Nature of Operations

Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “Gulf Island,” "the Company," "we," "us" and "our") is a leading fabricator of complex steel structures, modules and marine vessels, and a provider of project management, hookup, commissioning, repair, maintenance and civil construction services. Our customers include United States ("U.S.") and, to a lesser extent, international energy producers; refining, petrochemical, LNG, industrial, power and marine operators; EPC companies; and certain agencies of the U.S. government. We operate and manage our business through two operating divisions ("Shipyard" and "Fabrication & Services") and one non-operating division ("Corporate"), which represent our reportable segments. Our corporate headquarters is located in Houston, Texas, with operating facilities located in Houma, Jennings and Lake Charles, Louisiana.  See Note 7 for discussion of our realigned reportable segments and discussion of our anticipated closure of the Jennings Yard.

Significant projects in our backlog include the fabrication of an offshore jacket and deck as well as modules for an offshore facility; material supply for an offshore jacket and deck; and construction of three harbor tug vessels, three regional class research vessels, three vehicle ferries, an ice-breaker tug, and five towing, salvage and rescue ships.  Projects completed in recent years include the expansion of a paddle wheel riverboat; fabrication of petrochemical modules as well as a meteorological tower and platform for an offshore wind project; and construction of seven harbor tug vessels and two towboats. Other completed projects include the fabrication of wind turbine foundations for the first offshore wind project in the U.S.; and construction of two technologically-advanced OSVs, two of the largest liftboats servicing the Gulf of Mexico ("GOM"), one of the deepest production jackets in the GOM, and the first single point anchor reservoir ("SPAR") hull fabricated in the U.S.

Liquidity Outlook

In recent years our operating results and cash flows have been impacted by lower margins due to competitive pricing, a significant underutilization of our facilities and losses on certain projects.  As a result, we implemented initiatives to improve and maintain our liquidity (including reducing the compensation of our executive officers and directors and reducing the size of our board), reduce our reliance on the fabrication of structures and marine vessels associated with the offshore oil and gas sector, improve our resource utilization and centralize our key project resources, and improve our competitiveness and project execution.  These initiatives are ongoing, and while we can provide no assurances that the initiatives will achieve our desired results, we believe our cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and availability under our Credit Agreement (defined in Note 4), will be sufficient to enable us to fund our operating expenses, meet our working capital and capital expenditure requirements, and satisfy any debt service obligations or other funding requirements, for at least twelve months from the filing date of this Report.

Use of Estimates

General - The preparation of our Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities.  We believe our most significant estimates and judgments are associated with revenue recognition for our contracts, including application of the percentage-of-completion method, estimating costs to complete each contract and the recognition of incentives, unapproved change orders, claims and liquidated damages; fair value and recoverability assessments that must be periodically performed with respect to long-lived assets and our assets held for sale; determination of deferred income tax assets, liabilities and related valuation allowances; reserves for bad debts; liabilities related to self-insurance programs; and the impacts of the Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) and low oil prices on our business, estimates and judgments as discussed further below. If the underlying estimates and assumptions upon which our Financial Statements are based change in the future, actual amounts may differ materially from those included in the Financial Statements.

COVID-19 and Low Oil Prices - COVID-19 is a widespread public health crisis that is adversely affecting the economies and financial markets globally. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic and the U.S. President has announced a national emergency relating to COVID-19. National, state and local authorities have recommended social distancing and imposed, or are considering, quarantine and isolation measures on large portions of the population, including mandatory business closures. These measures, while intended to protect human life, have had and are expected to continue to have a significant impact on domestic and foreign economies of uncertain severity and duration. The effectiveness of economic stabilization efforts, including proposed government payments to affected citizens and industries, is uncertain. Due to COVID-19 and related measures, there has been a decline in the demand for, and thus prices of, oil and these declines have been exacerbated by a market share dispute between the world’s largest oil producers.  Some economists are predicting the U.S. may enter a recession of unknown duration. The extent to which COVID-19 and low oil prices may adversely impact our business, prospects, financial condition, operating results and cash flows depends on future developments that are highly uncertain and unpredictable.  As a result of this current level of uncertainty over the economic and operational impacts of COVID-19 and low oil prices, the related business and financial impacts cannot be reasonably estimated at this time, and may include, among other things, unanticipated project costs due to project disruptions and schedule delays, lower labor productivity, lack of performance by subcontractors and suppliers, and contract disputes, including claims. Events and changes in circumstances arising after this Report resulting from the impacts of COVID-19, if any, will be reflected in management’s estimates for future periods.

Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

Cash Equivalents - We consider investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Short-Term Investments - We consider investments with original maturities of more than three months but less than twelve months to be short-term investments. At March 31, 2020, our short-term investments include U.S. Treasuries with original maturities of less than six months.  We intend to hold these investments until maturity and it is not more likely than not that we would be required to sell the investments prior to their maturity.  The investments are stated at amortized cost, which approximates fair value due to their near-term maturities. All short-term investments are traded on active markets with quoted prices and represent level 1 fair value measurements.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

In the normal course of business, we extend credit to our customers on a short-term basis and contract receivables are generally not collateralized; however, we typically have the right to place liens on our projects in the event of nonpayment by our customers. We routinely review individual contract receivable balances for collectibility and make provisions for probable uncollectible amounts as necessary. Among the factors considered in our review are the financial condition of our customer and its access to financing, underlying disputes with the customer, the age and value of the receivable balance, and economic conditions in general. See Note 2 for further discussion of our allowance for doubtful accounts.

