WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
Commission File No. 000-24575
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes
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No
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes
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No
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes
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No
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (S. 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes
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No
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Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. Yes
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No
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
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No
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The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $16,203,230 based on the closing sale price on June 30, 2016 as reported by the NASDAQ Stock Market.
The number of shares of common stock outstanding on March 14, 2017 was 8,337,448.
The Description of Business section and other parts of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Form 10-K”) contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Many of the forward-looking statements are located in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any current or historical fact. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the Company’s actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the subsection entitled “Risk Factors” under Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K. The Company assumes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law. Examples of other forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this report include statements regarding:
PART
I
ITEM 1.
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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
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Company Background and Corporate Structure
American Electric Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”, “AETI”, “our”, “us” or “we”) was incorporated on October 21, 1996 as a Florida corporation. On May 15, 2007, we completed a business combination (the “M&I Merger”) with M&I Electric Industries, Inc. (“M&I” or “M&I Electric”), a Texas corporation, and changed our name to American Electric Technologies, Inc. Our principal executive offices are located at 1250 Wood Branch Park Drive, Suite 600, Houston Texas 77079 and our telephone number is 713-644-8182.
Our corporate structure currently consists of American Electric Technologies, Inc., which owns 100% of M&I Electric Industries, Inc.,
including its wholly-owned subsidiary, South Coast Electric Systems, LLC (“SCES”) and M&I Electric Brazil Sistemas e Servicios em Energia LTDA (“M&I Brazil”).
The Company is a leading provider of power delivery solutions to the global energy industry. The Company is positioned to be the “turn-key” supplier for power delivery projects for our customers by offering custom-designed power distribution and power conversion systems, automation and control software, Power Distribution Centers (PDCs), power services, and electrical and instrumentation construction.
Our business strategy is to grow organically in our current key energy markets, expand our solution set to our current markets, continue our international expansion, and accelerate those efforts with acquisitions, while at the same time increasing earnings and cash flow per share to enhance overall stockholder value.
The principal markets that we serve include:
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Power generation and distribution – the Company provides “turn-key” power delivery solutions for the power generation and distribution market sectors.
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The Company works with turbine manufacturers, engine-generator manufacturers and dealers, Engineering, Procurement and Construction (“EPC”) firms, and high voltage service companies to provide electric power delivery products and solutions. The Company also provides products and services for renewable power generation including biomass, geothermal and other renewable energy projects.
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The Company designs, manufactures, commissions and maintains our equipment for implementation in base-load, peaking power, cogeneration, and substation transmission facilities worldwide.
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Oil & gas – the Company provides “turn-key” power delivery solutions for the upstream, midstream and downstream oil and natural gas sectors.
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Upstream oil and gas refers to the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. The Company serves customers in the land drilling, offshore drilling, land-based production, and offshore production segments of the market.
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Midstream oil and gas is primarily related to oil & gas transportation, including oil & gas pipelines and compression and pumping stations. The Company also has a strong customer base in natural gas fractionation (separation), cryo, natural gas to liquids, and other natural gas related-plants.
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Downstream oil and gas includes oil refining and petrochemical plants, as well as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plants, export facilities, and storage facilities.
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Marine applications includes blue water vessels such as platform supply vessels (PSV), offshore supply vessels (OSV), tankers and other various work boats, typically up to 300 ft. in length. The Company also provides solutions to brown water vessels such as barges, dredges and other river and inland water vessels.
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Industrial, including non-oil & gas industrial markets such as steel, paper, heavy commercial, and other non-oil & gas applications.
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A key component of our Company’s strategy is our international focus.
We have three primary models for conducting our international business.
First, in certain international markets, we sell through foreign sales agents that we have appointed in energy regions around the world. Many of these international partners also provide local service and support for our products in those overseas markets.
Second, where local market conditions dictate, we have expanded internationally by forming joint venture operations with local partners in key markets such as China and Singapore, where we can partner with the primary end-customer in that market, or there are local content requirements or a competitive advantage to using local manufacturing.
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Finally, we have expanded our international footprint by forming a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary to serve the Brazil electrical service market.
Products and Services
We have provided sophisticated custom-designed power distribution, power conversion, and automation and control systems for our customers since 1946. Our products are used to safely distribute and control the flow of electricity from a power generation source (e.g. a diesel generator, turbine or the utility grid) to whatever mechanical device utilizes the power (drilling machinery, motors, other process equipment, the utility grid, etc.) at low and medium voltages.
Our power distribution products include low and medium voltage switchgear that provides power distribution and protection for electrical systems from electrical faults. Our products include traditional low voltage and medium voltage switchgear, and our award winning IntelliSafe™ medium voltage arc-resistant switchgear designed to increase end-user safety in case of an arc-flash explosion. IntelliSafe™ is designed for the downstream sector, process industries and the power generation market, and was designed to be the safest arc-resistant product on the market, and meets key industry specifications and certifications. Our products are suitable for both American National Standards Institute (“ANSI”) and International Electrotechnical Commission (“IEC”) markets. Other power distribution products in our solution set include low voltage and medium voltage motor control centers, bus ducts, fuse and switch products, and other related power distribution equipment. We also bundle third party products per our customer specifications including items such as battery backup power systems and transformers.
Our power conversion solutions include sophisticated alternating current variable frequency drive (“AC VFD”) systems, analog systems and digital silicon controlled rectifier (“SCR”) products , that are used to adjust the speed and torque of an electric motor to match various user applications, primarily in the land and offshore drilling and marine vessel markets.
Our power distribution and control products are generally custom-designed to our customers’ specific requirements, and we do not maintain an inventory of such products.
We have the technical expertise to provide our solutions in compliance with a number of applicable industry standards such as National Electrical Manufacturers Association (“NEMA”) and ANSI or IEC equipment to meet American Bureau of Shipping (“ABS”), United States Coast Guard (“USCG”), Lloyd’s Register, a provider of marine certification services, and Det Norske Veritas (a leading certification body/registrar for management systems certification services) standards.
Our automation and control solutions are designed for the management and control of power in a customers’ application. The DrillAssist™ is a control system that enables the management of an entire land and offshore drilling rig’s operations. DrillAssist™ includes auto-drill capabilities and a driller’s chair and cabin where the drilling rig operator manages the rig. The Company’s Vessel Management system is a packaged control platform for management of vessel operations.
Our Power Distribution Centers (“PDC”) are a critical element of our turnkey solution set and are used to house our power distribution and power conversion products. Our PDCs can be manufactured over 100 ft. long and 40 ft. wide. The Company also manufactures VFD and SCR houses for land drilling and driller’s cabins for land and offshore deployment.
We provide a variety of electrical services including the commissioning and maintenance of our customer’s full electrical power infrastructure. We provide low and medium voltage start-up/commissioning, preventative maintenance, emergency call out services, and breaker and switchgear refurbishment services.
We offer a full range of electrical and instrumentation construction and installation services to our markets. These services include new construction as well as electrical and instrumentation turnarounds, maintenance and renovation projects. Applications include installation of switchgear, AC and DC motors, drives, motor controls, lighting systems and high voltage cable. Much of this work is generated from the installation (“rig-up”) of our power delivery solutions into our packaged power control systems.
Foreign Joint Ventures
We use foreign joint ventures to accommodate business in China and South East Asia. We believe our foreign joint ventures provide a prudent way to diversify and reduce the risk of international expansion, capitalize on the strengths and the relationships of our foreign joint venture partners with potential customers, and achieve competitive advantages. Our interests in foreign joint ventures are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Sales made to the foreign joint ventures are made with terms and conditions similar to those of our other customers.
China.
In March 2006, M&I Electric entered into a joint venture agreement with Baoji Oilfield Machinery Co., Ltd., (“BOMCO”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the China National Petroleum Corporation, and AA Energies, Inc. of Houston, Texas, which markets oilfield equipment, to form BOMAY Electric Industries Co., Ltd. (“BOMAY”), as an equity joint venture limited liability company organized in China. M&I is a 40% interest owner in BOMAY with 51% being owned by BOMCO and the remaining 9% owned by AA Energies, Inc. BOMAY manufactures power and control systems for land drilling rigs. M&I has invested 16 million Yuan (approximately $2 million) in this joint venture in which M&I provides technology and services to BOMAY. Each of the BOMAY investors may be required to guarantee the bank loans of BOMAY in proportion to their investment. No guarantees have been provided by AETI at this time. The joint venture has an initial 12 year term, and will expire in 2018. The term of the joint venture may be extended upon agreement of all parties. In such case, the joint venture shall apply for the extension to the relevant
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Chinese authority six months before expiry of the venture. The company is working with our Joint Venture partners on extending the joint venture. At this time, AETI has no indication that the joint vent
ure will not be extended beyond the 2018 expiration date.
Singapore.
In 1994, the Company formed a joint venture in Singapore to provide sales, engineering, manufacturing and technical support for our products in Southeast Asia called M & I Electric Far East PTE Ltd. (“MIEFE”). The Company currently owns 41% of the joint venture with our joint venture partner, Sonepar, owning 51% and MIEFE’s general manager owning the remaining 8%. In 2016, due to market conditions, the business suspended current operations and the investment in MIEFE was written down to zero excluding foreign currency translation.
The following is selected financial information of the Company’s investment in foreign joint ventures as of and for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:
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Year Ended December 31, 2016
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Year Ended December 31, 2015
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BOMAY
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MIEFE
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BOMAY
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MIEFE
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Investment as of end of year
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$
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10,450
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$
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213
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$
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10,896
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$
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208
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Equity income (loss)*
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804
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(3
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973
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(232
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Distributions received from joint ventures*
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589
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1,032
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137
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Foreign currency translation*
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(661
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8
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(593
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71
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AETI sales to joint ventures
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105
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2
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186
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52
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Accounts receivable due from joint ventures
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36
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52
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Numbers are reflected in the investment balance as of end of year.
