Cabot Corp. Reports Record $248 Million Income From Operations For Fiscal 2010

October 26, 2010

Fourth quarter EPS of $0.54, $0.66 adjusted EPS

BOSTON, Oct 26, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) today announced results for its fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2010.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20000323/CABOTLOGO )

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000323/CABOTLOGO )

Key Highlights

  • Four quarters of strong performance in fiscal 2010, yielding adjusted EPS of $3.04
  • Volumes remain stable quarter on quarter with levels still 5 to 10% below the peak of 2008
  • Supermetals and Specialty Fluids businesses deliver strong results in fiscal 2010
  • New Business Segment reports full year revenues up 31%

(In millions, except per share amounts)

2010

2009


Fourth

Full

Fourth

Full


Quarter

Year

Quarter

Year






Net sales

$ 749

$ 2,893

$ 610

$ 2,243

Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Cabot Corporation

$ 0.54

$ 2.35

$ (0.19)

$ (1.25)

Less: Net loss per share from discontinued operations

-

-

-

$ (0.01)

Less: Certain items per share

$ (0.12)

$ (0.69)

$ (0.47)

$ (1.37)

Adjusted earnings per share

$ 0.66

$ 3.04

$ 0.28

$ 0.13

Commenting on the results, Patrick Prevost, Cabot's President and CEO, stated, "We are pleased with our fourth quarter and full fiscal year financial results. This is our fourth consecutive quarter of strong performance. We ended the year with a record level of operating income and an outstanding return on invested capital of 14% on an adjusted basis. Maintaining our strategic focus combined with successful execution of our restructuring initiatives and a solid rebound in end market demand contributed to the company's record performance."

Prevost continued, "We are benefiting from having rebased our fixed costs and from our investments in new efficient capacity, energy centers and yield technology. Our pricing and business mix decisions have been highly disciplined and we have minimized the effect of the contract lag on our results. Our broad geographic footprint and our leading positions in the fastest growing regions of the world are competitive advantages. We have worked closely with our customers to maintain a reliable supply of high quality products. We are making great strides toward our goal of being their preferred supplier of performance materials. Our new business ventures continue to meet key milestones and contribute improved financial performance. All of these factors have led to our success as we continue to position Cabot as a top tier global specialty chemicals company."

Financial Detail

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, net income attributable to Cabot Corporation was $35 million ($0.54 per diluted common share) which includes the impact of discrete and other tax items as shown below. Adjusted EPS was $0.66 per common share, excluding $0.12 per common share of charges from certain items principally related to restructuring.

(In millions, except per share amounts)

2010

2009


Fourth

Full

Fourth

Full


Quarter

Year

Quarter

Year






Adjusted EPS before discrete & other tax items

$ 0.67

$ 2.80

$ 0.31

$ (0.06)

Impact of discrete & other tax items

$ (0.01)

$ 0.24

$ (0.03)

$ 0.19

Adjusted earnings per share

$ 0.66

$ 3.04

$ 0.28

$ 0.13

Segment Results

Core Segment- Fourth quarter fiscal 2010 profitability in the Rubber Blacks Business increased by $9 million when compared to the same quarter of fiscal 2009 driven by higher volumes and unit margins. Globally, volumes increased by 4% versus the prior year's quarter from improvement in market demand and the benefit of increased capacity in China. Unit margins benefited from a favorable product mix and our efforts to limit the effect of the contract lag. Sequentially, profitability decreased by $13 million due to higher raw material and maintenance costs in the fourth quarter and 2% lower volumes.

Profitability in the Supermetals Business increased by $13 million compared to the same quarter of fiscal 2009. The improvement was driven by higher volumes from increased market demand, especially in the higher value products, and lower raw material costs. Sequentially, profit decreased by $2 million as the effects of higher volumes and higher pricing were more than offset by maintenance costs in the fourth quarter. The Supermetals Business generated $26 million and $77 million of cash on a constant currency basis in the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2010, respectively, from strong operating results and reduced working capital.

