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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Principles of Consolidation and Presentation

Principles of Consolidation and Presentation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. In these consolidated financial statements, “subsidiaries” are companies that are over 50% controlled, the accounts of which are consolidated with those of the Company. Significant intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation; profits from intercompany sales, are also eliminated; non-controlling interests are included in equity.
Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

 

In March 2015, the Company announced that it stopped funding USSI and that USSI had effectively suspended operations and terminated substantially all employees. On September 28, 2015, the Board of Directors of USSI approved a motion to file a voluntary petition for protection under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (a “Chapter 7 Bankruptcy”). On September 30, 2015, USSI filed for a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Accordingly, the Company is reporting its USSI subsidiary as discontinued operations in its consolidated financial statements for all periods presented (see Note 4).
Functional Currency and Foreign Currency Transactions

Functional Currency and Foreign Currency Transactions

 

The currency of the primary economic environment in which the operations of Acorn and its U.S. subsidiaries are conducted is the United States dollar (“dollar”). Accordingly, the Company and all of its U.S. subsidiaries use the dollar as their functional currency. The financial statements of the Company’s Israeli subsidiary whose functional currency is the New Israeli Shekel (“NIS”) have been translated in accordance with applicable accounting principles. Assets and liabilities are translated at year-end exchange rates, while revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates during the year. Differences resulting from translation are presented in equity as Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. Gains and losses on foreign currency transactions and exchange gains and losses denominated in non-functional currencies are reflected in finance income (expense), net, in the Consolidated Statements of Operations when they arise.
Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments, which include money market funds and short-term bank deposits (up to three months from date of deposit or with maturity of three months from date of purchase) that are not restricted as to withdrawal or use, to be cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivable consists of trade receivables. Trade receivables are recorded at the invoiced amount.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of customers to make required payments. This allowance is based on specific customer account reviews and historical collections experience. If the financial condition of the Company’s funding parties or customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and does not require collateral.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, $142 and $85 was charged to expense, respectively. At December 31, 2014 and 2015, the balance in allowance for doubtful accounts was $143 and $20, respectively.
Inventory

Inventory

 

Inventories are comprised of components (raw materials), work-in-process and finished goods, which are measured at the lower of cost or market.

 

DSIT - Raw materials inventory is comprised of arrays and receivers related to diver detection sonar (“DDS”) and portable diver detection sonar (“PDDS”) systems. Work-in-process inventory is primarily comprised of PDDS systems that have commenced with assembly as well as capitalized labor and overhead. Costs are determined at cost of acquisition on a weighted average basis and include all outside production and shipping costs.

 

GridSense - Raw materials inventory is generally comprised of: electrical components, circuit boards, mechanical fasteners, and housings. Work-in-process inventory is primarily comprised of units that have commenced with assembly as well as capitalized labor and overhead. Finished goods inventory consists of fully assembled units ready for final shipment to the customer. Costs are determined at cost of acquisition on a weighted average basis and include all outside production and shipping costs.

 

OmniMetrix - Raw materials inventory is generally comprised of radios, cables, antennas, and electrical components. Finished goods inventory consists of fully assembled systems ready for final shipment to the customer. Costs are determined at cost of acquisition on a weighted average basis and include all outside production and applicable shipping costs.

 

All inventories are periodically reviewed for impairment related to slow-moving and obsolete inventory.
Non-Controlling Interests

Non-Controlling Interests

 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) requires that non-controlling interests be reported as a component of equity, changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling interest be accounted for as equity transactions, and upon a loss of control, retained ownership interest be re-measured at fair value, with any gain or loss recognized in earnings. The Company attributes income and losses to the non-controlling interests associated with DSIT, OmniMetrix and USSI (which are included in discontinued operations – See Note 4).
Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are presented at cost at the date of acquisition. Depreciation and amortization is calculated based on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the depreciable assets, or in the case of leasehold improvements, the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset, a portion of which is allocated to cost of sales. Improvements are capitalized while repairs and maintenance are charged to operations as incurred.
Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill and intangible assets determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but instead are tested for impairment at least annually. Intangible assets that have finite useful lives (e.g. purchased technology), are recorded at fair value at the time of the acquisition, and are carried at such value less accumulated amortization. The Company amortizes these intangible assets on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, a portion of which is allocated to cost of sales. Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment in accordance applicable accounting principles.

 

The Company assesses annually whether there is an indication that goodwill is impaired, or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired during the year. The Company performs its annual impairment test in the fourth quarter of each year.

 

Application of the goodwill impairment test requires judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assignment of assets and liabilities to reporting units, assignment of goodwill to reporting units, and determination of the fair value of each reporting unit. The Company has identified its operating segments as its reporting units for purposes of the impairment test. The Company’s existing goodwill is associated with its Energy & Security Sonar Solutions segment. See Note 10.

 

In 2011, the FASB issued guidance that simplified how entities test for goodwill impairment. This guidance permits entities to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform a two-step goodwill impairment test.

