other
    388       390  
                 
Net receivables
    1,324       1,476  
                 
 
6.   Inventories
 
                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30, 2007     December 31, 2006  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Finished goods
    413       500  
Work-in-process
    29       33  
Raw materials and supplies
    133       120  
                 
Total inventories
    575       653  
                 
 
7.   Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
Goodwill
 
                                                 
    Chemical
    Acetate
          Performance
             
    Products     Products     Ticona     Products     Other     Total  
    (In $ millions)  
 
As of December 31, 2006
    368       156       256       84       11       875  
Acquisition of CAG(1)
    3       (1 )     1       1             4  
Acquisition of APL
          24                         24  
Acquisition of Acetex Corporation(3)
                            (5 )     (5 )
Sale of oxo and derivatives businesses
    (42 )                             (42 )
Adoption of FIN 48(2)
    (23 )     (5 )     15       11             (2 )
Exchange rate changes
    6       3       4       2             15  
                                                 
As of June 30, 2007
    312       177       276       98       6       869  
                                                 
 
 
(1) The adjustments recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2007 consist primarily of goodwill recorded related to the purchase of the remaining outstanding CAG shares during the Squeeze-Out of $5 million partially offset by reversals of certain pre-acquisition tax valuation allowances of $1 million.
 
(2) See Note 15 for additional discussion of FIN 48.
 
(3) The adjustments recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2007 consist of reversals of certain pre-acquisition deferred tax balances.


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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 
Other Intangible Assets
 
                                         
    Trademarks and
    Customer Related
    Developed
    Covenants not to
       
    Tradenames     Intangible Assets     Technology     Compete and Other     Total  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Gross Asset Value
                                       
As of December 31, 2006
    79       523       13       12       627  
Acquisitions
    2       10                   12  
Divestitures
          (15 )                 (15 )
Exchange rate changes
    2       9                   11  
                                         
As of June 30, 2007
    83       527       13       12       635  
Accumulated Amortization
                                       
As of December 31, 2006
    (1 )     (149 )     (8 )     (6 )     (164 )
Current period amortization
          (34 )     (1 )     (1 )     (36 )
Divestitures
          5                   5  
Exchange rate changes
          (3 )                 (3 )
                                         
As of June 30, 2007
    (1 )     (181 )     (9 )     (7 )     (198 )
                                         
Net Book Value as of June 30, 2007
    82       346       4       5       437  
                                         
 
Aggregate amortization expense charged against earnings for intangible assets with finite lives during the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 totaled $18 million and $18 million, respectively. Aggregate amortization expense charged against earnings for intangible assets with finite lives during the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 totaled $36 million and $35 million, respectively.


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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

8.   Debt
 
                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2007     2006  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt — third party and affiliates
               
Current installments of long-term debt
    32       127  
Short-term borrowings, principally comprised of amounts due to affiliates
    155       182  
                 
Total short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt — third party and affiliates
    187       309  
                 
Long-term debt
               
Senior Credit Facilities: Term Loan facility due 2011(1)
          1,622  
Senior Credit Facilities: Term Loan facility due 2014
    2,820        
Senior Subordinated Notes 9.625%, due 2014(1)
          799  
Senior Subordinated Notes 10.375%, due 2014(1)
          171  
Senior Discount Notes 10.5%, due 2014(1)
          339  
Senior Discount Notes 10%, due 2014(1)
          81  
Term notes 7.125%, due 2009
    14       14  
Pollution control and industrial revenue bonds, interest rates ranging from 5.2% to 6.7%, due at various dates through 2030
    181       191  
Obligations under capital leases and other secured borrowings due at various dates through 2023
    100       30  
Other borrowings
    115       69  
                 
Subtotal
    3,230       3,316  
Less: Current installments of long-term debt
    32       127  
                 
Total long-term debt
    3,198       3,189  
                 
 
 
(1) These facilities were repaid in full in conjunction with the debt refinancing discussed below.
 
As of December 31, 2006, the amended and restated (January 2005) senior credit facilities consisted of a term loan facility, a revolving credit facility and a credit-linked revolving facility. The $600 million revolving credit facility provided for the availability of letters of credit in U.S. dollars and Euros and for borrowings on same-day notice. As of December 31, 2006, there were no letters of credit issued or outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility; accordingly, $600 million remained available for borrowing. The Company had an approximate $228 million credit-linked revolving facility available for the issuance of letters of credit. As of December 31, 2006, there were $218 million of letters of credit issued under the credit-linked revolving facility and $10 million remained available for borrowing.
 
Debt Refinancing
 
In March 2007, the Company announced a comprehensive recapitalization plan to refinance its debt and repurchase shares. On April 2, 2007, the Company, through certain of its subsidiaries, entered into a new senior credit agreement. The new senior credit agreement consists of $2,280 million of U.S. dollar denominated and €400 million of Euro denominated term loans due 2014, a $650 million revolving credit facility terminating in 2013 and a $228 million credit-linked revolving facility terminating in 2014. Borrowings under the new senior credit


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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

agreement bear interest at a variable interest rate based on LIBOR (for U.S. dollars) or EURIBOR (for Euros), as applicable, or, for U.S. dollar denominated loans under certain circumstances, a base rate, in each case plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for the term loans and any loans under the credit-linked revolving facility is 1.75%, subject to potential reductions as defined in the new senior credit agreement. The term loans under the new senior credit agreement are subject to amortization at 1% of the initial principal amount per annum, payable quarterly. The remaining principal amount of the term loans is due on April 2, 2014.
 
As of June 30, 2007, there were $154 million of letters of credit issued under the credit-linked revolving facility and $74 million remained available for borrowing. As of June 30, 2007, there were no outstanding borrowings or letters of credit issued under the revolving credit facility; accordingly $650 million remained available for borrowing.
 
The new senior credit agreement is guaranteed by Celanese Holdings LLC and certain domestic subsidiaries of Celanese US, and is secured by a lien on substantially all assets of Celanese US and such guarantors, subject to certain agreed exceptions, pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of April 2, 2007, by and among Celanese Holdings LLC, Celanese US, certain subsidiaries of Celanese US and Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent.
 
The new senior credit agreement contains a number of covenants that, subject to certain exceptions, restrict, among other things, the ability of Celanese Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries to incur new debt, repurchase shares, make certain investments, acquire new entities, sell assets and pay dividends in excess of amounts specified in the agreement. Additionally, the revolving credit facility requires Celanese Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries to maintain a maximum First-Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio, as defined in the agreement, when there is outstanding credit exposure under the revolver. The Company is in compliance with all of the financial covenants related to its debt agreements as of June 30, 2007.
 
Proceeds from the new senior credit agreement, together with available cash, were used to retire the Company’s $2,454 million amended and restated (January 2005) senior credit facilities, which consisted of $1,626 million in term loans due 2011, a $600 million revolving credit facility terminating in 2009 and an approximate $228 million credit-linked revolving facility terminating in 2009 and to retire all of the Company’s Senior Subordinated Notes and Senior Discount Notes as discussed below.
 
On March 6, 2007, the Company commenced cash tender offers (the “Tender Offers”) with respect to any and all of the outstanding 10% senior discount notes due 2014 and 10.5% senior discount notes due 2014 (the “Senior Discount Notes”), and any and all of the outstanding 9.625% senior subordinated notes due 2014 and 10.375% senior subordinated notes due 2014 (the “Senior Subordinated Notes”). The Tender Offers expired on April 2, 2007. Substantially all of the Senior Discount Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes were tendered in conjunction with the Tender Offers. The remaining outstanding Senior Discount Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes not tendered in conjunction with the Tender Offers were redeemed by the Company in May 2007 through optional redemption allowed in the indentures.


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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

As a result of the refinancing, the Company incurred premiums paid on early redemption of debt, accelerated amortization and other refinancing costs. The components of refinancing costs are as follows:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
 
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Premium paid on early redemption of debt
    207             207        
Accelerated amortization of premiums and deferred financing costs on early redemption and prepayment of debt
    33             33        
Debt issuance costs and other
    16             16        
                                 
Total refinancing expenses
    256             256        
                                 
 
In connection with the refinancing, the Company recorded deferred financing costs of $39 million related to the new senior credit agreement, which are included in Other assets on the accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2007 and will be amortized over the term of the new senior credit agreement. The deferred financing costs consist of $23 million of costs incurred to acquire the new senior credit facility and $16 million of debt issue costs existing prior to the refinancing which will be retained and amortized over the term of the new senior credit agreement. As a result of the refinancing, the Company incurred, through June 30, 2007, approximately $9 million of loss for the mark-to-market on the cross currency swap and the Euro denominated term loan that had been used as a hedge of the Company’s net investment in its European subsidiaries. The Company designated the net investment hedge as such during July 2007.
 
Principal payments scheduled to be made on the Company’s debt, including short-term borrowings, are as follows:
 
         
    (In $ millions)  
 
Remainder of 2007
    170  
2008
    44  
2009
    72  
2010
    64  
2011
    66  
2012
    37  
Thereafter
    2,932  
         
Total
    3,385  
         
 
Interest Rate Risk Management
 
In March 2007, in anticipation of the April 2, 2007 debt refinancing, the Company entered into various U.S. dollar and Euro interest rate swaps, which became effective on April 2, 2007, with notional amounts of $1.6 billion and €150 million, respectively. The U.S. dollar interest rate swaps have a maturity date of January 3, 2012. The notional amount of the U.S. dollar swaps will reduce over time according to an amortization schedule. The Euro interest rate swap has a maturity date of April 2, 2011. The notional amount of the Euro swap will remain at its original level throughout the term of the swap. The interest rate swaps have been designated as effective hedges of the Company’s variable rate debt under SFAS No. 133 and qualify for hedge accounting. On March 29, 2007, in connection with the April 2, 2007 debt refinancing, the Company terminated its previously outstanding interest rate swap with a notional value of $300 million and recorded a gain of $2 million.


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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

9.   Other Current Liabilities and Other Liabilities
 
The components of other current liabilities are as follows:
 
                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2007     2006  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Salaries and benefits
    131       198  
Environmental
    18       26  
Restructuring
    49       34  
Insurance
    59       68  
Sorbates litigation
    154       148  
Other
    320       313  
                 
Total other current liabilities
    731       787  
                 
 
The components of other liabilities are as follows:
 
                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2007     2006  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Environmental
    100       88  
Insurance
    83       86  
Uncertain tax positions(1)
    194        
Deferred revenue(2)
    147       98  
Other
    169       171  
                 
Total other liabilities
    693       443  
                 
 
 
(1) At December 31, 2006, the liability was primarily recorded as a component of Income taxes payable.
 
(2) The increase is primarily attributed to $49 million of deferred transaction proceeds from the sale of the oxo products and derivatives businesses to Advent International (see Note 4). The proceeds are deferred due to certain lease-back arrangements between the Company and the buyer and related environmental obligations of the Company.


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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 
10.   Benefit Obligations
 
The components of net periodic benefit costs recognized are as follows:
 
                                 
    Pension Benefits     Postretirement Benefits  
    Three Months Ended     Three Months Ended  
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
 
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
          (In $ millions)        
 
Components of net periodic benefit cost
                               
Service cost
    10       10       1        
Interest cost
    48       45       4       5  
Expected return on plan assets
    (56 )     (52 )            
Recognized actuarial (gain)/loss
          1       (1 )      
Curtailment (gain)/loss
          1             (1 )
                                 
Net periodic benefit cost
    2       5       4       4  
                                 
 
                                 
    Pension Benefits     Postretirement Benefits  
    Six Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
 
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
          (In $ millions)        
 
Components of net periodic benefit cost
                               
Service cost
    19       20       1       1  
Interest cost
    92       91       9       10  
Expected return on plan assets
    (106 )     (103 )            
Recognized actuarial (gain)/loss
          1       (1 )      
Curtailment (gain)/loss
          1             (1 )
                                 
Net periodic benefit cost
    5       10       9       10  
                                 
 
The Company expects to contribute $49 million to its defined benefit pension plans in 2007. As of June 30, 2007, $23 million of contributions have been made. The Company’s estimates of its defined benefit pension plan contributions reflect the provisions of the Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 and the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
 
The Company expects to make benefit payments of $38 million under the provisions of its other postretirement benefit plans in 2007. As of June 30, 2007, $23 million of benefit payments have been made.
 
Contributions to the Company’s defined contribution plans are based on specified percentages of employee contributions and aggregated $5 million and $5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
Contributions to the multiemployer plans in which the Company participates are based on specified percentages of employee contributions and aggregated $4 million and $3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
As a result of the sale of the oxo products and derivatives businesses in February 2007 (see Note 4), there was a reduction of approximately 1,076 employees triggering a settlement and remeasurement of the affected pension plans due to certain changes in actuarial valuation assumptions. The settlement and remeasurement resulted in a net increase in the projected benefit obligation of $44 million with an offset to Accumulated other comprehensive


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

income (loss), net (net of tax of $1 million) and a settlement gain of $11 million (included in Gain on disposal of discontinued operations) for the pension plan during the six months ended June 30, 2007.
 
During the second quarter of 2007, the Company finalized the shutdown of its Edmonton, Canada methanol operations. This resulted in the reduction of approximately 175 employees triggering a settlement loss of less than $1 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007.
 
11.   Shareholders’ Equity
 
See table below for share activity:
 
                         
    Preferred
    Series A
       
    Stock
    Common Stock
       
    Outstanding     Outstanding     Treasury Stock  
    (Number of shares)  
 
Balance as of December 31, 2006
    9,600,000       158,668,666        
Issuance of common stock related to the exercise of stock options
          1,324,030        
Issuance of common stock
          7,400        
Purchases of treasury stock
          (7,273,386 )     7,273,386  
                         
Balance as of June 30, 2007
    9,600,000       152,726,710       7,273,386  
                         
 
The Company has $240 million aggregate liquidation preference of outstanding preferred stock. Holders of the preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors, out of funds legally available, cash dividends at the rate of 4.25% per annum of liquidation preference, payable quarterly in arrears commencing on May 1, 2005. Dividends on the preferred stock are cumulative from the date of initial issuance. Accumulated but unpaid dividends accumulate at an annual rate of 4.25%. The preferred stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time into approximately 1.25 shares of Series A common stock, subject to adjustments, per $25.00 liquidation preference of preferred stock and upon conversion will be recorded in Shareholders’ equity.
 
