As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 24, 2011

File No. 333-170130

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 3 to

Form S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Weena 737

3013AM Rotterdam

The Netherlands

31 10 275 5500

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Craig B. Glidden

Weena 737

3013AM Rotterdam

The Netherlands

31 10 275 5500

(Name, Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.  þ

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration Statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration Statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 24, 2011

 

Preliminary Prospectus

 

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

 

 

274,048,396 shares

 

This prospectus relates to the offer and resale by certain of our shareholders, referred to as “selling shareholders” of up to an aggregate of 274,048,396 ordinary shares of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. We are not selling any shares under this prospectus. We will not receive any proceeds from the sales of ordinary shares being offered by the selling shareholders.

 

The distribution of ordinary shares offered hereby may be effected in one or more transactions that may take place, including ordinary brokers’ transactions, privately negotiated transactions or through sales to one or more dealers for resale of such securities as principals, at fixed prices, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. We are required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the registration of the ordinary shares. Usual and customary or specifically negotiated brokerage fees or commissions may be paid by the selling shareholders.

 

Our shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “LYB.” On May 23, 2011, the last reported sales price for our shares was $38.90 per share.

 

Investing in these securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 of this prospectus for factors you should consider before buying our ordinary shares.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is               , 2011.

Table of Contents

 

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or amendment. We have not authorized any person to provide you with different information. This prospectus is not an offer to sell, nor is it an offer to buy, these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information in this prospectus is complete and accurate as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus, but our business, financial condition or results of operations may have changed since that date.

 

This prospectus contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). You can identify our forward-looking statements by the words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “should,” “will,” “expect,” “objective,” “projection,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “effort,” “target” and similar expressions.

 

We based the forward-looking statements on our current expectations, estimates and projections about ourselves and the industries in which we operate in general. We caution you these statements are not guarantees of future performance as they involve assumptions that, while made in good faith, may prove to be incorrect, and involve risks and uncertainties we cannot predict. In addition, we based many of these forward-looking statements on assumptions about future events that may prove to be inaccurate. Accordingly, our actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what we have expressed or forecast in the forward-looking statements. Any differences could result from a variety of factors, including the following:

 

 

Any of these factors, or a combination of these factors, could materially affect our future results of operations (including those of our joint ventures) and the ultimate accuracy of the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results and future

developments (including those of our joint ventures) may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Our management cautions against putting undue reliance on forward-looking statements or projecting any future results based on such statements or present or prior earnings levels.

 

All subsequent written and oral forward looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section and any other cautionary statements that may accompany such forward looking statements. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus.

 

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 regarding the shares. This prospectus does not contain all of the information found in the registration statement. For further information regarding LyondellBasell and the shares offered by this prospectus, you may desire to review the full registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules, filed under the Securities Act. The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, including its exhibits and schedules, may be inspected and copied at the public reference room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of the materials may also be obtained from the SEC at prescribed rates by writing to the public reference room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a web site on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. LyondellBasell’s registration statement, of which this prospectus constitutes a part, can be downloaded from the SEC’s web site.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we have filed with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to other documents previously filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus.

 

We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the following documents that we have previously filed with the SEC:

 

 

 

 

 

The Annual Report contains important information about LyondellBasell, including its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 and its financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, the proxy statement includes information about the company’s governance and its executive compensation.

 

You may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any exhibit specifically incorporated by reference in those documents, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or phone number and may view the documents by accessing our website at www.lyondellbasell.com:

 

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

c/o Lyondell Chemical Company

1221 McKinney Street, Suite 700

Houston, Texas 77010

Attn: Secretary to the Supervisory Board

(713) 309-7200

 

SUMMARY INFORMATION

The Offering		This is an offering of an aggregate of up to 274,048,396 of our ordinary shares by certain selling shareholders.

Shares Offered By the Selling Shareholders		274,048,396 shares, par value €0.04 per share.

Offering Price		Determined at the time of sale by the selling shareholders.

Ordinary Shares Outstanding as of May 23, 2011		An aggregate of 568,304,928 shares.

Use of Proceeds		We will not receive any of the proceeds of the shares offered by the selling shareholders.

Dividend Policy		We declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share, payable on May 26, 2011 to shareholders of record on May 5, 2011 and anticipate paying dividends in future quarters with the authorization of our Supervisory Board when and if our earnings support such payments.

Trading Symbol		Our shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “LYB.”

 

Before investing in the securities offered hereby, you should carefully consider the following risk factors and all of the other information contained in this prospectus. If any of the possible events described below occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Economic downturns and disruptions in financial markets can adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

Our results of operations can be materially affected by adverse conditions in the financial markets and depressed economic conditions generally. Economic downturns in the businesses and geographic areas in which we sell our products substantially reduce demand for our products and result in decreased sales volumes. Recessionary environments adversely affect our business because demand for our products is reduced, particularly from our customers in industrial markets generally and the automotive and housing industries specifically.

 

Moreover, many of our customers and suppliers rely on access to credit to adequately fund their operations. Disruptions in financial markets and economic slowdown can adversely impact the ability of our customers to finance the purchase of our products as well as the creditworthiness of those customers. These same factors may also impact the ability and willingness of suppliers to provide us with raw materials for our business.

 

The cyclicality and volatility of the industries in which we participate may cause significant fluctuations in our operating results.

 

Our business operations are subject to the cyclical and volatile nature of the supply-demand balance in the chemical and refining industries. Our future operating results are expected to continue to be affected by this cyclicality and volatility. The chemical and refining industries historically have experienced alternating periods of capacity shortages, causing prices and profit margins to increase, followed by periods of excess capacity, resulting in oversupply, declining capacity utilization rates and declining prices and profit margins.

 

In addition to changes in the supply and demand for products, changes in energy prices and other worldwide economic conditions can cause volatility. These factors result in significant fluctuations in profits and cash flow from period to period and over business cycles.

 

In addition, new capacity additions, especially in Asia and the Middle East, are expected to lead to a period of oversupply and lower profitability. The timing and extent of any changes to currently prevailing market conditions is uncertain and supply and demand may be unbalanced at any time. As a consequence, we are unable to accurately predict the extent or duration of future industry cycles or their effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We can give no assurances as to any predictions we may make with respect to the timing, extent or duration of future industry cycles.

 

Costs and limitations on supply of raw materials and energy may result in increased operating expenses.

 

The costs of raw materials and energy represent a substantial portion of our operating expenses. Energy costs generally follow price trends of crude oil and natural gas. These price trends may be highly volatile and cyclical. In the past, raw material and energy costs have experienced significant fluctuations that adversely affected our business segments’ results of operations. Moreover, fluctuations in currency exchange rates can add to this volatility.

 

We are not always able to pass raw material and energy cost increases on to our customers. When we do have the ability to pass on the cost increases, we are not always able to do so quickly enough to avoid adverse impacts on our results of operations.

 

Cost increases also may increase working capital needs, which could reduce our liquidity and cash flow. Even if we increase our sales prices to reflect rising raw material and energy costs, demand for products may decrease as customers reduce their consumption or use substitute products, which may have an adverse impact

on our results of operations. In addition, producers in natural gas cost-advantaged regions, such as the Middle East, benefit from the lower prices of natural gas and NGLs. Competition from producers in these regions may cause us to reduce exports from North America and Europe. Any such reductions may increase competition for product sales within North America and Europe, which can result in lower margins in those regions. Additionally, there are a limited number of suppliers for some of our raw materials and utilities and, in some cases, the supplies are specific to the particular geographic region in which a facility is located.

 

It is also common in the chemical and refining industries for a facility to have a sole, dedicated source for its utilities, such as steam, electricity and gas. Having a sole or limited number of suppliers may limit our negotiating power, particularly in the case of rising raw material costs. Any new supply agreements we enter into may not have terms as favorable as those contained in our current supply agreements.

 

If our raw material or utility supplies were disrupted, our businesses may incur increased costs to procure alternative supplies or incur excessive downtime, which would have a direct negative impact on plant operations. For example, hurricanes have in the past negatively affected crude oil and natural gas supplies, as well as supplies of other raw materials, utilities (such as electricity and steam), and industrial gases, contributing to increases in operating costs and, in some cases, disrupting production. In addition, hurricane-related disruption of vessel, barge, rail, truck and pipeline traffic in the U.S. Gulf Coast area would negatively affect shipments of raw materials and product.

 

In addition, with increased volatility in raw material costs, our suppliers could impose more onerous terms on us, resulting in shorter payment cycles and increasing our working capital requirements.

 

We sell products in highly competitive global markets and face significant price pressures.

 

We sell our products in highly competitive global markets. Due to the commodity nature of many of our products, competition in these markets is based primarily on price and, to a lesser extent, on product performance, product quality, product deliverability, reliability of supply and customer service. Generally, we are not able to protect our market position for these products by product differentiation and may not be able to pass on cost increases to our customers.

 

In addition, we face increased competition from companies that may have greater financial resources and different cost structures or strategic goals than us. These include large integrated oil companies (many of which also have chemical businesses), government-owned businesses, and companies that receive subsidies or other government incentives to produce certain products in a specified geographic region. Increased competition from these companies, especially in our olefin and refining businesses, could limit our ability to increase product sales prices in response to raw material and other cost increases, or could cause us to reduce product sales prices to compete effectively, which could reduce our profitability. Competitors that have greater financial resources than us may be able to invest significant capital into their businesses, including expenditures for research and development.

 

In addition, specialty products we produce may become commoditized over time. Increased competition could result in lower prices or lower sales volumes, which would have a negative impact on our results of operations.

 

Our ability to source raw materials, including crude oil, may be adversely affected by political instability, civil disturbances or other governmental actions.

 

We obtain a substantial portion of our principal raw materials from sources in North Africa, the Middle East, and South America that may be less politically stable than other areas in which we conduct business, such as Europe or the US.

 

Recently, increased incidents of civil unrest, including demonstrations which have been marked by violence, have occurred in some countries in North Africa and the Middle East. Some political regimes in these countries are threatened or have changed as a result of such unrest. Political instability and civil unrest could continue to spread in the region and involve other areas. Such unrest, if it continues to spread or grow in

intensity, could lead to civil wars, regional conflict, or regime changes resulting in governments that are hostile to countries in which we conduct substantial business, such as Europe, the US, or their respective allies.

 

We source a large portion of our crude oil from Venezuela. From time to time in the past, the Venezuelan national oil company, PDVSA, has declared itself in a force majeure situation and reduced deliveries of crude oil purportedly based on announced OPEC production cuts. It is impossible to predict how possible changes in governmental policies may affect our sourcing. Any significant reduction in Venezuelan crude oil supplies could negatively impact our ability to procure crude oil, from Venezuela or other sources, on economically advantageous terms. Political instability, civil disturbances and actions by governments in North Africa, the Middle East or South America are likely to substantially increase the price and decrease the supply of feedstocks necessary for our operations, which will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

Interruptions of operations at our facilities may result in liabilities or lower operating results.

 

We own and operate large-scale facilities. Our operating results are dependent on the continued operation of our various production facilities and the ability to complete construction and maintenance projects on schedule. Interruptions at our facilities may materially reduce the productivity and profitability of a particular manufacturing facility, or our business as a whole, during and after the period of such operational difficulties. In the past, we had to shut down plants on the U.S. Gulf Coast, including the temporary shutdown of the Houston Refinery, as a result of hurricanes striking the Texas coast.

 

In addition, because the Houston Refinery is our only North American refining operation, an outage at the refinery could have a particularly negative impact on our operating results. Unlike our chemical and polymer production facilities, which may have sufficient excess capacity to mitigate the negative impact of lost production at other facilities, we do not have the ability to increase refining production elsewhere in the U.S.

 

Although we take precautions to enhance the safety of our operations and minimize the risk of disruptions, our operations are subject to hazards inherent in chemical manufacturing and refining and the related storage and transportation of raw materials, products and wastes. These potential hazards include:

 

 

Some of these hazards may cause severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment and may result in suspension of operations or the shutdown of affected facilities.

Our operations are subject to risks inherent in chemical and refining businesses, and we could be subject to liabilities for which we are not fully insured or that are not otherwise mitigated.

 

We maintain property, business interruption, product, general liability, casualty and other types of insurance, including pollution and legal liability, that we believe are in accordance with customary industry practices. However, we are not fully insured against all potential hazards incident to our business, including losses resulting from natural disasters, war risks or terrorist acts. Changes in insurance market conditions have caused, and may in the future cause, premiums and deductibles for certain insurance policies to increase substantially and, in some instances, for certain insurance to become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage. If we were to incur a significant liability for which we were not fully insured, we might not be able to finance the amount of the uninsured liability on terms acceptable to us or at all, and might be obligated to divert a significant portion of our cash flow from normal business operations.

