Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019	Jan. 31, 2020	Jun. 28, 2019
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Local Phone Number	486-4200
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, no par value
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	OH
Entity Registrant Name	MATERION CORPORATION
Entity Central Index Key	0001104657
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		20,405,347
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 1,368,001,720
Entity File Number	1-15885
Entity Tax Identification Number	34-1919973
Entity Address, Address Line One	6070 Parkland Blvd
Entity Address, City or Town	Mayfield Heights
Entity Address, State or Province	OH
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	44124
City Area Code	216
Trading Symbol	MTRN
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Documents Incorporated by Reference [Text Block]	Portions of the Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III.

Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Net sales	$ 1,185,424	$ 1,207,815	$ 1,139,447
Cost of sales	926,280	956,710	926,618
Gross margin	259,144	251,105	212,829
Selling, general, and administrative expense	147,164	153,489	144,280
Research and development expense	18,271	15,187	13,981
Goodwill impairment charges	11,560	0	0
Asset impairment charges	2,581	0	0
Restructuring expense	785	5,599	644
Other - net	11,783	15,334	13,893
Operating profit	67,000	61,496	40,031
Other non-operating expense-net	3,431	42,683	1,452
Interest expense - net	1,579	2,471	2,183
Income before income taxes	61,990	16,342	36,396
Income tax expense (benefit)	11,330	(4,504)	24,945
Net income	$ 50,660	$ 20,846	$ 11,451
Basic earnings per share:
Net income per share of common stock (in usd per share)	$ 2.49	$ 1.03	$ 0.57
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income per share of common stock (in usd per share)	$ 2.45	$ 1.01	$ 0.56
Weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic	20,365	20,212	20,027
Diluted	20,655	20,613	20,415

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 50,660	$ 20,846	$ 11,451
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(421)	(484)	1,552
Derivative and hedging activity, net of tax (expense) benefit of $5, $672, and ($271)	(4)	138	(1,074)
Pension and post-employment benefit adjustment, net of tax (expense) of ($4,741), ($13,300), and ($13,820)	13,197	45,049	(17,234)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	12,772	44,703	(16,756)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 63,432	$ 65,549	$ (5,305)

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References + Details

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Derivative and hedging activity, tax benefit (expense)	$ 5	$ 672	$ (271)
Pension and post employment benefit adjustment, tax benefit (expense)	$ (4,741)	$ (13,300)	$ (13,820)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 50,660	$ 20,846	$ 11,451
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	41,116	35,524	42,751
Amortization of deferred financing costs in interest expense	962	1,009	919
Stock-based compensation expense (non-cash)	7,170	5,313	4,957
Amortization of pension and post-retirement costs	386	5,551	4,865
Loss (gain) on sale of property, plant, and equipment	344	518	234
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	2,584	(1,318)	20,256
Impairment charges	14,141	0	0
Net pension curtailments and settlements	3,328	41,406	0
Changes in assets and liabilities net of acquired assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable	(23,933)	(7,219)	(18,484)
Decrease (increase) in inventory	24,031	4,234	(9,462)
Decrease (increase) in prepaid and other current assets	1,418	1,162	(11,606)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(18,575)	8,820	34,433
Increase (decrease) in unearned revenue	(2,538)	477	4,336
Increase (decrease) in interest and taxes payable	(805)	435	(514)
Domestic pension plan contributions	(4,500)	(42,000)	(16,000)
Other — net	3,433	1,616	(341)
Net cash provided by operating activities	99,222	76,374	67,795
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for purchase of property, plant, and equipment	(24,251)	(27,702)	(27,516)
Payments for mine development	(2,277)	(6,558)	(1,560)
Payments for acquisition	0	0	(16,504)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	44	432	2,222
Net cash used in investing activities	(26,484)	(33,828)	(43,358)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	0	0	55,000
Repayment of long-term debt	(823)	(777)	(55,797)
Principal payments under finance lease obligations	(1,200)	(861)	(843)
Cash dividends paid	(8,856)	(8,389)	(7,913)
Deferred financing costs	(2,130)	0	(300)
Repurchase of common stock	(199)	(422)	(1,086)
Payments of withholding taxes for stock-based compensation awards	(4,846)	(3,156)	(4,506)
Net cash used in financing activities	(18,054)	(13,605)	(15,445)
Effects of exchange rate changes	(322)	(140)	1,388
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	54,362	28,801	10,380
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	70,645	41,844	31,464
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 125,007	$ 70,645	$ 41,844

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 125,007	$ 70,645
Accounts receivable	154,751	130,538
Inventories	190,390	214,871
Prepaid and other current assets	21,839	23,299
Total current assets	491,987	439,353
Deferred income taxes	1,666	5,616
Property, plant, and equipment	916,965	898,251
Less allowances for depreciation, depletion, and amortization	(684,689)	(647,233)
Property, plant, and equipment — net	232,276	251,018
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset	23,413	0
Intangible assets	6,380	6,461
Other assets	17,937	7,236
Goodwill	79,011	90,657
Total Assets	852,670	800,341
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	868	823
Accounts payable	43,206	49,622
Salaries and wages	41,167	47,501
Other liabilities and accrued items	32,477	33,301
Income taxes	1,342	2,615
Unearned revenue	3,380	5,918
Total current liabilities	122,440	139,780
Other long-term liabilities	11,560	14,764
Operating lease liabilities	18,091	0
Finance lease liabilities	17,424	15,221
Retirement and post-employment benefits	32,466	38,853
Unearned income	32,891	32,563
Long-term income taxes	3,451	2,993
Deferred income taxes	2,410	195
Long-term debt	1,260	2,066
Shareholders’ equity
Serial preferred stock (no par value; 5,000 authorized shares, none issued)	0	0
Common stock (no par value; 60,000 authorized shares, issued shares of 27,148 for both 2019 and 2018)	249,674	234,704
Retained earnings	589,888	548,374
Common stock in treasury (6,744 shares for 2019 and 6,906 shares for 2018)	(186,845)	(175,426)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(45,462)	(58,234)
Other equity	3,422	4,488
Total shareholders’ equity	610,677	553,906
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$ 852,670	$ 800,341

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares shares in Thousands, $ / shares in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Serial preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Serial preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000	5,000
Serial preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock, shares authorized	60,000	60,000
Common stock, shares, issued	27,148	27,148
Treasury stock, shares	6,744	6,906

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Shares	Common Shares Held In Treasury	Common Stock	Retained Earnings	Common Stock In Treasury	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Other Equity Transactions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common shares		19,949
Common shares held in Treasury			7,200
Beginning balances at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 494,089			$ 212,702	$ 517,903	$ (154,399)	$ (86,181)	$ 4,064
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	11,451			0	11,451	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,081)			0	0	0	(2,081)	0
Net pension curtailments and settlements	0
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Reclassification	0			0	14,675	0	(14,675)	0
Cash dividends declared	(7,913)			0	(7,913)	0	0	0
Stock-based compensation activity, in shares		296	(296)
Stock-based compensation activity	4,956			10,750	0	(5,794)	0	0
Payments for withholding taxes for stock-based compensation awards, in shares		(108)	108
Payments of withholding taxes for stock-based compensation awards	(4,506)			0	0	(4,506)	0	0
Repurchase of shares		32	32
Repurchase of 32, 10, and 5 shares for the years ended 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively	(1,086)			0	0	(1,086)	0	0
Directors' deferred compensation, in shares		2	(2)
Directors' deferred compensation	71			32	0	(343)	0	382
Ending balances at Dec. 31, 2017	494,981			223,484	536,116	(166,128)	(102,937)	4,446
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common shares		20,107
Common shares held in Treasury			7,042
Net income	20,846			0	20,846	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	2,722			0	0	0	2,722	0
Net pension curtailments and settlements	41,406			0	0	0	41,406	0
Pension settlement charges	41,400
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Reclassification	0			0	(575)	0	575	0
Cumulative effect of accounting change	425			0	425	0	0	0
Cash dividends declared	(8,389)			0	(8,389)	0	0	0
Stock-based compensation activity, in shares		202	(203)
Stock-based compensation activity	5,314			11,131	(49)	(5,768)	0	0
Payments for withholding taxes for stock-based compensation awards, in shares		(60)	60
Payments of withholding taxes for stock-based compensation awards	(3,156)			0	0	(3,156)	0	0
Repurchase of shares		10	10
Repurchase of 32, 10, and 5 shares for the years ended 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively	(422)			0	0	(422)	0	0
Directors' deferred compensation, in shares		3	(3)
Directors' deferred compensation	179			89	0	48	0	42
Ending balances at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 553,906			234,704	548,374	(175,426)	(58,234)	4,488
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common shares		20,242
Common shares held in Treasury	6,906		6,906
Net income	$ 50,660			0	50,660	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	9,444			0	0	0	9,444	0
Net pension curtailments and settlements	3,328
Pension settlement charges	3,328			0	0	0	3,328	0
Cumulative effect of accounting change	(179)			0	(179)	0	0	0
Cash dividends declared	(8,856)			0	(8,856)	0	0	0
Stock-based compensation activity, in shares		252	(252)
Stock-based compensation activity	7,170			14,876	(111)	(7,595)	0	0
Payments for withholding taxes for stock-based compensation awards, in shares		(89)	89
Payments of withholding taxes for stock-based compensation awards	(4,846)			0	0	(4,846)	0	0
Repurchase of shares		5	5
Repurchase of 32, 10, and 5 shares for the years ended 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively	(199)			0	0	(199)	0	0
Directors' deferred compensation, in shares		4	(4)
Directors' deferred compensation	249			94	0	1,221	0	(1,066)
Ending balances at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 610,677			$ 249,674	$ 589,888	$ (186,845)	$ (45,462)	$ 3,422
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common shares		20,404
Common shares held in Treasury	6,744		6,744

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Cash dividends per share	$ 0.435	$ 0.415	$ 0.395

Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies

(Dollars in thousands)

Organization: Materion Corporation (the Company) is a holding company with subsidiaries that have operations in the United States, Europe, and Asia. These operations manufacture advanced engineered materials used in a variety of end markets, including semiconductor, industrial, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, consumer electronics, and telecom and data center. The Company has four reportable segments: Performance Alloys and Composites, Advanced Materials, Precision Coatings, and Other. Other includes unallocated corporate costs.

Refer to Note B for additional segment details. The Company is vertically integrated and distributes its products through a combination of company-owned facilities and independent distributors and agents.

Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Consolidation: The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Materion Corporation and its subsidiaries. All of the Company’s subsidiaries were wholly owned as of December 31, 2019. Intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Cash Equivalents: All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2019, the Company had $104.5 million of cash equivalents invested in institutional money market funds. The carrying value of the money market funds approximates fair value due to their short-term maturities.

Accounts Receivable: An allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained for the estimated losses resulting from the inability of customers to pay amounts due. The allowance is based upon identified delinquent accounts, customer payment patterns, and other analyses of historical data and trends. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $392 and $616 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectfully. The Company extends credit to customers based upon their financial condition, and collateral is not generally required.

Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The cost of the majority of domestic inventories is determined using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method to reflect a better matching of costs and revenues. The remaining inventories are stated principally at average costs. Inventories valued on the LIFO cost method were approximately 45% and 57% of inventories in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Property, Plant, and Equipment: Property, plant, and equipment is stated on the basis of cost. Depreciation is computed principally by the straight-line method, except certain assets for which depreciation may be computed by the units-of-production method. The depreciable lives that are used in computing the annual provision for depreciation by class of asset are primarily as follows:



	Years
Land improvements	10 to 20
Buildings	20 to 40
Leasehold improvements	Life of lease
Machinery and equipment	3 to 15
Furniture and fixtures	4 to 10
Automobiles and trucks	3 to 8
Research equipment	3 to 10
Computer hardware	3 to 10
Computer software	3 to 10

An asset acquired under a finance lease will be recorded at the lesser of the present value of the projected lease payments or the fair value of the asset and will be depreciated in accordance with the above schedule. Leasehold improvements will be depreciated over the life of the improvement if it is shorter than the life of the lease. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

Mineral Resources and Mine Development: Property acquisition costs are capitalized as mineral resources on the balance sheet and are depleted using the units-of-production method based upon total estimated recoverable proven reserves of the beryllium-

bearing bertrandite ore body. The Company uses beryllium pounds as the unit of accounting measure, and depletion expense is recorded on a pro-rata basis based upon the amount of beryllium pounds extracted as a percentage of total estimated beryllium pounds contained in all ore bodies.

