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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 12 Months Ended
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Jan. 31, 2016
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation — The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Argan, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, its majority-controlled joint ventures and any variable interest entity for which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary (see Note 5). All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In Note 20, the Company has provided certain financial information relating to the operating results and assets of its reportable business segments based on the manner in which management disaggregates the Company’s internal financial reporting for purposes of making operating decisions. Use of Estimates — The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) requires management to make use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues, expenses, and certain financial statement disclosures. Management believes that the estimates, judgments and assumptions upon which it relies are reasonable based upon information available to it at the time that these estimates, judgments and assumptions are made. Estimates are used for, but are not limited to, the Company’s accounting for revenue recognition, the valuation of assets with long and indefinite lives including goodwill, the valuation of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, the evaluation of contingent obligations, the valuation of deferred taxes, and the determination of the allowance for doubtful accounts. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Fair Values — Current professional accounting guidance applies to all assets and liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date in the principal or most advantageous market. The requirements prescribe a fair value hierarchy that has three levels of inputs, both observable and unobservable, with use of the lowest possible level of input to determine fair value. A Level 1 input includes a quoted market price in an active market or the price of an identical asset or liability. Level 2 inputs are market data other than Level 1 inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly including quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted market prices in an inactive market, and other observable information that can be corroborated by market data. Level 3 inputs are unobservable and corroborated by little or no market data. The carrying value amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable and all other current assets and liabilities approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair values of acquired companies (as needed for purposes of determining indications of impairment to the carrying value of goodwill) are determined using weighted averages of valuations based on market multiples and discounted cash flows, and consideration of the Company’s market capitalization. Property, Plant and Equipment — Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Such assets acquired in a business combination are initially included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at fair values. Depreciation amounts are determined using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, other than land, which are generally from five to thirty-nine years. Building and leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the related asset or the lease term, as applicable. The costs of maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred and major improvements are capitalized. When assets are sold or retired, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is included in earnings. Goodwill — At least annually, the Company reviews the carrying value of goodwill amounts for impairment. The goodwill impairment test is performed using the two-step process unless the consideration of a possible goodwill impairment conducted pursuant to the permitted simplified approach results in a conclusion that no such impairment has occurred. The first step of the impairment test is to identify a potential impairment by comparing the fair value of the business unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. The weighted average estimate of fair value of the business unit, generally an operating segment, is determined using various market-based and income-based valuation techniques as applicable in the particular circumstances. If the fair value of the business unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the business unit is not deemed impaired and the second step of the impairment test is not performed. If the carrying amount of the business unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the impairment test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. The second step of the impairment test compares the implied fair value of the business unit’s goodwill with the corresponding carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the business unit’s goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination. Accordingly, the fair value of the business unit is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of that business unit (including any unrecognized intangible assets) as if the business unit had been acquired in a business combination and the fair value of the business unit was the purchase price paid to acquire it. Nonetheless, the Company would evaluate any of these assets for impairment more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset value might be impaired. The simplified approach allows an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. An entity is not required to calculate the fair value of a business unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The guidance includes discussions of the types of factors which should be considered in conducting the qualitative assessment including macroeconomic, industry, market and entity-specific factors. Revenue Recognition — Revenues are recognized primarily under various construction agreements, including agreements for which revenues are based on either a fixed price, cost-plus-fee or time and materials basis, with typical durations of three months to three years. Revenues from fixed price construction agreements, including a portion of estimated profit, are recognized as services are provided, based on costs incurred and estimated total contract costs using the percentage of completion method. Revenues from cost-plus-fee construction agreements are recognized on the basis of costs incurred during the period plus the fee earned, measured using the cost-to-cost method. Revenues from time and materials contracts are recognized when the related services are provided to the customer. Changes to total estimated contract costs or losses, if any, are recognized in the period in which they are determined. Unapproved change orders, which represent contract variations for which the Company has project owner approval for scope changes but not for the price associated with the scope changes, are reflected in revenues when it is probable that the applicable costs will be recovered through a change in the contract price. As of January 31, 2016, there were no material unapproved change orders included in the total contract value amounts or reflected in the estimated total cost amounts of the contracts in progress. Disputed change orders that are unapproved in regard to both scope and price are considered claims. The Company recognizes revenues related to a claim only when an agreement on the amount has been reached with the project owner. Construction agreements may contain incentive fees that provide for increasing the Company’s total fee on a particular contract based on the actual amount of costs incurred in relation to an agreed upon target cost. The Company includes such fees in the determination of total estimated revenues when management believes that it is probable that such fees have been earned, which is typically near the end of the contract performance period. The Company’s long-term contracts typically have schedule dates and other performance obligations that if not met could subject the Company to penalties for liquidated damages. These generally relate to specified activities that must be completed by an established contractual date or by achievement of a specified level of output. Each contract defines the conditions under which a project owner may make a claim for liquidated damages. However, in some instances, liquidated damages are not asserted, but the potential to do so is used in negotiating or settling claims and closing out the contract. As of January 31, 2016, there is one project where the Company may be subject to as much as $11.1 million in liquidated damages due to delays in achieving substantial completion based on current estimates of completion. If additional delays occur beyond the Company’s estimated completion date, the rate of schedule liquidated damages could be as much as $175,000 per day. The Company considered the potential liquidated damages in determining the adequacy of the project’s estimate-to-complete as of January 31, 2016. The following schedule presents the two categories of revenues earned by the power industry services business during the years ended January 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. Core services represent primarily the revenues from ongoing activities conducted pursuant to engineering, construction and procurement contracts for energy plant project owners. Project development fees represent amounts realized upon the success of cooperative activities performed by project developers and the Company including the permanent financing and sale of the associated project (see Note 5).
Category of Service |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Core services |  | $ | 383,378 |  | $ | 376,676 |  | $ | 191,597 |
Project development success fees |  | 4,258 |  | — |  | 27,052 |
Revenues |  | $ | 387,636 |  | $ | 376,676 |  | $ | 218,649 |
Income Taxes — Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized using enacted tax rates for the effects of temporary differences between the book and tax bases of recorded assets and liabilities. If management believes that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized, the carrying value will be reduced by a valuation allowance. The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with current accounting guidance which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement disclosure of tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, on our consolidated tax return. We evaluate and record the effect of any uncertain tax position based on the amount that management deems is more likely than not (i.e., greater than a 50% probability) to be sustained upon examination and ultimate settlement with the tax authorities in the applicable tax jurisdictions. Stock-Based Compensation — The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors based upon fair value at the date of award using a fair value based option pricing model. The compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Foreign Currency Translation — The accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented in US Dollars. The effects of translating the financial statements of APC (see Note 4) from its functional currency (Euros) into the Company’s reporting currency (US Dollars) are recognized as translation adjustments in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) which is net of tax, where applicable. The translation of assets and liabilities to US Dollars is made at the exchange rate in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date, while equity accounts are translated at historical rates. The translation of statement of earnings amounts is made monthly at the average currency exchange rate for the month. Net foreign currency transaction gains and losses were included in the other income, net, section of the Company’s consolidated statement of earnings for the year ended January 31, 2016; such amount was a net gain of $139,000.

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