Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1. Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of business— CECO Environmental Corp. and its subsidiaries (the “Company,” “we,” or “our”) is a global air pollution company with global operations and revenues. The Company provides a wide spectrum of air quality products and services including engineered equipment, cyclones, scrubbers, dampers, diverters, regenerative thermal oxidizers (“RTOs”), component parts, and monitoring and management services. Industries served include refining, petrochemical, power, natural gas, aluminum, steel, automotive, chemical, and large industrial processes.

Principles of consolidation— Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the following subsidiaries:

	% Owned As Of December 31, 2012
CECO Group, Inc.		100	%
CECO Filters, Inc. and Subsidiaries (“CFI”)		99	%
The Kirk & Blum Manufacturing Company		100	%
CECO Abatement Systems, Inc.		100	%
CECOaire, Inc.		100	%
EFFOX, Inc. (“Effox”)		100	%
Fisher-Klosterman, Inc. (“FKI”)		100	%
Flextor, Inc. (“Flextor”)		100	%
Adwest Technologies, Inc. (“Adwest”)		100	%

CFI includes two wholly owned subsidiaries, New Busch Co., Inc. (“Busch”) and CECO Environmental India Private Limited (f/k/a. CECO Filter India Private Limited). The non-controlling interest in CFI is not material. FKI includes the wholly owned subsidiary, AVC, Inc. (“A.V.C.”).

Adwest, a designer and manufacturer of RTOs, was acquired in December 2012.

All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

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 and 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.

Cash equivalents—We consider all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Included in Cash and Cash Equivalents is $0.6 million of cash restricted in support of letters of credit issued by the Company’s China subsidiary related to warranty periods expiring in the future.

Accounts Receivable—Trade receivables are generally uncollateralized customer obligations due under normal trade terms requiring payment generally within 30 days from the invoice date unless otherwise determined by specific contract, generally due to retainage provisions. The Company’s estimate of the allowance for doubtful accounts for trade receivables is primarily determined based upon the length of time that the receivables are past due. In addition, management estimates are used to determine probable losses based upon an analysis of prior collection experience, specific account risks and economic conditions. The Company has a series of actions that occur based upon the aging of past due trade receivables, including letters, statements, direct customer contact and liens. Accounts are deemed uncollectible based on past account experience and current account financial condition.

Inventories—The Company’s inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out inventory costing method. Inventory quantities are regularly reviewed and provisions for excess or obsolete inventory are recorded primarily based on the Company’s forecast of future demand and market conditions. Significant unanticipated changes to the Company’s forecasts could require a change in the provision for excess or obsolete inventory.

Property, plant and equipment—Property, plant and equipment are carried at the cost of acquisition or construction and depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Depreciation and amortization are provided using the straight-line method in amounts sufficient to amortize the cost of the assets over their estimated useful lives (buildings and improvements – generally 10 to 40 years; machinery and equipment – 2 to 15 years).

Intangible assets—Indefinite life intangible assets are comprised of tradenames, while finite life intangible assets are comprised of patents, technology, customer lists, and employment contracts. Finite life intangible assets are amortized on a straight line basis over their estimated useful lives of 17 years for patents, 7 years for technology, 5 years for customer lists, and 3 years for employment contracts.

Long-lived assets—Property, plant and equipment and finite life intangible assets are reviewed whenever events or changes in circumstances occur that indicate possible impairment. If events or changes in circumstances occur that indicate possible impairment, our impairment review is based on an undiscounted cash flow analysis at the lowest level at which cash flows of the long-lived assets are largely independent of other groups of our assets and liabilities. This analysis requires management judgment with respect to changes in technology, the continued success of product lines, and future volume, revenue and expense growth rates. We conduct annual reviews for idle and underutilized equipment, and review business plans for possible impairment. Impairment occurs when the carrying value of the assets exceeds the future undiscounted cash flows expected to be earned by the use of the asset or asset group. When impairment is indicated, the estimated future cash flows are then discounted to determine the estimated fair value of the asset or asset group and an impairment charge is recorded for the difference between the carrying value and the estimated fair value.

Additionally, the Company also evaluates the remaining useful life each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of depreciation or amortization. If the estimate of a long lived asset’s remaining useful life is changed, the remaining carrying amount of the asset is amortized prospectively over that revised remaining useful life.

The Company completes an annual (or more often if circumstances require) impairment assessment of its indefinite life intangible assets. As of December 31, 2012, we elected to early adopt the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update No. 2012-02, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment (Topic 350) (“ASU 2012-02”). ASU 2012-02 provides an option to first qualitatively assess whether current events or changes in circumstances lead to a determination that it is more likely than not (defined as a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of an asset is less than its carrying amount. Absent a qualitative determination that the fair value of an asset is more likely than not to be less than its carrying value, we do not need to proceed to the traditional estimated fair value test for that asset. If this qualitative assessment indicates a more likely than not potential that the asset may be impaired, the estimated fair value is calculated by the discounted cash flow method. If the estimated fair value of an asset is less than its carrying value, an impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its calculated implied fair value.

