AETI American Electric Technologies Inc

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

See Note 7, Notes Payable in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report for discussion of recent financing activity.

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Financing

On March 23, 2017 the Company entered into a $7.00 million Senior Secured Term Note (“the Note”) with a third-party lender. The Note is payable in monthly interest only payments in arrears at a fixed rate of 11.50%. Principal of $0.50 million was paid on June 30, 2017. The Note was amended November 13, 2017 requiring minimum principal reductions of $30,000 per month beginning in April 2018 and with the remaining balance due March 23, 2021. This debt was repaid in full from proceeds received on the Sale of the Company’s U.S. operations in August 2018.

The Company continues to monitor its liquidity position closely and depending on the business needs may raise cash in the form of debt, equity or a combination of both. However, there can be no assurance that additional capital can be obtained or that it can be obtained at terms that are favorable to us and our existing stockholders.

Uses and Sources of Liquidity

Our primary need for liquidity is to fund working capital requirements of our businesses, capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes. We have incurred losses and experienced negative operating cash flows for the past several years, and accordingly, the Company has taken a number of actions to continue to support its operations and meet its obligations.

During 2017, the Company refinanced its outstanding loans which at that time provided approximately $1.0 million of working capital. In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company created a special committee to address strategic initiatives that include addressing liquidity.  

In 2018, we concluded the sale of our U.S. operations to an affiliate of Myers. We expect to continue to optimize our international operations including expansion of our service business in Brazil and diversification of our joint venture operation in China.

Operating Activities

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the Company’s operating activities used cash of $3.3 million as compared to providing cash of less than $0.1 million during 2017. This was primarily related to costs associated with the sale of the Company’s U.S. operations.

Investing Activities

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the Company’s investing activities provided $9.9 million in cash as compared to providing nil for the comparable period in 2017. This was primarily the result of $10.1 million in cash received from the sale of the Company’s U.S. operations.

Financing Activities

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the Company’s financing activities used cash of $6.5 million as compared to providing cash of $0.5 million in the comparable period in 2017. The increase in cash used in 2018 is primarily payments of debt in conjunction with the sale of the company’s U.S. operations.

Liquidity

We periodically evaluate our liquidity requirements, capital needs and availability of resources in view of operating cash needs. To meet our short and long-term liquidity requirements, we rely primarily on cash from operations and distributions from our China joint venture. We have experienced high expenses in connection with the previously disclosed Share Exchange Agreement to acquire Stabilis Energy, LLC which may require us to seek short term financing to cover such expenses.

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Effects of Inflation

We experienced minimal increases in our material prices in 2018. The Company has been generally successful in recovering these increases from its customers in the form of increased prices. Future inflationary pressures will likely be largely dependent on the worldwide demand for these basic materials which cannot be predicted at this time.

Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is party to a number of legal proceedings in the normal course of business for which appropriate provisions have been made if it is believed an ultimate loss is probable.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We have adopted various critical accounting policies that govern the application of accounting principles under U.S. GAAP in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, they may ultimately differ from actual results.

Certain accounting policies involve significant estimates and assumptions by us that have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition or operating performance. Management believes the following critical accounting policies reflect its most significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. We do not have off-balance sheet arrangements, financings, or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, also known as “special purpose entities”, nor do we have any “variable interest entities.”

Revenue Recognition – Prior to January 1, 2018, the Company recognized revenue upon shipment of goods or performance of services, provided that collection of the receivable was probable, persuasive evidence of a contract existed, and the price was fixed or determinable.

On January 1, 2018 the Company adopted ASC 606 on a modified retrospective basis and applied the guidance to all of its contracts. As a result of the Company’s adoption, there were no changes to the timing of the recognition or measurement of revenue, and there was no cumulative effect of adoption as of January 1, 2018.

Under ASC 606, revenue is measured as consideration specified in a contract with a customer and excludes any sales incentives and amounts collected on behalf of third parties. The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control over a product or service to a customer. Amounts are billed upon completion of service or transfer of a product and are generally due within 30 days.

Service revenue is generated from time and material projects and consulting services. The Company generally establishes a master services agreement with each customer and provides associated services on a work order basis, generally by the hour for services performed. The majority of the Company’s contracts with customers are short-term in nature and are recognized as the services are performed, as the transfer of control to the customer and the Company’s right to payment corresponds directly to the services performed to date, at all times throughout completion of the contract.