Performance Segment- Fourth quarter fiscal 2010 profitability in the Performance Segment increased by $1 million when compared to the same quarter of fiscal 2009. The increase was driven by higher volumes in the Performance Products Business and improved unit margins in the Fumed Metal Oxides Business. Volumes increased by 2% in Performance Products when compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, while Fumed Metal Oxides volumes decreased by 1%. Sequentially, segment profit decreased by $6 million due principally to an unfavorable LIFO effect. Volumes in Fumed Metal Oxides increased by 7% when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2010, while Performance Products volumes declined 3%.

Specialty Fluids Segment- Profitability in the Specialty Fluids Segment for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 increased by $10 million when compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. The increase was driven by higher volumes from a strong level of drilling activity in the North Sea and higher pricing. Sequentially, profit increased by $3 million with the improvement driven by drilling activity in the North Sea.

New Business Segment- Fourth quarter fiscal 2010 revenues in the New Business Segment increased by 26% ($5 million) when compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, and were equivalent to the third quarter of fiscal 2010. The revenue increase relative to the same quarter last year was driven by higher volumes in Inkjet Colorants and commercial success in the oil and gas market for the Aerogel Business. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 the New Business Segment reported its third consecutive quarter of positive operating profit and ended fiscal 2010 with an $8 million improvement over the full year of fiscal 2009.

Cash Performance- The Company ended the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 with a cash balance of $388 million. The strong cash balance is a result of robust operating results and a sequential reduction in working capital, principally from higher accounts payable balances.

Taxes- During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company recorded a tax provision of $16 million, for an overall tax rate of 31%. The quarterly operating tax rate was approximately 28%.

Outlook

Commenting on the outlook for the Company, Prevost said, "Our consistently strong financial performance during fiscal 2010 and our solid execution over the last two years gives me great confidence in our strategy and our ability to achieve our long term financial targets. We have a portfolio of leading technologies, an efficient manufacturing platform and a broad geographic footprint that will allow us to leverage the continued global demand recovery. Our cash position and solid balance sheet will serve us well as we focus on growth over the coming years."

Earnings Call

The Company will host a conference call with industry analysts at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on October 27, 2010. The call can be accessed through Cabot's investor relations website at http://investor.cabot-corp.com/.

Cabot Corporation, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company. Cabot's major products are carbon black, capacitor materials, fumed silica, cesium formate drilling fluids, inkjet colorants and aerogels. The Company's website address is: http://www.cabot-corp.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements- This earnings release contains forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future (including our ability to meet our long-term financial targets), strategy for growth, market position, and expected financial results are forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," "projects," "indicates," and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Cabot, particularly its latest annual report on Form 10-K, could cause results to differ materially from those stated. These factors include, but are not limited to changes in raw material costs; costs associated with the research and development of new products, including regulatory approval and market acceptance; competitive pressures; successful integration of structural changes, including restructuring plans, and joint ventures; the laws, regulations, policies and economic conditions, including inflation, interest and foreign currency exchange rates, of countries in which the company does business; and severe weather events that cause business interruptions, including plant and power outages, or disruptions in supplier or customer operations.

