Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Core Laboratories and its subsidiaries for which we have a controlling voting interest and/or a controlling financial interest. These financials have been prepared in accordance with the United States generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"). We use the equity method of accounting for investments in which we have less than a majority interest and do not exercise control but do exert significant influence. Non-controlling interest have been recorded to reflect outside ownership attributable to consolidated subsidiaries that are less than 100% owned. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Certain reclassifications were made to prior period amounts in order to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on the reported net income or cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 ("Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments") which replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current U.S. GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted this standard on January 1, 2020, and there has been no significant impact on our consolidated financial statements or on our accounting policies and processes.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04 (“Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment”) which eliminates a step in computing the implied fair value of goodwill with a new methodology of an entity performing an annual goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. We adopted this standard on January 1, 2020. The new methodology was applied for the interim goodwill impairment analysis performed upon the triggering event of the COVID-19 pandemic during the three month period ended March 31, 2020, and it did not change the conclusion that goodwill had been impaired. There has been no significant impact on our consolidated financial statements or on our accounting policies and processes as a result of adopting this updated accounting standard.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12 (“Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”) which affects general principles within Topic 740, Income Taxes. The amendment removes exceptions related to the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the recognition of a deferred tax liability for equity method investments in a foreign subsidiary, and the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period. The standard also simplifies the accounting for franchise taxes, transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill, the effect of an enacted change in tax laws on the tax rate computation in interim periods, and specifying that an entity is not required to allocate consolidated tax expense to a legal entity not subject to tax in its separate financial statements. This standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within

those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. We adopted this standard on January 1, 2021, and there has been no significant impact on our consolidated financial statements or on our accounting policies and processes.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. We evaluate our estimates on an ongoing basis and utilize our historical experience, as well as various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable in a given circumstance, in order to make these estimates. Actual results could differ from our estimates, as assumptions and conditions change.

The following accounts, among others, require us to use estimates and assumptions:

▪allowance for credit losses;

▪obsolete inventory;

▪depreciation and amortization;

▪long-lived assets, intangibles and goodwill;

▪income taxes;

▪pensions and other postretirement benefits;

▪stock-based compensation; and

▪leases.

Accounting policies relating to these accounts and the nature of these estimates are further discussed under the applicable caption. For each of these critical estimates it is at least reasonably possible that changes in these estimates will occur in the short term which may impact our financial position or results of operations.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Our financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk relate primarily to cash and cash equivalents and trade accounts receivable. All cash and cash equivalents are on deposit at commercial banks or investment firms with significant financial resources. Our trade receivables are with a variety of domestic, international and national oil and gas companies. We had no clients who provided more than 10% of our revenue for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. We consider our credit risk related to trade accounts receivable to be limited due to the creditworthiness and financial resources of our clients. We have adopted the expected credit losses methodology for measurement of credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost basis, replacing the previous incurred loss impairment methodology. We evaluate our estimate for credit losses on an on-going basis throughout the year.

Concentration of Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to interest rate risk on our revolving credit facility (the "Credit Facility") debt, which carries a variable interest rate. We are exposed to interest rate risk on our Senior Notes which carry a fixed interest rate, but whose fair value will fluctuate based on changes in interest rates and market perception of our credit risk. See Note 9 - Long-term Debt, net.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include all short-term, highly liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less. These items are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.

Derivative Instruments

We may enter into a variety of derivative instruments in connection with the management of our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates. See Note 15 - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

We do not enter into derivatives for speculative purposes.

Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at their invoiced amounts and do not bear interest. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our clients, monitor collections and payments, consider our historical collection experience and our current aging of client receivables outstanding, in addition to client's representations and our understanding of the economic environment in which our clients operate. Based on our review we establish or adjust allowances for credit losses for specific clients and the accounts receivable, as a whole, and recognize expense. When an account is determined to be uncollectible, we charge the receivable to our allowance for credit losses. Our allowance for credit losses totaled $3.2 million and $4.1 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The net carrying value of accounts receivable approximates fair value.

Inventories

Inventories consist of manufactured goods, materials and supplies used for sales or services to clients. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or estimated net realizable value. Inventory costs are recorded at standard cost which approximates the first-in, first-out method.

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets are comprised primarily of prepaid insurance, value added taxes and prepaid rents.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Major renewals and improvements are capitalized while maintenance and repair costs are charged to expense as incurred. They are depreciated using the straight-line method based on their individual estimated useful lives, except for leasehold improvements, which are depreciated over the remaining lease term, if shorter. We estimate the useful lives and salvage values of our assets based on historical data as follows:

Buildings and leasehold improvements	3 - 40 years
Machinery and equipment	3 - 10 years

When long-lived assets are sold or retired, the remaining costs and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is recognized.