Mine development costs at our open pit surface mines include drilling, infrastructure, other related costs to delineate an ore body, and the removal of overburden to initially expose an ore body. Before mineralization is classified as proven and probable reserves, costs are classified as exploration expense. Capitalization of mine development project costs that meet the definition of an asset begins once mineralization is classified as proven and probable reserves.

Drilling and related costs are capitalized for an ore body where proven and probable reserves exist, and the activities are directed at obtaining additional information on the ore body. All other drilling and related costs are expensed as incurred. Drilling costs incurred during the production phase for operational ore control are allocated to inventory costs and then included as a component of costs applicable to sales.

The costs of removing overburden and waste materials to access the ore body at an open-pit mine prior to the production phase are capitalized during the development of an open-pit mine and are capitalized at each pit. These costs are amortized as the ore is extracted using the units-of-production method based upon total estimated recoverable proven reserves for the individual pit. The Company uses beryllium pounds as the unit of accounting measure for recording amortization.

To the extent that the aforementioned costs benefit an entire ore body, the costs are amortized over the estimated useful life of the ore body. Costs incurred to access specific ore blocks or areas that only provide benefit over the life of that area are amortized over the estimated life of that specific ore block area.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. The Company conducts its annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment assessment as of the first day of the fourth quarter, or more frequently under certain circumstances. Goodwill is assigned to the reporting unit, which is the operating segment level or one level below the operating segment. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized using the straight-line method or effective interest method, as applicable, over the periods estimated to be benefited, which is generally 20 years or less. Finite-lived intangible assets are also reviewed for impairment if facts and circumstances warrant.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment: In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360, “Property, Plant and Equipment,” management performs impairment tests of long-lived assets, including property and equipment, whenever an event occurs or circumstances change that indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable or the useful life of the asset has changed. Upon indications of impairment, assets and liabilities are grouped at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. The asset group would be considered impaired when the estimated future undiscounted cash flows generated by the asset group are less than its carrying value. If such undiscounted cash flows indicate that the carrying value of the asset group is not recoverable, impairment losses are measured by comparing the estimated fair value of the asset group to its carrying amount.

Derivatives: The Company recognizes all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. If the derivative is designated and effective as a cash flow hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), a component of shareholders’ equity, until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. If the derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, changes in fair value are offset against the change in the fair value of the hedged asset, liability, or commitment through earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value, if any, is recognized in earnings immediately. If a derivative is not a hedge, changes in its fair value are adjusted through the income statement.

Asset Retirement Obligation: The Company records a liability to recognize the legal obligation to remove an asset at the time the asset is acquired or when the legal liability arises. The liability is recorded for the present value of the ultimate obligation by discounting the estimated future cash flows using a credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. The liability is accreted over time, with the accretion charged to expense. An asset equal to the fair value of the liability is recorded concurrent with the liability and depreciated over the life of the underlying asset. The Company's asset retirement obligation related to its mine located in Utah for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $1.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

Unearned Income: Expenditures for capital equipment to be reimbursed under government contracts are recorded in property, plant, and equipment, while the reimbursements for those expenditures are recorded in unearned income, a liability on the balance sheet. When the assets subject to reimbursement are placed in service, the total cost is depreciated over the useful lives, and the unearned income liability is reduced and credited to cost of sales on the Consolidated Statements of Income ratably with the annual depreciation expense. Depreciation and amortization expense on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is shown net of the associated period reduction in the unearned income liability.

Advertising Costs: The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs were $677 in 2019, $1,196 in 2018, and $1,252 in 2017.

Stock-based Compensation: The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense based on the grant date fair value of the award over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. The fair value of restricted stock units is based on the closing price of the Company's common shares on the grant date. Stock appreciation rights (SARs) are granted with an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company's common shares on the date of grant. The fair value of SARs is determined using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which incorporates assumptions regarding the expected volatility, the expected option life, the risk-free interest rate, and the expected dividend yield. See Note P for additional information about stock-based compensation.

Capitalized Interest: Interest expense associated with active capital asset construction and mine development projects is capitalized and amortized over the future useful lives of the related assets.

Income Taxes: The Company uses the liability method in measuring the provision for income taxes and recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. The Company will record a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized, as warranted by current facts and circumstances. The Company applies a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold for all tax uncertainties and will record a liability for those tax benefits that have a less than 50% likelihood of being sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities.

Net Income Per Share: Basic earnings per share (EPS) is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the assumed conversion of all dilutive common stock equivalents as appropriate using the treasury stock method.

New Pronouncements Adopted: In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02 (Topic 842), Leases, which eliminates the off-balance-sheet accounting for leases. This guidance requires lessees to report their operating leases as both an asset and liability on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective method and applied it retrospectively through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings. The Company applied the transitional package of practical expedients allowed by the standard to not reassess the identification, classification, and initial direct costs of leases commencing before this ASU's effective date; however, the Company did not elect the hindsight transitional practical expedient. The Company also applied the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components to new leases as well as existing leases through transition. The Company made an accounting policy election not to apply recognition requirements of the guidance to short-term leases (leases less than twelve months in duration).

Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2019 are presented under Topic 842, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with legacy generally accepted accounting principles.

The Company recorded a net reduction to opening retained earnings of $0.2 million as of January 1, 2019 due to the cumulative impact of adopting Topic 842, with the impact primarily related to derecognition of a built-to-suit lease. Refer to Note K for additional disclosures relating to the Company's leasing arrangements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which intended to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill. This ASU eliminates the requirement for an entity to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill in measuring an impairment charge. Instead, an entity will perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment testing by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recording an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2019, and the adoption did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note L for additional disclosures related to goodwill.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, which amends and simplifies existing guidance to allow companies to more accurately present the economic effects of risk management activities in the financial statements. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2019, and the adoption did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

New Pronouncements Issued: In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. This ASU requires an entity to change its accounting approach in determining impairment of certain financial instruments, including trade receivables, from an “incurred loss” to a “current expected credit loss” model. The standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within such fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is nearing completion of its assessment process, as well as the impact to the consolidated financial statements. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows, or debt covenants.

No other recently issued or effective ASUs had, or are expected to have, a material effect on the Company's results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity.

Segment Reporting and Geographic Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting and Geographic Information

The Company has the following operating segments: Performance Alloys and Composites, Advanced Materials, Precision Coatings, and Other. The Company’s operating segments represent components of the Company for which separate financial information is available that is utilized on a regular basis by the Chief Executive Officer, the Company's Chief Operating Decision Maker, in determining how to allocate the Company’s resources and evaluate performance. The segments are determined based on several factors, including the availability of discrete financial information and the Company’s organizational and management structure.

Performance Alloys and Composites provides advanced engineered solutions comprised of beryllium and non-beryllium containing alloy systems and custom engineered parts in strip, bulk, rod, plate, bar, tube, and other customized shapes.

Advanced Materials produces advanced chemicals, microelectric packaging, precious metal, non-precious metal, and specialty metal products, including vapor deposition targets, frame lid assemblies, clad and precious metal preforms, high temperature braze materials, and ultra-fine wire.

Precision Coatings produces thin film coatings, optical filter materials, sputter-coated, and precision-converted thin film materials.

The Other reportable segment includes unallocated corporate costs and assets.

Financial information for reportable segments was as follows:




(Thousands)	Performance Alloys and Composites		Advanced Materials		Precision Coatings			Other			Total
2019
Net sales	$	500,201	$	573,763	$	111,460		$	—		$	1,185,424
Intersegment sales	38		70,047		—			—			70,085
Operating profit (loss)	70,652		24,740		(3,550		)	(24,842		)	67,000
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	24,437		8,955		5,695			2,029			41,116
Expenditures for long-lived assets	15,520		7,572		1,045			2,391			26,528
Total Assets	400,022		215,368		78,981			158,299			852,670
2018
Net sales	$	500,590	$	586,643	$	120,582		$	—		$	1,207,815
Intersegment sales	37		50,460		—			—			50,497
Operating profit (loss)	58,832		17,651		11,468			(26,455		)	61,496
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	17,434		8,575		7,066			2,449			35,524
Expenditures for long-lived assets	15,396		15,523		1,983			1,358			34,260
Total Assets	410,239		207,183		90,537			92,382			800,341
2017
Net sales	$	429,442	$	590,789	$	119,216		$	—		$	1,139,447
Intersegment sales	114		58,056		—			—			58,170
Operating profit (loss)	21,978		32,763		8,445			(23,155		)	40,031
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	23,209		7,354		9,721			2,467			42,751
Expenditures for long-lived assets	10,427		13,318		3,048			2,283			29,076
Total Assets	418,798		202,389		97,504			72,393			791,084

Intersegment sales are eliminated in consolidation.

The primary measures of evaluating segment performance are operating profit and net sales. From an assets perspective, segments are evaluated based upon a return on invested capital metric, which includes inventory (excluding the impact of LIFO), accounts receivable, and property, plant, and equipment.

Other geographic information includes the following:



(Thousands)	2019		2018		2017
Net sales
United States	$	743,345	$	726,881	$	650,675
Asia	256,114		270,672		265,991
Europe	169,132		186,081		205,118
All other	16,833		24,181		17,663
Total	$	1,185,424	$	1,207,815	$	1,139,447
Long-lived assets by country deployed
United States	$	194,596	$	215,395	$	227,412
All other	37,680		35,623		28,166
Total	$	232,276	$	251,018	$	255,578

International sales include sales from international operations and direct exports from our U.S. operations. No individual country, other than the United States, or customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s net sales for the years presented.

Long-lived assets are comprised of property, plant, and equipment based on physical location.

The following table disaggregates revenue for each segment by end market for 2019 and 2018:



(Thousands)	Performance Alloys and Composites		Advanced Materials		Precision Coatings		Other		Total
2019
End Market
Semiconductor	$	5,353	$	432,658	$	711	$	—	$	438,722
Industrial	106,334		29,917		14,253		—		150,504
Aerospace and Defense	109,717		5,647		20,731		—		136,095
Consumer Electronics	72,360		1,254		18,201		—		91,815
Automotive	69,057		8,179		969		—		78,205
Energy	41,101		74,613		—		—		115,714
Telecom and Data Center	61,344		2,981		—		—		64,325
Other	34,935		18,514		56,595		—		110,044
Total	$	500,201	$	573,763	$	111,460	$	—	$	1,185,424

2018
End Market
Semiconductor	$	5,020	$	436,807	$	1,460	$	—	$	443,287
Industrial	111,149		32,246		12,756		—		156,151
Aerospace and Defense	88,041		3,813		20,044		—		111,898
Consumer Electronics	62,816		1,002		18,838		—		82,656
Automotive	93,720		7,843		1,362		—		102,925
Energy	40,877		72,027		—		—		112,904
Telecom and Data Center	67,157		2,792		—		—		69,949
Other	31,810		30,113		66,122		—		128,045
Total	$	500,590	$	586,643	$	120,582	$	—	$	1,207,815

Revenue Recognition

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Revenue from Contract with Customer

Revenue Recognition

Net sales consist primarily of revenue from the sale of precious and non-precious specialty metals, beryllium and copper-based alloys, beryllium composites, and other products into numerous end markets. The Company requires an agreement with a customer that creates enforceable rights and performance obligations. The Company generally recognizes revenue, in an amount that reflects the consideration to which it expects to be entitled, upon satisfaction of a performance obligation by transferring control over a

product to the customer. Control over the product is generally transferred to the customer when the Company has a present right to payment, the customer has legal title, the customer has physical possession, the customer has the significant risks and rewards of ownership, and/or the customer has accepted the product.

Shipping and Handling Costs: The Company accounts for shipping and handling activities related to contracts with customers as costs to fulfill its promise to transfer the associated products. Accordingly, customer payments of shipping and handling costs are recorded as a component of net sales, and related costs are recorded as a component of cost of sales.

Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities: Revenue is recorded net of taxes collected from customers that are remitted to governmental authorities, with the collected taxes recorded as current liabilities until remitted to the relevant government authority.

Product Warranty: Substantially all of the Company’s customer contracts contain a warranty that provides assurance that the purchased product will function as expected and in accordance with certain specifications. The warranty is intended to safeguard the customer against existing defects and does not provide any incremental service to the customer.