Product revenue is generated from the resell of electrical and instrumentation equipment. Product contracts are established by agreeing on a sales price or transaction price for the related item. Revenue is recognized when the customer has taken control of the product. Payment terms for product contracts are generally thirty days from the receipt of the invoice. Product revenue is recognized upon delivery of the related item to the customer, at which point the customer controls the product and the Company has an unconditional right to payment.

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 its foreign joint venture to be the functional currency. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification “ASC” 830, the assets and liabilities of the foreign equity investees and M&I Brazil, 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.

Federal Income Taxes – The liability method is used in accounting for federal income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The realizability of deferred tax assets are evaluated annually and a valuation allowance is provided if it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not give rise to future benefits in the Company’s tax returns. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, management believed there was uncertainty regarding the future realizability of deferred tax assets and a valuation allowance was established for the entire deferred tax asset balance.  

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Contingencies – The Company records an estimated loss from a loss contingency when information indicates that it is probable that an asset has been impaired, or a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. Contingencies are often resolved over long time periods, are based on unique facts and circumstances, and are inherent ly uncertain. The Company regularly evaluates the current information that is available to determine whether such accruals should be adjusted, or other disclosures related to contingencies are required. The Company is a party to a number of legal proceedin gs in the normal course of business for which appropriate provisions have been made if it is believed an ultimate loss is probable. The ultimate resolution of these matters, individually or in the aggregate, is not likely to have a material impact on the C ompany’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Equity Income from Foreign Joint Venture Operations – The Company accounts for its investment in the foreign joint venture using the equity method. Under the equity method, the Company records its pro-rata share of the foreign joint venture income or losses and adjusts the basis of its investment accordingly. Dividends received from the joint venture, if any, are recorded as reductions to the investment balance.

Carrying Value of Joint Venture Investment – The Company evaluates the carrying value of its equity method investment to determine whether an impairment adjustment may be necessary. In making this evaluation, a variety of quantitative and qualitative factors are considered including international, national and local economic, political and market conditions, industry trends and prospects, liquidity and capital resources and other pertinent factors. Based on the most recent review at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, management believes the carrying value of its investment in foreign joint venture is recoverable.

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). The Company adopted ASU 2014-09, effective January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s revenue recognition policies, other than enhanced disclosures related to the disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers, the Company’s performance obligations and any significant judgments.

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 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 significant 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. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-01, effective January 1, 2018, did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.

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In February 2016, the FAS B 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 fro m 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 accounting for leases expiring before the earliest comparative period presented. Lessees and lessors may not apply a full retrospective transition approach. The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02 on January 1, 2019. As of the date of this filing, management is refining its estimates and assumptions, however, anticipates the implementation of this standard will result in an increase in assets and liabilities of approximately $0.6 million to $0.8 million.   

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. This standard was adopted effective January 1, 2018, see ASU No. 2014-09 above for additional information.

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. This standard was adopted effective January 1, 2018. See ASU No. 2014-09 above for additional information.

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 U.S. 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, 2019, 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. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-15, effective January 1, 2018, did not have a significant impact 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. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-20, effective January 1, 2018, did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures. Please refer to ASU No. 2014-09 above.

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 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. The Company adopted ASU No. 2017-01 on January 1, 2019. The adoption of this standard had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures, as the adoption is applied on a prospective basis.

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In January 2017, the FASB 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 account ing 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 asse ssing 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 des cribe 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. 20 16-02, 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.

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. For more information please see Outlook for Fiscal 2019, contained within Item 7, Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Liquidity Risk

As of December 31, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents of $2.1 million and outstanding debt in Brazil totaling $0.2 million owed to the previous chairman of AETI.

Interest Rates

Our interest rate sensitive items do not subject us to material risk exposures.

Foreign Currency Transaction Risk

AETI operates a subsidiary in Brazil and maintains equity method investment in its Chinese joint venture, BOMAY. The functional currencies of the Brazilian subsidiary and the joint venture are the Brazilian Real and Chinese Yuan. 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, net of taxes, in our consolidated balance sheets and was an accumulated loss of $0.4 million at December 31, 2018 primarily due to the weakening of the Chinese Yuan against the United States Dollar.

Commodity Price Risk

We are subject to market 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.

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