Accounts and notes receivable are shown in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet, net of allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is generally established during the period in which receivables are recognized and is based on the age of the receivables and management’s judgment on our ability to collect. Management considers the historical trends of write-offs and recoveries of previously written-off accounts, the financial strength of customers and projected economic and market conditions. We determine the delinquency status of receivables predominantly based on contractual terms and we write-off uncollectible receivables after management’s review of our ability to collect, as noted above. We have no significant concentrations of credit risk within our accounts and notes receivable.

Inventory costs include material, labor, and capitalized overhead. Inventories of $438.9 million and $465.5 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, were valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) cost method. The remainder of inventory is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value with cost determined primarily using either the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) or average cost methods.

We elected to use the LIFO cost method for our domestic manufacturing companies in 1974 and continued to elect the LIFO cost method for new operations through the late 1980s. The types of inventory costs that use LIFO include raw materials, purchased components, work-in-process, repair parts and finished goods. Since the late 1990s, we have adopted the FIFO cost method for all new domestic manufacturing operations (primarily acquisitions). Our operating entities with a previous LIFO election continue to use the LIFO cost method. We use the FIFO cost method for our foreign-based manufacturing facilities. See Note 9 for more information on our inventories.


Buildings and improvements:
Buildings and improvements			2 to 40 years
Leasehold improvements			1 to 39 years
Machinery and equipment:
Computer hardware			3 to 5 years
Computer software			3 to 10 years
Factory machinery and equipment			1 to 15 years
Research and development equipment			3 to 5 years
Vehicles			3 to 10 years

We periodically review long-lived assets for impairment as events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets might not be recoverable. To assess recoverability, we compare the estimated expected future undiscounted cash flows identified with each long-lived asset or related asset group to the carrying amount of such assets. If the expected future cash flows do not exceed the carrying value of the asset or assets being reviewed, an impairment loss is recognized based on the excess of the carrying amount of the impaired assets over their fair value. See Note 9 for additional information on our property, plant and equipment. Based on the expected fair value of the consideration to be received from the sale of our European commercial HVAC and refrigeration businesses, net of our costs to sell, we recorded an impairment on assets held for sale during the third quarter of 2023 which included a $22.6 million impairment of property, plant and equipment.

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over fair value of assets from acquired businesses. Goodwill is not amortized, but is reviewed for impairment annually during the third quarter and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the asset may be impaired. See Note 9 for additional information on our goodwill.

The provisions of the accounting standard for goodwill allow us to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. As part of our qualitative assessment, we monitor economic, legal, regulatory and other factors, industry trends, our market capitalization, recent and forecasted financial performance of our reporting units and the timing and nature of our restructuring activities for the Company as a whole and for each reporting unit.

If a quantitative goodwill impairment test is determined to be necessary, we estimate reporting unit fair values using a combination of the discounted cash flow approach and a market approach. The discounted cash flows used to estimate fair value are based on assumptions regarding each reporting unit’s estimated projected future cash flows and the estimated weighted-average cost of capital that a market participant would use in evaluating the reporting unit in a purchase transaction. The estimated weighted-average cost of capital is based on the risk-free interest rate and other factors such as equity risk premiums and the ratio of total debt to equity capital. In performing these impairment tests, we take steps to ensure that appropriate and reasonable cash flow projections and assumptions are used. We reconcile our estimated enterprise value to our market capitalization and determine the reasonableness of the cost of capital used by comparing to market data. We also perform sensitivity analyses on the key assumptions used, such as the weighted-average cost of capital and terminal growth rates. The market approach is based on objective evidence of market values. In the third quarter of 2023, we recorded a $2.3 million impairment of goodwill related to our agreement to sell our European commercial HVAC and refrigeration businesses which was included in our impairment on assets held for sale.

Intangible assets such as customer relationships, non-compete agreements and trade names with finite lives are amortized based on the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are utilized. If a pattern of economic benefit cannot be reliably determined or if straight-line amortization approximates the pattern of economic benefit, then straight-line amortization may be used.

We assess the recoverability of the carrying amount of our intangible assets with finite lives whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset group to the future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If the undiscounted cash flows are less then the carrying amount of the asset group, an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset group.

For some of our heating, ventilation and air conditioning (“HVAC”) products, we provide warranty terms ranging from 1 to 20 years to customers for certain components such as compressors or heat exchangers. For select products, we also provide limited lifetime warranties. A liability for estimated warranty expense is recorded in cost of goods sold on the date that revenue is recognized. Our estimates of future warranty costs are determined by product category. The number of units we expect to repair or replace is determined by applying an estimated failure rate, which is generally based on historical experience, to the number of units that were sold and are still under warranty. In most cases, the estimated units to be repaired under warranty are multiplied by the estimated cost of replacement parts to determine the estimated future warranty cost. We do not discount product warranty liabilities as the amounts are not fixed and the timing of future cash payments is neither fixed nor reliably determinable. We also provide for specifically-identified warranty obligations. Estimated future warranty costs are subject to adjustment depending on changes in actual failure rate and cost experience. Subsequent costs incurred for warranty claims serve to reduce the accrued product warranty liability. See Note 5 for more information on our estimated future warranty costs.

