Document



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549


____________________

FORM 11-K
____________________



[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017

OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _____________ to _____________



Commission File Number 001-03970


HARSCO RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN



HARSCO CORPORATION
350 Poplar Church Road
Camp Hill, PA 17011
Telephone (717) 763-7064









Harsco Retirement Savings
and Investment Plan

Financial Statements as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for the Year Ended December 31, 2017 and Supplemental Schedule as of December 31, 2017








HARSCO RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
INDEX
    
 
Page
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
Financial Statements
 
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of
December 31, 2017 and 2016
 
 
 
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017
 
 
 
Notes to Financial Statements
 
 
Supplemental Schedule:
 
Schedule H, Line 4(i) - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) - December 31, 2017 *
 
 
Signatures
 
 
Exhibit Index
 
 
*Other schedules required by 29 CFR 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor's Rules & Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 have been omitted because they are not applicable.
 






Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Plan Administrator and Participants
Harsco Corporation Retirement Savings and Investment Plan    
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Harsco Corporation Retirement Savings and Investment Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively, the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Plan’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Plan in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by the Plan’s management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Supplemental Information
The supplemental information in the accompanying Schedule H Part IV, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2017 has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s financial statements. The supplemental information is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the financial statements but included supplemental information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental information is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental information. In forming our opinion on the supplemental information, we evaluated whether the supplemental information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.

/s/BDO USA, LLP
We have served as the Plan’s auditor since 2014.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
June 29, 2018


1




HARSCO RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS



(In thousands)
December 31
2017
 
December 31
2016
 
 
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
Investments, at fair value
$
176,131

 
$
150,594

 
 
 
 
Receivables:
 
 
 
Employer contributions
71

 
64

Participant contributions
141

 
124

Notes receivable from participants
2,396

 
2,238

Total receivables
2,608

 
2,426

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets available for benefits
$
178,739

 
$
153,020

 
 
 
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


2




HARSCO RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017

 
 
(In thousands)
 
Additions:
 
Contributions:
 
     Participants
$
6,302

     Employer
3,245

     Rollovers
1,187

           Total contributions
10,734

 
 
Interest income on notes receivable from participants
96

 
 
Investment income:
 
     Net appreciation in the fair value of investments
26,866

     Dividend income
2,259

          Net investment income
29,125

 
 
          Net additions
39,955

 
 
Deductions:

Benefits paid to participants
13,942

Administrative expenses
201

Net transfer out due to employee classification change (Note 1)
93

          Total deductions
14,236

 
 
Net increase
$
25,719

 
 
Net assets available for benefits
 
Beginning of Year
153,020

End of Year
$
178,739


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


3





HARSCO RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2017 and 2016


1.
Plan Description
    
The following description of the Harsco Retirement Savings and Investment Plan (the “Plan”) provides only an abbreviated summary of the general provisions of the Plan. Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description and the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions.

General

The Plan is a defined contribution plan providing retirement benefits to eligible employees. The Plan is designed to comply with the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") and with the requirements for qualification under Sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC").

All U.S. salaried employees and non-union hourly employees (including officers), who are employed by Harsco Corporation (“the Company”) or any eligible subsidiary of either the Company or a subsidiary which adopts this Plan with the approval of the Company and who are not participants in the Harsco Corporation Savings Plan, are deemed "Eligible Employees.” Also eligible are employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement where the agreement provides for the employees' eligibility to participate in the Plan.

Throughout the year, employees may be transferred to various positions within the Company, which may result in a transfer between various retirement plans sponsored by the Company. Transfers between various Company retirement plans may also occur as Plan amendments are adopted to permit additional or restrict existing groups of Company employees participating in the Plan. These are shown as “Net transfers in due to employee classification change” on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.

Contributions

New eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the Plan at a pre-tax savings rate of 3% via payroll deductions with contributions being directed to a designated target date fund based on the participant's current age and a retirement age of 65. Employees have the option to opt out of this Plan or to contribute an amount different than the automatic contribution amount, and/or to invest in funds other than the Plan's default fund that are available within the Plan investment options.

Contributions are in whole percentages from 1% to 75% of compensation received for services as an employee of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company. The participant designates what percentage of such contributions will be Pre-Tax Contributions and what percentage will be After-Tax Contributions. A participant who makes Matched Pre-Tax and/or Matched After-Tax Contributions in an aggregate amount of 5% of his or her compensation may also elect to contribute from 1% to 70% of his or her compensation as an Unmatched Pre-Tax Contribution and from 1% to 16% of his or her compensation as an Unmatched After-Tax Contribution, subject to Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and Plan limitations. In no event during the year may (a) Matched Pre-Tax and Matched After-Tax Contributions exceed 5% of compensation and Unmatched Pre-Tax and Unmatched After-Tax Contribution exceed 70% of compensation or (b) Pre-Tax Contributions exceed the amount specified by the IRC. Pre-Tax Contributions constitute a reduction in the participant's taxable income for purposes of Section 401(k) of the IRC. After-Tax Contributions are considered to be the participant's contributions to the Plan and do not constitute a reduction in the participant's taxable income for the purposes of Section 401(k) of the IRC. Participants may also contribute amounts representing rollover distributions from other qualified retirement plans, or rollover contributions.

