Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and majority-owned subsidiaries in which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 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 the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign Currency

For the Company’s international subsidiaries, the local currency is generally the functional currency. Assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using rates in effect at the balance sheet date while revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars using average exchange rates. The cumulative translation adjustment resulting from changes in exchange rates are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” in total stockholders’ equity.

Research and Development

The Company expenses research and development costs as incurred.

Taxation

The Company provides for estimated income taxes payable or refundable on current year income tax returns as well as the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences and carryforwards, based upon enacted tax laws and tax rates, and in accordance with FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes (“FASB ASC 740”). FASB ASC 740 also requires that a valuation allowance be recorded against any deferred tax assets that are not likely to be realized in the future. The determination is based on the Company’s ability to generate future taxable income and, at times, is dependent on its ability to implement strategic tax initiatives to ensure full utilization of recorded deferred tax assets. Should the Company not be able to implement the necessary tax strategies, it may need to record valuation allowances for certain deferred tax assets, including those related to foreign income tax benefits. Significant management judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowances recorded against net deferred tax assets.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per share have been calculated using the following share information:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2018	2017	2016
Weighted average number of common shares used for basic EPS	32,345,382	33,150,949	34,713,937
Effect of dilutive stock options and restricted and deferred stock unit awards	652,621	—	496,493
Weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential common stock used in dilutive EPS	32,998,003	33,150,949	35,210,430

The Company excluded 735,577 stock options and restricted and deferred stock units in 2017 from the diluted earnings per share calculation for the Company’s common stock because of the reported net loss for the period. The Company excluded 4,049, 73,897 and 77,807 stock options in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, from the diluted earnings per share calculations for the Company’s common stock because they were anti-dilutive as their exercise prices were greater than the average market price of common shares for each period.

Purchase Price Accounting

The Company accounts for its acquisitions in accordance with FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations. The base cash purchase price plus the estimated fair value of any non-cash or contingent consideration given for an acquired business is allocated to the assets acquired (including identified intangible assets) and liabilities assumed based on the estimated fair values of such assets and liabilities. The excess of the total consideration over the aggregate net fair values assigned is recorded as goodwill. Contingent consideration, if any, is recognized as a liability as of the acquisition date with subsequent adjustments recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. Indirect and general expenses related to business combinations are expensed as incurred.

The Company typically determines the fair value of tangible and intangible assets acquired in a business combination using independent valuations that rely on management’s estimates of inputs and assumptions that a market participant would use. Key assumptions include cash flow projections, growth rates, asset lives, and discount rates based on an analysis of weighted average cost of capital.

Classification of Current Assets and Current Liabilities

The Company includes in current assets and current liabilities certain amounts realizable and payable under construction contracts that may extend beyond one year. The construction periods on projects undertaken by the Company generally range from less than one month to 24 months.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

The Company classifies highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less as cash equivalents. Recorded book values are reasonable estimates of fair value for cash and cash equivalents.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market. Actual cost is used to value raw materials and supplies. Standard cost, which approximates actual cost, is used to value work-in-process, finished goods and construction materials. Standard cost includes direct labor, raw materials and manufacturing overhead based on normal capacity. For certain businesses within our Corrosion Protection segment, the Company uses actual costs or average costs for all classes of inventory.

Retainage

Many of the contracts under which the Company performs work contain retainage provisions. Retainage refers to that portion of revenue earned by the Company but held for payment by the customer pending satisfactory completion of the project. The Company generally invoices its customers periodically as work is completed. Under ordinary circumstances, collection from municipalities is made within 60 to 90 days of billing. In most cases, 5% to 15% of the contract value is withheld by the municipal owner pending satisfactory completion of the project. Collections from other customers are generally made within 30 to 45 days of billing. Unless reserved, the Company believes that all amounts retained by customers under such provisions are fully collectible. Retainage on active contracts is classified as a current asset regardless of the term of the contract. Retainage is generally collected within one year of the completion of a contract, although collection can extend beyond one year from time to time.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Management makes estimates of the uncollectibility of accounts receivable and retainage. The Company records an allowance based on specific accounts to reduce receivables, including retainage, to the amount that is expected to be collected. The specific allowances are reevaluated and adjusted as additional information is received. After all reasonable attempts to collect the receivable or retainage have been explored, the account is written off against the allowance. The Company also includes reserves related to certain accounts receivable that may be in litigation or dispute.

