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Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1 — Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

Hexcel Corporation and its subsidiaries (herein referred to as “Hexcel”, “the Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), is a leading advanced composites company. We develop, manufacture, and market lightweight, high-performance structural materials, including carbon fibers, specialty reinforcements, prepregs and other fiber-reinforced matrix materials, honeycomb, adhesives, radio frequency/ electromagnetic interference (“RF/EMI”) and microwave absorbing materials, engineered honeycomb and composite structures, for use in Commercial Aerospace, Space & Defense and Industrial Applications. Our products are used in a wide variety of end applications, such as commercial and military aircraft, space launch vehicles and satellites, wind turbine blades, automotive, a wide variety of recreational products and other industrial applications.

We serve international markets through manufacturing facilities, sales offices and representatives located in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, India, and Africa. We are also a partner in a joint venture in Malaysia, Aerospace Composites Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (“ACM”), which manufactures composite structures for commercial aerospace applications.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Hexcel Corporation and its subsidiaries after elimination of all intercompany accounts, transactions, and profits. At December 31, 2020, we had a 50% equity ownership investment in the joint venture described above and a 25% equity investment in Hexcut Services.  These investments are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared by us pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Our fiscal year end is December 31. Unless otherwise stated, all years and dates refer to our fiscal year.

Use of Estimates

Preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related disclosures 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, 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 and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased. Our cash equivalents are held in prime money market investments with strong sponsor organizations which are monitored on a continuous basis.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined using the average cost methods. Inventory is reported at its estimated net realizable value based upon our historical experience with inventory becoming obsolete due to age, changes in technology and other factors. Inventory cost consists of materials, labor, and manufacturing related overhead associated with the purchase and production of inventories.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment, including capitalized interest applicable to major project expenditures, is recorded at cost. Asset and accumulated depreciation accounts are eliminated for dispositions, with resulting gains or losses reflected in earnings. Depreciation of plant and equipment is provided generally using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the various assets. The estimated useful lives range from 10 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and from 3 to 25 years for machinery and equipment. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred, while major replacements and betterments are capitalized and depreciated over the remaining useful life of the related asset.

Leases

The Company regularly enters into operating leases for certain buildings, equipment, parcels of land, and vehicles. As of January 1, 2019, we adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842, accounting for leases. Accordingly, we capitalize all agreements with terms for more than one year, where a right of use asset was identified. Generally, amounts capitalized represent the present value of minimum lease payments over the term, and the duration is equivalent to the base agreement, however, management used certain assumptions when determining the value and duration of leases.  These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the probability of renewing a lease term, certain future events impacting lease payments, as well as fair values not explicit in an agreement. Such assumptions impacted the duration of many of our building leases, as well as certain of our equipment leases. In addition, we elected certain expedients, such as the election to capitalize lease and non-lease components of an agreement as a single component for purposes of simplicity, with the exception of those related to equipment and machinery.

In determining the lease renewal, management considers the need and ability to substitute a given asset, as well as certain conditions such as related contractual obligations to our customers (i.e., a contractual obligation of a customer requiring certain manufacturing proximities). In determining fair value, management considers the stand-alone value of an asset in an ordinary market as well as incurring certain costs to terminate an agreement.  Most of our leases do not include variable payments but contain scheduled escalations. Any lease payments tied to certain future indexes are adjusted on a go forward basis as those indexes become known.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable net assets of an acquired business. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level annually, in the fourth quarter, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. The Company performed a quantitative assessment using market and income approaches and determined that the fair values of our reporting units were not less than their carrying values and that no impairment exists.

We amortize the cost of other intangibles over their estimated useful lives unless such lives are deemed indefinite. We have indefinite lived intangible assets which are not amortized but are tested annually for impairment during the fourth quarter of each year, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate the potential for impairment. If the carrying amount of the indefinite lived intangible exceeds the fair value, it is written down to its fair value, which is calculated using a discounted cash flow model.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and definite-lived intangible assets, for impairment whenever changes in circumstances or events may indicate that the carrying amounts are not recoverable. These indicators include, but are not limited to: a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset, a significant change in the extent or manner in which a long-lived asset is used or its physical condition, a significant adverse change in legal factors or business climate that could affect the value of a long-lived asset, an accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount expected for the acquisition or construction of a long-lived asset, a current period operating or cash flow loss combined with a history of losses associated with a long-lived asset and a current expectation that, more likely than not, a long-lived asset will be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly before the end of its previously estimated life.

