Table of Contents

     
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q
þQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 For the quarterly period ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017
 Or
oTRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Commission File Number) 001-32410
celanse_imagea01a32.gif
CELANESE CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
98-0420726
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
  
222 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Suite 900N
Irving, TX
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
75039-5421
(Zip Code)
(972) 443-4000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ  No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant 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 (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ  No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer"filer," "smaller reporting company," and "smaller reporting"emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer þ
Large accelerated filer  þ
Accelerated filer  o
Non-accelerated filer  o
Smaller reporting company  o
Emerging growth company  o
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reportingIf 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. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o  No þ
The number of outstanding shares of the registrant's Series A common stock, $0.0001 par value, as of October 11, 2016July 18, 2017 was 143,199,495.137,533,708.
     

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Form 10-Q
For the Quarterly Period Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017
TABLE OF CONTENTS
  Page
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  

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Item 1. Financial Statements
CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
2016 2015 2016 20152017 2016 2017 2016
(In $ millions, except share and per share data)(In $ millions, except share and per share data)
Net sales1,323
 1,413
 4,078
 4,340
1,510
 1,351
 2,981
 2,755
Cost of sales(968) (1,110) (2,995) (3,281)(1,143) (1,013) (2,262) (2,027)
Gross profit355
 303
 1,083
 1,059
367
 338
 719
 728
Selling, general and administrative expenses(81) (93) (232) (297)(96) (71) (179) (151)
Amortization of intangible assets(3) (3) (7) (9)(5) (2) (9) (4)
Research and development expenses(20) (19) (58) (98)(17) (19) (34) (38)
Other (charges) gains, net(3) (4) (12) (19)(3) (4) (58) (9)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net(1) 3
 1
 3
(4) (1) (4) 2
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net(1) (1) 1
 (8)(2) 2
 (3) 2
Operating profit (loss)246
 186
 776
 631
240
 243
 432
 530
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates41
 50
 114
 138
38
 35
 85
 73
Interest expense(28) (29) (91) (86)(30) (30) (59) (63)
Refinancing expense(4) 
 (6) 

 
 
 (2)
Interest income
 
 1
 1
1
 
 1
 1
Dividend income - cost investments26
 26
 82
 80
29
 29
 58
 56
Other income (expense), net
 (8) (2) (6)3
 (2) 4
 (2)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax281
 225
 874
 758
281
 275
 521
 593
Income tax (provision) benefit(15) (74) (127) (170)(40) (52) (96) (112)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations266
 151
 747
 588
241
 223
 425
 481
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations(4) 
 (3) (3)(9) 
 (9) 1
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations1
 
 1
 1
1
 
 1
 
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations(3) 
 (2) (2)(8) 
 (8) 1
Net earnings (loss)263
 151
 745
 586
233
 223
 417
 482
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests(1) 10
 (5) 16
(2) (2) (3) (4)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation262
 161
 740
 602
231
 221
 414
 478
Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations265
 161
 742
 604
239
 221
 422
 477
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations(3) 
 (2) (2)(8) 
 (8) 1
Net earnings (loss)262
 161
 740
 602
231
 221
 414
 478
Earnings (loss) per common share - basic 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
Continuing operations1.84
 1.07
 5.08
 3.97
1.73
 1.51
 3.02
 3.25
Discontinued operations(0.02) 
 (0.01) (0.01)(0.06) 
 (0.05) 
Net earnings (loss) - basic1.82
 1.07
 5.07
 3.96
1.67
 1.51
 2.97
 3.25
Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
Continuing operations1.83
 1.07
 5.06
 3.93
1.72
 1.50
 3.01
 3.24
Discontinued operations(0.02) 
 (0.01) (0.01)(0.06) 
 (0.05) 
Net earnings (loss) - diluted1.81
 1.07
 5.05
 3.92
1.66
 1.50
 2.96
 3.24
Weighted average shares - basic144,005,098
 149,800,029
 145,959,821
 152,153,057
138,619,721
 146,482,612
 139,626,199
 146,947,923
Weighted average shares - diluted144,601,465
 151,004,081
 146,585,560
 153,420,449
139,029,425
 147,065,688
 140,022,556
 147,592,531

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
2016 2015 2016 20152017 2016 2017 2016
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Net earnings (loss)263
 151
 745
 586
233
 223
 417
 482
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

 

  

 

 

  
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities(1) 1
 
 
1
 
 1
 1
Foreign currency translation(8) (11) 38
 (130)78
 (18) 106
 46
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
 (1) 1
 2
1
 1
 (1) 1
Pension and postretirement benefits
 
 (1) 1

 (1) 5
 (1)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax(9) (11) 38
 (127)80
 (18) 111
 47
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax254
 140
 783
 459
313
 205
 528
 529
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests(1) 10
 (5) 16
(2) (2) (3) (4)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation253
 150
 778
 475
311
 203
 525
 525

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
(In $ millions, except share data)(In $ millions, except share data)
ASSETS      
Current Assets 
  
 
  
Cash and cash equivalents (variable interest entity restricted - 2016: $22; 2015: $7)1,252
 967
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates (net of allowance for doubtful accounts - 2016: $6; 2015: $6; variable interest entity restricted - 2016: $5; 2015: $6)791
 706
Cash and cash equivalents (variable interest entity restricted - 2017: $24; 2016: $18)511
 638
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates (net of allowance for doubtful accounts - 2017: $7; 2016: $6; variable interest entity restricted - 2017: $5; 2016: $4)985
 801
Non-trade receivables, net214
 285
227
 223
Inventories652
 682
771
 720
Deferred income taxes
 68
Marketable securities, at fair value34
 30
30
 30
Other assets35
 49
59
 60
Total current assets2,978
 2,787
2,583
 2,472
Investments in affiliates864
 838
885
 852
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2016: $2,228; 2015: $2,039; variable interest entity restricted - 2016: $744; 2015: $772)3,578
 3,609
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2017: $2,419; 2016: $2,239; variable interest entity restricted - 2017: $714; 2016: $734)3,663
 3,577
Deferred income taxes216
 222
164
 159
Other assets (variable interest entity restricted - 2016: $9; 2015: $13)290
 300
Other assets (variable interest entity restricted - 2017: $8; 2016: $9)311
 307
Goodwill712
 705
975
 796
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization - 2016: $542; 2015: $528; variable interest entity restricted - 2016: $26; 2015: $27)119
 125
Intangible assets (variable interest entity restricted - 2017: $25; 2016: $26)302
 194
Total assets8,757
 8,586
8,883
 8,357
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY      
Current Liabilities 
  
 
  
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates92
 513
384
 118
Trade payables - third party and affiliates591
 587
666
 625
Other liabilities299
 330
332
 322
Deferred income taxes
 30
Income taxes payable116
 90
42
 12
Total current liabilities1,098
 1,550
1,424
 1,077
Long-term debt, net of unamortized deferred financing costs2,923
 2,468
2,931
 2,890
Deferred income taxes139
 136
165
 130
Uncertain tax positions101
 167
150
 131
Benefit obligations1,124
 1,189
866
 893
Other liabilities221
 247
225
 215
Commitments and Contingencies

 



 

Stockholders' Equity 
  
 
  
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized (2016 and 2015: 0 issued and outstanding)
 
Series A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 400,000,000 shares authorized (2016: 167,476,602 issued and 143,199,495 outstanding; 2015: 166,698,787 issued and 146,782,297 outstanding)
 
Series B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized (2016 and 2015: 0 issued and outstanding)
 
Treasury stock, at cost (2016: 24,277,107 shares; 2015: 19,916,490 shares)(1,331) (1,031)
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized (2017 and 2016: 0 issued and outstanding)
 
Series A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 400,000,000 shares authorized (2017: 168,018,535 issued and 137,654,767 outstanding; 2016: 167,611,357 issued and 140,660,447 outstanding)
 
Series B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized (2017 and 2016: 0 issued and outstanding)
 
Treasury stock, at cost (2017: 30,363,768 shares; 2016: 26,950,910 shares)(1,834) (1,531)
Additional paid-in capital140
 136
158
 157
Retained earnings4,211
 3,621
4,617
 4,320
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net(310) (348)(247) (358)
Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity2,710
 2,378
2,694
 2,588
Noncontrolling interests441
 451
428
 433
Total equity3,151
 2,829
3,122
 3,021
Total liabilities and equity8,757
 8,586
8,883
 8,357

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2016
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2017
Shares AmountShares Amount
(In $ millions, except share data)(In $ millions, except share data)
Series A Common Stock      
Balance as of the beginning of the period146,782,297
 
140,660,447
 
Stock option exercises93,520
 
16,151
 
Purchases of treasury stock(4,360,617) 
(3,412,858) 
Stock awards684,295
 
391,027
 
Balance as of the end of the period143,199,495
 
137,654,767
 
Treasury Stock      
Balance as of the beginning of the period19,916,490
 (1,031)26,950,910
 (1,531)
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees4,360,617
 (300)3,412,858
 (303)
Balance as of the end of the period24,277,107
 (1,331)30,363,768
 (1,834)
Additional Paid-In Capital      
Balance as of the beginning of the period  136
  157
Stock-based compensation, net of tax  1
  
Stock option exercises, net of tax  3
  1
Balance as of the end of the period  140
  158
Retained Earnings      
Balance as of the beginning of the period  3,621
  4,320
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard (Note 1)
  (1)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation  740
  414
Series A common stock dividends  (150)  (116)
Balance as of the end of the period  4,211
  4,617
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net      
Balance as of the beginning of the period  (348)  (358)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax  38
  111
Balance as of the end of the period  (310)  (247)
Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity  2,710
  2,694
Noncontrolling Interests      
Balance as of the beginning of the period  451
  433
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests  5
  3
(Distributions to) contributions from noncontrolling interests  (15)  (8)
Balance as of the end of the period  441
  428
Total equity  3,151
  3,122

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
2016 20152017 2016
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Operating Activities      
Net earnings (loss)745
 586
417
 482
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities      
Asset impairments1
 1

 1
Depreciation, amortization and accretion223
 257
149
 149
Pension and postretirement net periodic benefit cost(40) (37)(40) (26)
Pension and postretirement contributions(38) (53)(24) (26)
Deferred income taxes, net39
 4
4
 (1)
(Gain) loss on disposition of businesses and assets, net1
 7
3
 (1)
Stock-based compensation23
 32
19
 16
Undistributed earnings in unconsolidated affiliates2
 (16)25
 37
Other, net11
 6
6
 9
Operating cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations
 3
6
 (4)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities      
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates, net(82) (16)(133) (84)
Inventories36
 20
11
 51
Other assets53
 13
1
 38
Trade payables - third party and affiliates16
 (98)33
 (23)
Other liabilities(50) 17
13
 18
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities940
 726
490
 636
Investing Activities      
Capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment(186) (168)(116) (128)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
 (3)(268) 
Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets, net8
 
1
 2
Capital expenditures related to Fairway Methanol LLC
 (263)
Other, net(14) (27)(6) (12)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities(192) (461)(389) (138)
Financing Activities      
Net change in short-term borrowings with maturities of 3 months or less(347) 346
202
 (353)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings39
 40
104
 22
Repayments of short-term borrowings(76) (60)(55) (63)
Proceeds from long-term debt1,509
 

 170
Repayments of long-term debt(1,095) (18)(58) (183)
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees(300) (420)(300) (200)
Stock option exercises3
 2
1
 3
Series A common stock dividends(150) (131)(116) (98)
(Distributions to) contributions from noncontrolling interests(15) 187
(8) (6)
Other, net(35) (10)(19) (24)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities(467) (64)(249) (732)
Exchange rate effects on cash and cash equivalents4
 (29)21
 2
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents285
 172
(127) (232)
Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of period967
 780
638
 967
Cash and cash equivalents as of end of period1,252
 952
511
 735

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Description of the Company and Basis of Presentation
Description of the Company
Celanese Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") is a global technology and specialty materials company. The Company's business involves processing chemical raw materials, such as methanol, carbon monoxide and ethylene, and natural products, including wood pulp, into value-added chemicals, thermoplastic polymers and other chemical-based products.
Definitions
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q ("Quarterly Report"), the term "Celanese" refers to Celanese Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and not its subsidiaries. The term "Celanese US" refers to the Company's subsidiary, Celanese US Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and not its subsidiaries.
Basis of Presentation
The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 and 20152016 contained in this Quarterly Report were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("US GAAP") for all periods presented and include the accounts of the Company, its majority owned subsidiaries over which the Company exercises control and, when applicable, variable interest entities in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and other financial information included in this Quarterly Report, unless otherwise specified, have been presented to separately show the effects of discontinued operations.
In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows and equity include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items necessary for their fair presentation in conformity with US GAAP. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP may have been condensed or omitted in accordance with rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 20152016, filed on February 5, 201610, 2017 with the SEC as part of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Operating results for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into contracts and agreements relative to a number of topics, including acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, supply agreements, product sales and other arrangements. The Company endeavors to describe those contracts or agreements that are material to its business, results of operations or financial position. The Company may also describe some arrangements that are not material but in which the Company believes investors may have an interest or which may have been included in a Form 8-K filing. Investors should not assume the Company has described all contracts and agreements relative to the Company's business in this Quarterly Report.
For those consolidated ventures in which the Company owns or is exposed to less than 100% of the economics, the outside stockholders' interests are shown as noncontrolling interests.
The Company has reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to the current period's presentation.
Estimates and Assumptions
The preparation of unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of netNet sales, expenses and allocated charges during the reporting period. Significant estimates pertain to impairments of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, purchase price allocations, restructuring costs and other (charges) gains, net, income taxes, pension

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and other postretirement benefits, asset retirement obligations, environmental liabilities and loss contingencies, among others. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The Company assesses the recoverability
8


Table of the carrying amount of its reporting unit goodwill either qualitatively or quantitatively annually during the third quarter of its fiscal year using June 30 balances or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be fully recoverable. In connection with the Company's annual goodwill impairment assessment, the Company did not record an impairment loss to goodwill during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 as the estimated fair value for each of the Company's reporting units exceeded the carrying amount of the underlying assets by a substantial margin.Contents
The Company assesses the recoverability of the carrying amount of its indefinite-lived intangible assets either qualitatively or by utilizing the relief from royalty method under the income approach annually during the third quarter of its fiscal year using June 30 balances or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. In connection with the Company's annual indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment assessment, the Company did not record an impairment loss to indefinite-lived intangible assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 as the estimated fair value of each of the Company's indefinite-lived intangible assets exceeded the carrying value of the underlying assets by a substantial margin.
The Company's trademarks and trade names have an indefinite life. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company did not renew or extend any intangible assets.
Change in estimateaccounting policy regarding pension and other postretirement benefitsshare-based compensation
Beginning in 2016,Historically, the Company recognized share-based compensation net of estimated forfeitures over the vesting period of the respective grant. Effective January 1, 2017, the Company elected to change the method usedits accounting policy to estimate the service and interest cost componentsrecognize forfeitures as they occur. The new forfeiture policy election was adopted using a modified retrospective approach with a cumulative effect adjustment of net periodic benefit cost$1 million to Retained earnings as of January 1, 2017. See Note 2 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements for its significant defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans. Previously, the Company estimated the service and interest cost components utilizing a single weighted average discount rate derived from the yield curve used to measure the benefit obligation at the beginning of the period. further information.
2. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company has elected to use a full yield curve approach in the estimation of these components of net periodic benefit cost by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve used in the determination of the benefit obligation to the relevant projected cash flows. This change improves the correlation between projected benefit cash flows and the corresponding yield curve spot rates andfollowing table provides a more precise measurementbrief description of service and interest costs. This change does not affectrecent Accounting Standard Updates ("ASU") issued by the measurement of the Company's total benefit obligations as the change in service and interest cost will be completely offset in the annual actuarial (gain) loss reported. The Company has accounted for this change as a change in estimate and, accordingly, has accounted for it prospectively beginning in 2016. The Company's adoption of the full yield curve approach will reduce 2016 service and interest cost by approximately $29 million as compared to the previous method.Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"):
The discount rates used to measure service and interest cost during 2016 and the discount rates that would have been used for service and interest cost under the Company's previous estimation methodology are as follows:
 Pension Benefits Postretirement Benefits
 US International US International
 (In percentages)
Single weighted average discount rate approach       
Service and interest cost4.2 2.6 4.0 3.6
        
Full yield curve approach(1)
       
Service cost4.5 3.1 4.2 3.8
Interest cost3.4 2.2 3.1 3.1

StandardDescriptionEffective DateEffect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost.The new guidance clarifies the presentation and classification of the components of net periodic benefit costs in the consolidated statement of operations.January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted.The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption on its financial statements and related disclosures.
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory.The new guidance requires the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of assets other than inventory to be recognized when the transfer occurs rather than deferring until an outside sale has occurred.January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted.The Company does not expect adoption will have a material impact on its financial statements and related disclosures.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.The new guidance clarifies the presentation and classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments in the statement of cash flows.January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted.The Company does not expect adoption will have a material impact on its financial statements and related disclosures.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.The new guidance simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the timing of recognizing income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, calculation of compensation expense and classification on the statement of cash flows.January 1, 2017. Early adoption is permitted.
The Company adopted the new guidance effective January 1, 2017, as part of the FASB's simplification initiative. The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact to the Company.

(1)The Company changed its accounting policy regarding the recognition of stock-based compensation expense as part of the adoption (Note 1).
Represents
In February 2016, the weighted averageFASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases.The new guidance supersedes the lease guidance under FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 840, Leases, resulting in the creation of FASB ASC Topic 842, Leases. The guidance requires a lessee to recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term for both finance and operating leases.January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted.The Company is currently evaluating its population of leases, and is continuing to assess all potential impacts of the standard, but currently believes the most significant impact relates to its accounting for manufacturing and logistics equipment, and real estate operating leases. The Company anticipates recognition of additional assets and corresponding liabilities related to leases upon adoption. The Company plans to adopt the standard effective interest rate.January 1, 2019.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Since that date, the FASB has issued additional ASUs clarifying certain aspects of ASU 2014-09.The new guidance requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance provides alternative methods of adoption. Subsequent guidance issued after May 2014 did not change the core principle of ASU 2014-09.January 1, 2018.The Company has completed its scoping and preliminary review of its significant revenue contracts to assess the potential impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company plans to adopt the revenue guidance effective January 1, 2018, although it has not yet selected a transition method. Based on the Company's initial evaluation, though not currently quantified, it currently does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements, as a majority of its revenue transactions are recognized when product is delivered.

