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BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  
BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1. BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Business

Effective August 23, 2023, Allied Motion Technologies Inc. (“Allied Motion”) changed its name to Allient Inc. (“Allient” or the “Company”). In conjunction with the name change, Allient’s ticker symbol has changed from “AMOT” to “ALNT”. The name change reflects the Company’s evolution of its business to transform from a products-based business in motion control to a solutions-oriented company that addresses its customers’ requirements for Motion, Controls and Power technologies for a multitude of applications.

The Company is engaged in the business of designing, manufacturing, and selling precision motion, control, power and structural composites to provide integrated system solutions as well as individual products, to a broad spectrum of customers throughout the world primarily for the industrial, vehicle, 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, net assets acquired, and liabilities assumed are recorded 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 provision for credit losses 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 provisions in the future. Activity in the provision for credit losses for 2023 and 2022 was as follows (in thousands):

    

December 31, 2023

    

December 31, 2022

Beginning balance

$

1,192

$

506

Additional reserves

 

267

 

803

Write-offs

 

(225)

 

(107)

Effect of foreign currency translation

6

(10)

Ending balance

$

1,240

$

1,192

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, 2023

    

December 31, 2022

Parts and raw materials

$

87,381

$

89,100

Work-in-process

 

11,456

 

11,686

Finished goods

 

18,849

 

16,322

$

117,686

$

117,108

Property, Plant and Equipment

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

    

    

December 31, 

    

December 31, 

Useful lives

2023

2022

Land

$

973

$

965

Building and improvements

 

5 - 39 years

 

26,201

 

25,093

Machinery, equipment, tools and dies

 

3 - 15 years

 

99,711

 

89,144

Construction in progress

9,300

14,197

Furniture, fixtures and other

 

3 - 10 years

 

24,439

 

22,461

 

160,624

 

151,860

Less accumulated depreciation

 

(93,161)

 

(83,220)

Property, plant, and equipment, net

$

67,463

$

68,640

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 asset, 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 $12,755, $12,676 and $11,862 in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets, other than goodwill, are initially recorded at fair value and are amortized over their estimated useful lives using an accelerated or straight-line method which approximates the pattern of expected cash flows over the remaining useful lives of the intangible assets.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews the carrying values of its long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, on an annual basis and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that such carrying values may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets are recorded at their carrying amounts 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. 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, 2023, 2022 or 2021.

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 its 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. If the qualitative assessment indicates that the quantitative analysis should be performed, or if management elects to bypass a qualitative assessment, the Company then evaluates goodwill for impairment by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill.

At October 31, 2023, the Company performed its annual goodwill impairment test and determined, after performing a qualitative test of the reporting unit, that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount. Accordingly, there was no indication of impairment and the quantitative impairment test was not performed. The Company did not record any goodwill impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 or 2021.

Other Long-Term Assets

Other long-term assets include the noncurrent portion of interest rate derivatives of $2,177 that the Company has entered into in response to the variable interest rate exposure on long-term debt, as well as 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 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 goods sold.

Changes in the Company’s reserve for product warranty claims during 2023, 2022 and 2021 were as follows (in thousands):

December 31, 

December 31, 

December 31, 

    

2023

    

2022

    

2021

Beginning balance

$

2,160

$

1,869

$

1,571

Warranty reserves acquired

 

 

45

 

15

Provision

 

(296)

 

(66)

 

543

Warranty expenditures

 

243

 

409

 

(204)

Effect of foreign currency translation

 

32

 

(97)

 

(56)

Ending balance

$

2,139

$

2,160

$

1,869

Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

December 31, 

December 31, 

    

2023

    

2022

Compensation and fringe benefits

$

17,251

$

15,818

Accrued business acquisition consideration

 

12,638

 

12,500

Warranty reserve

 

2,139

 

2,160

Income taxes payable

2,483

3,934

Operating lease liabilities – current

5,142

4,224

Finance lease obligations – current

412

377

Contract liabilities

2,137

4,807

Contingent consideration – current

7,720

Other accrued expenses

 

6,566

 

4,301

$

56,488

$

48,121

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 accumulated 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 operating locations are included in the other expense (income), net 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 design as well as research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income or loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted earnings 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 potential common shares determined utilizing the treasury stock method.

Basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding are as follows (in thousands):

Year ended December 31, 

    

2023

    

2022

    

2021

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

 

15,963

 

15,448

 

14,413

Dilutive effect of potential common shares

 

309

 

503

 

104

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

 

16,272

 

15,951

 

14,517

For 2023, 2022 and 2021, the anti-dilutive common shares excluded from the calculation of diluted income per share were 22,000, 15,000, and 2,000, respectively.

Comprehensive Income

The Company’s comprehensive income as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income includes net income, foreign currency translation adjustments, the net change in cash flow hedges, net of tax, and defined benefit plan liability adjustments, net of tax. The Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income and Note 13, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, contain additional information on the computation of the Company’s comprehensive income.

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, 2023 and 2022, respectively, by level within the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):

December 31, 2023

    

Level 1

    

Level 2

    

Level 3

Assets (liabilities)

Pension plan assets

$

5,859

$

$

Deferred compensation plan assets

 

4,305

 

 

Foreign currency hedge contracts

54

Interest rate swaps, net

 

 

4,431

 

Contingent consideration

 

 

 

(7,990)

December 31, 2022

    

Level 1

    

Level 2

    

Level 3

Assets (liabilities)

Pension plan assets

$

5,324

$

$

Deferred compensation plan assets

 

3,870

 

 

Foreign currency hedge contracts

 

 

48

 

Interest rate swaps, net

 

 

7,236

 

Contingent consideration

 

 

 

(4,100)

The contingent consideration fair value measurement represents amounts in connection with the acquisitions of Sierramotion, which has a maximum amount of $2,000, and ALIO, which does not have a maximum amount. The measurements are based on significant inputs not observable in the market and therefore constitute Level 3 inputs within the fair value hierarchy. The contingent consideration at December 31, 2023 for the acquisition of Sierramotion consists of Company stock and was paid in January 2024 at the maximum amount of $2,000. The contingent consideration at December 31, 2023 for the acquisition of ALIO is paid 50% in Company stock and 50% cash, the current portion of which was $5,720 and has been paid in February 2024. Changes to contingent consideration since December 31, 2022 include a $2,000 increase due to the acquisition of Sierramotion in the current period and an increase of $1,890, which is included in business development in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, of the estimated fair value of the ALIO contingent consideration related to updated inputs to the timing of anticipated earnings of the acquired entity. Of the total contingent consideration payable as of December 31, 2023, $7,720 was paid in January and February 2024 and is included in accrued liabilities and $270 is payable, if earned, in the first half of 2025 and included in other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023. Contingent consideration of $4,100 is included in other long-term liabilities as of December 31, 2022.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") No. 815, Derivatives and Hedging ("ASC 815"), provides the 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.

As required by ASC 815, 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 risk, even though hedge accounting does not apply, or the Company elects not to apply hedge accounting.

Income Taxes

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 and incentives 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.

It is the Company's policy to include interest and penalties related to income tax liabilities in income tax expense on the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive Income. In addition, the Company records uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, ("ASC 740").

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 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 14, 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.

Recent Accounting Developments - Not Yet Adopted

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, "Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures". This ASU relates to required disclosures of certain information about reportable segments. The update adds additional required disclosures on an annual basis as well as expands the requirements for quarterly disclosures. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning December 15, 2024. The Company is assessing the impact of adopting the standard on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures”. This enhances the disclosures around rate reconciliation, income taxes paid, and other related topics. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is assessing the impact of adopting the standard on our consolidated financial statements.