Transaction Price Allocated to Future Performance Obligations: ASC 606 requires that the Company disclose the aggregate amount of transaction price that is allocated to performance obligations that have not yet been satisfied at December 31, 2019. Remaining performance obligations include non-cancelable purchase orders and customer contracts. The guidance provides certain practical expedients that limit this requirement. As such, the Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected length of one year or less. After considering the practical expedient, at December 31, 2019, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations was approximately $42.3 million.

Contract Costs: The Company recognizes the incremental costs of obtaining contracts as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the assets that the Company otherwise would have recognized is one year or less. These costs primarily relate to sales commissions, which are included in selling, general, and administrative expenses.

Contract Balances: The timing of revenue recognition, billings, and cash collections resulted in the following contract assets and contract liabilities:



(Thousands)	December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018		$ change			% change
Accounts receivable, trade	$	141,168	$	124,498	$	16,670		13	%
Unbilled receivables	13,583		4,619		8,964			194	%
Unearned revenue	3,380		5,918		(2,538		)	(43	)%

Accounts receivable, trade represents payments due from customers relating to the transfer of the Company’s products and services. The Company believes that its receivables are collectible and appropriate allowances for doubtful accounts have been recorded. Impairment losses (bad debt) incurred relating to our receivables were immaterial during 2019.

Unbilled receivables represent expenditures on contracts, plus applicable profit margin, not yet billed. Unbilled receivables are normally billed and collected within one year. Billings made on contracts are recorded as a reduction of unbilled receivables.

Unearned revenue is recorded for consideration received from customers in advance of satisfaction of the related performance obligations. The Company recognized approximately $5.0 million of the unearned amounts as revenue during 2019.

As a practical expedient, the Company does not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component because the period between the transfer of a product or service to a customer and when the customer pays for that product or service will be one year or less. The Company does not include extended payment terms in its contracts with customers.

Restructuring

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Restructuring

In 2019, the Company initiated a restructuring plan in the Large Area Coatings (LAC) business (a reporting unit in the Precision Coatings segment) to reduce headcount, idle certain machinery and equipment, and exit a facility in Windsor, Connecticut. Costs

associated with this plan also included severance and related costs for 19 employees. Remaining severance payments related to these initiatives of $0.1 million are reflected within Other liabilities and accrued items in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In addition, in each of the last three years, the Company completed cost reduction actions in order to align costs with commensurate business levels. These actions were accomplished through elimination of vacant positions, consolidation of roles, and staff reduction. Costs associated with these actions in 2019 were in the Other segment and included severance associated with seven employees and other related costs. Remaining severance payments related to these initiatives of $0.1 million are reflected within Other liabilities and accrued items in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company expects that the remaining severance payments will be substantially paid by the end of 2020 and does not expect to incur additional costs related to these initiatives.

Costs associated with these actions in 2018 were in the Advanced Materials segment and included severance associated with approximately forty employees and other related costs. Remaining severance payments amount to approximately $1.3 million as of December 31, 2019.

Costs associated with these actions in 2017 were within the Other and Precision Coatings segments and included severance associated with twenty-three employees and other related costs. The severance payments were substantially paid by the end of 2017.

These costs are presented in the Company's segment results as follows:



(Thousands)	2019		2018		2017
Performance Alloys & Composites	$	—	$	—	$	(16	)
Advanced Materials	—		5,599		—
Precision Coatings	328		—		431
Other	457		—		229
Total	$	785	$	5,599	$	644

Other-net

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Other-net [Abstract]

Other-net

Other-net is summarized for 2019, 2018, and 2017 as follows:



	(Income) Expense
(Thousands)	2019			2018			2017
Metal consignment fees	$	9,247		$	10,999		$	8,782
Amortization of intangible assets	1,400			2,265			4,629
Foreign currency loss (gain)	666			1,487			(722		)
Net loss (gain) on disposal of fixed assets	344			518			234
Rental income	(87		)	(416		)	(168		)
Other items	213			481			1,138
Total other-net	$	11,783		$	15,334		$	13,893

Interest

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Interest [Abstract]

Interest

Interest expense-net

The following chart summarizes the interest incurred, capitalized, and paid for 2019, 2018, and 2017:



(Thousands)	2019		2018		2017
Interest incurred, net	$	1,641	$	2,870	$	2,608
Less: Capitalized interest	62		399		425
Total net expense	$	1,579	$	2,471	$	2,183
Interest paid	$	1,799	$	1,436	$	1,646

The decrease in interest expense for 2019 versus 2018 was primarily due to interest income received on investments held in money market accounts. The increase in interest expense in 2018 compared to 2017 was primarily due to interest expense recorded for a finance lease entered into in 2017 in connection with the acquisition of the high-performance target materials business of the

Heraeus Group. Amortization of deferred financing costs within interest expense was $1.0 million in 2019, $1.0 million in 2018, and $0.9 million in 2017.

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

On December 22, 2017, comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was enacted in the United States. The SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (SAB 118) to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations where a registrant did not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the TCJA. The Company applied the guidance in SAB 118 when accounting for the enactment-date effects of the TCJA in 2017 and throughout 2018. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had not completed its accounting for the enactment-date income tax effects of the TCJA under ASC 740 for the following items: remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities, the one-time transition tax on earnings of foreign subsidiaries, and the policy election to account for global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) as a period cost. In 2017, the Company recorded a total provisional amount of $17.1 million, which was recognized and included as a component of income tax expense. The $17.1 million provisional amount included $5.0 million of tax expense for the re-measurement of deferred tax assets, $6.1 million of tax expense for the transition tax on the mandatory deemed repatriation of foreign earnings, a $9.5 million valuation allowance recorded on foreign tax credits that were deemed unrealizable as a result of the TCJA, and a $3.5 million tax benefit for the generation of foreign tax credits.

The Company completed its accounting for all of the enactment-date income tax effects of the TCJA in the fourth quarter of 2018. During 2018, the Company recognized adjustments to the provisional amounts recorded as of December 31, 2017 and included the adjustments as a component of income tax expense. In 2018, the Company recorded a $11.1 million net tax benefit related to the enactment-date effects of the TCJA, including a $2.8 million tax benefit for the re-measurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities, a $1.2 million tax benefit for the one-time transition tax on the mandatory deemed repatriation of foreign earnings, and a $7.1 million tax benefit related to the generation of foreign tax credits and the reversal of the valuation allowance related to foreign tax credits.

Income before income taxes and income tax expense (benefit) are comprised of the following:



(Thousands)	2019		2018			2017
Income before income taxes:
Domestic	$	56,725	$	20,272		$	28,327
Foreign	5,265		(3,930		)	8,069
Total income before income taxes	$	61,990	$	16,342		$	36,396
Income tax expense:
Current income tax expense:
Domestic	$	7,544	$	(5,896	)	$	1,912
Foreign	1,202		2,710			2,777
Total current	$	8,746	$	(3,186	)	$	4,689
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Domestic	$	1,326	$	(4,083	)	$	19,935
Foreign	1,258		2,765			321
Total deferred	$	2,584	$	(1,318	)	$	20,256
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$	11,330	$	(4,504	)	$	24,945

A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the Company's effective income tax rate is as follows:



	2019		2018		2017
U.S. federal statutory rate	21.0	%	21.0	%	35.0	%
State and local income taxes, net of federal tax effect	1.0		0.1		2.3
Effect of excess of percentage depletion over cost depletion	(4.5	)	(17.8	)	(10.0	)
Manufacturing production deduction, including impact of NOL carryback	—		6.3		(0.8	)
Foreign derived intangible income deduction	(3.2	)	(2.9	)	—
Non-deductible goodwill impairment	1.2		—		—
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act impact	2.5		(67.8	)	47.1
Foreign rate differential	(0.1	)	1.5		(3.4	)
Research and development tax credit	(1.2	)	(7.6	)	(2.6	)
Foreign tax credit	(0.3	)	(1.9	)	(1.1	)
Foreign repatriation	0.4		2.0		1.3
Incremental fixed asset basis	—		—		(3.4	)
Adjustment to unrecognized tax benefits	0.2		2.7		2.8
Stock compensation - excess tax benefits	(3.4	)	(4.4	)	(1.9	)
Valuation allowance	2.2		38.7		2.4
Other items	2.5		2.5		0.8
Effective tax rate	18.3	%	(27.6	)%	68.5	%

Deferred tax assets and (liabilities) are determined based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and (liabilities) recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following:



	December 31,
(Thousands)	2019			2018
Asset (liability)
Post-employment benefits other than pensions	$	1,626		$	2,198
Other reserves	543			693
Deferred compensation	3,314			3,539
Environmental reserves	1,384			1,463
Inventory	2,740			3,032
Lease liabilities	4,614			—
Pensions	5,149			8,105
Accrued compensation expense	5,364			6,215
Net operating loss and credit carryforwards	13,513			12,002
Research and development tax credit carryforward	25			744
Foreign tax credit carryforward	—			2,385
Subtotal	38,272			40,376
Valuation allowance	(17,676		)	(15,917		)
Total deferred tax assets	20,596			24,459
Depreciation	(10,780		)	(10,280		)
Lease assets	(4,428		)	—
Amortization	(2,426		)	(3,635		)
Mine development	(3,706		)	(5,123		)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(21,340		)	(19,038		)
Net deferred tax (liabilities) assets	$	(744	)	$	5,421

The Company had deferred income tax assets offset with a valuation allowance for certain foreign and state net operating losses, state investment and research and development tax credit carryforwards, and deferred tax assets that are not likely to be realized for several of the Company's controlled foreign corporations. The Company intends to maintain a valuation allowance on these deferred tax assets until a realization event occurs to support reversal of all or a portion of the allowance.

At December 31, 2019, for income tax purposes, the Company had foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $29.4 million that do not expire, and $6.5 million that expire in calendar years 2020 through 2027, of which $0.5 million expires within the next twelve months. The Company also had state net operating loss carryforwards of $21.6 million that expire in calendar years 2020 through 2037 and state tax credits of $3.6 million that expire in calendar years 2020 through 2034. A valuation allowance of $11.6 million has been provided against certain foreign and state net operating loss carryforwards and state tax credits due to uncertainty of their realization.

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and in various state, local, and foreign jurisdictions. With limited exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal examinations for years before 2015, state and local examinations for years before 2016, and foreign examinations for tax years before 2011.

A reconciliation of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits for the year-to-date periods ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:



(Thousands)	2019			2018
Balance at January 1	$	2,883		$	2,944
Additions to tax provisions related to the current year	—			443
Additions to tax positions related to prior years	399			4
Reduction to tax positions related to prior years	—			(508		)
Lapses on statutes of limitations	(61		)	—
Balance at December 31	$	3,221		$	2,883

Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties, as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are $2.4 million and $2.2 million, respectively, of tax benefits that would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. It is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change in the next twelve months; however, we do not expect the change to have a material impact on the Consolidated Statements of Income or the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits on the income tax expense line in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Accrued interest and penalties are included on the related tax liability line in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amount of interest and penalties, net of the related tax benefit, recognized in earnings was immaterial during 2019, 2018, and 2017. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, accrued interest and penalties, net of the related tax benefit, were immaterial.

Income taxes paid during 2019, 2018, and 2017, were approximately $9.3 million, $2.6 million, and $8.1 million, respectively.

No additional income taxes have been provided for any remaining undistributed foreign earnings not subject to the transition tax, or any additional outside basis difference inherent in these entities, as these amounts continue to be indefinitely reinvested in foreign operations as of December 31, 2019. The amount of such unrepatriated earnings totaled $84.8 million as of December 31, 2019. It is not practicable to estimate the additional income taxes and applicable withholding taxes that would be payable on the remittance of such undistributed earnings.

Earnings Per Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted EPS:



(Thousands except per share amounts)	2019		2018		2017
Numerator for basic and diluted EPS:
Net income	$	50,660	$	20,846	$	11,451
Denominator:
Denominator for basic EPS:
Weighted-average shares outstanding	20,365		20,212		20,027
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock appreciation rights	72		170		174
Restricted stock units	75		85		96
Performance-based restricted stock units	143		146		118
Diluted potential common shares	290		401		388
Denominator for diluted EPS:
Adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding	20,655		20,613		20,415
Basic EPS	$	2.49	$	1.03	$	0.57
Diluted EPS	$	2.45	$	1.01	$	0.56

Equity awards covering shares of common stock totaling 71,199 in 2019, 65,112 in 2018, and 124,319 in 2017 were excluded from the diluted EPS calculation as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Inventories

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Inventories

Inventories, net

Inventories in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are summarized as follows:



	December 31,
(Thousands)	2019		2018
Raw materials and supplies	$	35,612	$	33,182
Work in process	177,780		195,879
Finished goods	25,506		30,643
Subtotal	238,898		259,704
Less: LIFO reserve balance	48,508		44,833
Inventories	$	190,390	$	214,871

The liquidation of LIFO inventory layers increased cost of sales by $0.9 million and $1.2 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively, and reduced cost of sales by $0.8 million in 2017.

