Tronox Holdings plc
For the period ended Mar 31, 2024. Filed May 2, 2024.
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Mar 31, 2024 · Filed May 2, 2024
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Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Millions of U.S. dollars, except share, per share and metric tons data or unless otherwise noted)
- The Company
Tronox Holdings plc (referred to herein as "Tronox", the "Company", "we", "us", or "our") operates titanium-bearing mineral sand mines and beneficiation operations in Australia and South Africa to produce feedstock materials that can be processed into TiO 2 for pigment, high purity titanium chemicals, including titanium tetrachloride, and Ultrafine© titanium dioxide used in certain specialty applications. Our strategy is to be vertically integrated and produce enough feedstock materials to be as self-sufficient as possible in the production of TiO 2 at ournine TiO 2 pigment facilities located in the United States, Australia, Brazil, UK, France, the Netherlands, China and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”). We believe that vertical integration is the best way to achieve our ultimate goal of delivering low cost, high-quality pigment to our coatings and other TiO 2 customers throughout the world. The mining, beneficiation and smelting of titanium bearing mineral sands creates meaningful quantities of zircon, pig iron and the rare-earth bearing mineral, monazite, which we also supply to customers around the world.
We are a public limited company listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are registered under the laws of England and Wales.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regarding interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
In management’s opinion, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, considered necessary for a fair statement of its financial position as of March 31, 2024, and its results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all majority-owned subsidiary companies. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the manner and presentation in the current period.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. It is at least reasonably possible that the effect on the financial statements of a change in estimate due to one or more future confirming events could have a material effect on the financial statements, including, among other things, any potential impacts on the economy as a result of macroeconomic conditions, inflationary pressures, political instability, and supply chain disruptions.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, "Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures". The amendment requires additional disclosures by public entities, including those with a single reportable segment, to disclose significant segment expenses and other segment items for each reportable segment. The guidance applies to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating any incremental disclosures required as a result of this standard.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures". The amendments in this update apply to all entities that are subject to Topic 740, Income Taxes. The standard requires disaggregated information about a reporting entity's effective tax rate reconciliation as well as information on income taxes paid. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The guidance will be applied on a prospective basis with the option to apply the standard retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating any incremental disclosures required as a result of this standard.
- Revenue
We recognize revenue at a point in time when the customer obtains control of the promised products. For most transactions this occurs when products are shipped from our manufacturing facilities or at a later point when control of the products transfers to the customer at a specified destination or time.
Contract assets represent our rights to consideration in exchange for products that have transferred to a customer when the right is conditional on situations other than the passage of time. For products that we have transferred to our customers, our rights to the consideration are typically unconditional and only the passage of time is required before payments become due. These unconditional rights are recorded as "Accounts receivable" in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of March 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, we didnot have any material contract asset balances.
Contract liabilities represent our obligations to transfer products to a customer for which we have received consideration from the customer. From time to time, we may receive advance payment from our customers that is accounted for as deferred revenue. Deferred revenue is earned when control of the product transfers to the customer, which is typically within a short period of time from when we received the advanced payment. Contract liability balances as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were $1 million and less than $1 million, respectively. Contract liability balances were reported as “Accounts payable” in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. All material contract liabilities as of December 31, 2023 were recognized as revenue in “Net sales” in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations during the first quarter of 2024.
Disaggregation of Revenue
We operate underone operating and reportable segment, Tronox. We disaggregate our revenue from contracts with customers by product type and geographic area. We believe this level of disaggregation appropriately depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of our revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors and reflects how our business is managed.
Net sales to external customers by geographic areas where our customers are located were as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| North America | $192 | $189 |
| South and Central America | 46 | 42 |
| Europe, Middle-East and Africa | 309 | 282 |
| Asia Pacific | 227 | 195 |
| Total net sales | $774 | $708 |
Net sales from external customers for each similar type of product were as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| TiO2 | $605 | $560 |
| Zircon | 88 | 72 |
| Other products | 81 | 76 |
| Total net sales | $774 | $708 |
Other products mainly include pig iron, TiCl 4 and other mining products.
During both the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, our ten largest third-party customers represented 37% of our consolidated net sales. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, no single customer accounted for 10% of our consolidated net sales.
- Income Taxes
Our operations are conducted through various subsidiaries in a number of countries throughout the world. We have provided for income taxes based upon the tax laws and rates in the countries in which operations are conducted and income is earned.
Income before income taxes is comprised of the following:
| Three Months EndedMarch 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Income tax provision | $(11) | $(9) |
| Income before income taxes | $2 | $34 |
| Effective tax rate | 550% | 26% |
Tronox Holdings plc, a U.K. public limited company is the parent company for the business group, and the statutory tax rate in the U.K. at both March 31, 2024 and 2023 was 25% and 19%, respectively. The statutory rate in the U.K. changed to 25% effective April 1, 2023 and a weighted average of 23.5% was applied for the full year 2023. The effective tax rates for both the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are impacted by a variety of factors including income and losses in jurisdictions with valuation allowances, non-taxable income and expense items, prior year accruals, and our jurisdictional mix of income at tax rates different than the U.K. statutory rate.