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2. Recent Accounting Pronouncements3. Acquisitions, Dispositions and Plant Closures
In August 2016,Acquisitions
Acetate Tow Joint Venture
On June 18, 2017, Celanese, through various subsidiaries, entered into an agreement with affiliates of The Blackstone Group L.P. (the "Blackstone Entities") to form a joint venture which combines substantially all of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-15, Classificationoperations of Certain Cash Receiptsthe Company's cellulose derivatives business and Cash Payments ("ASU 2016-15"). ASU 2016-15 clarifies the presentationoperations of the Rhodia Acetow cellulose acetate business formerly operated by Solvay S.A. and classification of certain cash receipts and cash paymentsacquired by the Blackstone Entities on June 1, 2017. The Company's cellulose derivatives operations are included in the statementConsumer Specialties segment. The combined business will operate under a common governance structure through two separate joint ventures, each of which will be owned ultimately 70 percent and 30 percent by Celanese and the Blackstone Entities, respectively. One venture will primarily be comprised of the US operations being contributed and the other will be comprised of the remaining international operations being contributed. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including: (i) waiting periods, clearances and/or approvals of the European Union and other jurisdictions requiring antitrust or similar approvals, and (ii) completion of the internal reorganization of the Company's cellulose derivatives business to facilitate the closing and operation of the joint venture post-closing. The agreement may be terminated by Celanese and/or the Blackstone Entities under certain limited circumstances, including if the closing is not consummated within one year of signing, which date may be extended by an additional 90 days, under certain circumstances. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, once approved and upon closing, the Company is expected to consolidate the joint venture results, subject to the Blackstone Entities' noncontrolling interest.
In connection with the agreement, the joint venture obtained commitments for credit facilities aggregating $2.4 billion to be entered into by the joint venture entities at the closing consisting of (i) senior secured ($135 million) and senior unsecured ($65 million) revolving credit facilities in an aggregate principal amount of $200 million, (ii) senior secured term loan facilities in an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion, (iii) a senior unsecured bridge facility in an aggregate principal amount of $800 million, which bridge facility will backstop the proposed issuance of $800 million senior unsecured notes by a joint venture subsidiary, and (iv) a senior unsecured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $400 million. The credit facilities will be guaranteed by certain of the subsidiaries of the respective borrowers; however, only the $65 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility and the $400 million senior unsecured term loan credit facility will be guaranteed by Celanese. Approximately $2.2 billion of the proceeds of the debt financing are expected to be used, in part, to repay certain of the parties' existing indebtedness and a $1.6 billion dividend to the Company.
Nilit Plastics
On May 3, 2017, using cash flows. This ASU is effectiveon hand and borrowings under the Company's senior unsecured revolving credit facility, the Company acquired the nylon compounding division of Nilit Group ("Nilit"), an independent producer of high performance nylon resins, fibers and compounds. Celanese acquired the nylon compounding product portfolio, customer agreements and manufacturing, technology and commercial facilities. The acquisition of Nilit increases the Company's global engineered materials product platforms, extends the operational model, technical and industry solutions capabilities and expands project pipelines. The acquisition was accounted for fiscal years,as a business combination and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted.the acquired operations are included in the Advanced Engineered Materials segment.
Pro forma financial information since the respective acquisition date has not been provided as the acquisition did not have a material impact on the Company's financial information. The Company is currently assessingallocated the potential impact of ASU 2016-15 on its financial statements and related disclosures.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting ("ASU 2016-09"). ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspectspurchase price of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, includingacquisition to identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the aggregate fair values was recorded as goodwill. The Company calculated the fair value of the assets acquired using the income, tax consequences, classificationmarket, or cost approach (or a combination thereof). Fair values were determined based on Level 3 inputsincluding estimated future cash flows, discount rates, royalty rates, growth rates, sales projections, retention rates and terminal values, all of awards as either equity orwhich require significant management judgment and are susceptible to change. The purchase price allocation is based upon preliminary information and is subject to change if additional information about the facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date becomes available. The final fair value of the net assets acquired may result in adjustments to the assets and liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company doesincluding goodwill. However, any subsequent measurement period adjustments are not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-09expected to have a material impact on its financial statements and related disclosures.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases ("ASU 2016-02"). ASU 2016-02 supersedes the lease guidance under FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 840, Leases, resulting in the creationCompany's results of FASB ASC Topic 842, Leases. ASU 2016-02 requires a lessee to recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term for both finance and operating leases. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of adopting ASU 2016-02 on its financial statements and related disclosures.
In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes ("ASU 2015-17"). ASU 2015-17 requires deferred tax liabilities and assets to be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company elected to early adopt ASU 2015-17 prospectively during the three months ended March 31, 2016 in accordance with the FASB's disclosure simplification initiatives. The adoption of this ASU resulted in a reclassification from current to noncurrent deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of March 31, 2016 of $68 million and $30 million, respectively. Prior periods were not adjusted.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASU 2014-09"). ASU 2014-09 requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU provides alternative methods of adoption. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue fromContracts with Customers, Deferral of the Effective Date ("ASU 2015-14"). ASU 2015-14 defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year to December 15, 2017 for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after that date and permits early adoption of the standard, but not before the original effective date for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Since that date, the FASB has issued additional ASUs clarifying certain aspects of ASU 2014-09. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 was not changed by the additional guidance. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of adopting ASU 2014-09 on its financial statements and related disclosures.operations.

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The preliminary purchase price allocation for the Nilit acquisition is as follows:
As of
May 3, 2017
(In $ millions)
Cash and cash equivalents4
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates21
Inventories37
Property, plant and equipment, net36
Intangible assets (Note 7)
104
Goodwill(1) (Note 7)
136
Other assets11
Total fair value of assets acquired349
Trade payables - third party and affiliates(8)
Total debt (Note 10)
(12)
Deferred income taxes(26)
Benefit obligations(15)
Other liabilities(2)
(45)
Total fair value of liabilities assumed(106)
Net assets acquired243

(1)
Goodwill consists of expected revenue and operating synergies resulting from the acquisition. None of the goodwill is deductible for income tax purposes.
(2)
Includes a $29 million acquisition payment to Nilit Group after the date of close, which was paid as of June 30, 2017.
During the six months ended June 30, 2017, transaction related costs of $1 million were expensed as incurred to Selling, general and administrative expenses in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations. The amount of pro forma Net earnings (loss) of Nilit included in the Company's unaudited interim consolidated statement of operations was less than 1% (unaudited) of its consolidated Net earnings (loss) had the acquisition occurred as of the beginning of 2017. The amount of Nilit Net earnings (loss) consolidated by the Company since the acquisition date was not material.
SO.F.TER. S.p.A.
In December 2016, the Company acquired 100% of the stock of the Forli, Italy based SO.F.TER. S.p.A. ("SOFTER"), a leading thermoplastic compounder. The acquisition of SOFTER increases the Company's global engineered materials product platforms, extends the operational model, technical and industry solutions capabilities and expands project pipelines. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination and the acquired operations are included in the Advanced Engineered Materials segment. The Company allocated the purchase price of the acquisition to identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. The purchase price allocation was based on preliminary information and is subject to change if additional information about the facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date becomes available. The final fair value of the net assets acquired may result in adjustments to the assets and liabilities, including goodwill. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company made adjustments to its purchase price allocation which primarily resulted in an increase of $3 million in property, plant and equipment and a reduction to goodwill of the same amount. Any subsequent measurement period adjustments are not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations.

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3.4. Ventures and Variable Interest Entities
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
In February 2014, theThe Company formedhas a joint venture, Fairway Methanol LLC ("Fairway"), with Mitsui & Co., Ltd., of Tokyo, Japan ("Mitsui"), in which the Company owns 50% of Fairway, for the production of methanol at the Company's integrated chemical plant in Clear Lake, Texas. The methanol unit utilizes natural gas in the US Gulf Coast region as a feedstock and benefits from the existing infrastructure at the Company's Clear Lake facility. Both Mitsui and the Company supply their own natural gas to Fairway in exchange for methanol tolling under a cost-plus off-take arrangement.
The Company determined that Fairway is a variable interest entity ("VIE") in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Under the terms of the joint venture agreements, the Company provides site services and day-to-day operations for the methanol facility. In addition, the joint venture agreements provide that the Company indemnifies Mitsui for environmental obligations that exceed a specified threshold, as well as an equity option between the partners. Accordingly, the Company consolidates the venture and records a noncontrolling interest for the share of the venture owned by Mitsui. Fairway is included in the Company's Acetyl Intermediates segment.
The carrying amount of the assets and liabilities associated with Fairway included in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets are as follows:
As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Cash and cash equivalents22
 7
24
 18
Trade receivables, net - third party & affiliate10
 12
10
 8
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2016: $40; 2015: $10)744
 772
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization - 2016: $1; 2015: $0)26
 27
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2017: $70; 2016: $50)714
 734
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization - 2017: $2; 2016: $1)25
 26
Other assets9
 13
8
 9
Total assets(1)
811
 831
781
 795
      
Trade payables15
 9
11
 15
Other liabilities(2)
3
 5
2
 2
Long-term debt5
 5
Total debt5
 5
Deferred income taxes2
 2
3
 2
Total liabilities25
 21
21
 24

(1) 
Assets can only be used to settle the obligations of Fairway.
(2) 
Primarily represents amounts owed by Fairway to the Company for reimbursement of expenditures.
Nonconsolidated Variable Interest Entities
The Company holds variable interests in entities that supply certain raw materials and services to the Company. The variable interests primarily relate to cost-plus contractual arrangements with the suppliers and recovery of capital expenditures for certain plant assets plus a rate of return on such assets. Liabilities for such supplier recoveries of capital expenditures have been recorded as capital lease obligations. The entities are not consolidated because the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the entities as it does not have the power to direct the activities of the entities that most significantly impact the entities' economic performance. The Company's maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with these VIEs as of SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 relates primarily to the recovery of capital expenditures for certain property, plant and equipment.

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The carrying amount of the assets and liabilities associated with the obligations to nonconsolidated VIEs, as well as the maximum exposure to loss relating to these nonconsolidated VIEs are as follows:
As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Property, plant and equipment, net65
 73
56
 60
      
Trade payables51
 47
29
 53
Current installments of long-term debt11
 10
10
 10
Long-term debt97
 109
87
 91
Restructuring reserves (Note 14)
21
 
Total liabilities159
 166
147
 154
      
Maximum exposure to loss250
 268
203
 240
The difference between the total liabilities associated with obligations to unconsolidatednonconsolidated VIEs and the maximum exposure to loss primarily represents take-or-pay obligations for services included in the Company's unconditional purchase obligations (Note 1618).
4.5. Marketable Securities, at Fair Value
The Company's nonqualified trusts hold available-for-sale securities for funding requirements of the Company's nonqualified pension plans (Note 911) as follows:
As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Amortized cost34
 30
30
 30
Gross unrealized gain
 

 
Gross unrealized loss
 

 
Fair value34
 30
30
 30
5.6. Inventories
 As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
 (In $ millions)
Finished goods477
 498
Work-in-process43
 43
Raw materials and supplies132
 141
Total652
 682

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6. Current Other Liabilities
 As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
 (In $ millions)
Asset retirement obligations8
 10
Benefit obligations (Note 9)
31
 31
Customer rebates40
 45
Derivatives (Note 14)
1
 2
Environmental (Note 10)
15
 11
Insurance6
 10
Interest17
 16
Restructuring (Note 12)
20
 30
Salaries and benefits88
 109
Sales and use tax/foreign withholding tax payable24
 13
Uncertain tax positions (Note 13)

 
Other49
 53
Total299
 330
7. Noncurrent Other Liabilities
 As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
 (In $ millions)
Asset retirement obligations22
 26
Deferred proceeds43
 43
Deferred revenue10
 13
Environmental (Note 10)
54
 61
Income taxes payable6
 7
Insurance46
 50
Other40
 47
Total221
 247
 As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
 (In $ millions)
Finished goods510
 506
Work-in-process48
 45
Raw materials and supplies213
 169
Total771
 720

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7. Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net
Goodwill
 
Advanced
Engineered
Materials
 
Consumer
Specialties
 
Industrial
Specialties
 
Acetyl
Intermediates
 Total
 (In $ millions)
As of December 31, 2016385
 225
 38
 148
 796
Acquisitions (Note 3)
133
 
 
 
 133
Exchange rate changes24
 7
 1
 14
 46
As of June 30, 2017(1)
542
 232
 39
 162
 975

(1)
There were $0 million of accumulated impairment losses as of June 30, 2017.
Intangible Assets, Net
Finite-lived intangible assets are as follows:
 Licenses 
Customer-
Related
Intangible
Assets
 
Developed
Technology
 
Covenants
Not to
Compete
and Other
 Total 
 (In $ millions) 
Gross Asset Value          
As of December 31, 201636
 509
 35
 53
 633
 
Acquisitions (Note 3)

 73
 9
 
 82
(1) 
Exchange rate changes1
 34
 1
 
 36
 
As of June 30, 201737
 616
 45
 53
 751
 
Accumulated Amortization          
As of December 31, 2016(27) (440) (26) (31) (524) 
Amortization(2) (5) (1) (1) (9) 
Exchange rate changes
 (27) (1) 1
 (27) 
As of June 30, 2017(29) (472) (28) (31) (560) 
Net book value8
 144
 17
 22
 191
 

(1)
Represents intangible assets acquired related to Nilit (Note 3) with a weighted average amortization period of 14 years.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets are as follows:
Trademarks
and Trade Names
(In $ millions)
As of December 31, 201685
Acquisitions (Note 3)
22
Accumulated impairment losses
Exchange rate changes4
As of June 30, 2017111
The Company's trademarks and trade names have an indefinite life. For the six months endedJune 30, 2017, the Company did not renew or extend any intangible assets.

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Estimated amortization expense for the succeeding five fiscal years is as follows:
 (In $ millions)
201819
201917
202015
202115
202213
8. Current Other Liabilities
 As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
 (In $ millions)
Asset retirement obligations18
 9
Benefit obligations (Note 11)
31
 31
Customer rebates46
 51
Derivatives (Note 16)
7
 3
Environmental (Note 12)
17
 14
Insurance5
 6
Interest20
 15
Restructuring (Note 14)
29
 16
Salaries and benefits74
 97
Sales and use tax/foreign withholding tax payable23
 21
Other62
 59
Total332
 322
9. Noncurrent Other Liabilities
 As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
 (In $ millions)
Asset retirement obligations10
 20
Deferred proceeds44
 41
Deferred revenue8
 9
Environmental (Note 12)
52
 50
Income taxes payable6
 6
Insurance49
 46
Other56
 43
Total225
 215

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10. Debt
As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Short-Term Borrowings and Current Installments of Long-Term Debt - Third Party and Affiliates      
Current installments of long-term debt19
 56
43
 27
Short-term borrowings, including amounts due to affiliates(1)
73
 52
70
 68
Revolving credit facility(2)

 350
Accounts receivable securitization facility(3)

 55
Short-term SOFTER bank loans (Note 3)(2)

 23
Revolving credit facility(3)
200
 
Accounts receivable securitization facility(4)
71
 
Total92
 513
384
 118

(1) 
The weighted average interest rate was 3.0%3.1% and 3.3%3.1% as of SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 and December 31, 2015,2016, respectively.
(2) 
The weighted average interest rate was 1.8%1.2% as of December 31, 2015.2016.
(3) 
The weighted average interest rate was 0.8%2.6% as of December 31, 2015.June 30, 2017.
(4)
The weighted average interest rate was 1.8% as of June 30, 2017.
As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Long-Term Debt      
Senior credit facilities - Term C-2 loan due 2016(1)

 30
Senior credit facilities - Term C-3 loan due 2018(2)

 878
Senior unsecured term loan due 2021(3)
500
 
Senior unsecured term loan due 2021(1)
500
 500
Senior unsecured notes due 2019, interest rate of 3.250%335
 327
342
 316
Senior unsecured notes due 2021, interest rate of 5.875%400
 400
400
 400
Senior unsecured notes due 2022, interest rate of 4.625%500
 500
500
 500
Senior unsecured notes due 2023, interest rate of 1.125%835
 
854
 788
Pollution control and industrial revenue bonds due at various dates through 2030, interest rates ranging from 5.70% to 6.70%
 169
Pollution control and industrial revenue bonds due at various dates through 2030, interest rates ranging from 4.05% to 5.00%170
 
169
 170
SOFTER bank loans due at various dates through 2021 (Note 3)(2)

 47
Nilit bank loans due at various dates through 2026 (Note 3)(3)
13
 
Obligations under capital leases due at various dates through 2054224
 238
215
 217
Subtotal2,964
 2,542
2,993
 2,938
Unamortized debt issuance costs(4)
(22) (18)(19) (21)
Current installments of long-term debt(19) (56)(43) (27)
Total2,923
 2,468
2,931
 2,890

(1)
The margin for borrowings under the Term C-2 loan facility was 2.0% above the Euro Interbank Offered Rate ("EURIBOR").
(2)
The margin for borrowings under the Term C-3 loan facility was 2.25% above LIBOR (for US dollars) and 2.25% above EURIBOR (for Euros), as applicable.
(3) 
The margin for borrowings under the senior unsecured term loan due 2021 was 1.5% above LIBOR.LIBOR at current Company credit ratings.
(2)
The weighted average interest rate was 1.6% as of December 31, 2016.
(3)
The weighted average interest rate was 1.4% as of June 30, 2017.
(4) 
Related to the Company's long-term debt, excluding obligations under capital leases.

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Senior Credit Facilities
OnIn July 15, 2016, Celanese, Celanese US and certain subsidiaries entered into a new senior credit agreement ("New Credit Agreement") consisting of a $500 million senior unsecured term loan and a $1.0 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility (with a letter of credit sublimit), each maturing in 2021. The proceeds from the new senior unsecured term loan and $409 million of borrowings under the new senior unsecured revolving credit facility were used to repay the Company's Term C-2 and C-3 loans under its existing senior secured credit facilities. The New Credit Agreement is guaranteed by Celanese, Celanese US and substantially all of its domestic subsidiaries (the "Subsidiary Guarantors").
In connection with entering into the New Credit Agreement, the Company recorded deferred financing costs
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Table of $5 million during the three months ended September 30, 2016, which are being amortized through 2021. The Company accelerated amortization of deferred financing costs and other expenses of $4 million related to the senior secured credit facilities, which are included in Refinancing expense in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations during the three months ended September 30, 2016.Contents

The Company's debt balances and amounts available for borrowing under its senior unsecured revolving credit facility are as follows:
 As of
SeptemberJune 30,
20162017
 (In $ millions)
Revolving Credit Facility 
Borrowings outstanding(1)
200
Letters of credit issued
Available for borrowing(2)
1,000800

(1) 
The Company borrowed $409$250 million and repaid $411$50 million under its new senior unsecured revolving credit facility during the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2016. The Company borrowed $245 million and repaid $595 million under its previous secured revolving credit facility during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.2017.
(2) 
The margin for borrowings under the senior unsecured revolving credit facility was 1.5% above LIBOR.LIBOR at current Company credit ratings.
Senior Notes
The Company has outstanding senior unsecured notes, issued in public offerings registered under the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act"), as amended (collectively, the "Senior Notes"). The Senior Notes were issued by Celanese US and are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Celanese and the Subsidiary Guarantors.
On September 26, 2016, Celanese US completed an offering of €750 million in principal amount of 1.125% senior unsecured notes due September 26, 2023 (the "1.125% Notes") in a public offering registered under the Securities Act. The 1.125% Notes were issued under a base indenture dated May 6, 2011. The 1.125% Notes were issued at a discount to par at a price of 99.713%, which is being amortized to Interest expense in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations over the term of the 1.125% Notes. Net proceeds from the sale of the 1.125% Notes were used to repay $411 million of outstanding borrowings under the new senior unsecured revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes. Deferred financing costs of $6 million were recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2016, which are being amortized over the term of the 1.125% Notes.
Pollution Control and Industrial Revenue Bonds
On March 3, 2016, the State of Wisconsin Public Finance Authority completed an offering of pollution control and industrial revenue bonds, the proceeds of which were loaned to Celanese US and used to repay the pollution control and industrial revenue bonds previously issued for the benefit of the Company. In connection with the refinancing, the Company recorded deferred financing costs of $2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016, which are being amortized over the terms of the bonds. The Company accelerated amortization of deferred financing costs and other expenses of $2 million related to the refinancing, which are included in Refinancing expense in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations.

