Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                      to                     

 

Commission file number 1-225

 


 

KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   39-0394230

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

P. O. Box 619100, Dallas, Texas   75261-9100
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (972) 281-1200

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class


 

Name of each exchange on which registered


Common Stock—$1.25 Par Value   New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes  x.    No  ¨ .

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x.    No  ¨.

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company  ¨

 

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

 

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates on June 30, 2008 (based on the closing stock price on the New York Stock Exchange) on such date was approximately $24.9 billion.

 

As of February 16, 2009, there were 413,810,555 shares of the Corporation’s common stock outstanding.

 

Documents Incorporated By Reference

 

Certain information contained in the definitive Proxy Statement for the Corporation’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 30, 2009 is incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.

 


 


Table of Contents

KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

Part I

         

Item 1.

  

Business

   1

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   4

Item 1B.

  

Unresolved Staff Comments

   8

Item 2.

  

Properties

   8

Item 3.

  

Legal Proceedings

   14

Item 4.

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   14

Part II

         

Item 5.

  

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

   15

Item 6.

  

Selected Financial Data

   16

Item 7.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   17

Item 7A.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   36

Item 8.

  

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

   39

Item 9.

  

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

   85

Item 9A.

  

Controls and Procedures

   85

Item 9B.

  

Other Information

   88

Part III

         

Item 10.

  

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

   89

Item 11.

  

Executive Compensation

   91

Item 12.

  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

   91

Item 13.

  

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

   91

Item 14.

  

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

   91

Part IV

         

Item 15.

  

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

   92

Signatures

   95
      


Table of Contents

PART I

 

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

 

Kimberly-Clark Corporation was incorporated in Delaware in 1928. The Corporation is a global health and hygiene company focused on product innovation and building its personal care, consumer tissue, K-C Professional & Other and health care brands. The Corporation is principally engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of a wide range of health and hygiene products around the world. Most of these products are made from natural or synthetic fibers using advanced technologies in fibers, nonwovens and absorbency. As used in Items 1, 1A, 2, 3, 6, 7, 7A, 8 and 9A of this Form 10-K, the term “Corporation” refers to Kimberly-Clark Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. In the remainder of this Form 10-K, the terms “Kimberly-Clark” or “Corporation” refer only to Kimberly-Clark Corporation. For financial information by business segment and geographic area, and information about principal products and markets of the Corporation, reference is made to Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and to Item 8, Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Recent Developments

 

On July 23, 2007, the Corporation entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement (the “ASR Agreement”) through which it purchased approximately 29.6 million shares of its common stock from Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”), at an initial purchase price of $67.48 per share, or an aggregate of $2 billion. On July 30, 2007, the Corporation issued $2.1 billion of long-term notes and used a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of these notes to repay a short-term revolving credit agreement, under which the Corporation borrowed $2 billion on July 27, 2007 to fund the settlement of the ASR Agreement. In March 2008, the Corporation and Bank of America settled the ASR Agreement. See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Item 8, Notes 6 and 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the ASR Agreement.

 

In July 2005, the Corporation authorized a multi-year plan to improve its competitive position by accelerating investments in targeted growth opportunities and strategic cost reductions aimed at streamlining manufacturing and administrative operations, primarily in North America and Europe. The strategic cost reductions were completed in 2008. See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Item 8, Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the strategic cost reduction plan.

 

Description of the Corporation

 

The Corporation is organized into operating segments based on product groupings. These operating segments have been aggregated into four reportable global business segments: Personal Care; Consumer Tissue; K-C Professional & Other; and Health Care. The reportable segments were determined in accordance with how the Corporation’s executive managers develop and execute the Corporation’s global strategies to drive growth and profitability of the Corporation’s worldwide Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, K-C Professional & Other and Health Care operations. These strategies include global plans for branding and product positioning, technology, research and development programs, cost reductions including supply chain management, and capacity and capital investments for each of these businesses.

 

The principal sources of revenue in each of our global business segments are described below. Revenue, profit and total assets of each reportable segment are shown in Item 8, Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

The Personal Care segment manufactures and markets disposable diapers, training and youth pants, and swimpants; baby wipes; feminine and incontinence care products; and related products. Products in this segment are primarily for household use and are sold under a variety of brand names, including Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, Kotex, Lightdays, Depend, Poise and other brand names.

 

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The Consumer Tissue segment manufactures and markets facial and bathroom tissue, paper towels, napkins and related products for household use. Products in this segment are sold under the Kleenex, Scott, Cottonelle, Viva, Andrex, Scottex, Hakle, Page and other brand names.

 

The K-C Professional & Other segment manufactures and markets facial and bathroom tissue, paper towels, napkins, wipers and a range of safety products for the away-from-home marketplace. Products in this segment are sold under the Kimberly-Clark, Kleenex, Scott, WypAll, Kimtech, KleenGuard and Kimcare brand names.

 

The Health Care segment manufactures and markets disposable health care products such as surgical gowns, drapes, infection control products, sterilization wrap, face masks, exam gloves, respiratory products and other disposable medical products. Products in this segment are sold under the Kimberly-Clark, Ballard and other brand names.

 

Products for household use are sold directly, and through wholesalers, to supermarkets, mass merchandisers, drugstores, warehouse clubs, variety and department stores and other retail outlets. Products for away-from-home use are sold through distributors and directly to manufacturing, lodging, office building, food service, health care establishments and high volume public facilities. In addition, certain products are sold to converters.

 

Net sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. were approximately 14 percent in 2008 and 2007, and approximately 13 percent in 2006.

 

Patents and Trademarks

 

The Corporation owns various patents and trademarks registered domestically and in many foreign countries. The Corporation considers the patents and trademarks which it owns and the trademarks under which it sells certain of its products to be material to its business. Consequently, the Corporation seeks patent and trademark protection by all available means, including registration.

 

Raw Materials

 

Cellulose fiber, in the form of kraft pulp or fiber recycled from recovered waste paper, is the primary raw material for the Corporation’s tissue products and is a component in disposable diapers, training pants, feminine pads and incontinence care products.

 

Superabsorbent materials are important components in disposable diapers, training and youth pants and incontinence care products. Polypropylene and other synthetics and chemicals are the primary raw materials for manufacturing nonwoven fabrics, which are used in disposable diapers, training and youth pants, wet wipes, feminine pads, incontinence and health care products, and away-from-home wipers.

 

Most recovered paper, synthetics, pulp and recycled fiber are purchased from third parties. The Corporation considers the supply of these raw materials to be adequate to meet the needs of its businesses. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

 

Competition

 

The Corporation has several major competitors in most of its markets, some of which are larger and more diversified than the Corporation. The principal methods and elements of competition include brand recognition and loyalty, product innovation, quality and performance, price, and marketing and distribution capabilities. For additional discussion of the competitive environment in which the Corporation conducts its business, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

 

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Research and Development

 

Research and development expenditures are directed toward new or improved personal care, tissue, wiping, and health care products and nonwoven materials. Consolidated research and development expense was $297 million in 2008, $277 million in 2007 and $301 million in 2006.

 

Foreign Market Risks

 

The Corporation operates and markets its products globally, and its business strategy includes targeted growth in the developing and emerging markets. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors” for a discussion of foreign market risks that may affect the Corporation’s financial results.

 

Environmental Matters

 

Total worldwide capital expenditures for voluntary environmental controls or controls necessary to comply with legal requirements relating to the protection of the environment at the Corporation’s facilities are expected to be approximately $39 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2010. Of these amounts, approximately $15 million in 2009 and $2 million in 2010 are expected to be spent at facilities in the U.S. For facilities outside of the U.S., capital expenditures for environmental controls are expected to be approximately $24 million in 2009 and $10 million in 2010.

 

Total worldwide operating expenses for environmental compliance are expected to be approximately $180 million in 2009 and $171 million in 2010. Operating expenses for environmental compliance with respect to U.S. facilities are expected to be approximately $93 million in 2009 and $83 million in 2010. Operating expenses for environmental compliance with respect to facilities outside the U.S. are expected to be approximately $87 million in 2009 and $88 million in 2010. Operating expenses include pollution control equipment operation and maintenance costs, governmental payments, and research and engineering costs.

 

Total environmental capital expenditures and operating expenses are not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation’s total capital and operating expenditures, consolidated earnings or competitive position. However, current environmental spending estimates could be modified as a result of changes in the Corporation’s plans, changes in legal requirements, including any requirements related to global climate change, or other factors.

 

Employees

 

In its worldwide consolidated operations, the Corporation had nearly 53,000 employees as of December 31, 2008.

 

Item 10 of this Form 10-K identifies executive officers of the Corporation and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Available Information

 

The Corporation makes available financial information, news releases and other information on the Corporation’s website at www.kimberly-clark.com. The Corporation’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge on this website as soon as reasonably practicable after the Corporation files such reports and amendments with, or

 

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(Continued)

 

 

furnishes them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Stockholders may also contact Stockholder Services, P.O. Box 612606, Dallas, Texas 75261-2606 or call 972-281-1522 to obtain a hard copy of these reports without charge.

 

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

 

The following factors, as well as factors described elsewhere in this Form 10-K, or in other filings by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could adversely affect the Corporation’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Other factors not presently known to us or that we presently believe are not material could also affect our business operations and financial results.

 

Global economic conditions could continue to adversely affect the Corporation’s business and financial results.

 

Unfavorable economic conditions, including the impact of recessions in the United States and throughout the world, may continue to negatively affect the Corporation’s business and financial results. These economic conditions could negatively impact (i) consumer demand for our products, including shifting consumer purchasing patterns to lower-cost options such as private label products, (ii) the mix of our products’ sales, (iii) our ability to collect accounts receivable on a timely basis from certain customers and (iv) the ability of certain suppliers to fill our orders for raw materials or other goods and services. A prolonged recession could result in decreased revenue, margins and earnings.

 

Significant increases in prices for raw materials, energy, transportation and other necessary supplies and services could adversely affect the Corporation’s financial results.

 

Increases in the cost of and availability of raw materials, including pulp and petroleum-based materials, the cost of energy, transportation and other necessary services, supplier constraints, an inability to maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relations or an inability to avoid disruptions in production output caused by events such as natural disasters, power outages, labor strikes, and the like could have an adverse effect on the Corporation’s financial results.

 

Cellulose fiber, in the form of kraft pulp or recycled fiber from recovered waste paper, is used extensively in the Corporation’s tissue products and is subject to significant price fluctuations due to the cyclical nature of these fiber markets. Recycled fiber accounts for approximately 32 percent of the Corporation and its equity companies’ overall fiber requirements.

 

Increases in pulp prices could adversely affect the Corporation’s earnings if selling prices for its finished products are not adjusted or if these adjustments significantly trail the increases in pulp prices. Derivative instruments have not been used to manage these risks. On a worldwide basis, the Corporation supplies approximately 8 percent of its virgin fiber needs from internal pulp manufacturing operations.

 

A number of the Corporation’s products, such as diapers, training and youth pants, incontinence care products, disposable wipes and various health care products, contain certain materials which are principally derived from petroleum. These materials are subject to price fluctuations based on changes in petroleum prices, availability and other factors. The Corporation purchases these materials from a number of suppliers. Significant increases in prices for these materials could adversely affect the Corporation’s earnings if selling prices for its finished products are not adjusted or if adjustments significantly trail the increases in prices for these materials. Derivative instruments have not been used to manage these risks.

 

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PART I

(Continued)

 

 

Although the Corporation believes that the supplies of raw materials needed to manufacture its products are adequate, global economic conditions, supplier capacity constraints and other factors could affect the availability of, or prices for, those raw materials.

 

The Corporation’s manufacturing operations utilize electricity, natural gas and petroleum-based fuels.

 

To ensure that it uses all forms of energy cost-effectively, the Corporation maintains ongoing energy efficiency improvement programs at all of its manufacturing sites. The Corporation’s contracts with energy suppliers vary as to price, payment terms, quantities and duration. The Corporation’s energy costs are also affected by various market factors including the availability of supplies of particular forms of energy, energy prices and local and national regulatory decisions. There can be no assurance that the Corporation will be fully protected against substantial changes in the price or availability of energy sources. Derivative instruments are used to hedge a substantial portion of natural gas price risk in accordance with the Corporation’s risk management policy.

 

Increased pricing pressure and intense competition for sales of the Corporation’s products could have an adverse effect on the Corporation’s financial results.

 

The Corporation competes in intensely competitive markets against well-known, branded products and private label products both domestically and internationally. Inherent risks in the Corporation’s competitive strategy include uncertainties concerning trade and consumer acceptance, the effects of consolidation within retailer and distribution channels, and competitive reaction. Some of the Corporation’s major competitors have undergone consolidation, which could result in increased competition and alter the dynamics of the industry. This consolidation may give competitors greater financial resources and greater market penetration and enable competitors to offer a wider variety of products and services at more competitive prices, which could adversely affect the Corporation’s financial results. It may be necessary for the Corporation to lower prices on its products and increase spending on advertising and promotions, each of which could adversely affect the Corporation’s financial results.

 

In addition, the Corporation incurs substantial development and marketing costs in introducing new and improved products and technologies. The introduction of a new consumer product (whether improved or newly developed) usually requires substantial expenditures for advertising and marketing to gain recognition in the marketplace. If a product gains consumer acceptance, it normally requires continued advertising and promotional support to maintain its relative market position. Some of the Corporation’s competitors are larger and have greater financial resources than the Corporation. These competitors may be able to spend more aggressively on advertising and promotional activities, introduce competing products more quickly and respond more effectively to changing business and economic conditions than the Corporation can. The Corporation’s ability to develop new products is affected by whether it can develop and fund technological innovations, receive and maintain necessary patent and trademark protection and successfully anticipate consumer needs and preferences.

 

There is no guarantee that the Corporation will be successful in developing new and improved products and technologies necessary to compete successfully in the industry or that the Corporation will be successful in advertising, marketing and selling its products.

 

Changes in the policies of our retail trade customers and increasing dependence on key retailers in developed markets may adversely affect our business.

 

The Corporation’s products are sold in a highly competitive global marketplace, which is experiencing increased concentration and the growing presence of large-format retailers and discounters. With the

 

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PART I

(Continued)

 

 

consolidation of retail trade, especially in developed markets such as the U.S. and Europe, the Corporation is increasingly dependent on key retailers, and some of these retailers, including large-format retailers, may have greater bargaining power than does the Corporation. They may use this leverage to demand higher trade discounts or allowances which could lead to reduced profitability. The Corporation may also be negatively affected by changes in the policies of its retail trade customers, such as inventory de-stocking, limitations on access to shelf space, delisting of our products; additional requirements related to safety, environmental, social and other sustainability issues; and other conditions. If the Corporation loses a significant customer or if sales of its products to a significant customer materially decrease, the Corporation’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

 

There is no guarantee that the Corporation’s efforts to reduce costs will be successful.

 

The Corporation continues to implement plans to improve its competitive position by accelerating cost reductions in its operations. In addition, the Corporation expects to obtain ongoing cost savings from its recently completed streamlining of manufacturing and administrative operations. The Corporation further anticipates cost savings to result from reducing material costs and manufacturing waste and realizing productivity gains and distribution efficiencies in each of its business segments. See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” If the Corporation cannot successfully implement its cost savings plans, the Corporation may not realize all anticipated benefits. Any negative impact these plans have on the Corporation’s relationships with employees or customers or any failure to generate the anticipated efficiencies and savings could adversely affect the Corporation’s financial results.

 

The Corporation’s sales may not occur as estimated.

 

There is no guarantee that the Corporation will be able to anticipate consumer preferences, estimate sales of new products, estimate changes in population characteristics and the acceptance of the Corporation’s products in new markets and anticipate changes in technology and competitive responses. As a result, the Corporation may not be able to achieve anticipated sales.

 

The Corporation’s international operations are subject to foreign market risks, including foreign exchange risk and currency restrictions, which may adversely affect the Corporation’s financial results.

 

Because the Corporation and its equity companies have manufacturing facilities in 38 countries and their products are sold in more than 150 countries, the Corporation’s results may be substantially affected by foreign market risks. The Corporation is subject to the impact of economic and political instability in developing countries.

 

The Corporation faces increased risks in its international operations, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates, currency restrictions, adverse political and economic conditions, legal and regulatory constraints, tariffs and other trade barriers, difficulties in enforcing contractual and intellectual property rights, costs and difficulties in managing international operations and potentially adverse tax consequences. Each of these factors could adversely affect the Corporation’s financial results.

 

In addition, intense competition in European personal care and tissue markets, and the challenging economic, political and competitive environments in Latin America and developing and other countries in Eastern Europe and Asia may slow the Corporation’s sales growth and earnings potential. See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The Corporation’s success internationally also depends on its ability to acquire or to form successful business alliances, and there is no guarantee that the Corporation will be able to acquire or form these alliances. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Corporation’s products will be accepted in any particular market.

 

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PART I

(Continued)

 

 

The Corporation is subject to the movement of various currencies against each other and versus the U.S. dollar. A portion of the exposures, arising from transactions and commitments denominated in non-local currencies, is systematically hedged through foreign currency forward and swap contracts.

 

Translation exposure for the Corporation with respect to foreign operations generally is not hedged. Weaker foreign currency exchange rates reduce the potential benefit of forecasted declines in dollar-based input costs for operations outside the U.S. There can be no assurance that the Corporation will be fully protected against substantial foreign currency fluctuations.

 

The current credit market disruptions and recession in the United States and certain foreign countries may adversely affect our business.

 

During 2008, unprecedented volatility in global commodity, currency and financial markets resulted in a high level of uncertainty in the business environment, which is expected to continue into 2009. The Corporation relies on access to the credit markets, specifically the commercial paper and public bond markets, to provide supplemental funding for its operations. Although the Corporation has not experienced a disruption in its ability to access the credit markets, there is no assurance that the credit markets will not deteriorate further. It is possible that the Corporation may have difficulty accessing the credit markets in the future, which may disrupt its businesses or further increase the Corporation’s cost of funding its operations. Additionally, the current uncertainty in global economic conditions resulting from the recent disruptions in credit markets and other factors, including recession in the United States and recessions in various foreign markets where the Corporation operates, may adversely affect our sales and results of operations. If the current situation deteriorates significantly, our business could be further negatively impacted, including reduced demand for our products, or supplier, customer or creditor disruptions, resulting from tighter credit markets and other economic factors.