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During 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized approximately $0.25 million and $0.39 million respectively, for employee joint venture related expenses which are included in Foreign Joint Ventures Operation’s Related Expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
International Sales
During 2016, approximately 13% of the Company’s consolidated revenue was derived from systems sold or shipped into international markets. Sales from the United States are generally made in United States Dollars and settled prior to shipment or are collateralized by irrevocable letters of credit. M&I Brazil’s sales are generally made in Brazilian Reals.
Marketing
We market our products and services in the United States through direct contact with potential customers by our internal sales organization, consisting of full-time sales and sales support employees. We have several sales agreements with agents and distributors in the United States and several foreign countries. We also exhibit at a variety of industry trade shows each year. M&I Brazil markets in Brazil and certain other South American countries.
Our business is generally obtained through a competitive bid process where the lowest bid from pre-qualified suppliers is awarded the project. Depending on the market segment, we either sell directly to the end user or owner, a shipyard or rig builder, or, sell to an EPC firm representing the end project owner.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing processes at our facilities include machining, fabrication, wiring, subassembly, system assembly and final testing. We have invested in automated and semi-automated equipment for the fabrication and machining of parts and assemblies that we incorporate into our products. Our quality assurance program includes quality control measures from inspection of raw material, purchased parts and assemblies through on-line inspection. We perform system design, assembly and testing in-house. The Company’s primary manufacturing facility is located in Beaumont, Texas and is ISO 9001:2008 certified.
Raw Materials and Suppliers
The principal raw materials for our products are copper, steel, aluminum and manufactured electrical components. We obtain these products from a number of domestic and foreign suppliers. The market for most of the raw materials and parts we use is comprised of numerous suppliers and we believe that we can obtain each of the raw materials we require from more than one supplier. We do not have any long-term contractual arrangements with the suppliers of our raw materials.
Competition
Our products and services are sold in highly competitive markets. We compete in all of our markets and regions with a number of companies, some of which have financial and other resources comparable to or greater than us. Due to the demanding operating conditions in the energy sector and the high costs associated with project delays and equipment failure, we believe customers in this industry prefer suppliers with a track record of proven, reliable performance in their specific energy related project type. We seek to build strong long-term relationships with our customers by providing high-quality, efficient and reliable products and services, developing new products and services and responding promptly to our customers’ needs.
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The principal competitive factors in our markets are product and service quality and reliabilit
y, lead time, price, technical expertise and reputation.
We believe our principal competitive strengths include the following:
Our power delivery, control and drive systems are custom-designed and are built to meet our customers’ specific requirements. We specialize in projects that are complex, require industry certification, have short lead times or other non-standard elements, such as systems that must be deployed in harsh environments or need to meet tight space or weight requirements. Our ability to provide custom-designed technical products, PDCs, electrical and instrumentation construction services, and electrical startup and preventative maintenance services enables us to provide customers total system responsibility for their electrical power control and distribution needs and is unusual in this industry.
Our commitment to providing quality products and services, fair pricing, innovation and customer service is the foundation to the long-standing customer relationships that we enjoy with an attractive customer base. Since 1946, we have provided over 10,000 power delivery systems to many of the leading companies involved in oil and gas exploration, drilling, production, pipelines, shipbuilding, oil refineries, petrochemicals, power generation, and steel industries in the United States.
We are led by an experienced management team with a proven track record. We believe the experience of our management team provides us with an in-depth understanding of our customers’ needs and enhances our ability to deliver customer-driven solutions. We believe our management has fostered a culture of loyalty, resulting in high employee retention rates for our professional and technical employees.
The Company has multiple competitive advantages for our products:
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Market leading technologies such as our patent-pending IntelliSafe™ medium voltage arc-resistant switchgear and our DrillAssist™ drilling automation and control solutions;
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Turn-key solutions, including in-house manufacturing of PDC’s;
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Able to use best of breed components and mix and match subsystems from a variety of vendors versus a single supplier solution; and
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Ability to provide integrated solution by self-performing our technical products and electrical & instrumentation construction work.
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We have identified our largest competitors, by product line as follows:
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Power distribution/switchgear systems—Powell Industries, Siemens, Eaton, GE, ABB and Volta.
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Power conversion/drive systems—Omron/ Schlumberger, National Oilwell Varco (NOV), ABB, and Siemens.
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Backlog
Backlog represents the dollar amount of net sales that we expect to realize in the future as a result of performing work under multi-month contracts. Backlog is not a measure defined by generally accepted accounting principles, and our methodology for determining backlog may not be comparable to the methodology used by other companies in determining their backlog. Backlog may not be indicative of future operating results. Not all of our potential net sales are recorded in backlog for a variety of reasons, including the fact that some contracts begin and end within a short-term period. Many contracts are subject to modification or termination by the customer. The termination or modification of any one or more sizeable contracts or the addition of other contracts may have a substantial and immediate effect on backlog. Our backlog does not include any backlog in place at our foreign joint ventures’ operations.
We generally include total expected net sales in backlog when a contract for a definitive amount of work is entered into. We generally expect our backlog to become net sales within a year from the signing of a contract. Backlog as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 totaled $13.5 million and $19.0 million, respectively.
Intellectual Property
We have a number of trademarks and trade names utilized with our products and services. While proprietary intellectual property is important to the Company, management believes the loss or expiration of any intellectual property right would not materially impact the Company. The Company has recently filed for several patents relating to its new IntelliSafe™ medium voltage arc-resistant switchgear product line.
Environmental Laws
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We are subject to various federal, state and local laws enacted for the protec
tion of the environment. We believe we are in compliance with such laws. Our compliance has, to date, had no material effect on our capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position.
Research and Development Costs
Total expenditures for research and development were $0.96 million and $0.77 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Research and development cost were incurred to develop new products for our energy-related markets including new power distribution, power conversion and automation and control products.
Employees
As of December 31, 2016, we had 232 employees. No employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and we consider our relations with our employees to be satisfactory.
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You should carefully consider each of the following risks associated with an investment in our common stock and all of the other information in this 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our business may also be adversely affected by risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial. If any of the events contemplated by the following discussion of risks should occur, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations may suffer.
Our indebtedness
contains various covenants that impose restrictions that may affect our ability to operate our business and increase our interest expense.
In March 2017, we repaid and terminated our revolving credit facilities through the sale of a Senior Secured Term Note (the “Note”) in the amount of $7.00 million as described in Note 8 and Note 19 of the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. The note sale provided us with approximately $1.00 million of additional funds for working capital. The Note’s governing documents contain various affirmative, negative and financial covenants customary for such financing, including various financial covenants which we must meet on a monthly basis. Our ability to comply with these provisions may be affected by events beyond our control. Failure to comply with these covenants could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could accelerate our repayment obligations.
Our indebtedness could have negative consequences to us, including:
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we may have difficulty satisfying our obligations with respect to our outstanding debt;
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we may have difficulty obtaining financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes;
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we may need to use all, or a substantial portion, of our available cash flow to pay interest and principal on our debt, which will reduce the amount of money available to finance our operations and other business activities;
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our vulnerability to general economic downturns and adverse industry conditions could increase;
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our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and in our industry in general could be limited;
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our amount of debt and the amount we must pay to service our debt obligations could place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt;
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our customers may react adversely to our significant debt level and seek or develop alternative licensors or suppliers; and
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our failure to comply with the restrictive covenants in our debt instruments which, among other things, may limit our ability to incur debt and sell assets, could result in an event of default that, if not cured or waived, could have a material adverse effect on our business or prospects.
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Customers in the oil and gas industry account for a significant portion of our sales. Reduced expenditures by customers in this industry are likely to reduce demand for our products and services.
Customers related to the upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas industry accounted for approximately 47% and 81% of our net sales in 2016 and 2015, respectively. The oil and gas industry is a cyclical commodity business, with product demand and prices based on numerous factors such as general economic conditions and local, regional and global events and conditions that affect supply, demand and profits. Demand for our products and services benefits from strong oil and gas markets. The recent decline in the price for oil and its prolonged lower prices has caused a decrease in demand for our products and services resulting in a decline in our net sales, profit margins and cash flows.
Our products include complex systems for energy and industrial markets which are subject to operational and liability risks.
We are engaged in the manufacture and installation of complex power distribution and control systems for the energy and industrial markets. These systems are frequently complex and susceptible to unique engineering elements that are not tested in the actual operating environment until commissioned. As a result, we may incur unanticipated additional operating and warranty expenses that were not anticipated when the fixed-price contracts were estimated and executed resulting in reduced profit margins on such projects.
The industries in which we operate are highly competitive, which may result in a loss of market share or decrease in net sales or profit margin.
Our products and services are provided in a highly competitive environment and we are subject to competition from a number of similarly sized or larger businesses which may have greater financial and other resources than are available to us. Factors that affect competition include timely delivery of products and services, reputation, manufacturing capabilities, price, performance and dependability. Any failure to adapt to a changing competitive environment may result in a loss of market share and a decrease in net sales and profit margins.
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We often utilize fixed-price contracts which could adversely affect our fin
ancial results.
We currently generate, and expect to continue to generate, a significant portion of our net sales under fixed-price contracts. We must estimate the costs of completing a particular project to bid for such fixed-price contracts. The cost of labor and materials, however, may vary from the costs we originally estimated. These variations, along with other risks inherent in performing fixed-price contracts, may result in actual costs and gross profits for a project differing from those we originally estimated and could result in reduced profitability and losses on projects. Depending upon the size of fixed-price contracts, variations from estimated contract costs can have a significant impact on our operating results for any fiscal quarter or year.
Our use of percentage-of-completion accounting could result in a reduction or elimination of previously reported profit.
