ChampionX Corporation is a global leader in chemistry solutions and highly engineered equipment and technologies that help companies drill for and produce oil and gas safely and efficiently around the world. Our products provide efficient functioning throughout the lifecycle of a well with a focus on the production phase of wells.

On June 3, 2020, the Company and Ecolab Inc. (“Ecolab”) completed a Reverse Morris Trust transaction in which Ecolab transferred their upstream energy business to ChampionX Holding Inc. (“legacy ChampionX”) and, thereafter, distributed all of the shares of legacy ChampionX common stock to certain Ecolab stockholders (“the Distribution”). Immediately following the Distribution, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company merged with and into legacy ChampionX, with legacy ChampionX continuing as the surviving company in the Merger and as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“the Merger”). In association with the completion of the Merger, the Company changed its name from Apergy Corporation (“Apergy” or “legacy Apergy”) to ChampionX Corporation.

Prior to the Separation, our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows were derived from the consolidated financial statements and accounting records of Dover and reflect the combined historical results of operations, financial position, and cash flows of certain Dover entities conducting its upstream oil and gas energy business within Dover’s Energy segment, including an allocated portion of Dover’s corporate costs. As such, our consolidated statement of income, comprehensive income and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2018 consist of the consolidated results of legacy Apergy on a stand-alone basis from May 9, 2018 to December 31, 2018, and the combined results of operations and cash flows for periods prior to May 9, 2018.

For periods prior to the Separation, our combined financial statements include expense allocations for certain corporate functions historically performed by Dover and not allocated to its operating segments, including corporate executive management, human resources, information technology, facilities, tax, shared services, finance, and legal, including the costs of salaries, benefits and other related costs. These expense allocations were based on direct usage or benefit, where identifiable, with the remainder allocated on the basis of revenue, headcount, or other measures. Management believes the assumptions underlying these consolidated financial statements, including the assumptions regarding the allocation of corporate expenses from Dover for periods prior to the Separation, are reasonable. The allocations may not, however, reflect the expense we would have incurred as an independent, publicly traded company for the periods presented prior to the Separation. Actual costs that would have been incurred if we had been a stand-alone public company would depend on a variety of factors, including organizational structure and strategic decisions made in various areas, including information technology and infrastructure.

Prior to the Separation, transactions with Dover, with the exception of transactions discussed in Note 19—Related Party Transactions, are reflected in the combined statements of cash flows as a financing activity in Distributions to Dover Corporation, net. See Note 19—Related Party Transactions for additional information.

As a result of the Merger, the results of operations of legacy ChampionX have been reflected in our accompanying consolidated financial statements from the closing date of the Merger through December 31, 2020. Results for the periods prior to June 3, 2020 reflect the financial and operating results of Apergy and do not include the financial and operating results of legacy ChampionX. See Note 3—Merger Transaction, Acquisitions, And Dispositions for additional information on the Merger.

Use of estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, net realizable value of inventories, allowance for doubtful accounts, pension and post-retirement plans, future cash flows associated with impairment testing of goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and other long-lived assets, estimates related to income taxes, and estimates related to contingencies.

Receivables, net of allowances—Accounts receivable are carried at the invoiced amounts, less an allowance for doubtful accounts, and generally do not bear interest. The Company estimates the allowance for doubtful accounts for expected credit losses by analyzing accounts receivable balances by applying historical write-off and collection trend rates, as well as current economic and market conditions. Specific allowance amounts are established to record the appropriate provision for customers that have a higher probability of default. Account balances are written off against the allowance when it is determined the receivable will not be recovered.

Inventories—Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The majority of our inventory costs are determined on the first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, approximately 35% and 23%, respectively, of our total net inventories were accounted for using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) basis, or market. Under the LIFO method, the cost assigned to items sold is based on the cost of the most recent items purchased. As a result, the costs of the first items purchased remain in inventory and are used to value ending inventory.

Property, plant and equipment—Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost or fair value in connection with those assets acquired in a business combination. Depreciation is provided on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of our assets as follows: buildings and improvements 5 to 40 years; machinery and equipment 1 to 20 years; and software 3 to 7 years. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Gains and losses are realized upon the sale or disposition of assets and are recorded in other expense, net on our consolidated statements of income (loss).

Property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the long-lived asset may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If it is determined that an impairment loss has occurred, the impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value.

Goodwill and other intangible assets—We review goodwill for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such goodwill allocated to reporting units may exceed their fair value. We have established October 1 as the date of our annual test for impairment of goodwill for our legacy Apergy reporting units and May 31 for the acquired Chemical Technologies reporting units. We initially assess goodwill for impairment based on qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of one or more of our reporting units is less than its carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, an impairment charge will be recognized in an amount equal to the excess; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

Our finite-lived acquired intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which generally range from 3 to 15 years. Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the intangible asset may not be recoverable. The carrying amount of an intangible asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If it is determined that an impairment loss has occurred, the loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the intangible asset exceeds its fair value. We have one intangible asset with an indefinite life which is tested annually for impairment.

Revenue Recognition—Revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of control of the related goods and services to the customer. The majority of our revenue is generated through the manufacture and sale of a broad range of specialized products and components, with revenue recognized upon transfer of control, which typically occurs as title and risk of loss transfers. We account for shipping and handling activities performed after control of a good has been transferred to the customer as a contract fulfillment cost rather than a separate performance obligation. Revenue arrangements with customers in many instances require delivery, installation, testing, or other acceptance provisions to be satisfied before revenue is recognized. Service revenue is recognized as the services are performed. Software product revenue is recorded when the software product is shipped to the customer or over the term of the contract on a subscription based model.

Estimates are used to determine the amount of variable consideration in contracts, as well as the determination of the standalone selling price among separate performance obligations. Some contracts with customers include variable consideration primarily related to volume rebates. We estimate variable consideration at the most likely amount to determine the total consideration which we expect to be entitled. Estimated amounts are included in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. Our estimates of variable consideration and the determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are largely based on an assessment of our anticipated performance and all information that is reasonably available. We exclude all taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected from a customer (e.g., sales, use, value added, and some excise taxes) from the determination of the transaction price.

Lessor accounting—Our lease arrangements generally allow customers to rent equipment on a daily basis with no stated end date. Customers may return the equipment at any point subsequent to the lease commencement date without penalty. We account for these arrangements as a daily renewal option beginning on the lease commencement date, with the lease term determined as the period in which it is reasonably certain the option will be exercised. Based on our assessment of the lease classification criteria, our lease arrangements have been classified as operating leases. Our lease arrangements generally include lease and non-lease components for which revenue is recognized based on each component’s standalone price. Lease revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease and is included in lease and other revenue in the consolidated statements of income (loss). Non-lease revenue related to our lease arrangements is recognized in accordance with our revenue

recognition accounting policy. Assets in our lease program are reported in property, plant, and equipment, net on our consolidated balance sheets and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Certain contracts allow for leased equipment damaged in operation to be charged to the customer. Charges for damaged leased equipment is recorded as product revenue and the remaining net book value of the leased asset is expensed as costs of goods and services in the consolidated statements of income (loss).

Lessee accounting—Lease liabilities are measured at the lease commencement date and are based on the present value of remaining payments contractually required under the contract. Payments that are variable in nature are excluded from the measurement of our lease liabilities and are recorded as an expense as incurred. Options to renew or extend a lease are included in the measurement of our lease liabilities only when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise these rights. In estimating the present value of our lease liabilities, payments are discounted at our incremental borrowing rate (“IBR”), which we applied utilizing a portfolio approach. We utilized information publicly available from companies within our industry with similar credit profiles to construct a company-specific yield curve in order to estimate the rate of interest we would pay to borrow at various lease terms. At lease commencement, we recognize a lease right-of-use asset equal to our lease liability, adjusted for lease payments paid to the lessor prior to the lease commencement date, and any initial direct costs incurred. Operating lease expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For finance leases, we amortize our right-of-use assets on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the asset’s useful life or the lease term. Additionally, interest expense is recognized each period related to the accretion of our lease liabilities over their respective lease terms.

Stock-based compensation—The cost of stock-based awards is measured at the grant date and are based on the fair value of the award. The value of the portion of the award that is expected to ultimately vest is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis, generally over the explicit service period and is included in selling, general and administrative expense in our consolidated statements of income. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur. Expense for awards granted to retirement-eligible employees is recorded over the period from the date of grant through the date the employee first becomes eligible to retire and is no longer required to provide service.

Income Taxes—Prior to the Separation, our operations were historically included in Dover’s consolidated federal tax return and certain combined state returns. The income tax expense in our combined financial statements for these pre-Separation periods was determined on a stand-alone return basis which requires the recognition of income taxes using the liability method. Under this method, we assume to have historically filed a return separate from Dover, reporting our taxable income or loss and paying applicable tax based on our separate taxable income and associated tax attributes in each tax jurisdiction. Income taxes payable prior to Separation were computed under the stand-alone return basis. Accordingly, changes in income taxes payable for periods prior to the Separation are presented as a component of financing activities in the statement of cash flows. The calculation of income taxes on the separate return basis requires considerable judgment and the use of both estimates and allocations. As a result, our effective tax rate and deferred tax balances will significantly differ from those in the periods prior to the Separation.

The Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) provisions of the Tax Reform Act, enacted in December 2017, require us to include in our U.S. income tax return foreign subsidiary earnings in excess of an allowable return on the foreign subsidiary’s tangible assets. We have elected to account for GILTI tax in the period in which it is incurred.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the tax rates that are expected to apply to taxable income for the years in which those tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. We record valuation allowances related to our deferred tax assets when we determine it is more likely than not the benefits will not be realized. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recorded as a component of our provision for income taxes. We have approximately $15.7 million of foreign withholding taxes on our undistributed foreign earnings from jurisdictions which impose such taxes to the extent these amounts were repatriated to the U.S. by way of intercompany loan.

Earnings per share (“EPS”)—Basic EPS is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year. We use the treasury stock method to compute diluted EPS which gives effect to the potential dilution of earnings that could have occurred if additional shares were issued for awards granted under our incentive compensation and stock plan. The treasury stock method assumes proceeds that would be obtained upon exercise of awards granted under our incentive compensation and stock plan are used to purchase outstanding common stock at the average market price during the period.

Investments in Affiliated Companies—Investments in companies in which ChampionX does not have a controlling financial interest, but over which it has significant influence, are accounted for using the equity method. ChampionX’s share of the after-tax earnings of equity method investees is included in Interest and other income.

Fair value measurements—We record our financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the reporting date. The fair value framework requires the categorization of assets and liabilities into three levels based upon the assumptions (inputs) used to price the assets or liabilities, with the exception of certain assets and liabilities measured using the net asset value practical expedient, which are not required to be leveled. Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, whereas Level 3 generally requires significant management judgment. The three levels are defined as follows:

Derivative financial instruments— The Company uses foreign currency forward contracts to manage risks associated with foreign currency exchange rates. The Company does not hold derivative financial instruments of a speculative nature or for trading purposes. See Note 17—Derivatives And Hedging Transactions for further information.

Foreign currency—Financial statements of operations for which the U.S. dollar is not the functional currency, and are located in non-highly inflationary countries, are translated into U.S. dollars prior to consolidation. Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date, while income statement accounts are translated at the weighted-average monthly exchange rates. For these operations, translation gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity until the foreign entity is sold or liquidated. Assets and liabilities of an entity that are denominated in currencies other than an entity’s functional currency are remeasured into the functional currency using end of period exchange rates or historical rates when applicable to certain balances. Gains and losses related to these re-measurements are recorded in our consolidated statements of income (loss) as a component of other expense, net.

Change in accounting estimate—During the second quarter of 2020, we entered into new commercial agreements, which changed the economics of the leased asset program of our Electrical Submersible Pump (“ESP”) subsidiary in our Production & Automation Technologies segment. As such, we re-evaluated the estimated useful life and salvage value of our assets based on the combination of new commercial contracts and historical operating trends related to the aging of our lease fleet, including functioning assets beyond original expected life. Based on our analysis, effective April 1, 2020, we changed our estimate of useful life and salvage values for certain equipment to better reflect the useful life and estimated values of these assets at the end of their useful life. The estimated useful life, previously estimated at 12 months, was increased to 18 months. The estimated salvage value of the equipment, previously estimated at 50% of the original purchase price, was decreased to 0%. The effect of the changes in estimate for the year ended December 31, 2020, was an increase in depreciation expense of $37.6 million, a decrease in net income of $26.4 million, and a decrease in basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.18 per share, respectively. See Note 10—Leases for additional information related to our leased assets.