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Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility
The Company has a US accounts receivable securitization facility involving receivables of certain of its domestic subsidiaries of the Company transferred to a wholly-owned, "bankruptcy remote" special purpose subsidiary of the Company ("SPE"). The securitization facility, which permits cash borrowings and letters of credit, was scheduled to expire on August 28, 2016, but may be extended for successive one year terms by agreement of the parties. All of the SPE's assets have been pledged to the administrative agentexpires in support of the SPE's obligations under the facility. On July 8, 2016, certain of the Company's subsidiaries entered into an amendment of the accounts receivable securitization facility ("Amendment"), extending its maturity to July 2019 and decreasing the available amount to $120 million.2019.
The Company's debt balances and amounts available for borrowing under its securitization facility are as follows:
 As of
SeptemberJune 30,
20162017
 (In $ millions)
Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility 
Borrowings outstanding(1)
71
Letters of credit issued5239
Available for borrowing5310
Total borrowing base105120
  
Maximum borrowing base(2)
120

(1) 
The Company borrowed $75 million and repaid $55$4 million under its Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility during the ninethree months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2016.2017.
(2) 
Outstanding accounts receivable transferred to the SPE was $154$174 million.
Covenants
The Company's material financing arrangements contain customary covenants, including the maintenance of certain financial ratios, events of default and change of control provisions. Failure to comply with these covenants, or the occurrence of any other event of default, could result in acceleration of the borrowings and other financial obligations. The Company is in compliance with all of the covenants related to its debt agreements as of SeptemberJune 30, 20162017.
9. Benefit Obligations
Beginning in 2016, the Company elected to use a full yield curve approach in the estimation of the service and interest cost components of net periodic benefit cost by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve used in the determination of the benefit obligation to the relevant projected cash flows (Note 1). The Company's adoption of the full yield curve approach will reduce 2016 service and interest cost by approximately $29 million as compared to the previous method.

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11. Benefit Obligations
The components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
2016 2015 2016 20152017 2016 2017 2016
Pension
Benefits
 Post-retirement
Benefits
 Pension
Benefits
 Post-retirement
Benefits
 Pension
Benefits
 Post-retirement
Benefits
 Pension
Benefits
 Post-retirement
Benefits
Pension
Benefits
 Post-retirement
Benefits
 Pension
Benefits
 Post-retirement
Benefits
 Pension
Benefits
 Post-retirement
Benefits
 Pension
Benefits
 Post-retirement
Benefits
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Service cost2
 
 4
 
 6
 
 10
 1
2
 
 2
 
 4
 
 4
 
Interest cost28
 1
 34
 1
 84
 2
 105
 2
26
 1
 28
 
 53
 1
 56
 1
Expected return on plan assets(44) 
 (53) 
 (132) 
 (158) 
(49) 
 (44) 
 (98) 
 (88) 
Recognized actuarial (gain) loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1
Amortization of prior service cost (credit), net
 (1) 
 
 
 (3) 
 

 (1) 
 (1) 
 (1) 
 (2)
Special termination benefit
 
 1
 
 3
 
 2
 
1
 
 2
 
 1
 
 3
 
Total(14) 
 (14) 1
 (39) (1) (41) 4
(20) 
 (12) (1) (40) 
 (25) (1)
Benefit obligation funding is as follows:
As of
September 30,
2016
 
Total
Expected
2016
As of
June 30,
2017
 
Total
Expected
2017
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Cash contributions to defined benefit pension plans18
 23
11
 20
Benefit payments to nonqualified pension plans17
 22
11
 22
Benefit payments to other postretirement benefit plans3
 4
2
 4
Cash contributions to German multiemployer defined benefit pension plans(1)
5
 8
3
 7

(1) 
The Company makes contributions based on specified percentages of employee contributions.
The Company's estimates of its US defined benefit pension plan contributions reflect the provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
10.12. Environmental
The Company is subject to environmental laws and regulations worldwide that impose limitations on the discharge of pollutants into the air and water, establish standards for the treatment, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, and impose record keeping and notification requirements. Failure to timely comply with these laws and regulations may expose the Company to penalties. The Company believes that it is in substantial compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations and engages in an on goingongoing process of updating its controls to mitigate compliance risks. The Company is also subject to retained environmental obligations specified in various contractual agreements arising from the divestiture of certain businesses by the Company or one of its predecessor companies.

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The components of environmental remediation reserves are as follows:
As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Demerger obligations (Note 16)
20
 22
Divestiture obligations (Note 16)
17
 17
Demerger obligations (Note 18)
25
 18
Divestiture obligations (Note 18)
16
 16
Active sites18
 18
15
 16
US Superfund sites12
 13
11
 11
Other environmental remediation reserves2
 2
2
 3
Total69
 72
69
 64
Remediation
Due to its industrial history and through retained contractual and legal obligations, the Company has the obligation to remediate specific areas on its own sites as well as on divested, demerger, orphan or US Superfund sites (as defined below). In addition, as part of the demerger agreement between the Company and Hoechst AG ("Hoechst"), a specified portion of the responsibility for environmental liabilities from a number of Hoechst divestitures was transferred to the Company (Note 1618). The Company provides for such obligations when the event of loss is probable and reasonably estimable. The Company believes that environmental remediation costs will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Company, but may have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or cash flows in any given period.
US Superfund Sites
In the US, the Company may be subject to substantial claims brought by US federal or state regulatory agencies or private individuals pursuant to statutory authority or common law. In particular, the Company has a potential liability under the US Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, and related state laws (collectively referred to as "Superfund") for investigation and cleanup costs at certain sites. At most of these sites, numerous companies, including the Company, or one of its predecessor companies, have been notified that the US Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), state governing bodies or private individuals consider such companies to be potentially responsible parties ("PRP") under Superfund or related laws. The proceedings relating to these sites are in various stages. The cleanup process has not been completed at most sites, and the status of the insurance coverage for some of these proceedings is uncertain. Consequently, the Company cannot accurately determine its ultimate liability for investigation or cleanup costs at these sites.
As events progress at each site for which it has been named a PRP, the Company accrues, as appropriate, a liability for site cleanup. Such liabilities include all costs that are probable and can be reasonably estimated. In establishing these liabilities, the Company considers the contaminants of concern, the potential impact thereof, the relationship of the contaminants of concern to its current and historic operations, its shipment of waste to a site, its percentage of total waste shipped to the site, the types of wastes involved, the conclusions of any studies, the magnitude of any remedial actions that may be necessary and the number and viability of other PRPs. Often the Company joins with other PRPs to sign joint defense agreements that settle, among PRPs, each party's percentage allocation of costs at the site. Although the ultimate liability may differ from the estimate, the Company routinely reviews the liabilities and revises the estimate, as appropriate, based on the most current information available.
One such site is the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site, which is comprised of a number of sub-sites, including the Lower Passaic River Study Area, which is the lower 17-mile stretch of the Passaic River ("Lower Passaic River Site")., and the Newark Bay Area. The Company and 70 other companies are parties to a May 2007 Administrative Order on Consent with the EPA to perform a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study ("RI/FS") at the Lower Passaic River Site in order to identify the levels of contaminants and potential cleanup actions.actions, including the potential migration of contaminants between the Lower Passaic River Site and the Newark Bay Area. Work on the RI/FS is ongoing, with a goal to complete it in 2017.2018.
OnIn March 3, 2016, the EPA issued its final Record of Decision concerning the remediation of the lower 8.3 miles of the Lower Passaic River Site ("Lower 8.3 Miles"). Pursuant to the EPA's Record of Decision, the Lower 8.3 Miles must be dredged bank to bank and an engineered cap must be installed at an EPA estimated cost of approximately $1.4 billion. The Company owned and/or operated facilities in the vicinity of the Lower 8.3 Miles, but has found no evidence that it contributed any of the primary contaminants of concern to the Passaic River. Pursuant to the EPA's Record of Decision, the Lower 8.3 Miles must be dredged bank to bank and an engineered cap must be installed at an estimated cost of approximately $1.4 billion. The Company is vigorously defending this matter and currently believes

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that its ultimate allocable share of the cleanup costs with respect to the Lower Passaic River Site, estimated at less than 1%, will not be material.

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11.13. Stockholders' Equity
Common Stock
The Company's Board of Directors follows a policy of declaring, subject to legally available funds, a quarterly cash dividend on each share of the Company's Series A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share ("Common Stock"), unless the Company's Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, determines otherwise.
The Company's Board of Directors approved increases in the Company's Common Stock cash dividend rates as follows:
Increase 
Quarterly Common
Stock Cash Dividend
 
Annual Common
Stock Cash Dividend
 Effective DateIncrease 
Quarterly Common
Stock Cash Dividend
 
Annual Common
Stock Cash Dividend
 Effective Date
(In percentages) (In $ per share) (In percentages) (In $ per share) 
April 201520 0.30 1.20 May 2015
April 201620 0.36 1.44 May 201620 0.36 1.44 May 2016
April 201728 0.46 1.84 May 2017
Treasury Stock
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 Total From
February 2008
Through
September 30, 2016
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 Total From
February 2008
Through
June 30, 2017
2016 2015 2017 2016 
Shares repurchased4,360,617
 6,640,601
 31,668,413
3,412,858
 2,821,140
 37,755,074
Average purchase price per share$68.80
 $63.31
 $51.64
$88.88
 $70.89
 $56.65
Cash paid for repurchased shares (in millions)$300
 $420
 $1,635
Aggregate Board of Directors repurchase authorizations during the period (in millions)(1)
$
 $1,000
 $2,366
Shares repurchased (in $ millions)$303
 $200
 $2,138
Aggregate Board of Directors repurchase authorizations during the period (in $ millions)(1)
$
 $
 $2,366

(1) 
These authorizations give management discretion in determining the timing and conditions under which shares may be repurchased. This repurchase program began in February 2008 and does not have an expiration date.
On July 17, 2017, the Company's Board of Directors approved a $1.5 billion increase in its Common Stock repurchase authorization. As of June 30, 2017, the Company had $228 million remaining under the previous authorization. The Company also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.46 per share on its Common Stock on July 17, 2017, amounting to $63 million. The cash dividend will be paid on August 7, 2017 to holders of record as of July 28, 2017.
The purchase of treasury stock reduces the number of shares outstanding. The repurchased shares may be used by the Company for compensation programs utilizing the Company's stock and other corporate purposes. The Company accounts for treasury stock using the cost method and includes treasury stock as a component of stockholders' equity.
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net
 Three Months Ended June 30,
 2017 2016
 
Gross
Amount
 
Income
Tax
(Provision)
Benefit
 
Net
Amount
 
Gross
Amount
 
Income
Tax
(Provision)
Benefit
 Net
Amount
 (In $ millions)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities1
 
 1
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation71
 7
 78
 (17) (1) (18)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges1
 
 1
 1
 
 1
Pension and postretirement benefits
 
 
 (1) 
 (1)
Total73
 7
 80
 (17) (1) (18)

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Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net
 Three Months Ended September 30,
 2016 2015
 
Gross
Amount
 
Income
Tax
(Provision)
Benefit
 
Net
Amount
 
Gross
Amount
 
Income
Tax
(Provision)
Benefit
 Net
Amount
 (In $ millions)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities(1) 
 (1) 1
 
 1
Foreign currency translation(2) (6) (8) (8) (3) (11)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
 
 
 (1) 
 (1)
Pension and postretirement benefits
 
 
 
 
 
Total(3) (6) (9) (8) (3) (11)
Nine Months Ended September 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2016 20152017 2016
Gross
Amount
 Income
Tax
(Provision)
Benefit
 Net
Amount
 Gross
Amount
 Income
Tax
(Provision)
Benefit
 Net
Amount
Gross
Amount
 Income
Tax
(Provision)
Benefit
 Net
Amount
 Gross
Amount
 Income
Tax
(Provision)
Benefit
 Net
Amount
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
 
 
 1
 (1) 
1
 
 1
 1
 
 1
Foreign currency translation51
 (13) 38
 (125) (5) (130)99
 7
 106
 53
 (7) 46
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges1
 
 1
 3
 (1) 2
(1) 
 (1) 1
 
 1
Pension and postretirement benefits(1) 
 (1) 
 1
 1
5
 
 5
 (1) 
 (1)
Total51
 (13) 38
 (121) (6) (127)104
 7
 111
 54
 (7) 47
Adjustments to Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net, are as follows:
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
on
Marketable
Securities
 
Foreign
Currency
Translation
 
Gain (Loss)
on Cash
Flow
Hedges
 
Pension
and
Postretirement
Benefits
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
(Loss), Net
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
on
Marketable
Securities
 
Foreign
Currency
Translation
 
Gain (Loss)
on Cash
Flow
Hedges
 
Pension
and
Postretirement
Benefits
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
(Loss), Net
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
As of December 31, 20151
 (339) (2) (8) (348)
As of December 31, 20161
 (350) 3
 (12) (358)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
 51
 1
 
 52
1
 99
 1
 6
 107
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
 

(1)
(1)
 
 (2)
(1)
(3)
Income tax (provision) benefit
 (13) 
 
 (13)
 7
 
 
 7
As of September 30, 20161
 (301) (1) (9) (310)
As of June 30, 20172
 (244) 2
 (7) (247)

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12.14. Other (Charges) Gains, Net
Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
2016 2015 2016 20152017 2016 2017 2016
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Employee termination benefits(3) (6) (11)
(1) 
(20)(2) (3) (4)
(1) 
(8)
InfraServ ownership change(4) 
 (4) 
Asset impairments
 (1) (1) (1)
 (1) 
 (1)
Commercial disputes
 3
 
 2
Other plant/office closures3
 
 (50) 
Total(3) (4) (12) (19)(3) (4) (58) (9)

(1) 
Includes $3$1 million of special termination benefits included in Benefit obligations in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets.
2016
During the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 and 2015,2016, the Company recorded $11$4 million and $20$8 million, respectively, of employee termination benefits primarily related to the Company's ongoing efforts to align its businesses around its core value drivers.
2015
DuringA partner in the Company's InfraServ equity affiliate investments exercised an option right, which is currently being disputed, to purchase additional ownership interests in the InfraServ entities from the Company. The purchase of these interests will reduce the Company's ownership interests in InfraServ GmbH & Co. Gendorf KG and InfraServ GmbH & Co. Knapsack KG from 39 percent and 27 percent, to 30 percent and 22 percent, respectively. Accordingly, during the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2015,2017, the Company reduced the carrying value of these investments by $4 million. In addition, the Company has reserved certain amounts for dividends received from the investments since the exercise notification was received. The Company's InfraServ investments are primarily owned by entities included in the Other Activities segment.

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During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company provided notice of termination of a contract with a key raw materials supplier at its ethanol production unit in Nanjing, China. As a result, the Company recorded $6an estimated $50 million of plant/office closure costs primarily consisting of a $24 million contract termination charge and $4an $18 million respectively, in accelerated depreciation relatedreduction to the Company's vinyl acetate ethylene ("VAE") emulsionsits non-income tax receivable. The Nanjing, China ethanol production unit in Meredosia, Illinois and its VAE and conventional emulsions units in Tarragona, Spain. The accelerated depreciation is included in Cost of sales in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations and is included in the Company's Industrial Specialties segment.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company also recorded $39 million in accelerated depreciation expense related to property, plant and equipment no longer in use at the Company's ethanol technology development unit in Clear Lake, Texas. The Company believes that further development of its ethanol technology can be achieved through the utilization of other existing assets. The accelerated depreciation is included in Research and development expenses in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations and is included in the Company's Acetyl Intermediates segment.
The changes in the restructuring reserves by business segment are as follows:
Advanced
Engineered
Materials
 
Consumer
Specialties
 
Industrial
Specialties
 
Acetyl
Intermediates
 Other Total
Advanced
Engineered
Materials
 
Consumer
Specialties
 
Industrial
Specialties
 
Acetyl
Intermediates
 Other Total
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Employee Termination Benefits                      
As of December 31, 20153
 14
 6
 1
 6
 30
As of December 31, 20161
 9
 2
 1
 3
 16
Additions1
 1
 2
 1
 3
 8
1
 2
 
 
 1
 4
Cash payments(2) (5) (6) (1) (4) (18)
 (1) (1) 
 (3) (5)
Other changes
 
 
 
 
 

 (8) 
 
 (1) (9)
Exchange rate changes
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
As of September 30, 20162
 10
 2
 1
 5
 20
As of June 30, 20172
 2
 1
 1
 
 6
Other Plant/Office Closures                      
As of December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
Additions
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 29
 
 29
Cash payments
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 (3) 
 (3)
Other changes
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 (3) 
 (3)
Exchange rate changes
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
As of September 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
As of June 30, 2017
 
 
 23
 
 23
Total2
 10
 2
 1
 5
 20
2
 2
 1
 24
 
 29

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Table of Contents

13.15. Income Taxes
 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
 (In percentages)
Effective income tax rate5 33 15 22
 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
 (In percentages)
Effective income tax rate14 19 18 19
The lower effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 is primarily due to remeasurement of prior year tax positions due to audit closures and technical clarificationsforeign exchange losses in certain jurisdictions where the functional currency differs from the local currency and a release of $52 million.a tax position due to an audit settlement in Germany.
For the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2016,2017, the Company's uncertain tax positions decreased $61increased $21 million, primarily due to audit closures in the USNilit acquisition (Note 3) and in certain foreign jurisdictions.exchange fluctuations.
The Company's US tax returns for the years 2009 through 2012 are currently under audit by the US Internal Revenue Service and certain of the Company's subsidiaries are under audit in jurisdictions outside of the US. In connection with the Company's US federal income tax audit for 2009 and 2010, the Company has received $192 million of proposed pre-tax adjustments related to various intercompany charges. In the event the Company is wholly unsuccessful in its defense, an actual tax assessment would result in the consumption of up to $67 million of prior foreign tax credit carryforwards. The Company believes these proposed adjustments to be without merit and is vigorously defending its position.
14.16. Derivative Financial Instruments
Cash Flow Hedges
Cross-currency Swaps
In March 2015, the Company settled its cross-currency swap agreements with notional values of $250 million/€193 million, expiring September 11, 2020, and $225 million/€162 million, expiring April 17, 2019, in exchange for cash of $88 million. The Company recorded a net loss of $1 million, which is included in Other income (expense), net in the unaudited interim consolidated statement of operations. The Company classifies cash flows from derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges in the same category of the consolidated statement of cash flows as the cash flows from the items being hedged. Accordingly, the settlement of the cross-currency swap agreements is included in Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities in the unaudited interim consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
Net Investment Hedges
The Company uses derivative instruments, such as foreign currency forwards, and non-derivative financial instruments, such as foreign currency denominated debt, that may give rise to foreign currency transaction gains or losses to hedge the foreign currency exposure of net investments in foreign operations. Accordingly, the effective portion of gains and losses from remeasurement of derivative and non-derivative financial instruments is included in foreign currency translation within

