1. BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Business

Allied Motion Technologies Inc. (“Allied Motion” or the “Company”) is engaged in the business of designing, manufacturing and selling controlled motion solutions, which include integrated system solutions as well as individual controlled motion products, to a broad spectrum of customers throughout the world primarily for the industrial, , automotive, medical, and aerospace and defense markets.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

For business combinations, we record net assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include instruments which are readily convertible into cash (original maturities of three months or less) and which are not subject to significant risk of changes in interest rates.

Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company’s existing accounts receivable; however, changes in circumstances relating to accounts receivable may result in a requirement for additional allowances in the future.

Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts for 2018, 2017 and 2016 was as follows (in thousands):


	December 31, 2018		December 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Beginning balance	$	341	$	362	$	611
Additional reserves		192		39		167
Writeoffs		—		(61)		(414)
Effect of foreign currency translation		(3)		1		(2)
Ending balance	$	530	$	341	$	362

Inventories

Inventories include costs of materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead, and are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out basis) or net realizable value, as follows (in thousands):


	December 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Parts and raw materials	$	34,449	$	20,509
Work-in-process		7,557		5,984
Finished goods		12,965		6,075
Inventories	$	54,971	$	32,568

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is classified as follows (in thousands):


		December 31,		December 31,
	Useful lives	2018		2017
Land		$	981	$	993
Building and improvements	5 - 39 years		13,054		10,678
Machinery, equipment, tools and dies	3 - 15 years		60,755		49,083
Furniture, fixtures and other	3 - 10 years		15,571		12,931
			90,361		73,685
Less accumulated depreciation			(42,326)		(35,282)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$	48,035	$	38,403

Depreciation expense is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Amortization of building improvements is provided using the straight-line method over the life of the lease term or the life of the assets, whichever is shorter. Maintenance and repair costs are charged to operations as incurred. Major additions and improvements are capitalized. The cost and related accumulated depreciation of retired or sold property are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is reflected in earnings.

Depreciation expense was $7,921, $7,055 and $6,545 in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets, other than goodwill, are recorded at cost and are amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews the carrying values of its long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that such carrying values may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets are carried at historical cost if the projected cash flows from their use will recover their carrying amounts on an undiscounted basis and without considering interest. If projected cash flows are less than their carrying value, the long-lived assets must be reduced to their estimated fair value. Considerable judgment is required to project such cash flows and, if required, estimate the fair value of the impaired long-lived assets. The Company did not record any impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net tangible and intangible assets acquired in a business combination.

Goodwill is not amortized, but is reviewed for impairment at least annually or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. The Company has defined one reporting unit that is the same as its operating segment. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment by first performing a qualitative assessment to determine whether a quantitative goodwill test is necessary. If it is determined, based on qualitative factors, that the fair value of the reporting unit may be more likely than not less than carrying amount, or if significant adverse changes in the Company’s future financial performance occur that could materially impact fair value, a quantitative goodwill impairment test would be required. Additionally, the Company can elect to forgo the qualitative assessment and perform the quantitative test.

The first step of the quantitative test compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, there is a potential impairment and the second step must be performed. The second step compares the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying amount of goodwill. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value, the excess is required to be recorded as an impairment charge.

The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by assigning the fair value of the reporting unit to all the assets and liabilities of that unit (including any unrecognized intangible assets) as if it had been acquired in a business combination. The Company has elected to perform the annual impairment assessment for goodwill each year in the fourth quarter.

At October 31, 2018, we performed our annual assessment of fair value and concluded that there was no impairment related to goodwill. The Company did not record any impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 or 2016.

