10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q

(MARK ONE)

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2019

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                 TO                

Commission File Number 1-4462

STEPAN COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	36-1823834
(State or other jurisdiction	(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)	Identification Number)

Edens and Winnetka Road, Northfield, Illinois 60093

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number (847) 446-7500

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

Title of each class	Trading symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $1 par value	SCL	New York Stock Exchange

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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted  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  such files). Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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.

Large accelerated filer	☒	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐	Smaller reporting company	☐
Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the 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  ☒

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class	Outstanding at July 23, 2019
Common Stock, $1 par value	22,556,992  Shares

Part I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1 - Financial Statements

STEPAN COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Unaudited

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018 As Adjusted			2019			2018 As Adjusted
Net Sales	$	473,003		$	519,866		$	962,173		$	1,019,201
Cost of Sales(1)		380,044			429,885			784,605			838,022
Gross Profit(1)		92,959			89,981			177,568			181,179
Operating Expenses:
Selling		14,140			13,369			28,109			28,259
Administrative		21,544			18,098			40,850			37,537
Research, development and technical services		13,365			13,720			26,755			27,334
Deferred compensation expense (income)		2,395			(865	)		9,868			749
		51,444			44,322			105,582			93,879
Business restructuring expenses (Note 17)		(450	)		(273	)		(1,183	)		(631	)
Operating Income(1)		41,065			45,386			70,803			86,669
Other Income (Expense):
Interest, net		(1,766	)		(2,672	)		(3,619	)		(5,823	)
Other, net (Note 16)		235			484			3,380			1,644
		(1,531	)		(2,188	)		(239	)		(4,179	)
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes(1)		39,534			43,198			70,564			82,490
Provision for Income Taxes(1)		9,324			9,746			15,376			17,093
Net Income(1)		30,210			33,452			55,188			65,397
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests (Note 3)		8			2			14			9
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company(1)	$	30,218		$	33,454		$	55,202		$	65,406
Net Income Per Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company (Note 11):
Basic(1)	$	1.31		$	1.45		$	2.39		$	2.84
Diluted(1)	$	1.30		$	1.44		$	2.37		$	2.80
Shares Used to Compute Net Income Per Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company (Note 11):
Basic		23,086			23,039			23,092			23,059
Diluted		23,329			23,295			23,329			23,341

(1) The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from the last in, first out (LIFO) basis to the first in, first out (FIFO) basis.

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

STEPAN COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Unaudited

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018 As Adjusted			2019			2018 As Adjusted
Net income(1)	$	30,210		$	33,452		$	55,188		$	65,397
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments(2) (Note 12)		4,290			(35,059	)		7,997			(26,242	)
Defined benefit pension adjustments, net of tax (Note 12)		542			752			1,085			1,505
Derivative instrument activity, net of tax (Note 12)		(2	)		(2	)		(4	)		(5	)
Total other comprehensive income		4,830			(34,309	)		9,078			(24,742	)
Comprehensive income (1)		35,040			(857	)		64,266			40,655
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (Note 3)		35			49			21			24
Comprehensive income attributable to Stepan Company(1)	$	35,075		$	(808	)	$	64,287		$	40,679

(1) The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

(2) Includes foreign currency translation adjustments related to noncontrolling interest.

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

3

STEPAN COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Unaudited

(Dollars in thousands)	June 30, 2019			December 31, 2018 As Adjusted
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	275,266		$	300,194
Receivables, net		289,023			280,025
Inventories(1) (Note 2)(Note 7)		216,278			231,528
Other current assets		26,240			22,146
Total current assets(1)		806,807			833,893
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Cost		1,703,127			1,666,790
Less:  Accumulated depreciation		(1,093,919	)		(1,057,898	)
Property, plant and equipment, net		609,208			608,892
Goodwill, net		23,080			22,954
Other intangible assets, net		12,635			14,244
Long-term investments (Note 4)		26,448			25,082
Operating lease assets		38,692			—
Other non-current assets(1)		12,098			9,549
Total assets(1)	$	1,528,968		$	1,514,614
Liabilities and Equity
Current Liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt  (Note 15)	$	24,889		$	37,058
Accounts payable		184,727			205,954
Accrued liabilities		89,850			95,570
Total current liabilities		299,466			338,582
Deferred income taxes(1)		28,271			24,961
Long-term debt, less current maturities  (Note 15)		207,748			239,022
Non-current operating lease liabilities		29,712			—
Other non-current liabilities		105,374			103,864
Commitments and Contingencies  (Note 9)
Equity:
Common stock, $1 par value; authorized 60,000,000 shares;    Issued 26,452,701 shares in 2019 and 26,308,668 shares in 2018		26,453			26,309
Additional paid-in capital		188,781			182,881
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(2) (Note 12)		(137,723	)		(141,483	)
Retained earnings(1)(2)		886,349			837,107
Less:  Common treasury stock, at cost, 3,896,475 shares in 2019    and 3,803,043 shares in 2018		(106,202	)		(97,389	)
Total Stepan Company stockholders’ equity(1)		857,658			807,425
Noncontrolling interests (Note 3)		739			760
Total equity(1)		858,397			808,185
Total liabilities and equity(1)	$	1,528,968		$	1,514,614

(1) The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

(2) The 2019 amounts for the noted line items include an adjustment related to the Company’s first quarter 2019 adoption of ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

4

STEPAN COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Unaudited

(In thousands)	Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018 As Adjusted
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net income(1)	$	55,188		$	65,397
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash    provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		38,959			40,500
Deferred compensation		9,868			749
Realized and unrealized gains on long-term investments		(3,130	)		(504	)
Stock-based compensation		4,772			3,387
Deferred income taxes(1)		223			3,034
Other non-cash items		2,262			830
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables, net		(6,868	)		(23,969	)
Inventories(1)		15,515			(16,738	)
Other current assets		(3,981	)		442
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(33,888	)		(18,579	)
Pension liabilities		(635	)		(122	)
Environmental and legal liabilities		630			(479	)
Deferred revenues		(162	)		(162	)
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities		78,753			53,786
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment		(45,084	)		(43,741	)
Business acquisition (Note 18)		-			(21,475	)
Other, net		2,023			1,775
Net Cash Used In Investing Activities		(43,061	)		(63,441	)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Revolving debt and bank overdrafts, net		(6,272	)		1,893
Other debt repayments		(37,143	)		(5,714	)
Dividends paid		(11,285	)		(10,160	)
Company stock repurchased		(6,181	)		(12,000	)
Stock option exercises		2,163			3,274
Other, net		(2,656	)		(4,432	)
Net Cash Used In Financing Activities		(61,374	)		(27,139	)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash		754			(5,364	)
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents		(24,928	)		(42,158	)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period		300,194			298,894
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	275,266		$	256,736
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Cash payments of income taxes, net of refunds/payments	$	11,895		$	19,739
Cash payments of interest	$	7,164		$	6,444

(1) The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

5

STEPAN COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2019

Unaudited

1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Stepan Company (the Company), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although management believes that the disclosures are adequate and make the information presented not misleading. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of June 30, 2019, and its results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, have been included. These financial statements and related footnotes should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related footnotes included in the Company’s 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

2. CHANGE IN METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOR INVENTORY VALUTION

On January 1, 2019, the Company elected to change its method of accounting for U.S. inventories from the LIFO basis to the FIFO basis. Total U.S. inventories accounted for using the LIFO cost flow assumption, prior to the accounting method change, comprised 68 percent of the Company’s total inventories as of December 31, 2018. Non-U.S. inventories have historically been maintained on the FIFO basis. The Company believes that this change to the FIFO method of inventory valuation is preferable as it provides a better matching of costs with the physical flow of goods, more accurately reflects the current market value of inventory presented on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, standardizes the Company’s inventory valuation methodology and improves comparability with the Company’s industry peers.

In accordance with ASC 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, this change in method of accounting for U.S. inventories has been retrospectively applied to all prior periods presented herein.  Prior period financial statements and financial comparables have been adjusted to reflect what results would have been had the Company always used the FIFO method of inventory valuation for U.S. inventories. The cumulative effect on retained earnings for these changes was $23.7 million at December 31, 2018.

The following tables present the prior year financial statement line items that have been affected by the retrospective change in accounting principle:

Income Statement

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
	As originally reported under LIFO		Effect of change			As adjusted under FIFO
Cost of Sales	$	430,586	$	(701	)	$	429,885
Gross Profit		89,280		701			89,981
Operating Income		44,685		701			45,386
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		42,497		701			43,198
Provision for Income Taxes		9,574		172			9,746
Net Income		32,923		529			33,452
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		32,925		529			33,454
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	$	1.41	$	0.03		$	1.44

6

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
	As originally reported under LIFO		Effect of change			As adjusted under FIFO
Cost of Sales	$	840,351	$	(2,329	)	$	838,022
Gross Profit		178,850		2,329			181,179
Operating Income		84,340		2,329			86,669
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		80,161		2,329			82,490
Provision for Income Taxes		16,522		571			17,093
Net Income		63,639		1,758			65,397
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		63,648		1,758			65,406
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	$	2.73	$	0.07		$	2.80

Balance Sheet

(In thousands)	December 31, 2018
	As originally reported under LIFO		Effect of change			As adjusted under FIFO
Inventories	$	200,165	$	31,363		$	231,528
Other Non-Current Assets		10,964		(1,415	)		9,549
Total Assets		1,484,666		29,948			1,514,614
Deferred Income Taxes	$	18,672	$	6,289		$	24,961
Retained Earnings		813,448		23,659			837,107
Total Liabilities and Equity		1,484,666		29,948			1,514,614

Statement of Cash Flows

(In thousands)	Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
	As originally reported under LIFO			Effect of change			As adjusted under FIFO
Net Income	$	63,639		$	1,758		$	65,397
Deferred Income Taxes		2,463			571			3,034
Change in Assets and Liabilities:
Inventories		(14,409	)		(2,329	)		(16,738	)

The following tables present what current year financial statement line items would have been had the Company not changed its method of accounting for U.S. inventories from the LIFO to FIFO basis:  

Income Statement

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
	As reported under FIFO		Effect of change			As computed under LIFO
Cost of Sales	$	380,044	$	(3,500	)	$	376,544
Gross Profit		92,959		3,500			96,459
Operating Income		41,065		3,500			44,565
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		39,534		3,500			43,034
Provision for Income Taxes		9,324		860			10,184
Net Income		30,210		2,640			32,850
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		30,218		2,640			32,858
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	$	1.30	$	0.11		$	1.41

7

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
	As reported under FIFO		Effect of change			As computed under LIFO
Cost of Sales	$	784,605	$	(2,000	)	$	782,605
Gross Profit		177,568		2,000			179,568
Operating Income		70,803		2,000			72,803
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		70,564		2,000			72,564
Provision for Income Taxes		15,376		492			15,868
Net Income		55,188		1,508			56,696
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		55,202		1,508			56,710
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	$	2.37	$	0.06		$	2.43

Balance Sheet

(In thousands)	June 30, 2019
	As reported under FIFO		Effect of change			As computed under LIFO
Inventories	$	216,278	$	(29,363	)	$	186,915
Other Non-Current Assets		12,098		1,415			13,513
Total Assets		1,528,968		(27,948	)		1,501,020
Deferred Income Taxes	$	28,271	$	(5,797	)	$	22,474
Retained Earnings		886,349		(22,151	)		864,198
Total Liabilities and Equity		1,528,968		(27,948	)		1,501,020

Statement of Cash Flows

(In thousands)	Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
	As reported under FIFO		Effect of change			As computed under LIFO
Net Income	$	55,188	$	1,508		$	56,696
Deferred Income Taxes		223		492			715
Change in Assets and Liabilities:
Inventories		15,515		(2,000	)		13,515

8

3. RECONCILIATIONS OF EQUITY

Below are reconciliations of total equity, Company equity and equity attributable to noncontrolling interests for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Total			Common Stock		Additional Paid-in Capital		Treasury Stock			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Retained Earnings			Noncontrolling Interest (1)
Balance, December 31, 2018 (2)	$	808,185		$	26,309	$	182,881	$	(97,389	)	$	(141,483	)	$	837,107		$	760
Issuance of 38,706 shares of common stock under stock option plan		1,890			39		1,851		—			—			—			—
Purchase of 900 shares of common stock		(77	)		—		—		(77	)		—			—			—
Stock-based and deferred compensation		(1,360	)		93		1,179		(2,632	)		—			—			—
Net income		24,978			—		—		—			—			24,984			(6	)
Other comprehensive income		4,248			—		—		—			4,228			—			20
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.25 per share)		(5,643	)		—		—		—			—			(5,643	)		—
Other (3)		—			—		—		—			(5,325	)		5,325			—
Balance, March 31, 2019		832,221			26,441		185,911		(100,098	)		(142,580	)		861,773			774
Issuance of 4,423 shares of common stock under stock option plan		273			4		269		—			—			—			—
Purchase of 69,736 shares of common stock		(6,104	)		—		—		(6,104	)		—			—			—
Stock-based and deferred compensation		2,609			8		2,601		—			—			—			—
Net income		30,210			—		—		—			—			30,218			(8	)
Other comprehensive income		4,830			—		—		—			4,857			—			(27	)
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.25 per share)		(5,642	)		—		—		—			—			(5,642	)		—
Balance, June 30, 2019	$	858,397		$	26,453	$	188,781	$	(106,202	)	$	(137,723	)	$	886,349		$	739

9

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Total			Common Stock		Additional Paid-in Capital		Treasury Stock			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Retained Earnings			Noncontrolling Interest (1)
Balance, December 31, 2017 (2)	$	766,218		$	26,071	$	170,408	$	(78,561	)	$	(99,563	)	$	747,045		$	818
Issuance of 77,474 shares of common stock under stock option plan		3,155			77		3,078		—			—			—			—
Purchase of 6,107 shares of common stock		(2,500	)		—		—		(2,500	)		—			—			—
Stock-based and deferred compensation		(1,136	)		120		1,725		(2,981	)		—			—			—
Net income (2)		31,945			—		—		—			—			31,952			(7	)
Other comprehensive income		9,567			—		—		—			9,535			—			32
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.23 per share)		(5,092	)		—		—		—			—			(5,092	)
Other (4)		(198	)		—		—		—			—			(198	)		—
Balance, March 31, 2018		801,959			26,268		175,211		(84,042	)		(90,028	)		773,707			843
Issuance of 2,888 shares of common stock under stock option plan		119			3		116		—			—			—			—
Purchase of 133,584 shares of common stock		(9,500	)		—		—		(9,500	)		—			—			—
Stock-based and deferred compensation		2,443			8		2,452		(17	)		—			—			—
Net income (2)		33,452			—		—		—			—			33,454			(2	)
Other comprehensive income		(34,309	)		—		—		—			(34,262	)		—			(47	)
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.23 per share)		(5,068	)		—		—		—			—			(5,068	)
Balance, June 30, 2018	$	789,096		$	26,279	$	177,779	$	(93,559	)	$	(124,290	)	$	802,093		$	794

⁽¹⁾ Reflects the noncontrolling interest in the Company’s China joint venture.

⁽²⁾ The retained earnings and net income amounts for the noted line items have been changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

⁽³⁾ Reflects beginning retained earnings adjustment as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 adoption of ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  See Note 19 for more details.

⁽⁴⁾ Reflects beginning retained earnings adjustment as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2018 adoption of ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory.

4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The following were the financial instruments held by the Company at June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, and the methods and assumptions used to estimate the instruments’ fair values:

Cash and cash equivalents

Carrying value approximated fair value because of the short maturity of the instruments.

Derivative assets and liabilities

Derivative assets and liabilities include the foreign currency exchange contracts discussed in Note 5. Fair value and carrying value were the same because the contracts were recorded at fair value.  The fair values of the foreign currency contracts were calculated as the difference between the applicable forward foreign exchange rates at the reporting date and the contracted foreign exchange rates multiplied by the contracted notional amounts. See the table below that describes financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis for the reported fair values of derivative assets and liabilities.

10

Long-term investments

Long-term investments include the mutual fund assets the Company held to fund a portion of its deferred compensation liabilities and all of its non-qualified supplemental executive defined contribution obligations (see the defined contribution plans section of Note 10).  Fair value and carrying value were the same because the mutual fund assets were recorded at fair value. Fair values for the mutual funds were calculated using the published market price per unit at the reporting date multiplied by the number of units held at the reporting date.  See the table that follows the financial instrument descriptions for the reported fair value of long-term investments.

Debt obligations

The fair value of debt with original maturities greater than one year comprised the combined present values of scheduled principal and interest payments for each of the various loans, individually discounted at rates equivalent to those which could be obtained by the Company for new debt issues with durations equal to the average life to maturity of each loan. The fair values of the remaining Company debt obligations approximated their carrying values due to the short-term nature of the debt. The Company’s fair value measurements for debt fall within level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

At June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, the fair values and related carrying values of debt, including current maturities, were as follows (the fair value and carrying value amounts are presented without regard to unamortized debt issuance costs of $823,000 and $978,000 as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively):

(In thousands)	June 30, 2019		December 31, 2018
Fair value	$	236,668	$	274,119
Carrying value		233,460		277,058

The following tables present financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis at fair value as of June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall:

(In thousands)	June 2019		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Mutual fund assets	$	26,448	$	26,448	$	—	$	—
Derivative assets:
Foreign currency contracts		345		—		345		—
Total assets at fair value	$	26,793	$	26,448	$	345	$	—
Derivative liabilities:
Foreign currency contracts	$	29	$	—	$	29	$	—

(In thousands)	December 2018		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Mutual fund assets	$	25,082	$	25,082	$	—	$	—
Derivative assets:
Foreign currency contracts		185		—		185		—
Total assets at fair value	$	25,267	$	25,082	$	185	$	—
Derivative liabilities:
Foreign currency contracts	$	10	$	—	$	10	$	—

5. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. The primary risk managed by the use of derivative instruments is foreign currency exchange risk.  The Company holds forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are not designated as any type of accounting hedge as defined by GAAP.  The Company uses these contracts to manage its exposure to exchange rate fluctuations on certain Company subsidiary cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other obligation balances that are denominated in currencies other than the entities’ functional currencies. The forward foreign exchange contracts are recognized on the balance sheet as either an asset or a liability measured at fair value. Gains and losses arising from recording the foreign exchange contracts at fair value are reported in earnings as offsets to the losses and gains reported in earnings arising from the re-measurement of the asset and liability balances into the applicable functional currencies. At June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, the Company had open forward foreign currency exchange contracts, all with

11

durations of one to three months, to buy or sell foreign currencies with U.S. dollar equivalent amounts of $31,445,860 and $28,870,081, respectively.

The fair values of the derivative instruments held by the Company on June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, are disclosed in Note 4. Derivative instrument gains and losses for the three- and six- month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, were immaterial. For amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) into earnings for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, see Note 12.

6. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

On June 30, 2019, the Company had stock options, stock awards and stock appreciation rights (SARs) outstanding under its 2011 Incentive Compensation Plan. SARs granted prior to 2015 are cash-settled, and SARs granted after 2014 are stock-settled. Stock options and SARs granted prior to 2017 generally cliff vested after two years. Starting in 2017, stock options and SARs have a three-year graded vesting feature, with one-third of the awards vesting each year. The Company has elected the straight-line method of expense attribution for the stock options and SARs with the graded vesting feature.

Compensation expense recorded for all stock options, stock awards and SARs was as follows:

(In thousands)
Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
2019		2018		2019		2018
$	2,176	$	1,155	$	4,772	$	3,387

The quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year increases in stock-based compensation expense was primarily attributable to cash-settled SARs. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in stock-based compensation expense related to performance stock awards. The quarterly increase in cash-settled SARs compensation expense reflects an increase in the market value of Company stock during the second quarter of 2019 versus the decrease in the market value of Company stock during the second quarter of 2018.  

Unrecognized compensation costs for stock options, stock awards and SARs were as follows:

(In thousands)	June 30, 2019		December 31, 2018
Stock options	$	2,557	$	1,655
Stock awards		4,959		3,180
SARs		5,473		3,566

The increases in unrecognized compensation costs for stock options, stock awards and SARs reflected the 2019 grants of:

	Shares
Stock options		68,220
Stock awards (at target)		41,969
SARs		148,388

The unrecognized compensation costs at June 30, 2019, are expected to be recognized over weighted-average period of 2.0 years for stock options, stock awards and SARs.

7. INVENTORIES

The composition of inventories at June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, was as follows: 

(In thousands)	June 30, 2019		December 31, 2018 As Adjusted
Finished goods	$	156,437	$	163,617
Raw materials		59,841		67,911
Total inventories	$	216,278	$	231,528

12

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company elected to change its method of accounting for U.S. inventories from the LIFO basis to the FIFO basis. Non-U.S. inventories have historically been maintained on the FIFO basis. Prior period financial statements have been adjusted to reflect what results would have been had the Company always used the FIFO method of inventory valuation for U.S. inventories.  See Note 2 for additional details.

8. LEASES

The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), on January 1, 2019. This new accounting standard requires a dual approach for lessee accounting whereby a lessee accounts for lease arrangements as either finance leases or operating leases. The lease classification affects the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The most significant impact of adopting ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) is that a lessee is now required to recognize a “right-of-use” (ROU) asset and corresponding lease liability for operating lease agreements. ROU assets represent a right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent an obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating leases are expensed on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease beginning on the date the Company takes possession of the property.

The Company elected to apply the new lease standard at adoption as allowed under ASU No. 2018-11 and, as a result, the Company did not retrospectively adjust prior periods presented. The Company elected the practical expedient to not separate non-lease components from lease components for all asset classes and the practical expedient which permits a Company to not reassess prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classifications and initial direct costs. The Company did not elect the use-of-hindsight or the practical expedient pertaining to land easements, the latter not being applicable to the Company. In addition, the Company made an accounting policy election to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off the balance sheet.  Upon adoption of ASC 842, the Company recognized $42.4 million of ROU assets and related operating lease liabilities on its balance sheet.  There was no cumulative catch-up adjustment made to beginning retained earnings.

Significant judgments used by the Company to determine whether a contract is or contains a lease include: (i) determining whether any explicitly or implicitly identified assets have been identified in the contract and (ii) determining whether the Company obtains substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of an underlying asset and directs how and for what purpose the asset is used during the term of the contract.

The Company’s operating leases are primarily comprised of railcars, real estate, storage tanks, autos, trailers and manufacturing/office equipment. Railcars and real estate comprise approximately 49 percent and 38 percent, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated ROU asset balance. With the exception of real estate, typical lease terms range from one to ten years. Real estate lease terms typically range from one to fifty years. The Company’s two principal real estate leases relate to land leases in the Philippines and Singapore. As of June 30, 2019, the Company had additional leases, primarily for leases of real estate and railcars, that have not commenced of approximately $2.0 million. The majority of these leases will commence in the second half of 2019 with lease terms ranging from one to seven years.

Variability associated with the Company’s lease obligations typically relates to: (i) additional charges based on usage (i.e. railcar mileage in excess of a specified amount) and, (ii) periodic increases associated with Consumer Price Index (CPI) changes (i.e. land rental payments). Appropriate CPI at the inception of a lease is reflected in the Company’s lease liability balances whereas variability based on usage is typically excluded from lease liability amounts. Some of the Company’s leases include options to extend the lease term but these are typically not recognized as part of the ROU asset or lease liability at inception unless it is reasonably certain the renewal option will be exercised. Determining whether a renewal option is reasonably certain to be exercised requires judgment based on the existing facts and circumstances as well as expectations about future business needs. Renewal options are typically re-assessed within one year or less prior to lease termination when the Company is able to more accurately forecast future business needs. Some of the Company’s lease contracts include options to terminate leases early but these are typically not considered unless it is reasonably certain the early termination option will be exercised. The Company’s leases do not typically carry any residual value guarantees and typically payment is not considered probable when such guarantees are included in the contract.

Initial implementation of ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) did not impact compliance with any of the Company’s debt-covenants, nor is it expected to in the future. The majority of the Company’s debt agreements contain language that excludes the impact of any new GAAP accounting change.

As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit borrowing rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate (IBR) based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. IBRs were specifically determined for the United States, the Philippines, Singapore and China, typically for five-year increments. The U.S. IBR was used for all other countries as the leases in these countries are not material. The total value of

13

leases that reside in the four countries identified above represents approximately 94 percent of the Company’s consolidated ROU asset balance.

(In thousands)	Three months ended June 30, 2019		Six months   ended June 30, 2019
Lease Cost
Operating lease cost	$	2,711	$	5,399
Short-term lease cost		1,148		2,118
Variable lease cost		233		581
Total lease cost	$	4,092	$	8,098
Other Information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flow from operating leases	$	2,725	$	5,421
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities		595		889

(In thousands)
Undiscounted Cash Flows:
2019 (excluding the six months ended June 30, 2019)	$	5,379
2020		9,343
2021		6,616
2022		5,457
2023		4,249
Subsequent to 2023		18,011
Total Undiscounted Cash Flows	$	49,055
Less: Imputed interest		(10,356	)
Present value	$	38,699
Current operating lease liabilities (1)		8,987
Non-current operating lease liabilities		29,712
Total lease liabilities	$	38,699

(1) This item is included in Accrued liabilities line on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Weighted-average remaining lease term-operating leases	9 Years
Weighted-average discount rate-operating leases	3.9%

ASC 840 Disclosure

As required in transition, the table below summarizes the Company’s future minimum lease payments at December 31, 2018 under ASC 840.

(In thousands)
Year
2019	$	9,740
2020		8,294
2021		6,027
2022		5,242
2023		4,101
Subsequent to 2023		16,593
Total minimum future rental payments	$	49,997

14

9. CONTINGENCIES

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 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 regulations, including the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (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 related to or has been named by the government authorities as a potentially responsible party (PRP) at a number of sites where cleanup costs have been or may be incurred 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 is likely to incur with respect to these sites.