 

The Corporation may acquire new product lines or businesses and may have difficulties integrating future acquisitions or may not realize anticipated benefits of acquisitions.

 

The Corporation may pursue acquisitions of new product lines or businesses. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including difficulties in the assimilation of the operations, technologies, services and products of the acquired product lines or businesses, personnel turnover and the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns. We may be unable to identify suitable acquisition candidates or may be unable to successfully integrate and manage product lines or businesses that we may acquire in the future. In addition, we may be unable to achieve anticipated benefits or cost savings from future acquisitions in the timeframe we anticipate, or at all. Any inability by us to integrate and manage any acquired product lines or businesses in a timely and efficient manner, any inability to achieve anticipated cost savings or other anticipated benefits from these acquisitions in the time frame we anticipate or any unanticipated required increases in trade, promotional or capital spending could adversely affect our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Moreover, future acquisitions by us could result in our incurring substantial additional indebtedness, being exposed to contingent liabilities or incurring the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, all of which could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.

 

Pending litigation, administrative actions and new legal requirements could have an adverse effect on the Corporation.

 

There is no guarantee that the Corporation will be successful in defending itself in legal and administrative actions or in asserting its rights under various laws, including intellectual property laws. In addition, the Corporation could incur substantial costs in defending itself or in asserting its rights in these actions or meeting new legal requirements. The costs and other effects of pending litigation and administrative actions against the

 

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Corporation and new legal requirements cannot be determined with certainty. Although management believes that no such proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Corporation, there can be no assurance that the outcome of such proceedings will be as expected. See Item 3, “Legal Proceedings”.

 

The Corporation obtains certain manufactured products and administrative services from third parties. If the third-party providers fail to satisfactorily perform, our operations could be adversely impacted.

 

As part of the Corporation’s Global Business Plan, a number of administrative functions have been transferred to third-party service providers. Those functions include certain information technology; finance and accounting; sourcing and supply management; and human resources services. Although moving these administrative functions to third-party service providers is expected to improve certain capabilities and lower the Corporation’s cost of operations, the Corporation could experience disruptions in the quality and timeliness of the services. Additionally, third parties manufacture some of the Corporation’s products. Disruptions or delays at the third-party manufacturers or service providers due to regional economic, business, environmental, or political events, or information technology system failures or military actions, or the failure of these manufacturers or service providers to otherwise satisfactorily perform, could adversely impact the Corporation’s operations, sales, payments to the Corporation’s vendors, employees, and others, and the Corporation’s ability to report financial and management information on a timely and accurate basis.

 

ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

 

Management believes that the Corporation’s and its equity affiliates’ production facilities are suitable for their purpose and adequate to support their businesses. The extent of utilization of individual facilities varies, but they generally operate at or near capacity, except in certain instances such as when new products or technology are being introduced or when mills are being shut down.

 

The principal facilities of the Corporation (including the Corporation’s equity companies) and the products or groups of products made at these facilities are as follows:

 

World Headquarters Location

Dallas, Texas

 

Operating Segments and Geographic Headquarters

Roswell, Georgia

Neenah, Wisconsin

Milsons Point, Australia

Hong Kong, China

Reigate, United Kingdom

 

Administrative Centers

Knoxville, Tennessee

Brighton, United Kingdom

Belen, Costa Rica

 

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Worldwide Production and Service Facilities

 

United States

 

Alabama

Mobile—tissue products—(1) & (2)

 

Arizona

Tucson—health care products

 

Arkansas

Conway—feminine care and incontinence care products and nonwovens

Maumelle—wet wipes and nonwovens

 

California

Fullerton—tissue products—(1) & (2)

 

Connecticut

New Milford—tissue products—(1)

 

Georgia

LaGrange—nonwovens

 

Kentucky

Owensboro—tissue products—(2)

 

Mississippi

Corinth—nonwovens, wipers and towels

 

North Carolina

Hendersonville—nonwovens

Lexington—nonwovens

 

Oklahoma

Jenks—tissue products—(1)

 

Pennsylvania

Chester—tissue products—(1)

 

South Carolina

Beech Island—diapers, training pants, wet wipes and tissue products—(1)

 

Tennessee

Loudon—tissue products—(2)

 

 

(1) Consumer Tissue

 

(2) K-C Professional & Other

 

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Texas

Del Rio—health care products

Paris—diapers and training, youth and swim pants

San Antonio—personal cleansing products and systems

 

Utah

Ogden—diapers and training pants

 

Washington

Everett—tissue products, wipers and pulp—(1) & (2)

 

Wisconsin

Marinette—tissue products and wipers—(1) & (2)

Neenah—feminine care, incontinence care products and nonwovens

 

Outside the United States

 

Argentina

Bernal—tissue products—(1) & (2)

Pilar—feminine care and incontinence care products

San Luis—diapers

 

Australia

Albury—nonwovens

Ingleburn—diapers

Millicent—pulp and tissue products—(1) & (2)

Tantanoola—pulp

 

Bahrain

East Riffa—tissue products—(1), (2) & (3)

 

Bolivia

Santa Cruz—tissue products—(1) & (2)

 

Brazil

Correia Pinto—tissue products—(1)

Mogi das Cruzes—tissue products—(1) & (2)

Porto Alegre—feminine care products

Suzano—diapers, wet wipes and incontinence care products

 

Canada

Huntsville, Ontario—tissue products—(1)

 

 

(1) Consumer Tissue

 

(2) K-C Professional & Other

 

(3) Equity company production facility

 

 

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China

Beijing—feminine care and adult care products

Guangzhou—tissue products—(1) & (2)

Nanjing—feminine care products

Shanghai—tissue products—(1) & (2)

 

Colombia

Barbosa—wipers, tissue products, business and correspondence papers and notebooks—(2)

Puerto Tejada—tissue products—(1) & (2)

Tocancipa—diapers and feminine care products

Villa Rica—diapers and incontinence care products—(3)

 

Costa Rica

Belen—tissue products—(1) & (2)

Cartago—diapers and feminine care and incontinence care products

 

Czech Republic

Jaromer—diapers, youth and training pants and incontinence care products

Litovel—feminine care products

 

Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo—tissue products—(1)

 

Ecuador

Mapasingue—tissue products, diapers and feminine care products—(1) & (2)

 

El Salvador

Sitio del Niño—tissue products—(1) & (2)

 

France

Rouen—tissue products—(1)

Villey-Saint-Etienne—tissue products—(1) & (2)

 

Germany

Koblenz—tissue products—(2)

Reisholz—tissue products—(1)

Weinheim—health care products

 

Honduras

Villanueva—health care products

 

India

Pune—feminine care products, diapers and tissue products—(2) & (3)

 

Indonesia

Jakarta—feminine care and tissue products—(1) & (2)

 

 

(1) Consumer Tissue

 

(2) K-C Professional & Other

 

(3) Equity company production facility

 

 

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Israel

Afula—diapers and feminine care and incontinence care products

Hadera—tissue products—(1) & (2)

Nahariya—tissue products—(1) & (2)

 

Italy

Alanno—tissue products—(1)

Romagnano—tissue products—(1)

 

Korea

Anyang—feminine care products, diapers and tissue products—(1) & (2)

Kimcheon—tissue products and nonwovens—(1) & (2)

Taejon—feminine care products, diapers and nonwovens

 

Malaysia

Kluang—tissue and feminine care products—(1) & (2)

 

Mexico

Acuña—health care products

Bajio—tissue products—(1), (2) & (3)

Cuautitlan—feminine care products, diapers and nonwovens—(3)

Ecatepec—tissue products—(1), (2) & (3)

Magdalena—health care products

Morelia—tissue products—(1) & (3)

Nogales—health care products

Orizaba—tissue products—(1), (2) & (3)

Ramos Arizpe—tissue products and diapers—(1), (2) & (3)

Texmelucan—tissue products—(1), (2) & (3)

Tlaxcala—coform, diapers, nonwovens and wet wipes—(3)

 

Peru

Puente Piedra—tissue products—(1) & (2)

Santa Clara—diapers and feminine care and incontinence care products

 

Poland

Klucze—tissue products—(1)

 

Saudi Arabia

Al-Khobar—diapers, feminine care and tissue products—(1), (2) & (3)

 

Singapore

Tuas—diapers

 

South Africa

Cape Town—tissue and feminine care—(1) & (2)

Springs—tissue products and diapers—(1) & (2)

 

 

(1) Consumer Tissue

 

(2) K-C Professional & Other

 

(3) Equity company production facility

 

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Spain

Aranguren—tissue products—(2)

Arceniega—tissue products and personal cleansing products and systems—(2)

Calatayud—diapers

Salamanca—tissue products—(1)

Telde, Canary Islands—tissue products—(1)

 

Switzerland

Niederbipp—tissue products—(1)

 

Taiwan

Chung Li—tissue, feminine care products and diapers—(1) & (2)

Hsin-Ying—tissue products—(1) & (2)

Ta-Yuan—tissue products—(1) & (2)

 

Thailand

Hat Yai—health care products

Pathumthani—feminine care and tissue products—(1) & (2)

Samut Prakarn—tissue products—(1) & (2)

 

Trinidad & Tobago

San Juan—diapers

 

Turkey

Istanbul—diapers

 

United Kingdom

Barrow—tissue products—(1) & (2)

Barton-upon-Humber—diapers and nonwovens

Flint—wet wipes and tissue products—(2)

Northfleet—tissue products—(1)

 

Venezuela

Guaicaipuro—tissue products and diapers—(1) & (2)

 

Vietnam

Binh Duong—feminine care products

 

 

(1) Consumer Tissue

 

(2) K-C Professional & Other

 

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ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The Corporation is subject to federal, state and local environmental protection laws and regulations with respect to its business operations and is operating in compliance with, or taking action aimed at ensuring compliance with, these laws and regulations. The Corporation has been named a potentially responsible party under the provisions of the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or analogous state statutes, at a number of waste disposal sites. In management’s opinion, none of the Corporation’s compliance obligations with environmental protection laws and regulations, individually or in the aggregate, is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

In May 2007, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation was served a summons in Pennsylvania state court by the Delaware County Regional Water Quality Authority (“Delcora”). Also in May 2007, Delcora initiated an administrative action against the Corporation. Delcora is a public agency that operates a sewerage system and a wastewater treatment facility serving industrial and municipal customers, including Kimberly-Clark’s Chester Mill. Delcora also regulates the discharge of wastewater from the Chester Mill. Delcora has alleged in the summons and the administrative action that the Corporation underreported the quantity of effluent discharged to Delcora from the Chester Mill for several years due to an inaccurate effluent metering device and owes additional amounts. The Corporation’s action for declaratory judgment in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania was dismissed in December 2007 on grounds of abstention. The Corporation appealed this dismissal to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The Third Circuit directed the parties to mediation, which during the third quarter of 2008 resulted in a procedural agreement to appoint a neutral and qualified hearing officer. As a result of this arrangement with Delcora, the Corporation has dismissed its appeal to the Third Circuit. The Corporation continues to believe that Delcora’s allegations lack merit and is vigorously defending against Delcora’s actions. In management’s opinion, this matter is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2008.

 

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

The dividend and market price data included in Item 8, Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements is incorporated in this Item 5 by reference.

 

Quarterly dividends have been paid continually since 1935. Dividends have been paid on or about the second business day of January, April, July and October. The dividend reinvestment service of Computershare Investor Services is available to Kimberly-Clark stockholders of record. The service makes it possible for Kimberly-Clark stockholders of record to have their dividends automatically reinvested in common stock and to make additional cash investments.

 

Kimberly-Clark common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The ticker symbol is KMB.

 

As of February 16, 2009, the Corporation had 29,350 holders of record of its common stock.

 

For information relating to securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans, see Part III, Item 12 of this Form 10-K.

 

The Corporation repurchases shares of Kimberly-Clark common stock from time to time pursuant to publicly announced share repurchase programs. During 2008, the Corporation purchased $625 million worth of its common stock. The following table contains information for shares repurchased during the fourth quarter of 2008. None of the shares in this table were repurchased directly from any officer or director of the Corporation.

 

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Period (2008)

   Total Number of
Shares Purchased(a)
   Average Price
Paid Per Share
   Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
   Maximum Number
of Shares That
May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs

October 1 to 31

   1,134,600    $ 59.36    17,867,011    32,132,989

November 1 to 30

   133,400      56.89    18,000,411    31,999,589

December 1 to 31

   —        —      18,000,411    31,999,589
             

Total

   1,268,000         
             

 

(a) All share repurchases between October 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008 were made pursuant to a share repurchase program authorized by the Corporation’s Board of Directors on July 23, 2007, which allows for the repurchase of 50 million shares in an amount not to exceed $5.0 billion.

 

In addition, during October, November and December 2008, the Corporation purchased the following shares from current or former employees in connection with the exercise of employee stock options and other awards.

 

Month

   Shares    Amount

October

   633    $ 36,186

November

   —        —  

December

   2,941      163,355

 

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ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

      Year Ended December 31
     2008(a)     2007    2006     2005(c)     2004(d)
     (Millions of dollars, except per share amounts)

Net Sales

   $ 19,415     $ 18,266    $ 16,747     $ 15,903     $ 15,083

Gross Profit

     5,858       5,704      5,082       5,075       5,069

Operating Profit

     2,547       2,616      2,102       2,311       2,506

Share of Net Income of Equity Companies

     166       170      219 (b)     137       125

Income from:

           

Continuing operations

     1,698       1,823      1,500       1,581       1,770

Discontinued operations

     —         —        —         —         30

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     —         —        —         (13 )     —  

Extraordinary loss

     (8 )     —        —         —         —  

Net income

     1,690       1,823      1,500       1,568       1,800

Per share basis:

           

Basic

           

Continuing operations

     4.08       4.13      3.27       3.33       3.58

Discontinued operations

     —         —        —         —         .06

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     —         —        —         (.03 )     —  

Extraordinary loss

     (.02 )     —        —         —         —  

Net income

     4.06       4.13      3.27       3.30       3.64

Diluted

           

Continuing operations

     4.06       4.09      3.25       3.31       3.55

Discontinued operations

     —         —        —         —         .06

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     —         —        —         (.03 )     —  

Extraordinary loss

     (.02 )     —        —         —         —  

Net income

     4.04       4.09      3.25       3.28       3.61

Cash Dividends Per Share

           

Declared

     2.32       2.12      1.96       1.80       1.60

Paid

     2.27       2.08      1.92       1.75       1.54

Total Assets

   $ 18,089     $ 18,440    $ 17,067     $ 16,303     $ 17,018

Long-Term Debt

     4,882       4,394      2,276       2,595       2,298

Stockholders’ Equity

     3,878       5,224      6,097       5,558       6,630

 

(a) The Corporation recorded an extraordinary charge of $12 million ($8 million after tax) related to the consolidation of its monetization financing entities. See Item 8, Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

(b) The Corporation’s share of net income includes a gain of approximately $46 million from the sale by Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S.A.B. de C.V. of its pulp and paper business.

 

(c) In accordance with the requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation (“FIN”) 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations, the Corporation recorded a pretax asset retirement obligation of $24 million at December 31, 2005. The cumulative effect on income, net of related income tax effects, of recording the asset retirement obligation was $13 million, or $.03 per share.

 

(d) Income statement data present the results of Neenah Paper’s fine and technical papers businesses as discontinued operations since those businesses were spun-off in 2004.

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Introduction

 

This management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations (“MD&A”) is intended to provide investors with an understanding of the Corporation’s past performance, its financial condition and its prospects. The following will be discussed and analyzed:

 

   

Overview of Business

 

   

Overview of 2008 Results

 

   

Results of Operations and Related Information

 

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

   

Variable Interest Entities

 

   

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

 

   

Legal Matters

 

   

New Accounting Standards

 

   

Business Outlook

 

   

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Overview of Business

 

The Corporation is a global health and hygiene company with manufacturing facilities in 35 countries and its products are sold in more than 150 countries. The Corporation’s products are sold under such well-known brands as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend. The Corporation has four reportable global business segments: Personal Care; Consumer Tissue; K-C Professional & Other; and Health Care. These global business segments are described in greater detail in Item 8, Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In managing its global business, the Corporation’s management believes that developing new and improved products, responding effectively to competitive challenges, obtaining and maintaining leading market shares, controlling costs, and managing currency and commodity risks are important to the long-term success of the Corporation. The discussion and analysis of results of operations and other related information will refer to these factors.

 

   

Product innovation—Past results and future prospects depend in large part on product innovation. The Corporation relies on its ability to develop and introduce new or improved products to drive sales and volume growth and to achieve and/or maintain category leadership. In order to introduce new or improved products, the technology to support those products must be acquired or developed. Research and development expenditures are directed towards new or improved personal care, tissue, industrial wipers, safety and health care products and nonwoven materials.

 

   

Competitive environment—Past results and future prospects are significantly affected by the competitive environment in which we operate. We experience intense competition for sales of our principal products in our major markets, both domestically and internationally. Our products compete with widely-advertised, well-known, branded products, as well as private label products, which are typically sold at lower prices. We have several major competitors in most of our markets, some of which

 

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are larger and more diversified. The principal methods and elements of competition include brand recognition and loyalty, product innovation, quality and performance, price, and marketing and distribution capabilities.

 

The Corporation increased promotional and strategic marketing spending in 2007 and 2008 to support new product introductions, further build brand equity and enable competitive pricing in order to protect the position of the Corporation’s products in the market. We expect competition to continue to be intense in 2009.

 

   

Market shares—Achieving leading market shares in our principal products has been an important part of our past performance. We hold number 1 or 2 share positions in more than 80 countries. Achieving and maintaining leading market shares is important because of ongoing consolidation of retailers and the trend of leading merchandisers seeking to stock only the top competitive brands.