At each reporting date, we perform an analysis to determine the likelihood of realizing our deferred tax assets and whether any valuation allowances are required. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income (including the reversals of deferred tax liabilities) during the periods in which those deferred tax assets will become deductible. Our analysis takes into consideration all available positive and negative evidence, including prior operating results, the nature and reason for any losses, our forecast of future taxable income, utilization of tax planning strategies, and the dates on which any deferred tax assets are expected to expire. These assumptions and estimates require a significant amount of judgment and are made based on current and projected circumstances and conditions.
We continue to maintain full valuation allowances related to the total net deferred tax assets in Australia and the United Kingdom, as we cannot objectively assert that these deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized. Until these valuation allowances are eliminated, future provisions for income taxes for these jurisdictions will include no tax benefits with respect to losses incurred and tax expense only to the extent of current tax payments. Additionally, we have valuation allowances against specific tax assets in South Africa and the United States.
The Company currently hasno uncertain tax positions recorded. We believe that we have made adequate provisions for income taxes that may be payable with respect to years open for examination or currently under examination. With regard to years under examination, the ultimate outcome is not presently known and, accordingly, adjustments to our provisions may be necessary and/or reclassifications of noncurrent tax liabilities to current may occur in the future.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the United Kingdom enacted legislation consistent with guidance from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development ("OECD") for the implementation of the Global Anti-Base Erosion Model Rules (Pillar Two). Additionally, various other jurisdictions have now implemented domestic minimum taxes which are also effective for 2024. Neither the UK multinational top-up tax nor any jurisdiction's domestic minimum tax are expected to have a material impact on our income tax provisions for 2024.
- Income Per Share
The computation of basic and diluted income per share for the periods indicated is as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Numerator - Basic and Diluted: | ||
| Net (loss) income | $(9) | $25 |
| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | — | 2 |
| Net (loss) income available to ordinary shares | $(9) | $23 |
| Denominator - Basic and Diluted: | ||
| Weighted-average ordinary shares, basic (in thousands) | 157,331 | 155,175 |
| Weighted-average ordinary shares, diluted (in thousands) | 157,331 | 156,641 |
| Basic net (loss) income per ordinary share | $(0.06) | $0.15 |
| Diluted net (loss) income per ordinary share | $(0.06) | $0.15 |
Net (loss) income per ordinary share amounts were calculated from exact, not rounded net (loss) income and share information. Anti-dilutive shares not recognized in the diluted net income per share calculation for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
| Shares | ||
|---|---|---|
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Options | 4,397 | 265,376 |
| Restricted share units | 1,285,008 | 2,798,108 |
- Accounts Receivable Securitization Program
On March 15, 2022, the Company entered into an accounts receivable securitization program (“Securitization Facility”) with a financial institution ("Purchaser"), through our wholly owned special purpose bankruptcy-remote subsidiary Tronox Securitization LLC (“ SPE”). In November 2022, the Securitization Facility was amended (the "First Amendment") to include receivable generated by our wholly-owned Australian operating subsidiaries Tronox Pigment Pty Ltd., Tronox Pigment Bunbury Ltd. and Tronox Mining Australia Ltd. In June 2023, the Company entered into an additional amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to further include receivables generated by our wholly-owned European operating subsidiaries Tronox Pigment Holland BV and Tronox Pigment UK Limited. Neither the facility limit nor the program term were changed as a result of the Second Amendment, which remained at $200 million and November 2025, respectively.
In March 2024, we entered into a Securitization Facility technical amendment (the "Third Amendment"), to increase the percentage of certain receivables eligible for sale to the Purchaser. In April 2024, we again amended the Securitization Facility (the "Fourth Amendment"), to increase the Facility Limit from $200 million to $230 million. The Fourth Amendment had no impact to financial position or financial results at and for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
As the Company does not maintain effective control over the sold receivables, we derecognize the sold receivables from our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and classify the cash proceeds as source of cash from operating activities in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
The program is structured on a revolving basis under which cash collections from receivables are used to fund additional purchases of receivables at 100% face value, not to exceed the facility limit. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the total value of accounts receivables sold under the Securitization Facility and derecognized from the Company's unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet was $200 million and $186 million, respectively. Additionally, at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we retained approximately $171 million and $129 million, respectively, of unsold receivables which we pledged as collateral for the sold receivables.
