Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Accounting Policies

1. Accounting Policies

In the opinion of Sensient Technologies Corporation (the "Company"), the accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) which are necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011, the results of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.  The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Expenses are charged to operations in the year incurred.  However, for interim reporting purposes, certain expenses, primarily depreciation expense, are charged to operations based on a proportionate share of estimated annual amounts rather than as they are actually incurred. In interim periods, depreciation expense is estimated using actual depreciation on fixed assets that have been placed in service at the beginning of the year, combined with an estimate of depreciation expense on expected current year additions.

On January 1, 2012, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income, which requires companies to disclose items of net income, items of other comprehensive income and total comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company has included Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income in this Form 10-Q. The primary difference between the Company's net earnings and comprehensive income is the impact of foreign currency translation that is included in Other Comprehensive Income. The adoption of this ASU had no impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operations.

Refer to the notes in the Company's annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011, for additional details regarding the Company's financial condition and a description of the Company's accounting policies, which have been continued without change.