UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-K

(MARK ONE)

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 20172019

OR

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO

Commission File Number 1-4462

STEPAN COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number including area code: 847-446-7500

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☐.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Aggregate market value at June 30, 2017,28, 2019, of voting and non-voting common stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant: $ 1,715,568,314*$1,862,119,945*

Number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock as of January 31, 2018:2020:

Documents Incorporated by Reference

* Based on reported ownership by all directors and executive officers at June 30, 2017.

28, 2019.

STEPAN COMPANY

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

December 31, 20172019

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, other than purely historical information, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). These statements include statements about Stepan Company’s and its subsidiaries’ (the Company) plans, objectives, strategies, financial performance and outlook, trends, the amount and timing of future cash distributions, prospects or future events and involve known and unknown risks that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual financial results, performance, achievements or prospects may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “guidance,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “likely,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “illustrative” and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company and its management based on their knowledge and understanding of the business and industry, are inherently uncertain. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and stockholders should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors, include, among others, the risks, uncertainties and factors set forth under “Part I-Item IA. Risk Factors” and “Part II-Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and the risks and uncertainties related to the following:

These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause the Company’s actual financial results, performance, achievements or prospects to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any of the Company’s forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm the Company’s results. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on the Company’s behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake or assume any obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in

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assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

The “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” means Stepan Company and one or more of its subsidiaries only.

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PART I

Item 1.  Business

Stepan Company, which was incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware on February 19, 1959, and its subsidiaries produce specialty and intermediate chemicals, which are sold to other manufacturers and used in a variety of end products.  The Company has three reportable segments: Surfactants, Polymers and Specialty Products.

Surfactants are chemical agents that affect the interaction between two surfaces; they can provide actions such as detergency (i.e., the ability of water to remove soil from another surface), wetting and foaming, dispersing, emulsification (aiding two dissimilar liquids to mix), demulsification, viscosity modifications and biocidal disinfectants. Surfactants are the basic cleaning agent in detergents for washing clothes, dishes, carpets, fine fabrics, floors and walls.  Surfactants are also used for the same purpose in shampoos, body wash and conditioners, fabric softeners, toothpastes, cosmetics and other personal care products.  Commercial and industrial applications include emulsifiers for agricultural products, emulsion polymers such as floor polishes and latex foams and coatings, wetting and foaming agents for wallboard manufacturing and surfactants for enhanced oil recovery.oilfield applications.  

Polymers, which include polyurethane polyols, polyester resins and phthalic anhydride, are used in a variety of applications.  Polyurethane polyols are used in the manufacture of rigid foam for thermal insulation in the construction industry.  They are also a raw material base for coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers (CASE) applications.  Polyester resins, which include liquid and powdered products, are used in CASE applications. Phthalic anhydride is used in polyester resins, alkyd resins, and plasticizers for applications in construction materials and components of automotive, boating, and other consumer products and internally in the Company’s polyols.  

Specialty Products are chemicals used in food, flavoring, nutritional supplement and pharmaceutical applications.  

MARKETING AND COMPETITION

Principal customers for surfactants are manufacturers of detergents, shampoos, body wash, fabric softeners, toothpastes and cosmetics.  In addition, surfactants are sold to the producers of agricultural herbicides and insecticides and lubricating products.  Surfactants are also sold into the oilfield market to aid production, drilling and hydraulic fracking.  Polymers are used in the construction and appliance industries, as well as in applications for the coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers industries.  Phthalic anhydride, a Polymer product, is also used by automotive, boating and other consumer product companies. Specialty products are used primarily by food, nutritional supplement and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

The Company does not sell directly to the retail market, but sells to a wide range of manufacturers in many industries and has many competitors.  The principal methods of competition are product performance, price, technical assistance and ability to meet the specific needs of individual customers.  These factors allow the Company to compete on bases other than price alone, reducing the severity of competition ascompared to that experienced in the sales of commodity chemicals having identical performance characteristics.  The Company is one of the leading merchant producers of surfactants in the world.  In the case of surfactants, much of the Company’s competition comes from several large global and regional producers and the internal divisions of larger customers.  In the manufacture of polymers, the Company competes with the chemical divisions of several large companies, as well as with other small specialty chemical manufacturers.  In specialty products, the Company competes with several large firms plus numerous small companies.  

MAJOR CUSTOMER AND BACKLOG

The Company did not have any one customer whose business represented more than 10 percent of the Company’s consolidated revenue in 2017, 20162019, 2018 or 2015.2017. The Company has contract arrangements with certain customers, but volumes are generally contingent on purchaser requirements. Much of the Company’s business is essentially on a “spot delivery basis” and does not involve a significant backlog.  

ENERGY SOURCES

Substantially all of the Company’s manufacturing plants operate on electricity and interruptible natural gas. During peak heating demand periods, gas service to all plants may be temporarily interrupted for varying periods ranging from a few days to several months.  The plants operate on fuel oil during these periods of interruption.  In January 2020, the Company’s Millsdale, Illinois facility suffered a power outage that caused a temporary shutdown of the plant and further related operational issues.  The Company’s operations have not experienced any other plant shutdowns or adverse effects upon its business in recent years that were caused by a lack of available energy sources, other than temporary service interruptions brought on by mechanical failure andor severe weather conditions.  

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RAW MATERIALS

The principal raw materials used by the Company are petroleum or plant based. For 2018,2020, the Company has contracts with suppliers that cover the majority of its forecasted requirements for major raw materials and is not substantially dependent upon any one supplier.  

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The Company maintains an active research and development program to assist in the discovery and commercialization of new knowledge with the intent that such efforts will be useful in developing a new product or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process.  Total expenses for research and development during 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $33.2 million, $34.9 million, and $30.3 million, respectively. The remainder of research, development and technical service expenses reflected in the consolidated statements of income relates to technical services, which include routine product testing, analytical methods development and sales support service.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

Compliance with applicable country, state and local regulations regarding the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, resulted in capital expenditures by the Company of approximately $3.2$3.7 million during 2017.2019.  These expenditures represented approximately 4four percent of the Company’s total 20172019 capital expenditures.  Capitalized environmental expenditures are depreciated and charged on a straight-line basis to pretax earnings over their estimated useful lives, which are typically 10 years. Recurring costs associated with the operation and maintenance of facilities for waste treatment and waste disposal and managing environmental compliance in ongoing operations at our manufacturing locations were approximately $28.2$31.8 million in 2017.2019.  Compliance with such regulations is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s earnings and competitive position in the foreseeable future.

EMPLOYMENT

At December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, the Company employed 2,0962,284 and 2,1452,250 persons, respectively. The Company has collective bargaining agreements with employees at some of its manufacturing locations. While the Company has experienced occasional work stoppages as a result of the collective bargaining process and may experience some work stoppages in the future, management believes that it will be able to negotiate all labor agreements on satisfactory terms. Past work stoppages have not had a significant impact on the Company’s operating results. Overall, the Company believes it has good relationships with its employees.

FOREIGN OPERATIONS AND REPORTING SEGMENTS

See Note 17, Segment Reporting, of the Consolidated Financial Statements (Item 8 of this Form 10-K).

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS

See Note 20,21, Acquisitions, of the Consolidated Financial Statements (Item 8 of this Form 10-K). See also Note 21, Sale of Product Line, of the Consolidated Financial Statements (Item 8 of this Form 10-K).

WEBSITE

The Company’s website address is www.stepan.com.  The Company makes available free of charge on or through its website its code of conduct,  annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The website also includes the Company’s code of conduct, corporate governance guidelines and the charters for the audit, compensation and development, compliance and nominating and corporate governance and compensation and development committees of the Board of Directors.

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Information About our Executive Officers of the Registrant

The Company’s executive officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to serve through the next annual meeting of the Board and until their respective successors are duly electedqualified and qualified.elected.

The executive officers of the Company, their ages and certain other information as of February 27, 2018,2020, are as follows:

F. Quinn Stepan, Jr. assumed the position of Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors on ofin January 1, 2017.  He continues to servehas served the Company as President and Chief Executive Officer as he has done since January 2006.  He served the Company as President and Chief Operating Officer from 1999 through 2005.

Frank Pacholec has served the Company as Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development since June 2016. He served as Vice President, Research and Development and Corporate Sustainability Officer from May 2010 until June 2016.

Gregory Servatius has served the Company as Vice President, Human Resources since February 2006.  From April 2003 until January 2006, he served as Vice President, Surfactant Sales.  

Arthur W. Mergner has served the Company as Vice President, Supply Chain since August 2017.  From April 2014 until August 2017, he served as Vice President and General Manager - Polymers. From June 2013 until April 2014, he served as Vice President - North America Polymers.  – Polymers of the Company.

Scott R. Behrens has served the Company as Vice President and General Manager – Surfactants since September 2014.  From January 2010 to September 2014 he served as Vice President – Business Management.

Debra A. Stefaniak has served the Company as Vice President, Business TransformationEnablement since February 2014.October 2018.  From May 2009 to February 2014 to September 2018, she served as Vice President, Global Logistics.  

Jennifer A. Hale has servedBusiness Transformation of the Company as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since January 2016 and as Chief Compliance officer since April 2017.   From 2013 through 2015, she served as Vice President, Global General Counsel and Strategic Business Consultant at Vita-Mix Holdings Company.  From 2007 to 2013, she served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at Dyson, Inc.

