Edgar Filing: SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP

First Amendment dated as of November 6, 2015 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 24, 2014

Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 6, 2015 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 3, 2017

Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 5, 2017 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 22, 2018

Exhibit 10.2(d) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

☒	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2018

☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 1-7626

Sensient Technologies Corporation

WISCONSIN		39-0561070
(State of Incorporation)		(IRS Employer Identification Number)

777 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 53202-5304

(414) 271-6755

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

TITLE OF EACH CLASS Common Stock, $0.10 par value		NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED
		New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for at least the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ☒	Accelerated filer ☐	Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller Reporting Company ☐	Emerging Growth Company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The aggregate market value of the voting Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2018, was $2,989,108,418. For purposes of this computation only, the Registrant’s directors and executive officers were considered to be affiliates of the Registrant. Such characterization shall not be construed to be an admission or determination for any other purpose that such persons are affiliates of the Registrant.

There were 42,293,718 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of February 15, 2019.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting Proxy Statement which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2018 (see Part III of this Form 10-K).

SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION—FORM 10-K FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 INDEX

PART I			3
	Item 1. Business		3
		General	3
		Description of Business	3
		Flavors & Fragrances Group	4
		Color Group	4
		Asia Pacific Group	4
		Corporate	5
		Research and Development/Quality Assurance	5
		Products and Application Activities	5
		Raw Materials	5
		Competition	6
		Foreign Operations	6
		Patents, Formulae and Trademarks	6
		Employees	6
		Regulation	6
	Item 1A. Risk Factors		6
	Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments		11
	Item 2. Properties		11
	Item 3. Legal Proceedings		11
	Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure		12
	Executive Officers of the Registrant		12
PART II			13
	Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities		13
	Item 6. Selected Financial Data		14
	Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		16
	Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk		27
	Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data		28
	Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure		28
	Item 9A. Controls and Procedures		28
	Item 9B. Other Information		29
PART III			29
	Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers of the Registrant, and Corporate Governance		29
	Item 11. Executive Compensation		29
	Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters		29
	Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence		29
	Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services		29
PART IV			30
	Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules		30
		Financial Statements	30
		Financial Statement Schedule	30
		Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	59
	Item 16. Form 10-K Summary		30
EXHIBIT INDEX			E-1
SIGNATURES			S-1

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document contains forward-looking statements that reflect management’s current assumptions and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance, and financial results. Forward-looking statements include statements in the future tense, statements referring to any period after December 31, 2018, and statements including the terms “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” and other similar terms that express expectations as to future events or conditions. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed in those statements. A variety of factors could cause the Company’s actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results. These factors and assumptions include the pace and nature of new product introductions by the Company and the Company’s customers; our ability to anticipate and respond to changing consumer preferences and changing technologies; the Company’s ability to successfully implement its growth strategies; the outcome of the Company’s various productivity-improvement and cost-reduction efforts and acquisition and divestiture activities; the effectiveness of the Company’s past restructuring activities; changes in costs of raw materials, including energy; industry, regulatory, legal, and economic factors related to the Company’s domestic and international business; growth in markets for products in which the Company competes; industry and customer acceptance of price increases; actions by competitors; currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the matters discussed below under the heading “Risk Factors” and under Part II, including the critical accounting policies set forth under the heading “CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES” within “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation.” Except to the extent required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Within this document, the Company reports certain non-GAAP financial measures, including: (1) adjusted operating income, adjusted net earnings, and adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations (which exclude restructuring and other costs and the impacts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“2017 Tax Legislation”)) and (2) percentage changes in revenue, operating income, diluted EPS, adjusted operating income, and adjusted diluted EPS on a local currency basis (which eliminate the effects that result from translating its international operations into U.S. dollars). The Company has included each of these non-GAAP measures in order to provide additional information regarding our underlying operating results and comparable year-over-year performance. Such information is supplemental to information presented in accordance with GAAP and is not intended to represent a presentation in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation. Rather, they should be considered together with GAAP measures and the rest of the information included in this report. Management internally reviews each of these non-GAAP measures to evaluate performance on a comparative period-to-period basis and to gain additional insight into underlying operating and performance trends. The Company believes this information can be beneficial to investors for these same purposes. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Additional information related to the Company’s use of non-GAAP financial measures and the restructuring and other costs as well as the impacts from the 2017 Tax Legislation that have been excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures in 2018, 2017, and 2016 and reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures are available below in Item 7 under the sections titled “NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES.”

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PART I

Item 1.

Business

General

Sensient Technologies Corporation (the “Company”) was incorporated in 1882 in Wisconsin. Its principal executive offices are located at 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1100, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-5304, telephone (414) 271-6755.

The Company is subject to the informational and reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In accordance with the Exchange Act, the Company files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). These reports and other information may be accessed from the website maintained by the Commission at http://www.sec.gov.

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “SXT.” Information about the Company may be obtained at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

The Company can also be reached at its website at www.sensient.com. The Company’s web address is provided as an inactive textual reference only, and the contents of that website are not incorporated in or otherwise to be regarded as part of this report. The Company makes available free of charge on its website its proxy statement, its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with or furnished to the Commission. Charters for the Audit, Compensation and Development, Nominating and Corporate Governance, Finance, and Executive Committees of the Company’s Board of Directors, as well as the Company’s Code of Conduct, Corporate Governance Guidelines, Policy on Recovery of Incentive Compensation From Executives, and Directors and Officers Stock Ownership Guidelines are also available on the Company’s website. These documents are also available in print to any shareholder, free of charge, upon request. If there are any amendments to the Code of Conduct, or if waivers from it are granted for executive officers or directors, those amendments or waivers also will be posted on the Company’s website.

Description of Business

The Company is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of colors, flavors, and fragrances. The Company uses advanced technologies at facilities around the world to develop specialty food and beverage systems; cosmetic, fragrance, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical ingredients and systems; specialty inks and colors; and other specialty and fine chemicals. The Company’s customers include major international manufacturers representing some of the world’s best-known brands.

The Company’s principal products include:

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flavors, flavor enhancers, ingredients, extracts, and bionutrients;

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fragrances, aroma chemicals, and essential oils;

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natural ingredients, including dehydrated vegetables and other food ingredients;

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natural and synthetic food and beverage colors;

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cosmetic colors and ingredients;

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pharmaceutical and nutraceutical excipients and ingredients; and

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technical colors, specialty inks and colors, and specialty dyes and pigments.

The Company’s three reportable segments are the Flavors & Fragrances Group and the Color Group, which are managed on a product basis, and the Asia Pacific Group, which is managed on a geographic basis. The Company’s corporate expenses and restructuring and certain other costs are included in the “Corporate & Other” category as described in this report. Financial information regarding the Company’s three reportable segments and the operations included within Corporate & Other is set forth in Note 11, Segment and Geographic Information, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

In July 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Mazza Innovation Limited (now known as Sensient Natural Extraction Inc.). This acquisition provides the Company with an umbrella technology, which supports applications for both the Flavors & Fragrances and Color segments. The Company is in the process of integrating this business, and therefore, the Company has included its results in Corporate & Other.

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Flavors & Fragrances Group

The Company is a global developer, manufacturer, and supplier of flavor and fragrance systems for the food, beverage, personal care, and household-products industries. The Company’s flavor formulations are used in many of the world’s best-known consumer products. Under the unified brand names of Sensient Flavors, Sensient Natural Ingredients, and Sensient Fragrances, the Group is a supplier to multinational and regional companies.

The Flavors & Fragrances Group produces flavor and fragrance products that impart a desired taste, texture, aroma, and/or other characteristics to a broad range of consumer and other products. This Group includes the Company’s natural ingredients business, which produces ingredients for food processors. The main products of the Group are systems products, including flavor-delivery systems, and compounded and blended products. In addition, the Group has strong positions in selected ingredient products such as essential oils, natural and synthetic flavors, natural extracts, and aroma chemicals. The Group serves food and non-food industries. In food industries, markets include savory, beverage, and sweet flavors, as well as certain bioingredients. In non-food industries, the Group supplies fragrance products to the personal, home-care, and bioingredients markets.

Operating through its Sensient Natural Ingredients business, the Company believes it is the second largest producer (by sales) of dehydrated onion and garlic products in the United States. The Company is also one of the largest producers and distributors of chili powder, paprika, chili pepper, and dehydrated vegetables such as parsley, celery, and spinach. The Company sells dehydrated products to food manufacturers for use as ingredients and also for repackaging under private labels for sale to the retail market and to the food service industry. Advanced dehydration technologies utilized by Sensient Natural Ingredients permit fast and effective rehydration of ingredients used in many of today’s popular convenience foods.

As of December 31, 2018, the Group’s principal manufacturing plants are located in California, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Belgium, China, Costa Rica, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Color Group

The Company is a developer, manufacturer, and supplier of colors for businesses worldwide. The Company provides natural and synthetic color systems for use in foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals; colors and other ingredients for cosmetics, such as active ingredients, solubilizers, and surface treated pigments; pharmaceutical and nutraceutical excipients, such as colors, flavors, coatings, and nutraceutical ingredients; specialty inks; and technical colors for industrial applications.

The Company believes that it is one of the world’s largest producers (by sales) of synthetic and natural colors, and that it is the world’s largest manufacturer (by sales) of certified food colors. The Company sells its synthetic and natural colors to domestic and international producers of beverages, bakery products, processed foods, confections, pet foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The Company also makes industrial colors, specialty inks, and other dyes and pigments used in a variety of non-food applications.

As of December 31, 2018, the Group’s principal manufacturing plants are located in Missouri, New Jersey, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The Color Group operates under the following trade names:

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Sensient Food Colors (food and beverage colors);

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Sensient Pharmaceutical Coating Systems (pharmaceutical and nutraceutical colors and coatings);

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Sensient Cosmetic Technologies (cosmetic colors, ingredients, and systems);

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Sensient Imaging Technologies/Sensient Inks (specialty inks); and

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Sensient Industrial Colors (paper colors; and industrial colors for plastics, leather, wood stains, antifreeze, landscaping, and other uses).

The Company believes that its advanced process technology, state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and equipment, world class application chemists, and a complete range of synthetic and natural color products constitute the basis for its market leadership position.

Asia Pacific Group

The Asia Pacific Group focuses on marketing the Company’s diverse product lines in the Pacific Rim under the Sensient name. Through these operations, the Company offers a full range of products from its Flavors & Fragrances Group and Color Group, as well as products developed by regional technical teams to appeal to local preferences.

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Sales, marketing, and technical functions are managed through the Asia Pacific Group’s headquarters, which is located in Singapore. Manufacturing operations are located in Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, and the Philippines. The Asia Pacific Group maintains offices for local technical support, as well as sales, in China, India, Indonesia, and Thailand, and for research and development in Singapore.

Corporate

Corporate provides management, administrative, and support services to the Company from its headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Company’s corporate expenses, restructuring and other costs, and the results of Mazza Innovation Limited (now known as Sensient Natural Extraction Inc.) are included in the “Corporate & Other” category.

Research and Development/Quality Assurance

The development of specialized products and services is a complex technical process calling upon the combined knowledge and talents of the Company’s research, development, and quality assurance personnel. The Company believes that its competitive advantage lies in its ability to work with its customers to develop and deliver high-performance products that address the distinct needs of those customers.

The Company’s research, development, and quality assurance personnel support the Company’s efforts to improve existing products and develop new products tailored to customer needs, while providing on-going technical support and know-how to the Company’s manufacturing activities. The Company employed 769 people in research and development, quality assurance, quality control, and lab technician positions as of December 31, 2018.

As part of its commitment to quality as a competitive advantage, the Company’s production facilities hold various certifications, such as those under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and those recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), including the Safe Quality Food Program (SQF), British Retail Consortium (BRC), and Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000), for certifying the safety and quality of its products and production processes.

Products and Application Activities

The Company’s strategic focus is on the manufacture and marketing of high-performance components that bring life to products. Accordingly, the Company devotes considerable attention and resources to the development of product applications and processing improvements to support its customers’ numerous new and reformulated products. The majority of the proprietary processes and formulae developed by the Company are maintained as trade secrets and protected through confidentiality agreements with customers.

Within the Flavors & Fragrances Group, development activity is focused on ingredients, flavors, natural extracts, and fragrances as well as flavor and fragrance systems that are responsive to consumer trends and the processing needs of our food and beverage customers. These activities include the development of functional ingredient systems for foods and beverages, savory flavors, and ingredient systems for prepared foods and flavors and ingredients for dairy, confectionery, and other applications. The Company believes that the development of yeast derivatives and other specialty ingredients also provides growth opportunities in bionutrients and biotechnology markets, such as probiotics and fermented ingredients, including enzymes, vitamins, and amino acids.

Within the Color Group, development activity for food and beverage product lines is focused on value-added products derived from synthetic dyes and pigments, natural food and beverage colors, and color systems. The Company also produces a diverse line of colors and ingredients for cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical applications, specialty inks, and technical colors for industrial applications.

Raw Materials

The Company uses a wide range of raw materials in producing its products. Chemicals used to produce certified colors are obtained from several domestic and foreign suppliers. Raw materials for natural colors, such as carmine, beta-carotene, annatto, and turmeric, are purchased from overseas and U.S. sources. As of March 2018, the Company owns a natural food colorings business in Lima, Peru, and has vertically integrated production and processing capacity in annatto, carmine, and other natural color products.

In the production of flavors and fragrances, the principal raw materials include essential oils, aroma chemicals, botanicals, fruits, and juices. These raw materials are obtained from domestic and foreign suppliers. Flavor enhancers and secondary flavors are produced from brewers’ yeast and vegetable materials such as corn and soybeans. Chili peppers, onion, garlic, and other vegetables are acquired under annual contracts with numerous growers in the western United States and China.

The Company believes that its ability to reformulate its products and the general availability of alternate sources of materials would generally enable it to maintain its competitive position in the event of an interruption in the supply of raw materials from a single supplier.

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Competition

All Company products are sold in highly competitive markets. While no single factor is determinative, the Company’s competitive position is based principally on process and applications expertise, quality, technological advances resulting from its research and development, and customer service and support. Because of its highly differentiated products, the Company competes with only a few companies across multiple product lines, and generally encounters different competitors in different product lines.

Flavors & Fragrances. Competition in the flavors and fragrances industries continues to have an ever increasing global nature. Most of the Company’s customers do not buy their entire flavor and/or fragrance products from a single supplier and the Company does not compete with a single supplier in all product categories. Competition for the supply of flavors and fragrances is based on the development of customized ingredients for new and reformulated customer products, as well as on quality, customer service, and price. Competition to supply dehydrated vegetable products is present through several large and small domestic competitors, as well as competitors from other countries. Competition for the supply of dehydrated vegetables is based principally on product quality, customer service, and price.

Color. Competition in the color market is diverse, with the majority of the Company’s competitors specializing in either synthetic dyes and pigments or natural colors or coloring foodstuffs (in Europe). The Company believes that it gains a competitive advantage as the only major basic manufacturer of a full range of color products, including synthetic dyes and pigments as well as natural colors. Competition in the supply of cosmetic colors and ingredients, specialty inks, and pharmaceutical and nutraceutical ingredients and excipients is based on the development of customized products and solutions as well as quality, customer service, and price. The Company believes that its reputation and capacity as a color producer as well as its product development and applications expertise give it a competitive advantage in these markets.

Asia Pacific. The Company offers a broad array of products to customers through the Asia Pacific Group. Competition is based upon reliability in product quality, service, and price as well as technical support available to customers.

Foreign Operations

Additional information regarding the Company’s foreign operations is set forth in Note 11, Segment and Geographic Information in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

Patents, Formulae, and Trademarks

The Company owns or controls many patents, formulae, and trademarks related to its businesses. The businesses are not materially dependent upon any particular patent or trademark; however, trademarks, patents, and formulae are important to the business of the Company.

Employees

As of December 31, 2018, the Company employed 4,113 persons worldwide.

Regulation

Compliance with government rules regulating discharges into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, did not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations for the year covered by this report. Current compliance is not expected to have a material adverse effect in the next two years. The production, packaging, labeling, and distribution of certain of the products of the Company in the U.S. are subject to the regulations of various federal, state, and local governmental agencies, in particular the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Company is subject to similar regulations in many international markets, particularly Europe.

Item 1A.

Risk Factors.

As with any business, the Company’s business and operations involve risks and uncertainties. In addition to the other discussions in this report, particularly those under the headings “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” below and “Forward-Looking Statements” above, the following factors should be considered:

·	Our recent restructurings may not be as effective as we anticipated and we may fail to realize the expected cost savings.

From 2014-2017, the Company executed a restructuring plan aimed at eliminating underperforming operations, consolidating manufacturing facilities, and improving efficiencies within the Company. These activities required the devotion of significant resources and management attention and may pose significant risks. Our ability to realize anticipated cost savings may be affected by a number of factors, including our ability to effectively reduce overhead, rationalize manufacturing capacity, and effectively produce products at the consolidated facilities. Furthermore, our restructurings may not be as effective as we anticipated, and we may fail to realize the cost savings we expected from these restructurings.

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·	The impact of currency exchange rate fluctuation may negatively affect our results.

We report the results of our foreign operations in the applicable local currency and then translate those results into U.S. dollars at applicable exchange rates. The applicable exchange rates between and among foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar have fluctuated and will continue to do so in the future. These fluctuations have impacted our results of operations in recent periods as discussed below in more detail under the headings “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation.” Such currency exchange rate volatility may also adversely impact our financial condition or liquidity. While we may use forward exchange contracts and foreign currency denominated debt to manage our exposure to foreign exchange risk, such risk management strategies may not be effective and our results of operations could be adversely affected.

·	Changes to LIBOR may negatively impact us.

LIBOR, the London interbank offered rate, is the basic rate of interest used in lending between banks on the London interbank market and is widely used as a reference for setting the interest rate on loans globally. We have used LIBOR as a reference rate in our revolving loans, term loans, asset securitization program, and uncommitted credit facilities such that the interest due to our creditors pursuant to these loans is calculated using LIBOR.

