Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Policy Text Block [Abstract]

Nature of Operations

Nature of Operations

Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation, referred to in these notes as “Evans & Sutherland,” “E&S,” or the “Company,” produces high-quality advanced visual display systems used primarily in full-dome video projection applications, dome projection screens and dome architectural treatments. E&S also produces unique content for planetariums, schools, science centers and other educational institutions and entertainment venues.  The Company’s products include state of the art planetarium and dome theater systems consisting of proprietary hardware and software, and other unique visual display systems primarily used to project digital video on large curved surfaces.  Additionally, E&S manufactures and installs metal domes with customized optical coatings and acoustical properties that are used for planetarium and dome theaters as well as many other unique custom applications.  The Company operates in one business segment, which is the visual simulation market.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Evans & Sutherland and its wholly owned subsidiaries.  All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.  The accounting estimates that require management’s most difficult and subjective judgments include revenue recognition based on the percentage-of-completion method, inventory reserves, allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, allowance for deferred income tax assets, impairment of long-lived assets, pension and retirement obligations and useful lives of depreciable assets.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three or fewer months to be cash equivalents.  The Company maintains cash balances in bank accounts that, at times, exceed federally insured limits.  The Company has not experienced any losses in these accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant risk with respect to cash.  As of December 31, 2018, cash deposits as reported by the banks, including restricted cash, exceeded the federally insured limits by approximately $8,095.

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the statements of cash flows.

	2018	2017
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 8,365	$ 5,276
Restricted cash	220	312
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
shown in the statements of cash flows	$ 8,585	$ 5,588

Amounts included in restricted cash represent those required to be set aside by a contractual agreement.  Restricted cash that guarantees letters of credit that mature or expire within one year is reported as a current asset.  Restricted cash that guarantees letters of credit that mature or expire after more than one year is reported as a long-term asset.

Trade Accounts Receivable

Trade Accounts Receivable

In the normal course of business, E&S provides unsecured credit terms to its customers.  Accordingly, the Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for possible losses on uncollectible accounts receivable.  The Company routinely analyzes accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, and considers history, customer creditworthiness, facts and circumstances specific to outstanding balances, current economic trends, and changes in payment terms when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable.  Changes in these factors could result in material differences to bad debt expense.  Past due balances are determined based on contractual terms and are reviewed individually for collectability. Uncollectible accounts receivable are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts when management determines the probability of collection is remote.  

The table below represents changes in E&S’s allowance for doubtful accounts receivable for the years ended December 31:

	2018	2017
Beginning balance	$ 109	$ 259
Write-off of accounts receivable	-	(7)
Increase (decrease) in estimated losses on accounts receivable	48	(143)
Ending balance	$ 157	$ 109

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories include materials at standard costs, which approximate actual costs, as well as inventoried costs on programs and long-term contracts.  Inventoried costs include material, direct engineering and production costs, and applicable overhead, not in excess of estimated market value.  Spare parts and general stock materials are stated at cost not in excess of market value.  E&S periodically reviews inventories for excess supply, obsolescence, and valuations above estimated realizable amounts, and provides a reserve sufficient to reduce inventories to net realizable values.  Revisions of these estimates could impact net loss.

During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, E&S recognized impairment losses on inventory of $427 and $105, respectively.  

Inventories as of December 31, were as follows:

	2018	2017
Raw materials	$ 5,979	$ 5,458
Work in process	116	1,011
Finished goods	323	423
Reserve for obsolete inventory	(3,346)	(2,919)
Inventories, net	$ 3,072	$ 3,973

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost.  Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the related assets.  Expenditures that materially increase values or capacities or extend useful lives of property and equipment are capitalized.  Leasehold improvements are assigned useful lives based on the shorter of their useful lives or the term of the related leases, including renewal options likely to be exercised.  Routine maintenance, repairs and renewal costs are expensed as incurred.  When property is retired or otherwise disposed of, the carrying values are removed from the property and equipment and related accumulated depreciation and amortization accounts.  Depreciation and amortization are included in cost of sales, research and development or selling, general and administrative expenses depending on the nature of the asset.  