 

Further, because a part of our business involves licensing polyolefin process technology, our licensees are exposed to similar risks involved in the manufacture and marketing of polyolefins. Hazardous incidents involving our licensees, if they do result or are perceived to result from use of our technologies, may harm our reputation, threaten our relationships with other licensees and/or lead to customer attrition and financial losses. Our policy of covering these risks through contractual limitations of liability and indemnities and through insurance may not always be effective. As a result, our financial condition and results of operation would be adversely affected, and other companies with competing technologies may have the opportunity to secure a competitive advantage.

 

Certain activities related to a former project raise compliance issues under U.S. law.

 

We have identified an agreement related to a former project in Kazakhstan under which a payment was made in late 2008 that raises compliance concerns under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”). We have engaged outside counsel to investigate these activities, under the oversight of a special committee established by the Supervisory Board, and to evaluate internal controls and compliance policies and procedures. We made a voluntary disclosure of these matters to the U.S. Department of Justice in late 2009 and are cooperating fully with that agency. In this respect, we may not have conducted our business in compliance with the FCPA and may not have had policies and procedures in place adequate to ensure compliance. We cannot reasonably estimate any potential penalty that may arise from these matters. We have adopted and are implementing more stringent policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance. We cannot predict the ultimate outcome of these matters at this time since our investigations are ongoing. Violations of these laws could result in criminal and civil liabilities and other forms of relief that could be material to us.

 

Our non-U.S. operations conduct business in countries subject to U.S. economic sanctions and certain activities raise compliance issues under U.S. law.

 

Certain of our non-U.S. subsidiaries conduct business in countries subject to U.S. economic sanctions, including Iran. U.S. and EU laws and regulations prohibit certain persons from engaging in business activities, in whole or in part, with sanctioned countries, organizations and individuals.

 

We have and continue to adopt more significant compliance policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all applicable sanctions laws and regulations. In connection with our continuing review of compliance risks in this area, we made a voluntary disclosure of certain matters to the U.S. Treasury Department and intend to continue cooperating fully with that agency. We cannot at this point in time predict the outcome of this matter because our investigation is ongoing, but there is a risk that we could be subject to civil and criminal penalties.

 

We have made the decision to terminate all business by the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries with the government, entities and individuals in Iran, Syria and Sudan. We have notified our counterparties in these countries of our decision and may be subject to legal actions to enforce agreements with the counterparties. These activities present a potential risk that could subject the Company to private legal

proceedings that could be material to us. At this time, we cannot predict the outcome because our withdrawal activities are ongoing.

 

Our operations could be adversely affected by labor relations.

 

The vast majority of our employees located in Europe and South America are represented by labor unions and work councils. Approximately 900 of our employees located in North America are represented by labor unions. Of the North American employees, approximately 50% include our employees that are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between Houston Refining LP and the United Steelworkers Union, which expires on January 31, 2012.

 

Our operations have been in the past, and may be in the future, significantly and adversely affected by strikes, work stoppages and other labor disputes.

 

We cannot predict with certainty the extent of future costs under environmental, health and safety and other laws and regulations, and cannot guarantee they will not be material.

 

We may face liability arising out of the normal course of business, including alleged personal injury or property damage due to exposure to chemicals or other hazardous substances at our current or former facilities or chemicals that we manufacture, handle or own. In addition, because our products are components of a variety of other end-use products, we, along with other members of the chemical industry, are subject to potential claims related to those end-use products. Any substantial increase in the success of these types of claims could negatively affect our operating results.

 

We (together with the industries in which we operate) are subject to extensive national, regional, state and local environmental laws, regulations, directives, rules and ordinances concerning

 

 

Many of these laws and regulations provide for substantial fines and potential criminal sanctions for violations. Some of these laws and regulations are subject to varying and conflicting interpretations. In addition, some of these laws and regulations require us to meet specific financial responsibility requirements. Any substantial liability for environmental damage could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Although we have compliance programs and other processes intended to ensure compliance with all such regulations, we are subject to the risk that our compliance with such regulations could be challenged. Non-compliance with certain of these regulations could result in the incurrence of additional costs, penalties or assessments that could be material.

 

Our industry is subject to extensive government regulation, and existing or future regulations may restrict our operations, increase our costs of operations or require us to make additional capital expenditures.

 

Compliance with regulatory requirements could result in higher operating costs, such as regulatory requirements relating to emissions, the security of our facilities, and the transportation, export or registration of our products. We generally expect that regulatory controls worldwide will become increasingly more demanding, but cannot accurately predict future developments. Increasingly strict environmental laws and inspection and enforcement policies, could affect the handling, manufacture, use, emission or disposal of products, other materials or hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Stricter environmental, safety and health laws, regulations and enforcement policies could result in increased operating costs. Additionally, we are required to have permits for our businesses and are subject to licensing regulations. These permits and licenses are subject to renewal, modification and in some circumstances, revocation. Further, the permits and licenses are often difficult, time consuming and costly to obtain and could contain conditions that limit our operations.

We may incur substantial costs to comply with climate change legislation and regulatory initiatives.

 

There has been a broad range of proposed or promulgated state, national and international laws focusing on greenhouse gas (“GHG”) reduction. These proposed or promulgated laws apply or could apply in countries where we have interests or may have interests in the future. Laws in this field continue to evolve and, while they are likely to be increasingly widespread and stringent, at this stage it is not possible to accurately estimate either a timetable for implementation or our future compliance costs relating to implementation. Within the framework of EU emissions trading, we were allocated certain allowances of carbon dioxide per year for the affected plants of our European sites for the 2005 to 2007 period. For the second trading period (2008 to 2012), a number of our plants are included in the Europe-wide trading system. We expect to incur additional costs as a result of the existing emissions trading scheme and could incur additional costs in relation to any future carbon or other greenhouse gas emission trading schemes. The costs could be higher to the extent that we decide to sell credits that we need in the future.

 

In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) has promulgated federal GHG regulations under the Clean Air Act affecting certain sources. The EPA has issued mandatory GHG reporting requirements which could lead to further obligations. The recent EPA action could be a precursor to further federal regulation of carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases, and may affect the outcome of other climate change lawsuits pending in United States federal courts in a manner unfavorable to our industry. In any event, additional regulation is likely to be forthcoming at the United States federal level or the state level with respect to GHG emissions, and such regulation could result in the creation of additional costs in the form of taxes or required acquisition or trading of emission allowances.

 

Compliance with these or other changes in laws, regulations and obligations that create a GHG emissions trading scheme or GHG reduction policies generally could significantly increase our costs or reduce demand for products we produce. Depending on the nature of potential regulations and legislation, any future laws and regulations could result in increased compliance costs or additional operating restrictions, and could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

Legislation and regulatory initiatives could lead to a decrease in demand for our products.

 

New or revised governmental regulations and independent studies relating to the effect of our products on health, safety and the environment may affect demand for our products and the cost of producing our products. Initiatives by governments and private interest groups will potentially require increased toxicological testing and risk assessments of a wide variety of chemicals, including chemicals used or produced by us. For example, in the United States, the National Toxicology Program (“NTP”) is a federal interagency program that seeks to identify and select for study chemicals and other substances to evaluate potential human health hazards. In the European Commission, REACh is regulation designed to identify the intrinsic properties of chemical substances, assess hazards and risks of the substances, and identify and implement the risk management measures to protect humans and the environment.

 

Assessments by the NTP, REACh or similar programs or regulations in other jurisdictions may result in heightened concerns about the chemicals we use or produce and may result in additional requirements being placed on the production, handling, labeling or use of those chemicals. Such concerns and additional requirements could also increase the cost incurred by our customers to use our chemical products and otherwise limit the use of these products, which could lead to a decrease in demand for these products. Such a decrease in demand could have an adverse impact on our business and results of operations.

 

We operate internationally and are subject to exchange rate fluctuations, exchange controls, political risks and other risks relating to international operations.

 

We operate internationally and are subject to the risks of doing business on a global level, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates, transportation delays and interruptions, war, terrorist activities, epidemics, pandemics, political and economic instability and disruptions, restrictions on the transfer of funds, the imposition of duties and tariffs, import and export controls, changes in governmental policies, labor unrest

and current and changing regulatory environments. Recent demonstrations and popular unrest in portions of the Middle East are examples of these events.

 

These events could reduce the demand for our products, decrease the prices at which we can sell our products, disrupt production or other operations, require substantial capital and other costs to comply, and/or increase security costs or insurance premiums, all of which could reduce our operating results. In addition, we obtain a substantial portion of our principal raw materials from international sources that are subject to these same risks. Our compliance with applicable customs, currency exchange control regulations, transfer pricing regulations or any other laws or regulations to which we may be subject could be challenged. Furthermore, these laws may be modified, the result of which may be to prevent or limit subsidiaries from transferring cash to us.

 

Furthermore, we are subject to certain existing, and may be subject to possible future, laws that limit or may limit our activities while some of our competitors may not be subject to such laws, which may adversely affect our competitiveness.

 

In addition, we generate revenues from export sales and operations that may be denominated in currencies other than the relevant functional currency. Exchange rates between these currencies and functional currencies in recent years have fluctuated significantly and may do so in the future. Future events, which may significantly increase or decrease the risk of future movement in currencies in which we conduct our business, cannot be predicted. We also may hedge certain revenues and costs using derivative instruments to minimize the impact of changes in the exchange rates of those currencies compared to the respective functional currencies. It is possible that fluctuations in exchange rates will result in reduced operating results.

 

Significant changes in pension fund investment performance or assumptions relating to pension costs may adversely affect the valuation of pension obligations, the funded status of pension plans, and our pension cost.

 

Our pension cost is materially affected by the discount rate used to measure pension obligations, the level of plan assets available to fund those obligations at the measurement date and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. Significant changes in investment performance or a change in the portfolio mix of invested assets may result in corresponding increases and decreases in the valuation of plan assets, particularly equity securities, or in a change of the expected rate of return on plan assets. Any change in key actuarial assumptions, such as the discount rate, would impact the valuation of pension obligations, affecting the reported funded status of our pension plans as well as the net periodic pension cost in the following fiscal years.

 

Certain of our current pension plans are underfunded. As of December 31, 2010, our pension plans were underfunded by $1,173 million. Any declines in the fair values of the pension plans assets could require additional payments by us in order to maintain specified funding levels.

 

Our pension plans are subject to legislative and regulatory requirements of applicable jurisdictions, which could include, under certain circumstances, local governmental authority to terminate the plan.

 

We may be required to record material charges against our earnings due to any number of events that could cause impairments to our assets.

 

We may be required to reduce production at or idle facilities for extended periods of time or exit certain businesses as a result of the cyclical nature of our industry. Specifically, oversupplies of or lack of demand for particular products or high raw material prices may cause us to reduce production. We may choose to reduce production at certain facilities because we have off-take arrangements at other facilities, which makes any reductions or idling unavailable at those facilities. Any decision to permanently close facilities or exit a business likely would result in impairment and other charges to earnings.

 

Temporary outages at our facilities can last for several quarters and sometimes longer. These outages could cause us to incur significant costs, including the expenses of maintaining and restarting these facilities.

In addition, even though we may reduce production at facilities, we may be required to continue to purchase or pay for utilities or raw materials under take-or-pay supply agreements.

 

Many of our businesses depend on our intellectual property. Our future success will depend in part on our ability to protect our intellectual property rights, and our inability to do so could reduce our ability to maintain our competitiveness and margins.

 

We have a significant worldwide patent portfolio of issued and pending patents. These patents, together with proprietary technical know-how, are significant to our competitive position, particularly with regard to PO, performance chemicals, petrochemicals, and polymers, including process technologies such as Spheripol, Spherizone, Hostalen, Spherilene, Lupotech T and Lupotech G and Avant catalyst family technology rights. We rely on the patent, copyright and trade secret laws of the countries in which we operate to protect our investment in research and development, manufacturing and marketing. However, we may be unable to prevent third parties from using our intellectual property without authorization. Proceedings to protect these rights could be costly, and we may not prevail.

 

The protection afforded by patents varies from country to country and depends upon the type of patent and its scope of coverage. While a presumption of validity exists with respect to patents issued to us, our patents may be challenged, invalidated, circumvented or rendered unenforceable. As patents expire, the products and processes described and claimed under those patents become generally available for use by competitors.

