11. Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases - We lease certain PP&E under non-cancelable operating leases. Future minimum payments on operating leases associated with our continuing operations with initial or remaining terms of one year or more at December 31, 2017, are as follows:

	Operating Leases
2018	$	7,148
2019		6,119
2020		2,825
2021		1,565
2022		1,259
Thereafter		2,291
Total minimum lease payments	$	21,207

Expenses associated with our operating lease agreements, including month-to-month leases, were $9,813,000 in 2017, $9,933,000 in 2016, and $9,845,000 in 2015. Renewal options are available under certain of the lease agreements for various periods at approximately the existing annual rental amounts.

Purchase and Sales Commitments – We have the following significant purchase and sales commitments.

Covestro agreement – El Dorado Nitrogen LLC (“EDN”) and EDC, are party to an agreement (the “Covestro Agreement”) with Covestro. EDN operates the Baytown Facility located within Covestro’s chemical manufacturing complex located in Baytown, Texas. Under the terms of the Covestro Agreement, Covestro purchases from EDN all of Covestro’s requirements for nitric acid for use in Covestro’s chemical manufacturing complex that provides a pass-through of certain costs plus a profit. In addition, EDN is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the Baytown Facility. If there is a change in control of EDN, Covestro has the right to terminate the Covestro Agreement upon payment of certain fees to EDN. The Covestro Agreement expires in June 2021, with options for renewal.

UAN supply agreement – The Pryor Chemical Company (“PCC”) is party to an agreement with Coffeyville Resources Nitrogen Fertilizers, LLC (“CVR”). CVR has the exclusive right (but not the obligation) to purchase all the tons of UAN that are produced by PCC with certain limitations. If CVR fails to take delivery of certain tons, PCC pursuant to the terms of the agreement may immediately sell such unpurchased product to a third-party without restriction. The initial term of the agreement expires in May 2019, but includes automatic renewals for one or more additional one-year terms unless terminated by either party by delivering a notice of termination at least twelve months prior to the end of term in effect. However, CVR may unilaterally terminate the agreement upon 180 days’ advance written notice of termination to PCC; provided, however, that each party’s rights and obligations pertaining to UAN that CVR committed to purchase before such advance notice will survive termination. Additionally, PCC can terminate the CVR Purchase Agreement upon 90 days’ advance written notice of termination to CVR; provided, however, that each party’s rights and obligations pertaining to UAN that PCC committed to sell prior to such advance notice will survive termination.

11. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

Ammonia supply agreement – EDC is party to an agreement with Koch Fertilizer, LLC (“Koch Fertilizer”) under which Koch Fertilizer agrees to purchase, with minimum purchase requirements, the ammonia that (a) will be produced at the El Dorado Facility and (b) that is in excess of El Dorado’s needs. The initial term of the agreement expires in May 2019 but automatically continues for one or more additional one-year terms unless terminated by either party by delivering a notice of termination at least nine months prior to the end of term in effect.

Other purchase and sales commitments - See Note 12 – Derivatives, Hedges, Financial Instruments and Carbon Credits for our commitments relating to derivative contracts and carbon credits at December 31, 2017. During 2017, certain subsidiaries entered into contracts to purchase natural gas for anticipated production needs at certain of our facilities. Since these contracts are considered normal purchases because they provide for the purchase of natural gas that will be delivered in quantities expected to be used over a reasonable period of time in the normal course of business and are documented as such, these contracts are exempt from the accounting and reporting requirements relating to derivatives. At December 31, 2017, our natural gas contracts, which are exempt from mark-to-market accounting, included the volume purchase commitments with fixed costs of approximately 1.3 million MMBtus of natural gas. These contracts extend through March 2018 at a weighted-average cost of $2.42 per MMBtu ($3.0 million) and a weighted-average market value of $2.58 per MMBtu ($3.2 million). In addition, we had standby letters of credit outstanding of approximately $3.4 million at December 31, 2017. We also had deposits from customers of $1.3 million for forward sales commitments at December 31, 2017.

