Note 1 - Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Notes to Financial Statements

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business

Broadwind, Inc. (the “Company”) is a precision manufacturer of structures, equipment and components for clean tech and other specialized applications. The Company provides technologically advanced high value products to customers with complex systems and stringent quality standards that operate in energy, mining and infrastructure sectors, primarily in the United States of America (the “U.S.”). The Company’s most significant presence is within the U.S. wind energy industry, although the Company has increasingly diversified into other industrial markets. Within the U.S. wind energy industry, the Company provides products primarily to turbine manufacturers. The Company also provides precision gearing and heavy fabrications to a broad range of industrial customers for oil and gas (“O&G”), mining, steel and other industrial applications, in addition to supplying components for natural gas turbines. The Company has three reportable operating segments: Heavy Fabrications, Gearing, and Industrial Solutions.

Heavy Fabrications

The Company provides large, complex and precision fabrications to customers in a broad range of industrial markets. The Company’s most significant presence is within the U.S. wind energy industry, although it has diversified into other industrial markets in order to improve capacity utilization, reduce customer concentrations, and reduce exposure to uncertainty related to governmental policies currently impacting the U.S. wind energy industry. Within the U.S. wind energy industry, the Company provides steel towers and adapters primarily to wind turbine manufacturers. Production facilities, located in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and Abilene, Texas, are situated in close proximity to the primary U.S. domestic wind energy and equipment manufacturing hubs. The two facilities have a combined annual tower production capacity of up to approximately 550 towers (1650 tower sections), sufficient to support turbines generating more than 1,100 MW of power. The Company has expanded its production capabilities and leveraged manufacturing competencies, including welding, lifting capacity and stringent quality practices, into aftermarket and OEM components utilized in surface and underground mining, construction, material handling, O&G and other infrastructure markets.

Gearing

The Company provides gearing and gearboxes to a broad set of customers in diverse markets including; onshore and offshore O&G fracking and drilling, surface and underground mining, wind energy, steel, material handling and other infrastructure markets. The Company has manufactured loose gearing, gearboxes and systems, and provided heat treat services for aftermarket and OEM applications for nearly a century. The Company uses an integrated manufacturing process, which includes machining and finishing processes in Cicero, Illinois, and heat treatment and gearbox repair in Neville Island, Pennsylvania.

Industrial Solutions

The Company provides supply chain solutions, light fabrication, inventory management, kitting and assembly services, primarily serving the combined cycle natural gas turbine market.

Liquidity

The Company meets its short term liquidity needs through cash generated from operations, its available cash balances, through its Credit Facility (as defined and further discussed in Note 9 “Debt and Credit Agreements” of these consolidated financial statements), equipment financing, access to the public and private debt and/or equity markets, and has the option to raise capital under the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (as discussed below). The Company uses the Credit Facility to fund working capital requirements. Under the Credit Facility, borrowings are continuous and all cash receipts are usually applied to the outstanding borrowed balance. As of December 31, 2021, cash totaled $852, a decrease of $2,520 from December 31, 2020. The Company had the ability to borrow up to $14,037 under the Credit Facility as of December 31, 2021.

The Company also utilizes supply chain financing arrangements as a component of its funding for working capital, which accelerates receivable collections and helps to better manage cash flow. Under these agreements, the Company has agreed to sell certain of its accounts receivable balances to banking institutions who have agreed to advance amounts equal to the net accounts receivable balances due, less a discount as set forth in the respective agreements. The balances under these agreements are accounted for as sales of accounts receivable, as they are sold without recourse. Cash proceeds from these agreements are reflected as operating activities included in the change in accounts receivable in the Company's consolidated statements of cash flows. Fees incurred in connection with the agreements are recorded as interest expense by the Company.

Debt and finance lease obligations at December 31, 2021 totaled $11,368, which includes current outstanding debt and finance lease obligations totaling $8,710, due over the next twelve months. The current outstanding debt includes $6,350 outstanding under the Credit Facility.

On August 18, 2020, the Company filed a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3, which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 13, 2020 (the “Form S-3”) and expires on October 12, 2023. This shelf registration statement, which includes a base prospectus, allows the Company at any time to offer any combination of securities described in the prospectus in one or more offerings. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement accompanying the base prospectus, the Company would use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities offered pursuant to the shelf registration statement for general corporate purposes. 

On March 9, 2021, the Company entered into a $10,000 Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”) with Craig-Hallum Capital Group, LLC. Pursuant to the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement, the Company issued 1,897,697 shares of the Company’s common stock thereunder during the first two quarters of 2021. The net proceeds (before upfront costs) to the Company from the sale of such shares were approximately $9,725 after deducting commissions paid of approximately $275 and before deducting other expenses of $411. 