Depreciation expense was $263 and $259 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.  The cost and estimated useful lives of property and equipment and the total accumulated depreciation were as follows as of December 31: 

	Estimated
	Useful Lives	2018	2017
Land	n/a	$ 2,250	$ 2,250
Buildings and improvements	5 - 40 years	3,065	3,065
Manufacturing machinery and equipment	3 - 8 years	4,554	5,582
Office furniture and equipment	3 - 8 years	630	779
Total		10,499	11,676
Less accumulated depreciation		(6,104)	(7,149)
Net property and equipment		$ 4,395	$ 4,527

Goodwill

Goodwill

The Company tests its recorded goodwill for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter, or more often if indicators of potential impairment exist, by determining if the carrying value of each reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value. Factors that could trigger impairment include, but are not limited to, underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the manner of use of the acquired assets or the Company’s overall business and significant negative industry or economic trends. Future impairment reviews may require write-downs in the Company’s goodwill and could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s operating results for the periods in which such write-downs occur.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying values of the assets may not be fully recoverable. When this occurs, the Company reviews the values assigned to long-lived assets by analyzing the anticipated, undiscounted cash flows they generate.  When the expected future undiscounted cash flows from these assets do not exceed their carrying values, the Company estimates the fair values of such assets. Impairment is recognized to the extent the carrying values of the assets exceed their estimated fair values.  Assets held for sale are reported at the lower of their carrying values or fair values less costs to sell.

Warranty Reserve

Warranty Reserve

E&S provides a warranty reserve for estimated future costs of servicing products under warranty agreements extending for periods from 90 days to one year.  Anticipated costs for product warranties are based upon estimates derived from experience factors and are recorded at the time of sale or over the period revenues are recognized for long-term contracts.  Warranty reserves are classified as accrued liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The table below represents changes in E&S’s warranty reserve for the years ended December 31:

	2018	2017
Beginning balance	$ 139	$ 123
Additions to warranty reserve	166	249
Warranty costs	(134)	(233)
Ending balance	$ 171	$ 139

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company records compensation expense in the financial statements for stock-based awards based on the grant date fair value of those awards that are ultimately expected to vest. As such, the value of the award is reduced for the estimated forfeitures at the date of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company determines the grant date fair value of the options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.  Stock-based compensation expense is recognized over the requisite service periods of the awards on a ratable basis, which recognizes expense for each vesting tranche of each grant starting on the grant date and finishing on the vest date for that tranche.

Net Income Per Common Share

Net Income per Common Share

Basic net income per common share represents income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share reflects additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued. Potential common shares include shares that may be issued by the Company for outstanding stock options determined using the treasury stock method. In periods resulting in a net loss, potential common shares are anti-dilutive and therefore are not included. Net income per common share has been computed based on the following:

	2018	2017
Numerator
Net Income	$ 3,747	$ 1,481
Denominator
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - basic	11,353	11,353
Incremental shares assumed for stock options	625	661
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - dilutive	11,978	12,014
Basic net income per common share	$ 0.33	$ 0.13
Diluted net income per common share	$ 0.31	$ 0.12

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes.  Under the asset and liability method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future income tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases and operating loss and income tax credit carry-forwards.  Deferred income 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 income tax assets and liabilities of a change in income tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date.

Other Comprehensive Income

Other Comprehensive Income

On a net basis for 2018 and 2017, there were deferred income tax assets resulting from items reflected in comprehensive income.  However, E&S has determined that it is more likely than not that it will not realize such net deferred income tax assets and has therefore established a valuation allowance against the full amount of the net deferred income tax assets.  Accordingly, the net income tax effect of the items included in other comprehensive income is zero.  Therefore, the Company has included no income tax expense or benefit in relation to items reflected in other comprehensive income.  The accumulated other comprehensive loss at the end of 2017 and 2018 consists of minimum pension liability attributable to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) (see Note 7).

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) ("ASU 2016-02"). ASU 2016-02 changes the accounting for leases. In particular, lessees will recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for operating leases. This update will have a minimal effect on lessor accounting. ASU 2016-02 is effective in the first quarter of the fiscal year ending 2019. The Company is currently assessing the impact on its financial reporting of implementing this guidance.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) Restricted Cash

(“ASU 2016-18”). ASU 2016-18 changes the cash flow presentation and disclosures of restricted cash. The

Company implemented this update in the presented financial statements.