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AVIENT CORP

For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Feb 18, 2025.

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A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.

FY2024 · Filed Feb 18, 2025

AVNT$45.73-1.3%Stored close · as of Nov 10, 2026

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Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Index to Financial Statements

Page
Management’s Report30
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID:42)31
Consolidated Financial Statements:
Consolidated Statements of Income34
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income35
Consolidated Balance Sheets36
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows37
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity38
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements39

29 AVIENT CORPORATION

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT

The management of Avient Corporation is responsible for preparing the consolidated financial statements and disclosures included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated financial statements and disclosures included in this Annual Report fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of Avient Corporation as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company is captured and reported in a timely manner. Management has evaluated the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures at December 31, 2024 and found them to be effective.

Management is also responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of internal control over financial reporting that is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that provide reasonable assurance that: Avient Corporation’s accounting records accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; unauthorized or improper acquisition, use or disposal of Company assets will be prevented or timely detected; the Company’s transactions are properly recorded and reported to permit the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles; and the Company’s receipts and expenditures are made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the Board of Directors of the Company.

Management has assessed the effectiveness of Avient’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 and has prepared Management’s Annual Report On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting contained on page 62 of this Annual Report, which concludes that as of December 31, 2024, Avient’s internal control over financial reporting was effective and that no material weaknesses were identified.

/s/ ASHISH K. KHANDPUR/s/ JAMIE A. BEGGS
Ashish K. KhandpurJamie A. Beggs
President, Chief Executive Officer and Board MemberSenior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

30 AVIENT CORPORATION

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Avient Corporation

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Avient Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Avient Corporation (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows and shareholders' equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes and our report dated February 18, 2025, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying “Management’s Annual Report On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.” Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Cleveland, Ohio

31 AVIENT CORPORATION

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Avient Corporation

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Avient Corporation (the Company) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows and shareholders' equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 18, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the account or disclosure to which it relates.

32 AVIENT CORPORATION

Environmental Accrued Liabilities - Calvert City
Description of the MatterAs described in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements, the environmental accrued liability as of December 31, 2024 is approximately $146.0 million and is comprised primarily of the cost estimate for the Calvert City location of $137.7 million. The Company records an accrual for probable future environmental remediation projects on an undiscounted basis which represents management’s best estimate of probable future costs based upon currently available information and technology and management’s view of the most likely remedy.
Auditing the determination of the accrual involved a high degree of subjectivity as estimates underlying the determination of the accrual were based on assumptions unique to the affected site and subject to various laws and regulations governing the protection of the applicable environment. Actual costs incurred in future periods could differ from amounts estimated and future changes to environmental laws and regulations could increase the extent of remediation work required, therefore the calculation is complicated due to uncertainty in determining the probable future costs and the extent of the remediation efforts.
How We Addressed the Matter in Our AuditWe obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the Company’s process to estimate the Calvert City environmental-related accrual. For example, we tested controls over management’s review of the estimate and key assumptions, as well as monitoring for current year developments.
With the assistance of our specialists, we tested the balance of the Calvert City environmental accrued liability and the disclosure of the expected costs to remediate. Our audit procedures included, among others, making inquiries of internal general counsel and obtaining legal letters from internal and external counsel. We also evaluated external communications including those from the US EPA and cost estimates from management’s Specialists and other third parties used in determining the environmental accrued liability. We tested the key assumptions used by management by comparing those assumptions to accepted industry practice and information included in the Record of Decision issued by the US EPA, as applicable. We examined historical costs for recurring items and evaluated updated cost estimates for any current period changes. We searched publicly available information that might indicate facts contrary to the cost estimates and timeline used to determine the Calvert City accrual.

/s/Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company's auditor since 1993.

Cleveland, Ohio

33 AVIENT CORPORATION

Year Ended December 31,
(In millions, except per share data)202420232022
Sales$3,240.4$3,142.8$3,396.9
Cost of sales2,183.72,250.32,514.2
Gross margin1,056.7892.5882.7
Selling and administrative expense727.4695.7639.4
Operating income329.3196.8243.3
Interest expense, net(105.6)(115.3)(119.8)
Other income (expense), net1.15.8(59.7)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes224.887.363.8
Income tax (expense) benefit(54.1)(11.0)19.3
Net income from continuing operations170.776.383.1
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes—(0.1)620.3
Net income170.776.2703.4
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests(1.2)(0.5)(0.3)
Net income attributable to Avient common shareholders$169.5$75.7$703.1
Earnings per share attributable to Avient common shareholders - Basic:
Continuing operations$1.86$0.83$0.91
Discontinued operations——6.80
Total$1.86$0.83$7.71
Earnings per share attributable to Avient common shareholders - Diluted:
Continuing operations$1.84$0.83$0.90
Discontinued operations——6.73
Total$1.84$0.83$7.63
Weighted-average shares used to compute earnings per common share:
Basic91.391.191.2
Plus dilutive impact of share-based compensation0.70.71.0
Diluted92.091.892.2
Anti-dilutive shares not included in diluted common shares outstanding0.40.70.3
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock$1.0425$1.0000$0.9600

34 AVIENT CORPORATION

Year Ended December 31,
(In millions)202420232022
Net income$170.7$76.2$703.4
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:
Translation adjustments and related hedging instruments(90.4)(5.3)(36.4)
Pension and postretirement benefits—(6.3)6.2
Total other comprehensive loss(90.4)(11.6)(30.2)
Total comprehensive income80.364.6673.2
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests(1.2)(0.5)(0.3)
Comprehensive income attributable to Avient common shareholders$79.1$64.1$672.9

35 AVIENT CORPORATION

Year Ended December 31,
(In millions, except par value per share)20242023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$544.5$545.8
Accounts receivable, net399.5399.9
Inventories, net346.8347.0
Other current assets131.3114.9
Total current assets1,422.11,407.6
Property, net955.31,028.9
Goodwill1,659.71,719.3
Intangible assets, net1,450.41,590.8
Operating lease assets, net89.165.3
Deferred income tax assets81.392.3
Other non-current assets153.264.3
Total assets$5,811.1$5,968.5
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short-term and current portion of long-term debt$7.7$9.5
Accounts payable417.4432.3
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities331.0331.8
Total current liabilities756.1773.6
Non-current liabilities:
Long-term debt2,059.32,070.5
Deferred income taxes260.4281.6
Other non-current liabilities405.7504.8
Total non-current liabilities2,725.42,856.9
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common Shares, $0.01 par, 400.0 shares authorized, 122.2 shares issued1.21.2
Additional paid-in capital1,537.51,529.7
Retained earnings1,882.51,808.2
Common shares held in treasury, at cost, 30.8 shares in 2024 and 31.0 shares in 2023(929.6)(932.5)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(177.8)(87.4)
Avient shareholders’ equity2,313.82,319.2
Noncontrolling interest15.818.8
Total equity2,329.62,338.0
Total liabilities and equity$5,811.1$5,968.5

36 AVIENT CORPORATION

Year Ended December 31,
(In millions)202420232022
Operating activities
Net income$170.7$76.2$703.4
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of business, net of tax expense——(550.1)
Depreciation and amortization179.7188.8163.1
Amortization of inventory step-up——34.4
Increase in environmental insurance receivable(34.0)——
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense(23.8)(61.3)0.5
Share-based compensation expense15.413.213.2
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of the effect of acquisitions:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable(15.2)38.632.6
(Increase) decrease in inventories(13.7)24.314.0
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable0.3(22.2)10.7
(Decrease) increase in pension, retirement benefits and deferred compensation(34.3)(8.7)9.6
Taxes paid on gain on sale of business—(104.1)(2.8)
(Decrease) increase in environmental obligations(11.2)38.9(6.2)
Accrued expenses and other assets and liabilities, net22.917.9(24.0)
Net cash provided by operating activities256.8201.6398.4
Investing activities
Capital expenditures(121.9)(119.4)(105.5)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired——(1,426.1)
Settlement of foreign exchange derivatives——93.3
Net proceeds from divestiture—7.3928.2
Proceeds from plant closures3.47.66.1
Other investing activities(2.1)10.3—
Net cash used by investing activities(120.6)(94.2)(504.0)
Financing activities
Proceeds from long-term borrowings650.0—1,300.0
Payments on long-term borrowings(660.9)(105.8)(956.8)
Purchase of common shares for treasury——(36.4)
Cash dividends paid(94.0)(90.2)(86.8)
Payments on withholding tax on share awards(6.4)(3.4)(4.3)
Debt financing costs(9.6)(2.3)(49.3)
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities(120.9)(201.7)166.4
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash(16.6)(1.0)(20.9)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents(1.3)(95.3)39.9
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year545.8641.1601.2
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year$544.5$545.8$641.1

