Related Party And Affiliate Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party And Affiliate Transactions

Related Party and Affiliate Transactions

The Company leases office space for management and administrative services from an affiliate of the Company's principal stockholder. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company incurred lease payments of approximately $2,001, $1,614 and $1,550, respectively.

Cypress Interstate Pipeline L.L.C., a natural gas liquids pipeline joint venture company in which the Company owns a 50% equity stake, transports natural gas liquid feedstocks to the Company's Lake Charles complex through its pipeline. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company incurred pipeline fees of approximately $14,206, $13,328 and $11,957, respectively, payable to this joint venture for usage of the pipeline.

EPS Ethylene Pipeline Süd GmbH & Co. KG, an ethylene pipeline company in which the Company owns a 10% equity stake, transports ethylene feedstocks to the Company's Gendorf, Germany production facility through its pipeline. For the period from July 31, 2014 to December 31, 2014, the Company incurred pipeline fees of approximately $548 for usage of the pipeline.

The Company owns a 15% and an 11% equity stake in InfraServ Knapsack GmbH & Co. KG and InfraServ Gendorf GmbH & Co. KG, respectively. The Company has service agreements with these entities, including contracts to provide electricity and technical services to certain of the Company's production facilities in Germany. For the period from July 31, 2014 to December 31, 2014, the Company incurred charges aggregating approximately $55,400 for these services.

In March 2000, the Company loaned $2,000 to Suzhou Huasu Plastics Co., Ltd., a Chinese joint venture company in which the Company owns a 59% equity stake. The Company accounts for the investment using the equity method of accounting because the entity does not meet the definition of a variable interest entity and because contractual arrangements allowing certain substantive participatory rights to minority shareholders prevent the Company from exercising a controlling financial interest over this entity. Interest on the debt accrues at LIBOR plus 2%. Previously, the Company loaned this same affiliate $5,150. Principal payments of zero, $167 and $1,192 were received from the affiliate for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Interest payments of zero, $8 and $74 were received for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and included in other (expense) income, net in the consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2014, the notes receivable balances of $1,192 and $1,025 are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and other assets, net, respectively, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Purchases from this affiliate were approximately $9,766 and $12,104 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Additional transactions with this affiliate were not material to the consolidated financial statements.

Dividends received from equity method investments were $5,459, $5,114 and $4,449 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

One of our directors serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. and as a Senior Vice President of the Air Liquide Group. The Company purchased oxygen, nitrogen and utilities and leased cylinders from various affiliates of American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. aggregating approximately $13,862 and $16,407 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.