Robert V. Slone has served the Company as Vice President, Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer since June 2016.  From November 2013 until June 2016, he served as Vice President of Surfactants Product Development.  From 2011 to 2013, he served as Director of Technology at British Petroleum/Castrol innoVentures.  

Sean T. Moriarty has served the Company as Vice President and General Manager – Polymers since September 2017.  From September 2014 through September 2017, he served as Vice President and General Manager – North America Surfactants.  From January 2012 through September 2014 he served as Vice President - Global Consumer Products.    

Effective January 1, 2018, Matthew J. Eaken was appointed Interim Chief Financial OfficerSurfactants of the Company, in addition to continuing his current role as the Company’s Vice President and Corporate Controller, until such time as a permanent replacement is named.  Mr. EakenCompany.

Luis E. Rojo has served the Company as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since April 2018.  From February 2018 to April 2018, he served as Global Hair Care Finance Director at Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G), a branded consumer packaged goods company.  From April 2014 to February 2018, he served as NA Hair Care Finance Director at P&G.

Janet A. Catlett has served the Company as Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer since July 2018.  From March 2017 to July 2018, she served as Senior Director Total Rewards at Hollister Incorporated, which develops, manufactures and markets health care products and services worldwide.  From September 2014 to March 2017, she served as Director Total Rewards at Hollister Incorporated.

Jason S. Keiper has served the Company as Vice President and Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer since June 2019.  From October 2018 to June 2019, Dr. Keiper served as Head, Product Technology and Engineering, of Syngenta, an agriculture company.  From 2015 to September 2018, Dr. Keiper served as Head, Global Formulation and Analytical Development; Technology and Engineering of Syngenta.

David G. Kabbes has served the Company as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company since July 2019.  From January 2018 to June 2019, Mr. Kabbes served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Controller sinceAffairs and Chief Legal Officer of Bunge Limited, an agricultural and food ingredient company. From February 2015 to December 2017, Mr. Kabbes served as General Counsel and Managing Director – Corporate Affairs of Bunge Limited. From August 2000 to January 2011.2015, Mr. Kabbes served as Senior Vice President, Corporate and Legal Affairs of Bunge North America, Inc.

Item5

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The following discussion identifies the most significant factors that may materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.  These and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, may cause future results of operations to differ materially from past results or those results currently expected or desired. The following information should be read in conjunction with Part II, Item 7,II-Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Form 10-K.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS

Chemical manufacturing is inherently hazardous and may result in accidents or may require planned or unplanned production slowdowns or shutdowns, which may disrupt our operations or expose us to significant losses or liabilities, which may have a material impact on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Manufacturing facilities in the Company’s industry are subject to planned and unplanned production slowdowns and shutdowns, turnarounds and outages. Unplanned production disruptions may occur for external reasons, such as natural disasters, weather, disease, strikes, transportation interruption, government regulation, political unrest or terrorism, or internal reasons, such as fire, explosions, mechanical failure, labor-related work stoppages or slowdowns, maintenance, discharges, contamination, environmental remediation or other manufacturing problems. Certain of our production facilities are, and production facilities acquired or built in the future may be, located in areas where unplanned disruptions are more likely. Alternative facilities with sufficient capacity may not be available, may cost substantially more or may take a significant amount of time to increase production or qualify with Company customers, each of which could negatively impact the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Further, some of the Company’s products cannot currently be made, or made in the volume required, at more than one of the Company’s locations. For some of these products, the Company has access to external market suppliers, but the Company cannot guarantee that these products will be available to it in amounts sufficient to meet its requirements or at a cost that is competitive with the Company’s cost of manufacturing these products. Long-term production disruptions may cause Company customers to seek alternative supply, which could further adversely affect Company profitability.

Although the Company takes precautions to enhance the safety of its operations and minimize the risk of disruptions, the hazards associated with chemical manufacturing and the related storage and transportation of raw materials, products and wastes are inherent in our operations. We cannot eliminate the risk of accidental contamination, discharge or injury resulting from those materials. Also, our suppliers and customers may use and/or generate hazardous materials, and we may be required to indemnify our suppliers, customers or waste disposal contractors against damages and other liabilities arising out of the production, handling or storage of our products or raw materials or the disposal of related wastes. Potential risks include explosions and fires, chemical spills and other discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases, and pipeline and storage tank leaks and ruptures. Those hazards may result in personal injury and loss of life, damage to property, damages to public health and contamination of the environment, which may result in a suspension of operations and the imposition of civil or criminal fines, penalties and other sanctions, cleanup costs, and claims by governmental entities or third-parties. Furthermore, the Company is subject to present and future claims with respect to workplace exposure, exposure of toxic or hazardous substances to contractors on Company premises as well as other persons located nearby, workers' compensation and other matters.

We are dependent on the continued operation of our production facilities and the loss or shutdown of operations over an extended period could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, or results of operations. The Company maintains property, business interruption, products liability and casualty insurance policies, which we believe are in accordance with customary industry practices, as well as insurance policies covering other types of risks, including pollution legal liability insurance.  However, some of these potential manufacturing hazards and risks may not be insurable. Moreover, even when such hazards and risks are insurable, the insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover all losses resulting from the occurrence of any of these events.  Each of these insurance policies is subject to customary exclusions, deductibles and coverage limits, in accordance with industry standards and practices.  As a result of market conditions, premiums and deductibles for certain insurance policies can increase substantially and, in some instances, certain insurance may become unavailable or available only forwith reduced amounts of coverage. There is also a risk, beyond the reasonable control of the Company, that an insurance carrier may not have the financial resources to cover an insurable loss.  As a result, the occurrence of any of these events could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Customer product reformulations or new technologies can reduce the demand for the Company’s existing products, and the Company may not be successful in developing or introducing new products.

The Company’s products are used in a broad range of customer product applications. Changes in customer manufacturing processes, customer product reformulations, development and use of new technologies or changes in regulatory, legislative or industry requirements may lead to reduced consumption of the Company’s products or cause customers to consider some Company products obsolete or less attractive.

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For example, increased concerns regarding the safety of 1,4 dioxane in consumer products and its potential impact on human health and the environment may lessen the demand for certain of the Company’s products. The Company generates 1,4 dioxane as a by-product during the manufacture of certain of its surfactant products, including alkoxylates and ether sulfates, used by its customers as cleaning agents in household cleaning, personal care and cosmetics products. In their finished form, consumer products that contain ethoxylated surfactants may contain trace amounts of 1,4 dioxane. 1,4 dioxane has been categorized by regulators as a toxic and carcinogenic substance at certain levels. In December 2019, New York adopted a law that, beginning in 2022 and 2023, will permit no more than trace amounts of the chemical in cleaning, personal care and cosmetics products. California, likewise, is considering regulating 1,4 dioxane in personal care and cleaning products under its Safer Consumer Products regulation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) also continues to examine 1,4 dioxane as part of its environmental and occupational regulatory authority. We expect our customers to commence reformulating their personal care, cosmetics and cleaning products in 2020 and 2021 to meet New York’s 2022 and 2023 deadlines. These trends and corresponding changes in consumer preferences could reduce demand for our ethoxylated surfactant products, as our customers look to reduce the levels of ethoxylated surfactants in their finished products to stay below the maximum allowed levels or transition to alternative surfactants with lower levels of 1,4 dioxane. We are currently modifying our manufacturing process to reduce 1,4 dioxane content to allow customers to continue to use ethoxylated surfactants at current use levels, while also offering consumer product formulation prototypes that contain low/no dioxane containing surfactants currently offered by the Company.

It is imperative that the Company continue to develop new products to replace the sales of products that mature and decline in use, though the Company may not be successful in achieving its growth expectations from developing new products. Moreover, the Company cannot be certain that the costs it incurs investing in new product and technology development will result in an increase in revenues or profits commensurate with its investment, and the introduction of any new products may be disrupted or delayed by manufacturing or other technical difficulties. The Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected if the Company is unable to successfully manage the maturation of existing products and the successful development and introduction of new products.

The Company is subject to a variety of environmental, health and safety and product registration laws dealing with the production and sale of chemicals that could require us to incur additional costs or to reformulate or discontinue certain of our products, or expose us to liability or enforcement actions.

The Company’s operations are regulated under a number of federal, state, local and foreign environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that govern, among other things, the production and marketing of chemical substances and the discharge, use, handling, transport, storage and disposal of hazardous materials into the air, soil and water. In the United States, these laws and regulations include, but are not limited to the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Occupational Safety and Health Act and state and local laws, such as California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65). Analogous laws outside the United States apply to us in many jurisdictions, including, among others, the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical Substances (REACH) regulation and its Biocidal Products Regulation. Compliance with these environmental, health and safety laws and regulations is a major consideration for the Company, and to comply with some of these laws, we may need to alter our product lines or implement different or more costly manufacturing processes (including the installation of pollution control equipment), which could lead to a material adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, the transportation of certain raw materials is highly regulated and is subject to increased regulation or restrictions. These regulations may restrict or prohibit transport of these raw materials, resulting in these raw materials not being available to the Company in quantities desired by the Company or at costs attractive to the Company, which may restrict or substantially limit the Company’s manufacturing operations.