The Company takes and records the results of a physical inventory count of its precious metals on a quarterly basis. The Company's precious metal operations include a refinery that processes precious metal-containing scrap and other materials from its customers, as well as its own internally generated scrap. The Company also outsources portions of its refining requirements to other vendors, particularly those materials with longer processing times. The precious metal content within these various refine streams may be in solutions, sludges, and other non-homogeneous forms and can vary over time based upon the input materials, yield rates, and other process parameters. The determination of the weight of the precious metal content within the refine streams as part of a physical inventory count requires the use of estimates and calculations based upon assays, assumed recovery percentages developed from actual historical data and other analyses, the total estimated volumes of solutions and other materials within the refinery, data from the Company's refine vendors, and other factors. The resulting calculated weight of the precious metals in the Company's refine operations may differ, in either direction, from what its records indicate that the Company should have on hand, which would then result in an adjustment to its pre-tax income in the period when the physical inventory was taken, and the related estimates were made.

The Company maintains the majority of the precious metals and copper used in production on a consignment basis in order to reduce our exposure to metal price movements and to reduce our working capital investment. The notional value of off-balance sheet precious metals and copper was $309.3 million as of December 31, 2019 versus $316.1 million as of December 31, 2018.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment on the Consolidated Balance Sheets is summarized as follows:



	December 31,
(Thousands)	2019			2018
Land	$	4,874		$	4,874
Buildings	150,323			149,701
Machinery and equipment	639,310			631,421
Software	44,652			42,678
Construction in progress	16,699			14,468
Allowances for depreciation	(669,250		)	(642,365		)
Subtotal	186,608			200,777
Finance leases	26,069			22,150
Allowances for depreciation	(3,569		)	(2,412		)
Subtotal	22,500			19,738
Mineral resources	4,980			4,980
Mine development	30,058			27,979
Allowances for amortization and depletion	(11,870		)	(2,456		)
Subtotal	23,168			30,503
Property, plant, and equipment — net	$	232,276		$	251,018

The Company received $63.5 million from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), in previous periods, for reimbursement of the DoD's share of the cost of equipment. This amount was recorded in property, plant, and equipment and the reimbursements are reflected in Unearned income on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The equipment was placed in service during 2012, and its full cost is being depreciated in accordance with Company policy. The unearned income liability is being reduced ratably with the depreciation expense recorded over the life of the equipment.

Unearned income was reduced by $4.4 million and $4.3 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively, and credited to cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income, offsetting the impact of the depreciation expense on the associated equipment on the Company's cost of sales and gross margin.

We recorded depreciation and depletion expense of $30.3 million in 2019, $33.3 million in 2018, and $38.1 million in 2017. Depreciation, depletion, and amortization as shown on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows is also net of the reduction in the unearned income liability in 2019, 2018, and 2017. The net book value of capitalized software was $7.9 million and $8.0 million at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Depreciation expense related to software was $2.4 million, $2.6 million, and $2.4 million in 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

Leasing Arrangements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Leases [Abstract]

Leasing Arrangements

The Company leases warehouse and manufacturing real estate, and manufacturing and computer equipment under operating leases with lease terms ranging up to 25 years. Several operating lease agreements contain options to extend the lease term and/or options for early termination. The lease term consists of the non-cancelable period of the lease, periods covered by options to extend the lease if the Company is reasonably certain to exercise the option, and periods covered by an option to terminate the lease if the Company is reasonably certain not to exercise the option. The weighted average remaining lease term for the Company's operating and finance leases as of December 31, 2019 was 4.69 years and 19.47 years, respectively.

The discount rate implicit within the leases is generally not determinable, and, therefore, the Company determines the discount rate based on its incremental borrowing rate. The incremental borrowing rate for leases is determined based on the lease term in which lease payments are made, adjusted for impacts of collateral. The weighted average discount rate used to measure the Company's operating and finance lease liabilities as of December 31, 2019 was 5.91% and 5.31%, respectively.

The components of operating and finance lease cost for 2019 were as follows:



(Thousands)	2019
Components of lease expense
Operating lease cost	$	9,835

Finance lease cost
Amortization of right-of-use assets	1,414
Interest on lease liabilities	1,028
Total lease cost	$	12,277

Operating lease expense under ASC 840 amounted to $11.6 million and $9.3 million during 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company straight-lines its expense of fixed payments for operating leases over the lease term and expenses the variable lease payments in the period incurred. These variable lease payments are not included in the calculation of right-of-use assets or lease liabilities.

Supplemental balance sheet information related to the Company's operating and finance leases as of December 31, 2019 was as follows:



	Dec. 31,
(Thousands)	2019
Supplemental balance sheet information

Operating Leases
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$	23,413
Other liabilities and accrued items	6,542
Operating lease liabilities	18,091

Finance Leases
Property, plant, and equipment	$	26,069
Allowances for depreciation, depletion, and amortization	(3,570		)
Finance lease assets, net	$	22,499
Other liabilities and accrued items	$	1,265
Finance lease liabilities	17,424
Total principal payable on finance leases	$	18,689

Future maturities of the Company's lease liabilities as of December 31, 2019 are as follows:



	Finance		Operating
(Thousands)	Leases		Leases
2020	$	2,224	$	7,759
2021	2,224		6,725
2022	2,224		4,754
2023	1,515		3,807
2024	1,160		1,891
2025 and thereafter	20,875		3,341
Total lease payments	30,222		28,277
Less amount of lease payment representing interest	11,533		3,644
Total present value of lease payments	$	18,689	$	24,633

As of December 31, 2018, prior to the adoption of Topic 842, future minimum payments under capital leases and operating leases having initial or non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year were as follows:



	Capital		Operating
(Thousands)	Leases		Leases
2019	$	2,172	$	7,287
2020	2,172		6,525
2021	2,172		4,966
2022	2,172		3,790
2023	1,463		3,532
2024 and thereafter	21,056		4,287
Total minimum lease payments	31,207		$	30,387
Less amount of lease payment representing interest	19,338
Total present value of net minimum lease payments	$	11,869

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the year ended December 31, 2019 was as follows:



	Dec. 31,
(Thousands)	2019
Supplemental cash flow information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	15,841
Operating cash flows from finance leases	1,028
Financing cash flows from finance leases	1,200

Intangible Assets and Goodwill

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Intangible Assets

The cost and accumulated amortization of intangible assets subject to amortization as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, is as follows:



	2019							2018
(Thousands)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net
Customer relationships	$	39,601	$	(37,692	)	$	1,909	$	39,601	$	(37,077	)	$	2,524
Technology	13,377		(12,816		)	561		13,377		(12,238		)	1,139
Licenses and other	4,257		(3,046		)	1,211		4,257		(2,725		)	1,532
Total	$	57,235	$	(53,554	)	$	3,681	$	57,235	$	(52,040	)	$	5,195

The aggregate amortization expense relating to intangible assets for the year ended December 31, 2019 and estimated amortization expense for each of the five succeeding years is as follows:



	Amortization
(Thousands)	Expense
2019	$	1,400
2020	615
2021	523
2022	523
2023	513
2024	421

Intangible assets also includes deferred financing costs relating to the Company's revolving credit and consignments lines of $2.7 million and $1.3 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Goodwill

Goodwill arises from the purchase price for acquired businesses exceeding the fair value of tangible and intangible assets acquired less assumed liabilities.

Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. The Company conducts its annual goodwill impairment assessment as of the first day of the fourth quarter, or more frequently under certain circumstances. For the purpose of the goodwill impairment assessment, the Company has the option to perform a qualitative assessment (commonly referred to as "step zero") to determine whether further quantitative analysis for impairment of goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets is necessary or a quantitative assessment ("step one") where the Company estimates the fair value of each reporting unit using a discounted cash flow method (income approach). Goodwill is assigned to the reporting unit, which is the operating segment level or one level below the operating segment. The balance of goodwill at December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $79.0 million and $90.7 million, respectively.

A summary of changes in goodwill by reportable segment is as follows:



(Thousands)	Performance Alloys and Composites		Advanced Materials			Precision Coatings			Total
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	1,899	$	50,276		$	38,482		$	90,657
Impairment charge	—		—			(11,560		)	(11,560		)
Other	—		(86		)	—			(86		)
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	1,899	50,190			$	26,922		$	79,011

During the third quarter of 2019, the LAC reporting unit began to experience a decline in sales volume from a significant customer. Based on an assessment that the decline in sales volume was expected to continue, the Company initiated a restructuring plan at the end of the third quarter to reduce the LAC reporting unit’s cost structure. Refer to Note D for further details of the restructuring plan. The Company considered these factors to be impairment indicators. As a result, the Company performed an interim impairment analysis as of September 27, 2019 using a "step one" quantitative assessment for the LAC reporting unit. The LAC reporting unit prepared an operating forecast that included several assumptions including future sales growth from new products and applications, as well as assumptions regarding future industry-specific market conditions, capital expenditures, and working capital changes. In addition to the estimates of future cash flows, other significant estimates involved in the determination of fair value of the reporting unit were the weighted average cost of capital (discount rate), annual growth rate, and terminal growth rate used in the discounted cash flow (DCF) model. The discount rates used in the DCF model consider market and industry data as well as specific risk premiums for the LAC reporting unit. The Company first reviewed long-lived assets, which resulted in an impairment charge of $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2019. The Company then performed a goodwill impairment analysis which resulted in an $11.6 million charge in the third quarter of 2019, which represents the excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value of LAC. The Company estimated fair value using a discounted cash flow analysis for goodwill and estimated market values for other assets. These non-cash charges relating to goodwill and other assets were recorded in Goodwill impairment charges and Asset impairment charges, respectively, in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The results of the Company's 2019, 2018, and 2017 annual goodwill impairment assessments indicated that no other goodwill impairment existed.

Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

Long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets is summarized as follows:



	December 31,
(Thousands)	2019			2018
Fixed rate industrial development revenue bonds payable in annual installments through 2021	$	2,218		$	3,041
Total debt outstanding	2,218			3,041
Current portion of long-term debt	(868		)	(823		)
Gross long-term debt	1,350			2,218
Unamortized deferred financing fees	(90		)	(152		)
Long-term debt	$	1,260		$	2,066

Maturities on long-term debt instruments as of December 31, 2019 are as follows:



(Thousands)
2020	$	868
2021	1,350
Thereafter	—
Total	$	2,218

In September 2019, the Company amended and restated the agreement governing its $375.0 million revolving credit facility (Credit Agreement). The maturity date of the Credit Agreement was extended from 2020 to 2024, and the Credit Agreement provides more favorable interest rates under certain circumstances. In addition, the Credit Agreement provides the Company and its subsidiaries with additional capacity to enter into facilities for the consignment, borrowing, or leasing of precious metals and copper, and provides enhanced flexibility to finance acquisitions and other strategic initiatives. The Credit Agreement also provides for an uncommitted incremental facility whereby, under certain conditions, the Company may be able to borrow additional term loans in an aggregate amount not to exceed $200.0 million. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and its direct subsidiaries, with the exception of non-mining real property and certain other assets. The Credit Agreement allows the Company to borrow money at a premium over LIBOR or prime rate and at varying maturities. The premium resets quarterly according to the terms and conditions available under the agreement.

The Credit Agreement includes restrictive covenants relating to restrictions on additional indebtedness, acquisitions, dividends, and stock repurchases. In addition, the Credit Agreement includes covenants subject to a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. The Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenants as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

At December 31, 2019 and 2018 there was $41.8 million and $27.2 million outstanding against the letters of credit sub-facility, respectively. The Company pays a variable commitment fee that may reset quarterly (0.175% as of December 31, 2019) of the available and unborrowed amounts under the revolving credit line.

The available borrowings under the individual existing credit lines total $340.9 million as of December 31, 2019.

In April 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and the Dayton–Montgomery County Port Authority in Ohio to co-issue $8.0 million in taxable development revenue bonds, with a fixed amortization term that will mature in 2021. The interest rate on these bonds was fixed at 4.90%, and the unamortized balance of the bonds was $2.2 million at December 31, 2019.