A portion of our net sales is recognized on the percentage-of-completion method of accounting. The percentage-of-completion method of accounting practice we use results in recognizing contract net sales and earnings ratably over the contract term in proportion to our incurrence of contract costs. The earnings or losses recognized on individual contracts are based on estimates of contract net sales, costs and profitability. Contract losses are recognized in full when determined, and contract profit estimates are adjusted based on ongoing reviews of contract profitability. Actual collection of contract amounts or change orders could differ from estimated amounts and could result in a reduction or elimination of previously recognized earnings in future periods. In certain circumstances, it is possible that such adjustments could be significant.
Inability to obtain performance bonding could prevent us from bidding on certain projects
A portion of the Company’s growth is focused on power generation projects and the EPC firms building them. Those bids typically require a form of surety which could be a letter of credit or a performance bond. Failure to obtain adequate bonding capacity could hinder our growth in this market.
We may not be able to fully realize the net sales value reported in our backlog.
Orders included in our backlog are represented by customer purchase orders and contracts. Backlog develops as a result of new business which represents the net sales value of new project commitments received by us during a given period. Backlog consists of projects which have either (1) not yet been started or (2) are in progress and are not yet complete. In the latter case, the net sales value reported in backlog is the remaining value associated with work that has not yet been completed. From time to time, projects that were recorded as new business are cancelled. In the event of a project cancellation, we may be reimbursed for certain costs but typically have no contractual right to the total net sales included in our backlog. In addition to being unable to recover certain direct costs, we may also incur additional costs resulting from underutilized assets if projects are cancelled.
We rely on a few key employees whose absence or loss could disrupt our operations or be adverse to our business.
Our continued success is dependent on the continuity of several key management, operating and technical personnel. The loss of these key employees would have a negative impact on our future growth and profitability. We have entered into written employment agreements with our Chief Executive Officer; Chief Financial Officer; Chief Operating Officer; and International Director, who is responsible for managing our BOMAY joint venture operations relationships and Brazil subsidiary.
Our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely impacted by economic uncertainty and global recession.
The consequences of a prolonged recession could include a lower level of economic activity and uncertainty regarding commodity and capital markets. The lack of a sustained economic recovery could have an adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows or financial position.
Our failure to attract and retain qualified personnel could lead to a loss of net sales or profitability.
Our ability to provide high-quality products and services on a timely basis requires that we employ an adequate number of skilled personnel. Accordingly, our ability to increase our productivity and profitability will be limited by our ability to employ, train and retain skilled personnel necessary to meet our requirements. We cannot be certain that we will be able to maintain an adequate skilled labor force necessary to operate efficiently and to support our growth strategy or that our labor expenses will not increase as a result of a shortage in the supply of skilled personnel.
Natural disasters, terrorism, acts of war, international conflicts or other disruptions could harm our business and operations.
Natural disasters, acts or threats of war or terrorism, international conflicts, and the actions taken by the United States and other governments in response to such events could cause damage to or disrupt our business operations or those of our customers, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business.
We manufacture products and operate plants in Texas and Brazil. Operations in the United States have been disrupted in the past due to hurricanes. Although we have not suffered any material losses as a result of these disruptions due to our insurance coverage and advance preparations, it is not possible to predict future similar events or their consequences, any of which could decrease demand for our products, make it difficult or impossible for us to deliver products, or disrupt our supply chain.
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We generate a significant portion of our net sales from international operations and are subject to the risks of doing busi
ness outside of the United States.
Approximately 13% of our net sales in 2016 were generated from projects and business operations outside of the United States, primarily provided to the oil and gas drilling and marine industries in the following countries: Mexico, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Indonesia and Brazil. This percentage was approximately 15% in 2015. The oil and gas industry operates in both remote and potentially politically unstable locations, and numerous risks and uncertainties affect our non-United States operations. These risks and uncertainties include changes in political, economic and social environments, local labor conditions, changes in laws, regulations and policies of foreign governments, as well as United States laws affecting activities of United States companies abroad, including tax laws and enforcement of contract and intellectual property rights. In addition, the costs of providing our services can be adversely and/or unexpectedly impacted by the remoteness of the locations and other logistical factors.
The marketplace may not accept and utilize our newly developed products and services, the effect of which would prevent us from successfully commercializing our proposed products or services and may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our ability to market and commercialize our new products and services depends on the acceptance of such products and services by the industry.
Joint Venture limited life risk
The joint venture, BOMAY was formed in 2006 in China. It was formed with a term of 12 years. The joint venture may be terminated earlier for valid business reasons including Force Majeure. In the event the joint venture is to be terminated, either party may acquire the other parties’ interests and continue the operations of the joint venture. Additionally, the term of the joint venture may be extended upon agreement of all parties. In such case, the joint venture shall apply for the extension to the relevant Chinese authority six months before expiry of the venture. At this time, AETI has no indication that the joint venture will not be extended beyond 12 years.
Risk related to our Chinese Joint Venture
We maintain a significant investment in a joint venture with a Chinese energy company. We may encounter risks pertaining to a weakening Chinese economic environment. We may encounter unforeseen or unexpected operating, financial, political or cultural factors that could impact its business plans and the expected profitability from such investment. We will face risks if China loses normal trade relations with the United States and it may be adversely affected by the diplomatic and political relationships between the United States and China. As a result of the relatively weak Chinese legal system, in general, and the intellectual property regime, in particular, we may face additional risk with respect to the protection of our intellectual property in China. Changes in China’s political and economic policies could adversely affect our investment and business opportunities in China.
Risk from Restricted U.S. Government Access to Audit Documents in China
The audit of BOMAY for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was conducted in China by a Chinese audit firm not registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) under the direction of the Company’s independent auditor. The Company’s independent auditor has directed additional procedures to comply with auditing standards prescribed by the PCAOB.
Under the laws of the United States, auditors of public companies are to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB and to make all requested work papers available for the SEC and the PCAOB inspection. However, due to laws of the People’s Republic of China applicable to auditors, the SEC and the PCAOB are currently unable to conduct such inspections on work papers prepared in China without the approval of the Chinese government authorities.
As a result, the SEC or PCAOB may be unable to conduct inspections of the BOMAY audit work papers. The Company’s stockholders may be deprived of the benefits of PCAOB inspections, and may lose confidence in our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of portions of our financial statements.
Joint Venture Centralized Government Risks
Since the centralized government of China controls most of the petroleum industry and related manufacturing through annual planning and budgets, the financial results realized by the Company’s joint venture, BOMAY, will reflect the government’s decisions on production levels for oil and gas equipment. The Company further understands that the value of BOMAY’s assets, including inventory, may not be fully realized if demand for these products is reduced significantly because of economic policy decisions or other organizational changes in the Chinese petroleum industry.
Market Risk
The markets in which we participate are capital intensive and cyclical in nature. The volatility in customer demand is greatly driven by the change in the price of oil and gas. These factors influence the release of new capital projects by our customers, which are traditionally awarded in competitive bid situations. Coordination of project start dates is matched to the customer requirements and projects may take a number of months to complete; schedules also may change during the course of any particular project.
10
Foreign Currency Transaction Risk
The Company operates a subsidiary in Brazil and maintains equity method investments in its Chinese and Singapore joint ventures, BOMAY and MIEFE. The functional currencies of the Brazilian subsidiary and the joint ventures are the Brazilian Real, Chinese Yuan and Singapore Dollar, respectively. Investments are translated into United States Dollars at the exchange rate in effect at the end of each quarterly reporting period. The resulting translation adjustment is recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income in our consolidated balance sheets. The translation adjustment decreased from $0.31 million at December 31, 2015 to $0.00 million at December 31, 2016 due principally to the weakening of the Brazilian Real and strengthening of the Chinese Yuan versus the United States Dollar.
Other than the aforementioned items, we do not believe we are exposed to significant foreign currency exchange risk because most of our net sales and purchases are denominated in United States Dollars.
Commodity Price Risk
We are subject to commodity price risk from fluctuating market prices of certain raw materials. While such materials are typically available from numerous suppliers, commodity raw materials are subject to price fluctuations. We endeavor to recoup these price increases from our customers on an individual contract basis to avoid operating margin erosion. Although historically we have not entered into any contracts to hedge commodity risk, we may do so in the future. Commodity price changes can have a material impact on our prospective earnings and cash flows. Copper, steel and aluminum represent a significant element of our material cost. Significant increases in the prices of these materials could reduce our estimated operating margins if we are unable to recover such increases from our customers.
Interest Rate Risk
Our interest rate sensitive items do not subject us to material risk exposures. Our revolving credit facility remains available through December 29, 2017. The revolving promissory note has a similar interest rate exposure, with semi-annual payments of $0.15 million. The outstanding balance is due December 2020. At December 31, 2016, the Company had $5.70 million of variable-rate term debt outstanding. At this borrowing level, a hypothetical relative increase of 10% in interest rates would have an unfavorable but insignificant impact on the Company’s pre-tax earnings and cash flows. The primary interest rate exposure on variable-rate debt is based on the three month LIBOR rate (0.98% at December 31, 2016) plus 4.00% per year. The loan agreements are collateralized by real estate, trade accounts receivable, equipment, inventory and work-in-process, and guaranteed by our operating subsidiaries. In March 2017, the Company refinanced our outstanding debt at a fixed rate. Refer to Note 8 and Note 19 in the accompany Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
ITEM 1B.
|
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
|
None.