 

Our continued growth strategy may bring us to regions of the world where intellectual property protection may be limited and difficult to enforce. In addition, patent rights may not prevent our competitors from developing, using or selling products that are similar or functionally equivalent to our products. Moreover, our competitors or other third parties may obtain patents that restrict or preclude our ability to lawfully produce or sell our products in a competitive manner, which could result in significantly lower revenues, reduced profit margins or loss of market share.

 

We also rely upon unpatented proprietary know-how and continuing technological innovation and other trade secrets to develop and maintain our competitive position. While it is our policy to enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees and third parties to protect our intellectual property, these confidentiality agreements may be breached, may not provide meaningful protection or adequate remedies may not be available. Additionally, others could obtain knowledge of our trade secrets through independent development or other access by legal or illegal means.

 

The failure of our patents or confidentiality agreements to protect our processes, apparatuses, technology, trade secrets or proprietary know-how could result in significantly lower revenues, reduced profit margins and cash flows and/or loss of market share. We also may be subject to claims that our technology, patents or other intellectual property infringes on a third party’s intellectual property rights. Unfavorable resolution of these claims could result in restrictions on our ability to deliver the related service or in a settlement that could be material to us.

 

We may not be able to fully or successfully implement our ongoing plans to improve and globally integrate our business processes and functions.

 

We continue to seek ways to drive greater productivity, flexibility and cost savings. In particular, we are working towards the improvement and global integration of our business processes and functions. As part of these efforts, we have been centralizing certain functions within the Company, implementing new information technology, and integrating our existing information technology systems.

 

Our ongoing implementation of organizational improvements is made more difficult by our need to coordinate geographically dispersed operations. Inabilities and delays in implementing improvements can negatively affect our ability to realize projected or expected cost savings. In addition, the process of organizational improvements may cause interruptions of, or loss of momentum in, the activities of the Company’s businesses. It may also result in the loss of personnel or other labor issues. These issues, as well as

any information technology systems failures, also could impede our ability to timely collect and report financial results in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

 

Shared control or lack of control of joint ventures may delay decisions or actions regarding the joint ventures.

 

A portion of our operations are conducted through joint ventures, where control may be exercised by or shared with unaffiliated third parties. We cannot control the actions of our joint venture partners, including any nonperformance, default or bankruptcy of joint venture partners. The joint ventures that we do not control may also lack adequate internal controls systems.

 

In the event that any of our joint venture partners do not observe their obligations, it is possible that the affected joint venture would not be able to operate in accordance with our business plans. As a result, we could be required to increase our level of commitment in order to give effect to such plans. Differences in views among the joint venture participants also may result in delayed decisions or in failures to agree on major matters, potentially adversely affecting the business and operations of the joint ventures and in turn our business and operations.

 

Litigation or governmental proceedings could result in material adverse consequences, including judgments or settlements.

 

We are involved in civil litigation in the ordinary course of our business and from time-to-time are involved in governmental proceedings relating to the conduct of our business. The timing of the final resolutions to these types of matters is often uncertain. Additionally, the possible outcomes or resolutions to these matters could include adverse judgments or settlements, either of which could require substantial payments, adversely affecting our liquidity and earnings.

 

Our capital requirements could limit or cause us to change our growth and development plans.

 

At March 31, 2010, we have approximately $6.1 billion of total consolidated debt. Our debt and the limitations imposed on us by our financing arrangements could:

 

 

If our cash flow from operations and capital resources were reduced, we may be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures or other planned uses of our cash due to our substantial debt service obligations. We could choose to sell assets, seek additional capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness, but there can be no assurances that we would be able to do so on terms we deem acceptable, if at all. Additionally, our debt instruments may limit our ability to effect such actions.

 

Our debt or other financing arrangements contain a number of restrictive covenants that impose operating and financial restrictions on us. There also is a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio contained in our U.S. ABL Facility that is applicable if availability under the facility falls below certain levels. We currently are in compliance with all of our restrictive and financial covenants; however, the ability to meet financial requirements can be affected by events beyond our control and, over time, these covenants may not be satisfied.

 

A breach of covenants of or the failure to pay principal and interest when due under our debt or other financing could result in a default or cross-default under all or some of those instruments. Any such default could result in an acceleration of all amounts outstanding under all facilities, and could relieve counterparties

of their obligations to fund or otherwise make advances. Without waivers from the parties to our financing arrangements, any such default would have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue to operate.

 

The selling shareholders own a substantial portion of our shares, and their interests in LyondellBasell Industries N.V. may conflict with other stakeholders’ interests.

 

The selling shareholders collectively own approximately 48% of our outstanding ordinary shares. Under Dutch law, there are no quorum requirements for shareholder voting and most matters are approved or adopted by a majority of votes cast. As a result, as long as these shareholders or any other substantial shareholder own, directly or indirectly, a substantial portion of our outstanding shares, they will be able to significantly influence all matters requiring shareholder approval, including amendments to our Articles of Association, the election of directors, significant corporate transactions, dividend payments and other matters. These shareholders may have interests that conflict with other shareholders and actions may be taken that other shareholders do not view as beneficial.

 

Additionally, each of these three shareholders is party to a nomination agreement that entitles the shareholder cause our Supervisory Board to nominate for election members to our Supervisory Board for so long as the shareholder owns specified percentages of our ordinary shares.

 

We are subject to Dutch law and the rights of our ordinary shareholders may be different from those rights associated with companies governed by other laws.

 

As a result of being organized under the laws of The Netherlands, our corporate structure as well as the rights and obligations of our ordinary shareholders may be different from the rights and obligations of shareholders in companies incorporated in other jurisdictions. Resolutions of the general meeting of shareholders may be taken with majorities different from the majorities required for adoption of equivalent resolutions in, for example, Delaware companies. Additionally, like other Dutch companies, our articles of association and our board charter contain control-enhancing rights that may have the effect of preventing, discouraging or delaying a change of control.

 

If we were classified as a controlled foreign corporation, any 10% U.S. shareholders may be responsible for U.S. income taxes on a pro-rata share of our income.

 

If the sum of the percentage ownership held by all of our 10% U.S. shareholders (as determined under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“IRC”)) exceeds 50% of our ordinary shares, we would be classified as a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the event such a classification were made, all 10% U.S. shareholders would be subject to taxation under Subpart F of the IRC, which could require such 10% U.S. shareholders to pay U.S. federal income taxes on a pro rata portion of our income, even in the absence of any distribution of such income.

 

Based on information currently available to us, we do not believe we are a controlled foreign corporation at this time.

 

U.S. anti-inversion rules may apply to LyondellBasell Industries N.V. resulting in certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.

 

The United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) could seek to apply Section 7874 of the IRC to treat LyondellBasell Industries N.V. as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes or, alternatively, it could seek to impose U.S. federal income tax on certain income of our U.S. subsidiaries. Such an application would be based upon the value of stock issued in our emergence from Chapter 11 that the former creditors and shareholders of our top U.S. holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries received by reason of holding claims against those entities.

 

Treatment as a U.S. corporation could result in significantly increased U.S. federal income tax liability to us. Application of the alternative could impose U.S. federal income tax on our U.S. subsidiaries.

Although no assurance can be given that the IRS would not take a contrary position regarding Section 7874’s application or that such position, if asserted, would not be sustained, we believe that the stock issued in connection with our emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases that is attributable to the value of the claims against our companies outside the U.S. Group makes a Section 7874 inapplicable to us. In addition, we believe that strong arguments can be made that Section 7874 should not in any event apply to us because of the substantial business activities that we and our affiliates conduct and have historically conducted in The Netherlands.

 

We are registering the resale of our ordinary shares pursuant to registration rights granted to the selling shareholders in the Registration Rights Agreement dated April 30, 2010 and filed herewith as Exhibit 4.7. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the ordinary shares by the selling shareholders named in this prospectus. All proceeds from the sale of the ordinary shares will be paid directly to the selling shareholders.

 

This prospectus covers the offering of up to 274,048,396 ordinary shares by selling shareholders. When we refer to “selling shareholders” in this prospectus, we mean the persons listed in the table below, and the pledgees, donees, transferees, assignees, successors-in-interest and others who later come to hold any of the selling shareholders’ interests in our ordinary shares other than through public sale. The ordinary shares offered by the selling shareholders may be “restricted” securities under applicable federal and state securities laws and are being registered to give the selling shareholders the opportunity to freely sell their ordinary shares. The registration of such ordinary shares does not necessarily mean, however, that any of these ordinary shares will be offered or sold by the selling shareholders. The selling shareholders may from time to time offer and sell all or a portion of their ordinary shares in over-the-counter market or privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

In addition, the selling shareholders may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, or may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, at any time or from time to time, the ordinary shares in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), after the date on which they provided the information set forth below. The following table sets forth information as of April 14, 2011, regarding the selling shareholders’ beneficial ownership of ordinary shares. The selling shareholders acquired the shares being registered in connection with our emergence from bankruptcy proceedings and in market and privately negotiated transactions not involving us. A substantial majority of our issued and outstanding shares were issued on April 30, 2010 in exchange for certain claims against our predecessor in the chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and in a rights offering. Specifically, we issued 300 million shares in exchange for certain claims and issued an additional 263,901,979 shares in a rights offering, which gave certain claim holders the right to subscribe to purchase shares at an offering price of $10.61 per share. An additional 4,402,949 shares have been issued under our Long Term Incentive Plan and upon exercise of outstanding warrants.

 

Access Industries is a privately held U.S. industrial group with holdings primarily in natural resources and chemicals, media and telecommunications and real estate (“Access”). Access’ affiliates acquired 11,556,499 of our shares in the rights offering and have acquired an additional 78,886,867 of the shares being registered for resale in market or privately negotiated transactions that did not involve us. Access, through its ownership of Basell AF, was the owner of LyondellBasell AF S.C.A., the predecessor of the Company, from December 2007 until its emergence from chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Len Blavatnik, an individual whose principal occupation is Chairman of Access Industries, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares offered by Access, although Mr. Blavatnik disclaims any beneficial ownership in the shares, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. Mr. Blavatnik served as the Chairman of the Board of LyondellBasell AF S.C.A. from December 2007 until April 2010.

Apollo Management Holdings, L.P. is the general partner or manager of various Apollo investment managers that, through various affiliated investment managers, manage four of the Apollo investments funds that hold our shares. Apollo Principal Holdings II, L.P. is the general partner or manager of various Apollo investment advisors that, indirectly through various affiliated investment advisors, provide investment advisor services to various Apollo investment funds, including one of the Apollo investment funds that hold our shares. Apollo Principal Holdings III, L.P. is the general partner or manager of various Apollo investment advisors that, indirectly through various affiliated investment advisors, provide investment advisor services to various Apollo investment funds, including one of the Apollo investment funds that hold our shares. Of the shares held by the Apollo investment funds, 67,218,407 shares were acquired in connection with the distributions upon our emergence from bankruptcy, 75,727,608 shares were acquired in the rights offering, and 21,952,350 shares were acquired in market or privately negotiated transactions that did not involve us. Leon Black, Joshua Harris and Marc Rowan are the principal executive officers and managers or directors, as applicable, of the respective general partners of Apollo Management Holdings, L.P., of Apollo Principal Holdings II, L.P. and Apollo Principal Holdings III, L.P. Mr. Harris is a member of our Supervisory Board of Directors. Each of Apollo Management Holdings, L.P. and its affiliated investment managers, Apollo Principal Holdings II, L.P. and its affiliated investment advisors, Apollo Principal Holdings III, L.P. and its affiliated investment advisors, and Messrs. Black, Harris and Rowan disclaim beneficial ownership in the shares held by the Apollo investment funds, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. From time to time, we refer to “Apollo” in this prospectus. When we refer to Apollo, we mean, collectively, Apollo Global Management LLC and its subsidiaries including Apollo Management Holdings, L.P., and affiliated investment funds.

 

The other selling shareholders named in the table include funds under the management of Ares Management LLC, who acquired an aggregate of 36,894,999 shares on April 30, 2010 in the emergence distributions and sold an aggregate of 16,074,934 shares and acquired 658,412 warrants to purchase shares in open market and privately negotiated transactions. Ares Management is indirectly controlled by Ares Partners Management Company LLC, which, in turn, is managed by an executive committee comprised of Messrs. Michael Arougheti, David Kaplan, Gregory Margolies, Antony Ressler and Bennett Rosenthal. Each of the members of the executive committee expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.

