Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2019

Principles of Consolidation The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Kewaunee Scientific Corporation and its international subsidiaries. A brief description of each subsidiary, along with the amount of the Company’s controlling financial interests, as of April 30, 2019 is as follows: (1) Kewaunee Labway Asia Pte. Ltd., a commercial sales organization for the Company’s products in Singapore, is 100% owned by the Company; (2) Kewaunee Scientific Corporation Singapore Pte. Ltd., a holding company in Singapore, is 100% owned by the Company; (3) Kewaunee Labway India Pvt. Ltd., a manufacturing, assembly and commercial sales operation for the Company’s products in Bangalore, India, is 95% owned by the Company; (4) Koncepo Scientech International Pvt. Ltd., a laboratory design and strategic advisory and construction management services firm, located in Bangalore, India, is 80% owned by the Company; and (5) Kewaunee Scientific (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., a commercial sales organization for the Company’s products in China, is 100% owned by the Company. In fiscal year 2019, Kewaunee Scientific Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. merged into Kewaunee Labway India, Pvt. Ltd. resulting in a single subsidiary. There was no impact to the Company's weighted ownership of both subsidiaries. All intercompany balances, transactions, and profits have been eliminated. Included in the consolidated financial statements are net assets of $17,887,000 and $15,762,000 at April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, of the Company’s subsidiaries. Net sales by the Company’s subsidiaries in the amounts of $29,964,000 and $43,456,000 were included in the consolidated statements of operations for fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. During the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company had cash deposits in excess of FDIC insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses from such deposits.

Restricted Cash Restricted cash includes bank deposits of subsidiaries used for performance guarantees against customer orders.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Accounts receivable are stated at the amount owed by the customer, net of allowances for estimated doubtful accounts. The Company evaluates the collectability of its trade accounts receivable based on a number of factors. In circumstances where management is aware of a customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations to the Company, or a project dispute makes it unlikely that all of the receivable owed by a customer will be collected, a specific reserve for bad debts is estimated and recorded to reduce the recognized receivable to the estimated amount the Company believes will ultimately be collected. In addition to specific customer identification of potential bad debts, a general reserve for bad debts is estimated and recorded based on past loss history and an overall assessment of past due trade accounts receivable amounts outstanding. Accounts are written off when it is clearly established that the receivable is a bad debt. Recoveries of receivables previously written off are recorded when received.

Unbilled Receivables

Unbilled Receivables Accounts receivable included unbilled receivables that represent amounts earned which have not yet been billed in accordance with contractually stated billing terms.

Inventories

Inventories The Company elected to change the method of accounting for the inventory of its Domestic segment from the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") method to the first-in, first out ("FIFO") method. Inventories at the Company's international subsidiaries had previously been and continue to be measured on the FIFO method.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is determined for financial reporting purposes principally on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the individual assets or, for leaseholds, over the terms of the related leases, if shorter.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Impairment

Management reviews the carrying value of property, plant and equipment for impairment whenever changes in circumstances or events indicate that such carrying value may not be recoverable. If projected undiscounted cash flows are not sufficient to recover the carrying value of the potentially impaired asset, the carrying value is reduced to estimated fair value.

Other Assets

Other Assets Other assets at April 30, 2019 and 2018 included $3,057,000 and $4,050,000, respectively, of assets held in a trust account for non-qualified benefit plans and $76,000 and $65,000, respectively, of cash surrender values of life insurance policies. Life insurance policies are recorded at the amount that could be realized under the insurance contract as of the date of the Company’s consolidated balance sheets with the change in cash surrender or contract value being recorded as income or expense during each period.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates The presentation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant estimates impacting the accompanying consolidated financial statements include the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable, inventory valuation, self-insurance reserves, and pension liabilities.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments A financial instrument is defined as cash equivalents, evidence of an ownership interest in an entity, or a contract that creates a contractual obligation or right to deliver or receive cash or another financial instrument from another party. The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and equivalents, mutual funds, cash surrender value of life insurance policies, term loans and short-term borrowings. The carrying value of these assets and liabilities approximate their fair value.

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Expanded disclosures about instruments measured at fair value require the Company to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The fair value hierarchy is based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value as follows:


Level 1	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.


Level 2	Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.


Level 3	Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring products. The Company recognizes revenue when control of a good or service promised in a contract (i.e., performance obligation) is transferred to a customer. Control is obtained when a customer has the ability to direct the use of and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from that good or service. The majority of the Company’s revenues are recognized over time as the customer receives control as the Company performs work under a contract. However, a portion of the Company’s revenues are recognized at a point-in-time as control is transferred at a distinct point in time per the terms of a contract. Sales taxes that are collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for on a net basis and therefore are excluded from net sales. Certain customers' cash discounts and volume rebates are offered as sales incentives. The discounts and volume rebates are recorded as a reduction in sales at the time revenue is recognized in an amount estimated based on historical experience and contractual obligations.

Deferred revenue consists of customer deposits and advance billings of the Company’s products where sales have not yet been recognized. Accounts receivable includes retainage in the amounts of $1,810,000 and $2,724,000 at April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of product sales. Because of the nature and quality of the Company’s products, any warranty issues are determined in a relatively short period after the sale and are infrequent in nature, and as such, warranty costs are immaterial to the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations and are expensed as incurred.

Credit Concentration

Credit Concentration The Company performs credit evaluations of its customers.