11
The following table describes the material facilities of AETI and its subsidiaries, including foreign joint ventures, as of December 31, 2016:
Location
|
|
General Description
|
|
Approximate
Acres
|
|
Approximate Square
Feet of Building
|
|
Owned/Leased
|
|
Houston, Texas
|
|
Company and M&I headquarters, engineering, administration, E&I services
|
|
0.1
|
|
13,000
|
|
Leased
|
|
Beaumont, Texas
|
|
Manufacturing, engineering, E&I services, administration and storage
|
|
9.0
|
|
118,000
|
|
Owned
|
|
Houma, Louisiana
|
|
M&I Electric services location
|
|
0.1
|
|
4,125
|
|
Leased
|
|
Brazil - Macaé
|
|
M&I Brazil offices and shop services
|
|
1.0
|
|
10,764
|
|
Leased
|
|
Rio
|
|
M&I Brazil offices and shop services
|
|
0.1
|
|
6,458
|
|
Leased
|
|
Belo Horizonte
|
|
M&I Brazil offices
|
|
0.1
|
|
4,306
|
|
Leased
|
|
Foreign joint ventures’ operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Xian, Shaanxi, China
|
|
BOMAY Electric Industries offices and manufacturing
|
|
4.1
|
|
100,000
80,000
|
|
Owned
Leased
|
|
Singapore
|
|
M&I Electric Far East offices and manufacturing
|
|
0.3
|
|
15,000
|
|
Leased
|
|
ITEM 3.
|
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
|
The Company becomes involved in various legal proceedings and claims in the normal course of business. In management’s opinion, the ultimate resolution of these matters is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.
ITEM 4.
|
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
|
Not applicable.
12
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statement.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(1)
|
Organization and Nature of Business
|
American Electric Technologies, Inc. (“AETI” or the “Company”) is the surviving financial reporting entity from a reverse acquisition of American Access Technologies, Inc. by the shareholders of M&I Electric Industries, Inc.(“M&I”) on May 17, 2007. Immediately upon the completion of the reverse acquisition, American Access Technologies, Inc. changed its name to American Electric Technologies, Inc. AETI is a Florida corporation and M&I, AETI’s wholly-owned subsidiary is a Texas corporation. M&I has a wholly-owned subsidiary, South Coast Electric Systems, LLC (“SCES”), and joint venture interests in China and Singapore.
In 2014, the Company formed a wholly-owned subsidiary in Brazil (“M&I Brazil”), which is owned 20% by AETI and 80% by M&I. The Company has U.S. facilities and sales offices in Texas and Louisiana; Brazil facilities and sales offices in Macaé, Rio and Belo Horizonte; and foreign joint ventures’ operations that have facilities in Singapore and Xian, China. The Company owns the Beaumont, Texas facilities, comprised of 9 acres and 118,000 square feet. The Company leases facilities in Houston, Texas and Houma, Louisiana and internationally in Rio, Macaé and Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
M&I’s wholly-owned subsidiary, SCES, is a Delaware Limited Liability Company organized on February 20, 2003. With the exception of electrical contracting, it is engaged in the same lines of business as M&I, but it participates in different market sectors.
M&I has foreign joint ventures’ interests in M&I Electric Far East PTE Ltd. (“MIEFE”) and BOMAY Electrical Industries Company, Ltd. (“BOMAY”). MIEFE is a Singapore company that provides sales, manufacturing and technical support internationally. BOMAY provides electrical systems primarily for land and marine based drilling rigs in China. These ventures are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.
(2)
|
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
|
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AETI and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, M&I and M&I Brazil, and the accounts of SCES through the disposition date in June 2016. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates made by management include:
|
(1)
|
Percentage-of-completion estimates on long-term contracts
|
|
(2)
|
Estimates of the provision for doubtful accounts
|
|
(3)
|
Estimated useful lives of property and equipment
|
|
(4)
|
Valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets
|
Financial Instruments
The Company includes fair value information in the notes to the consolidated financial statements when the fair value of its financial instruments is different from the book value. When the book value approximates fair value, no additional disclosure is made, which is the case for financial instruments outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and 2015. The Company assumes the book value of those financial instruments that are classified as current approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. For non-current financial instruments, the Company uses quoted market prices or, to the extent that there are no available quoted market prices, market prices for similar instruments.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents consist of liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Cash balances routinely exceed FDIC limits however all cash is maintained in JP Morgan Chase and Frost Bank and believed to be secure.
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Short-term investments
Short-term investments consist of any fund held in certificate of deposit with maturity greater than three months and investments in debt and equity securities with maturity of one year or less.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Bad Debts
The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The estimate is based on management’s assessment of the collectability of specific customer accounts and includes consideration for credit worthiness and financial condition of those specific customers. The Company also reviews historical experience with the customer, the general economic environment and the aging of its receivables. The Company records an allowance to reduce receivables to the amount it reasonably believes to be collectible. Based on this assessment, management believes the allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate. The bad debt expense was $0.21 million and $0.17 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with material value determined using an average cost method. Inventory costs for work-in-process include direct material, direct labor, production overhead and outside services. Indirect overhead is apportioned to work-in-process based on direct labor incurred.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred while renewals and betterments are capitalized. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets after giving effect to salvage values.
Long-lived assets
If events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, including intangible assets, management tests long-lived assets for impairment. If the estimated future cash flows are projected to be less than the carrying amount, an impairment write-down (representing the carrying amount of the long-lived asset which exceeds the present value of estimated expected future cash flows) would be recorded as a period expense. Events that would trigger an impairment test include the following:
|
•
|
A significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset.
|
|
•
|
A significant change in the use of long-lived assets or in its physical condition.
|
|
•
|
A significant change in the business climate that could affect an assets value.
|
|
•
|
An accumulation of cost significantly greater than the amount originally expected to acquire or construct a long-lived asset.
|
|
•
|
A current period operating or cash flow loss combined with a history of such losses or a forecast demonstrating continued losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset.
|
|
•
|
An expectation to sell or otherwise dispose of a long-lived asset significantly before the end of its estimated useful life.
|
Based on management’s reviews during each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, there were no events or circumstances that caused management to believe that impairments were necessary.
Intangible Assets
Intangible Assets at December 31, 2016
|
|
Useful
Lives
(Years)
|
|
|
Cost
|
|
|
Accumulated
Amortization
|
|
|
Net Value
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Intellectual property
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
$
|
322
|
|
|
$
|
322
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
License
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
358
|
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
309
|
|
License
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
218
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
218
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
898
|
|
|
$
|
371
|
|
|
$
|
527
|
|
On March 8, 2012, the Company acquired certain technology from Amnor Technologies, Inc. for cash of $0.10 million plus 44,000 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $4.95 per share (the closing price on that date). One fourth of the shares were issued initially with the balance to be issued one third annually on the anniversaries over the subsequent 3 years. The purchase price was valued at $0.32 million (including $4,000 of transaction costs) at March 8, 2012 and is recorded as an intangible asset in the consolidated balance sheets. The cost was being amortized over its estimated useful life of 3 years which
F-10
expired in 2015. Amortization expense of $0.02 million was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2015 and is included in general and a
dministrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
The technology provides automation and control system technologies for land and offshore drilling monitoring and control (auto-driller); marine automation including ballast control and tank monitoring and machinery plant control and monitoring systems; IP-based CCTV systems; and military vessel security and safety systems, all proven in multiple installations.
During 2014 we acquired arc-resistant technology and capitalized the cost of $0.22 million. During 2016, the Company capitalized cost of $0.36 million for the testing associated with certifications for IntelliSafe™ products. The cost is being amortized over its useful life of 5 years. Amortization expense of $0.05 million was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2016 and is included in the cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations. If events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, including intangible assets, management tests long-lived assets for impairment.
Income Taxes
The Company uses the asset and liability method to account for income taxes. Under this method of accounting for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to be reported to the taxing authority. The Company also records any financial statement recognition and disclosure requirements for uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in its tax return. Financial statement recognition of the tax position is dependent on an assessment of a 50% or greater likelihood that the tax position will be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. Any interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recorded as interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Foreign Currency Gains and Losses
Foreign currency translations are included as a separate component of comprehensive income. The Company has determined the local currency of its foreign subsidiary and foreign joint ventures to be the functional currency. In accordance with ASC 830, the assets and liabilities of the foreign equity investees and foreign subsidiary, denominated in foreign currency, are translated into United States dollars at exchange rates in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date and net sales and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the period. Related translation adjustments are reported as comprehensive income, net of deferred income taxes, which is a separate component of stockholders’ equity, whereas gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in results of operations.
Net Sales Recognition
The Company reports earnings from fixed-price and modified fixed-price long-term contracts on the percentage-of-completion method. Earnings are accrued based on the ratio of costs incurred to total estimated costs. However, for our manufacturing activities, we have determined that labor incurred provides an improved measure of percentage-of-completion. Costs include direct material, direct labor, and job related overhead. Losses expected to be incurred on contracts are charged to operations in the period such losses are determined. A contract is considered complete when all costs except insignificant items have been incurred and the facility has been accepted by the customer. Net sales from non-time and material jobs of a short-term nature (typically less than one month) are recognized on the completed-contract method after considering the attributes of such contracts. This method is used because these contracts are typically completed in a short period of time and the financial position and results of operations do not vary materially from those which would result from use of the percentage-of-completion method.
The Company records net sales from its field and technical service and repair operations on a completed service basis after customer acknowledgement that the service has been completed and accepted. In addition, the Company sells certain purchased parts and products. These net sales are recorded when the product is shipped and title passes to the customer.
The asset, “Work-in-process,” which is included in inventories, represents the cost of labor, material, and overhead in excess of amounts billed on jobs accounted for under the completed-contract method. For contracts accounted for under the percentage-of-completion method, the asset, “Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billing on uncompleted contracts,” represents net sales recognized in excess of amounts billed and the liability, “Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts,” represents billings in excess of net sales recognized. Any billed net sale that has not been collected is reported as accounts receivable. The timing of when we bill our customers is generally dependent upon advance billing terms or completion of certain phases of the work.
