Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported asset and liability amounts and the contingent asset and liability disclosures at the date of the financial statements, as well as the revenue and expense amounts reported during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign Currency

Foreign Currency. For our international operations, where the local currency has been determined to be the functional currency, assets and liabilities are translated at year-end exchange rates with cumulative translation adjustments included as a component of shareholders’ equity. Income and expense items are translated at average foreign exchange rates prevailing during the year. Income and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase. The carrying amounts reported in our Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash equivalents approximate fair value.

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash. Cash related to contractual obligations or restricted by management for specific use is classified as restricted and is included in other current assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets depending on the timing of the restrictions. As of December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020, we had $0.0 million and $0.5 million, respectively, of restricted cash included in other current assets which relates to the ESW note payable. Pursuant to the ESW Loan and Security Agreement, AEC is required to maintain at least $500,000 cash in controlled accounts.

Investments

Investments. Investment securities are classified into one of three categories: (1) held-to-maturity, (2) available-for-sale, or (3) trading. The corresponding income or loss associated with these trading securities is reported in our Consolidated Statements of Operations as a component of “Other income (expense), net”. Trading securities are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term therefore are only held for a short period of time.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability, or the exit price in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. A three-level hierarchy is used for fair value measurements based upon the observability of the inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. Level 1 measurements consist of unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 measurements include quoted prices in markets that are not active or model inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. Level 3 measurements include significant unobservable inputs. A financial instrument’s level within the hierarchy is based on the highest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company measures certain assets and liabilities including cash and cash equivalents, and investments in trading securities at their estimated fair value on a recurring basis. The Company’s non-financial assets such as goodwill and intangible assets are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

Trade Accounts Receivable and Allowances

Trade Accounts Receivable and Allowances. Trade accounts receivable are stated net of estimated allowances, which primarily represent estimated amounts associated with customer returns, discounts on payment terms and the inability of certain customers to make the required payments. When determining the allowances, we take several factors into consideration, including prior history of accounts receivable credit activity and write-offs, the overall composition of accounts receivable aging, the types of customers and our day-to-day knowledge of specific customers. Changes in the allowances are recorded as reductions of net revenue or as bad debt expense (included in selling, general and administrative expense), as appropriate, in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. In general, accounts which have entered into an insolvency action, have been returned by a collection agency as uncollectible or whose existence can no longer be confirmed are written off in full and both the receivable and the associated allowance are removed from our Consolidated Balance Sheet. If, subsequent to the write-off, a portion of the account is recovered, it is recorded as a reduction of bad debt expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations at the time cash is received.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets. We record all assets and liabilities acquired in purchase acquisitions, including intangibles, at estimated fair value. The initial recognition of intangible assets, the determination of useful lives and, if necessary, subsequent impairment analyses require management to make subjective estimates of how the acquired assets will perform in the future using certain valuation methods.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. We periodically review the carrying value of our property and equipment and our intangible assets, including goodwill, to test whether current events or circumstances indicate that such carrying value may not be recoverable. For the testing of long-lived assets that are “held for use,” if the tests indicate that the carrying value of the asset group that contains the long-lived asset being evaluated is greater than the expected undiscounted cash flows to be generated by such asset or asset group, an impairment loss would be recognized. The impairment loss is determined by the amount by which the carrying value of such asset group exceeds its estimated fair value. We generally measure fair value by considering sale prices for similar assets or by discounting estimated future cash flows from such assets using an appropriate discount rate. Management judgment is necessary to estimate the fair value of assets and, accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from such estimates.