We review our long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that their net book value may not be recovered over their remaining service lives. Indicators of possible impairment may include significant declines in activity levels in regions where specific assets or groups of assets are located, extended periods of idle use, declining revenue or cash flow or overall changes in general market conditions.

Whenever possible impairment is indicated, we compare the carrying value of the assets to the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected from use, plus salvage value, less the costs of the subsequent disposition of the assets. If impairment is still indicated, we compare the fair value of the assets to the carrying amount and recognize an impairment loss for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value. We did not record any material impairment charges relating to our long-lived assets held for use during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Leases

We have operating leases primarily consisting of offices and lab space, machinery and equipment and vehicles. We determine if an arrangement is an operating or finance lease at inception. Lease assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. Where our lease does not provide an implicit rate, we estimate the discount rate used to discount the future minimum lease payments using our incremental borrowing rate and other information available at the commencement date. Operating leased assets also include all initial direct costs incurred. The lease term may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option.

Operating leased assets are included in right of use ("ROU") assets along with current and long-term operating lease liabilities, are separately presented in our consolidated balance sheet. Financing leased assets are included in property, plant and equipment and the related liabilities are included in other current and other long- term liabilities in our consolidated balance sheet.

ROU assets are subsequently depreciated over the estimated useful life of the asset and operating lease liabilities are carried at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method.

The Company has elected to apply the short-term lease exemption to all classes of underlying assets. Accordingly, no ROU asset or lease liability is recognized for leases with a term of twelve months or less.

The Company has elected to apply the practical expedient for combining lease and non-lease components for vehicle leases and elected not to apply the practical expedient for combining lease and non-lease components to all other classes of underlying assets.

Intangibles and Goodwill

Intangible assets, which include trade secrets, patents, technology, trademarks, agreements not to compete and trade names, are carried at cost less accumulated amortization, for intangibles with a definite life, and any accumulated impairment. Intangibles with definite lives are amortized using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful life of the intangible. Intangibles with indefinite lives, which consist primarily of corporate trade names, are not amortized, but are tested for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment is possible.

We record goodwill as the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired in acquisitions accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. We test goodwill for impairment annually, or more frequently if circumstances indicate possible impairment. We recorded $8.2 million of impairment charges relating to certain intangible assets during the year ended December 31, 2020.

We assess goodwill for impairment by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, then there is an impairment loss limited to the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Our reporting units are the same as our two reportable segments. We estimate the fair value of each reporting unit using a discounted future cash flow analysis. Estimated future cash flows are based on the Company's best estimate of future performance. Our impairment analysis is both qualitative and quantitative, and includes subjective estimates based on assumptions regarding future revenue growth rates, discount rates and expected margins.

We did not record impairment charges relating to our goodwill or our indefinite-lived intangible assets during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2019. We recorded $114.0 million of impairment charges relating to our goodwill and certain intangibles assets under our Production Enhancement reporting unit during the year ended December 31, 2020.

Other Assets

Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2021		2020
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	$	32,511	$	31,201
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates		4,156		4,094
Other		4,746		4,955
Total other assets	$	41,413	$	40,250

Cash surrender value of life insurance policies relates to postretirement benefit plans. See Note 11 - Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans. Investments include unconsolidated affiliates accounted for under the equity method where the operations of these entities are in-line with those of our core businesses. These entities are not considered special purpose entities, nor do we have special off-balance sheet arrangements through these entities.

Accounts Payable

Trade accounts payable are recorded at their invoiced amounts and do not bear interest. The carrying value of accounts payable approximates fair value.

Income Taxes

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the asset is expected to be recovered or the liability is expected to be settled. We include interest and penalties from tax judgments in income tax expense.

We record a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in our tax return. We also recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. See Note 10 - Income Taxes.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income is comprised of net income and other charges or credits to equity that are not the result of transactions with owners. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consists of prior service costs and unrecognized net actuarial gain or loss from a pension plan and changes in the fair value of our interest rate swaps. See Note 11 - Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans and Note 15 - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

Revenue Recognition

All of our revenue is derived from contracts with clients. Our contracts generally include standard commercial payment terms generally acceptable in each region, and do not include financing with extended payment terms. We have no significant obligations for refunds, warranties, or similar obligations. Our revenue does not include taxes collected from our customers. In certain circumstances we apply the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("Topic 606") to a portfolio of contracts with similar characteristics. We use estimates and assumptions when accounting for a portfolio that reflect the size and composition of the portfolio of contracts.

We recognize revenue at an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for such services or goods as described below by applying the five-step method to: (1) identify the contract(s) with clients; (2) identify the performance obligation(s) in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligation(s) in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) we satisfy the performance obligation(s). A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct service or good to a client, and is the unit of account under Topic 606. We have contracts with two general groups of performance obligations: those that require us to perform analysis and/or diagnostic tests in our laboratory or at the client's wellsite and those from the sale of tools, diagnostic and equipment products and related services.