The following table sets forth a summary of the receivables sold and fees incurred under the program during the related periods:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Cash proceeds from collections reinvested in the program | $222 | $144 |
| Incremental accounts receivables sold | 236 | 138 |
| Fees incurred1 | 3 | 2 |
1 Amounts relate to monthly utilization of the Securitization Facility and are recorded in "Other (expense) income, net" in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
- Inventories, Net
Inventories, net consisted of the following:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw materials | $342 | $352 |
| Work-in-process | 141 | 141 |
| Finished goods, net | 682 | 688 |
| Materials and supplies, net | 238 | 240 |
| Inventories, net | $1,403 | $1,421 |
Materials and supplies, net consists of processing chemicals, maintenance supplies and spare parts, which will be consumed directly and indirectly in the production of our products.
At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there was approximately $60 million and $57 million, respectively, of inventory that is not expected to be sold within one year and as such, has been recorded in "Other long-term assets" on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, inventory obsolescence reserves primarily for materials and supplies were $44 million and $42 million, respectively. Reserves for lower of cost or market and net realizable value were $27 million and $50 million at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
- Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, consisted of the following:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Land and land improvements | $236 | $237 |
| Buildings | 401 | 404 |
| Machinery and equipment | 2,524 | 2,530 |
| Construction-in-progress | 325 | 319 |
| Other | 61 | 60 |
| Subtotal | 3,547 | 3,550 |
| Less: accumulated depreciation | (1,743) | (1,715) |
| Property, plant and equipment, net | $1,804 | $1,835 |
Substantially all of the property, plant and equipment, net is pledged as collateral for our debt. See Note 11.
The table below summarizes depreciation expense related to property, plant and equipment for the periods presented, recorded in the specific line items in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Cost of goods sold | $56 | $54 |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 1 | 1 |
| Total | $57 | $55 |
- Mineral Leaseholds, Net
Mineral leaseholds, net of accumulated depletion, consisted of the following:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral leaseholds | $1,249 | $1,260 |
| Less: accumulated depletion | (610) | (606) |
| Mineral leaseholds, net | $639 | $654 |
Depletion expense relating to mineral leaseholds recorded in “Cost of goods sold” in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations was $7 million and $8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
- Intangible Assets, Net
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization, consisted of the following:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Cost | AccumulatedAmortization | Net CarryingAmount | Gross Cost | AccumulatedAmortization | Net CarryingAmount | |
| Customer relationships | $291 | $(255) | $36 | $291 | $(250) | $41 |
| TiO2 technology | 93 | (45) | 48 | 93 | (44) | 49 |
| Internal-use software and other | 208 | (49) | 159 | 201 | (48) | 153 |
| Intangible assets, net | $592 | $(349) | $243 | $585 | $(342) | $243 |
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, internal-use software included approximately $131 million and $125 million, respectively, of capitalized software costs which are not being amortized as the software is not ready for its intended use.
The table below summarizes amortization expense related to intangible assets for the periods presented, recorded in the specific line items in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Cost of goods sold | $1 | $1 |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 7 | 7 |
| Total | $8 | $8 |
Estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets is $24 million for the remainder of 2024, $35 million for 2025, $21 million for 2026, $24 million for 2027, $23 million for 2028 and $116 million thereafter.
- Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Supplemental Information
Accrued liabilities consisted of the following:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Employee-related costs and benefits | $99 | $111 |
| Related party payables | 9 | 1 |
| Interest | 4 | 16 |
| Sales rebates | 43 | 36 |
| Taxes other than income taxes | 12 | 6 |
| Asset retirement obligations | 12 | 14 |
| Other accrued liabilities | 61 | 46 |
| Accrued liabilities | $240 | $230 |
Additional supplemental cash flow information for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 and as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 is as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| Supplemental non cash information: | 2024 | 2023 |
| Operating activities - Chloride slag inventory purchases made from AMIC (including VAT) | $18 | $— |
| Operating activities - MGT sales made to AMIC | $2 | $1 |
| Investing activities - In-kind receipt of AMIC loan repayment | $18 | $— |
| Financing activities - Repayment of MGT loan | $2 | $1 |
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
| Capital expenditures acquired but not yet paid | $43 | $67 |
- Debt
Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt, net of an unamortized discount and debt issuance costs, consisted of the following:
| OriginalPrincipal · AnnualInterest Rate · MaturityDate · March 31, 2024 · December 31, 2023 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term Loan Facility, net of unamortized discount (1) | 1,300 | Variable | 3/11/2028 | $899 | $898 | ||||
| 2022 Term Loan Facility, net of unamortized discount(1) | 400 | Variable | 4/4/2029 | 389 | 390 | ||||
| 2023 Term Loan Facility, net of unamortized discount(1) | 350 | Variable | 8/16/2028 | 346 | 347 | ||||
| Senior Notes due 2029 | 1,075 | 4.625% | 3/15/2029 | 1,075 | 1,075 | ||||
| Standard Bank Term Loan Facility (1) | 98 | Variable | 11/11/2026 | 60 | 64 | ||||
| Australian Government Loan, net of unamortized discount | N/A | N/A | 12/31/2036 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| MGT Loan(2) | 36 | Variable | Variable | 23 | 25 | ||||
| Finance leases | 42 | 43 | |||||||
| Long-term debt | 2,835 | 2,843 | |||||||
| Less: Long-term debt due within one year | (27) | (27) | |||||||
| Debt issuance costs | (28) | (30) | |||||||
| Long-term debt, net | $2,780 | $2,786 | |||||||
(1)The average effective interest rate on the Term Loan Facility (including the impacts of the interest rate swaps), the 2022 Term Loan Facility, the 2023 Term Loan Facility, and the Standard Bank Term Loan Facility was 5.7%,9.0%,9.2% and 10.6%, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2024. The average effective interest rate on the Term Loan Facility (including the impacts of the interest rate swaps), the 2022 Term Loan Facility and Standard Bank Term Loan Facility was 5.3%,8.4% and 9.7%, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2024, the applicable margin on the Term Loan Facility, 2022 Term Loan Facility and 2023 Term Loan Facility was 2.50%,3.25%, and 3.50%, respectively.