On occasion, the Company enters into long-term contracts that include both a service component and a manufacturing component. The Company segments net sales, costs and gross profit related to these contracts if they meet the contract segmenting criteria in ASC 605-35, including that the terms and scope of the project clearly call for separate elements, the separate elements are often bid or negotiated by the Company separately and the total economic returns and risks of the separate
F-11
elements are similar to
the economic returns and risks of the overall contract. For segmented contracts, the Company recognizes net sales as if they were separate contracts over the performance periods of the individual elements.
Contract net sales recognition inherently involves estimation, including the contemplated level of effort to accomplish the tasks under the contract, the cost of the effort, and an ongoing assessment of progress toward completing the contract. From time to time, as part of the normal management processes, facts develop that requires revisions to estimated total cost or net sales expected. The cumulative impact of any revisions to estimates and the full impact of anticipated losses on contracts are recognized in the period in which they become known.
Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs
Shipping and handling fees, if billed to customers, are included in net sales. Shipping and handling costs associated with inbound freight are expensed as incurred. Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight are classified as cost of sales.
Concentration of Market Risk and Geographic Operations
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade accounts receivable. The Company’s market risk is dependent primarily on the strength of the oil and gas and energy related industries. The Company grants credit to customers and generally does not require security except in the case of certain international contracts. Procedures are in effect to monitor the credit worthiness of its customers.
During 2016, one customer accounted for approximately 19% of net sales and 17% of net accounts receivable trade. During 2015, one customer accounted for approximately 14% of net sales and 3% of net accounts receivable trade.
The Company sells its products and services in domestic and international markets; however, significant portions of the Company’s sales are concentrated with customers located in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. The Gulf Coast region accounts for approximately 47% and 68% of the Company’s net sales during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Reclassification
Certain items are reclassified in the 2015 consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2016 presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cashflows.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
, which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASU No. 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU No. 2014-09 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required under existing U.S. GAAP. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU No. 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14 which delayed the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 by one year (effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017). We are currently evaluating the future impact of our pending adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements and have not yet determined the method with which we will adopt the standard in 2018.
In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12,
Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period.
The amendments in this ASU require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. A reporting entity should apply existing guidance in Topic 718,
Compensation – Stock Compensation,
as it relates to awards with performance conditions that affect vesting to account for such awards. The performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of the award. Compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the period(s) for which the requisite service has already been rendered. If the performance target becomes probable of being achieved before the end of the requisite service period, the remaining unrecognized compensation cost should be recognized prospectively over the remaining requisite service period. The total amount of compensation cost recognized during and after the requisite service period should reflect the number of awards that are expected to vest and should be adjusted to reflect those awards that ultimately vest. The requisite service period ends when the employee can cease rendering service and still be eligible to vest in the award if the performance target is achieved. The amendments in ASU No. 2014-12 are effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods
F-12
beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2014-12 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s
consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-01,
Income Statement – Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20): Simplified Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items.
This ASU eliminates from U.S. GAAP the concept of extraordinary items. Subtopic 225-20,
Income Statement – Extraordinary and Unusual Items,
requires that an entity separately classify, present and disclose extraordinary events and transactions. Presently, an event or transaction is presumed to be ordinary and usual activity of the reporting entity unless evidence clearly supports its classification as an extraordinary item. If an event or transaction meets the criteria for extraordinary classification, an entity is required to segregate the extraordinary item from the results of ordinary operations and show the item separately in the income statement, net of tax, after income from continuing operations. The entity also is required to disclose applicable income taxes and either present or disclose earnings-per-share data applicable to the extraordinary item. ASU No. 2015-01 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The amendments of ASU No. 2015-01 can be applied prospectively or retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-01 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02,
Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis,
which is intended to improve targeted areas of consolidation guidance for legal entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability corporations, and securitization structures. ASU No. 2015-02 focuses on the consolidation evaluation for reporting organizations that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. In addition to reducing the number of consolidation models from four to two, the new standard simplifies the FASB Accounting Standards Codification
TM
and improves current U.S. GAAP by: (1) Placing more emphasis on risk of loss when determining a controlling financial interest. A reporting organization may no longer have to consolidate a legal entity in certain circumstances based solely on its fee arrangement, when certain criteria are met; (2) Reducing the frequency of the application of related-party guidance when determining a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity; and (3) Changing consolidation conclusions for public and private companies in several industries that typically make use of limited partnerships or variable interest entities. ASU No. 2015-02 is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-02 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11,
Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory
, which is intended to converge U.S. GAAP on this topic with IFRS. ASU No. 2015-11 focuses on the premeasurement of inventory measured using any method other than LIFO, for example, average cost. Inventory within the scope of ASU No. 2015-11 is required to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. When evidence exists that the net realizable value of inventory is lower than its cost, the difference shall be recognized as a loss in earnings in the period in which it occurs. That loss may be required, for example, due to damage, physical deterioration, obsolescence, changes in price levels, or other causes. For public business entities, the amendments in ASU No. 2015-11 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is currently evaluating the future impact of ASU No. 2015-11 on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16,
Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments
. ASU No. 2015-16 requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to estimated amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. ASU No. 2015-16 requires that the acquirer record, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. ASU No. 2015-16 also requires an entity to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. ASU No. 2015-16 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. ASU No. 2015-16 should be applied retrospectively and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-16 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17,
Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes
. The new guidance requires that all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with any related valuation allowance, be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet. As a result, each jurisdiction will now only have one net noncurrent deferred tax asset or liability. The new guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company has elected to early adopt this pronouncement and has reflected the change on the consolidated balance sheet for all periods presented.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01,
Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.
ASU No. 2016-01 requires (1) an entity to measure equity instruments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation of the investee) at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; (2) entities to use the exit price notation when
F-13
measuring the fair
value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; (3) separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset; and (4) elimination of the requirement to disclose the methods and signifi
cant assumptions used to estimate fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost. ASU No. 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 with early adoption permitted. Management is
currently evaluating the future impact of ASU No. 2016-01 on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02,
Leases
, which requires lessees to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date: (1) a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and (2) a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Under ASU No. 2016-02, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. ASU No. 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 with early application permitted. Lessees and lessors must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The modified retrospective approach would not require any transition accounted for leases expired before the earliest comparative period presented. Lessees and lessors may not apply a full retrospective transition approach. Management is currently evaluating the future impact of ASU No. 2016-02 on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No.2016-10,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing
, to clarify two aspects of Topic 606: (i) identifying performance obligations; and (ii) the licensing implementation guidance. The amendments do not change the core principle of the guidance in Topic 606. The effective date and transition requirements for ASU No. 2016-10 are the same as the effective date and transition requirements for ASU No. 2014-09. Management is currently evaluating the future impact of ASU No. 2016-10 on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients.
ASU No. 2016-12 provides narrow-scope improvements to the guidance on collectability, noncash consideration, and completed contracts at transition. The amendment also provides a practical expedient for contract modifications at transition and an accounting policy election related to the presentation of sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from customers and are expected to reduce the judgment necessary to comply with Topic 606. The effective date and transition requirements for ASU No. 2016-12 are the same as the effective date and transition requirements for ASU No. 2014-09. Management is currently evaluating the future impact of ASU No. 2016-12 on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13,
Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
. ASU No. 2016-13 eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and, instead, requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. In addition, ASU No. 2016-13 amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. ASU No. 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020, with early application permitted in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The amendments of ASU No. 2016-13 should be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. Management is currently evaluating the future impact of ASU No. 2016-13 on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15,
Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments
. ASU No. 2016-15 addresses eight specific cash flow issues and is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-15 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the future impact of ASU No. 2016-15 on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-20,
Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers
. ASU No. 2016-20 allows entities not to make quantitative disclosures about remaining performance obligations in certain cases and require entities that use any of the new or previously existing optional exemptions to expand their qualitative disclosures. The amendment also clarifies narrow aspects of ASC 606, including contract modifications, contract costs, and the balance sheet classification of items as contract assets versus receivables, or corrects unintended application of the guidance. The effective date and transition requirements for ASU No. 2016-20 are the same as the effective date and transition requirements for ASU No. 2014-09. Management is currently evaluating the future impact of ASU No. 2016-20 on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01,
Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business.
ASU No. 2017-01 clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with
F-14
evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of a business or as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets. ASU No. 2017-01
is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted under certain circumstances. The amendments of ASU No. 2017-01 should be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the period of adoption. Management is cu
rrently evaluating the future impact of ASU No. 2017-01 on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
In January 2017FASB issued ASU No. 2017-03,
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (Topic 250) and Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the September 22, 2016 and November 17, 2016 EITF Meetings.
