NOTE 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

Our manufacturing services include complete medical devices, printed circuit board assemblies, wire and cable assemblies, and complex higher level electromechanical assemblies for a wide range of medical, industrial and defense and aerospace industries. We provide a full “turn-key” contract manufacturing service to our customers. All products are built to the customer’s design specifications. We also provide engineering services and repair services.

Our manufacturing facilities are located in Bemidji, Blue Earth, Merrifield, Milaca and Mankato, Minnesota as well as Augusta, Wisconsin, Monterrey, Mexico and Suzhou, China. Products are sold to customers both domestically and internationally.

A summary of our significant accounting policies follows:

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Nortech Systems Incorporated and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Manufacturing Assembly Solutions of Monterrey, Inc. and Nortech Systems Hong Kong Company, Limited and its subsidiary, Nortech Systems Suzhou Company, Limited. All significant intercompany accounts 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 us 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 our consolidated financial statements. Estimates also affect the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Significant items subject to estimates and assumptions include the valuation allowance for inventories, allowance for doubtful accounts, realizability of deferred tax assets, goodwill impairment and long-lived asset impairment testing. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We grant credit to customers in the normal course of business. Accounts receivable are unsecured and are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $883,000 and $320,000 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. We determine our allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time accounts receivable are past due, our previous loss history, the customers’ current ability to pay their obligations to us, and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole. We write-off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible, and payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to the allowance for doubtful accounts.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market (based on the lower of replacement cost or net realizable value). Costs include material, labor, and overhead required in the production of our products. Inventory reserves are maintained for inventories that may have a lower value than stated or quantities in excess of future production needs.

Inventories are as follows:

	2016			2015
Raw materials	$	14,533,690		$	13,782,411
Work in process	4,104,968			4,674,223
Finished goods	2,688,596			2,478,423
Reserves	(673,413		)	(749,612		)

Total	$	20,653,841		$	20,185,445

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Additions, improvements and major renewals are capitalized, while maintenance and minor repairs are expensed as incurred. When assets are retired or disposed of, the assets and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or their remaining lease terms. All other property and equipment are depreciated by the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

Buildings		39 Years
Leasehold improvements		3-15 Years
Manufacturing equipment		3-7 Years
Office and other equipment		3-7 Years

Property and equipment at December 31, 2016 and 2015:

	2016			2015
Land	$	375,000		$	375,000
Building and Leasehold Improvements	9,393,092			9,273,866
Manufacturing Equipment	19,632,033			18,588,934
Office and Other Equipment	5,455,459			4,982,686
Accumulated Depreciation	(24,524,750		)	(22,712,738		)

Total Property and Equipment, net	$	10,330,834		$	10,507,748

Other Intangible Assets

Finite life intangible assets at December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:

	December 31, 2016
		Gross		Accumulated		Net Book
		Carrying		Amortization		Value
	Years	Amount		Amount		Amount
Bond Issue Costs	15	$	79,373	$	55,561	$	23,812
Customer Relationships	9	1,302,000		216,998		1,085,002
Trade Names	20	814,000		61,050		752,950

Totals		$	2,195,373	$	333,609	$	1,861,764

	December 31, 2015
		Gross		Accumulated		Net Book
		Carrying		Amortization		Value
	Years	Amount		Amount		Amount
Bond Issue Costs	15	$	79,373	$	50,270	$	29,103
Customer Relationships	9	1,302,000		72,333		1,229,667
Trade Names	20	814,000		20,350		793,650

Totals		$	2,195,373	$	142,953	$	2,052,420

Amortization of finite life intangible assets was $190,654 and $97,975 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Estimated future annual amortization expense associated with finite lived intangible assets is expected to be approximately as follows:

Year	Amount
2017	$	191,000
2018	191,000
2019	191,000
2020	191,000
2021	191,000
Thereafter	906,764

	$	1,861,764

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

In accordance with ASC 350, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, goodwill is not amortized but is required to be reviewed for impairment at least annually or when events or circumstances indicate that carrying value may exceed fair value. We test impairment annually as of October 1st. In testing goodwill for impairment we perform a quantitative impairment test, including computing the fair value of the reporting unit and comparing that value to its carrying value. If the fair value is less than its carrying value, a second step of the test is required to determine if recorded goodwill is impaired. In the event that goodwill is impaired, an impairment charge to earnings would become necessary. Based upon our annual goodwill impairment test we concluded that goodwill was not impaired.