LIBOR, in its current form, is currently scheduled to disappear in 2021. Before LIBOR ceases to exist, we may need to renegotiate our credit agreements that utilize LIBOR as a factor in determining the interest rate to replace LIBOR with a new standard, which has yet to be established. The consequences of these developments cannot be entirely predicted, but could result in an increase in the cost of our variable rate debt which is approximately 40-45% of our total debt. While our policy is to manage our interest rate risk by entering into both fixed and variable rate debt arrangements, we cannot provide assurance that future interest rate changes will not have a material negative impact on our business, financial position, or operating results.

·	In some product lines, most of our sales are made to a relatively small number of customers; if we lose any of those customers, sales and operating results could decline.

In some of our product lines, our sales are concentrated to a small number of customers. While we do not currently have any single customer that we consider to be significant to us as a whole, the loss of a significant customer for a particular product line could substantially affect the sales and profitability of that line or the business unit that sells that product line, which may cause us to re-evaluate that line. Those developments could affect our results. In addition, the financial condition of our customers may adversely affect their ability to buy from us, or to pay for products that they have already purchased.

·	Many of our products are used in items for human consumption and contact. We may be subject to product liability claims and product recalls, which could negatively impact our profitability and corporate image.

We sell flavors, fragrances, and colors that are used in foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and other items for human consumption or contact. These products involve risks such as product contamination or spoilage, product tampering, product defects, and other adulteration. We may be subject to liability if the consumption or use of our products cause product damage, injury, illness, or death. In addition, we or our customers may need to recall products in the event of contamination or product defects.

A significant product defect, product recall, or product liability judgment may negatively impact our profitability for a period of time depending on publicity, product availability, scope, competitive reaction, and consumer attitudes. Even if a product liability claim is unsuccessful or is not fully pursued, the negative publicity surrounding any assertion that our products caused illness, injury, or death could adversely affect our reputation with existing and potential customers and our corporate image.

·	Consolidation has resulted in customers with increased buying power, which can affect our profitability.

Many of our customers have consolidated in recent years and we expect the combination trend to continue in many business lines. These consolidations have often produced large, sophisticated customers with increased buying power who are more capable of resisting price increases. If the larger size or greater buying power of those customers results in additional negotiating strength, the prices we are able to charge could be negatively affected and our profitability could decline.

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·	Intense competition may result in reduced sales and profitability.

The industries and markets in which we operate are highly competitive. That competition can reduce both our sales and the prices at which we are able to sell our products, which can negatively affect our profitability.

·	Our sales and profitability are affected by changing consumer preferences, changing technologies, and our customers’ ability to make and sell to consumers in highly competitive markets.

Although we do not generally make or sell proprietary consumer products, many of our products are sold to companies that develop and market consumer products. Sales of flavors, fragrances, colors, inks, cosmetic ingredients, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical excipients and ingredients, and many of our other products depend in part upon our customers’ ability to create and sell products to consumers in highly competitive markets, all of which are beyond our control. Our sales could also be affected by changing technologies that could impact consumer demand for products that contain our products. Therefore, we depend upon our customers’ ability to create markets for the consumer products that incorporate the products that we manufacture. In addition, if we cannot adequately anticipate and respond to the needs of our customers as they evolve in response to changing consumer preferences and new technologies, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

·	If we do not maintain an efficient cost structure, our profitability could decrease.

Our success depends in part on our ability to maintain an efficient cost structure. We regularly initiate cost-reduction measures that could impact our manufacturing, sales, operations, and information systems functions. If we do not continue to manage costs and achieve additional efficiencies, or we do not successfully implement related strategies, our competitiveness and our profits could decrease.

·	Commodity, energy, and transportation price volatility and increases or material shortages may reduce our profits.

We use many different commodities as raw ingredients. We also use raw materials whose production is energy intensive. In addition, various energy sources are used in our production and distribution processes. Commodity and energy prices are subject to significant volatility caused by market fluctuations, supply and demand, currency fluctuation, production and transportation disruption, world events, and changes in governmental regulations. Commodity and energy price increases will raise both our raw material costs and operating costs. We may not be able to increase our product prices enough to offset these increased costs. Increasing our prices also may reduce sales volume and related profitability.

In addition, we obtain some raw materials from a single supplier or a limited number of suppliers. Problems with those suppliers could affect the availability of those materials. Even if there are multiple suppliers of a particular raw material, there are occasionally shortages. An unavailability or shortage of a raw material could negatively affect our operations using that raw material and thus adversely affect our results.

There are an enormous number of laws and regulations applicable to us, our suppliers, and our customers across all of our business lines. Compliance with these legal requirements is costly to us and can affect our operations as well as those of our suppliers and customers. Failure to comply could also be costly and disruptive.

Our facilities and products are subject to many laws and regulations relating to the environment, health, safety, and the content, processing, packaging, storage, distribution, quality, and safety of food, drugs, cosmetics, other consumer products, specialty inks, and industrial colors. These laws and regulations are administered in the United States by the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Labor, and other federal and state governmental agencies. We, our suppliers, and our customers are subject to similar governmental regulation and oversight abroad. Compliance with these laws and regulations can be complex and costly and affect our, our suppliers’ and our customers’ operations. Also, if we, our suppliers, or our customers, fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, we could be subject to administrative penalties and injunctive relief, civil and criminal remedies, fines, and recalls of products. Regulatory action against a supplier or customer can create risk for us and negatively affect our operations.

·	Environmental compliance may be costly to us.

Our operations are subject to extensive and stringent laws and regulations which pertain to the discharge of materials into the environment, handling of materials, and disposition of wastes and air emissions. These rules operate or will operate at both the federal and state levels in the United States, and there are analogous laws at most of our overseas locations. Environmental regulations, and the potential failure to comply with them, can have serious consequences, including the costs of compliance and defense; interference with our operations or the ability to obtain required permits; civil, criminal, and administrative penalties; and negative publicity.

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·	Operating in foreign countries and emerging markets exposes us to increased risks, including economic, political, and international operation risks.

We operate, manufacture, and sell our products and obtain raw materials in many foreign countries and emerging markets. This subjects us to risks that could materially impact our operating results, including: difficulties in staffing and managing foreign personnel in diverse cultures; transportation delays or interruptions; sometimes unpredictable regulatory changes; and the effects of international political developments and political and economic instability. In addition, changes in policies by the United States or foreign governments could negatively affect our operating results due to changes in duties, tariffs, trade regulations, taxes, or limitations on currency or fund transfers. For example, changes in the trade relationship between the U.S. and China as well as potential regulatory actions by the Chinese government may affect the cost of our raw materials and products originating in China, the demand for as well as the supply of our products manufactured in China or containing raw materials from China, and the demand from Chinese customers for our products.

·	Brexit may adversely impact the Company’s revenue and profits in the short term and long term.

In 2016, the United Kingdom (U.K.) held a referendum in which voters approved an exit from the European Union, commonly referred to as “Brexit.” The British government and the European Union are negotiating the terms of the U.K.’s future relationship with the European Union. The final terms of the relationship and its impacts on the Company remain unclear. The U.K.’s pending exit from the European Union, currently scheduled for March 29, 2019, has resulted in currency exchange rate fluctuations and volatility. Because the Company has production facilities, customers, and suppliers in the U.K., the final terms of the agreement on the U.K.’s break with the European Union, or the absence of such an agreement, could have a significant impact on the Company.

The Company has revenue related to sales of products between the U.K. and the European Union or its trade agreement partners, and costs related to raw materials purchases between the U.K. and the European Union or its trade agreement partners.

Any agreement, or the absence of an agreement related to Brexit, could result in an increase in tariffs on all raw materials and finished goods moving between the U.K. and the European Union. Similarly, any agreement, or the absence of an agreement, could result in the U.K. losing the benefit of existing trade agreements between the European Union and other non-European Union countries, thereby increasing tariffs on all raw materials and finished goods moving between the U.K. and those non-European Union countries. An increase in tariffs could increase the cost to produce and sell the Company’s products, reduce the supply of and demand for the Company’s products, and reduce the Company’s revenue and profit. In both the short and long term, increased costs could make the Company less competitive with companies not impacted by post-Brexit tariffs and, given the nature of our industry, could result in the short term and long term loss of customers that choose to introduce new products or reformulate existing products with our lower-cost competitors.

A new border between the U.K. and the European Union could also impose increased cost, complexity, and delays (perhaps lengthy, particularly in the second and third quarters of 2019) related to the shipping and transportation of raw materials and finished products into and out of the U.K. These delays will complicate the Company’s production and distribution planning and, like increased tariffs, could adversely affect the Company’s revenue and profit, supply and demand for the Company’s products, and customer retention and acquisition in both the long term and short term.

Additionally, post-Brexit, new chemical regulations could be imposed within the U.K. to replace existing European Union regulations such as REACH. Similarly, because the U.K. will no longer be part of the European Union, the Company may be subject to new REACH registration requirements for products produced in the U.K. The costs related to compliance with these regulatory changes could affect the Company’s costs, revenue, profit, supply of and demand for the Company’s products, and the acquisition and retention of customers.

Next, there could be new restrictions on travel and immigration that result from Brexit that could impose additional costs on the Company. In each of the Company’s three U.K. production facilities, a significant portion of the work forces are not U.K. nationals. Complying with new immigration regimes could result in increased costs to the Company.

Finally, while the Company will take steps to mitigate the effects of Brexit, these efforts may not be as successful as intended and the Company may not be able to avoid the costs and complications described above.

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·	We depend on certain key personnel, and the loss of these persons may harm our business.

Our success depends in large part on the continued service and availability of our key management and technical personnel, and on our ability to attract and retain qualified new personnel. The competition for these individuals can be significant, and the loss of key employees could harm our business. In addition, we need to provide for smooth transitions when replacing key management and technical personnel positions. Our operations and results may be negatively affected if we are not able to do so.

·	We may not successfully complete and integrate past and future acquisitions, which could adversely affect our operating results.

We have acquired many companies and operations in the past and may continue growth by acquisition in the future. Our future growth through acquisitions could involve significant risks that may have a material adverse effect on us. We may also be at risk for factors associated with acquisitions that the Company has made in the past. Acquired companies may also have significant latent liabilities that may not be discovered before an acquisition or fully reflected in the price we pay.

We may also need to finance future acquisitions, and the terms of any financing, and the need to ultimately repay or refinance any indebtedness, may have negative effects on us. Acquisitions also could have a dilutive effect on our financial results. Acquisitions also generally result in goodwill, which would need to be written off against earnings in the future if it becomes impaired.

·	Our ability to successfully maintain and upgrade our information technology systems, and to effectively respond to failures, disruptions, compromises, or breaches of our information technology systems, may affect our competitiveness and our profits could decrease.

Our success depends in part on our ability to maintain a current information technology platform for our businesses to operate effectively, reliably, and securely. We routinely review and upgrade our information technology and cybersecurity systems in order to better manage, report, and protect the information related to our formulas, research and development, manufacturing processes, trade secrets, sales, products, customers, personnel, and other operations. If we do not continue to maintain our information technology and cybersecurity platforms and successfully implement upgrades to systems to protect our vital information, our competitiveness and profits could decrease. Because of the nature of our business, and the importance of our proprietary information, we face threats not only from hackers’ intent on theft and disruption, but also from malicious insiders that may attempt to steal Company information. Furthermore, our information technology systems may be susceptible to failures, disruptions, breaches, theft, and other similar cybersecurity events. The impact of any such event and the effectiveness of our response thereto may adversely affect our operations and subject us to increased operating costs, regulatory consequences, and reputational harm. While we take substantial steps to protect our information and systems through cyber security systems, monitoring, auditing, and training, these efforts may not always be successful.

·	World events and natural disasters are beyond our control and could affect our results.

World events can adversely affect national, international, and local economies. Economies can also be affected by conflicts, natural disasters, epidemics, or other catastrophic events. Such events and conditions, as well as uncertainty in or impairment of financial markets, have adversely affected and could continue to affect our revenues and profitability, particularly if they occur in locations in which we or our customers have significant operations. In addition, while we have manufacturing facilities throughout the world, certain of our facilities are the sole manufacturer of a specific product and a disruption in manufacturing could lead to increased costs of relocating or replacing the production of a product, or reformulating a product, which could have an adverse effect on our results.

·	Our ability to efficiently manage inventory may not be as effective as we anticipate and may adversely impact our performance.

Efficient inventory management is essential to our performance. We must maintain appropriate inventory levels and product mix to meet customer demand, without incurring costs related to storing and holding excess inventory. If our inventory management decisions do not accurately predict demand or otherwise result in excess inventory, our financial results may be adversely impacted by markdowns, impairment charges, or other costs related to disposal of excess or obsolete inventory.

·	We could be adversely affected by violations of anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws and regulations.

Our business is subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the United Kingdom Bribery Act, and similar anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws and regulations in other countries where we operate. While the Company maintains robust policies to prevent violations of these laws and to monitor third party risks, investigating and resolving actual or alleged violations of anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws is expensive and could negatively impact our results of operations or financial condition. Under these laws companies may be held liable for the corrupt actions taken by their directors, officers, employees, agents, or other representatives. We could be subject to substantial civil and/or criminal fines and penalties if we or any of our representatives fail to comply with these laws, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and reputation.

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·	Our ability to protect our intellectual property rights is key to our performance.

We protect our intellectual property rights as trade secrets, through patents, under confidentiality agreements, and through internal and external cyber security systems. We could incur significant costs in asserting our intellectual property rights or defending ourselves from third party intellectual property claims. The laws of some of the countries in which we operate do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. If other parties were to infringe on our intellectual property rights, or if a third party successfully asserted that we had infringed on their intellectual property rights, it could have an adverse impact on our business.

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 2.

Properties.

We lease our corporate headquarters offices, which are located at 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We own our Color Group headquarters offices located in St. Louis, Missouri. We lease our Asia Pacific Group headquarters offices located in Singapore. We own a part, and lease a part, of our Flavors & Fragrances Group headquarters offices located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. As of December 31, 2018, the locations of our production properties by reportable segment are as follows:

Color Group:

U.S. – St. Louis, Missouri; and South Plainfield, New Jersey*.

International – Jundiai, Brazil*; Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Saint Ouen L’Aumone, France; Geesthacht, Germany; Reggio Emilia, Italy; Lerma, Mexico; Lima, Peru*; Johannesburg, South Africa; Morges, Switzerland; and Kings Lynn, United Kingdom.

Flavors & Fragrances Group:

U.S. – Livingston and Turlock, California; Amboy, Illinois; Harbor Beach, Michigan; and Juneau, Wisconsin.

International – Heverlee, Belgium; Qingdao, China*; San Jose, Costa Rica*; Celaya and Tlalnepantla, Mexico; Granada, Spain; and Wales and Milton Keynes, United Kingdom.

Asia Pacific:

U.S. – None.

International – Keysborough, Australia; Guangzhou, China*; Mumbai, India*; Hitachi, Japan; Auckland, New Zealand; Manila, Philippines*; and Bangkok, Thailand*.

* Indicates a leased property at the location.

All properties are owned except as otherwise indicated above. All facilities are considered to be in good condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and suitable and adequate for the Company’s requirements.

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings.

People of the State of Illinois v. Sensient Flavors LLC

On June 7, 2018, the Attorney General of the State of Illinois Office, on her own motion and at the request of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, filed a Complaint in the Lee County Circuit Court against Sensient Flavors LLC (“Sensient Flavors”). The Complaint alleges that Sensient Flavors’ Amboy, Illinois facility improperly discharged wastewater to the City of Amboy’s wastewater treatment plant in late 2015 and early 2016, causing the City to violate its discharge permit. The Complaint alleged two counts against Sensient Flavors for violations of Illinois state law.

The Company believes the facility’s discharges in question were done with the consent of the City of Amboy and in compliance with Illinois state law, and that Sensient Flavors complied with its wastewater permit, City of Amboy ordinances, and applicable Illinois state laws. The Company notes that at all times relevant to the matters at issue in the Complaint, the City of Amboy accepted Sensient Flavors’ wastewater and, in fact, charged Sensient Flavors for treating Sensient Flavors’ wastewater. The parties reached a settlement agreement in which Sensient Flavors agreed to pay a $100,000 fine and enter into a consent decree with the State of Illinois. On February 20, 2019, the Lee County Circuit Court approved the parties’ settlement agreement.

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Other Claims and Litigation

The Company is subject to various claims and litigation arising in the normal course of business. The Company establishes reserves for claims and proceedings when it is probable that liabilities exist and reasonable estimates of loss can be made. While it is not possible to predict the outcome of these matters, based on our assessment of the facts and circumstances now known, we do not believe that these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial position. However, actual outcomes may be different from those expected and could have a material effect on our results of operations or cash flows in a particular period.

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosure.

Not applicable.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

The executive officers of the Company and their ages as of February 18, 2019, are as follows:

Name	Age	Position
Paul Manning	44	Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Amy M. Agallar	41	Vice President and Treasurer
Michael C. Geraghty	57	President, Color Group
Amy Schmidt Jones	49	Vice President, Human Resources and Senior Counsel
John J. Manning	50	Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
E. Craig Mitchell	54	President, Flavors and Fragrances Group
Stephen J. Rolfs	54	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Tobin Tornehl	45	Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

The Company has employed all of the individuals named above, in substantively their current positions, for at least the past five years except as follows:

Mr. Paul Manning has held his present office since April 21, 2016, and previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer (2014 – April 2016).

Ms. Agallar has held her present office since January 9, 2019. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Agallar was Director – Business Development CIS of Modine Manufacturing (June 2018 – December 2018), and Director – Global Treasury Operations of Modine Manufacturing (2011– June 2018).

Ms. Jones has held her present office since April 2, 2018. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Jones was a partner of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP (1998 – March 2018).

Mr. John J. Manning has held his present office since April 21, 2016, and previously served as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2013 – April 2016).

Mr. Mitchell has held his present office since September 17, 2018. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Mitchell served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Sekisui Specialty Chemical America, LLC (April 2016 – September 2018), and Vice President of Sales, Americas of Celanese Corporation (2013 – April 2016).

Mr. Rolfs has held his present position since February 7, 2015, and previously served as Senior Vice President, Administration (July 2013 – February 2015).