Restructuring

Restructuring. Restructuring generally includes significant actions involving employee-related severance charges, contract termination costs, and impairment or accelerated depreciation/amortization of assets associated with such actions. These charges are reflected in the quarter when the actions are probable and the amounts are estimable, which is typically when management approves the associated actions. Contract termination and other charges primarily reflect costs to terminate a contract before the end of its term or costs that will continue to be incurred under the contract for its remaining term without economic benefit to the Company. Asset impairment charges related to intangible assets and property, plant and equipment reflect the excess of the assets’ carrying values over their fair values.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition. The Company recognizes revenue in light of the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Revenue is recognized when control of goods has transferred to customers. For the majority of the Company’s customer arrangements, control transfers to customers at a point-in-time when goods/services have been delivered as that is generally when legal title, physical possession and risks and rewards of goods/services transfers to the customer. Revenue is recognized at the transaction price which the Company expects to be entitled. The majority of the Company’s customer arrangements contain a single performance obligation for services as the promise for services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts and, therefore, not distinct. The Company may also enter into customer arrangements that involve intellectual property out-licensing, multiple performance obligations, services and non-standard terms and conditions.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes. We are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves estimating our actual current tax obligations based on expected taxable income, statutory tax rates and tax credits allowed in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Tax laws require certain items to be included in our tax returns at different times than the items are reflected in our results of operations. Some of these differences are permanent, such as expenses that are not deductible in our tax returns, and some are temporary differences that will reverse over time. Temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We must assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be realized and establish a valuation allowance to the extent necessary.

We record income taxes using the asset and liability approach. Under this approach, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the book and tax basis of assets and liabilities. We measure deferred tax assets and liabilities using the enacted statutory tax rates that are expected to apply in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or paid.

We regularly assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered in the future. In accordance with accounting rules, a valuation allowance is recorded to the extent we conclude a deferred tax asset is not considered to be more-likely-than-not to be realized. We consider all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. If we determine it is more-likely-than-not that we will not realize all or part of our deferred tax assets, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset will be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made.

Our income tax returns are subject to review by various taxing authorities. As such, we record accruals for items that we believe may be challenged by these taxing authorities. The threshold for recognizing the benefit of a tax return position in the financial statements is that the position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained by the taxing authorities based solely on the technical merits of the position. If the recognition threshold is met, the tax benefit is measured and recognized as the largest amount of tax benefit that, in our judgment, is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized.

Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock. Our repurchases of shares of common stock are recorded at cost as treasury stock and are presented as a reduction of shareholders’ equity. When treasury shares are reissued, we use a last-in, first-out method, and the difference between repurchase cost and fair value at reissuance is treated as an adjustment to equity.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation. Stock-based compensation awards classified as equity awards are measured at fair value at the date of grant and expensed over their vesting or service periods.

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The assumptions used in the valuation model are supported primarily by historical indicators and current market conditions. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of our stock and are calculated using the historical weekly close rate for a period of time equal to the expected term. The risk-free rate for the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. We use historical data and management judgment to estimate option exercise and employee termination activity within the valuation model. The expected term of stock options granted is based on historical data and represents the period of time that stock options granted are expected to be outstanding. It is calculated on an aggregated basis and estimated based on an analysis of options already exercised and any foreseeable trends or changes in recipients’ behavior. In determining the expected term, we consider the vesting period of the awards, the contractual term of the awards, historical average holding periods, stock price history, impacts from recent restructuring initiatives and the relative weight for each of these factors. The dividend yield, if applicable, is based on the latest dividend payments made on or announced by the date of the grant. Forfeitures are estimated based on historical experience and current demographics. See Note 8 - Stock-Based Compensation for further information regarding stock-based compensation.

Income (Loss) per Common Share

Income (Loss) per Common Share. Basic income (loss) per common share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year. Unvested restricted stock and treasury shares are excluded from the calculation of basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Once restricted stock vests, it is included in our common shares outstanding.

Diluted income (loss) per common share is computed on the basis of the weighted average basic shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect of our stock-based compensation plans using the “treasury stock” method. Since the exercise price of our stock options is greater than the average market price of the Company’s common stock for the period, we did not include dilutive common equivalent shares for these instruments in the computation of diluted income (loss) per common share because the effect would be anti-dilutive. See Note 3 - Income (Loss) per Common Share for our calculation of weighted average basic and diluted shares outstanding.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be not applicable to the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which eliminates, amends, and adds disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The amended and new disclosure requirements primarily relate to Level 3 fair value measurements. The Company adopted this ASU in the first quarter of 2020. As this ASU relates only to disclosures, there was no impact to the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans, which makes minor changes to the disclosure requirements related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The ASU requires a retrospective transition approach. For the Company, the ASU was effective as of January 1, 2021. There was no impact to the Company as it terminated and settled its only remaining plan in 2019.