22


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Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets. Gains and losses are reclassified to earnings in the period the hedged investment is sold or liquidated.
The total notional amount of foreign currency denominated debt designated as a net investment hedge of net investments in foreign operations are as follows:
 As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
 (In € millions)
Total940
 328

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 As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
 (In € millions)
Total750
 850
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedges
Foreign Currency Forwards and Swaps
Gross notional values of the foreign currency forwards and swaps not designated as hedges are as follows:
 As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
 (In $ millions)
Total490
 502
No significant changes in the fair value of the Company's derivative and non-derivative instruments occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.
 As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
 (In $ millions)
Total674
 508
Information regarding changes in the fair value of the Company's derivative and non-derivative instruments during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:
Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Gain (Loss) Recognized in Earnings (Loss) Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Gain (Loss) Recognized in Earnings (Loss) 
Nine Months Ended September 30, Statement of Operations ClassificationThree Months Ended June 30, Statement of Operations Classification
2016 2015 2016 2015 2017 2016 2017 2016 
(In $ millions) (In $ millions) 
Designated as Cash Flow Hedges                
Cross-currency swaps
 
 
 46
 Other income (expense), net; Interest expense
Commodity swaps2
 1
 1
 
 Cost of sales
Foreign currency forwards(1) 
 
 
 Cost of sales
Total
 
 
 46
 1
 1
 1
 
 
                
Designated as Net Investment Hedges                
Foreign currency denominated debt (Note 8)
2
 28
 
 
 N/A
Foreign currency denominated debt (Note 10)
(56) 7
 
 
 N/A
Total2
 28
 
 
 (56) 7
 
 
 
                
Not Designated as Hedges                
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
 
 12
 (68) Foreign exchange gain (loss), net; Other income (expense), net
 
 (3) 6
 Foreign exchange gain (loss), net; Other income (expense), net
Total
 
 12
 (68) 
 
 (3) 6
 

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 Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Gain (Loss) Recognized in Earnings (Loss)  
 Six Months Ended June 30, Statement of Operations Classification
 2017 2016 2017 2016 
 (In $ millions)  
Designated as Cash Flow Hedges         
Commodity swaps1
 1
 2
 
 Cost of sales
Foreign currency forwards(1) 
 
 
 Cost of sales
Total
 1
 2
 
  
          
Designated as Net Investment Hedges         
Foreign currency denominated debt (Note 10)
(69) 1
 
 
 N/A
Total(69) 1
 
 
  
          
Not Designated as Hedges         
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
 
 (2) 13
 Foreign exchange gain (loss), net; Other income (expense), net
Total
 
 (2) 13
  
See Note 1517 - Fair Value Measurements for further information regarding the fair value of the Company's derivative instruments.
Certain of the Company's commodity swaps and foreign currency forwards and swaps permit the Company to net settle all contracts with the counterparty through a single payment in an agreed upon currency in the event of default or early termination of the contract, similar to a master netting arrangement.

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Information regarding the gross amounts of the Company's derivative instruments and the amounts offset in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets is as follows:
As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Derivative Assets      
Gross amount recognized5
 2
7
 14
Gross amount offset in the consolidated balance sheets1
 

 4
Net amount presented in the consolidated balance sheets4
 2
7
 10
Gross amount not offset in the consolidated balance sheets1
 
1
 2
Net amount3
 2
6
 8
As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Derivative Liabilities      
Gross amount recognized2
 2
7
 7
Gross amount offset in the consolidated balance sheets1
 

 4
Net amount presented in the consolidated balance sheets1
 2
7
 3
Gross amount not offset in the consolidated balance sheets1
 
1
 2
Net amount
 2
6
 1

24


15.

17. Fair Value Measurements
The Company's financial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as follows:
Derivatives. Derivative financial instruments, including commodity swaps and foreign currency forwards and swaps, are valued in the market using discounted cash flow techniques. These techniques incorporate Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurement inputs such as spot rates and foreign currency exchange rates. These market inputs are utilized in the discounted cash flow calculation considering the instrument's term, notional amount, discount rate and credit risk. Significant inputs to the derivative valuation for commodity swaps and foreign currency forwards and swaps are observable in the active markets and are classified as Level 2 in the fair value measurement hierarchy.
 Fair Value Measurement  
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 Total Balance Sheet Classification
 (In $ millions)  
As of June 30, 2017       
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges       
Commodity swaps
 3
 3
 Current Other assets
Commodity swaps
 1
 1
 Noncurrent Other assets
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges    

  
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
 3
 3
 Current Other assets
Total assets
 7
 7
  
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges       
Foreign currency forwards
 (1) (1) Current Other liabilities
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges       
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
 (6) (6) Current Other liabilities
Total liabilities
 (7) (7)  
As of December 31, 2016       
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges       
Commodity swaps
 5
 5
 Current Other assets
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges       
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
 5
 5
 Current Other assets
Total assets
 10
 10
  
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges       
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
 (3) (3) Current Other liabilities
Total liabilities
 (3) (3)  

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 Fair Value Measurement  
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 Total Balance Sheet Classification
 (In $ millions)  
As of September 30, 2016       
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges       
Commodity swaps
 1
 1
 Current Other assets
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges    

  
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
 3
 3
 Current Other assets
Total assets
 4
 4
  
Designated as Net Investment Hedges       
Foreign currency denominated debt(1)

 
 
 Long-term debt
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges       
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
 (1) (1) Current Other liabilities
Total liabilities
 (1) (1)  
As of December 31, 2015       
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges       
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
 2
 2
 Current Other assets
Total assets
 2
 2
  
Designated as a Net Investment Hedge       
Foreign currency denominated debt(1)

 
 
 Long-term debt
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges       
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
 (2) (2) Current Other liabilities
Total liabilities
 (2) (2)  

(1)
Included in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets at carrying amount.
Carrying values and fair values of financial instruments that are not carried at fair value are as follows:
  Fair Value Measurement  Fair Value Measurement
Carrying
Amount
 
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 Total
Carrying
Amount
 
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 Total
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
As of September 30, 2016       
As of June 30, 2017       
Cost investments148
 
 
 
159
 
 
 
Insurance contracts in nonqualified trusts49
 49
 
 49
47
 47
 
 47
Long-term debt, including current installments of long-term debt2,964
 2,910
 224
 3,134
2,993
 2,890
 215
 3,105
As of December 31, 2015       
As of December 31, 2016       
Cost investments151
 
 
 
155
 
 
 
Insurance contracts in nonqualified trusts55
 55
 
 55
49
 49
 
 49
Long-term debt, including current installments of long-term debt2,542
 2,348
 238
 2,586
2,938
 2,826
 217
 3,043
In general, the cost investments included in the table above are not publicly traded and their fair values are not readily determinable; however, the Company believes the carrying values approximate or are less than the fair values. Insurance contracts in nonqualified trusts consist of long-term fixed income securities, which are valued using independent vendor pricing models with observable inputs in the active market and therefore represent a Level 2 fair value measurement. The fair value of

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Table of Contents

long-term debt is based on valuations from third-party banks and market quotations and is classified as Level 2 in the fair value measurement hierarchy. The fair value of obligations under capital leases, which are included in long-term debt, is based on lease payments and discount rates, which are not observable in the market and therefore represents a Level 3 fair value measurement.
As of SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 and December 31, 20152016, the fair values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, trade payables, short-term borrowings and the current installments of long-term debt approximate carrying values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. These items have been excluded from the table with the exception of the current installments of long-term debt.
16.18. Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments
Guarantees
The Company has agreed to guarantee or indemnify third parties for environmental and other liabilities pursuant to a variety of agreements, including asset and business divestiture agreements, leases, settlement agreements and various agreements with affiliated companies. Although many of these obligations contain monetary and/or time limitations, others do not provide such limitations. The Company has accrued for all probable and reasonably estimable losses associated with all known matters or claims. These known obligations include the following:
Demerger Obligations
In connection with the Hoechst demerger, the Company agreed to indemnify Hoechst, and its legal successors, for various liabilities under the demerger agreement, including for environmental liabilities associated with contamination arising either from environmental damage in general ("Category A") or under 19 divestiture agreements entered into by Hoechst prior to the demerger ("Category B") (Note 1012).
The Company's obligation to indemnify Hoechst, and its legal successors, is capped under Category B at €250 million. If and to the extent the environmental damage should exceed €750 million in aggregate, the Company's obligation to indemnify Hoechst and its legal successors applies, but is then limited to 33.33% of the remediation cost without further limitations. Cumulative payments under the divestiture agreements as of SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 are $74$77 million. Most of the divestiture agreements have become time barred and/or any notified environmental damage claims have been partially settled.

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Table of Contents

The Company has also undertaken in the demerger agreement to indemnify Hoechst and its legal successors for (i) 33.33% of any and all Category A liabilities that result from Hoechst being held as the responsible party pursuant to public law or current or future environmental law or by third parties pursuant to private or public law related to contamination and (ii) liabilities that Hoechst is required to discharge, including tax liabilities, which are associated with businesses that were included in the demerger but were not demerged due to legal restrictions on the transfers of such items. These indemnities do not provide for any monetary or time limitations. The Company has not been requested by Hoechst to make any payments in connection with this indemnification. Accordingly, the Company has not made any payments to Hoechst and its legal successors.
Based on the Company's evaluation of currently available information, including the lack of requests for indemnification, the Company cannot estimate the Possible Loss for the remaining demerger obligations, if any, in excess of amounts accrued.
Divestiture Obligations
The Company and its predecessor companies agreed to indemnify third-party purchasers of former businesses and assets for various pre-closing conditions, as well as for breaches of representations, warranties and covenants. Such liabilities also include environmental liability, product liability, antitrust and other liabilities. These indemnifications and guarantees represent standard contractual terms associated with typical divestiture agreements and, other than environmental liabilities, the Company does not believe that they expose the Company to any significant risk (Note 1012).
The Company has divested numerous businesses, investments and facilities through agreements containing indemnifications or guarantees to the purchasers. Many of the obligations contain monetary and/or time limitations, which extend through 2037. The aggregate amount of outstanding indemnifications and guarantees provided for under these agreements is $202$124 million as of SeptemberJune 30, 2016.2017. Other agreements do not provide for any monetary or time limitations.

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Table of Contents

Based on the Company's evaluation of currently available information, including the number of requests for indemnification or other payment received by the Company, the Company cannot estimate the Possible Loss for the remaining divestiture obligations, if any, in excess of amounts accrued.
Purchase Obligations
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into various purchase commitments for goods and services. The Company maintains a number of "take-or-pay" contracts for purchases of raw materials, utilities and other services. Certain of the contracts contain a contract termination buy-out provision that allows for the Company to exit the contracts for amounts less than the remaining take-or-pay obligations. The Company does not expect to incur any material losses under take-or-pay contractual arrangements. Additionally, the Company has other outstanding commitments representing maintenance and service agreements, energy and utility agreements, consulting contracts and software agreements. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2016,2017, the Company had unconditional purchase obligations of $2.6$1.9 billion, which extend through 2036.
Contingencies
The Company is involved in legal and regulatory proceedings, lawsuits, claims and investigations incidental to the normal conduct of business, relating to such matters as product liability, land disputes, commercial contracts, employment, antitrust or competition compliance, intellectual property, workers' compensation, chemical exposure, asbestos exposure, taxes, trade compliance, prior acquisitions and divestitures, claims of legacy stockholders, past waste disposal practices and release of chemicals into the environment. The Company is actively defending those matters where the Company is named as a defendant and, based on the current facts, does not believe the outcomes from these matters would be material to ourthe Company's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.
European Commission
In May 2017, the Company learned that the European Commission has opened a competition law investigation involving certain subsidiaries of the Company with respect to certain raw material purchases. The Company is cooperating with the European Commission. Because of the early stage of the investigation and the many uncertainties and variables involved, the Company is unable at this time to determine the outcome of this investigation and whether, and in what amount, any potential fines would be assessed.

27


17.

19. Segment Information
Advanced
Engineered
Materials
 
Consumer
Specialties
 
Industrial
Specialties
 
Acetyl
Intermediates
 
Other
Activities
 Eliminations Consolidated 
Advanced
Engineered
Materials
 
Consumer
Specialties
 
Industrial
Specialties
 
Acetyl
Intermediates
 
Other
Activities
 Eliminations Consolidated 
(In $ millions) (In $ millions) 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 
Net sales365
 225
 245
(1) 
589
(1) 

 (101) 1,323
 516
 193
 262
(1) 
649
(1) 

 (110) 1,510
 
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 12)

 (1) 
 (1) (1) 
 (3) 
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)
(2) (1) 
 3
 (3) 
 (3) 
Operating profit (loss)93
 68
 25
 83
 (23) 
 246
 97
 49
 26
 109
 (41) 
 240
 
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates33
 1
 
 1
 6
 
 41
 38
 
 
 2
 (2) 
 38
 
Depreciation and amortization22
 12
 9
 27
 2
 
 72
 26
 11
 10
 26
 2
 
 75
 
Capital expenditures14
 11
 15
 17
 3
 
 60
(2) 
13
 8
 6
 28
 3
 
 58
(2) 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 
Net sales326
 247

274
(1) 
680
(1) 

 (114) 1,413
 365
 235
 262
(1) 
592
(1) 

 (103) 1,351
 
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 12)
(2) 
 
 
 (2) 
 (4) 
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)
(1) 
 (2) (1) 
 
 (4) 
Operating profit (loss)58
 77
 19
 54
 (22) 
 186
 82
 80
 29
 77
 (26) 1
 243
 
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates43
 1
 
 2
 4
 
 50
 27
 
 
 2
 6
 
 35
 
Depreciation and amortization26
 15
 20
 17

2
 
 80
 25
 11
 8
 27
 2
 
 73
 
Capital expenditures17
 13
 13
 52
 2
 
 97
(2) 
19
 9
 12
 14
 2
 
 56
(2) 

(1) 
Net sales for Acetyl Intermediates and Industrial Specialties include intersegment sales of $100$109 million and $1 million, respectively, for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 and $114$102 million and $0$1 million, respectively, for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20152016.
(2) 
Includes an increase in accrued capital expenditures of $2$4 million and a decrease of $7$2 million for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 and 20152016, respectively.

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Table of Contents

Advanced
Engineered
Materials
 
Consumer
Specialties
 
Industrial
Specialties
 
Acetyl
Intermediates
 
Other
Activities
 Eliminations Consolidated 
Advanced
Engineered
Materials
 
Consumer
Specialties
 
Industrial
Specialties
 
Acetyl
Intermediates
 
Other
Activities
 Eliminations Consolidated 
(In $ millions) (In $ millions) 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 
Net sales1,080
 704
 760
(1) 
1,844
(1) 

 (310) 4,078
 1,003
 411
 507
(1) 
1,268
(1) 

 (208) 2,981
 
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 12)
(2) (1) (3) (2) (4) 
 (12) 
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)
(2) (2) 
 (50) (4) 
 (58) 
Operating profit (loss)263
 226
 85
 274
 (73) 1
 776
 195
 117
 51
 136
 (67) 
 432
 
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates91
 2


 4
 17
 
 114
 80
 1


 3
 1
 
 85
 
Depreciation and amortization71
 34
 25
 81
 7
 
 218
 50
 22
 18
 52
 4
 
 146
 
Capital expenditures52
 29

45
 40

8
 
 174
(2) 
23
 14

10
 48

4
 
 99
(2) 
As of September 30, 2016 As of June 30, 2017 
Goodwill and intangible assets, net340
 250
 47
 194
 
 
 831
 784
 252
 46
 195
 
 
 1,277
 
Total assets2,476
 1,475
 790
 2,431
 1,585
 
 8,757
 3,358
 869
 816
 2,415
 1,425
 
 8,883
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 
Net sales1,015
 723

843
(1) 
2,100
(1) 

 (341) 4,340
 715
 479

515
(1) 
1,255
(1) 

 (209) 2,755
 
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 12)
(6) (1) (2) (2) (8) 
 (19) 
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 14)
(2) 
 (3) (1) (3) 
 (9) 
Operating profit (loss)184
 216
 76
 239
 (84) 
 631
 170
 158
 60
 191
 (50) 1
 530
 
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates117
 2
 
 4
 15
 
 138
 58
 1
 
 3
 11
 
 73
 
Depreciation and amortization75
 38
 39
(3) 
93
(3) 
7
 
 252
 49
 22
 16
 54
 5
 
 146
 
Capital expenditures50
 50

32
 260

4
 
 396
(2) 
38
 18

30
 23

5
 
 114
(2) 
As of December 31, 2015 As of December 31, 2016 
Goodwill and intangible assets, net338
 249
 49
 194
 
 
 830
 517
 244
 46
 183
 
 
 990
 
Total assets2,324
 1,458
 747
 2,387
 1,670
 
 8,586
 2,792
 1,324
 758
 2,440
 1,043
 
 8,357
 

(1) 
Net sales for Acetyl Intermediates and Industrial Specialties include intersegment sales of $308$206 million and $2 million, respectively, for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 and $341$208 million and $0$1 million, respectively, for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2015.2016.
(2) 
Includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $12$17 million and $35$14 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017 and 2016, and 2015, respectively.
(3)
See Note 12 - Other (Charges) Gains, Net for further information.
18.20. Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
2016 2015 2016 20152017 2016 2017 2016
(In $ millions, except share data)(In $ millions, except share data)
Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation              
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations265
 161
 742
 604
239
 221
 422
 477
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations(3) 
 (2) (2)(8) 
 (8) 1
Net earnings (loss)262
 161
 740
 602
231
 221
 414
 478
              
Weighted average shares - basic144,005,098
 149,800,029
 145,959,821
 152,153,057
138,619,721
 146,482,612
 139,626,199
 146,947,923
Incremental shares attributable to equity awards596,367
 1,204,052

625,739
 1,267,392
409,704
 583,076

396,357
 644,608
Weighted average shares - diluted144,601,465
 151,004,081
 146,585,560
 153,420,449
139,029,425
 147,065,688
 140,022,556
 147,592,531
During the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017 and 2016, there were no anti-dilutive equity awards excluded from the computation of diluted net earnings per share. During the same periods in 2015, there were 15,079 and 45,393 equity award shares, respectively, excluded from the computation of diluted net earnings per share.

