2007

 

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

Form 10-K

 

 

Commission file number 1-815

E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS
AND COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

1007 Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19898
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 302-774-1000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act
(Each class is registered on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.):

 

Title of Each Class

 

 

Common Stock ($.30 par value)

Preferred Stock

(without par value-cumulative)

$4.50 Series

$3.50 Series

No securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act).  Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  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. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one).

 

 

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

 

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant (excludes outstanding shares beneficially owned by directors and officers and treasury shares) as of June 30, 2007, was approximately $46.6 billion.

 

As of January 31, 2008, 899,346,000 shares (excludes 87,041,000 shares of treasury stock) of the company’s common stock, $.30 par value, were outstanding.

 

Documents Incorporated by Reference
(Specific pages incorporated are indicated under the applicable Item herein):

 

 

 

 

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E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company

 

Form 10-K

 

Table of Contents

 

The terms “DuPont” or the “company” as used herein refer to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, or to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, as the context may indicate.

 

 

Note on Incorporation by Reference

 

Information pertaining to certain Items in Part III of this report is incorporated by reference to portions of the company’s definitive 2008 Annual Meeting Proxy Statement to be filed within 120 days after the end of the year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, pursuant to Regulation 14A (the Proxy).

DuPont was founded in 1802 and was incorporated in Delaware in 1915. DuPont is a world leader in science and technology in a range of disciplines, including biotechnology, electronics, materials science, safety and security and synthetic fibers. The company operates globally, manufacturing a wide range of products for distribution and sale to many different markets, including the transportation, safety and protection, construction, motor vehicle, agriculture, home furnishings, medical, electronics, communications, protective apparel and the nutrition and health markets. Total worldwide employment at December 31, 2007, was approximately 60,000 people.

 

The company is strategically aligned into five market- and technology-focused growth platforms consisting of Agriculture & Nutrition; Coatings & Color Technologies; Electronic & Communication Technologies; Performance Materials; and Safety & Protection. In addition to the five growth platforms, the company’s reportable segments include Pharmaceuticals. The company includes embryonic businesses not included in the growth platforms, such as applied biosciences, and nonaligned businesses in Other.

 

Information describing the business of the company can be found on the indicated pages of this report:

 

 

The company has operations in approximately 80 countries worldwide and about 60 percent of consolidated Net sales are made to customers outside the United States of America (U.S.). Subsidiaries and affiliates of DuPont conduct manufacturing, seed production, or selling activities and some are distributors of products manufactured by the company.

 

Sources of Supply

The company utilizes numerous firms as well as internal sources to supply a wide range of raw materials, energy, supplies, services and equipment. To ensure availability, the company maintains multiple sources for fuels and many raw materials, including hydrocarbon feedstocks. Large volume purchases are generally procured under competitively priced supply contracts.

 

A substantial portion of the production and sales in Performance Materials is dependent upon the availability of hydrocarbon and hydrocarbon derivative feedstocks. Current hydrocarbon feedstock requirements are met by purchases from major energy and petrochemical companies.

 

Within Agriculture & Nutrition, the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. (Pioneer), operates in the seed industry and has seed production facilities located throughout the world. Seed production is performed directly by the company or contracted with independent growers and conditioners. The company’s ability to produce seeds primarily depends upon weather conditions, contract growers and the availability of preferred hybrids with desired traits.

Part I

 

Item 1. Business, continued

 

The major commodities, raw materials and supplies for the company’s reportable segments in 2007 include the following:

 

  Agriculture & Nutrition:

benzene and carbamic acid related intermediates; copper; insect control products; natural gas; soybeans; soy flake; soy lecithin; sulfonamides

 

  Coatings & Color Technologies:

butyl acetate; chlorine; hexamethylenediamine based poly aliphatic isocyanates; industrial gases; pigments; resins; titanium ore

 

  Electronic & Communication Technologies:

block co-polymers; chloroform; copper; fluorspar; hydrofluoric acid; hydroxylamine; oxydianiline; perchloroethylene; polyester film; precious metals; pyromellitic dianhydride

 

  Performance Materials:

adipic acid; butadiene; butanediol; dimethyl terephthalate; ethane; ethylene glycol; fiberglass; hexamethylenediamine; methanol; natural gas; purified terephthalic acid

 

  Safety & Protection:

alumina hydroxide; ammonia; benzene; high density polyethylene; isophthaloyl chloride; metaphenylenediamine; methyl methacrylate; natural gas; paraphenylenediamine; polyester fiber; propylene; terephthaloyl chloride; wood pulp

 

No commodities or raw materials are purchased for the Pharmaceutical segment. This segment’s revenues arise from licensing arrangements for Cozaar^® and Hyzaar^® antihypertensive drugs, which are manufactured and distributed by Merck & Co. (Merck).

 

Since 1997, DuPont has contracted with Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) and Accenture LLP (Accenture) to provide certain services for the company. CSC operates a majority of the company’s global information systems and technology infrastructures and provides selected applications and software services. In December 2005, DuPont entered into a new contract with CSC to provide these services through December 2014. Accenture provides selected applications, software services and enterprise resource planning solutions designed to enhance the company’s manufacturing, marketing, distribution and customer service. Accenture is contracted to provide these services through December 2008.

 

In November 2005, DuPont contracted with Convergys Corporation to provide the company with global human resources transactional services including employee development, workforce planning, compensation management, benefits administration and payroll. As of December 31, 2007, some of the services associated with this contract are in place and are operating. All services associated with this contract are scheduled to be operating in 2010. Convergys Corporation is contracted to provide services through 2018.

 

Backlog

The company does not consider backlog to be a significant indicator of the level of future sales activity. In general, the company does not manufacture its products against a backlog of orders. Production and inventory levels are based on the level of incoming orders as well as projections of future demand. Therefore, the company believes that backlog information is not material to understanding its overall business and should not be considered a reliable indicator of the company’s ability to achieve any particular level of revenue or financial performance.

 

Intellectual Property

The company believes that its intellectual property estate provides it with an important competitive advantage. It has established a global network of attorneys, as well as branding, advertising and licensing professionals, to procure, maintain, protect, enhance and gain value from this estate.

Part I

 

Item 1. Business, continued

 

The company owns and is licensed under various patents, which expire from time to time, covering many products, processes and product uses. These patents protect many aspects of the company’s significant research programs and the goods and services it sells. The actual protection afforded by these patents varies from country to country and depends upon the scope of coverage of each individual patent as well as the availability of legal remedies in each country. The company owns approximately 21,000 worldwide patents and approximately 16,000 worldwide patent applications. In 2007, the company was granted about 600 U.S. patents and about 1,500 international patents. Through an increase in research and development productivity, since 2000, the company’s U.S. patent filings have more than doubled and the number of U.S. patents granted has increased more than 50 percent for DuPont’s five growth platforms and embryonic businesses. The company’s rights under its patents and licenses, as well as the products made and sold under them, are important to the company as a whole, and to varying degrees, important to each reportable segment. For a discussion of the importance of patents to Pharmaceuticals, see the segment discussion on page 34 of this report.

 

The environment in which Pioneer and the rest of the companies within the seed industry compete is increasingly affected by new patents, patent positions, patent lawsuits and the status of various intellectual property rights. Ownership of and access to intellectual property rights, particularly those relating to biotechnology and germplasm, are important to Pioneer and its competitors. No single patent owned by Pioneer or its competitors is essential to Pioneer’s ability to compete. However, Pioneer will continue to address freedom to operate issues by enforcing its own intellectual property rights, challenging claims made by others and, where appropriate, obtaining licenses to important technologies on commercially reasonable terms. During 2007, Pioneer entered into a business agreement on corn herbicide tolerance and insect control trait technologies with Monsanto Company. Among other provisions, modifications were made to the existing corn license agreements; both parties agreed to exchange certain non-assert and other intellectual property rights; and both parties obtained rights to reference and access certain regulatory data and approvals in which the other has certain interests. See the Contractual Obligations table on page 39 and Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

 

The company has approximately 2,000 unique trademarks for its products and services and approximately 18,000 worldwide registrations and applications for these trademarks. Ownership rights in trademarks do not expire if the trademarks are continued in use and properly protected. The company has many trademarks that have significant recognition at the consumer retail level and/or business to business level. Significant trademarks at the consumer retail level include the DuPont Oval and DuPont^tm (the “DuPont Brand Trademarks”); Pioneer^® brand seeds; Teflon^® fluoropolymers, films, fabric protectors, fibers and dispersions; Corian^® surfaces; Kevlar^® high strength material; and Tyvek^® protective material. The company actively pursues licensing opportunities for selected trademarks at the retail level.

 

Seasonality

Sales of the company’s products in Agriculture & Nutrition are affected by seasonal patterns. Agriculture & Nutrition’s sales and earnings performance is strongest in the first half of the year. The segment generally operates at a loss during the third and fourth quarters of the year. As a result of the seasonal nature of its seed business, Agriculture & Nutrition’s inventory is at its highest level at the end of the calendar year and is sold down in the first and second quarters. Trade receivables in Agriculture & Nutrition are at a low point at year-end and increase through the selling season to peak at the end of the second quarter.

 

In general, businesses in the remaining segments are not significantly affected by seasonal factors.

 

Marketing

With the exception of Pioneer^® brand seeds and Solae^® soy proteins, most products are marketed primarily through DuPont’s sales force, although in some regions, more emphasis is placed on sales through distributors. Pioneer^® brand products are promoted through multiple marketing channels in North America. In the corn and soybean markets of the U.S. Corn Belt, products are sold through a specialized force of independent sales representatives. In other North American markets, Pioneer^® products are marketed through distributors and crop input retailers. Pioneer^® products outside of North America are marketed through a network of subsidiaries, joint ventures and independent producer-distributors. Solae^® isolated and functional soy proteins are marketed using a combination of outside distributors, joint ventures and direct sales.

Part I

 

Item 1. Business, continued

 

Major Customers

The company’s sales are not materially dependent on a single customer or small group of customers. However, collectively, Coatings & Color Technologies and Performance Materials have several large customers, primarily in the automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) industry. The company has long-standing relationships with these customers and they are considered to be important to the segments’ operating results.

 

Competition

The company competes on a variety of factors such as price, product quality and performance or specifications, continuity of supply, customer service and breadth of product line, depending on the characteristics of the particular market involved and the product or service provided.

 

Major competitors include diversified industrial companies principally based in the U.S., Western Europe, Japan, China and Korea. In the aggregate, these competitors offer a wide range of products from agricultural, commodity and specialty chemicals to plastics, fibers and advanced materials. The company also competes in certain markets with smaller, more specialized firms who offer a narrow range of products or converted products that functionally compete with the company’s offerings.

 

Agriculture & Nutrition sells advanced plant genetics through Pioneer, principally for the global production of corn and soybeans and thus directly competes with other seed and plant biotechnology companies. Agriculture & Nutrition also provides food safety equipment and soy-based food ingredients in competition with other major grain and food processors.

 

Research and Development

The company conducts research in the U.S. at over 30 sites at either dedicated research facilities or manufacturing plants. The highest concentration of research is in the Wilmington, Delaware area at several large research centers. Among these, the Experimental Station laboratories engage in investigative and applied research, the Chestnut Run laboratories focus on applied research and the Stine-Haskell Research Center conducts agricultural product research and toxicological research to assure the safe manufacture, handling and use of products and raw materials.

 

Other major research locations in the U.S. include Marshall Lab in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Mt. Clemens in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, both dedicated to coatings research; Pioneer research facilities in Johnston, Iowa; The Solae Company facilities in St. Louis, Missouri; polymer research facilities in Richmond, Virginia, and Parkersburg, West Virginia; and electronic technology research facilities in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Towanda, Pennsylvania, and Santa Barbara, California.

 

DuPont, reflecting the company’s global interests, also operates more than 20 additional research and development facilities at locations outside the U.S., with major facilities located in Meyrin, Belgium; Wuppertal, Germany; Kingston, Canada; Utsunomiya, Japan; and Shanghai, China. A new research and development facility was opened in Taiwan in 2006 to better serve the integrated circuit market. Additionally, in 2007, the company announced that it plans to construct its first research and development center in India. The center, which is located in Hyderabad, is expected to be fully operational in early 2008.

 

The objectives of the company’s research and development programs are to create new technologies, processes and business opportunities in relevant fields, as well as to improve existing products and processes. Each segment of the company funds research and development activities that support its business mission. Recently, the company has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond environmental footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for research and development investment. The company is expanding its offerings addressing safety, environment, energy and climate challenges in the global marketplace by developing and commercializing renewable, bio-based materials; advanced biofuels; energy-efficient technologies; enhanced safety and protection products; and alternative energy products and technologies. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved products that enhance the environmental profile of its traditional businesses for DuPont’s key global markets, including transportation, building and construction, agriculture and food and communications.

Part I

 

Item 1. Business, continued

 

The corporate research laboratories are responsible for conducting research programs aligned with corporate strategy as provided by the growth platforms. All research and development activities are administered by senior research and development management to ensure consistency with the business and corporate strategy. The future of the company is not dependent upon the outcome of any single research program.

 

Additional information with respect to research and development, including the amount incurred during each of the last three fiscal years, is included in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, on page 21 of this report.

 

Facility Security

DuPont recognizes that the security and safety of its operations are critical to its employees, neighbors and, indeed, to the future of the company. As such, the company has merged chemical site security into its safety core value where it serves as an integral part of its long standing safety culture. Physical security measures have been combined with process safety measures (including the use of inherently safer technology), administrative procedures and emergency response preparedness into an integrated security plan. The company has conducted vulnerability assessments at operating facilities in the U.S. and high priority sites worldwide and identified and implemented appropriate measures to protect these facilities from physical or cyber attacks. DuPont is partnering with carriers, including railroad, shipping and trucking companies, to secure chemicals in transit.

 

In April 2007, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an interim final rule (Rule) that establishes risk-based performance standards for the security of U.S. chemical facilities. Covered chemical facilities are required to prepare Security Vulnerability Assessments that identify facility security vulnerabilities and to develop and implement Site Security Plans that include measures satisfying the identified risk-based performance standards. The Rule contains associated provisions addressing inspections and audits, recordkeeping, and the protection of information that constitutes Chemical-terrorism Vulnerability Information. DHS can seek compliance through the issuance of Orders, including Orders Assessing Civil Penalty and Orders for the Cessation of Operations.