Other Long-Term Assets

Other long-term assets include securities that the Company has purchased with the intent of funding the deferred compensation arrangements for certain executives of the Company. These items are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis. Any changes in value are included in net income in the Company’s consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Warranty

The Company offers warranty coverage for its products. The length of the warranty period for its products is generally three months to two years, and varies significantly based on the product sold. The Company estimates the costs of repairing products under warranty based on the historical average cost of the repairs. The assumptions used to estimate warranty accruals are re-evaluated periodically in light of actual experience and, when appropriate, the accruals are adjusted. Estimated warranty costs are recorded at the time of sale of the related product, and are considered a cost of sale. Changes in the Company’s reserve for product warranty claims during 2018, 2017 and 2016 were as follows (in thousands):


	December 31,		December 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017		2016
Warranty reserve at beginning of the year	$	922	$	830	$	780
Warranty reserves acquired		117		—		297
Provision		(13)		234		(138)
Warranty expenditures		(34)		(200)		(96)
Effect of foreign currency translation		(21)		58		(13)
Warranty reserve at end of year	$	971	$	922	$	830

Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):


	December 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Compensation and fringe benefits	$	11,642	$	7,459
Warranty reserve		971		922
Income taxes payable		1,182		2,397
Other accrued expenses		4,927		3,492
	$	18,722	$	14,270

Foreign Currency Translation

The assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using end of period exchange rates. Changes in reported amounts of assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries that occur as a result of changes in exchange rates between foreign subsidiaries’ functional currencies and the U.S. dollar are included in foreign currency translation adjustment. Foreign currency translation adjustment is included in other comprehensive loss, a component of stockholders’ equity in the accompanying consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity. Revenue and expense transactions use an average rate prevailing during the month of the related transaction. Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of each of the Technology Units (“TUs”) are included in the results of operations as incurred.

Revenue Recognition

Refer to Note 3, Revenue Recognition, for description of the Company’s policies regarding revenue recognition.

Engineering and Development Costs

The Company is engaged in a variety of engineering and design activities as well as basic research and development activities directed to the substantial improvement or new application of the Company’s existing technologies. Engineering and development costs are expensed as incurred.

Basic and Diluted Income per Share

Basic income per share is computed by dividing net income or loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted income per share is determined by dividing the net income by the sum of (1) the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and (2) if not anti-dilutive, the effect of stock awards determined utilizing the treasury stock method. The dilutive effect of outstanding stock awards was 106,000, 105,000 and 94,000 shares for the years 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Stock awards of 1,400, 600 and 30,700 shares were excluded from the calculation of diluted income per share for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively because they were antidilutive.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by and distributions to stockholders.

Fair Value Accounting

Authoritative guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

The guidance establishes a framework for measuring fair value, which utilizes observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s market assumptions. Preference is given to observable inputs. These two types of inputs create the following three-level fair value hierarchy:

Level 1:	Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2:	Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs or significant value drivers are observable.

Level 3:	Significant inputs to the valuation model that are unobservable.

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, debt obligations, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities. The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for these assets approximate fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturities of these financial instruments.

The following table presents the Company’s financial assets that are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, by level within the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):


	December 31, 2018
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets (liabilities)
Pension plan assets	$	5,231	$	—	$	—
Other long-term assets		3,962		—		—
Interest rate swaps		—		434		—


	December 31, 2017
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets (liabilities)
Pension plan assets	$	5,362	$	—	$	—
Other long-term assets		3,929		—		—
Interest rate swaps		—		196		—

Derivative Financial Instruments

Disclosure requirements for derivatives and hedging activities with the intent to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced understanding of: (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how the entity accounts for derivative instruments and related hedged items, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Further, qualitative disclosures are required that explain the Company’s objectives and strategies for using derivatives, as well as quantitative disclosures about the fair value of and gains and losses on derivative instruments and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative instruments.

The Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether the Company has elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk in a fair value hedge or the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow hedge. The Company may enter into derivative contracts that are intended to economically hedge certain of its risks, even though hedge accounting does not apply or the Company elects not to apply hedge accounting.

Income Taxes

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Act”) was enacted in the United States on December 22, 2017. The provisions of the Act significantly revised the U.S. Federal corporate income tax rules and reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% for 2018 and future years. The Act also required companies to record a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred. A provisional amount was recorded in 2017 to record a reasonable estimate of the effects of the transition tax and the rate reduction on existing deferred tax balances. As of December 31, 2018, the Company completed the accounting for the tax effects of enactment of the Act.