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into law providing numerous tax provisions and other stimulus measures, including an employee retention credit (“ERC”), which is a refundable tax credit against certain employment taxes. The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 extended and expanded the availability of the ERC. As amended, the ERC is available for wages paid through September 30, 2021 and is equal to 70% of qualified wages (which includes employer qualified health plan expenses) paid to employees. During each quarter of 2021, a maximum of $10,000 in qualified wages for each employee is eligible for the ERC. Therefore, the maximum tax credit that can be claimed by an eligible employer in 2021 is $7,000 per employee per calendar quarter. In the first and second quarters of 2021, the Company received ERC benefits of $3,372 and $3,593, respectively, and under analogy to IAS 20 “Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance” were recorded in “Other income (expense), net” in our consolidated statement of operations. The Company qualified for the ERC in the first quarter of 2021 because it experienced a reduction in gross receipts of more than 20% for the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2019, the relevant criteria for the ERC. Since the Company qualified for the ERC in the first quarter of 2021, it automatically qualified for the ERC in the second quarter of 2021. As a result of the Company averaging 500 or fewer full-time employees in 2019, all wages paid to employees were eligible for the ERC (rather than only wages paid to employees not providing services). During the third quarter of 2021 due to relatively higher revenues in 2021 as compared to the third quarter of 2019, the Company did not qualify for the ERC benefit. The receivable for the remaining uncollected ERC benefit is $497 as of December 31, 2021 and is included in the “Employee retention credit receivable” line item in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2021. The $497 receivable balance was collected during  January 2022.  

The Company anticipates that current cash resources, amounts available under the Credit Facility, cash to be generated from operations and equipment financing, and any potential proceeds from the sale of further Company securities under the Form S-3 will be adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs for at least the next twelve months.

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts, which are not material, have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation in the consolidated financial statements and the notes to the consolidated financial statements.  

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Management’s Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”) requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Significant estimates, among others, include inventory reserves, warranty reserves, impairment of long-lived assets, allowance for doubtful accounts, and valuation allowances on deferred taxes. Although these estimates are based upon management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that the Company may undertake in the future, actual results could differ from these estimates. 

Cash 

As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, cash totaled $852 and $3,372, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, interest income was $1 and $0, respectively.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Customer deposits, deferred revenue and other receipts are deferred and recognized when the revenue is realized and earned. Cash payments to customers are presumed to be classified as reductions of revenue in the Company’s statement of operations.

For many tower sales within the Company’s Heavy Fabrications segment, products are sold under terms included in bill and hold sales arrangements that result in different timing for revenue recognition versus shipment. The Company recognizes revenue under these arrangements only when there is a substantive reason for the agreement, the ordered goods are identified separately as belonging to the customer and not available to fill other orders, the goods are currently ready for physical transfer to the customer, and the Company does not have the ability to use the product or to direct it to another customer. Assuming these required revenue recognition criteria are met, revenue is recognized upon completion of product manufacture and customer acceptance.

During 2021 and 2020, the Company also recognized revenue over time, versus point in time, when products in the Gearing and Heavy Fabrications segments had no alternative use to the Company and the Company had an enforceable right to payment, including profit, upon termination of the contract by the customer. Since the projects are labor intensive, the Company uses labor hours as the input measure of progress for the contract. Contract assets are recorded when performance obligations are satisfied but the Company is not yet entitled to payment. The Company recognizes contract assets associated with this revenue which represents its rights to consideration for work completed but not billed at the end of the period. 

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales represents all direct and indirect costs associated with the production of products for sale to customers. These costs include operation, repair and maintenance of equipment, materials, direct and indirect labor and benefit costs, rent and utilities, maintenance, insurance, equipment rentals, freight, and depreciation.   

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses include all corporate and administrative functions such as sales and marketing, legal, human resource management, finance, investor and public relations, information technology and senior management. These functions serve to support the Company’s current and future operations and provide an infrastructure to support future growth. Major expense items in this category include management and staff wages and benefits, share-based compensation and professional services.

Accounts Receivable (A/R)

The Company generally grants uncollateralized credit to customers on an individual basis based upon the customer’s financial condition and credit history. Credit is typically on net 30 day terms and customer deposits are frequently required at various stages of the production process to finance customized products and minimize credit risk.

Historically, the Company’s A/R is highly concentrated with a select number of customers. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company’s five largest customers accounted for 71% of its consolidated revenues and 25% of outstanding A/R balances, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 when the Company’s five largest customers accounted for 78% of its consolidated revenues and 65% of its outstanding A/R balances.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Based upon past experience and judgment, the Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts with respect to A/R. The Company’s standard allowance estimation methodology considers a number of factors that, based on its collections experience, the Company believes will have an impact on its credit risk and the realizability of its A/R. These factors include individual customer circumstances, history with the Company and other relevant criteria. A/R balances that remain outstanding after the Company has exhausted reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the valuation allowance and a credit to A/R.

