Accounting Policies and New Accounting Pronouncements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Accounting Policies and New Accounting Pronouncements

NOTE 2 - ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Consolidation Policy – Our consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our majority-owned subsidiaries in which we have a controlling interest after the elimination of all material inter-company accounts and transactions. Currently, all of our subsidiaries are wholly-owned.

Fair Value Measurements – Fair value is defined as the amount that would be received for the sale of an asset or paid for the transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between unrelated third party market participants at the measurement date. In determination of fair value measurements for assets and liabilities we consider the principal, or most advantageous market, and assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability.

Cash and cash equivalents – Cash and cash equivalents include all cash on hand, demand deposits and investments with original maturities of three months or less. We consider cash equivalents to include short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. We have $0.8 million in cash in foreign banks as of December 31, 2016.

We utilize a cash management system whereby U.S. bank accounts are swept daily. Major operating bank accounts are automatically replenished daily to meet check-clearing requirements. Outstanding checks are recorded as a reduction of cash when they are issued. Our checks that have not yet been paid by banks at the reporting date are reclassified to accounts payable in the financial statements. The reclassification to accounts payable for outstanding checks was $0 and $0.3 million as of December 31, 2016 and December 26, 2015, respectively.

Receivables – Our components of trade receivables include amounts billed, amounts unbilled, retainage and allowance for uncollectible accounts. Subject to our allowance for uncollectible accounts, all amounts are believed to be collectible within a year. There are no amounts unbilled representing claims or other similar items subject to uncertainty concerning their determination or ultimate realization. In estimating the allowance for uncollectible accounts, we consider the length of time receivable balances have been outstanding, historical collection experience, current economic conditions and customer specific information. When we ultimately conclude that a receivable is uncollectible, the balance is charged against the allowance for uncollectible accounts.

Concentration of Credit Risk – Financial instruments which potentially subject ENGlobal to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade accounts and notes receivable. Although our services are provided largely to the energy sector, management believes the risk due to this concentration is limited because a significant portion of our services are provided under contracts with major integrated oil and gas companies and other industry leaders. When we enter into contracts with smaller customers, it incurs an increased credit risk.

Our businesses or product lines are largely dependent on a relatively few large customers. Although we believe we have an extensive customer base, the loss of one of these large customers or if such customers were to incur a prolonged period of decline in business, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. For the year ended December 31, 2016, each of two customers provided more than 10% of our consolidated operating revenues (15.4% and 14.0%). Two customers provided more than 10% of our consolidated operating revenues for the year ended December 26, 2015 (15.0% and 14.8%). Amounts included in trade receivables related to these customers totaled $0.3 million and $1.1 million at December 31, 2016 and $1.8 million and $5.4 million at December 26, 2015.

We extend credit to customers in the normal course of business. We have established various procedures to manage our credit exposure, including initial credit approvals, credit limits and terms, letters of credit, and occasionally through rights of offset. We also use prepayments and guarantees to limit credit risk to ensure that our established credit criteria are met. Our most significant exposure to credit risks relates to situations under which we provide services early in the life of a project that is dependent on financing. Risks increase in times of general economic downturns and under conditions that threaten project feasibility.

Property and Equipment – Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated service lives of our asset groups are as follows:

Asset Group	Years
Shop equipment	5 - 10
Furniture and fixtures	5 - 7
Computer equipment; Autos and trucks	3 - 5
Software	3 - 5

Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of the related lease. See Note 4 for details related to property and equipment and related depreciation. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Upon disposition or retirement of property and equipment, any gain or loss is charged to operations.

Debt Issue Costs – Costs incurred in connection with the issuance of long-term debt are capitalized and charged to interest expense over the term of the related debt on a straight-line basis, which approximates the interest method. The total amount of debt issue costs capitalized was $38,000 and $90,000 at December 31, 2016 and December 26, 2015, respectively.

