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SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES ​ Principles of Consolidation ​ The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all subsidiaries in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. Investments in companies, joint ventures or partnerships in which the Company does not have control but has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial decisions, are reported using the equity method of accounting. The cost method of accounting is used in circumstances where the Company does not significantly influence the investee, and the investment has no readily determinable fair value. International subsidiaries are included in the financial statements on the basis of their U.S. GAAP November 30 fiscal year ends to facilitate the timely inclusion of such entities in the Company’s consolidated financial reporting. All intercompany transactions and profits are eliminated in consolidation. ​ Use of Estimates ​ The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The Company’s critical accounting estimates include revenue recognition, valuation allowances and accrued liabilities, actuarially determined liabilities, restructuring, income taxes, long-lived assets, intangible assets and goodwill. ​ In March 2020, coronavirus 2019 (“COVID-19”) was declared a pandemic (“pandemic”) by the World Health Organization. As the impact of the pandemic continues to evolve, estimates and assumptions about future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty and therefore require judgment. These estimates and assumptions may change in future periods and will be recognized in the consolidated financial information as new events occur and additional information becomes known. To the extent actual results differ materially from those estimates and assumptions, the Company’s future financial statements could be affected. ​ Foreign Currency Translation ​ Financial position and reported results of operations of the Company’s non-U.S. dollar functional currency international subsidiaries are measured using local currencies as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities of these operations are translated at the exchange rates in effect at each fiscal year end. The translation adjustments related to assets and liabilities that arise from changes in exchange rates from period to period are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in shareholders’ equity. Income statement accounts are translated at average rates of exchange prevailing during the year. As discussed in Note 19 Operating Segments and Geographic Information, the Company evaluates its international operations based on fixed rates of exchange; however, changes in exchange rates from period to period impact the amount of reported income from consolidated operations. ​ Concentration of Credit Risk ​ Credit risk represents the accounting loss that would be recognized at the reporting date if counterparties failed to perform as contracted. The Company believes the likelihood of incurring material losses due to concentration of credit risk is minimal. The principal financial instruments subject to credit risk are as follows: ​ Cash and Cash Equivalents - The Company maintains cash deposits with major banks, which from time to time may exceed insured limits. The possibility of loss related to financial condition of major banks has been deemed minimal. Additionally, the Company’s investment policy limits exposure to concentrations of credit risk and changes in market conditions. ​ Accounts Receivable - A large number of customers in diverse industries and geographies, as well as the practice of establishing reasonable credit lines, limits credit risk. Based on historical trends and experiences, the allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate to cover expected credit risk losses. ​ Foreign Currency and Interest Rate Contracts and Derivatives - Exposure to credit risk is limited by internal policies and active monitoring of counterparty risks. In addition, the Company uses a diversified group of major international banks and financial institutions as counterparties. The Company does not anticipate nonperformance by any of these counterparties. ​ Cash and Cash Equivalents ​ Cash equivalents include highly-liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased. ​ Restricted Cash ​ Cash and cash equivalents that are restricted as to withdrawal or use under the terms of certain contractual agreements are recorded in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and primarily relate to acquisition activities. ​ Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts ​ Accounts receivable are carried at the invoiced amounts, less an allowance for doubtful accounts, and generally do not bear interest. The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts estimates the amount of expected future credit losses by analyzing accounts receivable balances by age and applying historical write-off and collection experience. The Company’s estimates separately considered macroeconomic trends and specific circumstances and credit conditions of customer receivables. Account balances are written off against the allowance when it is determined the receivable will not be recovered. ​ The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts balance also includes an allowance for the expected return of products shipped and credits related to pricing or quantities shipped of $16 million, $17 million and $16 million as of December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Returns and credit activity is recorded directly as a reduction to revenue. ​ The following table summarizes the activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts: ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
(millions) | ​ | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Beginning balance | ​ | ​ | $55.5 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $52.4 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $64.8
Adoption of new standard | ​ | ​ | 4.3 | ​ | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | ​ | -
Bad debt expense (a) | ​ |  | 57.7 | ​ | ​ |  | 21.5 | ​ | ​ |  | 13.7
Write-offs | ​ |  | (31.6) | ​ | ​ |  | (19.1) | ​ | ​ |  | (19.7)
Other (b) | ​ |  | (1.6) | ​ | ​ |  | 0.7 | ​ | ​ |  | (6.4)
Ending balance | ​ | ​ | $84.3 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $55.5 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $52.4
​
(a) | B ad debt expense in 2020 reflects the impact of deteriorations and increased uncertainty in the macroeconomic outlook, primarily the Institutional customer base, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(b) | Other amounts are primarily the effects of changes in currency translations and the impact of allowance for returns and credits.