Explanation of Terms Used-

The term "LIFO effect" includes two factors: (i) the impact of current inventory costs being recognized immediately in cost of goods sold ("COGS") under a last-in first-out ("LIFO") method, compared to the older costs that would have been included in COGS under a first-in first-out ("FIFO") method ("COGS impact"); and (ii) the impact of reductions in inventory quantities, causing historical inventory costs to flow through COGS ("liquidation impact"). The consolidated impact of using the LIFO method to value inventories in the US instead of the FIFO method for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was a benefit of $5 million and is comprised of a favorable $6 million liquidation impact partially offset by an unfavorable $1 million COGS impact. This compares to a $4 million unfavorable impact for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, comprised of an unfavorable $5 million COGS impact, partially offset by a favorable $1 million liquidation impact. The term "quarterly operating tax rate" represents the tax rate on our recurring operating results. This rate excludes discrete tax items, which are unusual and infrequent items that are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate and other tax items, including the impact of the timing of losses in certain jurisdictions, cumulative rate adjustment and the impact of certain items on both operating income and tax provision. The term "product mix" refers to the various types and grades, or mix, of products sold in a particular Business or Segment during the period, and the positive or negative impact of that mix on the revenue or profitability of the Business or Segment.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures- The preceding discussion of our results and the accompanying financial tables report adjusted EPS and adjusted ROIC and also include information on our reportable segment sales and segment (or business) operating profit before taxes ("PBT"). Adjusted EPS, adjusted ROIC and segment PBT are non-GAAP financial measures and are not intended to replace EPS and income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes, equity in net income of affiliated companies and noncontrolling interest, respectively, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Both EPS and adjusted EPS are calculated on a diluted share basis. In calculating adjusted EPS, adjusted ROIC and segment PBT, we exclude certain items, meaning items that are significant and unusual or infrequent and not believed to reflect the true underlying business performance, and, therefore, are not allocated to a segment's results or included in adjusted EPS or adjusted ROIC. Further, in calculating segment PBT we include equity in net income of affiliated companies, royalties paid by equity affiliates and allocated corporate costs but exclude interest expense, foreign currency translation gains and losses, interest income, dividend income and unallocated corporate costs. Adjusted return on invested capital is calculated as income (loss) from continuing operations less after tax noncontrolling interest in net income, after tax net interest expense and after tax certain items; divided by the previous five quarters' average of stockholders' equity plus noncontrolling interest plus debt, less cash and after tax certain items. Our chief operating decision-maker uses adjusted EPS and adjusted ROIC to evaluate the performance of the Company in terms of profitability and the efficient use of capital employed without items management does not believe are indicative of the core earnings power of the Company. Segment PBT is used to evaluate changes in the operating results of each segment before non-operating factors and before certain items and to allocate resources to the segments. We believe that these non-GAAP measures also assist our investors in evaluating the changes in our results and the Company's performance. A reconciliation of adjusted EPS to EPS is shown in the table titled Certain Items and Reconciliations, and a reconciliation of total segment PBT to income (loss) from operations before taxes, equity in net income of affiliated companies and noncontrolling interest is shown in the table titled Summary Results by Segments. The certain items that are excluded from our calculation of adjusted EPS, adjusted ROIC and segment PBT are detailed in the table titled Certain Items and Reconciliations.

Fourth Quarter Earnings Announcement, Fiscal 2010
























CABOT CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
























Periods ended September 30

Three Months


Twelve Months

Dollars in millions, except per share amounts (unaudited)

2010


2009


2010


2009









Net sales and other operating revenues

$ 749


$ 610


$ 2,893


$ 2,243









Cost of sales

615


538


2,329


2,016









Gross profit

134


72


564


227

















Selling and administrative expenses

57


51


246


211









Research and technical expenses

17


18


70


71

Income (loss) from operations

60


3


248


(55)

















Other income and (expense)
















Interest and dividend income

1


1


2


3









Interest expense

(10)


(7)


(40)


(30)









Other income and (expense)

--


(7)


(2)


(20)









Total other income and (expense)

(9)


(13)


(40)


(47)

















Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliated companies

51


(10)


208


(102)









(Provision) benefit for income taxes

(16)


(1)


(46)


22









Equity in net income of affiliated companies, net of tax

2


3


7


5

















Net income (loss) from continuing operations

37


(8)


169


(75)









Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (A)

--


--


--


--









Net income (loss)

37


(8)


169


(75)









Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax

2


3


15


2









Net income (loss) attributable to Cabot Corporation

$ 35


$ (11)


$ 154


$ (77)

























Diluted earnings (loss) per share of common stock








attributable to Cabot Corporation
















Continuing Operations (B)

$ 0.54


$ (0.19)


$ 2.35


$ (1.24)









Discontinued Operations (A), (B)

--


--


--


$ (0.01)









Net income (loss) attributable to Cabot Corporation (B)

$ 0.54


$ (0.19)


$ 2.35


$ (1.25)









Weighted average common shares outstanding








Diluted

65


63


64


63









(A) Amounts relate to legal settlements in connection with our discontinued operations.