 

We and the selling shareholders are party to nomination agreements that allow them to select individuals for nomination to our Supervisory Board in certain circumstances. For descriptions of the relationships between us and the selling shareholders, see “Description of Securities to be Registered,” “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management,” and “Directors and Executive Officers.” Additional information about relationships is disclosed under “Related Party Transactions” in our Proxy Statement for the 2011 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The selling shareholders and any of their pledgees, donees, transferees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their ordinary shares on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the ordinary shares are traded or quoted or in private transactions. The selling shareholders may sell the ordinary shares being offered here by at various times to underwriters, for resale to the public or to Institutional Investors, directly to Institutional Investors or through agents to the public or to Institutional Investors. This prospectus may also be used by broker-dealers or other transferees who borrow or purchase the securities to settle or close out short sales of securities. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. Selling shareholders will act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each sale or non-sale related transfer. We will not receive any proceeds from sales of ordinary shares by the selling shareholders. The selling shareholders may also use any one or more of the following methods when selling ordinary shares:

 

 

 

The selling shareholders may offer ordinary shares in one or more offerings pursuant to one or more supplements to this prospectus, if required by applicable law, and any such supplement will set forth the terms of the relevant offering to the extent required. To the extant the ordinary shares pursuant to a supplement remain unsold, the selling shareholders may offer those ordinary shares on different terms pursuant to another supplement.

 

The selling shareholders may also sell ordinary shares under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus. The ordinary shares covered by this prospectus may also be sold to non-U.S. persons outside the U.S. in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the selling shareholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling shareholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of ordinary shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. The selling shareholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved. Each selling shareholder reserves the right to accept and, together with their respective agents, to reject, any proposed purchases of ordinary shares to be made directly or through broker-dealers or other agents.

 

The selling shareholders may have pledged, and may from time to time pledge or grant a security interest in, some or all of the ordinary shares owned by them. If the selling shareholders default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the ordinary shares from time to time under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act, amending the list of selling shareholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling shareholders under this prospectus. In addition, upon notification to us in writing by a selling shareholder that a donee or pledge intends to sell more than 500 ordinary shares, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed if then required in accordance with applicable securities law.

 

If we are notified in writing by a selling shareholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of ordinary shares through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing (i) the name of each such selling shareholder and of the participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of ordinary shares involved, (iii) the price at which such the ordinary shares were sold, (iv) the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify the information contained in this prospectus, and (vi) other facts material to the transaction. The selling shareholders also may transfer the ordinary shares in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

 

The selling shareholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the ordinary shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the ordinary shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Discounts, concessions, commissions and similar selling expenses, if any, that can be attributed to the sale of ordinary shares will be paid by the selling shareholder and/or the purchasers. Each selling

shareholder has represented and warranted to us that it acquired the ordinary shares subject to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part in the ordinary course of such selling shareholder’s business and, at the time of its purchase of such ordinary shares, such selling shareholder had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute any such ordinary shares.

 

There can be no assurance that the selling shareholders will sell any or all of the ordinary shares registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

To comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions, if applicable, the ordinary shares will be offered or sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

 

If a selling shareholder uses this prospectus for any sale of ordinary shares, it will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The selling shareholders will be responsible to comply with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder promulgated, including, without limitation, Regulation M, as applicable to such selling shareholders in connection with resales of their respective ordinary shares under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

With certain exceptions, Regulation M restricts certain activities of, and limits the timing of purchases and sales of any of the ordinary shares by, selling shareholders, affiliated purchasers and any broker-dealer or other person who participates in a distribution of the ordinary shares. Under Regulation M, these persons are precluded from bidding for or purchasing, or attempting to induce any person to bid for or purchase, any security subject to the distribution until the distribution is complete. Regulation M also prohibits any bids or purchases made in order to stabilize the price of a security in connection with the distribution of that security. All of these limitations may affect the marketability of the securities offered by this prospectus.

 

We are required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the registration of the ordinary shares, but we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the ordinary shares by or on behalf of the selling shareholders. We have agreed to indemnify the selling shareholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

General

 

The following descriptions are summaries of material terms of our ordinary shares, with a par value of four eurocents (€0.04) each, our Articles of Association and Dutch law. The full text of our current Articles of Association has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit hereto and is available, in Dutch and English, at our registered office in Rotterdam during regular business hours and will also be available, in Dutch and English, on our website: www.lyondellbasell.com.

 

Ordinary Shares

 

Our authorized share capital is fifty-one million euro (€51,000,000), consisting of one billion two hundred seventy five million (1,275,000,000) ordinary shares, each with a par value of four eurocents (€0.04). As of May 23, 2011, there were 568,304,928 shares outstanding.

 

Prior to December 6, 2010, our authorized capital consisted of one billion (1,000,000,000) Class A ordinary shares and two hundred seventy-five million (275,000,000) Class B ordinary shares, each with a par value of four eurocents (€0.04), and there were both Class A and Class B shares outstanding. Our Articles of Association provided that on the first date on which the closing price of our Class B shares was greater that $21.22 for forty-five days within any consecutive sixty day period, the Class B shares would automatically convert to Class A shares, as described under “— Conversion of Class B ordinary shares.” This triggering event occurred on December 6, 2010 and as a result, beginning December 7, 2010, there are no Class B shares outstanding and our entire authorized capital consists of ordinary shares without classes.

Voting and Approval Rights

 

Generally, each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each ordinary share held on every matter submitted to a vote of shareholders, including election of members of the Management Board and Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board is divided into three classes of approximately equal size. The three classes have initial terms of one, two and three years, respectively, with subsequent terms of three years each. There are no cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of voting rights will have the power to elect all members of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board who are standing for election.

 

Unless otherwise required by our Articles of Association or Dutch law, matters submitted for a vote at a general meeting of shareholders require the approval of a majority of the votes cast at the general meeting. Pursuant to Dutch law and our Articles of Association, both the Supervisory Board and holders of our ordinary shares have the right to approve decisions from the Management Board relating to (i) the transfer of all or substantially all our enterprise by way of a share or asset sale, consolidation or merger or otherwise, (ii) the entering into or termination of a long-lasting commercial relationship that is of essential importance to our business and (iii) the acquisition or disposition of shares or assets with a value of at least one-third of our consolidated asset value.

 

There are no laws currently in effect in The Netherlands or provisions in our Articles of Association limiting the rights of non-resident investors to hold or vote ordinary shares.

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

Pursuant to our Articles of Association, the Management Board, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, may determine to allocate amounts to our reserves up to the amount of our annual profits. Out of our share premium reserve and other reserves available for shareholder distributions under Dutch law, the general meeting of shareholders may declare distributions after a proposal of the Management Board following approval from the Supervisory Board. We cannot pay dividends if the payment would reduce our shareholders’ equity below the aggregate par value of our outstanding ordinary shares, plus reserves (if any) required to be maintained by law. The Management Board, following approval from the Supervisory Board, may, subject to certain statutory provisions, distribute one or more interim dividends or other interim distributions before the accounts for any year have been approved and adopted at a general meeting of shareholders, in anticipation of the final dividend or final distribution. Rights to dividends and distributions that have not been collected within five years after the date on which they first became due and payable revert to us.

 

At our 2011 Annual General Meeting, our shareholders approved the payment of a dividend of $0.10 per share in the second quarter of 2011. The payment of dividends or distributions in the future will be subject to the requirements of Dutch law and the discretion of our shareholders (in the case of annual dividends), our Management Board and Supervisory Board. The declaration of any future cash dividends and, if declared, the amount of any such dividends, will depend upon general business conditions, our financial condition, our earnings and cash flow, our capital requirements, financial covenants and other contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends or distributions. There can be no assurance that any dividends or distributions will be declared or paid in the future. Any future cash dividends or distributions will be paid in U.S. dollars.

 

Shareholder Meetings

 

Each shareholder and certain other parties designated under Dutch law will be permitted, either personally or through an attorney authorized in writing, to attend the general meeting of shareholders, to address said meetings and to exercise voting rights, subject to certain provisions of Dutch law and our Articles of Association.

 

Our general meetings of shareholders will be held in The Netherlands at least annually, within six months after the close of each financial year (i.e., in the month of June at the latest). Extraordinary general meetings of shareholders may be held as often as the Management Board and/or the Supervisory Board deems necessary, or as otherwise provided for pursuant to Dutch law. One or more shareholders representing in the aggregate at least 10% of the issued share capital can request the Supervisory Board to convene a general

meeting of shareholders. In addition, each of the selling shareholders can require the Supervisory Board to convene a general meeting of shareholders for so long as it hold, together with its affiliates, at least 5% of the issued share capital. In each such case, the Supervisory Board is required to publish a convening notice for such a general meeting of shareholders within four weeks of receipt from such shareholders of (i) a specified agenda for such general meeting of shareholders and, (ii) in the sole discretion of the Supervisory Board, compelling evidence of the number of shares held by such shareholder or shareholders. If such meeting is not held within six weeks of our receipt of such request, the shareholders requesting a meeting may petition a court in The Netherlands for an order directing the holding of such meeting; the court may order the holding of such a meeting if the persons requesting the meeting can demonstrate that they have a sufficient interest in holding a meeting with the agenda requested by them.

 

One or more shareholders representing solely or jointly at least 1% of the issued share capital or, as long as our shares are admitted to trading on the NYSE, shareholders whose shares represent a value of fifty million euro (€50,000,000.00) or more, can request the Supervisory Board to place a matter on the agenda, provided that the Supervisory Board has received such request at least sixty days prior to the date of the general meeting of shareholders concerned.

 

Election and Tenure of Directors

 

The members of our Management Board are charged with managing our day-to-day affairs. The members of our Supervisory Board are charged with the supervision of the policy of the Management Board and of our general course of affairs.

 

The Supervisory Board shall determine the size of the Management Board, provided that the Management Board shall consist of at least one member. The Supervisory Board shall determine the size of the Supervisory Board; provided that the Supervisory Board shall consist of at least nine members and shall not have more than eleven members unless required in order to comply with (i) our Articles of Association, (ii) the terms of any binding nomination agreement and (iii) applicable law or regulation, including the NYSE listing standards. Access and Apollo have, in the aggregate, selected five individuals for appointment to our Supervisory Board.

 

Following the appointment of our initial Supervisory Board and Management Board, the general meeting of shareholders will appoint the member(s) of the Management Board upon the nomination of the Supervisory Board and, subject to the terms of any binding nomination agreements, the members of the Supervisory Board; provided that the Supervisory Board itself shall be entitled to appoint up to one-third of the members of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Dutch law, which appointments shall terminate on the date of the next following general meeting of shareholders.

 

We entered into a binding nomination agreement with each of the selling shareholders pursuant to which we agreed that, following appointment of the initial Supervisory Board, (i) if a selling shareholder, together with its affiliates, owns 18% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares, such shareholder will have the right to nominate three members of the Supervisory Board; (ii) if a selling shareholder, together with its affiliates, owns at least 12% but less than 18% of our outstanding ordinary shares, such shareholder will have the right to nominate two members of the Supervisory Board; and (iii) if a selling shareholder, together with its affiliates, owns at least 5% but less than 12% of our outstanding ordinary shares, such shareholder will have the right to nominate one member of the Supervisory Board. The general meeting of shareholders may render such nomination non-binding by means of a resolution adopted by at least two-thirds of the valid votes cast, representing more than half of the issued capital. We received notice from Ares Management that effective May 12, 2011, its share ownership had fallen below 5%; as a result, Ares’ nomination agreement terminated pursuant to its terms.

 

The general meeting of shareholders may dismiss, or suspend for a period of up to 3 months, a member of the Management Board or the Supervisory Board by a resolution adopted by at least two-thirds of the votes cast in a meeting where at least half of the issued share capital is represented. If the general meeting of shareholders has suspended a member of the Management Board or the Supervisory Board, the general meeting of shareholders shall within three months after the suspension has taken effect resolve either to

dismiss such relevant member, or to terminate or continue the suspension, failing which the suspension shall lapse.

 

The Supervisory Board is divided into three classes, Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3. Class 1 members served a one-year initial term and stood for election at the 2011 Annual General Meeting, Class 2 members will serve a two-year initial term and stand for election at the annual meeting in 2012 and Class 3 members will serve a three-year initial term and stand for election at the annual meeting in 2013. Thereafter, unless the general meeting of shareholders, on the proposal of the Supervisory Board, determines that a member of the Supervisory Board shall be appointed for a longer period, a member of the Supervisory Board will be appointed for a maximum period of three years. There is no limit to the number of times a member of the Supervisory Board can be reappointed. The term of the initial Management Board will be five years; thereafter, a member will be appointed for a maximum period of four years. There is no limit to the number of times a member of the Management Board can be reappointed.

