Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Nature of Operations

We are a leading fabricator of complex steel structures, modules and marine vessels used in energy extraction and production, petrochemical and industrial facilities, power generation, alternative energy and shipping and marine transportation operations. We also provide project management, hookup, commissioning, repair, maintenance and civil construction services. We operate and manage our business through three operating divisions ("Fabrication", "Shipyard" and "Services") and one non-operating division ("Corporate"), which represent our reportable segments. During the first quarter 2019, our former EPC Division was operationally combined with our Fabrication Division. See Note 7 for discussion of our realigned operating divisions and related financial information. Our corporate headquarters is located in Houston, Texas, with fabrication facilities located in Houma, Jennings and Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Significant projects in our backlog include the expansion of a paddle wheel riverboat, and the construction of a jacket and deck, eight harbor tug vessels, two offshore regional class marine research vessels, two vehicle ferries, two towboats, an ice-breaker tug, and a towing, salvage and rescue ship for the U.S. Navy. Recently completed projects include the fabrication of complex modules for a newbuild petrochemical facility and a meteorological tower and platform for an offshore wind project, and construction of two technologically-advanced OSVs and two harbor tug vessels. Previous projects also include the fabrication of wind turbine foundations for the first offshore wind project in the U.S., and construction of 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.

In April 2019, our customer for our regional class marine research vessels exercised its option for the construction of a third vessel and our customer for our towing, salvage and rescue ship exercised its option for the construction of five additional vessels (and continues to have options for the construction of five additional vessels).

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements ("Financial Statements") reflect all wholly owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP") for interim financial statements, the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Accordingly, the Financial Statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In our opinion, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019.

The Consolidated Balance Sheet ("Balance Sheet") at December 31, 2018, has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. Certain amounts for the 2018 period have been reclassified within our Consolidated Statements of Operations ("Statement of Operations") and our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows ("Statement of Cash Flows") to conform to our presentation for the 2019 period. For further information, refer to the Financial Statements and related footnotes included in our 2018 Annual Report.

Business Outlook

We continue to strategically position the Company to participate in the fabrication of petrochemical and industrial facilities, pursue offshore wind opportunities, and diversify our customer base within all operating divisions. In addition, we continue to focus on maintaining our liquidity and securing meaningful new project awards and backlog in the near-term, and generating operating income and cash flows from operations in the longer-term. We have made significant progress in our efforts to increase our backlog and improve and preserve our liquidity, including cost reductions and the sale of underutilized assets. See Note 3 for further discussion of our recent asset sales and assets held for sale at March 31, 2019.

We believe that our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at March 31, 2019, 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 date of this Report.

Operating Cycle

The durations of our contracts vary and can extend beyond twelve months from the date of contract award. Consistent with industry practice, assets and liabilities have been classified as current under the operating cycle concept whereby all contract-related items are classified as current regardless of whether cash will be received or paid within a twelve month period. Assets and liabilities classified as current which may not be received or paid within the next twelve months include contract retainage, contract assets and contract liabilities. Variations from normal contract terms may result in the classification of assets and liabilities as noncurrent.

Use of Estimates

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; and liabilities related to self-insurance programs. 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.

Earnings Per Share

We report basic and diluted earnings per share ("EPS") using the "two-class" method as required under GAAP. The calculation of EPS using the two-class method is required when a company has two or more classes of common stock or participating securities. Certain of our unvested restricted stock (which are not included in our basic or diluted weighted average shares outstanding) contain the right to receive non-refundable dividends and therefore represent participating securities. See Note 6 for calculations of our basic and diluted EPS.
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, 2019, 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 have stated them at amortized cost. Due to their near-term maturities, amortized cost approximates fair value. All short-term investments are traded on active markets with quoted prices and represent level 1 fair value measurements.

Inventory
Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value determined using the first-in-first-out basis. The cost of inventory includes acquisition costs, production or conversion costs, and other costs incurred to bring the inventory to a current location and condition. Net realizable value is our estimated selling price in the normal course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. An allowance for excess or inactive inventory is recorded based on an analysis that considers current inventory levels, historical usage patterns, estimates of future sales and salvage value.
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.
Our customer base historically includes a significant number of energy related companies and their contractors. This concentration of customers in the energy sector may impact our overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively, in that customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions. See Note 2 for further discussion of our allowance for doubtful accounts.

Stock-Based Compensation
Awards under our stock-based compensation plans are calculated using a fair value-based measurement method. Compensation expense for share based awards is recognized only for those awards that are expected to vest. We use the straight-line method to recognize share-based compensation expense over the requisite service period of the award. We recognize the excess tax benefit or tax deficiency resulting from the difference between the deduction we receive for tax purposes and the stock-based compensation expense we recognize for financial reporting purposes created when common stock vests, as an income tax benefit or expense in our Statement of Operations.
Tax payments made on behalf of employees to taxing authorities in order to satisfy employee income tax withholding obligations from the vesting of shares under our stock-based compensation plans are classified as a financing activity in our Statement of Cash Flows.
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.
Depreciation Expense
We depreciate property, plant and equipment on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives ranging from three to 25 years, absent any indicators of impairment. Ordinary maintenance and repairs, which do not extend the physical or economic lives of the plant or equipment, are charged to expense as incurred.
Long-Lived Assets
We review long-lived assets for impairment, which include property, plant and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets included within other assets, when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If a recoverability assessment is required, the estimated future undiscounted cash flow associated with the assets or asset groups are compared to their respective carrying amounts to determine if an impairment exists. 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. 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. Fair value is determined based on discounted cash flows, appraised values or third party indications of value, as appropriate. During the first quarter 2019, we identified no indicators of impairment.
Fair Value Measurements
Our fair value determinations for financial assets and liabilities are based on the particular facts and circumstances. Financial instruments are required to be categorized within a valuation hierarchy based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels of the valuation hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 - inputs are based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.
Level 2 - inputs are based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.
Level 3 - inputs are based upon model-based valuation techniques for which significant assumptions are generally not observable in the market and typically reflect estimates and assumptions that we believe market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. These include discounted cash flow models and similar valuation techniques.