Pensions and Other Post-Employment Benefits

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pensions and Other Post-Employment Benefits

The obligation and funded status of the Company’s pension and other post-employment benefit plans are shown below. The Pension Benefits column aggregates defined benefit pension plans in the U.S., Germany, and England, and the U.S. supplemental retirement plans. The Other Benefits column includes the domestic retiree medical and life insurance plan.



	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
(Thousands)	2019			2018			2019			2018
Change in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	170,136		$	313,728		$	11,375		$	14,166
Service cost	5,918			6,953			67			111
Interest cost	6,292			9,554			399			396
Net pension curtailments and settlements	(12,212		)	(112,644		)	—			—
Actuarial loss (gain)	20,409			(31,824		)	(2,192		)	(2,453		)
Benefit payments	(3,170		)	(13,700		)	(981		)	(876		)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	(613		)	(1,931		)	13			31
Benefit obligation at end of year	186,760			170,136			8,681			11,375
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	145,046			234,976			—			—
Plan settlements	—			(111,542		)	—			—
Actual return on plan assets	27,264			(8,570		)	—			—
Employer contributions	4,702			42,227			—			—
Employee contributions	124			146			—			—
Benefit payments from fund	(2,933		)	(10,826		)	—			—
Expenses paid from assets	(391		)	(890		)	—			—
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	234			(475		)	—			—
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	174,046			145,046			—			—
Funded status at end of year	$	(12,714	)	$	(25,090	)	$	(8,681	)	$	(11,375	)
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of:
Other assets	$	11,298		$	1,948		$	—		$	—
Other liabilities and accrued items	(997		)	(411		)	(1,012		)	(1,258		)
Retirement and post-employment benefits	(23,015		)	(26,627		)	(7,669		)	(10,117		)
	$	(12,714	)	$	(25,090	)	$	(8,681	)	$	(11,375	)

In 2019, the Company's Board of Directors approved changes to the U.S. defined benefit pension plan. The Company froze the pay and service amounts used to calculate the pension benefits for active participants as of January 1, 2020. The Company recognized a non-cash pretax pension curtailment charge of $3.3 million associated with the plan amendment in 2019.

During 2018, the Company completed a partial plan settlement transaction relating to its U.S. pension plan wherein plan assets amounting to $111.5 million were used to purchase a group annuity contract from Mutual of America. This transaction relieved the Company of responsibility for the pension benefit obligation and consequently transferred the obligation and payment responsibility to Mutual of America for retirement benefits owed to approximately 1,150 retirees, beneficiaries, and other participants. The annuity contract covered retirees who commenced receiving benefits on or before June 1, 2018. The monthly retirement benefit payment amounts currently received by retirees and their beneficiaries did not change as a result of this transaction. Those plan participants not included in the transaction remain in the Plan, and responsibility for payment of the retirement benefits remains with the Company.

The following amounts are included within accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2019 and are expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost during 2020:



	Pension Benefits				Other Benefits
(Thousands)	2019		2018		2019			2018
Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income (before tax) consist of:
Net actuarial loss (gain)	$	48,073	$	61,599	$	(4,529	)	$	(2,429	)
Net prior service cost (credit)	—		3,810		(5,049		)	(6,546		)
	$	48,073	$	65,409	$	(9,578	)	$	(8,975	)
Amortizations expected to be recognized during next fiscal year (before tax):
Amortization of net loss	$	1,707	$	3,769	$	—		$	—
Net prior service cost (credit)	—		482		(1,497		)	(1,497		)
	$	1,707	$	4,251	$	(1,497	)	$	(1,497	)

The following table provides information regarding the accumulated benefit obligation:



	Pension Benefits				Other Benefits
(Thousands)	2019		2018		2019		2018
Additional information
Accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans	$	185,402	$	161,169	$	—	$	—
For defined benefit pension plans with benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
Aggregate benefit obligation	25,640		165,344		—		—
Aggregate fair value of plan assets	3,045		138,305		—		—
For defined benefit pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
Aggregate accumulated benefit obligation	24,482		156,639		—		—
Aggregate fair value of plan assets	3,045		138,305		—		—

The following table summarizes components of net benefit cost:



	Pension Benefits									Other Benefits
(Thousands)	2019			2018			2017			2019			2018			2017
Net benefit cost
Service cost	$	5,918		$	6,953		$	7,587		$	67		$	111		$	91
Interest cost	6,292			9,554			9,949			399			396			398
Expected return on plan assets	(8,777		)	(14,231		)	(13,760		)	—			—			—
Amortization of prior service credit	483			(123		)	(274		)	(1,497		)	(1,497		)	(1,497		)
Recognized net actuarial loss (gain)	3,304			7,171			6,636			(93		)	—			—
Net periodic cost	7,220			9,324			10,138			(1,124		)	(990		)	(1,008		)
Net pension curtailments and settlements	3,328			41,406			—			—			—			—
Total net benefit cost	$	10,548		$	50,730		$	10,138		$	(1,124	)	$	(990	)	$	(1,008	)

In 2019, net benefit cost includes a $3.3 million curtailment charge related to the freeze of our U.S. defined benefit plan effective January 1, 2020.

Beginning in 2018, the Company reports the service cost component of net benefit cost in the same line item as other compensation costs in operating expenses and the non-service cost components of net benefit cost in Other non-operating expenses. Additionally, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation premiums are reported within expected return on plan assets. In conjunction with the pension annuity and other lump-sum payments, the Company remeasured the periodic benefit obligation of its U.S. plans in the period payments were made and recorded settlement charges totaling $41.4 million during 2018.

The following table summarizes amounts recognized in other comprehensive income (OCI):



	Pension Benefits									Other Benefits
(Thousands)	2019			2018			2017			2019			2018			2017
Change in other comprehensive income
OCI at beginning of year	$	65,409		$	122,802		$	121,329		$	(8,976	)	$	(8,020	)	$	(9,961	)
Increase (decrease) in OCI:
Recognized during year — prior service cost (credit)	(3,811		)	123			274			1,497			1,497			1,497
Recognized during year — net actuarial (losses) gains	(3,304		)	(7,171		)	(6,636		)	93			—			—
Occurring during year — prior service cost	—			—			3,804			—			—			—
Occurring during year — net actuarial losses (gains)	2,062			(8,997		)	4,055			(2,192		)	(2,453		)	444
Other adjustments	(12,212		)	(41,406		)	—			—			—			—
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(71		)	58			(24		)	—			—			—
OCI at end of year	$	48,073		$	65,409		$	122,802		$	(9,578	)	$	(8,976	)	$	(8,020	)

In determining the projected benefit obligation and the net benefit cost, as of a December 31 measurement date, the Company used the following weighted-average assumptions:



	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2019		2018		2017		2019		2018		2017
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at fiscal year end
Discount rate	3.12	%	4.07	%	3.53	%	3.20	%	4.11	%	3.43	%
Rate of compensation increase	3.00	%	3.87	%	3.93	%	3.00	%	4.00	%	4.00	%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net cost for the fiscal year
Discount rate	4.16	%	3.63	%	3.93	%	4.11	%	3.43	%	3.68	%
Expected long-term return on plan assets	6.06	%	6.63	%	6.89	%	N/A		N/A		N/A
Rate of compensation increase	2.99	%	3.98	%	3.91	%	4.00	%	4.00	%	4.00	%

Discount Rate. The discount rate used to determine the present value of the projected and accumulated benefit obligation at the end of each year is established based upon the available market rates for high quality, fixed income investments whose maturities match the plan’s projected cash flows.

The Company uses a spot-rate approach to estimate the service and interest cost components of net periodic benefit cost for its defined benefit pension plans. The spot-rate approach applies separate discount rates for each projected benefit payment in the calculation.

Expected Long-Term Return on Plan Assets. Management establishes the domestic expected long-term rate of return assumption by reviewing historical trends and analyzing the current and projected market conditions in relation to the plan’s asset allocation and risk management objectives. Consideration is given to both recent plan asset performance as well as plan asset performance over various long-term periods of time, with an emphasis on the assumption being a prospective, long-term rate of return. Management consults with and considers the opinions of its outside investment advisers and actuaries when establishing the rate and reviews assumptions with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

Rate of Compensation Increase. The rate of compensation increase assumption was not applicable for the domestic defined benefit plan in 2019 due to the Company freezing the plan effective January 1, 2020. The rate of compensation assumption for the domestic retiree medical plan was 4.0% in 2019 and 4.0% in 2018 for both the domestic defined benefit pension plan and the domestic retiree medical plan.

Assumptions for the defined benefit pension plans in Germany and England are determined separately from the U.S. plan assumptions, based on historical trends and current and projected market conditions in Germany and England. One plan in Germany is unfunded.



Assumed health care trend rates at fiscal year end	2019	2018
Health care trend rate assumed for next year	6.25%	6.50%
Rate that the trend rate gradually declines to (ultimate trend rate)	5.00%	5.00%
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate	2025	2025

Assumed health care cost trend rates can have an effect on the amounts reported for the health care plans. A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:



	1-Percentage- Point Increase				1-Percentage- Point Decrease
(Thousands)	2019		2018		2019			2018
Effect on total of service and interest cost components	$	6	$	6	$	(6	)	$	(6	)
Effect on post-employment benefit obligation	149		163		(139		)	(152		)

Plan Assets

The following tables present the fair values of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan assets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 by asset category. The Company has some investments that are valued using net asset value (NAV) as the practical expedient and have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. Refer to Note Q for definitions of the fair value hierarchy.



	December 31, 2019
(Thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Cash	$	1,718	$	1,718	$	—	$	—
Equity securities (a)	47,722		47,722		—		—
Fixed-income securities (b)	3,923		3,923		—		—
Other types of investments:
Real estate fund (c)	3,121		3,121		—		—
Total	56,484		56,484		—		—
Investments measured at NAV: (d)
Pooled investment fund (e)	113,187
Multi-strategy hedge funds (f)	4,277
Intermediate-term bonds (g)	—
Private equity funds	98
Total assets at fair value	$	174,046

	December 31, 2018
(Thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Cash	$	21,881	$	21,881	$	—	$	—
Equity securities (a)	50,862		50,862		—		—
Fixed-income securities (b)	18,211		18,211		—		—
Other types of investments:
Real estate fund (c)	3,257		3,257		—		—
Total	94,211		94,211		—		—
Investments measured at NAV: (d)
Pooled investment fund (e)	24,947
Multi-strategy hedge funds (f)	4,113
Intermediate-term bonds (g)	21,678
Private equity funds	97
Total assets at fair value	$	145,046


(a)	Equity securities are primarily comprised of corporate stock and mutual funds directly held by the plans. Equity securities are valued using the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded.


(b)	Fixed income securities are primarily comprised of governmental and corporate bonds directly held by the plans. Governmental and corporate bonds are valued using both market observable inputs for similar assets that are traded on an active market and the closing price on the active market on which the individual securities are traded.


(c)	Includes a mutual fund that typically invests at least 80% of its assets in equity and debt securities of companies in the real estate industry or related industries or in companies which own significant real estate assets at the time of investment.


(d)	Certain assets that are measured at fair value using the NAV practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy.


(e)	Pooled investment fund consists of various investment types including equity investments covering a range of geographies and including investment managers that hold long and short positions, property investments, and other multi-strategy funds which combine a range of different credit, equity, and macro-orientated ideas and dynamically allocate funds across asset classes.


(f)	Includes a fund that invests in a broad portfolio of hedge funds.


(g)	Includes a mutual fund that employs a value-oriented approach to fixed income investment management and a mutual fund that invests primarily in investment-grade debt securities.

The Company’s domestic defined benefit pension plan investment strategy, as approved by the Governance and Organization Committee of the Board of Directors, is to employ an allocation of investments that will generate returns equal to or better than the projected long-term growth of pension liabilities so that the plan will be self-funding. The return objective is to maximize investment return to achieve and maintain a 100% funded status over time, taking into consideration required cash contributions. The allocation of investments is designed to maximize the advantages of diversification while mitigating the risk and overall portfolio volatility to achieve the return objective. Risk is defined as the annual variability in value and is measured in terms of the standard deviation of investment return. Under the Company’s investment policies, allowable investments include domestic equities, international equities, fixed income securities, cash equivalents, and alternative securities (which include real estate, private venture capital investments, hedge funds, and tactical asset allocation). Ranges, in terms of a percentage of the total assets, are established for each allowable class of security. Derivatives may be used to hedge an existing security or as a risk reduction strategy. Current asset allocation guidelines are to invest 10% to 40% in equity securities, 60% to 90% in fixed income securities and cash, and up to 20% in alternative securities. Management reviews the asset allocation on a quarterly or more frequent basis and makes revisions as deemed necessary.