 

Subject to our Articles of Association, the Management Board and Supervisory Board may adopt rules and regulations governing the internal proceedings of each such constituency, including rules relating to voting on nominations of directors, board composition and governance.

 

Issuance of Ordinary Shares/Pre-emptive Rights

 

Our Articles of Association provide that our Supervisory Board has the authority to issue shares within the limits of up to twenty percent of our authorized share capital from time to time, for a period ending April 30, 2015. The designation of the Supervisory Board as being the body competent to issue shares may, by our Articles of Association or by a resolution of the general meeting of shareholders, be extended each time for a period not exceeding five years.

 

Under Dutch law and our Articles of Association, every holder of ordinary shares will have a preemptive right in the proportion that the aggregate amount of his ordinary shares bears to the total amount of shares outstanding. The preemptive right may be restricted or excluded by a resolution of the Supervisory Board for so long as the Supervisory Board is the competent body to issue shares. A holder of ordinary shares will not have a preemptive right to shares which are being issued against contribution other than in cash, to ordinary shares which will be issued to our employees or employees of one of our group companies and to ordinary shares which will be issued as a result of merger or demerger.

 

Conversion of Class B ordinary shares

 

Our Articles of Association provided that at the earlier of (i) the request of the relevant holder of Class B ordinary shares with respect to the number of Class B ordinary shares specified by such holder (ii) acquisition by us of one or more Class B shares or (iii) upon the first date upon which the closing price per share of the Class B ordinary shares exceeds 200% of $10.61 for at least forty-five trading days within a period of sixty consecutive trading days (provided however, that the closing price per share of the Class B ordinary shares must exceed such threshold on both the first and last day of the sixty day period), each such Class B ordinary share will be converted into one Class A ordinary share. Approximately 74.6 million Class B shares were converted at the request of the relevant holders pursuant to the mechanism described in (i), above. At the close of business on December 6, 2010, the conditions in (iii), above, were met, and all of the remaining Class B shares converted into Class A shares.

 

Repurchase of Ordinary Shares

 

The shareholders may delegate to the Management Board the authority, subject to certain restrictions contained in Dutch law and our Articles of Association, to cause us to acquire, for consideration, our own fully paid ordinary shares. Such authorization may not be granted for more than 18 months. In the authorization, the general meeting of shareholders shall determine how many shares or depository receipts thereof may be acquired, the manner in which they may be acquired and between what limits the price for such ordinary shares shall be.

The authorization will not be required for the acquisition of ordinary shares by us in order to transfer these to our employees in accordance with an employee share plan.

 

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in our Articles of Association, even with the authorization by the general meeting of the shareholders, the Management Board may only acquire our ordinary shares if it acquires shares pro rata on the same terms (including price per share).

 

Capital Reduction

 

Upon proposal by the Management Board, following approval from the Supervisory Board, the general meeting of shareholders may reduce our issued share capital by cancellation of ordinary shares held by us, subject to certain statutory provisions. However, if less than one half of the issued share capital is present at the meeting, the general meeting of shareholders may only adopt a resolution for capital reduction with a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes cast.

 

Amendment of Our Articles of Association

 

Our Articles of Association may be amended, on the proposal of the Management Board (which has been approved by the Supervisory Board), by a majority of the votes cast at a general meeting of shareholders; provided that such proposal is stated in the notice for the general meeting and a complete copy of the proposed amendment is filed at our office so that it may be inspected prior to and during the meeting.

 

Description of Certain Provisions of Dutch Law

 

Dutch law provides certain obligations on companies that are domiciled in The Netherlands and whose shares are admitted to trading on a “regulated market,” as well as on certain shareholders of such company. It is possible that the NYSE may qualify as a regulated market, in which case certain statutory Dutch law obligations would apply to us and to certain of our shareholders.

 

Disclosure of Information

 

Yearly and Half-Yearly Information — As a result of the implementation of the EU Directive 2004/109 of 15 December 2004 on the harmonization of transparency requirements in relation to information about issuers whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market (the “Transparency Directive”), if the NYSE is deemed a regulated market, we would be required to make our annual financial report available to the public ultimately four months after the end of each financial year and we should file the annual financial report with the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets, the “AFM”) within five days after it has been adopted by our general meeting of shareholders. The annual financial information consists of the audited annual accounts, the annual report, a description of the main risks and uncertainties facing us and a statement by persons within LyondellBasell Industries N.V. designated by the latter as the “responsible persons,” indicating (i) that the annual accounts give a fair view of the assets and financial position of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and, in the case of consolidated accounts, of the enterprises included in the consolidation and (ii) that the annual report gives a fair view of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s condition on the balance sheet date, the development of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and its affiliated companies during the previous financial year and all material risks to which LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is exposed.

 

We would also need to publish our half-yearly information within two months after the end of the first six months of our financial year. Both the annual and half-yearly financial information must remain publicly available for at least five years.

 

Interim Management Statements — In addition, we would need to publish an interim management statement in both the first and second half of our financial year at least ten weeks after the start, and no more than six weeks before the end, of the relevant half-year period or alternatively would need to publish quarterly financial statements. These interim management statements should include (i) an explanation of material events and transactions affecting LyondellBasell Industries N.V., the undertakings controlled by it and the consequences thereof for the financial position of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and the undertakings

controlled by LyondellBasell Industries N.V.; and (ii) a general description of the financial position of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and the undertakings controlled by it.

 

Changes in the Rights Attached to Our Securities — We would need to make public immediately any changes in the rights attached to our securities (including changes in statutory rights) or to the rights to acquire our securities and send the AFM a copy of such publications.

 

Mandatory Offer Rules

 

Following implementation of the Takeover Directive (2004/25/EC), the applicable Dutch Financial Supervision Act (the “FSA”) and the decrees and regulations promulgated thereunder contain provisions regarding the making of a mandatory public offer. These provisions, the basics of which are outlined below, would be applicable to us if the NYSE would be deemed a “regulated market.”

 

In such case, any person who, solely or acting in concert with others, directly or indirectly, acquires predominant control over a Dutch public limited liability company whose shares (or depositary receipts) are admitted to trading on a regulated market, will be obligated to make a public offer for all shares (and depositary receipts) issued by that company at an equitable price. Predominant control is defined in the FSA as 30% or more of the voting rights in a company’s general meeting of shareholders, generally acquired through 30% of that company’s issued and outstanding shares. A person or group of concert parties that had a controlling interest at the time of the listing of our ordinary shares on the NYSE will be exempt from the obligation to make a mandatory public offer. However, the obligation to make a public offer will apply to such shareholder or group of concert parties if its voting rights decrease below 30% and then again increase to 30% or more. The obligation to make a public offer will expire if the voting rights of the relevant person or group of concert parties decrease below the 30% threshold, either by disposal of shares or otherwise, within 30 days after acquiring control and provided that this shareholder or group of shareholders has not exercised any voting rights on our ordinary shares in this period.

 

Disclosure of Significant Ownership of Ordinary Shares

 

If the NYSE is deemed a regulated market, certain of our shareholders may be subject to notification obligations under the FSA. The following description summarizes those obligations. Shareholders are advised to consult with their own legal advisers to determine whether the notification obligations apply to them.

 

The most important notification requirements for our investors based on the FSA are as follows:

 

 

For the purpose of calculating the percentage of capital interest of voting rights, the following interests must be taken into account: (i) shares (or depositary receipts for shares) directly held (or acquired or disposed of) by any person, (ii) shares (or depositary receipts for shares) held (or acquired or disposed of) by such person’s subsidiaries or by a third party for such person’s account or by a third party with whom such person has concluded an oral or written voting agreement and (iii) shares (or depositary receipts for shares) which such person, or any subsidiary or third party referred to above, may acquire pursuant to any option or other

right held by such person (or acquired or disposed of including, but not limited to, on the basis of convertible bonds). Pursuant to the FSA, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is required to inform the AFM on changes in its share capital.

 

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

 

Considerations Under Section 7874

 

Although we are incorporated in The Netherlands, the IRS may assert that we should be treated as a U.S. corporation (and, therefore, a U.S. tax resident) for U.S. federal income tax purposes under U.S. Tax Code section 7874, which could result in significant U.S. federal income tax liability to us. Alternatively, the IRS may assert that our U.S. subsidiaries are subject to tax on their inversion gain.

 

If, in connection with the Bankruptcy Cases, the former creditors and shareholders of our U.S. Group received at least 80% of our stock by reason of holding claims against, and interests in, the U.S. Group and if our expanded affiliated group did not have substantial business activities in The Netherlands, U.S. Tax Code section 7874 would treat us as a U.S. corporation. Alternatively, we would be treated as a foreign corporation for U.S. federal income taxes, but U.S. tax would be imposed on our U.S. subsidiaries’ inversion gain if, in connection with the Bankruptcy Cases, the former creditors and shareholders of our U.S. Group received at least 60%, but less than 80%, of our stock issued in connection with the Bankruptcy Cases by reason of holding such claims or interests and if our expanded affiliated group did not have substantial business activities in The Netherlands. The 80% and 60% calculations are subject to certain adjustments.

 

We believe that our stock issued or deemed issued in connection with the Bankruptcy Cases that was attributable to the value of our foreign companies that are not directly or indirectly owned by our U.S. Group exceeds 40% of all our stock issued to creditors and shareholders of our U.S. Group. Therefore, we believe that the former creditors and shareholders of our U.S. Group did not receive at least 60% of our stock by reason of such claims and interests, making U.S. Tax Code section 7874 inapplicable to us. In addition, we believe that strong arguments can be made that section 7874 should not apply to us because the expanded affiliated group that includes us should be treated as having substantial business activities in The Netherlands. However, no assurance can be given that the IRS would not take a contrary position regarding section 7874’s application or that such position, if asserted, would not be sustained. The remainder of the discussion below assumes that section 7874 will not apply to us.

 

Taxation of Distributions on Our Ordinary Shares

 

We are seeking approval from our shareholders at our 2011 Annual General Meeting of a dividend of $0.10 per share, to be paid in the second quarter of 2011. U.S. holders of our ordinary shares will generally be taxed with respect to such dividends.

 

Subject to complex limitations, Dutch withholding tax (which, together with the income tax treaty between The Netherlands and the United States, is discussed under “— Dutch Tax Considerations” below) will be treated for U.S. tax purposes as a foreign tax that may be claimed as a foreign tax credit against the U.S. federal income tax liability of a U.S. holder. We expect that the ability of U.S. holders to claim the foreign tax credit with respect to our dividends may be subject to significant limitations. In lieu of claiming a credit, U.S. holders may claim a deduction of foreign taxes paid in the taxable year.

 

Dispositions of Our Ordinary Shares

 

Subject to the discussion below regarding controlled foreign corporations and the passive foreign investment company rules, U.S. holders of our ordinary shares generally should recognize capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our ordinary shares in the same manner as on the sale, exchange or other disposition of any other shares held as capital assets. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for our ordinary shares exceeds one year. Under current law, long-term capital gain of non-corporate shareholders is subject to tax at a maximum rate of 15% (plus the 3.8% Unearned Income Medicare Contribution tax in taxable years

beginning after December 31, 2012, to the extent applicable). There are limitations on the deductibility of capital losses.

 

Controlled Foreign Corporation Considerations

 

Each “10% U.S. shareholder” of a foreign corporation, such as us, that is a controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”) for an uninterrupted period of 30 days or more during a taxable year, and who owns shares in the CFC, directly or indirectly through foreign entities, on the last day of the CFC’s taxable year, must include in its gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes its pro rata share of the CFC’s “subpart F income,” and in some cases certain other income, even if such income is not distributed. A foreign corporation is considered a CFC if 10% U.S. shareholders own (directly, indirectly through foreign entities or by attribution by application of the constructive ownership rules of section 958(b) of the U.S. Tax Code (i.e., “constructively”)) more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of voting stock of such foreign corporation, or more than 50% of the total value of all stock of such corporation on any day during the taxable year of such corporation. The calculations of percentage ownership for purposes of determining whether a shareholder is a 10% U.S. shareholder and for purposes of determining a shareholder’s pro rata share of any subpart F income and certain other income are not the same. In addition, if we were a CFC at any time, certain gain on the disposition of our ordinary shares by a present or former 10% U.S. shareholder may be subject to treatment as a dividend from us and any 10% U.S. shareholders may be subject to additional reporting requirements.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations

 

The treatment of U.S. holders of our ordinary shares in some cases could be materially different from that described above if, at any relevant time, we were a passive foreign investment company (a “PFIC”), unless such holder is a 10% U.S. shareholder and we are a CFC. We believe that we have not been a PFIC in any prior taxable year, and we do not expect to be a PFIC in the current taxable year. In addition, we believe that we will not be a PFIC in future years. However, the tests for determining PFIC status are applied annually, and it is difficult accurately to predict future income and assets relevant to this determination. Accordingly, we cannot assure U.S. holders that we will not become a PFIC.