 

   

Cost controls—To maintain or improve our competitive position, we must control our manufacturing, distribution and other costs. We have achieved cost savings from reducing material costs and manufacturing waste and realizing productivity gains and distribution efficiencies in our business segments. Our ability to control costs can be affected by changes in the price of pulp, oil and other commodities we consume in our manufacturing processes. Our strategic investments in information systems and partnering with third-party providers of administrative services should also allow further cost savings through streamlining administrative activities.

 

   

Foreign currency and commodity risks—As a multinational enterprise, we are exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, and we are also exposed to changes in commodity prices. Our ability to effectively manage these risks can have a material impact on our results of operations.

 

   

Global economic environment—The Corporation’s business and financial results continue to be adversely affected by recessions in the United States and throughout the world and volatility in the global financial markets. Although it has become more challenging to predict our results in the near-term, we will continue to focus on executing our Global Business Plan strategies for the long-term health of our businesses.

 

Overview of 2008 Results

 

The Corporation continued to experience significant raw material cost inflation in 2008.

 

   

Net sales increased 6.3 percent because of higher net selling prices and sales volumes and favorable currency effects.

 

   

Operating profit declined 2.6 percent and net income and diluted earnings per share decreased 7.3 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively.

 

   

The benefits of top-line growth, along with cost savings of $171 million, were more than offset by inflation in key cost components totaling more than $725 million, an increase in strategic marketing spending of about $95 million and higher levels of selling and administrative expenses, mainly to support growth in developing and emerging markets.

 

   

Cash flow from operations was $2.5 billion, an increase of 3.6 percent.

 

Results of Operations and Related Information

 

This section contains a discussion and analysis of net sales, operating profit and other information relevant to an understanding of 2008 results of operations. This discussion and analysis compares 2008 results to 2007, and 2007 results to 2006.

 

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Analysis of Consolidated Net Sales

 

By Business Segment

 

     Year Ended December 31  
     2008     2007     2006  
     (Millions of dollars)  

Personal Care

   $ 8,272     $ 7,563     $ 6,741  

Consumer Tissue

     6,748       6,475       5,982  

K-C Professional & Other

     3,174       3,039       2,813  

Health Care

     1,224       1,207       1,237  

Corporate & Other

     79       41       33  

Intersegment sales

     (82 )     (59 )     (59 )
                        

Consolidated

   $ 19,415     $ 18,266     $ 16,747  
                        

 

By Geographic Area

 

     Year Ended December 31  
      2008     2007     2006  
     (Millions of dollars)  

United States

   $ 10,143     $ 9,876     $ 9,406  

Canada

     574       569       538  

Intergeographic sales

     (256 )     (253 )     (250 )
                        

Total North America

     10,461       10,192       9,694  

Europe

     3,679       3,469       3,153  

Asia, Latin America and other

     5,942       5,252       4,481  

Intergeographic sales

     (667 )     (647 )     (581 )
                        

Consolidated

   $ 19,415     $ 18,266     $ 16,747  
                        

 

Commentary:

 

2008 versus 2007

 

     Percent Change in Net Sales Versus Prior Year  
   Total
Change
   Changes Due To  
      Volume     Net
Price
    Currency    Mix/
Other
 

Consolidated

   6.3    1     4     1    —    

Personal Care

   9.4    5     3     1    —    

Consumer Tissue

   4.2    (4 )   6     1    1  

K-C Professional & Other

   4.4    (1 )   4     1    —    

Health Care

   1.4    4     (1 )   1    (3 )

 

   

Personal care net sales in North America increased about 5 percent due to more than 3 percent higher net selling prices and more than 1 percent higher sales volumes. The higher net selling prices resulted from increases implemented throughout 2008, net of increased promotional activity primarily for Huggies diapers to match competitive actions. Sales volume growth was dampened by the effects of the economic downturn in the fourth quarter of 2008 as customers adjusted inventory levels, child care category sales slowed and some consumers traded down to lower-priced product offerings.

 

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In Europe, personal care net sales were even with the prior year as favorable currency effects offset lower sales volumes and net selling prices. Sales volumes of Huggies diapers in the Corporation’s four core markets—the U.K., France, Italy and Spain—declined about 4 percent from the prior year.

 

In the developing and emerging markets, net sales increased almost 17 percent driven by a more than 10 percent increase in sales volumes. The growth in sales volumes was broad-based, with particular strength throughout Latin America and in South Korea, Russia, Turkey, and China. Increased net selling prices and favorable product mix added about 4 percent and 2 percent, respectively, to the net sales increase. Unfavorable currency effects in South Korea were offset by favorable effects in other countries, primarily in Brazil and Israel.

 

   

Consumer tissue net sales in North America were even with the prior year as increased net selling prices of more than 6 percent and improved product mix of nearly 1 percent were offset by a sales volume decline of about 7 percent. The higher net selling prices were primarily attributable to price increases for bathroom tissue and paper towels implemented during the first and third quarters in the U.S. List prices for facial tissue were raised late in the third quarter. Sales volumes were down mid-single digits in bathroom tissue and facial tissue and double-digits in paper towels, primarily as a result of the Corporation’s focus on improving revenue realization. A portion of the overall volume decline is also due to the Corporation’s decision in late 2007 to shed certain low-margin private label business.

 

In Europe, consumer tissue net sales increased almost 4 percent on nearly 3 percent higher net selling prices, a 1 percent improvement in product mix and more than 2 percent favorable currency effects, tempered by a decline in sales volumes of about 2 percent. The lower sales volumes were primarily due to reduced sales of Andrex and Scottex bathroom tissue and Kleenex facial tissue in response to higher net selling prices and a slowdown in category sales, particularly in the U.K.

 

Consumer tissue net sales in the developing and emerging markets increased nearly 13 percent. During 2008, the Corporation raised prices in most markets to recover higher raw materials costs and drove improvements in mix with more differentiated, value-added products, strategies that resulted in higher net selling prices of about 10 percent and better product mix of more than 2 percent. Sales volumes were even with last year. For the year, currency effects were neutral as favorable effects earlier in the year were offset by the dramatic changes in currency rates in the fourth quarter of 2008.

 

   

Economic weakness and rising unemployment levels in North America and Europe began to affect K-C Professional’s categories in the fourth quarter of 2008. For the year, net sales in North America increased nearly 3 percent as increased net selling prices of about 4 percent and improved product mix of over 1 percent were tempered by lower sales volumes. In Europe, net sales of KCP products advanced about 9 percent as increased net selling prices and higher sales volumes contributed nearly 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively, to the improvement. Currency effects were about 4 percent favorable versus the prior year.

 

   

The increased sales volumes for health care products were primarily due to mid-single digit growth outside North America and a similar advance for medical devices in North America. The price decline was mainly attributable to competitive conditions affecting surgical supplies in North America and Europe.

 

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Commentary:

 

2007 versus 2006

 

     Percent Change in Net Sales Versus Prior Year
     Total
Change
    Changes Due To
     Volume     Net
Price
   Currency    Mix/
Other

Consolidated

   9.1     4     1    3    1

Personal Care

   12.2     8        3    1

Consumer Tissue

   8.2     1     2    4    1

K-C Professional & Other

   8.0     3     1    3    1

Health Care

   (2.4 )   (5 )      1    1

 

   

In North America, net sales of personal care products increased nearly 8 percent primarily on the strength of increased sales volumes. Product innovations spurred volume growth, with a double-digit gain for Huggies baby wipes, high single-digit growth for Huggies diapers and mid single-digit increases for the Corporation’s child care and incontinence care brands. Child care sales volumes benefited from the late third quarter introduction of GoodNites Sleep Boxers and Sleep Shorts, a unique offering in the youth pants category. Meanwhile, sales volumes of Kotex feminine care products were below year-ago levels. Net selling prices increased about 1 percent.

 

Net sales of personal care products in Europe increased about 11 percent, principally due to favorable currency effects. Higher sales volumes of more than 2 percent were offset by lower net selling prices. The sales volume gains reflect higher sales of Huggies diapers and baby wipes across the region, including a more than 2 percent volume gain for Huggies diapers in the four core markets—United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain. The lower net selling prices were due to meeting competitive promotional activity.

 

In the developing and emerging markets, net sales increased nearly 21 percent driven by a more than 13 percent increase in sales volumes. The growth in sales volumes was broad-based, with particular strength throughout most of Latin America and in South Korea, China and Russia. Favorable currency effects, primarily in Australia and Brazil, added about 6 percent to the higher net sales while net selling prices were about even with last year.

 

   

In North America, net sales of consumer tissue products rose more than 5 percent due to nearly 3 percent higher sales volumes and about 2 percent higher net selling prices. Sales volumes for bathroom tissue and paper towels increased 5 percent and 4 percent, respectively, on growth for Scott bathroom tissue and Viva paper towels reflecting product improvements for these brands. Net selling prices were impacted by promotional activity, late in the year, in support of product upgrades, including the Corporation’s improved Cottonelle bathroom tissue, as well as to support facial tissue in anticipation of a seasonal pick-up in sales volumes that had not yet occurred because of a weaker cold and flu season in the fourth quarter of 2007.

 

In Europe, net sales of consumer tissue products increased approximately 9 percent, principally due to favorable currency exchange rates. Improved product mix was negated by an overall sales volume decline of about 1 percent that resulted from the Corporation’s 2006 decision to shed low-margin business following the sale or closure of certain facilities in the region. Sales volume increases for Andrex bathroom tissue and Kleenex facial tissue were not sufficient to offset the withdrawal from the low-margin business. Net selling prices remained about the same as in the prior year.

 

In the developing and emerging markets, net sales increased more than 12 percent. About half of the increase was due to favorable currency effects. Improved product mix of nearly 3 percent was tempered

 

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by lower sales volumes of slightly more than 1 percent. Net selling prices increased almost 5 percent as selling prices were raised during the year in most developing and emerging markets in response to higher raw material costs.

 

   

Sales volumes for K-C Professional products increased more than 3 percent with double-digit growth in Latin America and 4 percent higher sales volumes in North America led by advances for Kleenex, Scott and Cottonelle washroom brands and Kimtech and WypAll wiper brands. Higher net selling prices added about 1 percent to the increase in net sales and favorable currency effects contributed over 3 percent.

 

   

The decrease in sales volumes of health care products was mainly attributable to a higher level of sales of face masks in 2006 primarily due to avian flu preparedness and the impact of the Corporation’s decision in the second half of 2006 to exit the latex exam glove business. During 2007, the Corporation made progress in transitioning customers and users from latex to its higher-margin, clinically-preferred nitrile gloves. Sales of exam gloves improved sequentially in the fourth quarter of 2007 versus the third quarter 2007 levels. Nevertheless, the growth in sales of nitrile gloves did not compensate for the drop-off in sales of latex gloves, due in part to supply constraints earlier in 2007 and competitive market conditions. In other areas of the business, sales of medical devices, particularly Ballard respiratory catheters, generated high single-digit improvement.

 

Analysis of Consolidated Operating Profit

 

By Business Segment

 

     Year Ended December 31  
   2008     2007     2006  
     (Millions of dollars)  

Personal Care

   $ 1,649     $ 1,562     $ 1,303  

Consumer Tissue

     601       702       773  

K-C Professional & Other

     428       478       472  

Health Care

     143       195       211  

Other income and (expense), net

     (20 )     18       (32 )

Corporate & Other

     (254 )     (339 )     (625 )
                        

Consolidated

   $ 2,547     $ 2,616     $ 2,102  
                        

 

By Geographic Area

 

     Year Ended December 31  
     2008     2007     2006  
     (Millions of dollars)  

United States

   $ 1,730     $ 1,853     $ 1,856  

Canada

     144       157       143  

Europe

     210       258       211  

Asia, Latin America and other

     737       669       549  

Other income and (expense), net

     (20 )     18       (32 )

Corporate & Other

     (254 )     (339 )     (625 )
                        

Consolidated

   $ 2,547     $ 2,616     $ 2,102  
                        

 

Note: Corporate & Other and Other income and (expense), net, include the following amounts of pre-tax charges for the strategic cost reductions. In 2007, Corporate & Other also includes the related implementation costs.

 

       2008         2007         2006    
     (Millions of dollars)  

Corporate & Other

   $ (72 )   $ (148 )   $ (476 )

Other income and (expense), net

     12       14       (8 )

 

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Commentary:

 

2008 versus 2007

 

     Percentage Change in Operating Profit Versus Prior Year  
   Total
Change
    Change Due To  
     Volume     Net
Price
    Raw
Materials
Cost
    Energy and
Distribution
Expense
    Currency     Other(a)  

Consolidated

   (2.6 )   3     29     (20 )   (8 )       (7 )(b)

Personal Care

   5.6     9     15     (14 )   (3 )       (1 )

Consumer Tissue

   (14.4 )   (9 )   60     (27 )   (18 )   (1 )   (19 )

K-C Professional & Other

   (10.5 )   (2 )   23     (18 )   (9 )   2     (6 )

Health Care

   (26.7 )   8     (8 )   (10 )       2     (19 )

 

(a) Includes higher marketing and general expenses net of the benefit of cost savings achieved.

 

(b) Charges for strategic cost reductions were $47 million lower in 2008 than in 2007.

 

Consolidated operating profit decreased $69 million or 2.6 percent from the prior year. Charges for the strategic cost reductions of $60 million for 2008 were $47 million lower than in the prior year. Charges for the strategic cost reductions, discussed later in this MD&A and in Item 8, Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, are not included in the results of the business segments. The effect of higher net sales, primarily due to increased net selling prices, plus approximately $171 million in cost savings were more than offset by significant inflation in key manufacturing cost inputs of more than $725 million, higher manufacturing costs, primarily related to production downtime, of nearly $100 million, increased strategic marketing spending of about $95 million and higher levels of selling and administrative expenses, mainly to support growth in developing and emerging markets. Operating profit as a percent of net sales decreased to 13.1 percent from 14.3 percent last year.

 

   

Operating profit for the personal care segment increased 5.6 percent as higher net sales and cost savings more than offset raw materials and other cost inflation. In North America, operating profit increased due to the higher net selling prices and cost savings, tempered by materials and other cost inflation, and increased marketing expenses. In Europe, operating profit declined as cost savings were more than offset by the lower net selling prices and materials inflation. Operating profit in the developing and emerging markets increased because the higher net selling prices and sales volumes more than offset increased marketing and general expenses.

 

   

Consumer tissue segment operating profit decreased 14.4 percent. Increased net selling prices and cost savings were more than offset by cost inflation, the lower sales volumes and higher manufacturing costs, including the effect of planned production downtime. Operating profit in North America decreased due to the same factors that affected the overall segment. In Europe, operating profit declined as higher net selling prices and cost savings were more than offset by cost inflation. Operating profit in the developing and emerging markets was even with the prior year as higher net selling prices were offset by cost inflation, and increased marketing and general expenses to support growth in these regions.

 

   

Operating profit for K-C Professional & Other products decreased 10.5 percent because higher net selling prices were more than offset by cost inflation for both wastepaper and virgin fiber and other materials and increased manufacturing costs, including higher maintenance spending.

 

   

Operating profit for the health care segment decreased 26.7 percent. The benefit of higher sales volumes was more than offset by the lower net selling prices and higher manufacturing cost. In addition to cost inflation, the segment absorbed manufacturing-related costs as part of a plan to reduce inventory and also experienced higher costs related to changes in its manufacturing footprint.

 

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Strategic Cost Reduction Plan

 

In July 2005, the Corporation authorized a multi-year plan to further improve its competitive position by accelerating investments in targeted growth opportunities and strategic cost reductions aimed at streamlining manufacturing and administrative operations, primarily in North America and Europe.

 

The strategic cost reductions commenced in the third quarter of 2005 and were completed by December 31, 2008. The strategic cost reductions resulted in cumulative charges of $880 million before tax or $610 million after tax.

 

Since the inception of the strategic cost reductions, a net workforce reduction of 5,800 has occurred. As of December 31, 2008, charges have been recorded related to the cost reduction initiatives for 23 facilities, including 3 facilities which have been closed and are being marketed for sale.

 

For the full year of 2008, year-over-year pretax savings of nearly $110 million were realized, bringing the cumulative annual total to approximately $335 million since the plan’s inception. Including projected year-over-year savings of about $50 million in 2009, total annual savings from the plan are now expected to reach $385 million.

 

See Item 8, Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for detail on costs incurred for the plan.

 

Other income and (expense), net

 

Other income and (expense), net for 2008 includes costs for a legal judgment and the refinancing of the dealer remarketable securities (see Item 8, Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements) partially offset by favorable settlement of a value-added tax matter in Latin America. A gain of $16 million for the settlement of litigation related to prior years’ operations in Latin America is included in 2007. In addition, currency transaction losses included in this line item were about $5 million higher in 2008 than in 2007.

 

Commentary:

 

2007 versus 2006

 

     Percentage Change in Operating Profit Versus Prior Year  
   Total
Change
    Change Due To  
     Volume    Net
Price
    Raw
Materials
Cost
    Energy and
Distribution
Expense
    Currency    Other(a)  

Consolidated

   24.5     16    8     (16 )   (4 )   4    17 (b)

Personal Care

   19.9     19    1     (8 )   (2 )   3    7  

Consumer Tissue

   (9.2 )   6    16     (18 )   (7 )   2    (8 )

K-C Professional & Other

   1.3     8    6     (16 )   (1 )   2    2  

Health Care

   (7.6 )   1    (2 )   (6 )   (4 )   6    (3 )

 

(a) Includes the benefit of cost savings achieved, net of higher marketing and general expenses.

 

(b) Charges for strategic cost reductions were $377 million lower in 2007 than in 2006.

 

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Consolidated operating profit increased $514 million or 24.5 percent. Lower charges for the strategic cost reduction plan increased operating profit by $377 million. These charges are not included in the business segments. In addition, cost savings generated by the plan totaled approximately $105 million during 2007. Other factors affecting the comparison with 2006 were savings of nearly $160 million for the Corporation’s Focused On Reducing Costs Everywhere program, higher sales volumes and increased net selling prices. Partially offsetting these improvements were raw materials cost inflation of almost $350 million, increased strategic marketing expenses of about $50 million and higher general and administrative expenses. The increased general and administrative expenses were to a large extent in support of growth in the developing and emerging markets. Operating profit as a percent of net sales increased to 14.3 percent from 12.6 percent in 2006.