As of June 30, 2019, the Company estimated a range of possible environmental and legal losses of $23.9 million to $45.0 million. Within the range of possible environmental and legal losses, management has currently concluded that no single amount more likely to occur than any other amounts in the ranges and, thus, has accrued at the lower end of the ranges; that accrual totaled $23.9 million at June 30, 2019 and $23.4 million at December 31, 2018. Cash expenditures related to legal and environmental matters approximated $2.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to $0.6 million for the same period in 2018.

For certain sites, the Company has responded to information requests made by federal, state or local government agencies but has received no response confirming or denying the Company’s stated positions. As such, estimates of the total costs, or range of possible costs, of remediation, if any, or the Company’s share of such costs, if any, cannot be determined with respect to these sites. Consequently, the Company is unable to predict the effect thereof on the Company’s financial position, cash flows and results of operations. Based upon the Company’s present knowledge with respect to its involvement at these sites, the possibility of other viable entities’ responsibilities for cleanup, and the extended period over which any costs would be incurred, management believes that the Company has no liability at these sites and that these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position. However, in the event of one or more adverse determinations with respect to such sites in any annual or interim period, the effect on the Company’s cash flows and results of operations for those periods could be material.

Following are summaries of the material contingencies at June 30, 2019:

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 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 Administrative Order on Consent entered into between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Company for property formerly owned by the Company, and the issuance of an order by USEPA to the Company for property currently owned by the Company, the Company has completed various remedial investigation feasibility studies, and on September 24, 2014, the USEPA issued its Record of Decision (ROD) for chemically-contaminated soil. 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 is reasonable having considered the range of estimated cost of remediation for the Maywood site. The 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, 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 recorded liability for claims associated with soil remediation of chemical contamination were required.  

In addition, under the terms of a settlement agreement reached on November 12, 2004, the U.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 take title to and responsibility for radioactive waste removal at the Maywood site, including past and future remediation costs incurred by the United States. As such, the Company recorded no liability related to this settlement agreement.

15

D’Imperio Site

During the mid-1970’s, Jerome Lightman and the Lightman Drum Company disposed of hazardous substances at several sites in New Jersey. The Company was named as a PRP in a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey that involved the D’Imperio site located in New Jersey. In 2016, the PRPs were provided with updated remediation cost estimates, which were considered in the Company’s determination of its range of estimated possible losses and liability balance. The changes in range of possible losses and liability balance were immaterial. Remediation work is continuing at this site. Based on current information, the Company believes that its recorded liability is reasonable having considered the range of estimated cost 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 response costs associated with the Company’s formerly-owned site in Wilmington, Massachusetts. Remediation at this site is being managed by its current owner, to whom the Company sold the property in 1980. Under the agreement, once total site remediation costs exceed certain levels, the Company is obligated to contribute up to five percent of future response costs associated with this site with no limitation on the ultimate amount of contributions. The Company has paid the current owner $2.8 million for the Company’s portion of environmental response costs through June 30, 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 also entered into an agreement in April 2004 waiving certain statute of limitations defenses for claims which 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.

Other U.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 two of its U.S plants. The Company voluntarily reported its results to the applicable state environmental agencies. As a result, the Company is required to perform self-remediation of the affected areas. In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company recognized a charge for the estimated cost of remediating the sites. Based on current information, the Company believes that its recorded liability for the remediation of the affected areas is appropriate based on estimate of expected costs. However, actual costs could differ materially from current estimates.  

10. POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

The Company sponsors various funded qualified and unfunded non-qualified defined benefit pension plans, the most significant of which cover employees in the U.S. and U.K. locations. The U.S. and U.K. defined benefit pension plans are frozen and service benefits are no longer being accrued.

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

	UNITED STATES
(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Interest cost	$	1,661		$	1,540		$	3,322		$	3,079
Expected return on plan assets		(2,361	)		(2,321	)		(4,722	)		(4,642	)
Amortization of net actuarial loss		652			936			1,304			1,873
Net periodic benefit cost	$	(48	)	$	155		$	(96	)	$	310

	UNITED KINGDOM
(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Interest cost	$	140		$	144		$	282		$	292
Expected return on plan assets		(198	)		(226	)		(399	)		(457	)
Amortization of net actuarial loss		62			56			125			113
Net periodic benefit cost	$	4		$	(26	)	$	8		$	(52	)

16

Employer Contributions

U.S. Plans

As a result of pension funding relief provisions included in the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014, the Company is not required to make contributions to the funded U.S. qualified defined benefit plans. Approximately $312,000 is expected to be paid related to the unfunded non-qualified plans in 2019. Of such amount, $200,000 had been paid related to the non-qualified plans as of June 30, 2019.

U.K. Plan

The Company’s U.K. subsidiary expects to contribute approximately $476,000 to its defined benefit pension plan in 2019. Of such amount, $293,000 had been contributed to the plan as of June 30, 2019.

Defined Contribution Plans

The Company sponsors retirement savings defined contribution plans that cover eligible U.S. and U.K. employees. The Company’s U.S. retirement plans include two qualified plans, one of which is a 401(k) plan and one of which is an employee stock ownership plan, and one non-qualified supplemental executive plan. In the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company made profit sharing contributions into the qualified retirement plans for U.S. employees and for certain non-U.S. employees. Profit sharing contributions were determined using a formula applied to Company earnings.  For U.S. employees, who received the majority of profit sharing contributions in 2018, profit sharing contributions were made partly to the 401(k) plan and partly to the employee stock ownership plan and in 2019, profit sharing contributions were made to the employee stock ownership plan.  Profit sharing contributions are allocated to participant accounts on the basis of participant base earnings.

Defined contribution plan expenses for the Company’s qualified contribution plans were as follows:

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Retirement savings contributions	$	1,215	$	1,706	$	3,624	$	3,463
Profit sharing contributions		964		1,068		1,846		2,010
Total	$	2,179	$	2,774	$	5,470	$	5,473

The Company has a rabbi trust to fund the obligations of its non-qualified supplemental executive defined contribution plans (supplemental plans). The trust comprises various mutual fund investments selected by the participants of the supplemental plans. In accordance with the accounting guidance for rabbi trust arrangements, the assets of the trust and the obligations of the supplemental plans are reported on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company elected the fair value option for the mutual fund investment assets so that offsetting changes in the mutual fund values and defined contribution plan obligations would be recorded in earnings in the same period. Therefore, the mutual funds are reported at fair value with any subsequent changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of income. The liabilities related to the supplemental plans increase (i.e., supplemental plan expense is recognized) when the value of the trust assets appreciates and decrease when the value of the trust assets declines (i.e., supplemental plan income is recognized). At June 30, 2019, the balance of the trust assets was $1,693,000, which equaled the balance of the supplemental plan liabilities (see the long-term investments section in Note 4 for further information regarding the Company’s mutual fund assets).

17

11. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Below are the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
	2019		2018 As Adjusted		2019		2018 As Adjusted
Computation of Basic Earnings per Share
Net income attributable to Stepan Company (1)	$	30,218	$	33,454	$	55,202	$	65,406
Weighted-average number of common shares     outstanding		23,086		23,039		23,092		23,059
Basic earnings per share (1)	$	1.31	$	1.45	$	2.39	$	2.84
Computation of Diluted Earnings per Share
Net income attributable to Stepan Company (1)	$	30,218	$	33,454	$	55,202	$	65,406
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding		23,086		23,039		23,092		23,059
Add weighted-average net shares from assumed    exercise of options (under treasury stock method) (2)		90		87		91		103
Add weighted-average net shares related to unvested    stock awards (under treasury stock method)		2		2		2		2
Add weighted-average net shares from assumed    exercise of SARs (under treasury stock method) (2)		118		99		113		111
Add weighted-average contingently issuable net    shares related to performance stock awards    (under treasury stock method)		33		68		31		66
Weighted-average shares applicable to diluted     earnings		23,329		23,295		23,329		23,341
Diluted earnings per share (1)	$	1.30	$	1.44	$	2.37	$	2.80

⁽¹⁾ The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

⁽²⁾ Options/SARs to acquire 215,257 and 214,749 shares of Company common stock were excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. Options/SARs to acquire 194,949 and 98,878 shares of Company common stock were excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively. Inclusion of the instruments would have had antidilutive effects on the computations of the earnings per share.

18

12. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

In conjunction with the adoption of ASU 2018-02, the Company reclassified $5,325,000 of other comprehensive loss, associated with retirement plans, from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings effective January 1, 2019.  Below is the change in the Company’s AOCI balance by component (net of income taxes) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

(In thousands)	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Defined Benefit Pension Plan Adjustments			Cash Flow Hedge Adjustments			Total
Balance at March 31, 2018	$	(61,776	)	$	(28,340	)	$	88		$	(90,028	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(35,012	)		—			—			(35,012	)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		—			752			(2	)		750
Net current-period other comprehensive income		(35,012	)		752			(2	)		(34,262	)
Balance at June 30, 2018	$	(96,788	)	$	(27,588	)	$	86		$	(124,290	)
Balance at March 31, 2019	$	(104,794	)	$	(37,865	)	$	79		$	(142,580	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		4,317			—			—			4,317
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		—			542			(2	)		540
Net current-period other comprehensive income		4,317			542			(2	)		4,857
Balance at June 30, 2019	$	(100,477	)	$	(37,323	)	$	77		$	(137,723	)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	(70,561	)	$	(29,093	)	$	91		$	(99,563	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(26,227	)		—			—			(26,227	)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		—			1,505			(5	)		1,500
Net current-period other comprehensive income		(26,227	)		1,505			(5	)		(24,727	)
Balance at June 30, 2018	$	(96,788	)	$	(27,588	)	$	86		$	(124,290	)
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	(108,481	)	$	(33,083	)	$	81		$	(141,483	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		8,004			—			—			8,004
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		—			1,085			(4	)		1,081
Remeasurement adjustment related to the Tax Act (1)		—			(5,325	)		—			(5,325	)
Net current-period other comprehensive income		8,004			(4,240	)		(4	)		3,760
Balance at June 30, 2019	$	(100,477	)	$	(37,323	)	$	77		$	(137,723	)

⁽¹⁾ Represents reclassification of the stranded tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Act) from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to retained earnings in accordance with ASU 2018-02. See Note 19 for more details.

19

Information regarding the reclassifications out of AOCI for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, is displayed below:

(In thousands)	Amount Reclassified from AOCI (a)
AOCI Components	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30						Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statements of Income
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Amortization of defined benefit pension actuarial losses	$	(714	)	$	(992	)	$	(1,429	)	$	(1,986	)	(b)
		172			240			344			481		Tax benefit
	$	(542	)	$	(752	)	$	(1,085	)	$	(1,505	)	Net of tax
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges:
Foreign exchange contracts		2			2			4			5		Cost of sales
		2			2			4			5		Total before tax
		—			—			—			—		Tax benefit
	$	2		$	2		$	4		$	5		Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period	$	(540	)	$	(750	)	$	(1,081	)	$	(1,500	)	Net of tax

^(a) Amounts in parentheses denote expense to statement of income.

^(b) This component of accumulated other comprehensive income is included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see Note 10 for additional details).

13. SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company has three reportable segments: Surfactants, Polymers and Specialty Products. Net sales by segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, were as follows:

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Segment Net Sales
Surfactants	$	313,380	$	356,884	$	663,030	$	715,824
Polymers		140,636		140,867		260,815		262,800
Specialty Products		18,987		22,115		38,328		40,577
Total	$	473,003	$	519,866	$	962,173	$	1,019,201

20

Segment operating income and reconciliations of segment operating income to income before provision for income taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, are summarized below:

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018 As Adjusted			2019			2018 As Adjusted
Segment Operating Income
Surfactants(1)	$	32,086		$	34,078		$	69,253		$	75,546
Polymers(1)		22,760			20,299			34,865			37,604
Specialty Products		5,982			4,240			9,113			3,890
Segment operating income(1)		60,828			58,617			113,231			117,040
Business restructuring		(450	)		(273	)		(1,183	)		(631	)
Unallocated corporate expenses(2)		(19,313	)		(12,958	)		(41,245	)		(29,740	)
Consolidated operating income(1)		41,065			45,386			70,803			86,669
Interest expense, net		(1,766	)		(2,672	)		(3,619	)		(5,823	)
Other, net		235			484			3,380			1,644
Income before provision for income taxes(1)	$	39,534		$	43,198		$	70,564		$	82,490

⁽¹⁾ The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

⁽²⁾ Unallocated corporate expenses primarily comprise corporate administrative expenses (e.g., corporate finance, legal, human resources, information systems, deferred compensation and environmental remediation) that are not included in segment operating income and not used to evaluate segment performance.

14. REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS

In the majority of instances the Company deems a contract with a customer to exist when a purchase order is received from a customer for a specified quantity of product or products and the Company acknowledges receipt of such purchase order. In some instances the Company has entered into manufacturing supply agreements with customers but these agreements typically do not bind a customer to any purchase volume requirements and thus an obligation is not created until the customer submits a purchase order to the Company. The Company’s contracts typically have a single performance obligation that is satisfied at the time a product is shipped and control passes to the customer. For a small portion of the business, performance obligations are deemed satisfied when product is delivered to a customer location.

As of June 30, 2019, the Company did not have any contract assets or contract liabilities. A contract liability would typically arise when an advance or deposit is received from a customer before the Company recognizes revenue. In practice, this is extremely rare as it would require a customer to make a payment prior to a performance obligation being satisfied. If such a situation did arise the Company would maintain a deferred revenue liability until the time a performance obligation has been satisfied. The Company did not recognize any revenue in the current period from any pre-existing contract liability balance.

The tables below provide a geographic disaggregation of net sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018. The Company’s business segmentation by geographic region most effectively captures the nature and economic characteristics of the Company’s revenue streams.

	For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
(In thousands)
	Surfactants		Polymers		Specialty Products		Total
Geographic Market
North America	$	191,720	$	86,434	$	16,067	$	294,221
Europe		54,360		44,085		2,920		101,365
Latin America		53,957		1,450		—		55,407
Asia		13,343		8,667		—		22,010
Total	$	313,380	$	140,636	$	18,987	$	473,003

21

	For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
(In thousands)
	Surfactants		Polymers		Specialty Products		Total
Geographic Market
North America	$	218,029	$	86,966	$	18,674	$	323,669
Europe		66,065		45,028		3,441		114,534
Latin America		56,579		633		—		57,212
Asia		16,211		8,240		—		24,451
Total	$	356,884	$	140,867	$	22,115	$	519,866

	For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
(In thousands)
	Surfactants		Polymers		Specialty Products		Total
Geographic Market
North America	$	406,017	$	157,757	$	32,092	$	595,866
Europe		125,838		86,190		6,236		218,264
Latin America		104,769		1,647		—		106,416
Asia		26,406		15,221		—		41,627
Total	$	663,030	$	260,815	$	38,328	$	962,173

	For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
(In thousands)
	Surfactants		Polymers		Specialty Products		Total
Geographic Market
North America	$	438,434	$	160,440	$	33,488	$	632,362
Europe		144,436		86,812		7,089		238,337
Latin America		98,267		1,460		—		99,727
Asia		34,687		14,088		—		48,775
Total	$	715,824	$	262,800	$	40,577	$	1,019,201

15. DEBT

At June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, debt comprised the following: 

(In thousands)	Maturity Dates	June 30, 2019		December 31, 2018
Unsecured private placement notes
3.95% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $338 and $360 for 2019 and 2018, respectively)	2021-2027	$	99,662	$	99,640
3.86% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $319 and $347 for 2019 and 2018, respectively)	2019-2025		85,395		99,653
4.86% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $166 and $186 for 2019 and 2018, respectively)	2019-2023		46,262		46,243
5.88% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $0 and $85 for 2019 and 2018, respectively)	2019-2022		-		22,772
Debt of foreign subsidiaries
Unsecured bank debt, foreign currency	2019		1,318		7,772
Total debt		$	232,637	$	276,080
Less current maturities			24,889		37,058
Long-term debt		$	207,748	$	239,022

22

The Company has a committed $350,000,000 multi-currency revolving credit agreement that expires on January 30, 2023. The Company maintains standby letters of credit under its workers’ compensation insurance agreements and for other purposes, as needed from time to time, which are issued under the revolving credit agreement. As of June 30, 2019, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $5,202,000 and no outstanding debt under this agreement. There was $344,798,000 available under the revolving credit agreement as of June 30, 2019.    

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. Based on the loan agreement provisions that place limitations on dividend payments, unrestricted retained earnings (i.e., retained earnings available for dividend distribution) were $253,985,000 and $214,101,000 at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

On June 12, 2019, the Company prepaid the $17,100,000 outstanding principal balance of its 5.88 percent Series 2010-A Senior Notes due June 1, 2022 (Notes) and the related make-whole amount of $1,173,000.  The make-whole amount reflected the net present value of the remaining scheduled interest payments on the Notes, calculated in accordance with the applicable note purchase agreement.   The prepayment was made with cash on hand.  The Company also expensed remaining unamortized debt issuance costs of $74,000.

16. OTHER, NET

Other, net in the consolidated statements of income included the following:

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	$	(641	)	$	116		$	(41	)	$	1,169
Investment income		106			90			203			229
Realized and unrealized gains on investments		726			407			3,130			504
Net periodic pension benefit cost		44			(129	)		88			(258	)
Other, net	$	235		$	484		$	3,380		$	1,644

17. BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING

In the first quarter of 2019, the Company approved a plan to restructure its Specialty Products office in the Netherlands and eliminate five positions from the site’s supply chain, quality control and research and development areas. This restructuring was designed to better align the number of personnel with current business requirements and reduce costs at the site.  As a result, severance and early lease termination expenses of $396,000 and $122,000, respectively, were recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2019.

During the third quarter of 2018, the Company approved a plan to shut down Surfactant operations at its German plant site. As of June 30, 2019, an aggregate of $1,799,000 shut down related expense had been recognized at the site. This aggregate expense is comprised of $1,404,000 of asset and spare part write downs recognized in 2018 and $395,000 of decommissioning costs recognized in the first six months of 2019.  Decommissioning costs associated with the shutdown are expected to continue throughout the remainder of 2019.  

In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company approved a plan to restructure a portion of its Fieldsboro, New Jersey production facility. As a result, the Company recorded $915,000 of restructuring expense which reflected termination benefits for select plant employees. In the first quarter of 2019, the Company recognized a $251,000 favorable adjustment to the amount of termination benefits initially recorded.

In May 2016, the Company announced plans to shut down its Longford Mills, Ontario, Canada (Longford Mills) manufacturing facility, a part of the Surfactant reportable segment, by December 31, 2016. The shutdown plan was implemented to improve the Company’s asset utilization in North America and to reduce the Company’s fixed cost base. Manufacturing operations at the Longford Mills plant ceased by the end of 2016, and production of goods manufactured at the facility was transferred to other Company North American production sites. Decommissioning of the assets is expected to continue throughout 2019. In the second quarter of 2019, the Company recognized $50,000 and $200,000 of termination benefits and decommissioning expenses, respectively.  As of June 30, 2019, $6,595,000 of aggregate restructuring expense had been recognized, reflecting $1,644,000 of termination benefits for approximately 30 employees and $4,951,000 for other expenses, principally site decommissioning costs. 

23

18. ACQUISITION

2018 Acquisition

On March 26, 2018, the Company through a subsidiary in Mexico closed on a previously announced agreement with BASF Mexicana, S.A.DE C.V. (BASF) to acquire their surfactants production facility in Ecatepec, Mexico and a portion of their associated surfactants business. The facility is located close to Mexico City and has over 50,000 metric tons of capacity, 124,000 square feet of warehouse space, a large laboratory and office space. The acquired assets and business are included in the Company’s Surfactants segment. The purchase price of the acquisition was $22,852,000 and was paid with cash on hand. The primary assets acquired were land, buildings, machinery and equipment and inventory. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination, and, accordingly, the assets acquired were measured and recorded at their estimated fair values. No intangible assets were identified as part of the acquisition.  The following table summarizes the assets acquired as a result of the acquisition:

(In thousands)
Assets:
Property, plant and equipment	$	14,464
Inventory		5,687
Value-added tax receivables		2,701
Total assets acquired	$	22,852

The acquired business had minimal impact on the Company’s 2018 financial results.

19. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU No. 2016-2, Leases (Topic 842). This guidance requires a dual approach for lessee accounting whereby a lessee will account for lease arrangements with terms greater than 12 months as either finance leases or operating leases. Both finance leases and operating leases are recognized on the lessee’s balance sheet as right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities, with differing methodologies for income statement recognition. In addition, the ASU requires expanded qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the Company’s lease arrangements. This guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The most significant impact of ASU No. 2016-2, Leases (Topic 842) is that a lessee is required to recognize a “right-of-use” asset and corresponding lease liability for operating leases agreements. The Company adopted the new lease standard on January 1, 2019 by recognizing lease assets and the corresponding lease liabilities. The adoption of these guidelines did not have an impact on retained earnings, the Company’s results of operations or cash flows, but it did have a material impact on specific balance sheet line items. See Note 8 – Leases for more details.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220):  Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which permits a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act. Consequently, the update reclassifies the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act and should improve the usefulness of information reported to financial statement users. However, because the amendments only relate to the reclassification of the income tax effects of the Tax Act, the underlying guidance that requires that the effects of the change in tax laws or rates be included in income from continuing operations is not affected. The amendments in this update also require certain disclosures about stranded tax effects.  This update is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted this guidance and recorded a $5,325,000 adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings with the corresponding offset to AOCI. See Note 12 – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) for more details.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments which amends the guidance on the measurement of the impairment of financial instruments.  The new pronouncement replaces the existing model of measuring credit losses with an expected credit loss model  referred to as “the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) model.”  The new model is based on expected losses that should be measured based not only on historical experience but on the combination of historical data, current conditions and reasonable forecasts.  Under this methodology, an entity recognizes as an allowance its estimate of lifetime expected credit losses and is required to apply the new credit loss model to most financial instruments held at amortized cost including trade receivables.  The amendments in the update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019.  It is not expected that the adoption of the guidance in ASU No. 2016-13 will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

24

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-4, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. When an indication of impairment was identified after performing the first step of the goodwill impairment test, Step 2 required that an entity determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of its assets and liabilities (including unrecognized assets and liabilities) using the same procedure that would be required in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Under the amendments in ASU No. 2017-4, an entity would perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value. An entity would recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. In addition, an entity must consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. The Company is required to adopt the amendments in ASU No. 2017-4 for its annual, or any interim, goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. It is not expected that the adoption of the guidance in ASU No. 2017-4 will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This update modifies some disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements used for different levels of instruments in fair value hierarchy (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3). The amendments in the update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The adoption of this update is not expected have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows but may impact the disclosures made for fair value measurements used by the Company.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans-General (Subtopic 715-20). This update removes some disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial and adds some disclosures about defined benefit plans that have been identified as relevant. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020. The adoption of this update is not expected to have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows but will impact the disclosures made for the Company’s defined benefit retirement plans.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use software (Subtopic 350-40) Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. This update aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. This update requires the entity to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset related to the service contact and which costs to expense over the term of the hosting contract. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.  The Company is assessing the impact that adoption of ASU No. 2018-15 will have on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

25

Item 2 - 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 interim periods included in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, 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, the Company’s 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 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors, include, among others, the risks, uncertainties and factors set forth under “Part I-Item IA. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 inclusive of: (a) the risks and uncertainties related to accidents, unplanned production shutdowns or disruptions in any of the Company’s manufacturing facilities; (b) global competition and the Company’s ability to successfully compete; (c) volatility of raw material, natural gas and electricity costs as well as any disruption in their supply; (d) disruptions in transportation or significant changes in transportation costs; (e) reduced demand for Company products due to customer product reformulations or new technologies; (f) the Company’s ability to make acquisitions of suitable candidates and successfully integrate acquisitions; (g) the Company’s ability to keep and protect its intellectual property rights; (h) international business risks, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates, legal restrictions and taxes; (i) potentially adverse tax consequences due to the international scope of the Company’s operations; (j) compliance with anti-corruption, environmental, health and safety and product registration laws; (k) the Company’s ability to operate within the limitations of its debt covenants; (l) downgrades to the Company’s credit ratings or disruptions to the Company’s ability to access well-functioning capital markets; (m) downturns in certain industries and general economic downturns; (n) conflicts, military actions, terrorist attacks and general instability, particularly in certain energy-producing nations, along with increased security regulations; (o) cost overruns, delays and miscalculations in capacity needs with respect to the Company’s expansion or other capital projects; (p) interruption of, damage to or compromise of the Company’s IT systems and failure to maintain the integrity of customer, colleague or Company data; (q) unfavorable resolution of litigation against the Company; (r) and the Company’s ability to retain its executive management and other key personnel.

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 its forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm the Company’s results. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company 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 the Company does 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 assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If the Company updates one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company 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.

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:

• Surfactants – Surfactants, which accounted for 69 percent of Company consolidated net sales for the first half of 2019, are principal ingredients in consumer and industrial cleaning products such as detergents for washing clothes, dishes, carpets, floors and walls, as well as shampoos and body washes. Other applications include fabric softeners, germicidal quaternary compounds, lubricating ingredients, emulsifiers for spreading agricultural products and industrial applications such as latex systems, plastics and composites. Surfactants are manufactured at five sites in the United States, two European sites (United Kingdom and France), five Latin American sites (one site in Colombia and two sites in both Brazil and Mexico) and two Asian sites (Philippines and Singapore). Recent significant events include:

26

o During January of 2019 the Company’s plant in Ecatepec, Mexico experienced a sulfonation equipment failure that contributed to an operating loss at the site in the first half of 2019.  The Ecatepec facility is now fully operational and the Company’s insurance provider has acknowledged this incident is a covered event.  The Company is pursuing insurance recovery.  This plant, and a portion of its related surfactant business, was acquired from BASF in March 2018 (see Note 18, Acquisition, for additional details).

o During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company shut down Surfactant operations at its plant site in Germany.  The Company ceased Surfactant production at this site to further reduce its fixed cost base, refocus Surfactant resources on higher margin end markets and allow for select assets to be repurposed to support future polyol growth.  Decommissioning costs associated with the shutdown are expected to be incurred throughout 2019 (see Note 17, Business Restructuring, for additional details).  

o In 2016, the Company shut down its production facility in Canada, moving the production of goods previously manufactured in Canada to other Company North American production sites. Manufacturing operations at the facility ceased in the fourth quarter of 2016 but decommissioning activities occurred in 2017 and 2018 and will continue throughout 2019 (see Note 17, Business Restructuring, for additional details).

