Summary of Significant Accounting Principles and Practices |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2018 | |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Summary of Significant Accounting Principles and Practices | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES Description of the Business
Astronics Corporation (“Astronics” or the “Company”) is a leading provider of advanced technologies to the global aerospace, defense and electronics industries. Our products and services include advanced, high-performance electrical power generation, distribution and motion systems, lighting and safety systems, avionics products, systems and certification, aircraft structures and automated test systems.
We have operations in the United States (“U.S.”), Canada and France. We design and build our products through our wholly owned subsidiaries Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp. (“AES”); Astronics AeroSat Corporation (“AeroSat”); Armstrong Aerospace, Inc. (“Armstrong”); Astronics Test Systems, Inc. (“ATS”); Ballard Technology, Inc. (“Ballard”); Astronics Connectivity Systems and Certification Corp. (“CSC”); Astronics Custom Control Concepts Inc. (“CCC”); Astronics DME LLC (“DME”); Luminescent Systems, Inc. (“LSI”); Luminescent Systems Canada, Inc. (“LSI Canada”); Max-Viz, Inc. (“Max-Viz”); Peco, Inc. (“Peco”); and PGA Electronic s.a. (“PGA”).
At December 31, 2018, the Company has two reportable segments, Aerospace and Test Systems. The Aerospace segment designs and manufactures products for the global aerospace industry. Our Test Systems segment designs, develops, manufactures and maintains automated test systems that support the aerospace, communications and weapons test systems as well as training and simulation devices for both commercial and military applications.
On April 3, 2017, Astronics Custom Control Concepts Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company acquired substantially all the assets and certain liabilities of Custom Control Concepts LLC, located in Kent, Washington. CCC is a provider of cabin management and in-flight entertainment systems for a range of aircraft. The total consideration for the transaction was $10.2 million, net of $0.5 million in cash acquired. CCC is included in our Aerospace segment.
On December 1, 2017, Astronics acquired substantially all of the assets of Telefonix Inc. and a related company Product Development Technologies, LLC and its subsidiaries, to become CSC, located in Waukegan and Lake Zurich, Illinois. CSC designs and manufactures advanced in-flight entertainment and connectivity equipment, and provides industry leading design consultancy services for the global aerospace industry. Under the terms of the Agreement, the total consideration for the transaction was $103.8 million, net of $0.2 million in cash acquired. CSC is included in our Aerospace segment.
On February 13, 2019, the Company completed a divestiture of its semiconductor test business within the Test Systems segment. The total cash proceeds of the divestiture amounted to approximately $103.5 million, consisting of $100 million cash at closing, plus approximately $3.5 million related to the sale of certain related inventory. The Company expects to record a pre-tax gain on the sale of approximately $80 million in the first quarter of 2019. The income tax expense relating to the gain is estimated to be $22 million.
The transaction also includes two elements of contingent earnouts. The “First Earnout” is calculated based on a multiple of all future sales of existing and certain future derivative products to existing and future customers in each annual period from 2019 through 2022. The First Earnout may not exceed $35 million in total. The “Second Earnout” is calculated based on a multiple of future sales related to an existing product and program with an existing customer exceeding an annual threshold for each annual period from 2019 through 2022. The Second Earnout is not capped. For the Second Earnout, if the applicable sales in an annual period do not exceed the annual threshold, no amounts will be paid relative to such annual period; the sales in such annual period do not carry over to the next annual period. Due to the degree of uncertainty associated with estimating the future sales levels of the divested business and its underlying programs, and the lack of reliable predictive market information, the Company will recognize such earnout proceeds, if received, as additional gain on sale when such proceeds are realized or realizable.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
Acquisitions are accounted for under the acquisition method and, accordingly, the operating results for the acquired companies are included in the consolidated statements of operations from the respective dates of acquisition.
For additional information on the acquired businesses, see Note 20.
Cost of Products Sold, Engineering and Development and Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Cost of products sold includes the costs to manufacture products such as direct materials and labor and manufacturing overhead as well as all engineering and developmental costs. The Company is engaged in a variety of engineering and design activities as well as basic research and development activities directed to the substantial improvement or new application of the Company’s existing technologies. These costs are expensed when incurred and included in cost of products sold. Research and development, design and related engineering expenses amounted to $114.3 million in 2018, $95.0 million in 2017 and $88.9 million in 2016. Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses include costs primarily related to our sales, marketing and administrative departments. Interest expense is shown net of interest income. Interest income was insignificant for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
Shipping and Handling
Shipping and handling costs are included in costs of products sold.