The REACH regulation, a registration system that imposes obligations on manufacturers and importers of chemicals and other products into the European Union to compile and file reports and testing data on, and perform safety assessments for, certain chemical substances, was fully implemented in 2018, and any new substances introduced to the EU market in the future must be registered. The costs associated with the Company’s compliance with these registrations have been substantial and are expected to increase as product sales increase because higher tonnage bands have higher annual registration fees and require more testing to support the registration. Moreover, if a registration in the future is not submitted by any applicable deadline, our ability to sell those products may be negatively impacted until the registration process has been completed. In addition, the European Chemical Agency is evaluating existing chemical registrations and may require additional testing and data collection. Chemicals may be assessed and removed from EU commerce entirely, potentially requiring the Company to discontinue certain product lines and to reformulate others, which could materially alter our marketplace position or otherwise have a material financial effect on our costs or revenues. Regulators in other countries are also implementing chemical registration regulations similar to the REACH regulation.

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Furthermore, some of the laws and regulations applicable to us have changed in recent years to impose new obligations or induce increasing compliance costs that could also force us to reformulate or discontinue certain of our products. For example, the European Union is now requiring a review of existing active biocide substances, and based on this review, the European Commission or an individual member state may decide not to authorize the product for continued sale. As another example, TSCA now mandates that the USEPA must designate “high priority” chemicals and perform a risk evaluation, which could result in a finding of “unreasonable risk” and a decision to promulgate new regulations to address such risk. As a result of such regulations, our ability to sell certain products may be curtailed and customers may avoid purchasing some products in favor of less regulated, less hazardous or less costly alternatives. It may be impractical for us to continue manufacturing heavily regulated products, and we may incur costs to shut down or transition such operations to alternative products. Additionally, the nature, stringency and timing of any future regulations or changes in regulations are uncertain.

In addition, increasingly stringent regulation of human exposure to ethylyne oxide by regulatory authorities in the United States could require material expenditures or changes in our manufacturing operations. We use ethylene oxide at our Winder, Georgia and Millsdale, Illinois facilities. We use ethylene oxide in a closed loop process to manufacture surfactants that are used in products such as laundry detergents. The Company does not manufacture ethylene oxide, nor does it use ethylene oxide as a fumigant. Ethylene oxide is listed as a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act, as amended, emissions of which are regulated by the USEPA and other regulatory authorities. In 2019 Illinois adopted a law limiting ethylene oxide emissions in certain counties. Georgia and Illinois legislators have proposed legislation that would impose additional restrictions on the use of ethylene oxide. The USEPA is considering new standards for ethylene oxide emissions.  While our production facilities have not yet been materially affected by changes in ethylene oxide regulation, any additional regulatory restrictions on the use or emission of ethylene oxide by facilities could impair our ability to manufacturer certain products in affected locations, including at our Winder, Georgia and Millsdale, Illinois facilities.

Compliance with environmental laws could restrict the Company’s ability to expand its facilities or require the Company to modify its facilities and processes or acquire additional costly pollution control equipment, incur other significant expenses, or expose the Company to greater liability associated with its production processes and products. The Company has incurred and will continue to incur capital expenditures and operating costs in complying with these laws and regulations, as our operations currently use, and have historically used, hazardous materials and generate, and have historically generated, quantities of hazardous waste. Some existing environmental laws and regulations impose liability and responsibility on present and former owners, operators or users of facilities and sites for contamination at those locations without regard to causation or knowledge of contamination. Certain of our sites have an extended history of industrial use, which may expose us to liability. We are subject to regulatory oversight and investigation, remediation, and monitoring obligations at certain current and former U.S. Superfund sites, as well as third-party disposal sites, under federal laws and their state and local analogues, including the RCRA, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and CERCLA, as well as analogous foreign laws. See Item 3, Legal Proceedings, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and Note 17, Contingencies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of current significant environmental proceedings related to certain environmental sites. In the event that new contamination is discovered, including at facilities we may acquire in the future, the Company may become subject to additional obligations. The costs and liabilities associated with these issues may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company is also subject to numerous federal, state, local and foreign laws that regulate the manufacture, storage, distribution and labeling of many of the Company’s products, including some of the Company’s disinfecting, sanitizing and antimicrobial products. Some of these laws require the Company to have operating permits for the Company’s production facilities, warehouse facilities and operations. Various federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations also require the Company to register the Company’s products and to comply with specified requirements with respect to those products, such as FIFRA, the EU Biocidal Products Regulation and Mexico’s General Law of Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection. Additionally, those requirements, and enforcement of those requirements, may become more stringent in the future. The ultimate cost of compliance with any such requirements could be material.

Although it is our policy to comply with such laws and regulations, it is possible that we have not been or may not be at all times in material compliance with all of those requirements. If the Company has failed to comply or fails to comply in the future with any of these laws and regulations, including permitting and licensing requirements, it may be liable for damages and the costs of remedial actions in excess of the Company’s recorded liabilities, and may also be subject to fines, injunctions or criminal sanctions or to revocation, non-renewal or modification of the Company’s operating permits and revocation of the Company’s product registrations. Any such revocation, modification or non-renewal may require the Company to cease or limit the manufacture and sale of its products at one or more of the Company’s facilities, which may limit or prevent the Company’s ability to meet product demand or build new facilities and may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Any such revocation, non-renewal or modification may also result in an event of default under the indenture for the Company’s notes or under the Company’s credit facilities, which, if not cured or waived, may result in the acceleration of all the Company’s indebtedness.

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In addition to the costs of complying with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, the Company has incurred and may incur in the future costs defending against environmental litigation and/or investigations brought by government agencies and private parties, including administrative proceedings. The Company is, and may be in the future, a defendant in lawsuits brought by parties alleging environmental damage, personal injury or property damage. A significant judgment or settlement against the Company, to the extent not covered by existing insurance policies, could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Although the Company has insurance policies that may cover some of these potential losses, there is always uncertainty as to whether such insurance may be sufficient to cover such losses or available at all to the Company based on case-specific factors and the specific provisions of the Company’s insurance policies.

The potential cost to the Company relating to environmental, health and safety and product registration matters is uncertain due to factors such as the complexity and evolving nature of laws and regulations relating to the environment, health and safety and product registration, including those outside of the United States. Environmental and product registration laws and regulations may also become more stringent over time, imposing greater compliance costs and increasing risks and penalties associated with any violation, as well as restricting or prohibiting the sale of existing or new products, which may also negatively impact the Company’s operating results. For example, in 2019 the area around Chicago, Illinois was designated as a “serious nonattainment” zone for air emissions, which may limit activities or increase costs at the Company’s Millsdale, Illinois facility. Without limiting the foregoing, these laws or regulations may also restrict or prohibit the use of non-renewable or carbon-based substances, or impose fees or penalties for the use of these substances. Accordingly, the Company may become subject to additional liabilities and increased operating costs in the future under these laws and regulations. The impact of any such changes, which are unknown at this time, may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

To the extent the Company seeks acquisition opportunities, it may not be able to make acquisitions of suitable candidates or integrate acquisitions successfully.

In recent years, the Company has used acquisitions to expand into new markets and to enhance its position in its existing markets. To the extent it seeks to do so in the future it may not be able to successfully identify suitable candidates, negotiate appropriate acquisition terms, obtain financing needed to consummate those acquisitions, complete proposed acquisitions or successfully integrate acquired businesses into its existing operations. In addition, any acquisition, once successfully integrated, may not perform as planned, be accretive to earnings, or otherwise prove beneficial to the Company.

Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including the assumption of undisclosed or unindemnified liabilities, difficulties in the assimilation of the operations and the transfer of all necessary licenses and permits, technologies, services and products of the acquired companies and the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns. In addition, prior acquisitions have resulted, and future acquisitions could result, in the incurrence of substantial additional indebtedness and other expenses.

The Company faces significant global competition in each of its operating segments.  If the Company cannot successfully compete in the marketplace, its business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows may be materially and adversely affected.

The Company faces significant competition from numerous global companies as well as national, regional and local companies in the markets it serves. Many of the Company’s competitors have access to greater financial resources, which may enable them to invest significant capital into their businesses, including expenditures for research and development. Some of the Company’s competitors have their own raw material resources and may be able to produce products more economically. In addition, some of the Company’s customers have internal manufacturing capabilities that allow them to achieve make-versus-buy economics, which may result at times in the Company gaining or losing business with these customers in volumes that could adversely affect itsthe Company’s profitability.

To achieve expected profitability levels, the Company must, among other things, maintain the service levels, product quality and performance and competitive pricing necessary to retain existing customers and attract new customers.customers as well as continue to develop and introduce new products.  The Company’s inability to do so could place it at a competitive disadvantage relative to its competitors, and if the Company cannot successfully compete in the marketplace, its business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows may be materially and adversely affected.