(B) Prior year earnings per share has been recast due to Cabot's adoption of an accounting pronouncement in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 that changes the methodology for allocating earnings among shareholders. Under this guidance, certain of Cabot's unvested share-based payment awards must be included in the earnings allocation process in computing earnings per share. This guidance has been applied retrospectively so that all periods are shown on a consistent basis.

Fourth Quarter Earnings Announcement, Fiscal 2010
























CABOT CORPORATION SUMMARY RESULTS BY SEGMENTS
























Periods ended September 30

Three Months


Twelve Months

Dollars in millions, except per share amounts (unaudited)

2010


2009


2010


2009









SALES
















Core Segment

$ 479


$ 381


$ 1,854


$ 1,427

Rubber blacks (A)

430


347


1,677


1,287

Supermetals (A)

49


34


177


140









Performance Segment

196


184


783


620

Performance products (A)

130


119


531


410

Fumed metal oxides (A)

66


65


252


210









New Business Segment

24


19


88


67

Inkjet colorants

14


14


57


46

Aerogel

8


4


24


15

Superior MicroPowders

2


1


7


6









Specialty Fluids Segment

29


14


81


59









Segment sales (A)

728


598


2,806


2,173









Unallocated and other (A), (B)

21


12


87


70









Net sales and other operating revenues

$ 749


$ 610


$ 2,893


$ 2,243









SEGMENT PROFIT (LOSS)
















Core Segment

$ 40


$ 18


$ 185


$ 33









Rubber blacks (A)

28


19


150


34

Supermetals (A)

12


(1)


35


(1)









Performance Segment (A)

29


28


130


41









New Business Segment

--


(2)


(2)


(10)









Specialty Fluids Segment

14


4


35


21









Total Segment Profit (Loss) (A), (C)

83


48


348


85









Interest expense

(10)


(7)


(40)


(30)

Certain items (D)

(11)


(36)


(52)


(103)

Unallocated corporate costs

(9)


(6)


(39)


(28)

General unallocated expense (A), (E)

-


(6)


(2)


(21)

Less: Equity in net income of affiliated companies, net of tax

(2)


(3)


(7)


(5)









Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliated companies

51


(10)


208


(102)









(Provision) benefit for income taxes

(16)


(1)


(46)


22









Equity in net income of affiliated companies, net of tax

2


3


7


5









Net income (loss) from continuing operations

37


(8)


169


(75)









Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (F)

--


--


--


--









Net income (loss)

37


(8)


169


(75)









Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax

2


3


15


2









Net income (loss) attributable to Cabot Corporation

$ 35


$ (11)


$ 154


$ (77)









Diluted earnings (loss) per share of common stock
























Continuing Operations (G)

$ 0.54


$ (0.19)


$ 2.35


$ (1.24)









Discontinued Operations (F), (G)

--


--


--


(0.01)









Net income (loss) attributable to Cabot Corporation (G)

$ 0.54


$ (0.19)


$ 2.35


$ (1.25)









Weighted average common shares outstanding
















Diluted

65


63


64


63

















(A) Beginning with the third quarter of fiscal 2010, management no longer allocates its corporate adjustment for unearned revenue to its segments. Therefore, unearned revenue and cost of sales related to unearned revenue, which had been allocated to Segment Sales and Segment Profit (Loss) in prior periods, have been reclassified to "Unallocated and other" and "General unallocated expense". Prior periods have been recast to conform to the new allocation method. This change had an immaterial impact on segment profit (loss) for all periods presented.


(B) Unallocated and other reflects royalties paid by equity affiliates, other operating revenues, external shipping and handling fees, and the impact of unearned revenue as discussed in note (A) above.


(C) Segment profit is a measure used by Cabot's Chief Operating Decision-Maker to measure consolidated operating results, assess segment performance and allocate resources. Segment profit includes equity in net income of affiliated companies, royalty income, and allocated corporate costs.


(D) Details of certain items are presented in the Certain Items and Reconciliations table.