On May 9, 2006, the Company registered shares of its Series A common stock, shares of its preferred stock and depository shares pursuant to the Company’s universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2006. On May 9, 2006, the Original Shareholders sold 35,000,000 shares of Series A common stock through a public secondary offering and granted to the underwriter an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 5,250,000 shares of the Company’s Series A common stock. The underwriter did not exercise the over-allotment option. The Company did not receive any of the proceeds from the offering. The transaction closed on May 15, 2006. The Company incurred and expensed approximately $2 million of fees related to this transaction.
 
On May 14, 2007, the Original Shareholders sold their remaining 22,106,597 shares of Series A common stock in a registered public secondary offering pursuant to the universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2006. The Company did not receive any of the proceeds from the offering. The Company incurred and expensed less than $1 million of fees related to this transaction. As of June 30, 2007, the Original Shareholders ownership interest in the Company was 0%.
 
During the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, the Company declared and paid $13 million of cash dividends in each period to holders of its Series A common shares.
 
During the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, the Company declared and paid $5 million of cash dividends in each period on its 4.25% convertible perpetual preferred stock.
 
In conjunction with the April 2007 debt refinancing discussed in Note 8, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Celanese International Holdings Luxembourg S.à r.l., repurchased 2,021,775 shares of its


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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

outstanding Series A common stock in a modified “Dutch Auction” tender offer from public shareholders, which expired on April 3, 2007, at a purchase price of $30.50 per share. The total price paid for these shares was approximately $62 million. The number of shares purchased in the tender offer represented approximately 1.3% of the Company’s current outstanding Series A common stock at that time. The Company also separately purchased, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Celanese International Holdings Luxembourg S.à r.l., 329,011 shares of Series A common stock at $30.50 per share from the investment funds associated with The Blackstone Group L.P. The total price paid for these shares was approximately $10 million. The number of shares purchased from Blackstone represented approximately 0.2% of the Company’s current outstanding Series A common stock at that time.
 
Additionally, on June 4, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $330 million of its Series A common stock. During the three months ended June 30, 2007, the Company repurchased 4,922,600 shares of its Series A common stock at an average purchase price of $37.61 per share for a total of approximately $185 million pursuant to this authorization.
 
These purchases reduced the number of shares outstanding and may be used by the Company for compensation programs utilizing the Company’s stock and other corporate purposes. The Company accounts for treasury stock using the cost method and includes treasury stock as a component of Shareholders’ Equity.
 
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Other comprehensive income (loss) totaled $17 million and $(30) million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006. These amounts were net of tax expense of $1 million and $0 million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006.
 
12.   Commitments and Contingencies
 
The Company is involved in a number of legal proceedings, lawsuits and claims incidental to the normal conduct of business, relating to such matters as product liability, antitrust, past waste disposal practices and release of chemicals into the environment. While it is impossible at this time to determine with certainty the ultimate outcome of these proceedings, lawsuits and claims, the Company believes, based on the advice of legal counsel, that adequate provisions have been made and that the ultimate outcomes will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Company, but may have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or cash flows in any given accounting period.
 
The following disclosure should be read in conjunction with the 2006 Form 10-K.
 
Plumbing Actions
 
As of both June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company has remaining accruals of $66 million for cases related to the plumbing actions, of which $4 million is included in current liabilities. The Company believes that the plumbing actions are adequately provided for in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and that they will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position. However, if the Company were to incur an additional charge for this matter, such a charge would not be expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial position, but may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows in any given accounting period. The Company continuously monitors this matter and assesses the adequacy of this reserve.
 
The Company has reached settlements with CNA Holdings’ insurers specifying their responsibility for these claims. As a result, the Company has recorded receivables relating to the anticipated recoveries from certain third party insurance carriers. These receivables are based on the probability of collection, an opinion of external counsel, the settlement agreements with the Company’s insurance carriers whose coverage level exceeds the receivables and


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

the status of current discussions with other insurance carriers. As of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company has $18 million and $23 million, respectively, of receivables related to the settlement with these insurance carriers. These receivables are recorded within other current assets.
 
Plumbing Insurance Indemnifications
 
CAG entered into agreements with insurance companies related to product liability settlements associated with Celcon® plumbing claims. These agreements, except those with insolvent insurance companies, require the Company to indemnify and/or defend these insurance companies in the event that third parties seek additional monies for matters released in these agreements. The indemnifications in these agreements do not provide for time limitations.
 
In certain of the agreements, CAG received a fixed settlement amount. The indemnities under these agreements generally are limited to, but in some cases are greater than, the amount received in settlement from the insurance company. The maximum exposure under these indemnifications is $95 million. Other settlement agreements have no stated limits.
 
There are other agreements whereby the settling insurer agreed to pay a fixed percentage of claims that relate to that insurer’s policies. The Company has provided indemnifications to the insurers for amounts paid in excess of the settlement percentage. These indemnifications do not provide for monetary or time limitations.
 
The Company has reserves associated with these product liability claims.
 
Sorbates Antitrust Actions
 
Based on the advice of external counsel and a review of the existing facts and circumstances relating to the sorbates antitrust matters, including the status of government investigations, as well as civil claims filed and settled, the Company has remaining accruals as of June 30, 2007 of $154 million, included in current liabilities. As of December 31, 2006, the accrual was $148 million. The change in the accrual amounts is primarily due to fluctuations in the currency exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Euro. Although the outcome of this matter cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company’s best estimate of the range of possible additional future losses and fines (in excess of amounts already accrued), including any that may result from the above noted governmental proceedings, as of June 30, 2007 is between $0 and $9 million. The estimated range of such possible future losses is based on the advice of external counsel taking into consideration potential fines and claims, both civil and criminal that may be imposed or made in other jurisdictions.
 
Pursuant to the Demerger Agreement with Hoechst AG (“Hoechst”), Celanese AG was assigned the obligation related to the sorbates antitrust matter. However, Hoechst agreed to indemnify Celanese AG for 80% of any costs Celanese may incur relative to this matter. Accordingly, Celanese AG has recognized a receivable from Hoechst and a corresponding contribution of capital, net of tax, from this indemnification. As of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company has receivables, recorded within other current assets, relating to the sorbates indemnification from Hoechst totaling $123 million and $118 million, respectively. The Company believes that any resulting liabilities, net of amounts recoverable from Hoechst, will not, in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on its financial position, but may have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or cash flows in any given period.
 
Shareholder Litigation
 
On May 30, 2006, CAG’s shareholders approved a transfer to the Purchaser of all shares owned by minority shareholders against payment of cash compensation in the amount of €66.99 per share. The Squeeze-Out was registered in the commercial register in Germany on December 22, 2006, after several lawsuits by minority shareholders challenging the shareholders’ resolution approving the Squeeze-Out were withdrawn pursuant to a


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

settlement agreement entered into between plaintiff shareholders, the Purchaser and CAG on the same day. An aggregate purchase price of approximately €62 million was paid to minority shareholders in January 2007 as fair cash compensation for the acquisition of their shares in CAG, excluding direct acquisition costs of approximately €2 million.
 
Several minority shareholders of CAG initiated special award proceedings seeking the court’s review of the amounts of the fair cash compensation and of the guaranteed annual payment offered under the Domination Agreement. On March 14, 2005, the Frankfurt District Court dismissed on grounds of inadmissibility the motions of all minority shareholders regarding the initiation of these special award proceedings. In January 2006, the Frankfurt Higher District Court ruled that the appeals were admissible, and the proceedings would therefore continue. On December 2, 2006, the Frankfurt District Court appointed an expert to help determine the value of CAG. In the first quarter of 2007, certain minority shareholders that received €66.99 per share as fair cash compensation also filed award proceedings challenging the amount they received as fair cash compensation.
 
As a result of the special proceedings discussed above, amounts paid as fair cash compensation to certain minority shareholders of CAG could be increased by the court such that minority shareholders could be awarded a higher amount, which could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or cash flows in any given period.
 
Guarantees
 
The Company has agreed to guarantee or indemnify third parties for environmental and other liabilities pursuant to a variety of agreements, including asset and business divestiture agreements, leases, settlement agreements, and various agreements with affiliated companies. Although many of these obligations contain monetary and/or time limitations, others do not provide such limitations.
 
The Company has accrued for all probable and reasonably estimable losses associated with all known matters or claims that have been brought to its attention (see Note 20).
 
These known obligations include the following:
 
Demerger Obligations
 
The Company has obligations to indemnify Hoechst for various liabilities under the Demerger Agreement as follows:
 
  •  The Company agreed to indemnify Hoechst for environmental liabilities associated with contamination arising under 19 divestiture agreements entered into by Hoechst prior to the demerger.
 
The Company’s obligation to indemnify Hoechst is subject to the following thresholds:
 
  •  The Company will indemnify Hoechst against those liabilities up to €250 million;
 
  •  Hoechst will bear those liabilities exceeding €250 million, however the Company will reimburse Hoechst for one-third of those liabilities for amounts that exceed €750 million in the aggregate.
 
The aggregate maximum amount of environmental indemnifications under the remaining divestiture agreements that provide for monetary limits is €750 million. Three of the divested agreements do not provide for monetary limits.
 
Based on the estimate of the probability of loss under this indemnification, the Company has reserves of $31 million and $33 million as of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, for this contingency. Where the Company is unable to reasonably determine the probability of loss or estimate such loss under an indemnification, the Company has not recognized any related liabilities (see Note 20).


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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

The Company has also undertaken in the Demerger Agreement to indemnify Hoechst to the extent that Hoechst is required to discharge liabilities, including tax liabilities, associated with businesses that were included in the demerger where such liabilities were not demerged, due to legal restrictions on the transfers of such items. These indemnities do not provide for any monetary or time limitations. Due to the uncertain nature of these indemnities, the Company has not provided for any reserves associated with this indemnification. The Company has not made any payments to Hoechst during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, in connection with this indemnification.
 
Divestiture Obligations
 
The Company and its predecessor companies agreed to indemnify third party purchasers of former businesses and assets for various pre-closing conditions, as well as for breaches of representations, warranties and covenants. Such liabilities also include environmental liability, product liability, antitrust and other liabilities. These indemnifications and guarantees represent standard contractual terms associated with typical divestiture agreements and, other than environmental liabilities, the Company does not believe that they expose the Company to any significant risk.
 
The Company has divested numerous businesses, investments and facilities, through agreements containing indemnifications or guarantees to the purchasers. Many of the obligations contain monetary and/or time limitations, ranging from one year to thirty years. The aggregate amount of guarantees provided for under these agreements is approximately $2.3 billion as of June 30, 2007. Other agreements do not provide for any monetary or time limitations.
 
Based on historical claims experience and its knowledge of the sites and businesses involved, the Company believes that it is adequately reserved for these matters. As of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company has reserves in the aggregate of $29 million and $30 million, respectively, for these environmental matters.
 
Polyester Staple Antitrust Litigation
 
CNA Holdings, the successor in interest to Hoechst Celanese Corporation (“HCC”), CAC and CAG (collectively, the “Celanese Entities”) and Hoechst AG (“HAG”), the former parent of HCC, were named as defendants in two actions (involving 25 individual participants) filed in September 2006 by U.S. purchasers of polyester staple fibers manufactured and sold by HCC. The actions allege that the defendants participated in a conspiracy to fix prices, rig bids and allocate customers of polyester staple sold in the United States. These actions have been consolidated for pre-trial discovery by a Multi-District Litigation Panel in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina and are styled In re Polyester Staple Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1516. Already pending in that consolidated proceeding are five other actions commenced by five other alleged U.S. purchasers of polyester staple fibers manufactured and sold by the Celanese Entities, which also allege the defendants’ participation in the conspiracy.
 
In 1998, HCC sold its polyester staple business as part of its sale of its Film & Fibers Division to KoSa, Inc. In a complaint now pending against the Celanese Entities and HAG in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Koch Industries, Inc., KoSa B.V. (“KoSa”), Arteva Specialties, S.A.R.L. (“Arteva Specialties”) and Arteva Services, S.A.R.L. seek, among other things, indemnification under the asset purchase agreement pursuant to which KoSa and Arteva Specialties agreed to purchase defendants’ polyester business for all damages related to the defendants’ participation in, and failure to disclose, the alleged conspiracy, or alternatively, rescission of the agreement.
 
The Company does not believe that the Celanese Entities engaged in any conduct that should result in liability in these actions. However, the outcome of the foregoing actions cannot be predicted with certainty. The Company believes that any resulting liabilities from an adverse result will not, in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

on the Company’s financial position, but may have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or cash flows in any given accounting period.
 
Other Obligations
 
  •  The Company is secondarily liable under a lease agreement pursuant to which the Company has assigned a direct obligation to a third party. The lease assumed by the third party expires on April 30, 2012. The lease liability for the period from July 1, 2007 to April 30, 2012 is estimated to be approximately $38 million.
 
  •  The Company has agreed to indemnify various insurance carriers, for amounts not in excess of the settlements received, from claims made against these carriers subsequent to the settlement. The aggregate amount of guarantees under these settlements is approximately $10 million, which is unlimited in term.
 
As indemnification obligations often depend on the occurrence of unpredictable future events, the future costs associated with them cannot be determined at this time. However, if the Company were to incur additional charges for these matters, such charges may have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company in any given accounting period.
 
