Commitments and Contingencies:

Environmental

We had the following activity in our recorded environmental liabilities for the six months ended June 30, 2016, as follows (in thousands):



Beginning balance at December 31, 2015^(a)	$	31,436
Expenditures	(1,194		)
Accretion of discount	397
Revisions of estimates	250
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	1,900
Ending balance at June 30, 2016^(a)	32,789
Less amounts reported in Accrued expenses	1,145
Amounts reported in Other noncurrent liabilities	$	31,644


(a)	As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, $3.9 million of environmental liabilities were classified as Assets held for sale in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. See Note 3, “Divestitures,” for additional information.

Environmental remediation liabilities include discounted liabilities of $23.2 million and $22.0 million at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, discounted at rates with a weighted-average of 3.8%, with the undiscounted amount totaling $62.4 million and $59.5 million at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. For certain locations where the Company is operating groundwater monitoring and/or remediation systems, prior owners or insurers have assumed all or most of the responsibility.

The amounts recorded represent our future remediation and other anticipated environmental liabilities. These liabilities typically arise during the normal course of our operational and environmental management activities or at the time of acquisition of the site, and are based on internal analysis as well as input from outside consultants. As evaluations proceed at each relevant site, changes in risk assessment practices, remediation techniques and regulatory requirements can occur, therefore such liability estimates may be adjusted accordingly. The timing and duration of remediation activities at these sites will be determined when evaluations are completed. Although it is difficult to quantify the potential financial impact of these remediation liabilities, management estimates (based on the latest available information) that there is a reasonable possibility that future environmental remediation costs associated with our past operations, in excess of amounts already recorded, could be up to approximately $17 million before income taxes.

We believe that any sum we may be required to pay in connection with environmental remediation matters in excess of the amounts recorded would likely occur over a period of time and would likely not have a material adverse effect upon our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows on a consolidated annual basis although any such sum could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows in a particular quarterly reporting period.

Litigation

We are involved from time to time in legal proceedings of types regarded as common in our business, including administrative or judicial proceedings seeking remediation under environmental laws, such as the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, commonly known as CERCLA or Superfund, products liability, breach of contract liability and premises liability litigation. Where appropriate, we may establish financial reserves for such proceedings. We also maintain insurance to mitigate certain of such risks. Costs for legal services are generally expensed as incurred.

Indemnities

We are indemnified by third parties in connection with certain matters related to acquired and divested businesses. Although we believe that the financial condition of those parties who may have indemnification obligations to the Company is generally sound, in the event the Company seeks indemnity under any of these agreements or through other means, there can be no assurance that any party who may have obligations to indemnify us will adhere to their obligations and we may have to resort to legal action to enforce our rights under the indemnities.

The Company may be subject to indemnity claims relating to properties or businesses it divested, including properties or businesses that Rockwood divested prior to the Acquisition Closing Date. In the opinion of management, and based upon information currently available, the ultimate resolution of any indemnification obligations owed to the Company or by the Company is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Other

We have contracts with certain of our customers, which serve as guarantees on product delivery and performance according to customer specifications that can cover both shipments on an individual basis as well as blanket coverage of multiple shipments under certain customer supply contracts. The financial coverage provided by these guarantees is typically based on a percentage of net sales value.