Mr. Tornehl has held his present office since November 10, 2018, and previously served as Director, Finance (2008 – November 2018).

Mr. Paul Manning (Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer) and Mr. John J. Manning (Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary) are brothers.

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PART II

Item 5.

Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “SXT.” The only market in which the common stock of the Company is listed is the New York Stock Exchange.

This graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return for the Company’s common stock over the last five years to the total returns on the Standard & Poor’s Midcap Specialty Chemicals Index (the “S&P Midcap Specialty Chemicals Index”), the Standard & Poor’s Midcap Food Products Index (the “S&P Midcap Food Products Index”), and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index (the “S&P 500 Index”). The graph assumes a $100 investment made on December 31, 2013, and reinvestment of dividends. The stock performance shown on the graph is not necessarily indicative of future price performance.

	2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		2018
Sensient Technologies Corporation	$	100	$	127	$	134	$	170	$	161	$	126
S&P Midcap Specialty Chemicals Index		100		115		111		139		149		141
S&P Midcap Food Products Index		100		146		153		186		195		182
S&P 500 Index		100		114		115		129		157		150

Standard & Poor’s and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, LLC.

On August 21, 2014, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to five million shares (2014 Authorization). On October 19, 2017, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to three million shares (2017 Authorization). As of February 18, 2019, all five million shares had been repurchased under the 2014 Authorization and 774,974 shares had been repurchased under the 2017 Authorization. There were no repurchases of shares by the Company during the fourth quarter of 2018 and a total of 1,060,000 shares repurchased during 2018, which were purchased under the 2017 and 2014 authorizations. There is no expiration date for the 2017 Authorization. The 2017 Authorization may be modified, suspended, or discontinued by the Board of Directors at any time. As of December 31, 2018, the maximum number of shares that may be purchased under publicly announed plans is 2,225,026.

The number of shareholders of record on February 15, 2019, was 2,282.

Information regarding the Company’s equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference into Item 11 of Part III of this report.

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Item 6.

Selected Financial Data.

The following selected financial data is derived from our consolidated financial statements. This data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, and with Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Quarterly Data

(in thousands except per share amounts) (unaudited)

	First Quarter		Second Quarter		Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter		Full Year
2018
Revenue	$	356,477	$	363,041	$	342,734	$	324,563	$	1,386,815
Gross profit		123,071		121,470		115,573		106,015		466,129
Net earnings		38,194		39,123		47,193		32,850		157,360
Earnings per basic share		0.89		0.93		1.12		0.78		3.71
Earnings per diluted share		0.89		0.92		1.12		0.78		3.70

2017
Revenue	$	341,397	$	338,475	$	353,519	$	328,874	$	1,362,265
Gross profit		120,945		119,225		122,735		112,585		475,490
Net earnings		13,192		30,774		32,213		13,421		89,600
Earnings per basic share		0.30		0.70		0.74		0.31		2.05
Earnings per diluted share		0.30		0.69		0.73		0.31		2.03

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Five Year Review

(in thousands except percentages, employee and per share data)
Years ended December 31,	2018					2017					2016					2015					2014
Summary of Operations
Revenue	$	1,386,815		100.0	%	$	1,362,265		100.0	%	$	1,383,210		100.0	%	$	1,375,964		100.0	%	$	1,447,821		100.0	%
Cost of products sold		920,686		66.4			886,775		65.1			907,783		65.6			921,531		67.0			959,311		66.3
Selling and administrative expenses		262,751		18.9			307,684		22.6			289,818		21.0			288,092		20.9			357,845		24.7
Operating income		203,378		14.7	%		167,806		12.3	%		185,609		13.4	%		166,341		12.1	%		130,665		9.0	%
Interest expense		21,853					19,383					18,324					16,945					16,067
Earnings before income taxes		181,525					148,423					167,285					149,396					114,598
Income taxes		24,165					58,823					44,372					42,149					32,827
Earnings from continuing operations		157,360					89,600					122,913					107,247					81,771
Gain (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		-					-					3,343					(462	)				(8,125	)
Net earnings	$	157,360				$	89,600				$	126,256				$	106,785				$	73,646
Earnings per basic share:
Continuing operations	$	3.71				$	2.05				$	2.76				$	2.34				$	1.69
Discontinued operations		-					-					0.08					(0.01	)				(0.17	)
Earnings per basic share	$	3.71				$	2.05				$	2.84				$	2.33				$	1.52
Earnings per diluted share:
Continuing operations	$	3.70				$	2.03				$	2.74				$	2.32				$	1.67
Discontinued operations		-					-					0.07					(0.01	)				(0.17	)
Earnings per diluted share	$	3.70				$	2.03				$	2.82				$	2.31				$	1.51
Other Related Data
Dividends per share, declared and paid	$	1.35				$	1.23				$	1.11				$	1.04				$	0.98
Average common shares outstanding:
Basic		42,404					43,780					44,523					45,910					48,525
Diluted		42,499					44,031					44,843					46,204					48,819
Book value per common share	$	20.34				$	19.70				$	18.83				$	18.78				$	21.94
Price range per common share		51.93- 78.40					71.21 - 84.98					52.69 - 83.38					56.71 - 70.53					46.08 - 63.35
Share price at December 31		55.85					73.15					78.58					62.82					60.34
Capital expenditures		50,740					56,344					81,216					79,941					79,398
Depreciation		50,950					46,956					45,714					46,694					50,225
Amortization		2,294					1,562					1,305					1,245					1,231
Total assets		1,824,940					1,724,340					1,667,860					1,703,732					1,772,039
Long-term debt		689,553					604,159					582,780					613,502					450,548
Total debt		709,599					624,289					603,358					634,157					466,436
Shareholders’ equity		859,947					852,301					835,741					845,127					1,046,935
Return on average shareholders’ equity		18.8	%				10.3	%				14.7	%				11.6	%				6.4	%
Total debt to total capital		45.2	%				42.3	%				41.9	%				42.9	%				30.8	%
Employees		4,113					4,023					4,083					4,032					4,053

The 2018 results include $6.6 million ($0.16 per share) of tax benefit related to the finalization of provisional estimates made during 2017 as a result of the 2017 enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017 Tax Legislation).

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The 2017 results include charges of $48.1 million ($42.5 million after tax, or $0.96 per share) related to the restructuring and other divestiture costs, as well as $18.4 million of tax expense ($0.42 per share) related to the enactment of the 2017 Tax Legislation in the fourth quarter of 2017. The restructuring costs pertain to the Company’s now completed 2014 Restructuring Plan related to the sale and/or elimination of underperforming operations, consolidation of manufacturing facilities, and efforts to improve efficiencies within the Company. The other costs pertain to the sale of a facility and certain related business lines within the Flavors & Fragrances segment in Strasbourg, France, which was completed in January 2017.

The 2016 results include charges of $26.1 million ($21.1 million after tax, or $0.47 per share) related to the restructuring and other divestiture costs. The restructuring costs pertain to the 2014 Restructuring Plan related to eliminating underperforming operations, consolidating manufacturing facilities, and improving efficiencies within the Company, and the other costs pertain to the Company’s divestiture in Strasbourg, France.

The 2015 results include charges of $43.6 million ($33.6 million after tax, or $0.73 per share) related to the restructuring and other acquisition related costs. The restructuring costs pertain to the 2014 Restructuring Plan related to eliminating underperforming operations, consolidating manufacturing facilities, and improving efficiencies within the Company, and the other costs pertain to acquisition related costs.

The 2014 results include charges of $90.6 million ($65.5 million after tax, or $1.34 per share) related to the restructuring and other proxy contest costs. The restructuring costs pertain to the 2014 Restructuring Plan related to eliminating underperforming operations, consolidating manufacturing facilities, and improving efficiencies within the Company, and the other costs pertain to proxy contest costs.

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

OVERVIEW

Sensient Technologies Corporation (the Company or Sensient) is a global developer, manufacturer, and supplier of flavor and fragrance systems for the food, beverage, personal care, and household-products industries. The Company is also a leading developer, manufacturer, and supplier of colors for businesses worldwide. The Company provides natural and synthetic color systems for use in foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals; colors, inks, and other ingredients for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and digital printing; and technical colors for industrial applications. The Company’s three reportable segments are the Flavors & Fragrances Group and the Color Group, which are managed on a product basis, and the Asia Pacific Group, which is managed on a geographic basis. The Company’s corporate expenses and restructuring and other costs are included in the “Corporate & Other” category.

The Company’s diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $3.70 in 2018 and $2.03 in 2017. Included in the 2017 results were $48.1 million, or $0.96 per share net of tax, of restructuring and other costs. There were no restructuring or other costs in 2018. Included in the 2018 and 2017 results, were $6.6 million of a benefit and $18.4 million of expense, respectively, related to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Act or 2017 Tax Legislation), equating to an impact of a 16 cents per share benefit and 42 cents per share of expense, respectively. Adjusted diluted earnings per share, which exclude these restructuring and other costs as well as the impact of the 2017 Tax Legislation, were $3.55 in 2018 and $3.42 in 2017 (see discussion below regarding non-GAAP financial measures and the Company’s restructuring activities, divestiture and income taxes).

Since 1962, the Company has paid, without interruption, a quarterly cash dividend. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company increased the quarterly dividend by 3 cents per share from 33 cents to 36 cents per share, or $1.44 per share on an annualized basis. In addition, the Company repurchased $76.7 million of Company stock in 2018, which is in addition to the $87.2 million repurchased in 2017.

Additional information on the results is included below.

RESULTS OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS

2018 vs. 2017

Revenue

Sensient’s revenue was approximately $1.4 billion in 2018 and 2017.

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Gross Profit

The Company’s gross margin was 33.6% in 2018 and 34.9% in 2017. Included in the cost of products sold are $2.9 million of restructuring costs for 2017. The decrease in gross margin is primarily a result of higher raw material costs and the unfavorable impact of product mix, partially offset by higher selling prices. Restructuring costs reduced gross margin by 20 basis points in 2017.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expense as a percent of revenue was 18.9% in 2018 and 22.6% in 2017, respectively. Restructuring and other costs of $45.2 million in 2017 were included in selling and administrative expense. Selling and administrative expense as a percent of revenue was lower in 2018 than in 2017 primarily as a result of the 2017 restructuring and other costs and lower performance based executive compensation in 2018. Restructuring and other costs increased selling and administrative expense as a percent of revenue by 330 basis points in 2017.

Operating Income

Operating income was $203.4 million in 2018 and $167.8 million in 2017. Operating margins were 14.7% in 2018 and 12.3% in 2017. Restructuring and other costs reduced operating margins by 350 basis points in 2017.

Additional information on segment results can be found in the Segment Information section.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $21.9 million in 2018 and $19.4 million in 2017. The increase in expense was primarily due to the increase in average debt outstanding.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was 13.3% in 2018 and 39.6% in 2017. The effective tax rates in both 2018 and 2017 were impacted by changes in estimates associated with the finalization of prior year foreign and domestic tax items, audit settlements, adjustments to valuation allowances and mix of foreign earnings. The effective tax rate in 2018 was also favorably impacted by U.S. tax accounting method changes that were filed with the IRS in the second quarter of 2018 and generation of foreign tax credits during 2018. The 2017 effective tax rate was impacted by the limited tax deductibility of losses, the result of the cumulative foreign currency effect related to certain repatriation transactions, and restructuring and other activities.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted the 2017 Tax Legislation. The Act significantly changed U.S. corporate income tax laws by reducing the U.S. corporate income tax rate to 21% beginning in 2018 and creating a territorial tax system with a one-time mandatory tax on previously deferred foreign earnings of U.S. subsidiaries. As a result, the Company recorded a provisional net tax expense of $18.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2017. This amount consists of reevaluating the U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the lower corporate income tax rate, adjustments to the Company’s foreign tax credit carryover, and the one-time mandatory tax on previously deferred foreign earnings of U.S. subsidiaries. In 2018, the Company finalized its provisional estimates related to the Act resulting in an income tax benefit of $6.6 million. Sensient considers $11.8 million to be the final net tax expense related to the Act.

	2018			2017
Rate before 2017 Tax Legislation, restructuring and discrete items		20.7	%		24.5	%
2017 Tax Legislation		(3.7	%)		12.4	%
Restructuring impact		-			3.9	%
Discrete items		(3.7	%)		(1.2	%)
Reported effective tax rate		13.3	%		39.6	%

The 2019 effective income tax rate is estimated to be between 22.0% and 23.0%, before any discrete items.

Acquisitions

On July 10, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Mazza Innovation Limited, a botanical extraction business with patented solvent-free extraction processes, located in Vancouver, Canada. The Company paid $19.8 million of cash for this acquisition. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. The Company acquired net assets of $4.0 million and identified intangible assets, principally technological know-how, of $6.9 million. The remaining $8.9 million was allocated to goodwill. This acquisition provides the Company with an umbrella technology, which supports applications for both the Flavors & Fragrances and Color segments. The Company is still in the process of integrating this business, and therefore, the Company has included its results in Corporate & Other.

On March 9, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of certain net assets and the natural color business of GlobeNatural, a natural color company based in Lima, Peru. The Company paid $10.8 million of cash for this acquisition. The Company acquired net assets of $1.4 million and identified intangible assets, principally customer relationships of $2.0 million, and allocated the remaining $7.4 million to goodwill. These operations are included in the Color segment.

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Restructuring

Divestiture

In 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized management to explore strategic alternatives for a facility and certain related business lines within the Flavors & Fragrances segment in Strasbourg, France. In 2016, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $10.8 million, in selling and administrative expense, and incurred $0.7 million of outside professional fees and other related costs in 2016, as a result of the then anticipated divestiture.

In January 2017, the Company completed this divestiture for approximately $12.5 million. The Company recognized an additional non-cash loss of $11.6 million in 2017.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Within the following tables, the Company reports certain non-GAAP financial measures, including: (1) adjusted operating income, adjusted net earnings, and adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations (which exclude restructuring and other costs as well as the impact of the 2017 Tax Legislation) and (2) percentage changes in revenue, operating income, diluted EPS, adjusted operating income, and adjusted diluted EPS on a local currency basis (which eliminate the effects that result from translating its international operations into U.S. dollars). The other costs in 2017 are divestiture related costs, discussed under “Divestiture” above.

The Company has included each of these non-GAAP measures in order to provide additional information regarding our underlying operating results and comparable year-over-year performance. Such information is supplemental to information presented in accordance with GAAP and is not intended to represent a presentation in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation. Rather, they should be considered together with GAAP measures and the rest of the information included in this report. Management internally reviews each of these non-GAAP measures to evaluate performance on a comparative period-to-period basis and to gain additional insight into underlying operating and performance trends. The Company believes that this information can be beneficial to investors for the same purposes. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
(In thousands except per share amounts)	2018			2017			% Change
Operating Income from continuing operations (GAAP)	$	203,378		$	167,806			21.2	%
Restructuring – Cost of products sold		-			2,889
Restructuring – Selling and administrative		-			33,627
Other – Selling and administrative ⁽¹⁾		-			11,555
Adjusted operating income	$	203,378		$	215,877			(5.8	%)

Net Earnings from continuing operations (GAAP)	$	157,360		$	89,600			75.6	%
Restructuring & other, before tax		-			48,071
Tax impact of restructuring & other		-			(5,602	)
2017 Tax Legislation		(6,634	)		18,446
Adjusted net earnings	$	150,726		$	150,515			0.1	%

Diluted EPS from continuing operations (GAAP)	$	3.70		$	2.03			82.3	%
Restructuring & other, net of tax		-			0.96
2017 Tax Legislation		(0.16	)		0.42
Adjusted diluted EPS	$	3.55		$	3.42			3.8	%

(1)

The other costs are for the divestiture related costs discussed under “Divestiture” above.

Note: Earnings per share calculations may not foot due to rounding differences.

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The following table summarizes the percentage change in the 2018 results compared to the 2017 results in the respective financial measures.

	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2018
	Total			Foreign Exchange Rates			Local Currency
Revenue
Flavors & Fragrances		0.0	%		1.1	%		(1.1	%)
Color		5.2	%		0.4	%		4.8	%
Asia Pacific		0.0	%		(0.1	%)		0.1	%
Total Revenue		1.8	%		0.7	%		1.1	%

Operating Income From Continuing Operations
Flavors & Fragrances		(15.7	%)		0.0	%		(15.7	%)
Color		1.4	%		1.1	%		0.3	%
Asia Pacific		0.4	%		1.3	%		(0.9	%)
Corporate & Other		(64.3	%)		1.4	%		(65.7	%)
Operating Income from continuing operations		21.2	%		0.2	%		21.0	%
Diluted EPS from continuing operations		82.3	%		0.0	%		82.3	%

Adjusted operating income ⁽¹⁾		(5.8	%)		0.7	%		(6.5	%)
Adjusted diluted EPS ⁽¹⁾		3.8	%		0.6	%		3.2	%

(1)

Refer to table above for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures.

SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company determines its operating segments based on information utilized by its chief operating decision maker to allocate resources and assess performance. Segment performance is evaluated on operating income before any applicable restructuring and other costs (which are reported in Corporate & Other), interest expense, and income taxes.

In July 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Mazza Innovation Limited (See Acquisitions above for further information). This acquisition provides the Company with an umbrella technology, which supports applications for both the Flavors & Fragrances and Color segments. The Company is in the process of integrating this business, and therefore, the Company has included its results in Corporate & Other.

The Company’s discussion below regarding its operating segments has been updated to reflect the Company’s disaggregation of revenue, which was adopted in the first quarter of 2018, as summarized in Part IV, Item I, Note 11, Segment and Geographic Information, of this report.

The Company’s reportable segments consist of the Flavors & Fragrances, Color, and Asia Pacific segments.

Flavors & Fragrances

Flavors & Fragrances segment revenue was $746.9 million in both 2018 and 2017. Foreign exchange rates increased segment revenue by approximately 1% in 2018. Segment revenue was consistent with the prior year due to higher revenue in Fragrances and Natural Ingredients, mostly offset by lower revenue in Flavors. The higher revenue in Fragrances is primarily a result of higher selling prices, favorable volumes, and favorable exchange rates. The higher revenue in Natural Ingredients is primarily a result of favorable volumes, partially offset by lower selling prices and the impact of the 2017 sale of the European Natural Ingredients business as part of the Company’s prior restructuring activities. The lower revenue in Flavors was primarily a result of lower volumes, partially offset by the favorable impact of exchange rates and higher selling prices.