Other Matters
 
As of June 30, 2007, Celanese Ltd. and/or CNA Holdings, Inc., both U.S. subsidiaries of the Company, are defendants in approximately 674 asbestos cases. During the three months ended June 30, 2007, 23 new cases were filed against the Company and 7 cases were resolved. Because many of these cases involve numerous plaintiffs, the Company is subject to claims significantly in excess of the number of actual cases. The Company has reserves for defense costs related to claims arising from these matters. The Company believes that there is not significant exposure related to these matters.
 
13.   Other (Charges) Gains, Net
 
The components of Other (charges) gains, net are as follows:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
 
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Employee termination benefits
    (25 )     (9 )     (25 )     (11 )
Plant/office closures
          (2 )            
                                 
Total restructuring
    (25 )     (11 )     (25 )     (11 )
Insurance recoveries associated with plumbing cases
          2             3  
Deferred compensation triggered by Exit Event (see Note 14)
    (74 )           (74 )      
Asset impairments
    (3 )           (3 )      
Ticona Kelsterbach relocation (see Note 19)
    (3 )           (3 )      
Other
          (3 )     (1 )     (4 )
                                 
Total Other (charges) gains, net
    (105 )     (12 )     (106 )     (12 )
                                 
 
In May 2007, the Company announced a plan to simplify and optimize its Emulsions and PVOH business to become a leader in technology and innovation and grow in both new and existing markets. As a result of this plan, the Company recorded approximately $16 million of employee termination benefits during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007. In addition, the Company recorded an impairment of long-lived assets of approximately


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$3 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007. Certain long-lived assets with a book value of approximately $16 million as of June 30, 2007 will be depreciated on an accelerated basis over periods ranging from three months to two years.
 
The components of the June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 restructuring reserves are as follows:
 
                         
    Employee
             
    Termination
    Plant/Office
       
    Benefits     Closures     Total  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Restructuring reserve as of December 31, 2006
    28       7       35  
Restructuring additions
    34 (1)           34  
Cash uses
    (22 )           (22 )
Currency translation adjustment
    2             2  
                         
Restructuring reserve as of June 30, 2007
    42       7       49  
                         
 
 
(1) Included in this amount is $25 million of employee termination benefits, of which $16 million relates to the Emulsions and PVOH restructuring discussed above. Also included in this amount is $9 million of reserves generated by the closure of the Little Heath, United Kingdom production plant acquired in the APL acquisition.
 
14.   Stock-based and Other Management Compensation Plans
 
In December 2004, the Company approved a stock incentive plan for executive officers, key employees and directors, a deferred compensation plan for executive officers and key employees as well as other management incentive programs.
 
These plans allow for the issuance or delivery of up to 16,250,000 shares of the Company’s Series A common stock through a discounted share purchase program, stock options and restricted stock issuances.
 
Deferred Compensation
 
The deferred compensation plan provides an aggregate maximum amount payable of $196 million. The initial component of the deferred compensation plan vested in 2004 and was paid in the first quarter of 2005. The amount payable under the deferred compensation plan is subject to downward adjustment if the price of the Company’s Series A common stock falls below the initial public offering price of $16 per share and vests subject to both (1) continued employment or the achievement of certain performance criteria and (2) the disposition by three of the four Original Shareholders of at least 90% of their equity interest in the Company with at least a 25% cash internal rate of return on their equity interest (an “Exit Event”). In May 2007, the Original Shareholders sold their remaining equity interest in the Company (see Note 11) triggering an Exit Event. Cash compensation of $73 million, excluding unpaid amounts of $1 million, representing the participants’ 2005 and 2006 contingent benefits, was paid to the participants at the time of the Exit Event. Participants continuing in the 2004 deferred compensation plan (see below for discussion regarding certain participant’s decision to participate in a revised program) will continue to vest in their 2007, 2008 and 2009 time-based and performance-based entitlements as defined in the deferred compensation plan. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, the Company recorded compensation expense of $76 million and $78 million, respectively, associated with this plan. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, the Company recorded compensation expense of $10 million and $13 million, respectively, associated with this plan.
 
On April 2, 2007, certain participants in the Company’s deferred compensation plan elected to participate in a revised program, which included both cash awards and restricted stock units (see Restricted Stock Units below). Under the revised program, participants relinquished their cash awards of up to $30 million that would have contingently


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accrued from 2007-2009 under the original plan. In lieu of these awards, the revised deferred compensation program provides for a future cash award in an amount equal to 90% of the maximum potential payout under the original plan, plus growth pursuant to one of three participant-selected notional investment vehicles, as defined in the associated agreements. Participants must remain employed through 2010 to vest in the new award. The Company will make award payments under the revised program in the first quarter of 2011, unless participants elect to further defer the payment of their individual awards. Based on current participation in the revised program, the award, which will be expensed between April 2, 2007 and December 31, 2010, aggregates to approximately $27 million plus notional earnings. The Company expensed approximately $2 million and $2 million, respectively, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 related to the revised program.
 
The maximum remaining amount payable to participants who did not elect to participate in the revised program as of June 30, 2007 is $31 million, of which $16 million is accrued as of June 30, 2007. Subsequent to June 30, 2007, an employee who remained a participant in the deferred compensation plan retired. As a result, the employee will forfeit approximately $3 million that is included in the $31 million as of June 30, 2007.
 
Long-Term Incentive Plan
 
Effective January 1, 2004, the Company adopted a long-term incentive plan (the “LTIP Plan”) which covers certain members of management and other key employees of the Company. The LTIP Plan is a three-year cash based plan in which awards are based on annual and three-year cumulative targets (as defined in the LTIP Plan). On February 16, 2007, approximately $26 million was paid to the LTIP plan participants. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, the Company recorded expense of $5 million and $10 million, respectively, related to the LTIP Plan. There are no additional amounts due under the LTIP plan.
 
Stock-Based Compensation
 
The Company has a stock-based compensation plan that makes awards of stock options to certain employees. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123(R). The Company elected the modified prospective transition method as permitted by SFAS No. 123(R) and, accordingly, prior periods have not been restated to reflect the impact of SFAS No. 123(R). Under this transition method, compensation cost recognized includes: (i) compensation cost for all stock-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of, January 1, 2006 (based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS No. 123 and previously presented in the pro forma footnote disclosures), and (ii) compensation cost for all stock-based payments granted subsequent to January 1, 2006 (based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the new provisions of SFAS No. 123(R)).
 
It is the Company’s policy to grant options with an exercise price equal to the price of the Company’s Series A common stock on the grant date. The options issued have a ten-year term with vesting terms pursuant to a schedule, with all vesting to occur no later than the eighth anniversary of the date of the grant. Accelerated vesting for certain awards depends on meeting specified performance targets. The estimated value of the Company’s stock-based awards less expected forfeitures is amortized over the awards’ respective vesting period on the applicable graded or straight-line basis, subject to acceleration as discussed above.


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The fair value of each option granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing method. The weighted average assumptions used in the model are outlined in the following table:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
 
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
 
Risk free interest rate
    4.5 %     4.9 %     4.5 %     4.9 %
Estimated life in years
    7.2       7.0       7.2       7.0  
Dividend yield
    0.49 %     0.8 %     0.49 %     0.8 %
Volatility
    26.2 %     30.3 %     26.2 %     30.3 %
 
The computation of the expected volatility assumption used in the Black-Scholes calculations for new grants is based on historical volatilities and volatilities of peer companies. When establishing the expected life assumptions, the Company reviews annual historical employee exercise behavior of option grants with similar vesting periods and the expected life assumptions of peer companies. The Company utilized the review of peer companies based on its own lack of extensive history.
 
A summary of changes in stock options outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2007 is presented below:
 
                                 
    Six Months Ended June 30, 2007  
          Weighted-
    Weighted-
       
          Average
    Average
    Aggregate
 
    Number of
    Grant
    Remaining
    Intrinsic
 
    Options
    Price in
    Contractual
    Value
 
    (In millions)     $     Term     (In $ millions)  
 
Outstanding at beginning of period
    12.5       16.81       7.0       113  
Granted
    0.1       30.98                  
Exercised
    (1.3 )     16.04                  
Forfeited
    (0.3 )     19.43                  
                                 
Outstanding at end of period
    11.0       16.98       6.4       238  
                                 
Options exercisable at end of period
    6.1       16.11       7.1       137  
 
The weighted-average grant-date fair value of stock options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $11.47 per option. As of June 30, 2007, the Company had approximately $21 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options, excluding estimated forfeitures, to be recognized over the remaining vesting periods of the options. Cash received from stock option exercises was approximately $21 million during the six months ended June 30, 2007 and the related tax benefit was zero.
 
Restricted Stock Units
 
Participants in the revised deferred compensation program also received an award of restricted stock units (“RSUs”). The RSUs, which were granted on April 2, 2007, generally cliff vest on December 31, 2010 and have a fair value of $23.63 per unit. The number of RSUs that ultimately vest depends on market performance targets measured by comparison of the Company’s stock performance versus a defined peer group. The ultimate award will range from zero to 263,030 RSUs, based on the market performance measurement at the cliff vesting date. The market performance feature is factored into the estimated fair value per unit, and compensation expense for the award is based on the maximum RSUs of 263,030. Dividends on RSUs are reinvested in additional RSUs. During each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, the Company recorded compensation expense associated with these RSUs of less than $1 million.


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In addition to the RSUs granted to participants in the revised deferred compensation program, the Company granted RSUs to certain employees with a fair value of $21.30 per unit. The RSUs generally vest annually in equal tranches beginning September 30, 2008 through September 30, 2011. The RSUs contain the same market performance criteria as those described in the previous paragraph, with an ultimate award that will range from zero to 917,361 RSUs. The awards include a catch-up provision that provides for vesting on September 30, 2012 of previously unvested amounts, subject to certain maximums. During each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, the Company recorded compensation expense associated with these RSUs of $1 million.
 
The Company also granted 26,070 RSUs to its non-management Board of Directors with a fair value of $32.61 per unit, which was equal to the price of the Company’s Series A common stock on the grant date. During the three months ended June 30, 2007, two directors resigned from the board and forfeited a total of 5,214 RSUs. The Director RSUs will vest on April 26, 2008. During each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, the Company recorded compensation expense associated with these RSUs of less than $1 million.
 
Fair value for the Company’s RSUs (excluding Director RSUs) was estimated at the grant date using a Monte Carlo Simulation approach. Monte Carlo Simulation was utilized to randomly generate future stock returns for the Company and each company in the peer group based on company-specific dividend yields, volatilities and stock return correlations. These returns are used to calculate future RSU vesting percentages and the simulated values of the vested RSUs are then discounted to present value using a risk free rate, yielding the expected value of these RSUs.
 
The range of assumptions used in the Monte Carlo Simulation approach are outlined in the following table:
 
         
    Three Months Ended
 
    June 30, 2007  
 
Risk free interest rate
    4.53 - 4.55 %
Dividend yield
    0.00 - 2.76 %
Volatility
    20.0 - 45.0 %
 
A summary of changes in RSUs (excluding Director RSUs) outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2007 is presented below:
 
                 
          Weighted
 
    Number of
    Average
 
    Units     Fair Value  
 
Nonvested at beginning of period
           
Granted
    1,180,391       21.82  
Forfeited
    (2,250 )     21.30  
                 
Nonvested at end of period
    1,178,141       21.90  
                 
 
As of June 30, 2007, there was approximately $25 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to RSUs, excluding estimated forfeitures, which is expected to be amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining vesting periods as discussed above.
 
15.   Income Taxes
 
Income taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 are recorded based on the estimated annual effective tax rate. As of June 30, 2007, the estimated annualized tax rate is 26%, which is less than the combination of the statutory federal rate and state income tax rates in the U.S. The estimated annual effective tax rate for 2007 reflects earnings in low tax jurisdictions offset by higher tax rates in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions.


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For the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $44 million and tax expense of $38 million, respectively, which resulted in an effective tax rate of 26% and 28%, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, the Company recorded tax expense of $5 million and $68 million, respectively, which resulted in an effective tax rate of 167% and 27%, respectively. The higher effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was primarily due to limitation of tax benefit in the U.S. on the fees incurred in connection with the debt refinancing described in Note 8. The tax benefit of approximately $59 million associated with the deduction of the refinancing fees has been reflected entirely in U.S. tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2007. This tax benefit is partially offset by $31 million of tax expense allocated to discontinued operations during the three months ended March 31, 2007. The debt refinancing was determined to be unusual in nature and not included in the computation of the estimated annual effective rate in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 28, Interim Financial Reporting.
 
The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007. The Company made a comprehensive review of its portfolio of uncertain tax positions in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. As a result of this review, the Company adjusted the estimated value of its uncertain tax positions by recognizing an increase to retained earnings of $14 million and reduced the carrying value of Goodwill by $2 million for uncertain tax positions relating to periods prior to the Acquisition. The total amount of the Company’s estimated uncertain tax positions at the date of adoption was $193 million. Of this amount, $167 million is classified as other long-term liabilities. If the tax positions are settled in the Company’s favor, approximately $133 million would be treated as a reduction of Goodwill and $41 million would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate.
 
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in the provision for income taxes. As of January 1, 2007, the Company had recorded a liability of approximately $22 million for the payment of interest and penalties. The liability for the payment of interest increased approximately $4 million as of June 30, 2007.
 
The Company operates in the United States (including multiple state jurisdictions), Germany, and approximately 40 other foreign jurisdictions, including Mexico, Canada, China, France and Singapore. Examinations are ongoing in a number of those jurisdictions, including, most significantly, in Germany for the years 2001 to 2004 for numerous subsidiaries. During the quarter ended March 31, 2007, the Company received final assessments for the prior examination period, 1997 to 2000. The effective settlement of those examinations resulted in a reduction to Goodwill of approximately $42 million with a net expected cash outlay of $4 million. The Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns for 2003 and beyond are open tax years, but not currently under examination. The Company previously concluded an examination of tax year 2000 to 2003 in 2005 with no material impact on the financial position of the Company. The Company reasonably expects to pay approximately $10 million of the liability within the next twelve months.
 