(2)The MGT loan is a related party debt facility. The average effective interest rate on the MGT loan was 6.0% during both the three months ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023.
Long-Term Debt
On May 1, 2024, Tronox Finance LLC (the “Borrower”), Tronox Holdings plc (the “Company”), certain of the Company’s subsidiaries, the incremental term lender party thereto and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, entered into Amendment No. 4 to the Amended and Restated First Lien Credit Agreement (the "2024 Amendment"). The 2024 Amendment provides the Borrower with a new five -year incremental term loan facility ("the 2024 Term Loan Facility") under its credit agreement in an aggregate initial principal amount of $741 million. The proceeds of the 2024 Term Loan Facility were used to repay in full the Company's outstanding 2022 Term Loan and 2023 Term Loan.
Short-Term Debt
Insurance premium financing
In August 2023, the Company entered into a $27 million insurance premium financing agreement with a third-party financing company. The financing balance requires a 33% down payment and will be repaid in monthly installments over 9 months at an 8% fixed annual interest rate. As of March 31, 2024, the financing balance was $4 million and is recorded in "Short-term debt" in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Debt Covenants
As of March 31, 2024, we are in compliance with all financial covenants in our debt facilities.
- Derivative Financial Instruments
Derivatives recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
The following table is a summary of the fair value of derivatives outstanding at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| Fair Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
| Assets(a) | Accrued Liabilities | Assets(a) | Accrued Liabilities | |
| Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges | ||||
| Interest Rate Swaps | $28 | $— | $18 | $— |
| Natural Gas Hedges | $— | $1 | $— | $1 |
| Total Hedges | $28 | $1 | $18 | $1 |
| Derivatives Not Designated as Cash Flow Hedges | ||||
| Currency Contracts | $1 | $— | $1 | $1 |
| Total Derivatives | $29 | $1 | $19 | $2 |
(a) At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, current assets of $29 million and $19 million, respectively, are recorded in prepaid and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Derivatives' Impact on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations:
The following table summarizes the impact of the Company's derivatives on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations:
| Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Earnings | Amount of Pre-Tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in Earnings | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Goods Sold | Other (expense) income, net | Cost of Goods Sold | Other (expense) income, net | |
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 · Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | ||||
| Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | ||||
| Currency Contracts | $— | $(6) | $— | $(7) |
| Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments | ||||
| Currency Contracts | $— | $— | $(2) | $— |
| Natural Gas Hedges | $(1) | $— | $(1) | $— |
| Total Derivatives | $(1) | $(6) | $(3) | $(7) |
Interest Rate Risk
As of March 31, 2024, the Company maintains a total of $950 million of interest rate swaps with the objective in using the interest-rate swap agreements to add stability to interest expense and to manage the Company's exposure to interest rate movements. These interest rate swaps have been designated as cash flow hedges and involve the receipt of variable amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount. Fair value gains or losses on these cash flow hedges are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and are subsequently reclassified into interest expense in the same periods during which the hedged transactions affect earnings.
At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the net unrealized gain of $28 million and the unrealized gain of $18 million, respectively, was recorded in "Accumulated other comprehensive loss" on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the amounts recorded in interest expense related to the interest-rate swap agreements were $8 million, of which $2 million for each period was reclassified from "Accumulated other comprehensive loss" to interest expense. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the net amounts recorded in interest expense related to the interest-rate swap agreements were $4 million.