 

In November of 2007, DHS finalized the list of chemicals regulated by the Rule and required facilities that have those chemicals in specified quantities to register with DHS. Those facilities must provide information by which DHS will determine if and how the facility will be covered by the Rule’s security requirements. DuPont’s U.S. facilities have submitted this information and are awaiting DHS’ determination of coverage. Once DHS has determined which DuPont facilities are covered, it will work with the company to establish security expectations specific to each facility. As a result, management will be able to better assess the Rule’s impact on the company at that time. However, the company has already devoted substantial effort and resources in assessing security vulnerabilities and taking steps to reinforce security at its chemical manufacturing facilities. Management expects that these steps will fulfill most of the Rule’s risk-based performance standards.

 

Environmental Matters

Information related to environmental matters is included in several areas of this report: (1) Environmental Proceedings on pages 11-12, (2) Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on pages 25 and 41- 44 and (3) Notes 1 and 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Available Information

The company is subject to the reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Consequently, the company is required to file reports and information with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), including reports on the following forms: annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

The public may read and copy any materials the company files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site at

Part I

 

Item 1. Business, continued

 

http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

 

The company’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports are also accessible on the company’s website at http://www.dupont.com by clicking on the tab labeled “Investor Center” and then on “SEC filings.” These reports are made available, without charge, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the company files or furnishes them electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company’s operations could be affected by various risks, many of which are beyond its control. Based on current information, the company believes that the following identifies the most significant risk factors that could affect its businesses. However, the risks and uncertainties the company faces are not limited to those discussed below. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the company or that the company currently believes to be immaterial also could affect its businesses. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods.

 

Price increases for energy and raw materials could have a significant impact on the company’s ability to sustain and grow earnings.

The company’s manufacturing processes consume significant amounts of energy and raw materials, the costs of which are subject to worldwide supply and demand as well as other factors beyond the control of the company. Significant variations in the cost of energy, which primarily reflect market prices for oil and natural gas and raw materials affect the company’s operating results from period to period. When possible, the company purchases raw materials through negotiated long-term contracts to minimize the impact of price fluctuations. Additionally, the company enters into over-the-counter and exchange traded derivative commodity instruments to hedge its exposure to price fluctuations on certain raw material purchases. The company has taken actions to offset the effects of higher energy and raw material costs through selling price increases, productivity improvements and cost reduction programs. Success in offsetting higher raw material costs with price increases is largely influenced by competitive and economic conditions and could vary significantly depending on the market served. If the company is not able to fully offset the effects of higher energy and raw material costs, it could have a significant impact on the company’s financial results.

 

Failure to develop and market new products could impact the company’s competitive position and have an adverse effect on the company’s financial results.

The company’s operating results are largely dependent on its ability to renew its pipeline of new products and services and to bring those products and services to market. This ability could be adversely affected by difficulties or delays in product development such as the inability to identify viable new products, successfully complete research and development, obtain relevant regulatory approvals, obtain intellectual property protection, or gain market acceptance of new products and services. Because of the lengthy development process, technological challenges and intense competition, there can be no assurance that any of the products the company is currently developing, or could begin to develop in the future, will achieve substantial commercial success. Sales of the company’s new products could replace sales of some of its current products, offsetting the benefit of even a successful product introduction.

 

The company’s results of operations could be adversely affected by litigation and other commitments and contingencies.

The company faces risks arising from various unasserted and asserted litigation matters, including, but not limited to, product liability claims, patent infringement claims and antitrust claims. The company has noted a nationwide trend in purported class actions against chemical manufacturers generally seeking relief such as medical monitoring, property damages, off-site remediation and punitive damages arising from alleged environmental torts without claiming present personal injuries. Various factors or developments can lead to changes in current estimates of liabilities such as a final adverse judgment, significant settlement or changes in applicable law. A future

Part I

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors, continued

 

adverse ruling or unfavorable development could result in future charges that could have a material adverse effect on the company. An adverse outcome in any one or more of these matters could be material to the company’s financial results.

 

In the ordinary course of business, the company may make certain commitments, including representations, warranties and indemnities relating to current and past operations, including those related to divested businesses and issue guarantees of third party obligations. If the company were required to make payments as a result, they could exceed the amounts accrued, thereby adversely affecting the company’s results of operations.

 

As a result of the company’s current and past operations, including operations related to divested businesses, the company could incur significant environmental liabilities.

The company is subject to various laws and regulations around the world governing the environment, including the discharge of pollutants and the management and disposal of hazardous substances. As a result of its operations, including its past operations and operations of divested businesses, the company could incur substantial costs, including cleanup costs, third-party property damage or personal injury claims. The costs of complying with complex environmental laws and regulations, as well as internal voluntary programs, are significant and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. The ultimate costs under environmental laws and the timing of these costs are difficult to predict. The company’s accruals for such costs and liabilities may not be adequate because the estimates on which the accruals are based depend on a number of factors including the nature of the allegation, the complexity of the site, site geology, the nature and extent of contamination, the type of remedy, the outcome of discussions with regulatory agencies and other Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) at multi-party sites and the number and financial viability of other PRPs.

 

The company’s ability to generate sales from genetically enhanced products, particularly seeds and other agricultural products, could be adversely affected by market acceptance, government policies, rules or regulations and competition.

The company is using biotechnology to create and improve products, particularly in its Agriculture & Nutrition segment. Demand for these products could be affected by market acceptance of genetically modified products as well as governmental policies, laws and regulations that affect the development, manufacture and distribution of products, including the testing and planting of seeds containing biotechnology traits and the import of crops grown from those seeds.

 

The company competes with major global companies that have strong intellectual property estates supporting the use of biotechnology to enhance products, particularly in the agricultural products and production markets. Speed in discovering and protecting new technologies and bringing products based on them to market is a significant competitive advantage. Failure to predict and respond effectively to this competition could cause the company’s existing or candidate products to become less competitive, adversely affecting sales.

 

Changes in government policies and laws could adversely affect the company’s financial results.

Sales outside the U.S. constitute more than half of the company’s revenue. The company anticipates that international sales will continue to represent a substantial portion of its total sales and that continued growth and profitability will require further international expansion, particularly in emerging markets. The company’s financial results could be affected by changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies, laws and regulations, or other activities of U.S. and non-U.S. governments, agencies and similar organizations. These conditions include but are not limited to changes in a country’s or region’s economic or political conditions, trade regulations affecting production, pricing and marketing of products, local labor conditions and regulations, reduced protection of intellectual property rights in some countries, changes in the regulatory or legal environment, restrictions on currency exchange activities, burdensome taxes and tariffs and other trade barriers. International risks and uncertainties, including changing social and economic conditions as well as terrorism, political hostilities and war, could lead to reduced international sales and reduced profitability associated with such sales.

Part I

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors, continued

 

Economic factors, including inflation and fluctuations in currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices could affect the company’s financial results.

The company is exposed to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices. Because the company has significant international operations, there are a large number of currency transactions that result from international sales, purchases, investments and borrowings. The company actively manages currency exposures that are associated with monetary asset positions, committed currency purchases and sales and other assets and liabilities created in the normal course of business. Failure to successfully manage these risks could have an adverse impact on the company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Business disruptions could seriously impact the company’s future revenue and financial condition and increase costs and expenses.

Business disruptions, including supply disruptions, increasing costs for energy, temporary plant and/or power outages and information technology system and network disruptions, could seriously harm the company’s operations as well as the operations of its customers and suppliers. Although it is impossible to predict the occurrences or consequences of any such events, they could result in reduced demand for the company’s products, make it difficult or impossible for the company to deliver products to its customers or to receive raw materials from suppliers, and create delays and inefficiencies in the supply chain. The company actively manages the risks within its control that could cause business disruptions to mitigate any potential impact from business disruptions regardless of cause including acts of terrorism or war, and natural disasters. Despite these efforts, the impact from business disruptions could significantly increase the cost of doing business or otherwise adversely impact the company’s financial performance.

 

Inability to protect and enforce the company’s intellectual property rights could adversely affect the company’s financial results.

Intellectual property rights are important to the company’s business. The company endeavors to protect its intellectual property rights in jurisdictions in which its products are produced or used and in jurisdictions into which its products are imported. However, the company may be unable to obtain protection for its intellectual property in key jurisdictions. Additionally, the company has designed and implemented internal controls to restrict access to and distribution of its intellectual property, including confidential information and trade secrets. Despite these precautions, it is possible that unauthorized parties may access and use such property. When misappropriation is discovered, the company reports such situations to the appropriate governmental authorities for investigation and takes measures to mitigate any potential impact.

None.

Part I

 

 

The company’s corporate headquarters are located in Wilmington, Delaware. The company’s manufacturing, processing, marketing and research and development facilities, as well as regional purchasing offices and distribution centers are located throughout the world.

 

Information regarding research and development facilities is incorporated by reference to Item 1, Business-Research and Development. Additional information with respect to the company’s property, plant and equipment and leases is contained in Notes 10, 19 and 24 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

The company has investments in property, plant and equipment related to global manufacturing operations. Collectively there are over 300 sites in total. The more significant sites are listed by their applicable segment(s) as set forth below:

 

Agriculture & Nutrition

 

Coatings & Color Technologies

 

Electronic & Communication Technologies

 

Performance Materials

Part I

 

 

 

Safety & Protection

 

The company’s plants and equipment are well maintained and in good operating condition. Sales as a percent of capacity were over 80 percent in 2007, 2006 and 2005. Properties are primarily owned by the company; however, certain properties are leased. No title examination of the properties has been made for the purpose of this report and certain properties are shared with other tenants under long-term leases.

Litigation

Benlate^®

Information related to this matter is included in Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under the heading Benlate^®.

 

PFOA: Environmental and Litigation Proceedings

For purposes of this report, the term PFOA means collectively perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts, including the ammonium salt and does not distinguish between the two forms. Information related to this matter is included in Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under the heading PFOA.

 

Elastomers Antitrust Matters

Information related to this matter is included in Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under the heading Elastomers Antitrust Matters.

 

Environmental Proceedings

Acid Plants New Source Review Enforcement Action

In 2003, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a “Notice of Violation and Finding of Violation” for the company’s Fort Hill sulfuric acid plant in Ohio. The EPA conducted a review of capital projects at the plant over the past twenty years. Based on its review, the EPA believes that two of the projects triggered a requirement to meet the New Source Performance Standards for sulfuric acid plants and that the company should have sought a permit under the New Source Review requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). In July 2004, the EPA issued a Notice of Violation for the James River sulfuric acid plant in Virginia with similar allegations. The company’s sulfuric acid plants in Louisiana and Kentucky use similar technology.

 

In July 2007 a Consent Decree was reached under which the company paid a total of $4,125,000 in civil penalties to the U.S. federal government, Louisiana, Ohio and Virginia. Under the Decree, DuPont must retrofit its Burnside plant in Louisiana by September 1, 2009 at an estimated cost of at least $66 million. In addition, by March 1, 2012, the other three plants must be retrofitted at an estimated total cost of at least $87 million or shut down.

 

Belle Spent Acid Plant New Source Review Notice of Violation

On August 2, 2007, the EPA issued a Notice and Finding of Violation to DuPont and Lucite International regarding the spent acid regeneration unit at the Belle Plant in South Charleston, West Virginia. DuPont sold the unit to Imperial Chemical Industries, Plc (ICI) in 1993, who sold it to Lucite in 1999. DuPont has operated the unit since it was built in 1964, including after the sale to ICI, through the present. The Notice alleges 5 projects in the time period 1988 to 1996 should have triggered the New Source Review or New Source Performance Standard requirements of CAA. If so, these would have required retrofit to “best available” technology. DuPont and Lucite are contesting the allegations. If the EPA declines to reconsider its findings it may bring an enforcement action in the courts

Part I

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings, continued

 

 

seeking retrofit and penalties. Lucite has notified the company that it intends to seek indemnity from DuPont if this occurs.

 

Gibson City, Illinois

The EPA has alleged that The Solae Company violated the CAA’s New Source Review Regulations and certain Prevention of Significant Deterioration requirements at its plant in Gibson City, Illinois. The Solae Company, a majority-owned venture with Bunge Limited, was formed in 2003. The EPA has proposed a settlement of this matter that would include sites located in Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee, some of which are wholly owned by DuPont, in addition to the Gibson City site. The EPA’s proposed settlement includes a penalty of $350,000 and Supplemental Environmental Projects involving expenditures of at least $500,000. The company and The Solae Company are negotiating with the EPA and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

 

Pascagoula, Mississippi

In October 2002, the First Chemical Corporation (FCC) plant in Pascagoula, Mississippi experienced an explosion at one of its process units – the mononitrotoluene unit – Still Number 1 (MNT Still). The unit overheated, pressure built up in the column and a significant release occurred. No significant injuries occurred, nor was there any significant environmental harm as a result of the incident.

 

At the time of the October 2002 incident, FCC was not affiliated with DuPont; however, DuPont was in final negotiations for the purchase of ChemFirst, Inc., of which FCC was a subsidiary. After an extensive investigation of the incident by FCC and DuPont, DuPont completed the purchase in November 2002.

 

Two years after the incident, the EPA began an investigation under the CAA’s “Prevention of Accidental Releases – General Duty of Care” provisions – CAA 112(r). Over the last three years, the EPA has requested significant documentation regarding the incident and the rebuild of the MNT Still. The EPA also requested, and FCC agreed to an independent third-party “process safety management” audit of the FCC facility, seeking information on pre-incident documents as well as the post-incident repair and replacement of the MNT Still.

 

The EPA has referred the matter to DOJ for enforcement action against FCC under the CAA. The EPA/DOJ and DuPont are currently engaged in settlement discussions to resolve the proposed CAA 112(r) enforcement action. Management cannot predict the outcome of these discussions at this time.

None.

Part I

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders, continued

 

 

Executive Officers of the Registrant

The following is a list, as of February 18, 2008, of the company’s executive officers:

 

 

The company’s executive officers are elected or appointed for the ensuing year or for an indefinite term and until their successors are elected or appointed.

 

Charles O. Holliday, Jr. joined DuPont in 1970, and has advanced through various manufacturing and supervisory assignments in product planning and marketing. He is a former president, executive vice president, president and chairman-DuPont Asia Pacific. Mr. Holliday became an executive officer in 1992 when he was appointed senior vice president. He became Chief Executive Officer on February 1, 1998, and Chairman of the Board of Directors on January 1, 1999.

 

James C. Borel joined DuPont in 1978, and held a variety of product and sales management positions for Agricultural Products. In 1993, he transferred to Tokyo, Japan with Agricultural Products as regional manager, North Asia and was appointed regional director, Asia Pacific in 1994. In 1997, he was appointed regional director, North America and was appointed vice president and general manager-DuPont Crop Protection later that year. In January 2004, he was named to his current position, Senior Vice President-DuPont Global Human Resources.