Flavors & Fragrances segment operating income was $96.4 million in 2018 and $114.3 million in 2017, a decrease of approximately 16%. Foreign exchange rates had a minimal impact on segment operating income. The lower segment operating income was primarily a result of lower operating income in Flavors and Natural Ingredients. The lower operating income in Flavors was primarily a result of lower volumes (primarily at the production site affected by last year’s plant consolidation) and product mix, partially offset by higher selling prices, lower manufacturing and other costs, and lower raw material costs. The lower operating income in Natural Ingredients was primarily due to higher raw material costs, primarily onion, and lower selling prices, partially offset by higher volumes and lower manufacturing and other costs. Segment operating income as a percent of revenue was 12.9% and 15.3% for 2018 and 2017, respectively.

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Color

Segment revenue for the Color segment was $553.5 million in 2018 and $526.4 million in 2017, an increase of approximately 5%. Foreign exchange rates had a minimal impact on segment revenue. The higher segment revenue was primarily a result of higher revenue in Food & Beverage Colors and Cosmetics. The higher revenue in Food & Beverage Colors was primarily a result of higher volumes, the impact of the GlobeNatural acquisition (approximately 1%), favorable exchange rates, and higher selling prices. The higher revenue in Cosmetics was primarily a result of higher volumes.

Segment operating income for the Color segment was $114.9 million in 2018 and $113.4 million in 2017, an increase of approximately 1%. The higher segment operating income was primarily a result of higher operating income in Cosmetics, partially offset by unfavorable product mix and higher raw material costs in Food & Beverage Colors. The higher operating income in Cosmetics was primarily a result of higher volumes and selling prices, favorable product mix, lower raw material costs, and the favorable impact of exchange rates, partially offset by higher manufacturing and other costs. Foreign exchange rates increased segment operating income by approximately 1%. Segment operating income as a percent of revenue was 20.8% in 2018 compared to 21.5% in 2017.

Asia Pacific

Segment revenue for the Asia Pacific segment was $123.2 million for both 2018 and 2017. Foreign exchange rates had a minimal impact on segment revenues. Segment revenue was consistent with the prior year as higher selling prices were mostly offset by lower volumes.

Segment operating income for the Asia Pacific segment was $20.9 million in 2018 and $20.8 million in 2017, a slight increase over the prior year. The slight increase in segment operating income was a result of higher selling prices, favorable product mix, and favorable exchange rates, mostly offset by higher manufacturing and other costs. Foreign exchange rates increased segment operating income by approximately 1%. Segment operating income as a percent of revenue was 16.9% in both 2018 and 2017.

Corporate & Other

The Corporate & Other operating loss was $28.8 million in 2018 and $80.7 million in 2017. The lower operating loss was primarily a result of the absence in 2018 of the restructuring and other costs that were incurred in 2017 and lower performance based executive compensation incurred in 2018. Restructuring and other costs were $48.1 million in 2017. There were no restructuring and other costs incurred in 2018.

RESULTS OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS

2017 vs. 2016

Revenue

Sensient’s revenue was approximately $1.4 billion in both 2017 and 2016.

Gross Profit

The Company’s gross margin was 34.9% in 2017 and 34.4% in 2016. Included in the cost of products sold are $2.9 million and $2.1 million of restructuring costs for 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in the gross margin was primarily a result of higher selling prices and the favorable impact of a divestiture (See Note 13, Restructuring Charges, and Note 15, Divestiture), partially offset by higher raw material and manufacturing costs. Restructuring costs reduced gross margin by 20 basis points and 10 basis points in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expense as a percent of revenue was 22.6% in 2017 and 21.0% in 2016. Restructuring and other costs of $45.2 million and $24.0 million for 2017 and 2016, respectively, were included in selling and administrative expense. Selling and administrative expense as a percent of revenue was higher in 2017 than in 2016 primarily as a result of higher restructuring and other costs, partially offset by lower performance based executive compensation and professional fees. Restructuring and other costs increased selling and administrative expense as a percent of revenue by 330 basis points and 180 basis points in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Operating Income

Operating income was $167.8 million in 2017 and $185.6 million in 2016. Operating margins were 12.3% in 2017 and 13.4% in 2016. Restructuring and other costs reduced operating margins by 350 basis points and 190 basis points in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Additional information on segment results can be found in the Segment Information section.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $19.4 million in 2017 and $18.3 million in 2016. The increase in expense was primarily due to the increase in average debt outstanding.

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Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was 39.6% in 2017 and 26.5% in 2016. The effective tax rates in both 2017 and 2016 were impacted by restructuring and other activities, changes in estimates associated with the finalization of prior year foreign and domestic tax items, audit settlements, adjustments to valuation allowances, and mix of foreign earnings. The effective tax rate in 2017 was also impacted by the limited tax deductibility of losses and the result of the cumulative foreign currency effect related to certain repatriation transactions.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted the 2017 Tax Legislation. The Act significantly changed U.S. corporate income tax laws by reducing the U.S. corporate income tax rate to 21% beginning in 2018 and creating a territorial tax system with a one-time mandatory tax on previously deferred foreign earnings of U.S. subsidiaries. As a result, the Company recorded a net charge of $18.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2017. This amount consisted of reassessing the U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the lower corporate income tax rate, adjustments to the Company’s foreign tax credit carryover, and the one-time mandatory tax on previously deferred foreign earnings of U.S. subsidiaries.

Although the Company believed that $18.4 million was a reasonable estimate of the 2017 Tax Legislation, it was considered a provisional estimate. The Company received additional guidance on the 2017 Tax Legislation in 2018, and adjusted this provisional estimate during the third and fourth quarters of 2018 (See Note 10, Income Taxes).

	2017			2016
Rate before restructuring and discrete items		24.5	%		27.7	%
2017 Tax Legislation		12.4	%		-
Restructuring impact		3.9	%		1.0	%
Discrete items		(1.2	%)		(2.2	%)
Reported effective tax rate		39.6	%		26.5	%

Restructuring

Between March 2014 and 2017, the Company executed a restructuring plan to eliminate underperforming operations, consolidate manufacturing facilities, and improve efficiencies within the Company. In accordance with GAAP, the Company recorded total restructuring costs of $36.5 million and $11.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Divestiture

In January 2017, the Company completed this divestiture for approximately $12.5 million. The Company recognized an additional non-cash loss of $11.6 million in 2017.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Within the following tables, the Company reports certain non-GAAP financial measures, including: (1) adjusted operating income, adjusted net earnings, and adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations (which exclude restructuring and other costs as well as the impact of the 2017 Tax Legislation) and (2) percentage changes in revenue, operating income, diluted EPS, adjusted operating income, and adjusted diluted EPS on a local currency basis (which eliminate the effects that result from translating its international operations into U.S. dollars). The other costs in 2017 and 2016 are divestiture related costs, discussed under “Divestiture” above.

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	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
(In thousands except per share amounts)	2017			2016			% Change
Operating Income from continuing operations (GAAP)	$	167,806		$	185,609			(9.6	%)
Restructuring - Cost of products sold		2,889			2,065
Restructuring - Selling and administrative		33,627			12,486
Other – Selling and administrative ⁽¹⁾		11,555			11,535
Adjusted operating income	$	215,877		$	211,695			2.0	%

Net Earnings from continuing operations (GAAP)	$	89,600		$	122,913			(27.1	%)
Restructuring & other, before tax		48,071			26,086
Tax impact of restructuring & other		(5,602	)		(4,999	)
Impact of the 2017 Tax Legislature		18,446			-
Adjusted net earnings	$	150,515		$	144,000			4.5	%

Diluted EPS from continuing operations (GAAP)	$	2.03		$	2.74			(25.9	%)
Restructuring & other, net of tax		0.96			0.47
2017 Tax Legislation		0.42			-
Adjusted diluted EPS	$	3.42		$	3.21			6.5	%

(1)

The other costs in 2017 and 2016 are for the divestiture related costs discussed under “Divestiture” above.

Note: Earnings per share calculations may not foot due to rounding differences.

The following table summarizes the percentage change in the 2017 results compared to the 2016 results in the respective financial measures.

	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2017
	Total			Foreign Exchange Rates			Local Currency
Revenue
Flavors & Fragrances		(6.1	%)		0.0	%		(6.1	%)
Color		4.4	%		0.9	%		3.5	%
Asia Pacific		1.6	%		0.8	%		0.9	%
Total Revenue		(1.5	%)		0.5	%		(2.0	%)

Operating Income From Continuing Operations
Flavors & Fragrances		(7.8	%)		(0.4	%)		(7.4	%)
Color		7.2	%		0.6	%		6.5	%
Asia Pacific		(12.0	%)		1.1	%		(13.1	%)
Corporate & Other		18.9	%		0.1	%		18.7	%
Operating Income from continuing operations		(9.6	%)		0.2	%		(9.8	%)
Diluted EPS from continuing operations		(25.9	%)		0.0	%		(25.9	%)

Adjusted operating income ⁽¹⁾		2.0	%		0.2	%		1.8	%
Adjusted diluted EPS ⁽¹⁾		6.5	%		0.3	%		6.2	%

(1)

Refer to table above for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures.

SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company determines its operating segments based on information utilized by its chief operating decision maker to allocate resources and assess performance. Segment performance is evaluated on operating income before restructuring and other costs (which are reported in Corporate & Other), interest expense, and income taxes.

The Company’s reportable segments consist of the Flavors & Fragrances, Color, and Asia Pacific segments.

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Beginning in the first quarter of 2017, the results of operations for certain of the Company’s cosmetic and fragrance businesses in the Asia Pacific segment are now reported in the Color segment and Flavors & Fragrances segment, respectively. In addition, the Color segment reassigned customer accounts and revised cost allocations amongst the businesses within their segment resulting in changes in the underlying components of segment revenue and segment operating income. The results for 2016 have been restated to reflect these changes.

Flavors & Fragrances

Segment revenue for the Flavors & Fragrances segment was $746.9 million in 2017 and $795.8 million in 2016, a decrease of approximately 6%. Foreign exchange did not have a material impact on revenue. The decrease in revenue was primarily due to lower revenue in Flavors and Natural Ingredients. The lower segment revenue in Flavors was primarily due to the divestiture and lower volumes, partially offset by higher selling prices. The lower segment revenue in Natural Ingredients was primarily due to lower volumes and the divestiture, partially offset by higher selling prices.

Segment operating income for the Flavors & Fragrances segment was $114.3 million in 2017, and $124.1 million in 2016. The lower segment operating income was primarily a result of lower segment operating income in Flavor and Fragrances. The lower operating income in Flavor was primarily due to unfavorable volume and product mix, and higher manufacturing and other costs, partially offset by higher selling prices. The lower operating income in Fragrances was primarily due to higher manufacturing and other costs. Segment operating margin was 15.3% in 2017 and 15.6% in 2016.

Color

Segment revenue for the Color segment was $526.4 million in 2017, and $504.1 million in 2016, an increase of approximately 4%. The increase in revenue was primarily due to higher revenue in non-food colors. The higher revenue in non-food colors was primarily due to higher volumes, primarily in cosmetic colors, and higher selling prices.

Segment operating income for the Color segment was $113.4 million in 2017, and $105.8 million in 2016, an increase of approximately 7%. The higher segment operating income was due to higher segment operating income in non-food colors, partially offset by lower segment operating income in food and beverage colors. The higher operating income for non-food colors was primarily due to favorable volume and product mix. The lower profit for food and beverage colors was primarily due to unfavorable volume and product mix and higher manufacturing and other costs, partially offset by higher selling prices. Segment operating margin was 21.5% in 2017 and 21.0% in 2016.

Asia Pacific

Segment revenue for the Asia Pacific segment was $123.2 million in 2017, and $121.2 million in 2016, an increase of approximately 2%. The higher segment revenue was due to higher selling prices, partially offset by lower volumes.

Segment operating income for the Asia Pacific segment was $20.8 million in 2017, and $23.6 million in 2016, a decrease of 12%. The lower segment operating income was a result of higher manufacturing and other costs and unfavorable volume and product mix, partially offset by higher selling prices. Segment operating margin was 16.9% in 2017 and 19.5% in 2016.

Corporate & Other

The Corporate & Other expenses were $80.7 million in 2017 and $67.9 million in 2016, an increase of approximately 19%, primarily due to higher restructuring and other costs partially offset by lower performance based executive compensation and professional services. The Company evaluates segment performance before restructuring and other costs, and reports all of the restructuring and other costs in Corporate & Other. Restructuring and other costs were $48.1 million and $26.1 million in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL POSITION

Financial Condition

The Company’s financial position remains strong. The Company is in compliance with its loan covenants calculated in accordance with applicable agreements as of December 31, 2018. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company amended its accounts receivable securitization program, and increased the commitment size from $60 million to $70 million. See Note 8, Accounts Receivable Securitization, for additional information.

The Company expects its cash flow from operations and its existing debt capacity can be used to meet anticipated future cash requirements for operations, capital expenditures, dividend payments, acquisitions, and stock repurchases. The impact of inflation on both the Company’s financial position and its results of operations has been minimal and is not expected to significantly affect 2019 results.

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Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $83.5 million in 2018; $36.3 million in 2017; and $183.6 million in 2016. Operating cash flow provided the primary source of funds for operating needs, capital expenditures, shareholder dividends, acquisitions, and share repurchases. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities in 2018 is primarily due to the adoption of ASU 2016-15 Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which required certain cash receipts related to the Company’s accounts receivable securitization (i.e. the deferred purchase price) to be classified as investing activities. As a result, the Company included $91.1 million, $141.5 million, and $35.4 million of cash received as deferred purchase price as investing activities, which were previously recorded as operating activities, in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities in 2017 is primarily due to the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-15, higher working capital balances, and the timing of tax payments.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities was $14.8 million in 2018; $110.4 million in 2017; and $(36.4) million in 2016. Capital expenditures were $50.7 million in 2018; $56.3 million in 2017; and $81.2 million in 2016. As required under ASU 2016-15, the Company included $91.1 million, $141.5 million and $35.4 million of cash received as deferred purchase price under its accounts receivable securitization as cash provided by investing activities in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. In 2018, the Company purchased Mazza Innovation Limited, for approximately $19.8 million, GlobeNatural for approximately $10.8 million, and the assets of one other business for an immaterial amount. In 2017, the Company sold a facility and certain related business lines in Strasbourg, France, for approximately $12.5 million, its European Natural Ingredients business for a nominal amount, and two other production facilities for $10.1 million.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $98.7 million in 2018; $153.4 million in 2017; and $128.0 million in 2016. The Company had a net increase in debt of $38.2 million in 2018; a net decrease in debt of $8.8 million in 2017; and a net decrease in debt of $24.5 million in 2016. Sensient purchased $76.7 million, $87.2 million, and $50.1 million of Company stock, which settled in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

The Company has paid uninterrupted quarterly cash dividends since commencing public trading in its stock in 1962. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company increased its quarterly dividend from 33 cents per share to 36 cents per share. Dividends paid per share were $1.35 in 2018, $1.23 cents in 2017, and $1.11 cents in 2016. Total dividends paid were $57.4 million, $54.0 million, and $49.6 million in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Sensient purchased 1.1 million shares of Company stock in 2018 for a total cost of $76.7 million; 1.1 million shares of Company stock in 2017 for a total cost of $87.2 million; and 0.7 million shares of Company stock in 2016 for a total cost of $47.5 million. In 2014, the Board approved a share repurchase program under which the Company was authorized to repurchase five million shares of Company stock. In October 2017, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to three million additional shares. As of December 31, 2018, 2.2 million shares were available to be repurchased under existing authorizations. The Company’s share repurchase program has no expiration date. These authorizations may be modified, suspended, or discontinued by the Board of Directors at any time.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

In preparing the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., management is required to make estimates and assumptions that have an impact on the asset, liability, revenue, and expense amounts reported. These estimates can also affect supplemental information disclosures of the Company, including information about contingencies, risk, and financial condition. The Company believes, given current facts and circumstances, that its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, adhere to accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., and are consistently applied. Inherent in the nature of an estimate or assumption is the fact that actual results may differ from estimates and estimates may vary as new facts and circumstances arise. The Company makes routine estimates and judgments in determining the net realizable value of accounts receivable, inventories, and property, plant, and equipment. Management believes the Company’s most critical accounting estimates and assumptions are in the following areas:

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue as 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. 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. See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report for additional details.

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Goodwill Valuation

The Company reviews the carrying value of goodwill annually utilizing several valuation methodologies, including a discounted cash flow model. The Company completed its annual goodwill impairment test under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, in the third quarter of 2018. In conducting its annual test for impairment, the Company performed a qualitative assessment of its previously calculated fair values for each of its reporting units, as the Company believes it is not more likely than not that goodwill is impaired. Fair value is estimated using both a discounted cash flow analysis and an analysis of comparable company market values. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its net book value, no impairment exists. The Company’s three reporting units each had goodwill recorded and were tested for impairment. All three reporting units had fair values that were over 100% above their respective net book values. Changes in estimates of future cash flows caused by items such as unforeseen events or changes in market conditions could negatively affect the reporting units’ fair value and result in an impairment charge.

Income Taxes

The Company estimates its income tax expense in each of the taxing jurisdictions in which it operates. The Company is subject to a tax audit in each of these jurisdictions, which could result in changes to the estimated tax expense. The amount of these changes would vary by jurisdiction and would be recorded when probable and estimable. These changes could impact the Company’s financial statements. Management has recorded valuation allowances to reduce the Company’s deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. Examples of deferred tax assets include deductions, net operating losses, and tax credits that the Company believes will reduce its future tax payments. In assessing the future realization of these assets, management has considered future taxable income and ongoing tax planning strategies. An adjustment to the recorded valuation allowance as a result of changes in facts or circumstances could result in a significant change in the Company’s tax expense. The Company does not provide for deferred taxes on unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries, which are considered to be invested indefinitely.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method with the exception of certain locations of the Flavors & Fragrances segment where cost is determined using a weighted average method. Net realizable value is determined on the basis of estimated realizable values. Cost includes direct materials, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead.

