Commitments and Contingencies

In the ordinary course of conducting our business, we become involved in litigation and other claims from private party actions, as well as judicial and administrative proceedings involving governmental authorities at the federal, state, and local levels. While the outcome of litigation or other proceedings against us cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not consider it reasonably possible that a loss resulting from such litigation or other proceedings, in excess of any amounts accrued or covered by insurance, has been incurred that is expected to have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Escrow Claims Related to Sale of Environmental Services Business

Under the terms of the March 2014 sale of our previous Environmental Services business to Ecoserv, LLC (“Ecoserv”), $8.0 million of the sales price was withheld and placed in an escrow account to satisfy claims for possible breaches of representations and warranties contained in the purchase/sale agreement. In December 2014, we received a letter from Ecoserv asserting that we had breached certain representations and warranties contained in the purchase/sale agreement, including failing to disclose operational problems and service work performed on injection/disposal wells and increased barge rental costs. The letter indicated that Ecoserv expected the damages associated with these claims to exceed the escrow amount. In July 2015 we filed an action against Ecoserv in state district court in Harris County, Texas, seeking release of the escrow funds. Thereafter, Ecoserv filed a counterclaim seeking recovery in excess of the escrow funds based on the alleged breach of representations and covenants in the purchase/sale agreement. Ecoserv also alleged that we committed fraud in connection with the March 2014 transaction. Following commencement of the trial in December 2017, we reached a settlement agreement with Ecoserv in the first quarter of 2018, under which Ecoserv received $22.0 million in cash, effectively reducing the net sales price of the Environmental Services business by such amount in exchange for dismissal of the pending claims in the lawsuit, and release of any future claims related to the March 2014 transaction. As a result of the settlement, we recognized a charge to discontinued operations in the fourth quarter of 2017 for $22.0 million ($17.4 million net of tax) to reduce the previously recognized gain from the sale of the Environmental Services business. The reduction in sales price was funded in the first quarter of 2018 with a cash payment of $14.0 million and release of the $8.0 million that had been held in escrow since the March 2014 transaction. In March 2018, the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice. Litigation expenses related to this matter were included in corporate office expenses in operating income.

Kenedy, Texas Drilling Fluids Facility Fire

In July 2018, a fire occurred at our Kenedy, Texas drilling fluids facility, destroying the distribution warehouse, including inventory and surrounding equipment. In addition, nearby residences and businesses were evacuated as part of the response to the fire. In order to avoid any customer service disruptions, we implemented contingency plans to supply products from alternate facilities in the area and region. During the third quarter of 2018, we received a petition filed on behalf of 23 plaintiffs seeking a total of $1.5 million for alleged bodily injuries and property damage claimed to have been incurred as a result of the fire and the subsequent efforts we undertook to remediate any potential smoke damage. In December 2018, the plaintiffs' counsel filed an amended petition that increased the number of plaintiffs to 39 and also seeks punitive damages. While no trial date has been set for the matter at this time, we have been advised by our insurer that these claims are insured under our general liability insurance program. While this event and related claims are covered by our property, business interruption, and general liability insurance programs, these programs contain self-insured retentions, which remain our financial obligations.

During 2018, we incurred fire-related costs of $4.8 million, which includes $1.9 million for inventory and property, plant and equipment, $2.1 million in property-related cleanup and other costs, and $0.8 million relating to our self-insured retention for third-party claims. Based on the provisions of our insurance policies and initial insurance claims filed, we estimated $4.0 million in expected insurance recoveries and recognized a charge of $0.8 million in other operating (income) loss, net, for 2018. The insurance receivable balance included in other receivables was $0.6 million as of December 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2018, the claims related to the fire under our property, business interruption, and general liability insurance programs have not been finalized.

Leases

We lease various manufacturing facilities, warehouses, office space, machinery and equipment under operating leases with remaining terms ranging from 1 to 9 years with various renewal options. Substantially all leases require payment of taxes, insurance and maintenance costs in addition to rental payments. Total rental expenses for all operating leases were approximately $27.4 million, $23.9 million and $21.0 million for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases, with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year are included in the table below. Future minimum payments under capital leases are not significant.



(In thousands)
2019	$	9,112
2020	5,707
2021	4,630
2022	3,816
2023	3,144
Thereafter	4,507
	$	30,916

Other

Other than normal operating leases for office and warehouse space, rolling stock, and other pieces of operating equipment, we do not have any off-balance sheet financing arrangements or special purpose entities. As such, we are not materially exposed to any financing, liquidity, market, or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in such financing arrangements.

In conjunction with our insurance programs, we had established letters of credit in favor of certain insurance companies in the amount of $2.2 million at both December 31, 2018 and 2017. We also had $0.4 million of guarantee obligations in connection with facility closure bonds and other performance bonds issued by insurance companies outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. In addition, we had a bond of $4.2 million outstanding as of December 31, 2018 related to a Mexican Federal Tax Court appeal (see Note 8 for additional information).

We are self-insured for health claims, subject to certain “stop loss” insurance policies. Claims in excess of $250,000 per incident are insured by third-party insurers. Based on historical experience, we had accrued liabilities of $0.8 million and $1.3 million for unpaid claims incurred as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Substantially all of these estimated claims are expected to be paid within six months of their occurrence. In addition, we are self-insured for certain workers’ compensation, auto, and general liability claims up to a certain policy limit. Claims in excess of $750,000 are insured by third-party reinsurers. Based on historical experience, we had accrued liabilities of $2.2 million and $2.5 million for the uninsured portion of claims as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

We also maintain accrued liabilities for asset retirement obligations, which represent obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets that result from the normal operation of the long-lived asset. Our asset retirement obligations primarily relate to required expenditures associated with owned and leased facilities. Upon settlement of the liability, a gain or loss for any difference between the settlement amount and the liability recorded is recognized. We had accrued asset retirement obligations of $1.1 million and $1.1 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017