• Polymers – Polymers, which accounted for 27 percent of consolidated net sales for the first half of 2019, include polyurethane polyols, polyester resins and phthalic anhydride. Polyurethane polyols are used in the manufacture of rigid foam for thermal insulation in the construction industry and are also a base raw material for coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers (collectively, CASE). Powdered polyester resins are used in coating applications. CASE and powdered polyester resins are collectively referred to as specialty polyols. Phthalic anhydride is used in unsaturated polyester resins, alkyd resins and plasticizers for applications in construction materials and components of automotive, boating and other consumer products. In addition, the Company uses phthalic anhydride internally in the production of polyols. In the United States, polyurethane polyols and phthalic anhydride are manufactured at the Company’s Millsdale, Illinois, site and specialty polyols are manufactured at the Company’s Columbus, Georgia, site. In Europe, polyurethane polyols are manufactured by the Company’s subsidiary in Germany, and specialty polyols are manufactured by the Company’s Poland subsidiary. In China, polyurethane polyols and specialty polyols are manufactured at the Company’s Nanjing, China, plant.

• Specialty Products – Specialty Products, which accounted for four percent of consolidated net sales for the first half of 2019, include flavors, emulsifiers and solubilizers used in food, flavoring, nutritional supplement and pharmaceutical applications. Specialty products are primarily manufactured at the Company’s Maywood, New Jersey, site and, in some instances, at outside contractors.

o During the first quarter of 2019 the Company approved a plan to restructure its Specialty Product office in the Netherlands and eliminate positions from the site’s supply chain, quality control and research and development areas.   This restructuring was designed to better align the number of personnel with current business requirements and reduce costs at the site (see Note 17, Business Restructuring, for additional details).

Change in Accounting Principle

During the first quarter of 2019 the Company elected to change its method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from the LIFO basis to the FIFO basis. Non-U.S. inventories have historically been maintained on the FIFO basis. The Company believes that this change to the FIFO method of inventory valuation is preferable as it provides a better matching of costs with the physical flow of goods, more accurately reflects the current market value of inventory presented on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, standardizes the Company’s inventory valuation methodology and improves comparability with the Company’s industry peers. The Company has retrospectively applied this change to its prior year financial statement comparables. See Note 2, Change in Method of Accounting for Inventory Valuation, for additional details.  

27

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 values of Company common stock and mutual fund investment assets held for the plans increase, and compensation income results when the values 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 displayed in the following tables:

	Income (Expense)
	For the Three Months Ended June 30
(In millions)	2019			2018		Change
Deferred Compensation (Operating expenses)	$	(2.4	)	$	0.9	$	(3.3	)	(1)
Realized/Unrealized Gains on Investments (Other, net)		0.7			0.4		0.3
Investment Income (Other, net)		0.1			—		0.1
Pretax Income Effect	$	(1.6	)	$	1.3	$	(2.9	)

	Income (Expense)
	For the Six Months Ended June 30
(In millions)	2019			2018			Change
Deferred Compensation (Operating expenses)	$	(9.9	)	$	(0.7	)	$	(9.2	)	(1)
Realized/Unrealized Gains on Investments (Other, net)		3.0			0.5			2.5
Investment Income (Other, net)		0.2			0.2			-
Pretax Income Effect	$	(6.7	)	$	-		$	(6.7	)

(1) See the Segment Results-Corporate Expenses sections of this MD&A for details regarding the quarter-over-quarter changes in deferred compensation 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 period-to-period comparisons of financial statement items (i.e., because foreign exchange rates fluctuate, similar period-to-period 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 period-over-period changes in consolidated net sales and various income statement line items for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

	Three Months Ended June 30
								(Decrease)
(In millions)	2019		2018(1)		Increase    (Decrease)			Due to Foreign Translation
Net Sales	$	473.0	$	519.9	$	(46.9	)	$	(9.8	)
Gross Profit		93.0		90.0		3.0			(1.5	)
Operating Income		41.1		45.4		(4.3	)		(0.9	)
Pretax Income		39.5		43.2		(3.7	)		(0.8	)

28

	Six Months Ended June 30
								(Decrease)
(In millions)	2019		2018(1)		(Decrease)			Due to Foreign Translation
Net Sales	$	962.2	$	1,019.2	$	(57.0	)	$	(26.0	)
Gross Profit		177.6		181.2		(3.6	)		(3.7	)
Operating Income		70.8		86.7		(15.9	)		(2.0	)
Pretax Income		70.6		82.5		(11.9	)		(2.0	)

(1) The 2018 gross profit, operating income and pretax income line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018

Summary

Net income attributable to the Company for the second quarter of 2019 decreased 10 percent to $30.2 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, from $33.5 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2018. Adjusted net income increased nine percent to $35.1 million, or $1.50 per diluted share, from $32.2 million, or $1.39 per diluted share, in 2018 (see the “Reconciliation 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 related earnings per diluted share and non-GAAP adjusted net income and related earnings per diluted share). Below is a summary discussion of the major factors leading to the quarter-over-quarter changes in net sales, profits and expenses.  A detailed discussion of segment operating performance for the second quarter of 2019 compared to the second quarter of 2018 follows the summary.

Consolidated net sales decreased $46.9 million, or nine percent, between quarters. Consolidated sales volume declined five percent, which had a $24.2 million unfavorable impact on the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales. Sales volume in the Surfactant and Specialty Product segments decreased eight percent and one percent, respectively, while sales volume in the Polymer segment increased five percent.  Approximately 25 percent of the decline in Surfactant volume was due to the Company’s exit from its sulfonation business in Germany during the fourth quarter of 2018. Lower average selling prices negatively impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $12.9 million.  The decrease in average selling prices was primarily due to the pass through of lower raw material costs.  Foreign currency translation negatively impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $9.8 million due to a stronger U.S. dollar against the majority of currencies where the Company has foreign operations.    

Operating income for the second quarter of 2019 decreased $4.3 million, or ten percent, compared to operating income for the second quarter of 2018. Much of this decline related to higher deferred compensation expense which increased $3.3 million quarter-over-quarter. Corporate expenses (excluding deferred compensation and business restructuring expenses) increased $3.1 million between quarters largely due to $2.9 million of environmental remediation expenses.  Operating income for the Polymer and Specialty Product segments increased $2.5 million and $1.7 million, respectively, whereas Surfactant operating income declined $2.0 million.  Foreign currency translation had a $0.9 million unfavorable effect on quarter-over-quarter consolidated operating income.    

Operating expenses (including deferred compensation and business restructuring expense) increased $7.3 million, or 16 percent, between quarters. Changes in the individual income statement line items that comprise the Company’s operating expenses were as follows:

• Selling expenses increased $0.8 million, or six percent, quarter-over-quarter.  

• Administrative expenses increased $3.4 million, or 19 percent, quarter-over-quarter.  This increase was primarily due to $2.9 million of environmental remediation expenses incurred in 2019.  The majority of these costs related to the Company’s Maywood, New Jersey site.

• Research, development and technical service (R&D) expenses decreased $0.4 million, or three percent, quarter-over-quarter.  

• Deferred compensation expense increased $3.3 million, quarter-over-quarter, primarily due to a $4.39 per share increase in the market price of Company common stock in the second quarter of 2019 compared to a $5.17 per share decline in the second quarter of 2018.  See the Overview and Segment Results-Corporate Expenses sections of this MD&A for further details.

29

• Business restructuring charges totaled $0.5 million in the second quarter of 2019 versus $0.3 million in 2018. The 2019 restructuring charges were comprised of ongoing decommissioning costs associated with the Company’s manufacturing facility in Canada ($0.2 million), decommissioning expenses associated with the 2018 sulfonation shutdown in Germany ($0.2 million) and costs related to the current year Specialty Product restructuring ($0.1 million).  The 2018 restructuring charges related solely to decommissioning costs associated with the Canadian plant closure (see Note 17, Business Restructuring, for additional details).  

Net interest expense for the second quarter of 2019 decreased $0.9 million, or 34 percent, from net interest expense for the same quarter of last year.  This decrease was primarily due to higher U.S. interest income earned on U.S. cash balances and interest income associated with a Brazilian VAT tax recovery, partially offset by the make-whole interest expense associated with the Company’s voluntary prepayment of its 5.88% Series 2010-A Senior Notes in the second quarter of 2019.  

Other, net was $0.2 million of income for the second quarter of 2019 compared to $0.5 million of income for the same period of 2018.  The Company recognized $0.8 million of investment income (including realized and unrealized gains and losses) for the Company’s deferred compensation and supplemental defined contribution mutual fund assets in the second quarter of 2019 compared to $0.5 million of income in last year’s second quarter.  In addition, the Company reported foreign exchange losses of $0.6 million in the second quarter of 2019 versus $0.1 million of foreign exchange gains in the second quarter of 2018.  The Company also reported $0.1 million of lower net periodic pension cost expense in the second quarter of 2019 versus the prior year.  

The Company’s effective tax rate was 23.6 percent for the second quarter of 2019 compared to 22.6 percent for the second quarter of 2018.  The quarter-over-quarter increase was primarily attributable to: (i) a favorable, non-recurring 2018 tax benefit related to nontaxable foreign interest income, and; (ii) higher cost related to global intangible low-taxed income.

Segment Results

	For the Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	June 30		June 30					Percent
Net Sales	2019		2018		(Decrease)			Change
Surfactants	$	313,380	$	356,884	$	(43,504	)		-12
Polymers		140,636		140,867		(231	)		0
Specialty Products		18,987		22,115		(3,128	)		-14
Total Net Sales	$	473,003	$	519,866	$	(46,863	)		-9

	For the Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	June 30,		June 30,			Increase			Percent
Operating Income	2019		2018(1)			(Decrease)			Change
Surfactants	$	32,086	$	34,078		$	(1,992	)		-6
Polymers		22,760		20,299			2,461			12
Specialty Products		5,982		4,240			1,742			41
Segment Operating Income	$	60,828	$	58,617		$	2,211			4
Corporate Expenses, Excluding Deferred Compensation   and Restructuring		16,918		13,823			3,095			22
Deferred Compensation Expense		2,395		(865	)		3,260			-377
Business Restructuring		450		273			177			65
Total Operating Income	$	41,065	$	45,386		$	(4,321	)		-10

(1) The 2018 segment and total operating income line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

Surfactants

Surfactant net sales for the second quarter of 2019 decreased $43.5 million, or 12 percent, versus net sales for the second quarter of 2018.  The unfavorable impact of lower sales volume, lower selling prices and foreign currency translation negatively impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $27.4 million, $9.9 million and $6.2 million, respectively.  A quarter-over-quarter comparison of net sales by region follows:

30

	For the Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	June 30,		June 30,					Percent
Net Sales	2019		2018		(Decrease)			Change
North America	$	191,720	$	218,029	$	(26,309	)		-12
Europe		54,360		66,065		(11,705	)		-18
Latin America		53,957		56,579		(2,622	)		-5
Asia		13,343		16,211		(2,868	)		-18
Total Surfactants Segment	$	313,380	$	356,884	$	(43,504	)		-12

Net sales for North American operations decreased $26.3 million, or 12 percent, between quarters.  A seven percent decline in sales volume and lower selling prices negatively impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $14.3 million and $11.8 million, respectively. The decline in sales volume was mostly due to lower demand in the functional product and personal care end markets.  The lower functional product demand reflects wet weather in the U.S. farm belt that negatively impacted the Company’s agricultural business.  Selling prices decreased six percent mostly due to the pass through of lower raw material costs to customers.  Foreign currency translation negatively impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $0.2 million.

Net sales for European operations decreased $11.7 million, or 18 percent, between quarters.  An 11 percent decline in sales volume, unfavorable foreign currency translation and lower average selling prices negatively impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $7.5 million, $3.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively.  The lower sales volume was principally due to the Company’s decision to cease Surfactant production at its German plant site during the fourth quarter of 2018.  A stronger U.S. dollar relative to the European euro and British pound sterling led to the foreign currency translation effect.      

Net sales for Latin American operations decreased five percent, primarily due to a seven percent decrease in sales volume and the negative impact of foreign currency translation. These two items accounted for $3.8 million and $2.7 million, respectively, of the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales. The lower volume mostly reflects the impact of a sulfonation equipment failure at the Company’s Ecatepec, Mexico site during the first quarter of 2019 and lower demand and lost commodity business for products used in laundry and cleaning applications in Brazil.  The Ecatepec facility was restored to full operations during the latter part of the second quarter.  The quarter-over-quarter strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Brazilian real and the Colombian peso generated the unfavorable foreign currency effect.  Higher average selling prices favorably impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $3.9 million.  The higher selling prices reflect more favorable product mix and one-time benefits related to a VAT tax recovery in Brazil.

Net sales for Asian operations declined 18 percent primarily due to lower sales volume and lower average selling prices. These items unfavorably impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $1.8 million and $1.2 million, respectively.  Sales volume declined 11 percent mostly due to lower demand for products sold to our distribution partners. The lower selling prices primarily reflect less favorable product mix.  Foreign currency translation favorably impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $0.1 million.  

Surfactants operating income for the second quarter of 2019 decreased $2.0 million, or six percent, versus operating income for the second quarter of 2018.  Gross profit declined $1.1 million quarter-over-quarter. Operating expenses increased $0.9 million, or four percent. Quarter-over-quarter comparisons of gross profit by region and total segment operating expenses and operating income follow:

	For the Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	June 30, 2019		June 30, 2018(1)		Increase (Decrease)			Percent Change
Gross Profit and Operating Income
North America	$	39,145	$	40,001	$	(856	)		-2
Europe		7,406		7,109		297			4
Latin America		6,289		5,441		848			16
Asia		3,404		4,827		(1,423	)		-29
Surfactants Segment Gross Profit	$	56,244	$	57,378	$	(1,134	)		-2
Operating Expenses		24,158		23,300		858			4
Surfactants Segment Operating Income	$	32,086	$	34,078	$	(1,992	)		-6

(1) The 2018 North America gross profit and the total surfactants segment operating income line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

31

Gross profit for North American operations decreased two percent, or $0.9 million, quarter-over-quarter primarily due a seven percent decline in sales volume that negatively impacted the change in gross profit by $2.6 million.  Most of the sales volume decrease was attributable to lower demand for products sold into our functional product and personal care end markets.   Higher unit margins positively impacted gross profit quarter over quarter by $1.7 million.  

Gross profit for European operations increased four percent, or $0.3 million, between quarters primarily due to lower overhead costs and higher unit margins resulting from the Company’s decision to cease Surfactant production at its German plant site during the fourth quarter of 2018.  Higher unit margins favorably impacted gross profit quarter over quarter by $1.5 million. An 11 percent decline in sales volume, mostly attributable to the exit from sulfonation in Germany, and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation negatively impacted the current year quarter by $0.8 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

Gross profit for Latin American operations increased 16 percent, or $0.8 million, quarter-over-quarter.  Higher unit margins positively impacted gross profit quarter over quarter by $1.7 million.  The higher unit margins are principally due to a more favorable product mix and one-time benefits related to a VAT tax recovery in Brazil.  The unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation and a seven percent decline in sales volume negatively impacted gross profit quarter over quarter by $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively.  The lower volume was primarily due to a sulfonation equipment failure at the Company’s Ecatepec, Mexico facility in January 2019.  The Ecatepec facility resumed full operations during the latter part of the second quarter.

Gross profit for Asia operations decreased 29 percent, or $1.4 million, between quarters largely due to lower unit margins and lower sales volume.  These items negatively impacted second quarter gross profit by $0.9 million and $0.5 million, respectively. The lower unit margins reflect less favorable product mix and the decline in sales volume is primarily due to lower demand from our distribution partners.

Operating expenses for the Surfactants segment increased $0.9 million, or four percent, quarter-over-quarter.

Polymers

Polymers net sales for the second quarter of 2019 decreased $0.2 million, or less than one percent, versus net sales for the same period of 2018.  A five percent increase in sales volume positively impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $7.7 million. The unfavorable impact of lower average selling prices and foreign currency translation negatively impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $4.4 million and $3.5 million, respectively.  A quarter-over-quarter comparison of net sales by region follows:

	For the Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	June 30		June 30		Increase			Percent
Net Sales	2019		2018		(Decrease)			change
North America	$	86,434	$	86,966	$	(532	)		-1
Europe		44,085		45,028		(943	)		-2
Asia and Other		10,117		8,873		1,244			14
Total Polymers Segment	$	140,636	$	140,867	$	(231	)		0

Net sales for North American operations declined $0.5 million, or one percent, due to lower average selling prices that offset sales volume growth of two percent.  The lower selling prices negatively impacted net sales quarter over quarter by $2.2 million while the sales volume growth positively impacted the quarter by $1.7 million.  Competitive market pressures contributed to the lower selling prices.  The sales volume growth was principally driven by 19 percent growth of polyols used in rigid foam applications, partially offset by lower phthalic anhydride volumes.

Net sales for European operations declined $0.9 million or two percent. A ten percent increase in sales volume positively impacted net sales quarter over quarter by $4.3 million. The unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation and lower average selling prices negatively impacted the net sales quarter over quarter by $2.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively.  A stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Polish zloty led to the foreign currency translation effect.

Net sales for Asia and Other operations increased $1.2 million, or 14 percent, quarter-over-quarter primarily due to a 16 percent increase in sales volume and higher average selling prices.  These two items positively impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $1.4 million and $0.5 million, respectively.  The unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation negatively impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $0.7 million.  

32

Polymers operating income for the second quarter of 2019 increased $2.5 million, or 12 percent, from operating income for the second quarter of 2018.  Gross profit increased $2.3 million, or eight percent, quarter-over-quarter.  Operating expenses declined $0.2 million quarter-over-quarter. Quarter-over-quarter comparisons of gross profit by region and total segment operating expenses and operating income follow:

	For the Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	June 30, 2019		June 30, 2018(1)		Increase (Decrease)			Percent Change
Gross Profit and Operating Income
North America	$	21,678	$	19,721	$	1,957			10
Europe		6,377		6,950		(573	)		-8
Asia and Other		1,662		791		871		110
Polymers Segment Gross Profit	$	29,717	$	27,462	$	2,255			8
Operating Expenses		6,957		7,163		(206	)		-3
Polymers Segment Operating Income	$	22,760	$	20,299	$	2,461			12

(1) The 2018 North America gross profit and total operating income line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

Gross profit for North American operations increased $2.0 million, or ten percent, quarter-over-quarter primarily due to improved unit margins and two percent sales volume growth.  The margin improvement reflects favorable product mix which benefited from 19 percent sales volume growth of polyols used in rigid foam applications, partially offset by lower phthalic anhydride volumes.

Gross profit for European operations decreased $0.6 million, or eight percent, primarily due to lower unit margins and the negative impact of foreign currency translation. These items negatively impacted gross profit quarter over quarter by $0.8 million and $0.4 million, respectively.  Sales volume growth of ten percent positively impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in gross profit by $0.6 million.  

Gross profit for Asia and Other operations improved $0.9 million primarily due to improved unit margins and 16 percent sales volume growth quarter-over-quarter.  

Specialty Products

Net sales for the second quarter of 2019 decreased $3.1 million, or 14 percent, versus net sales for the second quarter of 2018. Sales volume decreased one percent versus the prior year. Gross profit increased $1.8 million and operating income increased $1.7 million quarter-over-quarter primarily due to improved sales volume and margins within the food and nutritional business and order timing differences within the Company’s pharmaceutical business.  

Corporate Expenses

Corporate expenses, which include deferred compensation, business restructuring and other operating expenses that are not allocated to the reportable segments, increased $6.6 million between quarters. Corporate expenses were $19.8 million in the second quarter of 2019 versus $13.2 million in 2018. This increase was primarily attributable to higher deferred compensation expense ($3.3 million), environmental remediation expense ($2.9 million) and business restructuring expense ($0.2 million) in 2019.

The $3.3 million increase in quarter-over-quarter deferred compensation expense was primarily due to a $4.39 per share increase in the market price of Company common stock in the second quarter of 2019 compared to a $5.17 per share decrease for the second quarter of 2018. The following table presents the quarter-end Company common stock market prices used in the computation of deferred compensation expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

	2019				2018
	June 30		March 31		June 30		March 31
Company Common Stock Price	$	91.91	$	87.52	$	78.01	$	83.18

33

Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018

Summary

Net income attributable to the Company for the first half of 2019 decreased 16 percent to $55.2 million, or $2.37 per diluted share, from $65.4 million, or $2.80 per diluted share, for the first half of 2018. Adjusted net income and earnings per diluted share of $65.8 million and $2.82 per diluted share, respectively, mirrored prior year results (see the “Reconciliation 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 related earnings per diluted share and non-GAAP adjusted net income and related 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 the first half of 2019 compared to the first half of 2018 follows the summary.

Consolidated net sales decreased $57.0 million, or six percent, between years.  The unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation, lower average selling prices and lower sales volume negatively impacted net sales by $26.0 million, $22.2 million and $8.8 million, respectively.  The unfavorable foreign currency translation effect reflected a stronger U.S. dollar against all currencies for countries where the Company has foreign operations.  The decrease in average selling prices was primarily due to the pass through of lower raw material costs.  Consolidated sales volume decreased one percent.  Sales volume in the Surfactant segment decreased two percent while sales volume in the Polymer and Specialty Product segments increased four percent and seven percent, respectively.  Approximately 80 percent of the decline in Surfactant volume was due to the Company’s exit from its sulfonation business in Germany during the fourth quarter of 2018.  

Operating income for the first half of 2019 declined $15.9 million, or 18 percent, from operating income reported for the first half of 2018.  Most of this decline was related to higher deferred compensation expense which increased $9.2 million year-over-year.  Surfactant and Polymer segment operating income declined $6.3 million and $2.7 million year-over-year, respectively.  Operating income for the Specialty Product segment increased $5.2 million versus the prior year.  Foreign currency translation had a $2.0 million unfavorable effect on year-over-year consolidated operating income.  Corporate expenses (excluding deferred compensation and business restructuring expenses) increased $2.3 million between years largely due to $2.9 million of environmental remediation expenses in 2019.  

Operating expenses (including deferred compensation and business restructuring expenses) increased $12.3 million, or 13 percent, between years. Changes in the individual income statement line items that comprise the Company’s operating expenses were as follows:

• Selling expenses decreased $0.2 million, or one percent, year over year.    

• Administrative expenses increased $3.3 million, or nine percent, year over year primarily due to $2.9 million of environmental remediation expenses incurred in 2019.  The majority of these costs relate to the Company’s Maywood, New Jersey site.  

• R&D expenses declined $0.6 million, or two percent, year-over-year.

• Deferred compensation expense increased $9.2 million year-over-year primarily due to a $17.91 per share increase in the market price of Company common stock during the first six months of 2019 compared to a $0.96 share decline in the first half of 2018.  See the Overview and Segment Results-Corporate Expenses sections of this MD&A for further details.

• Business restructuring expenses were $1.2 million in the first half of 2019 compared to $0.6 million in the first half of 2018. The 2019 restructuring charges were primarily comprised of severance and office shutdown expenses related to Specialty Product segment restructuring ($0.5 million), ongoing decommissioning costs associated with the Company’s manufacturing facility in Canada that ceased operations in the fourth quarter of 2016 ($0.5 million), decommissioning expenses associated with the Company’s 2018 sulfonation shutdown in Germany ($0.4 million).  The 2018 restructuring charges related solely to decommissioning costs associated with the Canadian plant closure (see Note 17, Business Restructuring, for additional details).  

Net interest expense for the first half of 2019 declined $2.2 million, or 38 percent, compared to net interest expense for the first half of 2018.  This decrease was primarily due to higher U.S. interest income earned on U.S. cash balances and interest income associated with a Brazilian VAT tax recovery, partially offset by the make-whole interest expense associated with the Company’s voluntary prepayment of its 5.88 percent Series 2010-A Senior Notes in the second quarter of 2019.  

Other, net was $3.4 million of income for the first half of 2019 compared to $1.6 million of income for the first half of 2018.  The Company recognized $3.3 million of investment gains (including realized and unrealized gains and losses) for the Company’s deferred compensation and supplemental defined contribution mutual fund assets in the first half of 2019 compared to $0.7 million of investment gains in the first half of 2018.  In addition, the Company reported a negligible foreign exchange loss in the first half of

34

2019 versus foreign exchange gains of $1.2 million in the first half of 2018.  The Company also reported $0.3 million of lower net periodic pension cost expense in the first six months of 2019 versus the prior year.

The Company’s effective tax rate was 21.8 percent for the first half of 2019 compared to 20.7 percent for the first half of 2018.  The year-over-year increase was primarily attributable to a favorable, non-recurring 2018 tax benefit related to nontaxable foreign interest income.