Pursuant to the Plan, the Company makes employer contributions to the Trustee for the account of each participant in an amount equal to 100% of the first 3% of such participant's compensation designated as Matched Pre-Tax Contributions and/or Matched After-Tax Contributions, and 50% of the sum of the next 2%

4



of each eligible Participant's Matched Pre-Tax Contributions and/or Matched After-Tax contributions for the period.
The Company may make a discretionary contribution to the Plan in an amount determined by the Company's Board of Directors. Employer discretionary contributions are allocated to the accounts of eligible participants in the proportion that each eligible participant's compensation bears to the aggregate compensation of all eligible participants who are entitled to an allocation of the Company discretionary contribution for that Plan year. The Company made no discretionary contributions for the Plan year ended December 31, 2017.

Participant Accounts

Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contributions and matched Pre-Tax Contributions and matched After-Tax Contributions, as well as allocations of any discretionary contributions and Plan earnings. Participant accounts are charged with an allocation of administrative expenses that are paid by the Plan. Allocations are based on participant earnings, account balances, or specific transactions, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's vested account.
    
Vesting

Participants are immediately vested in their contributions plus actual earnings thereon and matched pre-tax contributions and matched after-tax contributions to the Plan. Participants are 100% vested in the Company's discretionary contributions after three years of credited service. For amounts transferred to this Plan from the Harsco Corporation Savings Plan, a participant is vested in the Company's discretionary contributions after three years of credited service.

Notes Receivable from Participants

Participants may borrow from their fund accounts a minimum of $500 to a maximum of 50% of their vested account balance, not to exceed $50,000. A loan is collateralized by the balance in the participant's account and bears interest at a rate commensurate with local prevailing rates as determined periodically by the Plan administrator. The participant may choose the loan repayment period, not to exceed five years. However, the term may be for any period not to exceed 15 years if the purpose of the loan is to acquire the participant's principal residence. Interest rates on outstanding loans, based on the prime rate plus one percent, ranged from 4.25% to 10.50% at December 31, 2017, with maturity dates ranging from 2018 to 2032. Principal and interest is paid ratably through payroll deductions.

Notes receivable from participants are carried at unpaid principal plus accrued, but unpaid interest.

Payment of Benefits

On termination of service, a participant or beneficiary may elect one of three options: to receive a lump-sum amount equal to the value of the participant's vested interest in his or her account; a portion paid in a lump-sum, and the remainder paid later; or annual installments over not more than fifteen years.


2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting

The financial statements of the Plan are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP").

Administration

The Plan participants pay investment management, recordkeeping and audit fees related to maintaining the Plan as a whole. Loan setup fees and withdrawal fees are paid by the participant. Purchases and sales of the Company's Common Stock are assessed a commission per share, which is paid by the participant. This fee is $0.03 per share. Investment related expenses are included in Net appreciation of the fair value of investments on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.

5



    

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

Investments are reported at fair value, which is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). The Plan's Investment Committee determines the Plan's investment options utilizing information provided by the investment advisers and custodians. See Note 3, Fair Value Measurements.

Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on a trade-date basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Net appreciation of the fair value of investments includes the Plan's gains and losses on investments bought and sold as well as unrealized gains and losses on investments held at year end.

Payment of Benefits

Benefit payments to participants are recorded when paid.    

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of additions and deductions during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Forfeitures

Forfeitures, which are a result of participant withdrawals prior to their full vesting in the Plan, are used to reduce the amount of future employer contributions as directed by the Plan Administrator. In 2017, $6 thousand of forfeitures were used to offset employer contributions. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, forfeited nonvested accounts totaled $0 thousand and $6 thousand, respectively. These accounts are used to reduce future employer contributions.

Subsequent Events

The Company and Plan has performed an evaluation of events subsequent to December 31, 2017 and through the date of financial statement issuance which would require adjustment to or additional disclosure in the financial statements. No events were identified.


3.
Fair Value Measurements

The fair value framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

Level 1
Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access.

Level 2    Inputs to the valuation methodology include:

Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;
Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and
Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

6




Level 3
Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The asset's or liability's fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize inputs and the use of unobservable inputs.

The Plan primarily applies the market approach for fair value measurements and endeavors to utilize the best available information. Accordingly, the Plan utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets, and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The Plan is able to classify fair value balances based on the observability of those inputs. Common stock is valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual security is traded. Investments in mutual funds are primarily valued at net asset value in an exchange and active market, which represents the net asset values of shares held by the Plan at year-end.

