ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. We operate in a single distinct business segment. We develop, market and sell all three major classes of crop protection chemicals (insecticides, herbicides and fungicides) as well as biologicals, crop nutrition, and seed treatment products, which we group as plant health. FMC’s innovative crop protection solutions enable growers, crop advisers and turf and pest management professionals to address their toughest challenges economically without compromising safety or the environment. FMC is committed to discovering new insecticide, herbicide, and fungicide active ingredients, product formulations and pioneering technologies that are consistently better for the planet.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Statement under the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: FMC and its representatives may from time to time make written or oral statements that are "forward-looking" and provide other than historical information, including statements contained herein, in FMC’s other filings with the SEC, and in reports or letters to FMC stockholders.
In some cases, FMC has identified forward-looking statements by such words or phrases as "will likely result," "is confident that," "expect," "expects," "should," "could," "may," "will continue to," "believe," "believes," "anticipates," "predicts," "forecasts," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "intends" or similar expressions identifying "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the negative of those words and phrases. Such forward-looking statements are based on management’s current views and assumptions regarding future events, future business conditions and the outlook for the company based on currently available information. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. Additional factors include, among other things, the risk factors and other cautionary statements filed with the SEC included within this Form 10-K as well as other SEC filings and public communications. FMC cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the above cautionary statement. FMC undertakes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any duty, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated events, except as otherwise required by law.
2024 Highlights
The following are the more significant developments in our businesses during the year ended December 31, 2024:
•In response to the unprecedented downturn in the global crop protection market during 2023, we initiated a global restructuring plan, referred to as "Project Focus," in November 2023 designed to right-size our cost base and optimize our footprint and organizational structure with a focus on driving significant cost improvement and productivity. Refer to the section titled "Results of Operations" for further discussion of the program.
•Revenue of $4,246.1 million in 2024 decreased $240.7 million or approximately 5 percent versus last year. Demand began to improve during the second quarter of 2024 resulting in improved sales volumes year over year. Price and foreign currency headwinds more than offset volume improvement during the year. On a regional basis, sales in Latin America decreased by 1 percent, sales in North America decreased 3 percent, sales in Europe, Middle East and Africa decreased by 7 percent, and sales in Asia decreased 14 percent. A more detailed review of revenues is included under the section entitled "Results of Operations".
•Our gross margin of $1,648.9 million decreased versus the prior year gross margin of $1,831.0 million. The decrease in gross margin of $182.1 million or approximately 10 percent was primarily the result of lower pricing in all regions partially offset by favorable cost and volume improvement. Gross margin as a percent of revenue of 38.8 percent decreased compared to gross margin of 40.8 percent in the prior year period driven by higher unabsorbed fixed costs during the period as well as registration removals.
•Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased from $734.3 million to $644.6 million, or approximately 12 percent. Research and development expenses of $278.0 million decreased $50.8 million or 15 percent. The decreases in both selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development costs are primarily due to cost reduction measures implemented in connection with our Project Focus initiative. Reductions in research and development spending were done without sacrificing investments in areas such as Plant Health and our new active ingredient pipeline.
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•Net income (loss) attributable to FMC stockholders of $341.1 million decreased $980.4 million from $1,321.5 million in the prior year period. As discussed further under the section titled "Results of Operations", the change in the provision (benefit) for income taxes was the primary driver of the decrease in net income (loss) attributable to FMC stockholders. Prior year results include the recognition of significant one-time tax benefits related to tax incentives granted to the Company's Swiss subsidiaries as well as the release of our FMC Brazil valuation allowance due to new tax laws enacted in the country. We also recorded higher valuation allowances on the tax benefits associated with our Swiss subsidiaries during the fourth quarter of 2024. Additionally, lower gross margin, as discussed above, negatively impacted our results for the period. During the period, we realized savings associated with the cost reduction measures implemented in connection with our Project Focus initiative contributing to a decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development costs as discussed above. Adjusted after-tax earnings from continuing operations attributable to FMC stockholders of $436.3 million decreased $38.2 million or approximately 8 percent. See the disclosure of our adjusted earnings Non-GAAP financial measurement under the section titled "Results of Operations".
2025 Outlook
We expect 2025 revenue will be in the range of approximately $4.15 billion to $4.35 billion, essentially flat at the midpoint versus 2024 and an increase of 3 percent excluding the impact of approximately $110 million in sales from the prior year due to the divestiture of the GSS business. Volume is expected to improve as increases in growth platforms are expected to more than offset weaker demand in the channel as customers in many countries prioritize holding lower than historical inventory. Price is expected to decline in the mid-single digits almost entirely driven by certain contract adjustments to diamide partners to account for lower manufacturing costs. Foreign currency impacts are expected to be a low-single digit headwind. We expect adjusted EBITDA(1) of $870 million to $950 million, an increase of 1 percent at the midpoint versus 2024 results and up 4 percent after excluding the impact of the loss of approximately $25 million in EBITDA from the prior year due to the divestiture of the GSS business. Favorable costs and a modest volume gain are expected to be mostly offset lower price, foreign currency headwinds, and increases in selling costs as the Company invests in new routes to market. 2025 adjusted earnings are expected to be in the range of $3.26 to $3.70 per diluted share(1), essentially flat at the midpoint versus 2024. The estimate for adjusted earnings excludes any impact from potential share repurchases in 2025. For cash flow outlook, refer to the liquidity and capital resources section below.
(1)Although we provide forecasts for adjusted earnings per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP financial measures), we are not able to forecast the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Certain elements of the composition of the U.S. GAAP amounts are not predictable, making it impractical for us to forecast. Such elements include, but are not limited to, restructuring, acquisition charges, and discontinued operations. As a result, no U.S. GAAP outlook is provided.
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Results of Operations — 2024, 2023 and 2022
Overview
The following charts provide a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings, organic revenue growth and return on invested capital ("ROIC"), all of which are Non-GAAP financial measures, from the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Adjusted EBITDA and organic revenue are provided to assist the readers of our financial statements with useful information regarding our operating results. Our operating results are presented based on how we assess operating performance and internally report financial information. For management purposes, we report operating performance based on earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, discontinued operations, and corporate special charges. Our adjusted earnings measure excludes corporate special charges, net of income taxes, discontinued operations attributable to FMC stockholders, net of income taxes, and certain Non-GAAP tax adjustments. These are excluded by us in the measure we use to evaluate business performance and determine certain performance-based compensation. Organic revenue growth excludes the impacts of foreign currency changes, which we believe is a meaningful metric to evaluate our revenue changes. These items are discussed in detail within the "Other Results of Operations" section that follows. In addition to providing useful information about our operating results to investors, we also believe that excluding the effect of corporate special charges, net of income taxes, and certain Non-GAAP tax adjustments from operating results and discontinued operations allows management and investors to compare more easily the financial performance of our underlying business from period to period. These measures should not be considered as substitutes for net income (loss) or other measures of performance or liquidity reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
(in Millions) Year Ended December 31,
Costs and Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses 644.6 734.3 775.2
Restructuring and other charges (income) 219.8 212.3 93.1
Non-operating pension and postretirement charges (income) 18.2 18.2 8.6
Income (loss) from continuing operations $ 403.4 $ 1,419.5 $ 838.7
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes (61.8) (98.5) (97.2)
Adjustments to arrive at Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP):
Corporate special charges (income):
Restructuring and other charges (income) (3) $ 219.8 $ 238.1 $ 93.1
Non-operating pension and postretirement charges (income) (4) 18.2 18.2 8.6
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes 61.8 98.5 97.2
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(1)Referred to as operating profit.
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(2)Adjusted EBITDA is defined as operating profit excluding corporate special charges (income) and depreciation and amortization expense.
(3)See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for details of restructuring and other charges (income).
(4)Our non-operating pension and postretirement charges (income) are defined as those costs (benefits) related to interest, expected return on plan assets, amortized actuarial gains and losses and the impacts of any plan curtailments or settlements. These are excluded from our operating results and are primarily related to changes in pension plan assets and liabilities which are tied to financial market performance and we consider these costs to be outside our operational performance. We continue to include the service cost and amortization of prior service cost in our operating results noted above. These elements reflect the current year operating costs to our business for the employment benefits provided to active employees.
ADJUSTED EARNINGS RECONCILIATION
(in Millions, except per share amounts) Year Ended December 31,
Corporate special charges (income), net of income taxes $ 200.9 $ 223.5 $ 103.2
Diluted earnings per common share (GAAP) $ 2.72 $ 10.53 $ 5.81
Corporate special charges (income), pre-tax per diluted share 1.90 2.05 0.81
Tax adjustments per diluted share (1.33) (9.30) (0.04)
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(1)Represents restructuring and other charges (income), and non-operating pension and postretirement charges (income).
(2)The income tax expense (benefit) on Corporate special charges (income) is determined using the applicable rates in the taxing jurisdictions in which the Corporate special charge or income occurred and includes both current and deferred income tax expense (benefit) based on the nature of the Non-GAAP performance measure.
(3)We exclude the GAAP tax provision, including discrete items, from the Non-GAAP measure of income, and instead include a Non-GAAP tax provision based upon the annual Non-GAAP effective tax rate. The GAAP tax provision includes, and the Non-GAAP tax provision excludes, certain discrete tax items including, but not limited to: income tax expenses or benefits that are not related to current year ongoing business operations; tax adjustments associated with fluctuations in foreign currency remeasurement of certain foreign operations; certain changes in estimates of tax matters related to prior fiscal years; certain changes in the realizability of deferred tax assets; and changes in tax law. Management believes excluding these discrete tax items assists investors and securities analysts in understanding the tax provision and the effective tax rate related to ongoing operations thereby providing investors with useful supplemental information about FMC's operational performance. Refer to the explanation below on the provision for income taxes for further detail of the non-GAAP tax adjustments for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024.
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ORGANIC REVENUE GROWTH RECONCILIATION
Total Revenue Change (GAAP) (5) %
Less: Foreign Currency Impact (2) %
Organic Revenue Change (Non-GAAP) (3) %
RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO
FMC STOCKHOLDERS (GAAP) TO RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL ("ROIC")
NUMERATOR (NON-GAAP) AND ADJUSTED ROIC (USING NON-GAAP NUMERATOR)
We believe Adjusted ROIC provides management and investors with useful supplemental information regarding our utilization of capital provided by both equity and debt as well as our working capital and free cash flow management. Additionally, vesting of certain restricted stock awards granted to officers is connected to Adjusted ROIC as a performance metric.
Twelve Months Ended
Net income (loss) attributable to FMC stockholders (GAAP) $ 341.1
Interest expense, net, net of income taxes 210.1
Corporate special charges (income) 238.0
Income tax expense (benefit) on Corporate special charges (income) (37.1)
Tax adjustments (167.5)
ROIC numerator (Non-GAAP) $ 646.4
Total debt and FMC stockholders' equity (GAAP) $ 7,852.8 $ 8,368.5
Adjusted ROIC (using Non-GAAP numerator) 7.97 %
Results of Operations
In the discussion below, all comparisons are between the periods unless otherwise noted.
Revenue
2024 vs. 2023
Revenue of $4,246.1 million decreased $240.7 million, or approximately 5 percent versus the prior year period. Volume improved as the year progressed and resulted in a 3 percent increase in revenue year over year. Price and foreign currency impacts were headwinds during the period of 6 percent and 2 percent, respectively. Higher volume was driven by the Company’s growth portfolio, and particularly the new active ingredients IsoflexTM and fluindapyr.
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2023 vs. 2022
Revenue of $4,486.8 million decreased $1,315.5 million, or approximately 23 percent versus the prior year period. The decrease was primarily driven by a 22 percent decrease from volumes, which were down across all four regions due to the channel destocking by growers and the distribution channel. The decrease in revenues was also due to an unfavorable foreign currency impact of approximately 1 percent.
