Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Summary of significant accounting policies [Abstract]

Principles of consolidation

Principles of consolidation: The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of TransAct and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, which require consolidation, after the elimination of intercompany accounts, transactions and unrealized profit.

Use of estimates

Use of estimates: The preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of sales and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Segment reporting

Segment reporting: We apply the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 280, “Segment Reporting.”  We view our operations and manage our business as one segment: the design, development and marketing of software-driven technology and printing solutions and providing printer and terminal related software, services, supplies and spare parts.  Factors used to identify TransAct’s single operating segment include the organizational structure of the Company and the financial information available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker in making decisions about how to allocate resources and assess performance.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents: We consider all highly liquid investments with a maturity date of three months or less at date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Accounts receivable and credit losses

Accounts receivable and credit losses: The Company records accounts receivable when the right to consideration becomes unconditional. We establish an allowance for expected credit losses to ensure trade receivables are valued appropriately.

We are exposed to credit losses primarily through our net sales of products and services to our customers which are recorded as Accounts Receivable, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. We evaluate each customer’s ability to pay through assessing customer creditworthiness, historical experience and current economic conditions through a reasonable forecast period. Factors considered in our evaluation of assessing collectability and risk include: underlying value of any collateral or security interests, significant past due balances, historical losses and existing economic conditions including country and political risk. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from estimates or that consideration of these factors in the future will not result in an increase or decrease to the allowance for credit losses. We may require collateral or prepayment to mitigate credit risk.

We estimate expected credit losses of financial assets with similar risk characteristics. We determine an asset is impaired when our assessment identifies there is a risk that we will be unable to collect amounts due according to the contractual terms of the agreement. We monitor our ongoing credit exposure through reviews of customer balances against contract terms and due dates, current economic conditions and dispute resolution. Estimated credit losses are written off in the period in which the financial asset is no longer collectible.

The following table summarizes the activity recorded in the allowance for expected credit losses related to accounts receivable:

	Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2023			2022
Balance, beginning of period	$	351		$	219
Additions charged to costs and expenses		606			140
Deductions		(189	)		(8	)
Balance, end of period	$	768		$	351

Inventories

Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or net realizable value.  We review net realizable value based on estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business less estimated costs of completions, disposal and transportation, historical usage and estimates of future demand.  Based on these reviews, inventory write-downs are recorded, as necessary, to reflect estimated obsolescence, excess quantities and net realizable value.

Effective April 1, 2022, TransAct changed its method of inventory valuation from standard costing which approximated the “first-in, first-out” (“FIFO”) costing methodology to the average costing methodology.

Fixed assets

Fixed assets: Fixed assets are stated at cost.  Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives.  The estimated useful life of tooling is five years; machinery and equipment is ten years; furniture and office equipment is five years to ten years; and computer software and equipment is three years to seven years.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the term of the lease or the useful life of the asset.  Costs related to repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.  The costs of sold or retired assets are removed from the related asset and accumulated depreciation accounts and any gain or loss is recognized.  Depreciation expense was $1.3 and $1.1 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Leases

Leases: We account for leases in accordance with ASC 842, “Leases” (“ASC 842”), which requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. This classification determines whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method for finance leases or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease for operating leases. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification.  Leases with a term of 12 months or less are accounted for based on existing guidance for operating leases.  If risks and rewards are conveyed without the transfer of control, the lease is treated as financing. If the lessor does not convey risks and rewards or control, the lease is treated as operating.

We have elected certain practical expedients available under ASC 842 upon adoption. We have applied the practical expedient for short-term leases. We have lease agreements that include lease and non-lease components, and we have not elected the practical expedients to combine these components for any of our leases.

We enter into lease agreements for the use of real estate space and certain equipment under operating leases and we have no financing leases. We determine if an arrangement contains a lease at inception. Our leases are included in “Right-of-use assets” and “Lease liabilities” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Right of use assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Lease right of use assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of the lease based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term.

On April 26, 2022, we entered into an amendment to modify the expiration date of our lease on our Las Vegas, Nevada facility. The lease was set to expire on November 1, 2022 and the amendment extended the lease term to November 30, 2025. The lease amendment resulted in an increase to the right-of-use-asset and lease liability of $0.8 million. The lease amendment modified the base rent.

Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.  As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company determines its incremental borrowing rate by using the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term, an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment.  Our lease right of use asset excludes lease incentives. Our leases have remaining lease terms of one year to four years, some of which include options to extend.  The exercise of lease renewal options is at our sole discretion and our lease right of use assets and liabilities reflect only the options we are reasonably certain that we will exercise.

Goodwill and intangible assets

Goodwill and intangible assets: We acquire businesses in purchase transactions that result in the recognition of goodwill and intangible assets. The determination of the value of intangible assets requires management to make estimates and assumptions. In accordance with ASC 350-20 “Goodwill,” acquired goodwill is not amortized but is subject to impairment testing at least annually and when an event occurs or circumstances change that indicate it is more likely than not an impairment exists.  We perform a fair value-based impairment test to the carrying value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets on an annual basis and, if certain events or circumstances indicate that an impairment loss may have been incurred, on an interim basis.  The Company utilizes the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the Step 1 quantitative goodwill impairment test in accordance with the applicable accounting standards. Under the qualitative assessment, management considers relevant events and circumstances including but not limited to macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, Company performance and events directly affecting the Company. If the Company determines that the Step 1 quantitative impairment test is required, management estimates the fair value of the reporting unit primarily using the income approach, which reflects management’s cash flow projections, and also evaluates the fair value using the market approach. Factors considered that may trigger an interim period impairment review of either acquired goodwill or intangible assets are: significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results; significant changes in the manner of use of acquired assets or the strategy for the overall business; significant negative industry or economic trends; and significant decline in market capitalization relative to net book value. Finite lived intangible assets are amortized and are tested for impairment when appropriate.

As of December 31, 2023, we have determined that no goodwill or intangible asset impairment has occurred and the fair value of goodwill was substantially higher than our carrying value based on our assessment as of December 31, 2023 when our annual review for impairment was performed.

Revenue recognition

Revenue recognition: We account for revenue in accordance with ASC Topic 606: Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  In accordance with ASC 606, a performance obligation is a promise in a contract with a customer to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer. Some of our contracts with customers contain a single performance obligation, while other contracts contain multiple performance obligations (most commonly when contracts include a hardware product, software and extended warranties).  A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied.

The transaction price is determined based on the consideration to which the Company will be entitled in exchange for transferring services to the customer.  To the extent the transaction price includes variable consideration, such as price protection, reserves for returns and other allowances, the Company estimates the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price utilizing either the “expected value” method or the “most likely amount” method depending on the nature of the variable consideration.  Variable consideration is included in the transaction price if, in the Company’s judgment, it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue under the contract will not occur.

For a majority of our revenue, which consists of printers, terminals, consumables, and replacement parts, the Company recognizes revenue as of a point of time.  The transaction price is recognized upon shipment of the order when control of the goods is transferred to the customer and at the time the performance obligation is fulfilled.  We also sell a software solution in our casino and gaming market, EPICENTRAL, that enables casino operators to create promotional coupons and marketing messages and to print them in real time at the slot machine.  EPICENTRAL is primarily comprised of both a software component, which is licensed to the customer, and a hardware component.  EPICENTRAL software and hardware are integrated to deliver the system’s full functionality.  The transaction prices from EPICENTRAL software license and hardware are recognized upon installation and formal acceptance by the customer when control of the license is transferred to the customer.  For out-of-warranty repairs, the transaction price is recognized after the repair work is completed and the printer or terminal is returned to the customer, as control of the product is transferred to the customer and our performance obligation is completed.

Performance obligations are satisfied over time if the customer receives the benefits as we perform work, if the customer controls the asset as it is being produced, or if the product being produced for the customer has no alternative use and we have a contractual right to payment.  For our separately priced extended warranty, BOHA! cloud-based software applications, technical support for our food service technology terminals and maintenance agreements (including free one-year maintenance received by customers upon completion of EPICENTRAL installation) revenue is recognized over time as the customer receives the benefit.  The transaction price from the maintenance services is recognized ratably over time, using output methods, as control of the services is transferred to the customer.  Our cloud-based BOHA! software allows customers to use hosted software over the contract period on a subscription basis without taking possession of the software and the subscription price is recognized ratably over the contract period.  For extended warranties, the transaction price is recognized ratably over the warranty period, using output methods, as control of the services is transferred to the customer.