The amendments in this update relate to disclosures of the impact of recently issued accounting standards. The SEC staff’s view that a registrant should evaluate ASC updates that have not yet been adopted to determine the appropriate financial disclosures about the potential material effects of the updates on the financial statements when adopted. If a registrant does not know or cannot reasonably estimate the impact of an update, then in addition to making a statement to that effect, the registrant should consider additional qualitative financial statement disclosures to assist the reader in assessing the significance of the impact. The staff expects the additional qualitative disclosures to include a description of the effect of the accounting policies expected to be applied compared to current accounting policies. Also, the registrant should describe the status of its process to implement the new standards and the significant implementation matters yet to be addressed. The amendments specifically addressed recent ASC amendments to ASU No. 2016-13
, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses
, ASU No. 2016-02,
Leases
, and ASU No. 2014-09,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
, although, the amendments apply to any subsequent amendments to guidance in the ASC. ASU No. 2017-03 is effective upon issuance and did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
Inventories consisted of the following at December 31, 2016 and 2015.
|
December 31, 2016
|
|
|
December 31, 2015
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Raw materials
|
$
|
513
|
|
|
$
|
594
|
|
Work-in-process
|
|
728
|
|
|
|
791
|
|
|
|
1,241
|
|
|
|
1,385
|
|
Less: allowance
|
|
(60
|
)
|
|
|
(60
|
)
|
Total inventories
|
$
|
1,181
|
|
|
$
|
1,325
|
|
Obsolete or slow moving inventory totaling $0.04 million and $0.46 million was expensed during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and included in cost of sales in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
(4)
|
Costs, Estimated Earnings, and Related Billings on Uncompleted Contracts
|
Contracts in progress at December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following:
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts
|
$
|
26,340
|
|
|
$
|
31,197
|
|
Estimated earnings
|
|
1,193
|
|
|
|
10,506
|
|
|
|
27,533
|
|
|
|
41,703
|
|
Billings on uncompleted contracts
|
|
(21,912
|
)
|
|
|
(41,030
|
)
|
|
$
|
5,621
|
|
|
$
|
673
|
|
Costs, estimated earnings, and related billing on uncompleted contracts consisted of the following at December 31, 2016 and 2015:
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts
|
$
|
5,829
|
|
|
$
|
2,302
|
|
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts
|
|
(208
|
)
|
|
|
(1,629
|
)
|
|
$
|
5,621
|
|
|
$
|
673
|
|
F-15
(5)
|
Property, Plant and Equipment
|
Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following at December 31, 2016 and 2015:
Category
|
|
|
Estimated
Useful Lives
(years)
|
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Buildings and improvements
|
|
|
15 – 25
|
|
|
$
|
7,972
|
|
|
$
|
8,083
|
|
Office equipment and furniture
|
|
|
2 – 7
|
|
|
|
2,135
|
|
|
|
2,126
|
|
Automobiles and trucks
|
|
|
2 – 5
|
|
|
|
157
|
|
|
|
118
|
|
Machinery and shop equipment
|
|
|
2 – 10
|
|
|
|
2,951
|
|
|
|
2,963
|
|
Construction in progress
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,238
|
|
|
|
13,384
|
|
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,074
|
|
|
|
5,603
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,164
|
|
|
|
7,781
|
|
Land
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
134
|
|
|
|
134
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
7,298
|
|
|
$
|
7,915
|
|
During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, depreciation charged to operations amounted to $0.88 million and $0.89 million, respectively. Of these amounts, $0.74 million and $0.73 million was charged to cost of sales while $0.14 million and $0.16 million was charged to selling, general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
(6)
|
Advances to and Investments in Foreign Joint Ventures’ Operations
|
The Company has a foreign joint venture agreement and holds a 40% interest in a Chinese company, BOMAY, which builds electrical systems for sale in China. The majority partner in this foreign joint venture is a subsidiary of a major Chinese oil company. M&I made an initial investment of $1.00 million in 2006 and made an additional $1.00 million investment in 2007. The Company’s equity income from the foreign joint venture was $0.80 million and $0.97 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company received $0.59 million and $1.03 million, respectively, in dividends from BOMAY. Sales made to the foreign joint venture were $0.11 million and $0.19 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Accounts receivable from BOMAY were $0.04 million and $0.00 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015.
The Company owns a 41% interest in MIEFE which provides additional sales and technical support in Asia. The Company’s equity income from the foreign joint venture was ($0.27) million and ($0.23) million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. During 2016, the Company’s share of cumulative losses from MIEFE exceeded the Company’s initial investment balance. The Company applied the losses to the investment balance to the extent of the initial investment amount, with the remaining losses in the amount of $0.27 million accrued for in accounts payable and other liabilities to reflect management’s intention to fund the losses. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company received $0.00 million and $0.14 million, respectively, in dividends from MIEFE. Sales made to the foreign joint venture were $0.00 million and $0.05 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Accounts receivable from MIEFE was $0.00 million and $0.05 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
The Company’s equity income from the foreign joint ventures, before foreign operations expenses, totaled $0.53 million and $0.74 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
During 2016 and 2015, the Company also recognized approximately $0.25 million and $0.39 million, respectively, for employee related expenses directly attributable to the foreign joint ventures.
Sales to foreign joint ventures’ operations are made on an arm’s length basis and intercompany profits, if any, are eliminated in consolidation.
F-16
Summary financial information of BOMAY and MIEFE in U.S. dollars was as follows at December 31, 201
6 and 2015:
|
BOMAY
|
|
|
MIEFE
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
$
|
47,700
|
|
|
$
|
68,151
|
|
|
$
|
425
|
|
|
$
|
2,365
|
|
Total non-current assets
|
|
3,589
|
|
|
|
4,131
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
70
|
|
Total assets
|
$
|
51,289
|
|
|
$
|
72,282
|
|
|
$
|
442
|
|
|
$
|
2,435
|
|
Liabilities and equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
$
|
24,196
|
|
|
$
|
44,415
|
|
|
$
|
551
|
|
|
$
|
1,930
|
|
Total joint ventures’ equity
|
|
27,093
|
|
|
|
27,867
|
|
|
|
(109
|
)
|
|
|
505
|
|
Total liabilities and equity
|
$
|
51,289
|
|
|
$
|
72,282
|
|
|
$
|
442
|
|
|
$
|
2,435
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
|
|
|
BOMAY
|
|
|
MIEFE
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
$
|
33,468
|
|
|
$
|
47,347
|
|
|
$
|
1,167
|
|
|
$
|
5,741
|
|
Gross Profit
|
$
|
6,687
|
|
|
$
|
8,353
|
|
|
$
|
481
|
|
|
$
|
1,112
|
|
Earnings
|
$
|
2,010
|
|
|
$
|
2,433
|
|
|
$
|
(631
|
)
|
|
$
|
(567
|
)
|
The Company’s investments in and advances to its foreign joint ventures’ operations were as follows as of December 31, 2016 and 2015:
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
BOMAY*
|
|
|
MIEFE
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
BOMAY*
|
|
|
MIEFE
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Investments in foreign joint ventures:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, beginning of year
|
$
|
2,033
|
|
|
$
|
14
|
|
|
$
|
2,047
|
|
|
$
|
2,033
|
|
|
$
|
14
|
|
|
$
|
2,047
|
|
Additional amounts invested and advanced
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Balance, end of year
|
|
2,033
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
2,047
|
|
|
|
2,033
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
2,047
|
|
Undistributed earnings:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, beginning of year
|
|
8,098
|
|
|
|
(11
|
)
|
|
|
8,087
|
|
|
|
8,157
|
|
|
|
358
|
|
|
|
8,515
|
|
Equity in earnings (loss)
|
|
804
|
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
|
|
801
|
|
|
|
973
|
|
|
|
(232
|
)
|
|
|
741
|
|
Dividend distributions
|
|
(589
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(589
|
)
|
|
|
(1,032
|
)
|
|
|
(137
|
)
|
|
|
(1,169
|
)
|
Balance, end of year
|
|
8,313
|
|
|
|
(14
|
)
|
|
|
8,299
|
|
|
|
8,098
|
|
|
|
(11
|
)
|
|
|
8,087
|
|
Foreign currency translation:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, beginning of year
|
|
765
|
|
|
|
205
|
|
|
|
970
|
|
|
|
1,358
|
|
|
|
134
|
|
|
|
1,492
|
|
Change, during the year
|
|
(661
|
)
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
(653
|
)
|
|
|
(593
|
)
|
|
|
71
|
|
|
|
(522
|
)
|
Balance, end of year
|
|
104
|
|
|
|
213
|
|
|
|
317
|
|
|
|
765
|
|
|
|
205
|
|
|
|
970
|
|
Investments, end of year
|
$
|
10,450
|
|
|
$
|
213
|
|
|
$
|
10,663
|
|
|
$
|
10,896
|
|
|
$
|
208
|
|
|
$
|
11,104
|
|
*
|
Accumulated statutory reserves in equity method investments of $2.89 million and $2.72 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, are included in AETI’s consolidated retained earnings. In accordance with the People’s Republic of China, (“PRC”), regulations on enterprises with foreign ownership, an enterprise established in the PRC with wholly-owned foreign ownership is required to provide for certain statutory reserves, namely (i) General Reserve Fund, (ii) Enterprise Expansion Fund and (iii) Staff Welfare and Bonus Fund, which are appropriated from net profit as reported in the enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. A non-wholly-owned foreign invested enterprise is permitted to provide for the above allocation at the discretion of its board of directors. The aforementioned reserves can only be used for specific purposes and are not distributable as cash dividends.
|
The Company accounts for its investments in foreign joint ventures’ operations using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, the Company’s share of the joint ventures’ operations’ earnings or losses is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations as equity income (loss) from foreign joint ventures’ operations. Joint venture income increases the carrying value of the joint ventures and joint venture losses reduce the carrying value. Dividends received from the joint ventures reduce the carrying value. In accordance with our long-lived asset policy, when events or circumstances indicate the
F-17
carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, management tests long-lived assets for impairment. If the estimated future cash f
lows are projected to be less than the carrying amount, an impairment write-down (representing the carrying amount of the long-lived asset which exceeds the present value of estimated expected future cash flows) would be recorded as a period expense. In ma
king this evaluation, a variety of quantitative and qualitative factors are considered including national and local economic, political and market conditions, industry trends and prospects, liquidity and capital resources and other pertinent factors. Based
on this evaluation for this reporting period, the Company does not believe an impairment adjustment is necessary.