 

Dutch Tax Considerations

 

We are a public company with limited liability (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated under Dutch law. In general, and unless a reduced rate applies, we must withhold tax (“dividend tax”) at the rate of 15% on dividend distributions with respect to our ordinary shares. Dividends include, without limitation:

 

 

A holder of ordinary shares which is, is deemed to be, or, in case the holder is an individual, has elected to be treated as, resident in The Netherlands for the relevant tax purposes is generally entitled to credit the dividend tax withheld against such holder’s tax liability on income and capital gains or, in certain cases, to apply for a full refund of the dividend tax withheld.

A holder of ordinary shares which is not, is not deemed to be, and, in case the holder is an individual, has not elected to be treated as, resident in The Netherlands for the relevant tax purposes may be eligible for a partial or full exemption or refund of the dividend tax under an income tax convention in effect between The Netherlands and the holder’s country of residence or under the Dutch rules relating to the implementation of the Parent / Subsidiary Directive as the case may be. Moreover, residents benefitting from the participation exemption with respect to our ordinary shares may be eligible for a full exemption of dividend tax.

 

Under the double taxation convention in effect between The Netherlands and the U.S. (the “Treaty”), dividends paid by us to certain U.S. corporate shareholders holding directly at least 10% of the voting power in our company are generally eligible for a reduction of the 15% withholding tax to 5%, unless the ordinary shares held by such shareholders are attributable to a business or part of a business that is, in whole or in part, carried on through a permanent establishment or a permanent representative in The Netherlands. Under certain circumstances and subject to various conditions, the Treaty provides for a full exemption from dividend tax. Dividends received by exempt pension organizations and exempt organizations, as defined in the Treaty, may also be entitled to a full exemption or refund from dividend tax.

 

A holder of ordinary shares other than an individual will not be eligible for the benefits of the Treaty if such holder of ordinary shares does not satisfy one or more of the tests set forth in the limitation on benefits provisions of Article 26 of the Treaty. Moreover, under the terms of domestic anti-dividend stripping rules, a recipient of dividends distributed on our ordinary shares will not be entitled to an exemption from, reduction, refund, or credit of dividend tax if the recipient is not the beneficial owner of such dividends within the meaning of such rules.

 

Generally, any payments of interest and principal by us on debt can be made free of withholding or deduction for any taxes imposed, levied, withheld or assessed by The Netherlands or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.

 

The issuance or transfer of ordinary shares, and payments made with respect to ordinary shares, will not be subject to value added tax in The Netherlands. The subscription, issue, placement, allotment, delivery, transfer or execution of ordinary shares will not be subject to registration tax, capital tax, customs duty, transfer tax, stamp duty, or any other similar tax or duty in The Netherlands.

 

Market Information

 

Our shares were listed on the NYSE on October 14, 2010 under the symbol “LYB.” Prior to that time, they were quoted in the Pink OTC Markets, Inc. (the “Pink Sheets”) under the symbol “LALLF.” There was no trading market for our shares prior to April 30, 2010. The high and low prices for our ordinary shares since they were issued are shown in the table below.

 

 

On May 23, 2011, the closing price, as reported on the NYSE, of our shares was $38.90.

 

Holders

 

As of May 23, 2011, there were approximately 3,700 record holders of our shares, including Cede & Co. as nominee of the Depository Trust Company.

 

Dividends

 

At our 2011 Annual General Meeting, shareholders approved the payment of a dividend of $0.10 per share, to be paid in the second quarter of 2011. The payment of dividends or distributions in the future will be subject to the requirements of Dutch law and the discretion of our shareholders (in the case of annual dividends), our Management Board and Supervisory Board. The declaration of any future cash dividends and, if declared, the amount of any such dividends, will depend upon general business conditions, our financial condition, our earnings and cash flow, our capital requirements, financial covenants and other contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends or distributions.

 

There can be no assurance that any dividends or distributions will be declared or paid in the future.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Our Equity Compensation Plans

 

There are 22 million shares authorized for issuance under the Compensation Plans, as defined below. The shares authorized for issuance under the Compensation Plans include the shares covered by the Emergence Grants, as defined below, as well as shares available for future awards granted pursuant to the Compensation Plans, not to exceed the 22 million.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

As part of the Plan of Reorganization, our 2010 MTI Plan and 2010 LTI Plan (collectively, the “Compensation Plans”) automatically became effective as of the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization. The initial awards to employees and directors (“Emergence Grants”) under the Compensation Plans consisted of an aggregate of (i) approximately $18 million in MTI target awards granted under the 2010 MTI Plan; (ii) stock options and stock appreciation rights in respect of approximately 9 million shares of our ordinary shares granted under the 2010 LTI Plan; and (iii) restricted stock or restricted stock units in respect of approximately 4 million shares granted under the 2010 LTI Plan. The form and terms of all or a portion of the Emergence Grants, including the methodology for allocations of medium-term and long-term awards under the Compensation Plans, were reviewed and authorized by the Remuneration Committee of the Supervisory Board

of LyondellBasell AF and became effective as of the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization without further corporate action.

 

Awards made under the Compensation Plans more than ninety days after the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization are subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of our Supervisory Board, in accordance with the terms of the Compensation Plans.

 

Dutch/U.S. Tax Matters

 

See “Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered — U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “— Dutch Tax Considerations” for a discussion of tax matters under U.S. and Dutch law.

 

Dutch/U.S. Export/Import Matters

 

There are no regulatory restrictions on foreign direct investment in The Netherlands. There are no restrictions on foreign ownership of land, or on repatriation of capital and profits.

 

None.

 

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. was incorporated under Dutch law by deed of incorporation dated October 15, 2009. The Company was formed to serve as the new parent holding company for certain subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF S.C.A. From January 2009 through April 2010, LyondellBasell AF and 93 of its subsidiaries were debtors in jointly administered bankruptcy cases in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. As of April 30, 2010, the date of emergence from bankruptcy proceedings, LyondellBasell AF’s equity interests in its indirect subsidiaries terminated and LyondellBasell Industries N.V. now owns and operates, directly and indirectly, substantially the same business as LyondellBasell AF owned and operated prior to emergence from the bankruptcy cases, including subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF that were not involved in the bankruptcy cases.

 

Our Company is the successor to the combination in December 2007 of Lyondell Chemical Company (“Lyondell Chemical”) and Basell AF S.C.A. (“Basell”), which created one of the world’s largest private petrochemical companies with significant worldwide scale and leading product positions.

 

We are the world’s third largest independent chemical company based on revenues and an industry leader in many of our product lines. We participate in the full petrochemical value chain, from refining to specialized end uses of petrochemical products, and we believe that our vertically integrated facilities, broad product portfolio, manufacturing flexibility, superior technology base and operational excellence allow us to extract value across the full value chain.

 

SEGMENTS

 

As of December 31, 2009, we began reporting our results of operations based on five business segments through which our operations are managed. Our reportable segments include:

 

 

 

The following chart sets out our business segments’ key products:

 

 

 

 

Olefins and Polyolefins Segments Generally

 

We are a top worldwide producer of ethylene, propylene and PE, and the world’s largest producer of PP and PP compounds. We manage our olefin and polyolefin business in two reportable segments, O&P — Americas and O&P — EAI.

 

Ethylene is the most significant petrochemical in terms of worldwide production volume and is the key building block for PE and a large number of other chemicals, plastics and synthetics. The production of ethylene results in co-products such as propylene, butadiene and aromatics, which include benzene and toluene. Ethylene and its co-products are fundamental to many segments of the economy, including the production of consumer products, packaging, housing and automotive components and other durable and nondurable goods.

 

Polyolefins are thermoplastics and comprise approximately two-thirds of worldwide thermoplastics demand. Since their industrial commercialization, thermoplastics have found wide-ranging applications and

continue to replace traditional materials such as metal, glass, paper and wood. Our products are used in consumer, automotive and industrial applications ranging from food and beverage packaging to housewares and construction materials. PE is the most widely used thermoplastic, measured on a production capacity basis. We produce HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE and metallocene linear low density polyethylene. PP is the single largest polyolefin product produced worldwide, and we produce homopolymer, impact copolymer, random copolymer and metallocene PP.

 

We specialize in several specialty product lines: PP compounds; Catalloy process resins; and PB-1, focusing on specialty polyolefins and compounds that offer a wide range of performance characteristics. Typical properties of such specialty polyolefins and compounds include impact-stiffness balance, scratch resistance, soft touch and heat scalability. End uses include automotive and industrial products and materials. PP compounds consist of specialty products produced from blends of polyolefins and additives and are sold mainly to the automotive and home appliances industries.

 

We are the only manufacturer of Catalloy process resins, which are our proprietary products. The Catalloy process resins business focuses on specialty polyolefins that offer a wide range of performance characteristics. Catalloy process resins compete with a number of other materials, such as other PP resins, flexible PVC, ethylene propylene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”), polycarbonate, metals and reinforced polyurethanes.

 

Sales of ethylene accounted for approximately 3% of our total revenues in 2010. Sales of PP accounted for approximately 18% of our total revenues in 2010. Sales of PE (HDPE, LDPE and LLDPE, collectively) accounted for 16% of our total revenues in 2010.

 

Olefins and Polyolefins — Americas Segment

 

Overview

 

Our O&P — Americas segment produces and markets olefins, polyolefins, aromatics, specialty products and ethylene co-products. We are the largest producer of light olefins (ethylene and propylene) and PP and the third largest producer of PE in North America. In addition, we produce significant quantities of specialty products. In 2010, our O&P — Americas segment generated operating revenues of $9.2 billion (excluding inter-segment revenue).

 

The following table outlines:

 

 

 

 

 

See “Description of Properties” for the locations where we produce the primary products of our O&P — Americas segment. Annual processing capacity as of December 31, 2010 was calculated by estimating the average number of days in a typical year that a production unit of a plant is expected to operate, after allowing for downtime for regular maintenance, and multiplying that number by an amount equal to the unit’s optimal daily output based on the design raw material mix. Because the processing capacity of a production unit is an estimated amount, actual production volumes may be more or less than the capacities set forth below. Capacities shown include 100% of the capacity of joint venture facilities.

 

Olefins and Polyolefins — Europe, Asia, International Segment

 

Overview

 

Our O&P — EAI segment produces and markets olefins (ethylene and ethylene co-products) and polyolefins. We are the largest producer of PP and PE in Europe and the largest worldwide producer of PP compounds. We also produce significant quantities of other specialty products such as Catalloy process resins and PB-1. Our O&P — EAI segment manages our worldwide PP compound business (including our facilities in North and South America), our worldwide PB-1 business, and our Catalloy process resins produced in Europe and Asia. We have eight joint ventures located principally in regions with access to low cost feedstocks or access to growing markets. In 2010, our O&P — EAI segment generated operating revenues of $12.5 billion (excluding inter-segment revenue).

We currently produce ethylene, propylene and co-products at three sites in Europe and one joint venture site in the Middle East. Butadiene is an important co-product of this production. We produce polyolefins (PP and PE) at 19 facilities in the EAI region, including 10 facilities located in Europe, four facilities located in East Asia, three facilities located in the Middle East and two facilities located in Australia. Our joint ventures own one of the facilities in Europe, four of the facilities in East Asia and three in the Middle East.

 

PP compounds consist of specialty products produced from blends of polyolefins and additives and are sold mainly to the automotive and white goods industries. We manufacture PP compounds at 15 facilities worldwide (a number of which are the same facilities as the polyolefin facilities described above), consisting of four facilities in Europe, five facilities in East Asia, three in North America, two in South America and one facility in Australia.

 

We produce Catalloy process resins at two sites in the EAI region, including one in The Netherlands and one in Italy. The process is proprietary technology that is not licensed to third parties, and as a result, we are the only manufacturer of Catalloy process resins.