​ Inventory Valuations ​ Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Certain U.S. inventory costs are determined on a last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) basis. LIFO inventories represented 26% and 33% of consolidated inventories as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. All other inventory costs are determined using either the average cost or first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) methods. Inventory values at FIFO, as shown in Note 6, approximate replacement cost. ​ Property, Plant and Equipment ​ Property, plant and equipment assets are stated at cost. Merchandising and customer equipment consists principally of various dispensing systems for the Company’s cleaning and sanitizing products, warewashing machines and process control and monitoring equipment. Certain dispensing systems capitalized by the Company are accounted for on a mass asset basis, whereby equipment is capitalized and depreciated as a group and written off when fully depreciated. The Company capitalizes both internal and external costs to develop or purchase computer software. Costs incurred for data conversion, training and maintenance associated with capitalized software are expensed as incurred. Expenditures for major renewals and improvements, which significantly extend the useful lives of existing plant and equipment, are capitalized and depreciated. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Upon retirement or disposition of plant and equipment, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is recognized in income. ​ Depreciation is charged to operations using the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives ranging from 5 to 40 years for buildings and leasehold improvements, 3 to 20 years for machinery and equipment, 3 to 20 years for merchandising and customer equipment and 3 to 7 years for capitalized software. The straight-line method of depreciation reflects an appropriate allocation of the cost of the assets to earnings in proportion to the amount of economic benefits obtained by the Company in each reporting period. Depreciation expense was $594 million, $569 million and $536 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. ​ Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets ​ Goodwill ​ Goodwill arises from the Company’s acquisitions and represents the amount of purchase consideration exchanged, at fair value, in excess of the fair value of acquired net assets. The Company’s reporting units are its operating segments. The Company assesses goodwill for impairment on an annual basis during the second quarter. If circumstances change or events occur that demonstrate it is more likely than not that the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company completes an interim goodwill assessment of that reporting unit prior to the next annual assessment. If the results of a goodwill assessment demonstrate the carrying amount of a reporting unit is greater than its fair value, the Company will recognize an impairment loss for the amount by which the reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, but not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill assigned to that reporting unit. ​ During the second quarter of 2020, the Company completed its annual goodwill impairment assessment for each of its eleven reporting units using discounted cash flow analyses that incorporated assumptions regarding future growth rates, terminal values, and discount rates. The Company’s goodwill impairment assessment for 2020 indicated the estimated fair values of each of its reporting units exceeded their respective carrying amounts by significant margins. Additionally, no events noted during the second half of 2020 indicated a need to update any of the Company’s analyses or conclusions reached in the second quarter of 2020 for any of its eleven reporting units. There has been no impairment of goodwill in any of the periods presented. ​ The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for each of the Company’s reportable segments are as follows: ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | Global | ​ | Global | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | Global | ​ | Institutional | ​ | Healthcare & | ​ | Global | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