37 AVIENT CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity

Common Shares · Shareholders’ Equity
(In millions)CommonSharesCommonShares Heldin TreasuryCommonSharesAdditionalPaid-inCapitalRetained EarningsCommonShares Heldin TreasuryAccumulatedOtherComprehensive (Loss) IncomeTotal Avient Shareholders' EquityNon-controlling InterestsTotal Equity
Balance at January 1, 2022122.2(30.6)$1.2$1,511.8$1,208.0$(900.7)$(45.6)$1,774.7$15.8$1,790.5
Net income————703.1——703.10.3703.4
Other comprehensive loss——————(30.2)(30.2)—(30.2)
Cash dividends declared -- $0.9600 per share————(87.5)——(87.5)—(87.5)
Repurchase of common shares—(0.8)———(36.4)—(36.4)—(36.4)
Share-based compensation and exercise of awards—0.1—8.7—2.1—10.8—10.8
Acquisitions/other————————2.22.2
Balance at December 31, 2022122.2(31.3)$1.2$1,520.5$1,823.6$(935.0)$(75.8)$2,334.5$18.3$2,352.8
Net income————75.7——75.70.576.2
Other comprehensive loss——————(11.6)(11.6)—(11.6)
Cash dividends declared -- $1.0000 per share————(91.1)——(91.1)—(91.1)
Share-based compensation and exercise of awards—0.3—9.2—2.5—11.7—11.7
Balance at December 31, 2023122.2(31.0)$1.2$1,529.7$1,808.2$(932.5)$(87.4)$2,319.2$18.8$2,338.0
Net income————169.5——169.51.2170.7
Other comprehensive loss——————(90.4)(90.4)—(90.4)
Noncontrolling interest activity———0.3———0.3(4.2)(3.9)
Cash dividends declared -- $1.0425 per share————(95.2)——(95.2)—(95.2)
Share-based compensation and exercise of awards—0.2—7.5—2.9—10.4—10.4
Balance at December 31, 2024122.2(30.8)$1.2$1,537.5$1,882.5$(929.6)$(177.8)$2,313.8$15.8$2,329.6

38 AVIENT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1 — DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business

We are an innovator of materials solutions to help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world. Our products include specialty engineered materials, performance fibers, advanced composites, and color and additive solutions. We are also a highly specialized developer and manufacturer of performance enhancing additives, liquid colorants, and fluoropolymer and silicone colorants. Headquartered in Avon Lake, Ohio, we have employees at, sales, and manufacturing sites across North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. We provide value to our customers through our ability to link our knowledge of polymers and materials science with our manufacturing and supply chain to provide value added solutions to designers, assemblers and processors of materials. When used in these notes to the consolidated financial statements, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Avient” and the “Company” mean Avient Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Our operations are reported intwo reportable segments: Color, Additives and Inks, and Specialty Engineered Materials. See Note 14, Segment Information, for more information.

Accounting Standards Adopted

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires additional segment disclosures on an annual and interim basis, including significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker. The Company adopted this standard for the year ended December 31, 2024, and applied retrospective changes to all periods presented in the consolidated financial statements. The adoption of ASU 2023-07 impacted segment disclosures within Note 14, Segment Information.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes, provides guidance requiring disaggregated income tax disclosures on an annual basis, including information on the Company's effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and may be applied prospectively or retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the standards impacts on its income taxes disclosures.

ASU 2024-03, Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income — Expense Disaggregation Disclosures, provides guidance requiring disaggregated disclosure of income statement expenses. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. This guidance may be applied prospectively or retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the impacts of adopting this standard to its financial statement disclosures.

Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Avient and its subsidiaries. All majority-owned affiliates over which we have control are consolidated. Transactions with related parties, including joint ventures, are in the ordinary course of business. Certain prior year amounts have been adjusted to conform to current year presentation.

Use of Estimates

Preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of less than three months to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We evaluate the collectability of receivables based on a combination of factors, each of which are adjusted if specific circumstances change. We reserve for amounts determined to be uncollectible based on a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligation to us. We also record a general reserve based on the age of receivables past due, current conditions and forecasted information, the credit risk of specific customers, economic conditions and historical experience. In estimating the allowance, we take into consideration the existence of credit insurance.

39 AVIENT CORPORATION

Inventories

Raw materials and finished goods are carried at lower of cost or net realizable value using either the weighted average cost or the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. We record reserves for inventory that is damaged, obsolete, excess and slow-moving to Cost of sales.

Long-lived Assets

Property, plant and equipment is carried at historical cost, net of depreciation and amortization that is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which generally ranges from 3 to 15 years for machinery and equipment and up to 40 years for buildings. We depreciate certain assets associated with closing manufacturing locations over a shortened life (through the cease-use date). We expense repair and maintenance costs as incurred. We capitalize replacements and improvements that increase the estimated useful life of an asset. We retain fully depreciated assets in property and accumulated depreciation accounts until we remove them from service.

We account for operating and finance leases under the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 842.

Finite-lived intangible assets, which consist primarily of customer relationships, patents and technology are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The useful lives range up to 25 years.

We assess the recoverability of long-lived assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate that we may not be able to recover the assets’ carrying amount. We measure the recoverability of assets to be held and used by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to the expected future undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset. We measure the amount of impairment of long-lived assets as the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset, which is generally determined based on projected discounted future cash flows or appraised values.

Internal-Use Software and Cloud Computing Arrangements

We capitalize costs related to computer software obtained or developed for internal use. Software obtained for internal use has generally been enterprise-level business software that the Company customizes to meet its specific operational needs. Costs incurred in the application development phase are capitalized as Property, Net in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives.

We also enter into certain cloud-based software hosting arrangements. Capitalizable cloud computing arrangement costs are generally consistent with those incurred during the application development stage for internal-use software, however, these costs are capitalized as Other assets in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2024, there is $76.4 million capitalized within Other non-current assets.

Goodwill and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets

Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price paid over the fair value of the net assets of the acquired business. We assess goodwill for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently when events or changes in circumstance indicate that the asset may be impaired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level. The Company's reporting units are at a level below the Company's reportable operating segments. Goodwill is allocated to the reporting units based on the estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. Our annual measurement date for testing impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets is October 1.

The Company may perform a qualitative test to determine whether it is more likely than not the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount in order to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. For our quantitative test, we use an income approach to estimate the fair value of our reporting units. The income approach uses a reporting unit’s projection of estimated operating results and cash flows that is discounted using a weighted-average cost of capital that is determined based on current market conditions. The projection uses management’s best estimates of economic and market conditions over the projected period, including sales growth rates, operating margins, capital expenditures, working capital, discount rates and terminal value growth rates. We validate our estimates of fair value under the income approach by considering the implied control premium and conclude whether the implied control premium is reasonable based on other recent market transactions.

40 AVIENT CORPORATION

Indefinite-lived intangible assets primarily consist of the Dyneema, GLS, ColorMatrix, Gordon Composites, and Fiber-Line trade names. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested qualitatively or quantitatively for impairment at least annually as of October 1 to determine whether their fair values exceed their respective carrying amounts, unless events or changes in circumstance indicate that the asset may be impaired prior to the annual test. For our quantitative test, the implied fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets is determined based on significant unobservable inputs. The fair value of the trade names is calculated using a “relief from royalty” methodology. This approach involves two steps: (1) estimating reasonable royalty rates for the trade name and (2) applying this royalty rate to a net sales stream and discounting the resulting cash flows to determine fair value using a weighted-average cost of capital that is determined based on current market conditions. This fair value is then compared with the carrying value of the trade name.

In 2023, the annual goodwill impairment test was performed using a quantitative approach. In 2024, the Company performed a qualitative approach, including assessing certain trends and factors, including projected market outlook and growth rates, forecasted and actual sales and operating profit margins, discount rates, industry data and other relevant qualitative factors. These trends and factors were compared to the assumptions used in the 2023 quantitative analysis for each reporting unit. The results of the qualitative assessment did not indicate a need to perform a quantitative analysis.