Equity-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for its stock options following Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation (“ASC Topic 718”). This Topic requires all equity-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options and restricted stock units (“RSU's”), to be recognized in the statement of earnings based on the grant date fair value of the award. For awards with graded vesting, the Company uses a straight-line method of attributing the value of stock-based compensation expense, subject to minimum levels of expense, based on vesting. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.
Under ASC Topic 718, stock compensation expense recognized during the period is based on the value of the portion of share-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period. Vesting requirements vary for directors, officers and key employees. In general, options granted to outside directors vest six months from the date of grant and options granted to officers and key employees vest with graded vesting over a -year period, 20% each year, from the date of grant. In general, RSU's granted to officers and key employees cliff vest in three years. Equity-based compensation expense is included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
All highly liquid instruments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase are considered cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable are composed of trade and contract receivables recorded at either the invoiced amount or costs in excess of billings, are expected to be collected within one year, and do not bear interest. The Company will record a valuation allowance to account for potentially uncollectible accounts receivable. The allowance is determined based on our knowledge of the business, specific customers, review of the receivables’ aging and a specific identification of accounts where collection is at risk. Account balances are charged against the allowance after all means of collections have been exhausted and recovery is considered remote. The Company typically does not require collateral.
Inventories
We record our inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value. We determine the cost basis of our inventory on a first-in, first-out or weighted average basis using a standard cost methodology that approximates actual cost. The Company records valuation reserves to provide for excess, slow moving or obsolete inventory. In determining the appropriate reserve, the Company considers the age of inventory on hand, the overall inventory levels in relation to forecasted demands as well as reserving for specifically identified inventory that the Company believes is no longer salable.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed using the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes and using accelerated methods for income tax purposes. Estimated useful lives of the assets are as follows: buildings, 25-40 years; machinery and equipment, 4-10 years. Leased buildings and associated leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the terms of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the assets, with the amortization of such assets included within depreciation expense.
The cost of properties sold or otherwise disposed of and the accumulated depreciation thereon are eliminated from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss, as well as maintenance and repair expenses, is reflected within operating income. Replacements and improvements are capitalized.
Depreciation expense was approximately $15.0 million, $14.1 million and $14.3 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Buildings acquired under capital leases amounted to $3.4 million ($8.2 million, net of $4.8 million of accumulated amortization) and $10.3 million ($15.5 million, net of $5.2 million accumulated amortization) at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Future minimum lease payments associated with these capital leases are expected to be $2.0 million in 2019, $2.1 million in 2020, $2.2 million in 2021, and $0.9 million in 2022.
Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets to be held and used are initially recorded at cost. The carrying value of these assets is evaluated for recoverability whenever adverse effects or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Impairments are recognized if future undiscounted cash flows from operations are not expected to be sufficient to recover long-lived assets. The carrying amounts are then reduced to fair value, which is typically determined by using a discounted cash flow model.
Assets of Business Held for Sale
Assets held for sale are to be reported at lower of its carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Judgment is required in estimating the sales price of assets held for sale and the time required to sell the assets. These estimates are based upon available market data and operating cash flows of the assets held for sale.
As of December 31, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors had approved a plan to sell the semiconductor test business within the Test Systems segment. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities associated with these operations have been classified as held for sale in the accompanying consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2018. The carrying value of the disposal group was lower than its fair value, less costs to sell, and accordingly, no impairment loss was required at December 31, 2018.
Goodwill
The Company tests goodwill at the reporting unit level on an annual basis or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. The Company has twelve reporting units, however only nine reporting units have goodwill and were subject to the goodwill impairment test as of the first day of our fourth quarter.
We may elect to perform a qualitative assessment that considers economic, industry and company-specific factors for all or selected reporting units. If, after completing the assessment, it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, we proceed to a quantitative test. We may also elect to perform a quantitative test instead of a qualitative test for any or all of our reporting units.
