OUR BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Our Business

Our Business

IEC Electronics Corp. (“IEC”, “we”, “our”, “us”, “Company”)

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

IEC’s financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, as set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”).

Fiscal Calendar

Fiscal Calendar

The Company’s fiscal year ends on September 30th, and the first three quarters end generally on the Friday closest to the last day of the calendar quarter.

Consolidation

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of IEC and its wholly owned subsidiaries: IEC Electronics Wire and Cable, Inc. (“Wire and Cable”); IEC Electronics Corp-Albuquerque (“Albuquerque”); Dynamic Research and Testing Laboratories, LLC (“DRTL”); and Southern California Braiding, Inc. (“SCB”).  The Celmet unit (“Celmet”) operates as a division of IEC.  All significant intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation. 

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

Prior year financial statement amounts are reclassified as necessary to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications generally involve transfers of individual accounts from one financial statement line-item to another, without affecting income before or after taxes.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents principally represent deposit accounts with Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (“M&T Bank”), a banking corporation headquartered in Buffalo, NY.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts receivable based on the age of outstanding invoices and management’s evaluation of collectability.  Accounts are written off after all reasonable collection efforts have been exhausted and management concludes that likelihood of collection is remote.

Inventory Valuation

Inventory Valuation

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value under the first-in, first-out method.  The Company regularly assesses slow-moving, excess and obsolete inventory and maintains balance sheet reserves in amounts required to reduce the recorded value of inventory to lower of cost or market.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”) are stated at cost and are depreciated over various estimated useful lives using the straight-line method.  Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, while renewals and improvements are capitalized.  At the time of retirement or other disposition of PP&E, cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is recorded in earnings.

Depreciable lives generally used for PP&E are presented in the table below.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the improvement. 

PP&E Lives	Estimated Useful Lives
	(years)
Land improvements	10
Buildings and improvements	5 to 40
Machinery and equipment	3 to 5
Furniture and fixtures	3 to 7

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets (other than goodwill) are those that lack physical substance and are not financial assets.  Such assets held by IEC were acquired in connection with business combinations and represent economic benefits associated with acquired customer relationships, a non-compete agreement, and a property tax abatement.  Values assigned to individual intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives.  During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, an impairment charge of $2.4 million related to SCB’s customer relationships was recorded.  The impairment analysis and resulting charge are further discussed in Note 6—Intangible Assets.

Reviewing Long-Lived Assets for Potential Impairment

Reviewing Long-Lived Assets for Potential Impairment

ASC 360-10 (Property, Plant and Equipment) and 350-30 (Intangibles) require the Company to test long-lived assets (PP&E and definitive lived assets) for recoverability whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.  If carrying value exceeds undiscounted future cash flows attributable to an asset, it is considered impaired and the excess of carrying value over fair value must be charged to earnings.  No impairment charges were recorded by IEC for property, plant and equipment during fiscal2014 or fiscal2013.  Refer to Note 6—Intangible Assets for further discussion of the impairment charge recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013.

Goodwill

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over fair value of net assets acquired in a business combination.   Under ASC 350, goodwill is not amortized but is reviewed for impairment at least annually or when events or circumstances indicate that carrying value may exceed fair value.  The Company may elect to precede a quantitative review for impairment with a qualitative assessment of the likelihood that fair value of a particular reporting unit exceeds carrying value.  If the qualitative assessment leads to a conclusion that it is more than 50 percent likely that fair value exceeds carrying value, no further testing is required.  In the event of a less favorable outcome, the Company is required to proceed with quantitative testing. 

The quantitative process entails comparing the overall fair value of the unit to which goodwill relates to carrying value.  If fair value exceeds carrying value, no further assessment of potential impairment is required.  If fair value of the unit is less than carrying value, a valuation of the unit’s individual assets and liabilities is required to determine whether or not goodwill is impaired.  Goodwill impairment losses are charged to earnings.  During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, an impairment charge of $11.8 million related to SCB’s goodwill was recorded.  The impairment analysis and resulting charge are further discussed in Note 7—Goodwill.

Most of IEC’s recorded goodwill relates to SCB acquired in December 2010, and a lesser portion relates to Celmet, which was acquired in July 2010.  

