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Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Accounting Policies | Note 2. Accounting Policies Basis of preparation: The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America on a going concern basis and include all subsidiaries of the Company where the Company has a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany accounts and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation. All acquisitions and disposals are accounted for in accordance with GAAP. The results of operations of an acquired or disposed business are included or excluded from the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition or disposal. Use of estimates: The preparation of the consolidated financial statements, in accordance with GAAP in the United States of America, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash equivalents: Investment securities with maturities of three months or less when purchased are considered to be cash equivalents. Short-term investments: Investment securities with maturities of more than 3 months and less than 12 months when purchased are considered to be short-term investments. Trade and other accounts receivable: The Company records trade and other accounts receivable at net realizable value and maintains allowances for customers not making required payments. The Company determines the adequacy of allowances by periodically evaluating each customer receivable considering our customer’s financial condition, credit history and current economic conditions. Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (FIFO method) or market value. Cost includes materials, labor and an appropriate proportion of plant overheads. The Company accrues volume discounts where it is probable that the required volume will be attained and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The discounts are recorded as a reduction in the cost of materials based on projected purchases over the period of the agreement. Inventories are adjusted for estimated obsolescence and written down to market value based on estimates of future demand and market conditions. Property, plant and equipment: Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method and is allocated between cost of goods sold and operating expenses. The cost of additions and improvements are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expenses. When assets are sold or retired the associated cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the consolidated financial statements and any related gain or loss is included in earnings. The estimated useful lives of the major classes of depreciable assets are as follows:
Buildings |  |  | 7 to 25 years |
Equipment |  |  | 3 to 10 years |
Goodwill and other intangible assets: Goodwill and other intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized but are subject to at least annual impairment assessments. Initially we perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a segment is less than the carrying amount prior to performing the two-step goodwill impairment test. If a two-step test is required we assess the fair value based on projected post-tax cash flows discounted at the Company’s weighted average cost of capital. The annual measurement date for impairment assessment of the goodwill relating to the Fuel Specialties, Performance Chemicals and Oilfield Services segments is December 31 each year. The Company capitalizes software development costs, including licenses, subsequent to the establishment of technological feasibility. Other intangible assets deemed to have finite lives, including software development costs and licenses, are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives and tested for any potential impairment when events occur or circumstances change which suggest that an impairment may have occurred. Deferred finance costs: The costs relating to debt financing are capitalized, offset against long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets and amortized using the effective interest method over the expected life of the debt financing facility. The offsetting of deferred finance costs against long-term debt is a requirement of a recently issued accounting standard and has resulted in the re-statement of the prior year comparatives, see note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Impairment of long-lived assets: The Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets, including buildings and equipment, whenever changes in circumstances suggest that the carrying values may be impaired. In order to facilitate this test the Company groups together assets at the lowest possible level for which cash flow information is available. Undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the assets are compared with the carrying value of the assets and if they are lower an impairment loss may be recognized. The amount of the impairment loss is the difference between the fair value and the carrying value of the assets. Fair values are determined using post-tax cash flows discounted at the Company’s weighted average cost of capital. Derivative instruments: From time to time, the Company uses various derivative instruments including forward currency contracts, options, interest rate swaps and commodity swaps to manage certain exposures. These instruments are entered into under the Company’s corporate risk management policy to minimize exposure and are not for speculative trading purposes. The Company recognizes all derivatives as either non-current assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet and measures those instruments at fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are not designated as hedges, or do not meet the requirements for hedge accounting, are recognized in earnings. Derivatives which are designated as hedges are tested for effectiveness on a quarterly basis, and marked to market. The ineffective portion of the derivative’s change in value is recognized in earnings. The effective portion is recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. Environmental compliance and remediation: Environmental compliance costs include ongoing maintenance, monitoring and similar costs. We recognize environmental liabilities when they