Software Development Costs

Costs incurred to develop software for internal use are accounted for under ASC 350-40, “Internal-Use Software.” All costs relating to the preliminary project stage and the post-implementation/operation stage are expensed as incurred. Costs incurred during the application development stage are capitalized and amortized over the useful life of the software, which ranges from three to ten years. The amortization of capitalized costs commences after the software has been tested and is placed into operations.

Debt Financing Costs

Debt financing costs are deferred and amortized to interest expense over the life of the related debt. We capitalize financing fees related to our revolving credit facility and record them as a non-current asset in our consolidated balance sheets. Financing fees related to our bonds and notes are capitalized and recorded as a non-current contra liability in our consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, deferred financing costs, recorded as a non-current asset were $2.7 million and $3.7 million, respectively, and net deferred financing costs recorded as non-current contra liability were $3.5 million, and $3.7 million, respectively. The balance of the short term unamortized deferred financing costs related to the Facility was $3.5 million at December 31, 2020 and $3.7 million at December 31, 2019 and was recorded within prepaid assets.  

Share-Based Compensation

The fair value of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) is equal to the market price of our stock at date of grant and is amortized to expense ratably over the vesting period. Performance restricted stock units (“PRSUs”) are a form of RSUs in which the number of shares ultimately received depends on the extent to which we achieve a specified performance target. The fair value of the PRSU is based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant and is amortized straight-line over the total vesting period. A change in the performance measure expected to be achieved is recorded as an adjustment in the period in which the change occurs. We use the Black-Scholes model to calculate the fair value for all stock option grants, based on the inputs relevant on the date granted, such as the market value of our shares, prevailing risk-free interest rate, etc. The value of the portion of the award, after considering potential forfeitures, that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense in our consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods. The value of RSUs, PRSUs and non-qualifying options awards for retirement eligible employees is expensed on the grant date as they are fully vested.

Currency Translation

The assets and liabilities of international subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at year-end exchange rates, and revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates during the year. Cumulative currency translation adjustments are included in “accumulated other comprehensive loss” in the stockholders’ equity section of the consolidated balance sheets.

Revenue Recognition

The Company follows the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which outlines a single, comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. Revenue is predominately derived from a single performance obligation under long-term agreements with our customers and pricing is fixed and determinable. We have determined that individual purchase orders (“PO”), whose terms and conditions taken with a master agreement, create the ASC 606 contracts which are generally short-term in nature.  For those sales, which are not tied to a long-term agreement, we generate a PO that is subject to our standard terms and conditions. Under ASC 606 we applied the five-step approach resulting in revenue being recognized over time for customer contracts that contain a termination for convenience clause (“T for C’) and the products produced do not have an alternative use. For revenue recognized over time, we estimate the amount of revenue earned at a given point during the production cycle based on certain costs factors such as raw materials and labor, incurred to date, plus a reasonable profit. We believe this method, which is the cost-to-cost input method, best estimates the revenue recognizable for T for C Agreements. All other revenue is recognized at a point in time.

We have elected the following practical expedients allowed under ASC 606:

 

Payment terms with our customers which are one year or less, are not considered a performance obligation.

 

Shipping and handling fees and costs incurred in connection with products sold are recorded in cost of sales in our consolidated statements of operations and are not considered a performance obligation to our customers.

 

Our performance obligations on our orders are generally satisfied within one year from a given reporting date therefore we omit disclosure of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations on open orders.

Product Warranty

We provide for an estimated amount of product warranty at the point a claim is probable and estimable. This estimated amount is provided by product and based on current facts, circumstances, and historical warranty experience.

Research and Technology

Significant costs are incurred each year in connection with research and technology (“R&T”) programs that are expected to contribute to future earnings. Such costs are related to the development and, in certain instances, the qualification and certification of new and improved products and their uses. R&T costs are expensed as incurred.

Income Taxes

 

We provide for income taxes using the asset and liability approach. Under this approach, deferred income tax assets and liabilities reflect tax net operating loss and credit carryforwards and the tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax purposes. Deferred tax assets require a valuation allowance when it is not