Foreign Currency Risk
From time to time, we enter into foreign currency contracts used to hedge forecasted third party non-functional currency sales for our South African subsidiaries and forecasted non-functional currency cost of goods sold for our Australian subsidiaries. Historically, we have used a combination of zero-cost collars or forward contracts to reduce the exposure. These foreign currency contracts are designated as cash flow hedges. Changes to the fair value of these foreign currency contracts are recorded as a component of other comprehensive (loss) income, if these contracts remain highly effective, and are recognized in net sales or costs of goods sold in the period in which the forecasted transaction affects earnings or are recognized in other (expense) income, net when the transactions are no longer probable of occurring. As of March 31, 2024, we had no outstanding amounts to reduce the exposure of our Australian subsidiaries’ cost of sales to fluctuations in currency rates or to reduce the exposure of our South African subsidiaries' third party sales to fluctuations in currency rates. At December 31, 2022, there was an unrealized net loss of $4 million recorded in "Accumulated other comprehensive loss" on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, of which $2 million was recognized in earnings during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
From time to time, we enter into foreign currency contracts for the South African Rand, Australian Dollar, Euro, Pound Sterling, and Saudi Riyal to reduce exposure of our subsidiaries’ balance sheet accounts not denominated in our subsidiaries’ functional currency to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Historically, we have used forward contracts to reduce the exposure. For accounting purposes, these foreign currency contracts are not considered hedges. The change in fair value associated with these contracts is recorded in “Other (expense) income, net” within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and partially offsets the change in value of third party and intercompany-related receivables not denominated in the functional currency of the subsidiary. At March 31, 2024, there was (i)971 million South African Rand (or approximately $51 million at March 31, 2024 exchange rate), (ii)138 million Australian dollars (or approximately $90 million at the March 31, 2024 exchange rate), (iii)48 million Pound Sterling (or approximately $61 million at the March 31, 2024 exchange rate), (iv)7 million Euro (or approximately $8 million at the March 31, 2024 exchange rate), and (v)88 million Saudi Riyal (or approximately $23 million at the March 31, 2024 exchange rate) of notional amounts of outstanding foreign currency contracts. At December 31, 2023, there was (i)837 million South African Rand (or approximately $44 million at the March 31, 2024 exchange rate), (ii)153 million Australian dollars (or approximately $100 million at the March 31, 2024 exchange rate), (iii)45 million Pound Sterling (or approximately $57 million at the March 31, 2024 exchange rate), (iv)45 million Euro (or approximately $49 million at the March 31, 2024 exchange rate) and (v)67 million Saudi Riyal (or approximately $18 million at the March 31, 2024 exchange rate) of notional amounts of outstanding foreign currency contracts.
- Fair Value
Accounting standards define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The accounting standards also have established a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used in measuring fair value into three broad levels as follows:
Level 1 -Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2 -Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly
Level 3 -Unobservable inputs based on the Company’s own assumptions
Our debt is recorded at historical amounts. The following table presents the fair value of our debt and derivative contracts at both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| March 31,2024 | December 31,2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asset | Liability | Asset | Liability | |
| Term Loan Facility | — | 903 | — | 903 |
| 2022 Term Loan Facility | — | 393 | — | 394 |
| 2023 Term Loan Facility | — | 350 | — | 351 |
| Standard Bank Term Loan Facility | — | 60 | — | 64 |
| Senior Notes due 2029 | — | 966 | — | 956 |
| Australian Government Loan | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| MGT Loan | — | 23 | — | 25 |
| Interest rate swaps | 28 | — | 18 | — |
| Natural gas hedges | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Foreign currency contracts | 1 | — | 1 | 1 |
We determined the fair value of the Term Loan Facility, the 2022 Term Loan Facility, the 2023 Term Loan Facility, and the Senior Notes due 2029 using quoted market prices, which under the fair value hierarchy is a Level 1 input. We determined the fair value of the Standard Bank Term Loan Facility utilizing transactions in the listed markets for identical or similar liabilities, which under the fair value hierarchy is a Level 2 input. The fair value of the Australian Government Loan and MGT Loan is based on the contracted amount which is a Level 2 input.
We determined the fair value of the foreign currency contracts, natural gas hedges and the interest rate swaps using inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly. The fair value hierarchy for the foreign currency contracts, natural gas hedges and interest rate swaps is a Level 2 input.
The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and short-term debt approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these items.
- Asset Retirement Obligations
Asset retirement obligations consist primarily of rehabilitation and restoration costs, landfill capping costs, decommissioning costs, and closure and post-closure costs. Activities related to asset retirement obligations were as follows:
| Three Months EndedMarch 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Beginning balance | $186 | $161 |
| Additions | 5 | 1 |
| Accretion expense | 5 | 4 |
| Remeasurement/translation | (7) | (2) |
| Other, including change in estimates | — | (3) |
| Settlements/payments | (1) | (3) |
| Balance, March 31, | $188 | $158 |
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Current portion included in “Accrued liabilities” | $12 | $14 |
| Noncurrent portion included in “Asset retirement obligations” | 176 | 172 |
| Asset retirement obligations | $188 | $186 |
- Commitments and Contingencies
Purchase and Capital Commitments—Includes obligations forpurchase requirements of process chemicals, supplies, utilities and services entered into in the ordinary course of business. At March 31, 2024, purchase commitments were $280 million for the remainder of 2024, $170 million for 2025, $161 million for 2026, $157 million for 2027, $286 million for 2028, and $1,431 million thereafter.