In 2023, the indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment tests were performed using a quantitative approach. In 2024, the Company performed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative approach includes assessing certain trends and factors, including projected market outlook and growth rates, forecasted and actual sales, discount rates, other relevant qualitative factors. These trends and factors were compared to the assumptions used in the 2023 quantitative analysis. The quantitative analysis was performed by estimating the fair value of the indefinite-lived trade name using a royalty relief methodology. This analysis includes estimates of future cash flows that are based on the Company's long-term strategic plan and the applicable weighted-average cost of capital used to discount estimated cash flows.

Based on the results of our impairment analyses, the Company concluded the fair value of its reporting units and trade names continued to exceed their respective carrying value.

Litigation Reserves

We accrue for loss contingencies associated with outstanding litigation, claims and assessments for which management has determined it is probable that a loss contingency exists and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. We recognize expense associated with professional fees related to litigation claims and assessments as incurred. Refer to Note 11, Commitments and Contingencies, for further information.

Derivative Financial Instruments

All derivative financial instruments, such as foreign exchange contracts, are recognized in the financial statements and measured at fair value, regardless of the purpose or intent in holding them.

We are exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange changes and to changes in cash flows due to changes in our contractually specified interest rates (e.g., SOFR) in the normal course of business. We have established policies and procedures that manage this exposure through the use of financial instruments. By policy, we do not enter into these instruments for trading purposes or speculation. We formally assess, designate and document, as a hedge of an underlying exposure, the qualifying derivative instrument that will be accounted for as an accounting hedge at inception. Additionally, we assess at inception whether the financial instruments used in the hedging transaction are highly effective at offsetting changes in either the fair values or cash flows of the underlying exposures. If highly effective, any subsequent test may be done qualitatively.

We have executed cross-currency swaps which are documented and designated as net investment hedges of our Euro denominated investment in foreign entities. We pay fixed-rate interest in Euros and receive fixed-rate interest in U.S. dollars related to our future obligations to exchange Euros for U.S. dollars. The interest receivable on the swaps is accrued each month for effective instruments designated as a hedge and is reflected within Interest expense, netwithin the Consolidated Statements of Income and the remaining change in the fair value of the derivatives is recorded as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (AOCI). From time to time, we may enter into certain foreign currency exchange forward contracts, which are not designated as hedges and are adjusted to fair value at each period end, with the resulting gains and losses recognized in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income immediately. In 2022, we entered into certain foreign currency derivative contracts to mitigate the potential impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes on the purchase price associated with the APM Acquisition, which the Company did not originally designate as hedges.

Refer to Note 15, Derivatives and Hedging, for more information.

41 AVIENT CORPORATION

Pension and Other Post-retirement Plans

We immediately recognize actuarial gains and losses in our operating results in the year in which the gains or losses occur. Refer to Note 10, Employee Benefit Plans, for more information.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in 2024, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

(In millions)Cumulative Translation Adjustment and Related Hedging InstrumentsPension and other post-retirement benefitsTotal
Balance at January 1, 2022$(50.8)$5.2$(45.6)
Translation Adjustments(60.3)—(60.3)
Unrealized gains on derivatives23.9—23.9
Prior service credit—6.26.2
Balance at December 31, 2022(87.2)11.4(75.8)
Translation Adjustments90.9—90.9
Unrealized losses on derivatives(96.1)—(96.1)
Amortization of prior service credit—(6.4)(6.4)
Balance at December 31, 2023(92.4)5.0(87.4)
Translation Adjustments(167.7)—(167.7)
Unrealized gains on derivatives77.3—77.3
Balance at December 31, 2024$(182.8)$5.0$(177.8)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The estimated fair values of financial instruments were principally based on market prices where such prices were available and, where unavailable, fair values were estimated based on market prices of similar instruments.

Foreign Currency Translation

Revenues and expenses are translated at average currency exchange rates during the related period. Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated using the exchange rate at the end of the reporting period. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions, including intercompany transactions that are not considered long-term investments, are included in Other income (expense), net.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue once control of the product is transferred to the customer, which typically occurs when products are shipped from our facilities.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are included in Cost of sales.

Research and Development Expense

Research and development costs of $98.7 million in 2024, $90.3 million in 2023 and $84.9 million in 2022 are charged to expense as incurred.

Environmental Remediation Costs

We expense costs that are associated with managing hazardous substances and pollution in ongoing operations on a current basis. Costs associated with environmental contamination are accrued when it becomes probable that a liability has been incurred and our proportionate share of the cost can be reasonably estimated. Any such provision is recognized using the Company's best estimate of the amount of loss incurred, or at the lower end of an estimated range, when a single best estimate is not determinable. In some cases, the Company recovers a portion of the costs relating to these obligations from insurers or other third parties, and the recovery is recognized when realization of the proceeds is deemed as probable.

42 AVIENT CORPORATION

Share-Based Compensation

In accounting for share-based compensation, we estimate the fair value of share-based awards on the date of grant. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2024, we hadone active share-based employee compensation plan, which is described more fully in Note 13, Share-Based Compensation.

Income Taxes

Deferred income tax liabilities and assets are determined based upon the differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the tax rate and laws currently in effect. We evaluate our deferred income taxes to determine whether a valuation allowance should be established against the deferred tax assets or whether the valuation allowance should be reduced based on consideration of all available evidence, both positive and negative, using a “more likely than not” standard. See Note 12, Income Taxes, for additional detail.

Note 2 — DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

On November 1, 2022, Avient sold its Distribution business to an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital for $950.0 million in cash consideration, subject to a customary working capital adjustment. Total proceeds were $935.5 million, of which $7.3 million was received in the year ended December 31, 2023. The results of the Distribution business are classified as discontinued operations for all years presented. The sale resulted in the recognition of an after-tax gain of $550.1 million, which is reflected within the Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes line of the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The following table summarizes the major line items constituting pretax income of discontinued operations associated with the Distribution business segment for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

(In millions)20232022
Sales$—$1,331.7
Cost of sales—(1,191.9)
Selling and administrative expense(0.9)(41.9)
Pre-tax gain on sale—717.0
(Loss) income from discontinued operations before income taxes(0.9)814.9
Income tax benefit (expense)0.8(194.6)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes$(0.1)$620.3

Note 3 — GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment were as follows:

(In millions)Specialty Engineered MaterialsColor, Additives and InksTotal
Balance at January 1, 2023$652.2$1,019.7$1,671.9
Acquisition of businesses10.3—10.3
Currency translation20.017.137.1
Balance at December 31, 2023682.51,036.81,719.3
Currency translation(26.2)(33.4)(59.6)
Balance at December 31, 2024$656.3$1,003.4$1,659.7

43 AVIENT CORPORATION

Indefinite and finite-lived intangible assets consisted of the following:

(In millions)Acquisition CostAccumulated AmortizationCurrency TranslationNet
Customer relationships$726.2$(234.9)$(0.4)$490.9
Patents, technology and other847.0(255.8)(6.1)585.1
Indefinite-lived trade names362.8—11.6374.4
Total$1,936.0$(490.7)$5.1$1,450.4
(In millions)Acquisition CostAccumulated AmortizationCurrency TranslationNet
Customer relationships$726.2$(199.8)$20.0$546.4
Patents, technology and other841.8(213.1)22.5651.2
Indefinite-lived trade names368.0—25.2393.2
Total$1,936.0$(412.9)$67.7$1,590.8

Amortization of finite-lived intangible assets included in continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $77.8 million, $79.8 million and $63.6 million, respectively.

We expect finite-lived intangibles amortization expense for the next five years as follows:

(In millions)20252026202720282029
Expected amortization expense$77.8$77.1$75.0$74.3$73.9

Note 4 — EMPLOYEE SEPARATION AND RESTRUCTURING COSTS

We are engaged in a restructuring program associated with our integration of Clariant Color. These actions are expected to enable us to better serve customers, improve efficiency and deliver cost savings. We expect that the full restructuring plan will be implemented by the end of 2025 and anticipate that we will incur approximately $70.0 million of charges in connection with the restructuring plan. As of December 31, 2024, $62.3 million had been incurred.

A summary of the Clariant Color integration restructuring is shown below:

(In millions)Workforce reductionsPlant closing and otherTotal
Balance at January 1, 2022$7.5$0.6$8.1
Restructuring charges30.82.132.9
Payments, utilization and translation(4.0)(0.3)(4.3)
Balance at December 31, 2022$34.3$2.4$36.7
Restructuring charges6.91.28.1
Payments, utilization and translation(10.9)(2.8)(13.7)
Balance at December 31, 2023$30.3$0.8$31.1
Restructuring charges0.41.62.0
Payments, utilization and translation(23.3)(1.6)(24.9)
Balance at December 31, 2024$7.4$0.8$8.2

Additional charges, primarily personnel reductions, taken throughout 2023 due to slowing global demand resulted in costs of $18.3 million recorded. Cash payments of $14.2 million were made in relation to these reductions throughout 2023.

