Note 1 - Nature of Operations, Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2023

Notes to Financial Statements

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

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS, ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Butler National Corporation (BNC) and its wholly-owned active subsidiaries, Avcon Industries, Inc., BCS Design, Inc., Butler National Service Corporation, Butler National Corporation-Tempe, Butler Avionics, Inc., Butler National, Inc., Butler Temporary Services, Inc., Kansas International Corporation, Kansas International DDC, LLC, and BHCMC, LLC (collectively, The Company). These consolidated financial statements and related notes are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), expressed in U.S. dollars. All amounts are in thousands, except share and par values, unless otherwise noted. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The fiscal year end of the Company is April 30.

Avcon Industries, Inc. modifies business category aircraft at its Newton, Kansas facility. Modifications can include passenger-to-freighter configuration, addition of aerial photography capability, ISR modifications, and stability enhancing modifications. Butler Avionics, Inc. sells, installs and repairs avionics equipment (airplane radio equipment and flight control systems). Butler National, Inc. acquires airplanes, principally Learjets, to refurbish and sell. Butler Temporary Services, Inc. processes company payroll. Kansas International Corporation and Kansas International DDC, LLC own property. Butler National Corporation-Tempe is primarily engaged in the manufacture of electronics for weapon control systems used by the military. Butler National Service Corporation is a management consulting and administrative services firm providing business planning and financial coordination to Indian tribes interested in owning and operating casinos under the terms of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. BHCMC, LLC provides management services for the Boot Hill Casino under a management agreement with the State of Kansas. BCS Design, Inc. provides professional architectural services.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

a) Accounts receivable: Accounts receivable are carried on a gross basis, with no discounting, less the allowance for doubtful accounts. Management estimates the allowance for doubtful accounts based on existing economic conditions, the financial conditions of the customers, and the amount and the age of past due accounts. Receivables are considered past due if full payment is not received by the contractual due date. Past due accounts are generally written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts only after all collection attempts have been exhausted. Allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated on the historical write-off of doubtful accounts of the individual subsidiaries. Invoices are generally considered a doubtful account if no payment has been made in the past 90 days. We review these policies on a quarterly basis, and based on these reviews, we believe adequate reserves are maintained.

b) Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and any such differences may be material to our financial statements. Significant estimates include assumptions about collection of accounts receivable, the valuation and recognition of stock-based compensation expense, valuation for deferred tax assets and useful life of fixed assets.

c) Inventories: Inventories are priced at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in, first-out basis, or net realizable value. Inventories include material, labor and factory overhead required in the production of our products.

Inventory obsolescence is examined on a regular basis. When determining our estimate of obsolescence, we consider inventory that has been inactive for five years or longer and the probability of using that inventory in future production. The obsolete inventory generally consists of Falcon and Learjet parts and electrical components. 

d) Property and Related Depreciation: Machinery and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis. 

Description	Estimated useful life
Building and improvements	39 years or the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the underlying lease term
Aircraft	5 years
Machinery and equipment	5 years
Office furniture and fixtures	5 years
Leasehold improvements	Shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the underlying lease term

Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. The cost and accumulated depreciation of assets retired are removed from the accounts and any resulting gains or losses are reflected as income or expense.

e) Long-Lived Assets: The Company accounts for its long-lived assets in accordance with ASC Topic 360-10, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets." ASC Topic 360-10 requires that long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the historical cost carrying value of an asset may no longer be appropriate. The Company assesses recoverability of the carrying value of an asset by estimating the future net cash flows expected to result from the asset, including eventual disposition. If the future net cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the difference between the asset's carrying value and fair value or disposable value.

f) Other Assets: Our other asset account includes assets of $5,500 related to the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act Management Contract privilege fee, $6,646 of gaming equipment we were required to pay for ownership by the State of Kansas Lottery, and JET autopilot intellectual property of $1,417, and miscellaneous other assets of $128.  BHCMC expects the $5,500 privilege fee to have a value over the remaining life of the initial Management Contract with the State of Kansas which will end in December 2024.  The State of Kansas approved a renewal management contract and an amendment to the current management contract for our professional services company BNSC via BHCMC. The renewal will take effect December 15, 2024, and continue until 2039, another 15 years. The Managers Certificate asset for use of gaming equipment is being amortized over a period of three years based on the estimated useful life of gaming equipment.  The JET intellectual property is fully amortized.  Amortization relating to other assets in the year ended  April 30, 2023 and 2022 was $715 and $689, respectively.

