1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

12 Months Ended

May 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

BUSINESS:

    Aehr Test Systems (the “Company”) was incorporated in California in May 1977 and primarily designs, engineers and manufactures test and burn-in equipment used in the semiconductor industry. The Company’s principal products are the FOX-XP, FOX-NP, and FOX-CP wafer contact parallel test and burn-in systems, the WaferPak full wafer contactor, the DiePak carrier, the WaferPak aligner, the DiePak autoloader, and test fixtures.

LIQUIDITY:

    Since inception, the Company has incurred substantial cumulative losses and negative cash flows from operations. In response, the Company took steps to minimize expense levels, entered into credit arrangements, and raised capital through public and private equity offerings, to increase the likelihood that it will have sufficient cash to support operations.

    At May 31, 2021, the Company had $4.6 million in cash and cash equivalents. The Company anticipates that the existing cash and cash equivalents balance together with income from operations, collections of existing accounts receivable, revenue from its existing backlog of products, the sale of inventory on hand, deposits and down payments against significant orders will be adequate to meet its working capital and capital equipment requirements, and its anticipated cash needs over the next 12 months. The Company’s future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including the Company’s growth rate, the timing and extent of its spending to support research and development activities, the timing and cost of establishing additional sales and marketing capabilities, the timing and cost to introduce new and enhanced products and the timing and cost to implement new manufacturing technologies. In the event that additional financing is required from outside sources, the Company may not be able to raise it on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. Any additional debt financing obtained by the Company in the future could also involve restrictive covenants relating to the Company’s capital-raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for the Company to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities, including potential acquisitions. Additionally, if the Company raises additional funds through further issuances of equity, convertible debt securities or other securities convertible into equity, its existing stockholders could suffer significant dilution in their percentage ownership of the Company, and any new equity securities the Company issue could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of the Company’s common stock. If the Company is unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to the Company when the Company requires it, the Company’s ability to continue to grow or support its business and to respond to business challenges could be significantly limited. On April 23, 2020, we received proceeds of $1,679,000 from a Paycheck Protection Program Loan (the “PPP Loan”), under the CARES Act which we used to retain employees, maintained payroll and made lease and utility payments. The entire PPP Loan balance and interest were forgiven on June 4, 2021, see Note 18, “Subsequent Event” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

CONSOLIDATION:

    The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and both its wholly-owned and majority-owned foreign subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION AND TRANSACTIONS:

    Assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries and a branch office are translated into U.S. Dollars from their functional currencies of Euros, Philippines Peso and New Taiwan Dollars using the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date. Additionally, their net sales and expenses are translated using exchange rates approximating average rates prevailing during the fiscal year. Translation adjustments that arise from translating their financial statements from their local currencies to U.S. Dollars are accumulated and reflected as a separate component of shareholders’ equity.

    Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate changes denominated in currencies other than the local currency are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as incurred. See Note 13, “Other (Expense) Income, Net” for the detail of foreign exchange transaction gains and losses for all periods presented.

USE OF ESTIMATES:

    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates in the Company’s consolidated financial statements include allowance for doubtful accounts, valuation of inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value, and warranty reserves.

CASH EQUIVALENTS:

    Cash equivalents consist of money market instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less. These investments are reported at fair value.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS:

    Accounts receivable are derived from the sale of products throughout the world to semiconductor manufacturers, semiconductor contract assemblers, electronics manufacturers and burn-in and test service companies. Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and are not interest bearing. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts to reserve for potentially uncollectible trade receivables. The Company also reviews its trade receivables by aging category to identify specific customers with known disputes or collection issues. The Company exercises judgment when determining the adequacy of these reserves as the Company evaluates historical bad debt trends, general economic conditions in the United States and internationally, and changes in customer financial conditions. Uncollectible receivables are recorded as bad debt expense when all efforts to collect have been exhausted and recoveries are recognized when they are received. No significant adjustments to the allowance for doubtful accounts were recorded during the fiscal years ended May 31, 2021, 2020 or 2019.

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK:

    The Company sells its products primarily to semiconductor manufacturers in North America, Asia, and Europe. As of May 31, 2021, approximately 2%, 98% and 0% of gross accounts receivable were from customers located in North America, Asia and Europe, respectively. As of May 31, 2020, approximately 13%, 62% and 25% of gross accounts receivable were from customers located in North America, Asia and Europe, respectively. Three customers accounted for 51%, 24% and 19% of gross accounts receivable as of May 31, 2021. Two customers accounted for 45% and 18% of gross accounts receivable as of May 31, 2020. Four customers accounted for 24%, 23%, 20% and 10% of net sales in fiscal 2021. Three customers accounted for 43%, 16% and 15% of net sales in fiscal 2020. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral. The Company uses letter of credit terms for some of its international customers.

    The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are generally deposited with major financial institutions in the United States, Philippines, Germany and Taiwan. The Company invests its excess cash in money market funds and U.S. Treasury securities. The money market funds bear the risk associated with each fund. The money market funds have variable interest rates. The Company has not experienced any material losses on its money market funds or short-term cash deposits.

CONCENTRATION OF SUPPLY RISK:

    The Company relies on subcontractors to manufacture many of the components and subassemblies used in its products. Quality or performance failures of the Company’s products or changes in its manufacturers’ financial or business condition could disrupt the Company’s ability to supply quality products to its customers and thereby have a material and adverse effect on its business and operating results. Some of the components and technologies used in the Company’s products are purchased and licensed from a single source or a limited number of sources. The loss of any of these suppliers may cause the Company to incur additional transition costs, result in delays in the manufacturing and delivery of its products, or cause it to carry excess or obsolete inventory and could cause it to redesign its products.