The Company estimates any required write-downs for inventory obsolescence by examining inventories on a quarterly basis to determine if there are any damaged items or slow moving products in which the carrying values could exceed net realizable value. Inventory write-downs are recorded as the difference between the cost of inventory and its estimated market value. While significant judgment is involved in determining the net realizable value of inventory, the Company believes that inventory is appropriately stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value.

Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is subject to litigation and other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of its businesses or arising under applicable laws and regulations. Estimating liabilities and costs associated with these matters requires the judgment of management, who rely in part on information from Company legal counsel. When it is probable that the Company has incurred a liability associated with claims or pending or threatened litigation matters and the Company’s exposure is reasonably estimable, the Company records a charge against earnings. The Company recognizes related insurance reimbursement when receipt is deemed probable. The Company’s estimate of liabilities and related insurance recoveries may change as further facts and circumstances become known.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

The Company is subject to certain contractual obligations, including long-term debt, operating leases, manufacturing purchases, and pension benefit obligations. The Company had unrecognized tax benefits of $4.8 million as of December 31, 2018. However, the Company cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of the period of potential cash settlement of the liabilities and, therefore, has not included unrecognized tax benefits in the following table of significant contractual obligations as of December 31, 2018.

PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD

(in thousands)	Total		1 year		2-3 years		4-5 years		> 5 years
Long-term debt	$	689,553	$	10,963	$	27,393	$	464,008	$	187,189
Interest payments on long-term debt		85,401		19,069		36,642		21,736		7,954
Operating lease obligations		30,535		9,749		10,604		5,921		4,261
Manufacturing purchase commitments		441,751		404,728		36,305		718		-
Pension funding obligations		23,732		1,532		3,099		5,534		13,567
Total contractual obligations	$	1,270,972	$	446,041	$	114,043	$	497,917	$	212,971

Index

NEW PRONOUNCEMENTS

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassifications of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This ASU allows entities the option to reclassify to retained earnings tax effects related to the change in federal tax rate for all items accounted for in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI). The Company adopted this standard in the fourth quarter of 2018, and as a result, has elected to reclassify $1.4 million from AOCI to Earnings Reinvested in the Business on the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity as of January 1, 2018.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. This ASU requires employers to present the service cost component of the net periodic benefit cost in the same income statement line item as the other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. The other components of net periodic benefit cost are to be presented outside of any subtotal of operating income. This ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2018, and as a result, the Company’s non-service cost portion of its pension expense is now recorded in Interest Expense on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Earnings. The Company’s service cost portion of pension expense is recorded in Selling and Administrative Expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings. This change did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Asset Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-16, the tax effects of intra-entity asset transfers were deferred until the transferred asset was sold to a third party or otherwise recovered through use. ASU 2016-16 eliminates the exception for all intra-entity sales of assets other than inventory. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those years. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2018 resulting in a cumulative effect of $0.4 million increase to Earnings reinvested in the business; an increase of $3.0 million to Deferred Tax Assets; a decrease of $3.7 million to Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets; and a decrease of $1.1 million to Deferred Tax Liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This ASU clarifies how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. Among these changes is a requirement that a transferor’s receipt of a beneficial interest in securitized trade receivables be disclosed as an investing transaction. There is also a requirement to classify cash receipts received that are related to beneficial interests in previously transferred receivables (i.e., deferred purchase price) as inflows from investing activities. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those years. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2018 and has included $91.1 million, $141.5 million, and $35.4 million as cash flows from investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively, related to collections on beneficial interests in previously transferred receivables.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Under this new standard, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The requirements of the new standard are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective method. The adoption of this new standard did not have an impact on the revenue recognized by the Company. The Company has updated its revenue recognition accounting policy, as outlined above, and has included a disclosure on its disaggregated revenue in Note 11, Segment and Geographic Information.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize the lease assets and liabilities that arise from leases on the balance sheet and to disclose qualitative and quantitative information about lease transactions. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. In 2017, the Company created a project team within its Corporate Finance Department to review the impact that this ASU will have on the Company. During 2018, the project team has gathered and reviewed existing leases and other relevant documents across all of the Company’s segments and installed a software solution to facilitate the implementation of this new standard. The Company believes it has a complete population of leasing agreements and has analyzed the agreements. The Company has also implemented additional internal controls over the evaluation of new leases and the implementation of this ASU around leases. The Company has updated its Audit Committee on the status of the implementation of this ASU. The Company’s current estimate of the impact of this ASU on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements is the recognition of lease assets and liabilities in the range of $19 million to $22 million based on current interest rates and population of leases. The Company will continue to evaluate this range and the impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company expects to finalize its implementation calculations in the first quarter of 2019.

Index

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, which expands an entity’s ability to hedge non-financial and financial risk components and reduce complexity in fair value hedges of interest rate risk. This guidance eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and generally requires the entire change in the fair value of a hedging instrument to be presented in the same income statement line item as the hedged item. This ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the expected impact of this standard.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses of Financial Instruments, which replaces the current incurred loss impairment model with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses. Under the new methodology, entities will be required to measure expected credit losses on financial instruments held at amortized cost, including trade receivables, based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable forecasts. Adoption of this guidance is required for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the expected impact of this standard.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which eliminates step two of the goodwill impairment test and specifies that goodwill impairment should be measured by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. This standard will be applied prospectively and is effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests performed in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the expected impact of this standard.

In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which changes the requirements on fair value measurements by removing, modifying, or adding certain disclosures. Adoption of this guidance is required for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the expected impact of this standard.

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

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

The Company had no off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2018.

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

The Company is exposed to market risks, including changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, and commodity prices. Where possible, the Company nets certain of these exposures to take advantage of natural offsets. For certain remaining exposures, the Company may enter into various derivative transactions pursuant to the Company’s hedging policies. The financial impacts of these hedging instruments are offset by corresponding changes in the underlying exposures being hedged.

The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. Note 1 and Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements include discussions of the Company’s accounting policies for financial instruments.

Because the Company manufactures and sells its products throughout the world, it is exposed to movements in foreign currency exchange rates. The major foreign currency exposures include the markets in Western Europe, Latin America, Canada, and Asia. The primary purpose of the Company’s foreign currency hedging activities is to protect against the volatility associated with foreign currency sales, purchases of materials, and other assets and liabilities created during the normal course of business. The Company generally utilizes foreign exchange contracts with durations of less than 18 months that may or may not be designated as cash flow hedges under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The net fair value of these instruments, based on dealer quotes, was an asset of $0.1 million and a liability of $0.6 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. At December 31, 2018, the potential gain or loss in the fair value of the Company’s outstanding foreign exchange contracts, assuming a hypothetical 10% fluctuation in the currencies of such contracts, would be approximately $2.1 million. However, any change in the value of the contracts, real or hypothetical, would be significantly offset by a corresponding change in the value of the underlying hedged items. In addition, this hypothetical calculation assumes that each exchange rate would change in the same direction relative to the U.S. dollar.

Index

The Company has certain debt denominated in Euros, Swiss Francs, and British Pounds. These non-derivative debt instruments act as partial hedges of the Company’s Euro, Swiss Franc, and British Pound net asset positions. The potential increase or decrease in the annual U.S. dollar interest expense of the Company’s outstanding foreign currency-denominated debt, assuming a hypothetical 10% fluctuation in the currencies of such debt, would be approximately $0.7 million at December 31, 2018. However, any change in interest expense from fluctuations in currency, real or hypothetical, would be significantly offset by a corresponding change in the value of the foreign income before interest. In addition, this hypothetical calculation assumes that each exchange rate would change in the same direction relative to the U.S. dollar.

The Company manages its debt structure and interest rate risk through the use of fixed rate and floating rate debt. The Company’s primary exposure is to interest rates in the U.S. and Western Europe. At December 31, 2018, the potential increase or decrease in annual interest expense, assuming a hypothetical 10% fluctuation in interest rates of floating rate debt, would be approximately $0.8 million.

The Company is the purchaser of certain commodities, such as vanilla, corn, sugar, soybean meal, and fruits. The Company generally purchases these commodities based upon market prices that are established with the vendor as part of the purchase process. In general, the Company does not use commodity financial instruments to hedge commodity prices due to a high correlation between the commodity cost and the ultimate selling price of the Company’s products. On occasion, the Company may enter into non-cancelable forward purchase contracts, as deemed appropriate, to reduce the effect of price fluctuations on future manufacturing requirements.

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The financial statements required by this item are set forth below and the supplementary data required by this item are set forth in Item 5 above.

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None.

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and its Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness, as of December 31, 2018, of the design and operation of the disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and its Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2018.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. It is management’s policy to maintain a control-conscious environment through an effective system of internal accounting controls. These controls are supported by the careful selection of competent and knowledgeable personnel and by the communication of standard accounting and reporting policies and procedures throughout the Company. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Management has assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018. In making its assessment of internal control over financial reporting, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013 Framework). As allowed by Securities and Exchange Commission guidance, management excluded from its assessment GlobeNatural and Mazza Innovation Limited, which were acquired in 2018 and constituted 2.3% and 3.4% of total assets and net assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2018, and 0.3% of revenues for the year then ended. Based on that assessment, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2018.

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. Their opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is included in this report.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2018, that have materially affected, or are reasonable likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Index

Item 9B.

Other Information.

None.

PART III

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers of the Registrant, and Corporate Governance.

Information required by this item regarding directors and officers, corporate governance, and other matters appearing under “Election of Directors” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be filed with the Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2018 (“2019 Proxy Statement”), is incorporated by reference. Additional information required by this item regarding executive officers appears at the end of Part I above, and information required by this item regarding codes of conduct appear at the beginning of Part I above.

Item 11.

Executive Compensation.

Information required by this item relating to compensation of directors and officers is incorporated by reference from the “Election of Directors,” “Executive Compensation,” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information” portions of the 2019 Proxy Statement. Information required by this item relating to the Compensation and Development Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors is incorporated by reference from the headings “Compensation and Development Committee Report” and “Election of Directors” in the 2019 Proxy Statement.

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The information required by this item regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and related stockholder matters appearing under “Principal Shareholders” in the 2019 Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference. The information required by this item appearing under “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in the 2019 Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference.

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence.

The information required by this item regarding certain relationships and related party transactions and director independence appearing at the end of “Election of Directors” and under “Transactions With Related Persons” in the 2019 Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference.

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

The disclosure regarding principal accountant fees and services appearing under “Audit Committee Report” in the 2019 Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference.

Index

PART IV

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

Documents filed:

1 and 2:

Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule. See below for “List of Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule.”

See Exhibit Index following this report.

List of Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule

1.	Financial Statements

The following consolidated financial statements of Sensient Technologies Corporation and subsidiaries are included in this annual report on Form 10-K:

	Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	57

	Consolidated Balance Sheets – December 31, 2018 and 2017	33

	Consolidated Statements of Earnings – Years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016	31

	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income – Years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016	32

	Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity – Years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016	35

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016	34

	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	36-56

2.	Financial Statement Schedule

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

All other schedules are omitted because they are inapplicable, not required by the instructions, or the information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

Item 16.

Form 10-K Summary.

None.

Index

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

	Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands except per share amounts)	2018		2017		2016

Revenue	$	1,386,815	$	1,362,265	$	1,383,210
Cost of products sold		920,686		886,775		907,783
Selling and administrative expenses		262,751		307,684		289,818
Operating income		203,378		167,806		185,609
Interest expense		21,853		19,383		18,324
Earnings before income taxes		181,525		148,423		167,285
Income taxes		24,165		58,823		44,372
Earnings from continuing operations		157,360		89,600		122,913
Gain from discontinued operations, net of tax		-		-		3,343
Net earnings	$	157,360	$	89,600	$	126,256

Earnings per common share:

Basic:
Continuing operations	$	3.71	$	2.05	$	2.76
Discontinued operations		-		-		0.08
Earnings per common share	$	3.71	$	2.05	$	2.84

Diluted:
Continuing operations	$	3.70	$	2.03	$	2.74
Discontinued operations		-		-		0.07
Earnings per common share	$	3.70	$	2.03	$	2.82

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		42,404		43,780		44,523
Diluted		42,499		44,031		44,843

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Index

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands)	Years Ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016
Net earnings	$	157,360		$	89,600		$	126,256
Cash flow hedges adjustment, net of tax of $32, $10 and $89, respectively		816			(584	)		(249	)
Pension adjustment, net of tax of $347, $778 and $785, respectively		1,027			2,228			1,856
Foreign currency translation on net investment hedges		13,661			(28,871	)		6,989
Tax effect of current year activity on net investment hedges		(3,393	)		10,812			(2,733	)
Foreign currency translation on long-term intercompany loans		3,276			7,013			(494	)
Tax effect of current year activity on intercompany long-term loans		(2,498	)		-			-
Reclassification of cumulative translation to net earnings		-			6,782			(3,257	)
Other foreign currency translation		(27,721	)		66,751			(45,515	)
Total comprehensive income	$	142,528		$	153,731		$	82,853

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Index

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands except share and per share amounts)	December 31,
	2018			2017
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	31,901		$	29,344
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for losses of $5,976 and $6,000, respectively		255,350			195,439
Inventories		490,757			463,517
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		44,857			43,206
Assets held for sale		-			1,969
Total current assets		822,865			733,475
Other assets		66,788			68,251
Deferred tax assets		9,189			7,885
Intangible assets – at cost, less accumulated amortization of $20,325 and $17,432, respectively		18,867			7,211
Goodwill		416,175			408,995
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Land		36,787			35,198
Buildings		318,463			317,464
Machinery and equipment		688,003			687,896
Construction in progress		34,772			40,833
		1,078,025			1,081,391
Less accumulated depreciation		(586,969	)		(582,868	)
		491,056			498,523
Total assets	$	1,824,940		$	1,724,340

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current Liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	$	131,812		$	109,780
Accrued salaries, wages and withholdings from employees		23,410			23,613
Other accrued expenses		31,198			51,764
Income taxes		8,234			11,036
Short-term borrowings		20,046			20,130
Total current liabilities		214,700			216,323
Deferred tax liabilities		28,976			18,724
Other liabilities		8,554			13,539
Accrued employee and retiree benefits		23,210			19,294
Long-term debt		689,553			604,159
Shareholders’ Equity:
Common stock, par value $0.10 a share, authorized 100,000,000 shares; issued 53,954,874 shares		5,396			5,396
Additional paid‑in capital		101,663			107,176
Earnings reinvested in the business		1,516,243			1,414,485
Treasury stock, 11,731,223 and 10,759,291 shares, respectively, at cost		(597,800	)		(525,422	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(165,555	)		(149,334	)
		859,947			852,301
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	1,824,940		$	1,724,340

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Index

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)	Years ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net earnings	$	157,360		$	89,600		$	126,256
Adjustments to arrive at net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		53,244			48,518			47,019
Share-based compensation		503			5,855			7,709
Net loss on assets		63			2,552			9,755
Loss on divestiture of business		—			33,160			—
Liquidation of foreign entity		—			—			(3,257	)
Deferred income taxes		9,844			17,414			10,428
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable		(96,638	)		(130,835	)		(4,270	)
Inventories		(34,114	)		(47,345	)		(20,064	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(12,544	)		14,072			(4,096	)
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses		7,457			4,804			2,332
Accrued salaries, wages and withholdings from employees		599			(4,361	)		3,347
Income taxes		(7,335	)		2,846			5,959
Other liabilities		5,081			27			2,521
Net cash provided by operating activities		83,520			36,307			183,639

Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment		(50,740	)		(56,344	)		(81,216	)
Cash receipts on sold receivables		91,142			141,465			35,414
Proceeds from sale of assets		2,615			10,485			6,254
Proceeds from divesture of business		—			12,457			—
Acquisition of new business		(31,100	)		—			—
Other investing activities		2,916			2,319			3,184
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		14,833			110,382			(36,364	)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from additional borrowings		322,529			231,174			222,562
Debt payments		(284,332	)		(239,950	)		(247,092	)
Purchase of treasury stock		(76,734	)		(87,217	)		(50,100	)
Dividends paid		(57,410	)		(54,038	)		(49,635	)
Other financing activities		(2,777	)		(3,383	)		(3,706	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(98,724	)		(153,414	)		(127,971	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		2,928			10,204			(5,436	)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		2,557			3,479			13,868
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		29,344			25,865			11,997

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	31,901		$	29,344		$	25,865

Cash paid during the year for:
Interest	$	21,567		$	19,523		$	18,474
Income taxes		24,089			29,261			29,217
Capitalized interest		604			486			1,061

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Index

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands except share and per share amounts)	Common		Additional Paid-in			Earnings Reinvested in the			Treasury Stock						Accumulated Other Comprehensive
	Stock		Capital			Business			Shares			Amount			(Loss) Income
Balances at December 31, 2015	$	5,396	$	109,974		$	1,302,302			9,174,843		$	(402,483	)	$	(170,062	)
Net earnings							126,256
Other comprehensive income (loss)																(43,403	)
Cash dividends paid – $1.11 per share							(49,635	)
Share-based compensation				7,709
Stock options exercised				(650	)					(30,500	)		1,354
Non-vested stock issued upon vesting				(7,769	)					(172,147	)		7,769
Benefit plans				229						(15,839	)		698
Purchase of treasury stock										702,698			(47,534	)
Other				(1,807	)					57,449			(2,603	)
Balances at December 31, 2016		5,396		107,686			1,378,923			9,716,504			(442,799	)		(213,465	)
Net earnings							89,600
Other comprehensive income																64,131
Cash dividends paid – $1.23 per share							(54,038	)
Share-based compensation				5,855
Stock options exercised				(202	)					(10,667	)		499
Non-vested stock issued upon vesting				(5,478	)					(114,393	)		5,478
Benefit plans				445						(12,999	)		596
Purchase of treasury stock										1,139,734			(87,217	)
Other				(1,130	)					41,112			(1,979	)
Balances at December 31, 2017		5,396		107,176			1,414,485			10,759,291			(525,422	)		(149,334	)
Net earnings							157,360
Other comprehensive income (loss)																(14,832	)
Cash dividends paid – $1.35 per share							(57,410	)
Share-based compensation				503
Stock options exercised				(80	)					(4,000	)		200
Non-vested stock issued upon vesting				(5,454	)					(111,185	)		5,454
Benefit plans				350						(15,126	)		769
Purchase of treasury stock										1,060,000			(76,734	)
Other				(832	)		1,808			42,243			(2,067	)		(1,389	)
Balances at December 31, 2018	$	5,396	$	101,663		$	1,516,243			11,731,223		$	(597,800	)	$	(165,555	)

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Index

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016

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 fragrances. The Company uses advanced technologies at facilities around the world to develop specialty food and beverage systems; cosmetic, fragrances, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical systems; specialty inks and colors; and other specialty and fine chemicals. The Company’s three reportable segments are the Flavors & Fragrances 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, restructuring and other costs, and the results of Mazza Innovation Limited (see Note 2, Acquisitions, for further information) are included in the “Corporate & Other” category.