 

Thomas M. Connelly, Jr. joined DuPont in 1977 as a research engineer. Since then, Mr. Connelly has served in various research and plant technical leadership roles, as well as product management and business director roles. Mr. Connelly served as vice president and general manager-DuPont Fluoroproducts from 1999 until September 2000, when he was named senior vice president and chief science and technology officer. In June 2006, Mr. Connelly was named Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer.

 

Richard R. Goodmanson joined DuPont in 1999 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining DuPont, Mr. Goodmanson was president and chief executive officer of America West Airlines from 1996 to 1999. He was senior vice president of operations for Frito-Lay Inc. from 1992 to 1996, and he was a principal at McKinsey & Company, Inc. from 1980 to 1992.

 

Jeffrey L. Keefer joined DuPont in 1976 as a financial analyst in corporate finance. In 1982, he accepted a field sales assignment and was appointed customer service manager in 1985. He advanced through various sales and management assignments and in February 1999 he was named vice president and general manager – DuPont

Part I

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders, continued

 

 

Titanium Technologies. In January 2004, he was named group vice president – DuPont Performance Materials. In June 2006, he was named Executive Vice President – DuPont Finance and Chief Financial Officer.

 

Ellen J. Kullman joined DuPont in 1988 as marketing manager and progressed through various roles as global business director and was named vice president and general manager of White Pigment & Mineral Products in 1995. In 2000, Ms. Kullman was named group vice president and general manager of several businesses and new business development. She became group vice president-DuPont Safety & Protection in 2002. In June 2006, Ms. Kullman was named Executive Vice President and assumed leadership of Marketing & Sales along with Safety and Sustainability.

 

Stacey J. Mobley joined DuPont’s legal department in 1972. He was named director of Federal Affairs in the company’s Washington, D.C. office in 1983, and was promoted to vice president-Federal Affairs in 1986. He returned to the company’s Wilmington, Delaware headquarters in March 1992 as vice president-Communications in External Affairs and was promoted to Senior Vice President in May 1992. He was named Chief Administrative Officer in May 1999 and General Counsel in November 1999.

 

 

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

The company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (symbol DD) and certain non-U.S. exchanges. The number of record holders of common stock was 91,717 at December 31, 2007, and 91,405 at January 31, 2008.

 

Holders of the company’s common stock are entitled to receive dividends when they are declared by the Board of Directors. While it is not a guarantee of future conduct, the company has continuously paid a quarterly dividend since the fourth quarter 1904. Dividends on common stock and preferred stock are usually declared in January, April, July and October. When dividends on common stock are declared, they are usually paid mid March, June, September and December. Preferred dividends are paid on or about the 25th of January, April, July and October. The Stock Transfer Agent and Registrar is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

The company’s quarterly high and low trading stock prices and dividends per common share for 2007 and 2006 are shown below.

 

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

There were no purchases of the company’s common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2007.

 

Part II

 

 

 

Stock Performance Graph

 

The following graph presents the cumulative five-year total return for the company’s common stock compared with the S&P 500 Stock Index and a self-constructed peer group of companies. The peer group companies for the year ended December 31, 2007 are Alcoa Inc.; BASF Corporation; The Dow Chemical Company; Eastman Kodak Company; Ford Motor Company; General Electric Company; Hewlett-Packard Company; Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company; Monsanto Company; Motorola, Inc.; PPG Industries, Inc.; Rohm and Haas Company; and United Technologies Corporation.

 

Stock Performance Graph

 

 

 

The graph assumes that the value of DuPont Common Stock, the S&P 500 Stock Index and the peer group of companies was each $100 on December 31, 2002 and that all dividends were reinvested. The peer group is weighted by market capitalization.

 

Part II

 

 

 

 

Part II

 

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report contains forward-looking statements which may be identified by their use of words like “plans,” “expects,” “will,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “projects,” “estimates” or other words of similar meaning. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the company’s strategy for growth, product development, market position, expenditures and financial results are forward-looking statements.

 

Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events. The company cannot guarantee that these assumptions and expectations are accurate or will be realized. For some of the important factors that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those projected in any such forward-looking statements see the Risk Factors discussion set forth under Part I, Item 1A beginning on page 7.

 

Overview

DuPont has been successfully executing its three growth strategies – Putting Science to Work, Leveraging the Power of One DuPont and Going Where the Growth Is. In 2007, approximately 1,200 new products were commercialized, approximately 2,000 new U.S. patent applications were filed and more than one third of 2007 sales were derived from products introduced in the last 5 years. The company again reduced fixed costs as a percent of Net sales. In 2007, over sixty percent of the company’s sales were to customers outside of the United States. The company achieved 18 percent growth in the emerging markets of Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

 

In January 2008, the company outlined goals and objectives beyond 2008 through 2010 in a five point plan. The company sees potential for double digit earnings growth driven by advances in several strategic areas:

 

New science for growing agriculture markets – With demand for protein rising rapidly, global food production will have to double between now and 2025 on virtually the same amount of land currently in production. As one of the world’s largest producers of corn and soy seed and crop protection products, DuPont is bringing to market more efficient and cost-effective control systems for weeds, insects and fungus to boost farm productivity, quality and yield. The company anticipates that new products such as Optimum^tm GAT^tm traits and Rynaxypr^tm insecticide, will provide significant growth.

 

Growing demand for Safety & Protection – People want to feel safer and more secure at home, on the job, in their cars – everywhere. The company’s long experience and $6 billion base business in advanced materials such as Kevlar^®, Nomex^® and Tyvek^® have resulted in a broad offering of products and services that address this growing global need. In 2007, the company announced a new $500 million Kevlar^® brand fiber production facility in South Carolina, which came on the heels of capacity expansions for Nomex^® flame-resistant fibers. In 2008, the company will continue to use its science and growth investments to take advantage of the opportunity it sees for attractive growth in its Safety & Protection segment.

 

Springboard position in emerging markets – The company’s rapid top line growth in emerging markets is a key factor in counter-balancing softness in the North American automotive and U.S. housing markets. Business unit leaders in the Performance Materials, Coatings & Color Technologies and Electronic & Communication Technologies segments are succeeding in generating strong growth in the emerging markets of Asia Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, and Latin America.

 

Extend cost productivity gains – DuPont continues to reduce fixed costs as a percent of Net sales. Cost savings projects have offset inflation in personnel costs and have provided funding for a large number of growth investments. DuPont is focused on continuing to generate cost productivity gains as a mechanism for funding growth.

 

Continue development of Applied Biosciences – Science and innovation are critical to the company’s success. Ongoing development and commercialization of DuPont Applied Biosciences^tm products will continue through at least 2010 with increasing intensity.

 

Part II

 

 

 

Analysis of Operations

 

 

2007 versus 2006  Consolidated net sales for 2007 were $29.4 billion, up 7 percent. This growth was principally the result of an 11 percent increase in sales outside of the U.S., reflecting in part the benefit of a weaker U.S. dollar (USD), which added 3 percent to worldwide sales. Worldwide volumes and local selling prices each increased 2 percent. Sales in the U.S. increased 1 percent reflecting 3 percent higher selling prices, partially offset by 2 percent lower volume. The decrease in U.S. sales volume was primarily due to lower demand for the company’s products related to housing and automotive production markets. Sales in Canada and Latin America increased 15 percent, primarily due to a 10 percent volume increase reflecting a substantial increase in sales of seed and crop protection products in South America.

 

The table below shows a regional breakdown of 2007 Consolidated net sales based on location of customers and percentage variances from prior year:

 

 

2006 versus 2005  Consolidated net sales for 2006 were $27.4 billion, up 3 percent. The increase reflects 2 percent higher local selling prices and 2 percent higher net volume partially offset by a 1 percent reduction in worldwide sales attributable to the transfer of certain elastomers assets in 2005. Local selling prices increased across all regions and business segments. During 2006, significant volume increases in key growth regions, particularly Asia Pacific and Latin America, along with modest growth in Europe, more than offset lower U.S. volume. Volume declines in the U.S. are largely attributable to lower demand in housing and automotive production markets. These declines more than offset the recovery in the U.S. of titanium dioxide, industrial chemical and packaging polymer sales lost in 2005 as a result of business disruptions due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

 

The table below shows a regional breakdown of 2006 Consolidated net sales based on location of customers and percentage variances from prior year:

 

 

 

Part II

 

 

 

 

 

2007 versus 2006  Other income, net, decreased $286 million versus 2006. This reduction is primarily due to an impairment charge of $165 million to write down the company’s investment in a polyester films joint venture, a decrease of $81 million in net pretax exchange gains, and a decrease in miscellaneous items of $239 offset by higher Cozaar^®/Hyzaar^® income of $136 million (see page 34 for Pharmaceuticals segment information and Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

The decrease in miscellaneous items resulted from the absence of 2006 benefits of $90 million for the reversal of accrued interest related to the favorable settlement of certain prior-year tax contingencies and $76 million of insurance recoveries from its insurance carriers. Of the $76 million, $61 million related to costs, including outside counsel fees and expenses and settlements paid over the past twenty years as part of asbestos litigation matters. During this twenty year period, DuPont has been served with thousands of lawsuits alleging injury from exposure to asbestos on DuPont premises. Most of these claims have been disposed of through trial, dismissal or settlement. Management believes it is remote that the outcome of remaining or future asbestos litigation matters will have a material adverse effect on the company’s consolidated financial position or liquidity. These asbestos related insurance recoveries were reflected in Cash provided by operating activities within the company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The remaining $15 million is part of a total recovery of $143 million relating to insurance recoveries associated with damages to the company’s facilities suffered as a result of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The majority of the Hurricane Katrina recovery was included in Cost of goods sold and other operating charges in the Consolidated Income Statements. No amounts were received from insurance carriers for damages suffered by the company as a result of Hurricane Rita.

 

2006 versus 2005  Other income, net decreased $291 million versus 2005. This reduction is primarily due to a $407 million decrease in net pretax exchange gains (see page 46 for a discussion of the company’s program to manage currency risk and Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). In 2006, the company recorded $76 million of insurance recoveries in Other income, net from its insurance carriers.

 

Additional information related to the company’s Other income, net is included in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

2007 versus 2006  Cost of goods sold and other operating charges (COGS) for the year 2007 were $21.6 billion, versus $20.4 billion in 2006, an increase of 6 percent. COGS was 73 percent of net sales for 2007 versus 75 percent for the year 2006. The 2 percentage point reduction principally reflects the absence of 2006 charges for restructuring, the effects of the company’s productivity initiatives and a current year benefit from the weaker U.S. dollar due to currency exchange rate changes which increased sales at a higher rate than the rate they increased COGS. Partly offsetting these factors were increases in raw material and finished product distribution costs, as well as the absence of a 2006 benefit of $128 million in insurance recoveries.

 

The 2006 restructuring programs included the elimination of approximately 3,200 positions and redeployment of about 400 employees in excess positions to the extent possible. The company recorded a net charge of $326 million in 2006 related to employee separation costs and asset impairment charges. This included $184 million to provide severance benefits for approximately 2,800 employees involved in manufacturing, marketing and sales, administrative and technical activities. Additional details related to these programs are contained in the individual segment reviews and in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Part II

 

 

 

Payments from operating cash flows to terminated employees as a result of the 2006 plans totaled $77 million during 2007 and $32 million during 2006. Annual pretax cost savings of about $125 million per year are associated with the Coatings & Color Technologies program, approximately $53 million of which is reflected in COGS. Cumulative savings of approximately 80 percent and 35 percent was realized in 2007 and 2006, respectively, with the remainder expected to be realized in 2008.

 

2006 versus 2005  COGS for the year 2006 was $20.4 billion, versus $19.7 billion in 2005, up 4 percent. COGS was 75 percent of sales in 2006 versus 74 percent in 2005. The 1 percentage point increase in COGS as a percent of sales principally reflects higher raw material costs not entirely covered by selling price increases and higher costs for restructuring plans discussed above.

 

In 2006, the company recorded a benefit to COGS for $128 million for insurance recoveries related to the property damage suffered as a result of Hurricane Katrina. In 2005, the company recorded charges of $160 million related to the clean-up and restoration of manufacturing operations, as well as the write-off of inventory and plant assets that were destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Hurricane related charges reduced segment earnings as follows: Coatings & Color Technologies – $116 million; Performance Materials – $17 million; and Safety & Protection – $27 million.

 

The company recorded a net charge of $326 million in 2006 related to employee separation costs and asset impairment charges as discussed above. In 2005, the company evaluated capital investment requirements at its Louisville, Kentucky facility and the declining demand for the neoprene products produced at the facility. As a result, the company has made plans to consolidate neoprene production at its upgraded facility in LaPlace, Louisiana. On December 31, 2007, the company initiated the shutdown, abatement and dismantlement process at the Louisville facility. A charge of $34 million was recorded in 2005 reflecting severance and related costs for approximately 275 employees, principally at the Louisville site. Additionally, a benefit of $13 million was recorded in 2005 to reflect changes in estimates related to employee separations that were implemented in earlier years.

 

 

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased $140 million in 2007 as compared to 2006. The increase is primarily due to increased global commissions, and selling and marketing infrastructure investments in the Agriculture & Nutrition segment.

 

 

Research and development expense (R&D) as a percent of sales remained constant over the three-year period. Higher R&D in 2007 for accelerated biotechnology trait research and development in the Agriculture & Nutrition segment was partially offset by a decrease in R&D in the Coatings & Color Technologies segment as a result of consolidating research facilities as a part of its 2006 business transformation plan. Expenditures in 2006 were consistent with spending by segment in 2005 and reflect concentration in expansion of seed traits, breeding advancement and product development within the Agriculture & Nutrition segment, as well as activities to support the other growth platforms.

 

Part II

 

 

 

 

Interest expense decreased $30 million in 2007 compared to 2006 and $58 million in 2006 versus 2005. These decreases were primarily due to lower average borrowing levels and higher capitalized interest, partially offset by slightly higher average interest rates.