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Table of Contents

19.21. Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information
The Senior Notes were issued by Celanese US ("Issuer") and are guaranteed by Celanese Corporation ("Parent Guarantor") and the Subsidiary Guarantors (Note 810). The Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors are 100% owned subsidiaries of the Parent Guarantor. The Parent Guarantor and Subsidiary Guarantors have guaranteed the Notes fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally.
For cash management purposes, the Company transfers cash between the Parent Guarantor, Issuer, Subsidiary Guarantors and non-guarantors through intercompany financing arrangements, contributions or declaration of dividends between the respective parent and its subsidiaries. The transfer of cash under these activities facilitates the ability of the recipient to make specified third-party payments for principal and interest on the Company's outstanding debt, Common Stock dividends and Common Stock repurchases. The unaudited interim consolidating statements of cash flows for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 and 20152016 present such intercompany financing activities, contributions and dividends consistent with how such activity would be presented in a stand-alone statement of cash flows.
The Company has not presented separate financial information and other disclosures for each of its Subsidiary Guarantors because it believes such financial information and other disclosures would not provide investors with any additional information that would be material in evaluating the sufficiency of the guarantees.
The unaudited interim consolidating financial statements for the Parent Guarantor, the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the non-guarantors are as follows:

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Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
 (In $ millions)
Net sales
 
 544
 1,052
 (273) 1,323
Cost of sales
 
 (414) (824) 270
 (968)
Gross profit
 
 130
 228
 (3) 355
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
 (19) (62) 
 (81)
Amortization of intangible assets
 
 (1) (2) 
 (3)
Research and development expenses
 
 (8) (12) 
 (20)
Other (charges) gains, net
 
 
 (3) 
 (3)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net
 
 
 (1) 
 (1)
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net
 
 (3) 2
 
 (1)
Operating profit (loss)
 
 99
 150
 (3) 246
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates262
 250
 169
 36
 (676) 41
Interest expense
 (5) (20) (7) 4
 (28)
Refinancing expense
 (4) 
 
 
 (4)
Interest income
 3
 
 1
 (4) 
Dividend income - cost investments
 
 
 26
 
 26
Other income (expense), net
 
 1
 (1) 
 
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax262
 244
 249
 205
 (679) 281
Income tax (provision) benefit
 18
 (23) (11) 1
 (15)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations262
 262
 226
 194
 (678) 266
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations
 
 (2) (2) 
 (4)
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations
 
 
 1
 
 1
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
 
 (2) (1) 
 (3)
Net earnings (loss)262
 262
 224
 193
 (678) 263
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 
 (1) 
 (1)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation262
 262
 224
 192
 (678) 262

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Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Net sales
 
 553
 1,119
 (259) 1,413

 
 563
 1,222
 (275) 1,510
Cost of sales
 
 (424) (974) 288
 (1,110)
 
 (457) (966) 280
 (1,143)
Gross profit
 
 129
 145
 29
 303

 
 106
 256
 5
 367
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
 (22) (71) 
 (93)
 
 (26) (70) 
 (96)
Amortization of intangible assets
 
 (1) (2) 
 (3)
 
 (1) (4) 
 (5)
Research and development expenses
 
 (9) (10) 
 (19)
 
 (7) (10) 
 (17)
Other (charges) gains, net
 
 1
 (5) 
 (4)
 
 (1) (2) 
 (3)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net
 
 
 3
 
 3

 
 
 (4) 
 (4)
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net
 
 (2) 1
 
 (1)
 
 (2) 
 
 (2)
Operating profit (loss)
 
 96
 61
 29
 186

 
 69
 166
 5
 240
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates161
 173
 77
 47
 (408) 50
231
 233
 163
 34
 (623) 38
Interest expense
 (23) (2) (8) 4
 (29)
 (6) (24) (8) 8
 (30)
Refinancing expense
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 2
 
 2
 (4) 

 6
 1
 2
 (8) 1
Dividend income - cost investments
 
 
 26
 
 26

 
 
 30
 (1) 29
Other income (expense), net
 (1) 1
 (8) 
 (8)
 (1) 1
 3
 
 3
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax161
 151
 172
 120
 (379) 225
231
 232
 210
 227
 (619) 281
Income tax (provision) benefit
 10
 (30) (45) (9) (74)
 (1) (8) (34) 3
 (40)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations161
 161
 142
 75
 (388) 151
231
 231
 202
 193
 (616) 241
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 (9) 
 (9)
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 1
 
 1
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 (8) 
 (8)
Net earnings (loss)161
 161
 142
 75
 (388) 151
231
 231
 202
 185
 (616) 233
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 
 10
 
 10

 
 
 (2) 
 (2)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation161
 161
 142
 85
 (388) 161
231
 231
 202
 183
 (616) 231

31


Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016Three Months Ended June 30, 2016
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Net sales
 
 1,663
 3,264
 (849) 4,078

 
 536
 1,073
 (258) 1,351
Cost of sales
 
 (1,270) (2,580) 855
 (2,995)
 
 (415) (865) 267
 (1,013)
Gross profit
 
 393
 684
 6
 1,083

 
 121
 208
 9
 338
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
 (41) (191) 
 (232)
 
 (5) (66) 
 (71)
Amortization of intangible assets
 
 (3) (4) 
 (7)
 
 (1) (1) 
 (2)
Research and development expenses
 
 (24) (34) 
 (58)
 
 (8) (11) 
 (19)
Other (charges) gains, net
 
 (1) (11) 
 (12)
 
 (1) (3) 
 (4)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net
 
 
 1
 
 1

 
 
 (1) 
 (1)
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net
 
 (6) 7
 
 1

 
 (2) 4
 
 2
Operating profit (loss)
 
 318
 452
 6
 776

 
 104
 130
 9
 243
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates740
 742
 472
 107
 (1,947) 114
222
 218
 130
 34
 (569) 35
Interest expense
 (11) (71) (21) 12
 (91)
 9
 (36) (6) 3
 (30)
Refinancing expense
 (4) (2) 
 
 (6)
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 7
 2
 4
 (12) 1

 2
 1
 1
 (4) 
Dividend income - cost investments
 
 
 82
 
 82

 
 
 29
 
 29
Other income (expense), net
 (1) 1
 (2) 
 (2)
 (1) 
 (1) 
 (2)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax740
 733
 720
 622
 (1,941) 874
222
 228
 199
 187
 (561) 275
Income tax (provision) benefit
 7
 (63) (70) (1) (127)
 (6) (10) (34) (2) (52)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations740
 740
 657
 552
 (1,942) 747
222
 222
 189
 153
 (563) 223
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations
 
 (2) (1) 
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations
 
 
 1
 
 1

 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
 
 (2) 
 
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings (loss)740
 740
 655
 552
 (1,942) 745
222
 222
 189
 153
 (563) 223
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 
 (5) 
 (5)
 
 
 (2) 
 (2)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation740
 740
 655
 547
 (1,942) 740
222
 222
 189
 151
 (563) 221

32


Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Net sales
 
 1,885
 3,426
 (971) 4,340

 
 1,152
 2,399
 (570) 2,981
Cost of sales
 
 (1,329) (2,969) 1,017
 (3,281)
 
 (900) (1,932) 570
 (2,262)
Gross profit
 
 556
 457
 46
 1,059

 
 252
 467
 
 719
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
 (75) (222) 
 (297)
 
 (42) (137) 
 (179)
Amortization of intangible assets
 
 (4) (5) 
 (9)
 
 (2) (7) 
 (9)
Research and development expenses
 
 (68) (30) 
 (98)
 
 (14) (20) 
 (34)
Other (charges) gains, net
 
 (2) (17) 
 (19)
 
 (7) (51) 
 (58)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net
 
 
 3
 
 3

 
 
 (4) 
 (4)
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net
 
 (5) (3) 
 (8)
 
 (4) 1
 
 (3)
Operating profit (loss)
 
 402
 183
 46
 631

 
 183
 249
 
 432
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates602
 696
 283
 122
 (1,565) 138
414
 407
 264
 77
 (1,077) 85
Interest expense
 (107) (15) (28) 64
 (86)
 (12) (47) (15) 15
 (59)
Refinancing expense
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 15
 39
 11
 (64) 1

 12
 2
 2
 (15) 1
Dividend income - cost investments
 
 
 80
 
 80

 
 
 59
 (1) 58
Other income (expense), net
 (1) 2
 (7) 
 (6)
 (1) 1
 4
 
 4
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax602
 603
 711
 361
 (1,519) 758
414
 406
 403
 376
 (1,078) 521
Income tax (provision) benefit
 (1) (112) (46) (11) (170)
 8
 (71) (33) 
 (96)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations602
 602
 599
 315
 (1,530) 588
414
 414
 332
 343
 (1,078) 425
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations
 
 (3) 
 
 (3)
 
 
 (9) 
 (9)
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations
 
 1
 
 
 1

 
 
 1
 
 1
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
 
 (2) 
 
 (2)
 
 
 (8) 
 (8)
Net earnings (loss)602
 602
 597
 315
 (1,530) 586
414
 414
 332
 335
 (1,078) 417
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 
 16
 
 16

 
 
 (3) 
 (3)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation602
 602
 597
 331
 (1,530) 602
414
 414
 332
 332
 (1,078) 414

33


Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTSSTATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)OPERATIONS
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
 (In $ millions)
Net earnings (loss)262
 262
 224
 193
 (678) 263
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax           
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities(1) (1) 
 (1) 2
 (1)
Foreign currency translation(8) (8) (8) (4) 20
 (8)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
 
 
 
 
 
Pension and postretirement benefits
 
 
 
 
 
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax(9) (9) (8) (5) 22
 (9)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax253
 253
 216
 188
 (656) 254
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 
 (1) 
 (1)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation253
 253
 216
 187
 (656) 253
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
 (In $ millions)
Net earnings (loss)161
 161
 142
 75
 (388) 151
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax           
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities1
 1
 1
 1
 (3) 1
Foreign currency translation(11) (11) 4
 (7) 14
 (11)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges(1) (1) (1) (1) 3
 (1)
Pension and postretirement benefits
 
 
 
 
 
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax(11) (11) 4
 (7) 14
 (11)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax150
 150
 146
 68
 (374) 140
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 
 10
 
 10
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation150
 150
 146
 78
 (374) 150
 Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
 (In $ millions)
Net sales
 
 1,119
 2,212
 (576) 2,755
Cost of sales
 
 (856) (1,756) 585
 (2,027)
Gross profit
 
 263
 456
 9
 728
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
 (22) (129) 
 (151)
Amortization of intangible assets
 
 (2) (2) 
 (4)
Research and development expenses
 
 (16) (22) 
 (38)
Other (charges) gains, net
 
 (1) (8) 
 (9)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net
 
 
 2
 
 2
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net
 
 (3) 5
 
 2
Operating profit (loss)
 
 219
 302
 9
 530
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates478
 492
 303
 71
 (1,271) 73
Interest expense
 (6) (51) (14) 8
 (63)
Refinancing expense
 
 (2) 
 
 (2)
Interest income
 4
 2
 3
 (8) 1
Dividend income - cost investments
 
 
 56
 
 56
Other income (expense), net
 (1) 
 (1) 
 (2)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax478
 489
 471
 417
 (1,262) 593
Income tax (provision) benefit
 (11) (40) (59) (2) (112)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations478
 478
 431
 358
 (1,264) 481
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations
 
 
 1
 
 1
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
 
 
 1
 
 1
Net earnings (loss)478
 478
 431
 359
 (1,264) 482
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 
 (4) 
 (4)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation478
 478
 431
 355
 (1,264) 478

34


Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Net earnings (loss)740
 740
 655
 552
 (1,942) 745
231
 231
 202
 185
 (616) 233
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax                      
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
 
 
 
 
 
1
 1
 1
 1
 (3) 1
Foreign currency translation38
 38
 28
 54
 (120) 38
78
 78
 96
 119
 (293) 78
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges1
 1
 1
 1
 (3) 1
1
 1
 1
 1
 (3) 1
Pension and postretirement benefits(1) (1) (1) 1
 1
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax38
 38
 28
 56
 (122) 38
80
 80
 98
 121
 (299) 80
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax778
 778
 683
 608
 (2,064) 783
311
 311
 300
 306
 (915) 313
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 
 (5) 
 (5)
 
 
 (2) 
 (2)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation778
 778
 683
 603
 (2,064) 778
311
 311
 300
 304
 (915) 311
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015Three Months Ended June 30, 2016
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Net earnings (loss)602
 602
 597
 315
 (1,530) 586
222
 222
 189
 153
 (563) 223
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax                      
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation(130) (130) (110) (144) 384
 (130)(18) (18) (18) (24) 60
 (18)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges2
 2
 5
 2
 (9) 2
1
 1
 1
 1
 (3) 1
Pension and postretirement benefits1
 1
 
 4
 (5) 1
(1) (1) (1) 
 2
 (1)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax(127) (127) (105) (138) 370
 (127)(18) (18) (18) (23) 59
 (18)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax475
 475
 492
 177
 (1,160) 459
204
 204
 171
 130
 (504) 205
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 
 16
 
 16

 
 
 (2) 
 (2)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation475
 475
 492
 193
 (1,160) 475
204
 204
 171
 128
 (504) 203

35


Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETSTATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
 As of September 30, 2016
 
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
 (In $ millions)
ASSETS           
Current Assets           
Cash and cash equivalents
 2
 652
 598
 
 1,252
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates
 
 122
 808
 (139) 791
Non-trade receivables, net38
 545
 233
 307
 (909) 214
Inventories, net
 
 228
 469
 (45) 652
Deferred income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
Marketable securities, at fair value
 
 34
 
 
 34
Other assets
 13
 15
 40
 (33) 35
Total current assets38
 560
 1,284
 2,222
 (1,126) 2,978
Investments in affiliates2,672
 4,181
 3,689
 764
 (10,442) 864
Property, plant and equipment, net
 
 1,025
 2,553
 
 3,578
Deferred income taxes
 
 153
 65
 (2) 216
Other assets
 705
 144
 229
 (788) 290
Goodwill
 
 314
 398
 
 712
Intangible assets, net
 
 49
 70
 
 119
Total assets2,710
 5,446
 6,658
 6,301
 (12,358) 8,757
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY           
Current Liabilities           
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates
 
 136
 210
 (254) 92
Trade payables - third party and affiliates
 1
 254
 475
 (139) 591
Other liabilities
 29
 174
 222
 (126) 299
Deferred income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
Income taxes payable
 
 574
 103
 (561) 116
Total current liabilities
 30
 1,138
 1,010
 (1,080) 1,098
Noncurrent Liabilities           
Long-term debt
 2,717
 822
 172
 (788) 2,923
Deferred income taxes
 27
 
 114
 (2) 139
Uncertain tax positions
 
 
 111
 (10) 101
Benefit obligations
 
 900
 224
 
 1,124
Other liabilities
 
 76
 145
 
 221
Total noncurrent liabilities
 2,744
 1,798
 766
 (800) 4,508
Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity2,710
 2,672
 3,722
 4,084
 (10,478) 2,710
Noncontrolling interests
 
 
 441
 
 441
Total equity2,710
 2,672
 3,722
 4,525
 (10,478) 3,151
Total liabilities and equity2,710
 5,446
 6,658
 6,301
 (12,358) 8,757
 Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
 (In $ millions)
Net earnings (loss)414
 414
 332
 335
 (1,078) 417
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax           
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities1
 1
 1
 1
 (3) 1
Foreign currency translation106
 106
 126
 158
 (390) 106
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges(1) (1) (1) (1) 3
 (1)
Pension and postretirement benefits5
 5
 4
 6
 (15) 5
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax111
 111
 130
 164
 (405) 111
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax525
 525
 462
 499
 (1,483) 528
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 
 (3) 
 (3)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation525
 525
 462
 496
 (1,483) 525
 Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
 (In $ millions)
Net earnings (loss)478
 478
 431
 359
 (1,264) 482
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax           
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities1
 1
 
 1
 (2) 1
Foreign currency translation46
 46
 36
 58
 (140) 46
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges1
 1
 1
 1
 (3) 1
Pension and postretirement benefits(1) (1) (1) 1
 1
 (1)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax47
 47
 36
 61
 (144) 47
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax525
 525
 467
 420
 (1,408) 529
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 
 (4) 
 (4)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation525
 525
 467
 416
 (1,408) 525

36


Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
As of December 31, 2015As of June 30, 2017
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
ASSETS                      
Current Assets                      
Cash and cash equivalents
 
 21
 946
 
 967

 3
 57
 451
 
 511
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates
 
 132
 722
 (148) 706

 
 169
 998
 (182) 985
Non-trade receivables, net37
 580
 298
 522
 (1,152) 285
40
 511
 241
 378
 (943) 227
Inventories, net
 
 258
 474
 (50) 682

 
 232
 583
 (44) 771
Deferred income taxes
 
 19
 68
 (19) 68
Marketable securities, at fair value
 
 30
 
 
 30

 
 30
 
 
 30
Other assets
 12
 28
 40
 (31) 49

 77
 17
 111
 (146) 59
Total current assets37
 592
 786
 2,772
 (1,400) 2,787
40
 591
 746
 2,521
 (1,315) 2,583
Investments in affiliates2,341
 3,947
 3,909
 738
 (10,097) 838
2,658
 4,273
 3,846
 776
 (10,668) 885
Property, plant and equipment, net
 
 1,001
 2,608
 
 3,609

 
 1,079
 2,584
 
 3,663
Deferred income taxes
 2
 178
 42
 
 222

 7
 78
 90
 (11) 164
Other assets
 418
 151
 227
 (496) 300

 778
 128
 166
 (761) 311
Goodwill
 
 314
 391
 
 705

 
 314
 661
 
 975
Intangible assets, net
 
 51
 74
 
 125

 
 50
 252
 
 302
Total assets2,378
 4,959
 6,390
 6,852
 (11,993) 8,586
2,698
 5,649
 6,241
 7,050
 (12,755) 8,883
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                      
Current Liabilities                      
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates
 479
 181
 213
 (360) 513

 169
 137
 358
 (280) 384
Trade payables - third party and affiliates
 
 240
 495
 (148) 587
4
 
 254
 591
 (183) 666
Other liabilities
 28
 281
 283
 (262) 330

 94
 208
 310
 (280) 332
Deferred income taxes
 26
 
 23
 (19) 30
Income taxes payable
 
 537
 116
 (563) 90

 
 510
 59
 (527) 42
Total current liabilities
 533
 1,239
 1,130
 (1,352) 1,550
4
 263
 1,109
 1,318
 (1,270) 1,424
Noncurrent Liabilities                      
Long-term debt
 2,078
 706
 187
 (503) 2,468

 2,728
 800
 171
 (768) 2,931
Deferred income taxes
 
 
 136
 
 136

 
 
 176
 (11) 165
Uncertain tax positions
 7
 29
 131
 
 167

 
 3
 148
 (1) 150
Benefit obligations
 
 960
 229
 
 1,189

 
 584
 282
 
 866
Other liabilities
 
 93
 155
 (1) 247

 
 62
 163
 
 225
Total noncurrent liabilities
 2,085
 1,788
 838
 (504) 4,207

 2,728
 1,449
 940
 (780) 4,337
Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity2,378
 2,341
 3,363
 4,433
 (10,137) 2,378
2,694
 2,658
 3,683
 4,364
 (10,705) 2,694
Noncontrolling interests
 
 
 451
 
 451

 
 
 428
 
 428
Total equity2,378
 2,341
 3,363
 4,884
 (10,137) 2,829
2,694
 2,658
 3,683
 4,792
 (10,705) 3,122
Total liabilities and equity2,378
 4,959
 6,390
 6,852
 (11,993) 8,586
2,698
 5,649
 6,241
 7,050
 (12,755) 8,883