Goodwill—The Company completes an annual (or more often if circumstances require) impairment assessment of its goodwill on a reporting unit level. For management purposes, the Company is organized into three reportable segments, Engineered Equipment Technology and Parts, Contracting/Services, and Component Parts. Each operating segment is also a reporting unit as each either has only a single component business or has more than one component business that appropriately aggregate into a single reporting unit.

In performing the goodwill impairment assessment, the carrying values of the Company’s reporting units are compared to their estimated fair values, as calculated by the discounted cash flow method. As of December 31, 2011, we elected to early adopt the provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-08, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) (“ASU 2011-08”). ASU 2011-08 provides an option to first qualitatively assess whether current events or changes in circumstances lead to a determination that it is more likely than not (defined as a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. Absent a qualitative determination that the fair value of a particular reporting unit is more likely than not to be less than its carrying value, the Company does not need to proceed to the traditional two-step goodwill test for that reporting unit. If this qualitative assessment indicates a more likely than not potential that the asset may be impaired, the estimated fair value is calculated by the discounted cash flow method. If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds its calculated implied fair value.

Deferred charges—Deferred charges include deferred financing costs, which are amortized to interest expense over the life of the related loan. Amortization expense was $227,000 and $91,000 for 2012 and 2011, respectively, and is classified as interest expense. The remaining deferred financing charges on the Company’s subordinated debt of $141,000 were charged to interest expense during the fourth quarter of 2012 upon the conversion of the debt to equity.

Revenue recognition—Revenues from contracts, representing the majority of our revenues, are recognized on the percentage of completion method, measured by the percentage of contract costs incurred to date compared to estimated total contract costs for each contract. This method is used because management considers contract costs to be the best available measure of progress on these contracts. Our remaining revenues are recognized when risk and title passes to the customer, which is generally upon shipment of product.

The asset “Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts” represents revenues recognized in excess of amounts billed. The liability “Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts” represents billings in excess of revenues recognized. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses are determined. Changes to job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability may result in revisions to contract revenue and costs and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are made. No provision for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts was required at December 31, 2012 or 2011.

Cost of sales—Cost of sales amounts include materials, direct labor and associated benefits, inbound freight charges, purchasing and receiving, inspection, warehousing, and depreciation. Customer freight charges are included in sales and actual freight expenses are included in cost of sales.

Claims—Change orders arise when the scope of the original project is modified for a variety of reasons. The Company will negotiate the extent of the modifications, its expected costs and recovery with the customer. Costs related to change orders are recognized in the period they are incurred and added to the expected total cost of the project. To the extent such costs are probable of being recovered from the customer, estimated total contract revenues are also adjusted up to the amount of change order costs incurred. In cases where contract revenues are assured beyond a reasonable doubt to be increased in excess of the expected costs of the change order, incremental profit also is recognized on the contract. Such assurance is generally only achieved when the customer approves in writing the scope and pricing of the change order. Change orders that are in dispute are effectively handled as claims.

Claims are amounts in excess of the agreed contract price that the Company seeks to collect from customers or others for customer-caused delays, errors in specifications and designs, contract terminations, change orders in dispute or unapproved as to both scope and price. Costs attributable to claims are treated as contract costs as incurred.

The Company recognizes certain significant claims for recovery of incurred costs when it is probable that the claim will result in additional contract revenue and when the amount of the claim can be reliably estimated. In such circumstances revenues are recognized only to the extent of the cost with no increase in the estimated profit margin and no additional profit is recognized until such time as the customer or other parties agree in writing to the amount of the claim to be recovered by the Company. At that point, the amount of the claim becomes contractual and is accounted for as an increase in the contract’s total estimated revenue and estimated cost. As actual costs are incurred and revenues are recognized under percentage-of-completion accounting, a corresponding percentage of the revised total estimated profit will therefore be recognized.

Should it become probable that the claim will not result in additional contract revenue, the Company removes the related contract revenues from its previous estimate of total revenues, which effectively reduces the estimated profit margin on the job and negatively impacts profit for the period.

Pre-contract costs—Pre-contract costs are not significant. The Company expenses all pre-contract costs as incurred regardless of whether or not the bids are successful. A majority of our business is obtained through a bidding process and this activity is on-going with multiple bids in process at any one time. These costs consist primarily of engineering, sales and project manager wages, fringes and general corporate overhead and it is deemed impractical to track activities related to any one specific contract.

Selling and administrative expenses—Selling and administrative expenses include sales and administrative wages and associated benefits, selling and office expenses, professional fees, bad debt expense, changes in life insurance cash surrender value and depreciation. Selling and administrative expenses are charged to expense as incurred.