We provide pension and post-retirement medical benefits to eligible domestic and foreign employees and we recognize pension and post-retirement benefit costs over the estimated service life or average life expectancy of those employees. We also recognize the funded status of our benefit plans, as measured at year-end by the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation, in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Changes in the funded status are recognized in the year in which the changes occur through Accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCL”). Actuarial gains or losses are amortized into net period benefit cost over the estimated service life of covered employees or average life expectancy of participants depending on the plan.

The benefit plan assets and liabilities reflect assumptions about the long-range performance of our benefit plans. Should actual results differ from management’s estimates, revisions to the benefit plan assets and liabilities would be required. See Note 10 for information regarding those estimates and additional disclosures on pension and post-retirement medical benefits.

Self-insurance expense and liabilities were actuarially determined based primarily on our historical claims information, industry factors, and trends. The self-insurance liabilities as of December 31, 2023 represent the best estimate of the future payments to be made on reported and unreported losses for 2023 and prior years. The amounts and timing of payments for claims reserved may vary depending on various factors, including the development and ultimate settlement of reported and unreported claims. To the extent actuarial assumptions change and claims experience rates differ from historical rates, our liabilities may change. See Note 5 for additional information on our self-insured risks and liabilities.

We use futures contracts, forward contracts and fixed forward contracts to mitigate our exposure to volatility in metal commodity prices and foreign exchange rates. We hedge only exposures in the ordinary course of business and do not hold or trade derivatives for profit. All derivatives are recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value and the classification of each derivative instrument is based upon whether the maturity of the instrument is less than or greater than 12 months. See Note 9 for more information on our derivatives.

We lease certain real and personal property under non-cancelable leases including real estate, IT equipment, fleet vehicles and manufacturing and distribution equipment. At inception of the lease, we determine a lease exists if the contract conveys the right to control an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Control is considered to exist when the lessee has the right to obtain substantially all the economic benefits from the use of an identified asset as well as the right to direct the use of the asset. If a contract is considered to be a lease, we recognize a lease liability based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments and a right-of-use asset. For contracts that are 12 months or less, we do not recognize a right-of-use asset or liability. We do not separate non-lease components from the lease components to which they relate and account for the combined lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Unrecognized tax benefits are accounted for as required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 740. See Note 12 for more information related to income taxes.

Our revenue recognition practices for the sale of goods depend upon the shipping terms for each transaction. Shipping terms are primarily FOB Shipping Point and, therefore, revenue is recognized for these transactions when products are shipped to customers and title and control passes. Certain customers in our smaller operations, primarily outside of North America, have shipping terms where risks and rewards of ownership do not transfer until the product is delivered to the customer. For these transactions, revenue is recognized on the date that the product is received and accepted by such customers. We experience returns for miscellaneous reasons and record a reserve for these returns at the time we recognize revenue based on historical experience. Our historical rates of return are insignificant as a percentage of sales. We also recognize revenue net of sales taxes. We have elected to recognize the revenue and cost for freight and shipping when control over the sale of goods passes to our customers. See Note 8 for more information on our revenue recognition practices.

We recognize compensation expense for stock-based arrangements over the required employee service periods. We measure stock-based compensation costs based on the estimated grant-date fair value of the stock-based awards that are expected to ultimately vest and we adjust expected vesting rates to actual rates as additional information becomes known. For stock-based arrangements with performance conditions, we periodically adjust performance achievement rates based on our best estimates of those rates at the end of the performance period. See Note 15 for more information.

All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries and joint ventures are translated into U.S. dollars using rates of exchange in effect at the balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses are translated at weighted average exchange rates during the year. Unrealized translation gains and losses are included in AOCL in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Transaction gains and losses are included in Losses (gains) and other expenses, net in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The preparation of financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenue and expenses. Such estimates include the valuation of accounts receivable, inventories, goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, contingencies, product warranties, and assumptions used in the calculation of income taxes, pension and post-retirement medical benefits, and stock-based compensation among others. These estimates and assumptions are based on our best estimates and judgment.

We evaluate these estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment. We believe these estimates and assumptions to be reasonable under the circumstances and will adjust such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Volatile equity, foreign currency and commodity markets and uncertain future economic conditions combine to increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions. Future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision and actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in these estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods.

In March 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-02, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Tax Credit Structures using the Proportional Amortization Method. ASU 2023-02 replaces the guidance related to accounting for investments in tax credit structures to allow the use of the proportional amortization method. The amendment permits reporting entities to elect to account for their equity investments in tax credit structures using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. This amendment requires entities to make disclosures about all investments in a tax credit program for which they have elected to account for using the proportional amortization method, including those investments in an elected tax credit program that do not meet the conditions to apply the proportional amortization method. ASU 2023-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently evaluating the impact of this standard on our financial statements.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. ASU 2023-07 updates reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses and information used to assess segment performance. This is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We are currently evaluating the impact of this standard on our financial statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. ASU 2023-09 updates income tax disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures regarding income rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. This is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We are currently evaluating the impact of this standard on our financial statements.