Insurance

Insurance The Company maintains a self-insured health-care program. The Company accrues estimated losses for claims incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) using actuarial models and assumptions based on historical loss experience. The Company has also purchased specific stop-loss insurance to limit claims above a certain amount. The Company adjusts insurance reserves, as needed, in the event that future loss experience differs from historical loss patterns.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes In accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” the Company uses the liability method in measuring the provision for income taxes and recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Provision has not been made for income taxes on unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries as these earnings are deemed to be permanently reinvested. ASC 740 clarifies the financial statement recognition threshold and measurement attribute of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Under ASC 740, the Company applies a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold for all tax uncertainties. ASC 740 only allows the recognition of those tax benefits that have a greater than 50% likelihood of being sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities. The Company did not have any significant uncertain tax positions at April 30, 2019 and 2018.

Research and Development Costs

Research and Development Costs Research and development costs are charged to cost of products sold in the periods incurred.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs Advertising costs are expensed as incurred, and include trade shows, training materials, sales, samples, and other related expenses.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments The Company records derivatives on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value and establishes criteria for designation and effectiveness of hedging relationships. The nature of the Company’s business activities involves the management of various financial and market risks, including those related to changes in interest rates. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for speculative purposes. In May 2013, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement whereby the interest rate payable by the Company on $3,450,000 of outstanding long-term debt was effectively converted to a fixed interest rate of 4.875% for the period beginning May 1, 2013 and ending August 1, 2017. In May 2013, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement whereby the interest rate payable by the Company on $2,600,000 of outstanding long-term debt was effectively converted to a fixed interest rate of 4.37% for the period beginning August 1, 2017 and ending May 1, 2020. In May 2013, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement whereby the interest rate payable by the Company on $1,218,000 of outstanding long-term debt was effectively converted to a fixed interest rate of 3.07% for the period beginning November 3, 2014 and ending May 1, 2020. The Company entered into these interest rate swap arrangements to mitigate future interest rate risk associated with its long-term debt and has designated these as cash flow hedges. (See Note 4)

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation The financial statements of subsidiaries located in India and China, and of Kewaunee Scientific Corporation Singapore Pte. Ltd., are measured using the local currency as the functional currency. Kewaunee Labway Asia Pte. Ltd. is measured using the U.S. dollar as its functional currency. Assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries using local currencies are translated into United States dollars at fiscal year-end exchange rates. Sales, expenses, and cash flows are translated at weighted average exchange rates for each period. Net translation gains or losses are included in other comprehensive income, a separate component of stockholders’ equity. The Company does not provide for U.S. income taxes on foreign currency translation adjustments, since it does not provide for taxes on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions of these subsidiaries are included in operating expenses.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share Basic earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share reflects the assumed exercise of outstanding options and the conversion of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) under the Company’s various stock compensation plans, except when RSUs and options have an antidilutive effect.

Accounting for Stock Options and Other Equity Awards

Accounting for Stock Options and Other Equity Awards Compensation costs related to stock options and other stock awards granted by the Company are charged against operating expenses during their vesting period, under ASC 718, “Compensation—Stock Compensation”.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications In connection with the Company's adoption of ASU 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows-Restricted Cash,” the Company reclassified certain 2018 amounts in the consolidated statements of cash flows to include restricted cash when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period cash amounts shown on the statement of cash flows to conform to the current period presentation.

New Accounting Standards

New Accounting Standards In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-9, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”). This update outlined a new comprehensive revenue recognition model that supersedes prior revenue recognition guidance and required companies to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflected the consideration to which the entity expected to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company adopted this standard effective May 1, 2018. See Note 2 for a discussion of the impact of the adoption of this standard.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, “Inventory—Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory.” This guidance changes the measurement principle for inventory from the lower of cost or market to the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is defined as estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted this standard effective May 1, 2017. The adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-2, “Leases.” This guidance establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company will adopt this standard in fiscal year 2020. Based on the Company's assessment to date, the Company expects that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will result in the recognition of right-to-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities with a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position and an immaterial impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-9, “Stock Compensation—Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” This guidance simplifies various aspects related to how share-based payments are accounted for and presented in the financial statements. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted this standard effective May 1, 2017. Prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted. The adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which replaces the current incurred loss method used for determining credit losses on financial assets, including trade receivables, with an expected credit loss method. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company will adopt this standard in fiscal year 2021. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Cash Flow Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments,” which clarifies guidance on classification of certain transactions in the statement of cash flows, including classification of debt prepayments, debt extinguishment costs and contingent consideration payments after a business combination. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted this standard effective May 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows—Restricted Cash,” which requires that the statement of cash flows reconcile the change during the period in total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted this standard effective May 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-4, “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,” which eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company will adopt this standard in fiscal year 2021. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-7, “Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost,” which requires that the service cost component of net periodic pension cost is presented in the same line as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the respective employees during the year. The other components of net periodic pension cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside of earnings from operations. This guidance allows for the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization when applicable. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted this standard effective May 1, 2018 using the full retrospective approach. The Company reclassified $694,000 of non-service components of net benefits cost to Other (Income)/expense, net from operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. During 2019, the Company recorded $295,000 of non-service components of net benefits cost to other (income)/expense, net.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-9, “Compensation—Stock Compensation—Scope of Modification Accounting.” This guidance was issued in an effort to reduce diversity in practice as it relates to applying modification accounting for changes to the terms and conditions of share-based payment awards. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this standard effective May 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-2, “Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” This guidance provides the Company with an option to reclassify stranded tax effects resulting from the 2017 Tax Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt this standard in fiscal year 2020. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.