See below for a discussion of revenue by region.
Total Revenue by Region
Year Ended December 31,
2024 vs. 2023
North America: Revenue decreased approximately 3 percent in the year ended December 31, 2024 due to a significant decline in volumes during the first quarter as a result of continued pressure from channel destocking behavior. Volume recovery as a result of improved inventory levels in the channel during the following quarters partially offset the decrease in the first quarter. Unfavorable pricing actions also contributed to the decrease in the revenue during the period. Strong growth in fungicides, particularly from flutriafol and fluindapyr products, positively impacted sales in the region.
Latin America: Revenue decreased approximately 1 percent for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the prior year period. Organically, revenue increased approximately 5 percent driven by volume growth primarily related to branded diamides and Onsuva®, a fluindapyr-based fungicide. The volume growth was partially offset by unfavorable impacts from pricing actions, primarily in Brazil, during the period, which were caused by competitive pressure as demand returned as well as one-time customer incentives, offered primarily during the second quarter, aimed at addressing high cost inventory in the channel.
EMEA: Revenue decreased approximately 7 percent, or approximately 4 percent organically, versus the prior year period. Branded Cyazypyr® products contributed to volume growth in the region that partially offset the impact of registration removals and the rationalization of some lower margin products.
Asia: Revenue decreased approximately 14 percent, or approximately 12 percent organically, versus the prior year period caused by lower volumes, primarily due to ongoing destocking behavior, specifically in India. Pricing pressure caused by competitive pressure was an additional headwind in the region.
For 2025, full-year revenue is expected to be in the range of approximately $4.15 billion to $4.35 billion, which is essentially flat at the midpoint versus 2024 and an increase of 3 percent excluding the impact of approximately $110 million in sales from the prior year due to the divestiture of the GSS business.
2023 vs. 2022
North America: Revenue decreased approximately 16 percent in the year ended December 31, 2023. The significant decrease in volumes period over period was due to the channel destocking by growers and the distribution channel. The decrease in volumes was partially offset by improved product mix in the region due to new branded products launched within the last five years as well as positive pricing actions.
Latin America: Revenue decreased approximately 33 percent, or approximately 35 percent organically, for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the prior year period driven primarily by the pressure on volumes due to channel destocking as well as drought conditions in Brazil. Additionally, pricing actions were a headwind during the period. The decreases in volumes and pricing were partially offset by positive FX movements during the period. During the fourth quarter, we successfully launched Premio® Star insecticide in Brazil contributing to branded diamide sales in Latin America.
EMEA: Revenue decreased approximately 14 percent, or approximately 10 percent organically, versus the prior year period as a result of the decline in volumes due to a channel destocking as well as adverse weather conditions in the region partially offset by positive pricing actions and strong diamides sales in the region.
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Asia: Revenue decreased approximately 21 percent, or approximately 16 percent organically, versus the prior year period caused by channel destocking during the period resulting in a decline in volumes during the period. FX continued to be a headwind in the region.
Gross margin
2024 vs. 2023
Gross margin of $1,648.9 million decreased by $182.1 million, or approximately 10 percent versus the prior year period resulting from a 13 percent decrease due to lower pricing in all regions due to competitive pressure as demand returned. The decrease in price was partially offset by a 2 percent increase due to positive input cost improvement and a 1 percent increase from volume growth. Gross margin percent of approximately 38.8 percent slightly decreased from approximately 40.8 percent in the prior year period driven by higher unabsorbed fixed costs as well as registration removals during the period.
2023 vs. 2022
Gross margin of $1,831.0 million decreased by $495.8 million, or approximately 21 percent versus the prior year period resulting from a 29 percent decrease in volumes caused by a significant channel destocking partially offset by a 10 percent increase due to positive input cost improvement. Unfavorable foreign currency impacts of 2 percent also contributed to the decline in gross margin during the period. Gross margin percent of approximately 40.8 percent remained consistent with gross margin percent of 40.1 percent in the prior year period.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
2024 vs. 2023
Selling, general and administrative expenses of $644.6 million decreased by $89.7 million, or approximately 12 percent versus the prior year period. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses is primarily due to cost reduction measures implemented in connection with our Project Focus initiative as well as operating cost mitigation actions in effect since last year due to lower business performance.
2023 vs. 2022
Selling, general and administrative expenses of $734.3 million decreased by $40.9 million, or approximately 5 percent versus the prior year period. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses is a result of the operating cost mitigation actions we undertook beginning in the latter half second quarter in response to the volume pressures.
Research and development expenses
2024 vs. 2023
Research and development expenses of $278.0 million decreased by $50.8 million, or approximately 15 percent versus the prior year period. The decrease in research and development costs is a result of cost reduction efforts related to Project Focus. Reductions in research and development spending were done without sacrificing investments in areas such as Plant Health and our new active ingredient pipeline.
2023 vs. 2022
Research and development expenses of $328.8 million increased by $14.6 million, or approximately 5 percent versus the prior year period. The increase in research and development expenditures is related to continued investment in our new active ingredient pipeline, including our recently acquired pheromones business, as well as inflation and labor cost increases. However, inflation conditions improved in the second half of the year indicating the peak of inflationary headwinds.
Other Results of Operations
Depreciation and amortization
2024 vs. 2023
Depreciation and amortization of $176.3 million decreased $8.0 million, or approximately 4 percent, as compared to 2023 of $184.3 million. The decrease was the result of the write off of certain amortizable assets in the first half of 2024 as part of our Project Focus restructuring initiative.
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2023 vs. 2022
Depreciation and amortization of $184.3 million increased $14.9 million, or approximately 9 percent, as compared to 2022 of $169.4 million. The increase was driven by additional assets placed into service during 2023 and accelerated depreciation associated with certain assets at one of our research facilities.
Interest expense, net
2024 vs. 2023
Interest expense, net of $235.8 million decreased by $1.4 million, or approximately 1 percent, compared to $237.2 million in 2023 primarily driven by lower debt balances and rates. Specifically, lower foreign balances and rates resulted in a decrease in interest expense of approximately $6.5 million. The decrease in interest expense was partially offset by an increase of approximately $5.1 million due to higher domestic short-term interest rates.
2023 vs. 2022
Interest expense, net of $237.2 million increased by $85.4 million, or approximately 56 percent, compared to $151.8 million in 2022. The increase was primarily driven by higher interest rates and, to a lesser extent, higher debt balances. Specifically, higher domestic interest rates increased interest expense by approximately $63 million and higher domestic short-term balances increased interest expense by approximately $18 million during the period. Higher foreign interest rates and debt balances also contributed to the increase by approximately $7 million.
Corporate special charges (income)
Restructuring and other charges (income)
Our restructuring and other charges (income) are comprised of restructuring, assets disposals and other charges (income) as described below:
Year Ended December 31,
Total restructuring and other charges (income) (1) $ 219.8 $ 212.3 $ 93.1
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(1) See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K for more information.
2024
Restructuring and other charges (income) primarily includes restructuring charges incurred in connection with the Project Focus initiative. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we incurred $132.1 million of contract abandonment charges as a result of the continued evaluation of our supply chain footprint during the fourth quarter of 2024 and $53.3 million of non-cash asset write off charges resulting from the contract cessation with one of our third-party manufacturers during the second quarter of 2024. The decision to exit these agreements was driven in part by our ability to source these materials from lower cost locations. Charges incurred in connection with Project Focus also consist of $55.8 million in severance and employee separation charges, including costs associated with the CEO transition, $31.0 million of professional service provider costs and other miscellaneous charges associated with the project, accelerated depreciation of $20.5 million on assets identified for disposal in connection with the restructuring initiative, and $13.2 million of asset impairment charges.
In connection with Project Focus, the Company expects to incur pre-tax restructuring charges in the range of approximately $375 million to $425 million, inclusive of charges incurred during 2024 as well as $45.5 million of charges incurred in 2023. The estimate for total Project Focus charges, which is subject to future changes, includes severance and related benefit costs in the range of $90 to $100 million, asset write-off and contract abandonment charges of approximately $250 to $270 million, and other costs of $35 to $55 million. We have implemented substantially all the activities associated with the plan and expect the plan to be complete by the end of 2025. However, we may incur additional asset write-off charges and other exit and disposal costs should additional activities be implemented under the restructuring program. The remaining amounts will be reflected in our consolidated results of operations as they become probable and estimable or a triggering event is identified in accordance with the relevant accounting guidance.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, we also recognized income of $2.9 million related to previously implemented restructuring initiatives including a $3.1 million gain recognized on the disposition of a previously closed manufacturing site.
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Other charges (income) of $(83.2) million is comprised of a gain, net of full year incurred transaction costs, of $174.4 million from the sale of our GSS business, which was completed on November 1, 2024. The divestiture of GSS, which includes a line of products that serve a diverse mix of non-crop markets such as golf courses, professional sports stadiums and pest control, is a key step in FMC's strategic plan to focus solely on innovating products and services for the global crop protection market. The gain from the GSS sale was partially offset by $74.7 million of charges associated with our environmental sites and $16.5 million of other miscellaneous charges.
2023
Restructuring and other charges (income) includes $40.1 million of severance and employee separation costs and $5.4 million of provider costs associated with the Project Focus restructuring initiative. Other restructuring costs of $8.7 million relate to employee separation and asset impairment costs incurred as part of various ongoing initiatives. These restructuring charges were offset by a $5.8 million gain recognized on the disposition of land related to a previously closed manufacturing facility.
Other charges (income) of $163.9 million is comprised of $75.2 million in currency related charges driven by significant devaluation actions taken by the Argentine Government during the fourth quarter of 2023 as well as similar devaluation actions in Pakistan and Argentina during previous quarts of 2023. Other charges (income) also includes $13.0 million in charges primarily resulting from the third quarter acquisition of in-process research and development assets that do not meet the criteria for capitalization. We also incurred $66.9 million in environmental charges associated with remediation and other miscellaneous charges of $8.8 million.
2022
Restructuring and other charges (income) is primarily comprised of a gain of $50.5 million recognized on the disposition of land related to a closed manufacturing facility. Restructuring and other charges (income) is also comprised of charges of $5.9 million of severance and employee separation costs, $11.2 million related to fixed asset charges, and $7.3 million of other restructuring related charges incurred as part of various restructuring initiatives disclosed in previous periods.
Other charges (income) is primarily comprised of $76.8 million in exit charges related to our decision to cease operations and business in Russia. Additional charges of $42.4 million relate primarily to environmental charges, which were impacted by higher inflation rates.
Non-operating pension and postretirement charges (income)
2024 vs. 2023
Charges for each of the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $18.2 million.
2023 vs. 2022
The charge for 2023 was $18.2 million compared to $8.6 million in 2022. Higher interest rates during the period resulted in an increase to interest costs for pension and other postretirement benefits.
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
In 2024, we recognized an income tax benefit of $150.9 million, which resulted in an effective tax rate of negative 59.8 percent. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we recorded an income tax benefit of $1,119.3 million resulting in an effective tax rate of negative 372.9 percent. Income tax provision for 2022 was $145.2 million resulting in an effective tax rate of 14.8 percent. Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K includes more details on the drivers of the GAAP effective rate and year-over-year changes.
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We believe showing the reconciliation below of our GAAP to Non-GAAP effective tax rate provides investors with useful supplemental information about our tax rate on the core underlying business.
Year Ended December 31,
Net impact of Switzerland tax incentives (1) — 153.9 — 830.8 — —
Foreign currency and other discrete items (1) — 12.0 — 113.1 — 5.3
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(1)Refer to note 3 of the Adjusted Earnings Reconciliation table within this section of this Form 10-K for an explanation of tax adjustments.