Wastewater Pipeline Operating Agreement – EDC is party to an operating agreement for the right to use a pipeline to dispose its wastewater. EDC is contractually obligated to pay a portion of the operating costs of the pipeline, which portion is estimated to be $100,000 to $150,000 annually. The initial term of the operating agreement is through December 2053.

Performance and Payment Bonds – We are contingently liable to sureties in respect of certain insurance bonds issued by the sureties in connection with certain contracts entered into by certain subsidiaries in the normal course of business. These insurance bonds primarily represent guarantees of future performance of our subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2017, we have agreed to indemnify the sureties for payments, up to $10 million, made by them in respect of such bonds. All of these insurance bonds are expected to expire or be renewed in 2018.

Employment and Severance Agreements - We have employment and severance agreements with several of our officers. The agreements, as amended, provide for annual base salaries, bonuses and other benefits commonly found in such agreements. In the event of termination of employment due to a change in control (as defined in the agreements), the agreements provide for payments aggregating $13.7 million at December 31, 2017.

Legal Matters - Following is a summary of certain legal matters involving the Company:

A. Environmental Matters

Our facilities and operations are subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental laws and to other laws regarding health and safety matters (collectively, the “Environmental and Health Laws”), many of which provide for certain performance obligations, substantial fines and criminal sanctions for violations. Certain Environmental and Health Laws impose strict liability as well as joint and several liability for costs required to remediate and restore sites where hazardous substances, hydrocarbons or solid wastes have been stored or released. We may be required to remediate contaminated properties currently or formerly owned or operated by us or facilities of third parties that received waste generated by our operations regardless of whether such contamination resulted from the conduct of others or from consequences of our own actions that were in compliance with all applicable laws at the time those actions were taken. In connection with certain acquisitions, we could acquire, or be required to provide indemnification against, environmental liabilities that could expose us to material losses. In certain instances, citizen groups also have the ability to bring legal proceedings against us if we are not in compliance with environmental laws, or to challenge our ability to receive environmental permits that we need to operate. In addition, claims for damages to persons or property, including natural resources, may result from the environmental, health and safety effects of our operations.

11. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

There can be no assurance that we will not incur material costs or liabilities in complying with such laws or in paying fines or penalties for violation of such laws. Our insurance may not cover all environmental risks and costs or may not provide sufficient coverage if an environmental claim is made against us. The Environmental and Health Laws and related enforcement policies have in the past resulted, and could in the future result, in significant compliance expenses, cleanup costs (for our sites or third-party sites where our wastes were disposed of), penalties or other liabilities relating to the handling, manufacture, use, emission, discharge or disposal of hazardous or toxic materials at or from our facilities or the use or disposal of certain of its chemical products. Further, a number of our facilities are dependent on environmental permits to operate, the loss or modification of which could have a material adverse effect on their operations and our financial condition.

Historically, significant capital expenditures have been incurred by our subsidiaries in order to comply with the Environmental and Health Laws, and significant capital expenditures are expected to be incurred in the future. We will also be obligated to manage certain discharge water outlets and monitor groundwater contaminants at our facilities should we discontinue the operations of a facility. We did not operate the natural gas wells where we previously owned a working interest and compliance with Environmental and Health Laws was controlled by others. We were responsible for our working interest proportionate share of the costs involved. As of December 31, 2017, our accrued liabilities for environmental matters totaled $183,000 relating primarily to the matters discussed below. It is reasonably possible that a change in the estimate of our liability could occur in the near term. Also, see discussion in Note 8 – Asset Retirement Obligations.

1. Discharge Water Matters

Each of our manufacturing facilities generates process wastewater, which may include cooling tower and boiler water quality control streams, contact storm water and miscellaneous spills and leaks from process equipment. The process water discharge, storm-water runoff and miscellaneous spills and leaks are governed by various permits generally issued by the respective state environmental agencies as authorized and overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”). These permits limit the type and amount of effluents that can be discharged and control the method of such discharge.