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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWSBALANCE SHEET
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
 (In $ millions)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities447
 437
 299
 602
 (845) 940
Investing Activities           
Capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment
 
 (100) (86) 
 (186)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets, net
 
 1
 7
 
 8
Capital expenditures related to Fairway Methanol LLC
 
 
 
 
 
Return of capital from subsidiary
 145
 750
 
 (895) 
Contributions to subsidiary
 
 
 
 
 
Intercompany loan receipts (disbursements)
 (283) (9) 90
 202
 
Other, net
 
 (9) (5) 
 (14)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
 (138) 633
 6
 (693) (192)
Financing Activities 
  
  
  
  
  
Net change in short-term borrowings with maturities of 3 months or less
 (344) 6
 
 (9) (347)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings
 
 
 39
 
 39
Repayments of short-term borrowings
 
 
 (76) 
 (76)
Proceeds from long-term debt
 1,589
 746
 
 (826) 1,509
Repayments of long-term debt
 (1,082) (635) (11) 633
 (1,095)
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees(300) 
 
 
 
 (300)
Dividends to parent
 (447) (398) 
 845
 
Contributions from parent
 
 
 
 
 
Stock option exercises3
 
 
 
 
 3
Series A common stock dividends(150) 
 
 
 
 (150)
Return of capital to parent
 
 
 (895) 895
 
(Distributions to) contributions from noncontrolling interests
 
 
 (15) 
 (15)
Other, net
 (13) (20) (2) 
 (35)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities(447) (297) (301) (960) 1,538
 (467)
Exchange rate effects on cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 4
 
 4
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 2
 631
 (348) 
 285
Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of period
 
 21
 946
 
 967
Cash and cash equivalents as of end of period
 2
 652
 598
 
 1,252
 As of December 31, 2016
 
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
 (In $ millions)
ASSETS           
Current Assets           
Cash and cash equivalents
 
 51
 587
 
 638
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates
 
 107
 819
 (125) 801
Non-trade receivables, net40
 499
 249
 308
 (873) 223
Inventories, net
 
 239
 526
 (45) 720
Marketable securities, at fair value
 
 30
 
 
 30
Other assets
 42
 25
 76
 (83) 60
Total current assets40
 541
 701
 2,316
 (1,126) 2,472
Investments in affiliates2,548
 4,029
 3,655
 752
 (10,132) 852
Property, plant and equipment, net
 
 1,049
 2,528
 
 3,577
Deferred income taxes
 
 91
 86
 (18) 159
Other assets
 705
 133
 156
 (687) 307
Goodwill
 
 314
 482
 
 796
Intangible assets, net
 
 48
 146
 
 194
Total assets2,588
 5,275
 5,991
 6,466
 (11,963) 8,357
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY           
Current Liabilities           
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates
 6
 133
 250
 (271) 118
Trade payables - third party and affiliates
 
 226
 524
 (125) 625
Other liabilities
 58
 167
 262
 (165) 322
Income taxes payable
 
 454
 75
 (517) 12
Total current liabilities
 64
 980
 1,111
 (1,078) 1,077
Noncurrent Liabilities           
Long-term debt
 2,647
 727
 210
 (694) 2,890
Deferred income taxes
 16
 
 132
 (18) 130
Uncertain tax positions
 
 3
 130
 (2) 131
Benefit obligations
 
 636
 257
 
 893
Other liabilities
 
 74
 142
 (1) 215
Total noncurrent liabilities
 2,663
 1,440
 871
 (715) 4,259
Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity2,588
 2,548
 3,571
 4,051
 (10,170) 2,588
Noncontrolling interests
 
 
 433
 
 433
Total equity2,588
 2,548
 3,571
 4,484
 (10,170) 3,021
Total liabilities and equity2,588
 5,275
 5,991
 6,466
 (11,963) 8,357

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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities549
 507
 406
 380
 (1,116) 726
415
 342
 351
 283
 (901) 490
Investing Activities                      
Capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment
 
 (100) (68) 
 (168)
 
 (82) (34) 
 (116)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
 
 (3) 
 
 (3)
 (11) (12) (264) 19
 (268)
Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets, net
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 20
 (19) 1
Capital expenditures related to Fairway Methanol LLC
 
 (19) (244) 
 (263)
Return of capital from subsidiary
 
 
 
 
 

 
 9
 
 (9) 
Contributions to subsidiary
 
 (92) 
 92
 

 
 
 
 
 
Intercompany loan receipts (disbursements)
 (342) (29) (15) 386
 

 (74) (11) 
 85
 
Other, net
 
 (12) (15) 
 (27)
 
 (1) (5) 
 (6)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
 (342) (255) (342) 478
 (461)
 (85) (97) (283) 76
 (389)
Financing Activities            
  
  
  
  
  
Net change in short-term borrowings with maturities of 3 months or less
 374
 2
 (1) (29) 346

 161
 2
 50
 (11) 202
Proceeds from short-term borrowings
 
 
 40
 
 40

 
 
 104
 
 104
Repayments of short-term borrowings
 
 
 (60) 
 (60)
 
 
 (55) 
 (55)
Proceeds from long-term debt
 15
 345
 
 (360) 

 
 74
 
 (74) 
Repayments of long-term debt
 (7) (3) (11) 3
 (18)
 
 (1) (57) 
 (58)
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees(420) 
 
 
 
 (420)(300) 
 
 
 
 (300)
Dividends to parent
 (547) (569) 
 1,116
 

 (415) (306) (180) 901
 
Contributions from parent
 
 
 92
 (92) 

 
 
 
 
 
Stock option exercises2
 
 
 
 
 2
1
 
 
 
 
 1
Series A common stock dividends(131) 
 
 
 
 (131)(116) 
 
 
 
 (116)
Return of capital to parent
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 (9) 9
 
(Distributions to) contributions from noncontrolling interests
 
 
 187
 
 187

 
 
 (8) 
 (8)
Other, net
 
 (9) (1) 
 (10)
 
 (17) (2) 
 (19)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities(549) (165) (234) 246
 638
 (64)(415) (254) (248) (157) 825
 (249)
Exchange rate effects on cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 (29) 
 (29)
 
 
 21
 
 21
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
 (83) 255
 
 172

 3
 6
 (136) 
 (127)
Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of period
 
 110
 670
 
 780

 
 51
 587
 
 638
Cash and cash equivalents as of end of period
 
 27
 925
 
 952

 3
 57
 451
 
 511

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20. Subsequent EventsCELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
On October 13, 2016, the Company signed a definitive agreement to purchase 100% of the stock of SO.F.TER. Group, based in Forli, Italy, which includes its comprehensive product portfolio of engineering thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers, as well as all of its manufacturing, technology and commercial facilities and customer agreements. The acquisition will be funded from cash on hand or from borrowings under the Company's senior unsecured revolving credit facility. The acquired operations will be included in the Advanced Engineered Materials segment. The Company expects the acquisition to close in the fourth quarter of 2016, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, and does not expect the acquisition to be material to its 2016 financial position or results of operations.UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
 Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
Parent
Guarantor
 Issuer 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 Eliminations Consolidated
 (In $ millions)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities297
 294
 152
 449
 (556) 636
Investing Activities           
Capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment
 
 (66) (62) 
 (128)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets, net
 
 1
 1
 
 2
Return of capital from subsidiary
 136
 741
 
 (877) 
Contributions to subsidiary
 
 
 
 
 
Intercompany loan receipts (disbursements)
 138
 (5) 90
 (223) 
Other, net
 
 (9) (3) 
 (12)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
 274
 662
 26
 (1,100) (138)
Financing Activities           
Net change in short-term borrowings with maturities of 3 months or less
 (345) (3) 
 (5) (353)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings
 
 
 22
 
 22
Repayments of short-term borrowings
 
 
 (63) 
 (63)
Proceeds from long-term debt
 250
 325
 
 (405) 170
Repayments of long-term debt
 (175) (634) (7) 633
 (183)
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees(200) 
 
 
 
 (200)
Dividends to parent
 (296) (260) 
 556
 
Contributions from parent
 
 
 
 
 
Stock option exercises3
 
 
 
 
 3
Series A common stock dividends(98) 
 
 
 
 (98)
Return of capital to parent
 
 
 (877) 877
 
(Distributions to) contributions from noncontrolling interests
 
 
 (6) 
 (6)
Other, net
 (2) (20) (2) 
 (24)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities(295) (568) (592) (933) 1,656
 (732)
Exchange rate effects on cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 2
 
 2
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents2
 
 222
 (456) 
 (232)
Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of period
 
 21
 946
 
 967
Cash and cash equivalents as of end of period2
 
 243
 490
 
 735

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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q ("Quarterly Report"), the term "Celanese" refers to Celanese Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and not its subsidiaries. The terms the "Company," "we," "our" and "us," refer to Celanese and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. The term "Celanese US" refers to the Company's subsidiary, Celanese US Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and not its subsidiaries.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Celanese Corporation and Subsidiaries consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 20152016 filed on February 5, 201610, 2017 with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as part of the Company's Annual Reporting on Form 10-K ("20152016 Form 10-K") and the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("US GAAP").
Investors are cautioned that the forward-looking statements contained in this section and other parts of this Quarterly Report involve both risk and uncertainty. Several important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these statements. Many of these statements are macroeconomic in nature and are, therefore, beyond the control of management. See "Forward-Looking Statements" below and at the beginning of our 20152016 Form 10-K.
Forward-Looking Statements
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A") and other parts of this Quarterly Report contain certain forward-looking statements and information relating to us that are based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, us. Generally, words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "plan," "may," "can," "could," "might," and "will," and similar expressions, as they relate to us are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views and beliefs with respect to future events at the time that the statements are made, are not historical facts or guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. All forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report are made as of the date hereof, and the risk that actual results will differ materially from expectations expressed in this Quarterly Report will increase with the passage of time. We undertake no obligation, and disclaim any duty, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in our expectations or otherwise.
Risk Factors
See Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors of our 20152016 Form 10-K and subsequent periodic filings we make with the SEC for a description of certain risk factors that you should consider which could significantly affect our financial results. In addition, the following factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things:
changes in general economic, business, political and regulatory conditions in the countries or regions in which we operate;
the length and depth of product and industry business cycles particularly in the automotive, electrical, textiles, electronics and construction industries;
changes in the price and availability of raw materials, particularly changes in the demand for, supply of, and market prices of ethylene, methanol, natural gas, wood pulp and fuel oil and the prices for electricity and other energy sources;
the ability to pass increases in raw material prices on to customers or otherwise improve margins through price increases;
the ability to maintain plant utilization rates and to implement planned capacity additions, expansions and expansions;maintenance;
the ability to reduce or maintain current levels of production costs and to improve productivity by implementing technological improvements to existing plants;
increased price competition and the introduction of competing products by other companies;
the ability to identify desirable potential acquisition targets and to consummate acquisition or investment transactions, including obtaining regulatory approvals, consistent with our strategy;

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market acceptance of our technology;
the ability to obtain governmental approvals and to construct facilities on terms and schedules acceptable to us;

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changes in the degree of intellectual property and other legal protection afforded to our products or technologies, or the theft of such intellectual property;
compliance and other costs and potential disruption or interruption of production or operations due to accidents, interruptions in sources of raw materials, cyber security incidents, terrorism or political unrest, or other unforeseen events or delays in construction or operation of facilities, including as a result of geopolitical conditions, the occurrence of acts of war or terrorist incidents or as a result of weather or natural disasters;
potential liability for remedial actions and increased costs under existing or future environmental regulations, including those relating to climate change;
potential liability resulting from pending or future claims or litigation, including investigations or enforcement actions, or from changes in the laws, regulations or policies of governments or other governmental activities, in the countries in which we operate;
changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates;
our level of indebtedness, which could diminish our ability to raise additional capital to fund operations or limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or the chemicals industry; and
various other factors, both referenced and not referenced in this Quarterly Report.
Many of these factors are macroeconomic in nature and are, therefore, beyond our control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those described in this Quarterly Report as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended, planned or projected. We neither intend nor assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.
Overview
We are a global technology and specialty materials company. We are one of the world's largest producers of acetyl products, which are intermediate chemicals, for nearly all major industries, as well as a leading global producer of high performance engineered polymers that are used in a variety of high-value applications. As a recognized innovator in the chemicals industry, we engineer and manufacture a wide variety of products essential to everyday living. Our broad product portfolio serves a diverse set of end-use applications including paints and coatings, textiles, automotive applications, consumer and medical applications, performance industrial applications, filtration applications, paper and packaging, chemical additives, construction, consumer and industrial adhesives, and food and beverage applications. Our products enjoy leading global positions due to our differentiated business models, large global production capacity, operating efficiencies, proprietary technology and competitive cost structures.
Our large and diverse global customer base primarily consists of major companies in a broad array of industries. We hold geographically balanced global positions and participate in diversified end-use applications. We combine a demonstrated track record of execution, strong performance built on shared principles and objectives, and a clear focus on growth and value creation. Known for operational excellence and execution of our business strategies, we deliver value to customers around the globe with best-in-class technologies and solutions.
We are organized around two complementary cores, Materials Solutions and the Acetyl Chain. Together, these two value drivers share raw materials, technology, integrated systems and research resources to increase efficiency and quickly respond to market needs. Within Materials Solutions and the Acetyl Chain, we operate principally through four business segments: Materials Solutions includes Advanced Engineered Materials and Consumer Specialties business segments (which includes our cellulose derivatives business), and the Acetyl Chain includes Industrial Specialties and Acetyl Intermediates business segments.

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Results of Operations
Financial Highlights
Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,  Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,  
2016 2015 Change 2016 2015 Change2017 2016 Change 2017 2016 Change
(unaudited)(unaudited)
(In $ millions, except percentages)(In $ millions, except percentages)
Statement of Operations Data 
      
  
             
Net sales1,323
 1,413
 (90) 4,078
 4,340
 (262)1,510
 1,351
 159
 2,981
 2,755
 226
Gross profit355
 303
 52
 1,083
 1,059
 24
367
 338
 29
 719
 728
 (9)
Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses(81) (93) 12
 (232) (297) 65
(96) (71) (25) (179) (151) (28)
Other (charges) gains, net(3) (4) 1
 (12) (19) 7
(3) (4) 1
 (58) (9) (49)
Operating profit (loss)246
 186
 60
 776
 631
 145
240
 243
 (3) 432
 530
 (98)
Equity in net earnings of affiliates41
 50
 (9) 114
 138
 (24)38
 35
 3
 85
 73
 12
Interest expense(28) (29) 1
 (91) (86) (5)(30) (30) 
 (59) (63) 4
Refinancing expense(4) 
 (4) (6) 
 (6)
 
 
 
 (2) 2
Dividend income - cost investments26
 26
 
 82
 80
 2
29
 29
 
 58
 56
 2
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax281
 225
 56
 874
 758
 116
281
 275
 6
 521
 593
 (72)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations266
 151
 115
 747
 588
 159
241
 223
 18
 425
 481
 (56)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations(3) 
 (3) (2) (2) 
(8) 
 (8) (8) 1
 (9)
Net earnings (loss)263
 151
 112
 745
 586
 159
233
 223
 10
 417
 482
 (65)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation262
 161
 101
 740
 602
 138
231
 221
 10
 414
 478
 (64)
Other Data 
  
    
  
             
Depreciation and amortization72
 80
 (8) 218
 252
 (34)75
 73
 2
 146
 146
 
SG&A expenses as a percentage of Net sales6.1% 6.6%   5.7% 6.8%  6.4% 5.3%   6.0% 5.5%  
Operating margin(1)
18.6% 13.2% 

 19.0% 14.5% 

15.9% 18.0% 

 14.5% 19.2% 

Other (charges) gains, net                      
Employee termination benefits(3) (6) 3
 (11) (20) 9
(2) (3) 1
 (4) (8) 4
InfraServ ownership change(4) 
 (4) (4) 
 (4)
Asset impairments
 (1) 1
 (1) (1) 

 (1) 1
 
 (1) 1
Commercial disputes
 3
 (3) 
 2
 (2)
Other plant/office closures3
 
 3
 (50) 
 (50)
Total Other (charges) gains, net(3) (4) 1
 (12) (19) 7
(3) (4) 1
 (58) (9) (49)

(1) 
Defined as Operating profit (loss) divided by Net sales.
As of
September 30,
2016
 As of
December 31,
2015
As of
June 30,
2017
 As of
December 31,
2016
(unaudited)(unaudited)
(In $ millions)(In $ millions)
Balance Sheet Data 
  
   
Cash and cash equivalents1,252
 967
511
 638
      
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates92
 513
384
 118
Long-term debt, net of unamortized deferred financing costs2,923
 2,468
2,931
 2,890
Total debt3,015
 2,981
3,315
 3,008

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Factors Affecting Business Segment Net Sales
The percentage increase (decrease) in Net sales attributable to each of the factors indicated for each of our business segments is as follows:
Three Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 Compared to Three Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20152016
Volume Price Currency Other TotalVolume Price Currency Other Total
(unaudited)(unaudited)
(In percentages)(In percentages)
Advanced Engineered Materials16
 (4) 
  12
44
 (2) (1)  41
Consumer Specialties(2) (7) 
  (9)(9) (9) 
  (18)
Industrial Specialties(1) (9) (1)  (11)(1) 3
 (2)  
Acetyl Intermediates(3) (11) 
 1 (13)(4) 14
 (1) 1 10
Total Company1
 (9) 
 2 (6)8
 5
 (1)  12
NineSix Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 Compared to NineSix Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20152016
Volume Price Currency Other TotalVolume Price Currency Other Total
(unaudited)(unaudited)
(In percentages)(In percentages)
Advanced Engineered Materials9
 (3) 
  6
44
 (3) (1)  40
Consumer Specialties5
 (8) 
  (3)(6) (8) 
  (14)
Industrial Specialties(1) (9) 
  (10)
 
 (2)  (2)
Acetyl Intermediates(1) (12) (1) 2 (12)(8) 10
 (1)  1
Total Company2
 (10) 
 2 (6)7
 3
 (2)  8
Consolidated Results
Three Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 Compared to Three Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20152016
Net sales decreased $90increased $159 million, or 6.4%11.8%, for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 primarily due to:
higher volume in our Advanced Engineered Materials segment, primarily related to Net sales generated from SO.F.TER. S.p.A. ("SOFTER") and from the nylon compounding division of Nilit Group ("Nilit"), that we acquired on May 3, 2017. See Note 3 - Acquisitions, Dispositions and Plant Closures in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information; and
lower vinyl acetate monomer ("VAM")higher pricing and volume and lower acetic acid pricingfor most of our products in our Acetyl Intermediates segment;
partially offset by:
lower acetate tow pricing and volume in our Consumer Specialties segment; and
lower pricingvolume for ethanol in our Industrial Specialties segment;
partially offset by:
higher volume for polyoxymethylene ("POM") in our Advanced Engineered MaterialsAcetyl Intermediates segment.
Operating profit increased $60decreased $3 million, or 32.3%1.2%, for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 primarily due to:
lowerhigher raw material costs, across mostprimarily in our Acetyl Intermediates segment; and
higher plant spending of $37 million in our business segments;
partially offset by:
lower Net sales.Advanced Engineered Materials segment, primarily related to our acquisitions of SOFTER and Nilit, as these acquired businesses incur ongoing plant spending;

