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Business Restructuring
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Restructuring And Related Activities [Abstract]  
Business Restructuring

22. Business Restructuring

2019 Restructuring

In 2019, the Company restructured its Specialty Products office in the Netherlands and eliminated select positions from the site’s supply chain, quality control and research and development areas. This restructuring was designed to better align the number of personnel with current business requirements and reduce costs at the site.  As a result, severance and early lease termination expenses of $554,000 and $122,000, respectively, were recognized during the year ended December 31, 2019.

2018 Restructuring

During the third quarter of 2018, the Company approved a plan to shut down surfactants operations at its German plant site.  As of December 31, 2020, an aggregate of $2,392,000 shut down related expense had been recognized at the site.  This aggregate expense is comprised of $1,404,000 of asset and spare part write downs recognized in 2018 and $988,000 of cumulative decommissioning costs. The Company recognized $79,000 and $909,000 in decommissioning expenses in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

2017 Restructuring

During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company approved a plan to restructure a portion of its Fieldsboro, New Jersey production facility. This facility is a part of the Surfactant reportable segment. This decision was made to improve future asset utilization and reduce the North American cost base going forward.  As a result, in 2017 the Company recorded $915,000 of restructuring expenses which reflected termination benefits for select plant employees and $1,290,000 of accelerated depreciation for the impacted manufacturing assets.  In the first quarter of 2019, the Company recognized a $251,000 favorable adjustment to the amount of termination benefits initially recorded. 

2016 Restructuring

In May 2016, the Company announced plans to shut down its Long Mills, Ontario, Canada (Longford Mills) manufacturing facility, a part of the Surfactant reportable segment, by December 31, 2016.  The shutdown plan was implemented to improve the Company’s asset utilization in North America and to reduce the Company’s fixed cost base.  Manufacturing operations at the Longford Mills plant ceased by the end of 2016, and production of goods manufactured at the facility was transferred to other Company North American production sites. Decommissioning of the assets is expected to continue throughout 2021. As of December 31, 2020, $8,617,000 of aggregate restructuring expense had been recognized, reflecting $1,644,000 of termination benefits for approximately 30 employees and $6,973,000 for other expenses, principally site decommissioning costs. The Company recognized $1,133,000, $1,410,000 and $1,185,000 in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.