The primary drivers for the fluctuations in the effective tax rate for each period are provided in the table above.
During the three months ended December 31, 2023, the Company’s Swiss subsidiaries were granted ten-year tax incentives effective for 2023 and retroactively for 2021 and 2022. The tax incentives were awarded for the Company’s commitment to invest in additional headcount and transfer significant intellectual property as well as establishing a new global technology and innovation center in Switzerland. Deferred tax benefits of $1,149 million and related valuation allowances of $318 million were recorded during the three months ended December 31, 2023 to reflect the net estimated future reductions in tax of $831 million associated with the incentives.
In connection with our plans to establish a global technology and innovation center in Switzerland, we initiated changes to our corporate entity structure, including intra-entity transfers of certain intellectual property, during the second quarter of 2024. As a result, we recorded a net tax benefit of approximately $300 million. This benefit, net of valuation allowance, was primarily a result of the recognition of a step-up in tax basis to the fair value of the transferred intellectual property by one of the Company’s Swiss subsidiaries. In addition, local tax impacts associated with the disposition of the transferred intellectual property were recorded as well as an increase in our valuation allowance associated with Swiss nonrefundable tax credits as a result of indirect effects of the transferred intellectual property. During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company recorded additional valuation allowances of approximately $120 million as a result of updated projections of future earnings associated with the 2023 deferred tax benefits noted above.
Historically, FMC’s Brazil valuation allowance position was based on long-standing local transfer pricing rules, as well as certain material favorable permanent statutory tax deductions available to FMC Brazil as part of local tax law. During the three months ended December 31, 2023, the Company released its FMC Brazil valuation allowance and recorded a tax benefit of approximately $223 million as a result of the Brazilian Government enacting a new tax law that significantly limits FMC Brazil’s ability to benefit in the future from the material favorable permanent statutory tax deductions previously available as part of local tax law.
Excluding the items in the table above, changes in the non-GAAP effective tax rate were primarily due to the impact of geographic mix of earnings among our global subsidiaries. See Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for additional details related to the provisions for income taxes on continuing operations, as well as items that significantly impact our effective tax rate.
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes
Our discontinued operations primarily reflect adjustments to retained liabilities from previously discontinued operations and include environmental liabilities, other postretirement benefit liabilities, self-insurance, long-term obligations related to legal proceedings and historical restructuring activities. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for additional details on our discontinued operations.
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2024 vs. 2023
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes represented a loss of $61.8 million in 2024 compared to a loss of $98.5 million in 2023. The loss during both periods was primarily due to adjustments related to the retained liabilities from our previously discontinued operations. The twelve months ended December 31, 2024 includes an offsetting gain of $18.0 million recognized as the result of an insurance settlement for retained legal reserves.
2023 vs. 2022
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes represented a loss of $98.5 million in 2023 compared to a loss of $97.2 million in 2022. The loss during both periods was primarily due to adjustments related to the retained liabilities from our previously discontinued operations.
Net income (loss)
2024 vs. 2023
Net income decreased to $341.6 million from $1,321.0 million primarily as a result of a decrease of $968.4 million to our benefit for income taxes. We recorded significant one-time tax benefits in the prior year related to tax incentives granted to our Swiss subsidiaries as discussed above. In the fourth quarter of 2024, we recorded higher valuation allowances on these tax benefits. In 2024, we also recorded a $300 million income tax benefit in connection with the changes to our corporate entity structure made as part of establishing our global technology and innovation center in Switzerland. Additionally, lower gross margin, as discussed above, negatively impacted our results for the period. The change in our gross margin and benefit for income taxes was partially offset by a gain of $18.0 million in discontinued operations during the second quarter as the result of an insurance settlement for retained legal reserves. Our research and development expenses and our selling, general, and administrative expenses were also lower as a result of cost containment.
The only difference between Net income (loss) and Net income (loss) attributable to FMC stockholders is noncontrolling interest.
2023 vs. 2022
Net income increased to $1,321.0 million from $741.5 million. Results in the current year period were higher than the prior year period primarily as a result of a decrease to our provision for income taxes of $1,264.5 million resulting in an income tax benefit for the year. During the fourth quarter, we recognized significant one-time tax benefits related to new tax incentives granted to the Company's Swiss subsidiaries. In addition, we released our FMC Brazil valuation allowance as a result of new tax laws enacted in the country, resulting in the recognition of additional tax benefit. The increase in the benefit for income taxes was partially offset by the unprecedented decline in volumes as the distribution channel focused on channel destocking significantly decreasing our revenues and gross margin as discussed above. Additionally, an increase in interest expense of $85.4 million, primarily driven by higher interest rates, also offset the increase in net income as well as higher restructuring and other charges.
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)
2024 vs. 2023
Adjusted EBITDA of $902.6 million decreased $75.4 million, or approximately 8 percent versus the prior year period. Cost as well as volume improvement of approximately 14 percent and 1 percent, respectively, were fully offset by unfavorable pricing impacts of approximately 25 percent. Favorable foreign currency impacts of approximately 2 percent also increased adjusted EBITDA.
2023 vs. 2022
Adjusted EBITDA of $978.0 million decreased $428.8 million, or approximately 30 percent versus the prior year period. The decrease was due to lower volumes impacting adjusted EBITDA by 48 percent as well as unfavorable foreign currency impacts of approximately 2 percent. The decrease was partially offset by cost and price movements, which both increased adjusted EBITDA by approximately 18 percent and 2 percent, respectively.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
As a global agricultural sciences company, we require cash primarily for seasonal working capital needs, capital expenditures, and return of capital to shareholders. We plan to meet these liquidity needs through available cash, cash generated from operations, commercial paper issuances and borrowings under our committed revolving credit facility as well as other liquidity facilities, and in certain instances access to debt capital markets. We believe our solid financial standing and credit ratings will ensure adequate access to the debt capital markets on favorable conditions. Information involving our material cash requirements is detailed below.
Cash
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2024 and 2023, were $357.3 million and $302.4 million, respectively. Of the cash and cash equivalents balance at December 31, 2024, $348.9 million was held by our foreign subsidiaries. We have established plans to repatriate cash from certain foreign subsidiaries with minimal tax on a go forward basis. Other cash held by foreign subsidiaries is generally used to finance subsidiaries’ operating activities and future foreign investments. See Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for more information on our indefinite reinvestment assertion.
Outstanding debt
At December 31, 2024, we had total debt of $3,365.3 million as compared to $3,957.6 million at December 31, 2023. Total debt included $3,027.9 million and $3,023.6 million of long-term debt (excluding current portions of $76.1 million and $96.5 million) at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Our short-term debt consists of foreign borrowings and borrowings under our commercial paper program. Foreign borrowings increased from $98.0 million at December 31, 2023 to $135.7 million at December 31, 2024 while outstanding commercial paper decreased from $739.5 million at December 31, 2023 to $125.6 million at December 31, 2024. We provide parent-company guarantees to lending institutions providing credit to our foreign subsidiaries.
As of December 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants. In February 2025, we entered into new amendments to our Revolving Credit Facility to amend the maximum leverage and minimum interest coverage ratios and to extend the maturity date of the facility to 2028. See Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for further details. We remain committed to solid investment grade credit metrics.
Our total debt maturities, excluding discounts, is $3,387.4 million at December 31, 2024, with $337.4 million payable in the next 12 months. As of December 31, 2024, we had contractual interest obligations of $1,872.3 million outstanding, with $144.9 million payable in the next 12 months. Contractual interest is the interest we are contracted to pay on our long-term debt obligations. We do not have any long-term debt subject to variable interest rates at December 31, 2024.
Access to credit and future liquidity and funding needs
At December 31, 2024, our remaining borrowing capacity under our credit facility was $1,664.3 million. Our commercial paper program allows us to borrow at rates generally more favorable than those available under our credit facility. At December 31, 2024, we had $125.6 million borrowings outstanding under the commercial paper program at an average borrowing rate of 5 percent. Our commercial paper balances fluctuate from year to year depending on working capital needs. Based on cash generated from operations, our existing liquidity facilities, which includes the revolving credit agreement with the option to increase capacity up to $2.75 billion, and our continued access to debt capital markets, we have adequate liquidity to meet any of the Company's debt obligations in the near term including any current portion of long-term debt.
Working Capital Initiatives
We offer to a select group of suppliers a voluntary supply chain finance program as part of our continued efforts to improve our working capital efficiency. We do not believe that changes in the availability of the supply chain finance program would have a significant impact on our liquidity. See Note 2 for more information on the key terms and balances of the program.
From time to time, the Company may sell receivables on a non-recourse basis to third-party financial institutions. These sales are normally driven by specific market conditions, including, but not limited to, foreign exchange environments, customer credit management, as well as other factors where the receivables may lay. See Note 8 for more information on receivables factoring.
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Commitments
We provide guarantees to financial institutions on behalf of certain customers, principally customers in Brazil for their seasonal borrowing. The total of these guarantees was $157.9 million at December 31, 2024. These guarantees arise during the ordinary course of business from relationships with customers and nonconsolidated affiliates. Non-performance by the guaranteed party triggers the obligation requiring us to make payments to the beneficiary of the guarantee. Based on our experience these types of guarantees have not had a material effect on our consolidated financial position or on our liquidity. Our expectation is that future payment or performance related to the non-performance of others is considered unlikely.
In connection with certain of our property and asset sales and divestitures, we have agreed to indemnify the buyer for certain liabilities, including environmental contamination and taxes that occurred prior to the date of sale. Our indemnification obligations with respect to these liabilities may be indefinite as to duration and may or may not be subject to a deductible, minimum claim amount or cap. In cases where it is not possible for us to predict the likelihood that a claim will be made or to make a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential loss or range of loss, no specific liability has been recorded. If triggered, we may be able to recover certain of the indemnity payments from third parties. In cases where it is possible, we have recorded a specific liability within our Reserve for Discontinued Operations. Refer to Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for further details.
Taxes, Pension, Environmental, and Other Discontinued Liabilities
As of December 31, 2024, the liability for uncertain tax positions was $58.3 million. Our consolidated balance sheets contain accrued pension and other postretirement benefits, our environmental liabilities, and our other discontinued liabilities for which we are unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate of the amount and periods in which these liabilities might be paid beyond 2025. We believe any liability arising from potential environmental obligations is not likely to have a material adverse effect on our liquidity or financial condition as it may be satisfied over many years. See our discussion under 2025 Cash Flow Outlook in the Free Cash Flow section within this Form 10-K for information on these liabilities and the related expected payments in 2025.
Derivatives
At times we can be in a derivative liability position that can require future cash obligations. However, as of December 31, 2024, we had no such obligations.
Leases
We have lease arrangements for equipment and facilities, including office spaces, IT equipment, transportation equipment, and machinery equipment. As of December 31, 2024, we had fixed lease payment obligations of $152.7 million, with $29.8 million payable within 12 months.
Purchase obligations
Purchase obligations consist of agreements to purchase goods and services that are enforceable and legally binding and specify all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased, price provisions and timing of the transaction. We have entered into a number of purchase obligations for the sourcing of materials and energy where take-or-pay arrangements apply. As of December 31, 2024, our purchase obligations were $288.1 million, with $90.1 million payable in the first 12 months. The majority of the minimum obligations under these contracts are take-or-pay commitments over the life of the contract and not a year by year take-or-pay, and as such, the obligations related to these types of contacts are presented in the earliest period in which the minimum obligation could be payable under these types of contracts.
