Acquisitions and Dispositions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Acquisitions and Dispositions [Abstract]

Schedule of reductions to previously recognized contingent consideration liabilities

The Company's assessment of these performance goals resulted in the following reductions to previously recognized contingent consideration liabilities:

	Years Ended December 31
(In thousands)	2013		2012		2011
Reduction of contingent consideration liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	3,966

Schedule of net income attributable to Company and transfers to noncontrolling interest

The following table discloses the effects of changes in the Company's ownership interests in subsidiaries on the Company's equity.

	Years Ended December 31
(In thousands)	2013			2012			2011
Net loss attributable to the Company	$	(227,941	)	$	(254,612	)	$	(11,510	)
Net increase in the Company's paid-in capital for changes to noncontrolling interest	711			—			—
Change from net loss attributable to the Company and changes to noncontrolling interest	$	(227,230	)	$	(254,612	)	$	(11,510	)

Disclosure of Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Table Text Block]

The carrying amounts of the remaining assets and liabilities that were aggregated in the captions Assets held-for-sale and Liabilities of assets held-for-sale, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2013 are as follows:

(In thousands)	December 31 2013		(In thousands)	December 31 2013
Assets held-for-sale:			Liabilities of assets held-for-sale:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,290	Accounts payable	$	4,143
Trade accounts receivable, net	28,471		Accrued compensation	4,618
Due from unconsolidated affiliate	65,728		Income taxes payable	1,105
Inventories	5,898		Insurance liabilities - current portion	21
Other current assets	2,129		Due to unconsolidated affiliate	97,079
Property, plant and equipment, net	10,343		Other current liabilities	2,210
Other assets	109
	$	113,968		$	109,176

Acquisitions and Dispositions

Acquisitions and Dispositions

Acquisitions

In January 2014, the Company acquired Hammco Corporation ("Hammco"), a U.S. manufacturer of high specification air-cooled heat exchangers for the natural gas and petrochemical processing markets. 

Certain of the Company's acquisitions in prior years included contingent consideration features for which defined goals needed to be met by the acquired business in order for payment of the consideration. Each quarter until settlement of these contingencies, the Company assessed the likelihood that an acquired business would achieve the goals and the resulting fair value of the contingency. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, these adjustments were recognized in operating income (loss) from continuing operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as a component of the Other expenses caption. The Company's assessment of these performance goals resulted in the following reductions to previously recognized contingent consideration liabilities:

	Years Ended December 31
(In thousands)	2013		2012		2011
Reduction of contingent consideration liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	3,966

All contingent consideration liabilities have been settled and there was no recorded contingent consideration liability as of December 31, 2013 or 2012.

Net Loss Attributable to the Company and Changes to Noncontrolling Interest

The following table discloses the effects of changes in the Company's ownership interests in subsidiaries on the Company's equity.

	Years Ended December 31
(In thousands)	2013			2012			2011
Net loss attributable to the Company	$	(227,941	)	$	(254,612	)	$	(11,510	)
Net increase in the Company's paid-in capital for changes to noncontrolling interest	711			—			—
Change from net loss attributable to the Company and changes to noncontrolling interest	$	(227,230	)	$	(254,612	)	$	(11,510	)

Dispositions

Infrastructure Transaction

On November 26, 2013, the Company consummated the Infrastructure transaction. The Company has contributed substantially all of the Company’s equity interests in, and the net assets of, the Harsco Infrastructure Segment to the strategic venture in exchange for approximately $300 million in cash, subject to working capital and other adjustments, and an approximate 29% equity interest in the resulting entity (the " Infrastructure strategic venture" or "Brand"). The Company’s equity interest in the Infrastructure strategic venture will be accounted for under the equity method of accounting as prescribed by U.S. GAAP. See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, and Note 5, Equity Method Investments, for additional information on equity method investments.

As a result of the Infrastructure transaction, the Company recorded an estimated non-cash long-lived asset impairment charge of $241.3 million during the third quarter of 2013. The Company recorded an additional loss on disposal of Harsco Infrastructure Segment of $30.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2013 related to the Infrastructure transaction. The increase loss on disposal of Harsco Infrastructure Segment from September 30, 2013 was due principally to the final valuation of the equity interest in the Infrastructure strategic venture and changes in working capital and other adjustments.  Further adjustments to the impairment charge may be necessary and the final impairment charge may differ, possibly materially, as a result of any adjustments made to the valuation of certain items set forth on the closing statement to be prepared by Brand in connection with the Infrastructure transaction, which is subject to review by the Company and requires final agreement between Brand and the Company. The Company determined that the impairment charges were necessary given the fair value of the consideration received in the Infrastructure transaction. The amount of the impairment charge represents the Company's estimate of the difference between the book value of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment, less costs to sell, and the sum of the cash consideration plus the fair value of the Company's approximate 29% equity interest in the Infrastructure strategic venture. The fair value of the equity interest was determined based on the expected future discounted cash flows of the Infrastructure strategic venture.

While the Infrastructure transaction was consummated on November 26, 2013, necessary regulatory approvals related to certain jurisdictions were still required at December 31, 2013. The carrying amounts of the remaining assets and liabilities that were aggregated in the captions Assets held-for-sale and Liabilities of assets held-for-sale, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2013 are as follows:

(In thousands)	December 31 2013		(In thousands)	December 31 2013
Assets held-for-sale:			Liabilities of assets held-for-sale:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,290	Accounts payable	$	4,143
Trade accounts receivable, net	28,471		Accrued compensation	4,618
Due from unconsolidated affiliate	65,728		Income taxes payable	1,105
Inventories	5,898		Insurance liabilities - current portion	21
Other current assets	2,129		Due to unconsolidated affiliate	97,079
Property, plant and equipment, net	10,343		Other current liabilities	2,210
Other assets	109
	$	113,968		$	109,176

The ownership interest in the jurisdictions representing the assets held-for-sale and liabilities of assets held-for-sale at December 31, 2013 were transferred to Brand during January 2014, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Additionally, the Company incurred $20.1 million of transaction costs during the year endedDecember 31, 2013 in conjunction with the Infrastructure transaction.

Harsco Gas Technologies

Consistent with the Company's strategic focus to grow and allocate financial resources principally to its industrial services businesses, the Company sold its Gas Technologies Segment to Taylor Wharton International in 2007. The Company recorded after-tax losses from discontinued operations of $1.5 million, $0.9 million and $2.1 million, in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The losses incurred in 2013, 2012 and 2011 included charges related to potential and contingent claims. The Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended 2013, 2012 and 2011 reflect the Gas Technologies Segment's results as discontinued operations.