44 AVIENT CORPORATION

Total restructuring costs included in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 are shown in the table below, and are primarily associated with the Clariant Color integration.

(In millions)202420232022
Cost of goods sold$(1.0)$11.9$31.1
Selling and administrative expenses5.514.57.0
Total employee separation and restructuring charges$4.5$26.4$38.1

Note 5 — FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

For each of the periods presented, total debt consisted of the following:

As of December 31, 2024 (in millions)Principal AmountUnamortized discount and debt issuance costNet DebtWeighted average interest rate
Senior secured revolving credit facility due 2026$—$—$——%
Senior secured term loan due 2029720.715.5705.27.30%
7.125% senior notes due 2030725.07.5717.57.125%
6.250% senior notes due 2031650.09.2640.86.250%
Other Debt3.5—3.5
Total Debt2,099.232.22,067.0
Less short-term and current portion of long-term debt7.7—7.7
Total long-term debt, net of current portion$2,091.5$32.2$2,059.3
As of December 31, 2023 (in millions)Principal AmountUnamortized discount and debt issuance costNet DebtWeighted average interest rate
Senior secured revolving credit facility due 2026$—$—$——%
Senior secured term loan due 2029727.918.9709.07.88%
5.750% senior notes due 2025650.02.8647.25.75%
7.125% senior notes due 2030725.08.8716.27.125%
Other Debt7.6—7.6
Total Debt2,110.530.52,080.0
Less short-term and current portion of long-term debt9.5—9.5
Total long-term debt, net of current portion$2,101.0$30.5$2,070.5

On April 9, 2024, the Company refinanced its senior secured term loan by amending the credit agreement governing such term loan (the Term Loan Amendment). The Term Loan Amendment reduced the interest rates per annum by 50 basis points, which are now either (i) Adjusted Term SOFR (as defined in the Term Loan Amendment) plus 2.00%, or (ii) a Base Rate (as defined in the Term Loan Amendment) plus 1.00%. The maturity date and other terms and conditions are substantially the same as the terms and conditions under the credit agreement immediately prior to the Term Loan Amendment.

On September 19, 2024, the Company completed the issuance of $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.250% Senior Notes which will mature on November 1, 2031 (the 2031 Notes). The Company received proceeds of $641.9 million, net of financing costs, related to the issuance. Interest on the 2031 Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing on May 1, 2025. The 2031 Notes were sold in a private offering and are senior unsecured obligations of the Company.

Proceeds from the 2031 Notes and cash on hand were used to fully redeem the $650.0 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of the Company's 5.750% Senior Notes due May 15, 2025. The notes were redeemed at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount.

45 AVIENT CORPORATION

The Company maintains a senior secured revolving credit facility (the Revolving Credit Facility), which matures on October 26, 2026 and provides a maximum borrowing facility size of $500.0 million, subject to a borrowing base with advances against certain U.S. and international accounts receivable, inventory and other assets as specified in the agreement. As of December 31, 2024, we hadno borrowings outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility, which had remaining availability of $211.4 million.

The agreements governing our Revolving Credit Facility and our senior secured term loan, and the indentures and credit agreements governing other debt contain a number of customary financial and restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to: sell or otherwise transfer assets, including in a spin-off, incur additional debt or liens, consolidate or merge with any entity or transfer or sell all or substantially all of our assets, pay dividends or make certain other restricted payments, make investments, enter into transactions with affiliates, create dividend or other payment restrictions with respect to subsidiaries, make capital investments and alter the business we conduct. As of December 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all covenants.

The estimated fair value of Avient’s debt instruments at December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $2,083.3 million and $2,113.7 million, respectively, compared to carrying values of $2,067.0 million and $2,080.0 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The fair value of Avient’s debt instruments was estimated using prevailing market interest rates on debt with similar creditworthiness, terms and maturities and represent Level 2 measurements within the fair value hierarchy.

Aggregate maturities of the principal amount of debt for the next five years and thereafter are as follows:

(In millions)
2025$7.7
20267.7
20277.6
20287.7
2029692.0
Thereafter1,376.5
Aggregate maturities$2,099.2

Included in Interest expense, net for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was interest income of $50.1 million, $49.8 million, and $34.0 million, respectively. Total interest paid on debt, net of the impact of hedging (see Note 15, Derivatives and Hedging), was $85.2 million in 2024, $106.3 million in 2023 and $69.4 million in 2022.

Note 6 — LEASING ARRANGEMENTS

We lease certain manufacturing facilities, warehouse space, machinery and equipment, vehicles and information technology equipment under operating leases. The majority of our leases are operating leases. Finance leases are immaterial to our consolidated financial statements. Operating lease assets and obligations are reflected within Operating lease assets, net, Accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and Other non-current liabilities, respectively.

Lease expense for these leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, with variable lease payments recognized in the period those payments are incurred. The components of lease cost from continued operations recognized within our Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

(In millions)202420232022
Cost of sales$20.8$19.7$18.8
Selling and administrative expense11.211.610.1
Total operating lease cost$32.0$31.4$28.9

46 AVIENT CORPORATION

We often have options to renew lease terms for buildings and other assets. The exercise of lease renewal options are generally at our sole discretion. In addition, certain lease arrangements may be terminated prior to their original expiration date at our discretion. We evaluate renewal and termination options at the lease commencement date to determine if we are reasonably certain to exercise the option on the basis of economic factors. The weighted average remaining lease term for our operating leases as of both December 31, 2024 and 2023 was 5.6 years. The non-cash net increase in operating lease liabilities was $37.3 million, $18.1 million and $13.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The discount rate implicit within our leases is generally not determinable and, therefore, the Company determines the discount rate based on its incremental borrowing rate. The incremental borrowing rate for our leases is determined based on lease term and currency in which lease payments are made, adjusted for impacts of collateral.

The weighted average discount rate used to measure our operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 were 6.0% and 5.0%, respectively.

Maturities of lease liabilitiesat December 31, 2024 are as follows:

(In millions)2024
2025$22.6
202618.8
202715.5
202810.0
20295.8
Thereafter28.4
Total$101.1
Less amount of lease payment representing interest(19.4)
Total present value of lease payments$81.7

Note 7 — INVENTORIES, NET

Components of Inventories, net as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 are as follows:

(In millions)20242023
Finished products$159.2$166.0
Work in process21.019.8
Raw materials and supplies166.6161.2
Inventories, net$346.8$347.0

Inventory reserves totaled $36.3 million and $34.5 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and are included within the table above.

Note 8 — PROPERTY, NET

Components of Property, net as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 are as follows:

(In millions)20242023
Land and land improvements$93.9$98.5
Buildings438.3439.8
Machinery and equipment1,291.61,381.1
Property, gross1,823.81,919.4
Less accumulated depreciation(868.5)(890.5)
Property, net$955.3$1,028.9

Depreciation expense, including accelerated depreciation associated with restructuring actions, from continuing operations was $101.9 million in 2024, $109.0 million in 2023 and $98.9 million in 2022.

47 AVIENT CORPORATION

Note 9 — OTHER BALANCE SHEET LIABILITIES

Other current and non-current liabilities as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 consist of the following:

Accrued expenses and other current liabilitiesOther non-current liabilities
(In millions)2024202320242023
Employment costs$147.9$119.8$15.7$12.6
Deferred compensation——16.331.7
Restructuring costs10.135.0——
Environmental liabilities16.232.1129.8125.1
Accrued taxes48.145.5——
Pension and other post-retirement benefits6.25.658.067.2
Accrued interest44.133.6——
Dividends payable24.723.5——
Unrecognized tax benefits6.53.09.616.4
Derivatives——104.7199.1
Operating lease obligations18.216.663.543.2
Other9.017.18.19.5
Total$331.0$331.8$405.7$504.8

Note 10 — EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

All U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plans are frozen, no longer accrue benefits and are closed to new participants. We have foreign pension plans that accrue benefits. The plans generally provide benefit payments using a formula that is based upon employee compensation and length of service.

The following tables present the change in benefit obligation, change in plan assets and components of funded status for defined benefit pension and post-retirement health care benefit plans.

