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Commitments and contingent liabilities | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and contingent liabilities | Commitments and contingent liabilities Operating leases: The Company uses various leased facilities and equipment in its operations. The lease terms for these leased assets vary depending on the terms of the applicable lease agreement. At December 31, 2016, the Company had no residual value guarantees related to its operating leases. Future minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2016 under noncancellable operating leases are as follows:
| Future Lease Payments
| (Dollars in thousands)
2017 | $ | 29,546 |
2018 | 23,224 |
2019 | 20,349 |
2020 | 16,887 |
2021 | 14,318 |
2022 and thereafter | 36,664 |
Rental expense under operating leases was $34.0 million, $34.6 million and $29.4 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Environmental: The Company is subject to contingencies as a result of environmental laws and regulations that in the future may require the Company to take further action to correct the effects on the environment of prior disposal practices or releases of chemical or petroleum substances by the Company or other parties. Much of this liability results from the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, often referred to as Superfund, the U. S. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and similar state laws. These laws require the Company to undertake certain investigative and remedial activities at sites where the Company conducts or once conducted operations or at sites where Company-generated waste was disposed. Remediation activities vary substantially in duration and cost from site to site. The nature of these activities, and their associated costs, depend on the mix of unique site characteristics, evolving remediation technologies, the regulatory agencies involved and their enforcement policies, as well as the presence or absence of other potentially responsible parties. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company has recorded $1.1 million and $1.2 million, respectively, in accrued liabilities and $5.8 million and $6.1 million, respectively, in other liabilities relating to these matters, in each case discounted to consider the time value of money. Considerable uncertainty exists with respect to these liabilities and, if adverse changes in circumstances occur, potential liability may exceed the amount accrued as of December 31, 2016. The time frame over which the accrued amounts may be paid out, based on past history, is estimated to be 15-20 years. Litigation: The Company is a party to various lawsuits and claims arising in the normal course of business. These lawsuits and claims include actions involving product liability, intellectual property, employment, environmental and other matters. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company has recorded accrued liabilities of $2.5 million in connection with such contingencies, representing its best estimate of the cost within the range of estimated possible losses that will be incurred to resolve these matters. Of the amounts accrued as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, $1.6 million and $1.5 million, respectively, pertain to discontinued operations. In 2006, the Company was named as a defendant in a wrongful death product liability lawsuit filed in the Louisiana State District Court for the Parish of Calcasieu, involving a product manufactured by the Company’s former marine business. In September 2014, the case was tried before a jury, which returned a verdict in favor of the Company. The plaintiff subsequently filed a motion for a new trial, which was granted, and the case was re-tried before a jury in December 2014. On December 5, 2014, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $0.1 million in compensatory damages and $23.0 million in punitive damages, plus pre- and post-judgment interest on the compensatory damages and post-judgment interest on the punitive damages. The Company's post-trial motions seeking to overturn the verdict or reduce the amount of damages were denied in June 2015. The Company filed an appeal with the Louisiana Court of Appeal, and the plaintiff filed a cross-appeal, seeking to overturn the trial court’s denial of pre-judgment interest on the punitive damages award. On June 29, 2016, the Louisiana Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court verdict in all respects. The Company filed a motion for rehearing with the Louisiana Court of Appeal, which was denied on August 3, 2016. The Company and the plaintiff filed applications for a writ of certiorari (a request for review) to the Louisiana Supreme Court. On January 13, 2017, the Louisiana Supreme Court granted the Company's writ application. A date for oral arguments has not yet been set. As of December 31, 2016, the Company has accrued a liability representing its best estimate of any probable loss associated with this matter, which is included in the Company’s accrued liabilities for litigation matters relating to discontinued operations discussed in the preceding paragraph. The Company believes that any liability arising from this matter that is not covered by the Company's product liability insurance will not exceed $10.0 million. Based on information currently available, advice of counsel, established reserves and other resources, the Company does not believe that the outcome of any outstanding litigation and claims is likely to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to its business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. However, in the event of unexpected further developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of these matters, or other similar matters, if unfavorable, may be materially adverse to the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Legal costs such as outside counsel fees and expenses are charged to selling, general and administrative expenses in the period incurred. Tax audits and examinations: The Company and its subsidiaries are routinely subject to tax examinations by various tax authorities. As of December 31, 2016, the most significant tax examination in process is in Canada. The Company may establish reserves with respect to uncertain tax positions, after which it adjusts the reserves to address developments with respect to its uncertain tax positions, including developments in this examination. Accordingly, developments in tax audits and examinations, including resolution of uncertain tax positions, could result in increases or decreases to the Company’s recorded tax liabilities, which could impact the Company’s financial results. Other: The Company has various purchase commitments for materials, supplies and items of permanent investment incident to the ordinary conduct of business. On average, such commitments are not at prices in excess of current market prices.

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