When there is more than one performance obligation in a customer arrangement, the Company typically uses the “standalone selling price” method to determine the transaction price to allocate to each performance obligation. The Company sells the performance obligations separately and has established standalone selling prices for its products and services. In the case of an overall price discount, the discount is applied to each performance obligation proportionately based on standalone selling price. To determine the standalone selling price for initial EPICENTRAL installations, the Company uses the adjusted market assessment approach.

For contracts with terms of less than 12 months, the Company expenses sales commissions as they are incurred, since the expected amortization period of the cost to obtain a contract is less than 12 months.

Disaggregation of revenue

The following table disaggregates our revenue by market type, as we believe it best depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of our revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.  Sales and usage-based taxes are excluded from revenues.

	Year Ended December 31, 2023
(In thousands)	United States		International		Total
Food service technology	$	15,159	$	1,149	$	16,308
POS automation		6,805		117		6,922
Casino and gaming		28,715		12,477		41,192
TransAct Services Group		7,381		828		8,209
Total net sales	$	58,060	$	14,571	$	72,631

	Year Ended December 31, 2022
(In thousands)	United States		International		Total
Food service technology	$	11,602	$	762	$	12,364
POS automation		10,657		2		10,659
Casino and gaming		17,686		12,343		30,029
TransAct Services Group		4,089		998		5,087
Total net sales	$	44,034	$	14,105	$	58,139

Contract balances

Contract assets consist of unbilled receivables.  Pursuant to the over-time revenue recognition model, revenue may be recognized prior to the customer being invoiced. An unbilled receivable is recorded to reflect revenue that is recognized when such revenue exceeds the amount invoiced to the customer. Unbilled receivables are separated into current and non-current assets and included within “Accounts Receivable, net” and “Other Assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  We first recorded contract assets during 2020 upon the start of a long-term BOHA! contract.

Contract liabilities consist of customer prepayments and deferred revenue.  Customer prepayments are reported as “Accrued Liabilities” in current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and represent customer payments made in advance of performance obligations in instances where credit has not been extended and is recognized as revenue when the performance obligation is complete.  Deferred revenue is reported separately in current liabilities and non-current liabilities and consists of our extended warranty contracts, technical support for our food service technology terminals, EPICENTRAL maintenance contracts and prepaid software subscriptions for our BOHA! software applications, and is recognized as revenue as (or when) we perform under the contract. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we recognized revenue of $1.4 million related to our contract liabilities as of December 31, 2022.

Net contract (liabilities) assets consist of the following:

	December 31,
(In thousands)	2023			2022
Unbilled receivables, current	$	145		$	392
Unbilled receivables, non-current		120			163
Customer pre-payments		(155	)		(101	)
Deferred revenue, current		(1,079	)		(1,329	)
Deferred revenue, non-current		(209	)		(143	)
Net contract (liabilities) assets	$	(1,178	)	$	(1,018	)

Remaining performance obligations

Remaining performance obligations represent the transaction price of firm orders for which a good or service has not been delivered to our customer.  As of December 31, 2023, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations was $8.2 million. The Company expects to recognize revenue on $7.9 million of its remaining performance obligations within the next 12 months following December 31, 2023, $0.2 million within the next 24 months following December 31, 2023 and the balance of these remaining performance obligations within the next 36 months following December 31, 2023.

Concentration of credit risk

Concentration of credit risk:  Financial instruments that potentially expose us to concentrations of credit risk are limited to cash and cash equivalents held by our banks in excess of insured limits and accounts receivable.

