EQUITY-METHOD INVESTMENT

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

EQUITY-METHOD INVESTMENT [Abstract]

EQUITY-METHOD INVESTMENT

NOTE 7 – EQUITY-METHOD INVESTMENT

In 2013, the Company and Eastman Chemical Company (formerly Taminco Corporation) formed a joint venture (66.66% / 33.34% ownership), St. Gabriel CC Company, LLC, to design, develop, and construct an expansion of the Company’s St. Gabriel aqueous choline chloride plant.  The Company contributed the St. Gabriel plant, at cost, and expansion will be funded by the owners. The joint venture became operational as of July 1, 2016. St. Gabriel CC Company, LLC is a Variable Interest Entity (VIE) because the total equity at risk is not sufficient to permit the joint venture to finance its own activities without additional subordinated financial support.  Additionally, voting rights (2 votes each) are not proportionate to the owners’ obligation to absorb expected losses or receive the expected residual returns of the joint venture. The Company will receive up to 2/3 of the production offtake capacity and absorbs operating expenses approximately proportional to the actual percentage of offtake. The joint venture is accounted for under the equity method of accounting since the Company is not the primary beneficiary as we do not have the power to direct the activities of the joint venture that most significantly impact its economic performance.  The Company recognized a loss of $141 and $136 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and a loss of $280 and $270 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, relating to its portion of the joint venture’s expenses in other expense. The carrying value of the joint venture at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is $4,524 and $4,804, respectively, and is recorded in other assets.