Quantitative testing requires a comparison of the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value. We use the discounted cash flow method to estimate the fair value of our reporting units. The discounted cash flow method incorporates various assumptions, the most significant being projected sales growth rates, operating margins and cash flows, the terminal growth rate and the weighted average cost of capital. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered impaired and any loss must be measured. Accordingly, goodwill impairment is measured as the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying value of goodwill.
See Note 7 for further information regarding the goodwill impairment charges in 2017 relating to our Armstrong reporting unit. There were no impairment charges in 2018 or 2016.
Intangible Assets
Acquired intangibles are generally valued based upon future economic benefits such as earnings and cash flows. Acquired identifiable intangible assets are recorded at fair value and are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Acquired intangible assets with an indefinite life are not amortized, but are reviewed for impairment at least annually or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of those assets are below their estimated fair values.
Impairment is tested under ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, as amended by Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2012-2, by first performing a qualitative analysis in a manner similar to the testing methodology of goodwill discussed
previously. The qualitative factors applied under this new provision indicated no impairment to the Company’s indefinite lived intangible assets in 2018, 2017 or 2016.
Financial Instruments
The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, notes payable and long-term debt. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and generally does not require collateral. The Company does not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. Due to their short-term nature, the carrying values of cash and equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and notes payable approximate fair value. The carrying value of the Company’s variable rate long-term debt instruments also approximates fair value due to the variable rate feature of these instruments.
The Company holds a long-term, strategic investment in a company to promote business and strategic objectives. This investment is included in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As further discussed below, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01 on January 1, 2018. As this investment has no readily determinable fair value, we have elected the practicability exception, under which the investment is measured at cost, less impairment, plus or minus observable price changes from orderly transactions of an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. Prior to 2018, this security was accounted for using the cost method of accounting, measured at cost less other-than-temporary impairment.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent liabilities and the reported amounts of sales and expenses during the reporting periods in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Foreign Currency Translation
The Company accounts for its foreign currency translation in accordance with ASC Topic 830, Foreign Currency Translation. The aggregate transaction gain included in operations was insignificant in 2018, 2017, and 2016.
Dividends
The Company has not paid any cash dividends in the three-year period ended December 31, 2018.
Loss Contingencies
Loss contingencies may from time to time arise from situations such as claims and other legal actions. Loss contingencies are recorded as liabilities when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable. Disclosure is required when there is a reasonable possibility that the ultimate loss will exceed the recorded provision. Contingent liabilities are often resolved over long time periods. In recording liabilities for probable losses, management is required to make estimates and judgments regarding the amount or range of the probable loss. Management continually assesses the adequacy of estimated loss contingencies and, if necessary, adjusts the amounts recorded as better information becomes known.
Acquisitions
The Company accounts for its acquisitions under ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations and Reorganizations (“ASC Topic 805”). ASC Topic 805 provides guidance on how the acquirer recognizes and measures the consideration transferred, identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, non-controlling interests, and goodwill acquired in a business combination. ASC Topic 805 also expands required disclosures surrounding the nature and financial effects of business combinations. See Note 20 regarding the acquisitions in 2017.
Newly Adopted and Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), that, together with several subsequent updates, outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. ASU 2014-09 is based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to
customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 also provides for enhanced disclosure requirements surrounding revenue recognition.
Prior to the adoption of ASU 2014-09, revenue on a significant portion of our contracts had been recognized at the time of shipment of goods, transfer of title and customer acceptance, as required. Our revenue transactions generally consist of a single performance obligation to transfer promised goods and are not accounted for under industry-specific guidance. We have retained much of the same accounting treatment used to recognize revenue under the prior standard. However, the adoption of ASU 2014-09 required us to accelerate the recognition of revenue as compared to the prior standard for certain contracts, in cases where we produce products unique to those customers, and for which we would have an enforceable right of payment, inclusive of profit, for production completed to date. In some cases, revenue which qualified for accelerated recognition under the prior standard did not qualify for acceleration under ASU 2014-09; in these cases the revenue treatment was changed to reflect recognition at the time of transfer of control.