(millions) |  | Industrial |  | & Specialty |  | Life Sciences | ​ | Energy | ​ | Other |  | Total | ​ |
December 31, 2018 | ​ | ​ | $2,730.8 | ​ | ​ | $1,015.3 | ​ | ​ | $- | ​ | ​ | $1,442.7 | ​ | ​ | $205.3 | ​ | ​ | $5,394.1 | ​ | ​
Segment change (a) | ​ | ​ | 1,230.8 | ​ | ​ | (597.5) | ​ | ​ | 775.3 | ​ | ​ | (1,442.7) | ​ | ​ | 34.1 | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​
December 31, 2018 revised | ​ | ​ | $3,961.6 | ​ | ​ | $417.8 | ​ | ​ | $775.3 | ​ | ​ | $- | ​ | ​ | $239.4 | ​ | ​ | $5,394.1 | ​ | ​
Current year business combinations (b) | ​ |  | - | ​ | ​ | 135.3 | ​ | ​ | 99.0 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | 0.7 | ​ | ​ | 235.0 | ​ | ​
Prior year business combinations (c) | ​ | ​ | (0.2) | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | (0.2) | ​ | ​
Effect of foreign currency translation | ​ |  | (37.7) | ​ | ​ | (4.9) | ​ | ​ | (14.9) | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | (2.3) | ​ | ​ | (59.8) | ​ | ​
December 31, 2019 | ​ | ​ | $3,923.7 | ​ | ​ | $548.2 | ​ | ​ | $859.4 | ​ | ​ | $- | ​ | ​ | $237.8 | ​ | ​ | $5,569.1 | ​ | ​
Current year business combinations (b) | ​ | ​ | 275.7 | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | 275.7 | ​ | ​
Prior year business combinations (c) | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | 0.6 | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | 0.6 | ​ | ​
Dispositions | ​ | ​ | (47.6) | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | (47.6) | ​ | ​
Effect of foreign currency translation | ​ | ​ | 136.1 | ​ | ​ | 15.9 | ​ | ​ | 49.8 | ​ | ​ | - | ​ | ​ | 7.3 | ​ | ​ | 209.1 | ​ | ​
December 31, 2020 | ​ | ​ | $4,287.9 | ​ | ​ | $564.1 | ​ | ​ | $909.8 | ​ | ​ | $- | ​ | ​ | $245.1 | ​ | ​ | $6,006.9 | ​ | ​
​
(a) | Relates to reclassifications made as a result of changes in reportable segments during the first quarter of 2020. The ChampionX business was previously recorded in the Global Energy reportable segment and has been reported as discontinued operations. The goodwill that was previously assigned to the Global Energy reportable segment, which was also an operating segment and reporting unit, was reassigned to ChampionX and the Downstream operating segment, which both became separate reporting units during the first quarter of 2020, based on a relative fair value allocation. The Downstream operating segment is now aggregated into the Global Industrial reportable segment. In addition, the Company established the Global Healthcare & Life Sciences reportable segment during the first quarter of 2020 which is comprised of the Healthcare and Life Sciences operating segments, which were previously included in the Global Institutional and Global Industrial reportable segments, respectively. These were, and continue to be reporting units, therefore goodwill did not need to be reassigned as a result of the changes in segments. The Company also renamed the Global Institutional reportable segment to the Global Institutional & Specialty reportable segment. Refer to Note 19 for further information.
(b) | For 2020, the goodwill related to businesses acquired is not tax deductible. For 2019, $49.4 of the goodwill related to businesses acquired is expected to be tax deductible.
(c) | Represents purchase price allocation adjustments for acquisitions deemed preliminary as of the end of the prior year.
