Dow Chemical 2011 Annual Report Download - page 6

FIRST QUARTER
› Dow executes a series of debt reduction activities that
enable the Company to retire $2.5 billion of debt in the
fi rst quarter.
› Dow converts an ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol (EO/EG)
production unit in St. Charles, Louisiana, to EO-only to support
its downstream performance businesses.
› Dow Coating Materials launches EVOQUE™ Pre-Composite
Polymer Technology, a revolutionary development for paints
and coatings that improves hiding effi ciency and enables paint
manufacturers to use up to 20 percent less titanium dioxide.
› Dow introduces PASCAL™ Technology, a breakthrough
polyurethane insulation for household refrigerators and
freezers. The technology addresses manufacturers’ productivity
needs, while also meeting consumer demands for energy-
effi cient appliances.
› Dow presents solutions for reinvigorating American
manufacturing in the book, Make It in America: The Case
for Re-Inventing the Economy, which is told through the voice
of Dow’s Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer, Andrew Liveris.
› Dow and The Nature Conservancy jointly announce a new
collaboration to help Dow and other companies recognize,
value and incorporate nature into global business goals,
decisions and strategies.
› Dow is named the fi rst global partner of the United
Nations-designated International Year of Chemistry and
helps launch a yearlong global celebration of the power
of science to solve the world’s most pressing challenges.
Dow creates the Performance Plastics
division, building a singular focus
on high-value solutions for growth
sectors such as food packaging,
elastomers, hygiene and medical, and
electrical and telecommunications.
The new division refl ects Dow’s shift
to target attractive, fast-growing
downstream end-markets.
Dow unveils comprehensive
plans to increase its ethylene and
propylene production and connect
the Company’s U.S. operations
into feedstock opportunities from
increasing supplies of U.S. shale gas.
2011 Achievements
Dow demonstrated the strength of its strategic formula and its clear focus on execution in 2011,
delivering earnings growth and enhanced fi nancial fl exibility. The year was shaped by a number
of signifi cant events and investments in innovation, integration and global expansion.
› Dow AgroSciences announces the industry’s fi rst saturated
fat-free oil product, Omega-9 Sunfl ower Oil.
› Dow announces that Chairman and Chief Executive
Offi cer, Andrew Liveris, has been appointed by U.S. President
Barack Obama as co-chair of the newly formed Advanced
Manufacturing Partnership.
SECOND QUARTER
› Dow announces that its Board of Directors has declared
a 67 percent increase in the Company’s quarterly dividend,
raising it to $0.25 per share.
› Dow begins commercial operation of its new world-scale
specialty elastomers plant in Thailand, enabling the Company
to meet growing worldwide customer demand for a full range
of elastomer products.
› Dow AgroSciences receives registration from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency for REFUGE ADVANCED®
Powered by SMARTSTAX®, completing federal regulatory
authorization in the United States. This solution represents
the most convenient, simple answer for farmers to ensure
refuge compliance while providing the industry’s leading
trait technology in the simplicity of a single bag.
› Dow launches ELITE™ Advanced Technology Polyethylene
Resins, a proprietary technology that benefi ts fi lm converters
in high-value market segments, such as food and specialty
packaging, as well as industrial and consumer packaging.
› Dow announces an agreement with Quantum Fuel Systems
Technologies Worldwide, Inc. to produce novel plug-in hybrid
electric vehicle (PHEV) fl eet trucks. Additionally, Dow and a major
utility company are the fi rst to engage Quantum Technologies to
convert conventional Ford F-150 trucks to PHEV trucks powered
by Dow Kokam lithium-ion battery technology.
4The Dow Chemical Company