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1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Description of Business

 

Deep Down, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Deep Down Nevada”), and its directly and indirectly wholly-owned subsidiaries, Deep Down, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Deep Down Delaware”); Deep Down International Holdings, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company; and Deep Down Brasil - Solucoes em Petroleo e Gas, Ltda, a Brazilian limited liability company (“Deep Down Brasil”), (collectively referred to as “Deep Down”, “we”, “us” or the “Company”) is an oilfield services company specializing in complex deepwater and ultra-deepwater oil production distribution system support services, serving the worldwide offshore exploration and production industry. Our services and technological solutions include distribution system installation support and engineering services, umbilical terminations, loose-tube steel flying leads, flotation and Remote Operated Vehicles (“ROVs”) and related services. We support subsea engineering, installation, commissioning, and maintenance projects through specialized, highly experienced service teams and engineered technological solutions. Deep Down’s primary focus is on more complex deepwater and ultra-deepwater oil production distribution system support services and technologies, used between the platform and the wellhead.

 

Liquidity

 

As a deepwater service provider, our revenues, profitability, cash flows, and future rate of growth are generally dependent on the condition of the global oil and gas industry, and our customers’ ability to invest capital for offshore exploration, drilling and production and maintain or increase levels of expenditures for maintenance of offshore drilling and production facilities. Oil and gas prices and the level of offshore drilling and production activity have historically been characterized by significant volatility. We enter into large, fixed-price contracts which may require significant lead time and investment. A decline in offshore drilling and production activity could result in lower contract volume or delays in significant contracts which could negatively impact our earnings and cash flows. Our earnings and cash flows could also be negatively affected by delays in payments by significant customers or delays in completion of our contracts for any reason. While our objective is to enter into contracts with our customers that are cash flow positive, we may not always be able to achieve this objective. We are dependent on our cash flows from operations to fund our working capital requirements and the uncertainties noted above create risks that we may not achieve our planned earnings or cash flow from operations, which may require us to raise additional debt or equity capital. There can be no assurance that we could raise additional capital.

 

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, we supplemented the financing of our capital needs primarily through debt and equity financings. Since 2008, we have maintained a credit facility with Whitney Bank, a state chartered bank (“Whitney”); see additional discussion in Note 7, “Long-Term Debt”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Deep Down and its wholly-owned subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications have not resulted in any changes to previously reported net income (loss) or cash flows.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates used in our financial statements relate to revenue recognition where we use percentage-of completion accounting on our large fixed-price contracts, goodwill and the allowance for doubtful accounts. These estimates require judgments, which we base on historical experience and on various other assumptions, as well as specific circumstances. Estimates may change as new events occur, additional information becomes available or operating environments change. Actual results may differ from our estimates.

 

Segments

 

For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, we only had one operating and reporting segment, Deep Down Delaware.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

We consider all highly liquid investments with maturities from date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on deposit with domestic banks and, at times, may exceed federally insured limits.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. We utilize a fair value hierarchy, which maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The fair value hierarchy has three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

 

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2 - Quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

 

Level 3 - Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

 

Our financial instruments consist primarily of cash equivalents, trade receivables and payables, and debt instruments. The carrying values of cash equivalents and trade receivables and payables approximated their fair values at December 31, 2015 and 2014 due to their short-term maturities. The carrying values of our debt instruments approximate their fair values at December 31, 2015 and 2014 because the interest rates approximate current market rates.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Trade receivables are uncollateralized customer obligations due under normal trade terms. We provide an allowance for doubtful trade receivables based on a specific review of each customer’s trade receivable balance with respect to their ability to make payments. Generally, we do not charge interest on past due accounts. When specific accounts are determined to require an allowance, they are expensed by a provision for bad debts in that period. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, we estimated the allowance for doubtful accounts requirement to be $150 and $498, respectively. Bad debt expense (credit) totaled $70 and $(19) for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The change in our allowance for doubtful accounts is a result of offsetting our 2014 accounts receivable balance of one of our subsidiaries against the corresponding allowance of $498.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

As of December 31, 2015, three of our customers accounted for 35 percent, 26 percent and 17 percent of total trade accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2014, three of our customers accounted for 34 percent, 26 percent and 14 percent of total trade accounts receivable.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2015, our five largest customers accounted for 34 percent, 21 percent, 10 percent, 7 percent and 5 percent of total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2014, our five largest customers accounted for 26 percent, 19 percent, 11 percent, 7 percent and 7 percent of total revenues.

 

The loss of one or more of these customers could have a material impact on our results of operations.