Pension BenefitsHealth Care Benefits
(In millions)2024202320242023
Change in benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation - beginning of year$423.8$433.8$4.4$5.9
Service cost2.73.1——
Interest cost18.219.60.20.3
Actuarial (gain) / loss(9.1)9.2(0.7)(1.0)
Benefits paid(39.1)(44.8)(0.4)(0.9)
Other(4.8)2.9(0.1)0.1
Projected benefit obligation - end of year391.7423.83.44.4
Projected salary increases(5.5)(6.5)——
Accumulated benefit obligation$386.2$417.3$3.4$4.4
Change in plan assets:
Plan assets - beginning of year$400.5$396.6$—$—
Actual return on plan assets17.937.7——
Company contributions7.09.10.40.9
Benefits paid(39.1)(44.8)(0.4)(0.9)
Other0.21.9——
Plan assets - end of year$386.5$400.5$—$—
Unfunded status at end of year$(5.2)$(23.3)$(3.4)$(4.4)

48 AVIENT CORPORATION

Amounts included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31 are as follows:

Pension BenefitsHealth Care Benefits
(In millions)2024202320242023
Non-current assets$55.5$45.1$—$—
Accrued expenses and other liabilities5.75.10.40.5
Other non-current liabilities55.063.33.03.9

As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had plans with total projected and accumulated benefit obligations in excess of the related plan assets as follows:

Pension BenefitsHealth Care Benefits
(In millions)2024202320242023
Projected benefit obligation$88.7$92.9$3.4$4.4
Fair value of plan assets25.224.5——
Accumulated benefit obligation81.286.63.44.4
Fair value of plan assets22.723.8——

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at December 31:

Pension BenefitsHealth Care Benefits
2024202320242023
Discount rate4.9%4.5%5.1%4.9%

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit cost or gain that was recognized during each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2024.

Pension BenefitsHealth Care Benefits
(In millions)202420232022202420232022
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost$2.7$3.1$4.1$—$—$—
Interest cost18.219.614.10.20.30.4
Expected return on plan assets(24.1)(25.5)(22.4)———
Amortization of prior service cost(0.1)(0.1)——(6.3)—
Mark-to-market actuarial net (gains) losses(2.9)(2.8)31.4(0.7)(1.0)(2.9)
Net periodic (income) cost$(6.2)$(5.7)$27.2$(0.5)$(7.0)$(2.4)

In 2022, we recognized a $28.5 million mark-to-market loss that was primarily the result of actual asset returns that were lower than our expected return on plan assets. Partially offsetting the lower asset returns was an increase in our year end discount rate from 2.7% to 4.7%.

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the years ended December 31:

Pension BenefitsHealth Care Benefits
202420232022202420232022
Discount rate*4.5%4.7%2.7%4.9%5.2%2.9%
Expected long-term return on plan assets*6.3%6.7%4.4%———

*The mark-to-market component of net periodic costs is determined based on discount rates as of year-end and actual asset returns during the year.

The expected long-term rate of return on pension assets was determined after considering the forward looking long-term asset returns by asset category and the expected investment portfolio mix.

49 AVIENT CORPORATION

Our pension investment strategy is to diversify the portfolio among asset categories to enhance the portfolio’s risk-adjusted return as well as insulate it from exposure to changes in interest rates. Our asset mix considers the duration of plan liabilities, historical and expected returns of the investments, and the funded status of the plan. The pension asset allocation is reviewed and actively managed based on the funded status of the plan. Based on the current funded status of the plan, our pension asset investment allocation guidelines are weighted heavily to fixed income securities. The plan keeps a minimal amount of cash available to fund benefit payments. See the following table for the plans' asset allocation.

The fair values of pension plan assets at December 31, 2024 and 2023, by asset category, are as follows:

(In millions)QuotedPrices inActiveMarkets(Level 1)SignificantOtherObservableInputs(Level 2)SignificantUnobservableInputs(Level 3)Total Investments (at Fair Value)
Asset category
Cash$4.6$—$—$4.6
Bonds and notes46.9——46.9
Global equity8.5——8.5
Other—4.116.220.3
Total$60.0$4.1$16.2$80.3
Investments measured at NAV:
Common collective funds:
United States equity42.3
International equity25.5
Fixed income238.4
Total common collective funds$306.2
Total investments at fair value$386.5
(In millions)QuotedPrices inActiveMarkets(Level 1)SignificantOtherObservableInputs(Level 2)SignificantUnobservableInputs(Level 3)Total Investments (at Fair Value)
Asset category
Cash$3.9$—$—$3.9
Bonds and notes52.8——52.8
Global equity8.7——8.7
Other—3.115.318.4
Total$65.4$3.1$15.3$83.8
Investments measured at NAV:
Common collective funds:
United States equity43.8
International equity44.0
Global equity21.9
Fixed income207.0
Total common collective funds$316.7
Total investments at fair value$400.5

50 AVIENT CORPORATION

Pension Plan Assets

Other assets are primarily insurance contracts for international plans. The U.S. equity common collective funds are predominately invested in equity securities actively traded in public markets. The international and global equity common collective funds have broadly diversified investments across economic sectors and focus on low volatility, long-term investments. The fixed income common collective funds consist primarily of publicly traded United States fixed interest obligations (principally investment grade bonds and government securities).

Level 1 assets are valued based on quoted market prices. Level 2 investments are valued based on quoted market prices and/or other market data for the same or comparable instruments and transactions of the underlying fixed income investments. The insurance contracts included in the other asset category are valued at the transacted price. Common collective funds are valued at the net asset value of units held by the fund at year-end. The unit value is determined by the total value of fund assets divided by the total number of units of the fund owned.

The estimated future benefit payments for our pension and health care plans are as follows:

(In millions)Pension BenefitsHealth Care Benefits
2025$39.2$0.4
202637.50.4
202735.90.4
202835.80.3
202936.00.3
2030 through 2034154.71.2

We currently estimate that employer contributions will be $7.5 million to all qualified and non-qualified pension plans and $0.4 million to all healthcare benefit plans in 2025.

The Company sponsors various voluntary retirement savings plans (RSP). Under the provisions of the plans, eligible employees receive defined Company contributions and are eligible for Company matching contributions based on their eligible earnings contributed to the plan. In addition, we may make discretionary contributions to the plans for eligible employees based on a specific percentage of each employee’s compensation.

Following are our contributions to the RSP:

(In millions)202420232022
Retirement savings match$11.8$11.9$12.7

Note 11 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

We have been notified by federal and state environmental agencies and by private parties that we may be a potentially responsible party (PRP) in connection with the environmental investigation and remediation of certain sites. While government agencies frequently assert that PRPs are jointly and severally liable at these sites, in our experience, the interim and final allocations of liability costs are generally made based on the relative contribution of waste. We may also initiate corrective and preventive environmental projects of our own to support safe and lawful activities at our operations. We believe that compliance with current governmental regulations at all levels will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In September 2007, the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky (Court) in the case of Westlake Vinyls, Inc. v. Goodrich Corporation, et al., held that Avient must pay the remediation costs at the former Goodrich Corporation Calvert City facility (now largely owned and operated by Westlake Vinyls, Inc. (Westlake Vinyls)), together with certain defense costs of Goodrich Corporation. The rulings also provided that Avient can seek indemnification for contamination attributable to Westlake Vinyls. Following the rulings, the parties to the litigation agreed to settle all claims regarding past environmental costs incurred at the site. The settlement agreement provides a mechanism to pursue allocation of future remediation costs at the Calvert City site to Westlake Vinyls.

The environmental obligation at the site arose as a result of an agreement between The B.F. Goodrich Company (n/k/a Goodrich Corporation) and our predecessor, The Geon Company, at the time of the initial public offering in 1993. Under the agreement, The Geon Company agreed to indemnify Goodrich Corporation for certain environmental costs at the site. Neither Avient nor The Geon Company ever operated the facility.

51 AVIENT CORPORATION

Since 2009, Avient, along with respondents Westlake Vinyls and Goodrich Corporation, has worked with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to address the remedial activities at the site. The USEPA issued its Record of Decision (ROD) in September 2018. In April 2019, the respondents signed an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent with the USEPA to conduct the remedial actions at the site. In February 2020, three companies signed the agreed Consent Decree and remedial action Work Plan, which received Federal Court approval in January 2021.

