Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

The Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Energy Recovery, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The December 31, 2017 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet was derived from audited financial statements, and may not include all disclosures required by GAAP; however, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The June 30, 2018 unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 8, 2018.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments that are necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods, have been made. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year or any future periods.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make judgments, assumptions, and estimates that affect the amounts reported in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The accounting policies that reflect the Company’s more significant estimates and judgments and that the Company believes are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating the Company’s reported financial results are revenue recognition; capitalization of research and development assets; allowance for doubtful accounts; valuation of right of use asset; and lease liability; allowance for product warranty; valuation of stock options; valuation and impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets; useful lives for depreciation and amortization; valuation adjustments for excess and obsolete inventory; deferred taxes and valuation allowances on deferred tax assets; and evaluation and measurement of contingencies. Those estimates could change, and as a result, actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Financial assets and liabilities that are remeasured and reported at fair value at each reporting period are classified and disclosed in one of the following three levels:

Level 1 — Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable; and

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs in which little or no market activity exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions that market participants would use in pricing.

For the Company’s investments in available-for-sale securities, if quoted prices in active markets for identical investments are not available to determine fair value (Level 1), then the Company uses quoted prices for similar assets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2). The investments included in Level 2 consist of corporate notes and bonds, municipal notes and bonds and U.S. Treasury securities.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 (“ASU 2016-02”), Leases (Topic 842), also referred to as “ASC 842” or “New Lease Standard,” which supersedes ASC 840, Leases (Topic 840), and provides principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both lessees and lessors. The FASB has continued to clarify this guidance through the issuance of additional ASUs. The new standard 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 or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, respectively. 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 twelve months regardless of classification. Leases with a term of twelve months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases.

The Company early adopted ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2018 concurrent with the Company’s adoption of the New Revenue Standard and elected the available practical expedients. The adoption of ASU 2016-02 had no impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The most significant impact was the recognition of right of use assets and liabilities for operating leases. Adoption of the standard required the Company to restate certain previously reported results, including the recognition of additional operating lease right of use assets and liabilities.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18 (“ASU 2016-18”), Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash, also referred to as “New Cash Flow Presentation Standard.” ASU 2016-18 is intended to reduce diversity in practice in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. ASU 2016-18 requires that the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows explain the change in total cash and equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts. The standard also requires reconciliation between the total cash and equivalents and restricted cash presented on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and the cash and cash equivalents balance presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. ASU 2016-18 is effective retrospectively on January 1, 2018. The Company adopted ASU 2016-18 on January 1, 2018. The Company recast its Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the prior period presented based on the restricted cash balance on the balance sheet date and has provided a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in Note 5, “Other Financial Information.”

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01 (“ASU 2016-01”), Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU 2016-01 modifies certain aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. For public entities, ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted ASU 2016-01 on January 1, 2018. The adoption ASU 2016-01 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15 (“ASU 2016-15”), Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU 2016-15 impacts all entities that are required to present a statement of cash flows under ASC 230, Statement of Cash Flows. The amendment provides guidance on eight specific cash flow issues. For public entities, ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those years. Adoption should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 on January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16 (“ASU 2016-16”), Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. ASU 2016-16 requires recognition of the current and deferred income tax effects of an intra-entity asset transfer, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs, as opposed to legacy GAAP, which requires companies to defer the income tax effects of intra-entity asset transfers until the asset has been sold to an outside party. The income tax effects of intra-entity inventory transfers will continue to be deferred until the inventory is sold. ASU 2016-16 is effective on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The update is required to be adopted on a modified retrospective basis with the cumulative-effect adjustment recorded to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company adopted ASU 2016-16 on January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-16 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. ASU 2017-09 provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-base payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting under ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. ASU 2017-09 is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted ASU 2017-09 on January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2017-09 did not have an impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Recently issued accounting pronouncement not yet adopted