 

Inventory

 

Inventory, which consists of finished goods, work-in-progress and spare parts and materials used in our operations, is stated at the lower of cost or market, net of reserve for obsolescence. The obsolescence reserve was $0 as of December 31, 2015 and $205 as of December 31, 2014.

 

Long-Lived Assets

 

Property, plant and equipment. Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Replacements and betterments are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. It is our policy to include amortization expense on assets acquired under capital leases with depreciation expense on owned assets. Additionally, we record depreciation and amortization expense related to revenue-generating assets as a component of cost of sales in the accompanying statements of operations.

 

Goodwill. Goodwill is the excess of cost of an acquired entity over the amounts assigned to identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Goodwill is not subject to amortization, but is tested for impairment annually at year-end or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate a potential impairment. These circumstances may include an adverse change in the business climate or a change in the assessment of future operations of a reporting unit.

 

The Company assesses whether a goodwill impairment exists using both qualitative and quantitative assessments. The qualitative assessment involves determining whether events or circumstances exist that indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. If, based on this qualitative assessment, it is determined that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company does not perform a quantitative assessment.

 

If the qualitative assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount or if the Company elects not to perform a qualitative assessment, a quantitative assessment or two-step impairment test is performed to determine whether goodwill impairment exists at the reporting unit.

 

The first step is to compare the estimated fair value of each reporting unit with goodwill to its carrying amount, including goodwill. To determine fair value estimates, the Company uses the income approach based on discounted cash flow analyses, combined with a market-based approach. The market-based approach considers valuation comparisons of recent public sale transactions of similar businesses and earnings multiples of publicly traded businesses operating in industries consistent with the reporting unit. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the second step of the impairment test is performed to determine the amount of impairment loss, if any. The second step compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess.

 

There was no goodwill at any time during the year ended December 31, 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2014, our quantitative assessment of goodwill, which was a Level 3 fair value determination (based on estimated discounted cash flows), resulted in a goodwill impairment expense of $4,916, which eliminated the remaining goodwill balance. This result occurred primarily due to the adverse impact of recently declining oil prices on current and anticipated future oil and gas development activity.

 

Equity Method Investments

 

Equity method investments in joint ventures are reported as investments in joint venture on the consolidated balance sheets, and our share of earnings or losses in the joint venture is reported as equity in net income or loss of joint venture in the consolidated statements of operations. We currently have no remaining investment, but still expect equity distributions from time to time. Our balance sheet currently reflects $161 as part of our accounts receivable balance as of December 31, 2015.

 

Lease Obligations

 

We lease land, buildings, vehicles and certain equipment under non-cancellable operating leases. Since February 2009, we have leased our corporate headquarters in Houston, Texas, under a non-cancellable operating lease. Deep Down Delaware leases indoor manufacturing space and leases office, warehouse and operating space in Houston, Texas and in Morgan City, Louisiana, under non-cancellable operating leases. As a result of the consolidation of Mako Technology, LLC’s operations into Deep Down Delaware in August 2012, in December 2012, we sub-leased our leased property in Morgan City, Louisiana to a third party. Additionally, we lease space in Mobile, AL to house our 3.4 ton carousel system. We also lease certain office and other operating equipment under capital leases; the related assets are included with property, plant and equipment on the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 13 “Subsequent Events”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, for further explanation.

 

At the inception of a lease, we evaluate the agreement to determine whether the lease will be accounted for as an operating or capital lease. The term of the lease used for such an evaluation includes renewal option periods only in instances in which the exercise of the renewal option can be reasonably assured and failure to exercise such option would result in an economic penalty.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

We recognize revenue once the following four criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (ii) delivery of the equipment has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the price of the equipment or service is fixed or determinable and (iv) collectability of the related receivable is reasonably assured. Service revenue is recognized as the service is provided, and time and materials contracts are billed on a bi-weekly or monthly basis as costs are incurred. Customer billings for shipping and handling charges are included in revenue. Revenues are recorded net of sales taxes.

 

From time to time, we enter into fixed-price contracts. The percentage-of-completion method is used as a basis for recognizing revenue on these contracts. We recognize revenue as costs are incurred because we believe the incurrence of cost reasonably reflects progress made toward project completion.

 

Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted large fixed-price contracts (if any) are recorded in the period in which it is determined it is more likely than not a loss will be incurred.  Changes in job performance, job conditions, and total contract values may result in revisions to costs and income and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined.  Unapproved change orders are accounted for in revenue and cost when it is probable that the costs will be recovered through a change in the contract price. In circumstances where recovery is considered probable but the revenues cannot be reliably estimated, costs attributable to change orders are deferred pending determination of contract price.