​ Other Intangible Assets ​ The Nalco trade name is the Company’s only indefinite life intangible asset. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company completed its annual impairment assessment of the Nalco trade name using the relief from royalty discounted cash flow method, which incorporates assumptions regarding future sales projections, royalty rates and discount rates. Based on this testing, the estimated fair value of the Nalco trade name exceeded its carrying amount by a significant margin; therefore, no adjustment to the $1.2 billion carrying amount of the Nalco trade name was necessary. Additionally, no events during the second half of 2020 indicated a need to update the Company’s conclusions reached during the second quarter of 2020. There has been no impairment of the Nalco trade name intangible asset since it was acquired. ​ The Company’s intangible assets subject to amortization include customer relationships, trademarks, patents and other technology primarily acquired through business combinations. The fair value of intangible assets acquired in business combinations is estimated primarily using discounted cash flow methods at the time of acquisition. Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated lives. The weighted-average useful life of amortizable intangible assets was 14 years as of both December 31, 2020 and 2019. ​ The weighted-average useful life by type of amortizable asset at December 31, 2020 is as follows: ​ (years)
​ | ​ | ​
Customer relationships |  | 14
Trademarks |  | 14
Patents |  | 15
Other technology |  | 7
​ The straight-line method of amortization reflects an appropriate allocation of the cost of the intangible assets to earnings in proportion to the amount of economic benefits obtained by the Company in each reporting period. The Company evaluates the remaining useful life of its intangible assets subject to amortization each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a change to the estimated remaining period of amortization. If the estimate of an intangible asset’s remaining useful life is changed, the remaining carrying amount of the intangible asset will be amortized prospectively over the revised remaining useful life. Total amortization expense related to other intangible assets during the last three years and future estimated amortization is as follows: ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​
(millions) | ​ | ​ | ​
2018 | ​ | $ 193 | ​
2019 |  | 206 | ​
2020 |  | 219 |
2021 |  | 223 | ​
2022 |  | 219 | ​
2023 |  | 214 | ​
2024 |  | 207 | ​
2025 |  | 200 | ​
​ Long-Lived Assets ​ The Company reviews its long-lived and amortizable intangible assets for impairment when significant events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets, or asset group to which it is assigned, may not be recoverable. Such circumstances may include a significant decrease in the market price of an asset or asset group, a significant adverse change in the manner in which the asset or asset group is being used or history of operating or cash flow losses associated with the use of an asset or asset group. Impairment losses could occur when the carrying amount of an asset or asset group exceeds the anticipated future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset or asset group and its eventual disposition. The amount of the impairment loss to be recorded, if any, is calculated by the excess of the asset’s or asset group’s carrying value over its fair value. ​ In addition, the Company periodically reassesses the estimated remaining useful lives of its long-lived assets. Changes to estimated useful lives would impact the amount of depreciation and amortization recorded in earnings. The Company has not experienced significant changes in the carrying amount or estimated remaining useful lives of its long-lived or amortizable intangible assets. ​ Rental and Leases ​ Change in Accounting Principle ​ The Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842 Leases prospectively on January 1, 2019. The adoption changed the manner in which the Company accounts for leases. The accounting policy and Note 14 have been revised for the change on a prospective basis. ​ Lessee ​ The Company determines whether a lease exists at the inception of the arrangement. In assessing whether a contract is or contains a lease, the Company evaluates whether the arrangement conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The Company accounts for lease components separately from the nonlease components (e.g., common-area maintenance costs). Operating leases are recorded in operating lease assets, other current liabilities and operating lease liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. ​ Operating lease assets and operating lease liabilities are measured and recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. The Company uses the rate implicit in the lease when available or determinable. When the rate implicit in the lease is not determinable, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date to determine the present value of future payments. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease payments are not included in the lease liability and are recognized as incurred. The Company identified real estate, vehicles and other equipment as the primary classes of leases. Certain leases with a similar class of underlying assets are accounted for as a portfolio of leases. ​ The Company does not record operating lease assets or liabilities for leases with terms of twelve months or less. Those lease payments will continue to be recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Income on a straight-line basis over the lease term. ​ Many of the Company’s leases include options to renew or cancel, which are at the Company’s sole discretion. Renewal terms can extend the lease term from one month to multiple years. The lease start date is when the asset is available for use and in possession of the Company. The lease end date, which includes any options to renew or cancel that are reasonably certain to be exercised, is based on the terms of the contract. The depreciable life of assets and leasehold improvements are limited by the expected lease term, unless there is a transfer of title or purchase option reasonably certain of exercise. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material restrictive covenants. ​ Lessor ​ The Company accounts for lease and nonlease components separately. The nonlease components, such as product and service revenue, are accounted for under Topic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, refer to Note 18 for more information. Revenue from leasing equipment is recognized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease. Cost of sales includes the depreciation expense for assets under operating leases. The assets are depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Initial lease terms range from one year to five years and most leases include renewal options. ​ Lease contracts convey the right for the customer to control the equipment for a period of time as defined by the contract. There are no options for the customer to purchase the equipment and therefore the equipment remains the property of the Company at the end of the lease term. See Note 14 for additional information regarding rental and leases. ​ ​ Income Taxes ​ Income taxes are recognized during the period in which transactions enter into the determination of financial statement income, with deferred income taxes provided for the tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets when uncertainty regarding their realizability exists. Relevant factors in determining the realizability of deferred tax assets include historical results, sources of future taxable income, the expected timing of the reversal of temporary differences, tax planning strategies and the expiration dates of the various tax attributes. The Company records liabilities for income tax uncertainties in accordance with the U.S. GAAP recognition and measurement criteria guidance. The Company recognize interest and penalties related to income tax uncertainties in our income tax provision. ​ On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was enacted, which reduced the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, requires companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred and creates new taxes on certain foreign sourced earnings. The Tax Act added many new provisions including changes to bonus depreciation, the deduction for executive compensation and interest expense, a tax on global intangible low taxed income (‘GILTI”), the base erosion anti abuse tax (‘BEAT”) and a deduction for foreign derived intangible income (‘FDII”). The Company has elected the period cost method and considers the estimated GILTI impact in tax expense beginning in 2018. See Note 13 for additional information regarding income taxes. ​ Share-Based Compensation ​ The Company measures compensation expense for share-based awards at fair value at the date of grant and recognizes compensation expense over the service period for awards expected to vest. The majority of grants to retirement eligible recipients (age 55 with required years of service) are recorded to expense using the non-substantive vesting method and are fully expensed over a six-month period following the date of grant. In addition, the Company includes a forfeiture estimate in the amount of compensation expense being recognized based on an estimate of the number of outstanding awards expected to vest. ​ All excess tax benefits or deficiencies are recognized as discrete income tax items on the Consolidated Statement of Income. The extent of excess tax benefits is subject to variation in stock price and stock option exercises. See Note 12 for additional information regarding equity compensation plans. ​ Restructuring Activities ​ The Company’s restructuring activities are associated with plans to enhance its efficiency, effectiveness and sharpen its competitiveness. These restructuring plans include net costs associated with significant actions involving employee-related severance charges, contract termination costs and asset write-downs and disposals. Employee termination costs are largely based on policies and severance plans, and include personnel reductions and related costs for severance, benefits and outplacement services. These charges are reflected in the quarter in which the actions are probable and the amounts are estimable, which typically is when management approves the associated actions. Contract termination costs include charges to terminate leases prior to the end of their respective terms and other contract termination costs. Asset write-downs and disposals include leasehold improvement write-downs, other asset write-downs associated with combining operations and disposal of assets. See Note 3 for additional information regarding restructuring activities. ​ Revenue Recognition ​ Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration expected to be received in exchange for transferring goods or providing service. ​ Product and Sold Equipment ​ Revenue from product and sold equipment is recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with the customer are satisfied, which generally occurs with the transfer of the product or delivery of the equipment. ​ Service and Lease Equipment ​ Revenue from service and leased equipment is recognized when the services are provided, or the customer receives the benefit from the leased equipment, which is over time. Service revenue is recognized over time utilizing an input method and aligns with when the services are provided. Typically, revenue is recognized using costs incurred to date because the effort provided by the field selling and service organization represents services provided, which corresponds with the transfer of control. Revenue for leased equipment is accounted for under Topic 842 Leases and recognized on a straight-line basis over the length of the lease contract. ​ ​ Other Considerations ​ Contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the consideration is allocated between products and services based on their stand-alone selling prices. Stand-alone selling prices are generally based on the prices charged to customers or using an expected cost plus margin. Judgment is used in determining the amount of service that is embedded within the Company’s contracts, which is based on the amount of time spent on the performance obligation activities. The level of effort, including the estimated margin that would be charged, is used to determine the amount of service revenue. Depending on the terms of the contract, the Company may defer the recognition of revenue when a future performance obligation has not yet occurred. ​ Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on, and concurrent with, a specific revenue-producing transaction, which are collected by the Company from a customer, are excluded from revenue. Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight are recognized in cost of sales when control over the product has transferred to the customer. ​ Other estimates used in recognizing revenue include allocating variable consideration to customer programs and incentive offerings, including pricing arrangements, promotions and other volume-based incentives at the time the sale is recorded. These estimates are based primarily on historical experience and anticipated performance over the contract period. Based on the certainty in estimating these amounts, they are included in the transaction price of the contracts and the associated remaining performance obligations. The Company recognizes revenue when collection of the consideration expected to be received in exchange for transferring goods or providing services is probable. ​ The Company’s revenue policies do not provide for general rights of return. Estimates used in recognizing revenue include the delay between the time that products are shipped and when they are received by customers, when title transfers and the amount of credit memos issued in subsequent periods. Depending on market conditions, the Company may increase customer incentive offerings, which could reduce gross profit margins over the term of the incentive. ​ Earnings Per Common Share ​ The difference in the weighted average common shares outstanding for calculating basic and diluted earnings attributable to Ecolab per common share is a result of the dilution associated with the Company’s equity compensation plans. As noted in the table below, certain stock options and units outstanding under these equity compensation plans were not included in the computation of diluted earnings attributable to Ecolab per common share because they would not have had a dilutive effect. ​ The computations of the basic and diluted earnings attributable to Ecolab per share amounts were as follows:
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
(millions, except per share) | ​ | 2020 | ​ | 2019 | ​ | 2018
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Ecolab | ​ | ​ | $967.4 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $1,425.6 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $1,250.3
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations | ​ | ​ | (2,172.5) | ​ | ​ | ​ | 133.3 | ​ | ​ | ​ | 178.8
Net (loss) income attributable to Ecolab | ​ | ​ | ($1,205.1) | ​ | ​ | ​ | $1,558.9 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $1,429.1
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Weighted-average common shares outstanding | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Basic |  |  | 287.0 | ​ | ​ |  | 288.1 | ​ | ​ |  | 288.6
Effect of dilutive stock options and units |  |  | 3.3 | ​ | ​ |  | 4.4 | ​ | ​ | ​ | 4.2
Diluted |  |  | 290.3 | ​ | ​ |  | 292.5 | ​ | ​ |  | 292.8
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Earnings (loss) attributable to Ecolab per common share | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Basic EPS | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Continuing operations | ​ | ​ | $ 3.37 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $ 4.95 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $ 4.33
Discontinued operations | ​ | ​ | ($ 7.57) | ​ | ​ | ​ | $ 0.46 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $ 0.62
Earnings (loss) attributable to Ecolab | ​ | ​ | ($ 4.20) | ​ | ​ | ​ | $ 5.41 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $ 4.95
Diluted EPS | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Continuing operations | ​ | ​ | $ 3.33 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $ 4.87 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $ 4.27
Discontinued operations | ​ | ​ | ($ 7.48) | ​ | ​ | ​ | $ 0.46 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $ 0.61
Earnings (loss) attributable to Ecolab | ​ | ​ | ($ 4.15) | ​ | ​ | ​ | $ 5.33 | ​ | ​ | ​ | $ 4.88
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from the computation of diluted EPS |  |  | 1.9 | ​ | ​ |  | 1.1 | ​ | ​ |  | 2.9
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Amounts do not necessarily sum due to rounding. | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
​ Assets Held for Sale ​ Assets and liabilities are classified as held for sale and presented separately on the balance sheet when all of the following criteria for a plan of sale have been met: (1) management, having the authority to approve the action, commits to a plan to sell the assets; (2) the assets are available for immediate sale, in their present condition, subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of such assets; (3) an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell the assets have been initiated; (4) the sale of the assets is probable and is expected to be completed within one year; (5) the assets are being actively marketed for a price that is reasonable in relation to their current fair value; and (6) actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or the plan will be withdrawn. The ChampionX business met the criteria to be held for sale immediately prior to the Separation. The ChampionX business was previously recorded in the Global Energy reportable segment, which became the Upstream Energy reportable segment beginning in 2020 and subsequently has been reported in discontinued operations. The assets and liabilities held for sale are recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as current assets of discontinued operations, long-term assets of discontinued operations, current liabilities of discontinued operations and long-term liabilities of discontinued operations, respectively. ​ Discontinued Operations ​ Discontinued operations comprise those activities that were disposed of during the period or which were classified as held for sale at the end of the period and represent a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results. The ChampionX business met the criteria to be reported as discontinued operations because it was a strategic shift in business that had a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results. The ChampionX business is presented on the Consolidated Statement of Income as discontinued operations. Refer to Note 5, Discontinued Operations, for additional information. ​ Other Significant Accounting Policies ​ The following table includes a reference to additional significant accounting policies that are described in other notes to the financial statements, including the note number: ​