INVENTORIES:

    Inventories include material, labor and overhead, and are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less costs of completion, disposal and transportation. Provisions for excess, obsolete and unusable inventories are made after management’s evaluation of future demand and market conditions. The Company adjusts inventory balances to approximate the lower of its manufacturing costs or net realizable value. If actual future demand or market conditions become less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required, and would be reflected in cost of sales in the period the revision is made. During fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 the Company recognized a provision for inventory reserves of $176,000, $1,669,000, and $1,168,000, respectively.

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:

    Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Major improvements are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of their estimated useful lives or the term of the related lease. Furniture and fixtures, machinery and equipment, and test equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The ranges of estimated useful lives are generally as follows:

Furniture and fixtures	2 to 6 years
Machinery and equipment	3 to 6 years
Test equipment	4 to 6 years

REVENUE RECOGNITION:

    The Company recognizes revenue when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services by following a five-step process: (1) identify the contract with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price, and (5) recognize revenue when or as the Company satisfies a performance obligation, as further described below.

    Performance obligations include sales of systems, contactors, spare parts, and services, as well as installation and training services included in customer contracts.

    A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation. In determining the transaction price, the Company evaluates whether the price is subject to refund or adjustment to determine the net consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled. The Company generally does not grant return privileges, except for defective products during the warranty period.

    For contracts that contain multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the transaction price to the performance obligations on a relative standalone selling price basis. Standalone selling prices are based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, historical discounting trends for products and services and pricing practices in different geographies.

    Revenue for systems and spares are recognized at a point in time, which is generally upon shipment or delivery. Revenue from services is recognized over time as services are completed or ratably over the contractual period of generally one year or less.

    The Company has elected the practical expedient to not assess whether a contract has a significant financing component as the Company’s standard payment terms are less than one year.

    We sell our products primarily through a direct sales force. In certain international markets, we sell our products through independent distributors. We consider revenue to be earned when all of the following criteria are met:

● We have a contract with a customer that creates enforceable rights and obligations,

● Promised performance obligations are identified,

● The transaction price, or the amount we expect to receive, is determinable and

● We have satisfied the performance obligations to the customer.

    Transfer of control is evidenced upon passage of title and risk of loss to the customer unless we are required to provide additional services.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT COSTS AND CAPITALIZED SOFTWARE:

    Costs incurred in the research and development of new products or systems are charged to operations as incurred. Costs incurred in the development of software programs for the Company’s products are charged to operations as incurred until technological feasibility of the software has been established. Generally, technological feasibility is established when the software module performs its primary functions described in its original specifications, contains features required for it to be usable in a production environment, is completely documented and the related hardware portion of the product is complete. After technological feasibility is established, any additional costs are capitalized. Capitalization of software costs ceases when the software is substantially complete and is ready for its intended use. Capitalized costs are amortized over the estimated life of the related software product using the greater of the units of sales or straight-line methods over ten years. No system software development costs were capitalized or amortized in fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019.

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS:

    In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of assets may be impaired, an evaluation of recoverability would be performed. If an evaluation is required, the estimated future undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset would be compared to the asset’s carrying value to determine if a write-down is required.

ADVERTISING COSTS:

    The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred and the amounts were not material for all periods presented.

SHIPPING AND HANDLING OF PRODUCTS:

    Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling of products are included in net sales. Costs incurred related to shipping and handling of products are included in cost of sales.

INCOME TAXES:

    Income taxes are accounted for under the asset-and-liability method as required by FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the 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 expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period corresponding to the enactment date. Under ASC 740, a valuation allowance is required when it is more likely than not all or some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized through generating sufficient future taxable income.

    FASB ASC Subtopic 740-10, Accounting for Uncertainty of Income Taxes, (“ASC 740-10”) defines the criterion an individual tax position must meet for any part of the benefit of the tax position to be recognized in financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP. The Company may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not such tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based solely on the technical merits of the respective tax position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a tax position should be measured based on the largest benefit having a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority. In accordance with the disclosure requirements of ASC 740-10, the Company’s policy on income statement classification of interest and penalties related to income tax obligations is to include such items as part of income taxes.

COMPREHENSIVE LOSS:

    Comprehensive loss generally represents all changes in shareholders’ equity except those resulting from investments or contributions by shareholders. Unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency translation adjustments are included in the Company’s components of comprehensive loss, which are excluded from net loss. In fiscal 2021 the Company recognized comprehensive income of $2,401,000 related to the completed liquidation of ATS-Japan, a majority owned subsidiary. Refer to Note 16, “Dissolution of Aehr Test Systems Japan,” for a further discussion of the transaction. Comprehensive loss is included in the statements of comprehensive loss.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS:

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

    Financial Instruments

    In June 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard update (“ASU”) that requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. Due to a subsequent ASU in November 2019, the accounting standard will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2024 on a modified retrospective basis, and early adoption in fiscal 2020 is permitted. The Company does not expect a material impact of this accounting standard on its consolidated financial statements.

    Income Taxes

    On December 18, 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ASU 2019-12 on Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The board decided to remove the exception to the incremental approach for intra-period tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations and income or gain from other items (for example discontinued operations or other comprehensive income). There are also provisions related to state taxes and calculating income taxes in an interim period when a year-to-date loss exceeds the anticipated loss for the year. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2020. The Company has not yet adopted ASU 2019-12 and believes upon adoption there would be no material impact.