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.

The results of operations for one of the Company’s business units within the Color Group have been reported as a discontinued operation for the period ended December 31, 2016. See Note 14, Discontinued Operations, for further information regarding discontinued operations.

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

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, 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 shipping 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 11, Segment and Geographic Information, for further information).

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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 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 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 with the exception of certain locations of the Flavors & Fragrances Group where cost is determined using a weighted average method. Inventories include finished and in-process products totaling $320.4 million and $310.4 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and raw materials and supplies of $170.4 million and $153.1 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

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 2016, which indicated a substantial premium compared to the carrying value of net assets, including goodwill. In 2018 and 2017, the Company completed a qualitative assessment in comparison to the quantitative assessment performed in 2016, noting no indicators of impairment. The Company did not record impairment charges for any of its reporting units in 2018, 2017, or 2016.

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 20 years. These assets include technological know-how, customer relationships, patents, trademarks, 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 2014 Restructuring Plan as well as the Company’s divestiture of a facility and certain related business lines within the Flavors & Fragrances segment in Strasbourg, France. See Note 13, Restructuring Charges, and Note 15, Divestiture, for additional information.

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.

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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. Generally, these risk management transactions 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.

Hedge effectiveness is determined by how closely the changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument offset the changes in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. Hedge accounting is permitted only if the hedging relationship is expected to be highly effective at the inception of the transaction and on an ongoing basis.

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 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 carrying amount of the foreign-denominated debt on the Company’s books, attributable to changes in the spot foreign exchange rate, is a hedge of the net investment in its foreign subsidiaries. Changes in the fair value of debt designated as a net investment hedge are 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, 2018, 2017, and 2016.

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 6, 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 stock options and non-vested stock. Diluted EPS assumes that non-vested stock has vested and all dilutive stock options, for which the average market price exceeds the exercise price (in-the-money), are exercised. Stock options for which the exercise price exceeds the average market price (out-of-the-money) have an anti-dilutive effect on EPS, and accordingly, are excluded from the calculation.

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

	Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands except per share amounts)	2018		2017		2016
Numerator:
Net earnings from continuing operations	$	157,360	$	89,600	$	122,913
Denominator:
Denominator for basic EPS - weighted average common shares		42,404		43,780		44,523
Effect of dilutive securities		95		251		320
Denominator for diluted EPS - diluted weighted average shares outstanding		42,499		44,031		44,843

EPS from continuing operations
Basic	$	3.71	$	2.05	$	2.76
Diluted	$	3.70	$	2.03	$	2.74

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, 2018, 2017, and 2016.

In 2018, 2017, and 2016, there were no anti-dilutive stock options. 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 9, 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 related to continuing operations were $43.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2018, and $40.9 million in both years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Advertising

Advertising costs are recorded in selling and administrative expenses as they are incurred. Advertising costs related to continuing operations were $2.5 million, $2.2 million, and $2.3 million during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, 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 and no such events were identified.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

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Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

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2. Acquisitions

On July 10, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Mazza Innovation Limited, a botanical extraction business with patented solvent-free extraction processes, located in Vancouver, Canada. The Company paid $19.8 million of cash for this acquisition. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. The Company acquired net assets of $4.0 million and identified intangible assets, principally technological know-how, of $6.9 million. The remaining $8.9 million was allocated to goodwill. This acquisition provides the Company with an umbrella technology, which will support applications for both the Flavors & Fragrances and Color segments. The Company is still in the process of integrating this business, and, therefore, the Company has included its results in Corporate & Other.

On March 9, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of certain net assets and the natural color business of GlobeNatural, a natural color company based in Lima, Peru. The Company paid $10.8 million of cash for this acquisition. The Company acquired net assets of $1.4 million and identified intangible assets, principally customer relationships, of $2.0 million, and allocated the remaining $7.4 million to goodwill. These operations are included in the Color segment.

3. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

At December 31, 2018 and 2017, goodwill is the only intangible asset that is not subject to amortization. The following table summarizes intangible assets with determinable useful lives by major category as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:

			2018					2017
(In thousands except weighted average amortization years)	Weighted Average Amortization Years		Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Cost		Accumulated Amortization

Technological know-how		18.9	$	14,570	$	(6,768	)	$	7,510	$	(6,505	)
Customer relationships		17.4		8,761		(5,673	)		6,869		(5,244	)
Patents, trademarks, non-compete agreements, and other		15.4		15,861		(7,884	)		10,264		(5,683	)

Total finite-lived intangibles		17.2	$	39,192	$	(20,325	)	$	24,643	$	(17,432	)

Amortization of intangible assets was $2.3 million in 2018; $1.6 million in 2017; and $1.3 million in 2016. Estimated amortization expense, for the five years subsequent to December 31, 2018, is $2.3 million in 2019 and 2020; $2.1 million in 2021; $2.0 million in 2022; and $1.7 million in 2023.

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The changes in goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, by reportable business segment, were as follows:

(In thousands)	Flavors & Fragrances			Color			Asia Pacific		Corporate & Other		Consolidated
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	109,369		$	272,006		$	2,193	$	-	$	383,568
Currency translation impact		5,624			18,883			920		-		25,427
Balance as of December 31, 2017		114,993			290,889			3,113		-		408,995
Currency translation impact		(891	)		(8,269	)		52		-		(9,108	)
Acquisitions		-			7,434			-		8,854		16,288
Balance as of December 31, 2018	$	114,102		$	290,054		$	3,165	$	8,854	$	416,175

4. Debt

Long-term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following unsecured obligations at December 31:

(in thousands)	2018			2017
3.66% senior notes due November 2023	$	75,000		$	75,000
3.65% senior notes due May 2024		27,000			27,000
4.19% senior notes due November 2025		25,000			-
1.27% Euro-denominated senior notes due May 2024		57,333			60,024
1.71% Euro-denominated senior notes due May 2027		45,866			48,019
3.06% Euro-denominated senior notes due November 2023		43,856			45,914
1.85% Euro-denominated senior notes due November 2022		76,662			80,260
4.47% senior notes due November 2018		-			25,000
2.53% British Pound-denominated notes due November 2023		31,884			-
2.76% British Pound-denominated notes due November 2025		31,884			-
Term loan		132,313			141,375
Long-term revolving credit facility		142,061			100,712
Various other notes		923			1,068
		689,782			604,372
Less debt fees		(229	)		(213	)
Total long-term debt	$	689,553		$	604,159

In June 2018, the Company amended its accounts receivable securitization program with Wells Fargo & Company (Wells Fargo). The program was further amended on October 1, 2018, to increase the amount from $60 million to $70 million. In connection with the amendments, the Company entered into conforming amendments to its revolving credit facility and outstanding note purchase agreements. Under the amended program, Wells Fargo has extended a secured loan (Secured Loan) of up to $70 million to the Company secured by Wells Fargo’s undivided interests in certain of the Company’s trade accounts receivables. The interest rate on the Secured Loan is LIBOR plus 0.75%. The Company has the intent and ability either to repay the Secured Loan with available funds from the Company’s existing long-term revolving credit facility, or to extend its accounts receivable program with Wells Fargo when it matures. Accordingly, the Secured Loan has been classified as long-term debt on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of December 31, 2018, the amount was fully drawn.

In July 2018, the Company borrowed 50 million British Pounds and 45 million Euros under its revolving credit facility to act as a partial hedge of the Company’s net asset positions in British Pounds and Euros. See Note 5, Derivatives and Hedging Activity, for additional information. The proceeds of these borrowings were used to repay the U.S. dollar denominated borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility.

In November 2018, the Company replaced the 50 million British Pounds revolver borrowing with 50 million British Pounds of private placement notes. The two notes were issued for 25 million British Pounds each, maturing in November 2023 and November 2025, and bearing interest rates of 2.53% and 2.76%, respectively. At the same time, the Company issued $25 million of private placement notes, maturing in November 2025, and bearing an interest rate of 4.19%, the proceeds of which were used to repay maturing private placement debt.

The borrowings under the Term Loan had an average interest rate of 3.48% and 2.58% for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

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The borrowings under the long-term revolving credit facility had an average interest rate of 2.08% and 1.77% for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The aggregate amounts of contractual maturities on long-term debt for the five years subsequent to December 31, 2018, are as follows: 2019, $11.0 million; 2020, $12.8 million; 2021, $14.6 million; 2022, $313.1 million; and 2023, $150.9 million.

The Company has approximately $11.0 million of long-term debt that matures in 2019. The Company is able and intends to refinance these maturities under the long-term revolving credit facility. Accordingly, that maturing debt has been classified as long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The Company had $264.5 million available under the revolving credit facility and $121.8 million available under other lines of credit from several banks at December 31, 2018.

Substantially all of the senior loan agreements contain restrictions concerning interest coverage, borrowings, and investments. The Company is in compliance with all of these restrictions at December 31, 2018. The following table summarizes the Company’s most restrictive loan covenants calculated in accordance with the applicable agreements as of December 31, 2018:

	Actual		Required
Debt to EBITDA⁽¹⁾ (Maximum)		2.79		<3.50
Interest Coverage (Minimum)		6.15		>2.00

⁽¹⁾

Debt to EBITDA is defined in the Company’s debt covenants as total funded debt divided by the Company’s consolidated operating income excluding non-operating gains and losses and depreciation and amortization.

The Company had stand-by and trade letters of credit outstanding of $6.4 million and $5.9 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Short-term Borrowings

The Company’s short-term borrowings consisted of the following items at December 31:

(in thousands)	2018		2017
Uncommitted loans	$	19,768	$	19,192
Loans of foreign subsidiaries		278		938
Total	$	20,046	$	20,130

The weighted average interest rates on short-term borrowings were 3.24 % and 2.46% at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

5. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity

The Company may use derivative instruments for the purpose of hedging currency, commodity, and interest rate exposures, which exist as part of ongoing business operations. As a policy, the Company does not engage in speculative or leveraged transactions, nor does the Company hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. Hedge effectiveness is determined by how closely the changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument offset the changes in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged transaction. Hedge accounting, which generally results in the deferral of derivative gains and losses until such time as the underlying transaction is recognized in net earnings, is permitted only if the hedging relationship is expected to be highly effective at the inception of the transaction and on an ongoing basis.

The Company manages its exposure to foreign exchange risk by the use of forward exchange contracts to reduce the effect of fluctuating foreign currencies on non-functional currency sales, purchases, and other known foreign currency exposures. These forward exchange contracts generally have maturities of less than 18 months. The Company also uses certain debt denominated in foreign currencies to manage the net asset positions of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. The Company’s primary hedging activities and their accounting treatment are summarized below:

Forward Exchange Contracts

Certain forward exchange contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges. The Company had $76.0 million and $44.9 million of forward exchange contracts, designated as cash flow hedges, outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, the amount deferred in OCI was $0.8 million. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the amounts reclassified into net earnings in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Earnings that offset the earnings impact of the related non-functional asset or liability hedged in the same period were not material. In addition, the Company utilizes forward exchange contracts that are not designated as cash flow hedges and the results of these transactions are not material to the financial statements.

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Net Investment Hedges

The Company has certain debt denominated in Euros, Swiss Francs and British Pounds. These debt instruments have been designated as partial hedges of the Company’s Euro, Swiss Franc, and British Pound net asset positions. Changes in the fair value of this debt attributable to changes in the spot foreign exchange rate are recorded in foreign currency translation in OCI. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the total value of the Company’s Euro, Swiss Franc and British Pound debt designated as net investment hedges was $366.5 million and $261.9 million, respectively. The impact of foreign exchange rates on these debt instruments has decreased debt by $13.7 million and increased debt by $28.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. These amounts have been recorded as foreign currency translation in OCI.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Counterparties to forward exchange contracts consist of large international financial institutions. While these counterparties may expose the Company to potential losses due to the credit risk of non-performance, losses are not anticipated. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable are limited by the large number of customers, generally short payment terms and their dispersion across geographic areas.

6. Share-Based Compensation

The Company has various stock plans under which employees and directors may be granted non-vested stock which vests over a specific time period. The 2007 Stock Plan, which expired April 26, 2017, allowed for the granting of non-vested stock in the form of restricted stock, restricted stock units, non-qualified stock options or incentive stock options, and stock appreciation rights. In April 2017, the Company’s 2017 Stock Plan was approved, which authorized 1.8 million shares to be granted as non-vested stock in the form of restricted stock, restricted stock units, non-qualified stock options or incentive stock options, and stock appreciation rights. As of December 31, 2018, there were 1.6 million shares available to be granted as non-vested stock under the Company’s existing stock plans.

Expense for shares of non-vested stock is recognized over the vesting period with a pro-rata vesting upon retirement. The vesting period is three years beginning with awards granted in December 2013. During the period of restriction, the holder of non-vested stock has voting rights and is entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to the stock.

The grants issued after December 2013, to elected officers, consist of 100% performance stock unit awards which are based on a three-year performance and vesting period and a pro-rata vesting upon retirement. Three-year performance that exceeds the stated performance metrics would result in an award up to 150% of the original grant. The holders of the performance stock units are not entitled to vote or receive dividends and other distributions paid with respect to the stock, until the units have vested and the shares of stock are issued.

The Company expenses awards for non-vested stock, including time-vesting stock and performance stock units, based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the date of the grant.

The following table summarizes the non-vested stock and performance stock unit activity:

(In thousands except fair value)	Shares			Grant Date Weighted Average Fair Value		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2015		542		$	48.94	$	34,063
Granted		119			69.92
Vested		(172	)		43.42
Cancelled		(54	)		52.41
Outstanding at December 31, 2016		435			56.44		34,184
Granted		115			74.26
Vested		(114	)		39.75
Cancelled		(24	)		63.62
Outstanding at December 31, 2017		412			65.64		30,113
Granted		142			59.45
Vested		(111	)		56.91
Cancelled		(63	)		64.71
Outstanding at December 31, 2018		380		$	66.02	$	21,239

The total intrinsic values of shares vested during 2018, 2017, and 2016, was $7.7 million, $8.8 million, and $12.8 million, respectively.

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As of December 31, 2018, total remaining unearned compensation, net of expected forfeitures, related to non-vested stock and performance stock units was $12.5 million, which will be amortized over the weighted average remaining service period of 1.48 years.

Total pre-tax share-based compensation recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings was $0.5 million, $5.9 million, and $7.7 million in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. Fluctuations in share-based compensation was primarily due to performance based executive stock compensation. Tax related (costs) benefits of ($0.3) million, $0.5 million, and $2.8 million were also recognized in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. Cash received from the exercise of stock options was $0.1 million, $0.3 million, and $0.7 million for 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively, and is reflected in cash flows from financing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

7. Retirement Plans

The Company provides benefits under defined contribution plans including a savings plan and an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). The savings plan covers substantially all domestic salaried and certain non-union hourly employees and provides for matching contributions up to 4% of each employee’s salary. The ESOP covers substantially all domestic employees and provides for contributions based on a percentage of each employee’s compensation as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. Total expense for the Company’s defined contribution plans was $6.0 million in 2018 and 2017, and $6.7 million in 2016.

Although the Company intends for these defined contribution plans to be the primary retirement benefit for most employees, the Company also has several defined benefit plans. The funded status of the defined benefit plans was as follows at December 31:

(in thousands)	2018			2017

Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	37,757		$	41,691
Service cost		1,465			1,939
Interest cost		1,137			1,222
Foreign currency exchange rate changes		(761	)		1,607
Benefits paid		(2,480	)		(9,633	)
Amendments		145			-
Actuarial (gain) loss		(3,111	)		931
Benefit obligation at end of year		34,152			37,757
Plan assets at beginning of year		31,768			36,141
Company contributions		886			1,195
Foreign currency exchange rate changes		(1,315	)		2,318
Benefits paid		(2,480	)		(9,633	)
Actual (loss) gain on plan assets		(560	)		1,747
Plan assets at end of year		28,299			31,768
Funded status	$	(5,853	)	$	(5,989	)
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	33,562		$	36,951

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31:

(in thousands)	2018			2017

Accrued employee and retiree benefits	$	(15,245	)	$	(13,304	)
Other accrued expenses		(779	)		(2,731	)
Other assets		10,171			10,046
Net liability	$	(5,853	)	$	(5,989	)

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Components of annual benefit cost:

(In thousands)	2018			2017			2016

Service cost	$	1,465		$	1,939		$	2,091
Interest cost		1,137			1,222			1,669
Expected return on plan assets		(896	)		(892	)		(1,141	)
Recognized actuarial (gain) loss		(141	)		(187	)		193
Settlement (income) expense		(179	)		3,796			543
Defined benefit expense	$	1,386		$	5,878		$	3,355

Weighted average liability assumptions as of December 31:

	2018			2017
Discount rate		3.80	%		3.16	%
Expected return on plan assets		3.21	%		3.03	%
Rate of compensation increase		0.31	%		0.33	%

Weighted average cost assumptions for the year ended December 31:

	2018			2017
Discount rate		3.16	%		3.48	%
Expected return on plan assets		3.03	%		2.85	%
Rate of compensation increase		0.33	%		0.43	%

In 2017, one of the Company’s defined benefit plans was terminated. The plan was associated with two facilities which were closed under the Company’s 2014 Restructuring Plan. As a result, the pension benefit obligation was settled by making lump-sum cash payments to certain participants and also purchasing nonparticipating annuity contracts to cover the remaining vested benefits. As a result of the plan’s termination, the Company recognized $3.8 million of settlement expense in 2017, which has been recorded in the Company’s restructuring and other costs.