 

If the Company determined that is was necessary to perform a two-step goodwill impairment test, it would determine the fair value of each reporting unit and compare it to the carrying amount of the reporting unit. Calculating the fair value of the reporting units requires significant estimates and assumptions by management. To the extent the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, there is an indication that the reporting unit goodwill may be impaired and a second step of the impairment test is performed to determine the amount of the impairment to be recognized, if any. See Note 10(a) for the impairment charges recorded in 2014 and 2015.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

Long-lived assets including certain intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future undiscounted cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. See Note 10(b) for the impairment charge recorded in 2015.
Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock

 

Shares of common stock repurchased are recorded at cost as treasury stock. When shares are reissued, the cost method is used for determining cost. In accordance with GAAP, the excess of the acquisition cost over the reissuance price of the treasury stock, if any, is charged to additional paid-in capital, limited to the amount previously credited to additional paid-in capital, if any. Any excess is charged to accumulated deficit.
Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company’s revenue recognition policy is consistent with applicable revenue recognition guidance and interpretations. The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, services have been rendered, the price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured.

 

The Company assesses whether payment terms are customary or extended in accordance with normal practice relative to the market in which the sale is occurring. The Company’s sales arrangements generally include standard payment terms. These terms effectively relate to all customers, products, and arrangements regardless of customer type, product mix or arrangement size.

 

If revenue recognition criteria are not satisfied, amounts received from customers are classified as deferred revenue on the balance sheet until such time as the revenue recognition criteria are met.

 

Revenues from fixed-price contracts which require significant production, modification and/or customization to customer specifications are recognized using the percentage-of-completion method. Percentage-of-completion estimates are in man-months of labor and are reviewed periodically, and any adjustments required are reflected in the period when such estimates are revised. Losses on contracts, if any, are recognized in the period in which the loss is determined. Such revenues are recorded by DSIT in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in revenues from “Projects”. In 2014, DSIT encountered significant changes in estimate for a material project due to increased estimated installation costs of its AquaShieldTM Diver Detection Sonar system. The aggregate net changes in the contract estimates recognized using the cumulative catch-up method of accounting increased net income by approximately $1,152 in 2014 ($0.05 per share).

 

Revenue from sales of monitoring equipment is recognized at the time title to the equipment and significant risks of ownership pass to the customer (which is generally upon shipment), when all significant contractual obligations have been satisfied and collection is reasonably assured. Equipment and customer support services revenue is recognized upon delivery of the systems when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists that includes obtaining a written agreement in the form of a sales order with the customer, collection is probable, and the fee is fixed and determinable. Such revenues are recorded by GridSense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in revenues from “Products”.

 

Sales of OmniMetrix monitoring systems have multiple elements, including equipment, installation and monitoring services. OmniMetrix equipment and related installations do not qualify as a separate unit of accounting. As a result, revenues (and related costs) associated with sale of equipment and related installations are recorded to deferred revenue (and deferred charges) upon activation for Power Generator monitoring (“PG”) units or upon shipment for Cathodic Protection units. Revenue and related costs with respect to the sale of equipment and related installations are recognized over the estimated life of the customer relationship which is estimated to be 24 months. Such revenues are recorded by OmniMetrix in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as “Product” revenues. Revenues from the prepayment of monitoring fees (generally paid 12 months in advance) are initially recorded as deferred revenue upon receipt of payment from the customer and then amortized to revenue over the monitoring service period. Such revenues are recorded by OmniMetrix in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as “Service” revenues.

 

Revenues from DSIT’s consulting, time-and-materials service contracts, maintenance agreements and other services are recognized as services are provided.
Unbilled Revenue

Unbilled Revenue

 

Revenues may be earned by DSIT for those services in advance of amounts billable to the customer and are recognized when the service is performed. Revenues recognized in excess of amounts billed for projects in process are recorded as unbilled revenue. Such amounts are generally billed upon the completion of a project milestone.
Warranty Provision

Warranty Provision

 

The Company’s DSIT subsidiary generally grants its customers a one-to-two-year warranty on its projects. Each of the Company’s GridSense and OmniMetrix subsidiaries generally grants their customers a one-year warranty on their respective products.

 

Estimated warranty obligations are provided for as a cost of sales in the period in which the related revenues are recognized, based on management’s estimate of future potential warranty obligations and limited historical experience. Adjustments are made to accruals as warranty claim data and historical experience warrant.

