Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Basis of Consolidation – LSB Industries, Inc. (“LSB”) and its subsidiaries (the “Company”, “We”, “Us”, or “Our”) are consolidated in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. LSB is a holding company with no significant operations or assets other than cash, cash equivalents, and investments in its subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain prior period amounts reported in our condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.

Nature of Business

Nature of Business – We are engaged in the manufacture and sale of chemical products. The chemical products we primarily manufacture, market and sell are ammonia, fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate (“HDAN”), urea ammonium nitrate (“UAN”), and ammonium nitrate (“AN”) solution for agricultural applications, high purity and commercial grade ammonia, high purity AN, sulfuric acids, concentrated, blended and regular nitric acid, mixed nitrating acids, carbon dioxide, and diesel exhaust fluid for industrial applications, and industrial grade AN (“LDAN”) and solutions for the mining industry. We manufacture and distribute our products in four facilities; three of which we own and are located in El Dorado, Arkansas (the “El Dorado Facility”); Cherokee, Alabama (the “Cherokee Facility”); and Pryor, Oklahoma (the “Pryor Facility”); and one of which we operate on behalf of a global chemical company in Baytown, Texas (the “Baytown Facility”).

Sales to customers include farmers, ranchers, fertilizer dealers and distributors primarily in the ranch land and grain production markets in the United States (“U.S.”); industrial users of acids throughout the U.S. and parts of Canada; and explosive manufacturers in the U.S.

Other products consisted of natural gas sales from our working interests in certain natural gas properties of our former subsidiary Zena Energy L.L.C. and sales of industrial machinery and related components, which were sold during the second and fourth quarters of 2017, respectively.

During July 2016, LSB completed the sale of all of the stock of Climate Control Group Inc. (an indirect subsidiary that conducted LSB’s Climate Control Business) pursuant to the terms of a stock purchase agreement. During the first quarter of 2018, we received the remaining proceeds held in a related indemnity escrow account of $2.7 million.

In our opinion, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company as of September 30, 2018 and for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 include all adjustments and accruals, consisting of normal, recurring accrual adjustments, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods. These interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year due, in part, to the seasonality of our sales of agricultural products and the timing of performing our major plant maintenance activities. Our selling seasons for agricultural products are primarily during the spring and fall planting seasons, which typically extend from March through June and from September through November.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted in this Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in connection with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2017 Form 10-K.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates – The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes – Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the statement of operations in the period that includes the enactment date. We establish valuation allowances if we believe it is more-likely-than-not that some or all of deferred tax assets will not be realized. Significant judgment is applied in evaluating the need for and the magnitude of appropriate valuation allowances against deferred tax assets.

Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

In addition, we do not recognize a tax benefit unless we conclude that it is more likely than not that the benefit will be sustained on audit by the relevant taxing authorities based solely on the technical merits of the associated tax position. If the recognition threshold is met, we recognize a tax benefit measured at the largest amount of the tax benefit that, in our judgment, is greater than 50% likely to be realized. We record interest related to unrecognized tax positions in interest expense and penalties in operating other expense.

Income tax benefits associated with amounts that are deductible for income tax purposes are recorded through the statement of operations. These benefits are principally generated from exercises of non-qualified stock options and restricted stock. We reduce income tax expense for investment tax credits in the period the credit arises and is earned.

See Note 9 – Income Taxes discussing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 ("SAB 118") issued by the SEC.

Contingencies

Contingencies – Certain conditions may exist which may result in a loss, but which will only be resolved when future events occur. We and our legal counsel assess such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a loss has been incurred, we would accrue for such contingent losses when such losses can be reasonably estimated. If the assessment indicates that a potentially material loss contingency is not probable but reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if determinable and material, would be disclosed. Estimates of potential legal fees and other directly related costs associated with contingencies are not accrued but rather are expensed as incurred. Loss contingency liabilities are included in current and noncurrent accrued and other liabilities and are based on current estimates that may be revised in the near term.

Recognition of Insurance Recoveries of Losses

Recognition of Insurance Recoveries of Losses – If an insurance claim relates to a recovery of our losses, we recognize the recovery when it is probable and reasonably estimable. Amounts recoverable from our insurance carriers, if any, are included in accounts receivable.