The volatility of raw material, natural gas and electricity costs, as well as any disruption in their supply may result in increased costs and materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The costs of raw materials, natural gas and electricity represent a substantial portion of the Company’s operating costs.  The principal raw materials used in the Company’s products are petroleum-based or plant-based. Natural gas is used in the Company’s manufacturing sites primarily to generate steam for its manufacturing processes. The prices of many of these raw materials have recently increasedcan be subject to periods of rapid and been very volatile.significant instability.  These fluctuations in prices may be affected by supply and demand factors, such

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as general economic conditions, manufacturers’ abilityregulatory developments with respect to meet demand,and restrictions on the transport of raw materialmaterials (some of which may be viewed as hazardous), currency exchange rates, political instability or terrorist attacks, all of which are beyond the Company’s control.  The Company may not be able to pass increased raw material or energy costs on to customers through increases in product prices as a result of arrangements the Company has with certain customers and competitive pressures in the market.  If the Company is unable to minimize the effects of increased raw material and energy costs or pass such increased costs on to customers, or manage any interruption to the supply of raw materials or energy, its business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows may be materially and adversely affected.

The Company relies heavily on third partythird-party transportation to deliver raw materials to Company manufacturing facilities and ship products to Company customers. Disruptions in transportation or significant changes in transportation costs could affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company relies heavily on railroads, ships, barges, tank trucks and other over-the-road shipping methods to transport raw materials to its manufacturing facilities and to ship finished productproducts to customers. Transport operations are exposed to various risks, such as extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, technological problems, work stoppages, personnel shortages and operating hazards, as well as interstate and international transportation requirements.regulations. If the Company, experiencesits suppliers or third-party transportation operators experience transportation problems, or if there are significant changes in the cost of these services, the Company may not be able to arrange efficient alternatives and timely means to obtain raw materials or ship finished product, which could result in ana material adverse effect on Company revenues, costs and operating results. For example, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to close certain locks on the Illinois River during the second half of 2020. The Company’s Millsdale, Illinois facility uses the Illinois river for obtaining raw materials and shipping products. This closure could materially adversely affect the Company’s costs and operating results.

Customer product reformulationsDownturns in certain industries, in some cases driven by consumer preferences, and general economic downturns may have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Economic downturns may adversely affect users of some end products that are manufactured using the Company’s products and the industries in which such end products are used. For example, the implications of the novel coronavirus outbreak may impact not only markets in Asia, but broader markets as well. During economic downturns, these users may reduce their volume of purchases of such end products or new technologies canmay purchase alternative products, which would reduce the demand for the Company’s products. In addition, increasing concern among consumers, public health professionals and government agencies about health and wellness issues could lead some of the Company’s customers to limit the use of certain of our products or result in harm to the Company’s reputation.

TheReduced demand from the primary end markets for the Company’s products, are usedsuch as the consumer products industry, could adversely affect the Company. Additionally, uncertain conditions in the credit markets pose a risk to the overall economy that may impact consumer demand for such end products and customer demand of some of the Company’s products, as well as the Company’s ability to manage normal commercial relationships with its customers, suppliers and creditors. Some of the Company’s customers may not be able to meet the terms of sale and suppliers may not be able to fully perform their contractual obligations due to tighter credit markets or a general slowdown in economic activity.

In the event that economic conditions worsen or result in a broad range of customer product applications. Customer product reformulationsprolonged downturn or development and use of new technologies may lead torecession, or consumer‑driven preferences result in reduced consumption of Company-produceddemand for our products, or make some Company products obsolete. It is imperative that the Company continue to develop new products to replace the sales of products that mature and decline in use. The Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows couldmay be materially and adversely affected.

The Company’s results of operations may be adversely affected ifby international business risks, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates, legal restrictions and taxes.

The Company has substantial operations outside the United States.  In the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company’s sales outside of the United States constituted approximately 40 percent of the Company’s net sales.  In addition to the risks described in this Annual Report on Form 10‑K that are common to both the Company’s U.S. and non-U.S. operations, the Company is unablefaces, and will continue to successfully manageface, risks related to the maturationCompany’s foreign operations such as:

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The actual occurrence of existingany or all of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows in the future.

Various liability claims could materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial position, operating results and cash flows.

The Company may be required to pay for losses or injuries purportedly caused by its products. The Company faces an inherent exposure to various types of claims including general liability, product liability, product recall, toxic tort and environmental, among others, if its products, or the end products that are manufactured with the Company’s products, result in property damage, injury or death. In addition, because the Company conducts business in multiple jurisdictions, the Company also faces an inherent exposure to other general claims based on its operations in those jurisdictions and the introductionlaws of new products.

To the extentthose jurisdictions, including but not limited to claims arising from its relationship with employees, distributors, agents and customers, and other parties with whom it has a business relationship, directly or indirectly. Many of these claims may be made against the Company seeks acquisition opportunities, iteven if there is no evidence of a loss from that claim, and these claims may not be ablemade by individual persons, groups of persons, or groups of plaintiffs in a class action. Defending these claims could result in significant legal expenses relating to make acquisitions of suitable candidates defense costs and/or integrate acquisitions successfully.

To the extent the Company seeks acquisition opportunities to expand into new marketsdamage awards and to enhance its position in existing markets throughout the world, it may not be able to successfully identify suitable candidates, negotiate appropriate acquisition terms, obtain financing needed to consummate those acquisitions, complete proposed acquisitions or successfully integrate acquired businesses into its existing operations. In addition, any acquisition, once successfully integrated, may not perform as planned, be accretive to earnings, or otherwise prove beneficial to the Company.

Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including the assumption of undisclosed or unindemnified liabilities, difficulties in the assimilation of the operations and the transfer of all necessary licenses and permits, technologies, services and products of the acquired companies and the diversion of management’s attention from othertime and the Company’s resources. Any claim brought against the Company could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business concerns. In addition, prior acquisitions have resulted,financial position, results of operations and future acquisitions could result, in the incurrence of substantial additional indebtedness and other expenses.cash flows.

If the Company is unable to keep and protect its intellectual property rights, the Company’s ability to compete may be negatively impacted.impacted.

The Company’s patents and other intellectual property may not prevent competitors from independently developing or selling similar or duplicative products and services, and there can be no assurance that the resources the Company invests to protect its

intellectual property will be sufficient or that the Company’s intellectual property portfolio will adequately deter misappropriation or improper use of its technology. The Company could also face competition in some countries where it has not invested in an intellectual property portfolio, or where intellectual property rights are more difficult to obtain and/or assert. In addition, the Company may be the target of aggressive and opportunistic enforcement of patents by third parties, including non-practicing entities. Regardless of the merit of such claims, responding to infringement claims can be expensive and time-consuming. If the Company is found to infringe any third-party rights, it could be required to pay substantial damages or it could be enjoined from offering some of its products and services. Also, there can be no assurances that the Company will be able to obtain or renew from third parties the licenses it may need in the future and there is no assurance that such licenses can be obtained on reasonable terms.

The Company’s results of operations may be adversely affected by international business risks, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates, legal restrictions and taxes.

The Company has substantial operations outside the U.S.  In the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company’s sales outside of the U.S. constituted approximately 42 percent of the Company’s net sales.  In addition to the risks described in this Annual Report on Form 10‑K that are common to both the Company’s U.S. and non-U.S. operations, the Company faces, and will continue to face, risks related to the Company’s foreign operations such as:

The actual occurrence of any or all of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows in the future.

Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could affect Company financial results.

The Company is also exposed to fluctuations in exchange rates.  The Company’s results of operations are reported in U.S. dollars.  However, outside the U.S., the Company’s sales and costs are denominated in a variety of currencies including the European euro, British pound, Canadian dollar, Mexican peso, Colombian peso, Philippine peso, Brazilian real, Polish zloty, Singapore dollar and Chinese RMB.  The Company translates its local currency financial results into U.S. dollars based on average exchange rates prevailing during the reporting period or the exchange rate at the end of that period. During times of a strengthening U.S. dollar, the Company’s reported international sales and earnings may be reduced because the local currency may translate into fewer U.S. dollars.  Fluctuations in exchange rates may materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In all jurisdictions in which the Company operates, the Company is also subject to laws and regulations that govern foreign investment, foreign trade and currency exchange transactions.  These laws and regulations may limit the Company’s ability to repatriate cash as dividends or otherwise to the U.S. or to efficiently allocate cash to support strategic initiatives, and may limit the Company’s ability to convert foreign currency cash flows into U.S. dollars.  A weakening of the currencies in which the Company generates sales relative to the foreign currencies in which the Company’s costs are denominated may lower the Company’s operating profits and cash flows.all.

The international scope of the Company’s operations and corporate structure may expose the Company to potentially adverse tax consequences.