 

The Company’s warranty obligations may be materially affected by product or service failure rates and other costs incurred in correcting a product or service failure. Should actual product or service failure rates or other related costs differ from the Company’s estimates, revisions to the accrued warranty liability would be required.
Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, restricted deposits, escrow deposits, accounts receivable and unbilled revenues. The Company’s cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and escrow deposits were deposited primarily with U.S. and Israeli banks and other financial institutions and amounted to $5,395 at December 31, 2015. The Company uses major banks and brokerage firms to invest its cash and cash equivalents and escrow deposits, primarily in money market funds. The counterparties to the Company’s restricted deposits are two major Israeli banks. The Company does not believe there is significant risk of non-performance by these counterparties. Related credit risk would result from a default by the financial institutions or issuers of investments to the extent of the recorded carrying value of these assets. See Note 19 (d) with respect to revenues from significant and Note 19(e) with respect to concentrations of trade receivables and unbilled revenue.
Research and Development Expenses

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses consist primarily of labor and related expenses and are charged to operations as incurred. Participation by third parties in the Company’s research and development costs as well as credits arising from qualifying research and experimental development expenditures are netted against research and development.
Advertising Expenses

Advertising Expenses

 

Advertising expenses are charged to operations as incurred. Advertising expense was $26 and $33 for each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for stock-based awards to employees in accordance with applicable accounting principles, which requires compensation expense related to share-based transactions, including employee stock options, to be measured and recognized in the financial statements based on a determination of the fair value of the stock options. The grant date fair value is determined using the Black-Scholes-Merton (“Black-Scholes”) pricing model. For all employee stock options, we recognize expense over the requisite service period on an accelerated basis over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant). The Company’s option pricing model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility, expected term, and forfeiture rate. Any changes in these highly subjective assumptions significantly impact stock-based compensation expense.

 

Options awarded to purchase shares of common stock issued to non-employees in exchange for services are accounted for as variable awards in accordance with applicable accounting principles. Such options are valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

 

See Note 15(d) for the assumptions used to calculate the fair value of stock-based employee compensation. Upon the exercise of options, it is the Company’s policy to issue new shares rather than utilizing treasury shares.
Deferred Income Taxes

Deferred Income Taxes

 

Deferred income taxes reflects the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, as well as operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as current or non-current based on the classification of the related assets or liabilities for financial reporting, or according to the expected reversal dates of the specific temporary differences, if not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting. Valuation allowances are established against deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income 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 or laws is recognized in operations in the period that includes the enactment date. At December 31, 2014 and 2015, U.S. income taxes were not provided on undistributed earnings of the Company’s DSIT subsidiary because such earnings have been reinvested in foreign operations. If those earnings were repatriated to the U.S., the Company would not expect to owe additional U.S. income taxes due to the utilization of net operating loss carryovers.
Income Tax Uncertainties

Income Tax Uncertainties

 

The calculation of the Company’s tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. The Company recognizes liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on the two-step process prescribed by applicable accounting principles. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step requires the Company to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more likely than not being realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as this requires the Company to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. The Company reevaluates these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled issues under audit, and new audit activity. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision in the period. The Company recognizes interest and penalties as incurred in finance income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share

 

Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to Acorn Energy, Inc. by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year, excluding treasury stock. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding plus the dilutive potential of common shares which would result from the exercise of stock options and warrants. The dilutive effects of stock options and warrants are excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share if doing so would be antidilutive. The weighted average number of options and warrants that were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share, as they had an antidilutive effect, was approximately 2,386,000 and 5,001,000 for the years ending December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

 

The following data represents the amounts used in computing EPS and the effect on net income and the weighted average number of shares of dilutive potential common stock:

  

    Year ended December 31,  
    2014     2015  
Net loss available to common stockholders   $ (27,145 )   $ (10,599 )
                 
Weighted average shares outstanding:                
 -Basic     22,844       26,803  
Add: Warrants     —       —  
Add: Stock options     —       —  
 -Diluted     22,844       26,803  
                 
Basic and diluted net loss per share   $ (1.19 )   $ (0.40 )
Fair Value Measurement

Fair Value Measurement

 

The Company follows the provisions of the accounting standard which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and enhances fair value measurement disclosure. Under these provisions, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the “exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

 

The standard establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use on unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is described below:

 

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.

 

Level 2: Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data.

 

Level 3: Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

 

See Notes 15, 20 and 21.
Recently Issued Accounting Principles

Recently Issued Accounting Principles

 

Other than the announcement noted below, there have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the year ended December 31, 2015, that are of material significance, or have potential material significance, to the Company.

 

In August 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2014-15 “Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern,” outlining management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, along with the required disclosures. ASU 2014-15 is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. We do not anticipate a material impact to our financial statements as a result of this change.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards update 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (“ASU 2015-03”). ASU 2015-03 changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in financial statements, by requiring them to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability, rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs is reported as interest expense. There is no change to the current guidance on the recognition and measurement of debt issuance costs. For public business entities, ASU 2015-03 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect ASU 2015-03 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 “Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which revises an entity’s accounting related to (1) the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and (2) the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. The ASU also amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted under certain circumstances.” The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-01 on its financial statements.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases, which is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018 with early adoption permitted. Under Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, lessees will be required to recognize for all leases at the commencement date a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease measured on a discounted basis, and a right-to-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.  The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the new guidance will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.
Reclassifications

Reclassifications

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the Company’s prior year’s consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year’s consolidated financial statement presentation.