We adopted ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method, which required the recognition of the cumulative effect of the transition as an adjustment to retained earnings. The Company elected to apply the standard only to open contracts as of January 1, 2018. Based on the application of the changes described above, we recognized a transition adjustment of $3.3 million, net of tax effects, which increased our January 1, 2018 retained earnings. Based on our existing operations, ASU 2014-09 has not had a material impact to net earnings for the year ended December 31, 2018. Refer to Note 2 for additional information and a discussion of the Company's policies with respect to revenue recognition.
During the first quarter of 2018, the Company early-adopted ASU No. 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows for a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Company applied the guidance as of the beginning of the period of adoption and reclassified approximately $1.4 million from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings due to the change in federal corporate tax rate.
On January 1, 2018 ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, became effective for the Company. This ASU requires entities to carry all investments in equity securities, including other ownership interests such as partnerships, unincorporated joint ventures, and limited liability companies, at fair value with changes in fair value recognized within net income. This ASU does not apply to equity method investments, investments that result in consolidation of the investee or investments in certain investment companies. For investments in equity securities without a readily determinable fair value, an entity is permitted to elect a practicability exception, under which the investment will be measured at cost, less impairment, plus or minus observable price changes from orderly transactions of an identical or similar investment of the same issuer.
Additionally, this ASU eliminated the requirement to assess whether an impairment of an equity investment is other than temporary. The impairment model for equity investments subject to this election is now a single-step model whereby an entity performs a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. If the qualitative assessment indicates that an impairment exists, the entity would estimate the fair value of the investment and recognize in net income an impairment loss equal to the difference between the fair value and the carrying amount of the equity investment.The Company’s non-marketable equity securities formerly classified as cost method investments are measured and recorded using the measurement alternative. The Company has elected the practicability exception whereby these investments are measured at cost, less impairment, plus or minus observable price changes from orderly transactions of identical or similar investments of the same issuer.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. ASU 2016-02 required entities to adopt the new standard using a modified retrospective method and initially apply the related guidance at the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements. During July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, which allows for an additional and optional transition method under which an entity would record a cumulative-effect adjustment at the beginning of the period of adoption (“cumulative-effect method”). We will adopt this guidance as of January 1, 2019 using the cumulative-effect method. We anticipate an increase in our assets and liabilities due to the recognition of the required right-of-use asset and corresponding lease obligations for leases that are currently classified as operating leases. While the adoption will result in an increase to assets and liabilities on the balance sheet, we estimate that the impact to both will not exceed 3% of our consolidated total assets. In addition, we do not expect that the adoption will result in a material impact to our consolidated statement of operations.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which narrows the existing definition of a business and provides a framework for evaluating whether a transaction should be accounted for as an acquisition (or disposal) of assets or a business. The ASU requires an entity to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets; if so, the set of transferred assets and activities (collectively, the set) is not a business. To be considered a business, the set would need to
include an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. The standard also narrows the definition of outputs. The definition of a business affects areas of accounting such as acquisitions, disposals and goodwill. Under the new guidance, fewer acquired sets are expected to be considered businesses. This ASU was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 on a prospective basis with early adoption permitted.
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. This ASU changes how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension and/or other postretirement benefit plans present the net periodic benefit cost in the income statement. This ASU was adopted as of January 1, 2018 on a retrospective basis. Under the new standard, only the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost would be included in operating expenses. All other net periodic benefit costs components (such as interest cost, prior service cost amortization and actuarial gain/loss amortization) would be reported outside of operating income. These include components totaling $2.0 million, $1.7 million and $1.7 million, for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively, that are no longer be included within operating expenses and instead are reported outside of income from operations under the new standard, within other expense, net of other income in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Scope of Modification Accounting, that clarifies when changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award must be accounted for as a modification. The general model for accounting for modifications of share-based payment awards is to record the incremental value arising from the changes as additional compensation cost. Under the new standard, fewer changes to the terms of an award would require accounting under this modification model. This ASU was adopted as of January 1, 2018. As the Company has not made changes to the terms or conditions of its issued share-based payment awards, this ASU had no impact on our consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The new standard removes the disclosure requirements for the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The provisions of this ASU are effective for years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect this ASU to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements, as it only includes changes to disclosure requirements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans. The new standard includes updates to the disclosure requirements for defined benefit plans including several additions, deletions and modifications to the disclosure requirements. The provisions of this ASU are effective for years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this ASU.
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