Leases

Leases

At the inception of a lease covering equipment or real estate, the lease agreement is evaluated under criteria discussed in ASC 840-10-25 (Leases).  Leases meeting one of four key criteria are accounted for as capital leases and all others are treated as operating leases.  Under a capital lease, the discounted value of future lease payments becomes the basis for recognizing an asset and a borrowing, and lease payments are allocated between debt reduction and interest.  For operating leases, payments are recorded as rent expense.  Criteria for a capital lease include (i) transfer of ownership during the lease term; (ii) existence of a bargain purchase option under terms that make it likely to be exercised; (iii) a lease term equal to 75 percent or more of the economic life of the leased property; and (iv) minimum lease payments that equal or exceed 90 percent of the fair value of the property.

In June 2008, IEC entered into a sale-leaseback arrangement with M&T Bank under which fixed assets with a net book value of $2.0 million and an original cost of $15.6 million were sold to M&T Bank and were leased back under a five-year operating lease.  The sold assets were removed from the accounts and a minimal loss on the transaction was amortized over the initial lease term.  During the third quarter of fiscal 2013, the operating lease terminated and the assets were repurchased for $0.4 million pursuant to a purchase option in the sale-leaseback arrangement.

Legal Contingencies

Legal Contingencies

When legal proceedings are brought or claims are made against us and the outcome is uncertain, ASC 450-10 (Contingencies) requires that we determine whether it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred.  If such impairment or liability is probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated, the loss must be charged to earnings.  No material charges for legal contingencies were recorded by IEC during fiscal2014 or fiscal2013.

When it is considered probable that a loss has been incurred, but the amount of loss cannot be estimated, disclosure but not accrual of the probable loss is required.  Disclosure of a loss contingency is also required when it is reasonably possible, but not probable, that a loss has been incurred. 

Customer Deposits

Customer Deposits

Grants from Outside Parties

Grants from Outside Parties

Grants from outside parties are recorded as other long-term liabilities and are amortized over the same period during which the associated fixed assets are depreciated.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company actively monitors its exposure to interest rate risk and from time to time uses derivative financial instruments to manage the impact of this risk.  The Company uses derivatives only for purposes of managing risk associated with underlying exposures.  The Company does not trade or use instruments with the objective of earning financial gains on the interest rate, nor does the Company use derivative instruments where it does not have underlying exposures.  The Company manages its hedging position and monitors the credit ratings of counterparties and does not anticipate losses due to counterparty nonperformance.  Management believes its use of derivative instruments to manage risk is in the Company’s best interest.  However, the Company’s use of derivative financial instruments may result in short-term gains or losses and increased earnings volatility.  The Company’s instruments are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value in other assets or other long-term liabilities.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

Under ASC 825 (Financial Instruments), the Company is required to disclose the fair value of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate value.  The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, borrowings and an interest rate swap agreement.  IEC believes that recorded value approximates fair value for all cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

ASC 820 (Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures) defines fair value, establishes a framework for measurement, and prescribes related disclosures.  ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or would be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction.  Inputs used to measure fair value are categorized under the following hierarchy:

Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company can access at the measurement date.

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 in which all significant inputs are observable market data.

Level 3: Model-derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.

The Company deems a transfer between levels of the fair value hierarchy to have occurred at the beginning of the reporting period.  There were no such transfers during fiscal2014 or fiscal2013.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s revenue is principally derived from the sale of electronic products built to customer specifications, but also from other value-added support services and repair work.  Revenue from product sales is recognized when (i) goods are shipped or title and risk of ownership have passed, (ii) the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and (iii) realization is reasonably assured. Service revenue is generally recognized once the service has been rendered.  For material management arrangements, revenue is generally recognized as services are rendered.  Under such arrangements, some or all of the following services may be provided: design, bid, procurement, testing, storage or other activities relating to materials the customer expects to incorporate into products that it manufactures.  Value-added support services revenue, including material management and repair work revenue, amounted to less than 5% of total revenue in fiscal2014 or fiscal2013.