 

 

On April 30, 2004, the company sold a majority of the net assets of the then Textiles & Interiors segment (INVISTA) to subsidiaries of Koch Industries, Inc. (Koch). During 2005, the company sold its investments in three affiliated companies to Koch and its investment in a fourth affiliated company to its equity partner, resulting in a net benefit of $62 million. Although the transfer of these affiliates completed the sale to Koch, the company has significant continuing involvement with INVISTA as a result of long-term purchase and supply contracts and a long-term contract manufacturing agreement under which INVISTA manufactures and supplies certain products for the company. In January 2006, the company sold its interest in a Textiles & Interiors equity affiliate to its equity partner for proceeds of $14 million thereby completing the sale of all of the net assets of Textiles & Interiors. For more information related to the Textiles & Interiors separation, see Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

In 2007, the company recorded a tax provision of $748 million which included a benefit of $108 million related to tax settlements offset by net tax expense in other operating results (see Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.)

 

In 2006, the company recorded a tax provision of $196 million which included a benefit of $272 million related to tax settlements and a $186 million benefit for reversal of tax valuation allowances related to the net deferred tax assets of certain foreign subsidiaries due to the sustained improved business performance in these subsidiaries. These tax benefits were offset by net tax expense in other operating results (see Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

In 2005, the company recorded a tax provision of $1,470 million which included $483 million of tax expense on exchange gains associated with the company’s policy of hedging the foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities of its operations and $292 million of tax expense related to the repatriation of $9.1 billion under The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (AJCA). AJCA created a temporary incentive for U.S. corporations to repatriate accumulated income earned abroad by providing an 85 percent dividends received deduction for certain dividends from controlled foreign corporations provided that repatriated cash from such accumulated earnings is reinvested in the U.S. pursuant to a domestic reinvestment plan.

 

The company’s current estimate of the 2008 effective income tax rate is about 26 percent, excluding tax effects of exchange gains and losses which can not be reasonably estimated at this time. See Note 6 for additional detail on items that significantly impact the company’s effective tax rates. In the past three years, these items have generally included a lower effective tax rate on international operations and tax settlements.

 

Part II

 

 

 

 

2007 versus 2006  Net income for 2007 decreased 5 percent versus 2006, primarily due to the higher effective tax rate, as well as the decrease in Other income. These decreases were partially offset by a 7 percent increase in Net sales, the absence of the restructuring charges taken in 2006 and a favorable foreign currency exchange impact.

 

2006 versus 2005  Net income for 2006 increased 53 percent versus 2005, reflecting higher selling prices, higher sales volumes, lower fixed costs and an increase in Other income, net, partly offset by higher raw material costs. Selling prices increased year over year in each quarter of 2006 and were higher for each platform and for each region for the full year. Net income for 2006 also included benefits from tax settlements, reversals of tax valuation allowances and insurance recoveries. These benefits were partly offset by charges for restructuring and asset impairments. 2005 results included significant hurricane related charges as well as tax expenses associated with the repatriation of cash under AJCA.

 

Corporate Outlook

The company’s current 2008 earnings outlook is a range of $3.35 to $3.55 per share based on the expectation of continued revenue growth in emerging markets and earnings growth across all of the growth platforms. New product acceleration, mix enrichment, pricing discipline and continued cost and capital productivity gains across the company are expected to be additional contributing factors. The company’s 2008 outlook is positive; however, it is moderated by continued weakness in U.S. housing and North American automotive markets and continued escalation of energy, ingredient and transportation costs.

 

Accounting Standards Issued Not Yet Adopted

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” (SFAS 157) which addresses how companies should measure fair value when required for recognition or disclosure purposes under GAAP. The standard’s provisions will be applied to existing accounting measurements and related disclosures that are based on fair value. SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements. The standard applies a common definition of fair value to be used throughout GAAP, with emphasis on fair value as a “market based” measurement versus an entity-specific measurement, and establishes a hierarchy of fair value measurement methods. The disclosure requirements are expanded to include the extent to which companies use fair value measurements, the methods and assumptions used to measure fair value and the effect of fair value measurements on earnings. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The new standard’s provisions applicable to the company will be applied prospectively beginning January 1, 2008. The FASB, on February 12, 2008, issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 157-2. This FSP permits a delay in the effective date of SFAS 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). The delay is intended to allow the Board and constituents additional time to consider the effect of various implementation issues that have arisen, or that may arise, from the application of SFAS 157. On February 14, 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-1 to exclude SFAS 13, Accounting for Leases, and its related interpretive accounting pronouncements from the scope of SFAS 157. Management expects that adoption of SFAS 157 will not have a material effect on the company’s financial position, liquidity or results of operations.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 (revised 2007) “Business Combinations” (SFAS 141R) which replaces FASB Statement No. 141. SFAS 141R addresses the recognition and measurement of identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and non-controlling interests in business combinations. SFAS 141R also requires disclosure that enables users of the financial statements to better evaluate the nature and financial effect of business combinations. SFAS 141R applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. SFAS 141R will be adopted by the company on January 1, 2009. The company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Part II

 

 

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51” (SFAS 160) which changes the accounting and reporting for minority interests and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It also clarifies that a third-party, non-controlling interest in a consolidated subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements. SFAS 160 also requires disclosure that clearly identifies and distinguishes between the interests of the parent and the interests of the non-controlling owners. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. SFAS 160 will be adopted by the company on January 1, 2009. The company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

The company’s significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Management believes that the application of these policies on a consistent basis enables the company to provide the users of the financial statements with useful and reliable information about the company’s operating results and financial condition.

 

The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts, including, but not limited to, receivable and inventory valuations, impairment of tangible and intangible assets, long-term employee benefit obligations, income taxes, restructuring liabilities, environmental matters and litigation. Management’s estimates are based on historical experience, facts and circumstances available at the time and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable. The company reviews these matters and reflects changes in estimates as appropriate. Management believes that the following represents some of the more critical judgment areas in the application of the company’s accounting policies which could have a material effect on the company’s financial position, liquidity or results of operations.

 

Long-term Employee Benefits

Accounting for employee benefit plans involves numerous assumptions and estimates. Discount rate and expected return on plan assets are two critical assumptions in measuring the cost and benefit obligation of the company’s pension and other long-term employee benefit plans. Management reviews these two key assumptions annually as of December 31st. These and other assumptions are updated periodically to reflect the actual experience and expectations on a plan specific basis as appropriate. As permitted by GAAP, actual results that differ from the assumptions are accumulated on a plan by plan basis and to the extent that such differences exceed 10 percent of the greater of the plan obligations or the applicable plan assets, the excess is amortized over the average remaining working life of current employees.

 

About 80 percent of the company’s benefit obligation for pensions and essentially all of the company’s other long-term employee benefit obligations are attributable to the benefit plans in the U.S. The company utilizes published long-term high quality bond indices to determine the discount rate at the balance sheet date. Where commonly available, the company considers indices of various durations to reflect the timing of future benefit payments.

 

Within the U.S., the company establishes strategic asset allocation percentage targets and appropriate benchmarks for significant asset classes with the aim of achieving a prudent balance between return and risk. Strategic asset allocations in other countries are selected in accordance with the laws and practices of those countries. Where appropriate, asset-liability studies are also taken into consideration. The long-term expected return on plan assets in the U.S. is based upon historical real returns (net of inflation) for the asset classes covered by the investment policy and projections of inflation over the long-term period during which benefits are payable to plan participants.

 

In determining annual expense for the principal U.S. pension plan, the company uses a market-related value of assets rather than their fair value. Accordingly, there may be a lag in recognition of changes in market valuation. As a result, changes in the fair market value of assets are not immediately reflected in the company’s calculation of net

 

Part II

 

 

 

pension cost. The following table shows the market-related value and fair market value of plan assets for the principal U.S. pension plan:

 

 

For plans other than the principal U.S. pension plan, pension expense is typically determined using the fair value of assets. The fair value of assets in all pension plans was $22.6 billion at December 31, 2007, and the related projected benefit obligations were $22.2 billion. In addition, obligations under the company’s unfunded other long-term employee benefit plans were $3.8 billion at December 31, 2007.

 

The following table highlights the potential impact on the company’s pretax earnings due to changes in certain key assumptions with respect to the company’s pension and other long-term employee benefit plans, based on assets and liabilities at December 31, 2007:

 

 

Additional information with respect to pension and other long-term employee benefits expenses, liabilities and assumptions is discussed under “Long-Term Employee Benefits” beginning on page 40.

 

Environmental Matters

DuPont accrues for remediation activities when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and a reasonable estimate of the liability can be made. The company’s estimates are based on a number of factors, including the complexity of the geology, the nature and extent of contamination, the type of remedy, the outcome of discussions with regulatory agencies and other Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) at multiparty sites and the number of and financial viability of other PRPs. The company has recorded a liability of $357 million on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2007; these accrued liabilities exclude claims against third parties and are not discounted.

 

Considerable uncertainty exists with respect to environmental remediation costs and, under adverse changes in circumstances, the potential liability may range up to two to three times the amount accrued. Much of this liability results from the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, often referred to as the Superfund), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and similar state laws. These laws require the company to undertake certain investigative and remedial activities at sites where the company conducts or once conducted operations or at sites where company-generated waste was disposed. The accrual also includes a number of sites identified by the company for which it is probable that environmental remediation will be required, but which are not currently the subject of CERCLA, RCRA or state enforcement activities. Federal and state authorities may seek fines and penalties for violation of the various laws and governmental regulations and could, among other things, impose liability on the company for cleaning up the damage resulting from company-generated waste disposal. Over the next two decades, the company could incur significant costs under both CERCLA and RCRA.

 

Remediation activities vary substantially in duration and cost from site to site. These activities and their associated costs, depend on the mix of unique site characteristics, evolving remediation technologies, diverse regulatory agencies and enforcement policies, as well as the presence or absence of PRPs. Therefore, it is difficult to develop precise estimates of future site remediation costs.

 

Part II

 

 

 

Legal Contingencies

The company’s results of operations could be affected by significant litigation adverse to the company, including product liability claims, patent infringement claims and antitrust claims. The company records accruals for legal matters when the information available indicates that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Management makes adjustments to these accruals to reflect the impact and status of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of counsel and other information and events that may pertain to a particular matter. Predicting the outcome of claims and lawsuits and estimating related costs and exposure involves substantial uncertainties that could cause actual costs to vary materially from estimates. In making determinations of likely outcomes of litigation matters, management considers many factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the nature of specific claims including unasserted claims, the company’s experience with similar types of claims, the jurisdiction in which the matter is filed, input from outside legal counsel, the likelihood of resolving the matter through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and the matter’s current status. Considerable judgment is required in determining whether to establish a litigation accrual when an adverse judgment is rendered against the company in a court proceeding. In such situations, the company will not recognize a loss if, based upon a thorough review of all relevant facts and information, management believes that it is probable that the pending judgment will be successfully overturned on appeal. A detailed discussion of significant litigation matters is contained in Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Income Taxes

The breadth of the company’s operations and the global complexity of tax regulations require assessments of uncertainties and judgments in estimating the ultimate taxes the company will pay. The final taxes paid are dependent upon many factors, including negotiations with taxing authorities in various jurisdictions, outcomes of tax litigation and resolution of disputes arising from federal, state and international tax audits. The resolution of these uncertainties may result in adjustments to the company’s tax assets and tax liabilities. It is reasonably possible that changes from future completed tax examinations could be significant when compared to the company’s global unrecognized tax benefits, however due to the uncertainty regarding the timing of completion of these audits and the possible outcomes, a current estimate of the range of increase or decrease that may occur within the next twelve months cannot be made.

 

Deferred income taxes result from differences between the financial and tax basis of the company’s assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax rates and tax laws when changes are enacted. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. Significant judgment is required in evaluating the need for and magnitude of appropriate valuation allowances against deferred tax assets. The realization of these assets is dependent on generating future taxable income, as well as successful implementation of various tax planning strategies. For example, changes in facts and circumstances that alter the probability that the company will realize deferred tax assets could result in recording a valuation allowance, thereby reducing the deferred tax asset and generating a deferred tax expense in the relevant period. In some situations these changes could be material.

 

At December 31, 2007, the company had a net deferred tax asset balance of $4,750 million, net of valuation allowance of $1,424 million. Realization of these assets is expected to occur over an extended period of time. As a result, changes in tax laws, assumptions with respect to future taxable income and tax planning strategies could result in adjustments to these assets.

 

Valuation of Assets

Assessment of the potential impairment of property, plant and equipment, goodwill, other purchased intangible assets and investments in affiliates is an integral part of the company’s normal ongoing review of operations. Testing for potential impairment of long-lived assets is significantly dependent on numerous assumptions and reflects management’s best estimates at a particular point in time. The dynamic economic environments in which the company’s businesses operate and key economic and business assumptions with respect to projected selling prices, market growth and inflation rates, can significantly affect the outcome of impairment tests. Estimates based on these assumptions may differ significantly from actual results. Changes in factors and assumptions used in assessing potential impairments can have a significant impact on the existence and magnitude of impairments, as

 

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well as the time in which such impairments are recognized. Future changes in the environment and the economic outlook for the assets being evaluated could also result in additional impairment charges. Information with respect to the company’s significant accounting policies on long-lived assets is included in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Segment sales include transfers. Segment pretax operating income (PTOI) is defined as operating income before income taxes, minority interests, exchange gains (losses), corporate expenses and net interest. A reconciliation of segment sales to consolidated Net sales and segment PTOI to Income before income taxes and minority interests for 2007, 2006 and 2005 is included in Note 25 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Effective January 1, 2007, the company changed the alignment of certain businesses within Agriculture & Nutrition, Performance Materials and Other. These changes were made to better align the businesses with the particular growth platform that management believes will provide more opportunity for synergy and technology development in future periods. The 2006 and 2005 segment information below has been reclassified to reflect the 2007 organizational structure.

 

 

Agriculture & Nutrition leverages the company’s technology, customer relationships and industry knowledge to improve the quantity, quality and safety of the global food supply. Land available for worldwide agricultural production is increasingly limited. Therefore, increases in production will need to be achieved principally through improving crop yields and productivity rather than through increases in planted acreage. Agriculture & Nutrition delivers a broad portfolio of products and services that are specifically targeted to achieve gains in crop yields and productivity, including Pioneer^® brand seed products and well-established brands of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. The segment operates across the food value chain from inputs for producing agriculture products to global production and distribution of soy-based food ingredients to food quality diagnostic testing equipment. Research and development focuses on leveraging technology to increase grower productivity and enhance the value of grains and soy through improved seed traits, superior germplasm and the effective use of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides.

