Significant Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Feb. 28, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies

Restricted Cash

The State of Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation requires self-insured companies to pledge collateral in an amount sufficient to cover the projected outstanding liability. In compliance with this requirement,  for EACO’s previous restaurant operations, the Company pledged two irrevocable letters of credit totaling $2,713,000 as of February 28, 2014 and August 31, 2013. These letters were secured by certificates of deposits totaling $548,000 at February 28, 2014 and August 31, 2013 and EACO’s two real estate properties in Sylmar, California (the “Sylmar Properties”).

The Company also has restricted cash of $1,576,000 at February 28, 2014 on deposit with a securities brokerage firm, which relates to the potential liability for short sales of trading securities. There was no such restricted cash at August 31, 2013.

Trade Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are carried at original invoice amount, less an estimate for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $110,000 and $183,000 at February 28, 2014 and August 31, 2013, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories consist of finished goods, primarily electronic fasteners and components, stated at the lower of cost or estimated market value. Cost is determined using the average cost method. Inventories are reported net of a reserve for slow moving or obsolete items of $946,000 and $924,000 at February 28, 2014 and August 31, 2013, respectively. The reserve is based upon management’s review of inventories on-hand over their expected future utilization and length of time held by the Company.

Securities Sold Short

Securities sold short represent transactions in which the Company sells a security it does not own and is obligated to deliver such security at a future date. The short sale is recorded as a liability, and unrealized appreciation or depreciation is recorded for the difference between the proceeds received and the fair value of the open short position. The Company records a realized gain or loss when the short position is closed. By entering into short sales, the Company bears the market risk of an unfavorable increase in the price of the security sold short in excess of the proceeds received. Short sales are separately presented as a liability in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

The Company is required to establish a margin account with the brokers lending the securities sold short. While the short sale is outstanding, the short sale proceeds may be restricted to the extent of the fair value of the short position. See discussion of Restricted Cash.

Revenue Recognition

The Company generally recognizes revenue at the time of product shipment as the shipping terms are FOB shipping point. Revenue is considered to be realized or realizable and earned when there is persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement in the form of an executed contract or purchase order, the product has been shipped, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured.

Earnings Per Common Share  

Basic earnings per common share for the three and six months ended February 28, 2014 and 2013 were computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each respective period. Diluted earnings per common share for those periods have been computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, giving effect to all dilutive potential common shares that were outstanding during the respective periods. (See Note 4).

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

Assets and liabilities recorded in functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar (i.e., Canadian dollars for the Company’s Canadian subsidiary) are translated into U.S. dollars at the quarter-end rate of exchange. Revenue and expenses are translated at the weighted-average exchange rates for the three and six months ended February 28, 2014 and 2013. The average exchange rate for the three months ended February 28, 2014 and 2013 was $0.92 and $1.00 Canadian dollars for one U.S. dollar, respectively. The average exchange rate for the six months ended February 28, 2014 and 2013 was 0.94 and $1.01 Canadian dollars for one U.S. dollar, respectively. The resulting translation adjustments are charged or credited directly to accumulated other comprehensive income.

Concentrations

Net sales to customers outside the United States were approximately 7% for the six months ended February 28, 2014 and 2013, and related accounts receivable were approximately 10% at February 28, 2014 and August 31, 2013.

No single customer accounted for more than 10% of revenues for the three or six months ended February 28, 2014 or 2013.