 

   

Operating profit for personal care products increased 19.9 percent. Cost savings and higher sales volumes more than offset raw materials cost inflation, the costs for product improvements and increased general and administrative expenses.

 

Operating profit in North America increased nearly 13 percent primarily on the strength of higher sales volumes. Cost savings and slightly higher net selling prices offset the effect of raw materials cost inflation. Increased operating profit in Europe was driven by cost savings and higher sales volumes, despite lower net selling prices. Operating profit in the developing and emerging markets increased more than 25 percent on sales volume growth and cost savings that more than offset increased marketing and general and administrative expenses.

 

   

Operating profit for consumer tissue products decreased 9.2 percent as higher net selling prices and cost savings were more than offset by raw materials cost inflation, the costs for product improvements and higher manufacturing costs.

 

In North America, operating profit declined more than 15 percent because higher net selling prices were more than offset by raw materials cost inflation, primarily pulp costs, the costs of product improvements and higher manufacturing costs. Operating profit in Europe increased due to cost savings and favorable currency effects tempered by raw materials cost inflation and higher marketing and general and administrative expenses. In the developing and emerging markets, operating profit declined slightly as net selling price gains were more than offset by increased pulp costs, higher manufacturing costs and increased general and administrative expenses.

 

   

Operating profit for K-C Professional & Other products increased 1.3 percent because higher sales volumes, increased net selling prices and cost savings were substantially negated by cost inflation for both virgin fiber and wastepaper.

 

   

Operating profit for health care products decreased 7.6 percent as the benefits of cost savings and favorable currency effects were more than offset by raw materials cost inflation, primarily for nonwovens, and increased distribution and selling expenses.

 

Other income and (expense), net

 

Other income and (expense), net for 2007 includes a gain of $16 million for the previously mentioned settlement of litigation in Latin America. Currency transaction losses included in this line item were about $10 million lower in 2007 than in 2006. In addition, gains on dispositions of facilities in 2007, as part of the strategic cost reduction plan, were about $14 million compared with costs of $8 million in 2006.

 

Additional Income Statement Commentary

 

Synthetic Fuel Partnerships

 

As described in Item 8, Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Corporation had minority interests in two synthetic fuel partnerships. Pretax losses from participation in these partnerships were reported as

 

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nonoperating expense in the Consolidated Income Statement. The partnerships were dissolved in 2008 at no cost to the Corporation. The Corporation’s income tax provision was reduced by $81 million in 2007, compared with $87 million in 2006 resulting from the income tax credits and tax benefits of these investments. Diluted earnings per share benefited by $.03 in 2007 compared with no benefit in 2008. The diluted earnings per share benefit in 2006 was $.04.

 

2008 versus 2007

 

   

Interest expense increased due to a higher average level of debt partially offset by lower average interest rates. See Item 8, Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for detail on debt activity.

 

   

The Corporation’s effective income tax rate was 27.0 percent for 2008 compared with 23.2 percent for 2007. The increase was primarily due to: (a) the benefits from the previously mentioned synthetic fuel credits utilized in 2007 that were not available in 2008; (b) favorable settlements in 2007 of tax issues related to prior years; and (c) the reversal of valuation allowances in 2007 on deferred tax assets at certain majority-owned subsidiaries in Latin America based on a sustained improvement in the subsidiaries’ operating results, partially offset by higher foreign tax credit benefits in 2008.

 

   

The Corporation’s share of net income of equity companies declined by $4 million primarily due to lower net income at Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S.A.B. de C.V. (“KCM”). While KCM had higher net sales, its operating profit and net income were affected by currency transaction losses in the fourth quarter of 2008 on its more than $300 million of U.S. dollar-denominated liabilities as the Mexican peso weakened versus the U.S. dollar. The currency transaction losses reduced the Corporation’s share of KCM’s net income by approximately $23 million for 2008.

 

   

Minority owners’ share of subsidiaries’ net income increased $11 million versus the prior year. The increase was primarily due to higher returns payable on the redeemable preferred securities issued by the Corporation’s consolidated financing subsidiary.

 

   

As a result of the Corporation’s ongoing share repurchase program, including the Accelerated Share Repurchase (“ASR”) program, the average number of common shares outstanding declined, which benefited 2008 net income by about $.25 per share. This benefit was partially offset by the higher interest expense associated with the July 2007 debt issuances that funded the ASR program. See Item 8, Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for detail on the ASR program.

 

2007 versus 2006

 

   

Interest expense increased principally due to a higher average level of debt. See Item 8, Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for detail on debt issued in the third quarter of 2007.

 

   

The Corporation’s effective income tax rate was 23.2 percent for 2007 compared with 25.4 percent in 2006. The decrease for 2007 was primarily due to the previously mentioned favorable settlements of tax issues related to prior years and the reversal of valuation allowances on deferred tax assets partially offset by lower foreign tax credit benefits in 2007.

 

   

The Corporation’s share of net income from equity companies decreased $49 million primarily due to lower net income at KCM. Included in 2006 results was a gain of $46 million from the sale by KCM of its pulp and paper business. The remainder of the decline was due to lower operating profit at KCM as net sales growth did not overcome the effect of higher raw materials costs.

 

   

Minority owners’ share of subsidiaries’ net income increased $33 million primarily due to the minority owners’ share of the above-mentioned tax benefits at majority-owned subsidiaries.

 

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As a result of the Corporation’s share repurchase program, including the ASR program, the average number of common shares outstanding declined, which benefited 2007 net income by $.14 per share. This benefit was mostly offset by the higher interest expense associated with the third quarter 2007 debt issuances that funded the ASR program.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

     Year Ended December 31  
         2008             2007      
     (Millions of dollars)  

Cash provided by operations

   $ 2,516     $ 2,429  

Capital spending

     906       989  

Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired

     98       16  

Ratio of total debt and redeemable preferred securities to capital(a)

     62.0 %     53.2 %

Pretax interest coverage—times

     7.3       8.2  

 

(a) Capital is total debt and redeemable preferred securities plus stockholders’ equity and minority owners’ interest in subsidiaries.

 

Cash Flow Commentary:

 

Cash provided by operations increased $87 million primarily due to lower tax payments in 2008 versus 2007.

 

Contractual Obligations:

 

The following table presents the Corporation’s total contractual obligations for which cash flows are fixed or determinable.

 

      Total    2009    2010    2011    2012    2013    2014+
     (Millions of dollars)

Contractual obligations

                    

Long-term debt

   $ 5,559    $ 677    $ 496    $ 16    $ 409    $ 505    $ 3,456

Interest payments on long-term debt

     3,615      374      305      297      296      272      2,071

Returns on redeemable preferred securities

     428      54      54      54      54      54      158

Operating leases

     688      142      114      98      80      65      189

Unconditional purchase obligations

     1,997      674      493      445      78      75      232

Open purchase orders

     1,385      1,385      —        —        —        —        —  
                                                

Total contractual obligations

   $ 13,672    $ 3,306    $ 1,462    $ 910    $ 917    $ 971    $ 6,106
                                                

 

Obligations Commentary:

 

   

Projected interest payments for variable-rate debt were calculated based on the outstanding principal amounts and prevailing market rates as of December 31, 2008.

 

   

Returns on redeemable preferred securities reflect required return payments through the next seven-year anniversary date by instrument class. See Item 8, Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

   

The unconditional purchase obligations are for the purchase of raw materials, primarily pulp and utilities. Although the Corporation is primarily liable for payments on the above operating leases and

 

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unconditional purchase obligations, based on historic operating performance and forecasted future cash flows, management believes the Corporation’s exposure to losses, if any, under these arrangements is not material.

 

   

The open purchase orders displayed in the table represent amounts the Corporation anticipates will become payable within the next year for goods and services it has negotiated for delivery.

 

The Corporation will fund its defined benefit pension plans to meet or exceed statutory requirements and currently expects to contribute $530 million to these plans in 2009. This amount is not included in the above table.

 

The above table does not include future payments that the Corporation will make for other postretirement benefit obligations. Those amounts are estimated using actuarial assumptions, including expected future service, to project the future obligations. Based upon those projections, the Corporation anticipates making annual payments for these obligations within a range from approximately $85 million in 2009 to more than $90 million by 2018.

 

As of December 31, 2008, the Corporation has accrued income tax liabilities for uncertain tax positions. These liabilities have not been presented in the table above due to uncertainty as to amounts and timing regarding future payments.

 

Deferred taxes, minority owners’ interests and payments for pension plan benefits are also not included in the table.

 

A consolidated financing subsidiary has issued two classes of redeemable preferred securities. The holder of the securities can elect to have the subsidiary redeem the first class in December 2011 and the second class in December 2014 and each seven-year anniversary thereafter. Management currently anticipates that these securities will not be redeemed at the next redemption dates, and therefore they are not included in the above table. In the event that the holder of the securities does elect to have its preferred securities redeemed at the next respective redemption dates, the Corporation would be required to pay approximately $500 million in 2011 and approximately $500 million in 2014. See Item 8, Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding these securities.

 

Investing Commentary:

 

   

During 2008, the Corporation’s capital spending of $906 million was within the targeted range of $850 to $950 million.

 

   

During 2008, the Corporation acquired a personal care business in Trinidad and Tobago; the remaining 50 percent interest in its South African subsidiary, Kimberly-Clark of South Africa (Pty.) Limited; and the remaining 40 percent interest in its Chilean subsidiary, Kimberly-Clark Chile, S.A. The cost of these acquisitions totaled approximately $98 million. See Item 8, Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional detail.

 

Financing Commentary:

 

   

At December 31, 2008, total debt and redeemable preferred securities was $7.0 billion compared with $6.5 billion last year end. The increase was primarily due to the consolidation of the financing entities described in Item 8, Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. At December 31, 2008, the related loans are classified as debt payable within one year on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Corporation currently anticipates that these loans will be extended prior to their current maturity dates.

 

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In August 2008, Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) lowered the Corporation’s long-term credit rating from A+ to A but reaffirmed the short-term commercial paper A1 rating. S&P also removed both the long- and short-term ratings from negative outlook and both ratings are now classified as stable. In August 2008, Moody’s Investor Services reaffirmed the Corporation’s long- and short-term ratings of A2 and P1, respectively, with an outlook of stable.

 

   

In November 2008, the Corporation issued $500 million 7.5% Notes due November 1, 2018. The Corporation used the net proceeds to reduce borrowings under its commercial paper program.

 

   

In the fourth quarter of 2008, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation purchased $200 million of dealer remarketable securities that the Corporation had originally issued in the fourth quarter of 2006. The subsidiary issued commercial paper to fund the investment in these securities and intends to hold these securities until the next remarketing date in the fourth quarter of 2009. The investment in these securities by the subsidiary and the Corporation’s debt obligation for these securities are eliminated in consolidation. See Item 8, Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional detail on these securities.

 

   

At December 31, 2008, the Corporation had a $1.33 billion revolving credit facility that is scheduled to expire in September 2012. This facility contains a feature that would allow for increasing it to $1.77 billion. The Corporation maintains the revolving credit facility to manage liquidity needs in the event its access to the commercial paper markets is constrained for any reason. The Corporation did not experience any difficulty in issuing commercial paper in 2008 despite the current constrained credit environment in the United States. The Corporation did not borrow any amounts under the revolving credit facility in 2008.

 

   

During 2008, the Corporation repurchased about 10 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $625 million which was in line with its updated target of $600 million to $650 million. In light of the Corporation’s estimated contribution of $530 million in 2009 to its defined benefit pension plans, the Corporation does not expect to repurchase any of its common stock in 2009. See the discussion under Critical Accounting Policies later in this MD&A for additional detail regarding Pension Benefits.

 

   

In 2003, the Venezuelan government enacted currency restrictions, which have affected the ability of the Corporation’s Venezuelan subsidiary (“K-C Venezuela”) to obtain foreign currency at the official rate of exchange to pay for imported finished goods. These exchange restrictions have negatively impacted K-C Venezuela because it has had to meet its foreign currency needs from non-government sources at exchange rates substantially unfavorable to the official rate. During 2008, the Corporation recorded its share of pre-tax losses of more than $10 million or about $.02 per share due to currency transactions at other than official exchange rates. At December 31, 2008, K-C Venezuela had cash denominated in bolivars of $94 million. In 2008, K-C Venezuela represented approximately 2 percent of consolidated net sales and consolidated operating profit.

 

Management believes that the Corporation’s ability to generate cash from operations and its capacity to issue short-term and long-term debt are adequate to fund working capital, capital spending, payment of dividends, pension plan contributions and other needs in the foreseeable future.

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

The Corporation has interests in the financing and real estate entities discussed in Item 8, Notes 2, 7 and 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, all of which are subject to the requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46 (Revised December 2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities—an Interpretation of ARB 51 (“FIN 46(R)”). The entities described in Item 8, Notes 2 and 7 are consolidated

 

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pursuant to the requirements of FIN 46(R), as are certain of the real estate entities described in Note 12. The nonconsolidated real estate entities do not engage in any of the transactions subject to the disclosure requirements of FRR 67, Disclosure in Management’s Discussion and Analysis about Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting period. The critical accounting policies used by management in the preparation of the Corporation’s Consolidated Financial Statements are those that are important both to the presentation of the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations and require significant judgments by management with regard to estimates used. The critical judgments by management relate to consumer and trade promotion and rebate accruals, pension and other postretirement benefits, retained insurable risks, useful lives for depreciation and amortization, future cash flows associated with impairment testing for goodwill and long-lived assets, the qualitative and quantitative analyses of variability used to determine the primary beneficiary of variable interest entities, deferred income taxes and potential income tax assessments, and loss contingencies. The Corporation’s critical accounting policies have been reviewed with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

Promotion and Rebate Accruals

 

Among those factors affecting the accruals for promotions are estimates of the number of consumer coupons that will be redeemed and the type and number of activities within promotional programs between the Corporation and its trade customers. Rebate accruals are based on estimates of the quantity of products distributors have sold to specific customers. Generally, the estimates for consumer coupon costs are based on historical patterns of coupon redemption, influenced by judgments about current market conditions such as competitive activity in specific product categories. Estimates of trade promotion liabilities for promotional program costs incurred, but unpaid, are generally based on estimates of the quantity of customer sales, timing of promotional activities and forecasted costs for activities within the promotional programs. Settlement of these liabilities sometimes occurs in periods subsequent to the date of the promotion activity. Trade promotion programs include introductory marketing funds such as slotting fees, cooperative marketing programs, temporary price reductions, favorable end-of-aisle or in-store product displays and other activities conducted by the customers to promote the Corporation’s products. Promotion accruals as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 were $321 million and $348 million, respectively. Rebate accruals as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 were $261 million and $253 million, respectively.

 

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

 

Pension Benefits

 

The Corporation and its subsidiaries in North America and the United Kingdom have defined benefit pension plans (the “Principal Plans”) and/or defined contribution retirement plans covering substantially all regular employees. Certain other subsidiaries have defined benefit pension plans or, in certain countries, termination pay plans covering substantially all regular employees. The funding policy for the qualified defined benefit plans in North America and the defined benefit plans in the United Kingdom is to contribute assets at least equal to regulatory minimum requirements. Funding for the remaining defined benefit plans outside the U.S. is based on legal requirements, tax considerations, investment opportunities, and customary business practices in such countries. Nonqualified U.S. plans providing pension benefits in excess of limitations imposed by the U.S. income tax code are not funded.

 

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Consolidated pension expense for defined benefit pension plans was $97 million in 2008 compared with $120 million for 2007. Pension expense included incremental costs of about $5 million and $8 million in 2008 and 2007, respectively, for special pension benefits related to the strategic cost reductions. Pension expense is calculated based upon a number of actuarial assumptions applied to each of the defined benefit plans. The weighted-average expected long-term rate of return on pension fund assets used to calculate pension expense was 8.23 percent in 2008 compared with 8.27 percent in 2007 and will be 8.17 percent in 2009. The expected long-term rate of return is evaluated on an annual basis. In setting this assumption, the Corporation considers a number of factors including projected future returns by asset class, current asset allocation and historical long-term market performance. As part of the factors related to historical market performance, the Corporation considered the range of compounded annual returns for 15 rolling 15-year and 20-year periods through 2008 relative to each plan’s current asset allocation.

 

The weighted-average expected long-term rate of return on pension fund assets used to calculate pension expense for the Principal Plans was 8.48 percent in 2008 compared with 8.50 percent in 2007 and will be 8.47 percent in 2009. The expected long-term rate of return on the assets in the Principal Plans is based on an asset allocation assumption of about 70 percent with equity managers, with expected long-term rates of return ranging from 9 to 10 percent, and about 30 percent with fixed income managers, with an expected long-term rate of return ranging from 6 to 7 percent. Actual asset allocation is regularly reviewed and it is periodically rebalanced to the targeted allocation when considered appropriate. Long-term rate of return assumptions continue to be evaluated at least annually and are adjusted as necessary.

 

Pension expense is determined using the fair value of assets rather than a calculated value that averages gains and losses (“Calculated Value”) over a period of years. Investment gains or losses represent the difference between the expected return calculated using the fair value of assets and the actual return based on the fair value of assets. The variance between actual and expected gains and losses on pension assets is recognized in pension expense more rapidly than it would be if a Calculated Value was used for plan assets. As of December 31, 2008, the Principal Plans had cumulative unrecognized investment losses and other actuarial losses of approximately $2.2 billion. These unrecognized net losses may increase future pension expense if not offset by (i) actual investment returns that exceed the assumed investment returns, or (ii) other factors, including reduced pension liabilities arising from higher discount rates used to calculate pension obligations, or (iii) other actuarial gains, including whether such accumulated actuarial losses at each measurement date exceed the “corridor” determined under SFAS No. 87, Employers’ Accounting for Pensions.

 

The discount (or settlement) rates used to determine the present values of the Corporation’s future U.S. and Canadian pension obligations at December 31, 2008 were based on yield curves constructed from a portfolio of high quality corporate debt securities with maturities ranging from 1 year to 30 years. Each year’s expected future benefit payments were discounted to their present value at the appropriate yield curve rate thereby generating the overall discount rates for the U.S. and Canadian pension obligations. For the U.K. plans, discount rates were established using the yield on a U.K. bond index comprised of high quality corporate debt securities, with the yield adjusted for duration differences between the index and the pension obligations and for securities in the index recently downgraded below high quality. The weighted-average discount rate for the Principal Plans increased to 6.47 percent at December 31, 2008 from 6.20 percent at December 31, 2007.