The Plan recognizes the methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. While the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants expectations for the Plan's investments, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement. There have been no significant changes in the valuation methodologies or transfers between levels during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan's investments at fair value:
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
 
 
 
 
 
Mutual funds
$
159,652

$

$

$
159,652

Harsco stock
16,479



16,479

Total investments
$
176,131

$

$

$
176,131

 
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
Level 1
Level 2
Level3
Total
 
 
 
 
 
Mutual funds
$
137,583

$

$

$
137,583

Harsco stock
13,011



13,011

Total investments
$
150,594

$

$

$
150,594



4.
Related-Party and Party in Interest Transactions

The majority of the Plan's investments are shares of mutual funds managed by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., trustee, custodian and recordkeeper. These transactions qualify as party in interest transactions. Fees paid by the Plan for the investment management services amounted to $128 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Transactions in the Company's Common Stock also qualify as party in interest transactions. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Plan purchased, on behalf of participants, $712 thousand and sold $1,605 thousand of the Company's common stock.

Additionally, notes receivable from participants qualify as party in interest transactions. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Plan received $96 thousand in interest income on notes receivable from participants.



7




5.
Plan Termination

Although the Company has not expressed any intent to discontinue the Plan, it reserves the right to terminate the Plan at any time or discontinue contributions and loans thereunder, subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, the accounts of each affected employee would be fully vested. Complete distributions or withdrawals would be distributed to Plan participants and beneficiaries in proportion to their respective account balances.


6.
Tax Status

The IRS has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated March 5, 2013, that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the IRC. Although the Plan has been amended since the amendment date cited in the determination letter, the Plan Administrator believes that the Plan is designed, and is currently being operated, in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC and, therefore, believe that the Plan is qualified, and the related trust is tax-exempt.    

U.S. GAAP requires Plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan Administrator has analyzed the tax positions by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2017, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress.


7.
Risks and Uncertainties

The Plan invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market, and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants' account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.



8



 
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE
HARSCO RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
SCHEDULE H, LINE 4(i) - FORM 5500
SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)
EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER - 23-1483991
THREE-DIGIT PLAN NUMBER - 258
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2017
(a)

(b) Identity of issue, borrower, lessor or similar party
(c) Description of investment, including maturity date, rate of interest, collateral and par or maturity value
(d) Cost
(e) Current Value
(in thousands)
*
Harsco Corporation
Common stock
**
$
16,479

 
American Funds EuroPacific Growth R6
Mutual fund
**
8,997

 
Blackrock Total Return Instl
Mutual fund
**
5,957

 
Dodge & Cox Stock
Mutual fund
**
12,732

 
Loomis Sayles Global Bond Instl
Mutual fund
**
514

 
Mainstay Large Cap Growth I
Mutual fund
**
18,373

 
MassMutual Select Mid Cap Gr Eq II I
Mutual fund
**
2,792

 
Morgan Stanley Inst US Real Estate I
Mutual fund
**
4,697

 
Neuberger Berman Genesis Instl
Mutual fund
**
8,228

 
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2005
Mutual fund
**
1,224

 
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2010
Mutual fund
**
1,506

 
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2015
Mutual fund
**
4,747

 
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020
Mutual fund
**
10,169

 
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2025
Mutual fund
**
9,170

 
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030
Mutual fund
**
10,057

 
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2035
Mutual fund
**
6,968

 
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2040
Mutual fund
**
7,609

 
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2045
Mutual fund
**
3,900

 
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2050
Mutual fund
**
1,893

 
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2055
Mutual fund
**
1,559

 
Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund
Mutual fund
**
1,442

 
Vanguard Inflation-Protected Secs Inv
Mutual fund
**
819

 
Vanguard Institutional Index Instl
Mutual fund
**
17,764

 
Vanguard Mid-Cap Value Index Admiral
Mutual fund
**
3,734

 
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Adm
Mutual fund
**
1,955

 
Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Adm
Mutual fund
**
872

*
Wells Fargo Government Money Market Instl
Mutual fund
**
11,974

 
     Total mutual funds
 
 
159,652

*
Notes receivable from participants - Interest at 4.25% to 10.50%, fully secured by vested benefits, due 2018 to 2032
Participant loans
**
2,396

 
 
 
 
$
178,527


* Party in interest
** Cost information is not presented because investments are participant directed.


9



SIGNATURES



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Plan Administrative Committee has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



 
 
 
HARSCO RETIREMENT SAVINGS
AND INVESTMENT PLAN
 
 
 
 
Date
June 29, 2017
 
/s/ Russell C. Hochman
 
 
 
Russell C. Hochman
 
 
 
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary
 
 
 
 




10



EXHIBIT INDEX
 
 
 
Number
 
Description
 
 
  
Consent of BDO USA, LLP (filed herewith)


11