On May 17, 2006, the President signed into law the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (“TIPRA”), which among other things, provided for a new temporary exception to certain U.S. taxed foreign passive income inclusion rules for 2006 to 2008. This change reduced the expected amount of foreign income taxed currently in the U.S.
 
German Tax Reform 2008 was passed by the Bundestag (Lower House) on May 25, 2007 and the Bundesrat (Upper House) on July 6, 2007. It will become law when signed by the German Federal President, which is expected to occur during the third quarter of 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the provisions of the proposed legislation. The proposed legislation would reduce the statutory tax rate while imposing limitations on the deductibility of certain expenses, including interest expense.


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16.   Business Segments
 
                                                                 
    Chemical
          Acetate
    Performance
    Total
    Other
             
    Products     Ticona     Products     Products     Segments     Activities     Reconciliation     Consolidated  
    (In $ millions)  
 
As of and for the three months ended June 30, 2007
                                                               
Sales to external customers
    959       257       235       47       1,498       58             1,556  
Inter-segment revenues
    43                         43             (43 )      
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax and minority interests
    108       48       63       19       238       (406 )           (168 )
Depreciation and amortization
    37       17       9       4       67       6             73  
Capital expenditures
    51       9       5             65       2             67  
Total assets
    2,892       1,555       884       202       5,533       1,822             7,355  
For the three months ended June 30, 2006
                                                               
Sales to external customers
    935       230       176       48       1,389       68             1,457  
Inter-segment revenues
    42                         42             (42 )      
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax and minority interests
    145       53       50       17       265       (131 )           134  
Depreciation and amortization
    42       16       5       4       67       7             74  
Capital expenditures
    41       6       21             68       1             69  
Total assets as of December 31, 2006
    3,489       1,584       711       361       6,145       1,750             7,895  
As of and for the six months ended June 30, 2007
                                                               
Sales to external customers
    1,925       519       458       92       2,994       117             3,111  
Inter-segment revenues
    79                         79             (79 )      
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax and minority interests
    260       98       92       34       484       (481 )           3  
Depreciation and amortization
    71       34       16       8       129       12             141  
Capital expenditures
    83       15       14             112       4             116  
Total assets
    2,892       1,555       884       202       5,533       1,822             7,355  
For the six months ended June 30, 2006
                                                               
Sales to external customers
    1,847       461       343       97       2,748       129             2,877  
Inter-segment revenues
    67                         67             (67 )      
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax and minority interests
    272       109       73       32       486       (235 )           251  
Depreciation and amortization
    75       32       12       8       127       12             139  
Capital expenditures
    63       11       37             111       2             113  
Total assets as of December 31, 2006
    3,489       1,584       711       361       6,145       1,750             7,895  


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17.   Transactions and Relationships with Affiliates and Related Parties
 
Upon closing of the Acquisition, the Company entered into a transaction and monitoring fee agreement with the Advisor, an affiliate of the Sponsor. Under the agreement, the Advisor agreed to provide monitoring services to the Company for a 12 year period. Also, the Advisor may receive additional compensation for providing investment banking or other advisory services provided to the Company by the Advisor or any of its affiliates, and may be reimbursed for certain expenses, in connection with any acquisition, divestiture, refinancing, recapitalization or similar transaction. In connection with the completion of the initial public offering, the parties amended and restated the transaction and monitoring fee agreement to terminate the monitoring services and all obligations to pay future monitoring fees. In connection with the Original Shareholder’s sale of its remaining shares of Series A common stock in May 2007 (see Note 11), the transaction based agreement was terminated.
 
In connection with the recent debt refinancing (see Note 8), certain Blackstone managed funds that market collateralized loan obligations to institutional investors invested an aggregate of $50 million in the Company’s term loan under the new senior credit agreement. At the time of the debt refinancing, Blackstone was considered an affiliate of the Company. As a result of the Original Shareholders’ sale of its remaining shares of Series A common stock in May 2007 (see Note 11), Blackstone is no longer an affiliate of the Company.
 
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, the Company made payments to the Advisor of $0 million and $7 million, respectively, in accordance with the sponsor services agreement dated January 26, 2005, as amended. These payments were related to the sale of the oxo products and derivatives businesses and the acquisition of APL (see Note 4). For the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, the Company did not make any payments to the Advisor.
 
18.   Earnings Per Share
 
                                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30, 2007     Three Months Ended June 30, 2006  
    Continuing
    Discontinued
          Continuing
    Discontinued
       
    Operations     Operations     Net Earnings     Operations     Operations     Net Earnings  
    (In $ millions, except for share and per share data)  
 
Net earnings (loss)
    (124 )     7       (117 )     95       8       103  
Less: cumulative declared preferred stock dividends
    (3 )           (3 )     (2 )           (2 )
                                                 
Earnings (loss) available to common shareholders
    (127 )     7       (120 )     93       8       101  
                                                 
Basic earnings (loss) per common share
    (0.81 )     0.05       (0.76 )     0.59       0.05       0.64  
                                                 
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
    (0.81 )     0.05       (0.76 )     0.55       0.05       0.60  
                                                 
Weighted-average shares — basic
    156,932,929       156,932,929       156,932,929       158,562,161       158,562,161       158,562,161  
Dilutive stock options
                      1,498,489       1,498,489       1,498,489  
Dilutive restricted stock units
                                   
Assumed conversion of preferred stock
                      12,005,896       12,005,896       12,005,896  
                                                 
Weighted-average shares — diluted
    156,932,929       156,932,929       156,932,929       172,066,546       172,066,546       172,066,546  
                                                 
 


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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

                                                 
    Six Months Ended June 30, 2007     Six Months Ended June 30, 2006  
    Continuing
    Discontinued
          Continuing
    Discontinued
       
    Operations     Operations     Net Earnings     Operations     Operations     Net Earnings  
    (In $ millions, except for share and per share data)  
 
Net earnings (loss)
    (2 )     86       84       182       38       220  
Less: cumulative declared preferred stock dividends
    (5 )           (5 )     (5 )           (5 )
                                                 
Earnings (loss) available to common shareholders
    (7 )     86       79       177       38       215  
                                                 
Basic earnings (loss) per common share
    (0.04 )     0.54       0.50       1.12       0.24       1.36  
                                                 
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
    (0.04 )     0.54       0.50       1.06       0.22       1.28  
                                                 
Weighted-average shares — basic
    158,102,411       158,102,411       158,102,411       158,562,161       158,562,161       158,562,161  
Dilutive stock options
                      1,406,420       1,406,420       1,406,420  
Dilutive restricted stock units
                                   
Assumed conversion of preferred stock
                      12,005,896       12,005,896       12,005,896  
                                                 
Weighted-average shares — diluted
    158,102,411       158,102,411       158,102,411       171,974,477       171,974,477       171,974,477  
                                                 
 
The following securities were not included in the computation of diluted net earnings per share as their effect would have been anti-dilutive:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
 
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
 
Stock options
    5,166,015             4,141,373        
Restricted stock units
    451,028             225,514        
Convertible preferred stock
    12,043,299             12,043,299        
                                 
Total
    17,660,342             16,410,186        
                                 
 
19.   Relocation of Ticona Plant in Kelsterbach
 
On November 29, 2006, the Company reached a settlement with the Frankfurt, Germany, Airport (“Fraport”) to relocate its Kelsterbach, Germany, business, resolving several years of legal disputes related to the planned Frankfurt airport expansion. The final settlement agreement was approved by the Fraport supervisory board on May 8, 2007 at an extraordinary board meeting. The final settlement agreement was signed on June 12, 2007. As a result of the settlement, the Company will transition Ticona’s administration and operations from Kelsterbach to another location in Germany by mid-2011. In July 2007, the Company announced that it would relocate the Kelsterbach, Germany, business to the Hoechst Industrial Park in the Rhine Main area. Over a five-year period, Fraport will pay Ticona a total of €670 million to offset the costs associated with the transition of the business from its current location and the closure of the Kelsterbach plant. The payment amount was increased by €20 million from €650 million in consideration of the Company’s agreement to waive certain obligations of Fraport set forth in the settlement agreement. These obligations related to the hiring of Ticona employees in the event the Ticona Plant relocated out of the Rhine Main area. From the settlement date through June 30, 2007, Fraport has paid the

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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Company a total of €20 million towards the transition and the Company has incurred approximately €6 million of costs associated with the relocation, of which €2 million is included in 2007 Other (charges) gains, net and €3 million was capitalized. The amount received from Fraport has been accounted for as deferred income and is included in Other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2007.
 
20.   Environmental
 
General — The Company is subject to environmental laws and regulations worldwide which impose limitations on the discharge of pollutants into the air and water and establish standards for the treatment, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. The Company believes that it is in substantial compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations. The Company is also subject to retained environmental obligations specified in various contractual agreements arising from divestiture of certain businesses by the Company or one of its predecessor companies. The Company’s environmental reserves for remediation matters were $118 million and $114 million as of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. The increase in 2007 was primarily due to environmental liabilities assumed related to the APL acquisition.
 
Remediation — Due to its industrial history and through retained contractual and legal obligations, the Company has the obligation to remediate specific areas on its own sites as well as on divested, orphan or U.S. Superfund sites (as defined below). In addition, as part of the demerger agreement between the Company and Hoechst, a specified portion of the responsibility for environmental liabilities from a number of Hoechst divestitures was transferred to the Company. The Company provides for such obligations when the event of loss is probable and reasonably estimable. The Company believes that environmental remediation costs will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Company, but may have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or cash flows in any given accounting period.
 
U.S. Superfund Sites — In the U.S., the Company may be subject to substantial claims brought by U.S. federal or state regulatory agencies or private individuals pursuant to statutory authority or common law. In particular, the Company has a potential liability under the U.S. Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, and related state laws (collectively referred to as “Superfund”) for investigation and cleanup costs at approximately 50 sites. At most of these sites, numerous companies, including certain companies comprising the Company, or one of its predecessor companies, have been notified that the Environmental Protection Agency, state governing bodies or private individuals consider such companies to be potentially responsible parties (“PRP”) under Superfund or related laws. The proceedings relating to these sites are in various stages. The cleanup process has not been completed at most sites and the status of the insurance coverage for most of these proceedings is uncertain. Consequently, the Company cannot determine accurately its ultimate liability for investigation or cleanup costs at these sites. As of both June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had provisions totaling $15 million for U.S. Superfund sites.
 
As events progress at each site for which it has been named a PRP, the Company accrues, as appropriate, a liability for site cleanup. Such liabilities include all costs that are probable and can be reasonably estimated. In establishing these liabilities, the Company considers its shipment of waste to a site, its percentage of total waste shipped to the site, the types of wastes involved, the conclusions of any studies, the magnitude of any remedial actions that may be necessary and the number and viability of other PRPs. Often the Company joins with other PRPs to sign joint defense agreements that settle, among PRPs, each party’s percentage allocation of costs at the site. Although the ultimate liability may differ from the estimate, the Company routinely reviews the liabilities and revises the estimate, as appropriate, based on the most current information available.
 
Additional information relating to environmental remediation activity is contained in the footnotes to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the 2006 Form 10-K.


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

21.   Subsequent Events
 
On July 6, 2007, the Company declared a cash dividend on its 4.25% convertible perpetual preferred stock amounting to approximately $2 million and a cash dividend of $0.04 per share on its Series A common stock amounting to approximately $6 million. Both cash dividends are for the period May 1, 2007 to July 31, 2007 and will be paid on August 1, 2007 to holders of record as of July 15, 2007.
 
In July 2007, in connection with the Board of Directors authorization to repurchase shares of Series A common stock (as discussed in Note 11), the Company repurchased 3,565,100 shares of its Series A common stock at an average purchase price of $40.63 per share for a total of approximately $145 million. The Company has completed repurchasing shares related to this authorization.
 
In May 2007, the Company announced that it had an unplanned outage at its Clear Lake, Texas acetic acid facility. At that time, the Company originally expected the outage to last until the end of May. Upon restart of the facility, additional operating issues were identified which necessitated an extension of the outage for further, more extensive repairs. In July 2007, the Company announced that the further repairs were unsuccessful on restart of the unit. Although there can be no assurances, at this time, the Company expects that it will be able to repair the unit within weeks and that the unit will not have to be replaced. The Company has not recorded any contingent liabilities associated with the outage. The Company believes that any liabilities resulting from the outage will not, in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, but may have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or cash flows in any given accounting period; however, if the unit needs to be replaced or if repairs take significantly longer than anticipated, the liabilities resulting from the outage may, in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position. In addition, any liabilities resulting from the outage may be mitigated by the Company’s insurance policies.


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Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the term “Celanese” refers to Celanese Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and not its subsidiaries. The terms the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us,” refer to Celanese and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. The term “Celanese US” refers to our subsidiary, Celanese US Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, formally known as BCP Crystal US Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, and not its subsidiaries. The term “Purchaser” refers to our subsidiary, Celanese Europe Holding GmbH & Co. KG, formerly known as BCP Crystal Acquisition GmbH & Co. KG, a German limited partnership, and not its subsidiaries, except where otherwise indicated.
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) and other parts of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contain certain forward-looking statements and information relating to us that are based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, us. When used in this document, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan” and “project” and similar expressions, as they relate to us are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the subsection entitled “Factors That May Affect Future Results and Financial Condition” below. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our 2006 Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 21, 2007 and the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We assume no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.
 
