Business Combinations (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]

Business Combinations

Thermax Acquisition

On July 1, 2015, the Company acquired 100% of the equity interests of Thermax, Inc. (“Thermax”) for an estimated purchase price of $29,684 after working capital adjustments, of which $24,197 was paid at closing (net of $2,307 in cash acquired). The cash purchase price is subject to post-closing adjustments. The remainder of the estimated purchase price represents the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration to be paid over four years based on the achievement of certain earnings targets. The fair value of the net assets acquired and goodwill at the date of acquisition was $19,264 and $10,420, respectively. Net assets includes $10,000 in intangible assets, which consists of customer relationships, unpatented technology and trademarks and trade names.

Thermax, headquartered in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, designs and sells cryogenic fluid vaporizers and other ambient and powered vaporizer products utilized in industrial gas, petrochemical, and liquefied natural gas applications. Thermax’s results are included in the Company’s D&S business segment from the date of acquisition.

Wuxi Acquisition

On May 27, 2014, Chart Asia finalized the acquisition of 100% of the equity of Wuxi Zhongbo Gas and Air Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., which changed its name to Chart Energy & Chemicals Wuxi Co., Ltd., for an aggregate cash purchase price of 73.3 million Chinese yuan (equivalent to $11,943), net of cash acquired. The fair value of the net assets acquired and goodwill at the date of acquisition was 15.6 million Chinese yuan and 57.7 million Chinese yuan, respectively. Wuxi, located in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China, designs, manufactures and sells low-pressure brazed aluminum heat exchangers and fabricates cold boxes. Wuxi’s results are included in the Company’s E&C segment as of the date of acquisition.

Contingent Consideration

The estimated fair value of contingent consideration relating to the Thermax acquisition was $1,800 at the date of acquisition and was valued according to a discounted cash flow approach, which includes assumptions regarding the probability of achieving certain earnings targets and a discount rate applied to the potential payments. Potential payments may be paid between July 1, 2016 and July 1, 2019 based on the attainment of certain earnings targets. The potential payment related to Thermax contingent consideration is between $0 and $11,288.

The estimated fair value of contingent consideration relating to a prior BioMedical segment acquisition is currently valued at $0. The valuation was performed using a discounted cash flow approach which includes assumptions regarding the probability of achieving gross sales targets and the discount rate applied to the potential payments. Potential payments may be paid between January 1, 2016 and March 31, 2016 based on the attainment of certain revenue targets. The remaining potential payment related to BioMedical segment contingent consideration is between $0 and $1,648.

Valuations are performed using Level 3 inputs as defined in Note 11 and are evaluated on a quarterly basis based on forecasted sales and earnings targets. Contingent consideration liabilities are classified as other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Changes in fair value of contingent consideration, including accretion, are recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

The following table represents the changes in contingent consideration liabilities by segment:

	Distribution & Storage			BioMedical			Total
Balance at January 1, 2013	$	—		$	1,990		$	1,990
Increase in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities	—			299			299
Balance at December 31, 2013	—			2,289			2,289
Decrease in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities	—			(474		)	(474		)
Payment of contingent consideration	—			(741		)	(741		)
Balance at December 31, 2014	—			1,074			1,074
Fair value of contingent consideration at inception	1,800			—			1,800
Decrease in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities	(39		)	(463		)	(502		)
Payment of contingent consideration	—			(611		)	(611		)
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	1,761		$	—		$	1,761