Our Pryor Facility is authorized by permit to inject wastewater into an on-site underground injection well through 2018. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (“ODEQ”) has indicated that the permit may not be renewed following its expiration, and PCC may have to find an alternative means of waste water disposal after the permit expires. PCC has engaged in ongoing discussions with the ODEQ regarding future disposal of this wastewater stream.

Our El Dorado Facility is subject to a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permit issued by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) in 2004. In 2010, the ADEQ issued a draft NPDES permit renewal for the El Dorado Facility, which contains more restrictive discharge limits than the previous 2004 permit.

These more restrictive limits could impose additional costs on the El Dorado Facility and may require the facility to make operational changes in order to meet these more restrictive limits. From time to time, the El Dorado Facility has had difficulty meeting the more restrictive dissolved minerals NPDES permit levels, primarily related to storm-water runoff and EDC is currently working with ADEQ to resolve this issue through a new permit, which is currently in progress.

EDC believes that the El Dorado Facility has generally demonstrated its ability to comply with applicable ammonia and nitrate permit levels, but has, from time to time, had difficulty meeting the more restrictive dissolved minerals permit levels, primarily related to storm-water runoff. We do not believe this matter regarding meeting the permit requirements as to the dissolved minerals is a continuing issue for the process wastewater as the result of the El Dorado Facility disposing its wastewater (beginning in September 2013) via a pipeline constructed by the City of El Dorado, Arkansas. On August 30, 2017, ADEQ issued a final NPDES permit, which included new dissolved mineral limits as anticipated. However, EDC objected to the form of the permit and filed an appeal on September 27, 2017. The appeal places an automatic stay on the objectionable conditions and EDC is working with the ADEQ to obtain modifications to the renewed permit terms. We believe that the issue with the storm-water runoff should be resolved, if and when the appeal is resolved.

During 2012, EDC paid a penalty of $100,000 to settle an administrative complaint issued by the EPA, and thereafter handled by the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), relating to certain alleged violations of EDC’s 2004 NPDES permit from 2004 through 2010. At the time of settlement, the DOJ advised that an additional action may be brought for alleged permit violations occurring after 2010. As of the date of this report, no action has been filed by the DOJ against EDC. As a result, the cost (or range of costs) cannot currently be reasonably estimated regarding this matter. Therefore, no liability has been established for potential future penalties as of December 31, 2017.

11. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

In addition, the El Dorado Facility is currently operating under a Consent Administrative Order (the “CAO”) that recognizes the presence of nitrate contamination in the shallow groundwater. The 2006 CAO required EDC to continue semiannual groundwater monitoring, to continue operation of a groundwater recovery system and to submit a human health and ecological risk assessment to the ADEQ relating to the El Dorado Facility. The risk assessment was submitted in August 2007. In February 2015, the ADEQ stated that El Dorado Chemical was meeting the requirements of the CAO and should continue semi-annual monitoring. The final remedy for shallow groundwater contamination, should any remediation be required, will be selected pursuant to a new consent administrative order and based upon the risk assessment. The cost of any additional remediation that may be required will be determined based on the results of the investigation and risk assessment, of which cost (or range of costs) cannot currently be reasonably estimated. Therefore, no liability has been established at December 31, 2017, in connection with this matter.

2. Air Matters

PCC had been advised by the ODEQ that the agency was conducting an investigation into whether the Pryor Facility was in compliance with certain ODEQ air quality rules and regulations and whether PCC’s reports of certain air emissions, primarily in 2011, were intentionally misreported to the ODEQ. We received notice from the ODEQ that the criminal investigation into PCC associated with this matter is closed.

3. Other Environmental Matters

In November 2006, EDC entered into a CAO with the ADEQ to address nitrates in shallow groundwater. The CAO requires EDC to perform semi-annual groundwater monitoring, continue operation of a groundwater recovery system, submit a human health and ecological risk assessment, and submit a remedial action plan. EDC’s risk assessment and the remedial action plan, initially submitted to the ADEQ in 2007, recommended monitored natural attenuation. The ADEQ’s review of the EDC proposed remedy is ongoing. Under the CAO, the ADEQ may require additional wells be added to the program or may allow EDC to remove wells from the program. At this time, the duration and cost (or range of costs) of the ground water monitoring program or the necessity for any additional remediation cannot be reasonably estimated.