(E) General unallocated expense includes foreign currency transaction gains (losses), interest income, dividend income, and the profit related to unearned revenue as discussed in note (A) above.


(F) Amounts relate to legal settlements in connection with our discontinued operations.


(G) Prior year earnings per share has been recast due to Cabot's adoption of an accounting pronouncement in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 that changes the methodology for allocating earnings among shareholders. Under this guidance, certain of Cabot's unvested share-based payment awards must be included in the earnings allocation process in computing earnings per share. This guidance has been applied retrospectively so that all periods are shown on a consistent basis.

Fourth Quarter Earnings Announcement, Fiscal 2010












CABOT CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL POSITION













September 30,


September 30,


2010


2009

Dollars in millions, except share and per share amounts

(unaudited)


(audited)





Current assets:








Cash and cash equivalents

$ 388


$ 304

Short-term marketable securities

1


1

Accounts and notes receivable, net of reserve for doubtful accounts of $4 and $6

575


452

Inventories:




Raw materials

121


118

Work in process

38


44

Finished goods

178


165

Other

36


31

Total inventories

373


358

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

71


53

Deferred income taxes

33


32

Total current assets

1,441


1,200





Investments:




Equity affiliates

61


60

Long-term marketable securities and cost investments

1


1

Total investments

62


61





Property, plant and equipment

2,943


3,000

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

(1,968)


(1,988)

Net property, plant and equipment

975


1,012





Goodwill

39


37

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $12 and $11

4


2

Assets held for rent

40


43

Deferred income taxes

246


235

Other assets

83


86





Total assets

$ 2,890


$ 2,676

Fourth Quarter Earnings Announcement, Fiscal 2010












CABOT CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL POSITION













September 30,


September 30,


2010


2009

Dollars in millions, except share and per share amounts

(unaudited)


(audited)





Current liabilities:








Notes payable to banks

$ 29


$ 29

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

447


407

Income taxes payable

35


31

Deferred income taxes

5


5

Current portion of long-term debt

23


5

Total current liabilities

539


477





Long-term debt

600


623

Deferred income taxes

10


11

Other liabilities

326


328





Stockholders' equity:




Preferred stock:




Authorized: 2,000,000 shares of $1 par value




Issued and outstanding: None and none

--


--

Common stock:




Authorized: 200,000,000 shares of $1 par value




Issued: 65,429,916 and 65,401,485 shares

65


65

Outstanding: 65,370,220 and 65,309,155 shares




Less cost of 59,696 and 92,330 shares of common treasury stock

(2)


(2)

Additional paid-in capital

45


18

Retained earnings

1,125


1,018

Deferred employee benefits

(20)


(25)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

87


60

Total Cabot Corporation stockholders' equity

1,300


1,134

Noncontrolling interests

115


103

Total equity

1,415


1,237

Total liabilities and equity

$ 2,890


$ 2,676

CABOT CORPORATION


Fiscal 2009


Fiscal 2010

In millions,




















except per share amounts (unaudited)

Dec. Q.


Mar. Q.


June Q.


Sept. Q.


FY


Dec. Q.


Mar. Q.


June Q.


Sept. Q.


FY





















Sales




















Core Segment

$ 440


$ 294


$ 312


$ 381


$ 1,427


$ 445


$ 446


$ 484


$ 479


$ 1,854

Rubber blacks (A)

394


272


274


347


1,287


399


411


437


430


1,677

Supermetals (A)

46


22


38


34


140


46


35


47


49


177

Performance Segment

151


133


152


184


620


187


200


200


196


783

Performance products (A)

100


91


100


119


410


126


138


137


130


531

Fumed metal oxides (A)

51


42


52


65


210


61


62


63


66


252

New Business Segment

18


16


14


19


67


17


22


25


24


88

Inkjet colorants

13


9


10


14


46


14


14


15


14


57

Aerogel

4


5


2


4


15


2


6


8


8


24

Superior MicroPowders

1


2


2


1


6


1


2


2


2


7

Specialty Fluids Segment

15


11


19


14


59


15


15


22


29


81

Segment Sales (A)