Letters of Credit—At March 31, 2024, we had outstanding letters of credit and bank guarantees of $102 million, of which $63 million were letters of credit, of which $48 million is related to the sale of Hawkins Point as discussed below, and $39 million were bank guarantees. Amounts for performance bonds were not material.
Environmental Matters—It is our policy to record appropriate liabilities for environmental matters when remedial efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Such liabilities are based on our best estimate of the undiscounted future costs required to complete the remedial work. The recorded liabilities are adjusted periodically as remediation efforts progress or as additional technical, regulatory or legal information becomes available. Given the uncertainties regarding the status of laws, regulations, enforcement policies, the impact of other potentially responsible parties, technology and information related to individual sites, we do not believe it is possible to develop an estimate of the range of reasonably possible environmental loss in excess of our recorded liabilities. We expect to fund expenditures for these matters from operating cash flows. The timing of cash expenditures depends principally on the timing of remedial investigations and feasibility studies, regulatory approval of cleanup projects, remedial techniques to be utilized and agreements with other parties. Included in these environmental matters is the following:
Hawkins Point Plant. Residual waste mud, known as Batch Attack Mud, and a spent sulfuric waste stream were deposited in an onsite repository (the “Batch Attack Lagoon”) at a former TiO2 manufacturing site, Hawkins Point Plant in Baltimore, Maryland, operated by Cristal USA, Inc. from 1954 until 2011. We assumed responsibility for remediation of the Hawkins Point Plant when we acquired the TiO 2 business of Cristal in April 2019. On December 21, 2022, we sold the Hawkins Point Plant to the Maryland Port Administration ("MPA"), a state agency controlled by the Maryland Department of Transportation. Pursuant to the terms of the transaction, MPA became the lead party in developing and implementing appropriate measures to address, treat, control, and mitigate the environmental conditions at the property under the regulatory oversight of the Maryland Department of the Environment ("MDE"). Under MPA ownership, the Hawkins Point Plant will be utilized for storage and beneficial reuse of dredged material from the Port of Baltimore. In exchange for transferring ownership of the site to MPA, Tronox has agreed to make scheduled, annual payments to MPA which together with scheduled, annual contributions from MPA will be used to remediate the property. The sale of the property to MPA did not have a material impact to the Consolidated Statement of Operations. As of March 31, 2024, we have a provision of $42 million included in "Environmental liabilities" in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet for the Hawkins Point Plant consistent with the accounting policy described above.
Other Matters—We are subject to a number of other lawsuits, investigations and disputes (some of which involve substantial amounts claimed) arising out of the conduct of our business, including matters relating to commercial transactions, prior acquisitions and divestitures, including our acquisition of Cristal, employee benefit plans, intellectual property, and environmental, health and safety matters. We recognize a liability for any contingency that is probable of occurrence and reasonably estimable. We continually assess the likelihood of adverse judgments of outcomes in these matters, as well as potential ranges of possible losses (taking into consideration any insurance recoveries), based on a careful analysis of each matter with the assistance of outside legal counsel and, if applicable, other experts. Included in these other matters are the following:
UK Health and Safety Matter. In February 2024, we received a summons from the UK Health and Safety Executive alleging non-compliance with UK health and safety legislation at the Stallingborough pigment plant resulting from an incident involving an employee in August 2022. Based on our current understanding, we do not believe the enforcement action with regards to this incident will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
- Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Attributable to Tronox Holdings plc and Other Equity Items
The tables below present changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
| CumulativeTranslationAdjustment | PensionLiabilityAdjustment | UnrealizedGains(Losses) onHedges | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance, January 1, 2024 | $(729) | $(92) | $7 | $(814) |
| Other comprehensive (loss) income | (40) | — | 10 | (30) |
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | — | — | (1) | (1) |
| Balance, March 31, 2024 | $(769) | $(92) | $16 | $(845) |
| CumulativeTranslationAdjustment | PensionLiabilityAdjustment | UnrealizedGains(Losses) onHedges | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance, January 1, 2023 | $(710) | $(78) | $20 | $(768) |
| Other comprehensive (loss) income | (15) | 1 | (6) | (20) |
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | — | — | 3 | 3 |
| Balance, March 31, 2023 | $(725) | $(77) | $17 | $(785) |
Repurchase of Common Stock
On February 21, 2024, in connection with the expiration in February 2024 of the Company's previous share repurchase program, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $300 million of the Company's stock through February 21, 2027. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we made no repurchases of the Company's stock.