In 2002, certain of our subsidiaries sold substantially all of their operating assets relating to a Kansas chemical facility (the “Hallowell Facility”) but retained ownership of the real property where the facility is located. Our subsidiary retained the obligation to be responsible for, and perform the activities under, a previously executed consent order to investigate the surface and subsurface contamination at the real property and develop a corrective action strategy based on the investigation. In addition, certain of our subsidiaries agreed to indemnify the buyer of such assets for these environmental matters.

As the successor to a prior owner of the Hallowell Facility, Chevron Environmental Management Company (“Chevron”) has agreed in writing, within certain limitations, to pay and has been paying one-half of the costs of the investigation and interim measures relating to this matter as approved by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (the “KDHE”), subject to reallocation.

Our subsidiary and Chevron have retained an environmental consultant to prepare and perform a corrective action study work plan as to the appropriate method to remediate the Hallowell Facility. The proposed strategy includes long-term surface and groundwater monitoring to track the natural decline in contamination. The KDHE is currently evaluating the corrective action strategy, and, thus, it is unknown what additional work the KDHE may require, if any, at this time. We are advised by our consultant that until the study is completed there is not sufficient information to develop a meaningful and reliable estimate (or range of estimate) as to the cost of the remediation. We accrued our allocable portion of costs primarily for the additional testing, monitoring and risk assessments that could be reasonably estimated, which is included in our accrued liabilities for environmental matters discussed above. The estimated amount is not discounted to its present value. As more information becomes available, our estimated accrual will be refined.

B. Other Pending, Threatened or Settled Litigation

In April 2013, an explosion and fire occurred at the West Fertilizer Co. (“West Fertilizer”) located in West, Texas, causing death, bodily injury and substantial property damage. West Fertilizer is not owned or controlled by us, but West Fertilizer was a customer of EDC, and purchased AN from EDC from time to time. LSB and EDC received letters from counsel purporting to represent subrogated insurance carriers, personal injury claimants and persons who suffered property damages informing LSB and EDC that their clients are conducting investigations into the cause of the explosion and fire to determine, among other things, whether AN manufactured by EDC and supplied to West Fertilizer was stored at West Fertilizer at the time of the explosion and, if so, whether such AN may have been one of the contributing factors of the explosion. Initial lawsuits filed named West Fertilizer and another supplier of AN as defendants. In 2014, EDC and LSB were named as defendants, together with other AN manufacturers and brokers that arranged the transport and delivery of AN to West Fertilizer, in the case styled City of West, Texas vs. CF Industries, Inc., et al.,

11. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

in the District Court of McLennan County, Texas. The plaintiffs allege, among other things, that LSB and EDC were negligent in the production and marketing of fertilizer products sold to West Fertilizer, resulting in death, personal injury and property damage. EDC retained a firm specializing in cause and origin investigations with particular experience with fertilizer facilities, to assist EDC in its own investigation. LSB and EDC placed its liability insurance carrier on notice, and the carrier is handling the defense for LSB and EDC concerning this matter. Our product liability insurance policies have aggregate limits of general liability totaling $100 million, with a self-insured retention of $250,000. In August 2015, the trial court dismissed plaintiff’s negligence claims against us and EDC based on a duty to inspect but allowed the plaintiffs to proceed on claims for design defect and failure to warn.

Subsequently, we and EDC have entered into confidential settlement agreements (with approval of our insurance carriers) with several plaintiffs that had claimed wrongful death and bodily injury and insurance companies asserting subrogation claims for damages from the explosion. A portion of these settlements have been paid by the insurer as of December 31, 2017. While these settlements resolve the claims of a number of the claimants in this matter for us, we continue to be party to litigation related to this explosion by other plaintiffs, in addition to indemnification or defense obligations we may have to other defendants. We intend to continue to defend these lawsuits vigorously and we are unable to estimate a possible range of loss at this time if there is an adverse outcome in this matter as to EDC. As of December 31, 2017, no liability reserve has been established in connection with this matter, except for the unpaid portion of the settlement agreements discussed above, but we have incurred professional fees up to our self-insured retention amount.