The Company is subject to taxation in and to the tax laws and regulations of multiple jurisdictions as a result of the international scope of its operations and corporate structure. The Company is also subject to intercompany pricing laws, including those relating to the flow of funds between its entities pursuant to, for example, purchase agreements, licensing agreements or other arrangements. Adverse developments in these laws or regulations, (including pursuant to recent U.S. tax legislation, described below), or any change in position regarding the application, administration or

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interpretation of these laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, the tax authorities in any applicable jurisdiction may disagree with the positions the Company has taken or intends to take regarding the tax treatment or characterization of any of the Company’s transactions, including the tax treatment or characterization of the Company’s indebtedness. If any applicable tax authorities were to successfully challenge the tax treatment or characterization of any of the Company’s transactions, it could result in the disallowance of deductions, the imposition of withholding taxes on internal deemed transfers or other consequences that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Recent U.S. tax legislation may materially adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Recently enacted U.S. tax legislation has significantly changed the U.S. federal income taxation of U.S. corporations, including by reducing the U.S. corporate income tax rate,  adopting elements of a territorial tax system, imposing a one-time transition tax (Transition Tax) on all undistributed earnings and profits of certain U.S.-owned foreign corporations, introducing new anti-base erosion provisions, revising the rules governing net operating losses and the rules governing foreign tax credits, limiting interest deductions, permitting immediate expensing of certain capital expenditures, repealing the corporate alternative minimum tax, eliminating the domestic production activity deduction and repealing the deduction of certain performance-based compensation paid to an expanded group of executive officers. Many of these changes are effective immediately, without any transition periods or grandfathering for existing transactions. The legislation is unclear in many respects and could be subject to potential amendments and technical corrections, as well as interpretations and implementing regulations by the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), any of which could lessen or increase certain adverse impacts of the legislation. In addition, it is unclear how these U.S. federal income tax changes will affect state and local taxation, which often uses federal taxable income as a starting point for computing state and local tax liabilities.

Our analysis and interpretation of this legislation is preliminary and ongoing. Based on our current evaluation, we estimate that the Transition Tax will result in a material amount of additional U.S. tax liability, the total amount of which must be reflected as tax expense in 2017, when the tax legislation was enacted, despite the fact that the resulting tax may be paid over eight years. Such tax expense may be subject to adjustment in subsequent periods throughout 2018 in accordance with recent interpretive guidance issued by the SEC. Further, the changes to the deductibility of performance-based compensation may negatively impact our cash flows going forward. Finally, there may be other material adverse effects resulting from the legislation that we have not yet identified.

While some of the changes made by the tax legislation may adversely affect the Company in one or more reporting periods and prospectively, other changes may be beneficial on a going forward basis. We continue to work with our tax advisors to determine the full impact that the recent tax legislation as a whole will have on us.

The Company’s failure to comply with the anti-corruption laws of the United States and various international jurisdictions could negatively impact its reputation and results of operations.

Doing business on a worldwide basis requires the Company to comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations imposed by governments around the world with jurisdiction over our operations, which may include the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”)FCPA and the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 (the “Bribery Act”)Bribery Act), as well as the laws of the countries where the Company does business. These laws and regulations can apply to companies and individual directors, officers, employees and agents, and may restrict the Company’s operations, trade practices, investment decisions and partnering activities. Where they apply, the FCPA and the Bribery Act prohibit, among other things, the Company and its officers, directors, employees and business partners, including joint venture partners and agents acting on the Company’s behalf, from corruptly offering, promising, authorizing or providing anything of value to

“foreign “foreign officials” for the purposes of influencing official decisions or obtaining or retaining business or otherwise obtaining favorable treatment. The Bribery Act also prohibits non-governmental “commercial” bribery and accepting bribes. Part of the Company’s business may involve dealings with governments and state-owned business enterprises, the employees and representatives of which may be considered “foreign officials” for purposes of the FCPA and the Bribery Act. The Company is also subject to the jurisdiction of various governments and regulatory agencies around the world, which may bring Company personnel and agents into contact with “foreign officials” responsible for issuing or renewing permits, licenses, or approvals or for enforcing other governmental regulations. The Company’s global operations, including in countries with high levels of perceived corruption, expose it to the risk of violating, or being accused of violating, anti-corruption laws. Any failure on the part of the Company to successfully comply with these laws and regulations may expose the Company to reputational harm as well as significant sanctions, including criminal fines, imprisonment of its employees or representatives, civil penalties, disgorgement of profits, injunctions and debarment from government contracts, as well as other remedial measures. Investigations of alleged violations can be expensive and disruptive. Compliance with these laws can increase the cost of doing business globally.  The Company maintains policies and procedures designed to assist the Company and its subsidiaries in complying with applicable anti-corruption laws. However, there can be no guarantee that these policies and procedures will effectively prevent violations by Company employees or representatives for which the Company may be held responsible, and any such violation could materially and adversely affect the Company’s reputation, business, financial position and results of operations.

Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could affect Company financial results.

The Company is subjectalso exposed to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. The Company’s results of operations are reported in U.S. dollars. However, outside the United Sates, the Company’s sales and costs are denominated in a variety of environmental, health and safety and product registration laws dealing with the production and sale of chemicals that could require us to incur additional costs or to reformulate or discontinue certain of our products.

The Company’s operations are regulated under a number of federal, state, local and foreign environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that govern, among other things, the production and marketing of chemical substances and discharge, use, handling, transport, storage and disposal of hazardous materials into the air, soil and water.  In the U.S., these laws and regulations include, but are not limited to, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and state and local laws, such as California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65).  Analogous laws outside the U.S. apply to us in many jurisdictions,currencies including among others, the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorizationeuro, British pound, Canadian dollar, Mexican peso, Colombian peso, Philippine peso, Brazilian real, Polish zloty, and RestrictionChinese RMB. The Company translates its local currency financial results into U.S. dollars based on average exchange rates prevailing during the reporting period or the exchange rate at the end of Chemical Substances Act (REACH) regulation and its Biocidal Products Regulation.  Compliance with these environmental laws and regulations isthat period. During times of a major consideration for the Company, and to comply with some of these laws, we may need to alter our product lines, which could lead to a material adverse effect on our results of operations.  In addition, the transportation of certain raw materials is highly regulated and is subject to increased regulation or restrictions. These regulations may restrict or prohibit transport of these raw materials, resulting in these raw materials not being available to the Company in quantities desired by the Company or at costs attractive to the Company, which may restrict or substantially limitstrengthening U.S. dollar, the Company’s manufacturing operations.

Under the REACH regulation, we must submit registrations for certain substances between nowreported international sales and June 1, 2018, and may need to update previously submitted registrations for other substances.  The costs associated with these registrations and updates could be substantial. Moreover, if a registration was, or in the future is, not submitted by any applicable deadline, our ability to sell those productsearnings may be negatively impacted untilreduced because the registration process has been completed. In addition, we manufacture, process and/or use substances being evaluated under the REACH regulation’s Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) program. Impacts under this program could include requirements to discontinue certain product lines and to reformulate others, which could materially alter our marketplace position or otherwise have a material financial effect on our revenues. Some of the laws and regulations applicable to us have changedlocal currency may translate into fewer U.S. dollars. Fluctuations in recent years to impose new obligations that could also force us to reformulate or discontinue certain of our products. For example, the European Union is now requiring a review of existing active biocide substances, and based on this review, the European Commission or an individual member state may decide not to authorize the product for continued sale. As another example, the June 2016 amendments to TSCA now mandate that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must designate “high priority” chemicals and perform a risk evaluation, which could result in a finding of “unreasonable risk” and a decision to promulgate new regulations to address such risk.

Compliance with environmental laws could restrict the Company’s ability to expand its facilities or require the Company to modify its facilities and processes or acquire additional costly pollution control equipment, incur other significant expenses, or expose the Company to greater liability associated with its production processes and products.  The Company has incurred and will continue to incur capital expenditures and operating costs in complying with these laws and regulations.  In addition,  our operations currently use, and have historically used, hazardous materials and generate, and have historically generated, quantities of hazardous waste.  We are subject to regulatory oversight and investigation, remediation, and monitoring obligations at certain current and former U.S. Superfund sites, as well as third-party disposal sites, under federal laws and their state and local analogues, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), as well as analogous foreign laws.  In the event that new contamination is discovered, the Company may become subject to obligations.  The costs and liabilities associated with these issues may be substantial and may materially impact the financial health of the Company.

The Company is also subject to numerous federal, state, local and foreign laws that regulate the manufacture, storage, distribution and labeling of many of the Company’s products, including some of the Company’s disinfecting, sanitizing and antimicrobial products.  Some of these laws require the Company to have operating permits for the Company’s production facilities, warehouse facilities and operations.  Various federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations also require the Company to register the Company’s products and to comply with specified requirements with respect to those products.  Additionally, those requirements, and enforcement of those requirements, may become more stringent in the future. The ultimate cost of compliance with any such requirements could be material.

Although it is our policy to comply with such laws and regulations, it is possible that we have not been or may not be at all times in material compliance with all of those requirements. If the Company fails to comply with any of these laws and regulations, including permitting and licensing requirements, it may be liable for damages and the costs of remedial actions in excess of the Company’s recorded liabilities, and may also be subject to fines, injunctions or criminal sanctions or to revocation, non-renewal or modification of the Company’s operating permits and revocation of the Company’s product registrations.  Any such revocation, modification or non-renewal may require the Company to cease or limit the manufacture and sale of its products at one or more of the Company’s facilities, which may limit or prevent the Company’s ability to meet product demand or build new facilities and may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Any such revocation, non-renewal or modification may also result in an event of default under the indenture for the Company’s notes or under the Company’s credit facilities, which, if not cured or waived, may result in the acceleration of all the Company’s indebtedness.