Overview
 
We are an integrated global hybrid producer of value-added industrial chemicals and engineered polymers. We are the world’s largest producer of acetyl products, including acetic acid and vinyl acetate monomer (“VAM”), polyacetal products (“POM”), as well as a leading global producer of high-performance engineered polymers used in consumer and industrial products and designed to meet highly technical customer requirements. We believe that approximately 95% of our differentiated intermediate and specialty products hold first or second market positions globally. Our operations are located in North America, Europe and Asia. We believe we are one of the lowest-cost producers of key building block chemicals in the acetyls chain, such as acetic acid and VAM, due to our economies of scale, operating and purchasing efficiencies and proprietary production technologies. In addition, we have a significant portfolio of strategic investments, including a number of ventures in North America, Europe and Asia. Collectively, these strategic investments create value for us and contribute significantly to earnings and cash flow. These investments play an integral role in our strategy for growth and expansion of our global reach. We have entered into these strategic investments in order to gain access to local markets, minimize costs and accelerate growth in areas we believe have significant future business potential.
 
We operate principally through four business segments: Chemical Products, Technical Polymers Ticona (“Ticona”), Acetate Products and Performance Products. For further detail on the business segments, see below “Summary by Business Segment” in the “Results of Operations” section of MD&A.
 
Sale of Oxo Products and Derivative Businesses
 
In connection with our strategy to optimize our portfolio and divest non-core operations, we announced on December 13, 2006 our agreement to sell our Chemical Products segment’s oxo products and derivatives businesses, including European Oxo GmbH (“EOXO”), a 50/50 venture between Celanese AG and Degussa AG (“Degussa”), to Advent International, for a purchase price of €480 million subject to final agreement adjustments and the successful exercise of our option to purchase Degussa’s 50% interest in EOXO. On February 23, 2007, the option was exercised and we acquired Degussa’s interest in the venture for a purchase price of €30 million ($39 million), in addition to €22 million ($29 million) paid to extinguish EOXO’s debt upon closing of the transaction. We completed the sale of our oxo products and derivatives businesses, including the acquired 50% interest in EOXO, on February 28, 2007. The


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transaction resulted in the recognition of a $31 million pre-tax gain in the first quarter of 2007. We recorded an additional pre-tax gain of approximately $16 million during the second quarter of 2007 primarily related to working capital and other adjustments as specified in the sale agreement. See Note 4 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for additional information.
 
Acquisition of Acetate Products Limited
 
On January 31, 2007, we completed the acquisition of the cellulose acetate flake, tow and film business of Acetate Products Limited (“APL”), a subsidiary of Corsadi B.V. The purchase price for the transaction was approximately £57 million ($112 million), in addition to direct acquisition costs of approximately £4 million ($7 million). As contemplated prior to closing, on March 14, 2007, we announced plans to close the acquired tow production plant at Little Heath, United Kingdom during 2007. See Note 4 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for additional information.
 
Relocation of Ticona Plant in Kelsterbach
 
On November 29, 2006, we reached a settlement with the Frankfurt, Germany, Airport (“Fraport”) to relocate our Kelsterbach, Germany, business, resolving several years of legal disputes related to the planned Frankfurt airport expansion. The final settlement agreement was approved by the Fraport supervisory board on May 8, 2007 at an extraordinary board meeting. The final settlement agreement was signed on June 12, 2007. As a result of the settlement, we will transition Ticona’s administration and operations from Kelsterbach to another location in Germany by mid-2011. In July 2007, we announced that we would relocate the Kelsterbach, Germany, business to the Hoechst Industrial Park in the Rhine Main area. Over a five-year period, Fraport will pay Ticona a total of €670 million to offset the costs associated with the transition of the business from its current location and the closure of the Kelsterbach plant. The payment amount was increased by €20 million from €650 million in consideration of our agreement to waive certain obligations of Fraport set forth in the settlement agreement. These obligations related to the hiring of Ticona employees in the event the Ticona Plant relocated out of the Rhine Main area. From the settlement date through June 30, 2007, Fraport has paid us a total of €20 million towards the transition and we have incurred approximately €6 million of costs associated with the relocation, of which €2 million is included in 2007 Other (charges) gains, net and €3 million was capitalized. The amount received from Fraport has been accounted for as deferred income and is included in Other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2007.
 
Clear Lake, Texas Outage
 
In May 2007, we announced that we had an unplanned outage at our Clear Lake, Texas acetic acid facility. At that time, we originally expected the outage to last until the end of May. Upon restart of the facility, additional operating issues were identified which necessitated an extension of the outage for further, more extensive repairs. In July 2007, we announced that the further repairs were unsuccessful on restart of the unit. Although there can be no assurances, at this time, we expect that we will be able to repair the unit within weeks and that the unit will not have to be replaced.


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Results of Operations
 
Financial Highlights
 
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,
    % of
    June 30,
    % of
    June 30,
    % of
    June 30,
    % of
 
    2007     Net Sales     2006     Net Sales     2007     Net Sales     2006     Net Sales  
    (Unaudited)  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Statement of Operations Data:
                                                               
Net sales
    1,556       100.0 %     1,457       100.0 %     3,111       100.0 %     2,877       100.0 %
Gross profit
    337       21.7 %     336       23.1 %     696       22.4 %     660       22.9 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    (122 )     (7.8 )%     (136 )     (9.3 )%     (238 )     (7.7 )%     (273 )     (9.5 )%
Other (charges) gains, net
    (105 )     (6.7 )%     (12 )     (0.8 )%     (106 )     (3.4 )%     (12 )     (0.4 )%
Operating profit
    71       4.6 %     152       10.4 %     277       8.9 %     308       10.7 %
Equity in net earnings of affiliates
    23       1.5 %     18       1.2 %     41       1.3 %     36       1.3 %
Interest expense
    (61 )     (3.9 )%     (73 )     (5.0 )%     (133 )     (4.3 )%     (144 )     (5.0 )%
Refinancing expenses
    (256 )     (16.5 )%                 (256 )     (8.2 )%            
Dividend income - cost investments
    49       3.1 %     39       2.7 %     64       2.1 %     46       1.6 %
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax and minority interests
    (168 )     (10.8 )%     134       9.2 %     3       0.1 %     251       8.7 %
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
    (124 )     (8.0 )%     95       6.5 %     (2 )     (0.1 )%     182       6.3 %
Earnings from discontinued operations
    7       0.4 %     8       0.5 %     86       2.8 %     38       1.3 %
Net earnings
    (117 )     (7.5 )%     103       7.1 %     84       2.7 %     220       7.6 %
Other Data:
                                                               
Depreciation and amortization
    73       4.7 %     74       5.1 %     141       4.5 %     139       4.8 %
 
                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2007     2006  
    (Unaudited)  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Balance Sheet Data:
               
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt — third party and affiliates
    187       309  
Plus: Long-term debt
    3,198       3,189  
                 
Total debt
    3,385       3,498  
                 
 
Summary of Consolidated Results for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 compared to the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2006
 
Net Sales
 
Net sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 increased 7% and 8%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2006. An increase in selling price of 3% for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 driven by overall strong demand for acetyls and emulsions in the Chemicals Products segment as well as higher tow and flake prices in the Acetate Products segment contributed to the improvement in net sales for both periods. In addition, the acquisition of APL during 2007 increased net sales by approximately $63 million and $104 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007. Overall volumes decreased 3% and 1%, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006; strong volume increases due to increased market penetration from several of Ticona’s key products and the successful startup of our acetic acid unit in Nanjing, China helped offset the decrease in volumes in the Chemicals Products segment resulting from the temporary unplanned outage of the acetic acid unit at our Clear Lake, Texas facility. Favorable currency impacts


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of 3% (particularly related to the Euro) for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, primarily in the Chemicals Products and Ticona business segments, also contributed to the increases in net sales.
 
Gross Profit
 
Gross profit decreased to 21.7% and 22.4% of net sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, from 23.1% and 22.9% of net sales for the same periods in 2006. The decreases were primarily due to lower overall volumes and higher energy and raw material costs more than offsetting the higher overall prices and favorable currency impacts (particularly related to the Euro). Volumes decreased primarily in Chemicals Products’ acetyls business line as a result of the temporary unplanned outage of the acetic acid unit at our Clear Lake, Texas facility. Pricing increased for products such as Chemical Products’ acetyls and emulsions products and Acetate Products’ tow and flake products.
 
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $14 million and $35 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006. The decreases were primarily due to the absence of executive severance and legal costs associated with the Squeeze-out (as defined in Note 4 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements) of $13 million and $23 million, respectively, and long-term incentive plan expenses of $5 million and $10 million, respectively, expensed during the three and six months ended June 30, 2006. In addition, stock option expenses incurred during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 were lower by $3 million and $2 million, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2006. These decreases were partially offset by additional selling, general and administrative expenses incurred during the second quarter of 2007 of $2 million related to restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and $4 million of costs related to our upgrade of certain financial and accounting systems.
 
Other (Charges) Gains, Net
 
The components of other (charges) gains, net are as follows:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
    June 30,
 
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Employee termination benefits
    (25 )     (9 )     (25 )     (11 )
Plant/office closures
          (2 )            
                                 
Total restructuring
    (25 )     (11 )     (25 )     (11 )
Insurance recoveries associated with plumbing cases
          2             3  
Deferred compensation triggered by Exit Event
    (74 )           (74 )      
Asset impairments
    (3 )           (3 )      
Ticona Kelsterbach relocation
    (3 )           (3 )      
Other
          (3 )     (1 )     (4 )
                                 
Total other (charges) gains, net
    (105 )     (12 )     (106 )     (12 )
                                 
 
In May 2007, we announced a plan to simplify and optimize our Emulsions and PVOH business to become a leader in technology and innovation and grow in both new and existing markets. As a result of this plan, we recorded approximately $16 million of employee termination benefits during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007. In addition, we recorded an impairment of long-lived assets of approximately $3 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007.
 
In May 2007, as a result of the triggering of an Exit Event, as defined in Note 14 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, we expensed $74 million representing deferred compensation plan payments for the respective participants’ 2005 and 2006 contingent benefits.


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Operating Profit
 
Operating profit decreased 53% and 10%, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006. This is principally driven by the increase in Other (charges) gains, net during 2007, partially offset by the decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses as discussed above.
 
Interest Expense and Refinancing Expenses
 
Interest expense decreased $12 million and $11 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006. The decrease is primarily related to lower overall debt balances in 2007 compared to 2006 and lower interest rates on the new senior credit agreement compared to the interest rates on the senior discount notes and senior subordinated notes, which were repaid in April 2007 in conjunction with the debt refinancing (see Note 8 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for more information).
 
In April 2007, we refinanced our outstanding debt by entering into a new senior credit agreement. As a result of the refinancing, we expensed $207 million of premiums paid on early redemption of debt. In addition, we expensed $33 million of unamortized deferred financing costs and premiums related to the former $2,454 million senior credit facility, Senior Discount Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes and $16 million of debt issuance and other refinancing expenses. These amounts were recorded as a component of Refinancing expenses in the unaudited interim consolidated statement of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007.
 
Equity in Net Earnings of Affiliates
 
Equity in net earnings of affiliates increased slightly for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006 due to improved performance from our Asian investments.
 
Income Taxes
 
Income taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 are recorded based on the estimated annual effective tax rate. As of June 30, 2007, the estimated annualized tax rate is 26%, which is less than the combination of the statutory federal rate and state income tax rates in the U.S. The estimated annual effective tax rate for 2007 reflects earnings in low tax jurisdictions offset by higher tax rates in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions.
 
For the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, we recorded a tax benefit of $44 million and tax expense of $38 million, respectively, which resulted in an effective tax rate of 26% and 28%, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, we recorded tax expense of $5 million and $68 million, respectively, which resulted in an effective tax rate of 167% and 27%, respectively. The higher effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was primarily due to limitation of tax benefit in the U.S. on the fees incurred in connection with the debt refinancing described in Note 8 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements. The tax benefit of approximately $59 million associated with the deduction of the refinancing fees has been reflected entirely in tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2007. This tax benefit is partially offset by $31 million of U.S. tax expense allocated to discontinued operations during the three months ended March 31, 2007. The debt refinancing was determined to be unusual in nature and not included in the computation of the estimated annual effective rate in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 28, Interim Financial Reporting.
 
Earnings from Discontinued Operations
 
Earnings from discontinued operations primarily relate to Chemical Products’ sale of its oxo products and derivatives businesses in February 2007, its shut down of its Edmonton, Canada methanol facility during the second quarter of 2007 and its Pentaerythritol operations, which were discontinued during the third quarter of 2006. As a result, revenues and expenses related to these businesses are reflected as a component of discontinued operations. See Note 4 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the summary table of the results of operations for the discontinued operations.