The aggregate amounts of benefits expected to be paid from defined benefit plans in each of the next five years subsequent to December 31, 2018, which include employees’ expected future service, are as follows: 2019, $1.5 million; 2020, $ 1.5 million; 2021, $1.6 million; 2022, $3.9 million; 2023, $1.6 million; and $13.6 million in total for the years 2024 through 2028.

The Company expects to contribute $1.1 million to defined benefit plans in 2019.

Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31 were as follows:

(In thousands)	2018			2017
Unrecognized net actuarial (gain) loss	$	(901	)	$	1,112
Prior service cost		145			-
Total before tax effects	$	(756	)	$	1,112

The pension adjustments, net of tax, recognized in OCI, were as follows:

(In thousands)	2018			2017		2016

Net actuarial gain arising during the period	$	1,257		$	921	$	1,312
Prior service cost		(127	)		-		-
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss, included in defined benefit expense		(103	)		1,307		544
Pension adjustment, net of tax	$	1,027		$	2,228	$	1,856

The estimated actuarial gain for the defined benefit plans that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into periodic benefit cost during 2019 is $0.1 million.

The investment objectives and target allocations for the Company’s pension plans related to the assets of the plans are reviewed on a regular basis. The investment objectives for the pension assets are to maximize the return on assets while maintaining an overall level of risk appropriate for a retirement fund and ensuring the availability of funds for the payment of retirement benefits. The levels of risk assumed by the pension plans are determined by market conditions, the rate of return expectations, and the liquidity requirements of each pension plan. The actual asset allocations of each pension plan are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that they are in line with the target allocations.

Index

The following table presents the Company’s pension plan assets by asset category as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:

	Fair Value as of December 31,		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2018 Using Fair Value Hierarchy						Fair Value as of December 31,		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017 Using Fair Value Hierarchy
(in thousands)	2018		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		2017		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Equity Funds
Domestic	$	5,385	$	5,385	$	—	$	—	$	6,226	$	6,226	$	—	$	—
International		83		—		83		—		101		—		101		—
International Fixed Income Funds		22,703		1,111		21,592		—		25,340		934		24,406		—
Other investments		128		47		81		—		101		44		57		—
Total assets at fair value	$	28,299	$	6,543	$	21,756	$	—	$	31,768	$	7,204	$	24,564	$	—

The Company is required to categorize pension plan assets based on the following fair value hierarchy:

Level 1:

Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2:

Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with observable market data.

Level 3:

Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

8. Accounts Receivable Securitization

In October 2016, the Company entered into an accounts receivable securitization program with Wells Fargo, whereby transactions under the program were accounted for as sales of trade receivables in accordance with ASC Topic 860, Transfers and Servicing, between October 2016 and June 2018. Sales of trade receivables under the program were recorded as a reduction of accounts receivable in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The fair value of the receivables sold equaled the carrying cost at the time of sale and no gain or loss had been recorded as a result of the sales. The sales also resulted in the recording of a deferred purchase price amount, which represents the retained interest in the sold receivables. This amount was adjusted daily based on collections and other activity. The Company estimated the fair value of the deferred purchase price receivable based on historical performance of similar receivables, including an allowance for doubtful accounts, as well as estimated cash discounts to be taken by customers and potential credits issued to customers. The Company deemed the interest rate risk related to the deferred purchase price receivable to be de minimis primarily due to the short average collection cycle of the related receivables. As of December 31, 2017, the net trade receivables sold to Wells Fargo totaled $96.4 million, and the fair value of the deferred purchase price was $36.4 million, which was recorded in Trade Accounts Receivable in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In June 2018, the Company amended its securitization program with Wells Fargo (the “Amendment”). Following the Amendment, the Company no longer accounts for the sales of the trade receivables in accordance with ASC Topic 860 and instead now maintains the trade receivables and related debt on its Consolidated Balance Sheet. In connection with the Amendment, Wells Fargo’s existing ownership interest in the trade receivables was converted into undivided interests in the trade receivables to secure a loan of up to $60 million to the Company and the deferred purchase price was eliminated.

As a result of the Amendment, the Company’s trade account receivables increased by $60 million and the Company’s long-term debt increased by $60 million. This non-cash transaction did not impact the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows during the year ended December 31, 2018.

In October 2018, the Company further amended the accounts receivable securitization program to increase the commitment size from $60 million to $70 million and extended the expiration date of the program until October 2019. As of December 31, 2018, $70 million was borrowed under this agreement. See Note 4, Debt, for further information.

Index

9. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The following table summarizes the changes in OCI for 2018, 2017, and 2016:

(In thousands)	Cash Flow Hedges ^(a)			Pension Items ^(a)			Foreign Currency Items			Total

Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	164		$	(4,393	)	$	(165,833	)	$	(170,062	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(1,094	)		1,312			(41,753	)		(41,535	)
Amounts reclassified from OCI		845			544			(3,257	)		(1,868	)
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	(85	)	$	(2,537	)	$	(210,843	)	$	(213,465	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(768	)		921			55,705			55,858
Amounts reclassified from OCI		184			1,307			6,782			8,273
Balance as of December 31, 2017	$	(669	)	$	(309	)	$	(148,356	)	$	(149,334	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		667			1,130			(16,675	)		(14,878	)
Amounts reclassified from OCI		149			(103	)		-			46
Adoption of ASU 2018-02		-			(169	)		(1,220	)		(1,389	)
Balance as of December 31, 2018	$	147		$	549		$	(166,251	)	$	(165,555	)

(a)

Cash Flow Hedges and Pension Items are net of tax.

In 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2018-02, Reclassifications of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, (See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, for additional information), resulting in the reclassification of OCI into Earnings reinvested in the business.

10. Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes for continuing operations was as follows:

(In thousands)	2018			2017			2016
Currently (receivable) payable:
Federal ⁽¹⁾	$	(9,071	)	$	15,513		$	12,145
State		205			642			2,631
Foreign		23,187			25,254			19,168
		14,321			41,409			33,944
Deferred expense (benefit):
Federal		3,977			18,458			7,630
State		3,164			215			1,656
Foreign		2,703			(1,259	)		1,142
		9,844			17,414			10,428
Income taxes	$	24,165		$	58,823		$	44,372

(1)

In 2018 and 2017, this amount includes $(3.9) million and $7.4 million, respectively, of income tax (benefit) expense related to the one-time transition tax on earnings of foreign subsidiaries enacted by the 2017 Tax Legislation (See discussion below). There was no liability for this amount recorded as of December 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2017, $5.1 million of this amount was reported in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Index

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities consisted of the following:

(in thousands)	2018			2017
Deferred tax assets:
Benefit plans	$	6,788		$	8,440
Liabilities and reserves		12,563			11,141
Operating loss and credit carryovers		65,392			40,164
Other		1,404			1,007
Gross deferred tax assets		86,147			60,752
Valuation allowance		(50,702	)		(38,366	)
Deferred tax assets		35,445			22,386
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment		(29,372	)		(12,458	)
Goodwill		(21,372	)		(20,345	)
Other		(4,488	)		(422	)
Deferred tax liabilities		(55,232	)		(33,225	)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(19,787	)	$	(10,839	)

The Company is subject to current tax on Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) earned by foreign subsidiaries. The FASB Staff Q&A Topic No. 5, Accounting for Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income, states that an entity can make an accounting policy election either to recognize deferred taxes for temporary differences that are expected to reverse as GILTI in future years or provide for the tax expense related to GILTI resulting from those items in the year the tax is incurred. Sensient is electing to recognize GILTI as a period expense in the period the tax is incurred.

At December 31, 2018, foreign operating loss carryovers were $122.9 million. Included in the foreign operating loss carryovers are losses of $25.2 million that expire through 2033, and $97.7 million that expire after 2033 or do not have an expiration date. At December 31, 2018, state operating loss carryovers were $138.4 million, of which $137.3 million expires through 2033.

The effective tax rate for continuing operations differed from the statutory federal income tax rate as described below:

	2018			2017			2016
Taxes at statutory rate		21.0	%		35.0	%		35.0	%
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit		1.1			0.3			1.4
Tax credits		(1.5	)		(1.1	)		(1.8	)
Taxes on foreign earnings		(0.4	)		0.2			(4.4	)
Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income		0.6			-			-
Resolution of prior years’ tax matters		(0.3	)		0.1			-
U.S. manufacturing deduction		-			(1.4	)		(2.0	)
Valuation allowance adjustments		0.4			-			(0.3	)
2017 Tax Legislation		(3.7	)		12.4			-
Loss on foreign branch remittances		-			(5.2	)		-
U.S. tax accounting method changes		(2.9	)		-			-
Other, net		(1.0	)		(0.7	)		(1.4	)
Effective tax rate		13.3	%		39.6	%		26.5	%

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Act or 2017 Tax Legislation). The Act significantly changed the U.S. corporate income tax laws by reducing the U.S. corporate income tax rate to 21% beginning in 2018 and imposing a one-time mandatory tax on previously deferred foreign earnings of U.S. subsidiaries in 2017. Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (SAB 118) was issued to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Act. In accordance with SAB 118, the Company recorded a net charge of $18.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2017. The amount consists of reassessing the U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities, adjustments to the Company’s foreign tax credit carryover, and the one-time mandatory tax on previously deferred foreign earnings of U.S. subsidiaries. Based on additional guidance, changes in interpretation, additional analysis, and assumptions, the Company reduced this net charge by $6.6 million in 2018. Sensient considers $11.8 million to be the final net charge related to the Act.

Index

During the third and fourth quarters of 2018, the US Treasury released numerous proposed regulations related to the 2017 Tax Legislation. The Company has reviewed and evaluated these proposed regulations. These regulations, when finalized, could result in adjustments to the Company’s provision for income taxes and its realizability of certain deferred tax assets.

The effective tax rate in 2018 was also favorably impacted by U.S. tax accounting method changes that were filed with the IRS in the second quarter of 2018 and generation of foreign tax credits during 2018.

The 2017 loss on remittances is the result of the cumulative foreign currency effect related to certain repatriation transactions.

Taxes on foreign earnings include the difference between the tax rates applied to foreign earnings relative to the U.S. statutory tax rate, accruals for foreign unrecognized tax benefits, and the impact of the U.S. foreign tax credit, not including the impact from GILTI. The impact on the Company’s effective tax rate varies from year to year based on the mix of earnings, increases in foreign unrecognized tax benefits, and the expected realization of U.S. foreign tax credits generated each year. The increase of the 2017 effective tax rate from taxes on foreign earnings compared to 2016 is primarily the result of the non-deductible losses from the sale of the European Natural Ingredients business (See Note 13, Restructuring Charges), and the sale of the business lines in Strasbourg, France (See Note 15, Divestiture).

Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes were as follows:

(In thousands)	2018		2017		2016

United States	$	80,641	$	88,479	$	96,963
Foreign		100,884		59,944		70,322
Total	$	181,525	$	148,423	$	167,285

Federal and state income taxes are provided on international subsidiary income distributed to or taxable in the U.S. during the year. At December 31, 2018, no additional income or withholding taxes have been provided for the $553 million of undistributed earnings or any additional outside basis differences inherent in these entities, as these amounts are considered to be invested indefinitely. If the undistributed earnings were repatriated, Sensient estimates it would have a withholding tax liability of $24.9 million. The determination of the tax liability for any outside basis differences is not practicable.

A reconciliation of the change in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits for 2018 and 2017 is as follows:

(in thousands)	2018			2017
Balance at beginning of year	$	6,276		$	4,947
Increases for tax positions taken in the current year		834			871
Increases for tax positions taken in prior years		271			553
Decreases related to settlements with tax authorities		(177	)		(76	)
Decreases as a result of lapse of the applicable statutes of limitations		(920	)		(607	)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes		(258	)		588
Balance at the end of year	$	6,026		$	6,276

The amount of the unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the effective tax rate, if recognized, was approximately $4.8 million. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to the unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively, of accrued interest and penalties were reported as an income tax liability in each period. The liability for unrecognized tax benefits relates to multiple jurisdictions and is reported in Other liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2018.

The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that the total amount of liability for unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2018, will decrease by approximately $0.9 million during 2019, of which $0.9 million is estimated to impact the effective tax rate. The potential decrease relates to various tax matters for which the statute of limitations may expire or will be otherwise settled in 2019. The amount that is ultimately recognized in the financial statements will be dependent upon various factors including potential increases or decreases in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of examinations, settlements, and other unanticipated items that may occur during the year. With limited exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to federal, state, and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2014.

11. Segment and Geographic Information

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. The Company evaluates performance based on operating income before restructuring and other charges, interest expense, and income taxes (“segment operating income”). Total revenue and segment operating income by business segment and geographic region include both sales to customers, as reported in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings, and intersegment sales, which are accounted for at prices that approximate market prices and are eliminated in consolidation.

Index

Assets by business segment and geographic region are those assets used in the Company’s operations in each segment and geographic region. Segment assets reflect the allocation of goodwill to each segment. Corporate & Other assets consist primarily of fixed assets and investments.

Segment Information

The Company determines its operating segments based on information utilized by its chief operating decision maker to allocate resources and assess performance. Segment performance is evaluated on operating income of the respective business units before restructuring and other charges, which are reported in Corporate & Other.

The Company’s three reportable segments are Flavors & Fragrances and Color segments, which are both managed on a product line basis, and the Asia Pacific segment, which is managed on a geographic basis. The Company’s Flavors & Fragrances segment produces flavor and fragrance products that impart a desired taste, texture, aroma, or other characteristic to a broad range of consumers and other products. The Color segment produces natural and synthetic color systems for foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals; colors, ingredients and systems for cosmetics; specialty inks and technical colors for industrial applications. The Asia Pacific segment is managed on a geographic basis and produces and distributes color, flavor, and fragrance products for the Asia Pacific countries. The Company’s corporate expenses and restructuring and other costs are included in the “Corporate & Other” category.

In July 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Mazza Innovation Limited (See Note 2, Acquisitions, for further information). This acquisition provides the Company with an umbrella technology, which supports applications for both the Flavors & Fragrances and Color segments. The Company is in the process of integrating this business, and, therefore, the Company has included its results in Corporate & Other.

Restructuring and other costs related to continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, are further described in Note 13, Restructuring Charges, and Note 15, Divestiture, and are included in the operating income (loss) results in Corporate & Other below. There have been no restructuring and other costs in 2018. Consistent with presentation in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and Statements of Cash Flows, the below amounts for assets, capital expenditures, and depreciation and amortization include discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and are included in Corporate & Other. In addition, the Company’s corporate expenses are included in Corporate & Other.

Index

(In thousands)	Flavors & Fragrances		Color		Asia Pacific		Corporate & Other			Consolidated
2018:
Revenue from external customers	$	723,189	$	539,974	$	123,127	$	525		$	1,386,815
Intersegment revenue		23,743		13,505		37		—			37,285
Total revenue		746,932		553,479		123,164		525			1,424,100

Operating income (loss)		96,433		114,924		20,856		(28,835	)		203,378
Interest expense		—		—		—		21,853			21,853
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from continuing operations		96,433		114,924		20,856		(50,688	)		181,525

Assets		784,161		730,644		101,792		208,343			1,824,940
Capital expenditures		23,679		21,269		2,858		2,934			50,740
Depreciation and amortization		25,922		21,644		2,451		3,227			53,244

2017:
Revenue from external customers	$	727,026	$	512,811	$	122,428	$	—		$	1,362,265
Intersegment revenue		19,917		13,552		765		—			34,234
Total revenue		746,943		526,363		123,193		—			1,396,499

Operating income (loss)		114,343		113,381		20,772		(80,690	)		167,806
Interest expense		—		—		—		19,383			19,383
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from continuing operations		114,343		113,381		20,772		(100,073	)		148,423

Assets		773,173		720,328		99,770		131,069			1,724,340
Capital expenditures		31,989		18,797		3,557		2,001			56,344
Depreciation and amortization		23,611		19,902		2,303		2,702			48,518

2016:
Revenue from external customers	$	771,434	$	490,862	$	120,914	$	—		$	1,383,210
Intersegment revenue		24,377		13,269		282		—			37,928
Total revenue		795,811		504,131		121,196		—			1,421,138

Operating income (loss)		124,059		105,814		23,603		(67,867	)		185,609
Interest expense		—		—		—		18,324			18,324
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from continuing operations		124,059		105,814		23,603		(86,191	)		167,285

Assets		785,449		673,754		92,203		116,454			1,667,860
Capital expenditures		57,622		15,422		5,199		2,973			81,216
Depreciation and amortization		22,897		19,421		2,042		2,659			47,019

Geographic Information

The Company has manufacturing facilities or sales offices in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa.

Consistent with presentation in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and Statements of Cash Flows, the below amounts for long-lived assets include discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2016. The long-lived asset impairment is included in Corporate & Other and is further described in Note 15, Divestiture.