Provisions for discounts, allowances, rebates, estimated returns and other adjustments are recorded in the period the related sales are recognized.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

ASC 718 (Stock Compensation) requires that compensation expense be recognized for equity awards based on fair value as of the date of grant.  For stock options, the Company uses the Black-Scholes pricing model to estimate grant date fair value.  Costs associated with stock awards are recorded over requisite service periods, generally the vesting period.  If vesting is contingent on the achievement of performance objectives, fair value is accrued over the period the objectives are expected to be achieved only if it is considered probable that the objectives will be achieved.  The Company also has an employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”) that provides for discounted stock purchase price. Compensation expense related to the discount is recognized as employees contribute to the plan.  On May 21, 2013, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors suspended operation of the ESPP indefinitely in connection with the restatement of the Company’s financial statements described herein (including unavailability of the registration statement covering shares offered under the plan due to the failure of the Company to be current in its filings with the SEC until the Company filed its Form 10-K on December 24, 2013).

Restatement and Related Expenses

Restatement and Related Expenses

Restatement and related expenses represents third-party expenses arising from the restatement further discussed in Note 2—Restatement of Consolidated Financial Statements.  These expenses include legal and accounting fees incurred by the Company from external counsel and independent accountants directly attributable to the restatement as well as other matters arising from the restatement including those more fully described in Note 17—Litigation. 

Income Taxes and Deferred Taxes

Income Taxes and Deferred Taxes

ASC 740 (Income Taxes) requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns, but not in both.  Deferred tax assets are also established for tax benefits associated with tax loss and tax credit carryforwards.  Such deferred balances reflect tax rates that are scheduled to be in effect, based on currently enacted legislation, in the years the book/tax differences reverse and tax loss and tax credit carryforwards are expected to be realized.  An allowance is established for any deferred tax asset for which realization is not likely.

ASC 740 also prescribes the manner in which a company measures, recognizes, presents, and discloses in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that the Company has taken or expects to take on a tax return.  The Company recognizes tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained following examination by taxing authorities, based on technical merits of the position.  The Company believes that it has no material uncertain tax positions.

Any interest or penalties incurred are reported as interest expense.  The Company’s income tax filings are subject to audit by various tax jurisdictions and current open years are fiscal 2010 through fiscal 2013.  The federal income tax audit for fiscal 2011 concluded in fiscal 2013 and did not have a material impact on the financial statements. 

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per common share are calculated by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each period.  Diluted earnings per common share add to the denominator incremental shares resulting from the assumed exercise of all potentially dilutive stock options, as well as restricted (non-vested) stock, restricted stock units (“RSU’s”) and anticipated issuance through the employee stock purchase plan.  Options, restricted stock and RSU’s are primarily held by directors, officers and certain employees.  A summary of shares used in earnings per share (“EPS”) calculations follows.

	Three Months Ended		Years Ended
Shares for EPS Calculation	September 30, 2014	September 30, 2013	September 30, 2014	September 30, 2013
Weighted average shares outstanding	9,853,647	9,739,601	9,827,043	9,711,549
Incremental shares	—	—	—	—
Diluted shares	9,853,647	9,739,601	9,827,043	9,711,549
Anti-dilutive shares excluded	556,873	521,857	556,873	521,857

As a result of the net loss for the three months and years ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company calculated diluted earnings per share using weighted average basic shares outstanding, as using diluted shares would be anti-dilutive to loss per share.

Dividends

Dividends

IEC does not pay dividends on its common stock, as it is the Company’s current policy to retain earnings for use in the business.  Furthermore, the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Facility Agreement with M&T Bank includes certain restrictions on paying cash dividends. 

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.  Actual results may differ from management’s estimates.

Statements of Cash Flows

Statements of Cash Flows

The Company presents operating cash flows using the indirect method of reporting under which non-cash income and expense items are removed from net income. 

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive Income

IEC has no items of other comprehensive income (“OCI”) in any period presented in the accompanying financial statements, and in accordance with ASC 220-10-15, is not required to present captions for OCI or comprehensive income in the statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

FASB ASU 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force),” was issued July 2013 and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013. ASU 2013-11 provides guidance on financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. This ASU applies to all entities with unrecognized tax benefits that also have tax loss or tax credit carryforwards in the same tax jurisdiction as of the reporting date. The Company does not anticipate a significant impact upon adoption.

FASB ASU 2013-12, “Definition of a Public Business Entity (An Addition to the Master Glossary),” was issued December 2013 and the amendment provides a single definition of public business entity for use in future financial accounting and reporting guidance. There is no actual effective date for the amendment, however, the term public business entity will be used in future ASUs.