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Selected Data by Business Segment
 
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,
    June 30,
    Change
    June 30,
    June 30,
    Change
 
    2007     2006     in $     2007     2006     in $  
    (Unaudited)  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Net Sales
                                               
Chemical Products
    1,002       977       25       2,004       1,914       90  
Technical Polymers Ticona
    257       230       27       519       461       58  
Acetate Products
    235       176       59       458       343       115  
Performance Products
    47       48       (1 )     92       97       (5 )
Other Activities
    58       68       (10 )     117       129       (12 )
Inter-segment Eliminations
    (43 )     (42 )     (1 )     (79 )     (67 )     (12 )
                                                 
Total Net Sales
    1,556       1,457       99       3,111       2,877       234  
                                                 
Other (Charges) Gains, Net
                                               
Chemical Products
    (32 )     (8 )     (24 )     (32 )     (7 )     (25 )
Technical Polymers Ticona
    (5 )     2       (7 )     (5 )     4       (9 )
Acetate Products
    (7 )           (7 )     (8 )           (8 )
Performance Products
                                   
Other Activities
    (61 )     (6 )     (55 )     (61 )     (9 )     (52 )
                                                 
Total Other Charges, Net
    (105 )     (12 )     (93 )     (106 )     (12 )     (94 )
                                                 
Operating Profit (Loss)
                                               
Chemical Products
    91       130       (39 )     239       251       (12 )
Technical Polymers Ticona
    32       38       (6 )     68       79       (11 )
Acetate Products
    29       29             58       52       6  
Performance Products
    16       16             32       33       (1 )
Other Activities
    (97 )     (61 )     (36 )     (120 )     (107 )     (13 )
                                                 
Total Operating Profit
    71       152       (81 )     277       308       (31 )
                                                 
Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Tax and Minority Interests
                                               
Chemical Products
    108       145       (37 )     260       272       (12 )
Technical Polymers Ticona
    48       53       (5 )     98       109       (11 )
Acetate Products
    63       50       13       92       73       19  
Performance Products
    19       17       2       34       32       2  
Other Activities
    (406 )     (131 )     (275 )     (481 )     (235 )     (246 )
                                                 
Total Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Tax and Minority Interests
    (168 )     134       (302 )     3       251       (248 )
                                                 
Depreciation & Amortization
                                               
Chemical Products
    37       42       (5 )     71       75       (4 )
Technical Polymers Ticona
    17       16       1       34       32       2  
Acetate Products
    9       5       4       16       12       4  
Performance Products
    4       4             8       8        
Other Activities
    6       7       (1 )     12       12        
                                                 
Total Depreciation & Amortization
    73       74       (1 )     141       139       2  
                                                 


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Factors Affecting Second Quarter 2007 Segment Net Sales Compared to Second Quarter 2006
 
The charts below set forth the percentage increase (decrease) in net sales from the 2006 period attributable to each of the factors indicated in each of our business segments.
 
                                         
    Volume     Price     Currency     Other     Total  
    (In percentages)  
 
Chemical Products
    (5 )     4       4             3  
Technical Polymers Ticona
    8             4             12  
Acetate Products
    (8 )     6             36 (b)     34  
Performance Products
    (4 )     (2 )     4             (2 )
                                         
Total Company(a)
    (3 )     3       3       4       7  
 
Factors Affecting Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 Segment Net Sales Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2006
 
                                         
    Volume     Price     Currency     Other     Total  
    (In percentages)  
 
Chemical Products
    (3 )     4       4             5  
Technical Polymers Ticona
    9       (1 )     5             13  
Acetate Products
    (4 )     7             31 (b)     34  
Performance Products
    (8 )     (2 )     5             (5 )
                                         
Total Company(a)
    (1 )     3       3       3       8  
 
 
(a) Includes the effects of AT Plastics and the captive insurance companies.
 
(b) Includes net sales from the APL acquisition.


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Summary by Business Segment for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 compared to the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2006
 
Chemical Products
 
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,
    June 30,
    Change
    June 30,
    June 30,
    Change
 
    2007     2006     in $     2007     2006     in $  
    (Unaudited)  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Net sales
    1,002       977       25       2,004       1,914       90  
Net sales variance:
                                               
Volume
    (5 )%                     (3 )%                
Price
    4 %                     4 %                
Currency
    4 %                     4 %                
Other
    0 %                     0 %                
Operating profit
    91       130       (39 )     239       251       (12 )
Operating margin
    9.1 %     13.3 %             12.0 %     13.1 %        
Other (charges) gains, net
    (32 )     (8 )     (24 )     (32 )     (7 )     (25 )
Earnings from continuing operations before tax and minority interests
    108       145       (37 )     260       272       (12 )
Depreciation and amortization
    37       42       (5 )     71       75       (4 )
 
Our Chemical Products segment produces and supplies acetyl products, including acetic acid, acetate esters, VAM, polyvinyl alcohol and emulsions. These products are generally used as building blocks for value-added products or in intermediate chemicals used in the paints, coatings, inks, adhesives, films, textiles and building products industries. Other chemicals produced in this segment are organic solvents and intermediates for pharmaceutical, agricultural and chemical products.
 
Chemical Products’ net sales increased 3% and 5%, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006. Pricing increases and favorable currency impacts (particularly related to the Euro) during both the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 more than offset lower volumes for both periods. The pricing increases, primarily for the segments’ acetyls and emulsions products, were driven by higher methanol costs, general tightening of supply in the market and an overall strong demand in all regions for these products. Lower volumes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 were the results of lower product availability due to the temporary unplanned outage of the acetic acid unit at our Clear Lake, Texas facility. The decrease in volumes was partially offset by the successful startup of our acetic acid plant in Nanjing, China.
 
Operating profit decreased 30% to $91 million and 5% to $239 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006, principally driven by lower volumes resulting from the temporary unplanned outage of the acetic acid unit at our Clear Lake, Texas facility and overall higher raw material costs. Operating profit for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 also included an increase in Other (charges) gains, net of $10 million for deferred compensation plan expenses and $19 million of expenses relating to the PVOH and Emulsions restructuring (see further discussion of these expenses in Notes 13 and 14 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements). The decrease for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was partially offset by the benefits of a favorable methanol production contract entered into in January 2007 and which expired on March 31, 2007.
 
Earnings from continuing operations before tax and minority interests decreased 26% and 4%, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006. The decreases were primarily driven by the decreases in operating profit. The decrease for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was partially offset by higher dividend income of $8 million received from cost investments during the first quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006.


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Technical Polymers Ticona
 
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,
    June 30,
    Change
    June 30,
    June 30,
    Change
 
    2007     2006     in $     2007     2006     in $  
    (Unaudited)  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Net sales
    257       230       27       519       461       58  
Net sales variance:
                                               
Volume
    8 %                     9 %                
Price
    0 %                     (1 )%                
Currency
    4 %                     5 %                
Other
    0 %                     0 %                
Operating profit
    32       38       (6 )     68       79       (11 )
Operating margin
    12.5 %     16.5 %             13.1 %     17.1 %        
Other (charges) gains, net
    (5 )     2       (7 )     (5 )     4       (9 )
Earnings from continuing operations before tax and minority interests
    48       53       (5 )     98       109       (11 )
Depreciation and amortization
    17       16       1       34       32       2  
 
Our Ticona segment develops, produces and supplies a broad portfolio of high performance technical polymers for application in automotive and electronics products and in other consumer and industrial applications, often replacing metal or glass. The primary products of Ticona are POM, polybutylene terephthalate (“PBT”) and GUR, an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. POM and PBT are used in a broad range of products including automotive components, electronics and appliances. GUR is used in battery separators, conveyor belts, filtration equipment, coatings and medical devices.
 
Ticona’s net sales increased 12% and 13% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2006. Volume increases of 8% and 9% during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, in all major business lines were due to increased market penetration and a continued strong business environment in Europe. Favorable currency impacts of 4% and 5%, respectively, (particularly related to the Euro) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006, also contributed to the increase in net sales. Ticona experienced a slight decline in average pricing primarily driven by a larger mix of sales from lower priced products.
 
Operating profit decreased by $6 million and $11 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2006 as higher volumes and favorable currency impacts (particularly related to the Euro) were more than offset by higher overall raw material costs, production costs and energy costs and increased Other (charges) gains, net. Other (charges) gains, net increased primarily due to $2 million of deferred compensation plan expenses and $3 million of Kelsterbach plant relocation costs incurred in 2007. Additionally, operating profit was further decreased by the absence of $3 million of income received in 2006 related to certain plumbing cases.
 
Earnings from continuing operations before tax and minority interests decreased 9% and 10% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2006. The decrease is principally driven by the decrease in operating profit. Equity in net earnings of affiliates remained relatively flat for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006.


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Acetate Products
 
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,
    June 30,
    Change
    June 30,
    June 30,
    Change
 
    2007     2006     in $     2007     2006     in $  
    (Unaudited)  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Net sales
    235       176       59       458       343       115  
Net sales variance:
                                               
Volume
    (8 )%                     (4 )%                
Price
    6 %                     7 %                
Currency
    0 %                     0 %                
Other
    36 %                     31 %                
Operating profit
    29       29             58       52       6  
Operating margin
    12.3 %     16.5 %             12.7 %     15.2 %        
Other (charges) gains, net
    (7 )           (7 )     (8 )           (8 )
Earnings from continuing operations before tax and minority interests
    63       50       13       92       73       19  
Depreciation and amortization
    9       5       4       16       12       4  
 
Our Acetate Products segment primarily produces and supplies acetate tow, which is used in the production of filter products. We also produce acetate flake which is processed into acetate fiber in the form of a tow band. The successful completion of the acquisition of APL on January 31, 2007 further increases our global position and enhances our ability to service our customers.
 
Acetate Products’ net sales increased 34% to $235 million and 34% to $458 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2006. The increases were primarily driven by additional net sales from the APL acquisition completed on January 31, 2007 as well as higher flake and tow prices, partially offset by lower volumes. Net sales for APL were $63 million and $104 million, respectively, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007.
 
Operating profit was flat for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and increased $6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006. Increased sales due to the APL acquisition and an increase in flake and tow prices more than offset increases in raw material costs and Other (charges) gains, net. Other (charges) gains, net during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 includes $3 million of deferred compensation plan expenses and $4 million of other restructuring charges.
 
Earnings from continuing operations before tax and minority interests increased by 26% and 26%, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006. The increases were driven principally by increases in operating profit and an increase of $13 million in dividends received from our China ventures during the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006.


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Performance Products
 
                                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,
    June 30,
    Change
    June 30,
    June 30,
    Change
 
    2007     2006     in $     2007     2006     in $  
    (Unaudited)  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Net sales
    47       48       (1 )     92       97       (5 )
Net sales variance:
                                               
Volume
    (4 )%                     (8 )%                
Price
    (2 )%                     (2 )%                
Currency
    4 %                     5 %                
Other
    0 %                     0 %                
Operating profit
    16       16             32       33       (1 )
Operating margin
    34.0 %     33.3 %             34.8 %     34.0 %        
Other (charges) gains, net
                                   
Earnings from continuing operations before tax and minority interests
    19       17       2       34       32       2  
Depreciation and amortization
    4       4             8       8        
 
The Performance Products segment operates under the trade name of Nutrinova and produces and sells Sunett® high intensity sweetener and food protection ingredients, such as sorbates, for the food, beverage and pharmaceuticals industries.
 
Performance Products’ net sales decreased 2% and 5% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2006, principally driven by decreases in overall volumes and selling prices, which was partially offset by favorable currency movements (particularly related to the Euro). Volumes decreased 4% and 8%, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, primarily related to the exit of a lower margin, non-core trading business in the fourth quarter of 2006. This was partially offset by an increase in volumes for Sunett® reflecting continued growth in the global beverage and confectionary markets. Pricing for both sorbates and Sunett® continued to decline due to increased competition. Favorable currency impacts (particularly related to the Euro) were 4% and 5%, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007.
 
Operating profit remained relatively flat for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006. The slight decrease during the six months ended June 30, 2007 was primarily a result of lower overall net sales, partially offset by the positive impact from cost savings and lower manufacturing costs.
 
Earnings from continuing operations before tax and minority interests increased slightly by $2 million and $2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2006.
 
Other Activities
 
Other Activities primarily consists of corporate center costs, including financing and administrative activities, and certain other operating entities, including the captive insurance companies and the AT Plastics business.
 
Net sales decreased $10 million and $12 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006. This is principally driven by the decrease in third party revenues from our captive insurance companies of $5 million and $10 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007. We expect this trend in third party revenues from our captive insurance companies to continue. The decrease in the six months ended June 30, 2007 was partially offset by an increase in sales at AT Plastics of $3 million driven by higher volumes more than offsetting lower selling prices.
 
The operating loss for Other Activities increased $36 million and $13 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006. This increase was due primarily to an increase in Other (charges) gains, net more than offsetting a decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses. Other (charges) gains, net increased primarily due to $59 million of deferred compensation plan costs expensed during the second


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quarter of 2007. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 primarily due to the absence of executive severance and legal costs associated with the Squeeze-Out of $13 million and $23 million, respectively, and long-term incentive plan expenses of $5 million and $10 million, respectively, recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2006. In addition, the increase in operating loss was partially offset by an increase in operating profits at AT Plastics of $8 million and $6 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006.
 
Loss from continuing operations before tax and minority interests increased by $275 million and $246 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006, primarily driven by increased operating losses and higher refinancing expenses incurred in 2007, partially offset by lower interest expense and higher interest and other income. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, we incurred $256 million of refinancing expenses associated with the April 2, 2007 debt refinancing. Interest expense decreased $12 million and $11 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006 primarily related to lower overall debt balances in 2007 compared to 2006 and lower interest rates on the new senior credit agreement compared to the interest rates on the senior discount notes and senior subordinated notes, which were repaid in April 2007 in conjunction with the debt refinancing. In addition, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, we incurred approximately $9 million of expense for the mark-to-market on the cross currency swap and the Euro denominated term loan that had been used as a hedge of our net investment in European subsidiaries.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Our primary source of liquidity will continue to be cash generated from operations, available cash and cash equivalents and dividends from our portfolio of strategic investments. In addition, we have availability under our credit facilities to assist, if required, in meeting our working capital needs and other contractual obligations. We believe we will have available resources to meet our liquidity requirements for the remainder of the year and for the subsequent twelve months, including debt service. If our cash flow from operations is insufficient to fund our debt service and other obligations, we may be required to use other means available to us such as to increase our borrowings under our lines of credit, reduce or delay capital expenditures, seek additional capital or seek to restructure or refinance our indebtedness. There can be no assurance, however, that we will continue to generate cash flows at or above current levels or that we will be able to maintain our ability to borrow under our revolving credit facilities.
 
Cash Flows
 
Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2007 were $470 million, which was a decrease of $321 million from December 31, 2006. See below for details on the change in cash and cash equivalents from December 31, 2006 to June 30, 2007.
 