 

Agriculture & Nutrition includes the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. (Pioneer), which is also the world’s leading seed brand and a world leader in improving crop yields with hybrid and varietal seeds that improve grower yields and provide insect protection and herbicide tolerance. The principal products of Pioneer are hybrid seed corn and soybean seed. Sales of Pioneer^® brand seeds increased 19 percent in 2007 with gains in corn seed sales globally, partially offset by lower North American soybean seed sales on a decline in North American planted acreage. In 2007, farmers in North America continued to demonstrate a preference for corn hybrids containing biotechnology traits and Pioneer had a limited supply of these products. As a result, corn market share in North America is at 30 percent. Pioneer will have increased supply of leading products containing biotechnology traits in 2008 and expects to maintain its present market share. In international operations, Pioneer increased market share in key segments supported by strong product performance. Pioneer benefited from the global launch of approximately 25 new soybean varieties and 130 new Pioneer^® brand corn hybrids that include new combinations of corn borer, corn rootworm and weed management traits highlighted by the expansion of the Herculex^®1 family of traits.

¹  Registered Trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC

 

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During the third quarter 2007, Pioneer entered into a business agreement on corn herbicide tolerance and insect control trait technologies with Monsanto Company. Among other provisions, modifications were made to the existing corn license agreements; both parties agreed to exchange certain non-assert and other intellectual property rights; and both parties obtained rights to reference and access certain regulatory data and approval in which the other party has certain interests. Refer to Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further description of this agreement.

 

Agriculture & Nutrition also serves the global production agriculture industry with crop protection products in the grain and specialty crop sectors, forestry and vegetation management. Principal crop protection products are herbicides, fungicides, insect control products and plant growth regulators. The segment continued to expand its presence in fruit and vegetable specialty markets and continues to expand product offerings in the professional pest control market. Additionally, the segment operates within the specialty food ingredients market, including soy proteins and lecithins through its majority-owned venture with Bunge Limited, The Solae Company.

 

In 2006, the segment launched a restructuring plan to increase investment in plant genetics, biotechnology and other growth opportunities while consolidating manufacturing assets, technology centers and marketing strategies in its nutrition and crop protection businesses. The segment recorded a charge of $122 million in the fourth quarter 2006 for employee separations and asset impairments associated with this investment and streamlining plan. The plan includes the closure of manufacturing units and the elimination of approximately 1,500 positions. Operating costs savings of approximately $100 million per year will be reinvested into the seed business (see Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). During 2007, operating costs savings of $40 million were realized, which partially offset the growth investment in the seed business.

 

2007 versus 2006  Sales of $6.8 billion were 14 percent higher reflecting 9 percent higher USD selling prices and a 5 percent increase in volume. Higher USD selling prices reflected a richer mix of corn and soybean seed, and crop protection herbicides and fungicides. Volume increases were driven by corn seed sales in North America, herbicides in Europe and fungicides in Latin America, partially offset by a decrease in the sale of soybean seed on lower planting acreage in North America.

 

2007 PTOI was $894 million versus $604 million in 2006. 2006 PTOI included a $122 million restructuring charge. In addition, 2007 PTOI benefited from sales volume and price gains, partially offset by higher production costs across most of the segment and the growth investment in the seed business.

 

2006 versus 2005  Sales of $6.0 billion were 1 percent lower reflecting slightly lower USD selling prices and volumes. Lower selling prices reflected declines in the crop protection market partially offset by prices for a richer mix in corn and soybean seed. Volume declines were driven by lower corn seed sales in North America, specialty products in India and herbicide sales in North America and Europe, partially offset by increases in the sale of soybean seed. 2006 included some earlier than anticipated seed sales for the 2007 planting season in Europe.

 

2006 PTOI was $604 million versus $875 million in 2005. The decline in 2006 PTOI reflected the charge of $122 million described above. In addition, 2006 PTOI reflected the sales decline and higher production costs across most of the segment, slightly offset by income related to technology transfers, licensing agreements and asset sales.

 

Outlook  In 2008, the segment anticipates continued PTOI growth through increased Pioneer corn value offerings, including stacked traits and seed treatments in the U.S. and Canada. Pioneer will build on their North American product offerings with the addition of approximately 30 new soybean varieties and 60 new Pioneer^® brand corn hybrids. In international operations, Pioneer expects continued market share gains supported by strong product performance. Pioneer also expects continued market share gains in key soybean markets including the U.S., Canada and Brazil. The segment’s introduction of new crop protection products is projected to drive volume gains, particularly in Europe and Latin America, and higher benefits from the 2006 restructuring program are expected to be realized. Higher production and raw material costs and continued growth investments in research, sales and marketing will be moderating factors.

 

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Coatings & Color Technologies is one of the world’s leading automotive coatings suppliers and the world’s largest manufacturer of titanium dioxide white pigments. Products offered include high performance liquid and powder coatings for automotive OEMs, the automotive aftermarket and general industrial applications, such as coatings for heavy equipment, pipes and appliances and electrical insulation. The company markets its refinish products using the DuPont^tm, Standox^®, Spies Hecker^® and Nason^® brand names. Standox^® and Spies Hecker^® are focused on the high-end automotive aftermarkets, while Nason^® is primarily focused on economy coating applications. The segment’s broad line of DuPont^tm Ti-Pure^® titanium dioxide products, in both slurry and powder form, serve the coatings, plastic and paper industries.

 

The segment’s titanium tetrachloride business has moved from a startup business to an established, growing venture, shipping product globally. By mid-2008, the business plans to complete construction and begin operation of a $30 million titanium tetrachloride facility at its titanium dioxide plant in Tennessee.

 

The key markets in which Coatings & Color Technologies operates continued to grow in 2007, with more significant growth in Europe and Asia Pacific. Global demand for titanium dioxide white pigment was strong in 2007 with global market volumes up about 5 percent from 2006.

 

Sales for refinish products increased in all regions. The OEM market realized growth in Latin America and Asia Pacific, partially offsetting declines in the U.S. and Canada. This reflects the lower 2007 North American builds of automobiles and light trucks. Powder coatings sales increased in all regions, more significantly in Asia Pacific, U.S. and Europe. Worldwide sales in electrical insulation and metal coatings markets continued to improve.

 

2007 versus 2006  Sales of $6.6 billion were up 5 percent, reflecting about 4 percent higher USD selling prices for the segment, as well as a 1 percent increase in volume. USD selling prices were higher across a majority of the segment’s products. The increase in volume was primarily attributable to the sales of titanium dioxide, particularly in Europe and Asia Pacific. This increase was partially offset by declines in volume for products sold to automotive OEM producers, primarily in North America and Europe. Volumes for sales of refinish products were relatively flat as compared to 2006.

 

PTOI in 2007 of $840 million increased from $817 million in 2006. The PTOI improvement was primarily the result of higher revenue driven by higher USD selling prices and benefits realized from the 2006 restructuring program, partially offset by higher raw material and transportation costs. PTOI in 2006 included a net charge of $132 million for restructuring and $30 million primarily for accelerated depreciation related to the transformation plan that was initiated in the first quarter 2006 (see Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). These charges were partially offset by $142 million in insurance proceeds, primarily related to the hurricane damages incurred in 2005.

 

2006 versus 2005  Sales of $6.3 billion were up 4 percent, reflecting about 2 percent higher USD selling prices for the segment. An additional 2 percent increase from volume was primarily realized in the pigments business, reflecting strong global demand as well as the first quarter startup of the DeLisle, Mississippi plant following Hurricane Katrina. Higher selling prices reflected concerted efforts within the segment to increase prices for the majority of its products as part of its efforts to offset the impact of higher raw material costs and the impact of lower global OEM automotive volumes.

 

PTOI in 2006 of $817 million increased from $536 million in 2005. Lower fixed costs in both years and higher volumes in pigments contributed to the improved 2006 earnings. PTOI in 2006 included a net charge of $132 million for restructuring and $30 million primarily for accelerated depreciation. 2006 PTOI also included $142 million in insurance proceeds, primarily related to the hurricane damages suffered in 2005. 2005 PTOI included charges of

 

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$116 million related to the clean-up and restoration of manufacturing operations, as well as the write-off of inventory and plant assets that were destroyed by hurricanes.

 

Outlook  Sales in 2008 are expected to increase modestly, reflecting emerging market growth and pricing actions. Industry demand for titanium dioxide is expected to moderate in 2008, in line with more moderate global economic growth of about 2 percent. Competitive conditions in the global coatings industry will continue to provide a challenging operating environment in 2008. Modest growth is expected for refinish markets in mature economies while strong growth is expected to continue in emerging markets. Profitability of coatings sold to automotive OEM producers is highly dependent upon volume at specific plants the company services. Global automotive industry builds in 2008 are expected to be slightly higher than 2007 with moderate growth in Asia Pacific and Latin America, partially offset by slightly lower levels in North America. Significant segment PTOI growth is expected based upon sales growth and cost productivity gains.

 

 

Electronic & Communication Technologies provides a broad range of advanced materials for the electronics industry, flexographic printing and color communication systems and a wide range of fluoropolymer and fluorochemical products. The segment also continues to pursue development activities related to displays and alternative energy.

 

In the electronics industry, DuPont is a leading supplier of electronic and advanced display materials. The company offers a broad portfolio of ceramic, flexible and rigid organic circuit materials; materials for semiconductor fabrication and packaging; and a wide range of products for advanced displays. The segment’s products enable increased functionality and lower costs for electronic and communications devices.

 

Electronic & Communication Technologies is the market leader in flexographic printing and black pigmented ink serving the packaging and commercial printing industries. Its offerings include DuPont^tm Cyrel^® and Cyrel^® FAST^tm flexographic printing systems. DuPont is the world’s leading supplier of solvent-free thermal flexographic platemaking technologies, with a broad array of patented products and equipment.

 

The segment also includes a portfolio of industrial and specialty fluorochemicals and fluoropolymers that are sold into the refrigeration, insulation, aerosol propellants, fire extinguishants, telecommunications, aerospace, automotive, electronics, chemical processing and housewares industries.

 

Electronic & Communication Technologies leverages DuPont’s strong materials and technology base to target growth opportunities in electronics, fluoropolymers, fluorochemicals, packaging graphics, ink-jet and photovoltaic materials. In semiconductor fabrication, packaging and interconnect, the segment is extending and broadening its portfolio of materials to address critical needs in the industry, e.g., chemical mechanical planarization for semiconductor manufacture, flex circuitry and embedded passives enabling miniaturization. In the rapidly growing market for flat panel displays, the segment continues to be a leading materials supplier for plasma displays. In addition, the segment is developing new innovative technologies for liquid crystal displays, such as thermal color filters and display films, while continuing to invest in developing materials technologies for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays and field emission displays. In fluoropolymers and fluorochemicals, the segment continues to pursue product renewal innovations such as next generation refrigerants, while broadening the scope of applications into high growth areas such as photovoltaics. In packaging graphics, products such as Cyrel^®FAST^tm have rapidly grown, solidifying the segment’s market leadership position. Also, DuPont is maintaining its leadership position in black pigmented inks for ink-jet applications.

 

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2007 versus 2006  Sales of $3.8 billion were up 6 percent versus 2006, reflecting 5 percent volume growth and 1 percent higher USD selling prices. The volume growth was primarily due to increased demand for fluoroproducts and packaging graphics. Sales growth was strongest outside the U.S.

 

PTOI in 2007 was $594 million, an increase of 3 percent compared to 2006. This increase reflects 5 percent sales volume growth, as well as the benefit of $53 million related to a gain on a land sale and inventory valuation adjustments. These increases were partially offset by higher ingredient and transportation costs, as well as increased fixed cost from growth initiatives.

 

2006 versus 2005  Sales of $3.6 billion increased about 5 percent over 2005, reflecting 2 percent higher USD prices coupled with a 3 percent improvement in volume. Price improvements reflect higher metals prices primarily for microcircuit materials. Higher volumes reflect increased demand for fluoroproducts and electronic materials. Sales growth was strongest outside the U.S. PTOI in 2006 was $577 million versus $558 million in 2005. Earnings growth in 2006 resulted from improved volume, modest pricing improvement and continued productivity gains. 2005 PTOI included a gain of $48 million on the sale of the company’s remaining interest in DuPont Photomasks, Inc.

 

Outlook  For 2008, moderate sales growth is expected with gains in electronic materials, fluoropolymers, and packaging graphics. The segment’s PTOI is expected to reflect moderate sales growth for 2008 versus 2007, modestly offset by investments in new applications, emerging markets and technologies. This segment manufactures products that could be affected by uncertainties associated with PFOA matters. See the discussion on page 44 under the subheading PFOA.

 

 

Performance Materials provides productive, higher performance polymer materials, systems and solutions to improve the uniqueness, functionality and profitability of their customers’ offerings. Performance Materials delivers a broad polymer-based materials product portfolio, including thermoplastic and thermoset engineering polymers that are primarily used by customers to fabricate components for mechanical and electrical systems, as well as specialized resins and films used in packaging and industrial applications, sealants and adhesives, sporting goods and interlayers for laminated safety glass. Key brands include DuPont^tm Zytel^® nylon resins, Delrin^® acetal resins, Hytrel^® polyester thermoplastic elastomer resins, Tynex^® filaments, Surlyn^® resins, SentryGlas^® Plus and Butacite^® laminate interlayers, Mylar^® and Melinex^® polyester films, Kalrez^® perfluoroelastomer and Viton^® fluoroelastomers.

 

The key markets served by the segment include the automotive OEM and associated after-market industries, as well as electrical, electronics, packaging, construction and consumer durable goods.

 

The segment’s core competencies are polymer science and applications development focusing on substituting traditional materials with new materials that offer performance, durability, aesthetics and weight reduction advantages. Other areas of focus include new applications and processing materials into innovative parts and systems. A recent example of this core innovation capability is the introduction of Sorona^® and Hytrel^® resins based on renewable resources which have the performance attributes of high performance engineering resins but are based on plant feedstock.

 

In 2007, certain businesses were realigned to the Performance Materials segment from the Agriculture & Nutrition segment. As a result of reclassifying the 2006 segment information to reflect the 2007 organizational structure, Performance Materials results in 2006 reflect a $72 million restructuring charge related to businesses that were originally included in the 2006 Agriculture & Nutrition restructuring plan (see Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

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On June 30, 2005, DuPont completed a transaction with Dow related to DuPont Dow Elastomers LLC (DDE), a 50/50 joint venture. Dow acquired from DDE certain assets related to the Engage^®, Nordel^® and Tyrin^® businesses. Upon the completion of this transaction, the remaining elastomers business became a wholly owned subsidiary of DuPont and was renamed DuPont Performance Elastomers, LLC. In response to a long-term declining demand for the polychloroprene products and the anticipated capital investment requirements at the Louisville, Kentucky facility, the company is consolidating production at its upgraded LaPlace, Louisiana facility. On December 31, 2007, the company initiated the shutdown, abatement and dismantlement process at the Louisville facility. In 2005, the company recorded a restructuring charge of $34 million, reflecting severance and related costs for approximately 275 employees. Cash payouts of $25 million are largely expected to be paid in 2008. Annual cost reductions related to ceasing neoprene production at Louisville and consolidating production at LaPlace are expected to offset reduced revenue related to declining demand.