- Share-Based Compensation
Restricted Share Units (“RSUs”)
2024 Grant - During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company granted both time-based and performance-based awards to certain members of management. A total of 806,893 of time-based awards were granted to management which will vest ratably over athree-year period ending March 5, 2027. A total of 806,900 of performance-based awards were granted, of which 403,450 of the awards vest based on a relative Total Shareholder Return ("TSR") calculation and 403,450 of the awards vest based on certain performance metrics of the Company. The non-TSR performance-based awards vest on March 5, 2027 based on the actual 2026 annual return on invested capital (ROIC). Similar to the Company's historical TSR awards granted in prior years, the TSR awards vest based on the Company'sthree-year TSR versus the peer group performance levels. Given these terms, the TSR metric is considered a market condition for which we used a Monte Carlo simulation to determine the weighted average grant date fair value of $21.68. The following weighted average assumptions were utilized to value the TSR grants:
| 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Dividend yield | —% |
| Expected historical volatility | 47.9% |
| Risk free interest rate | 4.46% |
| Expected life (in years) | 3 |
The unrecognized compensation cost associated with all unvested awards at March 31, 2024 was $46 million, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.3 years.
During both the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we recorded $6 million of stock compensation expense.
- Pension and Other Postretirement Healthcare Benefits
The components of net periodic cost associated with our U.S. and foreign pension plans recognized in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations were as follows:
| Pensions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Net periodic cost: | ||
| Service cost | $1 | $1 |
| Interest cost | 4 | 4 |
| Expected return on plan assets | (5) | (5) |
| Total net periodic cost | $— | $— |
The components of net periodic cost associated with our postretirement healthcare plans recognized in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations were as follows:
| Other Postretirement Benefit Plans | ||
|---|---|---|
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Net periodic cost: | ||
| Interest cost | 1 | 1 |
| Total net periodic cost | $1 | $1 |
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company made contributions to its pension plans of $1 million. The Company expects to make approximately $7 million of pension contributions for the remainder of 2024.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we contributed $1 million and $1 million, respectively, to the Netherlands Multiemployer Plan, which was primarily recognized in “Cost of goods sold” in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
- Related Parties
Tasnee / Cristal
At March 31, 2024, Cristal International Holdings B.V. (formerly known as Cristal Inorganic Chemical Netherlands Cooperatief W.A.), a subsidiary of Tasnee, continues to own 37,580,000 shares of Tronox, or a 24% ownership interest.
On May 9, 2018, we entered into an Option Agreement with AMIC which is owned equally by Tasnee and Cristal. Under the terms of the Option Agreement, AMIC granted us an option (the “Option”) to acquire 90% of a special purpose vehicle (the “SPV”), to which AMIC’s ownership in a titanium slag smelter facility (the “Slagger”) in The Jazan City for Primary and Downstream Industries in KSA will be contributed together with $322 million of AMIC indebtedness (the “AMIC Debt”). The AMIC Debt would remain outstanding debt of the SPV upon exercise of the Option. The Option may be exercised if the Slagger achieves certain production criteria related to sustained quality and tonnage of slag produced (the “Option Criteria”). Likewise, AMIC may require us to acquire the Slagger on the same terms if the Option Criteria are satisfied. Furthermore, pursuant to the Option Agreement we lent AMIC $125 million for capital expenditures and operational expenses to facilitate the start-up of the Slagger (the “Tronox Loans”).
On May 13, 2020, we amended the Option Agreement (the "First Amendment") with AMIC to address circumstances in which the Option Criteria cannot be satisfied. Pursuant to the First Amendment, Tronox has the right to acquire the SPV in exchange for (i) our forgiveness of the Tronox Loans principal and accrued interest thereon, and (ii) the SPV's assumption of $36 million of indebtedness plus accrued interest thereon lent by AMIC to the SPV. Under the First Amendment, the SPV would not assume any of the AMIC Debt.
On May 10, 2023, AMIC and Tronox further amended the Option Agreement (the “Second Amendment”). In the Second Amendment the parties acknowledged that the Option expired on May 10, 2023 without being exercised but agreed to continue negotiating until September 30, 2023 (the "Renegotiation Period") as to whether, and under what circumstances, Tronox may acquire the Slagger. Subsequent to September 30, 2023, the parties continued to negotiate as to whether, and under what circumstances, Tronox may acquire the Slagger and on February 21, 2024 the parties again amended the Option Agreement (the “Third Amendment”), which extended the Renegotiation Period until the earlier of the repayment of the Tronox Loans or December 31, 2024, subject to certain early termination rights. The Third Amendment also provided that from the date the parties entered into the Second Amendment and through December 31, 2023, all chloride slag produced by the Slagger was delivered to Tronox as repayment in-kind of the Tronox Loans at a price based on a widely published index for feedstock less a nominal discount (the “Slag Price”). Thereafter and until the end of the Renegotiation Period,65% of all chloride slag produced by the Slagger will be delivered to Tronox as repayment in-kind of the Tronox Loans based on the Slag Price and Tronox will purchase via cash settlements the remaining 35% at the Slag Price. Full repayment of the Tronox Loans is required by January 2025 in either cash or in-kind through chloride slag deliveries. During July 2023, we also entered into an agreement with AMIC to act as their sales agent with regard to sales of slag fines to customers outside of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for an agreed upon commission fee to be paid.
