Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is party to litigation, or threats thereof, both as defendant and plaintiff with some regularity, although individual cases that are material in size occur infrequently. As a defendant, the Company establishes reserves for claimed amounts that are considered probable and capable of estimation. If those cases are resolved for lesser amounts, the excess reserves are taken into income and, conversely, if those cases are resolved for larger than the amount the Company has accrued, the Company records additional expense. The Company believes it is unlikely that the results of its current legal proceedings for which it is the defendant, even if unfavorable, will be material. As a plaintiff, amounts that are collected can also result in sudden, non-recurring income.

Litigation results depend upon a variety of factors, including the availability of evidence, the credibility of witnesses, the performance of counsel, the state of the law, and the impressions of judges and jurors, any of which can be critical in importance, yet difficult, if not impossible, to predict. Consequently, cases currently pending, or future matters, may result in unexpected, and non-recurring losses, or income, from time to time. Finally, litigation results are often subject to judicial reconsideration, appeal and further negotiation by the parties, and as a result, the final impact of a particular judicial decision may be unknown for some time, or may result in continued reserves to account for the potential of such post-verdict actions.

In the third quarter of 2017, the Company’s Plant Nutrient business recorded a $2.2 million reserve for settlement of a 2015 legal claim.

The estimated losses for all other outstanding claims that are considered reasonably possible is not material.

Commitments

In the first quarter of 2018, the Company began construction of a new ethanol facility, which is expected to be completed in 2019. Portions of the project are covered by design and build contracts, with approximately $105.9 million of remaining obligation, of which $10.5 million has been prepaid, as of September 30, 2018.

Build-to-Suit Lease

In August 2015, the Company entered into a lease agreement with an initial term of 15 years for a build-to-suit facility to be used as the new corporate headquarters which was completed in the third quarter of 2016. Since the Company is deemed to be the owner of this facility for accounting purposes during the construction period, it has recognized an asset and a corresponding financing obligation.

The Company has recorded a build-to-suit financing obligation in other long-term liabilities of $23.1 million, $24.3 million, and $24.7 million at September 30, 2018, December 31, 2017, and September 30, 2017, respectively. The Company has recorded a build-to-suit financing obligation in other current liabilities of $1.5 million, $1.4 million, and $1.4 million at September 30, 2018, December 31, 2017, and September 30, 2017, respectively.