 

2007 versus 2006  Sales of $6.6 billion were 7 percent higher than 2006 reflecting 8 percent higher USD selling prices, partly offset by 1 percent lower volume. Sales volume declines reflect the impact of ingredients shortages, temporary operating unit shutdowns and softness in North America, principally in the automotive markets, partly offset by volume improvements in Latin America, Europe and Asia.

 

2007 PTOI increased 12 percent to $626. 2007 PTOI included an impairment charge of $165 million to write down the company’s investment in a polyester films joint venture. The impairment resulted from several factors, including adverse changes in market conditions and the rapid rise in oil-related raw material costs, which have had a negative impact on the profitability on the venture’s operations in North America and Europe. PTOI in 2006 included a $72 restructuring charge. Improvement in 2007 PTOI was driven by improved pricing, which reflected both the offset of the ingredient cost increases seen during the year and improved product sales mix, and positive currency benefits, offset in part by the weaker volume. The segment is involved in the elastomers antitrust matters and recorded a net $20 charge in 2007 related to these matters (see Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

2006 versus 2005  Sales of $6.2 billion were 2 percent higher than 2005 reflecting 3 percent higher USD selling prices, partly offset by 1 percent decline in volume. Sales volume reflects the year over year impact of the businesses transferred to Dow at June 30, 2005. Excluding from 2005 the sales related to assets transferred to Dow ($386 million), sales volumes were up reflecting stronger business environment in Asia and Europe and the recovery from the segment’s business interruption due to the 2005 hurricanes.

 

PTOI in 2006 was $559 million compared to $515 million in 2005. 2006 PTOI included the $72 million restructuring charge. 2005 PTOI included a $17 million hurricane charge, $47 million in operating income related to certain DDE assets sold, a $25 million gain on sale of these DDE assets and a charge of $34 million related to the planned consolidation of the company’s neoprene operations at its LaPlace, Louisiana facility.

 

Outlook  Global automotive industry builds in 2008 are expected to be slightly higher than 2007 with moderate growth in Asia Pacific and Latin America, partially offset by slightly lower levels in North America. However, the half year pattern is expected to be the reverse of 2007 with higher production in the second half of 2008. Global packaging market growth is expected to remain at current levels. The residential construction market in North America is expected to continue to be weak through 2008, but it is anticipated that the electrical and electronics markets will continue to improve. The 2008 outlook also assumes a second half softening from a weak petrochemical cycle. Revenue growth is expected to continue through volume growth and higher USD selling prices in 2008. PTOI is expected to increase, benefitting from higher revenue, price increases, improved fixed cost performance and customer-driven innovations for products and processes. The level of earnings improvements in 2008 will depend on offsetting the continued high intermediate feedstock costs with price increases and further productivity gains.

 

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Safety & Protection satisfies the growing global needs of businesses, governments and consumers for solutions that make life safer, healthier and more secure. By uniting market-driven science with the strength of highly regarded brands such as Kevlar^®, Tyvek^® and Nomex^®, Safety & Protection has built a unique presence in the marketplace since its inception in 2002.

 

The segment’s businesses serve customers in diverse markets that include construction, transportation, communications, industrial chemicals, oil and gas, electric utilities, automotive, manufacturing, defense, homeland security and safety consulting.

 

In addition to serving its existing customer base, Safety & Protection is investing in the future by expanding into emerging markets. Over the past two years the segment has achieved strong double-digit growth in Greater China, India, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Safety & Protection is focusing its efforts globally on four major value propositions where it has a distinct competitive advantage: protecting lives, safe and durable buildings, protecting critical processes and protecting the environment.

 

DuPont^tm Kevlar^® and Nomex^® hold strong positions in the life protection markets due to continued demand for body armor and personal protective gear for the military, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders, as well as for workers in the oil and gas industry and in emerging regions. Global demand for products that prevent disease and improve productivity in the food, health care and industrial markets continue to create growth opportunities for the segment’s clean and disinfect offerings. Additionally, the surfaces protection businesses continue to offer new products that meet demand for sustainable solutions.

 

In 2007, DuPont announced a $500 million investment at its Cooper River site near Charleston, SC, to significantly expand production of DuPont^tm Kevlar^® brand fiber for industrial and military uses as well as investments in related polymer production. The company also announced a multi-product, multi-region expansion plan to increase worldwide capacity of DuPont^tm Nomex^®. The company expects to invest more than $100 million in the three-part expansion plan for Nomex^®; the first phase was completed in 2007.

 

Safety & Protection continues to strengthen and enhance the building envelope and building interiors with offerings that improve comfort, energy efficiency, air quality and protection from the elements. In 2007, the business introduced 40 new products globally, including new Corian^® surfaces and the metalized Tyvek^® product family. The business is also taking advantage of substantial growth opportunities in China, India and Eastern Europe while focusing even more on commercial construction and remodeling markets.

 

Through its consulting services businesses, Safety & Protection continued to help organizations worldwide reduce workplace injuries and fatalities while improving operating costs, productivity and quality. DuPont is a leader in the safety consulting field, selling training products, as well as consulting services. Additionally, Safety & Protection is dedicated to clean air, clean fuel, and clean water with offerings that help reduce sulfur and other emissions, formulate cleaner fuels, or dispose of liquid waste. Its goal is to help maintain business continuity and environmental compliance for companies in the refining and petrochemical industries, as well as for government entities.

 

2007 versus 2006  Sales of $5.6 billion were 3 percent higher than last year, due to higher USD selling prices across all businesses within the platform. Sales volumes remained relatively flat as higher sales of Kevlar^® and Nomex^® were offset by decreased sales of products for U.S. residential construction markets.

 

PTOI in 2007 was $1,199 million, an increase of 11 percent over the prior year. The increased earnings were primarily due to higher sales of Kevlar^® and Nomex^®. 2006 PTOI included a $47 million asset impairment charge related to an industrial chemical asset held for sale, partially offset by a $33 million benefit from insurance proceeds.

 

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2006 versus 2005  Sales of $5.5 billion were up 7 percent due to 5 percent higher USD prices and 2 percent higher volumes. All businesses in the platform grew sales year over year with the strongest growth in chemical solutions and aramids. Segment sales experienced slower U.S. growth as a result of shifts in demand for construction, but were offset by higher sales growth in other regions, especially emerging regions.

 

PTOI in 2006 was $1,080 million, up 9 percent from $994 million in the prior year. The increase in PTOI reflects pricing gains and tight fixed cost control. 2006 PTOI included a $47 million asset impairment charge related to an industrial chemical asset held for sale, partially offset by a $33 million benefit from insurance proceeds.

 

Outlook  Safety & Protection will continue to drive growth in its product lines globally with the strength of its brands. U.S. and global demand for Kevlar^® and Nomex^® is expected to remain strong. The personal protection, medical packaging and medical fabrics market segments are expected to grow during the year. Volume declines in the U.S. residential construction market will continue, but are expected to be mitigated by continued growth, in commercial, remodel and non-U.S. construction markets. Overall, continued revenue growth and moderate earnings growth in 2008 is expected based on continued market penetration, the introduction of new products and technologies and continued investment in its growth initiatives.

 

On October 1, 2001, DuPont Pharmaceuticals was sold to the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. DuPont retained its interest in Cozaar^® (losartan potassium) and Hyzaar^® (losartan potassium with hydrochlorothiazide). These drugs were discovered by DuPont and developed in collaboration with Merck and are used in the treatment of hypertension. The U.S. patents covering the compounds, pharmaceutical formulation and use for the treatment of hypertension, including approval for pediatric use, will expire in 2010. DuPont has exclusively licensed worldwide marketing and manufacturing rights for Cozaar^® and Hyzaar^® to Merck. Pharmaceuticals receives royalties and net proceeds as outlined below. Merck is responsible for manufacturing, marketing and selling Cozaar^® and Hyzaar^®.

 

Pharmaceuticals’ Cozaar^®/Hyzaar^® income is the sum of two parts derived from a royalty on worldwide contract Net sales linked to the exclusivity term in a particular country, and a share of the profits from North American sales and certain markets in Europe, regardless of exclusivity term. Patents and exclusivity have already started to expire and the U.S. exclusivity for Cozaar^® ends in April 2010. The worldwide agreement terminates when the following conditions are met: (i) the Canadian exclusivity ends in 2013, and (ii) North American sales fall below a certain level. Therefore, absent any major changes in the markets, the company expects its income to take its first significant step-down in 2010, and from that year on, continue to step-down each year to zero when the contract ends, which is expected to be after 2013. The company cannot predict the magnitude of the earnings step-down in each year. In general, management expects a traditional sales and earnings decline for a drug going off patent in the pharmaceutical industry.

 

Outlook  DuPont and Merck continue to support Cozaar^® and Hyzaar^® with clinical studies designed to identify additional therapeutic benefits for patients with hypertension and co-morbid conditions. The company expects the ongoing Cozaar^®/Hyzaar^® collaboration to continue to be an important contributor to earnings until the U.S. patents expire in 2010. Thereafter, earnings are expected to decline significantly as outlined above.

 

The company includes embryonic businesses not included in the growth platforms, such as applied biosciences and nonaligned businesses in Other. Applied biosciences is focused on the development of biotechnology solutions using biology, chemistry, materials science and engineering in an integrated fashion to serve our customers. Specific growth projects across the company globally are consolidated within applied biosciences to capitalize on the market

 

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opportunities and technology needs in this high-growth industry, including crop-based products and technologies, the biorefinery initiative with the U.S. Department of Energy and the development of advanced biofuels technologies through a collaboration with BP p.l.c. The first advanced biofuels product from this partnership will be biobutanol.

 

DuPont partnered with Tate & Lyle PLC to produce 1,3-propanediol (Bio-PDO^tm) using a proprietary fermentation and purification process based on corn sugar. Bio-PDO^tm is the key building block for DuPont^tm Sorona^® polymer and DuPont^tm Cerenol^tm polyols, two new families of renewably sourced products. It is also being marketed for use as an ingredient in nearly a dozen direct applications ranging from industrial to personal care uses. The first commercial-scale plant to manufacture Bio-PDO^tm began production in November 2006, marking the beginning of commercial availability of the company’s bio-based pipeline.

 

A life cycle assessment of the production of nylon-6 polymer versus the production of renewably sourced Sorona^® with Bio-PDO^tm shows significant environmental benefits. The Sorona^® process uses 30 percent less energy than nylon-6 manufacturing. Greenhouse gas emissions from the Sorona^® operations are 63 percent lower than nylon-6 manufacturing including bio-based content stored in the product.

 

Nonaligned businesses include activities and costs associated with Benlate^® fungicide and other discontinued businesses and, since January 2005, activities related to the remaining assets of Textiles & Interiors. In 2005, the company completed the transfer of three equity affiliates to Koch and sold its interest in another equity affiliate. In January 2006, the company completed the sale of its interest in an equity affiliate to its equity partner for proceeds of $14 million thereby completing the sale of all the net assets of Textiles & Interiors.

 

In the aggregate, sales in Other for 2007, 2006 and 2005 represent less than 1 percent of total segment sales.

 

PTOI in 2007 was a loss of $224 million compared to a loss of $173 million in 2006. The 29 percent increase in the pretax loss was primarily due to higher inventory, freight and business development costs. PTOI in 2007 included litigation charges for former businesses of $69 million. PTOI in 2006 included a charge of $27 million to write down certain specialty resins manufacturing assets to estimated fair value.

 

PTOI in 2006 was a loss of $173 million compared to a loss of $90 million in 2005. The losses in 2006 are reflective of the concentration of activities in applied biosciences and include the $27 million charge to write down certain specialty resins manufacturing assets to estimated fair value. PTOI in 2005 included a net gain of $62 million related to the disposition of equity affiliates, primarily associated with the Textiles & Interiors separation.

 

Liquidity & Capital Resources

Management believes that the company’s ability to generate cash and access the capital markets will be adequate to meet anticipated future cash requirements to fund working capital, capital spending, dividend payments and other cash needs for the foreseeable future. The company’s liquidity needs can be met through a variety of sources, including: Cash provided by operating activities, Cash and cash equivalents, Marketable securities, commercial paper, syndicated credit lines, bilateral credit lines, equity and long-term debt markets and asset sales. The company’s current strong financial position, liquidity and credit ratings provide excellent access to the capital markets.

 

Pursuant to its cash discipline policy, the company seeks first to maintain a strong balance sheet and second, to return excess cash to shareholders unless the opportunity to invest for growth is compelling. Cash and cash equivalents and Marketable securities balances of $1.4 billion as of December 31, 2007, provide primary liquidity to support all short-term obligations. In the unlikely event that the company would not be able to meet its short-term liquidity needs, the company has access to approximately $4.3 billion in credit lines with several major financial institutions. These credit lines are primarily multi-year facilities.

 

The company continually reviews its debt portfolio for appropriateness and occasionally may rebalance it to ensure adequate liquidity and an optimum maturity debt schedule.

 

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The company’s long term and short term credit ratings have not changed over the last three year ends and are as follows:

 

 

 

The company’s Cash provided by operating activities was $4.3 billion in 2007, a $554 million increase from the $3.7 billion generated in 2006. The increase is primarily due to higher earnings after adjusting for noncash items. Net income for 2006 included noncash tax benefits totaling $615 million (see Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.) While the change in net working capital was essentially flat year over year, the company did realize productivity gains in inventory days supply and days payable outstanding. However, days sales outstanding slightly increased.

 

The company’s Cash provided by operating activities was $3.7 billion in 2006, a $1.2 billion increase from the $2.5 billion generated in 2005. The increase is primarily due to higher net income in 2006 and a reduction in contributions made to pension plans, partially offset by the timing of tax payments. Working capital productivity measures of days sales outstanding and inventory days supply were essentially flat in 2006 versus 2005, while days payable outstanding slightly decreased.