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As a percentage oflargely offset by:
an increase in Net sales, SG&A expenses decreased from 6.6% to 6.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, primarily due to:
productivity initiatives across most of our business segments.sales.
Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 was 5%14% compared to 33%19% for the same period in 2015. Our2016. The lower effective income tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2017 is primarily due to remeasurement of prior year tax positions due to audit closures and technical clarificationsforeign exchange losses in certain jurisdictions where the functional currency differs from the local currency and a release of $52 million.a tax position due to an audit settlement in Germany.
Our effective income tax rate is affected by recurring items, such as tax rates in foreign jurisdictions and the relative amounts and mix of income and loss in those jurisdictions to which they relate, as well as discrete items and non-deductible expenses that may occur in any given year, but are not consistent from year to year.
See Note 1315 - Income Taxes in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information.
NineSix Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 Compared to NineSix Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20152016
Net sales decreased $262increased $226 million, or 6.0%8.2%, for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 primarily due to:
lower acetic acidhigher volume in our Advanced Engineered Materials segment, primarily related to Net sales generated from SOFTER and VAMfrom Nilit, as well as for polyoxymethylene ("POM") across all regions, which was driven by new project launches and base business growth globally; and
higher pricing for most of our products in our Acetyl Intermediates segment;
partially offset by:
lower pricingvolume for vinyl acetate monomer ("VAM") and ethanol in our Industrial SpecialtiesAcetyl Intermediates segment; and
lower acetate tow pricing in our Consumer Specialties segment;
partially offset by:
higher acetate towand volume in our Consumer Specialties segment; and
higher volume for POM in our Advanced Engineered Materials segment.
Operating profit increased $145decreased $98 million, or 23.0%18.5%, for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 primarily due to:
lowerhigher raw material costs, across allprimarily in our Acetyl Intermediates segment;
higher plant spending of $60 million in our business segments;
a decrease in SG&A;Advanced Engineered Materials segment, primarily related to our acquisitions of SOFTER and Nilit, as these acquired businesses incur ongoing plant spending; and
an increase in depreciation and amortization expenseunfavorable impact of $49 million to Other (charges) gains, net in our Acetyl Intermediates segment duringsegment. During the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2015 as2017, we provided notice of termination of a result of $39 million in accelerated depreciation expense in the prior year related to property, plant and equipment no longer in usecontract with a key raw materials supplier at our ethanol technology developmentproduction unit in Clear Lake, Texas, which did not recur in the current year.Nanjing, China. As a result, we recorded a $24 million contract termination charge and an $18 million reduction to our non-income tax receivable. See Note 1214 - Other (Charges) Gains, Net in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information;
partially offset by:
loweran increase in Net sales.
As a percentage of Net sales, SG&A expenses decreased from 6.8% to 5.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, primarily due to:
productivity initiatives across most of our business segments; and
lower functional spending and incentive compensation costs.
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates decreased $24 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 primarily due to:
a decrease in equity investment in earnings of $40 million from our Ibn Sina strategic affiliate as a result of lower pricing for methanol and methyl tertiary-butyl ether ("MTBE") and higher raw material costs.

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Our effective income tax rate for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 was 15%18% compared to 22%19% for the same period in 2015. Our lower effective income tax rate is primarily due to remeasurement of prior year tax positions due to audit closures and technical clarifications in certain jurisdictions of $52 million.2016.
Assuming no material changes to tax rules and regulations or cash repatriation plans, we expect to realizecontinued realization of operational savings in connection with the establishment of our centralized European headquarters, which will directly impact the mix of our earnings and may result in favorable or unfavorable income tax impacts in subsequent years. Our effective tax rate will vary based on the jurisdictions in which income is actually generated and remains subject to potential volatility from changing tax legislation in the US and other tax jurisdictions. We continue to assess our business model and its impact in various jurisdictions. On April 4, 2016, the US Department

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Table of the Treasury announced the issuance of proposed regulations regarding corporate tax inversions and related earnings stripping. These proposed regulations, which were to be effective 90 days after finalization, included provisions that may be interpreted to impact other common tax structures including intercompany financing and obligations. Subsequent to the balance sheet date of September 30, 2016, on October 13, 2016, the US Department of Treasury issued the final regulations. We are currently evaluating the tax consequences of the new regulations to our cross-border treasury management practices and intercompany financing structure.Contents

Business Segments
Advanced Engineered Materials
Three Months Ended September 30, Change % Change Nine Months Ended September 30, Change % ChangeThree Months Ended June 30, Change % Change Six Months Ended June 30, Change % Change
2016 2015 2016 2015 2017 2016 2017 2016 
(unaudited)(unaudited)
(In $ millions, except percentages)(In $ millions, except percentages)
Net sales365
 326
 39
 12.0 % 1,080
 1,015
 65
 6.4 %516
 365
 151
 41.4% 1,003
 715
 288
 40.3%
Net Sales Variance                              
Volume16 %       9 %      44 %       44 %      
Price(4)%       (3)%      (2)%       (3)%      
Currency %        %      (1)%       (1)%      
Other %        %       %        %      
Other (charges) gains, net
 (2) 2
 (100.0)% (2) (6) 4
 (66.7)%(2) (1) (1) 100.0% (2) (2) 
 %
Operating profit (loss)93
 58
 35
 60.3 % 263
 184
 79
 42.9 %97
 82
 15
 18.3% 195
 170
 25
 14.7%
Operating margin25.5 % 17.8%   

 24.4 % 18.1%    18.8 % 22.5%   

 19.4 % 23.8%    
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates33
 43
 (10) (23.3)% 91
 117
 (26) (22.2)%38
 27
 11
 40.7% 80
 58
 22
 37.9%
Depreciation and amortization22
 26
 (4) (15.4)% 71
 75
 (4) (5.3)%26
 25
 1
 4.0% 50
 49
 1
 2.0%
Our Advanced Engineered Materials segment includes our engineered materials business and certain strategic affiliates. Our engineered materials business develops, produces and supplies a broad portfolio of high performance specialty polymers for automotive and medical applications, as well as industrial products and consumer electronics. Together with our strategic affiliates, our engineered materials business is a leading participant in the global specialty polymers industry.
The pricing of products withinby the engineered materials businessAdvanced Engineered Materials segment is primarily based on the value of the material we produce and is largely independent of changes in the cost of raw materials. Together with our strategic affiliates, our engineered materials business is a leading participantTherefore, in the global specialty polymers industry.general, margins may expand or contract in response to changes in raw material costs.
Three Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 Compared to Three Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20152016
Net sales increased for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 primarily due to:
higher volume primarily due to Net sales generated from SOFTER and from Nilit, which represents approximately three-fourths of the increase in volume; and
higher volume for POM across all regions which was driven by new project launches and base business growth;growth globally. The increase in volume for POM represents approximately one-third of the increase in base business volume growth.
Operating profit increased for the three months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 primarily due to:
higher Net sales;
partially offset by:
lower pricinghigher plant spending of $37 million, primarily related to our acquisitions of SOFTER and Nilit in POMDecember 2016 and May 2017, respectively, as these acquired businesses incur ongoing plant spending.
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates increased for the three months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 primarily due to regional and customer mix.to:
an increase in equity investment in earnings of $8 million from our Ibn Sina strategic affiliate as a result of timing of turnaround activity.

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Operating profitSix Months Ended June 30, 2017 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
Net sales increased for the threesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 2015 primarily due to:
higher Net sales; and
lower energy and raw material costs, primarily for methanol and polyester.
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 primarily due to:
a decrease in equity investment in earnings of $13 million from our Ibn Sina strategic affiliate as a result of lower pricing for methanol and MTBE and higher raw material costs.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
Net sales increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 primarily due to:
higher volume primarily due to Net sales generated from SOFTER and Nilit, which represents approximately two-thirds of the increase in volume; and
higher volume for POM across all regions which was driven by new project launches and base business growth globally. POM accounted for approximately one-half of the increase in base business volume growth;
partially offset by:
lower pricing in POM due to regionalcustomer and customerregional mix.
Operating profit increased for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 primarily due to:
higher Net sales;
lowerpartially offset by:
higher plant spending of $60 million, primarily related to our acquisitions of SOFTER and Nilit, as these acquired businesses incur ongoing plant spending; and
higher energy and raw material costs, primarily methanol and polyester; andrelated to methanol.
cost savings of $18 million primarily due to productivity initiatives.
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates decreasedincreased for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 primarily due to:
a decrease in equity investment in earnings of $40 million from our Ibn Sina strategic affiliate as a result of lower pricing for methanol and MTBE and higher raw material costs;
partially offset by:
an increase in equity investment in earnings of $8 million and $5 million from our Polyplastics Co., Ltd.Ibn Sina and Korea Engineering Plastics Co., Ltd.Fortron Industries LLC strategic affiliates, of $9 million and $6 million, respectively, primarily as a result of timing of turnaround activity at Ibn Sina and strong demand and lower raw material costs.at Fortron.

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Consumer Specialties
Three Months Ended September 30, Change % Change Nine Months Ended September 30, Change % ChangeThree Months Ended June 30, Change % Change Six Months Ended June 30, Change % Change
2016 2015 2016 2015 2017 2016 2017 2016 
(unaudited)(unaudited)
(In $ millions, except percentages)(In $ millions, except percentages)
Net sales225
 247
 (22) (8.9)% 704
 723
 (19) (2.6)%193
 235
 (42) (17.9)% 411
 479
 (68) (14.2)%
Net Sales Variance                              
Volume(2)%       5 %      (9)%       (6)%      
Price(7)%       (8)%      (9)%       (8)%      
Currency %        %       %        %      
Other %        %       %        %      
Other (charges) gains, net(1) 
 (1) 100.0 % (1) (1) 
  %(1) 
 (1) 100.0 % (2) 
 (2) 100.0 %
Operating profit (loss)68
 77
 (9) (11.7)% 226
 216
 10
 4.6 %49
 80
 (31) (38.8)% 117
 158
 (41) (25.9)%
Operating margin30.2 % 31.2%     32.1 % 29.9%    25.4 % 34.0%     28.5 % 33.0%    
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates1
 1
 
  % 2
 2
 
  %
 
 
  % 1
 1
 
  %
Dividend income - cost investments26
 25
 1
 4.0 % 81
 79
 2
 2.5 %28
 28
 
  % 57
 55
 2
 3.6 %
Depreciation and amortization12
 15
 (3) (20.0)% 34
 38
 (4) (10.5)%11
 11
 
  % 22
 22
 
  %
Our Consumer Specialties segment includes our cellulose derivatives and food ingredients businesses, which serve consumer-driven applications. Our cellulose derivatives business is a leading global producer and supplier of acetate flake, acetate filmtow and acetate tow,

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flake, primarily used in filtrationfilter products applications. Our food ingredients business is a leading internationalglobal supplier of premium quality ingredientsacesulfame potassium for the food and beverage industry and pharmaceuticals industries. is a leading producer of food protection ingredients, such as potassium sorbate and sorbic acid.
The pricing of products within the cellulose derivatives and food ingredients businesses is sensitive to demand and is primarily based on the value of the material we produce and is largely independent ofproduce. Many sales in these businesses are conducted under contracts with pricing for one or more years. As a result, margins may expand or contract in response to changes in raw material costs over these similar periods, and we may be unable to adjust pricing also due to other factors, such as the costintense level of raw materials.competition in the industry.
Three Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 Compared to Three Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20152016
Net sales decreased for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 primarily due to:
lower acetate tow pricing and volume due to lower global industry utilization.
Operating profit decreased for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 primarily due to:
lower Net sales.
On June 18, 2017, Celanese, through various subsidiaries, entered into an agreement with affiliates of The Blackstone Group L.P. (the "Blackstone Entities") to form a joint venture which combines substantially all of the operations of our cellulose derivatives business and the operations of the Rhodia Acetow cellulose acetate business owned by the Blackstone Entities. See Note 3 - Acquisitions, Dispositions and Plant Closures in the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements for further information.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
Net sales decreased for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 primarily due to:
lower acetate tow pricing and volume due to lower global industry utilization.
Operating profit decreased for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 primarily due to:
lower Net sales;
partially offset by:
cost savings of $5 millionlower raw material costs, primarily duerelated to productivity initiatives in our cellulose derivatives business.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
Net sales decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 primarily due to:
lower acetate tow pricing due to lower global industry utilization;
largely offset by:
higher acetate tow volume across most regions due to customer destocking in the first half of the prior year, which did not recur in the current year.wood pulp, acetic acid and anhydride.

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Operating profit increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 primarily due to:
lower energy and raw material costs, including wood pulp; and
cost savings of $15 million primarily due to productivity initiatives in our cellulose derivatives business;
largely offset by:
lower Net sales.
Industrial Specialties
Three Months Ended September 30, Change % Change Nine Months Ended September 30, Change % ChangeThree Months Ended June 30, Change % Change Six Months Ended June 30, Change % Change
2016 2015 2016 2015 2017 2016 2017 2016 
(unaudited)(unaudited)
(In $ millions, except percentages)(In $ millions, except percentages)
Net sales245
 274
 (29) (10.6)% 760
 843
 (83) (9.8)%262
 262
 
  % 507
 515
 (8) (1.6)%
Net Sales Variance                              
Volume(1)%       (1)%      (1)%        %      
Price(9)%       (9)%      3 %        %      
Currency(1)%        %      (2)%       (2)%      
Other %        %       %        %      
Other (charges) gains, net
 
 
  % (3) (2) (1) 50.0 %
 (2) 2
 (100.0)% 
 (3) 3
 (100.0)%
Operating profit (loss)25
 19
 6
 31.6 % 85
 76
 9
 11.8 %26
 29
 (3) (10.3)% 51
 60
 (9) (15.0)%
Operating margin10.2 % 6.9%  
   11.2 % 9.0%    9.9 % 11.1%  
   10.1 % 11.7%    
Depreciation and amortization9
 20
 (11) (55.0)% 25
 39
 (14) (35.9)%10
 8
 2
 25.0 % 18
 16
 2
 12.5 %
Our Industrial Specialties segment includes our emulsion polymers and EVA polymers businesses. Our emulsion polymers business is a leading global producer of vinyl acetate-based emulsions and develops products and application technologies to improve performance, create value and drive innovation in applications such as paints and coatings, adhesives, construction, glass fiber, textiles and paper. Our EVA polymers business is a leading North American manufacturer of a full range of specialty ethylene vinyl acetate ("EVA") resins and compounds as well as select grades of low-density polyethylene. EVA polymers products are used in many applications, including flexible packaging films, lamination film products, hot melt adhesives, automotive parts and carpeting. The pricing
Pricing of our products within the emulsion polymers and EVA polymers businessesIndustrial Specialties is influenced by changes in the cost of raw materials. Therefore, in general, there is a direct correlation between the cost of raw materials and our Net sales for most notably VAM and ethylene.Industrial Specialties products. This impact to pricing typically lags changes in raw material costs over months or quarters.
Three Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 Compared to Three Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20152016
Operating profit decreased for the three months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 primarily due to:
higher raw material costs, primarily VAM.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
Net sales decreased for the threesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 primarily due to:
lower pricing in our emulsion polymersan unfavorable currency impact resulting from a strong US dollar relative to the Euro and EVA polymers businesses due to lower raw material costs for VAM globally.Chinese Yuan.
Operating profit increaseddecreased for the threesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 primarily due to:
cost savings of $9 million, primarily due to productivity initiatives in our emulsion polymers business; and
lowerhigher raw material costs, primarily VAM;
largely offset by:
lower Net sales.for VAM and ethylene.

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Depreciation and amortization expense, which is included within Operating profit (loss), decreased during the three months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 as a result of accelerated depreciation related to our vinyl acetate ethylene ("VAE") emulsions unit in Meredosia, Illinois and our VAE and conventional emulsions units in Tarragona, Spain, which did not recur in the current year. See Note 12 - Other (Charges) Gains, Net in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
Net sales decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 primarily due to:
lower pricing in our emulsion polymers and EVA polymers businesses due to lower raw material costs globally for VAM.
Operating profit increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 primarily due to:
lower raw material costs, primarily VAM; and
cost savings of $22 million, primarily due to productivity initiatives in our emulsion polymers business;
largely offset by:
lower Net sales.
Depreciation and amortization expense, which is included in Operating profit (loss), decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 as a result of accelerated depreciation related to our VAE emulsions unit in Meredosia, Illinois and our VAE and conventional emulsions units in Tarragona, Spain, which did not recur in the current year. See Note 12 - Other (Charges) Gains, Net in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information.

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Acetyl Intermediates
Three Months Ended September 30, Change % Change Nine Months Ended September 30, Change % ChangeThree Months Ended June 30, Change % Change Six Months Ended June 30, Change % Change
2016 2015 2016 2015 2017 2016 2017 2016 
(unaudited)(unaudited)
(In $ millions, except percentages)(In $ millions, except percentages)
Net sales589
 680
 (91) (13.4)% 1,844
 2,100
 (256) (12.2)%649
 592
 57
 9.6 % 1,268
 1,255
 13
 1.0 %
Net Sales Variance                              
Volume(3)%       (1)%      (4)%       (8)%      
Price(11)%       (12)%      14 %       10 %      
Currency %       (1)%      (1)%       (1)%      
Other1 %       2 %      1 %        %      
Other (charges) gains, net(1) 
 (1) 100.0 % (2) (2) 
  %3
 (1) 4
 (400.0)% (50) (1) (49) 4,900 %
Operating profit (loss)83
 54
 29
 53.7 % 274
 239
 35
 14.6 %109
 77
 32
 41.6 % 136
 191
 (55) (28.8)%
Operating margin14.1 % 7.9%  
   14.9 % 11.4%    16.8 % 13.0%  
   10.7 % 15.2%    
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates1
 2
 (1) (50.0)% 4
 4
 
  %2
 2
 
  % 3
 3
 
  %
Depreciation and amortization27
 17
 10
 58.8 % 81
 93
 (12) (12.9)%26
 27
 (1) (3.7)% 52
 54
 (2) (3.7)%
Our Acetyl Intermediates segment includes our intermediate chemistry business which produces and supplies acetyl products, including acetic acid, VAM, acetic anhydride and acetate esters. These products are generally used as starting materials for colorants, paints, adhesives, coatings and medicines. This business segment also produces organic solvents and intermediates for pharmaceutical, agricultural and chemical products. The pricing
Pricing of acetic acid, VAM and other acetyl products within the intermediate chemistry business is influenced by changes in the cost of raw materials. Therefore, in general, there is a direct correlation between the cost of raw materials and our Net sales for most notably methanol and ethylene.intermediate chemistry products. This impact to pricing typically lags changes in raw material costs over months or quarters.
Three Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 Compared to Three Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20152016
Net sales decreasedincreased for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 primarily due to:
lowerhigher pricing due to lower global industry utilization and a decline in globalhigher feedstock costs, such as methanol, which negativelypositively impacted pricing for most of our products. The impact on acetic acid, VAMproducts;
partially offset by:
lower volume for ethanol, which represents substantially all of the decrease in volume, due to the shutdown at our ethanol production unit in Nanjing, China.
Operating profit increased for the three months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 primarily due to:
higher Net sales; and acetate esters represents
cost savings of $30 million, primarily related to a duty exception in the free trade agreement between Europe and Mexico;
partially offset by:
higher raw material costs, primarily for methanol, ethylene and carbon monoxide, with methanol and ethylene making up approximately two-thirds of the increase and carbon monoxide making up one-fourth of the increase in raw material costs; and
an unfavorable impact of $15 million in direct costs associated with the planned turnaround at our Clear Lake, Texas site.