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04 (“ASU 2017-04”), Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. ASU 2017-04 eliminates Step 2 of the goodwill impairment quantitative test and allows for the determination of impairment by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount. The amendments in this update should be applied on a prospective basis. For public entities which are SEC filers, this amendment is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company expects to adopt this standard on January 1, 2020 and does not expect the adoption of ASU 2017-04 to have a material impact on its financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02 (“ASU 2018-02”), Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. ASU 2018-02 was issued to address the income tax accounting treatment of the stranded tax effects within other comprehensive income due to the prohibition of backward tracing due to an income tax rate change that was initially recorded in other comprehensive income. This issue came about from the enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”) that changed the Company’s income tax rate from 35% to 21%. ASU 2018-02 changed current accounting whereby an entity may elect to reclassify the stranded tax effect from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. The ASU 2018-02 is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2018 although early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2018-02 to have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09 (“ASU 2014-09”), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), referred to as Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606 (“ASC 606”) or “New Revenue Standard.” ASC 606 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements of ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, and requires entities to recognize revenue when control of promised goods or services is transferred to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods and services.

The update also requires more detailed disclosures to enable readers of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. ASC 606 permits the use of either the full retrospective or cumulative effect transition (modified retrospective) method upon adoption.

In March and April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08 (“ASU 2016-08”), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) and ASU No. 2016-10 (“ASU 2016-10”), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, respectively. The amendments in these updates are intended to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations and to clarify two aspects of ASC 606: identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance, while retaining the related principles for those areas. The effective date and transition requirements for both ASU 2016-08 and ASU 2016-10 are the same as those for ASU 2014-09, as referred.

The Company adopted “ASU 2014-09”, “ASU 2016-08” and “ASU 2016-10” (the combination is also known as “ASC 606” or “New Revenue Standard”) as of January 1, 2018 using the full retrospective transition method. To assess the impact of and to implement ASC 606, the Company formed a project team, which has operated since 2014, to evaluate internal processes. The Company has implemented changes to its current policies and practices, and internal controls over financial reporting to address the requirements of the standard.

Revenue Recognition

erformance obligations identified under ASC 606 differs somewhat from contingent and non-contingent deliverables identified under ASC 605 due to transfer of control considerations.

Under ASC 606, the Company concluded that the Missile license represents functional intellectual property and that the license is not distinct from the research and development services to be provided prior to product commercialization. The transaction price allocated to this combined performance obligation of a continually evolving license will be recognized over the estimated period required to result in full commercial launch using an input measure of progress of the cost of salaries and wages and travel expenses related to the project prior to full commercial launch.

The milestone method of accounting has been eliminated under ASC 606. Instead of recognizing the full amount of each milestone payment as revenue in the period in which it is achieved, the Company will revise its estimate of the transaction price to include development milestone payments only when they become probable of achievement and revenue will be recognized consistent with the input measure of progress.

The Company has concluded that its obligation to provide when and if available updates to its technology in the period subsequent to full commercial launch represents a performance obligation. The transaction price allocated to this stand-ready performance obligation will be recognized ratably over the period commencing after full commercial launch until the expiration of the contract.

Water Segment Revenue. Performance obligations identified under ASC 606, are consistent with deliverables identified under ASC 605. Revenue recognition for performance obligations accounted for under ASC 606 is consistent with ASC 605 given the transfer of control of the promised goods or services follows the same pattern. Adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material impact on the timing of revenue and expense recognition.

Oil & Gas Segment - Cost-to-Total Cost (“CTC”) Revenue. Performance obligations identified under ASC 606, are consistent with deliverables identified under ASC 605. Revenue recognition for performance obligations accounted for under ASC 606 is consistent with ASC 605 given the transfer of control of the promised goods or services follows the same pattern. Adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material impact on the timing of revenue and expense recognition.

Oil & Gas Segment - License and Development Revenue. License and development revenue associated with the up-front non-refundable $75.0 million exclusivity payment received in connection with the VorTeq license agreement (the “VorTeq License Agreement”) that the Company entered into with Schlumberger Technology Corporation (the “VorTeq Licensee”) under ASC 605 was recognized on a straight-line basis over the fifteen-year term of the license, while the two subsequent milestone payments of $25.0 million each that could be earned under the VorTeq License Agreement were to be recognized in full when achieved under milestone accounting.