We recognize the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations on the basis of their fair values at the date of acquisition. We assess the fair value of assets, including intangible assets, using a variety of methods and each asset is measured at fair value from the perspective of a market participant. The method used to estimate the fair values of intangible assets incorporates significant assumptions regarding the estimates a market participant would make in order to evaluate an asset, including a market participant’s use of the asset and the appropriate discount rates for a market participant. Any excess purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired is allocated to goodwill.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment

We evaluate long-lived assets, primarily property and equipment, as well as the related depreciation periods, whenever current events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability for assets to be held and used is based on our projection of the undiscounted future operating cash flows of the underlying assets or asset group. To the extent such projections indicate that future undiscounted cash flows are not sufficient to recover the carrying amounts of related assets, a charge might be required to reduce the carrying amount to equal estimated fair value. Assets held for sale are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to dispose.

Preferred Stock

Preferred stock issued is non-cumulative and nonconvertible. The holders of the preferred stock are entitled to a non-cumulative dividend of 12% when and as declared. In liquidation, holders of preferred stock have preference to the extent of $1.00 per share plus dividends accrued but unpaid. No preferred stock dividends were declared or paid during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize manufacturing revenue when we ship goods or the goods are received by our customer, when title has passed, all contractual obligations have been satisfied, the price is fixed or determinable and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. Generally, there are no formal substantive customer acceptance requirements or further obligations related to manufacturing services. If such requirements or obligations exist, then we recognize the related revenues at the time when such requirements are completed and the obligations are fulfilled. We also provide engineering services separate from the manufacturing of a product. Revenue for engineering services is generally recognized on a time and materials basis or upon completion of the engineering process. In addition, we have another separate source of revenue that comes from short-term repair services, which are recognized when the repairs are completed and the repaired products are shipped back to the customer. Our net sales for services were less than 10% of our total sales for all periods presented, and accordingly, are included in net sales in the consolidated statement of income. Shipping and handling costs charged to our customers are included in net sales, while the corresponding shipping expenses are included in cost of goods sold.

Product Warranties

We provide limited warranty for the replacement or repair of defective product within a specified time period after the sale at no cost to our customers. We make no other guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied, of any nature whatsoever as to the goods including, without limitation, warranties to merchantability, fit for a particular purpose or non-infringement of patent or the like unless agreed upon in writing. We estimate the costs that may be incurred under our limited warranty and provide a reserve based on actual historical warranty claims coupled with an analysis of unfulfilled claims at the balance sheet date. Our warranty claim costs are not material given the nature of our products and services.

Advertising

Advertising costs are charged to operations as incurred. The total amount charged to expense was $131,000 and $108,000 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized annually for differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The company recognizes interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component on income tax expense.

We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such positions are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution. Management must also assess whether uncertain tax positions as filed could result in the recognition of a liability for possible interest and penalties if any. Our estimates are based on the information available to us at the time we prepare the income tax provisions. Our income tax returns are subject to audit by federal, state, and local governments, generally years after the returns are filed. These returns could be subject to material adjustments or differing interpretations of the tax laws.

Incentive Compensation

We use a Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the grant date fair value of our incentive awards and recognize the expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period less awards expected to be forfeited using estimated forfeiture rates. See Note 6 for additional information.

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

Basic net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Dilutive net income (loss) per common share assumes the exercise and issuance of all potential common stock equivalents in computing the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, unless their effect is antidilutive.

A reconciliation of basic and diluted share amounts for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:

	2016	2015
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	2,747,424	2,745,759
Weighted average common stock equivalents from assumed exercise of stock options	2,121	—

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	2,749,545	2,745,759

Outstanding stock options totaling 23,250 options for the year ended December 31, 2016, were excluded from the net income per share calculation because the shares would be anti-dilutive. Due to the loss in 2015, basic and diluted shares are the same. Any outstanding shares would result in anti-dilution.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of all financial instruments approximate their fair values. The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. Based on the borrowing rates currently available to us for bank loans with similar terms and average maturities, the carrying value of our long-term debt and line of credit approximates its fair value.

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

The fair value framework requires the categorization of assets and liabilities into one of three levels based on the assumptions (inputs) used in valuing the asset or liability. Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, while Level 3 generally requires significant management judgment. The three levels are defined as follows:

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

Level 2: Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs reflecting management’s own assumptions about the inputs used in pricing the asset or liability.

Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurements requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities being measured and their placement within the fair value hierarchy. We endeavor to use the best available information in measuring fair value. Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. As of December 31, 2016, we estimated the fair value of the contingent consideration associated with the Devicix acquisition using a probability weighted discounted cash flow model. This fair value measurement is based on significant inputs not observable in the market and thus represents a level 3 measurement. (see Note 8)

Enterprise-Wide Disclosures

Our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 represent a single operating and reporting segment referred to as Contract Manufacturing within the EMS industry. We strategically direct production between our various manufacturing facilities based on a number of considerations to best meet our customers’ requirements. We share resources for sales, marketing, engineering, supply chain, information services, human resources, payroll and all corporate accounting functions. Consolidated financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in assessing performance and allocating resources.

Export sales from our domestic operations represent approximately 8% and 13% of consolidated net sales for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Net sales by our major EMS industry markets for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:

(in thousands)	2016		2015
Aerospace and Defense	$	16,115	$	14,458
Medical	53,836		41,308
Industrial	46,671		59,426

Total Net Sales	$	116,622	$	115,192

Noncurrent assets, excluding deferred taxes, by country are as follows:

	United States		Mexico		China		Total
December 31, 2016
Property and equipment, net	$	8,731,205	$	1,238,087	$	361,542	$	10,330,834
Other assets	5,145,218		7,726		—		5,152,944

December 31, 2015
Property and equipment, net	$	9,322,484	$	1,185,264	$	—	$	10,507,748
Other assets	5,335,874		7,726		—		5,343,600

Foreign Currency Transactions

The functional currency for our Mexico subsidiary is the US dollar. Foreign exchange transaction gains and losses attributable to exchange rate movements related to transactions made in the local currency and on intercompany receivables and payables not deemed to be of a long-term investment nature are recorded in other income (expense). The functional currency for our China subsidiary is the Renminbi (RMB). Assets and liabilities of the China operation are translated from RMB into U.S. dollars at period-end rates, while income and expense are translated at the weighted-average exchange rates for the period. The related translation adjustments are reflected as a foreign currency translation adjustment in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within shareholders’ equity. The total foreign currency translation adjustment increased shareholders’ equity by $19,000, from an accumulated foreign currency translation loss of $63,000 as of December 31, 2015 to an accumulated foreign currency translation loss of $44,000 as of December 31, 2016.

Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the consolidated statements of income. Net foreign currency transaction gains (losses) included in the determination of net earnings was ($82,000) and ($15,000) for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (Topic 350), to simplify the accounting for goodwill impairment. The guidance removes Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. A goodwill impairment will now be measured as the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, limited to the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. ASU 2017-04 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for any impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. We are currently evaluating the effect of this update on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which changes how companies account for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. The new guidance requires all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled, allows an employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares than previously allowed for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting, allows a company to make a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur, and eliminates the requirement that excess tax benefits be realized before companies can recognize them. The new guidance also requires excess tax benefits and tax shortfalls to be presented on the cash flow statement as an operating activity rather than as a financing activity, and clarifies that cash paid to a tax authority when shares are withheld to satisfy its statutory income tax withholding obligation are to be presented as a financing activity. The standard is effective for our financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not expect this guidance to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.

During February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases.” ASU 2016-02 was issued to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing all lease transactions (with terms in excess of 12 months) on the balance sheet as a lease liability and a right-of-use asset (as defined). ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier application permitted. Upon adoption, the lessee will apply the new standard on a modified retrospective basis to all periods presented. We are currently assessing the effect that ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory.” This standard changes the measurement principle for certain inventory methods from the lower of cost or market to the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. This standard does not apply to inventory that is measured using Last-in First-out (“LIFO”) or the retail inventory method. The provisions of ASU 2015-11 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not expect this guidance to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”. This standard outlines a single comprehensive model for companies to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The core principle of the revenue model is that revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of a good or service. A customer obtains control when it has the ability to direct the use of and obtain the benefits from the good or service. Transfer of control is not the same as transfer of risks and rewards, as it is considered in current guidance. We will also need to apply new guidance to determine whether revenue should be recognized over time or at a point in time. This standard will be effective for the first interim period within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with no early adoption permitted, using either of two methods: (a) retrospective to each prior reporting period presented with the option to elect certain practical expedients as defined within ASU 2014-09; or (b) retrospective with the cumulative effect of initially applying ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of initial application and providing certain additional disclosures as defined in ASU 2014-09. We have not yet selected a transition method and are currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of ASU 2014-09 on the consolidated financial statements.