Basis Of Presentation And New Accounting Standards

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis Of Presentation And New Accounting Standards

Basis of Presentation and New Accounting Standards

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Helix”). Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “we,” “us” and “our” in this report refer collectively to Helix and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to instructions for the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and do not include all information and footnotes normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP in U.S. dollars and are consistent in all material respects with those applied in our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K (our “2019 Form 10-K”) with the exception of the impact of adopting the new credit loss accounting standard in 2020 (see below). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the related disclosures. Actual results may differ from our estimates. We have made all adjustments, which, unless otherwise disclosed, are of normal recurring nature, that we believe are necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, statements of comprehensive income and statements of cash flows, as applicable. The operating results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020. Our balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 included herein has been derived from the audited balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 included in our 2019 Form 10-K. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2019 Form 10-K.

Certain reclassifications were made to previously reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto to make them consistent with the current presentation format.

COVID-19

Beginning in the first quarter 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to worldwide shutdowns and halting of commercial and interpersonal activity, as governments around the world imposed regulations in efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 such as shelter-in-place orders, quarantines, executive orders and similar restrictions. As a result, the global economy has been marked by significant slowdown and uncertainty, which has resulted in a decline in oil prices in response to demand concerns and global storage considerations. Lower oil prices have resulted in a significantly weaker outlook for oil and gas producers, many of which have cut their capital and operating budgets for 2020 and beyond. Our financial statements for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 reflect the impact of these events and current market conditions, which include reduced utilization on our vessels due to customers deferring work, increased operating costs related to the current environment, our recognition of goodwill impairment losses (Note 6) and tax benefits resulting from the U.S. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) (Note 8). The continued spread of, or failure to contain, COVID-19 or continued oil price volatility could result in further adverse impact on our results of operations, cash flows and financial position, including further asset impairments.

New accounting standards adopted

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which was updated by subsequent amendments. This ASU replaces the current incurred loss model for measurement of credit losses on financial assets (including trade receivables) with a forward-looking expected loss model based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The guidance became effective for us as of January 1, 2020 and resulted in the recognition of $0.6 million (net of deferred taxes of $0.2 million) of allowances for expected credit losses related to our accounts receivable through a cumulative effect offset to retained earnings. The new credit loss standard is expected to accelerate recognition of credit losses on our accounts receivable. See Note 17 for additional information regarding allowance for credit losses on our accounts receivable.

New accounting standards issued but not yet effective

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, “Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity's Own Equity,” which simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts in an entity’s own equity. Among other changes, this ASU removes from GAAP the liability and equity separation model for convertible instruments with conversion features that are not required to be bifurcated as a derivative under ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or that do not result in substantial premiums accounted for as paid-in capital. Consequently, a convertible debt instrument will be accounted for as a single liability measured at its amortized cost and a convertible preferred stock will be accounted for as a single equity instrument measured at its historical cost, as long as no other features require bifurcation and recognition as derivatives. The embedded conversion feature will no longer be amortized into income as interest expense over the life of the instrument. The adoption of this ASU is expected to increase the net book value of our long-term debt and reduce shareholders’ equity as we reclassify the conversion features associated with our various outstanding convertible senior notes (Note 7). Subsequent to its adoption, the ASU is also expected to reduce our interest expense. Additionally, the ASU no longer permits the treasury stock method and instead requires the application of the if-converted method to calculate the impact of convertible instruments on diluted earnings per share (“EPS”). The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and can be adopted on either a fully retrospective or modified retrospective basis. We are currently evaluating when to adopt the ASU and the impact it will have on our consolidated financial statements.

We do not expect any other new accounting standards to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows when they become effective.