Note 1 - Principal Business Activity and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

1.              Principal business activity And summary of significant Accounting policies:

CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (“CPI Aero®” or the “Company”) is a U.S. supplier of aircraft parts for fixed wing aircraft and helicopters in both the commercial and defense markets. We manufacture complex aerostructure assemblies, as well as aerosystems. Additionally, we supply parts for MRO and kitting contracts.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the use of estimates by management. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s revenue is recognized based on the percentage of completion method of accounting for its contracts measured by the percentage of total costs incurred to date to estimated total costs at completion for each contract. Contract costs include all direct material, labor costs, tooling and those indirect costs related to contract performance, such as indirect labor, supplies, tools, repairs and depreciation costs. Selling, general and administrative costs are charged to expense as incurred. Estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are recognized in the period in which such losses are determined. Changes in job performance may result in revisions to costs and income and are recognized in the period in which revisions are determined to be required. The percentage of completion method of accounting involves considerable use of estimates in determining revenues, costs and profits and in assigning the amounts to accounting periods and, as a result, there can be a significant disparity between earnings (both for accounting and taxes) as reported and actual cash received by the Company during any reporting period. In accordance with industry practice, costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, included in the accompanying balance sheets, contain amounts relating to contracts and programs with long production cycles, a portion of which will not be realized within one year. The Company’s recorded revenue may be adjusted in later periods in the event that the Company’s cost estimates prove to be inaccurate or a contract is terminated.

When adjustments are required for the estimated total revenue on a contract, these changes are recognized with an inception-to-date effect in the current period. Also, when estimates of total costs to be incurred exceed estimates of total revenue to be earned, a provision for the entire loss on the contract is recorded in the period in which the loss is determined. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company adjusted the estimated total revenue and recorded a loss on its Wing Replacement Program (“WRP”) for the U.S. Air Force’s A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft (“A-10”).

The long term future of the A-10 has been uncertain since March 2014 when the U.S. Department of Defense released its 2015 Budget Request that called for the retirement of the entire A-10 fleet. More recent events have led the Company to conclude that our A-10 WRP will likely not continue to the full 242 aircraft as anticipated at the start of the program. The 2015 Department of Defense Appropriations Act passed by the United States House of Representatives on June 20, 2014 provides no funding for A-10 operations in U. S. Government fiscal year 2015 that commenced October 1, 2014. Further, this bill rescinds funding from the 2014 U. S. Department of Defense Budget that was to have been used for the procurement of additional wings for the A-10. The Company has no information to support a different conclusion.

Because of the probable termination of the Company’s A-10 WRP, the Company has reduced its revenue estimates with respect to this program by approximately 41%. This change in estimate results in an approximate cumulative $44.7 million decrease in revenue from the inception of the program in 2008 through June 30, 2014, all of which was recorded in the quarter ended June 30, 2014. Also, the uncertainty of the future of the A-10 aircraft has impacted the Company’s ability to achieve normal program cost reductions at suppliers. Accordingly, in addition to the $44.7 million adjustment to revenue, we have recorded a $2.6 million adjustment to cost of sales on the A-10 WRP.

Government Contracts

The Company’s government contracts are subject to the procurement rules and regulations of the U.S. government. Many of the contract terms are dictated by these rules and regulations. Specifically, cost-based pricing is determined under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”), which provide guidance on the types of costs that are allowable in establishing prices for goods and services under U.S. government contracts. For example, costs such as those related to charitable contributions, advertising, interest expense, and public relations are unallowable, and therefore not recoverable through sales. During and after the fulfillment of a government contract, the Company may be audited in respect of the direct and allocated indirect costs attributable thereto. These audits may result in adjustments to the Company’s contract cost, and/or revenue.

When contractual terms allow, the Company invoices its customers on a progress basis.

Cash

The Company maintains its cash in two financial institutions. The balances are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. From time to time, the Company’s balances may exceed these limits. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had approximately $1,110,000 and $2,112,000, respectively, of uninsured balances. The Company limits its credit risk by selecting financial institutions considered to be highly credit worthy.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are reported at their outstanding unpaid principal balances. The Company writes off accounts when they are deemed to be uncollectible.

Property and Equipment

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment is provided by the straight-line method over the shorter of estimated useful lives of the respective assets or the life of the lease, for leasehold improvements.