In 2023, the Company recognized charges of $20.6 million associated with the completion of certain remedial action activities at the site. Further, the Company received construction bids based on an interim design for the largest component of remedial action at Calvert City, the construction of a barrier wall around the site, which began in 2024. These construction cost updates resulted in an additional charge of $36.2 million in 2023. In 2024, the Company finalized the design and construction estimates for one phase of the barrier wall, as well as an updated remedial action timeline at the site, which resulted in charges of $19.8 million. Construction of the initial barrier wall section began in 2024 and was substantially complete as of December 31, 2024. The remaining wall designs and construction are expected to be completed in phases between 2025 and 2028. As the Company completes further design work and begins construction on the remaining sections of the barrier wall, the Company will update its accrual, which was $137.7 million as of December 31, 2024 for any new information as it becomes available.

Total environmental accruals of $146.0 million and $157.2 million are reflected within Accrued expenses and other current liabilities and Other non-current liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. These undiscounted accruals represent our best estimate of probable future costs that we can reasonably estimate, based upon currently available information and technology and how the remedy will be implemented. It is reasonably possible that we could incur additional costs in excess of the amount accrued, which could be material to our Consolidated Statements of Income. However, such additional costs cannot currently be estimated as they are dependent upon the results of future testing and findings during the execution of remedial design and remedial action, changes in the Calvert City construction timeline, changes in regulations, technology development, new information, newly discovered conditions and other factors that are not currently known.

The following table details the changes in the environmental accrued liabilities:

(In millions)202420232022
Balance at beginning of the year$157.2$118.3$124.5
Environmental expenses35.069.624.1
Net cash payments(46.1)(30.7)(30.2)
Currency translation and other(0.1)—(0.1)
Balance at the end of year$146.0$157.2$118.3

The environmental expenses noted in the table above, primarily related to the ongoing remedial action at Calvert City, are included in Cost of sales within the Consolidated Statements of Income.

In 2024, Avient recognized a gain of $34.7 million associated with insurance recoveries for previously incurred losses at the Calvert City site. This gain is included in Cost of sales within the Consolidated Statements of Income. We received $0.7 million of cash associated with these insurance recoveries in the fourth quarter of 2024, while $34.0 million is expected to be received in the first quarter of 2025. Further insurance recoveries related to remedial activities at the Calvert City site are expected to be immaterial. We received insurance recoveries of $1.7 million and $8.3 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Avient is subject to a broad range of claims, administrative and legal proceedings such as lawsuits that relate to contractual allegations, tax audits, product claims, personal injuries, and employment related matters. Although it is not possible to predict with certainty the outcome or cost of these matters, the Company believes our current reserves are appropriate and these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial statements.

52 AVIENT CORPORATION

Note 12 — INCOME TAXES

The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. and numerous international jurisdictions. In determining the effective income tax rate, the Company analyzes various factors, including annual earnings, the laws of taxing jurisdictions in which the earnings were generated, the impact of state and local income taxes, the ability to use tax credits, net operating loss carryforwards, and available planning alternatives. Discrete items, including the effect of changes in tax laws, statutory tax rates, and valuation allowances or other non-recurring tax adjustments are reflected in the period in which they occur as an addition to or reduction from, the tax provision. We recognize tax on global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) and the deduction of foreign-derived intangible income (FDII) as a period expense in the period in which the tax is incurred.

In January 2019, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) announced further work in continuation of its Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project, focusing on two "pillars." Pillar One provides a framework for the reallocation of certain residual profits of multinational enterprises to market jurisdictions where goods or services are used or consumed. Pillar Two consists of two interrelated rules referred to as Global Anti-Base Erosion ("GloBe") Rules, which operate to impose a minimum tax rate of 15% calculated on a jurisdictional basis for companies with revenue above €750 million. Certain jurisdictions enacted legislation to adopt GloBE rules with effective dates beginning in 2024. As a result of the transition rules, Avient does not expect there to be a material impact to its financial statements. The Company will continue to monitor legislative and regulatory developments in this area.

Income from continuing operations, before income taxes is summarized below based on the geographic location of the operation to which such earnings are attributable.

Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income taxes consists of the following:

(In millions)202420232022
Domestic$(25.3)$(2.7)$(82.4)
International250.190.0146.2
Income from continuing operations, before income taxes$224.8$87.3$63.8

A summary of income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations is as follows:

(In millions)202420232022
Current income tax expense (benefit):
Domestic$7.5$18.5$(76.2)
International70.453.856.4
Total current income tax expense (benefit)$77.9$72.3$(19.8)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Domestic$(11.4)$(35.8)$2.6
International(12.4)(25.5)(2.1)
Total deferred income tax (benefit) expense$(23.8)$(61.3)$0.5
Total income tax expense (benefit)$54.1$11.0$(19.3)

53 AVIENT CORPORATION

A reconciliation of the applicable U.S. federal statutory tax rate to the consolidated effective income tax rate from continuing operations along with a description of significant reconciling items is included below for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.

202420232022
U.S. federal income tax rate21.0%21.0%21.0%
International tax rate differential:
Asia0.40.91.1
Europe(0.8)(5.2)(12.4)
North and South America2.14.55.9
Total international tax rate differential1.70.2(5.5)
Net tax on GILTI and Subpart F Income(0.5)2.25.9
International tax on certain current and prior year earnings1.63.90.2
Non-deductible interest0.45.32.9
Research and development credit(1.7)(3.7)(5.0)
Capital losses—(5.4)(88.1)
State and local tax, net(0.7)(2.3)(4.0)
International permanent items0.7(7.5)12.1
U.S. permanent items2.12.51.9
Net impact of uncertain tax positions(1.1)(5.3)12.9
Changes in valuation allowances—3.615.4
Other0.6(1.9)0.1
Effective income tax rate24.1%12.6%(30.2)%

The effective tax rates for all periods differed from the applicable U.S. federal income tax rate as a result of permanent items, state and local income taxes, differences in international tax rates and certain other items. Permanent items primarily consist of income or expense not taxable or deductible. Significant items impacting the effective income tax rate are described below.

2024 Significant items

The consolidated effective income tax rate from continuing operations was 24.1%, which was higher than the U.S. federal rate of 21%. This higher rate was primarily driven by U.S. permanent items of 2.1%, international rate differential of 1.7% and tax associated with foreign income repatriation of 1.6%. These items were partially offset by credits associated with research and development of 1.7% and changes in uncertain tax position which resulted in a net benefit of 1.1%.

2023 Significant items

The consolidated effective income tax rate from continuing operations was 12.6%, which was lower than the U.S. federal rate of 21%. This lower rate was primarily driven by the recognition of tax benefits of 7.5% associated with tax impairments of investments in affiliates, driven in part from European restructuring actions. Further, we recognized a 5.4% tax benefit from federal and state capital losses associated with an international affiliate's tax status change in 2022. Finally, we recognized tax benefits from the reduction of uncertain tax positions as well as the U.S. R&D tax credit, which reduced the tax rate,5.3% and 3.7%, respectively. Partially offsetting these benefits were non-deductible foreign interest,5.3%, tax associated with foreign income repatriation,3.9%, and an increase of our valuation allowance which impacted the rate 3.6%.

2022 Significant items

We recognized a net tax benefit of 88.1% in 2022 from federal and state capital loss deductions associated with an international affiliate's tax status change. We also recognized a tax benefit of 5.5% associated with earnings in foreign jurisdictions with statutory rates below the U.S. federal income tax rate. Further, the state and local tax benefit was 4.0%, driven by a U.S. tax loss.

54 AVIENT CORPORATION

Offsetting these benefits in 2022 were the tax impact of international permanent items of 12.1%, which primarily included an unfavorable tax effect of withholding taxes. We also increased our valuation allowance, which impacted the rate 15.4%, for deferred tax assets that are unlikely to create income tax benefits before their expiration. Further, uncertain tax positions increased, which impacted the rate 12.9%, primarily associated with European restructuring charges which are not expected to realize and a tax effect of non-deductible foreign interest of 2.9%.

Components of our deferred tax assets (liabilities) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:

(In millions)20242023
Deferred tax assets:
Employment costs22.021.4
Environmental accruals35.538.5
Net operating loss carryforwards60.866.0
Operating leases9.57.8
Research and development53.045.8
Capitalized and carryforward interest78.548.7
Financial Derivatives4.548.3
Other32.752.2
Gross deferred tax assets$296.5$328.7
Valuation allowances(30.3)(39.6)
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances$266.2$289.1
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment$(100.4)$(101.3)
Goodwill and intangibles(318.5)(351.2)
Operating leases(9.7)(7.6)
Other(16.7)(18.3)
Total deferred tax liabilities$(445.3)$(478.4)
Net deferred tax liabilities$(179.1)$(189.3)
Consolidated Balance Sheets:
Non-current deferred income tax assets$81.3$92.3
Non-current deferred income tax liabilities$(260.4)$(281.6)

As of December 31, 2024, we had gross state net operating loss carryforwards of $66.6 million that expire between 2025 and 2038 or that have indefinite carryforward periods. Various international subsidiaries have gross net operating loss carryforwards totaling $225.7 million that expire between 2025 and 2041 or that have indefinite carryforward periods.