The following table shows the outstanding balance of the Tronox Loans, which at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, is recorded on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in "Prepaid and other assets" and "Other long-term assets," respectively:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Principal balance | 65 | 80 |
| Accrued interest income balance | 10 | 12 |
| Total outstanding balance | 75 | 92 |
The following table shows the interest income earned on the Tronox Loans, which is recorded in "Interest income" on our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Interest income | 1 | 1 |
The following table shows the amount of feedstock purchased from the Slagger, which is subsequently recorded in "Cost of goods sold" on our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations:
| Three Months EndedMarch 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Settled as in-kind repayment of Tronox Loans | 16 | — |
| Settled in cash | 8 | 43 |
| Total chloride slag purchases | 24 | 43 |
The following table shows the amounts due to AMIC at period-end regarding the purchase feedstock purchased from the Slagger, which are recorded in "Accrued liabilities" on our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount due to AMIC for slag purchases | 8 | — |
In addition, on March 15, 2018 Tronox and AMIC entered into a Technical Services Agreement (the "Original Technical Services Agreement"), which was subsequently amended on May 13, 2020, May 10, 2023 and February 21, 2024 (the "Restated Technical Services Agreement"). Through September 30, 2023 we provided technical advice and project management services, however AMIC and its consultants were still responsible for engineering and construction of the Slagger. As compensation for these services, Tronox received certain fees, including a management fee. In the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and shown in the table below, the management fees per the Original Technical Services Agreement were recorded within "Other (expense) income, net." From and after October 1, 2023, we no longer receive a management fee and the scope of services we provide is more limited, for which we receive cost reimbursement plus a nominal margin.
| Three Months EndedMarch 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Management fees | — | 2 |
Outstanding balances for these fees receivable are shown below, which are recorded within “Prepaid and other assets” on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Management fees and other technical support fees | — | 1 |
On December 29, 2019, we entered into an agreement with Cristal to acquire certain assets co-located at our Yanbu facility which produces metal grade TiCl 4 ("MGT"). Consideration for the acquisition is the assumption by Tronox of a $36 million note payable to Cristal (the "MGT Loan"). MGT is used at a titanium "sponge" plant facility,65% of the ownership interests of which are held by Advanced Metal Industries Cluster and Toho Titanium Metal Co. Ltd ("ATTM"), a joint venture between AMIC and Toho Titanium Company Ltd. ATTM uses the TiCl 4, which we supply by pipeline, for the production of titanium sponge, a precursor material used in the production of titanium metal.
On December 17, 2020 we completed the MGT transaction. Repayment of the $36 million note payable is based on a fixed U.S. dollar amount per metric ton quantity of MGT delivered by us to ATTM over time and therefore the ultimate maturity date is variable in nature. If ATTM fails to purchase MGT from us under certain contractually agreed upon conditions, then at our election we may terminate the MGT supply agreement with ATTM and we will no longer owe any amount under the loan agreement with Cristal. We currently estimate the ultimate maturity to be between approximately four andfive years, subject to actual future MGT production levels. The interest rate on the note payable is based on the SAIBOR plus a premium. The note payable is recorded within "Long-term debt, net" and "Long-term debt due within one year" on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Note payable, due within 1 year | 7 | 7 |
| Note payable, due longer than 1 year from now | 16 | 18 |
| Total outstanding note payable | 23 | 25 |
Amounts regarding loan repayments for the MGT loan, which are recorded on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations within “Net sales,” are shown below:
| Three Months EndedMarch 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Loan Repayment via MGT delivered to ATTM | 2 | 1 |
As a result of these transactions we have entered into related to the MGT assets, Tronox purchases chlorine gas from ATTM for use in the production of MGT and such transactions are reflected as follows:
| Three Months EndedMarch 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Purchases of chlorine gas | 1 | 1 |
These purchases are subsequently recorded within “Cost of goods sold” on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. Amounts due at period end, which are presented below, are recorded within “Accrued liabilities” on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount due related to purchases of chlorine gas | 1 | 1 |
As Tronox delivers MGT product to ATTM, amounts are recorded within “Net sales” on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations, as shown below:
| Three Months EndedMarch 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| MGT sales made to ATTM as product is delivered | 13 | 11 |
Amounts related to MGT deliveries that are outstanding at period end are recorded in “Prepaid and other assets” on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, as shown below:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Due from ATTM for MGT deliveries | 8 | 9 |
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.