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
 
Cash provided by operating activities was $79 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared with a cash inflow of $167 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. The decrease in operating cash flows was primarily due to lower earnings from continuing operations and cash used in discontinued operations, partially offset by a decrease in cash used from operating assets and liabilities. Earnings from continuing operations decreased to a loss of $2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to income of $182 million for the same period in 2006. The cash used in discontinued operations of $101 million relates primarily to working capital changes of the oxo and derivatives businesses and the shut down of our Edmonton, Canada methanol facility during the second quarter of 2007. The changes in operating assets and liabilities were driven primarily by lower trade receivables offset by lower trade payables. The lower trade receivables were driven by higher net sales offset by the timing of cash receipts. The lower trade payables resulted from the timing of payments.


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Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
 
Net cash from investing activities increased to a cash inflow of $295 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to a cash outflow of $164 million for the same period in 2006. The increase in cash inflow was primarily due to the proceeds from the sale of our oxo products and derivatives businesses partially offset by the cash outflow for the APL acquisition. During the six months ended June 30, 2006, we increased restricted cash by $42 million related to the anticipated payment to minority shareholders for their remaining CAG shares. During the six months ended June 30, 2007, as a result of the completion of the Squeeze-Out (see Note 4 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements) and the payment to minority shareholders for their remaining CAG shares, restricted cash decreased $46 million.
 
Our capital expenditures were $116 million and $113 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Capital expenditures were primarily related to major replacements of equipment, capacity expansions, major investments to reduce future operating costs, and environmental and health and safety initiatives. Capital expenditures in 2007 and 2006 included costs for the expansion of our Nanjing, China site into an integrated chemical complex. Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $280 million for 2007.
 
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
 
Net cash from financing activities decreased to a cash outflow of $706 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to a cash outflow of $51 million for the same period in 2006. The decrease primarily relates to the repurchase of shares of our Series A common stock and the debt refinancing as discussed in Note 11 and 8 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, respectively. This decrease was partially offset by $21 million of proceeds received from the exercise of stock options. Primarily as a result of the debt refinancing, we incurred a net cash outflow of $211 million related to repayments of our debt during the six months ended June 30, 2007. In addition, our net cash outlay for various refinancing expenses was approximately $240 million during the six months ended June 30, 2007. Furthermore, we paid a total of $258 million to repurchase shares of our Series A common stock during the six months ended June 30, 2007.
 
Liquidity
 
Our contractual obligations, commitments and debt service requirements over the next several years are significant. As stated above, our primary source of liquidity will continue to be cash generated from operations, available cash and cash equivalents and dividends from our portfolio of strategic investments. In addition, we have availability under our credit facilities to assist, if required, in meeting our working capital needs and other contractual obligations.
 
Debt and Capital
 
Holders of the preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors, out of funds legally available, cash dividends at the rate of 4.25% per annum (or $1.06 per share) of liquidation preference, payable quarterly in arrears commencing on May 1, 2005. Dividends on the preferred stock are cumulative from the date of initial issuance. As of June 30, 2007, the dividend is expected to result in an annual payment of approximately $10 million. Accumulated but unpaid dividends accumulate at an annual rate of 4.25%. The preferred stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time into approximately 1.25 shares of our Series A common stock, subject to adjustments, per $25.00 liquidation preference of the preferred stock. During the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, we paid $5 million of cash dividends in each period on our preferred stock. On July 6, 2007, we declared a $2 million cash dividend on our convertible perpetual preferred stock, which will be paid on August 1, 2007.
 
In July 2005, our Board of Directors adopted a policy of declaring, subject to legally available funds, a quarterly cash dividend on each share of our Series A common stock at an annual rate initially equal to approximately 1% of the $16.00 initial public offering price per share of our Series A common stock (or $0.16 per share) unless our Board of Directors in its sole discretion determines otherwise. During the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, we paid $13 million of cash dividends in each period on our Series A common stock and on July 6, 2007, we declared a $6 million cash dividend which will be paid on August 1, 2007. Based upon the number


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of outstanding shares as of June 30, 2007, the annual cash dividend payment is approximately $24 million. However, there is no assurance that sufficient cash or surplus will be available to pay the remainder of the anticipated 2007 cash dividend.
 
On May 9, 2006, we registered shares of our Series A common stock, shares of our preferred stock and depository shares pursuant to our universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2006. On May 9, 2006, Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 1, Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 2, Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 3 and BA Capital Investors Sidecar Fund, L.P. (the “Original Shareholders”) sold 35,000,000 shares of Series A common stock through a public secondary offering and granted to the underwriter an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 5,250,000 shares of our Series A common stock. The underwriter did not exercise the over-allotment option. We did not receive any of the proceeds from the offering. The transaction closed on May 15, 2006. We incurred and expensed approximately $2 million of fees related to this transaction.
 
On May 14, 2007, the Original Shareholders sold their remaining 22,106,597 shares of Series A common stock in a registered public secondary offering pursuant to the universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2006. We did not receive any of the proceeds from the offering. We incurred and expensed less than $1 million of fees related to this transaction. As of June 30, 2007, the Original Shareholders ownership interest was 0%.
 
As of June 30, 2007, we had total debt of $3,385 million compared to $3,498 million as of December 31, 2006. We were in compliance with all of the financial covenants related to our debt agreements as of June 30, 2007.
 
As of December 31, 2006, the amended and restated (January 2005) senior credit facilities consisted of a term loan facility, a revolving credit facility and a credit-linked revolving facility. The $600 million revolving credit facility provided for the availability of letters of credit in U.S. dollars and Euros and for borrowings on same-day notice. We had an approximate $228 million credit-linked revolving facility available for the issuance of letters of credit. The amended and restated (January 2005) senior credit facilities were paid in full in conjunction with the debt refinancing discussed below.
 
Debt Refinancing
 
In March 2007, we announced a comprehensive recapitalization plan to refinance our debt and repurchase shares. On April 2, 2007, we, through certain of our subsidiaries, entered into a new senior credit agreement. The new senior credit agreement consists of $2,280 million of U.S. dollar denominated and €400 million of Euro denominated term loans due 2014, a $650 million revolving credit facility terminating in 2013 and a $228 million credit-linked revolving facility terminating in 2014. Borrowings under the new senior credit agreement bear interest at a variable interest rate based on LIBOR (for U.S. dollars) or EURIBOR (for Euros), as applicable, or, for U.S. dollar denominated loans under certain circumstances, a base rate, in each case plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for the term loans and any loans under the credit-linked revolving facility is 1.75%, subject to potential reductions as defined in the new senior credit agreement. The term loans under the new senior credit agreement are subject to amortization at 1% of the initial principal amount per annum, payable quarterly. The remaining principal amount of the term loans will be due on April 2, 2014.
 
Proceeds from the new senior credit agreement, together with available cash, were used to retire our $2,454 million amended and restated (January 2005) senior credit facilities, which consisted of $1,626 million in term loans due 2011, a $600 million revolving credit facility terminating in 2009 and an approximate $228 million credit-linked revolving facility terminating in 2009 and to retire all of our Senior Subordinated Notes and Senior Discount Notes as discussed below.
 
On March 6, 2007, we commenced cash tender offers (the “Tender Offers”) with respect to any and all of the outstanding 10% senior discount notes due 2014 and 10.5% senior discount notes due 2014 (the “Senior Discount Notes”), and any and all of the outstanding 9.625% senior subordinated notes due 2014 and 10.375% senior subordinated notes due 2014 (the “Senior Subordinated Notes”). The Tender Offers expired on April 2, 2007. Substantially all of the Senior Discount Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes were tendered in conjunction with the Tender Offers. The remaining outstanding Senior Discount Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes not tendered in conjunction with the Tender Offers were redeemed in May 2007 through optional redemption allowed in the indentures.


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As a result of the refinancing, we incurred $207 million of premiums paid on early redemption of debt which is included in Refinancing expenses on the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007. In addition, we expensed $33 million of unamortized deferred financing costs and premiums related to the former $2,454 million senior credit facility, Senior Discount Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes and $16 million of debt issuance and other refinancing expenses.
 
In connection with the refinancing, we recorded deferred financing costs of $39 million related to the new senior credit agreement, which are included in Other assets on the accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2007 and will be amortized over the term of the new senior credit agreement. The deferred financing costs consist of $23 million of costs incurred to acquire the new senior credit facility and $16 million of debt issue costs existing prior to the refinancing which will be retained and amortized over the term of the new senior credit agreement. As a result of the refinancing, we incurred, through June 30, 2007, approximately $9 million of loss for the mark-to-market on the cross currency swap and the Euro denominated term loan that had been used as a hedge of our net investment in our European subsidiaries. We designated the net investment hedge as such during July 2007.
 
As of June 30, 2007, there were $154 million of letters of credit issued under the credit-linked revolving facility and $74 million remained available for borrowing. As of June 30, 2007, there were no outstanding borrowings or letters of credit issued under the revolving credit facility; accordingly $650 million remained available for borrowing.
 
Contractual Debt Obligations.  The following table sets forth our fixed contractual debt obligations as of June 30, 2007:
 
                                         
          Remaining
    2008-
    2010-
    2012 and
 
Fixed Contractual Debt Obligations
  Total     2007     2009     2011     Thereafter  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Term loan facility
    2,820       14       56       56       2,694  
Interest payments on debt(1)
    1,771       117       464       446       744  
Other debt(2)
    567       156       59       74       278  
                                         
Total fixed contractual debt obligations
    5,158       287       579       576       3,716  
                                         
 
 
(1) For future interest expense, we assumed no change in variable rates. See Note 8 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the applicable interest rates.
 
(2) Does not include a $2 million reduction due to purchase accounting.
 
Other Contractual Obligations
 
We adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN No. 48”), on January 1, 2007. The timing of future payments of the uncertain tax positions of $193 million resulting from the implementation of FIN No. 48 is uncertain. However, we reasonably expect to pay approximately $10 million of the liability for uncertain tax positions over the next twelve months. See Note 15 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further discussion.
 
Purchases of Treasury Stock
 
In conjunction with the debt refinancing discussed above, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary Celanese International Holdings Luxembourg S.à r.l., repurchased 2,021,775 shares of our outstanding Series A common stock in a modified “Dutch Auction” tender offer from public shareholders, which expired on April 3, 2007, at a purchase price of $30.50 per share. The total price paid for these shares was approximately $62 million. The number of shares purchased in the tender offer represented approximately 1.3% of our current outstanding Series A common stock at that time. We also separately purchased, through our wholly-owned subsidiary Celanese International Holdings Luxembourg S.à r.l., 329,011 shares of Series A common stock at $30.50 per share from the investment funds associated with The Blackstone Group L.P. The total price paid for these shares was


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approximately $10 million. The number of shares purchased from Blackstone represented approximately 0.2% of our current outstanding Series A common stock at that time.
 
Additionally, on June 4, 2007, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $330 million of our Series A common stock. During the three months ended June 30, 2007, we repurchased 4,922,600 shares of our Series A common stock at an average purchase price of $37.61 per share for a total of approximately $185 million pursuant to this authorization. Subsequent to June 30, 2007, we repurchased an additional 3,565,100 shares of our Series A common stock at an average purchase price of $40.63 per share for a total of approximately $145 million. We have completed repurchasing shares related to this authorization.
 
These purchases reduced the number of shares outstanding and may be used by us for compensation programs utilizing our stock and other corporate purposes. We account for treasury stock using the cost method and include treasury stock as a component of Shareholders’ Equity.
 
Deferred compensation
 
In May 2007, the Original Shareholders sold their remaining equity interest in our Company (see Note 11 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for additional information) triggering an Exit Event, as defined in Note 14 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements. Cash compensation of $73 million, excluding unpaid amounts of $1 million, representing the participants’ 2005 and 2006 contingent benefits, was paid to the participants at the time of the Exit Event. See Note 14 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for additional information.
 
On April 2, 2007, certain participants in our deferred compensation plan elected to participate in a revised program, which included both cash awards and restricted stock units. Under the revised program, participants relinquished their cash awards of up to $30 million that would have contingently accrued from 2007-2009 under the original plan. See additional discussion of the revised program in Note 14 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements. Based on current participation in the revised program, the award, which will be expensed between April 2, 2007 and December 31, 2010, aggregates to approximately $27 million plus notional earnings. We expensed approximately $2 million and $2 million, respectively, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 related to the revised program.
 
Restricted Stock
 
Participants in the revised deferred compensation program also received an award of restricted stock units (“RSUs”). The number of RSUs that ultimately vest depends on market performance targets measured by comparison of our stock performance versus a defined peer group. The ultimate award will range from zero to 263,030 RSUs, based on the market performance measurement at the cliff vesting date. During each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, we recorded compensation expense associated with these RSUs of less than $1 million. In addition to the RSUs granted to participants in the revised deferred compensation program, we granted RSUs to certain employees. The employee RSUs contain the same market performance criteria as those granted to the deferred compensation program participants, with an ultimate award that will range from zero to 917,361 RSUs. During each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, we recorded compensation expense associated with these RSUs of $1 million.
 
In addition, we granted 26,070 RSUs to our non-management Board of Directors. The Director RSUs will vest on April 26, 2008. During each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, we recorded compensation expense associated with these RSUs of less than $1 million. See additional discussion on all RSUs issued in Note 14 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
 
Long-term incentive plan
 
On February 16, 2007, approximately $26 million was paid to the long-term incentive plan (“LTIP”) participants. There are no additional amounts due under the LTIP plan. See Note 14 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for additional information.