As of December 31, 2024, no tax provision has been made on approximately $93.1 million of undistributed earnings of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries as these amounts continue to be indefinitely reinvested consistent with our policy. The cash that is permanently reinvested is typically used for operations. It is not practical to estimate the additional income taxes and applicable withholding taxes that would be payable on the remittance of such undistributed earnings. Tax on certain foreign earnings as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 included in the Other deferred tax liabilities line in the table above are $9.7 million and $9.2 million, respectively.

We made worldwide income tax payments of $74.2 million, $156.4 million and $109.7 million in 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. We received refunds of $8.3 million, $5.2 million and $29.4 million in 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.

55 AVIENT CORPORATION

A reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

Unrecognized Tax Benefits
(In millions)202420232022
Balance as of January 1,$16.9$25.4$19.8
Increases as a result of positions taken during current year0.31.910.6
Increases as a result of positions taken for prior years0.70.40.4
Reductions for tax positions of prior years(0.6)(10.7)(4.3)
Decreases as a result of lapse of statute of limitations(3.2)(0.6)(0.6)
Other, net(0.5)0.5(0.5)
Balance as of December 31,$13.6$16.9$25.4

We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in the tax provision. We had $2.5 million accrued as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.

Expected tax settlements during the next twelve months are expected to be a benefit of $5.8 million to our unrecognized tax positions. If all unrecognized tax benefits were recognized, the net impact on the tax provision would be a benefit of $13.6 million.

In December 2024, Avient received a Notice of Deficiency (Notice) from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) proposing an adjustment to the 2019 tax year resulting from a disallowed capital loss. The proposed incremental tax liability associated with the Notice is $23.8 million. We disagree with the Notice and will vigorously contest it by filing a petition in U.S. Tax Court in the first quarter of 2025. However, there can be no assurance this dispute with the IRS will be resolved favorably. As of December 31, 2024, no income tax provision has been recorded related to this matter. An unfavorable resolution in U.S. Tax Court could result in cash tax payments, plus interest, and adversely impact the effective tax rate. With limited exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and international tax examinations for periods preceding 2021.

Note 13 — SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

Share-based compensation cost recognized in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income includes compensation cost for share-based payment awards based on an estimated grant date fair value. Share-based compensation expense is based on awards expected to vest and therefore has been reduced for estimated forfeitures.

Equity and Performance Incentive Plans

In May 2020, our shareholders approved the Avient Corporation 2020 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (2020 Plan). This plan reserved 2.5 million common shares for the award of a variety of share-based compensation alternatives, including non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units (RSUs), performance shares, performance units and stock appreciation rights (SARs). It is anticipated that all share-based grants and awards that are earned and exercised will be issued from Avient common shares that are held in treasury.

In May 2023, our shareholders voted to approve an amendment and restatement of the 2020 Plan (Amended 2020 Plan). The Amended 2020 Plan increases the number of common shares available for awards under the 2020 plan by 2.5 million common shares.

Share-based compensation is included in Selling and administrative expense. A summary of compensation expense by type of award follows:

(In millions)202420232022
Stock appreciation rights$6.5$6.1$5.9
Performance shares0.10.20.2
Restricted stock units8.86.97.1
Total share-based compensation$15.4$13.2$13.2

56 AVIENT CORPORATION

Stock Appreciation Rights

During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the total number of SARs granted was 0.5 million,0.5 million and 0.4 million, respectively. Awards vest in one-third increments upon the later of the attainment of time-based vesting over athree-year service period and stock price targets. Awards granted in 2024, 2023 and 2022 are subject to an appreciation cap of 200% of the base price. SARs have contractual terms often years from the date of the grant.

The SARs were valued using a Monte Carlo simulation method as the vesting is dependent on the achievement of certain stock price targets. The SARs have time and stock price target requirements, both of which must be achieved in order to vest. Forfeitures were estimated at 3% per year based on our historical experience.

The following is a summary of the weighted average assumptions related to the grants issued during 2024, 2023 and 2022:

202420232022
Expected volatility36.0%35.0%33.0%
Expected dividends2.6%2.3%1.8%
Expected term (in years)6.46.46.9
Risk-free rate4.3%3.8%2.0%
Value of SARs granted$12.36$13.28$14.91

A summary of SAR activity for 2024 is presented below:

(In millions, except per share data)SharesWeighted-Average Exercise Price per ShareWeighted-Average Remaining Contractual TermAggregate Intrinsic value
Outstanding as of January 1, 20242.5$40.186.6$9.2
Granted0.539.27
Exercised(0.4)34.24
Forfeited or expired(0.1)44.38
Outstanding as of December 31, 20242.5$40.936.6$6.2
Vested and exercisable as of December 31, 20241.3$37.595.2$5.5

The total intrinsic value of SARs exercised during 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $5.6 million, $0.7 million and $2.4 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, there was $3.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to SARs, which is expected to be recognized over the weighted average remaining vesting period of 23 months.

Restricted Stock Units

RSUs represent contingent rights to receiveone common share at a future date provided certain vesting criteria are met.

During 2024, 2023 and 2022, the total number of RSUs granted were 0.2 million,0.3 million and 0.2 million, respectively. In 2024,0.2 million RSUs vested. These RSUs, which generally vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, were granted to executives and other key employees. Compensation expense is measured on the grant date using the quoted market price of our common shares and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.

As of December 31, 2024,0.6 million RSUs remain unvested with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $42.65. Unrecognized compensation cost for RSUs at December 31, 2024 was $11.3 million, which is expected to be recognized over the weighted average remaining vesting period of 24 months.

57 AVIENT CORPORATION

Note 14 — SEGMENT INFORMATION

Operating segments are components of the Company about which separate financial information is available and evaluated on a regular basis by the chief operating decision maker (CODM), which is the Company's chief executive officer, for the purpose of allocating resources and assessing performance. The Company's primary segment performance measure is operating income. Operating income at the segment level does not include corporate general and administrative expenses that are not allocated to segments, restructuring charges, environmental remediation obligations and associated recoveries, acquisition-related charges, mark-to-market adjustments on pension and other post-retirement obligations, and certain other items that are not included in the measure of segment profit or loss that is reported to and reviewed by our CODM. These costs are included in Corporate.

Segment assets are primarily customer receivables, inventories, net property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and goodwill. Corporate assets and liabilities primarily include cash, debt, pension and other employee benefits, environmental liabilities, and other unallocated corporate assets and liabilities. The accounting policies of each segment are consistent with those described in Note 1, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

Avient hastwo reportable segments: (1) Color, Additives and Inks and (2) Specialty Engineered Materials. The following is a description of each reportable segment.

Color, Additives and Inks

Color, Additives and Inks is a leading innovator of specialized custom color and additive concentrates in solid and liquid form for thermoplastics, dispersions for thermosets, as well as specialty inks. Color and additive solutions include an innovative array of colors, special effects and performance-enhancing and sustainable solutions. When combined with polymer resins, our solutions help customers achieve differentiated specialized colors and effects targeted at the demands of today’s highly design-oriented consumer and industrial end markets. Our additive concentrates encompass a wide variety of performance and process enhancing characteristics and are commonly categorized by the function that they perform, including UV light stabilization and blocking, antimicrobial, anti-static, blowing or foaming, antioxidant, lubricant, oxygen and visible light blocking and productivity enhancement. Of growing importance is our portfolio of additives that enable our customers to achieve their sustainability goals, regarding improved recyclability, reduced energy use, light weighting, and renewable energy applications. Our colorant and additives concentrates are used in a broad range of polymers, including those used in medical and pharmaceutical devices, food packaging, personal care and cosmetics, transportation, building products, wire and cable markets. We also provide custom-formulated liquid systems that meet a variety of customer needs and chemistries, including polyester, vinyl, natural rubber and latex, polyurethane and silicone. Our offerings also include proprietary inks and latexes for diversified markets such as recreational and athletic apparel, construction and filtration, outdoor furniture and healthcare. Our liquid polymer coatings and additives are largely based on vinyl and are used in a variety of markets, including consumer, packaging, healthcare, industrial, transportation, building and construction, wire and cable, textiles and appliances. Color, Additives and Inks has manufacturing, sales and service facilities located throughout North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

Specialty Engineered Materials

Specialty Engineered Materials is a leading innovator of specialty polymer materials, services and solutions for designers, assemblers and processors of thermoplastic materials across a wide variety of markets and end-use applications. Our product portfolio, which we believe to be one of the most diverse in our industry, includes specialty formulated high-performance polymer materials that are manufactured using thermoplastic resins and elastomers, which are then combined with advanced polymer additives, reinforcement, filler, colorant and/or biomaterial technologies. We also have what we believe is the broadest composite platform of solutions, which include a full range of thermoset and thermoplastic composites, reinforced with glass, carbon, aramid, and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers. These solutions meet a wide variety of unique customer requirements, in particular light weighting. Our technical and market expertise enables us to expand the performance range and structural properties of traditional engineering-grade thermoplastic resins to meet evolving customer needs in a variety of markets, including defense, consumer, industrial, transportation, energy, building and construction and healthcare. Specialty Engineered Materials has manufacturing, sales and service facilities located throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Our product development and application reach is further enhanced by the capabilities of our Innovation Centers in the United States, Germany, The Netherlands and China, which produce and evaluate prototype and sample parts to help assess end-use performance and guide product development. Our manufacturing capabilities are targeted at meeting our customers’ demand for speed, flexibility and critical quality.