are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated, and asset retirement obligations when there is a legal obligation and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Such accruals are adjusted as further information develops or circumstances change. Costs of future obligations are discounted to their present values using the Company’s historic credit-adjusted risk-free rate. Acquisition-related contingent consideration: Contingent consideration payable in cash is discounted to its fair value at each balance sheet date. Where contingent consideration is dependent upon pre-determined financial targets, an estimate of the fair value of the likely consideration payable is made at each balance sheet date. Adjustments to the fair value of contingent consideration are recognized in operating income in the reporting period and within the associated liability at the balance sheet date to reflect the passage of time accretion expense and any revisions to the amount or timing of the initial measurement. Revenue recognition: The Company supplies products to customers from its various manufacturing sites and in some instances from containers held on customer sites, under a variety of standard shipping terms and conditions. In each case revenue is recognized when legal title, which is defined and generally accepted in the standard terms and conditions, and the risk of loss transfers between the Company and the customer. Provisions for sales discounts and rebates to customers are based upon the terms of sales contracts and are recorded in the same period as the related sales as a deduction from revenue. The Company estimates the provision for sales discounts and rebates based on the terms of each agreement at the time of delivery. Components of net sales: All amounts billed to customers relating to shipping and handling are classified as net sales. Shipping and handling costs incurred by the Company are classified as cost of goods sold. Components of cost of goods sold: Cost of goods sold is comprised of raw material costs including inbound freight, duty and non-recoverable taxes, inbound handling costs associated with the receipt of raw materials, packaging materials, manufacturing costs including labor costs, maintenance and utility costs, plant and engineering overheads, amortization expense for certain other intangible assets, warehousing and outbound shipping costs and handling costs. Inventory losses and provisions and the costs of customer claims are also recognized in the cost of goods line item. Components of selling, general and administrative expenses: Selling expenses comprise the costs of the direct sales force, and the sales management and customer service departments required to support them. It also comprises commission charges, the costs of sales conferences and trade shows, the cost of advertising and promotions, amortization expense for certain other intangible assets, and the cost of bad and doubtful debts. General and administrative expenses comprise the cost of support functions including accounting, human resources, information technology and the cost of group functions including corporate management, finance, tax, treasury, investor relations and legal departments. Provision of management’s best estimate of legal and settlement costs for litigation in which the Company is involved is made and reported in the administrative expense line item. Research and development expenses: Research, development and testing costs are expensed to the income statement as incurred. Earnings per share: Basic earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share includes the effect of options that are dilutive and outstanding during the period. Foreign currencies: The Company’s policy is that foreign exchange differences arising on the translation of the balance sheets of entities that have functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar are taken to a separate equity reserve, the cumulative translation adjustment. In entities where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency no gains or losses on translation occur, and gains or losses on monetary assets relating to currencies other than the U.S. dollar are taken to the income statement in other net income/(expense). Gains and losses on intercompany foreign currency loans which are long-term in nature, which the Company does not intend to settle in the foreseeable future, are also recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Other foreign exchange gains or losses are also included in other net income/(expense) in the income statement. Stock-based compensation plans: The Company accounts for employee stock options and stock equivalent units under the fair value method. Stock options are fair valued at the grant date and the fair value is recognized straight-line over the vesting period of the option. Stock equivalent units are fair valued at each balance sheet date and the fair value is spread over the remaining vesting period of the unit. Pension plans and other post-employment benefits: The Company recognizes the funded status of defined benefit post-retirement plans on the consolidated balance sheets and changes in the funded status in comprehensive income. The measurement date of the plan’s funded status is the same as the Company’s fiscal year-end. The service costs are recognized as employees render the services necessary to earn the post-employment benefits. Prior service costs and credits and actuarial gains and losses are amortized over the average remaining life expectancy of the inactive participants using the corridor method. Income taxes: The Company provides for income taxes by recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the relevant tax bases of the assets and liabilities. Then the Company evaluates the need for a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount more likely than not to be realized. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company recognizes the tax benefit from a tax position only if it is more likely than not the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon settlement. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits as part of income taxes in our consolidated statements of income.

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