Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management 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 the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.  These estimates include allowance for doubtful trade accounts receivable, slow moving and obsolete inventory reserves, recoverability of the carrying value and estimated useful lives of long-lived assets, workers’ compensation liability and the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements for all periods presented include the accounts of EACO, its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bisco Industries, Inc., and Bisco’s wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, Bisco Industries Limited (which are collectively referred to herein as the “Company”, “we”, “us” and “our”). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Restricted Cash

The State of Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation (the “Division”) requires self-insured companies to pledge collateral in favor of the Division in an amount sufficient to cover the projected outstanding liability. In compliance with this requirement, the Company pledged a certificate of deposit of $83,000 and $322,000 at August 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. See Note 7 for further discussion.

Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Trade Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are carried at original invoice amount, less an estimate for an allowance for doubtful accounts. Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts by identifying probable credit losses in the Company’s accounts receivable and reviewing historical data to estimate the collectability on items not yet specifically identified as problem accounts. Trade accounts receivable are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of trade accounts receivable previously written off are recorded when received. A trade account receivable is considered past due if any portion of the receivable balance is outstanding for more than 30 days. The Company does not charge interest on past due balances. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $111,000 at August 31, 2015 and 2014.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories

Inventories consist primarily of electronic fasteners and components, and are stated at the lower of cost or estimated market value. Cost is determined using the average cost method. Inventories are presented net of a reserve for slow moving or obsolete items of $1,105,000 and $1,024,000 at August 31, 2015 and 2014, 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.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

Equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost net of accumulated amortization. Depreciation on equipment is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from five to seven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset or the remaining lease term, whichever is less. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Renewals and improvements of a major nature are capitalized. At the time of retirement or disposition of property and equipment, the cost and accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the accounts and any gains or losses are reflected in earnings.

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Impairment of Long Lived Assets

The Company’s policy is to review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  For the purpose of the impairment review, assets are tested on an individual basis.  The recoverability of the assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying value of each asset to the future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by such assets.  If such assets are considered impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds their estimated fair value.

Marketable Securities, Trading Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Trading Securities

The Company invests in marketable trading securities which include long and short positions in equity securities. Short positions represent securities sold, but not yet purchased. Short sales result in obligations to purchase securities at a later date and are separately presented as a liability in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

These securities are stated at fair value, which is determined using the quoted closing prices at each reporting date. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are recognized as incurred in the consolidated statements of operations. Net unrealized gains and losses are reported in the statements of operations and represent the change in the market value of investment holdings during the period. See Note 11.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

Management generally recognizes revenue at the time of product shipment, as the Company’s 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.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

Deferred taxes on income result from temporary differences between the reporting of income for financial statement and tax reporting purposes. A valuation allowance related to a deferred tax asset is recorded when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.   In making such determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income (if any), tax planning strategies and recent financial performance. 

We provide tax contingencies, if any, for federal, state, local and international exposures relating to audit results, tax planning initiatives and compliance responsibilities.  The development of these reserves requires judgments about tax issues, potential outcomes and timing.  Although the outcome of these tax audits is uncertain, in management’s opinion adequate provisions for income taxes have been made for potential liabilities emanating from these reviews.  If actual outcomes differ materially from these estimates, they could have a material impact on our results of operations.

Shipping and Handling Cost, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Freight and Shipping/Handling

Shipping and handling expenses are included in cost of goods sold, and were approximately $2,557,000 and $2,407,000 for the years ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Liabilities of Discontinued Operations [Policy Text Block]

Liabilities of Discontinued Operations

Prior to June 2005, EACO self-insured workers’ compensation claims losses up to certain limits.  The liability for workers’ compensation represents an estimate of the present value of the ultimate cost of uninsured losses which are unpaid as of the balance sheet dates.    At each fiscal year end, the Company obtains an actuarial report which estimates its overall exposure based on historical claims and an evaluation of future claims, and adjustments to the Company’s estimated claim liability, if any, are reflected in discontinued operations.   The Company pursues recovery of certain claims from an insurance carrier.  Recoveries, if any, are recognized when realization is reasonably assured.

Lease, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Operating Leases

Certain Company leases for its sales offices and distribution centers provide for minimum annual payments that adjust over the life of the lease. The aggregate minimum annual payments are expensed on the straight-line basis over the minimum lease term. The Company recognizes a deferred rent liability for rent escalations when the amount of straight-line rent exceeds the lease payments, and reduces the deferred rent liability when the lease payments exceed the straight-line rent expense.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings Per Common Share 

Basic earnings per common share for the years ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 were computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share for those periods have been computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, giving effect to all potentially dilutive common shares that were outstanding during the respective periods. Potentially dilutive common shares represent 40,000 common shares issuable upon conversion of 36,000 shares of convertible preferred stock, which were outstanding at August 31, 2015 and 2014. Such securities are excluded from the weighted average shares outstanding used to calculate diluted earnings per common share for the years ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive since the conversion price was greater than the average market price of the Company’s common stock during these periods.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

Assets and liabilities recorded in functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar (Canadian dollars for the Bisco’s Canadian subsidiary) are translated into U.S. dollars at the period-end rate of exchange. Revenue and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates for the years ended August 31, 2015 and 2014. The resulting translation adjustments are charged or credited directly to accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. The average exchange rates for the years ended August 31, 2015 and August 31, 2014 were $0.83 and $0.93 respectively.

Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Concentrations

Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk include cash balances in excess of federal depository insurance limits and accounts receivable. Cash accounts maintained by the Company at U.S. and Canadian financial institutions are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation, respectively. A significant portion of the Company’s cash was held by its Canadian subsidiary. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.

Net sales to customers outside the United States and related trade accounts receivable were approximately 9% and 11% of total sales and trade accounts receivable, respectively, at August 31, 2015, and 7% and 10%, respectively, at August 31, 2014. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of total revenues for either of the years ended August 31, 2015 or 2014.

Total assets held outside the United States comprised 7% as of August 31, 2015 and 2014.

Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Certain Nonfinancial Assets and Liabilities

The Company’s financial instruments other than its marketable securities include cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, security deposits, trade accounts payable, line of credit, accrued expenses and long-term debt. Management believes that the fair value of these financial instruments approximate their carrying amounts based on current market indicators, such as prevailing interest rates. The Company’s marketable securities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (see Note 11).

During the years ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company did not have any nonfinancial assets or liabilities that were measured at estimated fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Significant Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition. The purpose of ASU 2014-09 is to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard for U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The amendments (i) remove inconsistencies and weaknesses in revenue requirements, (ii) provide a more robust framework for addressing revenue issues, (iii) improve comparability of revenue recognition across entities, industries, jurisdictions, and capital markets, (iv) provide more useful information to users of financial statements through improved disclosure requirements, and (v) simplify the preparation of financial statements by reducing the number of requirements to which an entity must refer. The new revenue recognition standard requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that reflects the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount based on the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” which delayed the effective date of the new revenue recognition guidance by one year. Therefore, ASU 2014-09 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is not permitted. The amendments can be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying this update recognized at the date of initial application. The Company is currently assessing the impact that this guidance may have on its consolidated financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory”. Under ASU 2015-11 entities should measure inventory that is not measured using last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method, including inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost, at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. ASU 2015-11 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and is to be applied prospectively. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, “ Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements ”, which clarifies the guidance set forth in ASU No. 2015-03, “ Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs ”, issued in April 2015. ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized liability be presented on the balance sheet as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected. ASU 2015-15 provides additional guidance regarding debt issuance costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements, stating that the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement. ASU 2015-03 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of ASU 2015-03 and ASU 2015-15 is not expected to have a material effect our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.