 

Consolidated pension expense for defined benefit pension plans is estimated to approximate $295 million in 2009. The increase in estimated pension expense for 2009 from $97 million incurred in 2008 reflects substantially lower plan assets at December 31, 2008 and the effect of actuarial losses. The 2009 estimate is based on an expected weighted-average long-term rate of return on assets in the Principal Plans of 8.47 percent, a weighted-average discount rate for the Principal Plans of 6.47 percent and various other assumptions. Pension

 

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expense beyond 2009 will depend on future investment performance, the Corporation’s contributions to the pension trusts, changes in discount rates and various other factors related to the covered employees in the plans.

 

If the expected long-term rates of return on assets for the Principal Plans were lowered by 0.25 percent, our annual pension expense would increase by approximately $7 million in 2009. If the discount rate assumptions for these same plans were reduced by 0.25 percent, annual pension expense would increase by approximately $11 million and the December 31, 2008 pension liability would increase by about $133 million.

 

The fair value of the assets in the Corporation’s defined benefit plans was $3.1 billion and $4.7 billion at December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. The projected benefit obligations of the defined benefit plans exceeded the fair value of plan assets by approximately $1.9 billion and $0.8 billion at December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. On a consolidated basis, the Corporation contributed about $129 million to its pension plans in 2008 compared with $98 million in 2007. In addition, the Corporation made direct benefit payments of $14 million in 2008 compared to $15 million in 2007. The Corporation currently anticipates contributing about $530 million to its pension plans in 2009.

 

The methodology for determining the discount rate used for each country’s pension obligation is the same as the methodology used to determine the discount rate used for that country’s other postretirement obligation. The discount rates displayed for the two types of obligations for the Corporation’s consolidated operations may appear different due to the weighting used in the calculation of the two weighted-average discount rates.

 

Other Postretirement Benefits

 

Substantially all U.S. retirees and employees are covered by unfunded health care and life insurance benefit plans. Certain benefits are based on years of service and/or age at retirement. The plans are principally noncontributory for employees who were eligible to retire before 1993 and contributory for most employees who retire after 1992, except that the Corporation provides no subsidized benefits to most employees hired after 2003.

 

The Corporation made benefit payments of $73 million in 2008 compared with $77 million in 2007. The determination of the discount rates used to calculate the benefit obligations of the plans is discussed in the pension benefit section above. If the discount rate assumptions for these plans were reduced by 0.25 percent, 2009 other postretirement benefit expense would increase by less than $1 million and the December 31, 2008 benefit liability would increase by about $16 million.

 

The health care cost trend rate is based on a combination of inputs including the Corporation’s recent claims history and insights from external advisers regarding recent developments in the health care marketplace, as well as projections of future trends in the marketplace. The annual increase in the consolidated weighted-average health care cost trend rate is expected to be 7.5 percent in 2009, 6.5 percent in 2010 and to gradually decline to 5.2 percent in 2012 and thereafter. See Item 8, Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for disclosure of the effect of a one percentage point change in the health care cost trend rate.

 

Retained Insurable Risks

 

Selected insurable risks are retained, primarily those related to property damage, workers’ compensation, and product, automobile and premises liability based upon historical loss patterns and management’s judgment of cost effective risk retention. Accrued liabilities for incurred but not reported events, principally related to workers’ compensation and automobile liability, are based upon undiscounted loss development factors.

 

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Property and Depreciation

 

Estimating the useful lives of property, plant and equipment requires the exercise of management judgment, and actual lives may differ from these estimates. Changes to these initial useful life estimates are made when appropriate. Property, plant and equipment are tested for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such long-lived assets may not be recoverable from future net pretax cash flows. Impairment testing requires significant management judgment including estimating the future success of product lines, future sales volumes, growth rates for selling prices and costs, alternative uses for the assets and estimated proceeds from disposal of the assets. Impairment testing is conducted at the lowest level where cash flows can be measured and are independent of cash flows of other assets. An asset impairment would be indicated if the sum of the expected future net pretax cash flows from the use of the asset (undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying amount of the asset. An impairment loss would be measured based on the difference between the fair value of the asset and its carrying amount. The determination of fair value is based on an expected present value technique in which multiple probability-weighted cash flow scenarios that reflect a range of possible outcomes and a risk-free rate of interest are used to estimate fair value.

 

The estimates and assumptions used in the impairment analysis are consistent with the business plans, including the strategic cost reduction plan, and estimates used to manage business operations and to make acquisition and divestiture decisions. The use of different assumptions would increase or decrease the estimated fair value of the asset and the impairment charge. Actual outcomes may differ from the estimates. For example, if the Corporation’s products fail to achieve volume and pricing estimates or if market conditions change or other significant estimates are not realized, then revenue and cost forecasts may not be achieved, and additional impairment charges may be recognized.

 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

The carrying amount of goodwill is tested annually as of the beginning of the fourth quarter and whenever events or circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. Impairment testing is performed in accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Impairment testing is conducted at the operating segment level of the Corporation’s businesses and is based on a discounted cash flow approach to determine the fair value of each operating segment. The determination of fair value requires significant management judgment including estimating future sales volumes, selling prices and costs, changes in working capital, investments in property and equipment and the selection of an appropriate discount rate. Sensitivities of these fair value estimates to changes in assumptions for sales volumes, selling prices and costs are also tested. If the carrying amount of an operating segment that contains goodwill exceeds fair value, a possible impairment would be indicated. If a possible impairment is indicated, the implied fair value of goodwill would be estimated by comparing the fair value of the net assets of the unit excluding goodwill to the total fair value of the unit. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment charge would be recorded. Judgment is used in assessing whether goodwill should be tested more frequently for impairment than annually. Factors such as unexpected adverse economic conditions, competition, product changes and other external events may require more frequent assessments. The Corporation’s annual goodwill impairment testing has been completed and it has been determined that its $2.7 billion of goodwill is not impaired.

 

The Corporation has no intangible assets with indefinite useful lives. At December 31, 2008, the Corporation has other intangible assets with a gross carrying amount of approximately $307 million and a net carrying amount of about $121 million. These intangibles are being amortized over their estimated useful lives and are tested for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. If the carrying amount of an intangible asset is not recoverable based on estimated future undiscounted cash flows,

 

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an impairment loss would be indicated. The amount of the impairment loss to be recorded would be based on the excess of the carrying amount of the intangible asset over its fair value (based on discounted future cash flows). Judgment is used in assessing whether the carrying amount of intangible assets is not expected to be recoverable over their estimated remaining useful lives. The factors considered are similar to those outlined in the goodwill impairment discussion above.

 

Primary Beneficiary Determination of Variable Interest Entities (“VIE”)

 

The primary beneficiary of variable interest entities is required to be determined under FSP FIN 46(R)-6, Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), using a qualitative analysis to identify the risks in the VIE that cause variability and then to determine the variability that the VIE is designed to create and pass along to its participants. The participant that absorbs the majority of the variability is the primary beneficiary and is required to consolidate the VIE in accordance with FIN 46(R). If the qualitative analysis is inconclusive, a quantitative analysis is required to estimate the probable future cash flows of the VIE using a computer simulation model and determining the variability of such cash flows and their present values; and the participant that is allocated the majority of the present value of the variability is the primary beneficiary. Both the qualitative analysis and the quantitative analysis require the exercise of significant management judgment.

 

Deferred Income Taxes and Potential Assessments

 

As of December 31, 2008, the Corporation had recorded deferred tax assets related to income tax loss carryforwards, income tax credit carryforwards and capital loss carryforwards totaling $725 million and had established valuation allowances against these deferred tax assets of $305 million, thereby resulting in a net deferred tax asset of $420 million. As of December 31, 2007, the net deferred tax asset was $414 million. These carryforwards are primarily in non-U.S. taxing jurisdictions and in certain states in the U.S. Foreign tax credits earned in the U.S. in current and prior years, which cannot be used currently, also give rise to net deferred tax assets. In determining the valuation allowances to establish against these deferred tax assets, the Corporation considers many factors, including the specific taxing jurisdiction, the carryforward period, income tax strategies and forecasted earnings for the entities in each jurisdiction. A valuation allowance is recognized if, based on the weight of available evidence, the Corporation concludes that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

 

As of December 31, 2008, in accordance with Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 23, Accounting for Income Taxes, Special Areas, U.S. income taxes and foreign withholding taxes have not been provided on approximately $5.6 billion of unremitted earnings of subsidiaries operating outside the U.S. These earnings are considered by management to be invested indefinitely. However, they would be subject to income tax if they were remitted as dividends, were lent to the Corporation or a U.S. affiliate, or if the Corporation were to sell its stock in the subsidiaries. It is not practicable to determine the amount of unrecognized deferred U.S. income tax liability on these unremitted earnings. We periodically determine whether our non-U.S. subsidiaries will invest their undistributed earnings indefinitely and reassess this determination, as appropriate.

 

The Corporation accrues net liabilities for current income taxes for potential assessments, which at December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 were $332 million and $323 million, respectively. The accruals relate to uncertain tax positions in a variety of taxing jurisdictions and are based on what management believes will be the resolution of these positions, in accordance with the provisions of FIN 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. These liabilities may be affected by changing interpretations of laws, rulings by tax authorities, or the expiration of the statute of limitations. The Corporation’s U.S. federal income tax returns have been audited through 2005. IRS assessments

 

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of additional taxes have been paid through 2001. Refund actions are pending with the IRS for the years 1999 through 2005. Management currently believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

Loss Contingencies

 

The outcome of loss contingencies and legal proceedings and claims brought against the Corporation is subject to uncertainty. SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, requires that an estimated loss contingency be accrued by a charge to earnings if it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Disclosure of the contingency is required if there is at least a reasonable possibility that a loss has been incurred. Determination of whether to accrue a loss requires evaluation of the probability of an unfavorable outcome and the ability to make a reasonable estimate. Changes in these estimates could affect the timing and amount of accrual of loss contingencies.

 

Legal Matters

 

The Corporation has been named a potentially responsible party under the provisions of the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or analogous state statutes, at a number of waste disposal sites, none of which, individually or in the aggregate, in management’s opinion, is likely to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

New Accounting Standards

 

See Item 8, Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of new accounting standards and their anticipated effects on the Corporation’s financial statements.

 

Business Outlook

 

The unfavorable global economic environment continues to adversely affect the Corporation’s business and financial results, making it more challenging to predict results in the near-term. The Corporation believes that weakness in foreign currencies and higher pension expense, resulting from negative returns in global equity markets in 2008, will negatively affect the Corporation’s 2009 results. While commodity costs are anticipated to moderate as compared to 2008, expected weaker currency exchange rates would reduce the potential benefits of lower commodity costs. Based on anticipated economic and competitive conditions, the Corporation expects to generate sufficient improvement in other aspects of its business operations in 2009 to substantially offset the negative effects from the higher pension expense and currency transaction losses. In 2009, the Corporation intends to continue to focus on its marketing and innovation programs. The Corporation also intends to accelerate cost reductions in its operations to improve its competitive position and to continue to focus on its cash flow and financial condition.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain matters discussed in this Form 10-K or related documents, a portion of which are incorporated herein by reference, concerning, among other things, the business outlook, including new product introductions, cost savings, anticipated benefits related to the strategic cost reduction plan, anticipated financial and operating results, strategies, contingencies and anticipated transactions of the Corporation, constitute forward-looking

 

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statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based upon management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Corporation. There can be no assurance that these events will occur or that the Corporation’s results will be as estimated.

 

The assumptions used as a basis for the forward-looking statements include many estimates that, among other things, depend on the achievement of future cost savings and projected volume increases. In addition, many factors outside the control of the Corporation, including the prices and availability of the Corporation’s raw materials, potential competitive pressures on selling prices or advertising and promotion expenses for the Corporation’s products, energy costs, and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, as well as general economic conditions in the markets in which the Corporation does business, could impact the realization of such estimates.

 

The factors described under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in this Form 10-K, or in our other Securities and Exchange Commission filings, among others, could cause the Corporation’s future results to differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Corporation. Other factors not presently known to us or that we presently consider immaterial could also affect our business operations and financial results.

 

ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

As a multinational enterprise, the Corporation is exposed to risks such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices. A variety of practices are employed to manage these risks, including operating and financing activities and, where deemed appropriate, the use of derivative instruments. Derivative instruments are used only for risk management purposes and not for speculation. All foreign currency derivative instruments are entered into with major financial institutions. The Corporation’s credit exposure under these arrangements is limited to agreements with a positive fair value at the reporting date. Credit risk with respect to the counterparties is actively monitored but is not considered significant since these transactions are executed with a diversified group of financial institutions.

 

Presented below is a description of the Corporation’s risks (foreign currency risk and interest rate risk) together with a sensitivity analysis, performed annually, of each of these risks based on selected changes in market rates and prices. These analyses reflect management’s view of changes which are reasonably possible to occur over a one-year period. Also included is a description of the Corporation’s commodity price risk.

 

Foreign Currency Risk

 

Foreign currency risk is managed by the systematic use of foreign currency forward and swap contracts for a portion of the Corporation’s exposure. The use of these instruments allows the management of transactional exposures to exchange rate fluctuations because the gains or losses incurred on the derivative instruments will offset, in whole or in part, losses or gains on the underlying foreign currency exposure.

 

Foreign currency contracts and transactional exposures are sensitive to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. An annual test is performed to quantify the effects that possible changes in foreign currency exchange rates would have on annual operating profit based on the foreign currency contracts and transactional exposures of the Corporation and its foreign affiliates at the current year-end. The balance sheet effect is calculated by multiplying each affiliate’s net monetary asset or liability position by a 10 percent change in the foreign currency exchange rate versus the U.S. dollar. The results of these sensitivity tests are presented in the following paragraphs.

 

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As of December 31, 2008, a 10 percent unfavorable change in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the prevailing market rates of foreign currencies involving balance sheet transactional exposures would have resulted in a net pretax loss of approximately $43 million. These hypothetical losses on transactional exposures are based on the difference between the December 31, 2008 rates and the assumed rates. In the view of management, the above hypothetical losses resulting from these assumed changes in foreign currency exchange rates are not material to the Corporation’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

The translation of the balance sheets of non-U.S. operations from local currencies into U.S. dollars is also sensitive to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Consequently, an annual test is performed to determine if changes in currency exchange rates would have a significant effect on the translation of the balance sheets of non-U.S. operations into U.S. dollars. These translation gains or losses are recorded as unrealized translation adjustments (“UTA”) within stockholders’ equity. The hypothetical change in UTA is calculated by multiplying the net assets of these non-U.S. operations by a 10 percent change in the currency exchange rates. The results of this sensitivity test are presented in the following paragraph.

 

As of December 31, 2008, a 10 percent unfavorable change in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the prevailing market rates of the Corporation’s foreign currency translation exposures would have reduced stockholders’ equity by approximately $462 million. These hypothetical adjustments in UTA are based on the difference between the December 31, 2008 exchange rates and the assumed rates. In the view of management, the above UTA adjustments resulting from these assumed changes in foreign currency exchange rates are not material to the Corporation’s consolidated financial position because they would not affect the Corporation’s cash flow.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Interest rate risk is managed through the maintenance of a portfolio of variable- and fixed-rate debt composed of short- and long-term instruments. The objective is to maintain a cost-effective mix that management deems appropriate. At December 31, 2008, the debt portfolio was composed of approximately 20 percent variable-rate debt and 80 percent fixed-rate debt.

 

Two separate tests are performed to determine whether changes in interest rates would have a significant effect on the Corporation’s financial position or future results of operations. Both tests are based on consolidated debt levels at the time of the test. The first test estimates the effect of interest rate changes on fixed-rate debt. Interest rate changes would result in gains or losses in the market value of fixed-rate debt due to differences between the current market interest rates and the rates governing these instruments. With respect to fixed-rate debt outstanding at December 31, 2008, a 10 percent decrease in interest rates would have increased the fair value of fixed-rate debt by about $200 million. The second test estimates the potential effect on future pretax income that would result from increased interest rates applied to the Corporation’s current level of variable-rate debt. With respect to commercial paper and other variable-rate debt, a 10 percent increase in interest rates would not have a material effect on the future results of operations or cash flows.

 

Commodity Price Risk

 

The Corporation is subject to commodity price risk, the most significant of which relates to the price of pulp. Selling prices of tissue products are influenced, in part, by the market price for pulp, which is determined by industry supply and demand. On a worldwide basis, the Corporation supplies approximately 8 percent of its virgin fiber needs from internal pulp manufacturing operations. As previously discussed under Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” increases in pulp prices could adversely affect earnings if selling prices are not adjusted or if such adjustments significantly trail the increases in pulp prices. Derivative instruments have not been used to manage these risks.

 

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The Corporation’s energy, manufacturing and transportation costs are affected by various market factors including the availability of supplies of particular forms of energy, energy prices and local and national regulatory decisions. As previously discussed under Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” there can be no assurance that the Corporation will be fully protected against substantial changes in the price or availability of energy sources. In addition, the Corporation is subject to price risk for utilities, primarily natural gas, which are used in its manufacturing operations. Derivative instruments are used to hedge a substantial portion of natural gas price risk in accordance with the Corporation’s risk management policy.

