LyondellBasell Industries 10-Q 2021-09-30

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021

or

For the transition period from to

Commission file number: 001-34726

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Addresses of registrant’s principal executive offices)

(Registrant’s telephone numbers, including area codes)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No x

The registrant had 332,783,944 ordinary shares, €0.04 par value, outstanding at October 27, 2021 (excluding 7,361,634 treasury shares).

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

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GENERAL

This discussion should be read in conjunction with the information contained in our Consolidated Financial Statements, and the accompanying notes elsewhere in this report. Unless otherwise indicated, the “Company”, “we”, “us,” “our” or similar words are used to refer to LyondellBasell Industries N.V. together with its consolidated subsidiaries (“LyondellBasell N.V.”).

OVERVIEW

Third quarter results reflect robust demand for our products and tight market conditions, which supported strong margins across most of our businesses. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2021 relative to the third quarter and first nine months of 2020, EBITDA increased largely due to margin improvements in our O&P—Americas, O&P—EAI, I&D and Refining segments. While results improved for our I&D segment, this segment was impacted by lost volume in connection with downtime in our acetyls business. Increasing mobility has improved demand and margins for transportation fuels produced by our Refining segment.

Strong business results and the benefits of recent growth investments enabled us to repay $2,378 million of debt during the first nine months of 2021 and an additional $650 million in October 2021. Additionally, we have resumed our share repurchase activity and purchased approximately 1 million shares for $89 million during the third quarter.

During the second quarter of 2021, we invested $104 million to purchase a 50% interest in a joint venture with the China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation which will construct a new propylene oxide and styrene monomer unit in China.

Results of operations for the periods discussed are presented in the table below:

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Revenues—Revenues increased by $5,924 million, or 87%, in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020 and by $13,527 million, or 68%, in the first nine months of 2021 compared to the first nine months of 2020. Average sales prices in the third quarter and first nine months of 2021 were higher for many of our products as sales prices generally correlate with crude oil prices, which increased relative to the corresponding periods in 2020. These higher prices led to a 77% and 63% increase in revenue in the third quarter and first nine months of 2021, respectively. Higher sales volumes, driven by increased demand, resulted in a revenue increase of 10% and 3% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2021, respectively. Favorable foreign exchange impacts resulted in a revenue increase of 2% during the first nine months of 2021.

Cost of Sales—Cost of sales increased by $4,224 million, or 72%, in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020 and by $8,816 million, or 50%, in the first nine months of 2021 compared to the first nine months of 2020, respectively. This increase primarily related to higher feedstock and energy costs.

During the first nine months of 2020, we recognized an LCM inventory valuation charge of $163 million related to the decline in market pricing for many of our raw material and finished goods inventories since December 31, 2019. During the third quarter of 2020, we recognized an LCM inventory valuation benefit of $160 million largely driven by the recovery of market pricing for many of our raw material and finished goods inventories during the quarter.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets—During the third quarter of 2020, we assessed the Houston refinery for impairment and determined that the asset group carrying value exceeded its undiscounted estimated pre-tax cash flows and fair value. As a result, we recognized a non-cash impairment charge in the third quarter of 2020 of $582 million.

Operating Income—Operating income increased by $2,225 million, or 9,674%, in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020 and by $5,196 million, or 780%, in the first nine months of 2021 compared to the first nine months of 2020. In the third quarter of 2021, operating income in our O&P–Americas, Refining, O&P–EAI, I&D and Technology segments increased by $1,094 million, $758 million, $309 million, $67 million and $43 million, respectively, relative to the third quarter of 2020. The increases were partially offset by a decline of $22 million in our APS segment in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020. In the first nine months of 2021, operating income in our O&P–Americas, O&P–EAI, Refining, I&D, APS and Technology segments increased by $2,831 million, $903 million, $731 million, $493 million, $196 million and $56 million, respectively, compared to the first nine months of 2020. Results for each of our business segments are discussed further in the Segment Analysis section below.

Income from Equity Investments—Income from our equity investments increased $42 million, or 68%, in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020 and by $266 million, or 216%, in the first nine months of 2021 compared to the first nine months of 2020. The increase was primarily due to increases in our O&P–EAI segment driven primarily by higher margins due to increased demand.

Income Taxes—Our effective income tax rate for the third quarter of 2021 was 20.4% compared with 1,136.4% for the third quarter of 2020. Our effective income tax rate for the first nine months of 2021 was 17.4% compared with -16.7% for the first nine months of 2020. Changes in our effective income tax rate were primarily driven by changes in pre-tax income as well as a tax benefit recognized on the non-cash impairment of our Houston refinery in the third quarter of 2020. Our income tax results are discussed further in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Our exposure to market and regulatory risks is described in Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Our exposure to such risks has not changed materially in the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

As of September 30, 2021, with the participation of our management, our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and our Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer) carried out an evaluation, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Act), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Act). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2021.

There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Act, in the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Information regarding our litigation and legal proceedings can be found in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated into this Item 1 by reference.

In connection with an enforcement initiative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) regarding flare emissions at petrochemical plants, we have settled with the EPA and the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) in order to resolve claims related to alleged improper operation and maintenance of flares at four of our U.S. facilities. Under the terms of the settlement, we will pay a penalty of $3,400,000, conduct fence line monitoring, and make investments in equipment at the facilities. The consent decree related to the settlement has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Additional information about our environmental proceedings can be found in Part I, Item 3 of our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated into this Item 1 by reference.

There have been no material changes to the risk factors associated with our business previously disclosed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

On May 28, 2021, our shareholders approved a share repurchase authorization of up to 34,004,563 shares of our ordinary shares, through November 28, 2022, which superseded any prior repurchase authorizations. The maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased is not necessarily an indication of the number of shares that will ultimately be purchased.

Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

+ Management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement

• Filed herewith

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.