Sales Taxes—The Company records taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities on a net basis in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Product Warranties—The Company’s warranty reserve is to cover the products sold and is principally at our Effox subsidiary. The warranty accrual is based on historical claims information. The warranty reserve is reviewed and adjusted as necessary on a quarterly basis. Warranty accrual is not significant at the Company’s other operations due to the nature of the work which includes installation and testing. The change in accrued warranty expense is summarized in the following table:

$ in thousands	2012			2011
Beginning balance	$	431		$	455
Provision		285			277
Payments		(185	)		(301	)
Ending balance	$	531		$	431

Advertising costs—Advertising costs are charged to operations in the year incurred and totaled $189,000 and $205,000 in 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Research and Development—Expenditures for research and development of new products or services during the last two years were not significant. Although not technically defined as research and development, a significant amount of time, effort and expense is devoted to (a) custom engineering which qualifies products for specific customer applications, (b) developing proprietary process technology and (c) partnering with customers to develop new products.

Income taxes—Deferred income taxes are provided using the asset and liability method whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases, and are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.

In addition, from time to time, management must assess the need to accrue or disclose uncertain tax positions for proposed potential adjustments from various federal, state and foreign tax authorities who regularly audit the Company in the normal course of business. In making these assessments, management must often analyze complex tax laws of multiple jurisdictions, including many foreign jurisdictions. The accounting guidance prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company records the related interest expense and penalties, if any, as tax expense in the tax provision.

Earnings per share— The computational components of basic and diluted earnings per share for 2012 and 2011 are below (shares and dollars in thousands, except per share amounts).

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2012
	Numerator (Income)		Denominator (Shares)		Per Share Amount
Basic net income and earnings per share	$	10,850		14,813	$	0.73
Effect of dilutive securities and notes:
Common stock equivalents arising from stock options and employee stock purchase plan		—		327
Subordinated convertible promissory notes		303		2,106		(0.08	)
Diluted earnings and earnings per share	$	11,153		17,246	$	0.65

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2011
	Numerator (Income)		Denominator (Shares)		Per Share Amount
Basic net income and earnings per share	$	8,272		14,386	$	0.58
Effect of dilutive securities and notes:
Common stock equivalents arising from stock options and employee stock purchase plan		—		124
Subordinated convertible promissory notes		375		2,605		(0.07	)
Diluted earnings and earnings per share	$	8,647		17,115	$	0.51

Options and warrants included in the computation of diluted earnings per share are so included on the treasury stock method. Options and warrants to purchase 0.1 million and 0.4 million shares as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share due to their having an anti-dilutive effect. Pursuant to the if-converted method, diluted earnings per share for 2012 includes a $303,000 after tax addback of interest expense to earnings and 2.1 million additional shares related to the assumed conversion of the convertible Investor Notes described in Note 10. Diluted earnings per share for 2011 includes a $375,000 after tax addback of interest expense to earnings and 2.6 million additional shares related to the assumed conversion of the convertible Investor Notes.

Holders of restricted stock awards participate in nonforfeitable dividend rights on a one-for-one basis with holders of common stock. Holders of these awards are not obligated to share in losses of the Company. Therefore, these share awards are included in the computation of basic earnings per share during periods of net income using the two-class method, but are excluded from such computation in periods of net loss. Should the Company declare a dividend on its common stock, the related dividend on shares of unvested restricted stock that are not expected to vest would be recorded as additional compensation expense and therefore excluded from the two-class method computations; however, there are no unvested restricted stock awards outstanding. Undistributed earnings included in the two-class method computations are allocated equally to each share of common stock outstanding, including all shares of unvested restricted common shares.

Once a restricted stock award vests, it is included in the computation of weighted average shares outstanding for purposes of basic and diluted earnings per share.

Foreign Currency Translation—The functional currencies of the Company’s Brazil, Canada, China, and India subsidiaries are the Real, Canadian Dollar, Renminbi, and Rupee, respectively, and their books and records are maintained in the local currency. Translation adjustments, which are based upon the exchange rate at the balance sheet date for assets and liabilities and weighted-average rate for the statement of income, are recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) in Shareholders’ equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Transaction (loss) gain of $(149,000) and $115,000 were recognized by the Company in 2012 and 2011, respectively. The transaction (loss)/gain is recorded on the “Other (expense) income” line of the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Reclassifications—Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified in order to conform to the current year presentation.

New Financial Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

ASC 220 – In June 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income” which requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In both choices, an entity is required to present each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income. This ASU eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. The amendments in this ASU do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. The ASU became effective for the Company during the quarter ended March 31, 2012. Although the adoption of this ASU impacts the way the Company reports comprehensive income, the adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards ASU No. 2011-05.” In order to defer only those changes in ASU 2011-05 that relate to the presentation of reclassification adjustments, the paragraphs in this ASU supersede certain pending paragraphs in ASU 2011-05. Entities should continue to report reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income consistent with the presentation requirements in effect before ASU 2011-05. All other requirements in ASU 2011-05 are not affected by this ASU.

ASC 820 – In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs” which generally represents clarifications of Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements,” but also includes certain instances where a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or disclosing information about fair value measurements has changed. This ASU results in common principles and requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and the International Financial Reporting Standards. The ASU became effective for the Company during the quarter ended March 31, 2012 and must be applied prospectively. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, “Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” This ASU requires entities to disclose, in one place, information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. ASU 2013-02 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements, other than disclosure.