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Statement of Cash Flows
Cash provided (required) by operating activities was $736.7 million, $(300.3) million and $660.0 million for 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The table below presents the components of net cash provided (required) by operating activities of continuing operations.
(in Millions) Year ended December 31,
Change in guarantees of vendor financing 15.9 (72.4) (64.2)
Change in advance payments from customers (2) (26.5) (199.1) 52.1
Change in accrued customer rebates (3) 30.7 16.0 69.6
Change in all other operating assets and liabilities (6) 74.7 (13.7) (10.3)
Restructuring and other spending (7) (130.0) (30.3) (35.2)
Environmental spending, continuing, net of recoveries (8) (35.4) (34.5) (26.9)
Pension and other postretirement benefit contributions (9) (5.5) (2.4) (4.5)
Transaction and integration costs (12) — — (0.5)
____________________
(1)The change in trade receivables in all periods include the impacts of seasonality and the receivable build intrinsic in our business. The change in cash flows related to trade receivables in 2024 was driven by timing of collections, due in part, to sales growth during the second half of the year compared to the same period in 2023. Collection timing is more pronounced in certain countries such as Brazil where there may be terms significantly longer than the rest of our business. Additionally, timing of collection is impacted as amounts for all periods include carry-over balances remaining to be collected in Latin America, where collection periods are measured in months rather than weeks. During 2024, we collected approximately $474.8 million of receivables in Brazil.
(2)Advance payments are typically received in the fourth quarter of each year, primarily in our North America operations as revenue associated with advance payments is recognized, generally in the first half of each year following the seasonality of that business, as shipments are made and title, ownership and risk of loss pass to the customer. The change in 2024 was driven by higher advance payments received during 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 offset by the higher application of those advances against current period sales. The change in 2023 was related to lower advance payments received during the year compared to the prior year. The change in 2022 was related to higher overall payments received primarily due to strong North America seasons in both years.
(3)These rebates are primarily associated within North America, and to a lesser extent Brazil, and in North America generally settle in the fourth quarter of each year given the end of the respective crop cycle. The changes year over year are mostly associated with the mix in sales eligible for rebates and incentives as well as timing of certain rebate payments.
(4)The changes in inventory during 2024 reflect the lower inventory build required following the lower sales volume in 2023 resulting from the channel destocking. Higher sales during the second half of 2024 contributed to the decrease in inventories. The change in cash flows during 2023 is the result of lower than expected sales volume during the period. The change in cash flows during 2022 reflects the inventory build required to meet forecasted business demand.
(5)The change in cash flows related to accounts payable in 2024 was driven by the timing of payments to suppliers and vendors following a period of reducing spending in the prior period. The change in cash flows related to accounts payable in 2023 is primarily due to lower raw material inventory purchases due to the decline in demand and, to a lesser extent, the timing of payments made to suppliers and vendors. The change in accounts payable in 2022 is primarily due to timing of payments made to suppliers and vendors as well as the impact of cost inflation. As of December 31, 2024, approximately 99 percent of our accounts payable balance was considered current, which we define as outstanding less than 30 days past the invoice due date. In accordance with our standard terms, invoices are held for payment when there is an open dispute with the vendor. The remaining balance of accounts payable primarily consists of invoices that meet this criteria.
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(6)Changes in all periods presented primarily represent timing of payments associated with all other operating assets and liabilities. Additionally, the 2022 period includes the effects of the unfavorable contracts amortization of approximately $82 million. The contract expired during the fourth quarter of 2022.
(7)See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for further details.
(8)In addition to the environmental cash spend presented in the table above, our results for each of the years presented also include environmental charges for environmental remediation of $74.7 million, $66.9 million and $34.7 million, respectively. The amounts represent environmental remediation spending which were recorded against pre-existing reserves, net of recoveries. Environmental obligations for continuing operations primarily represent obligations at shut down or abandoned facilities within businesses that do not meet the criteria for presentation as discontinued operations. The amounts recorded against pre-existing reserves in 2024 will be spent in future years.
(9)There were no voluntary contributions to our U.S. qualified defined benefit plan, which is slightly over funded, in 2024, 2023 and 2022.
(10)Interest payments were consistent in 2024 as compared to 2023. Interest payments were higher during 2023 compared to 2022 largely due to the timing of interest payments as well as higher commercial paper rates.
(11)Amounts shown in the chart represent net tax payments of our continuing operations across various jurisdictions.
(12)Represents payments for legal and professional fees associated with integrating the DuPont Crop Protection Business. The integration is complete and the 2022 payments are associated with settlement of final amounts payable.
Cash provided (required) by operating activities of discontinued operations was $(65.6) million, $(86.1) million and $(77.6) million for 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Cash required by operating activities of discontinued operations in 2024 is directly related to environmental spending of $52.1 million as well as $13.5 million for other postretirement benefit liabilities, self-insurance, long-term obligations related to legal proceedings, collectively. 2023 and 2022 spending were of a similar nature. Discontinued operations for 2024 also includes cash proceeds, net of fees of $18.0 million received as the result of an insurance settlement for retained legal reserves. Additionally, during 2023, we paid $16.5 million for a portion of settlement amount related to one of our discontinued foreign environmental remediation sites and the remaining payment of $11.3 million was paid in 2024.
Cash provided (required) by investing activities of continuing operations was $263.6 million, $(154.4) million and $(266.4) million for 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Cash provided by investing activities of continuing operations for 2024 is primarily the result of the sale of our GSS business, which was completed on November 1, 2024. We received proceeds, net of the preliminary working capital adjustment, of approximately $340 million in connection with the completion of the sale. The proceeds from the GSS sale were partially offset by capital expenditures, which were lower than the prior year as we continue to constrain investment to only the most critical, high-return projects.
Cash required for 2023 is primarily due to capital expenditures for increased capacity, and to a lesser extent, acquisition related spending associated with the acquired IPR&D assets completed during the third quarter of 2023.
Cash required for 2022 is primarily related to capital expenditures needed for increased capacity, as well the consideration paid for the BioPhero acquisition. Capital expenditures in 2022 increased due to spending directed towards capacity expansion. This usage of cash was offset by the proceeds received on the disposition of land on a previously shutdown manufacturing facility.
Cash provided (required) by financing activities was $(870.1) million, $331.5 million and $(237.4) million in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The change in cash provided by financing activities in 2024 is primarily due to lower commercial paper borrowings during the period as well as the absence of the net impact of the 2023 bond issuance and repayment of the 2021 term loan. The proceeds from the GSS sale were used to pay down outstanding debt. There were no share repurchases during 2024 under the publicly announced program.
The change in cash provided by financing activities in 2023 is primarily due to higher commercial paper balances and an increase in short term foreign borrowings as well as the proceeds from the Senior Notes. This increase was partially offset by the repayment of the $800 million term loan, and $75 million in repurchases of common stock under the publicly announced program.
The change in cash required by financing activities in 2022 is primarily driven by lower share repurchases under our publicly announced program as well as lower repayments on long term debt.
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Free Cash Flow
We define free cash flow, a Non-GAAP financial measure, as all cash inflows and outflows excluding those related to financing activities (such as debt repayments, dividends, and share repurchases) and acquisition related investing activities. Additionally, in 2024, free cash flow excludes the proceeds, net of transaction costs, from the sale of our GSS business. Therefore, our calculation of free cash flow will almost always result in a lower amount than cash from operating activities from continuing operations, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure. However, the free cash flow measure is consistent with management's assessment of operating cash flow performance and we believe it provides a useful basis for investors and securities analysts about the cash generated by routine business operations, including capital expenditures, in addition to assessing our ability to repay debt, fund acquisitions including cost and equity method investments, and return capital to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends.
Our use of free cash flow has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for an analysis of our results under U.S. GAAP. First, free cash flow is not a substitute for cash provided (required) by operating activities of continuing operations, as it is not a measure of cash available for discretionary expenditures since we have non-discretionary obligations, primarily debt service, that are not deducted from the measure. Second, other companies may calculate free cash flow or similarly titled Non-GAAP financial measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of free cash flow as a tool for comparison. Additionally, the utility of free cash flow is further limited as it does not reflect our future contractual commitments and does not represent the total increase or decrease in our cash balance for a given period. Because of these and other limitations, free cash flow should be considered along with cash provided (required) by operating activities of continuing operations and other comparable financial measures prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
The table below presents a reconciliation of free cash flow from the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure.
FREE CASH FLOW RECONCILIATION
(in Millions) Year ended December 31,
Other investing activities (2)(3) (3.7) (9.8) 23.6
Proceeds from land disposition (4) — 5.8 50.5
Capital additions and other investing activities $ (71.6) $ (137.9) $ (68.2)
Divestiture transaction costs (6) 14.0 — —
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(1)Includes cash payments made in connection with our Project Focus transformation program of $106.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. For additional detail on Project Focus, see Note 7.
(2)Components of cash provided (required) by investing activities of continuing operations. Refer to the below discussion for further details.
(3)Included in the amounts is cash spending associated with contract manufacturers of $2.7 million, $2.9 million and $6.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(4)During December 2022, we finalized a land transfer agreement with the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. We received cash proceeds of $50.5 million for the land transfer. During 2023, we received the final payment of $5.8 million related to the agreement.
(5)Refer to the above discussion for further details.
(6)Represents transactional-related costs such as legal and professional third-party fees associated with the sale of our GSS business. Proceeds from the sale of our GSS business are excluded from free cash flow; therefore, we have also excluded the related transaction costs from free cash flow.
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(7)Free cash flow is defined as cash provided (required) by operating activities of continuing operations (GAAP) adjusted for spending for capital additions and other investing activities as well as divestiture transaction costs associated with the sale of our GSS business. We believe that this Non-GAAP financial measure provides a useful basis for investors and securities analysts about the cash generated by routine business operations, including capital expenditures, in addition to assessing our ability to repay debt, fund acquisitions and return capital to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. Our use of free cash flow has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for an analysis of our results under U.S. GAAP.
2025 Cash Flow Outlook
Our cash needs for 2025 include operating cash requirements (particularly working capital as well as environmental, asset retirement obligation, and restructuring spending), and capital expenditures as well as mandatory payments of debt, dividend payments and, if applicable, share repurchases. We plan to meet our liquidity needs through available cash, cash generated from operations, commercial paper issuances and borrowings under our committed revolving credit facility. At December 31, 2024 our remaining borrowing capacity under our credit facility was $1,664.3 million.
We expect 2025 cash provided (required) by operating activities of continuing operations to be in the range of approximately $400 million to $570 million. We expect 2025 free cash flow (Non-GAAP) to fall within a range of approximately $200 million and $400 million. The expected decrease in both measures at the midpoint is primarily the result of our expectation of a normalization of working capital after the pronounced correction in 2024.
Key cash requirements included in cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
Pension
We do not expect to make any voluntary cash contributions to our U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan in 2025. The plan is slightly overfunded and our portfolio is comprised of 100 percent fixed income securities and cash. Our investment strategy is a liability hedging approach with an objective of maintaining the funded status of the plan such that the funded status volatility is minimized and the likelihood that we will be required to make significant contributions to the plan is limited.
Environmental
Projected 2025 spending, net of recoveries includes approximately $35 million to $45 million of net environmental remediation spending for our sites accounted for within continuing operations. Environmental obligations for continuing operations primarily represent obligations at shut down or abandoned facilities within businesses that do not meet the criteria for presentation as discontinued operations.
Projected 2025 spending, net of recoveries includes approximately $50 million to $60 million of net environmental remediation spending for our discontinued sites. These projections include spending as a result of a settlement reached in 2019 at our Middleport, New York site of $10 million maximum per year, on average, until the remediation is complete.