Redeemable Preferred Stocks

Redeemable Preferred Stocks – Our redeemable preferred stocks that are redeemable outside of our control are classified as temporary/mezzanine equity. The redeemable preferred stocks were recorded at fair value upon issuance, net of issuance costs or discounts. In addition, certain embedded features included in the Series E Redeemable Preferred required bifurcation and are classified as derivative liabilities. The carrying values of the redeemable preferred stocks are being increased by periodic accretions (including the amount for dividends earned but not yet declared or paid) using the interest method so that the carrying amount will equal the redemption value as of October 25, 2023, the earliest possible redemption date by the holder. The amount of accretion was recorded to retained earnings.

However, it is reasonably possible this accretion could change if the expected redemption date changes.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

ASU 2014-09 – In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which superseded nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. In addition, the FASB issued various ASUs further amending revenue recognition guidance, which includes ASU 2016-08, 2016-10, 2016-11, 2016-12 and 2016-20. The core principle of these ASUs (together “ASC 606”) is to allow for an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, sales and other similar taxes we collect concurrently with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue. Also, we have elected to recognize the cost for freight and shipping when control of the product has transferred to the customer as an expense in cost of sales.

On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASC 606 as discussed in Note 2-Adoption of ASC 606.

ASU 2016-15 – In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This ASU made eight targeted changes to how cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2016-15 on a retrospective basis. The adoption of this ASU did not affect the presentation or classification of cash flow activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

ASU 2016-18 – In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash, a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. The amendments in this ASU revise the guidance in Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows, to require cash and cash equivalents to include restricted cash (and restricted cash equivalents) on the statement of cash flows. On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2016-18 on retrospective basis. The adoption of this ASU did not affect the presentation of cash flow activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

ASU 2018-05 – See Note 9 – Income Taxes.

Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

ASU 2016-02 and related ASUs – In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes the lease requirements in Topic 840, Leases. The objective of this ASU is to establish the principles that lessees and lessors shall apply to report information to users of financial statements about the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from a lease. Extensive quantitative and qualitative disclosures, including significant judgments made by management, will be required to provide greater insight into the extent of revenue and expense recognized and expected to be recognized from existing contracts. We plan to adopt this ASU using the additional transition method option provided by ASU 2018-11. Under this transition method, we will apply the new accounting guidance (including recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment, if any) on January 1, 2019, the date we plan to adopt this ASU.

Consequently, our reporting for the comparative periods presented in the financial statements issued after the date of adoption would continue to be in accordance with current GAAP, including disclosures. In addition, this ASU and ASU 2018-01 provide for certain practical expedients that we are currently evaluating for possible election.

Although we currently have a relatively small number of leases (most are currently classified as operating leases under which we are the lessee), we have obtained and continue to obtain information relating to our leases and other right-to-use arrangements for the purpose of evaluating the effect of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In addition, we continue to develop and test changes to our accounting system as the result of this ASU. We currently expect most of the effect of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements to impact our balance sheet presentation (increase the amount of our assets for the inclusion of right-of-use assets and increase the amount of our liabilities for the inclusion of the associated lease obligations). For 2017, expenses associated with our operating lease agreements, including month-to-month leases, were $9.8 million. As of December 31, 2017, our future minimum payments on operating lease agreements with initial or remaining terms of one year or more totaled $21.2 million.

Revenue Recognition and Performance Obligations

We determine revenue recognition through the following steps:

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Identification of the performance obligations in the contract;

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Determination of the transaction price;

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Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and

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Recognition of revenue when, or as, we satisfy a performance obligation.

Note 2: Adoption of ASC 606 (continued)

A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account in ASC 606. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. Generally, satisfaction occurs when control of the promised goods is transferred to the customer or as services are rendered or completed in exchange for consideration in an amount for which we expect to be entitled. Generally, control is transferred when the preparation for shipment of the product to a customer has been completed. Most of our contracts contain a single performance obligation with the promise to transfer a specific product. When the terms of a contract include the transfer of multiple products, each distinct product is identified as a separate performance obligation.

Most of our revenue is recognized from performance obligations satisfied at a point in time, however, we have a performance obligation to perform certain services that are satisfied over a period of time. Revenue is recognized from this type of performance obligation as services are rendered and are based on the amount for which we have a right to invoice, which reflects the amount of expected consideration that corresponds directly with the value of the services performed.

We only offer assurance-type warranties for our products to meet specifications defined by our contracts with customers, and do not have any material performance obligations related to warranties, return, or refunds.