None of the plan assets noted above are invested in the Company’s common stock.

Cash Flows

Employer Contributions. The Company does not expect to contribute to its domestic defined benefit pension plan in 2020.

All plan participants with an accrued benefit may elect an immediate payout in lieu of their future monthly annuity if the lump sum amount does not exceed $100,000.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments. The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid:



			Other Benefits
(Thousands)	Pension Benefits		Gross Benefit Payment		Net of Medicare Part D Subsidy
2020	$	3,752	$	1,012	$	997
2021	3,921		979		966
2022	4,799		884		872
2023	6,231		804		794
2024	6,410		722		713
2025 through 2029	42,020		2,544		2,518

Other Benefit Plans

In addition to the plans shown above, the Company also has certain foreign subsidiaries with accrued unfunded pension and other post-employment arrangements. The liability for these arrangements was $1.4 million at December 31, 2019 and $1.6 million at December 31, 2018, and was included in retirement and post-employment benefits in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company also sponsors defined contribution plans available to substantially all U.S. employees. The Company’s annual defined contribution expense, including the expense for the enhanced defined contribution plan, was $7.0 million in 2019, $5.2 million in 2018, and $4.5 million in 2017.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Equity [Abstract]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive income, including amounts reclassified out, for 2019, 2018, and 2017, and the balances in accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 are as follows:



	Gains and Losses On Cash Flow Hedges												Pension and Post- Employment Benefits			Foreign Currency Translation
(Thousands)	Foreign Currency			Precious Metals			Copper			Total			Pension and Post- Employment Benefits			Foreign Currency Translation			Total
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	1,837		$	—		$	—		$	1,837		$	(82,358	)	$	(5,660	)	$	(86,181	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(1,180		)	(463		)	—			(1,643		)	(8,279		)	1,552			(8,370		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	632			208			—			840			4,865			—			5,705
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	(548		)	(255		)	—			(803		)	(3,414		)	1,552			(2,665		)
Deferred taxes on current period activity	330			(59		)	—			271			13,820			—			14,091
Other comprehensive income (loss) after tax	(878		)	(196		)	—			(1,074		)	(17,234		)	1,552			(16,756		)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	959		$	(196	)	$	—		$	763		$	(99,592	)	$	(4,108	)	$	(102,937	)

Balance at December 31, 2017	$	959		$	(196	)	$	—		$	763		$	(99,592	)	$	(4,108	)	$	(102,937	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(333		)	467			(569		)	(435		)	11,396			(484		)	10,477
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	10			(109		)	—			(99		)	46,953			—			46,854
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	(323		)	358			(569		)	(534		)	58,349			(484		)	57,331
Deferred taxes on current period activity	(627		)	83			(128		)	(672		)	13,300			—			12,628
Other comprehensive income (loss) after tax	304			275			(441		)	138			45,049			(484		)	44,703
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	1,263		$	79		$	(441	)	$	901		$	(54,543	)	$	(4,592	)	$	(58,234	)

Balance at December 31, 2018	$	1,263		$	79		$	(441	)	$	901		$	(54,543	)	$	(4,592	)	$	(58,234	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	108			(1,285		)	209			(968		)	9,085			(421		)	7,696
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	(29		)	595			393			959			8,853			—			9,812
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	79			(690		)	602			(9		)	17,938			(421		)	17,508
Deferred taxes on current period activity	18			(159		)	136			(5		)	4,741			—			4,736
Other comprehensive income (loss) after tax	61			(531		)	466			(4		)	13,197			(421		)	12,772
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	1,324		$	(452	)	$	25		$	897		$	(41,346	)	$	(5,013	)	$	(45,462	)

Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income of gains and losses on foreign currency cash flow hedges are recorded in Net sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income while gains and losses on precious metal cash flow hedges are recorded in Cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Refer to Note Q for additional details on cash flow hedges.

Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income for pension and post-employment benefits are included in the computation of the net periodic pension and post-employment benefit expense. Refer to Note N for additional details on pension and other post-employment expenses.

Stock-based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Stock-based Compensation

Stock incentive plans (the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2006 Non-employee Director Equity Plan) were approved at the May 2006 annual meeting of shareholders. These plans authorize the granting of option rights, SARs, performance-restricted shares, performance shares, performance units, and restricted shares. The 2006 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2006 Non-employee Director Equity Plan were amended to, among other things, add additional shares to the plans. These amendments were last approved by shareholders at the May 2017 annual meeting.

Stock-based compensation expense, which includes awards settled in shares and in cash and is recognized as a component of selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses, was $11.1 million, $11.4 million, and $7.7 million in 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. The Company derives a tax deduction measured by the excess of the market value over the grant price at the date stock-based awards vest or are exercised. The Company recognized $2.1 million, $1.2 million, and $2.0 million of tax benefits in 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively, relating to the issuance of common stock for the exercise/vesting of equity awards.

The following sections provide information on awards settled in shares.

SARs. The Company grants SARs to certain employees. Upon exercise of vested SARs, the participant will receive a number of shares of common stock equal to the spread (the difference between the market price of the Company’s common shares at the time of exercise and the strike price established on the grant date) divided by the common share price. The strike price of the SARs is equal to the market value of the Company’s common shares on the day of the grant. The number of SARs available to be issued is established by plans approved by the shareholders. The vesting period and the life of the SARs are established at the time of grant. The exercise of the SARs is generally satisfied by the issuance of treasury shares. SARs granted in 2019 and 2018 vest in equal installments annually over three years, while SARs granted prior to 2018 generally vest three years from the date of grant. SARs granted prior to 2011 expire in ten years, while the SARs granted in 2011 and later expire in seven years.

The following table summarizes the Company's SARs activity during 2019:



(Shares in thousands)	Number of SARs		Weighted- average Exercise Price Per Share		Aggregate Intrinsic Value (thousands)		Weighted- average Remaining Term (Years)
Outstanding at December 31, 2018	379		$	33.01
Granted	73		58.30
Exercised	(196	)	26.71		$	6,730
Cancelled	(6	)	49.93
Outstanding at December 31, 2019	250		44.95		$	3,631	4.8
Vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2019	250		44.95		3,631		4.8
Exercisable at December 31, 2019	72		37.70		1,557		3.8

A summary of the status and changes of shares subject to SARs and the related average price per share follows:



(Shares in thousands)	Number of SARs		Weighted- average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested as of December 31, 2018	319		$	10.33
Granted	73		17.76
Vested	(208	)	9.02
Cancelled	(6	)	15.35
Nonvested as of December 31, 2019	178		$	14.72

As of December 31, 2019, $1.3 million of expense with respect to non-vested SARs has yet to be recognized as expense over a weighted-average period of approximately 22 months. The total fair value of shares vested during both 2019 and 2018 was $1.9 million, compared to $1.7 million in 2017.

The weighted-average grant date fair value for 2019, 2018, and 2017 was $17.76, $15.73, and $10.89, respectively. The fair value will be amortized to compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of three years, or earlier if the employee is

retirement eligible as defined in the Plan. Stock-based compensation expense relating to SARs was $0.9 million in 2019, $0.7 million in 2018, and $1.4 million in 2017.

The fair value of the SARs was estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes pricing model with the following assumptions:



	2019		2018		2017
Risk-free interest rate	2.47	%	2.58	%	1.92	%
Dividend yield	0.7	%	0.8	%	1.1	%
Volatility	31.7	%	31.9	%	34.0	%
Expected lives (in years)	5.2		5.5		5.6

The risk-free rate of return was based on U.S. Treasury yields with a maturity equal to the expected life of the award. The dividend yield was based on the Company's historical dividend rate and stock price. The expected volatility of stock was derived by referring to changes in the Company's historical common stock prices over a time-frame similar to the expected life of the award. In addition to considering the vesting period and contractual term of the award for the expected life assumption, the Company analyzes actual historical exercise experience for previously granted awards.

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) - Employees. The Company may grant RSUs to employees of the Company. These units constitute an agreement to deliver shares of common stock to the participant at the end of the vesting period, which is defined at the date of the grant, and are forfeited should the holder’s employment terminate during the restriction period. The fair market value of the RSUs is determined on the date of the grant and is amortized over the vesting period. The vesting period is typically three years unless the recipient is retirement eligible and continued vesting is approved by the Board of Directors.

The fair value of the RSUs settled in stock is based on the closing stock price on the date of grant. The weighted-average grant date fair value for 2019, 2018, and 2017 was $58.33, $50.35, and $35.24, respectively. Cash-settled RSUs are accounted for as liability-based compensation awards and adjusted based on the closing price of Materion’s common stock over the vesting period of three years.

Stock-based compensation expense relating to stock-settled RSUs was $2.2 million in 2019, $1.2 million in 2018, and $1.4 million in 2017. The unamortized compensation cost on the outstanding RSUs was $3.8 million as of December 31, 2019 and is expected to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 23 months. The total fair value of shares vested during 2019, 2018, and 2017 was $1.2 million $1.4 million, and $1.2 million, respectively.

The following table summarizes the stock-settled RSU activity during 2019:



(Shares in thousands)	Number of Shares		Weighted- average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2018	130		$	38.99
Granted	70		58.33
Vested	(44	)	27.52
Forfeited	(11	)	52.15
Outstanding at December 31, 2019	145		$	50.79

RSUs - Non-Employee Directors. In 2019, 2018, and 2017, 11,048, 14,728, and 18,656 RSUs, with a one year vesting period, were granted to certain non-employee members of the Board of Directors. The weighted-average grant date fair value of these RSUs were $68.79, $51.60, and $34.30 in 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. The Company recognized $0.7 million of expense with respect to these awards in each of the last three years. At December 31, 2019, $0.2 million of expense with respect to non-vested RSU awards granted to the Board of Directors has yet to be recognized and will be amortized into expense over a weighted-average period of approximately four months.

Long-term Incentive Plans. Under long-term incentive compensation plans, executive officers and selected other employees receive restricted stock unit awards based upon the Company’s performance over the defined period, typically three years. Total units earned for grants made in 2019, 2018, and 2017, may vary between 0% and 200% of the units granted based on the attainment of performance targets during the related three-year period. All grants made in 2019 and 2018 will be settled in Materion common shares and are equity classified. For grants made to certain executives prior to 2018, attainment up to 100% is paid in Materion common shares and equity classified, while the remainder are classified as liability awards and settled in cash. Grants made to

all other employees prior to 2018 are settled in cash. Vesting of performance-based awards is contingent upon the attainment of threshold performance objectives.

The following table summarizes the activity related to equity-based, performance-based RSUs during 2019:



(Shares in thousands)	Number of Shares		Weighted- average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2018	202		$	35.76
Granted	56		69.84
Vested	(83	)	22.77
Forfeited	(6	)	58.93
Outstanding at December 31, 2019	169		$	52.74

Compensation expense is based upon the performance projections for the plan period of three years, the percentage of requisite service rendered, and the fair market value of the Company’s common shares on the date of grant. The offset to the compensation expense for the portion of the award to be settled in shares is recorded within shareholders’ equity and was $3.3 million for 2019, $2.7 million for 2018, and $1.5 million for 2017.

Directors' Deferred Compensation. Non-employee directors may defer all or part of their compensation into the Company’s common stock. The fair value of the deferred shares is determined at the share acquisition date and is recorded within shareholders’ equity. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the Company’s common shares do not impact the recorded values of the shares.

The following table summarizes the stock activity for the directors' deferred compensation plan during 2019:



(Shares in thousands)	Number of Shares		Weighted- average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2018	152		$	23.55
Granted	13		66.35
Distributed	(57	)	63.81
Outstanding at December 31, 2019	108		$	56.02

During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, the weighted-average grant date fair value was $66.35, $53.11, and $35.34, respectively.

Fair Value Information and Derivative Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Fair Value Information and Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company measures and records financial instruments at fair value. A hierarchy is used for those instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based upon market data (observable inputs) and the Company's assumptions (unobservable inputs). The hierarchy consists of three levels:

Level 1 — Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;

Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1 inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable; and

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs developed using estimates and assumptions developed by the Company, which reflect those that a market participant would use.