 

We produce PB-1 at one facility in Europe. We believe that we are the largest worldwide producer of PB-1, a family of flexible, strong and durable butene-based polymers. A majority of the current PB-1 we produce is used in pipe applications and for under-floor heating and thermo sanitary systems. PB-1 is being developed to target new opportunities in applications such as “easy-open” packaging (seal-peel film), construction, fibers and fabrics, compounds, adhesives and coatings.

 

The following table outlines:

 

 

 

 

 

 

See “Description of Properties” for the locations where we produce the primary products of our O&P — EAI segment. Annual processing capacity as of December 31, 2010 was calculated by estimating the average number of days in a typical year that a production unit of a plant is expected to operate, after allowing for downtime for regular maintenance, and multiplying that number by an amount equal to the unit’s optimal daily output based on the design raw material mix. Because the processing capacity of a production unit is an estimated amount, actual production volumes may be more or less than the capacities set forth below. Capacities shown include 100% of the capacity of joint venture facilities.

 

Intermediates and Derivatives Segment

 

Overview

 

Our I&D segment produces and markets PO and its co-products and derivatives; acetyls; and ethylene oxide and its derivatives. PO co-products include SM and C₄ chemicals (TBA, oxyfuels (which is managed in the Refining & Oxyfuels segment), isobutylene and TBHP). PO derivatives include PG, PGE and BDO. We believe that our proprietary PO and acetyls production process technologies provide us with a cost advantaged position for these products and their derivatives. In 2010, our I&D segment generated $5.5 billion of revenues (excluding inter-segment revenue).

 

We produce PO through two distinct technologies based on indirect oxidation processes that yield co-products. One process yields TBA as the co-product; the other process yields SM as the co-product. The two technologies are mutually exclusive, necessitating that a manufacturing facility be dedicated either to PO/TBA or to PO/SM. Isobutylene and TBHP are derivatives of TBA. MTBE and ETBE are derivatives of isobutylene and are gasoline blending components reported in our Refining & Oxyfuels segment. PG, PGE and BDO are derivatives of PO. PG collectively refers to mono-propylene glycol (“MPG”), which is PG meeting U.S. pharmacopeia standards, and several grades of dipropylene glycol (“DPG”) and tri-propylene glycol (“TPG”).

 

The following table outlines:

 

 

 

 

 

 

See “Description of Properties” for the locations where we produce the primary products of our I&D segment. Annual processing capacity as of December 31, 2010 was calculated by estimating the average number of days in a typical year that a production unit of a plant is expected to operate, after allowing for downtime for regular maintenance, and multiplying that number by an amount equal to the unit’s optimal daily output based on the design raw material mix. Because the processing capacity of a production unit is an estimated amount, actual production volumes may be more or less than the capacities set forth below. Except as indicated, capacities shown include 100% of the capacity of joint venture facilities.

 

Refining & Oxyfuels Segment

 

Overview

 

Our Refining & Oxyfuels segment refines heavy, high-sulfur crude oil in the U.S. Gulf Coast, refines light and medium weight crude oil in southern France and produces gasoline blending components at several of our olefin and PO units. In 2010, our Refining & Oxyfuels segment generated operating revenues of $13.5 billion (excluding inter-segment revenue).

 

The Houston Refinery, which is located on the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, has a heavy, high-sulfur crude oil processing capacity of approximately 268,000 barrels per day on a calendar day basis (normal operating basis), or approximately 292,000 barrels per day on a stream day basis (maximum achievable over a 24 hour period). The Houston Refinery has a Nelson Complexity Index of 11.4. The Houston Refinery is a full conversion refinery designed to refine heavy, high-sulfur crude oil. This crude oil is more viscous and dense than traditional crude oil and contains higher concentrations of sulfur and heavy metals, making it more difficult to refine into gasoline and other high-value fuel products. However, this crude oil has historically been less costly to purchase than light, low-sulfur crude oil. Processing heavy, high-sulfur crude oil in significant quantities requires a refinery with extensive coking, catalytic cracking, hydrotreating and desulfurization capabilities, i.e., a “complex refinery.” The Houston Refinery’s refined fuel products include gasoline (including blendstocks for oxygenate blending), jet fuel and ultra low sulfur diesel. The Houston Refinery’s products also include heating oil, lube oils (industrial lubricants, white oils and process oils), carbon black oil, refinery-grade propylene, petrochemical raw materials, sulfur, residual fuel and petroleum coke.

 

The Berre Refinery is designed to run light to medium sulfur crude oil and has a current capacity of approximately 105,000 barrels per day. It produces naphtha, vacuum gas oil, liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, aviation fuel, diesel, bitumen and heating oil. The Berre Refinery provides raw material and site integration for our operations in France and supports our polyolefin business in Europe. The Berre Refinery also provides us with access to significant logistics assets, including pipeline access, storage terminals and harbor access to the Mediterranean Sea. The Berre Refinery has a Nelson Complexity Index of 6.7.

 

The Refining & Oxyfuels segment also includes gasoline blending components such as MTBE, ETBE and alkylate. MTBE and ETBE are produced as co-products of the PO and olefin production process at four sites located in the United States, France and The Netherlands. In 2009, we converted one of our MTBE units at Channelview, Texas to ETBE production. We currently have three sites that can produce either MTBE or ETBE with a combined capacity to produce 59,000 barrels per day of MTBE or ETBE; the Company’s total capacity for MTBE or ETBE production is 75,000 barrels per day. Alkylate is produced at one facility located in Texas.

The following table outlines:

 

 

See “Description of Properties” for the locations where we produce the primary products of our Refining & Oxyfuels segment.

 

 

 

 

Technology Segment

 

Overview

 

Our Technology segment develops and licenses polyolefin and other process technologies and provides associated engineering and other services. Our Technology segment further develops, manufactures and sells polyolefin catalysts. We market our process technologies and our polyolefin catalysts to external customers and also use them in our own manufacturing operations. In 2010, our Technology segment generated operating revenues of $395 million (excluding inter-segment revenue).

 

Our polyolefin process licenses are structured to provide a standard core technology, with individual customer needs met by adding customized modules that provide the required capabilities to produce the defined production grade slate and plant capacity. For licenses involving proven technologies, we typically receive the majority of our license fees in cash at or before the date of customer acceptance rather than ongoing royalties. For these licenses, we generally recognize revenue upon delivery of the process design package and the related license. Each license agreement includes long-term confidentiality provisions to protect the technology. In addition to the basic license agreement, a range of services can also be provided,

including project assistance; training; start-up assistance of the plant; and supply of resins from our production for pre-marketing by the licensee. We may also offer marketing and sales services. In addition, licensees generally continue to purchase polyolefin catalysts that are consumed in the production process, generally under long-term catalyst supply agreements with us.

 

Process Technology Licensing

 

We are a leading licensor of polyolefin process technologies.

 

Our PP licensing portfolio includes our Spheripol and Spherizone process technologies as well as Metocene technology.

 

Our PE process licensing portfolio comprises the Lupotech T (high pressure tubular process for producing LDPE), the Lupotech A (autoclave process mainly for producing ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers), Hostalen (slurry process for producing multimodal HDPE), and Spherilene (gas phase process for producing full-density range of LLDPE to HDPE) processes.

 

In addition, we license a selective portfolio of chemical process technologies in the fields of olefin recovery, olefin conversion, aromatics extraction and acetyls.

 

Since 2000, we have sold licenses representing approximately 25 million tons of polyolefin capacity, which represents about 40% of worldwide installed capacity. In 2010, we entered into licensing agreements representing about one million tons of polyolefin capacity. Process licenses accounted for less than 10% of our total revenues in 2010.

 

Our Technology segment also provides technology services to our licensees. Such services include safety reviews, training and start-up assistance, engineering services for process and product improvements and manufacturing troubleshooting.

 

PP Process Technology

 

We license several PP process technologies, including Spheripol, Spherizone and Metocene.

 

Our Spheripol technology produces homopolymers and random copolymers in a single stage and impact copolymers in a multi-stage process. We believe that the Spheripol process is the most widely used PP production process in the world.

 

The Spherizone process, our newest technology, commercialized in 2002 and introduced for licensing in 2004, is able to produce higher quality PP, novel PP-based polyolefinic resins, and a wider product grade range than existing processes at similar operating cost. The Spherizone process introduces a single reactor concept, in which bimodality is created within one single reactor operating at different conditions between the different zones inside the reactor. The final product is a result of an intimate mixing of the different property determining phases at a “macro molecular” level.

 

Metocene PP technology was introduced for licensing in 2006. This add-on technology for the production of specialty PP products is based on using single-site catalyst systems. Metocene technology can be adapted to virtually any PP process, and its versatility expands the end use product range of conventional PP. In 2009, Polymirae became the first licensee to commence commercial production of Metocene.

 

PE Processes Technology

 

The different families of PE (HDPE, LDPE and LLDPE) require specialized process technologies for production, which are available through our broad PE process licensing portfolio. The portfolio includes Lupotech, Spherilene and Hostalen process technologies.

 

Lupotech T is a high pressure, tubular reactor process for the production of LDPE. This high pressure technology does not use a catalyst system typical for low pressure processes, but rather peroxide initiators to polymerize ethylene and optionally VAM for EVA-copolymers. By adjusting the temperature profile along the reactor and adding different peroxide mixtures, process conditions are modified to produce the desired

products. The process produces the entire melt flow ratio and density range with competitive investment costs and low utilities and raw material demand.

 

Lupotech A is a high pressure autoclave process using peroxide mixture for polymerization and is mainly utilized for specialty LDPE and for the production of EVA copolymers with high VAM content.

 

Spherilene is a flexible gas-phase process for the production of the entire density range of PE products from LLDPE and MDPE to HDPE. The flexibility of this technology, which is demonstrated by a broad portfolio of grades, enables licensees to effectively manage the continuously dynamic PE markets at low investments costs and very low operating costs.

 

Hostalen is a low-pressure slurry process technology for the production of high-performance multimodal HDPE grades. This is desirable because a different product structure can be produced in each stage of the polymerization process, yielding products that are tailored for demanding processing requirements and sophisticated end use applications such as film, blow molding and pipe applications.

 

Chemical Process Technologies

 

We also offer for licensing a selective number of chemical processes, including the group of Trans4m processes, Aromatics extractions, Glacido and Vacido technology.

 

The Trans4m portfolio of process technologies offers tailored solutions for C4 and higher olefin recovery and conversion. These processes include separation, purification and skeletal isomerization of the C4 and C5 olefin streams for the selective conversion of low-value, mixed olefin streams from crackers to isobutylene, isoamylenes, butadiene, isoprene, piperylene and Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD). This group of processes is complemented by Aromatics extractions technology, which enables LyondellBasell to offer a comprehensive portfolio of processes to upgrade all olefinic streams from steam crackers to higher value products.

 

Glacido is a process technology for manufacturing of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol. It utilizes a Rhodium-based homogeneous catalyst system. Vacido is a fixed-bed tubular process for the production of high-quality VAM, from acetic acid and ethylene. It utilizes a proprietary heterogeneous catalyst system.

 

Superflex technology produces propylene and ethylene, and is based on a fluidized catalytic reactor. The process technology is used for cracking less refined feedstock such as coker or fluid catalytic cracking unit light gasoline as well as mixed C4 to C9 streams.

 

Polyolefin Catalysts

 

Under the Avant brand, we are a leading manufacturer and supplier of polyolefin catalysts. Polyolefin catalysts accounted for less than 10% of our total revenues in 2010. As a large polyolefin producer, approximately 30% of catalyst sales are inter-company. Polyolefin catalysts are packaged and shipped via road, sea or air to our customers.

 

We produce catalysts at two facilities in Germany, one facility in Italy and one facility in the U.S. Our polyolefin catalysts, which are consumed during the polyolefin production process and define the processing and mechanical properties of polyolefins, provide enhanced performance for our process technologies and are being developed to enhance performance when used in third-party process technologies. We also supply catalysts for producing sophisticated PEs.

 

Customers using polyolefin catalysts must make continual purchases, because they are consumed during the polyolefin production process. New licensees generally elect to enter into long-term catalyst supply agreements.

 

Research and Development

 

Our research and development activities are designed to improve our existing products and discover and commercialize new materials, catalysts and processes. These activities focus on product and application development, process development, catalyst development and fundamental polyolefin focused research.