The components of income (loss) before income taxes and dividends on preferred stock for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
United States
|
$
|
(7,545)
|
|
|
$
|
(2,906)
|
|
Foreign
|
|
529
|
|
|
|
741
|
|
|
$
|
(7,016)
|
|
|
$
|
(2,165)
|
|
The components of the provision (benefit) for income taxes by taxing authority for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Current provision:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
443
|
|
Foreign
|
|
119
|
|
|
|
131
|
|
States
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total current provision
|
|
119
|
|
|
|
574
|
|
Deferred provision (benefit):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
(24)
|
|
|
|
(114)
|
|
Foreign
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
States
|
|
(51)
|
|
|
|
(32)
|
|
Total deferred provision (benefit):
|
|
(75)
|
|
|
|
(146)
|
|
|
$
|
44
|
|
|
$
|
428
|
|
Significant components of the Company’s deferred federal income taxes were as follows:
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
Non-Current
|
|
Deferred tax assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued liabilities
|
$
|
15
|
|
|
$
|
22
|
|
Deferred compensation
|
|
1,113
|
|
|
|
936
|
|
Allowance for doubtful accounts
|
|
101
|
|
|
|
73
|
|
Inventory
|
|
83
|
|
|
|
73
|
|
Net operating loss
|
|
6,528
|
|
|
|
4,137
|
|
Property and equipment
|
|
143
|
|
|
|
123
|
|
Foreign tax credit carry forward
|
|
3,297
|
|
|
|
3,226
|
|
Deferred tax assets
|
|
11,280
|
|
|
|
8,590
|
|
Deferred tax liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valuation allowance
|
|
(11,280
|
)
|
|
|
(8,590
|
)
|
Equity in foreign investments
|
|
(2,824
|
)
|
|
|
(2,755
|
)
|
Translation gain
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(309
|
)
|
Deferred tax liabilities
|
|
(14,104
|
)
|
|
|
(11,654
|
)
|
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)
|
|
(2,824
|
)
|
|
|
(3,064
|
)
|
F-18
The Company’s deferred tax assets are primarily related to net operating loss carry forwards. A valuation allowance was established at December 31, 2016 and 2015 due to uncertainty regarding future realization of deferred tax assets. Our total valuation allowance as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 is $11.28 million and $8.59 million, respectively.
The Company has federal net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $17.3 million which include $7.4 million acquired from AAT that are subject to the utilization limitation under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company has state net operating losses of $14 million. These tax loss carry forwards are available to offset future taxable income and expire if unused during the federal tax year ending December 31, 2019 through 2032.
The Company’s 2008 U.S. federal income tax return was examined by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). In the fourth quarter 2011, the IRS concluded its audit which adjusted the annual net operating loss carry forward limitation under Sec. 382 related to AAT’s pre-acquisition net operating loss carry forwards to $299,000 per year through 2027. The Company has adopted the provisions of ASC Topic 740-10 “
Income Taxes”
to assess tax benefits claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. The Company has assessed all open tax years and has recorded no uncertain tax positions related to the open tax years. The Company is no longer subject to tax examination before 2013.
The difference between the effective income tax rate reflected in the provision for income taxes and the amounts, which would be determined by applying the statutory income tax rate of 34%, is summarized as follows:
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
(Provision for) benefit from U.S federal statutory rate
|
$
|
2,385
|
|
|
$
|
736
|
|
Effect of state income taxes
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
32
|
|
Non-deductible business meals and entertainment expenses
|
|
(11)
|
|
|
|
(16)
|
|
Foreign income taxes included in equity in earnings
|
|
140
|
|
|
|
269
|
|
Accrual to return adjustments and other
|
|
81
|
|
|
|
(653)
|
|
Change in valuation allowance
|
|
(2,690)
|
|
|
|
(796)
|
|
Total expense
|
$
|
(44)
|
|
|
$
|
(428)
|
|
The Company files income tax returns in the United States Federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions.
The components of notes payable at December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
Revolving credit agreement
|
$
|
1,500
|
|
|
$
|
1,043
|
|
Current portion of long-term notes payable......................................
|
|
300
|
|
|
|
300
|
|
Long-term notes payable
|
|
3,900
|
|
|
|
4,200
|
|
Total revolving credit agreement
|
$
|
5,700
|
|
|
$
|
5,543
|
|
|
|
Principal payments of debt for years subsequent to 2017 are as follows (in thousands):
|
Amount
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
2017
|
$
|
1,800
|
|
2018
|
|
300
|
|
2019
|
|
300
|
|
2020
|
|
3,300
|
|
2021
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
5,700
|
|
Revolving Credit Agreement
On December 29, 2015, the Company entered into a Loan Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Frost Bank (“Frost”). The Loan Agreement provides two separate revolving credit facilities to the Company. The first facility (“Facility A”) provides the Company with a $4.00 million revolving line of credit with a two-year term maturing December 29, 2017, subject to a maximum loan amount (the “Borrowing Base”) based on a formula related to the value of certain of the Company’s accounts, inventories and equipment.Under Facility A, the Company may borrow, repay and reborrow, up to the Borrowing Base. Facility A also allows the issuance of standby letters of credit. As of December 31, 2016, we had $1.25 million in letters of credit outstanding.
F-19
Facility A requires a period of not less tha
n 30 consecutive days during each calendar year that the entire outstanding principal amount of the revolving credit facility is paid. Upon Facility A’s maturity date, all outstanding principal and unpaid accrued interest is due and payable. The Company b
orrowed $1.04 million under Facility A upon initiation of the Loan Agreement and had $1.50 million drawn and outstanding as of December 31, 2016. There was no additional borrowing capacity as of December 31, 2016 due to non-compliance with its financial co
venants.
The second facility (“Facility B”) provides the Company with a $4.50 million declining revolving line of credit. The Company may be borrow, repay and reborrow from the line. The amount available to borrow under Facility B declines from the initial $4.50 million by $0.15 million each six months. Facility B’s maturity date is December 29, 2020 when all outstanding principal and unpaid accrued interest is due and payable. The Company was advanced $4.50 million under Facility B upon the initiation of the Loan Agreement which was to pay off the remaining balance on the facility from JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A. (“Chase”) and as of December 31, 2016, the outstanding balance is $4.20 million.
Under the Loan Agreement, the interest rate on both facilities is the three month LIBOR (0.98% at December 31, 2016) plus 4.00% per year. The Loan agreement also provides for usual and customary covenants and restrictions including that the borrower must maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of no less than 1.25 to 1.00, and will not permit the ratio of consolidated total liabilities to consolidated net worth to exceed 1.25. Additionally, the Company’s obligations under Facility A are secured by:
1. All our accounts receivable, whether now owned or hereafter acquired.
2. All our inventory, whether now owned or hereafter acquired.
3. All our machinery and equipment, whether now owned or hereafter acquired.
4. A collateral assignment on all future distributions from joint ventures.
The Company’s obligations under Facility B are secured by:
1. Our fee simple interest in certain real estate and improvements in Beaumont, Texas.
2. Any parking, utility and ingress/egress easements on the foregoing property.
3. A collateral assignment on all future distributions from joint ventures.
The Company’s subsidiaries, M&I Electric Industries, Inc. and South Coast Electric Systems, LLC are additional obligors on the Loan Agreement.
The Company had $5.70 million of borrowings outstanding under the Frost credit agreement at December 31, 2016 and $5.54 million at December 31, 2015.
On March 23, 2017, the Company sold a $7.00 million Senior Secured Term Note (the “Note”) to a third-party lender to repay all outstanding borrowings under the existing revolving credit facilities and provide approximately $1.00 million of additional working capital. The Note is payable in monthly interest only payments, in arrears, with $0.50 million of principal repayable no later than June 30, 2017 and the balance due March 23, 2021. The Note is secured by all assets of the Company, with few exceptions, and bears interest at a fixed rate of 11.50%.
New Corporate Office Lease
In December 2013, the Company executed a lease for office space at 1250 Wood Branch Park Drive, Houston, Texas. The lease covers approximately 13,000 square feet.
The term of the lease is 64 months and commenced upon completion of tenant improvements, which were completed in March 2014.
The Company also leases equipment (principally trucks and forklifts) under operating lease agreements that expire at various dates to 2021. Rental expense relating to operating leases and other short-term leases for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, amounted to approximately $0.70 million and $0.68 million, respectively.
F-20
The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments:
Year Ending December 31,
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
2017
|
|
$
|
698
|
|
2018
|
|
|
631
|
|
2019
|
|
|
438
|
|
2020
|
|
|
241
|
|
2021
|
|
|
215
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,223
|
|
(10)
|
Stock and Stock-based Compensation
|
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Company issued 8,142 and 5,668 shares of Company stock during 2016 and 2015, respectively, in connection with an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) that commenced in April 2008.
Restricted Stock Units
As amended in May 2014, the stockholder approved shares available under the plan is 1,700,000. The number of RSUs awarded is generally subject to the substantial achievement of budgeted performance and other metrics in the year granted. The RSUs do not have voting rights of the common stock, and the shares of common stock underlying the RSUs are not considered issued and outstanding until actually vested and issued. In general, the awards convert to common stock on a one to one basis in 25% increments over four years from the grant date subject to a continuing employment obligation.
The following table summarizes the activity for unvested restricted stock units for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:
|
Units
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Fair Value
Per RSU
|
|
Unvested restricted stock units at December 31, 2014
|
|
168,642
|
|
|
$
|
4.88
|
|
Awarded
|
|
231,356
|
|
|
$
|
3.47
|
|
Vested
|
|
(72,298)
|
|
|
$
|
4.44
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
(11,853)
|
|
|
$
|
4.55
|
|
Unvested restricted stock units at December 31, 2015
|
|
315,847
|
|
|
$
|
3.99
|
|
Awarded
|
|
31,327
|
|
|
$
|
2.81
|
|
Vested
|
|
(105,443)
|
|
|
$
|
4.66
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
(23,319)
|
|
|
$
|
5.12
|
|
Unvested restricted stock units at December 31, 2016
|
|
218,412
|
|
|
$
|
4.28
|
|
Compensation expense of approximately $0.49 million and $0.46 million was recorded in the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, to reflect the fair value of the original RSU’s granted or anticipated to be granted less forfeitures, amortized over the portion of the vesting period occurring during the period. The fair value of the RSUs was based on the closing price of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) on the grant date. Based upon the fair value on the grant date of the number of shares awarded or expected to be awarded, it is anticipated that approximately $0.93 million of additional compensation cost will be recognized in future periods through 2017. The weighted average period over which this additional compensation cost will be expensed is 2 years.