 

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ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

 

     Year Ended December 31  
     2008     2007     2006  
     (Millions of dollars, except per
share amounts)
 

Net Sales

   $ 19,415     $ 18,266     $ 16,747  

Cost of products sold

     13,557       12,562       11,665  
                        

Gross Profit

     5,858       5,704       5,082  

Marketing, research and general expenses

     3,291       3,106       2,948  

Other (income) and expense, net

     20       (18 )     32  
                        

Operating Profit

     2,547       2,616       2,102  

Nonoperating expense

     —         (67 )     (66 )

Interest income

     46       34       29  

Interest expense

     (304 )     (265 )     (220 )
                        

Income Before Income Taxes, Equity Interests and Extraordinary Loss

     2,289       2,318       1,845  

Provision for income taxes

     (618 )     (537 )     (469 )
                        

Income Before Equity Interests and Extraordinary Loss

     1,671       1,781       1,376  

Share of net income of equity companies

     166       170       219  

Minority owners’ share of subsidiaries’ net income

     (139 )     (128 )     (95 )
                        

Income Before Extraordinary Loss

     1,698       1,823       1,500  

Extraordinary loss, net of income taxes

     (8 )     —         —    
                        

Net Income

   $ 1,690     $ 1,823     $ 1,500  
                        

Per Share Basis

      

Basic

      

Before extraordinary loss

   $ 4.08     $ 4.13     $ 3.27  

Extraordinary loss

     (.02 )     —         —    
                        

Net income

   $ 4.06     $ 4.13     $ 3.27  
                        

Diluted

      

Before extraordinary loss

   $ 4.06     $ 4.09     $ 3.25  

Extraordinary loss

     (.02 )     —         —    
                        

Net income

   $ 4.04     $ 4.09     $ 3.25  
                        

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

     December 31  
     2008     2007  
     (Millions of dollars)  
ASSETS   

Current Assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 364     $ 473  

Accounts receivable, net

     2,492       2,561  

Inventories

     2,493       2,444  

Deferred income taxes

     131       217  

Time deposits

     141       271  

Other current assets

     192       131  
                

Total Current Assets

     5,813       6,097  

Property, Plant and Equipment, net

     7,667       8,094  

Investments in Equity Companies

     324       390  

Goodwill

     2,743       2,942  

Long-Term Notes Receivable

     603       —    

Other Assets

     939       917  
                
   $ 18,089     $ 18,440  
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     
              

Current Liabilities

    

Debt payable within one year

   $ 1,083     $ 1,098  

Trade accounts payable

     1,422       1,449  

Other payables

     252       319  

Accrued expenses

     1,652       1,783  

Accrued income taxes

     103       56  

Dividends payable

     240       224  
                

Total Current Liabilities

     4,752       4,929  

Long-Term Debt

     4,882       4,394  

Noncurrent Employee Benefits

     2,593       1,559  

Long-Term Income Taxes Payable

     189       288  

Deferred Income Taxes

     193       370  

Other Liabilities

     187       187  

Minority Owners’ Interests in Subsidiaries

     404       484  

Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary

     1,011       1,005  

Stockholders’ Equity

    

Preferred stock—no par value—authorized 20.0 million shares, none issued

     —         —    

Common stock—$1.25 par value—authorized 1.2 billion shares; issued 478.6 million
shares at December 31, 2008 and 2007

     598       598  

Additional paid-in capital

     486       483  

Common stock held in treasury, at cost—65.0 million and 57.7 million shares at December 31, 2008 and 2007

     (4,285 )     (3,814 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (2,386 )     (791 )

Retained earnings

     9,465       8,748  
                

Total Stockholders’ Equity

     3,878       5,224  
                
   $ 18,089     $ 18,440  
                

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

     Common Stock
Issued
    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Treasury Stock     Unearned
Compensation
on Restricted
Stock
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Comprehensive
Income
 
  Shares     Amount       Shares     Amount          
    (Dollars in millions, shares in thousands)  

Balance at December 31, 2005

  568,597     $ 711     $ 325     107,108     $ (6,376 )   $ (13 )   $ 12,581     $ (1,669 )  

Net income

  —         —         —       —         —         —         1,500       —       $ 1,500  

Other comprehensive income:

                 

Unrealized translation

  —         —         —       —         —         —         —         440       440  

Minimum pension liability

  —         —         —       —         —         —         —         203       203  

Other

  —         —         —       —         —         —         —         (11 )     (11 )
                       

Total comprehensive income

                  $ 2,132  
                       

Reclassifications upon adoption of SFAS 123(R)

  —         —         56     625       (32 )     13       —         —      

Stock-based awards exercised or vested and other

  —         —         (42 )   (6,800 )     374       —         (2 )     —      

Income tax benefits on stock-based compensation

  —         —         22     —         —         —         —         —      

Adjustment to initially apply

                 

SFAS 158, net of tax

  —         —         —       —         —         —         —         (395 )  

Shares repurchased

  —         —         —       12,045       (754 )     —         —         —      

Recognition of stock-based compensation

  —         —         67     —         —         —         —         —      

Retirement of treasury stock

  (90,000 )     (113 )     —       (90,000 )     5,396       —         (5,284 )     —      

Dividends declared

  —         —         —       —         —         —         (899 )     —      
                                                             

Balance at December 31, 2006

  478,597       598       428     22,978       (1,392 )     —         7,896       (1,432 )  

Net income

  —         —         —       —         —         —         1,823       —       $ 1,823  

Other comprehensive income:

                 

Unrealized translation

  —         —         —       —         —         —         —         365       365  

Employee postretirement benefits, net of tax

  —         —         —       —         —         —         —         266       266  

Other

  —         —         —       —         —         —         —         10       10  
                       

Total comprehensive income

                  $ 2,464  
                       

Stock-based awards exercised or vested and other

  —         —         (40 )   (6,646 )     389       —         (4 )     —      

Income tax benefits on stock-based compensation

  —         —         32     —         —         —         —         —      

Shares repurchased

  —         —         —       41,344       (2,811 )     —         —         —      

Recognition of stock-based compensation

  —         —         63     —         —         —         —         —      

Dividends declared

  —         —         —       —         —         —         (933 )     —      

Adoption of FIN 48

  —         —         —       —         —         —         (34 )     —      
                                                             

Balance at December 31, 2007

  478,597       598       483     57,676       (3,814 )     —         8,748       (791 )  

Net income

  —         —         —       —         —         —         1,690       —       $ 1,690  

Other comprehensive income:

                 

Unrealized translation

  —         —         —       —         —         —         —         (900 )     (900 )

Employee postretirement benefits, net of tax

  —         —         —       —         —         —         —         (687 )     (687 )

Other

  —         —         —       —         —         —         —         (8 )     (8 )
                       

Total comprehensive income

                  $ 95  
                       

Stock-based awards exercised or vested and other

  —         —         (59 )   (2,870 )     170       —         (7 )     —      

Income tax benefits on stock-based compensation

  —         —         10     —         —         —         —         —      

Shares repurchased

  —         —         5     10,232       (641 )     —         —         —      

Recognition of stock-based compensation

  —         —         47     —         —         —         —         —      

Dividends declared

  —         —         —       —         —         —         (966 )     —      
                                                             

Balance at December 31, 2008

  478,597     $ 598     $ 486     65,038     $ (4,285 )   $ —       $ 9,465     $ (2,386 )  
                                                             

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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PART II

(Continued)

 

 

KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

 

     Year Ended December 31  
     2008     2007     2006  
     (Millions of dollars)  

Operating Activities

      

Net Income

   $ 1,690     $ 1,823     $ 1,500  

Extraordinary loss, net of income taxes

     8       —         —    

Depreciation and amortization

     775       807       933  

Stock-based compensation

     47       63       67  

Deferred income taxes

     151       (103 )     (208 )

Net losses on asset dispositions

     51       30       116  

Equity companies’ earnings (in excess of) less than dividends paid

     (34 )     (40 )     27  

Minority owners’ share of subsidiaries’ net income

     139       128       95  

(Increase) decrease in operating working capital

     (335 )     (330 )     5  

Postretirement benefits

     (38 )     14       34  

Other

     62       37       11  
                        

Cash Provided by Operations

     2,516       2,429       2,580  
                        

Investing Activities

      

Capital spending

     (906 )     (989 )     (972 )

Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired

     (98 )     (16 )     (100 )

Investments in marketable securities

     (9 )     (13 )     (21 )

Proceeds from sales of investments

     48       59       46  

Net decrease (increase) in time deposits

     76       (10 )     (35 )

Proceeds from dispositions of property

     28       97       44  

Other

     14       (26 )     2  
                        

Cash Used for Investing

     (847 )     (898 )     (1,036 )
                        

Financing Activities

      

Cash dividends paid

     (950 )     (933 )     (884 )

Net (decrease) increase in short-term debt

     (436 )     43       (391 )

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     551       2,128       262  

Repayments of long-term debt

     (274 )     (339 )     (104 )

Cash paid on redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary

     (47 )     —         —    

Proceeds from preferred securities of subsidiary

     —         172       —    

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     113       349       331  

Acquisitions of common stock for the treasury

     (653 )     (2,813 )     (762 )

Other

     (51 )     (34 )     (3 )
                        

Cash Used for Financing

     (1,747 )     (1,427 )     (1,551 )
                        

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (31 )     8       4  
                        

(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (109 )     112       (3 )

Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of year

     473       361       364  
                        

Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of year

   $ 364     $ 473     $ 361  
                        

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 1.    Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Kimberly-Clark Corporation and all subsidiaries in which it has a controlling financial interest (the “Corporation”). All significant intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S.”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from these estimates, and changes in these estimates are recorded when known. Estimates are used in accounting for, among other things, consumer and trade promotion and rebate accruals, pension and other post-employment benefits, retained insurable risks, useful lives for depreciation and amortization, future cash flows associated with impairment testing for goodwill and long-lived assets and for determination of the primary beneficiary of variable interest entities, deferred tax assets and potential income tax assessments, and loss contingencies.

 

Cash Equivalents

 

Cash equivalents are short-term investments with an original maturity date of three months or less.

 

Inventories and Distribution Costs

 

For financial reporting purposes, most U.S. inventories are valued at the lower of cost, using the Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) method, or market. The balance of the U.S. inventories and inventories of consolidated operations outside the U.S. are valued at the lower of cost, using either the First-In, First-Out (FIFO) or weighted-average cost methods, or market. Distribution costs are classified as cost of products sold.

 

Available-for-Sale Securities

 

Available-for-sale securities are exchange-traded equity funds and are carried at market value. At December 31, 2008, securities of $11 million that are not expected to be liquidated in the next 12 months were classified as other assets. Securities of $18 million at December 31, 2007, with maturity dates of one year or less were included in other current assets. There were no securities with maturities greater than one year at December 31, 2007. The securities are held by the Corporation’s consolidated foreign financing subsidiary described in Note 7. Unrealized holding gains or losses on these securities are recorded in other comprehensive income until realized. No significant gains or losses were recognized in income for any of the three years ended December 31, 2008.

 

Property and Depreciation

 

For financial reporting purposes, property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated principally on the straight-line method. Buildings are depreciated over their estimated useful lives, primarily 40 years. Machinery and equipment are depreciated over their estimated useful lives, primarily ranging from 16 to 20 years. For income tax purposes, accelerated methods of depreciation are used. Purchases of computer software are capitalized. External costs and certain internal costs (including payroll and payroll-related costs of

 

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KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

employees) directly associated with developing significant computer software applications for internal use are capitalized. Training and data conversion costs are expensed as incurred. Computer software costs are amortized on the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the software, which generally does not exceed five years.

 

Estimated useful lives are periodically reviewed and, when warranted, changes are made to them. Long-lived assets, including computer software, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be indicated when estimated undiscounted future cash flows from the use and eventual disposition of an asset group, which are identifiable and largely independent of the cash flows of other asset groups, are less than the carrying amount of the asset group. Measurement of an impairment loss would be based on the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value. Fair value is measured using discounted cash flows or independent appraisals, as appropriate. When property is sold or retired, the cost of the property and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the Consolidated Balance Sheet and any gain or loss on the transaction is included in income.

 

The cost of major maintenance performed on manufacturing facilities, composed of labor, materials and other incremental costs, is charged to operations as incurred. Start-up costs for new or expanded facilities are expensed as incurred.

 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill represents costs in excess of fair values assigned to the underlying net assets of acquired businesses. Goodwill is not amortized, but rather is tested for impairment annually and whenever events and circumstances indicate that an impairment may have occurred. Impairment testing compares the carrying amount of the goodwill with its fair value. Fair value is estimated based on discounted cash flows. When the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its fair value, an impairment charge would be recorded. The Corporation has completed the required annual testing of goodwill for impairment and has determined that its goodwill is not impaired.

 

The Corporation has no intangible assets with indefinite useful lives. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be indicated when estimated undiscounted future cash flows from the use of the asset are less than its carrying amount. An impairment loss would be measured as the difference between the fair value (based on discounted future cash flows) and the carrying amount of the asset.

 

Investments in Equity Companies

 

Investments in companies over which the Corporation has the ability to exercise significant influence and that, in general, are at least 20 percent-owned are stated at cost plus equity in undistributed net income. These investments are evaluated for impairment in accordance with the requirements of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 18, The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock. An impairment loss would be recorded whenever a decline in value of an equity investment below its carrying amount is determined to be other than temporary. In judging “other than temporary”, the Corporation would consider the length of time and extent to which the fair value of the equity company investment has been less than the carrying amount, the near-term and longer-term operating and financial prospects of the equity company, and its longer-term intent of retaining the investment in the equity company.

 

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KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Sales revenue for the Corporation and its reportable business segments is recognized at the time of product shipment or delivery, depending on when title passes, to unaffiliated customers, and when all of the following have occurred: a firm sales agreement is in place, pricing is fixed or determinable, and collection is reasonably assured. Sales are reported net of returns, consumer and trade promotions, rebates and freight allowed. Taxes imposed by governmental authorities on the Corporation’s revenue-producing activities with customers, such as sales taxes and value-added taxes, are excluded from net sales.

 

Sales Incentives and Trade Promotion Allowances

 

The cost of promotion activities provided to customers is classified as a reduction in sales revenue. In addition, the estimated redemption value of consumer coupons is recorded at the time the coupons are issued and classified as a reduction in sales revenue.

 

Advertising Expense

 

Advertising costs are expensed in the year the related advertisement is first presented by the media. For interim reporting purposes, advertising expenses are charged to operations as a percentage of sales based on estimated sales and related advertising expense for the full year.

 

Research Expense

 

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred.

 

Environmental Expenditures

 

Environmental expenditures related to current operations that qualify as property, plant and equipment or which substantially increase the economic value or extend the useful life of an asset are capitalized, and all other environmental expenditures are expensed as incurred. Liabilities are recorded when environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Generally, the timing of these accruals coincides with completion of a feasibility study or a commitment to a formal plan of action. At environmental sites in which more than one potentially responsible party has been identified, a liability is recorded for the estimated allocable share of costs related to the Corporation’s involvement with the site as well as an estimated allocable share of costs related to the involvement of insolvent or unidentified parties. At environmental sites in which the Corporation is the only responsible party, a liability for the total estimated costs of remediation is recorded. Liabilities for future expenditures for environmental remediation obligations are not discounted and do not reflect any anticipated recoveries from insurers.

 

Foreign Currency Translation

 

The income statements of foreign operations, other than those in hyperinflationary economies, are translated into U.S. dollars at rates of exchange in effect each month. The balance sheets of these operations are translated at period-end exchange rates, and the differences from historical exchange rates are reflected in stockholders’ equity as unrealized translation adjustments.

 

The income statements and balance sheets of operations in hyperinflationary economies are translated into U.S. dollars using both current and historical rates of exchange. The effect of changes in exchange rates on monetary assets and liabilities is reflected in income. The Corporation presently has no operations in hyperinflationary economies.

 

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KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Derivative Instruments and Hedging

 

All derivative instruments are recorded as assets or liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are either recorded in the income statement or other comprehensive income, as appropriate. The gain or loss on derivatives designated as fair value hedges and the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are included in income in the period that changes in fair value occur. The effective portion of the gain or loss on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges is included in other comprehensive income in the period that changes in fair value occur and is reclassified to income in the same period that the hedged item affects income. The remaining gain or loss in excess of the cumulative change in the present value of the cash flows of the hedged item, if any, is recognized in income. The gain or loss on derivatives designated as hedges of investments in foreign subsidiaries is recognized in other comprehensive income to offset the change in value of the net investments being hedged. Any ineffective portion of net investment hedges is immediately recognized in income. Certain foreign-currency derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments have been entered into to manage a portion of the Corporation’s foreign currency transactional exposures. The gain or loss on these derivatives is included in income in the period that changes in their fair values occur.

 

New Accounting Standards

 

Effective January 1, 2008, the Corporation adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS 157”). See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Effective December 31, 2008, the Corporation adopted FSP FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8, Disclosures by Public Entities (Enterprises) about Transfers of Financial Assets and Interests in Variable Interest Entities. The objectives of the disclosure requirements of FIN 46(R)-8 are to provide financial statement users with an understanding of:

 

   

the significant judgments and assumptions made in determining whether to consolidate a variable interest entity and/or disclose information about the company’s involvement with a variable interest entity,

 

   

the nature of restrictions on a consolidated variable interest entity’s assets reported in the statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets,

 

   

the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with the company’s involvement with a variable interest entity, and

 

   

how the company’s involvement with a variable interest entity affects the company’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows.

 

These disclosures are contained in Notes 2, 7 and 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Corporation has no transactions subject to the accounting or disclosure requirements of FAS 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities, a replacement of FASB Statement 125.

 

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 allows entities to choose, at specified election dates, to measure financial instruments (financial assets and liabilities) at fair value (the “Fair Value Option”). The election is made on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable. If the Fair Value Option is elected for an instrument, SFAS 159 specifies that all subsequent changes in fair value for that instrument be reported in earnings. SFAS 159 was effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year that began after November 15, 2007. The Corporation has not applied the Fair Value Option to any of its existing financial assets or liabilities.

 

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KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), Business Combinations (“SFAS 141(R)”). SFAS 141(R) requires the acquirer in a business combination to:

 

   

recognize 100 percent of the fair values of acquired assets, including goodwill, and assumed liabilities, with only limited exceptions, even if the acquirer has not acquired 100 percent of the target entity,

 

   

fair value contingent consideration arrangements at the acquisition date,

 

   

expense transaction costs as incurred rather than included as part of the fair value of an acquirer’s interest,

 

   

fair value certain pre-acquisition contingencies, such as environmental or legal issues,

 

   

limit accrual of the costs for a restructuring plan to pre-acquisition date restructuring obligations, and

 

   

capitalize the value of acquired research and development as an indefinite-lived intangible asset, subject to impairment accounting, rather than being expensed at the acquisition date.