Long-Lived Assets

Property, plant and equipment and other identified intangibles (primarily customer relationships, patents and acquired technologies, trademarks, licenses and non-compete agreements) are recorded at cost, net of accumulated depreciation, amortization and impairment, and, except for goodwill, are depreciated or amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Changes in circumstances such as technological advances, changes to the Company’s business model or changes in the Company’s capital strategy can result in the actual useful lives differing from the Company’s estimates. If the Company determines that the useful life of its property, plant and equipment or its identified intangible assets should be shortened, the Company would depreciate or amortize the net book value in excess of the salvage value over its revised remaining useful life, thereby increasing depreciation or amortization expense.

Long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and other intangibles, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Such impairment tests are based on a comparison of undiscounted cash flows to the recorded value of the asset. The estimate of cash flow is based upon, among other things, assumptions about expected future operating performance. The Company’s estimates of undiscounted cash flow may differ from actual cash flow due to, among other things, technological changes, economic conditions, changes to its business model or changes in its operating performance. If the sum of the undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value, the Company recognizes an impairment loss, measured as the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset.

Goodwill

Under FASB ASC 350, the Company assesses recoverability of goodwill on an annual basis or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may not be recoverable. An impairment charge will be recognized to the extent that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. Factors that could potentially trigger an impairment review include (but are not limited to):


•	significant underperformance of a segment relative to expected, historical or forecasted operating results;


•	significant negative industry or economic trends;


•	significant changes in the strategy for a segment including extended slowdowns in the segment’s market;


•	a decrease in market capitalization below the Company’s book value; and


•	a significant change in regulations.

Whether during the annual impairment assessment or during a trigger-based impairment review, the Company determines the fair value of its reporting units and compares such fair value to the carrying value of those reporting units to determine if there are any indications of goodwill impairment.

Fair value of reporting units is determined using a combination of two valuation methods: a market approach and an income approach with each method given equal weight in determining the fair value assigned to each reporting unit. Absent an indication of fair value from a potential buyer or similar specific transaction, the Company believes the use of these two methods provides a reasonable estimate of a reporting unit’s fair value. Assumptions common to both methods are operating plans and economic outlooks, which are used to forecast future revenues, earnings and after-tax cash flows for each reporting unit. These assumptions are applied consistently for both methods.

The market approach estimates fair value by first determining earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) multiples for comparable publicly-traded companies with similar characteristics of the reporting unit. The EBITDA multiples for comparable companies are based upon current enterprise value. The enterprise value is based upon current market capitalization and includes a control premium. The Company believes this approach is appropriate because it provides a fair value estimate using multiples from entities with operations and economic characteristics comparable to its reporting units.

The income approach is based on forecasted future (debt-free) cash flows that are discounted to present value using factors that consider timing and risk of future cash flows. The Company believes this approach is appropriate because it provides a fair value estimate based upon the reporting unit’s expected long-term operating cash flow performance. Discounted cash flow projections are based on financial forecasts developed from operating plans and economic outlooks, growth rates, estimates of future expected changes in operating margins, terminal value growth rates, future capital expenditures and changes in working capital requirements. Estimates of discounted cash flows may differ from actual cash flows due to, among other things, changes in economic conditions, changes to business models, changes in the Company’s weighted average cost of capital, or changes in operating performance.

The discount rate applied to the estimated future cash flows is one of the most significant assumptions utilized under the income approach. The Company determines the appropriate discount rate for each of its reporting units based on the weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”) for each individual reporting unit. The WACC takes into account both the pre-tax cost of debt and cost of equity (including the risk-free rate on twenty year U.S. Treasury bonds), and certain other company-specific and market-based factors. As each reporting unit has a different risk profile based on the nature of its operations, the WACC for each reporting unit is adjusted, as appropriate, to account for company-specific risks. Accordingly, the WACC for each reporting unit may differ.

