Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation: The condensed consolidated financial statements included in this report are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial reporting and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted. In the opinion of management, these financial statements include all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations, cash flows and the change in equity for the periods presented. The condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months endedMarch 31, 2016 should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (which may be referred to as “West”, “the Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (“2015 Annual Report”). The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting: Beginning in 2016, we changed our organization and reporting structure for our next phase of growth and development, which resulted in a change to Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products as our reportable segments. Segment results presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the impact of this change. Please refer to Note 14, Segment Information, for additional details.

New Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Standards

In September 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance that simplifies the accounting for measurement-period adjustments in business combinations, by eliminating the requirement to account for those adjustments retrospectively. Instead, the acquirer will be required to recognize measurement-period adjustments in the reporting period in which the amounts are determined. We adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2016, on a prospective basis. The adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued guidance on the accounting for fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement. We adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2016, on a prospective basis. The adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued amended guidance that changes the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. We adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2016, on a prospective basis. The adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In January 2015, the FASB issued guidance which removes the concept of extraordinary items from U.S. GAAP. This guidance eliminates the requirement for companies to spend time assessing whether items meet the criteria of being both unusual and infrequent. We adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2016. The adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued guidance that clarifies the accounting for share-based payments in which the terms of the award provide that a performance target that affects vesting could be achieved after the requisite service period. In this case, the performance target would be required to be treated as a performance condition, and should not be reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of the award. The guidance also addresses when to recognize the related compensation cost. We adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2016. The adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

Standards Issued Not Yet Adopted

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance that simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on our financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance that simplifies the transition to equity method of accounting. This guidance eliminates the requirement to retroactively adopt the equity method of accounting when there is an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Management believes that the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance on the accounting for leases. This guidance requires lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and to expand disclosures about leasing arrangements, both qualitative and quantitative. In terms of transition, the guidance requires adoption based upon a modified retrospective approach. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on our financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance that addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Management believes that the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued guidance regarding the subsequent measurement of inventory. This guidance requires inventory measured using any method other than last-in, first-out or the retail inventory method to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value represents estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Management believes that the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued guidance which defines management's responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. This guidance is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. Management believes that the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance on the accounting for revenue from contracts with customers that will supersede most existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The core principle requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, the guidance requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity's contracts with customers. In March 2016, the FASB issued amendments to clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. In April 2016, the FASB issued amendments to clarify the guidance on accounting for licenses of intellectual property and identifying performance obligations. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted as of one year prior to the current effective date. Entities can choose to apply the guidance using either a full retrospective approach or a modified retrospective approach. Management is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on our financial statements.