Accounts receivable from customers representing 10% or more of total accounts receivable, net were as follows:

	December 31,
	2023			2022
International Gaming Technology (“IGT”)		28	%		12	%
The Bright Group		9	%		11	%

Sales to customers representing 10% or more of total net sales were as follows:

	December 31,
	2023			2022
IGT		15	%		10	%

Engineering, design and product development

Engineering, design and product development: Engineering, design and product development expenses include expenses incurred in connection with specialized engineering and design to introduce new products and to customize existing products, and are expensed as a component of operating expenses as incurred.  We recorded $9.4 million and $8.6 million of research and development expenses in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Costs incurred in the engineering, design and product development of a computer software product are charged to expense until technological feasibility has been established, at which point all material software costs are capitalized within Intangible assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheet until the product is available for general release to customers.  While judgment is required in determining when technological feasibility of a product is established, we have determined that it is reached after all high-risk development issues have been documented in a formal detailed plan design.  The amortization of these costs has been included in cost of sales over the estimated life of the product.

Advertising

Advertising: Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.  Advertising expenses, which are included in selling and marketing expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for 2023 and 2022 totaled $1.7 million and $3.1 million, respectively. These expenses include items such as consulting, professional services, tradeshows, and print advertising.

Income taxes

Income taxes: The income tax amounts reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements are accounted for under the liability method in accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”).  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  We assess the likelihood that net deferred tax assets will be realized from future taxable income, and to the extent that we believe that realization is not likely, we establish a valuation allowance.  In accordance with ASC 740, we identified, evaluated and measured the amount of benefits to be recognized for our tax return positions.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign currency translation: The financial position and results of operations of our foreign subsidiary in the UK are measured using local currency as the functional currency.  Assets and liabilities of such subsidiary have been translated into U.S. dollars at the year-end exchange rate, related sales and expenses have been translated at the weighted average rate for the period, and shareholders’ equity has been translated at historical exchange rates.  The resulting translation gains or losses, net of tax, are recorded in shareholders’ equity as a cumulative translation adjustment, which is a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and loss.  Foreign currency transaction gains and losses, including those related to intercompany balances, are recognized in Other, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Share-based payments

Share-based payments: At December 31, 2023, we have share-based employee compensation plans, which are described more fully in Note 9 - Stock incentive plans. We account for those plans under the recognition and measurement principles of ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation.”  Share-based compensation expense is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the employee’s requisite service period.

We use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to calculate the fair value of share-based awards.  The key assumptions for this valuation method include the expected term of the option, stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate, dividend yield, market price of our underlying stock and exercise price.  Many of these assumptions require judgment and are highly sensitive in the determination of compensation expense.  Forfeitures are recognized as they occur.

Net income (loss) per share

Net income (loss) per share: We report net income or loss per share in accordance with ASC 260, “Earnings per Share (EPS).” Under this guidance, basic EPS, which excludes dilution, is computed by dividing income or loss available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.  Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock.  Diluted EPS includes in-the-money stock options using the treasury stock method.  During a loss period, the assumed exercise of in-the-money stock options has an anti-dilutive effect, and therefore, these instruments are excluded from the computation of diluted EPS.  See Note 11 - Earnings per share.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

Recently issued accounting pronouncements:

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This ASU and its related amendments (collectively, the “Credit Loss Standard”) modifies the impairment model to utilize an expected loss methodology in place of the incurred loss methodology for financial instruments, including trade receivables, contract assets and off-balance sheet credit exposures. The Credit Loss Standard requires consideration of a broader range of information to estimate expected credit losses, including historical information, current economic conditions and a reasonable forecast period. This Credit Loss Standard requires that the statement of operations reflect estimates of expected credit losses for newly recognized financial assets as well as changes in the estimate of expected credit losses that have taken place during the period, which may result in earlier recognition of certain losses. We adopted this standard effective January 1, 2023, and this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

On November 27, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280).  The amendments improve reportable segment disclosures requirements and clarify circumstances in which an entity can disclose multiple segment measures of profit or loss, provide new segment disclosure requirements for entities with a single reportable segment and contain other disclosure requirements.  These amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024.  These segment disclosure requirements must be applied retrospectively to all periods presented in the financial statements.  We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard; however, we do not expect it to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

On December 14, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740).  This ASU requires the use of consistent categories and greater disaggregation in tax rate reconciliations and income taxes paid disclosures.  These amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024.  These income tax disclosure requirements can be applied either prospectively or retrospectively to all periods presented in the financial statements.  We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard; however, we do not expect it to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.