The following table summarizes the financial instruments measured at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2019 and 2018:



			Fair Value Measurements
(Thousands)	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Other Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
December 31, 2019
Financial Assets
Deferred compensation investments	$	3,391	$	3,391	$	—	$	—
Foreign currency forward contracts	188		—		188		—
Precious metal swaps	35		—		35		—
Copper swaps	61		—		61		—
Total	$	3,675	$	3,391	$	284	$	—
Financial Liabilities
Deferred compensation liability	$	3,391	$	3,391	$	—	$	—
Foreign currency forward contracts	211		—		211		—
Precious metal swaps	623		—		623		—
Copper swaps	28		—		28		—
Total	$	4,253	$	3,391	$	862	$	—
December 31, 2018
Financial Assets
Deferred compensation investments	$	2,156	$	2,156	$	—	$	—
Foreign currency forward contracts	246		—		246		—
Precious metal swaps	237		—		237		—
Total	$	2,639	$	2,156	$	483	$	—
Financial Liabilities
Deferred compensation liability	$	2,156	$	2,156	$	—	$	—
Foreign currency forward contracts	432		—		432		—
Precious metal swaps	135		—		135		—
Copper swaps	569		—		569		—
Total	$	3,292	$	2,156	$	1,136	$	—

The Company uses a market approach to value the assets and liabilities for financial instruments in the table above. Outstanding contracts are valued through models that utilize market observable inputs, including both spot and forward prices, for the same underlying currencies and metals. The Company's deferred compensation investments and liabilities are based on the fair value of the investments corresponding to the employees’ investment selections, primarily in mutual funds, based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. Deferred compensation investments are primarily presented in Other assets. Deferred compensation liabilities are primarily presented in Other long-term liabilities.

The carrying values of the other working capital items and debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate fair values at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

The Company uses derivative contracts to hedge portions of its foreign currency exposures and may also use derivatives to hedge a portion of its precious metal exposures. The objectives and strategies for using derivatives in these areas are as follows:

Foreign Currency. The Company sells a portion of its products to overseas customers in their local currencies, primarily the euro and yen. The Company secures foreign currency derivatives, mainly forward contracts and options, to hedge these anticipated sales transactions. The purpose of the hedge program is to protect against the reduction in the dollar value of foreign currency sales from adverse exchange rate movements. Should the dollar strengthen significantly, the decrease in the translated value of the foreign currency sales should be partially offset by gains on the hedge contracts. Depending upon the methods used, the hedge contracts may limit the benefits from a weakening U.S. dollar.

The use of forward contracts locks in a firm rate and eliminates any downside from an adverse rate movement as well as any benefit from a favorable rate movement. The Company may from time to time choose to hedge with options or a tandem of options known as a collar. These hedging techniques can limit or eliminate the downside risk but can allow for some or all of the benefit from a favorable rate movement to be realized. Unlike a forward contract, a premium is paid for an option; collars, which are a combination of a put and call option, may have a net premium but can be structured to be cash neutral. The Company will primarily hedge with forward contracts due to the relationship between the cash outlay and the level of risk.

Precious Metals. The Company maintains the majority of its precious metal production requirements on consignment in order to reduce its working capital investment and the exposure to metal price movements. When a precious metal product is fabricated and ready for shipment to the customer, the metal is purchased out of consignment at the current market price. The price paid by the Company forms the basis for the price charged to the customer. This methodology allows for changes in either direction in the market prices of the precious metals used by the Company to be passed through to the customer and reduces the impact changes in prices could have on the Company's margins and operating profit. The consigned metal is owned by financial institutions who charge the Company a financing fee based upon the current value of the metal on hand.

In certain instances, a customer may want to establish the price for the precious metal at the time the sales order is placed rather than at the time of shipment. Setting the sales price at a different date than when the material would be purchased potentially creates an exposure to movements in the market price of the metal. Therefore, in these limited situations, the Company may elect to enter into a forward contract to purchase precious metal. The forward contract allows the Company to purchase metal at a fixed price on a specific future date. The price in the forward contract serves as the basis for the price to be charged to the customer. By doing so, the selling price and purchase price are matched, and the Company's price exposure is reduced.

The Company refines precious metal-containing materials for its customers and typically will purchase the refined metal from the customer at current market prices. In limited circumstances, the customer may want to fix the price to be paid at the time of the order as opposed to when the material is refined. The customer may also want to fix the price for a set period of time. The Company may then elect to enter into a hedge contract, either a forward contract or a swap, to fix the price for the estimated quantity of metal to be purchased, thereby reducing the exposure to adverse movements in the price of the metal. The Company may also enter into hedges to mitigate the risk relating to the prices of the metals which we process or refine.

The Company may from time to time elect to purchase precious metal and hold in inventory rather than on consignment due to potential credit line limitations or other factors. These purchases are typically held for a short duration. A forward contract will be secured at the time of the purchase to fix the price to be used when the metal is transferred back to the consignment line, thereby limiting any price exposure during the time when the metal was owned.

Copper. The Company also uses copper in its production processes. When possible, fluctuations in the purchase price of copper are passed on to customers in the form of price adders or reductions. While over time the Company's price exposure to copper is generally in balance, there can be a lag between the change in the Company's cost and the pass-through to its customers, resulting in higher or lower margins in a given period. To mitigate this impact, the Company hedges a portion of this pricing risk.

A team consisting of senior financial managers reviews the estimated exposure levels, as defined by budgets, forecasts, and other internal data, and determines the timing, amounts, and instruments to use to hedge exposures. Management analyzes the effective hedged rates and the actual and projected gains and losses on the hedging transactions against the program objectives, targeted rates, and levels of risk assumed. Foreign currency contracts are typically layered in at different times for a specified exposure period in order to minimize the impact of market rate movements.

The use of derivatives is governed by policies adopted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. The Company will only enter into a derivative contract if there is an underlying identified exposure. Contracts are typically held to maturity. The Company does not engage in derivative trading activities and does not use derivatives for speculative purposes. The Company only uses hedge contracts that are denominated in the same currency or metal as the underlying exposure.

All derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. If the derivative is designated and effective as a cash flow hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recognized in OCI until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s fair value, if any, is recognized in earnings immediately. If a derivative is not a hedge, changes in the fair value are adjusted through income. The fair values of the outstanding derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet as assets (if the derivatives are in a gain position) or liabilities (if the derivatives are in a loss position). The fair values will also be classified as short-term or long-term depending upon their maturity dates.

The following table summarizes the notional amount and the fair value of the Company’s outstanding derivatives not designated as hedging instruments (on a gross basis) and balance sheet classification as of December 31, 2019 and 2018:



	December 31, 2019				December 31, 2018
(Thousands)	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Notional Amount		Fair Value
Foreign currency forward contracts
Prepaid expenses	$	13,734	$	95	$	8,767	$	244
Other liabilities and accrued items	5,757		16		8,771		249

These outstanding foreign currency derivatives were related to balance sheet hedges and intercompany loans. Other-net included foreign currency losses relating to these derivatives of $0.1 million in 2019 and foreign currency gains of $0.9 million in 2018.

The following table summarizes the notional amount and the fair value of the Company’s outstanding derivatives designated as cash flow hedges (on a gross basis) and balance sheet classification at December 31, 2019 and 2018:



	December 31, 2019				December 31, 2018
(Thousands)	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Notional Amount		Fair Value
Prepaid expenses
Foreign currency forward contracts - yen	$	1,025	$	10	$	—	$	—
Foreign currency forward contracts - euro	3,466		83		725		2
Precious metal swaps	1,116		34		4,533		237
Copper swaps	1,951		61		—		—
	7,558		188		5,258		239

Other assets
Precious metal swaps	157		1		—		—

Other liabilities and accrued items
Foreign currency forward contracts - yen	2,355		12		1,264		17
Foreign currency forward contracts - euro	15,686		183		19,158		166
Precious metal swaps	7,034		618		2,864		135
Copper swaps	1,266		28		11,170		569
	26,341		841		34,456		887

Other long-term liabilities
Precious metal swaps	149		5		—		—

Total	$	34,205	$	657	$	39,714	$	648

All of these contracts were designated and effective as cash flow hedges. No ineffectiveness expense was recorded in 2019, 2018, or 2017.

The fair value of derivative contracts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss totaled $0.7 million and $0.6 million as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Deferred losses of $0.7 million at December 31, 2019 are expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 18-month period.

The following table summarizes the amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI relating to the hedging relationship of the Company’s outstanding derivatives designated as cash flow hedges and income statement classification for year ended December 31, 2019:



(Thousands)		2019
Hedging relationship	Line item
Foreign currency forward contracts	Net sales	$	(29	)
Precious metal swaps	Cost of sales	595
Copper swaps	Cost of sales	393
Total		$	959

The derivative activity in the table above is reflected in cash flows from operating activities.

Contingencies and Commitments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Contingencies and Commitments

Beryllium Cases

The Company is a defendant from time to time in proceedings in various state and federal courts brought by plaintiffs alleging that they have contracted, or have been placed at risk of contracting, beryllium sensitization or Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD) or related ailments as a result of exposure to beryllium. Plaintiffs in beryllium cases seek recovery under theories of negligence and various other legal theories and seek compensatory and punitive damages, in many cases of an unspecified sum. Spouses, if any, often claim loss of consortium.

Employee cases, in which plaintiffs have a high burden of proof, have historically involved relatively small losses to the Company. Third-party plaintiffs (typically employees of customers) face a lower burden of proof than do the Company’s employees, but these cases have generally been covered by varying levels of insurance. Management has vigorously contested the beryllium cases brought against the Company.

Non-employee beryllium cases are covered by insurance, subject to certain limitations. The insurance covers defense costs and indemnity payments (resulting from settlements or court verdicts) and is subject to various levels of deductibles. In 2019 and 2018, defense and indemnity costs were less than or equal to the deductible.

One beryllium case, originally filed and dismissed during 2015, but reversed and remanded in 2016 to the trial court, was outstanding as of December 31, 2018 but was settled for an immaterial amount and dismissed in 2019. One beryllium case was filed in 2019 and was outstanding as of December 31, 2019. The Company does not expect the resolution of this matter to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Although it is not possible to predict the outcome of any pending litigation, the Company provides for costs related to litigation matters when a loss is probable, and the amount is reasonably estimable. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties, and it is possible that some of the actions could be decided unfavorably in amounts exceeding the Company’s reserves. An unfavorable outcome or settlement of a beryllium case or adverse media coverage could encourage the commencement of additional similar litigation. The Company is unable to estimate its potential exposure to unasserted claims.

Based upon currently known facts and assuming collectibility of insurance, the Company does not believe that resolution of the current or any potential future beryllium proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or cash flow of the Company. However, the Company’s results of operations could be materially affected by unfavorable results in one or more cases.

Environmental Proceedings

The Company has an active program for environmental compliance that includes the identification of environmental projects and estimating the impact on the Company’s financial performance and available resources. Environmental expenditures that relate to current operations, such as wastewater treatment and control of airborne emissions, are either expensed or capitalized as appropriate. The Company records reserves for the probable costs for identified environmental remediation projects. The Company’s environmental engineers perform routine ongoing analyses of the remediation sites and will use outside consultants to assist in their analyses from time to time. Accruals are based upon their analyses and are established based on the reasonably estimable loss or range of loss. The accruals are revised for the results of ongoing studies, changes in strategies, inflation, and for

differences between actual and projected costs. The accruals may also be affected by rulings and negotiations with regulatory agencies. The timing of payments often lags the accrual, as environmental projects typically require a number of years to complete.

The environmental reserves recorded represent the Company's best estimate of what is reasonably possible and cover existing or currently foreseen projects based upon current facts and circumstances. The Company does not believe that it is reasonably possible that the cost to resolve environmental matters for sites where the investigative work and work plan development are substantially complete will be materially different than what has been accrued while the ultimate loss contingencies for sites that are in the preliminary stages of investigation cannot be reasonably determined at the present time. As facts and circumstances change, the ultimate cost may be revised, and the recording of additional costs may be material in the period in which the additional costs are accrued. The Company does not believe that the ultimate liability for environmental matters will have a material impact on its financial condition or liquidity due to the nature of known environmental matters and the extended period of time during which environmental remediation normally takes place.