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Financial information by reportable segment is as follows:

(In millions)Year Ended December 31, 2024Color, Additives and InksSpecialty Engineered MaterialsCorporateConsolidatedTotal
Sales$2,046.5$1,196.8$(2.9)$3,240.4
Cost of sales1,365.4821.9(3.6)2,183.7
Selling and administrative expense384.9207.7134.8727.4
Operating income296.2167.2(134.1)329.3
Interest expense, net(105.6)
Other income1.1
Income from continuing operations before income taxes$224.8
Other disclosures:
Depreciation and amortization$87.5$82.1$10.1$179.7
Capital expenditures33.648.739.6121.9
Total assets2,574.22,452.3784.65,811.1
Year Ended December 31, 2023Color, Additives and InksSpecialty Engineered MaterialsCorporateConsolidatedTotal
Sales$2,007.4$1,138.2$(2.8)$3,142.8
Cost of sales1,376.2796.477.72,250.3
Selling and administrative expense371.3199.3125.1695.7
Operating income259.9142.5(205.6)196.8
Interest expense, net(115.3)
Other income5.8
Income from continuing operations before income taxes$87.3
Other disclosures:
Depreciation and amortization$98.3$81.5$9.0$188.8
Capital expenditures21.450.147.9119.4
Total assets2,657.22,532.6778.75,968.5
Year Ended December 31, 2022Color, Additives and InksSpecialty Engineered MaterialsCorporateConsolidatedTotal
Sales$2,355.0$1,044.4$(2.5)$3,396.9
Cost of sales1,673.7760.779.82,514.2
Selling and administrative expense380.3143.6115.5639.4
Operating income301.0140.1(197.8)243.3
Interest expense, net(119.8)
Other expense(59.7)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes$63.8
Other disclosures:
Depreciation and amortization$101.3$48.7$12.5$162.5
Capital expenditures41.337.426.4105.1

59 AVIENT CORPORATION

Our sales are primarily to customers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America and Asia, and the majority of our assets are located in these same geographic areas. The following is a summary of sales and property based on the geographic areas where the sales originated and where the assets are located, in addition to other relevant financial information by reportable segment:

(In millions)202420232022
Sales:
United States and Canada$1,336.3$1,271.2$1,372.9
Latin America180.1167.5180.1
EMEA1,154.21,151.91,213.1
Asia569.8552.2630.8
Total Sales$3,240.4$3,142.8$3,396.9
Property, net:
United States and Canada$449.8$506.4
Latin America25.429.4
EMEA306.5311.5
Asia173.6181.6
Total Property, net$955.3$1,028.9

Note 15 — DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING

We are exposed to market risks, such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. To manage the volatility related to these exposures we may enter into various derivative transactions. We formally assess, designate and document, as a hedge of an underlying exposure, the qualifying derivative instrument that will be accounted for as an accounting hedge at inception. Additionally, we assess both at inception and at least quarterly thereafter, whether the financial instruments used in the hedging transaction are effective at offsetting changes in either the fair values or cash flows of the underlying exposures. In accordance with ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities(ASU 2017-12), that ongoing assessment will be done qualitatively for highly effective relationships.

Net Investment Hedge

As a means of mitigating the impact of currency fluctuations on our Euro investments in foreign entities, we have executed cross-currency swaps, in which we pay fixed-rate interest in Euros and receive fixed-rate interest in U.S. dollars related to our future obligations to exchange Euros for U.S. dollars.

As of December 31, 2023, we held cross-currency swaps with a combined notional amount of €1,467.2 million, maturing in May 2025 and €900.0 million maturing in August 2027. In November 2024, the Company completed a transaction to effectively amend and extend the cross-currency swaps maturing in May 2025. The liability position of the existing cross-currency swaps was blended into new cross-currency swap agreements with notional amounts of €538.1 million, €464.2 million and €464.9 million, maturing in November 2026, January 2028 and January 2029, respectively.

In November 2024, the Company also entered into an additional cross-currency swap agreement to further hedge its net investment in its European operations. This additional agreement has a combined notional amount of €161.9 million and €46.3 million, maturing in November 2026 and January 2028, respectively.

We designated the cross-currency swaps as net investment hedges of our net investment in our European operations under ASU 2017-12 and applied the spot method to these hedges. The changes in fair value of the derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedges of net investments in foreign operations are recognized within Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)(AOCI) to offset the changes in the values of the net investment being hedged. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, a gain of $77.3 million and a loss of $96.1 million, respectively, were recognized within translation adjustments in AOCI, net of tax.

60 AVIENT CORPORATION

These cross-currency swaps effectively convert a portion of our U.S. dollar denominated fixed-rate debt to Euro denominated fixed-rate debt. Included in Interest expense, net within the Consolidated Statements of Income are benefits of $38.4 million, $38.8 million and $30.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to net interest payments received from counterparties. We received cash proceeds of $132.1 million related to the settlement of prior cross-currency swap positions during the year ended December 31, 2022.

Derivatives Not Initially Designated for Hedge Accounting

On April 20, 2022, we executed forward starting cross-currency swaps, pursuant to which we pay fixed-rate interest in euros and receive fixed-rate interest in U.S. dollars with a combined notional amount of €900.0 million, as a means of mitigating the impact of currency fluctuations on our future Euro investments in foreign entities related to the APM Acquisition. Additionally, we entered into foreign currency forward contracts with an aggregate notional amount of €350 million, to mitigate the impact of currency fluctuations on the euro-denominated purchase price for the APM Acquisition. In conjunction with the closing of the APM Acquisition, we completed the initial exchange of U.S. dollars for euros as part of the cross-currency swaps and designated these instruments as a net investment hedge of the acquired Euro net assets of APM. Changes in the fair value of the cross-currency swaps prior to the hedging designation as well as the foreign exchange forward contracts were recorded in earnings directly. Beginning September 1, 2022, changes in the fair value of these instruments are recognized in AOCI. The amount of expense recognized within Other income, net in our Consolidated Statements of Income was $37.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, which resulted in a $38.8 million cash payment during 2022.

All of our derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. We determine the fair value of our derivatives based on valuation methods, which project future cash flows and discount the future amounts present value using market based observable inputs, including interest rate curves and foreign currency rates. The fair value of derivative financial instruments recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:

(In millions)Balance Sheet Location20242023
Assets
Cross-currency Swaps (Net Investment Hedge)Other non-current assets$6.1$—
Liabilities
Cross-currency Swaps (Net Investment Hedge)Other non-current liabilities$104.7$199.1

Note 16 —SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In the first quarter of 2025, the Company completed a review of the cloud-based enterprise resource planning system, S/4HANA, including updated project timelines, cost incurred to date, required internal resources and expected costs to complete the initial site implementations, and the evolution of options that could provide better returns for shareholders. As a result of this review, the Company determined it would cease the ongoing development of S/4HANA and re-allocate capital to other projects which will support the Company’s new strategy.

As a result of this decision, the Company will recognize a non-cash, pre-tax impairment charge of approximately $71 million, associated with capitalized implementation costs. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $69.9 million capitalized within Other non-current assets on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company will also recognize pre-tax charges of approximately $15 million associated with unpaid contractual obligations for hosting fees within its Consolidated Statements of Income in the first quarter of 2025.

61 AVIENT CORPORATION

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