 

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts arise when revenues are recorded on a percentage-of-completion basis but cannot be invoiced under the terms of the contract. Such amounts are invoiced upon completion of contractual milestones. Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts arise when milestone billings are permissible under the contract, but the related costs have not yet been incurred. All contract costs are recognized currently on jobs formally approved by the customer and contracts are not shown as complete until virtually all anticipated costs have been incurred and the risk of loss has passed to the customer.

 

Assets and liabilities related to costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, as well as liabilities related to billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts, have been classified as current. The contract cycle for certain long-term contracts may extend beyond one year, thus complete collection of amounts related to these contracts may extend beyond one year, though such long-term contracts include contractual milestone billings as discussed above. See Note 12 “Restatement of Quarterly Information (Unaudited)”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Income Taxes

 

We follow the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. This method takes into account the differences between financial statement treatment and tax treatment of certain transactions. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using 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 of a change in tax rates is recognized as income or expense in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

We record a valuation allowance to reduce the carrying value of our deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will expire before realization of the benefit or that future deductibility is not probable. The ultimate realization of the deferred tax assets depends upon our ability to generate sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character in the future. This requires management to use estimates and make assumptions regarding significant future events such as the taxability of entities operating in the various taxing jurisdictions. In evaluating our ability to recover our deferred tax assets, we consider all reasonably available positive and negative evidence, including our past operating results, the existence of cumulative losses in the most recent years and our forecast of future taxable income. In estimating future taxable income, we develop assumptions, including the amount of future state, and federal pre-tax operating income, the reversal of temporary differences and the implementation of feasible and prudent tax planning strategies. These assumptions require significant judgment. When the likelihood of the realization of existing deferred tax assets changes, adjustments to the valuation allowance are charged in the period in which the determination is made, either to income or goodwill, depending upon when that portion of the valuation allowance was originally created.

 

We record an estimated tax liability or tax benefit for income and other taxes based on what we determine will likely be paid in the various tax jurisdictions in which we operate. We use our best judgment in the determination of these amounts. However, the liabilities ultimately realized and paid are dependent upon various matters, including resolution of tax audits, and may differ from amounts recorded. An adjustment to the estimated liability would be recorded as a provision or benefit to income tax expense in the period in which it becomes probable that the amount of the actual liability or benefit differs from the recorded amount.

 

Our future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets or liabilities or changes in tax laws or interpretations thereof. If and when our deferred tax assets are no longer fully reserved, we will begin to provide for taxes at the full statutory rate. In addition, we are subject to the examination of our income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes.

 

Share-Based Compensation

 

We record share-based awards exchanged for employee service at fair value on the date of grant and expense the awards in the consolidated statements of operations over the requisite employee service period. Share-based compensation expense includes an estimate for forfeitures and is generally recognized over the expected term of the award on a straight-line basis. At December 31, 2015, we had two types of share-based employee compensation: stock options and restricted stock.

 

Key assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model for stock option valuations include (1) expected volatility (2) expected term (3) discount rate and (4) expected dividend yield. Volumes are low and small trades can have a major impact on prices, so we based our estimates of volatility on a representative peer group consisting of companies in the same industry, with similar market capitalizations and similar stage of development. Additionally, we continue to use the simplified method related to employee option grants.

 

Earnings or Loss per Common Share

 

Basic earnings or loss per common share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing net earnings or loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing net earnings or loss by the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common stock equivalents (stock options) outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if stock options and warrants to purchase common stock were exercised for shares of common stock. In periods where losses are reported, the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding excludes common stock equivalents, because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

 

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, “Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern” (“ASU 2014-15”). ASU 2014-15 provides guidance on management’s responsibility in evaluating whether there is substantial doubt about a company’s ability to continue as a going concern and about related footnote disclosures. For each reporting period, management will be required to evaluate whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about a company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the date the financial statements are issued. The amendments in ASU 2014-15 are effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt the methodologies prescribed by ASU 2014-15 by the date required, and does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2014-15 will have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued a new standard on revenue recognition that supersedes previously issued revenue recognition guidance. This standard provides a five-step approach to be applied to all contracts with customers and requires expanded disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue (and the related cash flows) arising from customer contracts, significant judgments and changes in judgments used in applying the revenue model and the assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. The effective date for this standard was deferred in July 2015 and will now be effective for us beginning in 2018. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method; therefore we are evaluating the effect that this new guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. We have not yet selected a transition method nor have we determined the effect of the standard on our ongoing financial reporting.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The amendments in this update require, among other things, that lessees recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date: (1) a lease liability, which is a lessee's obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and (2) a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee's right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Lessees and lessors must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The amendments are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We are currently evaluating the impacts of the amendments to our financial statements and accounting practices for leases.