	For the Six Months Ended
(In thousands)	June  30,		June 30,					Percent
Net Sales	2019		2018		(Decrease)			Change
Surfactants	$	663,030	$	715,824	$	(52,794	)		-7
Polymers		260,815		262,800		(1,985	)		-1
Specialty Products		38,328		40,577		(2,249	)		-6
Total Net Sales	$	962,173	$	1,019,201	$	(57,028	)		-6

	For the Six Months Ended
(In thousands)	June 30,		June 30,		Increase			Percent
Operating Income	2019		2018(1)		(Decrease)			Change
Surfactants	$	69,253	$	75,546	$	(6,293	)		-8
Polymers		34,865		37,604		(2,739	)		-7
Specialty Products		9,113		3,890		5,223			134
Segment Operating Income	$	113,231	$	117,040	$	(3,809	)		-3
Corporate Expenses, Excluding Deferred Compensation and Restructuring	$	31,377	$	28,991	$	2,386			8
Deferred Compensation Expense (Income)		9,868		749		9,119		NM
Business Restructuring		1,183		631		552			87
Total Corporate Expenses	$	42,428	$	30,371	$	12,057			40
Total Operating Income	$	70,803	$	86,669	$	(15,866	)		-18

(1) The 2018 segment and total operating income line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

Segment Results

Surfactants

Surfactant net sales for the first half of 2019 decreased $52.8 million, or seven percent, versus net sales for the first half of 2018. The unfavorable impact of lower selling prices, lower sales volume and foreign currency translation negatively impacted the year-over-year change in net sales by $18.5 million, $17.5 million and $16.8 million, respectively. Sales volume declined two percent versus prior year.  A year-over-year comparison of net sales by region follows:

	For the Six Months Ended
(In thousands)	June 30, 2019		June 30, 2018		Increase (Decrease)			Percent Change
North America	$	406,017	$	438,434	$	(32,417	)		-7
Europe		125,838		144,436		(18,598	)		-13
Latin America		104,769		98,267		6,502			7
Asia		26,406		34,687		(8,281	)		-24
Total Surfactants Segment	$	663,030	$	715,824	$	(52,794	)		-7

Net sales for North American operations decreased $32.4 million, or seven percent, year-over-year. Lower average selling prices, a three percent decline in sales volume and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation negatively impacted the year-over-year change in net sales by $18.8 million, $13.0 million and $0.6 million, respectively.  Average selling prices decreased four percent, mostly due to the pass through of lower raw material costs to customers.  The decline in sales volume was largely driven

35

by lower sales of products used in personal care and household, institutional and industrial applications.  The foreign currency impact reflected a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar.

Net sales for European operations decreased $18.6 million, or 13 percent, primarily due to a seven percent decrease in sales volume and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation.  These items negatively impacted the year-over-year change in net sales by $9.6 million and $8.8 million, respectively.  The lower sales volume was principally due to the Company’s decision to cease Surfactant production at its German site during the fourth quarter of 2018.  A stronger U.S. dollar relative to the British pound sterling and European euro led to the foreign currency translation effect. Slightly lower selling prices unfavorably impacted the year-over-year change in net sales by $0.2 million.  

Net sales for Latin American operations increased $6.5 million, or seven percent, primarily due to higher average selling prices and a six percent increase in sales volume.  These items accounted for $7.3 million and $6.4 million, respectively, of the year-over-year increase in net sales.  Average selling prices increased seven percent primarily due to a more favorable product mix and one-time benefits related to a VAT tax recovery in Brazil.  The higher volume was mostly related to the Company’s first quarter 2018 acquisition in Ecatepec, Mexico, despite challenges due to a first quarter 2019 equipment failure, partially offset by lower demand and lost commodity business for products used in laundry and cleaning applications in Brazil.  The Ecatepec facility was restored to full operations during the latter part of the second quarter.  Foreign currency translation negatively impacted the year-over-year change in net sales by $7.2 million.  The year-over-year strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Brazilian real and the Columbian peso generated the unfavorable foreign currency effect.

Net sales for Asian operations decreased $8.3 million, or 24 percent, primarily due to lower average selling prices and an 11 percent decrease in sales volume.  These items accounted for $4.2 million and $4.0 million, respectively, of the year-over-year change in net sales.   The lower selling prices were mostly due to the pass through of lower raw material costs to customers and less favorable product mix.  The decline in sales volume was mostly due to lower sales of products sold to our distribution partners.  The unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation negatively impacted the net sales change by $0.1 million.  

Surfactant operating income for the first half of 2019 decreased $6.3 million, or eight percent, versus operating income for the first half of 2018.  Gross profit declined $5.9 million, or five percent, versus prior year and operating expenses increased $0.4 million, or one percent. Year-over-year comparisons of gross profit by region and total segment operating expenses and operating income follow: 

	For the Six Months Ended
(In thousands)	June 30, 2019		June 30, 2018(1)		Increase (Decrease)			Percent Change
Gross Profit
North America	$	82,229	$	85,355	$	(3,126	)		-4
Europe		17,844		16,485		1,359			8
Latin America		9,803		10,861		(1,058	)		-10
Asia		7,346		10,418		(3,072	)		-29
Surfactants Segment Gross Profit	$	117,222	$	123,119	$	(5,897	)		-5
Operating Expenses		47,969		47,573		396			1
Operating Income	$	69,253	$	75,546	$	(6,293	)		-8

(1) The 2018 North America gross profit and total operating income line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

 Gross profit for North American operations decreased $3.1 million, or four percent, year-over-year primarily due to a three percent decline in sales volume that negatively impacted the change in gross profit by $2.5 million.  The decline in sales volume was largely driven by lower sales of products used in personal care and household, institutional and industrial applications.  Slightly lower unit margins negatively impacted gross profit year over year by $0.6 million.    

Gross profit for European operations increased $1.4 million, or eight percent, primarily due to lower overhead costs and higher profit margins resulting from the Company’s decision to cease Surfactant production at its German plant site during the fourth quarter of 2018.  Higher unit margins favorably impacted the year-over-year change in gross profit by $3.7 million.  The unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation and a seven percent decline in sales volume, mostly attributable to the shutdown of sulfonation production at the German site, negatively impacted the current year by $1.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively.  

36

Gross profit for Latin American operations decreased $1.1 million, or 10 percent, primarily due to the negative impact of foreign currency translation and slightly lower unit margins.  These items unfavorably impacted the change in year-over-year gross profit by $1.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively.  Sales volume growth of six percent positively impacted current year gross profit by $0.7 million.  This growth primarily reflects the Company’s 2018 first quarter acquisition in Ecatepec, Mexico, partially offset by lower demand and lost commodity business in Brazil.  

Gross profit for Asian operations decreased $3.1 million, or 29 percent, largely due to lower unit margins and lower sales volume.  These items negatively impacted first half gross profit by $1.9 million and $1.2 million, respectively.  The lower unit margins reflect less favorable product mix and the decline in sales volume is primarily due to lower demand from our distribution partners.    

Operating expenses for the Surfactant segment increased $0.4 million, or one percent, year-over-year.

Polymers

Polymer net sales for the first half of 2019 decreased $2.0 million, or one percent, versus net sales for the same period of 2018.  A four percent increase in sales volume increased net sales year over year by $11.8 million.  The unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation and lower average selling prices decreased net sales year over year by $8.8 million and $5.0 million, respectively.  A year-over-year comparison of net sales by region follows:

	For the Six Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	June 30		June 30		Increase			Percent
Net Sales		2019		2018	(decrease)			change
North America	$	157,757	$	160,440	$	(2,683	)		-2
Europe		86,190		86,812		(622	)		-1
Asia and Other		16,868		15,548		1,320			8
Total Polymers Segment	$	260,815	$	262,800	$	(1,985	)		-1

Net sales for North American operations declined $2.7 million, or two percent, primarily due to lower average selling prices.  Lower selling prices negatively impacted the change in net sales by $3.5 million.  Slightly higher sales volume increased net sales year over year by $0.8 million.  Sales volume of polyols used in rigid foam applications increased 15 percent during the first half of 2019 but was mostly offset by lower phthalic anhydride and specialty polyols sales volume.    

Net sales for European operations decreased $0.6 million, or one percent.  Sales volume growth of nine percent increased net sales year over year by $8.2 million.  The unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation and lower average selling prices decreased net sales year over year by $7.6 million and $1.2 million, respectively.  A stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Polish zloty led to the foreign currency translation effect.  

Net sales for Asia and Other operations increased $1.3 million, or eight percent, year-over-year primarily due to a 15 percent increase in sales volume and higher average selling prices.  These items increased net sales year over year by $2.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively.  The unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation decreased net sales year over year by $1.2 million.  

37

Polymer operating income for the first half of 2019 declined $2.7 million, or seven percent, from operating income for the first half of 2018.  Gross profit decreased $2.9 million, or six percent, primarily due to the non-recurrence of a $2.1 million class action settlement received in the first quarter of 2018 and the negative effect of foreign currency translation.  The unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation decreased gross profit year over year by $1.2 million.  Operating expenses declined one percent year-over-year.  Year-over-year comparisons of gross profit by region and total segment operating expenses and operating income follow:

	For the Six Months Ended
(In thousands)	June 30, 2019		June 30, 2018(1)		Increase (Decrease)			Percent Change
Gross Profit and Operating Income
North America	$	34,644	$	38,288	$	(3,644	)		-10
Europe		11,986		12,914		(928	)		-7
Asia and Other		2,310		646		1,664		258
Polymers Segment Gross Profit	$	48,940	$	51,848	$	(2,908	)		-6
Operating Expenses		14,075		14,244		(169	)		-1
Polymers Segment Operating Income	$	34,865	$	37,604	$	(2,739	)		-7

(1) The 2018 North America gross profit and total operating income line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

Gross profit for North American operations declined $3.6 million, or ten percent, year-over-year due to lower slightly lower unit margins and the non-recurrence of a $2.1 million class action settlement received in the first quarter of 2018.  The decline in margins was principally due to the consumption of higher priced year-end inventories carried to guard against potential winter supply disruptions in the first quarter of 2019.  Higher sales volume increased gross profit year over year by $0.8 million.  

Gross profit for European operations declined $0.9 million, or seven percent, year-over-year.  The unfavorable impact of lower unit margins and foreign currency translation decreased gross profit year over year by $1.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively.  Sales volume growth of nine percent increased gross profit year over year by $1.2 million.  

Gross profit for Asia and Other operations improved $1.7 million due to higher unit margins and 15 percent sales volume growth during the first half of 2019.

Specialty Products

Net sales for the first half of 2019 declined $2.2 million, or six percent, versus net sales for the same period of 2018.  Sales volume increased seven percent but the increase was offset by a decrease in average selling prices.  Gross profit increased $4.6 million and operating income increased $5.2 million year-over-year due to improved sales volume and margins within the food and nutritional business and order timing differences within the Company’s pharmaceutical and flavor businesses.

Corporate Expenses

Corporate expenses, which include deferred compensation, business restructuring and other operating expenses that are not allocated to the reportable segments, increased $12.0 million between years.  Corporate expenses were $42.4 million in the first half of 2019 versus $30.4 million in the first half of 2018.  This increase was primarily attributable to higher deferred compensation expense ($9.2 million), environmental remediation expense ($2.9 million) and business restructuring expense ($0.6 million).  These items were partially offset by the non-recurrence of prior year costs associated with the Company’s 2018 first quarter acquisition in Mexico.

Deferred compensation expense increased $9.2 million between years. This increase was primarily due to a $17.91 per share increase in the market price of the Company’s common stock in the first half of 2019 compared to a $0.96 per share decrease in the first half of 2018. The following table presents the period-end Company common stock market prices used in the computation of deferred compensation expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

	2019		2018				2017
	June 30		December 31		June 30		December 31
Company Common Stock Price	$	91.91	$	74.00	$	78.01	$	78.97

38

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Overview

For the six months ended June 30, 2019, operating activities were a cash source of $78.8 million versus a source of $53.8 million for the comparable period in 2018. For the current year period, investing cash outflows totaled $43.1 million, as compared to an outflow of $63.4 million in the prior year period, and financing activities were a use of $61.4 million, as compared to a use of $27.1 million in the prior year. Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $24.9 million compared to December 31, 2018, inclusive of a $0.8 million favorable exchange rate impact.

At June 30, 2019, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $275.3 million.  Cash in U.S. money market funds, deposit accounts and a certificate of deposit totaled $70.4 million, $54.4 million and $40 million, respectively.  The Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries held $110.5 million of cash outside the United States as of June 30, 2019.

Operating Activity

Net income decreased by $10.2 million versus the comparable period in 2018. Working capital was a use of $29.2 million versus a use of $58.8 million for the comparable to prior year period.

Year-to-date accounts receivable were a use of $6.9 million compared to a use of $24.0 million for the comparable period in 2018. Inventories were a source of $15.5 million in 2019 versus a use of $16.7 million in 2018. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities were a use of $33.9 million in 2019 compared to a use of $18.6 million for the same period in 2018.

Working capital requirements were lower year-to-date, compared to the same period in 2018, due to the changes noted above.  The 2019 accounts receivable cash usage primarily reflects higher sales quantities.  The current year inventory source of cash reflects lower quantities and prices.  The current year accounts payable and accrued liabilities cash usage reflects lower quantities purchased and prices.  It is management’s opinion that the Company’s liquidity is sufficient to provide for potential increases in working capital requirements during 2019.

Investing Activity

Cash used for investing activities decreased by $20.4 million year-over-year.  In the first half of 2018, the Company paid $21.5 million in cash to acquire BASF’s production facility in Ecatepec, Mexico and a portion of the related surfactants business.  Cash used for capital expenditures was $45.1 million in the first half of 2019 versus $43.7 million in the comparable prior year period.

For 2019, the Company estimates that total capital expenditures will range from $110 million to $130 million, inclusive of infrastructure and optimization spending in the United States, Germany and Mexico.

Financing Activity

Cash used for financing activities was $61.4 million in 2019 versus $27.1 million in 2018.  The majority of this increase in cash usage relates to the voluntary prepayment of the outstanding principal balance of the Company’s 5.88 percent Senior Notes in the second quarter of 2019 and scheduled principal payments on the Company’s 3.86 percent Notes that were incurred for the first time in 2019.

The Company purchases shares of its common stock in the open market or from its benefit plans from time to time to fund its own benefit plans and to mitigate the dilutive effect of new shares issued under its benefit plans. The Company may, from time to time, seek to retire or purchase additional amounts of its outstanding equity and/or debt securities through cash purchases and/or exchanges for other securities, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, including pursuant to plans meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 promulgated by the SEC. Such repurchases or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, the Company’s liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. The amounts involved may be material.  In the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company purchased 70,636 shares of its common stock at a total cost of $6,180,000, on the open market.  As of June 30, 2019, there were 423,651 shares remaining under the current share repurchase authorization.

39

Debt and Credit Facilities

Consolidated balance sheet debt decreased to $232.6 million as of June 30, 2019 from $276.1 million at December 31, 2018.  Net debt (which is defined as total debt minus cash – see the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Net Debt section of this MD&A) decreased by $18.6 million for the first half of 2019, from a negative $24.1 million to a negative $42.7 million, partially due to lower working capital requirements.

As of June 30, 2019, the ratio of total debt to total debt plus shareholders’ equity was 21 percent compared to 25 percent at December 31, 2018. As of June 30, 2019, the ratio of net debt to net debt plus shareholders’ equity was a negative 5 percent, compared to a negative 3 percent at December 31, 2018.

On January 30, 2018, the Company entered into a five year committed $350 million multi-currency revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks that matures on January 30, 2023.  This revolving credit facility replaced the Company’s prior $125 million credit agreement.  This credit agreement allows the Company to make unsecured borrowings, as requested from time to time, to finance working capital needs, permitted acquisitions, capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes. This unsecured facility is the Company’s primary source of short-term borrowings. As of June 30, 2019, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $5.2 million under the revolving credit agreement and no borrowings, with $344.8 million remaining available.  

The Company anticipates that cash from operations, committed credit facilities and cash on hand will be sufficient to fund anticipated capital expenditures, working capital, dividends and other planned financial commitments for the foreseeable future.

Certain foreign subsidiaries of the Company maintain short-term bank lines of credit in their respective local currencies to meet working capital requirements as well as to fund capital expenditure programs and acquisitions. At June 30, 2019, the Company’s foreign subsidiaries had outstanding debt of $1.3 million.

The Company has material debt agreements that require the maintenance of minimum interest coverage and minimum net worth. These agreements also limit the incurrence of additional debt as well as the payment of dividends and repurchase of treasury shares. As of June 30, 2019, testing for these agreements was based on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Under the most restrictive of these debt covenants:

1. The Company is required to maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio, as defined within the agreements, of 3.50 to 1.00, for the preceding four calendar quarters.

2. The Company is required to maintain a maximum net leverage ratio, as defined within the agreements, not to exceed 3.50 to 1.00.

3.

The Company is required to maintain net worth of at least $325.0 million.

4.

The Company is permitted to pay dividends and purchase treasury shares after December 31, 2017, in amounts of up to $100.0 million plus 100 percent of net income and cash proceeds of stock option exercises, measured cumulatively beginning December 31, 2017. The maximum amount of dividends that could have been paid within this limitation is disclosed as unrestricted retained earnings in Note 15 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

The Company believes it was in compliance with all of its loan agreements as of June 30, 2019.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND LEGAL MATTERS

The Company’s operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations and similar laws in the other countries in which the Company does business. Although the Company's environmental policies and practices are designed to ensure compliance with these laws and regulations, future developments and increasingly stringent environmental regulation may require the Company to make additional unforeseen environmental expenditures. The Company will continue to invest in the equipment and facilities necessary to comply with existing and future regulations.  During the first six months of 2019 and 2018, the Company’s expenditures for capital projects related to the environment were $0.7 million and $2.1 million, respectively. These projects are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives, which are typically 10 years.  Recurring costs associated with the operation and maintenance of facilities for waste treatment and disposal and managing environmental compliance in ongoing operations at the Company’s manufacturing locations were $15.2 million and $14.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  

Over the years, the Company has received requests for information related to or has been named by the government as a PRP at a number of waste disposal sites where cleanup costs have been or may be incurred under CERCLA and similar state or foreign

40

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 is likely to incur with respect to the sites. It is the Company’s accounting policy to record liabilities when environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable and the cost or range of possible costs can be reasonably estimated.  When no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, the minimum is accrued.  Some of the factors on which the Company bases its estimates include information provided by feasibility studies, PRP negotiations and the development of remedial action plans. After partial remediation payments at certain sites, the Company has estimated a range of possible environmental and legal losses of $23.9 million to $45.0 million at June 30, 2019, compared to $23.4 million to $44.7 million at December 31, 2018. Within the range of possible environmental losses, management currently concluded that no single amount is more likely to occur than any other amounts in the ranges and, thus, has accrued at the lower end of the ranges; that accrual totaled $23.9 million at June 30, 2019 and $23.4 million at December 31, 2018.  Because the liabilities accrued are estimates, actual amounts could differ materially from the amounts reported. Cash expenditures related to legal and environmental matters were $2.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to $0.6 million for the same period in 2018.  The majority of the 2019 cash expenditures relate to environmental remediation costs at the Company’s Maywood, New Jersey site.

For certain sites, the Company has responded to information requests made by federal, state or local government agencies but has received no response confirming or denying the Company’s stated positions. As such, estimates of the total costs, or range of possible costs, of remediation, if any, or the Company’s share of such costs, if any, cannot be determined with respect to these sites. Consequently, the Company is unable to predict the effect thereof on the Company’s financial position, cash flows and results of operations. Based upon the Company’s present knowledge with respect to its involvement at these sites, the possibility of other viable entities’ responsibilities for cleanup, and the extended period over which any costs would be incurred, management believes that the Company has no liability at these sites and that these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position. Certain of these matters are discussed in Item 1, Part 2, of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Legal Proceedings, in this report and in other filings of the Company with SEC, which are available upon request from the Company. See also Note 9, Contingencies, to the condensed consolidated financial statements for a summary of the environmental proceedings related to certain environmental sites.

41

OUTLOOK

Management believes its Surfactant strategy, inclusive of its focus on end market diversification efforts, Tier 2 and Tier 3 customers and cost out activities will continue to contribute to margin improvement despite the challenging current environment.  Management believes Polymers will continue to benefit from the growing market for insulation materials and remains optimistic the business will deliver both full year volume growth and incremental margin improvement versus the prior year.  Management believes full year Specialty Products results will improve versus prior year.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

There have been no changes to the critical accounting policies disclosed in the Company’s 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP ADJUSTED NET INCOME AND EARNINGS PER SHARE

	Three Months Ended June 30
(In millions, except per share amounts)	2019						2018
	Net Income			Diluted EPS			Net Income			Diluted EPS
Net Income Attributable to the Company as Reported(1)	$	30.2		$	1.30		$	33.4		$	1.44
Deferred Compensation (Income) Expense (including    related investment activity)		1.6			0.07			(1.3	)		(0.05	)
Business Restructuring		0.5			0.02			0.3			0.01
Cash-settled SARs		0.3			0.01			(0.6	)		(0.03	)
Environmental Remediation		2.9			0.12			0.0			0.00
Early Debt Repayment		1.2			0.05			0.0			0.00
Cumulative Tax Effect on Above Adjustment Items		(1.6	)		(0.07	)		0.4			0.02
Adjusted Net Income(1)	$	35.1		$	1.50		$	32.2		$	1.39
	Six Months Ended June 30
(In millions, except per share amounts)	2019						2018
	Net Income			Diluted EPS			Net Income			Diluted EPS
Net Income Attributable to the Company as Reported(1)	$	55.2		$	2.37		$	65.4		$	2.80
Deferred Compensation Expense (including    related investment activity)		6.7			0.29			0.0			0.00
Business Restructuring		1.2			0.05			0.6			0.02
Cash-settled SARs		1.9			0.08			(0.1	)		0.00
Environmental Remediation		2.9			0.12			0.0			0.00
Early Debt Repayment		1.2			0.05			0.0			0.00
Cumulative Tax Effect on Above Adjustment Items		(3.3	)		(0.14	)		(0.1	)		0.00
Adjusted Net Income(1)	$	65.8		$	2.82		$	65.8		$	2.82

(1) The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

Management believes that certain non-GAAP measures, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, are useful for evaluating the Company’s operating performance and provide better clarity on the impact of non-operational items. Internally, the Company uses this non-GAAP information as an indicator of business performance and evaluates management’s effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. These measures should be considered in addition to, not a substitute for or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The cumulative tax effect was calculated using the statutory tax rates for the jurisdictions in which the noted transactions occurred.

42

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP NET DEBT

Management uses the non-GAAP net debt metric to gain a more complete picture of the Company’s overall liquidity, financial flexibility and leverage level. This adjusted measure should be considered supplemental to and not a substitute for financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company's definition of this adjusted measure may differ from similarly titled measures used by other entities.

(In millions)	June 30, 2019			December 31, 2018
Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt as Reported	$	24.9		$	37.1
Long-Term Debt as Reported		207.7			239.0
Total Debt as Reported		232.6			276.1
Less Cash and Cash Equivalents as Reported		(275.3	)		(300.2	)
Net Debt	$	(42.7	)	$	(24.1	)

43

Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There have been no material changes to the market risks described in the Company’s 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 4 – Controls and Procedures

a. Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of June 30, 2019. Based on this evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2019, such that the information required to be disclosed in our Securities and Exchange Commission reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the rules and forms of the Exchange Act and is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

b. Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2019, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Part II OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1 – Legal Proceedings

On April 3, 2019, the Company received a prefiling notice from USEPA for alleged violations of FIFRA associated with three of the Company’s biocide products sold by a licensed distributor. On 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 $612,718, which the Company paid on July 10, 2019.

There have been no other material changes to the legal proceedings disclosed in the Company’s 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 1A – Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in the Company’s 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 2 – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Below is a summary by month of share purchases by the Company during the second quarter of 2019:

Month	Total Number of Shares Purchased			Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (1)			Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1)
April 2019		—		$	—		—			—
May 2019		58,325	(2)	$	87.28		58,325	(2)		435,062
June 2019		11,411	(2)	$	88.81		11,411	(2)		423,651
Total		69,736		$	87.53		69,736			423,651

⁽¹⁾ On February 19, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to 1,000,000 shares of its outstanding common stock.

⁽²⁾ Represents shares of Company common stock purchased on the open market.

Item 3 – Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None

44

Item 4 – Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable

Item 5 – Other Information

None

Item 6 – Exhibits

Exhibit No.		Description
31.1	–	Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
31.2	–	Certification of Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a- 14(a)/15d-14(a)
32	–	Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
101.INS	–	Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document
101.SCH	–	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL	–	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF	–	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Document
101.LAB	–	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

45

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

STEPAN COMPANY

Date:  July 31, 2019

/s/ Luis E. Rojo

Luis E. Rojo

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

46

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO EXCHANGE ACT RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)

I, F. Quinn Stepan, Jr., certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Stepan Company;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's independent registered public accounting firm and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: July 31, 2019

/s/ F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.

F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO EXCHANGE ACT RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)

I, Luis E. Rojo, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Stepan Company;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's independent registered public accounting firm and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: July 31, 2019

/s/ Luis E. Rojo

Luis E. Rojo

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-32

Exhibit 32

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Stepan Company (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned officers of the Company certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to such officer’s knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: July 31, 2019

/s/ F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.

Name: F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.

Title: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Luis E. Rojo

Name: Luis E. Rojo

Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.

XML

Document and Entity Information - $ / shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jul. 23, 2019
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	SCL
Entity Registrant Name	STEPAN CO
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Central Index Key	0000094049
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		22,556,992
Entity Tax Identification Number	361823834
Entity File Number	1-4462
Entity Address, Address Line One	Edens and Winnetka Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Northfield
Entity Address, State or Province	Illinois
Entity Address, Country	US
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60093
City Area Code	847
Local Phone Number	446-7500
New York Stock Exchange [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Listing, Par Value Per Share	$ 1
Entity Listing, Description	Common Stock, $1 par value

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018		Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales		$ 473,003	$ 519,866		$ 962,173	$ 1,019,201
Cost of Sales	[1]	380,044	429,885		784,605	838,022
Gross Profit	[1]	92,959	89,981		177,568	181,179
Operating Expenses:
Selling		14,140	13,369		28,109	28,259
Administrative		21,544	18,098		40,850	37,537
Research, development and technical services		13,365	13,720		26,755	27,334
Deferred compensation expense (income)		2,395	(865)		9,868	749
Total Operating expenses		51,444	44,322		105,582	93,879
Business restructuring expenses (Note 17)		(450)	(273)		(1,183)	(631)
Operating Income	[1],[2]	41,065	45,386		70,803	86,669
Other Income (Expense):
Interest, net		(1,766)	(2,672)		(3,619)	(5,823)
Other, net (Note 16)		235	484		3,380	1,644
Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total		(1,531)	(2,188)		(239)	(4,179)
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes	[1],[2]	39,534	43,198		70,564	82,490
Provision for Income Taxes	[1]	9,324	9,746		15,376	17,093
Net Income	[1],[2]	30,210	33,452	[3]	55,188	65,397
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests (Note 3)		8	2		14	9
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company	[1],[2]	$ 30,218	$ 33,454		$ 55,202	$ 65,406
Net Income Per Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company (Note 11):
Basic	[1],[2]	$ 1.31	$ 1.45		$ 2.39	$ 2.84
Diluted	[1],[2]	$ 1.30	$ 1.44		$ 2.37	$ 2.80
Shares Used to Compute Net Income Per Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company (Note 11):
Basic		23,086	23,039		23,092	23,059
Diluted		23,329	23,295		23,329	23,341

[1] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from the last in, first out (LIFO) basis to the first in, first out (FIFO) basis.