 

 

In 2007, Cash used for investing activities totaled $1.8 billion compared to $1.3 billion used in 2006. The $405 million increase was mainly due to the settlement of forward exchange contracts and a slight increase in capital spending, partially offset by higher proceeds from sales of assets. Due to the impact of a weakening USD, the settlement of forward exchange contracts issued to hedge the company’s net exposure, by currency, related to monetary assets and liabilities resulted in the payment of $285 million in 2007 versus the receipt of $45 million in 2006. The forward exchange contract settlements were largely offset by the revaluation of the items being hedged, which are reflected in the appropriate categories in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

 

In 2006, Cash used for investing activities totaled $1.3 billion compared to $602 million used in 2005. The increase reflects higher purchases of property, plant and equipment and lower proceeds from the sale of assets. In addition, due to the impacts of a weakening USD, the settlement of forward exchange contracts issued to hedge the company’s net exposure, by currency, related to monetary assets and liabilities resulted in the receipt of $45 million in 2006 versus the receipt of $653 million in 2005. These settlements were largely offset by revaluation of the items being hedged, which are reflected in the appropriate categories in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment totaled $1.6 billion, $1.5 billion and $1.3 billion in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The company expects 2008 purchases of plant, property and equipment to be higher than 2007 levels. This incremental spending is primarily based on the company’s previously announced investments in Kevlar^®, Nomex^® and titanium dioxide.

 

 

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The $746 million increase in Cash used for financing activities in 2007 compared to 2006 was primarily due to the company’s share repurchase activity, partially offset by the increase in proceeds from stock options exercised. The $528 million decrease in Cash used for financing activities in 2006 compared to 2005 was primarily due to the company’s borrowings and share repurchase activity.

 

Total debt at December 31, 2007 was $7.3 billion, a $205 million decrease from December 31, 2006. This decrease was primarily due to the repayment of borrowings related to the 2005 AJCA cash repatriation program, partially offset by the issuance of $750 million in 5 year notes in December 2007.

 

Total debt at December 31, 2006 was $7.5 billion, a $650 million decrease from December 31, 2005. This decrease was primarily due to the repayment of borrowings related to the 2005 AJCA cash repatriation program, partially offset by the issuance of $1 billion in 10 and 30 year notes in December 2006.

 

Dividends paid to common and preferred shareholders were $1.4 billion in 2007, 2006 and 2005. Dividends per share of common stock were $1.52, $1.48 and $1.46 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The common dividend declared in the first quarter 2008 was the company’s 414th consecutive dividend since the company’s first dividend in the fourth quarter 1904.

 

The company’s Board of Directors authorized a $2 billion share buyback plan in June 2001. During 2005, the company purchased and retired 9.9 million shares at a total cost of $505 million. During 2007 and 2006, there were no purchases of stock under this program. As of December 31, 2007, the company has purchased 20.5 million shares at a total cost of $962 million. Management has not established a timeline for the buyback of the remaining shares of stock under this plan.

 

In October 2005, the Board of Directors authorized a $5 billion share buyback plan. In October 2005, the company repurchased 75.7 million shares of its common stock under an accelerated share repurchase agreement and paid $3.0 billion for the repurchase. Upon the conclusion of the agreement in 2006, the company paid $180 million in cash to Goldman, Sachs & Co. to settle the agreement. Additionally, in 2006, the company made open market purchases of its shares for $100 million. In 2007, the company purchased 34.7 million shares for $1.7 billion, thereby, completing this program. See Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a reconciliation of shares activity.

 

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

Cash and cash equivalents and Marketable securities totaled $1.4 billion at December 31, 2007 and $1.9 billion at December 31, 2006 and 2005. The $457 million decrease from 2006 to 2007 is primarily due to the company’s share repurchase activity, as well as cash used to meet other business requirements.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Certain Guarantee Contracts

Indemnifications

The company has indemnified respective parties against certain liabilities that may arise in connection with acquisitions and divestitures and related business activities prior to the completion of the transactions. The terms of these indemnifications, which typically pertain to environmental, tax and product liabilities, are generally indefinite. In addition, the company indemnifies its duly elected or appointed directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, against liabilities incurred as a result of their activities for the company, such as adverse judgments relating to litigation matters. If the indemnified party were to incur a liability or have a liability increase as a result of a successful claim, pursuant to the terms of the indemnification, the company would be required to reimburse the indemnified party. The maximum amount of potential future payments is generally indeterminable. The carrying amounts recorded for all indemnifications as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $101 million and $105 million, respectively. Although it is reasonably possible that future payments may exceed

 

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amounts accrued, due to the nature of indemnified items, it is not possible to make a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential loss or range of loss. No assets are held as collateral and no specific recourse provisions exist.

 

In connection with the sale of INVISTA, the company indemnified the purchasers, subsidiaries of Koch, against certain liabilities primarily related to taxes, legal and environmental matters and other representations and warranties under the Purchase and Sale Agreement. Koch has presented claims under these indemnities which the companies are discussing; however, DuPont disagrees with Koch’s presentation. The estimated fair value of the indemnity obligations under the Purchase and Sale Agreement is $70 million and is included in the indemnifications balance of $101 million at December 31, 2007. The fair value was based on management’s best estimate of the value expected to be required to issue the indemnifications in a standalone, arm’s length transaction with an unrelated party and, where appropriate, by the utilization of probability weighted discounted net cash flow models. The company does not believe that these indemnities will have a material impact on the future liquidity of the company (see Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.)

 

Obligations for Equity Affiliates and Others

The company has directly guaranteed various debt obligations under agreements with third parties related to equity affiliates, customers, suppliers and other affiliated and unaffiliated companies. At December 31, 2007, the company had directly guaranteed $583 million of such obligations, plus $121 million relating to guarantees of obligations for divested subsidiaries and affiliates. This represents the maximum potential amount of future (undiscounted) payments that the company could be required to make under the guarantees. The company would be required to perform on these guarantees in the event of default by the guaranteed party. At December 31, 2007, a current liability of $135 million had been recorded for these obligations, principally related to obligations of the company’s polyester films joint venture which are guaranteed by the company. No additional material loss is anticipated by reason of such agreements and guarantees.

 

Existing guarantees for customers, suppliers and other unaffiliated companies arose as part of contractual agreements. Existing guarantees for equity affiliates and other affiliated companies arose for liquidity needs in normal operations. In certain cases, the company has recourse to assets held as collateral as well as personal guarantees from customers and suppliers.

 

The company has guaranteed certain obligations and liabilities related to divested subsidiaries including Conoco and its subsidiaries and affiliates and Consolidation Coal Sales Company. The Restructuring, Transfer and Separation Agreement between DuPont and Conoco requires Conoco to use its best efforts to have Conoco, or any of its subsidiaries, substitute for DuPont. Conoco and Consolidation Coal Sales Company have indemnified the company for any liabilities the company may incur pursuant to these guarantees. No material loss is anticipated by reason of such agreements and guarantees. At December 31, 2007, the company had no liabilities recorded for these obligations.

 

Additional information with respect to the company’s guarantees is included in Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Historically, the company has not had to make significant payments to satisfy guarantee obligations; however, the company believes it has the financial resources to satisfy these guarantees.

 

Master Operating Leases

At December 31, 2007, the company has one master operating lease program relating to miscellaneous short-lived equipment valued at approximately $119 million. Lease payments for these assets totaled $59 million in 2007, $58 million in 2006 and $51 million in 2005, and were reported as operating expenses in the Consolidated Income Statements. The leases under this program are considered operating leases and accordingly the related assets and liabilities are not recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Furthermore, the lease payments associated with this program vary based on one month LIBOR. The company may terminate the program at any time by purchasing the assets. Should the company decide neither to renew the leases nor to exercise its purchase option, it must pay the owner a residual value guarantee amount, which may be recovered from a sale of the property to a third party. Residual value guarantees totaled $104 million at December 31, 2007.

 

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Contractual Obligations

Information related to the company’s significant contractual obligations is summarized in the following table:

 

 

 

The company expects to meet its contractual obligations through its normal sources of liquidity and believes it has the financial resources to satisfy these contractual obligations should unforeseen circumstances arise.

 

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Long-Term Employee Benefits

The company has various obligations to its employees and retirees. The company maintains retirement-related programs in many countries that have a long-term impact on the company’s earnings and cash flows. These plans are typically defined benefit pension plans, as well as medical, dental and life insurance benefits for pensioners and survivors and disability and life insurance protection for employees. Approximately 80 percent of the company’s worldwide benefit obligation for pensions and essentially all of the company’s worldwide other long-term employee benefit obligations are attributable to the U.S. benefit plans. Pension coverage for employees of the company’s non-U.S. consolidated subsidiaries is provided, to the extent deemed appropriate, through separate plans. The company regularly explores alternative solutions to meet its global pension obligations in the most cost effective manner possible as demographics, life expectancy and country-specific pension funding rules change. Where permitted by applicable law, the company reserves the right to change, modify or discontinue its plans that provide pension, medical, dental, life insurance and disability benefits.

 

Benefits under defined benefit pension plans are based primarily on years of service and employees’ pay near retirement. Pension benefits are paid primarily from trust funds established to comply with applicable laws and regulations. Unless required by law, the company does not make contributions that are in excess of tax deductible limits. The actuarial assumptions and procedures utilized are reviewed periodically by the plans’ actuaries to provide reasonable assurance that there will be adequate funds for the payment of benefits. By law, no contributions are currently required to be made to the principal U.S. pension plan in 2008 and no contributions are currently anticipated. Contributions beyond 2008 are not determinable since the amount of any contribution is heavily dependent on the future economic environment and investment returns on pension trust assets. U.S. pension benefits that exceed federal limitations are covered by separate unfunded plans and these benefits are paid to pensioners and survivors from operating cash flows.

 

Funding for each pension plan is governed by the rules of the sovereign country in which it operates. Thus, there is not necessarily a direct correlation between pension funding and pension expense. In general, however, improvements in plans funded status tends to moderate subsequent funding needs. In 2007, the company contributed $277 million to its pension plans. The company anticipates that it will make approximately $250 million in contributions in 2008 to pension plans other than the principal U.S. pension plan.

 

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the “Act”) was signed into law in the U.S. in August 2006. The Act introduces new funding requirements for single-employer defined benefit pension plans, provides guidelines for measuring pension plan assets and pension obligations for funding purposes, introduces benefit limitations for certain underfunded plans and raises tax deduction limits for contributions to retirement plans. The new funding requirements are generally effective for plan years beginning after December 31, 2007. The company does not anticipate that the Act will have a material impact on its required contributions.

 

In August 2006, the company announced major changes to its principal U.S. pension plan and principal defined contribution plan. As part of this announcement, the defined contribution benefits for most U.S. employees are in transition. Effective January 1, 2007, for employees hired on that date or thereafter, and effective January 1, 2008, for active employees on the rolls as of December 31, 2006, the company will make a contribution of 100 percent of the first 6 percent of the employee’s contribution election. Additionally, the company will contribute 3 percent of each eligible employee’s compensation regardless of the employee’s contribution election. The definition of eligible compensation has also been expanded to be similar to the definition of eligible compensation in the U.S. pension plan. Covered full service employees on the rolls as of December 31, 2006 will also accrue additional benefits in the pension plan, but the annual rate of pension accrual will be about one-third of the previous rate. In addition, company-paid postretirement survivor benefits for these employees will not continue to grow after December 31, 2007. Covered employees hired in the U.S. after December 31, 2006 will not participate in the pension plan.

 

As a result of the amendment to the principal U.S. pension plan, the company was required to remeasure its pension expense for the remainder of 2006, reflecting plan assets and benefit obligations as of the remeasurement date. As a result of better than expected return on plan assets and a higher discount rate of 6 percent as of the remeasurement date, pretax pension expense decreased by $72 million for 2006. For 2007, the plan amendment resulted in a reduction in pension expense of about $40 million. For 2008, the plan amendment is expected to result in a net

 

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reduction of approximately $40 million in combined pension and defined contribution plans expense. This estimate is composed of a reduction in pension expense of about $190 million, partially offset by an increase in defined contribution plan expense of approximately $150 million. Actual cash contributions for the savings plan will increase less than $130 million in 2008. Additional information related to these changes in the plans noted above is included in Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

On December 31, 2006, the company adopted SFAS 158 and recorded a $1,555 million after-tax charge to stockholder’s equity primarily due to reclassifying unrecognized actuarial losses and prior service costs related to the pension plans.

 

Medical, dental, life insurance and disability plans are unfunded and the cost of the approved claims is paid from operating cash flows. Pretax cash requirements to cover actual net claims costs and related administrative expenses were $315 million, $335 million and $408 million for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. This amount is expected to be about $315 million in 2008. Changes in cash requirements reflect the net impact of higher per capita health care costs, demographic changes and changes in participant premiums, co-pays and deductibles.

 

The company’s income can be significantly affected by pension and defined contribution benefits as well as retiree medical, dental and life insurance benefits. The following table summarizes the extent to which the company’s income over each of the last 3 years was affected by pretax charges and credits related to long-term employee benefits.

 

 

The above charges for pension and other long-term employee benefits are determined as of the beginning of each year. The decrease in pension expense in 2007 reflects favorable returns on pension assets, plan amendments and changes in demographics and discount rates. The increase in 2007 other long-term employee benefit charges principally reflects changes in demographics, discount rates and higher than expected health care costs. The decrease in pension expense in 2006 reflects favorable returns on pension assets, plan amendments and changes in discount rates. The decrease in 2006 other long-term employee benefit charges principally reflects the favorable medical trends in 2005 and refinements in estimates to reflect the anticipated commencement of the Medicare prescription drug program.

 

The company’s key assumptions used in calculating its pension and other long-term employee benefits are the expected return on plan assets, the rate of compensation increases and the discount rate (see Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). For 2008, lower than anticipated medical trends, the net impact of the U.S. retirement plan amendments, changes in demographics and discount rates, and the expiration of a prior service cost amortization credit in 2007 are expected to result in a reduction in pension and other long-term employee benefit pretax expenses of about $170 million.

 

Environmental Matters

DuPont operates global manufacturing, product handling and distribution facilities that are subject to a broad array of environmental laws and regulations. Company policy requires that all operations fully meet or exceed legal and regulatory requirements. In addition, DuPont implements voluntary programs to reduce air emissions, eliminate the generation of hazardous waste, decrease the volume of waste water discharges, increase the efficiency of energy use and reduce the generation of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic materials. The costs to comply with complex environmental laws and regulations, as well as internal voluntary programs and goals, are significant and will continue for the foreseeable future. While these costs may increase in the future, they are not expected to have a material impact on the company’s financial position, liquidity or results of operations.