The current provision for income taxes represents actual or estimated amounts payable or refundable on tax return filings each year. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the estimated future tax effects of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, and for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The change in deferred tax assets and liabilities for the period measures the deferred tax provision or benefit for the period. Effects of changes in enacted tax laws on deferred tax assets and liabilities are reflected as adjustments to the tax provision or benefit in the period of enactment. A valuation allowance may be provided to the extent management deems it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of net deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income, in the appropriate taxing jurisdictions, during the periods in which temporary differences, net operating losses and tax credits become realizable. Management believes that it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of these temporary differences and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, net of valuation allowances.

Realization of an uncertain income tax position must have a “more likely than not” probability of being sustained based on technical merits before it can be recognized in the financial statements, assuming a review by tax authorities having all relevant information and applying current conventions. The Company does not have significant unrecognized tax benefits and does not anticipate a significant increase or decrease in unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months. Income tax related interest and penalties recognized in 2018, 2017 and 2016 are de minimus.

Pension and Postretirement Welfare Plans

The Company records the service cost component of net benefit costs in Cost of goods sold, Selling, and General and administrative expenses. The interest cost component of net benefit costs is recorded in Interest Expense and the remaining components of net benefit costs, amortization of net losses and expected return on plan assets is recorded in Other (income) expense, net.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Trade receivables subject the Company to the potential for credit risk. To reduce this risk, the Company performs evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and creditworthiness at the time of sale, and updates those evaluations when necessary. See Note 12, Segment Information, for additional information regarding customer concentration.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. Such estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as well as disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” which is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model. Under ASU 2014-09, a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. We adopted ASU 2014-09 and its amendments on a modified retrospective basis effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. A significant majority of our revenue is recorded when we invoice customers and is largely aligned with the meeting of identified performance obligations under ASU 2014-09. There is no material change in our revenue recognition after the implementation of the standard.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities.” The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in any interim period after issuance. All transition requirements and elections should be applied to hedging relationships existing (that is, hedging relationships in which the hedging instrument has not expired, been sold, terminated, or exercised or the entity has not removed the designation of the hedging relationship) on the date of adoption. The effect of adoption should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company early adopted ASU 2017-12 in the first quarter of 2018. The implementation did not impact our consolidated financial statements other than requiring enhanced disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business.” The amendments affect all companies that must determine whether they have acquired or sold a business. The amendments are intended to help companies and evaluate whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The amendments provide a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities is a business. The new standard was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.” The objective of ASU 2016-15 is to reduce existing diversity in practice by addressing eight specific cash flow issues related to how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The new standard was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, “Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income,” to address a specific consequence of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) by allowing a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Act’s reduction of the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate. The ASU is effective for all entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and is to be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Act is recognized. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2019.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.” The guidance in ASU 2017-04 eliminates the requirement to determine the fair value of individual assets and liabilities of a reporting unit to measure goodwill impairment. Under the amendments in the new ASU, goodwill impairment testing will be performed by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognizing an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and should be applied on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted for annual or interim goodwill impairment testing performed after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” This guidance requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This guidance also requires enhanced disclosures regarding significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases," requiring lessees to recognize in the statement of financial position a lease liability, which represents the obligation to make future payments, and a right-of-use asset, which represents the Company's right to use the underlying asset for the lease term, for all leases except short-term leases. The classification of a lease as financing or operating will affect the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the statement of operations. The new standard offers several optional practical expedients in transition. The Company plans to elect the "Package of Three," which allows the Company to not reassess its prior conclusions regarding lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs, and the practical expedient for short-term lease recognition exemption for all leases that qualify. Additionally, in July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, "Leases -Targeted Improvements," which provides an alternative transition method that allows entities to initially apply the new guidance at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Company intends to use this transition method.

The Company has substantially completed its evaluation of the new accounting standard and its impact on the Company's lease portfolio. The Company believes the largest impact will be the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, as the Company's lease portfolio primarily consists of operating leases for facilities and equipment, which are not recognized on the consolidated balance sheets under current accounting standards. The Company expects to recognize right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities of approximately $15 million to $25 million at the date of adoption. The results of operations are not expected to change significantly as a result of adopting the new standard. This guidance was effective for the Company on January 1, 2019.