In addition to the costs of complying with environmental, health and safety requirements, the Company has incurred and may incur in the future costs defending against environmental litigation and/or investigations brought by government agencies and private parties, including administrative proceedings.  The Company is, and may be in the future, a defendant in lawsuits brought by parties alleging environmental damage, personal injury or property damage. A significant judgment or settlement, to the extent not covered by existing insurance policies, against the Company could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Although the Company has insurance that may cover some of these potential losses, there is always uncertainty as to whether such insurance may be available to the Company based on case-specific factors and the specific provisions of the Company’s insurance policies.

The potential cost to the Company relating to environmental, health and safety and product registration matters is uncertain due to factors such as the complexity and evolving nature of laws and regulations relating to the environment, health and safety and product registration, including those outside of the U.S. Environmental and product registration laws may also become more stringent over time, imposing greater compliance costs and increasing risks and penalties associated with any violation, as well as restricting or prohibiting the sale of existing or new products, which may also negatively impact the Company’s operating results.  Without limiting the foregoing, these laws or regulations may restrict or prohibit the use of non-renewable or carbon-based substances, or impose fees or penalties for the use of these substances. Accordingly, the Company may become subject to additional liabilities and increased operating costs in the future under these laws and regulations. The impact of any such changes, which are unknown at this time, may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company’s inability to accurately estimate and maintain appropriate levels of recorded liabilities for existing and future contingenciesexchange rates may materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The liabilities recorded byIn all jurisdictions in which the Company for pending and threatened legal proceedings are estimates based on various assumptions.  An adverse ruling or external forces, such as changes in the rate of inflation, the regulatory environment and other factors that could prove such assumptions to be no longer appropriate, may affect the accuracy of these estimates.  Given the uncertainties inherent in such estimates, the Company’s actual liabilities could differ significantly from the estimated amountsoperates, the Company records in its financial statements with respectis also subject to existinglaws and future contingencies.  If the Company’s actual liability is higher than estimated or any new legal proceeding is initiated or other contingency occurs, it could materiallyregulations that govern foreign investment, foreign trade and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operationscurrency exchange transactions. These laws and cash flows.

The Company has a significant amount of indebtedness andregulations may incur additional indebtedness, or need to refinance existing indebtedness, in the future, which may adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company has a significant amount of indebtedness and may incur additional indebtedness in the future.  As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $290.8 million of debt on its balance sheet.  U.S. debt included $289.0 million in unsecured promissory notes with maturities extending from 2018 until 2027.  In addition, on December 31, 2017 the Company was party to a $125 million credit facility.  On January 30, 2018, the Company entered into a $350 million five-year credit facility replacing the prior facility.

Certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries also maintain bank term loans and short-term bank lines of credit in their respective countries to meet working capital requirements as well as to fund capital expenditure programs and acquisitions.  As of December 31, 2017, the Company’s foreign subsidiaries’ aggregate outstanding debt totaled $ 1.8 million.

The Company’s current indebtedness and any additional indebtedness incurred in the future may materially and adversely affect its business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.  For example, such indebtedness could:

The Company’s loan agreements contain provisions, which, among others, require maintenance of certain financial ratios and place limitations on additional debt, investments and payment of dividends.  Failure to comply with these loan agreements would require debt restructuring that could be materially adverse to the Company’s financial position, results of operationsoperating profits and cash flows.

An increase in interest rates could limit the ability of the Company to incur additional debt to fund the Company’s strategic plans or to refinance maturing debt without incurring significant additional cost, and could make borrowings under the Company’s credit facility or other floating rate debt materially more expensive.  Additionally, any future disruptions in the credit and financial markets may reduce the availability of debt financing or refinancing and increase the costs associated with such financing.  If the Company is unable to secure financing on satisfactory terms, or at all, its business financial position, results of operations and cash flows may be materially and adversely affected.

The Company could be adversely affected by downgrades to its credit ratings or disruptions in its ability to access well-functioning capital markets.

Historically, the Company has relied on the debt capital markets to fund portions of its capital investments and access to bank credit facilities as part of its working capital management strategy. The Company’s continued access to these markets, and the terms of such access, depend on multiple factors including the condition of debt capital markets, the Company’s operating performance, and

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its credit ratings. These ratings are based on a number of factors, which include rating agencies’ assessment of the Company’s financial strength and financial policies. There can be no assurance that any particular rating assigned to the Company will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be changed or withdrawn by a rating agency, if in that rating agency’s judgment, future circumstances relating to the basis of the rating so warrant. Incurrence of additional debt by the Company could adversely affect its credit ratings. The Company depends on banks and other financial institutions to provide credit to its business and perform under the Company’s agreements with them. Defaults by one or more of these counterparties on their obligations to the Company could materially and adversely affect it. Any downgrade of the Company’s credit ratings could materially adversely affect its cost of funds, liquidity, competitive position and access to capital markets and increase the cost of and counterparty risks associated with existing facilities, which could materially and adversely affect Company business operations, financial condition, and results of operations.

Downturns in certain industries and general economic downturns may have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.      

Economic downturns may adversely affect users of some end products that are manufactured using the Company’s products and the industries in which such end products are used.  These users may reduce their volume of purchases of such end products during economic downturns, which would reduce demand for the Company’s products.  Additionally, uncertain conditions in the credit markets pose a risk to the overall economy that may impact consumer and customer demand of some of the Company’s products, as well as the Company’s ability to manage normal commercial relationships with its customers, suppliers and creditors.  Some of the Company’s customers may not be able to meet the terms of sale and suppliers may not be able to fully perform their contractual obligations due to tighter credit markets or a general slowdown in economic activity.  

In the event that economic conditions worsen or result in a prolonged downturn or recession, the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows may be materially and adversely affected.

Conflicts, military actions, terrorist attacks and general instability, particularly in certain energy-producing nations, along with increased security regulations related to our industry, could adversely affect the Company’s business.

Conflicts, military actions and terrorist attacks have precipitated economic instability and turmoil in financial markets. Instability and turmoil, particularly in energy-producing nations, may result in raw material cost increases. The uncertainty and economic disruption resulting from hostilities, military action or acts of terrorism may impact any or all of the Company’s facilities and operations or those of its suppliers or customers. Accordingly, any conflict, military action or terrorist attack that impacts the Company or any of its suppliers or customers, or any resulting economic instability resulting from such conflict, military action or terrorist attack, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, financial position results of operations and cash flows.

Cost overruns, delays and miscalculations in capacity needs with respect to the Company’s expansion or other capital projects could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

From time to time, the Company initiates expansion and other significant capital projects. Projects of this type are subject to risks of delay or cost overruns inherent in any large construction project resulting from numerous factors, including the following: shortages of equipment, materials or skilled labor; work stoppages; unscheduled delays in the delivery of ordered materials and equipment; unanticipated cost increases; difficulties in obtaining necessary permits or in meeting permit conditions; difficulties in meeting regulatory requirements or obtaining regulatory approvals; availability of suppliers to certify equipment for existing and enhanced regulations; design and engineering problems; and failure or delay of third partythird-party service providers, civil unrest and labor disputes. Significant cost overruns or delays in completing a capital project could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s return on investment, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, if the Company misjudges its future capacity needs, this too could negatively impact its operations, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company relies extensively on information technology (IT) systems to conduct its business. Interruption of, damage to or compromise of the Company’s IT systems and failure to maintain the integrity of customer, colleague or Company data could harm the Company’s reputation and have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company relies on IT systems in its operations, including production, supply chain, research and development, finance, human resource and regulatory functions. The Company’s ability to effectively manage its business depends on the security, reliability and adequacy of these systems.  IT system failures due to events including but not limited to network disruptions, programming errors, computer viruses and security breaches (e.g., cyber-attacks) could impact production activities, impede shipment of products, cause delays or cancellations of customer orders, or hamper the processing of transactions or reporting of financial results.  These or similar occurrences, whether accidental or intentional, could result in theft, unauthorized use or publication of our intellectual property and/or  confidential business information of our employees, customers, suppliers or other third parties, which could harm our reputation and competitive position, reduce the value of our investmentinvestments in research and development and other strategic initiatives, result in a loss of business, as well as remedial and other costs, fines, investigations, enforcement actions or lawsuits or otherwise materially and adversely affect our business.

The Company continues to develop and enhance controls and security measures designed to protect against the risk of theft, loss or fraudulent or unlawful use of customer, colleaguesupplier, third party, employee or companyCompany data, and it maintains an ongoing process to re-evaluate the adequacy of its controls and measures. The Company may also be required to expend additional resources to continue to enhance its information privacy and security measures and/or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities. The Company maintains what it believes to be adequate and collectible insurance in the event of the theft, loss, fraudulent or unlawful use of customer, colleaguesupplier, third party, employee or companyCompany data, but any such occurrences could result in costs whichthat may not be covered or may be in excess of any available insurance that the Company may have procured. While the Company has a comprehensive program in place for continuously reviewing, maintaining, testing and upgrading its IT systems and security, there can

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be no assurance that such efforts will prevent breakdowns of or breaches in Company IT systems that could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Various liability claims could materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial position, operating results and cash flows.