[2] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[3] The retained earnings and net income amounts for the noted line items have been changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018		Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	[1],[2]	$ 30,210	$ 33,452	[3]	$ 55,188	$ 65,397
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments (Note 12)	[4]	4,290	(35,059)		7,997	(26,242)
Defined benefit pension adjustments, net of tax (Note 12)		542	752		1,085	1,505
Derivative instrument activity, net of tax (Note 12)		(2)	(2)		(4)	(5)
Total other comprehensive income		4,830	(34,309)		9,078	(24,742)
Comprehensive income	[1]	35,040	(857)		64,266	40,655
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (Note 3)		35	49		21	24
Comprehensive income attributable to Stepan Company	[1]	$ 35,075	$ (808)		$ 64,287	$ 40,679

[1] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[2] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from the last in, first out (LIFO) basis to the first in, first out (FIFO) basis.

[3] The retained earnings and net income amounts for the noted line items have been changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[4] Includes foreign currency translation adjustments related to noncontrolling interest.

XML

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 275,266	$ 300,194
Receivables, net		289,023	280,025
Inventories (Note 2)(Note 7)	[1]	216,278	231,528
Other current assets		26,240	22,146
Total current assets	[1]	806,807	833,893
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Cost		1,703,127	1,666,790
Less: Accumulated depreciation		(1,093,919)	(1,057,898)
Property, plant and equipment, net		609,208	608,892
Goodwill, net		23,080	22,954
Other intangible assets, net		12,635	14,244
Long-term investments (Note 4)		26,448	25,082
Operating lease assets		38,692
Other non-current assets	[1]	12,098	9,549
Total assets	[1]	1,528,968	1,514,614
Current Liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt (Note 15)		24,889	37,058
Accounts payable		184,727	205,954
Accrued liabilities		89,850	95,570
Total current liabilities		299,466	338,582
Deferred income taxes	[1]	28,271	24,961
Long-term debt, less current maturities (Note 15)		207,748	239,022
Non-current operating lease liabilities		29,712
Other non-current liabilities		105,374	103,864
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9)
Equity:
Common stock, $1 par value; authorized 60,000,000 shares; Issued 26,452,701 shares in 2019 and 26,308,668 shares in 2018		26,453	26,309
Additional paid-in capital		188,781	182,881
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note 12)	[2]	(137,723)	(141,483)
Retained earnings	[1],[2]	886,349	837,107
Less: Common treasury stock, at cost, 3,896,475 shares in 2019 and 3,803,043 shares in 2018		(106,202)	(97,389)
Total Stepan Company stockholders’ equity	[1]	857,658	807,425
Noncontrolling interests (Note 3)		739	760
Total equity	[1]	858,397	808,185	[3]
Total liabilities and equity	[1]	$ 1,528,968	$ 1,514,614

[1] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[2] The 2019 amounts for the noted line items include an adjustment related to the Company’s first quarter 2019 adoption of ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.

[3] The retained earnings and net income amounts for the noted line items have been changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

XML

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]
Common stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized	60,000,000	60,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	26,452,701	26,308,668
Treasury stock, shares	3,896,475	3,803,043

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net income	[1],[2]	$ 55,188	$ 65,397
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		38,959	40,500
Deferred compensation		9,868	749
Realized and unrealized gains on long-term investments		(3,130)	(504)
Stock-based compensation		4,772	3,387
Deferred income taxes	[1]	223	3,034
Other non-cash items		2,262	830
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables, net		(6,868)	(23,969)
Inventories	[1]	15,515	(16,738)
Other current assets		(3,981)	442
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(33,888)	(18,579)
Pension liabilities		(635)	(122)
Environmental and legal liabilities		630	(479)
Deferred revenues		(162)	(162)
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities		78,753	53,786
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment		(45,084)	(43,741)
Business acquisition (Note 18)			(21,475)
Other, net		2,023	1,775
Net Cash Used In Investing Activities		(43,061)	(63,441)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Revolving debt and bank overdrafts, net		(6,272)	1,893
Other debt repayments		(37,143)	(5,714)
Dividends paid		(11,285)	(10,160)
Company stock repurchased		(6,181)	(12,000)
Stock option exercises		2,163	3,274
Other, net		(2,656)	(4,432)
Net Cash Used In Financing Activities		(61,374)	(27,139)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash		754	(5,364)
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents		(24,928)	(42,158)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period		300,194	298,894
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period		275,266	256,736
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Cash payments of income taxes, net of refunds/payments		11,895	19,739
Cash payments of interest		$ 7,164	$ 6,444

[1] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[2] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from the last in, first out (LIFO) basis to the first in, first out (FIFO) basis.

XML

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Stepan Company (the Company), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although management believes that the disclosures are adequate and make the information presented not misleading. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of June 30, 2019, and its results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, have been included. These financial statements and related footnotes should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related footnotes included in the Company’s 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

XML

Change In Method of Accounting for Inventory Valuation

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

New Accounting Pronouncements And Changes In Accounting Principles [Abstract]

Change in Method of Accounting for Inventory Valuation

2. CHANGE IN METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOR INVENTORY VALUTION

On January 1, 2019, the Company elected to change its method of accounting for U.S. inventories from the LIFO basis to the FIFO basis. Total U.S. inventories accounted for using the LIFO cost flow assumption, prior to the accounting method change, comprised 68 percent of the Company’s total inventories as of December 31, 2018. Non-U.S. inventories have historically been maintained on the FIFO basis. The Company believes that this change to the FIFO method of inventory valuation is preferable as it provides a better matching of costs with the physical flow of goods, more accurately reflects the current market value of inventory presented on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, standardizes the Company’s inventory valuation methodology and improves comparability with the Company’s industry peers.

In accordance with ASC 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, this change in method of accounting for U.S. inventories has been retrospectively applied to all prior periods presented herein.  Prior period financial statements and financial comparables have been adjusted to reflect what results would have been had the Company always used the FIFO method of inventory valuation for U.S. inventories. The cumulative effect on retained earnings for these changes was $23.7 million at December 31, 2018.

The following tables present the prior year financial statement line items that have been affected by the retrospective change in accounting principle:

Income Statement

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
	As originally reported under LIFO		Effect of change			As adjusted under FIFO
Cost of Sales	$	430,586	$	(701	)	$	429,885
Gross Profit		89,280		701			89,981
Operating Income		44,685		701			45,386
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		42,497		701			43,198
Provision for Income Taxes		9,574		172			9,746
Net Income		32,923		529			33,452
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		32,925		529			33,454
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	$	1.41	$	0.03		$	1.44

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
	As originally reported under LIFO		Effect of change			As adjusted under FIFO
Cost of Sales	$	840,351	$	(2,329	)	$	838,022
Gross Profit		178,850		2,329			181,179
Operating Income		84,340		2,329			86,669
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		80,161		2,329			82,490
Provision for Income Taxes		16,522		571			17,093
Net Income		63,639		1,758			65,397
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		63,648		1,758			65,406
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	$	2.73	$	0.07		$	2.80

Balance Sheet

(In thousands)	December 31, 2018
	As originally reported under LIFO		Effect of change			As adjusted under FIFO
Inventories	$	200,165	$	31,363		$	231,528
Other Non-Current Assets		10,964		(1,415	)		9,549
Total Assets		1,484,666		29,948			1,514,614
Deferred Income Taxes	$	18,672	$	6,289		$	24,961
Retained Earnings		813,448		23,659			837,107
Total Liabilities and Equity		1,484,666		29,948			1,514,614

Statement of Cash Flows

(In thousands)	Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
	As originally reported under LIFO			Effect of change			As adjusted under FIFO
Net Income	$	63,639		$	1,758		$	65,397
Deferred Income Taxes		2,463			571			3,034
Change in Assets and Liabilities:
Inventories		(14,409	)		(2,329	)		(16,738	)

The following tables present what current year financial statement line items would have been had the Company not changed its method of accounting for U.S. inventories from the LIFO to FIFO basis:  

Income Statement

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
	As reported under FIFO		Effect of change			As computed under LIFO
Cost of Sales	$	380,044	$	(3,500	)	$	376,544
Gross Profit		92,959		3,500			96,459
Operating Income		41,065		3,500			44,565
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		39,534		3,500			43,034
Provision for Income Taxes		9,324		860			10,184
Net Income		30,210		2,640			32,850
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		30,218		2,640			32,858
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	$	1.30	$	0.11		$	1.41

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
	As reported under FIFO		Effect of change			As computed under LIFO
Cost of Sales	$	784,605	$	(2,000	)	$	782,605
Gross Profit		177,568		2,000			179,568
Operating Income		70,803		2,000			72,803
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		70,564		2,000			72,564
Provision for Income Taxes		15,376		492			15,868
Net Income		55,188		1,508			56,696
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		55,202		1,508			56,710
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	$	2.37	$	0.06		$	2.43

Balance Sheet

(In thousands)	June 30, 2019
	As reported under FIFO		Effect of change			As computed under LIFO
Inventories	$	216,278	$	(29,363	)	$	186,915
Other Non-Current Assets		12,098		1,415			13,513
Total Assets		1,528,968		(27,948	)		1,501,020
Deferred Income Taxes	$	28,271	$	(5,797	)	$	22,474
Retained Earnings		886,349		(22,151	)		864,198
Total Liabilities and Equity		1,528,968		(27,948	)		1,501,020

Statement of Cash Flows

(In thousands)	Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
	As reported under FIFO		Effect of change			As computed under LIFO
Net Income	$	55,188	$	1,508		$	56,696
Deferred Income Taxes		223		492			715
Change in Assets and Liabilities:
Inventories		15,515		(2,000	)		13,515

XML

Reconciliations of Equity

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Equity [Abstract]

Reconciliations of Equity

3. RECONCILIATIONS OF EQUITY

Below are reconciliations of total equity, Company equity and equity attributable to noncontrolling interests for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Total			Common Stock		Additional Paid-in Capital		Treasury Stock			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Retained Earnings			Noncontrolling Interest (1)
Balance, December 31, 2018 (2)	$	808,185		$	26,309	$	182,881	$	(97,389	)	$	(141,483	)	$	837,107		$	760
Issuance of 38,706 shares of common stock under stock option plan		1,890			39		1,851		—			—			—			—
Purchase of 900 shares of common stock		(77	)		—		—		(77	)		—			—			—
Stock-based and deferred compensation		(1,360	)		93		1,179		(2,632	)		—			—			—
Net income		24,978			—		—		—			—			24,984			(6	)
Other comprehensive income		4,248			—		—		—			4,228			—			20
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.25 per share)		(5,643	)		—		—		—			—			(5,643	)		—
Other (3)		—			—		—		—			(5,325	)		5,325			—
Balance, March 31, 2019		832,221			26,441		185,911		(100,098	)		(142,580	)		861,773			774
Issuance of 4,423 shares of common stock under stock option plan		273			4		269		—			—			—			—
Purchase of 69,736 shares of common stock		(6,104	)		—		—		(6,104	)		—			—			—
Stock-based and deferred compensation		2,609			8		2,601		—			—			—			—
Net income		30,210			—		—		—			—			30,218			(8	)
Other comprehensive income		4,830			—		—		—			4,857			—			(27	)
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.25 per share)		(5,642	)		—		—		—			—			(5,642	)		—
Balance, June 30, 2019	$	858,397		$	26,453	$	188,781	$	(106,202	)	$	(137,723	)	$	886,349		$	739

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Total			Common Stock		Additional Paid-in Capital		Treasury Stock			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Retained Earnings			Noncontrolling Interest (1)
Balance, December 31, 2017 (2)	$	766,218		$	26,071	$	170,408	$	(78,561	)	$	(99,563	)	$	747,045		$	818
Issuance of 77,474 shares of common stock under stock option plan		3,155			77		3,078		—			—			—			—
Purchase of 6,107 shares of common stock		(2,500	)		—		—		(2,500	)		—			—			—
Stock-based and deferred compensation		(1,136	)		120		1,725		(2,981	)		—			—			—
Net income (2)		31,945			—		—		—			—			31,952			(7	)
Other comprehensive income		9,567			—		—		—			9,535			—			32
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.23 per share)		(5,092	)		—		—		—			—			(5,092	)
Other (4)		(198	)		—		—		—			—			(198	)		—
Balance, March 31, 2018		801,959			26,268		175,211		(84,042	)		(90,028	)		773,707			843
Issuance of 2,888 shares of common stock under stock option plan		119			3		116		—			—			—			—
Purchase of 133,584 shares of common stock		(9,500	)		—		—		(9,500	)		—			—			—
Stock-based and deferred compensation		2,443			8		2,452		(17	)		—			—			—
Net income (2)		33,452			—		—		—			—			33,454			(2	)
Other comprehensive income		(34,309	)		—		—		—			(34,262	)		—			(47	)
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.23 per share)		(5,068	)		—		—		—			—			(5,068	)
Balance, June 30, 2018	$	789,096		$	26,279	$	177,779	$	(93,559	)	$	(124,290	)	$	802,093		$	794

^{(1) Reflects the noncontrolling interest in the Company’s China joint venture.}

^{(2) The retained earnings and net income amounts for the noted line items have been changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.}

^{(3) Reflects beginning retained earnings adjustment as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 adoption of ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  See Note 19 for more details.}

^{(4) Reflects beginning retained earnings adjustment as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2018 adoption of ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory.}

XML

Fair Value Measurements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The following were the financial instruments held by the Company at June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, and the methods and assumptions used to estimate the instruments’ fair values:

Cash and cash equivalents

Carrying value approximated fair value because of the short maturity of the instruments.

Derivative assets and liabilities

Derivative assets and liabilities include the foreign currency exchange contracts discussed in Note 5. Fair value and carrying value were the same because the contracts were recorded at fair value.  The fair values of the foreign currency contracts were calculated as the difference between the applicable forward foreign exchange rates at the reporting date and the contracted foreign exchange rates multiplied by the contracted notional amounts. See the table below that describes financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis for the reported fair values of derivative assets and liabilities.

Long-term investments

Long-term investments include the mutual fund assets the Company held to fund a portion of its deferred compensation liabilities and all of its non-qualified supplemental executive defined contribution obligations (see the defined contribution plans section of Note 10).  Fair value and carrying value were the same because the mutual fund assets were recorded at fair value. Fair values for the mutual funds were calculated using the published market price per unit at the reporting date multiplied by the number of units held at the reporting date.  See the table that follows the financial instrument descriptions for the reported fair value of long-term investments.

Debt obligations

The fair value of debt with original maturities greater than one year comprised the combined present values of scheduled principal and interest payments for each of the various loans, individually discounted at rates equivalent to those which could be obtained by the Company for new debt issues with durations equal to the average life to maturity of each loan. The fair values of the remaining Company debt obligations approximated their carrying values due to the short-term nature of the debt. The Company’s fair value measurements for debt fall within level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

At June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, the fair values and related carrying values of debt, including current maturities, were as follows (the fair value and carrying value amounts are presented without regard to unamortized debt issuance costs of $823,000 and $978,000 as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively):

(In thousands)	June 30, 2019		December 31, 2018
Fair value	$	236,668	$	274,119
Carrying value		233,460		277,058

The following tables present financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis at fair value as of June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall:

(In thousands)	June 2019		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Mutual fund assets	$	26,448	$	26,448	$	—	$	—
Derivative assets:
Foreign currency contracts		345		—		345		—
Total assets at fair value	$	26,793	$	26,448	$	345	$	—
Derivative liabilities:
Foreign currency contracts	$	29	$	—	$	29	$	—

(In thousands)	December 2018		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Mutual fund assets	$	25,082	$	25,082	$	—	$	—
Derivative assets:
Foreign currency contracts		185		—		185		—
Total assets at fair value	$	25,267	$	25,082	$	185	$	—
Derivative liabilities:
Foreign currency contracts	$	10	$	—	$	10	$	—

XML

Derivative Instruments

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments

5. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. The primary risk managed by the use of derivative instruments is foreign currency exchange risk.  The Company holds forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are not designated as any type of accounting hedge as defined by GAAP.  The Company uses these contracts to manage its exposure to exchange rate fluctuations on certain Company subsidiary cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other obligation balances that are denominated in currencies other than the entities’ functional currencies. The forward foreign exchange contracts are recognized on the balance sheet as either an asset or a liability measured at fair value. Gains and losses arising from recording the foreign exchange contracts at fair value are reported in earnings as offsets to the losses and gains reported in earnings arising from the re-measurement of the asset and liability balances into the applicable functional currencies. At June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, the Company had open forward foreign currency exchange contracts, all with

durations of one to three months, to buy or sell foreign currencies with U.S. dollar equivalent amounts of $31,445,860 and $28,870,081, respectively.

The fair values of the derivative instruments held by the Company on June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, are disclosed in Note 4. Derivative instrument gains and losses for the three- and six- month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, were immaterial. For amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) into earnings for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, see Note 12.

XML

Stock-based Compensation

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]

Stock-based Compensation

6. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

On June 30, 2019, the Company had stock options, stock awards and stock appreciation rights (SARs) outstanding under its 2011 Incentive Compensation Plan. SARs granted prior to 2015 are cash-settled, and SARs granted after 2014 are stock-settled. Stock options and SARs granted prior to 2017 generally cliff vested after two years. Starting in 2017, stock options and SARs have a three-year graded vesting feature, with one-third of the awards vesting each year. The Company has elected the straight-line method of expense attribution for the stock options and SARs with the graded vesting feature.

Compensation expense recorded for all stock options, stock awards and SARs was as follows:

(In thousands)
Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
2019		2018		2019		2018
$	2,176	$	1,155	$	4,772	$	3,387

The quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year increases in stock-based compensation expense was primarily attributable to cash-settled SARs. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in stock-based compensation expense related to performance stock awards. The quarterly increase in cash-settled SARs compensation expense reflects an increase in the market value of Company stock during the second quarter of 2019 versus the decrease in the market value of Company stock during the second quarter of 2018.  

Unrecognized compensation costs for stock options, stock awards and SARs were as follows:

(In thousands)	June 30, 2019		December 31, 2018
Stock options	$	2,557	$	1,655
Stock awards		4,959		3,180
SARs		5,473		3,566

The increases in unrecognized compensation costs for stock options, stock awards and SARs reflected the 2019 grants of:

	Shares
Stock options		68,220
Stock awards (at target)		41,969
SARs		148,388

The unrecognized compensation costs at June 30, 2019, are expected to be recognized over weighted-average period of 2.0 years for stock options, stock awards and SARs.

XML

Inventories

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Inventories

7. INVENTORIES

The composition of inventories at June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, was as follows: 

(In thousands)	June 30, 2019		December 31, 2018 As Adjusted
Finished goods	$	156,437	$	163,617
Raw materials		59,841		67,911
Total inventories	$	216,278	$	231,528

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company elected to change its method of accounting for U.S. inventories from the LIFO basis to the FIFO basis. Non-U.S. inventories have historically been maintained on the FIFO basis. Prior period financial statements have been adjusted to reflect what results would have been had the Company always used the FIFO method of inventory valuation for U.S. inventories.  See Note 2 for additional details.

XML

Leases

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Leases [Abstract]

Leases

8. LEASES

The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), on January 1, 2019. This new accounting standard requires a dual approach for lessee accounting whereby a lessee accounts for lease arrangements as either finance leases or operating leases. The lease classification affects the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The most significant impact of adopting ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) is that a lessee is now required to recognize a “right-of-use” (ROU) asset and corresponding lease liability for operating lease agreements. ROU assets represent a right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent an obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating leases are expensed on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease beginning on the date the Company takes possession of the property.

The Company elected to apply the new lease standard at adoption as allowed under ASU No. 2018-11 and, as a result, the Company did not retrospectively adjust prior periods presented. The Company elected the practical expedient to not separate non-lease components from lease components for all asset classes and the practical expedient which permits a Company to not reassess prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classifications and initial direct costs. The Company did not elect the use-of-hindsight or the practical expedient pertaining to land easements, the latter not being applicable to the Company. In addition, the Company made an accounting policy election to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off the balance sheet.  Upon adoption of ASC 842, the Company recognized $42.4 million of ROU assets and related operating lease liabilities on its balance sheet.  There was no cumulative catch-up adjustment made to beginning retained earnings.

Significant judgments used by the Company to determine whether a contract is or contains a lease include: (i) determining whether any explicitly or implicitly identified assets have been identified in the contract and (ii) determining whether the Company obtains substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of an underlying asset and directs how and for what purpose the asset is used during the term of the contract.

The Company’s operating leases are primarily comprised of railcars, real estate, storage tanks, autos, trailers and manufacturing/office equipment. Railcars and real estate comprise approximately 49 percent and 38 percent, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated ROU asset balance. With the exception of real estate, typical lease terms range from one to ten years. Real estate lease terms typically range from one to fifty years. The Company’s two principal real estate leases relate to land leases in the Philippines and Singapore. As of June 30, 2019, the Company had additional leases, primarily for leases of real estate and railcars, that have not commenced of approximately $2.0 million. The majority of these leases will commence in the second half of 2019 with lease terms ranging from one to seven years.

Variability associated with the Company’s lease obligations typically relates to: (i) additional charges based on usage (i.e. railcar mileage in excess of a specified amount) and, (ii) periodic increases associated with Consumer Price Index (CPI) changes (i.e. land rental payments). Appropriate CPI at the inception of a lease is reflected in the Company’s lease liability balances whereas variability based on usage is typically excluded from lease liability amounts. Some of the Company’s leases include options to extend the lease term but these are typically not recognized as part of the ROU asset or lease liability at inception unless it is reasonably certain the renewal option will be exercised. Determining whether a renewal option is reasonably certain to be exercised requires judgment based on the existing facts and circumstances as well as expectations about future business needs. Renewal options are typically re-assessed within one year or less prior to lease termination when the Company is able to more accurately forecast future business needs. Some of the Company’s lease contracts include options to terminate leases early but these are typically not considered unless it is reasonably certain the early termination option will be exercised. The Company’s leases do not typically carry any residual value guarantees and typically payment is not considered probable when such guarantees are included in the contract.

Initial implementation of ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) did not impact compliance with any of the Company’s debt-covenants, nor is it expected to in the future. The majority of the Company’s debt agreements contain language that excludes the impact of any new GAAP accounting change.

As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit borrowing rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate (IBR) based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. IBRs were specifically determined for the United States, the Philippines, Singapore and China, typically for five-year increments. The U.S. IBR was used for all other countries as the leases in these countries are not material. The total value of

leases that reside in the four countries identified above represents approximately 94 percent of the Company’s consolidated ROU asset balance.

(In thousands)	Three months ended June 30, 2019		Six months   ended June 30, 2019
Lease Cost
Operating lease cost	$	2,711	$	5,399
Short-term lease cost		1,148		2,118
Variable lease cost		233		581
Total lease cost	$	4,092	$	8,098
Other Information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flow from operating leases	$	2,725	$	5,421
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities		595		889

(In thousands)
Undiscounted Cash Flows:
2019 (excluding the six months ended June 30, 2019)	$	5,379
2020		9,343
2021		6,616
2022		5,457
2023		4,249
Subsequent to 2023		18,011
Total Undiscounted Cash Flows	$	49,055
Less: Imputed interest		(10,356	)
Present value	$	38,699
Current operating lease liabilities (1)		8,987
Non-current operating lease liabilities		29,712
Total lease liabilities	$	38,699

(1) This item is included in Accrued liabilities line on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Weighted-average remaining lease term-operating leases	9 Years
Weighted-average discount rate-operating leases	3.9%

ASC 840 Disclosure

As required in transition, the table below summarizes the Company’s future minimum lease payments at December 31, 2018 under ASC 840.

(In thousands)
Year
2019	$	9,740
2020		8,294
2021		6,027
2022		5,242
2023		4,101
Subsequent to 2023		16,593
Total minimum future rental payments	$	49,997

XML

Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Contingencies

9. CONTINGENCIES

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 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 regulations, including the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (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 related to or has been named by the government authorities as a potentially responsible party (PRP) at a number of sites where cleanup costs have been or may be incurred 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 is likely to incur with respect to these sites.

As of June 30, 2019, the Company estimated a range of possible environmental and legal losses of $23.9 million to $45.0 million. Within the range of possible environmental and legal losses, management has currently concluded that no single amount more likely to occur than any other amounts in the ranges and, thus, has accrued at the lower end of the ranges; that accrual totaled $23.9 million at June 30, 2019 and $23.4 million at December 31, 2018. Cash expenditures related to legal and environmental matters approximated $2.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to $0.6 million for the same period in 2018.

For certain sites, the Company has responded to information requests made by federal, state or local government agencies but has received no response confirming or denying the Company’s stated positions. As such, estimates of the total costs, or range of possible costs, of remediation, if any, or the Company’s share of such costs, if any, cannot be determined with respect to these sites. Consequently, the Company is unable to predict the effect thereof on the Company’s financial position, cash flows and results of operations. Based upon the Company’s present knowledge with respect to its involvement at these sites, the possibility of other viable entities’ responsibilities for cleanup, and the extended period over which any costs would be incurred, management believes that the Company has no liability at these sites and that these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position. However, in the event of one or more adverse determinations with respect to such sites in any annual or interim period, the effect on the Company’s cash flows and results of operations for those periods could be material.