 

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Pretax environmental expenses charged to current operations totaled $576 million in 2007 compared with $521 million in 2006 and $468 million in 2005. These expenses include the remediation accruals discussed below; operating, maintenance and depreciation costs for solid waste, air and water pollution control facilities and the costs of environmental research activities. While expenses related to the costs of environmental research activities are not a significant component of the company’s overall environmental expenses, the company expects these costs to become proportionally greater as the company increases its participation in businesses for which environmental assessments are required during product development. The largest of the environmental expenses in 2007 was $113 million for the operation of water pollution control facilities and $131 million for solid waste management. About 78 percent of total annual environmental expenses resulted from operations in the U.S.

 

In 2007, DuPont spent approximately $110 million on environmental capital projects either required by law or necessary to meet the company’s internal environmental goals. The company currently estimates expenditures for environmental-related capital projects to be approximately $150 million in 2008. In the U.S., significant capital expenditures are expected to be required over the next decade for treatment, storage and disposal facilities for solid and hazardous waste and for compliance with the Clean Air Act (CAA). Until all CAA regulatory requirements are established and known, considerable uncertainty will remain regarding future estimates for capital expenditures. Total CAA capital costs over the next two years are currently estimated to range from $40 million to $70 million.

 

The goal of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is to prevent unreasonable risks of injury to health or the environment associated with the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, use, or disposal of chemical substances. Under TSCA, the EPA has established reporting, record-keeping, testing and control-related requirements for new and existing chemicals. In 1998, the EPA challenged the U.S. chemical industry to voluntarily conduct screening level health and environmental effects testing on nearly 3,000 high production volume (HPV) chemicals or to make equivalent information publicly available. An HPV chemical is a chemical listed on the 1990 Inventory Update Rule with annual U.S. cumulative production and imports of one million pounds or more. The company expects to complete its commitments regarding the HPV chemicals it volunteered to sponsor within the next two to three years.

 

In December 2006, the European Union adopted a new regulatory framework concerning the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals. This regulatory framework known as REACH entered into force on June 1, 2007. One of its main objectives is the protection of human health and the environment. REACH requires manufacturers and importers to gather information on the properties of their substances that meet certain volume or toxicological criteria and register the information in a central database to be maintained by a Chemical Agency in Finland. The Regulation also calls for the progressive substitution of the most dangerous chemicals when suitable alternatives have been identified. Pre-registration will occur between June 1, 2008 and November 30, 2008; complete registrations containing extensive data on the characteristics of the chemical will be required in 2010 if production usage or tonnage exceeds 1,000 metric tons per year; 2013 if it is between 100 and 1,000 metric tons per year; and 2018 if it is 100 metric tons per year or less. By June 1, 2013, the Commission will review whether substances with endocrine disruptive properties should be authorized if safer alternatives exist. By June 1, 2019, the Commission will determine whether to extend the duty to warn from substances of very high concern to those that could be dangerous or unpleasant. Management does not expect that the costs to comply with REACH will be material to its operations and consolidated financial position.

 

DuPont believes that climate change is an important global issue that will present numerous risks and opportunities to business and society at large. Since the early 1990s when DuPont began taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the company has achieved major global reductions in emissions. Voluntary emissions reductions implemented by DuPont and other companies are valuable but alone will not be sufficient to effectively address a problem of this scale. The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change entered into force in February 2005 and, while not ratified by the U.S., has spurred policy action by many other countries and regions around the world including the European Union. Considerable international attention is now focused on development of a post-2012 international policy framework to guide international action to address climate change when the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. Proposed and existing legislative efforts to control or limit greenhouse gas emissions could affect the company’s energy source and supply choices as well as increase the cost of energy and raw materials derived from fossil fuels. However, the successful negotiation and implementation of sensible national,

 

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regional, and international climate change policies could provide the business community with greater certainty for the regulatory future, help guide investment decisions, and drive growth in demand for low-carbon and energy-efficient products, technologies, and services.

 

The company actively manages the potential risks that climate change could present, including those associated with the company’s physical assets, as well as with regulatory and economic issues. DuPont looks for opportunities to make its overall portfolio less energy intensive, and energy use is one factor that is weighed when investments or divestitures are considered. DuPont is committed to continuing to bring to market more products and services to meet new and expanded demands of a low-carbon economy.

 

DuPont has discovered that very low levels of dioxins (parts per trillion to low parts per billion) and related compounds are inadvertently generated during its titanium dioxide pigment production process. Over 99 percent of the dioxin generated at DuPont’s production plants becomes associated with process solid wastes that are disposed in controlled landfills where public exposure is negligible. A multi-year research and process engineering development program has culminated in capital projects and other process modifications intended to reduce dioxin generation by at least 90 percent. The last of these projects and process modifications were completed during 2007. As of December 31, 2007, the company’s operations had results verifying the capability to reduce dioxin generation by 90 percent.

 

Remediation Expenditures

The RCRA extensively regulates and requires permits for the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA requires that permitted facilities undertake an assessment of environmental contamination at the facility. If conditions warrant, companies may be required to remediate contamination caused by prior operations. In contrast to CERCLA, the costs of the RCRA corrective action program are typically borne solely by the company. The company anticipates that significant ongoing expenditures for RCRA remediation activities may be required over the next two decades. Annual expenditures for the near term, however, are not expected to vary significantly from the range of such expenditures experienced in the past few years. Longer term, expenditures are subject to considerable uncertainty and may fluctuate significantly. The company’s expenditures associated with RCRA and similar remediation activities were approximately $47 million, $44 million and $49 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

From time to time, the company receives requests for information or notices of potential liability from the EPA and state environmental agencies alleging that the company is a PRP under CERCLA or similar state statutes. CERCLA is often referred to as the Superfund and requires companies to undertake certain investigative and research activities at sites where it conducts or once conducted operations or where company generated waste has been disposed. The company has also, on occasion, been engaged in cost recovery litigation initiated by those agencies or by private parties. These requests, notices and lawsuits assert potential liability for remediation costs at various sites that typically are not company owned, but allegedly contain wastes attributable to the company’s past operations.

 

As of December 31, 2007, the company had been notified of potential liability under CERCLA or state laws at 383 sites around the U.S., with active remediation under way at 139 of these sites. In addition, the company has resolved its liability at 161 sites, either by completing remedial actions with other PRPs or by participating in “de minimis buyouts” with other PRPs whose waste, like the company’s, represented only a small fraction of the total waste present at a site. The company received notice of potential liability at six new sites during 2007 compared with six similar notices in 2006 and eight in 2005. The company’s expenditures associated with CERCLA and similar state remediation activities were approximately $20 million, $19 million and $27 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

For nearly all Superfund sites, the company’s potential liability will be significantly less than the total site remediation costs because the percentage of waste attributable to the company versus that attributable to all other PRPs is relatively low. Other PRPs at sites, where the company is a party, typically have the financial strength to meet their obligations and, where they do not, or where PRPs cannot be located, the company’s own share of liability has not materially increased. There are relatively few sites where the company is a major participant and the cost to the

 

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company of remediation at those sites and at all CERCLA sites in the aggregate, is not expected to have a material impact on the financial position, liquidity or results of operations of the company.

 

Total expenditures for previously accrued remediation activities under CERCLA, RCRA and similar state laws were $68 million, $64 million and $79 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Remediation Accruals

At December 31, 2007, the Consolidated Balance Sheets included an accrued liability of $357 million compared to $349 million at December 31, 2006. Considerable uncertainty exists with respect to environmental remediation costs and, under adverse changes in circumstances, potential liability may range up to two to three times the amount accrued as of December 31, 2007. Of the $357 million accrued liability, approximately 10 percent was reserved for non-U.S. facilities. Approximately 65 percent of the reserve balance was attributable to RCRA and similar remediation liabilities, while about 25 percent was attributable to CERCLA liabilities. Remediation accruals of $76 million, $71 million and $64 million were added to the reserve in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

PFOA

DuPont manufactures fluoropolymer resins and dispersions as well as fluorotelomers, marketing many of them under the Teflon^® and Zonyl^® brands. The fluoropolymer resins and dispersions businesses are part of the Electronic & Communication Technologies segment; the fluorotelomers business is part of the Safety & Protection segment.

 

Fluoropolymer resins and dispersions are high-performance materials with many end uses including architectural fabrics, telecommunications and electronic wiring insulation, automotive fuel systems, computer chip processing equipment, weather-resistant/breathable apparel and non-stick cookware. Fluorotelomers are used to make soil, stain and grease repellants for paper, apparel, upholstery and carpets as well as firefighting foams and coatings.

 

A form of PFOA (collectively, perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts, including the ammonium salt) is used as a processing agent to manufacture fluoropolymer resins and dispersions. For over 50 years, DuPont purchased its PFOA needs from a third party, but beginning in the fall of 2002, it began producing PFOA to support the manufacture of fluoropolymer resins and dispersions. PFOA is not used in the manufacture of fluorotelomers; however, it is an unintended by-product present at trace levels in some fluorotelomer-based products.

 

DuPont Performance Elastomers, LLC (DPE) uses PFOA in the manufacture of raw materials to manufacture Kalrez^® perfluoroelastomer parts. PFOA is also used in the manufacture of some fluoroelastomers marketed by DPE under the Viton^® trademark. The wholly owned subsidiary is a part of the Performance Materials segment.

 

PFOA is bio-persistent and has been detected at very low levels in the blood of the general population. As a result, the EPA initiated a process to enhance its understanding of the sources of PFOA in the environment and the pathways through which human exposure to PFOA is occurring. In 2003, the EPA issued a preliminary risk assessment on PFOA that focuses on the exposure of the U.S. general population to PFOA and possible health effects, including developmental toxicity concerns. On January 12, 2005, the EPA issued a draft risk assessment on PFOA. The draft stated that cancer data for PFOA may be best described as “suggestive evidence of carcinogenicity, but not sufficient to assess human carcinogenic potential” under the EPA’s Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment. Under the Guidelines, the descriptor “suggestive” is typically applied to agents if animal testing finds any evidence that exposure causes tumors in one species of animal.

 

The EPA requested that the Science Advisory Board (SAB) review and comment on the scientific soundness of this assessment. On May 31, 2006, the SAB released its report setting forth the view, based on laboratory studies in rats, that the human carcinogenic potential of PFOA is more consistent with the EPA’s descriptor of “likely to be carcinogenic” as defined in the Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment. However, in its report the SAB indicated that additional data should be considered before the EPA finalizes its risk assessment of PFOA. Under the Guidelines the “likely” descriptor is typically applied to agents that have tested positive in more than one species, sex, strain, site or exposure route with or without evidence of carcinogenicity in humans. The EPA has acknowledged that it will consider additional data, including new research and testing, and has indicated that another SAB review will be sought after the EPA makes its risk assessment. DuPont disputes the cancer classification recommended in the

 

Part II

 

 

 

SAB report. The EPA has stated that it is premature to draw any conclusions on the potential risks, including cancer, from PFOA until the additional data are integrated into the risk assessment. Although the EPA has stated that there remains considerable scientific uncertainty regarding potential risks associated with PFOA, it also stated that it does not believe that there is any reason for consumers to stop using any products because of concerns about PFOA.

 

DuPont respects the EPA’s position raising questions about exposure routes and the potential toxicity of PFOA and DuPont and other companies have outlined plans to continue research, emission reduction and product stewardship activities to help address the EPA’s questions. In January 2006, DuPont pledged its commitment to the EPA’s 2010/15 PFOA Stewardship Program. The EPA program asks participants (1) to commit to achieve, no later than 2010, a 95 percent reduction in both facility emissions and product content levels of PFOA, PFOA precursors and related higher homologue chemicals and (2) to commit to working toward the elimination of PFOA, PFOA precursors and related higher homologue chemicals from emissions and products by no later than 2015. In October 2007, (for the year 2006), DuPont reported to the EPA that it had achieved an almost 98 percent reduction of PFOA emissions in U.S. manufacturing facilities. About a 95 percent reduction was achieved in global manufacturing emissions, meeting the EPA 2010 objective well ahead of the timeline. DuPont will work individually and with others in the industry to inform EPA’s regulatory counterparts in the European Union, Canada, China and Japan about these activities and PFOA in general, including emissions reductions from DuPont’s facilities, reformulation of the company’s fluoropolymer dispersions and new manufacturing processes for fluorotelomers products.

 

In February 2007, DuPont announced its commitment to eliminate the need to make, use or buy PFOA by 2015. DuPont has discovered technology that should enable the elimination of PFOA use in fluoropolymer production. Commercial scale quantities of some fluoropolymer products have been made without PFOA and customers were notified in the fourth quarter 2007 that these products will be available for testing in their processes in 2008. Also, DuPont is developing the next generation of fluorotelomer products and already introduced two of them in the fourth quarter 2007.

 

In the meantime, DuPont has developed Echelon^tm technology that can reduce the PFOA content in fluoropolymer dispersions by 97 percent. The company has already converted 90 percent of its product line by volume to manufacturing processes based on Echelon^tm. DuPont also has successfully commercialized a new, patented manufacturing process to remove greater than 97 percent of trace by-product levels of PFOA, its homologues and direct precursors from its fluorotelomer products. The new products are being marketed as LX Platform^tm products.

 

In November 2006, DuPont entered into an Order on Consent under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) with the EPA establishing a precautionary interim screening level for PFOA of 0.5 part per billion (ppb) in drinking water sources in the area around the Washington Works site located in Parkersburg, West Virginia. DuPont is required under the agreement to offer to install water treatment systems or an EPA-approved alternative if PFOA levels are detected at or above 0.5 ppb.

 

In February 2007, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) identified a preliminary drinking-water guidance level for PFOA of 0.04 ppb as part of the first phase of an ongoing process to establish a state drinking-water standard. While the NJDEP will continue sampling and evaluation of data from all sources, it has not recommended a change in consumption patterns.

 

While occupational exposure to PFOA has been associated with small increases in some lipids (e.g. cholesterol), it is not known whether these are causal associations. These associations were not observed in a community study. Based on health and toxicological studies, DuPont believes the weight of evidence indicates that PFOA exposure does not pose a health risk to the general public. To date, there are no human health effects known to be caused by PFOA, although study of the chemical continues.

 

Currently, there are no regulatory actions pending that would prohibit the production or use of PFOA. However, because there continues to be regulatory interest, there can be no assurance that the EPA or any other regulatory entity will not choose to regulate or prohibit the production or use of PFOA in the future. Products currently manufactured by the company representing approximately $1 billion of 2007 revenues could be affected by any such regulation or prohibition. DuPont has established reserves in connection with certain PFOA environmental and litigation matters (see Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Part II

Financial Instruments