SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 11-K
(Mark One)
| x | Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006
OR
| ¨ | Transition report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
Commission File Number 001-10145
EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
(Title of the Plan)
LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY
1221 McKinney Street
Suite 700
Houston, Texas 77010
(Name and address of principal executive
office of the issuer of the securities)
EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
| Page | ||
| 2 | ||
Financial Statements: | ||
| 3 | ||
| 4 | ||
| 5 | ||
Supplemental Schedule of Assets* | ||
Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) | 11 | |
| * | Other supplemental schedules are not required and have been omitted. |
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Participants and Benefits Administrative Committee of the
Equistar Chemicals, LP Savings and Investment Plan:
In our opinion, the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Equistar Chemicals, LP Savings and Investment Plan (the “Plan”) at December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2006 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Houston, Texas
June 27, 2007
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EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
| December 31, | ||||||
| 2006 | 2005 | |||||
ASSETS | ||||||
Investment in Lyondell Chemical, Equistar Chemicals, and Lyondell-Citgo Plans Master Trust | $ | 539,342,165 | $ | 477,827,613 | ||
Net assets available for benefits | $ | 539,342,165 | $ | 477,827,613 | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
For the year ended December 31, 2006
Contributions: | ||||
Employer | $ | 12,690,529 | ||
Participant | 23,552,263 | |||
Rollover | 1,721,674 | |||
Total | 37,964,466 | |||
Investment income: | ||||
Lyondell Chemical, Equistar Chemicals, and Lyondell-Citgo Plans Master Trust | 54,775,737 | |||
Benefits paid to participants | (29,891,788 | ) | ||
Transaction fees | (103,628 | ) | ||
Transfer activity | (1,230,235 | ) | ||
Net increase | 61,514,552 | |||
Net assets available for benefits: | ||||
Beginning of year | 477,827,613 | |||
End of year | $ | 539,342,165 | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Description of Plan
General – The Equistar Chemicals, LP Savings and Investment Plan (the “Plan”) is a defined contribution plan for employees and vested former employees of Equistar Chemicals, LP (“Equistar” or “Partnership”), a Delaware limited partnership, which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Lyondell Chemical Company (“Lyondell”). Full-time or part-time employees are eligible to participate immediately in the Plan upon the beginning of employment with Equistar. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). Participants should refer to the Plan document for a complete description of the Plan.
Plan Administration – The Plan is administered by the Benefits Administrative Committee which is comprised of individuals appointed by Lyondell’s Board of Directors. Fidelity Institutional Retirement Services Company (“FIRSCO”) is the Plan’s recordkeeper. Plan assets are maintained in the Lyondell Chemical, Equistar Chemicals, and LYONDELL-CITGO Plans Master Trust (“Master Trust”) under the custody of the Fidelity Management Trust Company (“Trustee”). The Trustee makes payments as authorized by the Plan. Equistar pays all administrative expenses of the Plan. Transaction fees related to withdrawals are paid by the participants.
Contributions – Subject to the Internal Revenue Code limitation on the maximum amount of an employee’s contribution on a pre-tax basis to $15,000 in 2006, participants are allowed to contribute from 1% to 50% of their base pay to the Plan through pre-tax payroll deductions (“Elective Deferrals”) and from 1% to 10% of their base pay through after-tax payroll deductions (“Savings Contributions”). Participants who have attained age 50 before the end of the Plan year are eligible to make catch-up contributions up to a maximum amount of $5,000 in 2006. Equistar makes matching contributions to eligible participant’s account at the rate of 100% of the Elective Deferrals up to a maximum matching contribution of 6% of the participant’s eligible base pay. Participants are eligible for matching contributions immediately upon making Elective Deferrals. Any employee/participant shall be vested in and have a nonforfeitable right to all matching contributions and earnings thereon on the earliest of the date the Participant: (i) attains three years of vesting service; (ii) dies; (iii) attains normal retirement age; or (iv) becomes disabled and is eligible for long-term disability benefits under a plan sponsored by the Partnership.
Investment Election – All participant assets are held in the Master Trust. Contributions are invested, based on participants’ instructions, in any of the various investment options selected by the Benefits Finance Committee of Lyondell. Through the Master Trust, the Plan offers various mutual funds, an employer stock fund, a money market fund, and a self-directed brokerage option. Under the self-directed brokerage option, participants may direct investments in any security or other investments offered by Fidelity, regardless of whether they are otherwise offered by the Plan.
Employees of Lyondell, Millennium Chemicals Inc. (“Millennium”), and the former Atlantic Richfield Company (“ARCO”), or their subsidiaries, who became employees of Equistar, had the assets attributable to their participation in the plans of those companies transferred into the Plan. These assets included common stock of Lyondell, Millennium and ARCO. ARCO was subsequently merged into BP p.l.c. (“BP”) and the ARCO common stock was converted to BP American Depository Shares (“ADSs”). On November 30, 2004, Lyondell acquired Millennium and Millennium common stock was converted into Lyondell common stock on December 1, 2004. Such stock and ADSs can be held or sold by Plan participants, and Plan participants may elect to make new purchases of Lyondell stock, but not of ADSs. Dividends on the stock and ADSs are reinvested per the terms of the Plan.