Following are summaries of the material contingencies at June 30, 2019:

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 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 Administrative Order on Consent entered into between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Company for property formerly owned by the Company, and the issuance of an order by USEPA to the Company for property currently owned by the Company, the Company has completed various remedial investigation feasibility studies, and on September 24, 2014, the USEPA issued its Record of Decision (ROD) for chemically-contaminated soil. 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 is reasonable having considered the range of estimated cost of remediation for the Maywood site. The 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, 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 recorded liability for claims associated with soil remediation of chemical contamination were required.  

In addition, under the terms of a settlement agreement reached on November 12, 2004, the U.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 take title to and responsibility for radioactive waste removal at the Maywood site, including past and future remediation costs incurred by the United States. As such, the Company recorded no liability related to this settlement agreement.

D’Imperio Site

During the mid-1970’s, Jerome Lightman and the Lightman Drum Company disposed of hazardous substances at several sites in New Jersey. The Company was named as a PRP in a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey that involved the D’Imperio site located in New Jersey. In 2016, the PRPs were provided with updated remediation cost estimates, which were considered in the Company’s determination of its range of estimated possible losses and liability balance. The changes in range of possible losses and liability balance were immaterial. Remediation work is continuing at this site. Based on current information, the Company believes that its recorded liability is reasonable having considered the range of estimated cost 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 response costs associated with the Company’s formerly-owned site in Wilmington, Massachusetts. Remediation at this site is being managed by its current owner, to whom the Company sold the property in 1980. Under the agreement, once total site remediation costs exceed certain levels, the Company is obligated to contribute up to five percent of future response costs associated with this site with no limitation on the ultimate amount of contributions. The Company has paid the current owner $2.8 million for the Company’s portion of environmental response costs through June 30, 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 also entered into an agreement in April 2004 waiving certain statute of limitations defenses for claims which 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.

Other U.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 two of its U.S plants. The Company voluntarily reported its results to the applicable state environmental agencies. As a result, the Company is required to perform self-remediation of the affected areas. In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company recognized a charge for the estimated cost of remediating the sites. Based on current information, the Company believes that its recorded liability for the remediation of the affected areas is appropriate based on estimate of expected costs. However, actual costs could differ materially from current estimates.  

XML

Postretirement Benefit Plans

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Postretirement Benefit Plans

10. POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

The Company sponsors various funded qualified and unfunded non-qualified defined benefit pension plans, the most significant of which cover employees in the U.S. and U.K. locations. The U.S. and U.K. defined benefit pension plans are frozen and service benefits are no longer being accrued.

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

	UNITED STATES
(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Interest cost	$	1,661		$	1,540		$	3,322		$	3,079
Expected return on plan assets		(2,361	)		(2,321	)		(4,722	)		(4,642	)
Amortization of net actuarial loss		652			936			1,304			1,873
Net periodic benefit cost	$	(48	)	$	155		$	(96	)	$	310

	UNITED KINGDOM
(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Interest cost	$	140		$	144		$	282		$	292
Expected return on plan assets		(198	)		(226	)		(399	)		(457	)
Amortization of net actuarial loss		62			56			125			113
Net periodic benefit cost	$	4		$	(26	)	$	8		$	(52	)

Employer Contributions

U.S. Plans

As a result of pension funding relief provisions included in the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014, the Company is not required to make contributions to the funded U.S. qualified defined benefit plans. Approximately $312,000 is expected to be paid related to the unfunded non-qualified plans in 2019. Of such amount, $200,000 had been paid related to the non-qualified plans as of June 30, 2019.

U.K. Plan

The Company’s U.K. subsidiary expects to contribute approximately $476,000 to its defined benefit pension plan in 2019. Of such amount, $293,000 had been contributed to the plan as of June 30, 2019.

Defined Contribution Plans

The Company sponsors retirement savings defined contribution plans that cover eligible U.S. and U.K. employees. The Company’s U.S. retirement plans include two qualified plans, one of which is a 401(k) plan and one of which is an employee stock ownership plan, and one non-qualified supplemental executive plan. In the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company made profit sharing contributions into the qualified retirement plans for U.S. employees and for certain non-U.S. employees. Profit sharing contributions were determined using a formula applied to Company earnings.  For U.S. employees, who received the majority of profit sharing contributions in 2018, profit sharing contributions were made partly to the 401(k) plan and partly to the employee stock ownership plan and in 2019, profit sharing contributions were made to the employee stock ownership plan.  Profit sharing contributions are allocated to participant accounts on the basis of participant base earnings.

Defined contribution plan expenses for the Company’s qualified contribution plans were as follows:

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Retirement savings contributions	$	1,215	$	1,706	$	3,624	$	3,463
Profit sharing contributions		964		1,068		1,846		2,010
Total	$	2,179	$	2,774	$	5,470	$	5,473

The Company has a rabbi trust to fund the obligations of its non-qualified supplemental executive defined contribution plans (supplemental plans). The trust comprises various mutual fund investments selected by the participants of the supplemental plans. In accordance with the accounting guidance for rabbi trust arrangements, the assets of the trust and the obligations of the supplemental plans are reported on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company elected the fair value option for the mutual fund investment assets so that offsetting changes in the mutual fund values and defined contribution plan obligations would be recorded in earnings in the same period. Therefore, the mutual funds are reported at fair value with any subsequent changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of income. The liabilities related to the supplemental plans increase (i.e., supplemental plan expense is recognized) when the value of the trust assets appreciates and decrease when the value of the trust assets declines (i.e., supplemental plan income is recognized). At June 30, 2019, the balance of the trust assets was $1,693,000, which equaled the balance of the supplemental plan liabilities (see the long-term investments section in Note 4 for further information regarding the Company’s mutual fund assets).

XML

Earnings Per Share

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

11. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Below are the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
	2019		2018 As Adjusted		2019		2018 As Adjusted
Computation of Basic Earnings per Share
Net income attributable to Stepan Company (1)	$	30,218	$	33,454	$	55,202	$	65,406
Weighted-average number of common shares     outstanding		23,086		23,039		23,092		23,059
Basic earnings per share (1)	$	1.31	$	1.45	$	2.39	$	2.84
Computation of Diluted Earnings per Share
Net income attributable to Stepan Company (1)	$	30,218	$	33,454	$	55,202	$	65,406
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding		23,086		23,039		23,092		23,059
Add weighted-average net shares from assumed    exercise of options (under treasury stock method) (2)		90		87		91		103
Add weighted-average net shares related to unvested    stock awards (under treasury stock method)		2		2		2		2
Add weighted-average net shares from assumed    exercise of SARs (under treasury stock method) (2)		118		99		113		111
Add weighted-average contingently issuable net    shares related to performance stock awards    (under treasury stock method)		33		68		31		66
Weighted-average shares applicable to diluted     earnings		23,329		23,295		23,329		23,341
Diluted earnings per share (1)	$	1.30	$	1.44	$	2.37	$	2.80

⁽¹⁾ The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

⁽²⁾ Options/SARs to acquire 215,257 and 214,749 shares of Company common stock were excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. Options/SARs to acquire 194,949 and 98,878 shares of Company common stock were excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively. Inclusion of the instruments would have had antidilutive effects on the computations of the earnings per share.

XML

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Equity [Abstract]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

12. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

In conjunction with the adoption of ASU 2018-02, the Company reclassified $5,325,000 of other comprehensive loss, associated with retirement plans, from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings effective January 1, 2019.  Below is the change in the Company’s AOCI balance by component (net of income taxes) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

(In thousands)	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Defined Benefit Pension Plan Adjustments			Cash Flow Hedge Adjustments			Total
Balance at March 31, 2018	$	(61,776	)	$	(28,340	)	$	88		$	(90,028	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(35,012	)		—			—			(35,012	)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		—			752			(2	)		750
Net current-period other comprehensive income		(35,012	)		752			(2	)		(34,262	)
Balance at June 30, 2018	$	(96,788	)	$	(27,588	)	$	86		$	(124,290	)
Balance at March 31, 2019	$	(104,794	)	$	(37,865	)	$	79		$	(142,580	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		4,317			—			—			4,317
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		—			542			(2	)		540
Net current-period other comprehensive income		4,317			542			(2	)		4,857
Balance at June 30, 2019	$	(100,477	)	$	(37,323	)	$	77		$	(137,723	)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	(70,561	)	$	(29,093	)	$	91		$	(99,563	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(26,227	)		—			—			(26,227	)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		—			1,505			(5	)		1,500
Net current-period other comprehensive income		(26,227	)		1,505			(5	)		(24,727	)
Balance at June 30, 2018	$	(96,788	)	$	(27,588	)	$	86		$	(124,290	)
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	(108,481	)	$	(33,083	)	$	81		$	(141,483	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		8,004			—			—			8,004
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		—			1,085			(4	)		1,081
Remeasurement adjustment related to the Tax Act (1)		—			(5,325	)		—			(5,325	)
Net current-period other comprehensive income		8,004			(4,240	)		(4	)		3,760
Balance at June 30, 2019	$	(100,477	)	$	(37,323	)	$	77		$	(137,723	)

^{(1) Represents reclassification of the stranded tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Act) from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to retained earnings in accordance with ASU 2018-02. See Note 19 for more details.}

Information regarding the reclassifications out of AOCI for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, is displayed below:

(In thousands)	Amount Reclassified from AOCI (a)
AOCI Components	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30						Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statements of Income
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Amortization of defined benefit pension actuarial losses	$	(714	)	$	(992	)	$	(1,429	)	$	(1,986	)	(b)
		172			240			344			481		Tax benefit
	$	(542	)	$	(752	)	$	(1,085	)	$	(1,505	)	Net of tax
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges:
Foreign exchange contracts		2			2			4			5		Cost of sales
		2			2			4			5		Total before tax
		—			—			—			—		Tax benefit
	$	2		$	2		$	4		$	5		Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period	$	(540	)	$	(750	)	$	(1,081	)	$	(1,500	)	Net of tax

^(a) Amounts in parentheses denote expense to statement of income.

^(b) This component of accumulated other comprehensive income is included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see Note 10 for additional details).

XML

Segment Reporting

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting

13. SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company has three reportable segments: Surfactants, Polymers and Specialty Products. Net sales by segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, were as follows:

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Segment Net Sales
Surfactants	$	313,380	$	356,884	$	663,030	$	715,824
Polymers		140,636		140,867		260,815		262,800
Specialty Products		18,987		22,115		38,328		40,577
Total	$	473,003	$	519,866	$	962,173	$	1,019,201

Segment operating income and reconciliations of segment operating income to income before provision for income taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, are summarized below:

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018 As Adjusted			2019			2018 As Adjusted
Segment Operating Income
Surfactants(1)	$	32,086		$	34,078		$	69,253		$	75,546
Polymers(1)		22,760			20,299			34,865			37,604
Specialty Products		5,982			4,240			9,113			3,890
Segment operating income(1)		60,828			58,617			113,231			117,040
Business restructuring		(450	)		(273	)		(1,183	)		(631	)
Unallocated corporate expenses(2)		(19,313	)		(12,958	)		(41,245	)		(29,740	)
Consolidated operating income(1)		41,065			45,386			70,803			86,669
Interest expense, net		(1,766	)		(2,672	)		(3,619	)		(5,823	)
Other, net		235			484			3,380			1,644
Income before provision for income taxes(1)	$	39,534		$	43,198		$	70,564		$	82,490

⁽¹⁾ The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

⁽²⁾ Unallocated corporate expenses primarily comprise corporate administrative expenses (e.g., corporate finance, legal, human resources, information systems, deferred compensation and environmental remediation) that are not included in segment operating income and not used to evaluate segment performance.

XML

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Revenue From Contract With Customer [Abstract]

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

14. REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS

In the majority of instances the Company deems a contract with a customer to exist when a purchase order is received from a customer for a specified quantity of product or products and the Company acknowledges receipt of such purchase order. In some instances the Company has entered into manufacturing supply agreements with customers but these agreements typically do not bind a customer to any purchase volume requirements and thus an obligation is not created until the customer submits a purchase order to the Company. The Company’s contracts typically have a single performance obligation that is satisfied at the time a product is shipped and control passes to the customer. For a small portion of the business, performance obligations are deemed satisfied when product is delivered to a customer location.

As of June 30, 2019, the Company did not have any contract assets or contract liabilities. A contract liability would typically arise when an advance or deposit is received from a customer before the Company recognizes revenue. In practice, this is extremely rare as it would require a customer to make a payment prior to a performance obligation being satisfied. If such a situation did arise the Company would maintain a deferred revenue liability until the time a performance obligation has been satisfied. The Company did not recognize any revenue in the current period from any pre-existing contract liability balance.

The tables below provide a geographic disaggregation of net sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018. The Company’s business segmentation by geographic region most effectively captures the nature and economic characteristics of the Company’s revenue streams.

	For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
(In thousands)
	Surfactants		Polymers		Specialty Products		Total
Geographic Market
North America	$	191,720	$	86,434	$	16,067	$	294,221
Europe		54,360		44,085		2,920		101,365
Latin America		53,957		1,450		—		55,407
Asia		13,343		8,667		—		22,010
Total	$	313,380	$	140,636	$	18,987	$	473,003

	For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
(In thousands)
	Surfactants		Polymers		Specialty Products		Total
Geographic Market
North America	$	218,029	$	86,966	$	18,674	$	323,669
Europe		66,065		45,028		3,441		114,534
Latin America		56,579		633		—		57,212
Asia		16,211		8,240		—		24,451
Total	$	356,884	$	140,867	$	22,115	$	519,866

	For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
(In thousands)
	Surfactants		Polymers		Specialty Products		Total
Geographic Market
North America	$	406,017	$	157,757	$	32,092	$	595,866
Europe		125,838		86,190		6,236		218,264
Latin America		104,769		1,647		—		106,416
Asia		26,406		15,221		—		41,627
Total	$	663,030	$	260,815	$	38,328	$	962,173

	For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
(In thousands)
	Surfactants		Polymers		Specialty Products		Total
Geographic Market
North America	$	438,434	$	160,440	$	33,488	$	632,362
Europe		144,436		86,812		7,089		238,337
Latin America		98,267		1,460		—		99,727
Asia		34,687		14,088		—		48,775
Total	$	715,824	$	262,800	$	40,577	$	1,019,201

XML

Debt

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

15. DEBT

At June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, debt comprised the following: 

(In thousands)	Maturity Dates	June 30, 2019		December 31, 2018
Unsecured private placement notes
3.95% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $338 and $360 for 2019 and 2018, respectively)	2021-2027	$	99,662	$	99,640
3.86% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $319 and $347 for 2019 and 2018, respectively)	2019-2025		85,395		99,653
4.86% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $166 and $186 for 2019 and 2018, respectively)	2019-2023		46,262		46,243
5.88% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $0 and $85 for 2019 and 2018, respectively)	2019-2022		-		22,772
Debt of foreign subsidiaries
Unsecured bank debt, foreign currency	2019		1,318		7,772
Total debt		$	232,637	$	276,080
Less current maturities			24,889		37,058
Long-term debt		$	207,748	$	239,022

The Company has a committed $350,000,000 multi-currency revolving credit agreement that expires on January 30, 2023. The Company maintains standby letters of credit under its workers’ compensation insurance agreements and for other purposes, as needed from time to time, which are issued under the revolving credit agreement. As of June 30, 2019, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $5,202,000 and no outstanding debt under this agreement. There was $344,798,000 available under the revolving credit agreement as of June 30, 2019.    

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. Based on the loan agreement provisions that place limitations on dividend payments, unrestricted retained earnings (i.e., retained earnings available for dividend distribution) were $253,985,000 and $214,101,000 at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

On June 12, 2019, the Company prepaid the $17,100,000 outstanding principal balance of its 5.88 percent Series 2010-A Senior Notes due June 1, 2022 (Notes) and the related make-whole amount of $1,173,000.  The make-whole amount reflected the net present value of the remaining scheduled interest payments on the Notes, calculated in accordance with the applicable note purchase agreement.   The prepayment was made with cash on hand.  The Company also expensed remaining unamortized debt issuance costs of $74,000.

XML

Other, Net

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Other Income And Expenses [Abstract]

Other, Net

16. OTHER, NET

Other, net in the consolidated statements of income included the following:

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	$	(641	)	$	116		$	(41	)	$	1,169
Investment income		106			90			203			229
Realized and unrealized gains on investments		726			407			3,130			504
Net periodic pension benefit cost		44			(129	)		88			(258	)
Other, net	$	235		$	484		$	3,380		$	1,644

XML

Business Restructuring

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Restructuring And Related Activities [Abstract]

Business Restructuring

17. BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING

In the first quarter of 2019, the Company approved a plan to restructure its Specialty Products office in the Netherlands and eliminate five positions from the site’s supply chain, quality control and research and development areas. This restructuring was designed to better align the number of personnel with current business requirements and reduce costs at the site.  As a result, severance and early lease termination expenses of $396,000 and $122,000, respectively, were recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2019.

During the third quarter of 2018, the Company approved a plan to shut down Surfactant operations at its German plant site. As of June 30, 2019, an aggregate of $1,799,000 shut down related expense had been recognized at the site. This aggregate expense is comprised of $1,404,000 of asset and spare part write downs recognized in 2018 and $395,000 of decommissioning costs recognized in the first six months of 2019.  Decommissioning costs associated with the shutdown are expected to continue throughout the remainder of 2019.  

In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company approved a plan to restructure a portion of its Fieldsboro, New Jersey production facility. As a result, the Company recorded $915,000 of restructuring expense which reflected termination benefits for select plant employees. In the first quarter of 2019, the Company recognized a $251,000 favorable adjustment to the amount of termination benefits initially recorded.

In May 2016, the Company announced plans to shut down its Longford Mills, Ontario, Canada (Longford Mills) manufacturing facility, a part of the Surfactant reportable segment, by December 31, 2016. The shutdown plan was implemented to improve the Company’s asset utilization in North America and to reduce the Company’s fixed cost base. Manufacturing operations at the Longford Mills plant ceased by the end of 2016, and production of goods manufactured at the facility was transferred to other Company North American production sites. Decommissioning of the assets is expected to continue throughout 2019. In the second quarter of 2019, the Company recognized $50,000 and $200,000 of termination benefits and decommissioning expenses, respectively.  As of June 30, 2019, $6,595,000 of aggregate restructuring expense had been recognized, reflecting $1,644,000 of termination benefits for approximately 30 employees and $4,951,000 for other expenses, principally site decommissioning costs. 

XML

Acquisition

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Acquisition

18. ACQUISITION

2018 Acquisition

On March 26, 2018, the Company through a subsidiary in Mexico closed on a previously announced agreement with BASF Mexicana, S.A.DE C.V. (BASF) to acquire their surfactants production facility in Ecatepec, Mexico and a portion of their associated surfactants business. The facility is located close to Mexico City and has over 50,000 metric tons of capacity, 124,000 square feet of warehouse space, a large laboratory and office space. The acquired assets and business are included in the Company’s Surfactants segment. The purchase price of the acquisition was $22,852,000 and was paid with cash on hand. The primary assets acquired were land, buildings, machinery and equipment and inventory. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination, and, accordingly, the assets acquired were measured and recorded at their estimated fair values. No intangible assets were identified as part of the acquisition.  The following table summarizes the assets acquired as a result of the acquisition:

(In thousands)
Assets:
Property, plant and equipment	$	14,464
Inventory		5,687
Value-added tax receivables		2,701
Total assets acquired	$	22,852

The acquired business had minimal impact on the Company’s 2018 financial results.

XML

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

19. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU No. 2016-2, Leases (Topic 842). This guidance requires a dual approach for lessee accounting whereby a lessee will account for lease arrangements with terms greater than 12 months as either finance leases or operating leases. Both finance leases and operating leases are recognized on the lessee’s balance sheet as right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities, with differing methodologies for income statement recognition. In addition, the ASU requires expanded qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the Company’s lease arrangements. This guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The most significant impact of ASU No. 2016-2, Leases (Topic 842) is that a lessee is required to recognize a “right-of-use” asset and corresponding lease liability for operating leases agreements. The Company adopted the new lease standard on January 1, 2019 by recognizing lease assets and the corresponding lease liabilities. The adoption of these guidelines did not have an impact on retained earnings, the Company’s results of operations or cash flows, but it did have a material impact on specific balance sheet line items. See Note 8 – Leases for more details.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220):  Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which permits a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act. Consequently, the update reclassifies the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act and should improve the usefulness of information reported to financial statement users. However, because the amendments only relate to the reclassification of the income tax effects of the Tax Act, the underlying guidance that requires that the effects of the change in tax laws or rates be included in income from continuing operations is not affected. The amendments in this update also require certain disclosures about stranded tax effects.  This update is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted this guidance and recorded a $5,325,000 adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings with the corresponding offset to AOCI. See Note 12 – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) for more details.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments which amends the guidance on the measurement of the impairment of financial instruments.  The new pronouncement replaces the existing model of measuring credit losses with an expected credit loss model  referred to as “the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) model.”  The new model is based on expected losses that should be measured based not only on historical experience but on the combination of historical data, current conditions and reasonable forecasts.  Under this methodology, an entity recognizes as an allowance its estimate of lifetime expected credit losses and is required to apply the new credit loss model to most financial instruments held at amortized cost including trade receivables.  The amendments in the update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019.  It is not expected that the adoption of the guidance in ASU No. 2016-13 will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-4, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. When an indication of impairment was identified after performing the first step of the goodwill impairment test, Step 2 required that an entity determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of its assets and liabilities (including unrecognized assets and liabilities) using the same procedure that would be required in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Under the amendments in ASU No. 2017-4, an entity would perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value. An entity would recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. In addition, an entity must consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. The Company is required to adopt the amendments in ASU No. 2017-4 for its annual, or any interim, goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. It is not expected that the adoption of the guidance in ASU No. 2017-4 will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This update modifies some disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements used for different levels of instruments in fair value hierarchy (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3). The amendments in the update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The adoption of this update is not expected have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows but may impact the disclosures made for fair value measurements used by the Company.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans-General (Subtopic 715-20). This update removes some disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial and adds some disclosures about defined benefit plans that have been identified as relevant. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020. The adoption of this update is not expected to have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows but will impact the disclosures made for the Company’s defined benefit retirement plans.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use software (Subtopic 350-40) Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. This update aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. This update requires the entity to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset related to the service contact and which costs to expense over the term of the hosting contract. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.  The Company is assessing the impact that adoption of ASU No. 2018-15 will have on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

XML

Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU No. 2016-2, Leases (Topic 842). This guidance requires a dual approach for lessee accounting whereby a lessee will account for lease arrangements with terms greater than 12 months as either finance leases or operating leases. Both finance leases and operating leases are recognized on the lessee’s balance sheet as right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities, with differing methodologies for income statement recognition. In addition, the ASU requires expanded qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the Company’s lease arrangements. This guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The most significant impact of ASU No. 2016-2, Leases (Topic 842) is that a lessee is required to recognize a “right-of-use” asset and corresponding lease liability for operating leases agreements. The Company adopted the new lease standard on January 1, 2019 by recognizing lease assets and the corresponding lease liabilities. The adoption of these guidelines did not have an impact on retained earnings, the Company’s results of operations or cash flows, but it did have a material impact on specific balance sheet line items. See Note 8 – Leases for more details.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220):  Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which permits a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act. Consequently, the update reclassifies the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act and should improve the usefulness of information reported to financial statement users. However, because the amendments only relate to the reclassification of the income tax effects of the Tax Act, the underlying guidance that requires that the effects of the change in tax laws or rates be included in income from continuing operations is not affected. The amendments in this update also require certain disclosures about stranded tax effects.  This update is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted this guidance and recorded a $5,325,000 adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings with the corresponding offset to AOCI. See Note 12 – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) for more details.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments which amends the guidance on the measurement of the impairment of financial instruments.  The new pronouncement replaces the existing model of measuring credit losses with an expected credit loss model  referred to as “the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) model.”  The new model is based on expected losses that should be measured based not only on historical experience but on the combination of historical data, current conditions and reasonable forecasts.  Under this methodology, an entity recognizes as an allowance its estimate of lifetime expected credit losses and is required to apply the new credit loss model to most financial instruments held at amortized cost including trade receivables.  The amendments in the update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019.  It is not expected that the adoption of the guidance in ASU No. 2016-13 will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-4, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. When an indication of impairment was identified after performing the first step of the goodwill impairment test, Step 2 required that an entity determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of its assets and liabilities (including unrecognized assets and liabilities) using the same procedure that would be required in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Under the amendments in ASU No. 2017-4, an entity would perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value. An entity would recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. In addition, an entity must consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. The Company is required to adopt the amendments in ASU No. 2017-4 for its annual, or any interim, goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. It is not expected that the adoption of the guidance in ASU No. 2017-4 will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This update modifies some disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements used for different levels of instruments in fair value hierarchy (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3). The amendments in the update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The adoption of this update is not expected have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows but may impact the disclosures made for fair value measurements used by the Company.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans-General (Subtopic 715-20). This update removes some disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial and adds some disclosures about defined benefit plans that have been identified as relevant. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020. The adoption of this update is not expected to have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows but will impact the disclosures made for the Company’s defined benefit retirement plans.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use software (Subtopic 350-40) Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. This update aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. This update requires the entity to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset related to the service contact and which costs to expense over the term of the hosting contract. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.  The Company is assessing the impact that adoption of ASU No. 2018-15 will have on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

XML

Change In Method of Accounting for Inventory Valuation (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Change In Accounting Estimate [Abstract]

Summary of Prior Year Financial Statement Line Items that have Been Affected by Retrospective Change in Accounting Principle

The following tables present the prior year financial statement line items that have been affected by the retrospective change in accounting principle:

Income Statement

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
	As originally reported under LIFO		Effect of change			As adjusted under FIFO
Cost of Sales	$	430,586	$	(701	)	$	429,885
Gross Profit		89,280		701			89,981
Operating Income		44,685		701			45,386
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		42,497		701			43,198
Provision for Income Taxes		9,574		172			9,746
Net Income		32,923		529			33,452
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		32,925		529			33,454
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	$	1.41	$	0.03		$	1.44

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
	As originally reported under LIFO		Effect of change			As adjusted under FIFO
Cost of Sales	$	840,351	$	(2,329	)	$	838,022
Gross Profit		178,850		2,329			181,179
Operating Income		84,340		2,329			86,669
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		80,161		2,329			82,490
Provision for Income Taxes		16,522		571			17,093
Net Income		63,639		1,758			65,397
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		63,648		1,758			65,406
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	$	2.73	$	0.07		$	2.80

Balance Sheet

(In thousands)	December 31, 2018
	As originally reported under LIFO		Effect of change			As adjusted under FIFO
Inventories	$	200,165	$	31,363		$	231,528
Other Non-Current Assets		10,964		(1,415	)		9,549
Total Assets		1,484,666		29,948			1,514,614
Deferred Income Taxes	$	18,672	$	6,289		$	24,961
Retained Earnings		813,448		23,659			837,107
Total Liabilities and Equity		1,484,666		29,948			1,514,614

Statement of Cash Flows

(In thousands)	Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
	As originally reported under LIFO			Effect of change			As adjusted under FIFO
Net Income	$	63,639		$	1,758		$	65,397
Deferred Income Taxes		2,463			571			3,034
Change in Assets and Liabilities:
Inventories		(14,409	)		(2,329	)		(16,738	)

Summary of Current Year Financial Statement Line Items If Company Does Not Changed Method of Accounting for U.S. Inventories from LIFO to FIFO

The following tables present what current year financial statement line items would have been had the Company not changed its method of accounting for U.S. inventories from the LIFO to FIFO basis:  

Income Statement

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
	As reported under FIFO		Effect of change			As computed under LIFO
Cost of Sales	$	380,044	$	(3,500	)	$	376,544
Gross Profit		92,959		3,500			96,459
Operating Income		41,065		3,500			44,565
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		39,534		3,500			43,034
Provision for Income Taxes		9,324		860			10,184
Net Income		30,210		2,640			32,850
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		30,218		2,640			32,858
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	$	1.30	$	0.11		$	1.41

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
	As reported under FIFO		Effect of change			As computed under LIFO
Cost of Sales	$	784,605	$	(2,000	)	$	782,605
Gross Profit		177,568		2,000			179,568
Operating Income		70,803		2,000			72,803
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		70,564		2,000			72,564
Provision for Income Taxes		15,376		492			15,868
Net Income		55,188		1,508			56,696
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		55,202		1,508			56,710
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	$	2.37	$	0.06		$	2.43

Balance Sheet

(In thousands)	June 30, 2019
	As reported under FIFO		Effect of change			As computed under LIFO
Inventories	$	216,278	$	(29,363	)	$	186,915
Other Non-Current Assets		12,098		1,415			13,513
Total Assets		1,528,968		(27,948	)		1,501,020
Deferred Income Taxes	$	28,271	$	(5,797	)	$	22,474
Retained Earnings		886,349		(22,151	)		864,198
Total Liabilities and Equity		1,528,968		(27,948	)		1,501,020

Statement of Cash Flows

(In thousands)	Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
	As reported under FIFO		Effect of change			As computed under LIFO
Net Income	$	55,188	$	1,508		$	56,696
Deferred Income Taxes		223		492			715
Change in Assets and Liabilities:
Inventories		15,515		(2,000	)		13,515

XML

Reconciliations of Equity (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Equity [Abstract]

Reconciliations of Total Equity

Below are reconciliations of total equity, Company equity and equity attributable to noncontrolling interests for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Total			Common Stock		Additional Paid-in Capital		Treasury Stock			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Retained Earnings			Noncontrolling Interest (1)
Balance, December 31, 2018 (2)	$	808,185		$	26,309	$	182,881	$	(97,389	)	$	(141,483	)	$	837,107		$	760
Issuance of 38,706 shares of common stock under stock option plan		1,890			39		1,851		—			—			—			—
Purchase of 900 shares of common stock		(77	)		—		—		(77	)		—			—			—
Stock-based and deferred compensation		(1,360	)		93		1,179		(2,632	)		—			—			—
Net income		24,978			—		—		—			—			24,984			(6	)
Other comprehensive income		4,248			—		—		—			4,228			—			20
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.25 per share)		(5,643	)		—		—		—			—			(5,643	)		—
Other (3)		—			—		—		—			(5,325	)		5,325			—
Balance, March 31, 2019		832,221			26,441		185,911		(100,098	)		(142,580	)		861,773			774
Issuance of 4,423 shares of common stock under stock option plan		273			4		269		—			—			—			—
Purchase of 69,736 shares of common stock		(6,104	)		—		—		(6,104	)		—			—			—
Stock-based and deferred compensation		2,609			8		2,601		—			—			—			—
Net income		30,210			—		—		—			—			30,218			(8	)
Other comprehensive income		4,830			—		—		—			4,857			—			(27	)
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.25 per share)		(5,642	)		—		—		—			—			(5,642	)		—
Balance, June 30, 2019	$	858,397		$	26,453	$	188,781	$	(106,202	)	$	(137,723	)	$	886,349		$	739

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Total			Common Stock		Additional Paid-in Capital		Treasury Stock			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Retained Earnings			Noncontrolling Interest (1)
Balance, December 31, 2017 (2)	$	766,218		$	26,071	$	170,408	$	(78,561	)	$	(99,563	)	$	747,045		$	818
Issuance of 77,474 shares of common stock under stock option plan		3,155			77		3,078		—			—			—			—
Purchase of 6,107 shares of common stock		(2,500	)		—		—		(2,500	)		—			—			—
Stock-based and deferred compensation		(1,136	)		120		1,725		(2,981	)		—			—			—
Net income (2)		31,945			—		—		—			—			31,952			(7	)
Other comprehensive income		9,567			—		—		—			9,535			—			32
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.23 per share)		(5,092	)		—		—		—			—			(5,092	)
Other (4)		(198	)		—		—		—			—			(198	)		—
Balance, March 31, 2018		801,959			26,268		175,211		(84,042	)		(90,028	)		773,707			843
Issuance of 2,888 shares of common stock under stock option plan		119			3		116		—			—			—			—
Purchase of 133,584 shares of common stock		(9,500	)		—		—		(9,500	)		—			—			—
Stock-based and deferred compensation		2,443			8		2,452		(17	)		—			—			—
Net income (2)		33,452			—		—		—			—			33,454			(2	)
Other comprehensive income		(34,309	)		—		—		—			(34,262	)		—			(47	)
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock ($0.23 per share)		(5,068	)		—		—		—			—			(5,068	)
Balance, June 30, 2018	$	789,096		$	26,279	$	177,779	$	(93,559	)	$	(124,290	)	$	802,093		$	794

^{(1) Reflects the noncontrolling interest in the Company’s China joint venture.}

^{(2) The retained earnings and net income amounts for the noted line items have been changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.}

^{(3) Reflects beginning retained earnings adjustment as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 adoption of ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  See Note 19 for more details.}

^{(4) Reflects beginning retained earnings adjustment as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2018 adoption of ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory.}

XML

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Values and Related Carrying Values of Debt

At June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, the fair values and related carrying values of debt, including current maturities, were as follows (the fair value and carrying value amounts are presented without regard to unamortized debt issuance costs of $823,000 and $978,000 as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively):

(In thousands)	June 30, 2019		December 31, 2018
Fair value	$	236,668	$	274,119
Carrying value		233,460		277,058

Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis at Fair Value

The following tables present financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis at fair value as of June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall:

(In thousands)	June 2019		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Mutual fund assets	$	26,448	$	26,448	$	—	$	—
Derivative assets:
Foreign currency contracts		345		—		345		—
Total assets at fair value	$	26,793	$	26,448	$	345	$	—
Derivative liabilities:
Foreign currency contracts	$	29	$	—	$	29	$	—

(In thousands)	December 2018		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Mutual fund assets	$	25,082	$	25,082	$	—	$	—
Derivative assets:
Foreign currency contracts		185		—		185		—
Total assets at fair value	$	25,267	$	25,082	$	185	$	—
Derivative liabilities:
Foreign currency contracts	$	10	$	—	$	10	$	—

XML

Stock-based Compensation (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]

Compensation Expense Recorded for All Stock Options, Stock Awards and SARs

Compensation expense recorded for all stock options, stock awards and SARs was as follows:

(In thousands)
Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
2019		2018		2019		2018
$	2,176	$	1,155	$	4,772	$	3,387

Unrecognized Compensation Costs for Stock Options, Stock Awards and SARs

Unrecognized compensation costs for stock options, stock awards and SARs were as follows:

(In thousands)	June 30, 2019		December 31, 2018
Stock options	$	2,557	$	1,655
Stock awards		4,959		3,180
SARs		5,473		3,566

Share Based Payment Awards Granted in Period

The increases in unrecognized compensation costs for stock options, stock awards and SARs reflected the 2019 grants of:

	Shares
Stock options		68,220
Stock awards (at target)		41,969
SARs		148,388

XML

Inventories (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Composition of Inventories

The composition of inventories at June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, was as follows: 

(In thousands)	June 30, 2019		December 31, 2018 As Adjusted
Finished goods	$	156,437	$	163,617
Raw materials		59,841		67,911
Total inventories	$	216,278	$	231,528

XML

Leases (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Leases [Abstract]

Schedule of Lease Cost and Other Information

(In thousands)	Three months ended June 30, 2019		Six months   ended June 30, 2019
Lease Cost
Operating lease cost	$	2,711	$	5,399
Short-term lease cost		1,148		2,118
Variable lease cost		233		581
Total lease cost	$	4,092	$	8,098
Other Information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flow from operating leases	$	2,725	$	5,421
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities		595		889

Schedule of Lease Liability Payments

(In thousands)
Undiscounted Cash Flows:
2019 (excluding the six months ended June 30, 2019)	$	5,379
2020		9,343
2021		6,616
2022		5,457
2023		4,249
Subsequent to 2023		18,011
Total Undiscounted Cash Flows	$	49,055
Less: Imputed interest		(10,356	)
Present value	$	38,699
Current operating lease liabilities (1)		8,987
Non-current operating lease liabilities		29,712
Total lease liabilities	$	38,699

(1) This item is included in Accrued liabilities line on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Schedule of Operating Leases Weighted Average, Remaining Lease Term and Discount Rate

Weighted-average remaining lease term-operating leases	9 Years
Weighted-average discount rate-operating leases	3.9%

Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments Under ASC 840

As required in transition, the table below summarizes the Company’s future minimum lease payments at December 31, 2018 under ASC 840.

(In thousands)
Year
2019	$	9,740
2020		8,294
2021		6,027
2022		5,242
2023		4,101
Subsequent to 2023		16,593
Total minimum future rental payments	$	49,997

XML

Postretirement Benefit Plans (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

	UNITED STATES
(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Interest cost	$	1,661		$	1,540		$	3,322		$	3,079
Expected return on plan assets		(2,361	)		(2,321	)		(4,722	)		(4,642	)
Amortization of net actuarial loss		652			936			1,304			1,873
Net periodic benefit cost	$	(48	)	$	155		$	(96	)	$	310

	UNITED KINGDOM
(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Interest cost	$	140		$	144		$	282		$	292
Expected return on plan assets		(198	)		(226	)		(399	)		(457	)
Amortization of net actuarial loss		62			56			125			113
Net periodic benefit cost	$	4		$	(26	)	$	8		$	(52	)

Defined Contribution Plan Expenses for Company's Qualified Contribution Plans

Defined contribution plan expenses for the Company’s qualified contribution plans were as follows:

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Retirement savings contributions	$	1,215	$	1,706	$	3,624	$	3,463
Profit sharing contributions		964		1,068		1,846		2,010
Total	$	2,179	$	2,774	$	5,470	$	5,473

XML

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

Below are the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
	2019		2018 As Adjusted		2019		2018 As Adjusted
Computation of Basic Earnings per Share
Net income attributable to Stepan Company (1)	$	30,218	$	33,454	$	55,202	$	65,406
Weighted-average number of common shares     outstanding		23,086		23,039		23,092		23,059
Basic earnings per share (1)	$	1.31	$	1.45	$	2.39	$	2.84
Computation of Diluted Earnings per Share
Net income attributable to Stepan Company (1)	$	30,218	$	33,454	$	55,202	$	65,406
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding		23,086		23,039		23,092		23,059
Add weighted-average net shares from assumed    exercise of options (under treasury stock method) (2)		90		87		91		103
Add weighted-average net shares related to unvested    stock awards (under treasury stock method)		2		2		2		2
Add weighted-average net shares from assumed    exercise of SARs (under treasury stock method) (2)		118		99		113		111
Add weighted-average contingently issuable net    shares related to performance stock awards    (under treasury stock method)		33		68		31		66
Weighted-average shares applicable to diluted     earnings		23,329		23,295		23,329		23,341
Diluted earnings per share (1)	$	1.30	$	1.44	$	2.37	$	2.80

⁽¹⁾ The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

⁽²⁾ Options/SARs to acquire 215,257 and 214,749 shares of Company common stock were excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. Options/SARs to acquire 194,949 and 98,878 shares of Company common stock were excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively. Inclusion of the instruments would have had antidilutive effects on the computations of the earnings per share.

XML

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Equity [Abstract]

Summary of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

In conjunction with the adoption of ASU 2018-02, the Company reclassified $5,325,000 of other comprehensive loss, associated with retirement plans, from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings effective January 1, 2019.  Below is the change in the Company’s AOCI balance by component (net of income taxes) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

(In thousands)	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Defined Benefit Pension Plan Adjustments			Cash Flow Hedge Adjustments			Total
Balance at March 31, 2018	$	(61,776	)	$	(28,340	)	$	88		$	(90,028	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(35,012	)		—			—			(35,012	)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		—			752			(2	)		750
Net current-period other comprehensive income		(35,012	)		752			(2	)		(34,262	)
Balance at June 30, 2018	$	(96,788	)	$	(27,588	)	$	86		$	(124,290	)
Balance at March 31, 2019	$	(104,794	)	$	(37,865	)	$	79		$	(142,580	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		4,317			—			—			4,317
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		—			542			(2	)		540
Net current-period other comprehensive income		4,317			542			(2	)		4,857
Balance at June 30, 2019	$	(100,477	)	$	(37,323	)	$	77		$	(137,723	)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	(70,561	)	$	(29,093	)	$	91		$	(99,563	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(26,227	)		—			—			(26,227	)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		—			1,505			(5	)		1,500
Net current-period other comprehensive income		(26,227	)		1,505			(5	)		(24,727	)
Balance at June 30, 2018	$	(96,788	)	$	(27,588	)	$	86		$	(124,290	)
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	(108,481	)	$	(33,083	)	$	81		$	(141,483	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		8,004			—			—			8,004
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		—			1,085			(4	)		1,081
Remeasurement adjustment related to the Tax Act (1)		—			(5,325	)		—			(5,325	)
Net current-period other comprehensive income		8,004			(4,240	)		(4	)		3,760
Balance at June 30, 2019	$	(100,477	)	$	(37,323	)	$	77		$	(137,723	)

^{(1) Represents reclassification of the stranded tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Act) from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to retained earnings in accordance with ASU 2018-02. See Note 19 for more details.}

Summary of Amounts Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Information regarding the reclassifications out of AOCI for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, is displayed below:

(In thousands)	Amount Reclassified from AOCI (a)
AOCI Components	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30						Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statements of Income
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Amortization of defined benefit pension actuarial losses	$	(714	)	$	(992	)	$	(1,429	)	$	(1,986	)	(b)
		172			240			344			481		Tax benefit
	$	(542	)	$	(752	)	$	(1,085	)	$	(1,505	)	Net of tax
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges:
Foreign exchange contracts		2			2			4			5		Cost of sales
		2			2			4			5		Total before tax
		—			—			—			—		Tax benefit
	$	2		$	2		$	4		$	5		Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period	$	(540	)	$	(750	)	$	(1,081	)	$	(1,500	)	Net of tax

^(a) Amounts in parentheses denote expense to statement of income.

^(b) This component of accumulated other comprehensive income is included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see Note 10 for additional details).

XML

Segment Reporting (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Operating Segment

The Company has three reportable segments: Surfactants, Polymers and Specialty Products. Net sales by segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, were as follows:

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Segment Net Sales
Surfactants	$	313,380	$	356,884	$	663,030	$	715,824
Polymers		140,636		140,867		260,815		262,800
Specialty Products		18,987		22,115		38,328		40,577
Total	$	473,003	$	519,866	$	962,173	$	1,019,201

Reconciliation of Segment Information to Income Before Provision for Income Taxes

Segment operating income and reconciliations of segment operating income to income before provision for income taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, are summarized below:

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018 As Adjusted			2019			2018 As Adjusted
Segment Operating Income
Surfactants(1)	$	32,086		$	34,078		$	69,253		$	75,546
Polymers(1)		22,760			20,299			34,865			37,604
Specialty Products		5,982			4,240			9,113			3,890
Segment operating income(1)		60,828			58,617			113,231			117,040
Business restructuring		(450	)		(273	)		(1,183	)		(631	)
Unallocated corporate expenses(2)		(19,313	)		(12,958	)		(41,245	)		(29,740	)
Consolidated operating income(1)		41,065			45,386			70,803			86,669
Interest expense, net		(1,766	)		(2,672	)		(3,619	)		(5,823	)
Other, net		235			484			3,380			1,644
Income before provision for income taxes(1)	$	39,534		$	43,198		$	70,564		$	82,490

⁽¹⁾ The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

⁽²⁾ Unallocated corporate expenses primarily comprise corporate administrative expenses (e.g., corporate finance, legal, human resources, information systems, deferred compensation and environmental remediation) that are not included in segment operating income and not used to evaluate segment performance.

XML

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Revenue From Contract With Customer [Abstract]

Geographic Disaggregation of Net Sales

The tables below provide a geographic disaggregation of net sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018. The Company’s business segmentation by geographic region most effectively captures the nature and economic characteristics of the Company’s revenue streams.

	For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
(In thousands)
	Surfactants		Polymers		Specialty Products		Total
Geographic Market
North America	$	191,720	$	86,434	$	16,067	$	294,221
Europe		54,360		44,085		2,920		101,365
Latin America		53,957		1,450		—		55,407
Asia		13,343		8,667		—		22,010
Total	$	313,380	$	140,636	$	18,987	$	473,003

	For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
(In thousands)
	Surfactants		Polymers		Specialty Products		Total
Geographic Market
North America	$	218,029	$	86,966	$	18,674	$	323,669
Europe		66,065		45,028		3,441		114,534
Latin America		56,579		633		—		57,212
Asia		16,211		8,240		—		24,451
Total	$	356,884	$	140,867	$	22,115	$	519,866

	For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
(In thousands)
	Surfactants		Polymers		Specialty Products		Total
Geographic Market
North America	$	406,017	$	157,757	$	32,092	$	595,866
Europe		125,838		86,190		6,236		218,264
Latin America		104,769		1,647		—		106,416
Asia		26,406		15,221		—		41,627
Total	$	663,030	$	260,815	$	38,328	$	962,173

	For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
(In thousands)
	Surfactants		Polymers		Specialty Products		Total
Geographic Market
North America	$	438,434	$	160,440	$	33,488	$	632,362
Europe		144,436		86,812		7,089		238,337
Latin America		98,267		1,460		—		99,727
Asia		34,687		14,088		—		48,775
Total	$	715,824	$	262,800	$	40,577	$	1,019,201

XML

Debt (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

At June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, debt comprised the following: 

(In thousands)	Maturity Dates	June 30, 2019		December 31, 2018
Unsecured private placement notes
3.95% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $338 and $360 for 2019 and 2018, respectively)	2021-2027	$	99,662	$	99,640
3.86% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $319 and $347 for 2019 and 2018, respectively)	2019-2025		85,395		99,653
4.86% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $166 and $186 for 2019 and 2018, respectively)	2019-2023		46,262		46,243
5.88% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $0 and $85 for 2019 and 2018, respectively)	2019-2022		-		22,772
Debt of foreign subsidiaries
Unsecured bank debt, foreign currency	2019		1,318		7,772
Total debt		$	232,637	$	276,080
Less current maturities			24,889		37,058
Long-term debt		$	207,748	$	239,022

XML

Other, Net (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Other Income And Expenses [Abstract]

Other Net in Consolidated Statements of Income

Other, net in the consolidated statements of income included the following:

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	$	(641	)	$	116		$	(41	)	$	1,169
Investment income		106			90			203			229
Realized and unrealized gains on investments		726			407			3,130			504
Net periodic pension benefit cost		44			(129	)		88			(258	)
Other, net	$	235		$	484		$	3,380		$	1,644

XML

Acquisition (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

2018 Acquisition [Member]

Summary of Assets Acquired

The following table summarizes the assets acquired as a result of the acquisition:

(In thousands)
Assets:
Property, plant and equipment	$	14,464
Inventory		5,687
Value-added tax receivables		2,701
Total assets acquired	$	22,852

XML

Change in Method of Accounting for Inventory Valuation - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Change In Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Percentage of LIFO inventory			68.00%
Retained earnings	[1],[2]	$ 886,349	$ 837,107
Effect of Change [Member]
Change In Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Retained earnings		$ (22,151)	$ 23,659

[1] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[2] The 2019 amounts for the noted line items include an adjustment related to the Company’s first quarter 2019 adoption of ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.

XML

Change in Method of Accounting for Inventory Valuation - Summary of Prior Year Financial Statement Line Items that have Been Affected by Retrospective Change in Accounting Principle (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended							6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019		Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018		Mar. 31, 2018	[3]	Jun. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2018		Dec. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Cost of Sales	[1]	$ 380,044			$ 429,885				$ 784,605		$ 838,022
Gross Profit	[1]	92,959			89,981				177,568		181,179
Operating Income	[1],[2]	41,065			45,386				70,803		86,669
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes	[1],[2]	39,534			43,198				70,564		82,490
Provision for Income Taxes	[1]	9,324			9,746				15,376		17,093
Net Income		30,210	[1],[2]	$ 24,978	33,452	[1],[2],[3]	$ 31,945		55,188	[1],[2]	65,397	[1],[2]
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company	[1],[2]	$ 30,218			$ 33,454				$ 55,202		$ 65,406
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	[1],[2]	$ 1.30			$ 1.44				$ 2.37		$ 2.80
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Inventories	[2]	$ 216,278							$ 216,278				$ 231,528
Other Non-Current Assets	[2]	12,098							12,098				9,549
Total Assets	[2]	1,528,968							1,528,968				1,514,614
Deferred Income Taxes	[2]	28,271							28,271				24,961
Retained Earnings	[2],[4]	886,349							886,349				837,107
Total Liabilities and Equity	[2]	1,528,968							1,528,968				1,514,614
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net Income		30,210	[1],[2]	$ 24,978	$ 33,452	[1],[2],[3]	$ 31,945		55,188	[1],[2]	$ 65,397	[1],[2]
Deferred Income Taxes	[2]								223		3,034
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Inventories	[2]								15,515		(16,738)
As Originally Reported Under LIFO [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Cost of Sales					430,586						840,351
Gross Profit					89,280						178,850
Operating Income					44,685						84,340
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes					42,497						80,161
Provision for Income Taxes					9,574						16,522
Net Income					32,923						63,639
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company					$ 32,925						$ 63,648
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company					$ 1.41						$ 2.73
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Inventories													200,165
Other Non-Current Assets													10,964
Total Assets													1,484,666
Deferred Income Taxes													18,672
Retained Earnings													813,448
Total Liabilities and Equity													1,484,666
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net Income					$ 32,923						$ 63,639
Deferred Income Taxes											2,463
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Inventories											(14,409)
Effect of Change [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Cost of Sales		(3,500)			(701)				(2,000)		(2,329)
Gross Profit		3,500			701				2,000		2,329
Operating Income		3,500			701				2,000		2,329
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		3,500			701				2,000		2,329
Provision for Income Taxes		860			172				492		571
Net Income		2,640			529				1,508		1,758
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		$ 2,640			$ 529				$ 1,508		$ 1,758
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company		$ 0.11			$ 0.03				$ 0.06		$ 0.07
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Inventories		$ (29,363)							$ (29,363)				31,363
Other Non-Current Assets		1,415							1,415				(1,415)
Total Assets		(27,948)							(27,948)				29,948
Deferred Income Taxes		(5,797)							(5,797)				6,289
Retained Earnings		(22,151)							(22,151)				23,659
Total Liabilities and Equity		(27,948)							(27,948)				$ 29,948
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net Income		$ 2,640			$ 529				1,508		$ 1,758
Deferred Income Taxes									492		571
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Inventories									$ (2,000)		$ (2,329)

[1] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from the last in, first out (LIFO) basis to the first in, first out (FIFO) basis.

[2] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[3] The retained earnings and net income amounts for the noted line items have been changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[4] The 2019 amounts for the noted line items include an adjustment related to the Company’s first quarter 2019 adoption of ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.