624


454


497


598


2,173


664


683


731


728


2,806

Unallocated and other (A), (B)

28


16


14


12


70


15


29


22


21


87





















Net sales and other operating revenues

$ 652


$ 470


$ 511


$ 610


$ 2,243


$ 679


$ 712


$ 753


$ 749


$ 2,893





















Segment Profit (Loss)




















Core Segment

$ 25


$ (24)


$ 14


$ 18


$ 33


$ 49


$ 41


$ 55


$ 40


$ 185

Rubber blacks (A)

21


(17)


11


19


34


43


38


41


28


150

Supermetals (A)

4


(7)


3


(1)


(1)


6


3


14


12


35

Performance (A)

3


--


10


28


41


34


32


35


29


130

New Business Segment

(3)


(1)


(4)


(2)


(10)


(3)


1


--


--


(2)

Specialty Fluids Segment

4


4


9


4


21


5


5


11


14


35

Total Segment Profit (Loss) (A), (C)

29


(21)


29


48


85


85


79


101


83


348









































Interest expense

(9)


(8)


(6)


(7)


(30)


(9)


(11)


(10)


(10)


(40)

Certain items (D)

(2)


(46)


(19)


(36)


(103)


(17)


(9)


(15)


(11)


(52)

Unallocated corporate costs

(7)


(8)


(7)


(6)


(28)


(11)


(10)


(9)


(9)


(39)

General unallocated expense (A), (E)

(8)


(8)


1


(6)


(21)


(3)


(3)


4


-


(2)

Less: Equity in net income of affiliated companies, net of tax

(2)


--


--


(3)


(5)


(3)


(1)


(1)


(2)


(7)





















Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and




















equity in net income of affiliated companies

1


(91)


(2)


(10)


(102)


42


45


70


51


208

(Provision) benefit for income taxes

(1)


31


(7)


(1)


22


(11)


1


(20)


(16)


(46)

Equity in net income of affiliated companies, net of tax

2


--


--


3


5


3


1


1


2


7





















Net income (loss) from continuing operations

2


(60)


(9)


(8)


(75)


34


47


51


37


169





















Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (F)

--


--


--


--


--


--


--


--


--


--





















Net income (loss)

2


(60)


(9)


(8)


(75)


34


47


51


37


169





















Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax

(2)


(2)


3


3


2


5


4


4


2


15





















Net income (loss) attributable to Cabot Corporation

$ 4


$ (58)


$ (12)


$ (11)


$ (77)


$ 29


$ 43


$ 47


$ 35


$ 154





















Diluted earnings (loss) per share of common stock




















attributable to Cabot Corporation








































Continuing operations (G)

$ 0.06


$ (0.93)


$ (0.18)


$ (0.19)


$ (1.24)


$ 0.44


$ 0.65


$ 0.72


$ 0.54


$ 2.35





















Discontinued operations (F), (G)

--


--


(0.01)


--


(0.01)


--


--


--


--


--





















Net income (loss) attributable to Cabot Corporation (G)

$ 0.06


$ (0.93)


$ (0.19)


$ (0.19)


$ (1.25)


$ 0.44


$ 0.65


$ 0.72


$ 0.54


$ 2.35





















Weighted average common shares outstanding




















Diluted

63


63


63


63


63


64


64


64


65


64









































(A) Beginning with the third quarter of fiscal 2010, management no longer allocates its corporate adjustment for unearned revenue to its segments. Therefore, unearned revenue and cost of sales related to unearned revenue, which had been allocated to Segment Sales and Segment Profit (Loss) in prior periods, have been reclassified to "Unallocated and other" and "General unallocated expense". Prior periods have been recast to conform to the new allocation method. This change had an immaterial impact on segment profit (loss) for all periods presented.

(B) Unallocated and other reflects royalties paid by equity affiliates, other operating revenues, external shipping and handling fees, and the impact of unearned revenue as discussed in note (A) above.

(C) Segment profit is a measure used by Cabot's Chief Operating Decision-Maker to measure consolidated operating results, assess segment performance and allocate resources. Segment profit includes equity in net income of affiliated companies, royalty income, and allocated corporate costs.