Index

The Company’s annual revenue from continuing operations summarized by geographic location is as follows:

(In thousands)	Flavors & Fragrances		Color		Asia Pacific		Corporate & Other			Consolidated
2018:
Revenue from external customers:
North America	$	477,083	$	245,278	$	—	$	371		$	722,732
Europe		173,562		168,187		155		153			342,057
Asia Pacific		31,506		59,548		121,975		—			213,029
Other		41,038		66,961		997		1			108,997
Total revenue from external customers	$	723,189	$	539,974	$	123,127	$	525		$	1,386,815
Long-lived assets:
North America	$	260,932	$	209,821	$	—	$	97,362		$	568,115
Europe		121,372		265,688		—		—			387,060
Asia Pacific		1,061		3,319		25,856		—			30,236
Other		277		16,387		—		—			16,664
Total long-lived assets	$	383,642	$	495,215	$	25,856	$	97,362		$	1,002,075

2017:
Revenue from external customers:
North America	$	487,034	$	231,674	$	—	$	—		$	718,708
Europe		164,641		159,646		310		—			324,597
Asia Pacific		32,717		55,108		121,110		—			208,935
Other		42,634		66,383		1,008		—			110,025
Total revenue from external customers	$	727,026	$	512,811	$	122,428	$	—		$	1,362,265
Long-lived assets:
North America	$	260,802	$	207,746	$	—	$	78,113		$	546,661
Europe		127,111		278,127		—		—			405,238
Asia Pacific		1,395		3,075		26,920		—			31,390
Other		380		7,196		—		—			7,576
Total long-lived assets	$	389,688	$	496,144	$	26,920	$	78,113		$	990,865

2016:
Revenue from external customers:
North America	$	515,716	$	229,944	$	—	$	—		$	745,660
Europe		192,185		150,553		80		—			342,818
Asia Pacific		27,459		49,580		119,845		—			196,884
Other		36,074		60,785		989		—			97,848
Total revenue from external customers	$	771,434	$	490,862	$	120,914	$	—		$	1,383,210
Long-lived assets:
North America	$	257,661	$	206,078	$	—	$	84,935		$	548,674
Europe		126,447		245,526		—		(10,944	)		361,029
Asia Pacific		1,482		3,244		25,280		—			30,006
Other		519		10,571		—		—			11,090
Total long-lived assets	$	386,109	$	465,419	$	25,280	$	73,991		$	950,799

Sales in the United States, based on the final country of destination of the Company’s products, were $586.2 million, $574.5 million, and $595.0 million in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. No other country of destination exceeded 10% of consolidated sales. Total long-lived assets in the United States amounted to $491.4 million, $491.8 million, and $495.3 million at December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

Index

Product Information

The Company’s revenue from continuing operations summarized by product portfolio is as follows:

(In thousands)	Flavors & Fragrances			Color			Asia Pacific			Corporate & Other		Consolidated
2018:
Flavors	$	414,728		$	—		$	—		$	—	$	414,728
Natural Ingredients		224,280			—			—			—		224,280
Fragrances		107,924			—			—			—		107,924
Food & Beverage Colors		—			303,386			—			—		303,386
Cosmetics		—			153,347			—			—		153,347
Other Colors		—			96,746			—			—		96,746
Asia Pacific		—			—			123,164			—		123,164
Corporate & Other		—			—			—			525		525
Intersegment Revenue		(23,743	)		(13,505	)		(37	)		—		(37,285	)
Total revenue from external customers	$	723,189		$	539,974		$	123,127		$	525	$	1,386,815

2017:
Flavors	$	439,811		$	—		$	—		$	—	$	439,811
Natural Ingredients		219,837			—			—			—		219,837
Fragrances		87,295			—			—			—		87,295
Food & Beverage Colors		—			279,870			—			—		279,870
Cosmetics		—			147,637			—			—		147,637
Other Colors		—			98,856			—			—		98,856
Asia Pacific		—			—			123,193			—		123,193
Intersegment Revenue		(19,917	)		(13,552	)		(765	)		—		(34,234	)
Total revenue from external customers	$	727,026		$	512,811		$	122,428		$	—	$	1,362,265

2016:
Flavors	$	474,904		$	—		$	—		$	—	$	474,904
Natural Ingredients		237,664			—			—			—		237,664
Fragrances		83,243			—			—			—		83,243
Food & Beverage Colors		—			279,516			—			—		279,516
Cosmetics		—			123,937			—			—		123,937
Other Colors		—			100,678			—			—		100,678
Asia Pacific		—			—			121,196			—		121,196
Intersegment Revenue		(24,377	)		(13,269	)		(282	)		—		(37,928	)
Total revenue from external customers	$	771,434		$	490,862		$	120,914		$	—	$	1,383,210

12. Fair Value Measurements

ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, defines fair value for financial assets and liabilities, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company’s only assets and liabilities subject to this standard are forward contracts, investments in a money market fund and municipal bonds, and defined benefit plan assets (See Note 7, Retirement Plans, for additional information on the defined benefit plan assets). The net fair value of the forward exchange contracts based on current pricing obtained for comparable derivative products (Level 2 inputs) was an asset of $0.2 million and a liability of $0.6 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The fair value of the investments based on December 31, 2018 and 2017, market quotes (Level 1 inputs) was an asset of $0.1 million in both periods and is reported in Other Assets in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The carrying values of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses, and short-term borrowings approximated fair values as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.

The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt, including current maturities, is estimated using discounted cash flows based on the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements (Level 2 inputs). The carrying value of the long-term debt at December 31, 2018 and 2017, was $689.6 million and $604.2 million, respectively. The fair value of the long-term debt at December 31, 2018 and 2017, was approximately $695.0 million and $620.2 million, respectively.

Index

13. Restructuring Charges

Between March 2014 and 2017, the Company executed a restructuring plan (2014 Restructuring Plan) to eliminate underperforming operations, consolidate manufacturing facilities, and improve efficiencies within the Company. In accordance with GAAP, no restructuring costs were recorded for the year ended December 31, 2018, however, the Company recorded total restructuring costs of $36.5 million and $11.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The restructuring costs incurred in 2017 were primarily due to the loss on asset sales of $21.6 million and other costs. The restructuring costs incurred in 2016 were primarily due to decommissioning costs, professional services, moving costs, and other related costs.

14. Discontinued Operations

In connection with the 2014 Restructuring Plan, the Company approved a plan to dispose of a business unit within the Color segment, located near Leipzig, Germany. Since 2014, the business met the criteria to be presented as a discontinued operation as established in ASC Subtopic 205-20, Discontinued Operations. The results of this business have been reported as a discontinued operation in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2016. During 2016, the facility and remaining assets were sold for a gain of $0.2 million. In addition, the entity was liquidated resulting in a reclassification of the cumulative translation adjustment of $3.3 million into net earnings.

The following table summarizes the discontinued operation’s results, which are included in the gain from discontinued operations in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings, for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016.

(In thousands)	2018		2017		2016
Net sales	$	-	$	-	$	-
Gain from discontinued operations before income taxes		-		-		3,410
Income tax expense		-		-		(67	)
Gain from discontinued operations, net of tax	$	-	$	-	$	3,343

15. Divestiture

In January 2017, the Company completed this divestiture for approximately $12.5 million. The Company recognized an additional non-cash loss of $11.6 million in 2017.

16. Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

The Company leases certain facilities and equipment under operating lease arrangements. Aggregate minimum rental commitments at December 31, 2018, for all non-cancelable operating leases with an initial lease term greater than one year for the years ending December 31 are as follows: 2019, $9.7 million; 2020, $6.7 million; 2021, $3.9 million; 2022, $3.2 million; 2023, $2.7 million; and $4.3 million thereafter.

Rent expense from continuing operations totaled $13.5 million, $12.1 million, and $12.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

People of the State of Illinois v. Sensient Flavors LLC

Index

Other Claims

Index

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Sensient Technologies Corporation

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Sensient Technologies Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes and the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on the criteria established in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 22, 2019 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2006.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

February 22, 2019

Index

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Sensient Technologies Corporation

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Sensient Technologies Corporation and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control–Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Sensient Technologies Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on the COSO criteria.

As indicated in the accompanying Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of GlobeNatural and Mazza Innovation Limited, which are included in the 2018 consolidated financial statements of the Company and constituted 2.3% and 3.4% of total and net assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2018, and 0.3% of revenues for the year then ended. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Company also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of GlobeNatural and Mazza Innovation Limited.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Sensient Technologies Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes and the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 of the Company and our report dated February 22, 2019 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal controls over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

February 22, 2019

Index

Schedule II

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (in thousands); Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016

Valuation Accounts Deducted in the Balance Sheet From the Assets to Which They Apply	Balance at Beginning of Period		Additions Charged to Costs and Expenses		Additions Recorded During Acquisitions		Deductions (A)		Balance at End of Period
2016 Allowance for losses: Trade accounts receivable	$	3,871	$	1,747	$	0	$	782	$	4,836

2017 Allowance for losses: Trade accounts receivable	$	4,836	$	1,276	$	0	$	112	$	6,000

2018 Allowance for losses: Trade accounts receivable	$	6,000	$	1,004	$	0	$	1,028	$	5,976
(A) Accounts written off, net of recoveries.

Index

SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

EXHIBIT INDEX

2018 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

Exhibit Number	Description	Incorporated by Reference from	Filed Herewith
3.1	Sensient Technologies Corporation Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation	Exhibit 3.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 24, 2017 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

3.2	Sensient Technologies Corporation Amended and Restated By-Laws	Exhibit 3.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 8, 2018 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

4.1(a)	Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 22, 2011	Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 22, 2011 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

4.1(b)	First Amendment dated as of November 6, 2015 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 22, 2011	Exhibit 10.4 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 6, 2015 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

4.1(c)	Second Amendment dated as of May 3, 2017 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 22, 2011	Exhibit 10.5 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 5, 2017 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

4.1(d)	Third Amendment dated as of June 22, 2018 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 22, 2011	Exhibit 4.1(d) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

4.2(a)	Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 5, 2013	Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 5, 2013 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

4.2(b)	First Amendment dated as of November 6, 2015 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 5, 2013	Exhibit 10.3 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 6, 2015 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

4.2(c)	Second Amendment dated as of May 3, 2017 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 5, 2013	Exhibit 10.4 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 5, 2017 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

4.2(d)	Third Amendment dated as of June 22, 2018 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 5, 2013	Exhibit 4.2(d) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

4.3(a)	Note Purchase Agreement dated as of November 6, 2015	Exhibit 10.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 6, 2015 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

4.3(b)	First Amendment dated as of May 3, 2017 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of November 6, 2015	Exhibit 10.3 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 5, 2017 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

E-1

Index

SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

EXHIBIT INDEX

2018 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

Exhibit Number	Description	Incorporated by Reference from	Filed Herewith
4.3(c)	Second Amendment dated as of June 22, 2018 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of November 6, 2015	Exhibit 4.3(c) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

4.4(a)	Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 3, 2017	Exhibit 10.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 5, 2017 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

4.4(b)	First Amendment dated as of June 22, 2018 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 3, 2017	Exhibit 4.4(b) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

4.5	Note Purchase Agreement dated as of November 1, 2018	Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 1, 2018 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10	Material Contracts

10.1	Management Contracts or Compensatory Plans

10.1(a)	Executive Employment Contract dated as of February 9, 2017, between Sensient Technologies Corporation and Paul Manning	Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 9, 2017 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(b)	Form of Change of Control Employment and Severance Agreement	Exhibit 10.1(b)(3) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(c)(1)	Sensient Technologies Corporation 2002 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan (superseded)	Appendix C to Definitive Proxy Statement filed on Schedule 14A on March 15, 2004 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(c)(2)	Sensient Technologies Corporation 2012 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan	Exhibit 10.1(c)(2) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

E-2

Index

SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

EXHIBIT INDEX

2018 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

Exhibit Number	Description	Incorporated by Reference from	Filed Herewith
10.1(d)	Universal Foods Corporation 1994 Employee Stock Plan	Exhibit 10.2(f) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(d)(1)	Amendment of Universal Foods Corporation 1994 Employee Stock Plan	Exhibit 10.1(e)(1) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(e)	Universal Foods Corporation 1998 Stock Option Plan	Exhibit 10.2(h) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(e)(1)	Amendment of Universal Foods Corporation 1998 Stock Option Plan	Exhibit 10.1(f)(1) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(f)	Universal Foods Corporation 1999 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan	Appendix A to Definitive Proxy Statement filed on Schedule 14A on December 17, 1999 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(f)(1)	Amendment of Universal Foods Corporation 1999 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan	Exhibit 10.1(g)(1) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(g)	Sensient Technologies Corporation 2002 Stock Option Plan	Appendix B to Definitive Proxy Statement filed on Schedule 14A on March 22, 2002 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(g)(1)	Amendment No. 1 to the Sensient Technologies Corporation 2002 Stock Option Plan	Exhibit 10.11 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(g)(2)	Form of Sensient Technologies Corporation 2002 Stock Option Plan Restricted Stock Agreement	Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 1, 2005 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(h)	Sensient Technologies Corporation 2007 Stock Plan	Appendix B to Definitive Proxy Statement filed on Schedule 14A on March 15, 2013 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(i)	Sensient Technologies Corporation Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan	Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 28, 2014 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(i)(1)	Sensient Technologies Corporation Non-Employee Directors’ Retirement Plan	Exhibit 10.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 25, 2013 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(j)(1)	Sensient Technologies Corporation Frozen Management Income Deferral Plan	Exhibit 10.5(a) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

E-3

Index

SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

EXHIBIT INDEX

2018 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

Exhibit Number	Description	Incorporated by Reference from	Filed Herewith
10.1(j)(2)	Sensient Technologies Corporation Management Income Deferral Plan	Exhibit 10.5(b) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(k)(1)	Sensient Technologies Corporation Frozen Executive Income Deferral Plan	Exhibit 10.4(a) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(k)(2)	Sensient Technologies Corporation Executive Income Deferral Plan	Exhibit 10.4(b) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(l)	Amended and Restated Sensient Technologies Corporation Rabbi Trust “A” Agreement dated November 30, 2009, between Sensient Technologies Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.	Exhibit 10.1(l) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(m)(1)	Amended and Restated Sensient Technologies Corporation Rabbi Trust “B” Agreement dated November 30, 2009, between Sensient Technologies Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.	Exhibit 10.1(m) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(m)(2)	Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Sensient Technologies Corporation Rabbi Trust “B” Agreement	Exhibit 10.1(m)(2) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(n)	Amended and Restated Sensient Technologies Corporation Rabbi Trust “C” Agreement dated November 30, 2009, between Sensient Technologies Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.	Exhibit 10.1(n) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(o)	Sensient Technologies Corporation Incentive Compensation Plan for Elected Corporate Officers	Appendix B to Definitive Proxy Statement filed on Schedule 14A on March 17, 2014 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(p)	Sensient Technologies Corporation Management Incentive Plan for Group Presidents	Exhibit 10.9 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(q)	Sensient Technologies Corporation Management Incentive Plan for Corporate Management	Exhibit 10.7 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(r)	Sensient Technologies Corporation Management Incentive Plan for Group/Division Management	Exhibit 10.8 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(s)(1)	Sensient Technologies Corporation Form of Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan A Agreement	Exhibit 10.1(s) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

E-4

Index

SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

EXHIBIT INDEX

2018 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

Exhibit Number	Description	Incorporated by Reference From	Filed Herewith
10.1(s)(2)	Form of Amendment No. 1 to the Sensient Technologies Corporation Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan A	Exhibit 10.1(s)(2) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 (Commission file No. 1-7626)

10.1(s)(3)	Form of Amendment No. 2 to the Sensient Technologies Corporation Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan A	Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 22, 2010 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(t)(1)	Sensient Technologies Corporation Form of Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan B Agreement	Exhibit 10.1(t) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(t)(2)	Form of Amendment No. 1 to the Sensient Technologies Corporation Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan B	Exhibit 10.1(t)(2) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(t)(3)	Form of Amendment No. 2 to the Sensient Technologies Corporation Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan B	Exhibit 10.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 22, 2010 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(u)(1)	Sensient Technologies Frozen Supplemental Benefit Plan	Exhibit 10.6(a) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(u)(2)	Sensient Technologies Supplemental Benefit Plan	Exhibit 10.6(b) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(v)	Sensient Technologies Corporation Policy on Recovery of Incentive Compensation from Executives	Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 8, 2011 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(w)	Form of Performance Stock Unit Agreement	Exhibit 10.3 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 28, 2014 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.1(x)	Sensient Technologies Corporation 2017 Stock Plan	Appendix B to Definitive Proxy Statement filed on Schedule 14A on March 10, 2017 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.2(a)	Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 24, 2014	Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 24, 2014 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

E-5

Index

SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

EXHIBIT INDEX

2018 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

Exhibit Number	Description	Incorporated by Reference From	Filed Herewith
10.3	Credit Agreement dated as of October 7, 2008	Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 7, 2008 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.4(a)	Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of October 3, 2016	Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 3, 2016 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.4(b)	Amendment No. 1 to the Receivables Sale Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2017	Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 2, 2017 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.5(a)	Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of October 3, 2016	Exhibit 10.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 3, 2016 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.5(b)	Amendment No. 1 to the Receivables Purchase Agreement and Performance Undertaking, dated as of October 2, 2017	Exhibit 10.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 2, 2017 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.5(c)	Amendment No. 2 to Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2018	Exhibit 10.5(c) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.5(d)	Amendment No. 3 to Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2018	Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 1, 2018 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

10.6	Performance Undertaking made as of October 3, 2016	Exhibit 10.3 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 3, 2016 (Commission File No. 1-7626)

21	Subsidiaries of the Registrant		X

23.1	Consent of Ernst & Young LLP		X

31	Certifications of Sensient’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act		X

32	Certifications of Sensient’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 United States Code § 1350		X

101.INS*	Instance Document		X

101.SCH*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document		X

101.CAL*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document	X

101.DEF*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document	X

101.LAB*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document	X

101.PRE*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document	X

*The following financial information is formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) and furnished electronically herewith: (i) Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016; (iii) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

E-6

Index

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

	/s/ John J. Manning
	John J. Manning
	Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Dated: February 22, 2019

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below as of February 22, 2019, by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated.

/s/ Paul Manning	/s/ Mario Ferruzzi
Paul Manning	Mario Ferruzzi
Chairman of the Board, President and	Director
Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Stephen J. Rolfs	/s/ Donald W. Landry
Stephen J. Rolfs	Donald W. Landry
Senior Vice President and	Director
Chief Financial Officer

/s/ Tobin Tornehl	/s/ Scott C. Morrison
Tobin Tornehl	Scott C. Morrison
Vice President, Controller and	Director
Chief Accounting Officer

/s/ Hank Brown	/s/ Deborah McKeithan-Gebhardt
Hank Brown	Deborah McKeithan-Gebhardt
Director	Director

/s/ Joseph Carleone	/s/ Elaine R. Wedral
Joseph Carleone	Elaine R. Wedral
Director	Director

/s/ Edward H. Cichurski	/s/ Essie Whitelaw
Edward H. Cichurski	Essie Whitelaw
Director	Director

S-1