Other assets net values are as follows:

(dollars in thousands)	2023		2022
Privilege fee	$	5,500	$	5,500
Less amortized costs		4,795		4,372
Privilege fee balance	$	705	$	1,128
Intangible gaming equipment	$	6,646	$	6,151
Less amortized costs		6,078		5,868
Intangible gaming equipment balance	$	568	$	283
JET autopilot intellectual property	$	1,417	$	1,417
Less amortized costs		1,417		1,335
JET autopilot intellectual property balance	$	-	$	82

g) Supplemental Type Certificates: Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) are authorizations granted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for specific modification of a certain aircraft. The STC authorizes us to perform modifications, installations, and assemblies on applicable customer-owned aircraft. Costs incurred to obtain STCs are capitalized and subsequently amortized over seven years. The legal life of an STC is indefinite. We believe we have enough future sales to fully amortize our STC development costs. Amortization relating to STC's in the year ended  April 30, 2023 and 2022 was $1,267 and $1,295, respectively. 

h) Revenue Recognition: ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”

Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised services in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those services. To achieve this core principal, the Company applies the following five steps:

1)    Identify the contract, or contracts, with a customer

A contract with a customer exists when (i) the Company enters into an enforceable contract with a customer that defines each party’s rights regarding the services to be transferred and identifies the payment terms related to these services, (ii) the contract has commercial substance and (iii) the Company determines that collection of substantially all consideration for services that are transferred is probable based on the customer’s intent and ability to pay the promised consideration.

2)    Identification of the performance obligations in the contract

At contract inception, an entity shall assess the goods or services promised in a contract with a customer and shall identify as a performance obligation each promise to transfer to the customer. Performance obligations promised in a contract are identified based on the services that will be transferred to the customer that are both capable of being distinct, whereby the customer can benefit from the service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available from third parties or from the Company, and are distinct in the context of the contract, whereby the transfer of the services is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. To the extent a contract includes multiple promised services, the Company must apply judgment to determine whether promised services are capable of being distinct and distinct in the context of the contract. If these criteria are not met the promised services are accounted for as a combined performance obligation.

3)    Determination of the transaction price

The transaction price is the amount that an entity allocates to the performance obligations identified in the contract and, therefore, represents the amount of revenue recognized as those performance obligations are satisfied. The transaction price is the amount of consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring promised goods or services to a customer.

4)    Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract

Once a contract and associated performance obligations have been identified and the transaction price has been determined, ASC 606 requires an entity to allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation identified. This is generally done in proportion to the standalone selling prices of each performance obligation (i.e., on a relative standalone selling price basis). As a result, any discount within the contract generally is allocated proportionally to all the separate performance obligations in the contract. The Company is applying the right to invoice practical expedient to recognize revenue. As a result, the entity bypasses the steps of determining the transaction price, allocating that transaction price and determining when to recognize revenue as it will recognize revenue as billed by multiplying the price assigned to the good or service, by the units.

5)  Recognition of revenue when, or as, we satisfy a performance obligation

Revenue is recognized when or as performance obligations are satisfied by transferring control of a promised good or service to a customer. Control transfers either over time or at a point in time. Revenue is recognized when control of the promised services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those services.

Aircraft modifications are performed under fixed-price contracts unless modified with a change order.  Significant payment terms are generally included in these contracts, requiring a 30% to 50% down payment on arrival of the aircraft and include milestone payments throughout the project.  Typically, contracts are less than one year in duration.  Revenue from fixed-priced contracts is recognized on the percentage-of-completion method, measured by the direct labor incurred compared to total estimated direct labor.  Direct labor best represents the progress on a contract.

Revenue from Aircraft Avionics and Special Mission Electronics are recognized when shipped. Payment for these Avionics products is due within 30 days of the invoice date after shipment.

Regarding warranties and returns, our products are special order and are not suitable for return. Our products are unique upon installation and tested prior to their release to the customer and acceptance by the customer. In the rare event of a warranty claim, the claim is processed through the normal course of business and may include additional charges to the customer. In our opinion, any future warranty work would not be material to the consolidated financial statements.