Rent

We recognize rent expense on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. Within the provisions of certain leases there are escalations in payments over the lease term. The effects of the escalations have been reflected in rent expense on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets and certain related intangibles for impairment whenever changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable. As a result of its review, the Company does not believe that any such change has occurred. If such changes in circumstance are present, a loss is recognized to the extent the carrying value of the asset is in excess of the fair value of cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and amounts expected to be realized upon its eventual disposition.

Short-Term Debt

The fair value of the Company’s short-term debt is estimated based on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of similar terms and maturities. Using this method, the fair value of the Company’s short-term debt was not significantly different than the stated value at December 31, 2014 and 2013.

Derivatives

Our use of derivative instruments has primarily been to hedge interest rates. These derivative contracts are entered into with financial institutions. We do not use derivative instruments for trading purposes and we have procedures in place to monitor and control their use.

We record these derivative financial instruments on the balance sheet at fair value. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of other comprehensive loss and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.

Any ineffective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument for a cash flow hedge is recorded in the results of operations immediately. For derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, the gain or loss is recognized in the results of operations immediately. See below for a discussion of our use of derivative instruments, management of credit risk inherent in derivative instruments and fair value information.

In October 2008, the Company entered into an interest rate swap with the objective of reducing our exposure to cash flow volatility arising from interest rate fluctuations associated with certain debt. The notional amount, maturity date, and currency of these contracts match those of the underlying debt. The Company has designated this interest rate swap contract as a cash flow hedge. The Company measures ineffectiveness by comparing the cumulative change in the forward contact with the cumulative change in the hedged item. No material ineffectiveness was recognized in 2014 and 2013. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had a net deferred loss associated with cash flow hedges of approximately $14,700 and $32,000, respectively, due to the interest rate swap which has been included in Other Liabilities.

As a result of the use of derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to risk that the counterparties may fail to meet their contractual obligations. Recent adverse developments in the global financial and credit markets could negatively impact the creditworthiness of our counterparties and cause one or more of our counterparties to fail to perform as expected. To mitigate the counterparty credit risk, we only enter into contracts with carefully selected major financial institutions based upon their credit ratings and other factors, and continually assess the creditworthiness of counterparties. To date, all counterparties have performed in accordance with their contractual obligations.

Fair Value

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the fair values of cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximated their carrying values because of the short-term nature of these instruments.

	2014				2013
	Carrying		Fair Value		Carrying		Fair Value
	Amount				Amount
Debt
Short-term borrowings and long-term debt	$	27,411,556	$	27,411,556	$	24,568,536	$	24,568,536

We estimated the fair value of debt using market quotes and calculations based on market rates.

The following tables present the fair values of liabilities measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:

			Fair Value Measurements 2014
Description	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Interest Rate Swap	$	14,716		--	$	14,716		--
Total	$	14,716		--	$	14,716		--

			Fair Value Measurements 2013
Description	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Interest Rate Swap	$	31,992		--	$	31,992		--
Total	$	31,992		--	$	31,992		--

The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap was determined by comparing the fixed rate set at the inception of the transaction to the “replacement swap rate,” which represents the market rate for an offsetting interest rate swap with the same notional amounts and final maturity date. The market value is then determined by calculating the present value interest differential between the contractual swap and the replacement swap.

As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, $14,716 and $31,992, respectively, was included in Other Liabilities related to the fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap, and $9,716 and $21,115, respectively, net of tax of $5,000 and $10,877, respectively, was included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per common share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding adjusted for the incremental shares attributed to outstanding options to purchase common stock. No incremental shares were used in the calculation of diluted loss per common share in 2014, as the effect of incremental shares would be anti-dilutive. Incremental shares of 381,919 were used in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share in 2013. Incremental shares of 116,292 were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculations at December 31, 2013, as their exercise price was in excess of the Company’s quoted market price and, accordingly, these shares are not assumed to be exercised for the diluted earnings per share calculation. Incremental shares of 415,517 were used in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share in 2012. Incremental shares of 124,217 were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculations at December 31, 2012, as their exercise price was in excess of the Company’s quoted market price and, accordingly, these shares are not assumed to be exercised for the diluted earnings per share calculation.

Income taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to the temporary differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Company has recorded a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, in an income tax return. It is the Company’s policy to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense. Uncertain tax positions are evaluated and adjusted as appropriate, while taking into account the progress of audits of various taxing jurisdictions.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (ASU 2014-09), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) , which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is not permitted. ASU 2014-09 is effective for our first quarter of fiscal year 2017 using either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on our financial statements and related disclosures.  We have not yet selected a transition method nor have we determined the effect of the standard on our ongoing financial reporting.