Total projected 2025 environmental spending, inclusive of sites accounted for within both continuing operations and discontinued sites, is expected to be in the range of $85 million to $105 million.
Restructuring and asset retirement obligations
We expect to make payments of approximately $70 million to $90 million in 2025, which primarily relates to Project Focus activities. As previously noted in the section titled "Results of Operations," we expect to incur approximately $375 million to $425 million of pre-tax restructuring charges in total over the life of the program, which includes $90 to $100 million of non-cash asset write-off charges. We expect cash payments of approximately $150 million to be paid over the next several years associated with contract abandonment activities executed under the program. The first of these annual payments are due in 2025 and have been included in the restructuring range disclosed above. The estimate also includes, but is not limited to, costs needed to transition various activities to Switzerland in order to realize the benefits associated with recently awarded tax incentives, employee severance and related benefit costs, and consulting and other professional service fees. We have implemented substantially all the activities associated with the plan and expect the plan to be complete by the end of 2025. However, we may incur additional asset write-off charges and other exit and disposal costs should additional activities be implemented under the restructuring program. The Company achieved $165 million in cost benefits in 2024 and the targeted annual run-rate savings is more than $225 million by the end of 2025 from the program once fully implemented, which is expected by the end of 2025.
Capital additions and other investing activities
Projected 2025 capital expenditures and expenditures related to contract manufacturers are expected to be in the range of approximately $105 million to $115 million. The spending is mainly driven by investments for our new products. Expenditures related to contract manufacturers are included within "other investing activities".
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Share repurchases
Except for purchases associated with our equity compensation plans, we do not anticipate any share repurchases during 2025 in compliance with the amendment to the Company's credit agreement. See Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholders Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities for additional information regarding the Company's publicly announced repurchased program authorized in February 2022.
Dividends
On January 16, 2025, we paid dividends aggregating $72.6 million to our shareholders of record as of December 31, 2024. This amount is included in "Accrued and other liabilities" on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we paid $290.6 million, $290.5 million and $267.5 million in dividends, respectively. We expect to continue to make quarterly dividend payments. Future cash dividends, as always, will depend on a variety of factors, including earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, general economic conditions and other factors considered relevant by us and is subject to final determination by our Board of Directors.
Contingencies
See Note 19 to our consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K.
Climate Change
We are concerned about the consequences of climate change and will take prudent and cost-effective actions that reduce our GHG emissions to the atmosphere.
FMC is committed to continuing to do our part to address climate change and its impacts on nature and communities and has established goals related to waste, water, and net-zero emissions by 2035. FMC published our first sustainability report in 2011 and in 2024, published our first Climate Transition Plan. This details the business risks and opportunities we have due to climate change and outlines our plan to reach our net-zero goal. Additionally, FMC has been reporting its GHG emissions, water use, and sustainability strategy to CDP since 2016 and has been recognized as a leader in climate disclosures.
Even as we take action to minimize the release of GHG emissions, additional warming is anticipated. Long-term, higher average global temperatures could result in induced changes in natural resources, growing seasons, precipitation patterns, weather patterns, species distributions, water availability, sea levels, and biodiversity. These impacts could cause changes in supplies of raw materials used to maintain FMC’s production capacity and could lead to possible increased sourcing costs. Extreme weather events attributable to climate change may result in, among other things, physical damage to our property and equipment, and interruptions to our supply chain. In addition, depending on how pervasive the climate impacts are in the different geographic locations, FMC’s customers could be impacted by chronic or acute climate events. Demand for FMC’s products is dependent upon growers’ livelihood and ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Though the nature of these events makes them difficult to predict, to respond to the uncertainty and better understand our risks and opportunities, we have conducted climate related scenario analyses consistent with the recommendations provided by the Taskforce for Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (“TCFD”). As part of the TCFD scenario analysis, we have evaluated both physical and transitional risks and opportunities across multiple time horizons. In accordance with the TCFD guidance, we leveraged scenarios published by the International Energy Agency (“IEA”) and the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), including a scenario below 2°C. Results of this analysis are integrated in our Climate Transition Plan including our enterprise risk management process, long-term business strategy, and are used to evaluate where strategic capital could be deployed to address risks and opportunities. Risks identified in Item 1A in this Form 10-K are aligned with the TCFD requirements. Additionally, the Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (“TNFD”) has outlined recommendations for companies to identify and disclose nature-related impacts and dependencies. FMC is an early adopter of TNFD and appropriate updates will be included in our annual sustainability report and CDP submissions.
In our product portfolio, we see transition market opportunities for our products to enable customers to address climate change impacts. For example, FMC’s product solutions can help growers adapt to climate change and protect biodiversity by maximizing yield and utilizing resources more efficiently. This may minimize the potential land use change and associated impacts to meet the needs of a growing population. Our solutions can also help growers adapt to more unpredictable growing conditions and the effects these types of threats have on crops. FMC has committed to investing 100 percent of our research and development pipeline budget to developing sustainably advantaged products and solutions.
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We are improving existing products and developing new platforms and technologies that help mitigate impacts of climate change. These opportunities could lead to new products and services for our existing and potential customers. Beyond our products and operations, FMC recognizes that energy consumption and dependencies on nature throughout our supply chain can impact climate change and product costs. FMC has a SBTi-validated target of net-zero GHG emissions, which includes reductions across our entire supply chain. Therefore, we will actively work with our entire value chain – suppliers, contractors, and customers – with a goal to reduce their GHG emissions and to mitigate their potential impacts on climate change.
We continue to follow legislative and regulatory developments regarding climate change, including climate-related financial disclosures, supply chain due diligence and green taxes. The regulation of GHGs, depending on their nature and scope, could subject some of our manufacturing operations to additional costs or limits on operations and transport of our products. Future GHG regulatory requirements may result in increased costs of energy, additional capital costs for emissions control or new equipment, and/or costs associated with cap and trade or carbon taxes. For instance, FMC is subject to climate change regulation such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and subsequent Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Additional green taxes, extended producer responsibility requirements, and mandated sustainability disclosures may continue to impact FMC as a part of the EU Green Deal and other global regulations. Many countries FMC does business in are in the process of establishing mandates for non-financial disclosures by aligning with International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) or other directives such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, California SB 253 and 261 and the SEC climate proposal. FMC is closely following regulatory developments, and the cost of complying with global regulations, including reporting requirements and green taxes, is difficult to estimate at this time.
See Item IA. Risk Factors within this Form 10-K for additional considerations related to risks of climate change and sustainability.
Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements and Regulatory Items
See Note 2 "Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements and Regulatory Items" to our consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K.
Fair Value Measurements
See Note 18 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K for additional discussion surrounding our fair value measurements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. We have described our accounting policies in Note 1 "Principal Accounting Policies and Related Financial Information" to our consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K. We have reviewed these accounting policies, identifying those that we believe to be critical to the preparation and understanding of our consolidated financial statements. We have reviewed these critical accounting policies with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Critical accounting policies are central to our presentation of results of operations and financial condition in accordance with U.S. GAAP and require management to make estimates and judgments on certain matters. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience, current conditions and other reasonable factors. Our most critical accounting estimates and assumptions, which are those that involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had, or are reasonably likely to have, a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations, include: Impairments and valuation of long-lived and indefinite-lived assets, Pension and other postretirement benefits, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets and the Allowance for credit losses on our trade receivables. Additional critical accounting policies are included within the list below:
Revenue recognition and trade receivables
We recognize revenue when (or as) we satisfy our performance obligation which is when the customer obtains control of the good or service. Rebates due to customers are accrued as a reduction of revenue in the same period that the related sales are recorded based on the contract terms. Refer to Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K for more information.
We record amounts billed for shipping and handling fees as revenue. Costs incurred for shipping and handling are recorded as costs of sales and services. Amounts billed for sales and use taxes, value-added taxes, and certain excise and other specific transactional taxes imposed on revenue-producing transactions are presented on a net basis and excluded from revenue on the consolidated statements of income (loss). We record a liability until remitted to the respective taxing authority.
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We periodically enter into prepayment arrangements with customers and receive advance payments for product to be delivered in future periods. These advance payments are recorded as deferred revenue and classified as "Advance payments from customers" on the consolidated balance sheet. Revenue associated with advance payments is recognized as shipments are made and transfer of control to the customer takes place.
Trade receivables consist of amounts owed to us from customer sales and are recorded when revenue is recognized. The allowance for trade receivables represents our best estimate of the probable losses associated with potential customer defaults. In developing our allowance for trade receivables, we use a two-stage process which includes calculating a general formula to develop an allowance to appropriately address the uncertainty surrounding collection risk of our entire portfolio and specific allowances for customers where the risk of collection has been reasonably identified either due to liquidity constraints or disputes over contractual terms and conditions.
Our method of calculating the general formula consists of estimating the recoverability of trade receivables based on historical experience, current collection trends, and external business factors such as economic factors, including regional bankruptcy rates, and political factors. Our analysis of trade receivable collection risk is performed quarterly, and the allowance is adjusted accordingly.
We also hold long-term receivables that represent long-term customer receivable balances related to past-due accounts which are not expected to be collected within the current year. Our policy for the review of the allowance for these receivables is consistent with the discussion in the preceding paragraph above on trade receivables. Therefore, on an ongoing basis, we continue to evaluate the credit quality of our long-term receivables utilizing aging of receivables, collection experience and write-offs, as well as existing economic conditions, to determine if an additional allowance is necessary.
We believe our allowance for credit losses is a critical accounting estimate because the underlying assumptions used for the reserve can change from time to time and potentially have a material impact on our results of operations. Based on a combination of historical trends as well as current economic factors, we apply judgment to reserve for expected credit losses in the period in which the sale is recorded. A substantial change in the operating environments in any of our key locations (driven by weather conditions, industry specific events, and macroeconomic conditions) may result in actual adjustments that differ from our original assumptions.
Environmental obligations and related recoveries
We provide for environmental-related obligations when they are probable and amounts can be reasonably estimated. Where the available information is sufficient to estimate the amount of liability, that estimate has been used. Where the information is only sufficient to establish a range of probable liability and no point within the range is more likely than any other, the lower end of the range has been used.
Estimated obligations to remediate sites that involve oversight by the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), or similar government agencies, are generally accrued no later than when a Record of Decision ("ROD"), or equivalent, is issued, or upon completion of a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study ("RI/FS"), or equivalent, that is submitted by us to the appropriate government agency or agencies. Estimates are reviewed quarterly by our environmental remediation management, as well as by financial and legal management and, if necessary, adjusted as additional information becomes available. The estimates can change substantially as additional information becomes available regarding the nature or extent of site contamination, required remediation methods, and other actions by or against governmental agencies or private parties.
Our environmental liabilities for continuing and discontinued operations are principally for costs associated with the remediation and/or study of sites at which we are alleged to have released hazardous substances into the environment. Such costs principally include, among other items, RI/FS, site remediation, costs of operation and maintenance of the remediation plan, management costs, fees to outside law firms and consultants for work related to the environmental effort, and future monitoring costs. Estimated site liabilities are determined based upon existing remediation laws and technologies, specific site consultants’ engineering studies or by extrapolating experience with environmental issues at comparable sites.
Included in our environmental liabilities are costs for the operation, maintenance and monitoring of site remediation plans ("OM&M"). Such reserves are based on our best estimates for these OM&M plans. Over time we may incur OM&M costs in excess of these reserves. However, we are unable to reasonably estimate an amount in excess of our recorded reserves because we cannot reasonably estimate the period for which such OM&M plans will need to be in place or the future annual cost of such remediation, as conditions at these environmental sites change over time. Such additional OM&M costs could be significant in total but would be incurred over an extended period of years.
