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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation  

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AETI and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, M&I and M&I Brazil. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates made by management include:

 

(1)

Estimates of the provision for doubtful accounts

 

(2)

Estimated useful lives of property and equipment

 

(3)

Valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets

As future events and their effects cannot be determined with absolute certainty, actual results may differ from the estimates used in preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Significant estimates and assumptions are required as part of determining inventory and accounts receivable valuation, estimating depreciation, amortization and recoverability of long-lived assets, establishing self-insurance, warranty, legal and other reserves, performing intangible impairment analyses, and in establishing valuation allowances on deferred income tax assets and reserves for tax examination exposures.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments

The Company includes fair value information in the notes to the consolidated financial statements when the fair value of its financial instruments is different from the book value. When the book value approximates fair value, no additional disclosure is made, which is the case for financial instruments outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. The Company assumes the book value of those financial instruments that are classified as current approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. For non-current financial instruments, the Company uses quoted market prices or, to the extent that there are no available quoted market prices, market prices for similar instruments.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Cash balances, which routinely exceed Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation limits, are maintained in JP Morgan Chase Bank and Frost Bank.  These institutions were selected by management based on their financial stability. The company has experienced no losses on deposits.  

Short-term Investments

Short-term Investments

Short-term investments consist of any fund held in certificates of deposits with original maturities greater than three months and investments in debt and equity securities with maturity of one year or less.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Bad Debts

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Bad Debts

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The estimate is based on management’s assessment of the collectability of specific customer accounts and includes consideration for credit worthiness and financial condition of those specific customers. The Company also reviews historical experience with the customer, the general economic environment and the aging of its receivables. The Company records an allowance to reduce receivables to the amount it reasonably believes to be collectible. Based on this assessment, management believes the allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with material value determined using an average cost method. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, inventory is primarily raw materials for use on service jobs in Brazil.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred while renewals and betterments are capitalized. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets after giving effect to salvage values.

Long-lived Assets

Long-lived Assets

If events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, including intangible assets, management tests long-lived assets for impairment. If the estimated future cash flows are projected to be less than the carrying amount, an impairment write-down (representing the carrying amount of the long-lived asset which exceeds the present value of estimated expected future cash flows) would be recorded as a period expense. Events that would trigger an impairment test include the following:

 

A significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset.

 

A significant change in the use of long-lived assets or in its physical condition.

 

A significant change in the business climate that could affect an assets value.

 

An accumulation of cost significantly greater than the amount originally expected to acquire or construct a long-lived asset.

 

A current period operating or cash flow loss combined with a history of such losses or a forecast demonstrating continued losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset.

 

An expectation to sell or otherwise dispose of a long-lived asset significantly before the end of its estimated useful life.

Based on management’s reviews during each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were no events or circumstances that caused management to believe that impairments were necessary.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method to account for income taxes. Under this method of accounting for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to be reported to the taxing authority. The Company also records any financial statement recognition and disclosure requirements for uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in its tax return. Financial statement recognition of the tax position is dependent on an assessment of a 50% or greater likelihood that the tax position will be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. Any interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recorded as interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Foreign Currency Gains and Losses

Foreign Currency Gains and Losses

Foreign currency translations are included as a separate component of comprehensive income (loss). The Company has determined the local currency of its foreign subsidiary and foreign joint ventures to be the functional currency. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC 830), the assets and liabilities of the foreign equity investees and foreign subsidiary, denominated in foreign currency, are translated into United States dollars at exchange rates in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date and net sales and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the period. Related translation adjustments are reported as comprehensive income (loss), net of deferred income taxes, which is a separate component of stockholders’ equity, whereas gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in results of operations.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company records net sales from its time and material projects on a completed service basis after customer acknowledgement that the service has been completed and accepted. In addition, the Company sells certain purchased parts and products. These net sales are recorded when the product is shipped and title passes to the customer.  

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606 on a modified retrospective basis and applied the guidance to all of its contracts. As a result of the Company’s adoption, there were no changes to the timing of the recognition or measurement of revenue, and there was no cumulative effect of adoption as of January 1, 2018. See Note 17, Revenue Recognition (ASC 606) for the Company’s policy effective January 1, 2018.

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs

Shipping and handling fees, if billed to customers, are included in net sales. Shipping and handling costs associated with inbound freight are expensed as incurred. Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight are classified as cost of sales.

Uses and Sources of Liquidity

Uses and Sources of Liquidity

The Company’s primary need for liquidity is to fund working capital requirements of the Company’s businesses, capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes, including debt repayment. The Company has incurred losses and experienced negative operating cash flows for the past several years, and accordingly, the Company has taken a number of actions to continue to support its operations and meet its obligations.

During 2017, the Company refinanced its outstanding loans which at that time provided approximately $1.0 million of working capital. In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company created a special committee to address strategic initiatives that include addressing liquidity.  

During 2018, the Company continued to face a challenging competitive environment and while it continues to focus on its overall profitability, including managing expenses, it reported a loss in 2018 and was required to fund cash used in operating activities with cash from investing and financing activities. Going forward, the Company expects to generate additional liquidity from strategic initiatives including monetization of assets and additional debt and equity financing actions. The Company expects that these actions will be executed in alignment with the anticipated timing of its liquidity needs. In August the Company closed on a sale of its U.S. operations. The Company expects to continue to optimize international operations including expansion of its service business in Brazil and diversification of its joint venture operations in China.