In December 2016, the Board of Directors approved modification to the requisite service period to accelerate vesting for 75% of the RSU granted to employees for 2016 plan.
During February 2017, the Board of Directors approved the grants of approximately 395,000 RSUs in conjunction with the Plan, of which, approximately 332,000 units are subject to 2017 fiscal performance measures.
Board of Directors Compensation
Directors who are not employees of the Company and who do not have a compensatory agreement providing for service as a director of the Company receive a retainer fee payable quarterly. Eligible directors may elect to defer 50% to 100% of their retainer fee, which may be used to acquire common stock of the Company at the fair market value on the date the retainer fee would otherwise be paid, acquire stock units equivalent to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date the retainer fee would otherwise be paid, or be paid in cash. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, directors of the Company elected to defer retainer fees to acquire approximately 31,000 and 29,400, respectively, stock units. Compensation
F-21
expense of approx
imately $0.15 million and $0.18 million was recorded in the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 respectively, which is included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
(
11)
|
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
|
On April 13, 2012, the Company signed a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with a private investor for the sale (the “Preferred Stock Financing”) of 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock”) at $5.00 per share and 325,000 warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock expiring in May 2020. The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock shares are initially convertible into 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $5.00 per share. The warrants were issued in two tranches with 125,000 of such warrants at an initial exercise price of $6.00 per share and 200,000 of such warrants at an initial exercise price of $7.00 per share. On May 2, 2012, the Company completed the issuance of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and warrants.
On April 30, 2012, the Company filed an Articles of Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation designating 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s authorized preferred stock as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. The Company also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement and Investor Rights Agreement with the private investor.
The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock ranks senior to all other equity instruments of the Company, including the Company’s common stock. The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock accrues cumulative dividends at a rate of 6% per annum, whether or not dividends have been declared by the Board of Directors and whether or not there are profits, surplus or other funds available for the payment of such dividends. The Company may pay such dividends in shares of the Company’s common stock based on the then current market price of the common stock. At any time following a material default by the Company, as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement, or April 30, 2017, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock may require the Company to redeem the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock at a redemption price equal to the lessor of (i) the liquidation preference per share (initially $5.00 per share, subject to adjustments for certain future equity transactions defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) and (ii) the fair market value of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock per share, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the redemption price per share was $5.00 in both years. The redemption price, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends, shall be payable in 36 equal monthly installments plus interest at an annual rate of 6%.
The preferred stock and warrants were issued for a total of $5.0 million. This amount was allocated to the preferred stock and warrants based on their relative fair values. The fair value of the warrants was calculated using the Black Scholes-Merton pricing model using the following weighted average assumptions, at the grant date:
Number of warrants
|
|
325,000
|
|
Exercise price
|
$
|
6.62
|
|
Expected volatility of underlying stock
|
|
74
|
%
|
Risk-free interest rate
|
|
1.62
|
%
|
Dividend yield
|
|
0
|
%
|
Expected life of warrants
|
|
8 years
|
|
Weighted-average fair value of warrants
|
$
|
3.11
|
|
Expiration date
|
|
May 2, 2020
|
|
Based on these calculations and the actual consideration, the warrants were valued at $840,000 and the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was valued at $4,160,000.
The initial values allocated to the warrants were recognized as a discount on the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, with a corresponding charge to additional paid-in capital. The discount related to the warrants is accreted to retained earnings through the scheduled redemption date of the mandatorily redeemable Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. Discount accretion for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 totaled $0.05 million in both years.
At December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the company had accrued but unpaid dividends totaling $0.23 million, in both years, which is included in the accounts payable and other accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets.
(12)
|
Employee Benefit and Bonus Plans
|
The employees of the Company are eligible to participate in a 401(k) plan sponsored by the Company. The plan is a defined contribution 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan (the “Plan”) that covers all full-time employees who meet certain age and service requirements. The Company may provide discretionary contributions to the Plan as determined by the Board of Directors. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company made no contributions to the Plan.
F-22
The Company maintains an “Executive Performance” bonus plan, which covers approximately 43 key employees. Under the plan, t
he participants receive a percentage of a bonus pool based primarily on pre-tax income in relation to budget. The Board of Directors approves the Executive Performance plan at the beginning of each year. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, t
he Company recorded approximately $0.49 million and $0.46 million under the plan, respectively.
(13)
|
Related Party Transactions
|
During 2016 and 2015, the Company received legal advice on various Company matters from a law firm related to a director of the Company. The Company incurred expenses totaling approximately $0.07 million and $0.05 million related to these services during 2016 and 2015, respectively, which is included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the outstanding payable balance for services rendered by this law firm was $0.04 million and $0.00, respectively.
The Company, upon approval from the Board, has an employment agreement with the former Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors (“Executive Chairman”), whereby the Company compensated the Executive Chairman $0.00 million and $0.13 million during 2016 and 2015, respectively. Under the terms of the agreement, the Executive Chairman will assist in international joint venture relations and operations, technical developments, manufacturing and transformative business development projects and other special projects assigned by the Company. In November 2013, the Company amended the agreement to extend the term through 2015 with annual compensation of $0.13 million for 2015. In addition, the amendment included a bonus equal to 1% of the amount reported by the Company as equity income from foreign joint ventures’ operations in the consolidated statements of operations. During 2015, the Company paid compensation of $0.13 million, under the terms of the agreement, which is included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
The Company follows guidance prescribed by the ASC Topic 280, Segment Reporting, which governs the way the Company reports information about its operating segments.
The Company manages its continuing operations as a single segment which reflects how the Company’s Chief Operating Officer analyzes the business.
(15)
|
Quarterly Results for Continuing Operations
|
The following table reflects the quarterly information for continuing operations for the applicable time periods.
|
2016
|
|
|
Q1
|
|
Q2
|
|
Q3
|
|
Q4
|
|
Total
|
|
Net Sales
|
$
|
8,298
|
|
$
|
11,444
|
|
$
|
8,673
|
|
$
|
9,397
|
|
$
|
37,812
|
|
Gross Profit (Loss)
|
|
91
|
|
|
1,226
|
|
|
(451
|
)
|
|
150
|
|
$
|
1,016
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
(2,883
|
)
|
|
151
|
|
|
(2,624
|
)
|
|
(1,704
|
)
|
|
(7,060
|
)
|
Earnings (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
$
|
(0.36
|
)
|
$
|
0.01
|
|
$
|
(0.33
|
)
|
$
|
(0.21
|
)
|
$
|
(0.89
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
Q1
|
|
Q2
|
|
Q3
|
|
Q4
|
|
Total
|
|
Net Sales
|
$
|
15,311
|
|
$
|
12,302
|
|
$
|
13,780
|
|
$
|
7,690
|
|
$
|
49,083
|
|
Gross Profit (Loss)
|
|
2,283
|
|
|
2,044
|
|
2561
|
|
|
(298
|
)
|
$
|
6,590
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
274
|
|
|
547
|
|
|
204
|
|
|
(3,618
|
)
|
|
(2,593
|
)
|
Earnings (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
$
|
0.02
|
|
$
|
0.06
|
|
$
|
0.01
|
|
$
|
(0.45
|
)
|
$
|
(0.36
|
)
|
(
16)
|
Commitments and Contingencies
|
On September 1, 1999, the Company created a group medical and hospitalization minimum premium insurance program. For the policy year ended August 2016, the Company is liable for all claims each year up to $70,000 per insured, or $1.7 million in the aggregate. An outside insurance company insures any claims in excess of these amounts. The Company’s expense for this minimum premium insurance totaled $1.07 million and $1.16 million during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. Insurance reserves included in accrued payroll and benefits in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets were approximately $0.02 million and $0.00 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015. The Company is contingently liable for secured letters of credit of $1.25 million as of December 31, 2016 in relation to performance guarantees on certain customer contracts.
F-23
(
17)
|
Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations Per Common Share
|
Basic earnings (loss) per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. Diluted earnings (loss) per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, plus the incremental shares that would have been outstanding upon the assumed exercise of all potentially dilutive stock options and other units subject to anti-dilution limitations.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in thousands, except share and per share data):
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
|
2015
|
|
Net loss**
|
$
|
(7,413)
|
|
|
$
|
(2,942)
|
|
Weighted average basic shares
|
|
8,305,764
|
|
|
|
8,241,585
|
|
Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock units, preferred stock and warrants*
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total weighted average diluted shares with assumed conversions
|
|
8,305,764
|
|
|
|
8,241,585
|
|
Loss from operations per common share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
$
|
(0.89)
|
|
|
$
|
(0.36)
|
|
Dilutive
|
$
|
(0.89)
|
|
|
$
|
(0.36)
|
|
*No units or shares are considered when losses cause the effect to be anti-dilutive.
**Net income (loss) represents net income (loss) from continuing operations less the dividends on redeemable convertible preferred stock.
(
18)
|
Sale of South Coast Electric Assets
|
On June 24, 2016, the Company sold its Bay St. Louis, MS manufacturing facility and related assets including fixed assets, work in process, and inventory to an unrelated party. The sale resulted in a gain of $0.18 million, of which $0.07 million is in relation to the gain on sale of fixed assets and reported in other income, and $0.11 million is related to inventory and is reflected in income from operations.
|
As reported in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 27, 2017, on March 23, 2017 the Company entered into a $7.00 million Senior Secured Term Note with a third-party lender. The Note is payable in monthly interest only payments in arrears at the fixed rate of 11.5%. Principal of $0.50 million is payable no later than June 30, 2017 with the balance due March 23, 2021. The proceeds of the note sale were used to pay off all remaining balances on the credit facilities with Frost in addition to providing approximately $1.00 million of working capital.
|
F-24