(D) Details of certain items are presented in the Certain Items and Reconciliations table.

(E) General unallocated expense includes foreign currency transaction gains (losses), interest income, dividend income, and the profit related to unearned revenue as discussed in note (A) above.

(F) Amounts relate to legal settlements in connection with our discontinued operations.

(G) Prior year earnings per share has been recast due to Cabot's adoption of an accounting pronouncement in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 that changes the methodology for allocating earnings among shareholders. Under this guidance, certain of Cabot's unvested share-based payment awards must be included in the earnings allocation process in computing earnings per share. This guidance has been applied retrospectively so that all periods are shown on a consistent basis.

Fourth Quarter Earnings Announcement, Fiscal 2010



CABOT CORPORATION CERTAIN ITEMS AND RECONCILIATIONS



CERTAIN ITEMS:










Periods ended September 30


Three Months


Twelve Months

Dollars in millions, except per share amounts (unaudited)

2010

2010

2009

2009


2010

2010

2009

2009


$

per share(A)

$

per share(A)


$

per share(A)

$

per share(A)











Certain items before income taxes




















Environmental reserves and legal settlements

$ (1)

$ (0.01)

$ (7)

$ (0.07)


$ (3)

$ (0.03)

$ (7)

$ (0.07)











Executive transition costs

-

-

(4)

(0.04)


-

-

(4)

(0.04)











Recovery of previously impaired investment

-

-

-

-


1

0.01

-

-











Long-lived asset impairment (B)

-

-

-

-


(2)

(0.02)

-

-











Reserve for respirator claims

(2)

(0.02)

-

-


(2)

(0.02)

-

-











Write-down of impaired investments

-

-

-

-


-

-

(1)

(0.01)





















Restructuring initiatives:





















- 2009 Global

(6)

(0.06)

(25)

(0.36)


(30)

(0.38)

(89)

(1.23)













- Closure of Thane, India Facility

(2)

(0.03)

-

-


(16)

(0.25)















- Other

-

-

-

-


-

-

(2)

(0.02)













Total certain items

(11)

(0.12)

(36)

(0.47)


(52)

(0.69)

(103)

(1.37)













- Discontinued operations (C)

-

-

-

-


-

-

-

(0.01)













Total certain items and discontinued operations

(11)

(0.12)

(36)

(0.47)


(52)

(0.69)

(103)

(1.38)













Tax impact of certain items and discontinued operations

2


7

-


7


17

-












Total certain items after tax

$ (9)

$ (0.12)

$ (29)

$ (0.47)


$ (45)

$ (0.69)

$ (86)

$ (1.38)







Periods ended September 30

Three Months

Twelve Months

Dollars in millions (unaudited)

2010

2009

2010

2009







Statement of Operations Line Item











Cost of sales

$ (13)

$ (32)

$ (38)

$ (91)







Selling and administrative expenses

2

(4)

(14)

(10)







Research and technical expenses

-

-

-

(2)








Total certain items

$ (11)

$ (36)

$ (52)

$ (103)

NON-GAAP MEASURE:

Periods ended September 30

Three Months

Twelve Months

Dollars in millions, except per share amounts (unaudited)

2010

2009

2010

2009


per share(A)

per share(A)

per share(A)

per share(A)

Reconciliation of Adjusted EPS to GAAP EPS





Net income (loss) per share attributable to Cabot Corporation

$ 0.54

$ (0.19)

$ 2.35

$ (1.25)

Less: Net loss per share from discontinued operations

-

-

-

(0.01)

Net income (loss) per share from continuing operations

$ 0.54

$ (0.19)

$ 2.35

$ (1.24)

Less: Certain items per share

(0.12)

(0.47)

(0.69)

(1.37)

Adjusted earnings (loss) per share

$ 0.66

$ 0.28

$ 3.04

$ 0.13






(A) Per share amounts are calculated after tax.

(B) Land related to former carbon black site.

(C) Amounts relate to legal settlements in connection with our discontinued operations.

SOURCE: Cabot Corporation