The undiscounted reserve balance at the beginning of the year, the amounts expensed and paid, and the balance at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:



(Thousands)	2019			2018
Reserve balance at beginning of year	$	6,521		$	6,499
Expensed	482			718
Paid	(1,066		)	(696		)
Reserve balance at end of year	$	5,937		$	6,521
Ending balance recorded in:
Other liabilities and accrued items	$	982		$	1,168
Other long-term liabilities	4,955			5,353

The majority of spending in 2019 and 2018 was for various remediation projects at the Elmore, Ohio plant site.

Other

The Company is subject to various legal or other proceedings that relate to the ordinary course of its business. The Company believes that the resolution of these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact upon the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

At December 31, 2019, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $41.8 million related to workers’ compensation, consigned precious metal guarantees, environmental remediation issues, and other matters. The majority of the Company's outstanding letters of credit expire in 2020 and are expected to be renewed.

Quarterly Data (Unaudited)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Quarterly Data (Unaudited)

The following tables summarize selected quarterly financial data for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:



	2019
(Thousands except per share amounts)	First Quarter			Second Quarter			Third Quarter			Fourth Quarter			Total
Net sales	$	301,441		$	297,843		$	305,979		$	280,161		$	1,185,424
Gross margin	69,312			69,594			65,231			55,007			259,144
Percent of net sales	23.0		%	23.4		%	21.3		%	19.6		%	21.9		%
Net income⁽¹⁾	$	16,906		$	15,540		$	3,463		$	14,751		$	50,660
Net income per share of common stock:
Basic	$	0.83		$	0.76		$	0.17		$	0.72		$	2.49
Diluted	0.82			0.75			0.17			0.71			2.45

	2018
	First Quarter			Second Quarter			Third Quarter			Fourth Quarter			Total
Net sales	$	303,467		$	309,085		$	297,193		$	298,070		$	1,207,815
Gross margin	58,280			61,838			64,935			66,052			251,105
Percent of net sales	19.2		%	20.0		%	21.8		%	22.2		%	20.8		%
Net income (loss)	$	10,564		$	11,144		$	19,966		$	(20,828	)	$	20,846
Net income (loss) per share of common stock:
Basic⁽²⁾	$	0.52		$	0.55		$	0.99		$	(1.03	)	$	1.03
Diluted⁽²⁾⁽³⁾	0.51			0.54			0.97			(1.03		)	1.01

⁽¹⁾ Net income for the third quarter 2019 includes the impact of $14.1 million of non-cash impairment charges. For additional information refer to Note L.

⁽²⁾Net income (loss) per basic and diluted share for the fourth quarter 2018 includes the impact of $41.4 million in pension settlement charges. For additional information refer to Note N. In addition, net income (loss) per basic and diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2018 includes the impact of $11.1 million of income tax benefits as a result of the TCJA signed into law on December 22, 2017. For additional information refer to Note G.

⁽³⁾ Since the Company reported a net loss for the fourth quarter of 2018, the effects of potential common shares were excluded from diluted earnings per share, as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

The Company follows a 13-week quarterly accounting cycle pursuant to which the first three fiscal quarters end on a Friday and the fiscal year always ends on December 31.

Valuation And Qualifying Accounts

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Materion Corporation and Subsidiaries

Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017



Column A	Column B		Column C					Column D			Column E
(Thousands)	Balance at Beginning of Period		ADDITIONS					Deduction			Balance at End of Period
(Thousands)	Balance at Beginning of Period		Charged to Costs and Expenses			Charged to Other Accounts		Deduction			Balance at End of Period
Year ended December 31, 2019
Deducted from asset accounts:
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable	$	616	$	(39	)	$	—	$	185	(A)	$	392
Inventory reserves and obsolescence	12,026		2,238			—		735		(B)	13,529
Year ended December 31, 2018
Deducted from asset accounts:
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable	$	640	$	271		$	—	$	295	(A)	$	616
Inventory reserves and obsolescence	13,176		3,341			—		4,491		(B)	12,026
Year ended December 31, 2017
Deducted from asset accounts:
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable	$	857	$	84		$	—	$	301	(A)	$	640
Inventory reserves and obsolescence	14,407		3,521			—		4,752		(B)	13,176

Note (A) - Bad debts written-off, net of recoveries

Note (B) - Inventory write-offs

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Organization

Organization: Materion Corporation (the Company) is a holding company with subsidiaries that have operations in the United States, Europe, and Asia. These operations manufacture advanced engineered materials used in a variety of end markets, including semiconductor, industrial, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, consumer electronics, and telecom and data center. The Company has four reportable segments: Performance Alloys and Composites, Advanced Materials, Precision Coatings, and Other. Other includes unallocated corporate costs.

Refer to Note B for additional segment details. The Company is vertically integrated and distributes its products through a combination of company-owned facilities and independent distributors and agents.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Consolidation

Consolidation: The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Materion Corporation and its subsidiaries. All of the Company’s subsidiaries were wholly owned as of December 31, 2019. Intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents: All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2019, the Company had $104.5 million of cash equivalents invested in institutional money market funds. The carrying value of the money market funds approximates fair value due to their short-term maturities.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable: An allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained for the estimated losses resulting from the inability of customers to pay amounts due. The allowance is based upon identified delinquent accounts, customer payment patterns, and other analyses of historical data and trends. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $392 and $616 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectfully. The Company extends credit to customers based upon their financial condition, and collateral is not generally required.

Inventories

Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The cost of the majority of domestic inventories is determined using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method to reflect a better matching of costs and revenues. The remaining inventories are stated principally at average costs. Inventories valued on the LIFO cost method were approximately 45% and 57% of inventories in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant, and Equipment: Property, plant, and equipment is stated on the basis of cost. Depreciation is computed principally by the straight-line method, except certain assets for which depreciation may be computed by the units-of-production method. The depreciable lives that are used in computing the annual provision for depreciation by class of asset are primarily as follows:



	Years
Land improvements	10 to 20
Buildings	20 to 40
Leasehold improvements	Life of lease
Machinery and equipment	3 to 15
Furniture and fixtures	4 to 10
Automobiles and trucks	3 to 8
Research equipment	3 to 10
Computer hardware	3 to 10
Computer software	3 to 10

An asset acquired under a finance lease will be recorded at the lesser of the present value of the projected lease payments or the fair value of the asset and will be depreciated in accordance with the above schedule. Leasehold improvements will be depreciated over the life of the improvement if it is shorter than the life of the lease. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

Mineral Resources and Mine Development

Mineral Resources and Mine Development: Property acquisition costs are capitalized as mineral resources on the balance sheet and are depleted using the units-of-production method based upon total estimated recoverable proven reserves of the beryllium-

bearing bertrandite ore body. The Company uses beryllium pounds as the unit of accounting measure, and depletion expense is recorded on a pro-rata basis based upon the amount of beryllium pounds extracted as a percentage of total estimated beryllium pounds contained in all ore bodies.

Mine development costs at our open pit surface mines include drilling, infrastructure, other related costs to delineate an ore body, and the removal of overburden to initially expose an ore body. Before mineralization is classified as proven and probable reserves, costs are classified as exploration expense. Capitalization of mine development project costs that meet the definition of an asset begins once mineralization is classified as proven and probable reserves.

Drilling and related costs are capitalized for an ore body where proven and probable reserves exist, and the activities are directed at obtaining additional information on the ore body. All other drilling and related costs are expensed as incurred. Drilling costs incurred during the production phase for operational ore control are allocated to inventory costs and then included as a component of costs applicable to sales.

The costs of removing overburden and waste materials to access the ore body at an open-pit mine prior to the production phase are capitalized during the development of an open-pit mine and are capitalized at each pit. These costs are amortized as the ore is extracted using the units-of-production method based upon total estimated recoverable proven reserves for the individual pit. The Company uses beryllium pounds as the unit of accounting measure for recording amortization.

To the extent that the aforementioned costs benefit an entire ore body, the costs are amortized over the estimated useful life of the ore body. Costs incurred to access specific ore blocks or areas that only provide benefit over the life of that area are amortized over the estimated life of that specific ore block area.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. The Company conducts its annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment assessment as of the first day of the fourth quarter, or more frequently under certain circumstances. Goodwill is assigned to the reporting unit, which is the operating segment level or one level below the operating segment. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized using the straight-line method or effective interest method, as applicable, over the periods estimated to be benefited, which is generally 20 years or less. Finite-lived intangible assets are also reviewed for impairment if facts and circumstances warrant.

Asset Impairment

Asset Impairment:

Derivatives

Derivatives: The Company recognizes all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. If the derivative is designated and effective as a cash flow hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), a component of shareholders’ equity, until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. If the derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, changes in fair value are offset against the change in the fair value of the hedged asset, liability, or commitment through earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value, if any, is recognized in earnings immediately. If a derivative is not a hedge, changes in its fair value are adjusted through the income statement.

Asset Retirement Obligation

Asset Retirement Obligation: The Company records a liability to recognize the legal obligation to remove an asset at the time the asset is acquired or when the legal liability arises. The liability is recorded for the present value of the ultimate obligation by discounting the estimated future cash flows using a credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. The liability is accreted over time, with the accretion charged to expense. An asset equal to the fair value of the liability is recorded concurrent with the liability and depreciated over the life of the underlying asset. The Company's asset retirement obligation related to its mine located in Utah for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $1.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

Unearned Income

Unearned Income: Expenditures for capital equipment to be reimbursed under government contracts are recorded in property, plant, and equipment, while the reimbursements for those expenditures are recorded in unearned income, a liability on the balance sheet. When the assets subject to reimbursement are placed in service, the total cost is depreciated over the useful lives, and the unearned income liability is reduced and credited to cost of sales on the Consolidated Statements of Income ratably with the annual depreciation expense. Depreciation and amortization expense on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is shown net of the associated period reduction in the unearned income liability.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs: The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs were $677 in 2019, $1,196 in 2018, and $1,252 in 2017.

Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based Compensation: The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense based on the grant date fair value of the award over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. The fair value of restricted stock units is based on the closing price of the Company's common shares on the grant date. Stock appreciation rights (SARs) are granted with an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company's common shares on the date of grant. The fair value of SARs is determined using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which incorporates assumptions regarding the expected volatility, the expected option life, the risk-free interest rate, and the expected dividend yield. See Note P for additional information about stock-based compensation.

Capitalized Interest

Capitalized Interest: Interest expense associated with active capital asset construction and mine development projects is capitalized and amortized over the future useful lives of the related assets.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes: The Company uses the liability method in measuring the provision for income taxes and recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. The Company will record a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized, as warranted by current facts and circumstances. The Company applies a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold for all tax uncertainties and will record a liability for those tax benefits that have a less than 50% likelihood of being sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities.

Net Income Per Share

Net Income Per Share: Basic earnings per share (EPS) is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the assumed conversion of all dilutive common stock equivalents as appropriate using the treasury stock method.

New Pronouncements

New Pronouncements Adopted: In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02 (Topic 842), Leases, which eliminates the off-balance-sheet accounting for leases. This guidance requires lessees to report their operating leases as both an asset and liability on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective method and applied it retrospectively through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings. The Company applied the transitional package of practical expedients allowed by the standard to not reassess the identification, classification, and initial direct costs of leases commencing before this ASU's effective date; however, the Company did not elect the hindsight transitional practical expedient. The Company also applied the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components to new leases as well as existing leases through transition. The Company made an accounting policy election not to apply recognition requirements of the guidance to short-term leases (leases less than twelve months in duration).

Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2019 are presented under Topic 842, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with legacy generally accepted accounting principles.

The Company recorded a net reduction to opening retained earnings of $0.2 million as of January 1, 2019 due to the cumulative impact of adopting Topic 842, with the impact primarily related to derecognition of a built-to-suit lease. Refer to Note K for additional disclosures relating to the Company's leasing arrangements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which intended to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill. This ASU eliminates the requirement for an entity to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill in measuring an impairment charge. Instead, an entity will perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment testing by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recording an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2019, and the adoption did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note L for additional disclosures related to goodwill.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, which amends and simplifies existing guidance to allow companies to more accurately present the economic effects of risk management activities in the financial statements. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2019, and the adoption did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

New Pronouncements Issued: In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. This ASU requires an entity to change its accounting approach in determining impairment of certain financial instruments, including trade receivables, from an “incurred loss” to a “current expected credit loss” model. The standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within such fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is nearing completion of its assessment process, as well as the impact to the consolidated financial statements. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows, or debt covenants.

No other recently issued or effective ASUs had, or are expected to have, a material effect on the Company's results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity.

Revenue Recognition (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Revenue Recognition, Policy