Accounting Policies (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2019 |
Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
Basis of preparation | Basis of preparation: |
Use of estimates | Use of estimates: |
Revenue recognition | Revenue recognition: on-demand revenue is recognized. Our contracts generally include one performance obligation, which is providing specialty chemicals. The performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time when products are shipped, delivered, or consumed by the customer, depending on the underlying contracts. While some of our customers have payment terms beyond 30 days, we do not provide extended payment terms of a year or more, nor do our contracts include a financing component. Some of our contracts include variable consideration in the form of rebates. We record rebates at the point of sale as a reduction in sales when we can reasonably estimate the amount of the rebate. The estimates are based on our best judgment at the time of sale, which includes anticipated as well as historical performance. Taxes assessed by a governmental authority which are concurrent with sales to our customers, including sales, use, value-added, and revenue-related excise taxes, are collected by us from the customer and are not included in net sales, but are reflected in accrued liabilities until remitted to the appropriate governmental authority. When we are responsible for shipping and handling costs after title has transferred, we account for those as fulfilment costs and include them in cost of goods sold. |
Components of net sales | Components of net sales: |
Components of cost of goods sold | Components of cost of goods sold: non-recoverable |
Components of selling, general and administrative expenses | Components of selling, general and administrative expenses: |
Research and development expenses | Research and development expenses: |
Earnings per share | Earnings per share: |
Foreign currencies | Foreign currencies: |
Stock-based compensation plans | Stock-based compensation plans: |
Business combinations | Business combinations: The determination of the fair values of certain assets and liabilities are usually based on significant estimates provided by management, such as forecast revenue or profit. In determining the fair value of intangible assets, an income approach is generally used and may incorporate the use of a discounted cash flow method. In applying the discounted cash flow method, the estimated future cash flows and residual values for each intangible asset are discounted to a present value using a discount rate appropriate to the business being acquired. These cash flow projections are based on management’s estimates of economic and market conditions including revenue growth rates, operating margins, capital expenditures and working capital requirements. |
Cash equivalents | Cash equivalents: |
Trade and other accounts receivable | Trade and other accounts receivable: |
Inventories | Inventories: |
Property, plant and equipment | Property, plant and equipment: Buildings 7 to 25 years Equipment 3 to 10 years |
Goodwill and other intangible assets | Goodwill: Initially we perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not (that is, a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of a segment is less than the carrying amount prior to performing a quantitative goodwill impairment test. 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. Factors utilized in the qualitative assessment process include macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance and Company specific events. If a quantitative test is required, we assess the fair value based on projected post-tax Other intangible assets: In order to facilitate testing for potential impairment 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 asset groups are compared with the carrying value of the assets and, if such cash flows 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 non-cash The estimated useful lives of the major classes of assets are as follows: Technology 10 to 17 years Customer lists 10 to 15 years Brand names 5 to 10 years Product rights 9 to 10 years Internally developed software 3 to 5 years Marketing related 11 years |
Leases | Leases: 2016-02, 2016-02 right-of-use The standard was adopted using a modified retrospective transition method, with the Company electing not to adjust comparative periods. We have taken the election not to apply the requirements to short-term leases and have taken the election not to separate related non-lease The standard had a material impact on our consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 2019, but did not have an impact on our consolidated income statements. The most significant impact was the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities and the related deferred taxes thereon for operating leases, while our accounting for finance leases remained substantially unchanged. Operating lease liabilities recognized under the new standard are not considered to be debt. We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. The present value of the future lease payments for operating leases is included in operating lease ROU assets, and operating lease liabilities (current and non-current) non-current) Operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of future lease payments over the remaining lease term. Very few of our leases have renewal options or early termination break clauses, but where they do we have assessed the term of the lease based on any options being exercised only if they are reasonably certain. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit interest rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at point of recognition in determining the present value of future payments. The operating lease ROU asset excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term unless payments are variable per the agreement. Where we have lease payments linked to an index or inflationary rate, this rate has been used to value the asset and liability at the inception of the lease. If the payments are not linked to a specific index or inflationary rate, but can vary during the term of the agreement, they have been included at their actual value for each future period. In some circumstances the future expected payments may be dependent on other factors, for example production volumes, in which case we have used the minimum future expected payments to value the asset. We do not recognize a ROU asset or operating lease liability for short-term leases (with a length of one year or less), and any associated cost is recognized, as incurred, through the income statement. |
Deferred finance costs | Deferred finance costs: |
Impairment of long-lived assets | Impairment of long-lived assets: post-tax |
Derivative instruments | Derivative instruments: non-current |
Environmental compliance and remediation | Environmental compliance and remediation: The Company must comply with environmental legislation in the countries in which it operates or has operated in and annually reassesses the program of work required. This includes estimating the credit-adjusted risk free rate and the timing and cost of performing the remediation work. Management use specialists to develop these estimates and assumptions utilizing the latest information available together with experience of recent costs. While we believe our assumptions for environmental liabilities are reasonable, they are subjective judgements and it is possible that variations in any of the assumptions will result in materially different calculations to the liabilities we have reported. Costs of future obligations are discounted to their present values using the Company’s credit-adjusted risk-free rate. Pension plans and other post-employment benefits: year-end. |
Pension plans and other post-employment benefits | Movements in the underlying plan asset value and Projected Benefit Obligation (“PBO”) are dependent on actual return on investments as well as our assumptions in respect of the discount rate, annual member mortality rates, future return on assets and future inflation. Income taxes: |
Income taxes | 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 that 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% 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. |