Services Revenue: We provide a variety of services to clients in the oil and gas industry. Where services are provided related to the testing and analysis of rock and fluids, we recognize revenue upon the provision of the test results or analysis to the client. For our design, field engineering and completion diagnostic services, we recognize revenue upon the delivery of those services at the well site or delivery of diagnostic data. In the case of our consortia studies, we have multiple performance obligations and revenue is recognized at the point in time when the testing and analysis results on each contributed core are made available to our consortia members. For arrangements that include multiple performance obligations, we allocate revenue to each performance obligation based on estimates of the price that we would charge the client for each promised service or product if it were sold on a standalone basis.

To a lesser extent, we enter into other types of contracts including service arrangements and non-subscription software and licensing agreements. We recognize revenue for these arrangements over time or at a point in time depending on our evaluation of when the client obtains control of the promised services or products

Product Sales Revenue: We manufacture equipment that we sell to our clients in the oil and gas industry. We recognize revenue when control of the promised product is transferred to the client. Control of the product usually passes to the client at the time shipment is made or picked up by the client at our facilities, as defined within the contract.

Contract Assets and Liabilities

Contract assets and liabilities arise from differences in timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections.

Contract assets include our right to payment for goods and services already transferred to a customer when the right to payment is conditional on something other than the passage of time. For example, we have contracts where we recognize revenue over time but do not have a contractual right to payment until we complete the performance obligations.

Contract liabilities consist of advance payments received and billings in excess of revenue recognized. We generally receive up-front payments relating to our consortia studies. We recognize revenue over the life of the study as the testing and analysis results are made available to our consortia members. We record billings in excess of revenue recognized for contracts with a duration less than twelve months as unearned revenue. We classify contract liabilities for contracts with a duration greater than twelve months as current or non-current based on the timing of revenue recognition.

Disaggregation of Revenue

We contract with clients for service revenue and/or product sales revenue. We present revenue disaggregated by services and product sales in our consolidated statements of operations. For revenue disaggregated by reportable segment, see Note 21 - Segment Reporting and Other Disaggregated Information.

Foreign Currencies

Our functional currency is the U.S. Dollar ("USD"). All inter-company financing, transactions and cash flows with our subsidiaries are transacted in USD. Revenue and expenses denominated in other currencies are measured at the applicable month-end exchange rate which approximates the average exchange rate. We remeasure monetary assets and liabilities denominated in other currencies to USD at year-end exchange rates. Non-monetary items, depreciation, amortization and certain components of cost of sales are measured at historical rates. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, we incurred net remeasurement gain of $0.2 million and losses of $1.2 million and $1.7 million, respectively. Remeasurement and settlement difference are included in other (income) expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

We provide a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all of our Dutch employees ("Dutch Plan") who were hired prior to 2000. We recognize net periodic pension costs associated with the Dutch plan in income and recognize the unfunded status of the plan, if any, as an other long-term liability. We recognize the actuarial gains or losses and prior service costs or credits that arise during the period as a component of other comprehensive income. The projection of benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets requires the use of assumptions and estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates. See Note 11 - Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans.

We maintain defined contribution plans for the benefit of eligible employees primarily in Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. We expense contributions in the period the contribution is made.

Non-controlling Interests

We maintain non-controlling interests in several investment ventures and disclose such interests clearly as a portion of equity separate from the parent's equity. The amount of consolidated net income attributable to these non-controlling interests is also clearly presented on the consolidated statements of operations. In addition, when a subsidiary is deconsolidated, any retained non-controlling equity investment in the former subsidiary will be initially measured at fair value and recorded as a gain or loss.

Stock-Based Compensation

For new awards issued and awards modified, repurchased or canceled, we record compensation expense in the consolidated statements of operations equal to the fair value of the award at the date of the grant, modification, repurchase or cancellation over the requisite service period of the award.

Earnings Per Share

We compute basic earnings per common share by dividing net income attributable to Core Laboratories N.V. by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share includes the incremental effect of contingently issuable shares from performance and restricted stock awards, as determined using the treasury stock method. The following table summarizes the calculation of weighted average common shares outstanding used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands):

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic		46,009		44,477		44,357
Effect of dilutive securities:
Performance shares		542		—		242
Restricted shares		139		—		47
Weighted average common shares outstanding - assuming dilution		46,690		44,477		44,646

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the number of outstanding performance shares and restricted shares of Core Laboratories N.V. common stock that were excluded from diluted earnings per share calculation, as their impact would be antidilutive, were as follows (in thousands):

	December 31, 2020
Performance shares		308
Restricted shares		189