Participant Accounts – Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution and allocations of the Partnership’s contribution and Plan earnings. Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined by the terms of the Plan. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.
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EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Benefit Payments and Borrowings – If a participant terminates employment for any reason, the participant’s vested account balance will be distributed upon attainment of age 65 or anytime the participant makes application to receive the funds prior to age 65. If the participant’s vested account balance is $1,000 or less, the participant’s vested account balance will be distributed as soon as practicable after termination.
The Plan permits withdrawals of Elective Deferrals under certain hardship conditions as defined by the Plan. Savings Contributions may be withdrawn in total or partial amounts as defined by the Plan. Qualified Hurricane Distributions in accordance with the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 and the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 were permitted from March 23, 2006 until December 31, 2006.
Distributions upon retirement or termination are generally in Lyondell common stock or BP ADSs, to the extent assets are held in the form of such stock, and in cash to the extent invested in any other investment funds maintained under the Plan. Participants may elect to have Lyondell common stock or BP ADS sold and distributed in cash.
The Plan permits employees to borrow from their vested account balance, as defined by the Plan and subject to a minimum of $1,000 and $15,000 for general-purpose and residential loans, respectively, and a maximum of the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of the participant’s vested balance. The interest rate currently charged for loans is a fixed rate equal to the average prime rate reported in The Wall Street Journal as of the last business day of the month preceding the date the loan application is received by the Plan, subject to a 6% maximum while a participant is on military leave of absence. The loans are secured by a portion of the balance in the participant’s account and bear interest at rates ranging from 4.00% to 10.62%. Repayment periods range from one to five years for general-purpose loans and one to ten years for residential loans. The loans and interest are repaid ratably through payroll deductions. Repaid principal and interest are added to investment funds according to the current investment elections of the participant. The loans are carried as investments by the Master Trust at their face amount. When a participant terminates employment with the Partnership, the unpaid balance of the participant’s loan(s) may continue to be repaid in a manner other than by payroll deduction. If the loan is not repaid, after 14 weeks from the time payment is due after separation from service, it will be automatically treated as a distribution to the participant.
Forfeited Accounts – Amounts in forfeited nonvested accounts totaled $14,979 and $32,738 at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. These accounts are used to reduce future matching contributions.
Termination Provision – Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Partnership has the right to terminate the Plan at any time subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, all participants would be fully vested in their accounts and all assets of the Plan would continue to be held for distribution to participants as provided in the Plan.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Accounting – The financial statements of the Plan are prepared using the accrual method of accounting, except for benefit payments which are recorded when paid.
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition – The fair value of the Plan’s interest in the Master Trust is based on the beginning of the year value of the Plan’s interest in the Master Trust plus actual contributions and allocated investment income less actual distributions. The Master Trust’s assets are allocated among participating plans by assigning to each plan those transactions which can be specifically identified and by allocating among all plans, in proportion to the fair value of the assets assigned to each plan, income and expenses resulting from the collective investment of the assets of the Master Trust. Quoted market prices are used to value investments in the Master Trust. Investment funds are valued at net asset value as of the last business day of the periods presented, which is the fair
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EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
value of all securities held plus accruals for dividend income and interest income. Short-term and certain other investments and participant loans are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Purchases and sales of securities are accounted for on the trade date. Gains or losses on the sale or distribution of securities are computed on an average cost basis. Dividend income is accrued on the ex-dividend date and interest income is accrued as earned. The net appreciation or depreciation in the fair value of investments, which consists of the realized gains or losses and the unrealized appreciation or depreciation of those investments, is included in “Investment income” in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.
Payment of Benefits – Benefit payments to participants are recorded upon distribution.
Use of Estimates – The preparation of the Plan’s financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Plan’s management to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for benefits at the date of the financial statements and the changes in net assets available for benefits during the reporting period and, when applicable, the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Risks and Uncertainties – The Master Trust provides for various investment options in any combination of stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as market and credit risk. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits.
3. Tax Status
The Plan is a qualified plan under Sections 401(a) and (k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Plan received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service dated July 20, 2001. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter, and Equistar timely applied to the Internal Revenue Service within remedial amendment Cycle A for a new determination letter. However, the Benefits Administrative Committee believes that the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code. Accordingly, no provision is made for federal income taxes.