​ | ​ | ​
Policy | ​ | Note
Fair value measurements |  | 8
Derivatives and hedging transactions |  | 9
Share-based compensation |  | 12
Research and development expenditures | ​ | 15
Legal contingencies |  | 16
Pension and post-retirement benefit plans | ​ | 17
Reportable segments | ​ | 19
​ ​ New Accounting Pronouncements ​
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Standards that are not yet adopted: | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
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​ | ​ | Date of | ​ | ​ | ​ | Date of | ​ | Effect on the | ​
Standard |  | Issuance | ​ | Description |  | Adoption |  | Financial Statements | ​
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ASU 2019-12 - Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes | ​ | December 2019 | ​ | Simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The new standard also simplifies the accounting for franchise taxes and enacted changes in tax laws or rates and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the basis of goodwill. | ​ | January 1, 2021 | ​ | The adoption of this standard will not have a significant impact on the Company's financial statements. | ​
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ASU 2020-04 - Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting | ​ | March 2020 | ​ | LIBOR, a widely used reference rate for pricing financial products is scheduled to be discontinued on December 31, 2021. This standard provides optional expedients and exceptions if certain criteria are met when accounting for contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. | ​ | Application of guidance is optional until December 31, 2022 and varies based on expedient elected. | ​ | The Company has not elected any expedients to date and is currently evaluating any potential future impacts on the Company's financial statements. | ​
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Standards that were adopted: | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
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ASU 2018-15 - Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force) | ​ | August 2018 | ​ | Aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). The amendments require an entity (customer) in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset related to the service contract and which costs to expense. | ​ | January 1, 2020 | ​ | The Company adopted the prospective transition method. Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.
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ASU 2018-14 - Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans | ​ | August 2018 | ​ | Modifies disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. This includes, but is not limited to, the removal of the requirement to disclose the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year, and the addition of a requirement to disclose the weighted-average interest crediting rates for cash balance plans and other plans with promised interest crediting rates. | ​ | January 1, 2020 | ​ | Adoption of the standard did not impact the Company's consolidated balance sheet or income statement. Annual disclosure requirements have been updated to align with the new standard, and changes in disclosure was not material.
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ASU 2017-04 - Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment | ​ | January 2017 | ​ | Simplifies subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. | ​ | January 1, 2020 | ​ | The new standard changes the manner of how goodwill impairment losses are measured when the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. Adoption of this standard impacted the financial statements to the extent the carrying amount of any of the Company's reporting units exceeds their fair values during future goodwill assessments.
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Credit Losses ASUs: ASU 2019-11 - Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses ASU 2019-05 - Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief ASU 2018-19 - Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses ASU 2016-13 - Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ​ |  | Various |  | Addresses the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of credit losses on trade and reinsurance receivables, loans, debt securities, net investments in leases, off-balance-sheet credit exposures and certain other instruments. Amends guidance on reporting credit losses from an incurred model to an expected model for assets held at amortized cost, such as accounts receivable, loans and held-to-maturity debt securities. Additional disclosures will also be required. | ​ | January 1, 2020 |  | The Company adopted the standard for expected credit losses using the modified retrospective approach. The effects of adoption were reflected as a $4.3 million reduction to retained earnings as of January 1, 2020 and did not materially impact the Company's consolidated balance sheet, income statement or cash flows.
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No other new accounting pronouncement issued or effective has had or is expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. ​ ​

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