The Company monitors its collections and write-off experience to assess whether or not adjustments to its allowance estimates are necessary. Changes in trends in any of the factors that the Company believes may impact the realizability of its A/R, as noted above, or modifications to the Company’s credit standards, collection practices and other related policies may impact its allowance for doubtful accounts and its financial results.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the value that can be realized upon the sale of the inventory less a reasonable estimate of selling costs. Cost is determined either based on the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method, or on a standard cost basis that approximates the FIFO method. Any excess of cost over net realizable value is included in the Company’s inventory allowance. Net realizable value of inventory, and management’s judgment of the need for reserves, encompasses consideration of other business factors including physical condition, inventory holding period, contract terms and usefulness.

Inventories consist of raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods. Raw materials consist of components and parts for general production use. Work-in-process consists of labor and overhead, processing costs, purchased subcomponents and materials purchased for specific customer orders. Finished goods consist of components purchased from third parties as well as components manufactured by the Company that will be used to produce final customer products.

Long-Lived Assets

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment is recognized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets for financial reporting purposes, and generally using an accelerated method for income tax reporting purposes. Depreciation expense related to property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $5,603 and $5,546, respectively. Expenditures for additions and improvements are capitalized, while replacements, maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the useful lives of the respective assets are expensed as incurred.  Property or equipment sold or disposed of is removed from the respective property accounts, with any corresponding gains and losses recorded within the operating results of the Company’s consolidated statement of operations.

The Company reviews property and equipment and other long-lived assets (“long-lived assets”) for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Asset recoverability is first measured by comparing the assets’ carrying amounts to their expected future undiscounted net cash flows to determine if the assets are impaired.

In evaluating the recoverability of long-lived assets, the Company must make assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of such assets. If the Company’s fair value estimates or related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record impairment charges related to property and equipment and other long-lived assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment recognized is measured based on the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value. See Note 7, “Long-Lived Assets” of these consolidated financial statements for further discussion of long-lived assets.

Leases

The Company leases various property and equipment under operating lease arrangements. On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases (“Topic 842”) and ASU 2018-11 using the cumulative effect method. Adopting the standard resulted in the Company recognizing operating lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. Rent expense for these types of leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In addition, the Company has entered into finance lease arrangements to finance property and equipment and assumed finance lease obligations in connection with certain acquisitions. The cost basis and accumulated amortization of assets recorded under finance leases are included in property and equipment, while the liabilities are included in finance lease obligations.

Warranty Liability

The Company provides warranty terms that generally range from one to five years for various products and services relating to workmanship and materials supplied by the Company. In certain contracts, the Company has recourse provisions for items that would enable the Company to pursue recovery from third parties for amounts paid to customers under warranty provisions. Warranty liability is recorded in accrued liabilities within the consolidated balance sheet. The Company estimates the warranty accrual based on various factors, including historical warranty costs, current trends, product mix and sales. The changes in the carrying amount of the Company’s total product warranty liability for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows, excluding activity related to the discontinued Services segment:

	As of December 31,
	2021		2020
Balance, beginning of period	$	33	$	163
Increase (reduction) of warranty reserve		70		(78	)
Warranty claims		22		(52	)
Balance, end of period	$	125	$	33

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes based upon an asset and liability approach. Deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax consequences of the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities versus the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Under this method, deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The impact of tax rate changes on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in the year that the change is enacted.

In connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its income tax liability for each of the tax jurisdictions in which the Company operates. This process involves estimating the Company’s actual current income tax expense and assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of certain income or expense items for income tax reporting and financial reporting purposes. The Company also recognizes as deferred income tax assets the expected future income tax benefits of net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards. In evaluating the realizability of deferred income tax assets associated with NOL carryforwards, the Company considers, among other things, expected future taxable income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary reporting differences and the expected impact of tax planning strategies that may be implemented to prevent the potential loss of future income tax benefits. Changes in, among other things, income tax legislation, statutory income tax rates or future taxable income levels could materially impact the Company’s valuation of income tax assets and liabilities and could cause its income tax provision to vary significantly among financial reporting periods.

The Company also accounts for the uncertainty in income taxes related to the recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in an income tax return. The Company follows the applicable pronouncement guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition related to the uncertainty in these income tax positions.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company grants incentive stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and/or performance awards (“PSUs”) to certain officers, directors, and employees. The Company accounts for share-based compensation related to these awards based on the estimated fair value of the equity award and recognizes expense ratably over the required vesting term of the award. The expense associated with PSUs is also based on the probability of achieving embedded targets. See Note 14 “Share-Based Compensation” of these consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the Company’s share-based compensation plans, the nature of share-based awards issued and the Company’s accounting for share-based compensation.

Net Income Per Share

The Company presents both basic and diluted net income (loss) per share. Basic net income (loss) per share is based solely upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and excludes any dilutive effects of restricted stock, options, warrants and convertible securities. Diluted net income (loss) per share is based upon the weighted average number of common shares and common-share equivalents outstanding during the year excluding those common-share equivalents where the impact to basic net income (loss) per share would be anti-dilutive.