Assets Held for Sale

Assets held for sale are measured at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. See Note 3 for further discussion of our assets held for sale.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets, which include property, plant and equipment and our lease assets included within other noncurrent assets, are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.  If a recoverability assessment is required, we compare the estimated future undiscounted cash flow associated with the asset or asset group to its carrying amount to determine if an impairment exists. An asset group constitutes the minimum level for which identifiable cash flows are principally independent of the cash flows of other assets or asset groups. An impairment loss is measured by comparing the fair value of the asset or asset group to its carrying amount and recording the excess of the carrying amount of the asset or asset group over its fair value as an impairment charge. Fair value is determined based on discounted cash flows, appraised values or third-party indications of value, as appropriate.

Revenue Recognition

General - Our revenue is derived from customer contracts and agreements that are awarded on a competitively bid and negotiated basis using a range of contracting options, including fixed-price, unit-rate and T&M.  Our contracts primarily relate to the fabrication and construction of steel structures, modules and marine vessels, and project management services and other service arrangements. We recognize revenue for our contracts in accordance with Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Topic 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” ("Topic 606").  

Topic 606 requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised 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. Additionally, provisions of Topic 606 specify which goods and services are distinct and represent separate performance obligations (representing the unit of account in Topic 606) within a contract and which goods and services (which could include multiple contracts or agreements) should be aggregated. In general, a performance obligation is a contractual obligation to construct and/or transfer a distinct good or service to a customer. The transaction price of a contract is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. Revenue for performance obligations satisfied over time are recognized as the work progresses. Revenue for performance obligations that do not meet the criteria for over time recognition are recognized at a point-in-time when a performance obligation is complete and a customer has obtained control of a promised asset.

Fixed-Price and Unit-Rate Contracts - Revenue for our fixed-price and unit-rate contracts is recognized using the percentage-of-completion method based on contract costs incurred to date compared to total estimated contract costs (an input method).  Contract costs include direct costs, such as materials and labor, and indirect costs attributable to contract activity.  Material costs that are significant to a contract and do not reflect an accurate measure of project completion are excluded from the determination of our contract progress. Revenue for such materials is only recognized to the extent of costs incurred.  Revenue and gross profit for contracts accounted for using the percentage-of-completion method can be significantly affected by changes in estimated cost to complete such contracts. Significant estimates impacting the cost to complete a contract include: costs of engineering, materials, components, equipment, labor and subcontracts; labor productivity; schedule durations, including subcontractor and supplier progress; contract disputes, including claims; achievement of contractual performance requirements; and contingency, among others.  Although our customers retain the right and ability to change, modify or discontinue further work at any stage of a contract, in the event our customers discontinue work, they are required to compensate us for the work performed to date.  The cumulative impact of revisions in total cost estimates during the progress of work is reflected in the period in which these changes become known, including, to the extent required, the reversal of profit recognized in prior periods and the recognition of losses expected to be incurred on contracts. Due to the various estimates inherent in our contract accounting, actual results could differ from those estimates, which could result in material changes to our Financial Statements and related disclosures.  See Note 2 for further discussion of projects with significant changes in estimated margins during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

T&M Contracts - Revenue for our T&M contracts is recognized at contracted rates when the work is performed, the costs are incurred and collection is reasonably assured. Our T&M contracts provide for labor and materials to be billed at rates specified within the contract. The consideration from the customer directly corresponds to the value of our performance completed at the time of invoicing.

Variable Consideration - Revenue and gross profit for contracts can be significantly affected by variable consideration, which can be in the form of unapproved change orders, claims, incentives and liquidated damages that may not be resolved until the later stages of the contract or after the contract has been completed. We estimate variable consideration based on the amount we expect to be entitled and include estimated amounts in transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur or when we conclude that any significant uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. See Note 2 for further discussion of unapproved change orders, claims, incentives and liquidated damages.  

Additional Disclosures - Topic 606 also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows from contracts with customers. See Note 2 for required disclosures under Topic 606.

Other (Income) Expense, Net

Other (income) expense, net, generally represents recoveries or provisions for bad debts, gains or losses associated with the sale or disposition of property and equipment other than assets held for sale, and income or expense associated with certain nonrecurring items.  For the three months ended March 31, 2020, other (income) expense also includes a gain of approximately $10.0 million associated with the settlement of a contract dispute for a project completed in 2015.

New Accounting Standards

Financial instruments - In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which changes the way companies evaluate credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments. For trade and other receivables, short-term investments, loans and other instruments, entities will be required to use a new forward-looking “expected loss” model to evaluate impairment, potentially resulting in earlier recognition of allowances for losses. The new standard also requires enhanced disclosures, including the requirement to disclose the information used to track credit quality by year of origination for most financing receivables. ASU 2016-13 will be effective for us in the first quarter 2023. Early adoption of the new standard is permitted; however, we have not elected to early adopt the standard. The new standard is required to be applied using a cumulative-effect transition method. We are currently evaluating the effect that the new standard will have on our financial position, results of operations and related disclosures.

Income taxes - In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes,” to simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles and simplify areas such as franchise taxes, step-up in tax basis goodwill, separate entity financial statements and interim recognition of enacted tax laws or rate changes. The new standard will be effective for us in the first quarter 2021. We are currently evaluating the effect that the new standard will have on our financial position, results of operations and related disclosures.