The Company may be required to pay for losses or injuries purportedly caused by its products.  The Company faces an inherent exposure to various types of claims including general liability, product liability, product recall, toxic tort and environmental (“claims”), among others, if its products, or the end products that are manufactured with the Company’s products, result in property damage, injury or death.  In addition, because the Company conducts business in multiple jurisdictions, the Company also faces an inherent exposure to other general claims based on its operations in those jurisdictions and the laws of those jurisdictions, including but not

limited to claims arising from its relationship with employees, distributors, agents and customers, and other parties with whom it has a business relationship, directly or indirectly.  Many of these claims may be made against the Company even if there is no evidence of a loss from that claim, and these claims may be made by individual persons, groups of persons, or groups of plaintiffs in a class action.  Defending these claims could result in significant legal expenses relating to defense costs and/or damage awards and diversion of management’s time and the Company’s resources.  Any claim brought against the Company could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company’s success depends on its executive management and other key personnel.

The Company’s future success depends to a significant degree on the skills, experience and efforts of its executive management and other key personnel and their ability to provide the Company with uninterrupted leadership and direction. The availability of highly qualified talent is limited and the competition for talent is robust androbust; as a result, the Company may not be able to recruit and retain the personnel it needs if it were to lose an existing member of senior management.executive management or other key personnel. The Company’s future success will depend on its ability to have adequate succession plans in place and to attract, retain and develop qualified personnel. A failure to efficiently replace members of executive management members and other key personnel and to attract, retain and develop new qualified personnel could have ana material and adverse effect on the Company’s business financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company has a significant amount of indebtedness and may incur additional indebtedness, or need to refinance existing indebtedness, in the future, which may adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company has a significant amount of indebtedness and may incur additional indebtedness in the future.  As of December 31, 2019, the Company had $222.1 million of debt on its balance sheet.  U.S. debt consisted of $222.1 million in unsecured promissory notes with maturities extending from 2020 until 2027.  In addition, on December 31, 2019 the Company was party to a $350.0 million credit facility.  

Certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries periodically maintain bank term loans and short-term bank lines of credit in their respective countries to meet working capital requirements as well as to fund capital expenditure programs and acquisitions.  As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s foreign subsidiaries did not have any outstanding debt.

The Company’s current indebtedness and any additional indebtedness incurred in the future may materially and adversely affect its business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.  For example, such indebtedness could:

The Company’s loan agreements contain customary provisions that, among other things, require maintenance of certain financial ratios and place limitations on additional debt, investments and payment of dividends.  The Company’s ability to comply with these provisions may be affected by events beyond our control.  Failure to comply with these loan agreement provisions would require debt restructuring that could be materially adverse to the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.  

An increase in interest rates could limit the Company’s ability to incur additional debt to fund the Company’s strategic plans or to refinance maturing debt without incurring significant additional cost, and could make borrowings under the Company’s credit facility or other floating rate debt materially more expensive.  Additionally, any future disruptions in the credit and financial markets may reduce the availability of debt financing or refinancing and increase the costs associated with such financing.  If the Company is unable to secure financing on satisfactory terms, or at all, its business financial position, results of operations and cash flows may be materially and adversely affected.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None

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ItemItem 2.  Properties

The following are the Company’s principal plants and other important physical properties. Unless otherwise noted, the listed properties are owned by the Company. Management believes that the facilities are suitable and adequate for the Company’s current operations. 

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Item 3. Legal Proceedings

There are a variety of legal proceedings pending or threatened against the Company that occur in the normal course of the Company’s business, the majority of which relate to environmental assessment, protection and remediation matters.  Some of these proceedings may result in fines, penalties, judgments or costs being assessed against the Company at some future time.  The Company’s operations are subject to extensive local, state and federal legislation and regulations, including the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA)CERCLA and the Superfund amendments of 1986 (Superfund) as well as comparable regulations applicable to the Company’s foreign locations.  Over the years, the Company has received requests for information relativerelated to, or has been named by government authorities as a potentially responsible party (PRP) at, a number of sites where cleanup costs have been or may be incurred by the Company under CERCLA and similar state statutes.  In addition, damages are being claimed against the Company in general liability actions for alleged personal injury or property damage in the case of some disposal and plant sites.  The Company believes that it has made adequate provisions for the costs it mayis likely to incur with respect to these sites.  For most of these sites the involvement ofand claims. While the Company is expectedunable to be minimal.  Materialpredict the outcome of these matters, it does not believe, based upon current available facts, that the ultimate resolution of any of these matters will have a material effect on its overall financial position. The Company’s material legal proceedings are described below:

Maywood, New Jersey Site

The Company’s property in Maywood, New Jersey and property formerly owned by the Company adjacent to its current site and other nearby properties (Maywood(collectively, the Maywood site) were listed on the National Priorities List in September 1993 pursuant to the provisions of CERCLA because of certain alleged chemical contamination.  Pursuant to an(i) a September 21, 1987 Administrative Order on Consent entered into between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)USEPA and the Company for property formerly owned by the Company at the Maywood site and (ii) the issuance of an order on November 12, 2004 by the USEPA to the Company for property currently owned by the Company at the Maywood site, the Company has completed various Remedial Investigation Feasibility Studiesremedial investigation feasibility studies (RI/FS), and on September 24, 2014, USEPA issued its Record of Decision (ROD) for chemically-contaminated soil.soil at the Maywood site, which requires Stepan to perform remedial cleanup of the soil and buried waste. The USEPA has not yet issued a ROD for chemically-contaminated groundwater for the Maywood site.  Based on the most current information available, the Company believes its recorded liability represents its best estimateis reasonable having considered the range of the costestimated costs of remediation for the Maywood site. The best estimate of the cost of remediation for the Maywood site could change as the Company continues to hold discussions with USEPA, as the design of the remedial action progresses,is finalized, if a groundwater ROD is issued or if other PRPs are identified. The ultimate amount for which the Company is liable could differ materially from the Company’s current recorded liability.

In April 2015, the Company entered into an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Administrative Order on Consent with USEPA, which requires payment of certain costs and performance of certain investigative and design work for chemically-contaminated soil.  Based on the Company’s review and analysis of this order, no changes to the Company’s current recorded liability for claims associated with soil remediation of chemical contamination at the Maywood site were required.

In addition, under the terms of a settlement agreement reached on November 12, 2004, the United StatesU.S. Department of Justice and the Company agreed to fulfill the terms of a Cooperative Agreement reached in 1985 under which the United States will takehas taken title to and responsibilityis responsible for the removal of radioactive waste removal at the Maywood site, includingand has incurred past and will incur future remediation costs incurred by the United States.  As such, the Company recorded no liability related to this settlement agreement.

D’Imperio Property Site

During the mid-1970’s, Jerome Lightman and the Lightman Drum Company disposed of hazardous substances generated by the Company at several sites in New Jersey.Jersey, including the D’Imperio Property Superfund Site located in New Jersey (the D’Imperio site).  The Company was named as a PRP in aan October 2, 1998 lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey that involved the D’Imperio Property Site located in New Jersey.site.  In 2016,2019, the PRPs were provided with updated remediation cost estimates by the PRP group technical consultant and project manager, which werethe Company considered in the Company’sits determination of its range of estimated possible losses and liability balance.  The changes in range of possible losses and liability balance related to such updated remediation cost estimates were immaterial. Remediation work is continuing at thisthe D’Imperio site.  Based on current information, the Company believes that its recorded liability represents its best estimateis reasonable having considered the range of the costestimated costs of remediation for the D’Imperio site.  Depending on the ultimate cost of the remediation at this site, the amount for which the Company is liable could differ materially from the current estimates.

Wilmington Site

The Company is currently contractually obligated to contribute to the environmental response costs associated with the Company’s formerly-owned site in Wilmington, Massachusetts.Massachusetts (the Wilmington site).  Remediation at this site is being managed by its current owner, to whom the Company sold the property in 1980.  Under the Company’s October 1, 1993 agreement with the current owner of the Wilmington site, once total site remediation costs exceed certain levels, the Company is obligated to contribute

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up to five percent of future response costs associated with this site with no limitation on the ultimate amount of the Company’s contributions. The Company had paid the current owner $2.5$2.8 million for the Company’s portion of environmental response costs at the Wilmington site through December 31, 2017.2019.  The Company has recorded a liability for its portion of the estimated remediation costs for the site.  Depending on the ultimate cost of the remediation at this site, the amount for which the Company is liable could differ materially from the current estimates.

The Company and other prior owners of the Wilmington site also entered into an agreement in April 2004 waiving certain statute of limitations defenses for claims whichthat may be filed by the Town of Wilmington, Massachusetts, in connection with this site.  While the Company has denied any liability for any such claims, the Company agreed to this waiver while the parties continue to discuss the resolution of any potential claim which may be filed.

The Company believes that based on current information it has adequate reserves for the claims related to this site.  However, depending on the ultimate cost of the remediation at this site, the amount for which the Company is liable could differ from the current estimates.

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act

On March 22, 2017,April 3, 2019, the Company received a prefiling notice from USEPA for alleged violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)FIFRA associated with three of the Company’s biocide products sold by a licensed distributor. On January 9, 2018,June 12, 2019, USEPA issued a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) to the Company for the alleged FIFRA violations. The CAFO assessed a civil penalty of $131,440,$612,718, which the Company paid on January 16, 2018.July 10, 2019.