Included in the environmental reserve balance, other assets balance and disclosure of reasonably possible loss contingencies are amounts from third-party insurance policies, which we believe are probable of recovery.
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Provisions for environmental costs are reflected in income, net of probable and estimable recoveries from named Potentially Responsible Parties ("PRPs") or other third parties. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for further information. All other environmental provisions incorporate inflation and are not discounted to their present value.
In calculating and evaluating the adequacy of our environmental reserves, we have taken into account the joint and several liability imposed by Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") and the analogous state laws on all PRPs and have considered the identity and financial condition of the other PRPs at each site to the extent possible. We have also considered the identity and financial condition of other third parties from whom recovery is anticipated, as well as the status of our claims against such parties. Although we are unable to forecast the ultimate contributions of PRPs and other third parties with absolute certainty, the degree of uncertainty with respect to each party is taken into account when determining the environmental reserve by adjusting the reserve to reflect the facts and circumstances on a site-by-site basis. Our liability includes our best estimate of the costs expected to be paid before the consideration of any potential recoveries from third parties. We believe that any recorded recoveries related to PRPs are realizable in all material respects. Recoveries are recorded as either an offset in "Environmental liabilities, continuing and discontinued" or as "Other assets" in our consolidated balance sheets in accordance with U.S. accounting literature.
See Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for changes in estimates associated with our environmental obligations.
Impairments and valuation of long-lived and indefinite-lived assets
Our long-lived assets primarily include property, plant and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets. The assets and liabilities of acquired businesses are measured at their estimated fair values at the dates of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired, including identified intangibles, is recorded as goodwill. The determination and allocation of fair value to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is based on various assumptions and valuation methodologies requiring considerable management judgment, including estimates based on historical information, current market data and future expectations. Although the estimates were deemed reasonable by management based on information available at the dates of acquisition, those estimates are inherently uncertain.
We test for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the net book value of our property, plant and equipment may not be recoverable from the estimated undiscounted expected future cash flows expected to result from their use and eventual disposition. In cases where the estimated undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than net book value, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the amount by which the net book value exceeds the estimated fair value of assets, which is based on discounted cash flows at the lowest level determinable. The estimated cash flows reflect our assumptions about selling prices, volumes, costs and market conditions over a reasonable period of time.
We perform an annual impairment test of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in the third quarter of each year, or more frequently whenever an event or change in circumstances occurs that would require reassessment of the recoverability of those assets. Our fiscal year 2024 annual goodwill and indefinite life impairment test was performed during the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. We determined no goodwill impairment or indefinite-lived asset impairment existed. On February 4, 2025, we released our results for the year ended December 31, 2024 as well as guidance for the first quarter of 2025 and full year 2025 and, our stock price declined significantly. We are evaluating whether this decline, if sustained, represents a triggering event and if an impairment test is required in connection with the preparation of the consolidated financial statements for the first quarter of 2025.
In performing our evaluation, we assess qualitative factors such as overall financial performance of our reporting units, anticipated changes in industry and market structure, competitive environments, planned capacity and cost factors such as raw material prices. We estimate the fair value of the reporting unit using a discounted cash flow model as part of the income approach. We assess the appropriateness of projected financial information by comparing projected revenue growth rates, profit margins and tax rates to historical performance, industry data and selected guideline companies, where applicable. Our key assumptions include future cash flow projections, tax rates, terminal growth rates and discount rates.
We employ the relief from royalty method of the income approach to value our brand portfolios (indefinite-lived intangible assets). The principle behind this method is that the value of the intangible asset is equal to the present value of the after-tax royalty savings attributable to owning the intangible asset. Primary inputs and key assumptions include revenue forecasts attributable to each portfolio, royalty rates (considering both external market data and internal arrangements), tax rates, terminal growth rates and discount rates.
Estimating the fair value requires significant judgment and actual results may differ due to changes in the overall market conditions. We believe we have applied reasonable assumptions which considers both internal and external factors.
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We believe that an accounting estimate relating to asset impairment is a critical accounting estimate because of the inherent uncertainty within the underlying assumptions. An adverse change in any of these assumptions could result in an impairment charge which would potentially have a material impact on our results of operations.
Based on the annual assessment, we concluded the fair value of the reporting unit substantially exceeded the carrying value. Additionally, the fair value of each indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeded its carrying value.
See Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for charges associated with long-lived asset disposal costs and the activity associated with the restructuring reserves.
Pension and other postretirement benefits
We provide qualified and nonqualified defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, as well as postretirement health care and life insurance benefit plans to our employees and retirees. The costs (benefits) and obligations related to these benefits reflect key assumptions related to general economic conditions, including interest (discount) rates, healthcare cost trend rates, expected rates of return on plan assets and the rates of compensation increase for employees. The costs (benefits) and obligations for these benefit programs are also affected by other assumptions, such as average retirement age, mortality, employee turnover, and plan participation. To the extent our plans’ actual experience, as influenced by changing economic and financial market conditions or by changes to our own plans’ demographics, differs from these assumptions, the costs and obligations for providing these benefits, as well as the plans’ funding requirements, could increase or decrease. When actual results differ from our assumptions, the difference is typically recognized over future periods. In addition, the unrealized gains and losses related to our pension and postretirement benefit obligations may also affect periodic benefit costs (benefits) in future periods.
We use several assumptions and statistical methods to determine the asset values used to calculate both the expected rate of return on assets component of pension cost and to calculate our plans’ funding requirements. As previously disclosed, we changed our method of accounting to the fair value approach for our liability-hedging asset class, which does not involve deferring the impact of excess plan asset gains or losses in the determination of these two components of net periodic benefit cost. This class of assets is comprised solely of fixed income securities and therefore, provides a natural hedge (liability-hedging assets) against the changes in the recorded amount of net periodic benefit cost. We use an actuarial value of assets to determine our plans’ funding requirements. The actuarial value of assets must be within a certain range, high or low, of the actual market value of assets, and is adjusted accordingly.
We select the discount rate used to calculate pension and other postretirement obligations based on a review of available yields on high-quality corporate bonds as of the measurement date. In selecting a discount rate as of December 31, 2024, we placed particular emphasis on a discount rate yield-curve provided by our actuary. This yield-curve, when populated with projected cash flows that represent the expected timing and amount of our plans' benefit payments, produced an effective discount rate of 5.60 percent for our U.S. qualified plan, 5.31 percent for our U.S. nonqualified, and 5.40 percent for our U.S. other postretirement benefit plans.
The discount rates used to determine projected benefit obligation at our December 31, 2024 and 2023 measurement dates for the U.S. qualified plan were 5.60 percent and 4.97 percent, respectively. The effect of the change in the discount rate from 4.97 percent to 5.60 percent at December 31, 2024 resulted in a $52.1 million decrease to our U.S. qualified pension benefit obligations. The effect of the change in the discount rate used to determine net annual benefit cost (income) from 5.16 percent at December 31, 2023 to 4.97 percent at December 31, 2024 resulted in a $0.3 million increase to the 2024 U.S. qualified pension expense.
The change in discount rate from 4.97 percent at December 31, 2023 to 5.60 percent at December 31, 2024 was attributable to an increase in yields on high quality corporate bonds with cash flows matching the timing and amount of our expected future benefit payments between the 2023 and 2024 measurement dates. Using the December 31, 2024 and 2023 yield curves, our U.S. qualified plan cash flows produced a single weighted-average discount rate of approximately 5.60 percent and 4.97 percent, respectively.
In developing the assumption for the long-term rate of return on assets for our U.S. Plan, we take into consideration the technical analysis performed by our outside actuaries, including historical market returns, information on the assumption for long-term real returns by asset class, inflation assumptions, and expectations for standard deviation related to these best estimates. Our long-term rate of return for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was 4.50 percent, 4.75 percent and 2.50 percent, respectively.
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For the sensitivity of our pension costs to incremental changes in assumptions see our discussion below.
Sensitivity analysis related to key pension and postretirement benefit assumptions.
A one-half percent increase in the assumed discount rate would have decreased pension and other postretirement benefit obligations by $36.4 million and $42.4 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and increased pension and other postretirement benefit costs by $0.3 million, $0.5 million and $0.1 million for 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. A one-half percent decrease in the assumed discount rate would have increased pension and other postretirement benefit obligations by $39.1 million and $46.1 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and decreased pension and other postretirement benefit costs by $0.2 million in 2024, $0.1 million in 2023, and zero in 2022.
A one-half percent increase in the assumed expected long-term rate of return on plan assets would have decreased pension costs by $5.0 million, $5.0 million and $6.6 million for 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. A one-half percent decrease in the assumed long-term rate of return on plan assets would have increased pension costs by $5.0 million, $5.0 million and $6.6 million for 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Further details on our pension and other postretirement benefit obligations and net periodic benefit costs (benefits) are found in Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-K.
Income taxes
We have recorded a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets in certain jurisdictions to the amount that we believe is more likely than not to be realized. In assessing the need for this allowance, we have considered a number of factors including future taxable income, the jurisdictions in which such income is earned and our ongoing tax planning strategies. In the event that we determine that we would not be able to realize all or part of our net deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would be charged to income in the period such determination was made. Similarly, should we conclude that we would be able to realize certain deferred tax assets in the future in excess of the net recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would increase income in the period such determination was made.
Additionally, we file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. Certain income tax returns for FMC entities taxable in the U.S. and significant foreign jurisdictions are open for examination and adjustment. We assess our income tax positions and record a liability for all years open to examination based upon our evaluation of the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting date. For those tax positions where it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will be sustained, we have recorded the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. We adjust these liabilities, if necessary, upon the completion of tax audits or changes in tax law.
See Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for additional discussion surrounding income taxes.
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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our earnings, cash flows and financial position are exposed to market risks relating to fluctuations in commodity prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. Our policy is to minimize exposure to our cash flow over time caused by changes in commodity, interest and currency exchange rates. To accomplish this, we have implemented a controlled program of risk management consisting of appropriate derivative contracts entered into with major financial institutions.
The analysis below presents the sensitivity of the market value of our financial instruments to selected changes in market rates and prices. The range of changes chosen reflects our view of changes that are reasonably possible over a one-year period. Market value estimates are based on the present value of projected future cash flows considering the market rates and prices chosen.
At December 31, 2024, our net financial instrument position was a net asset of $34.1 million compared to a net liability of $11.4 million at December 31, 2023. The change in the net financial instrument position was primarily due to fluctuations in our foreign exchange portfolios.
Since our risk management programs are generally highly effective, the potential loss in value for each risk management portfolio described below would be largely offset by changes in the value of the underlying exposure.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
The primary currencies for which we have exchange rate exposure are the U.S. dollar versus the Brazilian real, Chinese yuan, Indian rupee, euro, Mexican peso and Argentine peso. Foreign currency debt and foreign exchange forward contracts are used in countries where we do business, thereby reducing our net asset exposure. Foreign exchange forward contracts are also used to hedge firm and highly anticipated foreign currency cash flows.
To analyze the effects of changing foreign currency rates, we have performed a sensitivity analysis in which we assume an instantaneous 10 percent change in the foreign currency exchange rates from their levels at December 31, 2024 and 2023, with all other variables (including interest rates) held constant.
Hedged Currency vs. Functional Currency
Net asset/(liability) position at December 31, 2024 $ 34.1 $ 50.8 $ (8.2)
Interest Rate Risk
One of the strategies that we can use to manage interest rate exposure is to enter into interest rate swap agreements. In these agreements, we agree to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed and variable interest amounts calculated on an agreed-upon notional principal amount. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had no outstanding interest rate swap contracts, and as a result, there was no sensitivity analysis performed over interest rate risk for the periods presented.