more likely than not, based on the evaluation of positive and negative evidence, that the deferred tax assets will be realized. The realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the timing and magnitude of future taxable income prior to the expiration of the deferred tax assets’ attributes. When events and circumstances so dictate, we evaluate the realizability of our deferred tax assets and the need for a valuation allowance by forecasting future taxable income. Investment tax credits are recorded on a flow-through basis, which reflects the credit in net income as a reduction of the provision for income taxes in the same period as the credit is realized for federal income tax purposes. In addition, we recognize interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of interest expense and penalties as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade accounts receivable. Two customers and their related subcontractors accounted for approximately 52% of our annual net sales in 2020, 64% in 2019 and 66% in 2018. Refer to Note 18 for further information on significant customers. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition but generally do not require collateral or other security to support customer receivables. We establish an allowance for doubtful accounts based on factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends, and other financial information. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019 the allowance for doubtful accounts was $0.8 million, and $0.6 million, respectively. Bad debt expense was immaterial for all years presented.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We use various financial instruments, including foreign currency forward exchange contracts, commodity, and interest rate agreements, to manage our exposure to market fluctuations by generating cash flows that offset, in relation to their amount and timing, the cash flows of certain foreign currency denominated transactions or underlying debt instruments. We mark our foreign exchange forward contracts to fair value. When the derivatives qualify, we designate our foreign currency forward exchange contracts as cash flow hedges against forecasted foreign currency denominated transactions and report the changes in fair value of the instruments in “accumulated other comprehensive loss” until the underlying hedged transactions affect income. We designate our interest rate agreements as fair value or cash flow hedges against specific debt instruments and recognize interest differentials as adjustments to interest expense as the differentials may occur; the fair value of the interest rate swaps is recorded in other assets or other long-term liabilities with a corresponding amount to “accumulated other comprehensive loss”. We do not use financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

In accordance with accounting guidance, we recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets and measure those instruments at fair value.

Self-insurance

We are self-insured up to specific levels for certain medical and health insurance and workers’ compensation plans. Accruals are established based on actuarial assumptions and historical claim experience and include estimated amounts for incurred but not reported claims.

Asset Held for sale  

The Company classifies its long-lived assets to be sold as held for sale in the period (i) it has approved and committed to a plan to sell the asset, (ii) the asset is available for immediate sale in its present condition, (iii) an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to sell the asset have been initiated, (iv) the sale of the asset is probable, (v) the asset is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value, and (vi) it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn. The Company initially measures a long-lived asset that is classified as held for sale at the lower of its carrying value or fair value less any costs to sell. Any loss resulting from this measurement is recognized in the period in which the held for sale criteria are met. Conversely, gains are not recognized on the sale of a long-lived asset until the date of sale. Upon designation as an asset held for sale, the Company stops recording depreciation expense on the asset. The Company assesses the fair value of a long-lived asset less any costs to sell at each reporting period and until the asset is no longer classified as held for sale. In early November 2020 we closed our wind energy prepreg production facility in Windsor, Colorado and as a result, certain plant assets to be sold have been recorded in “Assets held for sale” in the consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2020.

New Accounting Standards

Accounting Standards Recently Implemented     

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326). The Accounting Standards Codification 326, Financial Instruments- Credit Losses (“ASC 326”) requires a financial asset measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. We adopted the update, effective January 1, 2020, applying this standard to our Accounts Receivable and Contract Assets and there was no impact. Our high-quality credit review practice and good customer relationships has resulted in accounts receivable write offs below 0.5% of our annual sales. Due to the requirements of ASC 326, we have reviewed and refined our bad debt reserve process. Management reviews the average annual charge-off rate along with an assessment of current micro and macro-economic factors to determine any required reserves. If at any time management finds that there are significant changes to any of these contributing factors, the reserve will be adjusted accordingly. In the year ended December 31, 2020 we recorded $0.2 million of reserves and there were no write-offs against receivables resulting in a reserve balance of $0.8 million at December 31, 2020

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This standard requires lessees to recognize a right of use asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases, with the exception of leases with a duration of one year or less. We adopted the provisions of this standard on January 1, 2019, using the modified transition method which allows companies to recognize existing leases at the adoption date without requiring comparable presentation. As a result of the adoption of this standard we recognized approximately $50 million of right of use assets and related liabilities for operating leases that existed prior to January 1, 2019. These right of use assets were recorded in non-current other assets, and the related liabilities were recorded in current accrued liabilities and other non-current liabilities. See Note 6 – Leases, for more details.

Accounting Standards to be Implemented

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General (Subtopic 715-20), which amends the current disclosure requirements regarding defined benefit pensions and other post retirement plansand allows for the removal of certain disclosures, while adding certain new disclosure requirements. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and allows for early adoption. We do not expect this new standard to have a significant impact to our disclosures.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes which amends and aims to simplify accounting disclosure requirements regarding a number of topics including: intraperiod tax allocation, accounting for deferred taxes when there are changes in consolidation of certain investments, tax basis step up in an acquisition and the application of effective rate changes during interim periods, amongst other improvements. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and allows for early adoption. We are assessing the impact of this new standard on our consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations and our future disclosures.