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Squeeze-Out Payment
 
The Squeeze-Out was registered in the commercial register in Germany on December 22, 2006, after several lawsuits by minority shareholders challenging the shareholders’ resolution approving the Squeeze-Out were withdrawn pursuant to a settlement agreement entered into between plaintiff shareholders, the Purchaser and CAG on the same day. An aggregate purchase price of approximately €62 million was paid to minority shareholders in January 2007 as fair cash compensation for the acquisition of their shares in CAG, excluding direct acquisition costs of approximately €2 million. See additional information in Note 4 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
 
Domination Agreement
 
The domination and profit and loss transfer agreement (the “Domination Agreement”) was approved at the CAG extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on July 31, 2004. The Domination Agreement between CAG and the Purchaser became effective on October 1, 2004 and cannot be terminated by the Purchaser in the ordinary course of business until September 30, 2009. Our subsidiaries, Celanese International Holdings Luxembourg S.à r.l. (“CIH”), and Celanese Caylux Holdings Luxembourg S.C.A., and Celanese US, have each agreed to provide the Purchaser with financing to strengthen the Purchaser’s ability to fulfill its obligations under, or in connection with, the Domination Agreement and to ensure that the Purchaser will perform all of its obligations under, or in connection with, the Domination Agreement when such obligations become due, including, without limitation, the obligation to compensate CAG for any statutory annual loss incurred by CAG during the term of the Domination Agreement. If CIH and/or Celanese US are obligated to make payments under such guarantees or other security to the Purchaser, we may not have sufficient funds for payments on our indebtedness when due. We have not had to compensate CAG for an annual loss for any period during which the Domination Agreement has been in effect.
 
Pension and Other Benefits
 
As a result of the sale of the oxo products and derivatives businesses in February 2007 (see Note 4 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements), there was a reduction of approximately 1,076 employees triggering a settlement and remeasurement of the affected pension plans due to certain changes in actuarial valuation assumptions. The settlement and remeasurement resulted in a net increase in the projected benefit obligation of $44 million with an offset to Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net (net of tax of $1 million) and a settlement gain of $11 million (included in Gain on disposal of discontinued operations) for the pension plan during the six months ended June 30, 2007.
 
During the second quarter of 2007, we finalized the shutdown of our Edmonton, Canada methanol facility. This resulted in the reduction of approximately 175 employees triggering a settlement loss of less than $1 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We have not entered into any material off-balance sheet arrangements.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues, expenses and allocated charges during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
We describe our significant accounting policies in Note 4, Summary of Accounting Policies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006. We discuss our critical accounting policies and estimates in MD&A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006.


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Except for the following critical accounting policy discussed below, there have been no material revisions to the critical accounting policies as filed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006 with the SEC on February 21, 2007.
 
On January 1, 2007, we adopted the provision of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, and Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 provides recognition criteria and a related measurement model for tax positions taken by companies. In accordance with FIN 48, a tax position is a position in a previously filed tax return or a position to be taken in a future tax filing that is reflected in measuring current or deferred income tax assets and liabilities. Tax positions are recognized only when it is more-likely-than-not (likelihood of greater than 50%), based on technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. Tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not threshold are measured using a probability weighted approach as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. Whether the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is met for a tax position is a matter of judgment based on the individual facts and circumstances of that position evaluated in light of all available evidence. See Note 15 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for additional discussion of the FIN 48 impact.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
See Note 3 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q for discussion of new accounting pronouncements.
 
Factors That May Affect Future Results And Financial Condition
 
Because of the following factors, as well as other factors affecting our operating results and financial condition, past financial performance should not be considered to be a reliable indicator of future performance, and investors should not use historical trends to anticipate results or trends in future periods. In addition, many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things:
 
  •  changes in general economic, business, political and regulatory conditions in the countries or regions in which we operate;
 
  •  the length and depth of product and industry business cycles particularly in the automotive, electrical, electronics and construction industries;
 
  •  changes in the price and availability of raw materials, particularly changes in the demand for, supply of, and market prices of fuel oil, natural gas, coal, electricity and petrochemicals such as ethylene, propylene and butane, including changes in production quotas in OPEC countries and the deregulation of the natural gas transmission industry in Europe;
 
  •  the ability to pass increases in raw material prices on to customers or otherwise improve margins through price increases;
 
  •  the ability to maintain plant utilization rates and to implement planned capacity additions and expansions;
 
  •  the ability to reduce production costs and improve productivity by implementing technological improvements to existing plants;
 
  •  increased price competition and the introduction of competing products by other companies;
 
  •  changes in the degree of patent and other legal protection afforded to our products;
 
  •  compliance costs and potential disruption or interruption of production due to accidents or other unforeseen events or delays in construction of facilities;
 
  •  potential liability for remedial actions under existing or future environmental regulations;
 
  •  potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation, or from changes in the laws, regulations or policies of governments or other governmental activities in the countries in which we operate;


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  •  changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates;
 
  •  pending or future challenges to the Domination Agreement; and
 
  •  various other factors, both referenced and not referenced in this document.
 
Many of these factors are macroeconomic in nature and are, therefore, beyond our control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those described in this Quarterly Report as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended, planned or projected. We neither intend nor assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.
 
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
Except for the following market risk listed below, market risk for our Company has not changed significantly from the foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risks disclosed in Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006.
 
Interest Rate and Foreign Currency Risk Management
 
We may enter into interest rate swap agreements to reduce the exposure of interest rate risk inherent in our outstanding debt by locking in borrowing rates to achieve a desired level of fixed/floating rate debt depending on market conditions. At December 31, 2006, we had an outstanding interest rate swap with a notional amount of $300 million. On March 19, 2007, in anticipation of the April 2, 2007 debt refinancing, we entered into various U.S. dollar and Euro interest rate swaps, which became effective on April 2, 2007, with notional amounts of $1.6 billion and €150 million. The notional amount of the U.S. dollar swaps will reduce over time according to an amortization schedule while the notional amount of the Euro swap will remain at its original level throughout the term of the swap. The interest rate swaps have been designated as effective hedges of our variable rate debt under SFAS No. 133 and qualify for hedge accounting. In March 2007, in connection with the April 2, 2007 debt refinancing, we terminated our previously outstanding interest rate swap. As of June 30, 2007, we had approximately $2.3 billion, €498 million and CNY797 million of variable rate debt, of which $1.6 billion and €150 million is hedged with interest rate swaps, which leaves us approximately $712 million, €348 million and CNY797 million of variable rate debt subject to interest rate exposure. Accordingly, a 1% increase in interest rates would increase annual interest expense by approximately $13 million.
 
As a result of the refinancing, we incurred, through June 30, 2007, approximately $9 million of loss for the mark-to-market on the cross currency swap and the Euro denominated term loan that had been used as a hedge of our net investment in our European subsidiaries. We designated the net investment hedge as such during July 2007.
 
Item 4.   Controls and Procedures
 
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
During the second quarter of 2007, we implemented a new SAP consolidation system for our financial reporting. This implementation has involved various changes to internal processes and control procedures over financial reporting; however, the basic internal controls over financial reporting have not materially changed. At the time of the filing of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1.   Legal Proceedings
 
We are involved in a number of legal proceedings, lawsuits and claims incidental to the normal conduct of our business, relating to such matters as product liability, antitrust, past waste disposal practices and release of chemicals into the environment. While it is impossible at this time to determine with certainty the ultimate outcome of these proceedings, lawsuits and claims, we believe, based on the advice of legal counsel, that adequate provisions have been made and that the ultimate outcomes will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, but may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or cash flows in any given accounting period. See Note 12 to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for a discussion of legal proceedings.
 
Item 1A.   Risk Factors
 
Except for the following risk factor listed below, there have been no material revisions to the “Risk factors” as filed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006 with the SEC on February 21, 2007.
 
Our variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our debt service obligations to increase significantly and affect our operating results.
 
Certain of our borrowings are at variable rates of interest and expose us to interest rate risk. If interest rates were to increase, our debt service obligations on our variable rate indebtedness would increase even though the amount borrowed remained the same. On April 2, 2007, we, through certain of our subsidiaries, entered into a new senior credit agreement. The new senior credit agreement consists of $2,280 million of U.S. dollar denominated and €400 million of Euro denominated term loans due 2014, a $650 million revolving credit facility terminating in 2013 and a $228 million credit-linked revolving facility terminating in 2014. Borrowings under the new senior credit agreement bear interest at a variable interest rate based on LIBOR (for U.S. dollars) or EURIBOR (for Euros), as applicable, or, for U.S. dollar denominated loans under certain circumstances, a base rate, in each case plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for the term loans and any loans under the credit-linked revolving facility is 1.75%, subject to potential reductions as defined in the new senior credit agreement. The term loans under the new senior credit agreement are subject to amortization at 1% of the initial principal amount per annum, payable quarterly. The remaining principal amount of the term loans will be due on April 2, 2014.
 
Proceeds from the new senior credit agreement, together with available cash, were used to retire our $2,454 million amended and restated (January 2005) senior credit facilities, which consisted of $1,626 million in term loans due 2011, a $600 million revolving credit facility terminating in 2009 and an approximate $228 million credit-linked revolving facility terminating in 2009 and to retire portions of our senior subordinated notes and senior discount notes.
 
If interest rates were to increase, our debt service obligations on our variable rate indebtedness would increase even though the amount borrowed remains the same. As of June 30, 2007, we had approximately $2.3 billion, €498 million and CNY797 million of variable rate debt, of which $1.6 billion and €150 million is hedged with interest rate swaps, which leaves us approximately $712 million, €348 million and CNY797 million of variable rate debt subject to interest rate exposure. Accordingly, a 1% increase in interest rates would increase annual interest expense by approximately $13 million. There can be no assurance that interest rates will not rise significantly in the future. Such an increase could have an adverse impact on our future results of operations and cash flows.


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Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
The table below sets forth information regarding repurchases of our Series A common stock during the three months ended June 30, 2007:
 
                                 
                      Approximate Dollar
 
                Total Number of
    Value of Shares
 
    Total Number
    Average
    Shares Purchased as
    Remaining to be
 
    of Shares
    Price Paid
    Part of Publicly
    Purchased Under the
 
Period
  Purchased     per Share     Announced Program     Program  
 
April 1 — April 30, 2007(1)
    2,350,786     $ 30.50       2,350,786        
May 1 — May 31, 2007
                       
June 1 — June 30, 2007(2)
    4,922,600     $ 37.61       4,922,600     $ 145,000,000  
                                 
Total
    7,273,386               7,273,386     $ 145,000,000  
                                 
 
 
(1) On March 5, 2007, we publicly announced that our Board of Directors had authorized us to repurchase up to $400 million of our Series A common stock on or before April 3, 2007 by means of a modified “Dutch Auction” tender offer.
 
(2) On June 4, 2007, we publicly announced that our Board of Directors had authorized us to repurchase up to $330 million of our Series A common stock by means of open market purchases. During July 2007, we completed purchasing shares pursuant to this authorization (see Note 21 of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information).
 
Item 3.   Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
None.
 
Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
We held our annual meeting of shareholders on April 26, 2007. During this meeting, our shareholders were asked to consider and vote upon two proposals: 1) to elect three Class III Directors to our Board of Directors to serve for a term which expires at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2010 or until their successors are duly elected and qualified, and 2) to ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm. Martin G. McGuinn, James A. Quella, Daniel S. Sanders and John K. Wulff continue to serve as Class I Directors whose term expires at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2008 and James E. Barlett, David F. Hoffmeister, Anjan Mukherjee and Paul H. O’Neill continue to serve as Class II Directors whose terms expire at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2009, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
 
On the record date of March 1, 2007, there were 159,643,063 shares of Series A common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to be voted at the annual meeting, if represented. There were no “broker non-votes”. For each proposal, the results of the shareholder voting were as follows:
 
                 
    Votes For     Votes Withheld  
 
1. Election of the director nominees to serve in Class III, for a term which expires at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2010, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified, as follows:
               
Chinh E. Chu
    141,567,921       7,161,913  
Mark C. Rohr
    148,056,142       673,692  
David N. Weidman
    145,896,584       2,833,250  
 
                         
    Votes For     Votes Against     Abstain  
 
2. Ratification of appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm
    146,765,745       1,914,578       49,511  


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Item 5.   Other Information
 
None.
 
Item 6.   Exhibits
 
         
Exhibit
   
Number
 
Description
 
  3 .1   Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2005).
  3 .2   Amended and Restated By-laws, effective as of February 8, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 21, 2007).
  3 .3   Certificate of Designations of 4.25% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 28, 2005).
  10 .1   Form of Director Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement between Celanese Corporation and award recipient (filed herewith).
  10 .2   Separation Agreement, dated as of July 5, 2007, between Celanese Corporation and Lyndon B. Cole (filed herewith).
  10 .3   Offer Letter Agreement, dated June 27, 2007, between Celanese Corporation and Sandra Beach Lin (filed herewith).
  31 .1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
  31 .2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
  32 .1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
  32 .2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
 
PLEASE NOTE: It is inappropriate for readers to assume the accuracy of, or rely upon any covenants, representations or warranties that may be contained in agreements or other documents filed as Exhibits to, or incorporated by reference in, this Quarterly Report. Any such covenants, representations or warranties may have been qualified or superseded by disclosures contained in separate schedules or exhibits not filed with or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report, may reflect the parties’ negotiated risk allocation in the particular transaction, may be qualified by materiality standards that differ from those applicable for securities law purposes, and may not be true as of the date of this Quarterly Report or any other date and may be subject to waivers by any or all of the parties. Where exhibits and schedules to agreements filed or incorporated by reference as Exhibits hereto are not included in these exhibits, such exhibits and schedules to agreements are not included or incorporated by reference herein.


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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
CELANESE CORPORATION
 
  By: 
/s/  David N. Weidman
Name: David N. Weidman
  Title:  Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Chief Executive Officer
 
Date: July 27, 2007
 
  By: 
/s/  Steven M. Sterin
Name: Steven M. Sterin
  Title:  Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
 
Date: July 27, 2007


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