Our debt portfolio at December 31, 2024 is composed of 92 percent fixed-rate debt and 8 percent variable-rate debt. The variable-rate component of our debt portfolio principally consists of borrowings under our Credit Facility, commercial paper program, and amounts outstanding under foreign subsidiary credit lines. Changes in interest rates affect different portions of our variable-rate debt portfolio in different ways.
Based on the variable-rate debt in our debt portfolio at December 31, 2024, a one percentage point increase in interest rates would have increased gross interest expense by $2.6 million and a one percentage point decrease in interest rates would have decreased gross interest expense by $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Page
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 52
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 56
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 108
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 110
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 111
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FMC CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)
(in Millions, Except Per Share Data) Year Ended December 31,
Costs and expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses 644.6 734.3 775.2
Restructuring and other charges (income) 219.8 212.3 93.1
Non-operating pension and postretirement charges (income) 18.2 18.2 8.6
Income (loss) from continuing operations $ 403.4 $ 1,419.5 $ 838.7
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes (61.8) (98.5) (97.2)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 0.5 (0.5) 5.0
Net income (loss) attributable to FMC stockholders $ 341.1 $ 1,321.5 $ 736.5
Amounts attributable to FMC stockholders:
Continuing operations, net of income taxes $ 402.9 $ 1,420.0 $ 833.7
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes (61.8) (98.5) (97.2)
Net income (loss) attributable to FMC stockholders $ 341.1 $ 1,321.5 $ 736.5
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to FMC stockholders:
Net income (loss) attributable to FMC stockholders $ 2.73 $ 10.55 $ 5.83
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to FMC stockholders:
Net income (loss) attributable to FMC stockholders $ 2.72 $ 10.53 $ 5.81
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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FMC CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in Millions) Year Ended December 31,
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency adjustments:
Reclassification of foreign currency translation (gains) losses $ — $ — $ 4.2
Total foreign currency adjustments (1) $ (53.6) $ 29.7 $ (98.9)
Derivative instruments:
Pension and other postretirement benefits:
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax $ (5.1) $ 53.6 $ (135.0)
____________________
(1)Income taxes are not provided for foreign currency translation because the related investments are essentially permanent in duration.
(2)At December 31 of each year, we remeasure our pension and postretirement plan obligations at which time we record any actuarial gains (losses) and prior service (costs) credits to other comprehensive income. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for further details.
(3)For more detail on the components of these reclassifications and the affected line item on the consolidated statements of income (loss), see Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for further details.
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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FMC CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
(in Millions, Except Share and Par Value Data) 2024 2023
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 357.3 $ 302.4
Prepaid and other current assets 496.2 398.9
Property, plant and equipment, net 849.7 892.5
Other assets including long-term receivables, net 428.2 489.5
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt $ 337.4 $ 934.0
Accounts payable, trade and other 768.5 602.4
Advance payments from customers 453.8 482.1
Accrued and other liabilities 755.2 684.8
Guarantees of vendor financing 85.5 69.6
Accrued pension and other postretirement benefits, current 6.4 6.4
Long-term debt, less current portion 3,027.9 3,023.6
Accrued pension and other postretirement benefits, long-term 19.4 24.4
Environmental liabilities, continuing and discontinued 521.3 494.7
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 19)
Equity
Capital in excess of par value of common stock 966.5 935.6
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (410.6) (406.5)
Noncontrolling interests 21.3 22.5
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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FMC CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in Millions) Year Ended December 31,
Cash provided (required) by operating activities of continuing operations:
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes 61.8 98.5 97.2
Income (loss) from continuing operations $ 403.4 $ 1,419.5 $ 838.7
Restructuring and other charges (income) 219.8 212.3 93.1
Pension and other postretirement benefits 20.0 20.9 12.5
Guarantees of vendor financing 15.9 (72.4) (64.2)
Advance payments from customers (26.5) (199.1) 52.1
Pension and other postretirement benefit contributions (5.5) (2.4) (4.5)
Environmental spending, continuing, net of recoveries (35.4) (34.5) (26.9)
Restructuring and other spending (1) (130.0) (30.3) (35.2)
Transaction and integration costs — — (0.5)
Change in other operating assets and liabilities, net (2) 91.2 21.5 26.2
Cash provided (required) by operating activities of discontinued operations:
Other discontinued spending (13.5) (31.6) (30.6)
____________________
(1)In addition to cash payments shown in our roll forward of restructuring reserves in Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K, the restructuring and other spending amount above for the year ended December 31, 2024 includes spending of $14.0 million in divestiture transaction costs related to the GSS sale and $6.9 million related to the Furadan® asset retirement obligations. The years ended 2023 and 2022 include spending of $9.7 million and $10.0 million related to the Furadan® asset retirement obligations and $1.1 million and $3.2 million related to certain historical India indirect tax matters. For additional detail on restructuring and other charges activities, see Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K.
(2)Changes in all periods represent timing of payments associated with all other operating assets and liabilities.
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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FMC CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
(in Millions) Year Ended December 31,
Cash provided (required) by investing activities of continuing operations:
Acquisitions, including cost and equity method, net (3) (4.8) (16.5) (198.2)
Proceeds from land disposition (4) — 5.8 50.5
Other investing activities (5) (3.7) (9.8) 23.6
Cash provided (required) by financing activities of continuing operations:
Increase (decrease) in short-term debt $ (576.7) $ 400.7 $ 115.2
Proceeds from borrowing of long-term debt — 1,498.6 —
Financing fees and interest rate swap settlements — (0.8) 16.3
Repayments of long-term debt — (1,200.0) (1.4)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests (0.7) (0.6) (0.5)
Issuances of common stock, net 0.2 5.3 9.4
Repurchases of common stock under publicly announced program — (75.0) (100.0)
Other repurchases of common stock (2.3) (6.2) (8.9)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (9.7) (60.3) (23.4)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents $ 54.9 $ (269.6) $ 55.2
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 302.4 572.0 516.8
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 357.3 $ 302.4 $ 572.0
____________________
(3)The acquisitions, including cost and equity method, net amount in 2023 includes an $11.9 million payment related to the in-process research and development assets acquired. The 2022 activity includes the purchase price of Biophero of approximately $193 million.
(4)During December 2022, we finalized a land transfer agreement with the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. In the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we received cash proceeds of $5.8 million and $50.5 million, respectively, for the land transfer.
(5)Included in the above is cash spending associated with contract manufacturers was $2.7 million, $2.9 million and $6.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(6)See Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K regarding our quarterly cash dividend.
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest was $232.2 million, $229.6 million and $144.0 million, and income taxes paid, net of refunds was $156.3 million, $180.1 million and $122.0 million in December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Non-cash additions to property, plant and equipment and other assets at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were $26.1 million, $18.6 million and $40.4 million, respectively. Non-cash investing activities include investments of $16.4 million, zero, and $19.3 million investment representing the deferred purchase price in a trade receivables securitization program for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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FMC CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FMC Stockholders’ Equity
Stock compensation plans — 28.8 — — 4.7 — 33.5
Shares for benefit plan trust — — — — 0.1 — 0.1
Net hedging gains (losses) and other, net of income tax — — — (29.5) — — (29.5)
Foreign currency translation adjustments — — — (98.0) — (0.9) (98.9)
Repurchases of common stock — — — — (108.9) — (108.9)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — — — (0.5) (0.5)
Stock compensation plans — 26.4 — — 5.2 — 31.6
Shares for benefit plan trust — — — — (1.7) — (1.7)
Net hedging gains (losses) and other, net of income tax — — — 1.5 — — 1.5
Foreign currency translation adjustments — — — 29.2 — 0.5 29.7
Repurchases of common stock — — — — (81.2) — (81.2)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — — — (0.5) (0.5)
Stock compensation plans — 30.9 — — 1.8 — 32.7
Shares for benefit plan trust — — — — (0.1) — (0.1)
Net hedging gains (losses) and other, net of income tax — — — 32.7 — — 32.7
Foreign currency translation adjustments — — — (52.6) — (1.0) (53.6)
Repurchases of common stock — — — — (2.3) — (2.3)
Distributions of noncontrolling interests — — — — — (0.7) (0.7)
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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FMC CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1: Principal Accounting Policies and Related Financial Information
Nature of operations. We are a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. We operate in a single distinct business segment and develop, market and sell all three major classes of crop protection chemicals: insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, as well as biologicals, crop nutrition, and seed treatment products, which we group as plant health, and digital and precision agriculture. These products are used in agriculture to enhance crop yield and quality by controlling a broad spectrum of insects, weeds and disease, as well as in non-agricultural markets for pest control.
Basis of consolidation and basis of presentation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements of FMC Corporation and its subsidiaries were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of FMC and all entities that we directly or indirectly control. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
Estimates and assumptions. In preparing the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results are likely to differ from those estimates, but we do not believe such differences will materially affect our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Cash equivalents. We consider investments in all liquid debt instruments with original maturities of 3 months or less to be cash equivalents.
Trade receivables, net of allowance. Trade receivables consist of amounts owed to us from customer sales and are recorded when revenue is recognized. The allowance for trade receivables represents our best estimate of the probable losses associated with potential customer defaults. In developing our allowance for trade receivables, we use a two-stage process which includes calculating a general formula to develop an allowance to appropriately address the uncertainty surrounding collection risk of our entire portfolio and specific allowances for customers where the risk of collection has been reasonably identified either due to liquidity constraints or disputes over contractual terms and conditions. Our methodology considers current economic conditions as well as forward-looking expectations about expected credit loss.
Our method of calculating the general formula consists of estimating the recoverability of trade receivables based on historical experience, current collection trends, and external business factors such as economic factors, including regional bankruptcy rates, and political factors. Our analysis of trade receivable collection risk is performed quarterly, and the allowance is adjusted accordingly.
We also hold long-term receivables that represent long-term customer receivable balances related to past-due accounts which are not expected to be collected within the current year. Our policy for the review of the allowance for these receivables is consistent with the discussion in the preceding paragraph above on trade receivables. Therefore, on an ongoing basis, we continue to evaluate the credit quality of our long-term receivables utilizing aging of receivables, collection experience and write-offs, as well as existing economic conditions, to determine if an additional allowance is necessary.
The allowance for trade receivables was $39.4 million and $29.1 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The allowance for long-term receivables was $21.3 million and $27.1 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The provision to the allowance for receivables charged against operations was $10.4 million, $6.3 million and $(0.5) million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for more information.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Investments. Investments in companies in which our ownership interest is 50 percent or less and in which we exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for using the equity method. Under the equity method, original investments are recorded at cost and adjusted by our share of undistributed earnings and losses of these investments. Majority owned investments in which our control is restricted are also accounted for using the equity method. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we do not own any equity method investments. All other investments are carried at their fair values or at cost, as appropriate and are not material to our consolidated financial statements. FMC Ventures, which was established in 2020, is our venture capital arm targeting strategic investments in start-ups and early-stage companies that are developing and applying emerging technologies in the agricultural industry. The accounting guidance requires these nonmarketable equity securities to be recorded at cost and adjusted to fair value each reporting period. However, the guidance allows for a measurement alternative, which is to record the investment at cost, less impairment, if any, and subsequently adjust for observable price changes. Each reporting period, we review the portfolio for any observable price changes or potential indicators of impairment. At December 31, 2024, our investments made through FMC Ventures individually and in the aggregate are not significant to our financial results.
Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory costs include those costs directly attributable to products before sale, including all manufacturing overhead but excluding distribution costs. All inventories are determined on a first-in, first-out ("FIFO") basis.