Gaming revenue is the gross gaming win as reported by the Kansas Lottery casino reporting systems, less the mandated payments by and for the State of Kansas. Electronic games-slots and table games revenue is the aggregate of gaming wins and losses. Liabilities are recognized for chips and "ticket-in, ticket-out" coupons in the customers' possession, and for accruals related to anticipated payout of progressive jackpots. Progressive gaming machines, which contain base jackpots that increase at a progressive rate based on the number of coins played, are deducted from revenue as the value of jackpots increase. Effective September 1, 2022, sports wagering became legal in the State of Kansas. The company is currently managing sports wagering through DraftKings sports wagering platform. The Company shares a percentage of the gross sports wagering win with its platform partner. Revenue from Gaming Management and other Corporate/Professional Services is recognized as the service is rendered. Food, beverage, and other revenue is recorded when the service is received and paid.

i) Fair Value Measurements: Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are measured and classified in accordance with a three-tier fair value hierarchy based on the observability of the inputs available in the market used to measure fair value:

Level 1 - Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 - Inputs that are based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant inputs are observable in the market or can be derived from observable market data. Where applicable, these models project future cash flows and discount the future amounts to a present value using market-based observable inputs including interest rate curves, foreign exchange rates, and credit ratings.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activities.

The fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

For certain financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, marketable securities, notes payable,  and accounts payable, the carrying amounts approximate fair value.  We do not have financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.  Other financial assets and liabilities are carried at cost with fair value disclosed, if required.

We measure certain other instruments, including stock-based compensation awards settled in the stock also at fair value. The determination of fair value involves the use of appropriate valuation methods and relevant inputs into valuation models.

j) Slot Machine Jackpots: If the casino is not required to make payment of the jackpot (i.e. the incremental amount on a progressive machine) due to legal requirements, the jackpot is accrued as the obligation becomes unavoidable. This liability is accrued over the time period in which the incremental progressive jackpot amount is generated with a related reduction in casino revenue. No liability is accrued with respect to the base jackpot.

k) Gaming Facility Mandated Payment: Boothill Casino is contractually obligated to pay its proportionate share of certain expenses incurred by the Kansas Lottery Commission and the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, which amounted to $2,224 and $1,968 in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

l) Advanced Payments and Billings in Excess of Costs Incurred: We receive advances, performance-based payments and progress payment from customers which may exceed costs incurred on certain contracts. We classify advance payments and billings in excess of costs incurred, other than those reflected as a reduction of contracts in process, as contract liability in current liabilities.

m) Earnings Per Share: Earnings per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year.

The computation of the Company basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows:

(in thousands, except share and per share data)	2023		2022
Net income attributable to Butler National Corporation	$	4,516	$	10,368
Weighted average common shares outstanding		76,456,631		75,340,131
Dilutive effect of non-qualified stock option plans		-		-
Weighted average common shares outstanding, assuming dilution		76,456,631		75,340,131
Potential common shares if all options were exercised and shares issued		76,456,631		75,340,131
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.06	$	0.14
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.06	$	0.14

n) Stock-based Compensation: The Company accounts for stock-based compensation under ASC 718, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." These standards define a fair value based method of accounting for stock-based compensation. The cost of stock-based compensation is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized over the vesting period. The value of the stock-based award is determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, whereby compensation cost is the excess of the fair value of the award as determined by the pricing model at the grant date or other measurement date over the amount that must be paid to acquire the stock. The resulting amount is charged to expense on the straight-line basis over the period in which the Company expects to receive the benefit, which is generally the vesting period.

o) Income Taxes: The Company utilizes ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes. Amounts provided for income tax expense are based on income reported for financial statement purposes and do not necessarily represent amounts currently payable under tax laws. Deferred taxes, which arise principally from temporary differences between the period in which certain income and expense items are recognized for financial reporting purposes and the period in which they affect taxable income, are included in the amounts provided for income taxes. Under this method, the computation of deferred tax assets and liabilities give recognition to enacted tax rates in effect in the year the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts that we expect to realize.

p) Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of cash and investments in a money market fund. We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. We maintain cash in bank deposit accounts that, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. At April 30, 2023 and 2022, we had $17,021 and $7,835, respectively in bank deposits that exceeded the federally insured limits.

q) Concentration of Credit Risk: We extend credit to customers based on an evaluation of their financial condition and collateral is not required. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers and maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts.

r) Research and Development: We invested in research and development activities. The amount invested in the year ended April 30, 2023 and 2022 was $3,034 and $2,352 respectively.

s) Reclassifications: Certain reclassifications within the financial statement captions have been made to maintain consistency in presentation between years. These reclassifications have no impact on the reported results of operations.