The carrying amounts reported for financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, contracts receivable and accounts payable, approximate their fair values.

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"), which was adopted by us on January 1, 2018, and supersedes previous revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance.

Fixed-Price and Unit-Rate Contracts - Revenue for our fixed-price and unit-rate contracts is recognized using the percentage-of-completion method (an input method), based on contract costs incurred to date compared to total estimated contract costs. Contract costs include direct costs, such as materials and labor, and indirect costs that are 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.

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 and delivery occurs. 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. For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, we had no material amounts in revenue related to unapproved change orders, claims, or incentives. However, at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, certain projects in our Shipyard Division reflected a reduction to our estimated contract price for liquidated damages of $11.2 million. The reductions in contract price were recorded during 2017.

Adoption of Topic 606 - As discussed above, on January 1, 2018 we adopted Topic 606. Prior to our adoption of Topic 606, our determination of percentage-of-completion for our fixed-price and unit-rate contracts was based on the percentage of direct labor hours incurred to date compared to total estimated direct labor hours, and revenue for materials was recognized only to the extent of costs incurred. However, in our adoption of Topic 606, we adjusted our measure of progress for the determination of percentage-of-completion to include subcontract labor hours in addition to direct labor hours. Accordingly, our determination of percentage-of-completion for the first quarter 2018 was based on this method.

During the fourth quarter 2018, we concluded that the use of labor hours for the determination of percentage-of-completion for our fixed-price and unit-rate contracts was not appropriate based on the changing mix of our contracts, which include an increasing amount of engineered equipment, manufactured materials, and subcontracted services and materials. We also concluded that in our adoption of Topic 606 as of January 1, 2018, our determination of percentage-of-completion for our fixed-price and unit-rate contracts should have been based on total contract costs incurred to date compared to total estimated contact costs. We further concluded that material costs that are significant to a contract and do not reflect an accurate measure of project completion should be excluded from the determination of our contract progress, and revenue for such materials should only be recognized to the extent of costs incurred. Accordingly, during the fourth quarter 2018 we corrected our percentage-of-completion estimates for our fixed-price and unit-rate contracts to be based on total costs incurred to date compared to total estimated contract costs. Accordingly, our determination of percentage-of-completion for the first quarter 2019 was based on this method. The impact of the difference in methods of determining percentage-of-completion between the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 was not material.
During 2018 we also evaluated the required cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2018 for the adoption impact of Topic 606. Based on this evaluation, we determined that the cumulative effect adjustment would have been $0.4 million, which we did not believe was material to our Financial Statements. Accordingly, no cumulative adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2018 was recorded.
Income Taxes

Income taxes have been provided using the liability method. Deferred income taxes reflect 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 using enacted rates expected to be in effect during the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.

A valuation allowance is provided to reserve for deferred tax assets ("DTA(s)") if, based upon the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the DTAs will not be realized. The realization of our DTAs depends on our ability to generate sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character and in the appropriate jurisdictions.

Reserves for uncertain tax positions are recognized when we consider it more likely than not that additional tax will be due in excess of amounts reflected in our income tax returns, irrespective of whether or not we have received tax assessments. Interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions are recorded within income tax expense.

Pre-contract Costs

Pre-contract costs are generally charged to cost of revenue as incurred, but in certain cases their recognition may be deferred if specific probability criteria are met. At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had no deferred pre-contract costs.

Other (Income) Expense, Net

Other (income) expense, net, generally represents (recoveries) provisions for bad debts, (gains) losses associated with the sale or disposition of property and equipment other than assets held for sale, and (income) expense associated with certain nonrecurring items.

New Accounting Standards

Leases - In the first quarter 2019, we adopted ASU 2016-02, “Leases,” which required us to record a lease liability on our Balance Sheet equal to the present value of our lease payments for leased assets, and record a lease asset on our Balance Sheet representing our right to use the underlying leased assets for all leases having an original term of longer than 12-months. In our adoption we elected the modified retrospective transition method, and accordingly, prior periods have not been restated and continue to be reported under the lease standard in effect during such periods. We also elected certain practical expedients provided by ASU 2016-02, including not recording an asset or liability for leases having a term of 12-months or less and not separating lease and non-lease components for our leases. Upon adoption, we recorded operating lease assets and lease liabilities of approximately $7.2 million and $5.3 million, respectively, at January 1, 2019. Included in our lease asset was an intangible asset of $1.9 million associated with two favorable lease obligations recorded in connection with a former acquisition, which was reclassified as a lease asset under ASU 2016-02. 

The lease asset is reflected within other noncurrent assets, and the current and noncurrent portions of the lease liability are reflected within accrued expenses and other liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities, respectively, on our Balance Sheet. At March 31, 2019, our lease asset, current lease liability and long-term lease liability were $7.0 million, $0.3 million and $4.9 million, respectively. For leases with escalations over the life of the lease, we recognize expense on a straight-line basis. See Note 5 for further discussion of our lease liabilities.

Stock-based grants - In the first quarter 2019, we adopted ASU 2018-07, "Improvements to Non-employee Share-Based Payment Accounting," which simplifies the accounting for share-based payments granted to non-employees for goods and services. Under the ASU, most of the guidance for such payments to non-employees is now aligned with the requirements for share-based payments to employees. The adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or related disclosures.

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 2020. 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 ASU 2016-13 will have on our financial position, results of operations and related disclosures.