Property, plant and equipment. We record property, plant and equipment, including capitalized interest, at cost. We recognize acquired property, plant and equipment, from acquisitions at its estimated fair value. Depreciation is provided principally on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets (land improvements — 20 years, buildings and building equipment — 15 to 40 years, and machinery and equipment — 3 to 18 years). Gains and losses are reflected in income upon sale or retirement of assets. Expenditures that extend the useful lives of property, plant and equipment or increase productivity are capitalized. Ordinary repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred through operating expense.
Capitalized interest. We capitalized interest costs of $9.6 million, $9.3 million, and $5.6 million in 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. These costs were primarily associated with the construction of certain long-lived assets and have been capitalized as part of the cost of those assets. We amortize capitalized interest over the assets’ estimated useful lives.
Impairments of long-lived assets. We review the recovery of the net book value of long-lived assets whenever events and circumstances indicate that the net book value of an asset may not be recoverable from the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. In cases where undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than the net book value, we recognize an impairment loss equal to an amount by which the net book value exceeds the fair value of the asset. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.
Asset retirement obligations. We record asset retirement obligations ("AROs") at fair value at the time the liability is incurred if we can reasonably estimate the settlement date. The associated AROs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of related long-lived assets. In future periods, the liability is accreted to its present value and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. We also adjust the liability for changes resulting from the passage of time and/or revisions to the timing or the amount of the original estimate. Upon retirement of the long-lived asset, we either settle the obligation for its recorded amount or incur a gain or loss.
The carrying amounts for the AROs for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are $10.3 million and $6.4 million, respectively. These amounts are included in "Accrued and other liabilities" and "Other long-term liabilities" on the consolidated balance sheet.
Restructuring and other charges. We continually perform strategic reviews and assess the return on our business. This sometimes results in a plan to restructure the operations of our business. We record an accrual for severance and other exit costs under the provisions of the relevant accounting guidance.
See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for more information on Project Focus, the global restructuring program announced in December 2023.
Additionally, as part of these restructuring plans, write-downs of long-lived assets may occur. Two types of assets are impacted: assets to be disposed of by sale and assets to be abandoned. Assets to be disposed of by sale are measured at the lower of carrying amount or estimated net proceeds from the sale. Assets to be abandoned with no remaining future service potential are written down to amounts expected to be recovered. The useful life of assets to be abandoned that have a remaining future service potential are adjusted and depreciation is recorded over the adjusted useful life.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Capitalized software. We capitalize the costs of internal use software in accordance with accounting literature which generally requires the capitalization of certain costs incurred to develop or obtain internal use software. We assess the recoverability of capitalized software costs on an ongoing basis and record write-downs to fair value as necessary. We amortize capitalized software costs over expected useful lives ranging from 3 to 10 years. See Note 21 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for the net unamortized computer software balances.
Goodwill and intangible assets. Goodwill and other indefinite life intangible assets are not subject to amortization. Instead, they are subject to at least an annual assessment for impairment by applying a fair value-based test.
We test goodwill and indefinite life intangibles for impairment annually using the criteria prescribed by U.S. GAAP accounting guidance for goodwill and other intangible assets. Based upon our annual impairment assessments conducted in 2024, 2023 and 2022, we did not record any goodwill or intangible asset impairments. During each of these annual assessments, we performed a quantitative assessment using a discounted cash flow model.
Finite-lived intangible assets consist of primarily customer relationships as well as patents, brands, registration rights, industry licenses, and other intangibles and are generally being amortized over periods of approximately 3 to 20 years. See Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for additional information on goodwill and intangible assets.
Revenue recognition. We recognize revenue when (or as) we satisfy our performance obligation which is when the customer obtains control of the good or service. Rebates due to customers are accrued as a reduction of revenue in the same period that the related sales are recorded based on the contract terms. Refer to Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for further details.
We record amounts billed for shipping and handling fees as revenue. Costs incurred for shipping and handling are recorded as costs of sales and services. Amounts billed for sales and use taxes, value-added taxes, and certain excise and other specific transactional taxes imposed on revenue-producing transactions are presented on a net basis and excluded from revenue on the consolidated statements of income (loss). We record a liability until remitted to the respective taxing authority.
We periodically enter into prepayment arrangements with customers and receive advance payments for product to be delivered in future periods. These advance payments are recorded as deferred revenue and classified as "Advance payments from customers" on the consolidated balance sheet. Revenue associated with advance payments is recognized as shipments are made and transfer of control to the customer takes place.
Research and development.Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. In-process research and development acquired as part of asset acquisitions, which include license and development agreements, are expensed as incurred and included as a component of "Restructuring and other charges (income)" on the consolidated statements of income (loss).
Income and other taxes. We provide current income taxes on income reported for financial statement purposes adjusted for transactions that do not enter into the computation of income taxes payable. We recognize deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. We have not provided income taxes for other outside basis differences inherent in our investments in subsidiaries because the investments and related unremitted earnings are essentially permanent in duration or we have concluded that no additional tax liability will arise upon disposal or remittance.
Foreign currency. We translate the assets and liabilities of our foreign operations at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. For foreign operations where the functional currency is not the U.S. dollar we record translation gains and losses as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in equity. The foreign operations' income statements are translated at the monthly exchange rates for the period.
We record remeasurement gains and losses on monetary assets and liabilities, such as accounts receivables and payables, which are not in the functional currency of the operation. These remeasurement gains and losses are recorded in income as they occur. We generally enter into foreign currency contracts to mitigate the financial risk associated with these transactions. See "Derivative financial instruments" within this Note and Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Derivative financial instruments. We mitigate certain financial exposures, including currency risk, interest rate risk and to a lesser extent commodity price exposures, through a controlled program of risk management that includes the use of derivative financial instruments when applicable. We enter into foreign exchange contracts, including forward and purchased option contracts, to reduce the effects of fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates.
We recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. On the date the derivative instrument is entered into, we generally designate the derivative as either a hedge of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a forecasted transaction (cash flow hedge) or a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (fair value hedge). We record in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated as, and meet all the required criteria for, a cash flow hedge. We then reclassify these amounts into earnings as the underlying hedged item affects earnings. We record immediately in earnings changes in the fair value of derivatives that are not designated as cash flow hedges.
We formally document all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as the risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes relating derivatives that are designated as fair value or cash flow hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. We also formally assess, both at the inception of the hedge and throughout its term, whether each derivative is highly effective in offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. If we determine that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, or if a derivative ceases to be a highly effective hedge, we discontinue hedge accounting with respect to that derivative prospectively.
Treasury stock. We record shares of common stock repurchased at cost as treasury stock, resulting in a reduction of stockholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets. When the treasury shares are contributed under our employee benefit plans or issued for option exercises, we use a FIFO method for determining cost. The difference between the cost of the shares and the market price at the time of contribution to an employee benefit plan is added to or deducted from the related capital in excess of par value of common stock.
Segment information. We operate as a single business segment providing innovative solutions to growers around the world. The business is supported by global corporate staff functions. The determination of a single segment is consistent with the financial information regularly reviewed by the chief executive officer, who serves as the Chief Operating Decision Maker (the “CODM”), for purposes of evaluating performance, allocating resources, setting incentive compensation targets and both planning and forecasting future periods. For further details on the information reviewed by the CODM in assessing performance and allocating resources, refer to Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements within this Form 10-K.
As supplemental information, the Company discloses revenue at the geographical and product category level. Refer to Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for this revenue detail.
Geographic long-lived assets include goodwill and other intangibles, net, property, plant and equipment, net and other non-current assets. Refer to Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for further details.
Stock compensation plans. We recognize compensation expense in the financial statements for all share options and other equity-based arrangements. Share-based compensation cost is measured at the date of grant, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized over the employee’s requisite service period. See Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for further discussion on our share-based compensation.
Environmental obligations. We provide for environmental-related obligations when they are probable and amounts can be reasonably estimated. Where the available information is sufficient to estimate the amount of liability, that estimate has been used. Where the information is only sufficient to establish a range of probable liability and no point within the range is more likely than any other, the lower end of the range has been used.
Estimated obligations to remediate sites that involve oversight by the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), or similar government agencies, are generally accrued no later than when a Record of Decision ("ROD"), or equivalent, is issued, or upon completion of a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study ("RI/FS"), or equivalent, that is submitted by us and the appropriate government agency or agencies. Estimates are reviewed quarterly and, if necessary, adjusted as additional information becomes available. The estimates can change substantially as additional information becomes available regarding the nature or extent of site contamination, required remediation methods, and other actions by or against governmental agencies or private parties.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
Our environmental liabilities for continuing and discontinued operations are principally for costs associated with the remediation and/or study of sites at which we are alleged to have released hazardous substances into the environment. Such costs principally include, among other items, RI/FS, site remediation, costs of operation and maintenance of the remediation plan, management costs, fees to outside law firms and consultants for work related to the environmental effort, and future monitoring costs. Estimated site liabilities are determined based upon existing remediation laws and technologies, specific site consultants’ engineering studies or by extrapolating experience with environmental issues at comparable sites.
Included in our environmental liabilities are costs for the operation, maintenance and monitoring ("OM&M") of site remediation plans. Such reserves are based on our best estimates for these OM&M plans. Over time we may incur OM&M costs in excess of these reserves. However, we are unable to reasonably estimate an amount in excess of our recorded reserves because we cannot reasonably estimate the period for which such OM&M plans will need to be in place or the future annual cost of such remediation, as conditions at these environmental sites change over time. Such additional OM&M costs could be significant in total but would be incurred over an extended period of years.
Included in the environmental reserve balance, other assets balance and disclosure of reasonably possible loss contingencies are amounts from third-party insurance policies which we believe are probable of recovery.
Provisions for environmental costs are reflected in income, net of probable and estimable recoveries from named Potentially Responsible Parties ("PRPs") or other third parties. All of our environmental provisions incorporate inflation and are not discounted to their present value, other than our reserve for our Pocatello Tribal Matter. We remeasure this discounted liability balance according to current interest rates. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for further information.
In calculating and evaluating the adequacy of our environmental reserves, we have taken into account the joint and several liability imposed by Comprehensive Environmental Remediation, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") and the analogous state laws on all PRPs and have considered the identity and financial condition of the other PRPs at each site to the extent possible. We have also considered the identity and financial condition of other third parties from whom recovery is anticipated, as well as the status of our claims against such parties. Although we are unable to forecast the ultimate contributions of PRPs and other third parties with absolute certainty, the degree of uncertainty with respect to each party is taken into account when determining the environmental reserve on a site-by-site basis. Our liability includes our best estimate of the costs expected to be paid before the consideration of any potential recoveries from third parties. We believe that any recorded recoveries related to PRPs are realizable in all material respects. Recoveries are recorded as either an offset in "Environmental liabilities, continuing and discontinued" or as "Other assets including long-term receivables, net" in our consolidated balance sheets in accordance with U.S. accounting literature.
Pension and other postretirement benefits. We provide qualified and nonqualified defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, as well as postretirement health care and life insurance benefit plans to our employees and retirees. The costs (or benefits) and obligations related to these benefits reflect key assumptions related to general economic conditions, including interest (discount) rates, healthcare cost trend rates, expected rates of return on plan assets and the rates of compensation increase for employees. The costs (or benefits) and obligations for these benefit programs are also affected by other assumptions, such as average retirement age, mortality, employee turnover, and plan participation. To the extent our plans’ actual experience, as influenced by changing economic and financial market conditions or by changes to our own plans’ demographics, differs from these assumptions, the costs and obligations for providing these benefits, as well as the plans’ funding requirements, could increase or decrease. When actual results differ from our assumptions, the difference is typically recognized over future periods. In addition, the unrealized gains and losses related to our pension and postretirement benefit obligations may also affect periodic benefit costs (or benefits) in future periods. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements included within this Form 10-K for additional information relating to pension and other postretirement benefits.
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