In May 2015, our subsidiary, EDC, was sued in the matter styled BAE Systems Ordinance Systems, Inc. (“BAE”), et al. vs. El Dorado Chemical Company, in the United States District Court, Western District of Arkansas, for an alleged breach of a supply agreement to provide BAE certain products. It is EDC’s position, among other things, that its inability to deliver to BAE was due to a force majeure event caused by a fire and explosion at EDC’s nitric acid plant, and that a force majeure clause in the supply agreement therefore excuses EDC’s performance under the supply agreement. BAE’s pre-litigation demand indicated a claim of approximately $18 million. EDC intends to vigorously defend this matter. The cost (or range of costs), if any, EDC would incur relating to this matter cannot currently be reasonably estimated. Therefore, no liability has been established at December 31, 2017.

In September 2015, a case styled Dennis Wilson vs. LSB Industries, Inc., et al., was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiff purports to represent a class of our shareholders and asserts that we violated federal securities laws by allegedly making material misstatements and omissions about delays and cost overruns at our El Dorado Chemical Company manufacturing facility and about our financial well-being and prospects. The lawsuit, which also names certain current and former officers, seeks an unspecified amount of damages. Given the uncertainty of litigation, the preliminary stage of the case, and the legal standards that must be met for, among other things, class certification and success on the merits, we cannot estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of loss that may result from this action.

In September 2015, we and EDA received formal written notice from Global Industrial, Inc. (“Global”) of Global’s intention to assert mechanic liens for labor, service, or materials furnished under certain subcontract agreements for the improvement of the new ammonia plant at our El Dorado Facility. Global is a subcontractor of Leidos Constructors, LLC (“Leidos”), the general contractor for EDA for the construction for the ammonia plant. Leidos terminated the services of Global with respect to their work performed at our El Dorado Facility in July 2015 and Global claims it is entitled to payment for certain work prior to its termination in the sum of approximately $18 million. Leidos reports that it made an estimated $6 million payment to Global on or about September 11, 2015, and EDA paid Leidos approximately $3.5 million relating to work performed by subcontractors of Global. Leidos has not approved certain payments to Global pending the result of on-going audits and investigation undertaken to quantify the financial impact of Global’s work. EDA intends to monitor the Leidos audit, and conduct its own investigation, in an effort to determine whether any additional payment should be released to Global for any work not in dispute. LSB and EDA intend to pursue recovery of any damage or loss caused by Global’s work performed at our El Dorado Facility. In January 2016, El Dorado, Leidos and Global reached an agreement whereby the approximately $3.6 million claims of Leidos’ remaining unpaid subcontracts, vendors and suppliers will be paid (and these suppliers and subcontractors will in turn issue releases of their respective claims and liens). In addition, Global will reduce the value of its claim as against Leidos, and its lien amount as against the project by a similar amount. After all such lower tier supplier and subcontractors are satisfied, the Global claim and lien amount will be reduced to approximately $5 million. In March 2016, EDC and we were served a summons in a case styled Global Industrial, Inc. d/b/a Global Turnaround vs. Leidos Constructors, LLC et al., where in Global seeks damages under breach of contract and other claims. We have requested indemnifications from Leidos under the terms of our contracts and we intend to vigorously defend against the allegation made by Global. No liability has been established in connection with the remaining $5 million claim. In addition, LSB and EDA intend to pursue recovery of any damage or loss caused by Global’s work performed at our El Dorado Facility.

11. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

We are also involved in various other claims and legal actions. It is possible that the actual future development of claims could be different from our estimates but, after consultation with legal counsel, we believe that changes in our estimates will not have a material effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.