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EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
4. Reconciliation of the Plan Financial Statements to Schedule H of Form 5500
The following is a reconciliation of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits per the financial statements at December 31, 2006 and 2005 to Schedule H of Form 5500:
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements | $ | 539,342,165 | $ | 477,827,613 | ||||
Deemed distributions of participant loans | (305,705 | ) | (219,284 | ) | ||||
Net assets available for benefits per Schedule H of Form 5500 | $ | 539,036,460 | $ | 477,608,329 | ||||
The following is a reconciliation of benefits paid to participants per the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006 to Schedule H of Form 5500:
| 2006 | |||
Total benefits paid to participants per the financial statements | $ | 29,891,788 | |
Deemed distributions of participant loans | 86,421 | ||
Total benefits paid per Schedule H of Form 5500 | $ | 29,978,209 | |
Amounts allocated to deemed distributions of participant loans are recorded as an investment in the financial statements and recorded as an expense on Schedule H of Form 5500.
Deemed Distribution – A participant loan is deemed distributed during the plan year under the provisions of Internal Revenue Code section 72(p) and Treasury Regulation section 1.72(p) if the participant loan is treated as a direct investment solely of the participant’s individual account and the participant has discontinued payment of the loan as of the end of the year. For financial statement purposes, the loan balance is still considered as an outstanding loan until the loan obligation has been satisfied and is not treated as an actual distribution until such time the participant separates from employment and the participant’s vested account balance is fully distributed.
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EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
5. Lyondell Chemical, Equistar Chemicals, and Lyondell-Citgo Plans Master Trust
The Master Trust was established in March 1999 and is a pooled investment trust composed of the beneficial interests of certain participating defined contribution plans of Lyondell, Equistar Chemicals, LP and Houston Refining LP (formerly LYONDELL-CITGO Refining LP), all of which are related entities. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Plan’s investment assets were held in a trust account with Fidelity and consisted of a specific interest in the Master Trust. The Plan’s specific interest in the Master Trust was approximately 49.84% and 49.18% at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Plan has no interest in the nonparticipant-directed investments of the Master Trust. The net assets available for benefits of the Master Trust are presented below:
| December 31, | ||||||
| 2006 | 2005 | |||||
ASSETS | ||||||
Investments, at fair value: | ||||||
Participant-directed investments: | ||||||
Mutual funds | $ | 683,129,797 | $ | 593,988,153 | ||
Common stock | 55,757,818 | 54,943,615 | ||||
Participant loans receivable, at cost | 44,821,464 | 46,158,011 | ||||
Money market funds | 166,982,979 | 157,262,389 | ||||
Self-directed brokerage accounts | 131,184,317 | 118,942,845 | ||||
Nonparticipant-directed investments: | ||||||
Common stock | 118,786,430 | 112,407,427 | ||||
Total investments | 1,200,662,805 | 1,083,702,440 | ||||
Other receivables | 275,667 | 269,934 | ||||
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS | $ | 1,200,938,472 | $ | 1,083,972,374 | ||
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EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
The components of total investment income of the Master Trust for the year ended December 31, 2006 are presented below:
| Participant Directed | Nonparticipant Directed | Trust Total | |||||||
Investment income: | |||||||||
Net appreciation in the fair value of investments: | |||||||||
Mutual funds | $ | 50,557,466 | $ | — | $ | 50,557,466 | |||
Common stock | 3,529,292 | 8,586,266 | 12,115,558 | ||||||
Self-directed broker accounts | 10,444,162 | — | 10,444,162 | ||||||
| 64,530,920 | 8,586,266 | 73,117,186 | |||||||
Interest income | 1,555,017 | — | 1,555,017 | ||||||
Interest from participant loans | 2,131,318 | 296,461 | 2,427,779 | ||||||
Dividend income | 38,096,168 | 3,142,680 | 41,238,848 | ||||||
Total investment income | $ | 106,313,423 | $ | 12,025,407 | $ | 118,388,830 | |||
6. Party-in-Interest Transactions
Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by Fidelity Management and Research Company. Fidelity Management Trust Company is the trustee as defined by the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. In addition, the Plan also invests in shares of Lyondell Chemical Company common stock which also qualify as party-in-interest transactions. These party-in-interest transactions are permissible under provisions of ERISA. Equistar pays the costs of administering the Plan.
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EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE
EIN: 76-0550481, P/N: 005
Schedule H, Line 4i- Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
As of December 31, 2006
(a) | (b) Identity of issue, | (c) Description of investment including maturity | (d) Cost | (e) Current Value | |||||
* | PARTICIPANT LOANS | 4.0%-10.6%, maturity dates ranging from 2006 to 2016 | $ | 20,997,979 | |||||
| * | Denotes party-in-interest transaction. |
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EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the Plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN | ||
| By: | /s/ Allen C. Holmes | |
| ALLEN C. HOLMES | ||
| Chairman, Benefits Administrative Committee | ||
Date: June 27, 2007
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. | Exhibit | Sequentially Numbered Page Where Located | ||
| 23 | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 15 |
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