We have four research and development facilities, each with a specific focus. Our facility in Frankfurt, Germany focuses on PE and metallocene catalysts. Our facility in Ferrara, Italy focuses on PP, PB-1, PP compounds and Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Our facility in Cincinnati, Ohio focuses on polyolefin product and application development in North America. Our center in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania develops chemical catalysts and technologies.

 

Our financial performance and market position depend in substantial part on our ability to improve our existing products and discover and commercialize new materials, catalysts and processes. Our research and development is organized by core competence communities that manage and provide resources for projects, intellectual property and catalyst manufacturing. These include:

 

 

• We have core research and development projects that focus on initiatives in line with our strategic direction. These projects are closely aligned with our businesses and customers with a goal of commercialization of identified opportunities. Core projects currently include research and development in areas such as:

 

 

As of December 31, 2010, approximately 915 of our employees are directly engaged in research and development activities.

 

In addition to our research and development activities, we provide technical support to our customers. Our technical support centers are located in Bayreuth, Germany; Geelong, Australia; Lansing, Michigan; and Tarragona, Spain.

 

In 2010, 2009 and 2008, our research and development expenditures were $154 million, $145 million and $194 million, respectively. A portion of these expenses are related to technical support and customer service and are allocated primarily to the segments.

 

Our principal manufacturing facilities as of December 31, 2010 are set forth below, and are identified by the principal segment or segments using the facility. The facilities are wholly owned, except as otherwise noted below.

 

 

 

 

Other Locations and Properties

 

Our corporate seat is located in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. We have administrative offices in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and Houston, Texas. We maintain research facilities in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania; Lansing, Michigan; Cincinnati, Ohio; Ferrara, Italy and Frankfurt, Germany. Our Asia Pacific headquarters are located in Hong Kong. We also have technical support centers in Bayreuth, Germany; Geelong, Australia; Lansing, Michigan and Tarragona, Spain. We have various sales facilities worldwide.

 

Depending on location and market needs, our production facilities can receive primary raw materials by pipeline, rail car, truck, barge or ocean going vessel and can deliver finished products by pipeline, rail car, truck, barge, isotank, ocean going vessel or in drums. We charter ocean going vessels, own and charter barges, and lease isotanks and own and lease rail cars for the dedicated movement of products between plants,

products to customers or terminals, or raw materials to plants, as necessary. We also have barge docking facilities and related terminal equipment for loading and unloading raw materials and products.

 

We use extensive pipeline systems in the United States and in Europe, some of which we own and some of which we lease, that connect to our manufacturing and storage facilities. We lease liquid and bulk storage and warehouse facilities at terminals in the Americas, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. We own storage capacity for NGLs, ethylene, propylene and other hydrocarbons within a salt dome in Mont Belvieu, Texas, and operate additional ethylene and propylene storage facilities with related brine facilities on leased property in Markham, Texas.

 

The following selected financial data of the Company and its predecessor, LyondellBasell AF, should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto and “— Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which are incorporated herein by reference. The selected financial data of the Company and the Predecessor were derived from their consolidated financial statements. Those financial statements were prepared from the books and records of LyondellBasell AF for periods through April 30, 2010 and of the Company upon emergence from bankruptcy after that date. As discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, we became the successor parent holding company of the subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF and the reporting entity upon completion of the bankruptcy proceedings. Financial information is reported for the Company as the successor on a basis different from financial information of the predecessor, LyondellBasell AF. As a result of the application of fresh-start accounting and restructuring activities pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization, the Successor period is not comparable to the Predecessor period.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ownership of Existing Equity Securities

 

As of May 23, 2011, we had 568,304,928 shares issued and outstanding, not including shares issuable pursuant to equity awards granted under our equity compensation plans. Each ordinary share carries one vote in LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s general meeting of shareholders and is entitled to any dividends declared.

 

As of May 23, 2011, we had warrants to purchase 8,835,170 shares issued and outstanding. The warrants have an exercise price of $15.90 per share. The warrants have anti-dilution protection for in-kind stock dividends, stock splits, stock combinations and similar transactions and may be exercised at any time during the period beginning on April 30, 2010 and ending at the close of business on the seventh anniversary of the issue date. Upon an affiliate change of control, the holders of the warrants may sell to LyondellBasell Industries N.V. the warrants at a price equal to, as applicable, the in-the-money value of the warrants or the Black Scholes value of the warrants.

 

The following table indicates information, to our knowledge, including based on filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as of May 23, 2011 regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares by:

 

 

Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of the security, or “investment power,” which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of the security. The rules also treat as outstanding all shares of capital stock that a person would receive upon exercise of stock options or warrants held by that person, which are immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the determination date. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which that person has no economic interest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Gallogly was issued 1,771,794 shares of restricted stock upon our emergence from bankruptcy. Additionally, Mr. Gallogly was granted options to purchase an aggregate of 5,639,020 ordinary shares at an exercise price of $17.61 per share; 2,255,608 of the options have vested, of which 2,161,625 are still held by Mr. Gallogly and are reflected in the table. The restricted shares vest in full five years from the date of Mr. Gallogly’s employment agreement of May 14, 2009 and the options vest in equal annual increments over the same five-year period, and expire April 30, 2017.

 

Unless otherwise noted, the address for each person listed on the table is c/o LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Weena 737, 3013AM, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

 

Executive Officers

 

The table below sets out the names of the members of our management and their positions as of May 23, 2011.

 

 

Boards of Directors

 

Our Articles of Association state that our Supervisory Board will consist of at least nine members. The selling shareholders each entered into a binding nomination agreement with LyondellBasell Industries N.V. pursuant to which LyondellBasell Industries N.V. has agreed that, following appointment of the initial Supervisory Board, (i) if a selling shareholder, together with its affiliates, owns 18% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares, such shareholder will have the right to nominate three members of the Supervisory Board; (ii) if a selling shareholder, together with its affiliates, owns at least 12% but less than 18% of our outstanding ordinary shares, such shareholder will have the right to nominate two members of the Supervisory Board; and (iii) if a selling shareholder, together with its affiliates, owns at least 5% but less than 12% of our outstanding ordinary shares, such shareholder will have the right to nominate one member of the Supervisory Board. The size of the Supervisory Board may be increased from time to time to the extent necessary to ensure that a majority of the members are independent in accordance with the NYSE standard for independence after giving effect to the foregoing. In May 2011, we were notified that the Ares Recordholders’ holdings fell below 5% and, as a result, their nomination agreement terminated pursuant to its terms.

 

Apollo nominated Joshua J. Harris, Scott M. Kleinman and Marvin O. Schlanger; Access Industries nominated Stephen F. Cooper and Robin Buchanan and ACOF III (on behalf of itself and the other Ares Recordholders) nominated Jeffrey S. Serota to serve on the Supervisory Board pursuant to the agreements. On May 18, 2011, Mr. Serota resigned from the Supervisory Board.

 

Each of the members of our Supervisory Board will serve in accordance with applicable Dutch law, the internal rules of the Supervisory Board, applicable corporate governance principles and our articles of association (as amended from time to time, our “Articles of Association”). The Supervisory Board, in

consultation with the Management Board, will determine the overall strategy and policy of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and the LyondellBasell group of companies. The Management Board will be responsible for the execution of such strategy and policy, as well as the management of our day-to-day operations. The Management Board will submit proposals for the overall strategy and policy to the Supervisory Board for its approval. In addition, certain Management Board actions, including extraordinary transactions, will require the approval of the Supervisory Board and the general meeting of shareholders. The Chief Executive Officer initially will be the sole member of the initial Management Board. The Management Board may delegate certain tasks to the Chief Executive Officer and certain other officers of the LyondellBasell group of companies, but the Management Board will remain responsible for the proper performance of the delegated tasks.

 

Members of Boards of Directors

 

Supervisory Board.  The table below sets out the names of the current members of the Supervisory Board and their business experience.

 

 

Management Board.  Our Chief Executive Officer, James L. Gallogly, was appointed as the sole member of the Management Board effective April 30, 2010.

 

The address of each member of the Supervisory Board and the Management Board is c/o LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Weena 737, 3013AM, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

 

The validity of the ordinary shares offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Clifford Chance LLP.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of (i) the Predecessor of LyondellBasell N.V. and (ii) LyondellBasell N.V. incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports (which contain an explanatory paragraph relating to the Company’s emergence from bankruptcy and adoption of fresh start accounting as described in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

 

The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with the sale of ordinary shares being registered. We will pay all these expenses.

 

 

 

 

 

Assumed Indemnification Obligations

 

We assumed certain indemnification obligations for any person who served as a director or officer of any of the Debtors in the Bankruptcy Cases during the period beginning January 6, 2009, subject to certain exceptions. All of our current executive officers and most of our officers will be indemnified pursuant to this assumption under the Plan of Reorganization. Furthermore, pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization, to the extent that indemnification claims relate to acts or omissions prior to the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases, any individual covered by the assumed indemnification obligations must first demonstrate that he or she has taken all reasonable actions to obtain payment under any applicable insurance policies, and that the insurers under the policies have disclaimed coverage or have informed such individual that the available limits of liability under the applicable policies have been exhausted. We will only be required to make a payment under the assumed indemnification obligations after the insurance policy has been exhausted or is not otherwise available. With respect to acts or omissions after the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases and prior to the Emergence Date, an insurance policy took effect on December 20, 2007 which covers such acts or omissions.

 

New Indemnification Arrangements

 

Article 26 of Chapter XI of our Articles of Association contains mandatory indemnification provisions for our current and former directors and officers as described generally below.

 

We are obligated to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that he (or a person or entity for whom he) is or was a member of our Management Board or a member of our Supervisory Board or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company or a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans. Our indemnification obligation applies to all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees)

reasonably incurred, except that our indemnification does not apply in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the person is adjudged to be liable for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his duty to us, unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action suit or proceeding was brought or any other court having appropriate jurisdiction determines otherwise.

 

Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending a proceeding may be paid by us in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding upon a resolution of our Management Board which will have been approved by our Supervisory Board with respect to the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the member of our Management Board, member of our Supervisory Board, director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by us.

 

We have entered into indemnification agreements with our current directors and will enter into similar agreements with executive officers and certain officers and employees of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. We believe that these indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as our directors and executive officers and as officers and employees of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. The SEC has noted, however, that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

 

We maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage.

 

 

On April 30, 2010, the date of the emergence from bankruptcy proceedings, we:

 

 

On April 23, 2010, the Bankruptcy Court entered a final order that the offering, issuance, and distribution of any securities contemplated by the Plan of Reorganization, including the issuances described above and the issuance of shares upon exercise of the warrants, shall be exempt from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act and any other applicable law requiring registration or qualification prior to the offering, issuance, distribution, or sale of securities. An aggregate of 2,524,262 shares have been issued upon exercise of warrants.

 

Additionally, up to 22,000,000 shares are authorized for issuance to employees and directors of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and its subsidiaries pursuant to our incentive plan. Pursuant to LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan, and effective as of April 30, 2010, we issued Mr. Gallogly 1,771,794 shares of restricted stock. The restricted shares vest on the fifth anniversary of the date of Mr. Gallogly’s employment agreement of May 14, 2009. We have issued an additional 2,073,402 restricted stock units to certain senior level employees and members of the Supervisory Board. The employee restricted stock units vest, subject to earlier forfeiture, on the fifth anniversary of the date of grant. Each of the directors’ restricted stock unit awards vest on June 30 in the year of the expiration of his term as a director, which is 2011, 2012 or 2013. All of these issuances were compensatory in nature and made without cost to the employees or directors.

 

Effective April 30, 2010, we issued Mr. Gallogly options to purchase 5,639,020 at an exercise price of $17.61 per share. The options vest in equal increments over the five year period beginning May 14, 2009. We have issued additional options to purchase up to 3,090,939 shares to certain senior level employees at exercise prices ranging from $16.45 to $42.69 per share. These stock options vest in three equal annual increments, beginning on the second anniversary of the date of grant. The grants of the stock options were compensatory in nature and made without cost to the employees.

The grants of the restricted stock units and the stock options were made from time to time between April 30 and December 31, 2010.

 

These grants were made in reliance on Section 4(2) and Rule 701 of the Securities Act related to securities issued not involving a public offering and pursuant to certain compensatory benefit plans and contracts or are deemed to not be sales of securities under Section 2 of the Securities Act.

 

 

(a) Financial Statements.  Our financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 and the years 2010, 2009 and 2008, including the report of our independent registered public accounting firm, are incorporated herein by reference to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 as filed on May 6, 2011 and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed on March 18, 2011.

 

(b) Exhibits.  The following are furnished as exhibits hereto: