Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

Sensient Technologies Corporation, together with its subsidiaries (the Company or Sensient), is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of colors, flavors, and other specialty ingredients. The Company uses advanced technologies at facilities around the world to develop specialty food and beverage systems; personal care, essential oils, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical systems; specialty colors; and other specialty and fine chemicals. The Company’s three reportable segments are the Flavors & Extracts Group and the Color Group, which are managed on a product line basis, and the Asia Pacific Group, which is managed on a geographic basis. The Company’s corporate expenses, divestiture & other related costs and income, share-based compensation, restructuring and other charges, including operational improvement plan costs and income and portfolio optimization plan costs, and other costs are included in the “Corporate & Other” category. In the second quarter of 2021, the Company divested its fragrances (excluding essential oils) product line.

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires the use of management’s estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses during the reporting period and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue at the transfer of control of its products to the Company’s customers in an amount reflecting the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled. In order to achieve this core principle, the Company applies the following five-step approach:

• Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer

• Identification of the performance obligations in the contract

• Determination of the transaction price

• Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract

• Recognition of revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies the performance obligations

The Company considers customer purchase orders, which in some cases are governed by master sales agreements, coupled with the Company’s purchase order acceptances, to be the contracts with the customer. For each contract, the Company considers the identified performance obligation to be the promise to transfer products. In determining the transaction price, the Company evaluates whether the price is subject to refund or adjustment and then determines the net consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled. In addition, the Company assesses the customer’s ability to pay as part of its evaluation of the contract. As the Company’s standard payment terms are less than one year, the Company elected the practical expedient under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606-10-32-18, and determined that its contracts do not have a significant financing component. The Company allocates the transaction price to each distinct product based on the relative standalone selling price. Revenue is recognized when control of the product is transferred to the customer, the customer is obligated to pay the Company, and the Company has no remaining obligations, which is typically at shipment. In certain locations, primarily outside the United States, product delivery terms may vary. Thus, in such locations, the point at which control of the product transfers to the customer and revenue recognition occurs will vary accordingly.

Customer returns of non-conforming products are estimated at the time revenue is recognized. In certain customer relationships, volume rebates exist, which are recognized according to the terms and conditions of the contractual relationship. Customer returns, rebates, and discounts are not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company has elected to recognize the revenue and cost for freight and shipping when control over the products has transferred to the customer. The Company has elected to immediately expense contract costs related to obtaining a contract as the amortization period of the asset the Company otherwise would have recognized would have been less than a year.

In addition to evaluating the Company’s performance based on the segments above, revenue is also disaggregated and analyzed by product line and geographic market (See Note 12, Segment and Geographic Information, for further information).

Cost of Products Sold

Cost of products sold includes materials, labor, and overhead expenses incurred in the manufacture of our products. Cost of products sold also includes charges for obsolete and slow-moving inventories as well as costs for quality control, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs, other costs of our internal distribution network, and costs incurred for shipping and handling. The Company records fees billed to customers for shipping and handling as revenue.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses primarily include the salaries and related costs for executive, finance, accounting, human resources, information technology, research and development, and legal personnel as well as salaries and related costs of salespersons and commissions paid to external sales agents.

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition as cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable

Receivables are recorded at their face amount, less an allowance for losses on doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on customer-specific analysis and general matters such as current assessments of past due balances and economic conditions. Specific accounts are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts when it is deemed that the receivable is no longer collectible.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is determined on the basis of estimated realizable values. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. Inventories include finished and in-process products totaling $437.1 million and $385.2 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and raw materials and supplies of $161.3 million and $178.9 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The Company recorded a non-cash charge of $3.1 million in Cost of Products Sold related to the portfolio optimization plan in 2023. The non-cash charge reduced the carrying value of certain inventories, as they were determined to be excess. See Note 16, Portfolio Optimization Plan, for additional information.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are recorded at cost reduced by accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful life of the related asset using the straight-line method for financial reporting. The estimated useful lives for buildings and leasehold improvements range from 5 to 40 years. Machinery and equipment have estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 20 years. Interest costs on significant projects constructed or developed for the Company’s own use are capitalized as part of the asset.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The carrying value of goodwill is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently when an indicator of impairment occurs. The impairment assessment includes comparing the carrying amount of net assets, including goodwill, of each reporting unit to its respective fair value as of the date of the assessment. Fair value was estimated based upon an evaluation of the reporting unit’s estimated future discounted cash flows as well as the public trading and private transaction valuation multiples for comparable companies. The Company performed such a quantitative analysis in 2022, which indicated a substantial premium compared to the carrying value of net assets, including goodwill, at the reporting unit level. In 2023 and 2021, the Company completed a qualitative assessment noting no indicators of impairment. The Company did not record impairment charges for any of its reporting units in 2023, 2022, or 2021.

The cost of intangible assets with determinable useful lives is amortized on a straight-line basis to reflect the pattern of economic benefits consumed, ranging from 5 to 25 years. These assets include technological know-how, customer relationships, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and non-compete agreements, among others.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. The Company performs undiscounted cash flow analyses to determine if potential impairment exists. If impairment is determined to exist, any related impairment loss is calculated based on the difference between fair value and carrying value. Impairment losses were recorded as a result of the Company’s divestiture of its fragrances product line (excluding its essential oils product line) in 2021 and the Company’s portfolio optimization plan in 2023. See Note 14, Divestitures, and Note 16, Portfolio Optimization Plan, for additional information.

Leases

The Company enters into lease agreements for certain office space, warehouses, land, and equipment in the ordinary course of business. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and evaluates the lease classification (i.e., operating lease or financing lease) at that time. Lease arrangements with an initial term of 12 months or less are considered short-term leases and are not recorded on the balance sheet. The Company recognizes lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

Operating leases are included in Other Assets, Other Accrued Expenses, and Other Liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. Operating lease right-of-use assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term.

The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate on the commencement date for determining the present value of lease payments. The Company considers the likelihood of exercising options to extend or terminate the lease when determining the lease term.

The Company has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components. The Company has elected the practical expedient of accounting for the lease and non-lease components of each lease as a single lease component.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company selectively uses derivative financial instruments to reduce market risk associated with changes in foreign currency and interest rate exposures, which exist as part of ongoing business operations. All derivative transactions are authorized and executed pursuant to the Company’s risk management policies and procedures, which strictly prohibit the use of financial instruments for speculative trading purposes.

The primary objectives of the foreign exchange risk management activities are to understand and mitigate the impact of potential foreign exchange fluctuations on the Company’s financial results and its economic well-being. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated as fair value hedges, along with the gain or loss on the hedged item, are recorded in current period earnings. These risk management transactions may involve the use of foreign currency derivatives to protect against exposure resulting from recorded accounts receivable and payable. The Company may utilize forward exchange contracts, generally with maturities of less than 18 months, which qualify as cash flow hedges. Generally, these foreign exchange contracts are intended to offset the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on non-functional currency denominated sales and purchases. For derivative instruments that are designated as cash flow hedges, gains and losses are deferred in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) until the underlying transaction is recognized in earnings.

For hedges designated as cash flow hedges, the Company elects critical terms that match at the onset of the hedge transaction. Hedge accounting is permitted only if the hedge meets the critical terms match requirements. The Company reviews the critical terms at each effectiveness testing date to ensure the respective terms match; therefore, achieving a highly effective hedge.

Interest Rate Hedging

The Company is exposed to interest rate risk through its corporate borrowing activities. The objective of the Company’s interest rate risk management activities is to manage the levels of the Company’s fixed and floating interest rate exposure to be consistent with the Company’s preferred mix. The interest rate risk management program may include entering into interest rate swaps, which qualify as fair value hedges, when there is a desire to modify the Company’s exposure to interest rates. Gains or losses on fair value hedges are recognized in earnings, net of gains and losses on the fair value of the hedged instruments.

Net Investments Hedging

The Company is exposed to risk related to its net investments in foreign subsidiaries. As part of its risk management activities, the Company may enter into foreign-denominated debt to be used as a non-derivative instrument to hedge the Company’s net investment in foreign subsidiaries. The change in the fair value of debt designated as a net investment hedge is recorded in foreign currency translation in OCI.

Commodity Purchases

The Company purchases certain commodities in the normal course of business that result in physical delivery of the goods and, hence, are excluded from ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging.

Translation of Foreign Currencies

For all significant foreign operations, the functional currency is the local currency. Assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Revenue and expense accounts are translated into U.S. dollars at average exchange rates prevailing during the year. Adjustments resulting from the translation of foreign accounts into U.S. dollars are recorded in foreign currency translation in OCI. Transaction gains and losses that occur as a result of transactions denominated in non-functional currencies are included in earnings and were not significant during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-based compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period of each award based on the fair value of the instrument at the time of grant as summarized in Note 8, Share-Based Compensation.

Income Taxes

The Company recognizes a current tax liability or asset for the estimated taxes payable or refundable on tax returns for the current year and a deferred tax liability or asset for the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences and carryforwards. The measurement of current and deferred tax liabilities and assets is based on provisions of enacted tax law. Deferred tax assets are reduced, if necessary, by the amount of any tax benefits for which the utilization of the asset is not considered likely.

Earnings Per Share

The difference between basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) is the dilutive effect of non-vested stock. Diluted EPS assumes that non-vested stock has vested.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted EPS for the years ended December 31:

	Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands except per share amounts)	2023		2022		2021
Numerator:
Net earnings	$	93,394	$	140,887	$	118,745
Denominator:
Denominator for basic EPS - weighted average common shares		42,027		41,888		42,077
Effect of dilutive securities		215		325		181
Denominator for diluted EPS - diluted weighted average shares outstanding		42,242		42,213		42,258
Earnings per Common Share:
Basic	$	2.22	$	3.36	$	2.82
Diluted	$	2.21	$	3.34	$	2.81

The Company has a share-based compensation plan under which employees may be granted share-based awards in which non-forfeitable dividends are paid on non-vested shares for certain awards. As such, these shares are considered participating securities under the two-class method of calculating EPS as described in ASC 260, Earnings per Share. The two-class method of calculating EPS did not have a material impact on the Company’s EPS calculations as of December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.

All EPS amounts are presented on a diluted basis unless otherwise noted.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Accumulated OCI is composed primarily of foreign currency translation, pension liability, and unrealized gains or losses on cash flow hedges. See Note 10, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, for additional information.

Research and Development

Research and development costs are recorded in Selling and Administrative Expenses in the year they are incurred. Research and development costs were $48.1 million, $42.2 million, and $34.3 million, during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

Advertising

Advertising costs are recorded in Selling and Administrative Expenses as they are incurred. Advertising costs were $2.5 million, $1.9 million, and $2.4 million, during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

Environmental Liabilities

The Company records liabilities related to environmental remediation obligations when estimated future expenditures are probable and reasonably estimable. Such accruals are adjusted as further information becomes available or as circumstances change. Estimated future expenditures are discounted to their present value when the timing and amount of future cash flows are fixed and readily determinable. Recoveries of remediation costs from other parties, if any, are recognized as assets when their receipt is realizable.

Subsequent Events

The Company performed an evaluation of subsequent events through the date these financial statements were issued. See Note 18, Subsequent Event, for additional information.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires public entities to provide disclosures of significant segment expenses and other segment items. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and its related disclosures.

Other recently issued accounting pronouncements are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.