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Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
Net sales increased during the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 primarily due to:
higher pricing decrease; anddue to higher feedstock costs, such as methanol, which positively impacted pricing for most of our products;
largely offset by:
lower volume for VAM, which represents allapproximately two-thirds of the decrease in volume, primarily due to the expiration of a significant VAM contract.contract;
lower volume for ethanol, which represents the remainder of the decrease in volume, due to the shutdown at our ethanol production unit in Nanjing, China; and
an unfavorable currency impact resulting from a strong US dollar relative to the Euro and Chinese Yuan.
Operating profit increased fordecreased during the threesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 primarily due to:
an unfavorable impact of $49 million to Other (charges) gains, net. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, we provided notice of termination of a contract with a key raw materials supplier at our ethanol production unit in Nanjing, China. As a result, we recorded an estimated $50 million of plant/office closure costs primarily consisting of a $24 million contract termination charge and an $18 million reduction to our non-income tax receivable. See Note 14 - Other (Charges) Gains, Net in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information; and
lowerhigher raw material costs, primarily for methanol; and
cost savings of $22 million, primarily due to productivity initiatives;
largely offset by:
lower Net sales.
Depreciation and amortization expense, which is included within Operating profit (loss), increased during the three months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 due to the impact from the startup of production at the Fairway Methanol LLC ("Fairway") facility in October 2015.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
Net sales decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 primarily due to:

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lower pricing due to lower global industry utilization and a decline in global feedstock costs, such as methanol, ethylene and carbon monoxide, which negatively impacted pricing for most of our products. The impact on acetic acid, VAMwith methanol and acetate esters representsethylene making up approximately three-quartersthree-fourths of the pricing decrease.
Operating profit increased duringincrease and carbon monoxide making up the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared toremainder of the same periodincrease in 2015 primarily due to:
lower energy and raw material costs, primarily for carbon monoxide, methanol and ethylene; andcosts;
cost savings of $26 million, primarily due to productivity initiatives;
largelypartially offset by:
lowerhigher Net sales.
Depreciation and amortization expense, which is included within Operating profit (loss), decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 as a result of $39 million in accelerated depreciation expense in the prior year related to property, plant and equipment no longer in use at our ethanol technology unit in Clear Lake, Texas, which did not recur in the current year, partially offset by the impact from the startup of production at the Fairway facility in October 2015. See Note 12 - Other (Charges) Gains, Net in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information.
Other Activities
Three Months Ended September 30, Change % Change Nine Months Ended September 30, Change % ChangeThree Months Ended June 30, Change % Change Six Months Ended June 30, Change % Change
2016 2015 2016 2015 2017 2016 2017 2016 
(unaudited)(unaudited)
(In $ millions, except percentages)(In $ millions, except percentages)
Other (charges) gains, net(1) (2) 1
 (50.0)% (4) (8) 4
 (50.0)%(3) 
 (3) 100.0 % (4) (3) (1) 33.3 %
Operating profit (loss)(23) (22) (1) 4.5 % (73) (84) 11
 (13.1)%(41) (26) (15) 57.7 % (67) (50) (17) 34.0 %
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates6
 4
 2
 50.0 % 17
 15
 2
 13.3 %(2) 6
 (8) (133.3)% 1
 11
 (10) (90.9)%
Dividend income - cost investments
 1
 (1) (100.0)% 1
 1
 
  %
Depreciation and amortization2
 2
 
  % 7
 7
 
  %2
 2
 
  % 4
 5
 (1) (20.0)%
Other Activities primarily consists of corporate center costs, including administrative activities such as finance, information technology and human resource functions, interest income and expense associated with our financing activities and results of our captive insurance companies. Other Activities also includes the interest cost, expected return on assets and net actuarial gains and losses components of our net periodic benefit cost for our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement plans, which are not allocated to our business segments.
Nine
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Three Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 Compared to NineThree Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20152016
Operating loss decreasedincreased for the ninethree months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to the same period in 20152016 primarily due to:
lowerhigher functional spending and incentive compensation costscosts; and
an unfavorable impact to Other (charges) gains, net of $3 million. A partner in our InfraServ equity affiliate investments exercised an option right, which is currently being disputed, to purchase additional ownership interests in the InfraServ entities from us. The purchase of these interests will reduce our ownership interests in InfraServ GmbH & Co. Gendorf KG and InfraServ GmbH & Co. Knapsack KG. Accordingly, during the three months ended June 30, 2017, we reduced the carrying value of these investments by $4 million. See Note 14 - Other (Charges) Gains, Net in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information.
Equity in net earnings (loss) of $12 million.affiliates decreased for the three months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 primarily due to:
a decrease in equity investment in earnings of $4 million for InfraServ GmbH & Co. Gendorf KG and InfraServ GmbH & Co. Knapsack KG associated with a reserve for dividends received from these investments since the exercise notification was received.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
Operating loss increased for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 primarily due to:
higher functional and project spending; and
an unfavorable currency impact resulting from a strong US dollar relative to the Euro and Chinese Yuan.
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates decreased for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 primarily due to:
a decrease in equity investment in earnings of $4 million for InfraServ GmbH & Co. Gendorf KG and InfraServ GmbH & Co. Knapsack KG associated with a reserve for dividends received from these investments since the exercise notification was received.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary source of liquidity is cash generated from operations, available cash and cash equivalents and dividends from our portfolio of strategic investments. In addition, as of SeptemberJune 30, 2016,2017, we have $1.0 billion$800 million available for borrowing under our senior unsecured revolving credit facility and $53$10 million available under our accounts receivable securitization facility to assist, if required, in meeting our working capital needs and other contractual obligations.
While our contractual obligations, commitments and debt service requirements over the next several years are significant, we continue to believe we will have available resources to meet our liquidity requirements, including debt service, for the next twelve months. If our cash flow from operations is insufficient to fund our debt service and other obligations, we may be required to use other means available to us such as increasing our borrowings, reducing or delaying capital expenditures, seeking additional capital or seeking to restructure or refinance our indebtedness. There can be no assurance, however, that we will continue to generate cash flows at or above current levels.
Total cash outflows for capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of $250 million to $300 million in 20162017 primarily due to additional investments in growth opportunities in our Advanced Engineered Materials and Acetyl Intermediates segments.
On a stand-alone basis, Celanese and its immediate 100% owned subsidiary, Celanese US, have no material assets other than the stock of their subsidiaries and no independent external operations of their own. Accordingly, they generally depend on the cash flow of their subsidiaries and their ability to pay dividends and make other distributions to Celanese and Celanese US in order to meet their obligations, including their obligations under senior credit facilities and senior notes and to pay dividends on our Series A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share ("Common Stock").
Cash Flows
Cash and cash equivalents increased $285decreased $127 million to $1.3 billion$511 million as of SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to December 31, 2015.2016. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2016, $5612017, $410 million of the $1.3 billion$511 million of cash and cash equivalents was held by our foreign subsidiaries. If these funds are needed for our operations in the US, we will access such funds in a tax efficient manner to satisfy cash flow needs. Currently, there are no planned cash distributions that would result in incremental US taxes payable in excess of applicable foreign tax credits related to such undistributed earnings. As a result, we have not recorded any deferred income taxes on the portion of undistributed foreign earnings determined not to be permanently reinvested in foreign operations.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities increased $214decreased $146 million to $940$490 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to $726$636 million for the same period in 2015.2016. Net cash provided by operationsoperating activities for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2016 increased2017 decreased primarily due to:
an increasea decrease in net earnings; and
favorableunfavorable trade working capital of $64$33 million primarily due to a decreasean increase in trade payables.receivables related to SOFTER; and
an increase of $25 million in cash taxes paid.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities decreased $269increased $251 million to $192$389 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 compared to $461$138 million for the same period in 2015,2016, primarily due to:
a decreasenet cash outflow of $268 million related to the acquisition of Nilit in capital expendituresMay 2017.

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Table of $263 million relating to Fairway.Contents

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities increased $403decreased $483 million from $64$732 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20152016 to $467$249 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2016,2017, primarily due to:
an increase of $350 million in net borrowings on short-term borrowingsdebt of $645 million, primarily as a result of borrowing under our previous senior secured revolving credit facility forand accounts receivable securitization facility during the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2015, which were repaid2017 in full duringconnection with the nine months ended September 30, 2016, as discussed below;acquisition of Nilit and
a decrease related to the timing of $202 million in contributions received from Mitsui in exchange for ownership in Fairway;

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our Common Stock;
partially offset by:
an increase in net proceeds from long-term debt of $432 million, primarily as a result of issuing €750 million in principal amount of 1.125% senior unsecured notes due September 26, 2023 ("1.125% Notes"), as discussed below; and
a decrease of $120$100 million in share repurchases of our Common Stock.Stock; and
an increase in net repayments on long-term debt of $45 million, primarily related to SOFTER bank loans repaid in January 2017.
Debt and Other Obligations
On March 3, 2016, the State of Wisconsin Public Finance Authority completed a $170 million offering of pollution control and industrial revenue bonds, the proceeds of which were loaned toJune 18, 2017, Celanese, US and used to repay the pollution control and industrial revenue bonds previously issued for our benefit.
On July 8, 2016, certain of ourthrough various subsidiaries, entered into an amendmentagreement with affiliates of the Blackstone Entities to form a joint venture which combines substantially all of the operations of our accounts receivable securitization facility, extending its maturitycellulose derivatives business and the operations of the Rhodia Acetow cellulose acetate business owned by the Blackstone Entities. Closing of the transaction is subject to July 2019 and decreasingcustomary closing conditions.
In connection with the available amountagreement, the joint venture with the Blackstone Entities obtained commitments for credit facilities aggregating $2.4 billion to $120 million.
On July 15, 2016, Celanese, Celanese US and certain subsidiariesbe entered into a new senior credit agreementby the joint venture entities at the closing consisting of (i) senior secured ($135 million) and senior unsecured ($65 million) revolving credit facilities in an aggregate principal amount of $200 million, (ii) senior secured term loan facilities in an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion, (iii) a $500senior unsecured bridge facility in an aggregate principal amount of $800 million, which bridge facility will backstop the proposed issuance of $800 million senior unsecured notes by a joint venture subsidiary, and (iv) a senior unsecured term loan and a $1.0 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility (with a letter of credit sublimit) each maturing in 2021. The proceeds from the new senior unsecured term loan and $409 million of borrowings under the new senior unsecured revolving credit facility were used to repay our Term C-2 and C-3 senior secured credit facilities.
On September 26, 2016, Celanese US completed an offering of €750 million inaggregate principal amount of the 1.125% Notes in a public offering registered under the Securities Act. Net proceeds from the issuance$400 million. The credit facilities will be guaranteed by certain of the 1.125% Notes were used to repay $411subsidiaries of the respective borrowers; however, only the $65 million of outstanding borrowings under our new senior unsecured revolving credit facility and the $400 million senior unsecured term loan credit facility will be guaranteed by Celanese. Approximately $2.2 billion of the proceeds of the debt financing are expected to be used, in part, to repay certain of the parties' existing indebtedness and a $1.6 billion dividend to Celanese. We plan to use the proceeds of the dividend for general corporate purposes. Additionally, we anticipate that we will incur costs of approximately $40 million prior to the closing to carve out assets and entities in anticipation of contributing these to the joint venture. See Note 3 - Acquisitions, Dispositions and Plant Closures in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information.
There have been no material changes to our debt or other obligations described in our 20152016 Form 10-K other than those disclosed above and in Note 810 - Debt in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
Share Capital
On July 17, 2017, our Board of Directors approved a $1.5 billion increase in our Common Stock repurchase authorization. As of June 30, 2017, we had $228 million remaining under the previous authorization. We also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.46 per share on our Common Stock on July 17, 2017, amounting to $63 million. The cash dividend will be paid on August 7, 2017 to holders of record as of July 28, 2017.
There have been no material changes to our share capital described in our 20152016 Form 10-K other than those disclosed above and in Note 1113 - Stockholders' Equity in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
Contractual Obligations
Except as otherwise described in this report, there have been no material revisions outside the ordinary course of business to our contractual obligations as described in our 20152016 Form 10-K.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have not entered into any material off-balance sheet arrangements.

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements are based on the selection and application of significant accounting policies. The preparation of unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of netNet sales, expenses and allocated charges during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. However, we are not currently aware of any reasonably likely events or circumstances that would result in materially different results.
We describe our significant accounting policies in Note 2 - Summary of Accounting Policies, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 20152016 Form 10-K. We discuss our critical accounting policies and estimates in MD&A in our 20152016 Form 10-K.

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Pension and Other Postretirement Obligations
Beginning in 2016, we elected to change the method used to estimate the service and interest cost components of net periodic benefit cost for our significant defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans. Previously, we estimated the service and interest cost components utilizing a single weighted average discount rate derived from the yield curve used to measure the benefit obligation at the beginning of the period. We have elected to use a full yield curve approach in the estimation of these components of net periodic benefit cost by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve used in the determination of the benefit obligation to the relevant projected cash flows. This change improves the correlation between projected benefit cash flows and the corresponding yield curve spot rates and provides a more precise measurement of service and interest costs. This change does not affect the measurement of our total benefit obligations as the change in service and interest cost will be completely offset in the annual actuarial (gain) loss reported. We have accounted for this change as a change in estimate and, accordingly, have accounted for it prospectively beginning in 2016. The adoption of the full yield curve approach will reduce 2016 service and interest cost by approximately $29 million as compared to the previous method. See Note 1 - Description of the Company and Basis of Presentation in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report for information regarding recent accounting pronouncements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market risk for ourthe Company has not changed materially from the foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risks disclosed in Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk in our 20152016 Form 10-K. See also Note 1416 - Derivative Financial Instruments in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our market risk management and the related impact on ourthe Company's financial position and results of operations.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, as of SeptemberJune 30, 2016,2017, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
On May 3, 2017, we acquired the nylon compounding division of Nilit Group ("Nilit"). See Note 3 - Acquisitions, Dispositions and Plant Closures in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information.
During the period covered by this report, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved in a number of legal and regulatory proceedings, lawsuits and claims incidental to the normal conduct of its business, relating to such matters as product liability, land disputes, contracts, antitrust, intellectual property, workers' compensation, chemical exposure, asbestos exposure, trade compliance, prior acquisitions and divestitures, claims of legacy stockholders, past waste disposal practices and release of chemicals into the environment. The Company is actively defending those matters where it is named as a defendant. Due to the inherent subjectivity of assessments and unpredictability of outcomes of legal proceedings, the Company's litigation accruals and estimates of possible loss or range of possible loss may not represent the ultimate loss to the Company from legal proceedings. See Note 1012 - Environmental and Note 1618 - Commitments and Contingencies in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for a discussion of material environmental matters and material commitments and contingencies related to legal and regulatory proceedings. There have been no significant developments in the "Legal Proceedings" described in our 20152016 Form 10-K other than those disclosed in Note 1012 - Environmental and Note 1618 - Commitments and Contingencies in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements. See
In MayPart I - Item 1A. Risk Factors of our 2016 the Company's Bay City, Texas site received a Proposed Agreed Order from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ("TCEQ") alleging violations of the Texas Health & Safety Code and/or Commission Rules as a result of a September 2015 chemical release and proposed an administrative penalty of approximately $125,000. In October 2016, following further review, the TCEQ agreedForm 10-K for certain risk factors relating to reduce the administrative penalty to approximately $25,000. The Bay City, Texas site is included in the Company's Acetyl Intermediates segment.these legal proceedings.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to the risk factors under Part I, Item 1A of our 20152016 Form 10-K.

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Repurchases of our Common Stock during the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 are as follows:
Period 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased(1)
 
Average
Price Paid
per Share
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Program
 
Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares
Remaining that may be
Purchased Under the Program
(2)
  (unaudited)
July 1-31, 2016 154,869
 $64.96
 154,000
 $821,000,000
August 1-31, 2016 1,385,477
 $64.96
 1,385,477
 $731,000,000
September 1-30, 2016 
 $
 
 $731,000,000
Total 1,540,346
   1,539,477
  
Period 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased(1)
 
Average
Price Paid
per Share
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Program
 
Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares
Remaining that may be
Purchased Under the Program
(2)
  (unaudited)
April 1-30, 2017 649,465
 $89.18
 646,603
 $342,000,000
May 1-31, 2017 990,926
 $86.36
 990,926
 $256,000,000
June 1-30, 2017 319,622
 $91.15
 313,363
 $228,000,000
Total 1,960,013
   1,950,892
  

(1) 
Includes 8692,862 and 6,259 shares for July 2016April and June 2017, respectively, related to shares withheld from employees to cover their statutory minimum withholding requirements for personal income taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock units.
(2) 
Our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $2.4 billion of our Common Stock since February 2008.
See Note 1113 - Stockholders' Equity in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
Item 5. Other Information
None.

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Item 6. Exhibits(1) 
Exhibit
Number
  
 Description
   
3.1*2.1*†Transaction Agreement, dated of as June 18, 2017, by and among Celanese US Holdings LLC, BCP VII Jade Cayman Aggregator Ltd., BCP VII Swordfish Aggregator L.P., Acetate UTP C.V., and Lower Tier Partnership Netherlands C.V.
3.1 Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on October 18, 2016).
3.1(a)Certificate of Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Celanese Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 22, 2016).
   
3.2 Fourth Amended and Restated By-laws, amended effective February 8, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 9, 2016).
   
4.110.1 Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated asForm of September 26, 2016, among Celanese US Holdings LLC, Celanese Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Companies Americas, as paying agent, registrar and transfer agent2014-2017 Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (for non-employee directors) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.210.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 8-K10-Q filed with the SEC on September 26, 2016)July 18, 2014).
31.1* Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
31.2* Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
32.1* Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
32.2* Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
101.INS* XBRL Instance Document.
   
101.SCH* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
   
101.CAL* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
   
101.DEF* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
   
101.LAB* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
   
101.PRE* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
*Filed herewith.
The schedules to this agreement have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish a copy of any schedule to the SEC upon request.
(1) 
The Company and its subsidiaries have in the past issued, and may in the future issue from time to time, long-term debt. The Company may not file with the applicable report copies of the instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt to the extent that the aggregate principal amount of the debt instruments of any one series of such debt instruments for which the instruments have not been filed has not exceeded or will not exceed 10% of the assets of the Company at any pertinent time. The Company hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any such instrument(s) to the SEC upon request.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 CELANESE CORPORATION
     
  By: /s/ MARK C. ROHR
   Mark C. Rohr
   Chairman of the Board of Directors and
   Chief Executive Officer
     
   Date:October 18, 2016July 25, 2017
  By: /s/ CHRISTOPHER W. JENSEN
   Christopher W. Jensen
   SeniorExecutive Vice President Finance and
   Chief Financial Officer
     
   Date:October 18, 2016July 25, 2017


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