Goodwill – Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of acquisitions over the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is not amortized but rather is tested and assessed for impairment annually, or more frequently if certain events or changes in circumstance indicate the carrying amount may exceed fair value. The annual test for goodwill impairment is performed in the fourth quarter of each year and begins with a qualitative assessment of whether it is “more likely than not” that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount and bypass the two-step goodwill impairment test. If the qualitative analysis indicates that it is “more likely than not” that our business’ fair value is less than its carrying value, the resulting goodwill impairment test would consist of a two-step accounting test. The first step of the goodwill impairment test identifies the potential impairment, resulting if the fair value of a reporting unit (including goodwill) is less than its carrying amount. If during testing, it is determined that the fair value of net assets (including goodwill) exceeds its carrying amount, the goodwill of such net assets are not considered impaired and the second step of the goodwill impairment test is not applicable. However, if the fair value of net assets (including goodwill) is less than its carrying amount, we would then proceed to the second step in the goodwill impairment test. The second step includes hypothetically valuing the net assets as if they had been acquired in a business combination. Then, the implied fair value of the net assets’ goodwill is compared to the carrying value of that goodwill. If the carrying value of net assets’ goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of the goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess, not to exceed the carrying value. Our 2016 and 2015 qualitative assessments of goodwill determined it was not “more likely than not” that the fair value of our reporting units were less than the carrying value of the remaining goodwill and, therefore, no goodwill impairment adjustment was required in either year. Goodwill was $2.8 million at both December 31, 2016 and December 26, 2015, with $2.1 million attributable to our Automation segment and $0.7 million attributable to our EPCM segment.

Other intangible assets – Intangible assets are comprised primarily of non-competition covenants, customer relationships and developed technology acquired through acquisitions and are amortized using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful life of the intangible assets. We review intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. This review consists of comparing the carrying value of the asset with the asset’s expected future undiscounted cash flows. Estimates of expected future cash flows represent management’s best estimate based on reasonable and supportable assumptions. If such a review should indicate that the carrying amount of intangible assets is not recoverable, we reduce the carrying amount of such assets to fair value. We performed a qualitative assessment of intangible assets at December 31, 2016 and December 26, 2015 and determined the asset’s expected future undiscounted cash flows exceeded the carrying value of the related asset and as a result no impairment adjustments were necessary. Other intangible assets are included in Other Assets on the respective balance sheets. Intangible assets were $0.1 million, net of accumulated amortization of $3.1 million, at December 31, 2016 and $0.2 million, net of accumulated amortization of $3.0 million, at December 26, 2015, all of which is attributable to our Automation segment. Amortization expense was $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 26, 2015, respectively.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets – We review property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. The recoverability of long-lived assets is measured by comparison the future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset to the carrying value of the asset. Estimates of expected future cash flows represent management’s best estimate based on reasonable and supportable assumptions. If the carrying amount is not recoverable, an impairment loss is measured as the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value. We assess the fair value of long-lived assets using commonly accepted techniques, and may use more than one method, including, but not limited to, recent third party comparable sales, internally developed discounted cash flow analysis and analysis from outside advisors. During 2016 and 2015 there were no events or changes in circumstances that indicated that the carrying amount of our assets may not be recoverable.

Revenue Recognition – Our revenue is comprised of engineering, construction management and procurement service fees and sales of integrated control systems that we design and assemble. In general, we recognize revenues when all of the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (3) the price is fixed or determinable, and (4) collection is reasonably assured. We recognize service revenue as the services are performed. The majority of our engineering services are provided under time-and-material contracts. Some time-and-material contracts may have upper limits referred to as “not-to-exceed” amounts. Revenue is not recognized over these amounts until a change order or authorization by the client has been received. A majority of sales of assembled systems are under fixed-price contracts that may also include a service element covered under that contract price.

Profits and losses on our fixed-price contracts are recognized on the percentage-of-completion method of accounting, measured by the percentage-of-contract cost incurred to date relative to estimated total contract cost. Contract costs used for estimating percentage-of-completion factors include professional compensation and related benefits, materials, subcontractor services and other direct cost of projects. Costs recognized for labor include all actual employee compensation plus a burden factor to cover estimated variable labor expenses. These variable labor expenses consist of payroll taxes, self-insured medical plan expenses, workers’ compensation insurance, general liability insurance and paid time off.

Under the percentage-of-completion method, revenue recognition is dependent upon the accuracy of a variety of estimates, including the progress of engineering and design efforts, material installation, labor productivity, cost estimates and others. These estimates are based on various professional judgments and are difficult to accurately determine until projects are significantly underway. Due to uncertainties inherent to the estimation process, it is possible that actual percentage-of-completion may vary materially from our estimates. Estimating errors may cause errors in revenue recognition on uncompleted contracts and may even result in losses on the contracts. Anticipated losses on uncompleted contracts are charged to operations as soon as such losses can be estimated. Changes in job performance, job conditions, estimated profitability and final contract settlements may result in revisions to costs and revenues and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined. Costs related to change orders are recognized when they are incurred. Change orders are included in the total estimated contract revenue when it is more likely than not that the change orders will result in a bona fide addition to value that can be reliably estimated.

Income Taxes – We account for deferred income taxes in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC Topic 740 “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”), which provides for recording deferred taxes using an asset and liability method. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities including net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The provision for income taxes represents the current taxes payable or refundable for the period plus or minus the tax effect of the net change in the deferred tax assets and liabilities during the period. Tax law and rate changes are reflected in income in the period such changes are enacted.