Other MattersU.S. Sites

Through the regular environmental monitoring of its plant production sites, the Company discovered levels of chemical contamination that were above thresholds allowed by law at its Millsdale, Illinois and Fieldsboro, New Jersey plants. The Company has been named asvoluntarily reported its results to the applicable state environmental agencies. As a de minimis PRPresult, the Company is required to perform remediation of the affected areas. In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company recognized a charge for the estimated costs of remediating the sites. Remediation work is continuing at other sites, and as suchthese sites. Based on current information, the Company believes that a resolution of its liabilities will not have a material impact onrecorded liability for the financial position, results of operations or cash flowsremediation of the Company.affected areas is appropriate based on estimate of expected costs. However, actual costs could differ materially from current estimates.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not Applicable.

PART17

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On February 19, 2013,January 31, 2020, there were 1,716 holders of record of the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to 1,000,000 shares of its outstanding common stock.  During 2017, 57,963 shares of Company common stock were purchased in the open market and 18,827 shares of Company common stock were purchased from the Company’s retirement plans.  These shares were recorded as treasury stock in the Company’s balance sheet.  At December 31, 2017, 641,139 shares remained available for repurchase under the February 19, 2013, authorization. The timing and amount of the repurchases are determined by the Company’s management based on its evaluation of market conditions and share price. Shares will be repurchased with cash in open market or private transactions in accordance with applicable securities and stock exchange rules.

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Dividends Declared Per Common Share

The Company has increased its dividends for 50 consecutive years.

The Company has material debt agreements that restrict the payment of dividends. See the Liquidity and Financial Condition section of Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, for a description of the restrictions. See also Note 6, Debt, of the consolidated financial statements (Item 8 of this Form 10-K) for the amount of retained earnings available for dividend distribution at December 31, 2017.

The following stock performance graph compares the yearly change since December 31, 2012,2014, in cumulative return on the common stock of the Company on a dividend reinvested basis to the Dow Jones Chemical Industry Index and the Russell 2000 Index. The Dow Jones Chemical Industry Index is a market-capitalization weighted grouping of 35 chemical companies, including major manufacturers of both basic and specialty products. The Company is not included in the Dow Jones Chemical Industry Index. The Russell 2000 Index is a market-capitalization weighted grouping of 2,000 small to medium sized companies in a broad range of industries. The Company has been included in the Russell 2000 Index since 1992. The graph assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2012,2013, and shows the cumulative total return as of each December 31 thereafter.

Item

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

(In thousands, except per share data)

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following is management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) of certain significant factors that have affected the Company’s financial condition and results of operations during the annual periods included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Overview

The Company produces and sells intermediate chemicals that are used in a wide variety of applications worldwide. The overall business comprises three reportable segments:

2017 Acquisition Agreement

On June 13, 2017, the Company announced that it had reached an agreement with BASF Mexicana, S.A. DE C.V. (BASF) to acquire BASF’s production facility in Ecatepec, Mexico, and a portion of its related surfactants business.  The facility, which is near Mexico City, has over 50,000 metric tons of capacity, 124,000 square feet of warehouse space, a laboratory and office space.  The acquisition is currently expected to be completed in 2018, subject to normal closing conditions, including necessary governmental consents.finalized during the first half of 2020.  The acquisition supportsacquired business did not impact the Company’s growth strategy in Latin America.  The Company believes this acquisition should enhance its market position and supply capabilities for surfactants in Mexico and positions the Company to grow in both the consumer and functional surfactants markets.2019 financial results.  

Deferred Compensation Plans

The accounting for the Company’s deferred compensation plans can cause period-to-period fluctuations in Company expenses and profits. Compensation expense results when the valuesvalue of Company common stock and mutual fund investment assets held for the plans increase, and compensation income results when the valuesvalue of Company common stock and mutual fund investment assets decline. The pretax effect of all deferred compensation-related activities (including realized and unrealized gains and losses on the mutual fund assets held to fund the deferred compensation obligations) and the income statement line items in which the effects of the activities were recorded are presented in the following table:

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Below are the year-end Company common stock market prices used in the computation of deferred compensation income and expense:

Effects of Foreign Currency Translation

The Company’s foreign subsidiaries transact business and report financial results in their respective local currencies. As a result, foreign subsidiary income statements are translated into U.S. dollars at average foreign exchange rates appropriate for the reporting period. Because foreign exchange rates fluctuate against the U.S. dollar over time, foreign currency translation affects year-over-year comparisons of financial statement items (i.e., because foreign exchange rates fluctuate, similar year-to-year local currency results for a foreign subsidiary may translate into different U.S. dollar results). The following tables present the effects that foreign currency translation had on the year-over-year changes in consolidated net sales and various income line items for 20172019 compared to 20162018 and 20162018 compared to 2015:2017:

Results of Operations

20172019 Compared with 20162018

Summary

Net income attributable to the Company for 20172019 decreased seven percent from $111.1 million, or $4.76 per diluted share in 2018 to $103.1 million, or $4.42 per diluted share, in 2019. Adjusted net income increased sixseven percent to $91.6$119.4 million, or $3.92$5.12 per diluted share, from $86.2$111.7 million, or $3.73 per diluted share, for 2016. Adjusted net income increased 11 percent to $108.7 million, or $4.65 per diluted share, from $98.2 million, or $4.25$4.79 per diluted share in 20162018 (see the “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income and Diluted Earnings per Share” section of this MD&A for reconciliations between reported net income attributable to the Company and reported earnings per diluted share and non-GAAP adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share). Below is a summary discussion of the major factors leading to the year-over-year changes in net sales, profits and expenses. A detailed discussion of segment operating performance for 20172019 compared to 20162018 follows the summary.

Consolidated net sales increased $158.9decreased $135.1 million, or nineseven percent, between years.  HigherLower average selling prices favorably affectednegatively impacted the year-over-year change in net sales change by $174.5$60.8 million.  The increasedecrease in average selling prices was mostly attributableprimarily due to the pass through of higherlower raw material costs within the Surfactants and Polymers segments.  Consolidated sales volume declined one percent, which had a $25.5 million unfavorable impact oncosts.  Foreign currency translation negatively impacted the year-over-year change in net sales.  Sales volume decreased two percent and seven percent for the Surfactants and Specialty Products segments, respectively.  Sales volume was flat year-over-year for the Polymers segment.   Foreign currency translation positively affected the year-over-year net sales change by $9.9 million. The favorable foreign currency translation effect reflected$37.3 million due to a weakerstronger U.S. dollar against the majority of currencies for countries where the Company has foreign operations.  Unit margins improved for SurfactantsConsolidated sales volume decreased two percent and declined for Polymersnegatively impacted the change in net sales by $37.0 million.  Sales volume in the Surfactant segment decreased three percent while sales volume in the Polymer and Specialty Products.  Product segments increased four and one percent, respectively.

Operating income improved $20.0declined $22.0 million, or 1615 percent, between years.  MostThe majority of this improvement was related to lower 2017decrease reflects higher deferred compensation expenseexpenses in 2019.  Deferred compensation expenses increased $17.5 million year-over-year. Corporate expenses, excluding deferred compensation and lower business restructuring expenses, were up $1.6 million year-over-year.  The majority of this

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increase reflects higher environmental remediation expense recognized in 2019.  From a segment perspective, Specialty Product and asset impairment charges, which declinedPolymer operating income improved by $11.9$4.8 million and $4.0$3.2 million, respectively. Operating income improved for therespectively, whereas Surfactant segment and declined for the Polymers and Specialty Products segments. The Surfactant segment operating income increased 20 percent largely due to the non-recurrence of two customer claims incurred in the prior year ($7.4 million), a favorable resolution of one of the prior year claims in 2017 ($4.7 million), improved product mix, higher unit margins, savings from the prior year Canadian plant shutdown and the full year accretive impact of the October 2016 Tebras and PBC acquisitions in Brazil.  The Polymers segment operating income declined 14 percent primarily due to lower sales volume and unit margins in North America.by $10.7 million.  Foreign currency translation had a favorable $1.7an unfavorable $2.5 million effect on year-over-year consolidated operating income.

Operating expenses (including deferred compensation expense and business restructuring and asset impairment expenses) decreased $20.2increased $22.4 million, or 1012 percent, between years. Changes in the individual income statement line items that comprise the Company’s operating expenses were as follows:

Selling expenses decreased $2.9Net interest expense in 2019 declined $4.8 million, or five45 percent, year over year largelyversus prior year.  This decrease was primarily attributable to the combination of higher interest earned on U.S. cash balances and lower interest expense resulting from scheduled debt repayments and the Company’s voluntary prepayment of its 5.88% Senior Notes in the second quarter of 2019.  The higher interest on U.S. cash balances was principally due to lower U.S. fringe benefit expenses ($2.4 million).foreign cash repatriation of $100.0 million to the United States in the fourth quarter of 2018.  

Other, net was $4.6 million of income in 2019 versus $0.7 million of expense in 2018.   The lower fringe benefits were primarily due to lower incentive-based compensation expense (stock-basedCompany recognized $4.9 million of investment gains (including realized and unrealized gains and losses) for the Company’s deferred compensation and bonuses).  Higher expenses associated with Tebras and PBC, acquiredsupplemental defined contribution mutual fund assets in October 2016, partially offset2019 compared to $1.4 million of losses in 2018.  In addition, the consolidated decreaseCompany reported foreign exchange gains of $0.1 million in selling expenses.