 

SFAS 141(R) is effective for business combinations for which the acquisition date occurs during fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Adoption is prospective, and early adoption is not permitted. Adoption of SFAS 141(R) is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial statements.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51 (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 clarifies the classification of noncontrolling interests (i.e., minority owners’ interests in subsidiaries) in consolidated balance sheets and the accounting for and reporting of transactions between the reporting entity and holders of such noncontrolling interests. Under SFAS 160:

 

   

Noncontrolling interests are reported as an element of consolidated equity, thereby eliminating the current practice of classifying minority owners’ interests within a mezzanine section of the balance sheet.

 

   

The current practice of reporting minority owners’ share of subsidiaries’ net income will change. Reported net income will include the total income of all consolidated subsidiaries, with separate disclosure on the face of the income statement of the split of net income between the controlling and noncontrolling interests.

 

   

Increases and decreases in the noncontrolling ownership interest amount will be accounted for as equity transactions. If the controlling interest loses control and deconsolidates a subsidiary, full gain or loss on the transition will be recognized.

 

SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Early adoption is not permitted. Adoption is prospective, except for the following provisions, which are required to be adopted retrospectively:

 

   

Noncontrolling interests are required to be reclassified from the mezzanine to equity, separate from the parent’s shareholders’ equity, in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

   

Consolidated net income must be recast to include net income attributable to both controlling and noncontrolling interests.

 

Except for the reclassification of minority owners’ interests into equity and the inclusion of all of the income of less than 100 percent owned consolidated subsidiaries in net income, adoption of SFAS 160 is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial statements.

 

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KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“SFAS 161”). SFAS 161 applies to all derivative instruments and related hedged items accounted for under SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (“SFAS 133”). SFAS 161 requires enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS 133 and its related interpretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

 

SFAS 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. Since SFAS 161 only requires additional disclosures, it will not have a financial impact on the Corporation’s financial statements.

 

In June 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position No. EITF 03-6-1 (“FSP”), Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities. The FSP specifies that certain share-based payment awards are participating securities, which must be included in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share under the two-class method prescribed in SFAS No. 128, Earnings per Share. Under the two-class method, earnings per share is computed by allocating net income of an entity between common shareholders and participating securities.

 

The FSP is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is not permitted. The FSP requires that earnings per share presented for periods prior to adoption be recast. Adoption of the FSP is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial statements.

 

In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 132(R)-1, Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets. The FSP requires disclosure about the fair values of plan assets held in an employer’s defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan, including:

 

   

how investment allocation decisions are made,

 

   

major categories of plan assets,

 

   

inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value,

 

   

the effect of fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs on year-to-year changes in plan assets, and

 

   

significant concentrations of risk within plan assets.

 

The FSP is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. Since the FSP only requires additional disclosures, it will not have a financial impact on the Corporation’s financial statements.

 

Note 2.    Monetization Financing Entities

 

The Corporation has minority voting interests in two financing entities (the “Financing Entities”) used to monetize long-term notes (the “Notes”) received from the sale of certain nonstrategic timberlands and related assets to nonaffiliated buyers. The Notes have an aggregate face value of $617 million and are backed by irrevocable standby letters of credit issued by money center banks. The Notes and certain other assets were transferred to the Financing Entities in 1999 and 2000. A nonaffiliated financial institution (the “Third Party”) has made substantive capital investments in each of the Financing Entities and has majority voting control over them. The Third Party also made monetization loans aggregating $617 million to the Corporation, which were

 

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KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

assumed by the Financing Entities at the time they acquired the Notes. These monetization loans are secured by the Notes. The Corporation also contributed to the Financing Entities intercompany notes receivable aggregating $662 million and intercompany preferred stock of $50 million, which serve as secondary collateral for the monetization loans. The Corporation has provided no noncontractual financial or other support to the financing entities during their existence. Events of default would result in accelerating the repayment by the financing entities of the monetization loans. Events of default include (i) payment default by the financing entities on the monetization loans, (ii) payment default on the Notes by the issuer, (iii) events of default under the intercompany notes receivable and preferred stock contributed by Corporation as secondary collateral, including the Corporation’s credit rating of A being downgraded below BBB- or Baa3, and (iv) failure to maintain in place irrevocable standby letters of credit issued by banks which are rated AA- or above by Standard & Poor’s or Aa3 or above by Moody’s.

 

In 2003 upon adoption of FIN 46(R), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, (“FIN 46(R)”), the Corporation determined that the Third Party was the primary beneficiary of the Financing Entities as a result of the interest rate variability allocated to it in accordance with FIN 46(R).

 

On June 30, 2008, the maturity dates of the lending arrangements with the Third Party were extended. FSP 46(R)-6, Determining the Variability to be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), (“FSP 46(R)”), which was issued in 2006, requires that certain interest rate variability no longer be considered in determining the primary beneficiary of variable interest entities. The exclusion of interest rate variability resulted in the Corporation absorbing the majority of the variability created in the financing entities arising from the credit default risk on the monetization loans and the standby letters of credit. As required by FIN 46(R) in connection with the extensions, the Corporation reconsidered the primary beneficiary determination and concluded, after excluding the interest rate variability as required by FSP 46(R), that it was now the primary beneficiary. Because the Corporation became the primary beneficiary of the Financing Entities on June 30, 2008, it began consolidating them. In accordance with FIN 46(R), the assets and liabilities of the Financing Entities were recorded at fair value as of June 30, 2008. Because the fair value of the monetization loans exceeded the fair value of the Notes, the Corporation recorded an extraordinary charge of $12 million ($8 million after tax) on its Consolidated Income Statement for the period ended June 30, 2008, as required by FIN 46(R). In accordance with FIN 46(R), prior period financial statements have not been adjusted to reflect the consolidation of the Financing Entities.

 

Notes totaling $603 million are included in long-term notes receivable and the monetization loans totaling $614 million are included in debt payable within one year on the Corporation’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. Interest income on the Notes of $14 million and interest expense of $15 million on the monetization loans have been reported on the Corporation’s 2008 Consolidated Income Statement. The Notes and monetization loans are being adjusted from their June 30, 2008 fair values to their face values through their respective maturity dates with the adjustment included in the above interest income and interest expense, respectively.

 

The Notes held by the Financing Entities have an aggregate fair value of $560 million and the monetization loans have an aggregate fair value of $610 million at December 31, 2008. These financial assets and liabilities are not traded in active markets. Accordingly, their fair values were calculated using a floating rate pricing model that compared the stated spread to the fair value spread to determine the price at which each of the financial instruments should trade. The model used the following inputs to calculate fair values: current LIBOR rate, fair value credit spread, stated spread, maturity date and interest payment dates. Because the Notes are backed by the irrevocable letters of credit the Corporation does not consider any unrealized losses on the Notes to be other than temporary at December 31, 2008.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Note 3.    Fair Value Information

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

Effective January 1, 2008, the Corporation adopted SFAS No. 157 for its financial assets and liabilities, as requiredIn February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 157-2 which deferred the effective date of SFAS 157 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities except for those recognized or disclosed on a recurring basis. SFAS 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The three levels in the hierarchy used to measure fair value are:

 

Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets accessible at the reporting date for identical assets and liabilities.

 

Level 2—Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets. Quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not considered active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

 

Level 3—Prices or valuations that require inputs that are significant to the valuation and are unobservable.

 

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

Set forth below are the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of December 31, 2008, together with the inputs used to develop those fair value measurements. The Corporation has no financial assets or liabilities for which fair value was measured on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs.

 

     December 31    Fair Value Measurements
        Level 1        Level 2  
     (Millions of dollars)

Assets

        

Company-owned life insurance (“COLI”)

   $ 39    $ —      $ 39

Available-for-sale securities

     11      11      —  

Derivatives

     117      —        117
                    

Total

   $ 167    $ 11    $ 156
                    

Liabilities

        

Derivatives

   $ 51    $ —      $ 51
                    

 

The COLI policies are a source of funding primarily for the Corporation’s nonqualified employee benefits and are included in other assets. Available-for-sale securities are included in other assets. The derivative assets and liabilities are included in other current assets, other assets, accrued expenses and other liabilities, as appropriate.

 

Level 1 Fair Values—The fair values of available-for-sale securities are based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets.

 

Level 2 Fair Values—The fair value of the COLI policies is derived from investments in a mix of money market, fixed income and equity funds managed by unrelated fund managers. The fair values of derivatives used to manage interest rate risk and commodity price risk are based on LIBOR rates and the interest rate swap curves and NYMEX price quotations, respectively. The fair value of hedging instruments used to manage foreign currency risk is based on published quotations of spot currency rates and forward points, which are converted into implied forward currency rates.

 

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Fair Value Disclosures

 

As of December 31, 2008, the Consolidated Balance Sheet contains the following financial instruments, for which disclosure of fair value is required pursuant to SFAS No. 107, Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments.

 

      Carrying
Amount
   Estimated Fair
Value
   For Further
Information
See:
     (Millions of dollars)

Assets

        

Cash and cash equivalents(a)

   $ 364    $ 364   

Time deposits(b)

     141      141   

Long-term notes receivable

     603      560    Note 2

Liabilities and Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary

        

Short-term debt(c)

     406      406    Note 6

Monetization loans—current

     614      610    Notes 2 & 6

Long-term debt(d)

     4,945      5,250    Note 6

Redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary

     1,011      1,015    Note 7

 

(a) Cash equivalents are comprised of certificates of deposit, time deposits and other interest-bearing investments with original maturity dates of 90 days or less, all of which are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value.

 

(b) Time deposits are comprised of deposits with original maturities of more than 90 days but less than one year, all of which are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value.

 

(c) Short-term debt is comprised of U.S. commercial paper with original maturities up to 90 days and other similar short-term debt issued by non-U.S. subsidiaries, all of which is recorded at cost, which approximates fair value.

 

(d) Includes the current portion ($63 million) of these debt instruments.

 

Note 4.    Strategic Cost Reduction Plan

 

In July 2005, the Corporation authorized a multi-year plan to further improve its competitive position by accelerating investments in targeted growth opportunities and strategic cost reductions aimed at streamlining manufacturing and administrative operations, primarily in North America and Europe.

 

The strategic cost reductions commenced in the third quarter of 2005 and were completed by December 31, 2008. The strategic cost reductions resulted in cumulative charges of $880 million before tax or $610 million after tax.

 

Since the inception of the strategic cost reductions, a net workforce reduction of 5,800 has occurred. As of December 31, 2008, charges have been recorded related to the cost reduction initiatives for 23 facilities, including 3 facilities which have been closed and are being marketed for sale.

 

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The following pretax charges were incurred in connection with the strategic cost reductions:

 

     Year Ended December 31
     2008    2007    2006    2005    Total
     (Millions of dollars)

Noncash charges

   $ 16    $ 60    $ 265    $ 180    $ 521

Charges for workforce reductions

     14      9      162      36      221

Other cash charges

     25      30      44      11      110

Charges for special pension and other benefits

     5      8      13      2      28
                                  

Total pretax charges

   $ 60    $ 107    $ 484    $ 229    $ 880
                                  

 

The following table summarizes the noncash charges:

 

     Year Ended December 31  
     2008     2007     2006    2005    Total  
     (Millions of dollars)  

Incremental depreciation and amortization

   $ 14     $ 66     $ 208    $ 80    $ 368  

Asset impairments

     —         —         3      67      70  

Asset write-offs

     13       9       52      33      107  

Net (gain) loss on asset dispositions

     (11 )     (15 )     2      —        (24 )
                                      

Total noncash charges

   $ 16     $ 60     $ 265    $ 180    $ 521  
                                      

 

The following summarizes the cash charges recorded and reconciles such charges to accrued expenses at December 31:

 

      2008     2007     2006  
     (Millions of dollars)  

Accrued expenses—beginning of year

   $ 54     $ 111     $ 28  

Charges for workforce reductions

     14       9       162  

Other cash charges

     25       30       44  

Cash payments

     (75 )     (104 )     (128 )

Currency

     (2 )     8       5  
                        

Accrued expenses—end of year

   $ 16     $ 54     $ 111  
                        

 

Termination benefits related to workforce reductions were accrued in accordance with the requirements of SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities (“SFAS 146”), SFAS No. 112, Employers’ Accounting for Postemployment Benefits, and SFAS No. 88, Employers’ Accounting for Settlements & Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits, as appropriate. Retention bonuses related to workforce reductions were accrued in accordance with SFAS 146. The majority of the termination benefits and retention bonuses were paid within 12 months of accrual. The termination benefits were provided under: a special-benefit arrangement for affected employees in the U.S.; standard benefit practices in the United Kingdom (“U.K.”); applicable union agreements; or local statutory requirements, as appropriate. Incremental depreciation and amortization expenses were based on changes in useful lives and estimated residual values of assets that continued to be used, but were removed from service before the end of their originally assumed service period. Asset impairment charges have been recorded in accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, to reduce the carrying amount of long-lived

 

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assets that will be sold or disposed of to their estimated fair values. Charges for asset write-offs reduced the carrying amount of long-lived assets to their estimated salvage value in connection with the decision to dispose of such assets.

 

Costs of the initiatives have not been recorded at the business segment level, as the strategic cost reductions are corporate decisions. These charges are included in the following income statement captions:

 

     Year Ended December 31  
     2008     2007     2006     2005     Total  
     (Millions of dollars)  

Cost of products sold

   $ 43     $ 89     $ 342     $ 202     $ 676  

Marketing, research and general expenses

     29       32       134       27       222  

Other (income) and expense, net

     (12 )     (14 )     8       —         (18 )
                                        

Pretax charges

     60       107       484       229       880  

Provision for income taxes

     (24 )     (46 )     (138 )     (61 )     (269 )

Minority owners’ share of subsidiaries’ net income

     —         —         (1 )     —         (1 )
                                        

Total after-tax charges

   $ 36     $ 61     $ 345     $ 168     $ 610  
                                        

 

See Note 18 for additional information on the strategic cost reductions by business segment.

 

Actual pretax charges for the strategic cost reductions relate to activities in the following geographic areas for the years ended December 31:

 

     2008
     North
America
   Europe     Other     Total
     (Millions of dollars)

Incremental depreciation and amortization

   $ 8    $ 6     $ —       $ 14

Asset write-offs

     10      3       —         13

Charges for workforce reductions and special pension and other benefits

     11      8       —         19

Loss (gain) on asset disposal and other charges

     19      6       (11 )     14
                             

Total charges

   $ 48    $ 23     $ (11 )   $ 60
                             
     2007
     North
America
   Europe     Other     Total
     (Millions of dollars)

Incremental depreciation and amortization

   $ 40    $ 25     $ 1     $ 66

Asset write-offs

     6      3       —         9

Charges (credits) for workforce reductions and special pension and other benefits

     19      (8 )     6       17

Loss (gain) on asset disposal and other charges

     19      (4 )     —         15
                             

Total charges

   $ 84    $ 16     $ 7     $ 107
                             

 

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     2006
     North
America
   Europe    Other    Total
     (Millions of dollars)

Incremental depreciation and amortization

   $ 124    $ 60    $ 24    $ 208

Asset impairments

     —        3      —        3

Asset write-offs

     29      21      2      52

Charges for workforce reductions and special pension and other benefits

     57      107      11      175

Loss on asset disposal and other charges

     30      15      1      46
                           

Total charges

   $ 240    $ 206    $ 38    $ 484
                           
     2005
     North
America
   Europe    Other    Total
     (Millions of dollars)

Incremental depreciation and amortization

   $ 52    $ 21    $ 7    $ 80

Asset impairments

     —        67      —        67

Asset write-offs

     5      17      11      33

Charges for workforce reductions and special pension and other benefits

     18      7      13      38

Loss on asset disposal and other charges

     10      1      —        11
                           

Total charges

   $ 85    $ 113    $ 31    $ 229
                           

 

Note 5.    Acquisitions and Intangible Assets

 

Acquisitions

 

During the first quarter of 2008, the Corporation acquired a personal care business in Trinidad and Tobago. During the second quarter of 2008, the Corporation acquired the remaining 50 percent interest in its South African subsidiary, Kimberly-Clark of South Africa (Pty.) Limited. During third quarter 2008, the Corporation acquired the remaining 40 percent interest in its Chilean subsidiary, Kimberly-Clark Chile, S.A. The cost of these acquisitions totaled approximately $98 million. As of December 31, 2008, the preliminary allocation of the purchase price resulted in approximately $47 million being recorded in goodwill. The Corporation expects to complete the allocation of purchase price in 2009.

 

During the first quarter of 2007, the Corporation acquired the remaining 50 percent interest in its Indonesian subsidiary, P.T. Kimberly-Lever Indonesia for $16 million. The allocation of the purchase price to the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired was completed in 2007 and resulted in recognition of goodwill of $12 million.

 

These acquisitions are consistent with the Corporation’s strategy of investing for growth in rapidly growing countries, and are expected to better position the Corporation to leverage its scale and capabilities in customer development and product supply to drive growth and profitability across its businesses.