A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce previously recorded tax assets when it becomes more-likely-than-not such asset will not be realized. We evaluate the realizability of deferred tax assets based on all available evidence, both positive and negative, regarding historical operating results, including the estimated timing of future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, estimated future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards and potential tax planning strategies which may be employed to prevent an operating loss or tax credit carryforward from expiring unused.

We account for uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740. When uncertain tax positions exist, we recognize the tax benefit of the tax positions to the extent that the benefit will more-likely-than-not be realized. The determination as to whether the tax benefit will more-likely-than-not be realized is based upon technical merits of the tax positions as well as consideration of the available facts and circumstances. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes.

Earnings per Share – Our basic earnings per share (“EPS”) amounts have been computed based on the average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS amounts include the effect of common stock equivalents associated with outstanding stock options, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units, if including such potential shares of common stock is dilutive. Because the exercise price on options granted to employees and directors have been above our stock price, these common stock equivalents were antidilutive, thus not included in the calculation of earnings (loss) per share.

Treasury Stock – We use the cost method to record treasury stock purchases whereby the entire cost of the acquired shares of our common stock is recorded as treasury stock (at cost). When we subsequently retire these shares, the cost of the shares acquired are recorded in common stock and additional paid in capital.

Stock–Based Compensation – We have issued stock-based compensation in the form of stock options and non-vested restricted stock awards to directors, employees and officers. We apply the provisions of ASC Topic 718 “Compensation - Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”) and recognize compensation expense over the applicable service for all stock-based compensation based on the grant date fair value of the award.

Changes in Accounting Policies – In November 2015, Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (Topic 740): which requires deferred tax liabilities and assets to be classified as noncurrent in the Balance Sheet. The standard will be effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. The ASU may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. We adopted this ASU on a prospective basis in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. The change in accounting principle does not have an impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or stockholders’ equity.

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, Interest-Imputation of Interest (Topic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements. This amendment allows for the deferral and presentation of debt issuance costs as an asset to be ratably amortized over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. We have historically accounted for our debt issuance costs related to revolving credit agreements in accordance with this amendment and therefore this pronouncement did not have an impact on the Company’s financial statements or related disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This amendment requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with the treatment of debt discounts. This pronouncement is effective for interim and annual financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. We adopted this pronouncement in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 and because the Company did not have any debt outstanding at fiscal year-end 2015 or any period during 2016, this pronouncement did not have an impact on the Company’s financial statements or related disclosures.

New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted – In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): The ASU will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition requirements in U.S. GAAP and will require entities to recognize revenue at an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. The new standard also requires significantly expanded disclosures regarding the qualitative and quantitative information of an entity’s nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12 to clarify certain narrow aspects of Topic 606 such as assessing the collectability criterion, presentation of sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from customers, non-cash consideration, contract modifications at transition, completed contracts at transition, and other technical corrections. This new accounting standard, as updated, is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We are currently evaluating the provisions of this pronouncement and are assessing its potential impact on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and related disclosures. However we are currently unable to reasonably estimate the impact this pronouncement will have on our financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), that will amend the accounting standards for leases. This new standard retains a distinction between finance leases and operating leases but the primary change is the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases on the lessee’s balance sheet and certain aspects of lease accounting have been simplified. This new standard requires additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures along with specific quantitative disclosures required by lessees and lessors to meet the objective of enabling users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. This pronouncement is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early application permitted. We are currently evaluating the provisions of this pronouncement and are assessing its potential impact on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and related disclosures. However we are currently unable to reasonably estimate the impact this pronouncement will have on our financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, to change several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including a requirement to recognize all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. This pronouncement is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2016, with early adoption permitted. Varying transition methods (modified retrospective, retrospective or prospective) are applied to different provisions of the standard. We will adopt this pronouncement in the first quarter of 2017 by electing to account for forfeitures in compensation costs as they occur and reflecting this change in accounting policy on a modified retrospective basis through a non-material, cumulative-effect adjustment reducing accumulated earnings as of the beginning of 2017.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This amendment addresses how certain specified cash receipts and cash payments are presented in the statement of cash flows. This guidance becomes effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We are currently evaluating the provisions of this pronouncement and are assessing its potential impact on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and related disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This amendment removes the second step of the two-step goodwill impairment test. When adopted, an entity will apply a one-step quantitative test and record the amount of goodwill impairment as the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. This pronouncement is effective for the Company’s annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the provisions of this pronouncement and are assessing its potential impact on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and related disclosures.