License and development revenue under ASC 606, which includes both the upfront non-refundable $75.0 million exclusivity payment and the two milestone payments of $25.0 million each, when determined probable, is comprised of:

•

revenue recognition over time based on an input measure of progress based on a cost driver, which management has determined is the best estimate of the progress made on the project during the period from inception until full commercialization, for the amount allocated to the exclusive Missile (as defined in Note 14, “VorTeq Partnership and License Agreement”) license and research and development services, and


•	revenue recognition related to stand-ready, when and if available, upgrades subsequent to full commercialization, recognized over time ratably over the period, which matches the transfer of benefit to the customer on a daily basis, commencing after full commercial launch until the expiration of the contract.

Arrangements with Multiple Performance Obligations and Termination for Convenience

The Company’s contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations. For such arrangements, the Company allocates revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative stand-alone selling price. The Company generally determines standalone selling prices based on the prices charged to customers.

With respect to termination, the Company does not have the ability to cancel the contract for convenience. In general, customers can cancel for convenience upon the payment of a termination fee that covers costs and profit. It is rare for customers to cancel contracts.

Practical Expedients and Exemptions

In the Water segment, the time period between when the Company transfers control of products to the customer and the payment for the products is, in general, less than one year and, therefore, the practical expedient with respect to a financing component has been adopted by the Company.

With respect to taxes, the Company has made the policy election to exclude taxes from the measurement of the transaction price.

The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which the Company recognizes revenue at the amount to which the Company has the right to invoice for services performed.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the Company’s customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. At the inception of each contract, performance obligations are identified and the total transaction price is allocated to the performance obligations.

The Company’s payment terms vary based on the credit risk of its customer. For certain customer types, the Company requires payment before the products or services are delivered to the customer. The Company performs an evaluation of customer credit worthiness on an individual contract basis to assess whether collectability is reasonably assured at the inception of the contract. As part of this evaluation, the Company considers many factors about the individual customer, including the underlying financial strength of the customer and/or partnership consortium and the Company’s prior history or industry-specific knowledge about the customer and its supplier relationships. For smaller projects, the Company requires the customer to remit payment generally within 30 to 60 days after product delivery. In some cases, if credit worthiness cannot be determined, prepayment or other security is required.

Sales commissions are expensed as incurred when product revenue is earned. These costs are recorded within sales and marketing expenses.

License and Development, and Lease Revenue Recognition - Oil & Gas Segment

License and development revenue is comprised of revenue recognition over time of the upfront non-refundable $75.0 million exclusivity fee received in connection with the VorTeq License Agreement, as well as the revenue recognition over time of the two milestone payments of $25.0 million each when uncertainty of receipt is resolved and receipt of each milestone payment is considered probable.

The VorTeq License Agreement is comprised of a fifteen-year exclusive license for the Company’s VorTeq technology (“VorTeq”). In performing the obligations under the license, the Company provides research and development services to commercialize the technology in accordance with the Key Performance Indicators (“KPIs”), defined in the VorTeq License Agreement. After commercialization is achieved, payments will be received for the supply and servicing of certain components of the VorTeq. All payments are non-refundable. See Note 14, “VorTeq Partnership and License Agreement.”

The Company recognizes license and development revenue in accordance with ASC 606. Revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to customers. Stand-alone selling price was established at the inception of the VorTeq License Agreement by taking the transaction to market on a non-exclusive basis, and pricing in an exclusivity premium. Since the VorTeq License Agreement included an up-front non-refundable payment at the inception of the VorTeq License Agreement and future products and services are provided after initial commercialization, the Company completed an analysis and concluded that there was no material right included in the pricing of the VorTeq License Agreement.

Performance obligations, such as the exclusive license to the Missile technology and upgrades prior to and subsequent to the date of full commercial launch, have been identified. Value has been allocated to the performance obligations and revenue is recognized over time based on the input measure of progress of the cost of salaries and wages related to the project prior to full commercialization and ratably for the unspecified upgrades for the period subsequent to full commercialization until the expiration of the VorTeq License Agreement.

Once commercial launch is achieved and cartridges are provided under the contract, revenue from those royalty payments will be recognized in accordance with ASC 842, with the Company as the lessor. It is expected that the cartridge leases will be classified as operating leases, and lease revenue will be recognized as earned.

Contract Costs

The Company recognizes the incremental cost of obtaining contracts as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the assets that the Company otherwise would have recognized in one year or less. The costs of obtaining contracts are included in sales and marketing expenses.