 

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Goodwill

 

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by business segment are as follows:

 

      Personal
Care
    Consumer
Tissue
    K-C
Professional
& Other
    Health
Care
    Total  
     (Millions of dollars)  

Balance at December 31, 2006

   $ 652     $ 651     $ 309     $ 1,249     $ 2,861  

Acquisitions

     8       2       2       —         12  

Currency and other

     49       (3 )     19       4       69  
                                        

Balance at December 31, 2007

     709       650       330       1,253       2,942  

Acquisitions

     35       8       4       —         47  

Currency and other

     (131 )     (81 )     (27 )     (7 )     (246 )
                                        

Balance at December 31, 2008

   $ 613     $ 577     $ 307     $ 1,246     $ 2,743  
                                        

 

Other Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets subject to amortization are included in other assets and consist of the following at December 31:

 

     2008    2007
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
     (Millions of dollars)

Trademarks

   $ 219    $ 126    $ 222    $ 122

Patents

     52      41      54      39

Other

     36      19      32      15
                           

Total

   $ 307    $ 186    $ 308    $ 176
                           

 

Amortization expense for intangible assets was approximately $12 million in 2008, $14 million in 2007 and $39 million in 2006. Amortization expense is estimated to be approximately $10 million in 2009, $8 million in 2010, and $7 million in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

 

Note 6.    Debt

 

Long-term debt is comprised of the following:

 

     Weighted-
Average
Interest
Rate
   Maturities    December 31
         2008    2007
     (Millions of dollars)

Notes and debentures

   5.84%    2010 – 2038    $ 4,514    $ 3,959

Dealer remarketable securities

   —           —        200

Industrial development revenue bonds

   1.50%    2015 – 2037      280      280

Bank loans and other financings in various currencies

   5.01%    2009 – 2031      765      196
                   

Total long-term debt

           5,559      4,635

Less current portion

           677      241
                   

Long-term portion

         $ 4,882    $ 4,394
                   

 

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Fair value of total long-term debt at December 31, 2008 and 2007 was approximately $5.9 billion and $4.8 billion, respectively. Fair values were estimated based on quoted prices for financial instruments for which all significant inputs were observable, either directly or indirectly.

 

Scheduled maturities of long-term debt for the next five years are $677 million in 2009, $496 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011, $409 million in 2012 and $505 million in 2013.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Corporation issued $500 million 7.5% Notes due November 1, 2018. The Corporation used the net proceeds to reduce borrowings under its commercial paper program.

 

During the third quarter of 2007, the Corporation issued $450 million Floating Rate Notes due July 30, 2010; $950 million 6.125% Notes due August 1, 2017; and $700 million 6.625% Notes due August 1, 2037. The Corporation used the net proceeds from the issuance of these notes primarily to fund the accelerated share repurchase agreement (the “ASR Agreement”) discussed in Note 10. The balance of the net proceeds was used by the Corporation to repay a portion of the long-term debt that matured on August 1, 2007.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2006, the Corporation issued $200 million of dealer remarketable securities that have a final maturity in 2016 (the “securities”). Proceeds from the issuance of the securities in 2006 were used for general corporate purposes and for the reduction of existing short-term indebtedness. Under the terms of the securities, which pay interest at a rate of 4.17 percent plus a market-based credit spread, the remarketing dealer (the “dealer”) has the option to remarket the securities each year through final maturity. At the election of the dealer, the securities were remarketed to third party investors in 2007. The securities were classified as debt payable within one year because, by their terms, they must be remarketed each year to investors or be redeemed by the Corporation.

 

In the fourth quarter of 2008, the dealer exercised its option to remarket the securities for another year. Because of volatility in the credit markets and the unfavorable costs of having the securities remarketed to third party investors at that time, at the Corporation’s request, the dealer remarketed the securities to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation, which intends to hold them until the next remarketing date in the fourth quarter of 2009. The subsidiary issued commercial paper to fund the investment in these securities. The investment in these securities by the subsidiary and the Corporation’s debt obligation for these securities are eliminated in consolidation.

 

At December 31, 2008, the fair value of the dealer’s option to remarket the securities each year through 2016 is estimated to be $23 million. The Corporation would be obligated to pay the dealer the fair value of its option in the event the securities are not remarketed for any reason other than the dealer’s election not to remarket or the failure of the dealer to successfully remarket the securities if the conditions to a remarketing are satisfied. Management does not expect this contingency to materialize.

 

At December 31, 2008, the Corporation had a $1.33 billion revolving credit facility that is scheduled to expire in September 2012. This facility contains a feature that would allow for increasing it to $1.77 billion. The Corporation maintains the revolving credit facility to manage liquidity needs in the event its access to the commercial paper markets is constrained for any reason. The Corporation did not experience any difficulty in issuing commercial paper in 2008 despite the current constrained credit environment in the United States. The Corporation did not borrow any amounts under the revolving credit facility in 2008.

 

As a result of the consolidation of the Financing Entities discussed in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Corporation recorded monetization loans, which at December 31, 2008 have a carrying amount of $614 million and an estimated fair value of $610 million. The loans mature during the third quarter of 2009, and bear interest at 3-month LIBOR plus 75 basis points, which is payable quarterly.

 

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Debt payable within one year is as follows:

 

     December 31
         2008            2007    
     (Millions of dollars)

Commercial paper

   $ 218    $ 644

Other short-term debt

     188      213
             

Total short-term debt

     406      857

Current portion of long-term debt—monetization loans

     614      —  

Current portion of other long-term debt

     63      241
             

Total

   $ 1,083    $ 1,098
             

 

At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the weighted-average interest rate for commercial paper was 0.5 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively.

 

Note 7.    Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary

 

In February 2001, the Corporation and a non-affiliated third party entity (the “Third Party”) formed a Luxembourg-based financing subsidiary, which is a variable interest entity. Since its inception, the Corporation has been the primary beneficiary of the entity and has consolidated the subsidiary in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In December 2007, the contractual arrangements among the Corporation, the Third Party and the subsidiary were restructured. In conjunction with the restructuring, the Third Party invested an additional $172 million in the subsidiary. Following the restructuring, the Third Party has investments in two classes of voting-preferred securities issued by the subsidiary (the “Preferred Securities”). The two classes of Preferred Securities, Class A-1 and Class A-2, have a par value of $500 million each for an aggregate of $1 billion. The Preferred Securities represent 98 percent of the voting power of the subsidiary. The Class A-1 and Class A-2 Preferred Securities accrue a fixed annual rate of return of 5.074 percent and 5.417 percent, respectively, which is paid on a quarterly basis. Prior to the restructuring, the annual rate of return on preferred securities of the subsidiary held by the Third Party accrued but was not currently payable. The Class A-1 Preferred Securities are redeemable by the subsidiary in December 2011 and on each seven-year anniversary thereafter, at par value plus any accrued but unpaid return. The Class A-2 Preferred Securities are redeemable in December 2014 and on each seven-year anniversary thereafter, at par value plus any accrued but unpaid return. The Corporation has made no noncontractual financial or other support to the subsidiary during its existence.

 

The subsidiary also has issued voting-preferred and common securities to the Corporation for total cash proceeds of $500 million. These securities are entitled to a combined two percent vote, and the common securities are entitled to all of the residual equity after satisfaction of the preferred interests.

 

Approximately 98 percent of the total cash contributed to the entity has been loaned to the Corporation. These long-term loans bear fixed annual interest rates. The funds remaining in the financing subsidiary are invested in equity-based exchange-traded funds. In December 2007, in connection with the restructuring, the Corporation performed a new primary beneficiary analysis of the variable interest entity pursuant to the requirements of FIN 46(R). Under the structure of the entity, all variability arising from the investments in the equity-based exchange-traded funds is absorbed by the Corporation. The Corporation’s credit default risk on its borrowings from the subsidiary is absorbed by the third party. Because the Corporation absorbs the majority of the variability created in the subsidiary, the Corporation is the primary beneficiary of the subsidiary and,

 

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accordingly, consolidates the subsidiary in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements. The preferred and common securities of the subsidiary held by the Corporation and the intercompany loans have been eliminated in consolidation. The return on the Preferred Securities is included in minority owners’ share of subsidiaries’ net income in the Corporation’s Consolidated Income Statement. The increase in the balance of the redeemable preferred securities in 2007 is due to the additional Third Party investment mentioned above and the accrued 2007 return on the Third Party investment that was not paid in 2007. The Preferred Securities, which have a carrying amount of $1,011 million and an estimated fair value of $1,015 million at December 31, 2008, are shown as redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

 

The Redeemable Preferred Securities are not traded in active markets. Accordingly, their fair values were calculated using a pricing model that compares the stated spread to the fair value spread to determine the price at which each of the financial instruments should trade. The model uses the following inputs to calculate fair values: current benchmark rate, fair value spread, stated spread, maturity date and interest payment dates.

 

Neither the Third Party nor creditors of the subsidiary have recourse to the general credit of the Corporation. If the Corporation’s credit rating of A is downgraded below BBB- or Baa3, or if the Third Party elects to have its preferred securities redeemed on the specified redemption dates, then the loans to the Corporation would become payable to the financing subsidiary to the extent necessary to enable the financing subsidiary to pay the redemption value.

 

Note 8.    Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Corporation has a stock-based Equity Participation Plan and an Outside Directors’ Compensation Plan (the “Plans”), under which it can grant stock options, restricted shares and restricted share units to employees and outside directors. As of December 31, 2008, the number of shares of common stock available for grants under the Plans aggregated 17.6 million shares.

 

Stock options are granted at an exercise price equal to the market value of the Corporation’s common stock on the date of grant, and they have a term of 10 years. Stock options granted to employees in the U.S. are subject to graded vesting whereby options vest 30 percent at the end of each of the first two 12-month periods following the grant and 40 percent at the end of the third 12-month period. Options granted to certain non-U.S. employees cliff vest at the end of three or four years.

 

Restricted shares, time-based restricted share units and performance-based restricted share units granted to employees are valued at the closing market price of the Corporation’s common stock on the grant date and generally vest over three to five years. The number of performance-based share units that ultimately vest ranges from zero to 150 percent of the number granted, based on performance tied to return on invested capital (“ROIC”) and net sales during the three-year performance period. ROIC and net sales targets are set at the beginning of the performance period. Restricted share units granted to outside directors are valued at the closing market price of the Corporation’s common stock on the grant date and vest when they are granted. The restricted period begins on the date of grant and expires on the date the outside director retires from or otherwise terminates service on the Corporation’s Board.

 

At the time stock options are exercised or restricted shares and restricted share units become payable, common stock is issued from the Corporation’s accumulated treasury shares. Cash dividends are paid on restricted shares, and cash dividends or dividend equivalents are paid or credited on restricted share units, on the same date and at the same rate as dividends are paid on the Corporation’s common stock. These cash dividends and dividend equivalents, net of estimated forfeitures, are charged to retained earnings. Previously paid cash dividends on subsequently forfeited restricted share units are charged to compensation expense.

 

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Stock-based compensation costs of $47 million, $63 million and $67 million and related deferred income tax benefits of approximately $15 million, $20 million and $24 million were recognized for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

The fair value of stock option awards was determined using a Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model utilizing a range of assumptions related to dividend yield, volatility, risk-free interest rate, and employee exercise behavior. Dividend yield is based on historical experience and expected future dividend actions. Expected volatility is based on a blend of historical volatility and implied volatility from traded options on the Corporation’s common stock. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The Corporation estimates forfeitures based on historical data.

 

The weighted-average fair value of the options granted in 2008, 2007 and 2006 was estimated at $6.22, $11.21 and $10.10, respectively, per option on the date of grant based on the following assumptions:

 

     2008     2007     2006  

Dividend yield

   4.10 %   3.20 %   3.50 %

Volatility

   14.90 %   15.19 %   17.84 %

Risk-free interest rate

   3.19 %   4.62 %   5.04 %

Expected life—years

   6.4     6.4     6.0  

 

As of December 31, 2008, the total remaining unrecognized compensation costs and amortization period are as follows:

 

     Millions
of dollars
   Weighted-
Average
Service
Years

Nonvested stock options

   $ 28    0.8

Restricted shares and time-based restricted share units

   $ 22    1.1

Nonvested performance-based restricted share units

   $ 7    1.0

 

SFAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, (“SFAS 123(R)”), requires the cash flow tax benefits resulting from tax deductions in excess of the compensation cost recognized (excess tax benefits) to be classified as financing cash flows. Excess tax benefits aggregating $8 million, $22 million and $26 million were classified as Other cash inflows under Financing Activities for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

The Corporation elected, for all stock option awards granted on or after January 1, 2006, to recognize compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award as permitted by SFAS 123(R). For options granted prior to adoption of SFAS 123(R), which were unvested at December 31, 2005, compensation cost is recognized on an accelerated method as required by SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

A summary of stock-based compensation under the Plans as of December 31, 2008 and the activity during the year then ended is presented below:

 

Stock Options

   Shares
(000’s)
    Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
   Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
     (Millions of dollars)

Outstanding at January 1, 2008

   27,079     $ 60.98      

Granted

   3,163       63.98      

Exercised

   (2,019 )     54.85      

Forfeited or expired

   (1,309 )     67.20      
              

Outstanding at December 31, 2008

   26,914       61.49    5.2    $ 23
                  

Exercisable at December 31, 2008

   19,783       60.02    4.1    $ 23
                  

 

The following summarizes the effect of the exercises of stock options for each year presented:

 

      2008    2007    2006
     (Millions of dollars)

Cash received

   $ 113    $ 349    $ 331

Income tax benefit received

     11      30      22

Intrinsic value

     18      86      86

 

      Restricted Shares    Time-Based
Restricted Share
Units
   Performance-Based
Restricted Share

Units

Other Stock-Based Awards

   Shares
(000’s)
    Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
   Shares
(000’s)
    Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
   Shares
(000’s)
    Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value

Nonvested at January 1, 2008

   348     $ 50.30    1,192     $ 62.47    608     $ 64.05

Granted

   —         —      181       61.99    891       63.74

Vested

   (250 )     44.54    (318 )     57.48    (277 )     61.70

Forfeited

   (8 )     58.89    (38 )     62.39    (39 )     63.82
                          

Nonvested at December 31, 2008

   90       64.21    1,017       63.90    1,183       64.37
                          

 

The total fair value of restricted shares and restricted share units that became vested during 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $56 million, $30 million and $16 million, respectively.

 

Note 9.    Employee Postretirement Benefits

 

Pension Plans

 

Substantially all regular employees in North America and the U.K. are covered by defined benefit pension plans (the “Principal Plans”) and/or defined contribution retirement plans. Certain other subsidiaries have defined benefit pension plans or, in certain countries, termination pay plans covering substantially all regular employees. The funding policy for the qualified defined benefit plans in North America and the defined benefit plans in the

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

U.K. is to contribute assets at least equal in amount to regulatory minimum requirements. Nonqualified U.S. plans providing pension benefits in excess of limitations imposed by the U.S. income tax code are not funded. Funding for the remaining defined benefit plans outside the U.S. is based on legal requirements, tax considerations, investment opportunities, and customary business practices in these countries.

 

Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

 

Substantially all U.S. retirees and employees are covered by unfunded health care and life insurance benefit plans. Certain benefits are based on years of service and/or age at retirement. The plans are principally noncontributory for employees who were eligible to retire before 1993 and contributory for most employees who retire after 1992, except that the Corporation provides no subsidized benefits to most employees hired after 2003.

 

In the U.S., health care benefit costs are capped and indexed by 3 percent annually for certain employees retiring on or before April 1, 2004. The Corporation’s future cost for retiree health care benefits is limited to a defined fixed cost based on the years of service for certain employees retiring after April 1, 2004. The annual increase in the consolidated weighted-average health care cost trend rate is expected to be 7.5 percent in 2009, 6.5 percent in 2010 and to decline to 5.2 percent in 2012 and thereafter.

 

Summarized financial information about postretirement plans, excluding defined contribution retirement plans, is presented below:

 

     Pension Benefits     Other Benefits  
     Year Ended December 31  
     2008     2007     2008     2007  
     (Millions of dollars)  

Change in Benefit Obligation

        

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 5,459     $ 5,688     $ 858     $ 867  

Service cost

     73       81       15       15  

Interest cost

     324       315       49       50  

Actuarial (gain) loss

     (144 )     (339 )     (58 )     (16 )

Currency and other

     (391 )     66       4       19  

Benefit payments from plans

     (339 )     (337 )     —         —    

Direct benefit payments

     (14 )     (15 )     (73 )     (77 )
                                

Benefit obligation at end of year

     4,968       5,459       795       858  
                                

Change in Plan Assets

        

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

     4,706       4,605       —         —    

Actual (loss) gain on plan assets

     (1,090 )     294       —         —    

Employer contributions

     129       98       —         —    

Currency and other

     (305 )     46       —         —    

Benefit payments

     (339 )     (337 )     —         —    
                                

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

     3,101       4,706       —         —    
                                

Funded Status

   $ (1,867 )   $ (753 )   $ (795 )   $ (858 )
                                

Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheet

        

Noncurrent asset—Prepaid benefit cost

   $ 3     $ 20     $ —       $ —    

Current liability—Accrued benefit cost

     (9 )     (8 )     (70 )     (76 )

Noncurrent liability—Accrued benefit cost

     (1,861 )     (765 )     (725 )     (782 )
                                

Net amount recognized

   $ (1,867 )   $ (753 )   $ (795 )   $ (858 )
                                

 

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KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The Corporation uses December 31 as the measurement date for all of its postretirement plans.

 

Information for the Principal Plans and All Other Pension Plans

 

     Principal Plans    All Other
Pension Plans
   Total
     Year Ended December 31
     2008    2007    2008    2007    2008    2007
     (Millions of dollars)

Projected benefit obligation (“PBO”)

   $ 4,568    $ 5,025    $ 400    $ 434    $ 4,968    $ 5,459

ABO

     4,308      4,738      348      380      4,656      5,118

Fair value of plan assets

     2,817      4,359      284      347      3,101      4,706

 

Information for Pension Plans with an ABO in Excess of Plan Assets

 

     December 31
     2008    2007
     (Millions of dollars)

PBO

   $ 4,877    $ 5,055

ABO

     4,599      4,765

Fair value of plan assets

     3,013      4,304

 

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

 

     Pension Benefits     Other Benefits
     Year Ended December 31
     2008     2007     2006     2008     2007    2006
     (Millions of dollars)

Service cost

   $ 73     $ 81     $ 87     $ 15     $ 15    $ 16

Interest cost

     324       315       298       49       50      48

Expected return on plan assets(a)

     (370 )     (372 )     (337 )     —         —        —  

Amortization of prior service cost and transition amount

     6       7       8       2       2      2

Recognized net actuarial loss

     56       77       101       1       5      4

Other

     8       12       10       (1 )     —        3
                                             

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 97     $ 120     $ 167     $ 66     $ 72    $ 73
                                             

 

(a) The expected return on plan assets is determined by multiplying the fair value of plan assets at the prior year-end (adjusted for estimated current year cash benefit payments and contributions) by the expected long-term rate of return.

 

Weighted-Average Assumptions used to determine Net Cost for years ended December 31