In December 2018, the Company signed an agreement to acquire Stabilis Energy for stock, pending stock holder approval in 2019. The Company’s historical operating results indicate substantial doubt exists related to its ability to continue as a going concern. However, the Company believes it is probable that the actions discussed above will occur and mitigate the substantial doubt raised by its historical operating results and satisfy its estimated liquidity needs 12 months from the issuance of the financial statements. However, the Company cannot predict, with certainty, the outcome of its actions to generate liquidity, including the availability of additional debt financing, or whether such actions would generate the expected liquidity as currently planned. In addition, Redeemable Preferred Stock contains certain limitations on our ability to sell assets, which could impact our ability to complete asset sale transactions or our ability to use proceeds from those transactions to fund our operations. Therefore, any planned actions must take into account the ability to transact within any applicable restrictions under these agreements. If the Company continues to experience operating losses and is not able to generate additional liquidity through the mechanisms described above or through some combination of other actions, while not expected, it may not be able to access additional liquidity and we might need to secure additional sources of funds, which may or may not be available to us. Additionally, a failure to generate additional liquidity could negatively impact the Company’s access to materials or services that are important to the operation of its business.

Concentration of Market Risk

Concentration of Market Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade accounts receivable. The Company’s market risk is dependent primarily on the strength of the oil and gas and energy-related industries. The Company grants credit to customers and does not generally require security for credit granted except in the case of certain international contracts. Procedures are in effect to monitor the credit worthiness of its customers. During 2018, two customers accounted for approximately 23% of net revenue and 56% of net accounts receivable – trade. During 2017, no customers accounted for more than 10% of total revenue and three customers accounted for 53% of net accounts receivable – trade.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the prior period financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cashflows. See Note 16 for additional information.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASU No. 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU No. 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required under existing U.S. GAAP. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU No. 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14 which delayed the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 by one year (effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017). The Company adopted ASU 2014-09, effective January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s revenue recognition policies, other than enhanced disclosures related to the disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers, the Company’s performance obligations and any significant judgments. See Note 17, Revenue Recognition (ASC 606).

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date: (1) a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and (2) a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Under ASU No. 2016-02, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. ASU No. 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 with early application permitted. In February 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-01, Leases (Topic 842): Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842. The amendment clarifies that land easements are within the scope of the new leases standard (ASC 842) and introduces a new transition practical expedient allowing a company to not assess whether existing and expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases under current U.S. GAAP (ASC 840) are or contain leases under ASC 842.

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, to clarify two aspects of Topic 606: (i) identifying performance obligations; and (ii) the licensing implementation guidance. The amendments do not change the core principle of the guidance in Topic 606. The effective date and transition requirements for ASU No. 2016-10 are the same as the effective date and transition requirements for ASU No. 2014-09. This standard was adopted effective January 1, 2018, see ASU No. 2014-09 above for additional information.

In July 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases. The amendment provides improvements that clarify specific aspects of the guidance in ASU 2016-02. In August 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements. The amendment provides entities with an additional (and optional) transition method to adopt the new leases standard and provides lessors with a practical expedient, by class of underlying asset, to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component and, instead, to account for those components as a single component if certain criteria are met. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019. As of the date of this filing, the Company is refining its estimate and anticipates the implementation of this standard will result in an increase to assets and liabilities of approximately between $0.60 million and $0.80 million on January 1, 2019.

In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. ASU No. 2016-12 provides narrow-scope improvements to the guidance on collectability, noncash consideration, and completed contracts at transition. The amendment also provides a practical expedient for contract modifications at transition and an accounting policy election related to the presentation of sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from customers and is expected to reduce the judgment necessary to comply with Topic 606. The effective date and transition requirements for ASU No. 2016-12 are the same as the effective date and transition requirements for ASU No. 2014-09. This standard was adopted effective January 1, 2018, see ASU No. 2014-09 above for additional information.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU No. 2016-13 eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current U.S. GAAP and, instead, requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. In addition, ASU No. 2016-13 amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. ASU No. 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early application permitted in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The amendments of ASU No. 2016-13 should be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. Management is currently evaluating the future impact of ASU No. 2016-13 on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU No. 2016-15 addresses eight specific cash flow issues and is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-15 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2016-15 on January 1, 2018. The Company made the accounting policy election to classify dividends received from its equity method investment using the cumulative earnings approach.  Accordingly, dividends received are classified as operating cash flows until such time that cumulate dividends exceed cumulative equity in earnings.  The adoption of the standard has been applied on a retrospective basis in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU No. 2016-20 allows entities not to make quantitative disclosures about remaining performance obligations in certain cases and requires entities that use any of the new or previously existing optional exemptions to expand their qualitative disclosures. The amendment also clarifies narrow aspects of ASC 606, including contract modifications, contract costs, and the balance sheet classification of items as contract assets versus receivables, or corrects unintended application of the guidance. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-20 as of January 1, 2018 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. ASU No. 2017-01 clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of a business or as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets. ASU No. 2017-01 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted under certain circumstances. The amendments of ASU No. 2017-01 should be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company adopted ASU No. 2017-01 on January 1, 2019. The adoption of this standard had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures, as the adoption is applied on a prospective basis.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-03, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (Topic 250) and Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the September 22, 2016 and November 17, 2016 EITF Meetings. The amendments in this update relate to disclosures of the impact of recently issued accounting standards. The SEC staff’s view that a registrant should evaluate ASC updates that have not yet been adopted to determine the appropriate financial disclosures about the potential material effects of the updates on the financial statements when adopted. If a registrant does not know or cannot reasonably estimate the impact of an update, then in addition to making a statement to that effect, the registrant should consider additional qualitative financial statement disclosures to assist the reader in assessing the significance of the impact. The staff expects the additional qualitative disclosures to include a description of the effect of the accounting policies expected to be applied compared to current accounting policies. Also, the registrant should describe the status of its process to implement the new standards and the significant implementation matters yet to be addressed. The amendments specifically addressed recent ASC amendments to ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, and ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, although, the amendments apply to any subsequent amendments to guidance in the ASC. ASU No. 2017-03 is effective upon issuance and did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and disclosures.