XML

Change in Method of Accounting for Inventory Valuation - Summary of Current Year Financial Statement Line Items If Company Does Not Changed Method of Accounting for U.S. Inventories from LIFO to FIFO (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended							6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019		Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018		Mar. 31, 2018	[3]	Jun. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2018		Dec. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Cost of Sales	[1]	$ 380,044			$ 429,885				$ 784,605		$ 838,022
Gross Profit	[1]	92,959			89,981				177,568		181,179
Operating Income	[1],[2]	41,065			45,386				70,803		86,669
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes	[1],[2]	39,534			43,198				70,564		82,490
Provision for Income Taxes	[1]	9,324			9,746				15,376		17,093
Net Income		30,210	[1],[2]	$ 24,978	33,452	[1],[2],[3]	$ 31,945		55,188	[1],[2]	65,397	[1],[2]
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company	[1],[2]	$ 30,218			$ 33,454				$ 55,202		$ 65,406
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	[1],[2]	$ 1.30			$ 1.44				$ 2.37		$ 2.80
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Inventories	[2]	$ 216,278							$ 216,278				$ 231,528
Other Non-Current Assets	[2]	12,098							12,098				9,549
Total Assets	[2]	1,528,968							1,528,968				1,514,614
Deferred Income Taxes	[2]	28,271							28,271				24,961
Retained Earnings	[2],[4]	886,349							886,349				837,107
Total Liabilities and Equity	[2]	1,528,968							1,528,968				1,514,614
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net Income		30,210	[1],[2]	$ 24,978	$ 33,452	[1],[2],[3]	$ 31,945		55,188	[1],[2]	$ 65,397	[1],[2]
Deferred Income Taxes	[2]								223		3,034
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Inventories	[2]								15,515		(16,738)
Effect of Change [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Cost of Sales		(3,500)			(701)				(2,000)		(2,329)
Gross Profit		3,500			701				2,000		2,329
Operating Income		3,500			701				2,000		2,329
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		3,500			701				2,000		2,329
Provision for Income Taxes		860			172				492		571
Net Income		2,640			529				1,508		1,758
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		$ 2,640			$ 529				$ 1,508		$ 1,758
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company		$ 0.11			$ 0.03				$ 0.06		$ 0.07
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Inventories		$ (29,363)							$ (29,363)				31,363
Other Non-Current Assets		1,415							1,415				(1,415)
Total Assets		(27,948)							(27,948)				29,948
Deferred Income Taxes		(5,797)							(5,797)				6,289
Retained Earnings		(22,151)							(22,151)				23,659
Total Liabilities and Equity		(27,948)							(27,948)				$ 29,948
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net Income		2,640			$ 529				1,508		$ 1,758
Deferred Income Taxes									492		571
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Inventories									(2,000)		$ (2,329)
As Computed under LIFO [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Cost of Sales		376,544							782,605
Gross Profit		96,459							179,568
Operating Income		44,565							72,803
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		43,034							72,564
Provision for Income Taxes		10,184							15,868
Net Income		32,850							56,696
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company		$ 32,858							$ 56,710
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company		$ 1.41							$ 2.43
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Inventories		$ 186,915							$ 186,915
Other Non-Current Assets		13,513							13,513
Total Assets		1,501,020							1,501,020
Deferred Income Taxes		22,474							22,474
Retained Earnings		864,198							864,198
Total Liabilities and Equity		1,501,020							1,501,020
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net Income		$ 32,850							56,696
Deferred Income Taxes									715
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Inventories									$ 13,515

[1] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from the last in, first out (LIFO) basis to the first in, first out (FIFO) basis.

[2] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[3] The retained earnings and net income amounts for the noted line items have been changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[4] The 2019 amounts for the noted line items include an adjustment related to the Company’s first quarter 2019 adoption of ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.

XML

Reconciliations of Equity - Reconciliations of Total Equity (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019		Mar. 31, 2019		Jun. 30, 2018		Mar. 31, 2018		Jun. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2018
Reconciliations of total equity
Beginning Balance		$ 832,221		$ 808,185	[1],[2]	$ 801,959		$ 766,218	[2]	$ 808,185	[1],[2]	$ 766,218	[2]
Issuance of common stock under stock option plan		273		1,890		119		3,155
Purchase of common stock		(6,104)		(77)		(9,500)		(2,500)
Stock-based and deferred compensation		2,609		(1,360)		2,443		(1,136)
Net income		30,210	[1],[3]	24,978		33,452	[1],[2],[3]	31,945	[2]	55,188	[1],[3]	65,397	[1],[3]
Other comprehensive income		4,830		4,248		(34,309)		9,567		9,078		(24,742)
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock		(5,642)		(5,643)		(5,068)		(5,092)
Other	[4]							(198)
Ending Balance		858,397	[1]	832,221		789,096		801,959		858,397	[1]	789,096
Common Stock [Member]
Reconciliations of total equity
Beginning Balance		26,441		26,309	[2]	26,268		26,071	[2]	26,309	[2]	26,071	[2]
Issuance of common stock under stock option plan		4		39		3		77
Stock-based and deferred compensation		8		93		8		120
Cash dividends paid:
Ending Balance		26,453		26,441		26,279		26,268		26,453		26,279
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Reconciliations of total equity
Beginning Balance		185,911		182,881	[2]	175,211		170,408	[2]	182,881	[2]	170,408	[2]
Issuance of common stock under stock option plan		269		1,851		116		3,078
Stock-based and deferred compensation		2,601		1,179		2,452		1,725
Cash dividends paid:
Ending Balance		188,781		185,911		177,779		175,211		188,781		177,779
Treasury Stock [Member]
Reconciliations of total equity
Beginning Balance		(100,098)		(97,389)	[2]	(84,042)		(78,561)	[2]	(97,389)	[2]	(78,561)	[2]
Purchase of common stock		(6,104)		(77)		(9,500)		(2,500)
Stock-based and deferred compensation				(2,632)		(17)		(2,981)
Cash dividends paid:
Ending Balance		(106,202)		(100,098)		(93,559)		(84,042)		(106,202)		(93,559)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Reconciliations of total equity
Beginning Balance		(142,580)		(141,483)	[2]	(90,028)		(99,563)	[2]	(141,483)	[2]	(99,563)	[2]
Other comprehensive income		4,857		4,228		(34,262)		9,535
Cash dividends paid:
Other	[5]			(5,325)
Ending Balance		(137,723)		(142,580)		(124,290)		(90,028)		(137,723)		(124,290)
Retained Earnings [Member]
Reconciliations of total equity
Beginning Balance		861,773		837,107	[2]	773,707		747,045	[2]	837,107	[2]	747,045	[2]
Net income		30,218		24,984		33,454	[2]	31,952	[2]
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock		(5,642)		(5,643)		(5,068)		(5,092)
Other				5,325	[5]			(198)	[4]
Ending Balance		886,349		861,773		802,093		773,707		886,349		802,093
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Reconciliations of total equity
Beginning Balance	[6]	774		760	[2]	843		818	[2]	760	[2]	818	[2]
Net income	[6]	(8)		(6)		(2)	[2]	(7)	[2]
Other comprehensive income	[6]	(27)		20		(47)		32
Cash dividends paid:
Ending Balance	[6]	$ 739		$ 774		$ 794		$ 843		$ 739		$ 794

[1] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[2] The retained earnings and net income amounts for the noted line items have been changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[3] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from the last in, first out (LIFO) basis to the first in, first out (FIFO) basis.

[4] Reflects beginning retained earnings adjustment as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2018 adoption of ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory.

[5] Reflects beginning retained earnings adjustment as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 adoption of ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  See Note 19 for more details.

[6] Reflects the noncontrolling interest in the Company’s China joint venture.

XML

Reconciliations of Equity - Reconciliations of Total Equity (Parenthetical) (Detail) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018
Number of shares of common stock issued under stock option plan	4,423	38,706	2,888	77,474
Number of common stock shares purchased	69,736	900	133,584	6,107
Common stock	$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.23	$ 0.23
Common Stock [Member]
Number of shares of common stock issued under stock option plan	4,423	38,706	2,888	77,474
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Number of shares of common stock issued under stock option plan	4,423	38,706	2,888	77,474
Treasury Stock [Member]
Number of common stock shares purchased	69,736	900	133,584	6,107
Retained Earnings [Member]
Common stock	$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.23	$ 0.23

XML

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Unamortized debt issuance cost	$ 823,000	$ 978,000

XML

Fair Value Measurements - Fair Values and Related Carrying Values of Debt (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Carrying value	$ 233,460	$ 277,058
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value	$ 236,668	$ 274,119

XML

Fair Value Measurements - Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis at Fair Value (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mutual fund assets	$ 26,448	$ 25,082
Derivative assets:
Foreign currency contracts	345	185
Total assets at fair value	26,793	25,267
Derivative liabilities:
Foreign currency contracts	29	10
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mutual fund assets	26,448	25,082
Derivative assets:
Total assets at fair value	26,448	25,082
Level 2 [Member]
Derivative assets:
Foreign currency contracts	345	185
Total assets at fair value	345	185
Derivative liabilities:
Foreign currency contracts	$ 29	$ 10

XML

Derivative Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative notional amount	$ 31,445,860	$ 28,870,081
Minimum [Member]
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative foreign currency exchange contracts durations	1 month
Maximum [Member]
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Derivative foreign currency exchange contracts durations	3 months

XML

Stock-based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019
Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) Granted Prior to 2017 [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	2 years
Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Rights (SARS) Granted in 2017 [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	3 years
Percentage of awards vesting in each year	33.33%
Stock Option [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average period for amortization of unrecognized compensation cost	2 years
Stock Awards [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average period for amortization of unrecognized compensation cost	2 years
SARs [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average period for amortization of unrecognized compensation cost	2 years

XML

Stock-based Compensation - Compensation Expense Recorded for All Stock Options, Stock Awards and SARs (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Compensation expense	$ 2,176	$ 1,155	$ 4,772	$ 3,387

XML

Stock-based Compensation - Unrecognized Compensation Costs for Stock Options, Stock Awards and SARs (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Stock Option [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation costs for stock options, stock awards and SARs	$ 2,557	$ 1,655
Stock Awards [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation costs for stock options, stock awards and SARs	4,959	3,180
SARs [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation costs for stock options, stock awards and SARs	$ 5,473	$ 3,566

XML

Stock-based Compensation - Share Based Payment Awards Granted in Period (Detail)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019 shares
Stock Option [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options granted in period	68,220
Stock Awards (at target) [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards granted in period	41,969
SARs [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards granted in period	148,388

XML

Inventories - Composition of Inventories (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Finished goods		$ 156,437	$ 163,617
Raw materials		59,841	67,911
Total inventories	[1]	$ 216,278	$ 231,528

[1] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

XML

Leases - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) Country
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Right of use asset	$ 38,692
Operating lease, liability	$ 38,699
Number of countries leases reside | Country	4
Percentage of value of leases reside	94.00%
Minimum [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, term of contract	1 year
Maximum [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, term of contract	10 years
Railcars [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Percentage of lease asset categories	49.00%
Real Estate [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Percentage of lease asset categories	38.00%
Real Estate [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, term of contract	1 year
Real Estate [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, term of contract	50 years
Real Estate and Railcars [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Operating lease, liability	$ 2,000
Real Estate and Railcars [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, term of contract	1 year
Real Estate and Railcars [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, term of contract	7 years
ASC 842 [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Right of use asset	$ 42,400
Operating lease, liability	$ 42,400

XML

Leases - Schedule of Lease Cost and Other Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019
Lease Cost
Operating lease cost	$ 2,711	$ 5,399
Short-term lease cost	1,148	2,118
Variable lease cost	233	581
Total lease cost	4,092	8,098
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flow from operating leases	2,725	5,421
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	$ 595	$ 889

XML

Leases - Schedule of Lease Liability Payments (Detail) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
2019 (excluding the six months ended June 30, 2019)	$ 5,379
2020	9,343
2021	6,616
2022	5,457
2023	4,249
Subsequent to 2023	18,011
Total Undiscounted Cash Flows	49,055
Less: Imputed interest	(10,356)
Present value	38,699
Current operating lease liabilities	8,987	[1]
Non-current operating lease liabilities	29,712
Total lease liabilities	$ 38,699

[1] This item is included in Accrued liabilities line on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

XML

Leases - Schedule of Operating Leases Weighted Average, Remaining Lease Term and Discount Rate (Detail)	Jun. 30, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
Weighted-average remaining lease term-operating leases	9 years
Weighted-average discount rate-operating leases	3.90%

XML

Leases - Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments Under ASC 840 (Detail) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
2019	$ 9,740
2020	8,294
2021	6,027
2022	5,242
2023	4,101
Subsequent to 2023	16,593
Total minimum future rental payments	$ 49,997

XML

Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Site Contingency [Line Items]
Environmental losses accrual	$ 23,900,000		$ 23,400,000
Cash expenitures related to legal and environmental matters	$ 2,500,000	$ 600,000
Contribution for future response costs	5.00%
Wilmington Site [Member]
Site Contingency [Line Items]
Payment of environmental response costs	$ 2,800,000
Minimum [Member]
Site Contingency [Line Items]
Environmental and legal losses	23,900,000
Maximum [Member]
Site Contingency [Line Items]
Environmental and legal losses	$ 45,000,000.0

XML

Postretirement Benefit Plans - Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit cost	$ (44)	$ 129	$ (88)	$ 258
United States [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest cost	1,661	1,540	3,322	3,079
Expected return on plan assets	(2,361)	(2,321)	(4,722)	(4,642)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	652	936	1,304	1,873
Net periodic benefit cost	(48)	155	(96)	310
United Kingdom [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest cost	140	144	282	292
Expected return on plan assets	(198)	(226)	(399)	(457)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	62	56	125	113
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 4	$ (26)	$ 8	$ (52)

XML

Postretirement Benefit Plans - Defined Benefit Pension Plans - Additional Information (Detail)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Defined Contribution Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Balance of trust assets	$ 1,693,000
United States [Member] | Unfunded Plan [Member] | Non-qualified Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Expected contributions or payments to defined benefit plans	312,000
Employer contributions or payments	200,000
U.K Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Expected contributions or payments to defined benefit plans	476,000
Employer contributions or payments	$ 293,000

XML

Postretirement Benefit Plans - Defined Contribution Plan Expenses for Company's Qualified Contribution Plans (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total defined contribution plan expenses	$ 2,179	$ 2,774	$ 5,470	$ 5,473
Retirement Savings Contributions [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total defined contribution plan expenses	1,215	1,706	3,624	3,463
Profit Sharing Contributions [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total defined contribution plan expenses	$ 964	$ 1,068	$ 1,846	$ 2,010

XML

Earnings Per Share - Computations of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Computation of Basic Earnings per Share
Net income attributable to Stepan Company	[1],[2]	$ 30,218	$ 33,454	$ 55,202	$ 65,406
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding		23,086	23,039	23,092	23,059
Basic earnings per share	[1],[2]	$ 1.31	$ 1.45	$ 2.39	$ 2.84
Computation of Diluted Earnings per Share
Net income attributable to Stepan Company	[1]	$ 30,218	$ 33,454	$ 55,202	$ 65,406
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding		23,086	23,039	23,092	23,059
Add weighted-average net shares related to unvested stock awards (under treasury stock method)		2	2	2	2
Weighted-average shares applicable to diluted earnings		23,329	23,295	23,329	23,341
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company	[1],[2]	$ 1.30	$ 1.44	$ 2.37	$ 2.80
Stock Option [Member]
Computation of Diluted Earnings per Share
Add weighted-average net shares from assumed exercise of options (under treasury stock method)	[3]	90	87	91	103
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) [Member]
Computation of Diluted Earnings per Share
Add weighted-average net shares from assumed exercise of options (under treasury stock method)	[3]	118	99	113	111
Performance Stock Award [Member]
Computation of Diluted Earnings per Share
Add weighted-average net shares from assumed exercise of options (under treasury stock method)		33	68	31	66

[1] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[2] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from the last in, first out (LIFO) basis to the first in, first out (FIFO) basis.

[3] Options/SARs to acquire 215,257 and 214,749 shares of Company common stock were excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. Options/SARs to acquire 194,949 and 98,878 shares of Company common stock were excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively. Inclusion of the instruments would have had antidilutive effects on the computations of the earnings per share.

XML

Earnings Per Share - Computations of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Parenthetical) (Detail) - shares	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) [Member]
Earnings Per Share Basic [Line Items]
Options/SARs to purchase shares of common stock were excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share	215,257	194,949	214,749	98,878

XML

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	Jan. 01, 2019 USD ($)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Abstract]
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from Tax Act	$ 5,325

XML

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Summary of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	[1]			$ 807,425
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		$ 4,317	$ (35,012)	8,004	$ (26,227)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		540	750	1,081	1,500
Remeasurement adjustment related to the Tax Act	[2]			(5,325)
Net current-period other comprehensive income		4,857	(34,262)	3,760	(24,727)
Ending Balance	[1]	857,658		857,658
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Beginning Balance		(104,794)	(61,776)	(108,481)	(70,561)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		4,317	(35,012)	8,004	(26,227)
Net current-period other comprehensive income		4,317	(35,012)	8,004	(26,227)
Ending Balance		(100,477)	(96,788)	(100,477)	(96,788)
Defined Benefit Pension Plan Adjustments [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Beginning Balance		(37,865)	(28,340)	(33,083)	(29,093)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		542	752	1,085	1,505
Remeasurement adjustment related to the Tax Act	[2]			(5,325)
Net current-period other comprehensive income		542	752	(4,240)	1,505
Ending Balance		(37,323)	(27,588)	(37,323)	(27,588)
Cash Flow Hedge Adjustments [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Beginning Balance		79	88	81	91
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		(2)	(2)	(4)	(5)
Net current-period other comprehensive income		(2)	(2)	(4)	(5)
Ending Balance		77	86	77	86
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Beginning Balance		(142,580)	(90,028)	(141,483)	(99,563)
Net current-period other comprehensive income		4,857
Ending Balance		$ (137,723)	$ (124,290)	$ (137,723)	$ (124,290)

[1] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[2] ^{Represents reclassification of the stranded tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Act) from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to retained earnings in accordance with ASU 2018-02. See Note 19 for more details.}

XML

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Summary of Amounts Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes	[1],[2]	$ 39,534	$ 43,198	$ 70,564	$ 82,490
Tax benefit	[2]	(9,324)	(9,746)	(15,376)	(17,093)
Cost of Sales	[2]	380,044	429,885	784,605	838,022
Defined Benefit Pension Plan Adjustments [Member] | Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amortization of defined benefit pension actuarial losses	[3],[4]	(714)	(992)	(1,429)	(1,986)
Tax benefit	[3]	172	240	344	481
Income applicable to common stock	[3]	(542)	(752)	(1,085)	(1,505)
Cash Flow Hedge Adjustments [Member] | Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes	[3]	2	2	4	5
Income applicable to common stock	[3]	2	2	4	5
Cash Flow Hedge Adjustments [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of Sales	[3]	2	2	4	5
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income applicable to common stock	[3]	$ (540)	$ (750)	$ (1,081)	$ (1,500)

[1] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[2] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from the last in, first out (LIFO) basis to the first in, first out (FIFO) basis.

[3] Amounts in parentheses denote expense to statement of income.

[4] This component of accumulated other comprehensive income is included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see Note 10 for additional details).

XML

Segment Reporting - Additional Information (Detail)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019 Segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	3

XML

Segment Reporting - Operating Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 473,003	$ 519,866	$ 962,173	$ 1,019,201
Surfactants [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	313,380	356,884	663,030	715,824
Polymers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	140,636	140,867	260,815	262,800
Specialty Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 18,987	$ 22,115	$ 38,328	$ 40,577

XML

Segment Reporting - Reconciliation of Segment Information to Income Before Provision for Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	[1],[2]	$ 41,065	$ 45,386	$ 70,803	$ 86,669
Business restructuring expenses (Note 17)		(450)	(273)	(1,183)	(631)
Interest expense, net		(1,766)	(2,672)	(3,619)	(5,823)
Other, net		235	484	3,380	1,644
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes	[1],[2]	39,534	43,198	70,564	82,490
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	[1]	60,828	58,617	113,231	117,040
Operating Segments [Member] | Surfactants [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	[1]	32,086	34,078	69,253	75,546
Operating Segments [Member] | Polymers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	[1]	22,760	20,299	34,865	37,604
Operating Segments [Member] | Specialty Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income		5,982	4,240	9,113	3,890
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Unallocated corporate expenses	[3]	$ (19,313)	$ (12,958)	$ (41,245)	$ (29,740)

[1] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from LIFO to FIFO.

[2] The 2018 amounts for the noted line items have been retrospectively changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s first quarter 2019 change in method of accounting for U.S. inventory valuation from the last in, first out (LIFO) basis to the first in, first out (FIFO) basis.

[3] Unallocated corporate expenses primarily comprise corporate administrative expenses (e.g., corporate finance, legal, human resources, information systems, deferred compensation and environmental remediation) that are not included in segment operating income and not used to evaluate segment performance.

XML

Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Additional Information (Detail)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Abstract]
Contract assets	$ 0
Contract liabilities	$ 0

XML

Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Summary of Geographic Disaggregation of Net Sales (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 473,003	$ 519,866	$ 962,173	$ 1,019,201
North America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	294,221	323,669	595,866	632,362
Europe [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	101,365	114,534	218,264	238,337
Latin America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	55,407	57,212	106,416	99,727
Asia [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	22,010	24,451	41,627	48,775
Surfactants [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	313,380	356,884	663,030	715,824
Surfactants [Member] | North America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	191,720	218,029	406,017	438,434
Surfactants [Member] | Europe [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	54,360	66,065	125,838	144,436
Surfactants [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	53,957	56,579	104,769	98,267
Surfactants [Member] | Asia [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	13,343	16,211	26,406	34,687
Polymers [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	140,636	140,867	260,815	262,800
Polymers [Member] | North America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	86,434	86,966	157,757	160,440
Polymers [Member] | Europe [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	44,085	45,028	86,190	86,812
Polymers [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,450	633	1,647	1,460
Polymers [Member] | Asia [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	8,667	8,240	15,221	14,088
Specialty Products [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	18,987	22,115	38,328	40,577
Specialty Products [Member] | North America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	16,067	18,674	32,092	33,488
Specialty Products [Member] | Europe [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	2,920	3,441	6,236	7,089
Specialty Products [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Specialty Products [Member] | Asia [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Debt - Debt (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 232,637	$ 276,080
Less current maturities	24,889	37,058
Long-term debt	207,748	239,022
Unsecured private placement 3.95% note [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 99,662	$ 99,640
Debt instrument interest rate percentage	3.95%	3.95%
Unsecured private placement 3.95% note [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2021	2021
Unsecured private placement 3.95% note [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2027	2027
Unsecured private placement 3.86% note [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 85,395	$ 99,653
Debt instrument interest rate percentage	3.86%	3.86%
Unsecured private placement 3.86% note [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2019	2019
Unsecured private placement 3.86% note [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2025	2025
Unsecured private placement 4.86% note [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 46,262	$ 46,243
Debt instrument interest rate percentage	4.86%	4.86%
Unsecured private placement 4.86% note [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2019	2019
Unsecured private placement 4.86% note [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2023	2023
Unsecured private placement 5.88% note [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt		$ 22,772
Debt instrument interest rate percentage	5.88%	5.88%
Unsecured private placement 5.88% note [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2019	2019
Unsecured private placement 5.88% note [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2022	2022
Debt of foreign subsidiaries Unsecured bank debt, foreign currency [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 1,318	$ 7,772
Maturity Dates	2019	2019

XML

Debt - Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance cost	$ 823,000	$ 978,000
Unsecured private placement 3.95% note [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance cost	338,000	360,000
Unsecured private placement 3.86% note [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance cost	319,000	347,000
Unsecured private placement 4.86% note [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance cost	166,000	186,000
Unsecured private placement 5.88% note [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance cost	$ 0	$ 85,000

XML

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 12, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance cost		$ 823,000	$ 978,000
Multi currency revolving credit agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit agreement		$ 350,000,000
Credit agreement secured date		Jan. 30, 2023
Letters of Credit Outstanding		$ 5,202,000
Debt Outstanding		0
Unused Revolving credit		344,798,000
Unrestricted retained earnings		$ 253,985,000	$ 214,101,000
Series 2010-A Senior Notes due June 1, 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit agreement secured date		Jun. 01, 2022
Prepaid outstanding principal	$ 17,100,000
Debt instrument interest rate percentage	5.88%
Make-whole amount	$ 1,173,000
Unamortized debt issuance cost	$ 74,000

XML

Other, Net - Other Net in Consolidated Statements of Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Other Nonoperating Income Expense [Abstract]
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	$ (641)	$ 116	$ (41)	$ 1,169
Investment income	106	90	203	229
Realized and unrealized gains on investments	726	407	3,130	504
Net periodic pension benefit cost	44	(129)	88	(258)
Other, net	$ 235	$ 484	$ 3,380	$ 1,644

XML

Business Restructuring - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) Employees	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Business restructuring	$ 450,000		$ 273,000		$ 1,183,000	$ 631,000
Netherlands [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number positions eliminated | Employees					5
Severance costs					$ 396,000
Germany [Member] | Surfactants [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs					$ 1,799,000
Germany [Member] | Surfactants [Member] | Asset and Spare Part [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs							$ 1,404,000
Fieldsboro, NJ [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Business restructuring		$ 251,000		$ 915,000
Longford Mills [Member] | Surfactants [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number positions eliminated | Employees					30
Business restructuring					$ 6,595,000
Decommissioning expense	200,000
Termination Benefits [Member] | Netherlands [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Business restructuring					122,000
Termination Benefits [Member] | Longford Mills [Member] | Surfactants [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Business restructuring	$ 50,000				1,644,000
Decommissioning Costs [Member] | Germany [Member] | Surfactants [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs					395,000
Other Expense [Member] | Longford Mills [Member] | Surfactants [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Business restructuring					$ 4,951,000

XML

Acquisition - Additional Information (Detail)		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 26, 2018 USD ($) ft² T	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Paid from cash on hand		$ 21,475,000
2018 Acquisition [Member] | BASF Mexicana, S.A. DE C.V. [Member] | Surfactants [Member] | Ecatepec, Mexico [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Capacity of production facility expected to be acquired | T	50,000
Warehouse space, laboratory and office space currently expected to be acquired | ft²	124,000
Paid from cash on hand	$ 22,852,000
Intangible assets identified related to acquisition	$ 0

XML

Acquisition - Summary of Assets Acquired (Detail) - 2018 Acquisition [Member] - BASF Mexicana, S.A. DE C.V. [Member] $ in Thousands	Mar. 26, 2018 USD ($)
Assets:
Property, plant and equipment	$ 14,464
Inventory	5,687
Value-added tax receivables	2,701
Total assets acquired	$ 22,852

XML

Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	Jan. 01, 2019 USD ($)
Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from Tax Act	$ 5,325