Dow Chemical 2012 Annual Report Download - page 30

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The Dow Chemical Company and Subsidiaries
PART I, Item 1. Business.
THE COMPANY
The Dow Chemical Company was incorporated in 1947 under Delaware law and is the successor to a Michigan corporation, of
the same name, organized in 1897. The Company's principal executive offices are located at 2030 Dow Center, Midland,
Michigan 48674. Throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as otherwise indicated by the context, the terms
“Company” or “Dow” as used herein mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Available Information
The Company's annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and
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 through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website (www.dow.com/investors), as soon as
reasonably practicable after the reports are electronically filed or furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”). The SEC maintains a website that contains these reports as well as proxy statements and other information regarding
issuers that file electronically. The SEC's website is at www.sec.gov. The Company's website and its content are not deemed
incorporated by reference into this report.
General
Dow combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The
Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most
challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing
agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemicals, advanced materials, agrosciences
and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately
160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2012, Dow had annual
sales of $56.8 billion and employed approximately 54,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are
manufactured at 188 sites in 36 countries across the globe. The Company conducts its worldwide operations through global
businesses, which are reported in six operating segments: Electronic and Functional Materials, Coatings and Infrastructure
Solutions, Agricultural Sciences, Performance Materials, Performance Plastics and Feedstocks and Energy.
Strategy
Dow's strategy is to preferentially invest in a portfolio of technology-integrated, market-driven performance businesses that
create value for our stockholders and growth for our customers as well as manage a portfolio of asset-integrated, building-block
businesses to generate value for our downstream portfolio.