Product and Service Revenue Recognition - Water Segment

In the Water segment, a contract is established by a written agreement (executed sales order, executed purchase order or stand-alone contract) with the customer with fixed pricing, and a credit risk assessment is completed prior to the signing of the agreement to ensure that collectability is reasonably assured.

The Company does not bundle performance obligations in the Water segment. The Company identifies each performance obligation separately along with its associated relative standalone selling price based on the prices and discounts that the Company would sell a promised good or service separately to a customer.

Generally, performance obligations consist of delivery of products, such as PX energy recovery devices, turbochargers, pumps, and spare parts. These service amounts are deferred as contract liabilities until the services are performed.

The transfer of control for the Company’s products follows transfer of title which typically occurs upon shipment of the equipment in accordance with International Commercial Terms (commonly referred to as “Incoterms”). The specified product performance criteria for the Company’s products pertain to the ability of the Company’s product to meet its published performance specifications and warranty provisions, which the Company’s products have demonstrated on a consistent basis. This factor, combined with historical performance metrics, provides the Company’s management with a reasonable basis to conclude that the products will perform satisfactorily upon commissioning of the plant. Installation is relatively simple, requires no customization, and is performed by the customer under the supervision of the Company’s personnel. Based on these factors, the Company concluded that performance has been completed upon shipment when title transfers based on the shipping terms, and that product revenue is recognized at a point in time.

The Company does not provide its customers with a right of product return; however, the Company will accept returns of products that are deemed to be damaged or defective when delivered that are covered by the terms and conditions of the product warranty. Product warranty is provided consistent with the industry and is considered to be an assurance warranty, not a separate performance obligation. Product returns and warranty charges have not been significant.

Revenue allocable to the Company’s product is limited to the amount that is not contingent upon the delivery of additional items or meeting specified performance conditions. The Company adheres to consistent pricing in the stand-alone sale of products and services and the contractual pricing of products and commissioning of services in bundled arrangements.

For large projects, stand-alone contracts are utilized. For these contracts, consistent with industry practice, the Company’s customers typically require their suppliers, including the Company, to accept contractual holdback provisions (also referred to as a retention payment) whereby the final amounts due under the sales contract are remitted over extended periods of time or alternatively, stand-by letters of credit are issued. These retention payments are generally 10% or less of the total contract amount and are due and payable upon the passage of time, generally up to 24 to 36 months from the date of product delivery. These retention payments are generally replaced by bank guarantees which have had no history of being exercised, and they align with the product warranty period. Given that they are not material in the context of the contract, they are not considered to be a financing component. The Company has no performance obligation and they are recorded as contract assets.

Shipping and handling charges billed to customers is a pass-through from the freight forwarder and is included in product revenue. The cost of shipping to customers is included in cost of revenue.

Cost-to-Total Cost (“CTC”) Revenue Recognition - Oil & Gas Segment

IsoBoost and IsoGen systems are highly engineered, customized solutions that are designed and manufactured over an extended period of time and are built specifically to meet a customer’s specifications. Given the facts and circumstances of these projects, the Company concluded that the CTC method of accounting is appropriate for IsoBoost and IsoGen systems. In the event that a purchase order for an IsoBoost or IsoGen system does not meet these facts and circumstances, then the CTC method of accounting does not apply. The Company had one CTC contract for IsoBoost turbochargers in fiscal years 2016 through 2018, which is expected to be completed and shipped in the second half of 2018. A standard assurance type warranty was provided.

Revenue from fixed price contracts is recognized with progress measured in the ratio of costs incurred to estimated final costs. Contract costs include all direct material and labor costs related to contract performance. Pre-contract costs with no future benefit were expensed in the period in which they were incurred. Since the financial reporting of these contracts depends on estimates, which are assessed continually during the term of the contract, recognized revenues and profit are subject to revisions as the contract progresses to completion. Revisions in profit estimates are reflected in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revisions become known, using the cumulative catchup method. If material, the effects of any changes in estimates are disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. When estimates indicate that a loss will be incurred on a contract, a provision for the expected loss is recorded in the period in which the loss becomes evident. No loss has been incurred to date. Revenue is recognized only to the extent costs have been recognized in the same period.