Annual Impairment Assessment – October 1, 2018

The Company had six reporting units for purposes of assessing goodwill at October 1, 2018 as follows: Municipal Pipe Rehabilitation, Fyfe, Corrpro, United Pipeline Systems, Coating Services and Energy Services. During 2018, the Company acquired Hebna and P2S (see Note 1) and integrated them into the United Pipeline Systems and Energy Services reporting units, respectively.

Significant assumptions used in the Company’s October 2018 goodwill review included: (i) discount rates ranging from 13.0% to 16.0%; (ii) compound annual growth rates for revenues generally ranging from -3.2% to 4.8%; (iii) gross margin stability in the short term related to certain reporting units affected by the 2017 Restructuring, but slightly increased gross margins long term; (iv) peer group EBITDA multiples; and (v) terminal values for each reporting unit using a long-term growth rate of 1.0% to 3.0%.

The Company’s assessment of each reporting unit’s fair value in relation to its respective carrying value yielded one reporting unit with a fair value within 15 percent of its carrying value and no reporting units with a fair value below carrying value or within 10 percent of its carrying value. The reporting unit with a fair value within 15 percent of its carrying value was the Energy Services reporting unit, which had $48.0 million of goodwill recorded at the impairment testing date. The Energy Services reporting unit has several large customers and primarily operates in the California downstream oil and gas market, which has experienced significant market changes in recent years Projected cash flows were based on continued strength in the Central California downstream energy market and a continued, growing relationship with its primary customer base.

Impairment Review – 2017

As part of the 2017 Restructuring, which was approved by the Company’s board of directors on July 28, 2017, the Company exited all non-pipe related contract applications for the Tyfo^® system in North America. As a result of this action, the Company evaluated the goodwill of its Fyfe reporting unit and determined that a triggering event occurred. As such, the Company engaged a third-party valuation to assist management in performing a goodwill impairment review for its Fyfe reporting unit during the third quarter of 2017. In accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 350, the Company determined the fair value of the reporting unit and compared such fair value to the carrying value of the reporting unit. For the Fyfe reporting unit, carrying value, as adjusted for the long-lived asset impairments discussed previously, exceeded fair value by approximately 45%.

Despite the Company’s recent investments in sales resources to drive growth in North America, FRP technology has become more widely accepted and more contractors have become proficient with installation, which has begun to commoditize the application of the Tyfo^® system during construction in the North American civil structure market. As a result of this and other factors, the Company decided to exit all non-pipe related contract applications for the Tyfo^® system in North America. The Company is now focused on using its expertise in FRP technologies to promote third-party product sales, continuing pipe-related FRP installations and providing technical engineering support in the civil structural market in North America. The FRP operation in Asia remains largely unchanged as market conditions remain favorable.

The Company’s decision, as noted above, lowered the expected future cash flows of the reporting unit. As a result, the values derived from both the income approach and the market approach decreased from the October 1, 2016 annual goodwill impairment analysis. The fair value for the Fyfe reporting unit decreased $105.2 million, or 65.3%, from the previous analysis. The impairment analysis assumed a weighted average cost of capital of 17.0%, which is higher than the 16.0% utilized in the October 1, 2016 review, primarily due to rising risk-free rates on twenty-year U.S. Treasury bonds. The company-specific factors influencing discount rates remained consistent in both analyses. The impairment analysis also assumed a long-term growth rate of 2.5%, which was reduced from 3.5% used in the October 1, 2016 review. This change reflects the Company’s expectations for future annual revenue growth, which were lowered from 10.8% in the previous analysis to 4.0%, primarily due to the downsizing of the North American operations. Expected gross margins were consistent between both analyses.

As of January 1, 2017, the Company adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which states that an impairment charge should be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. Based on the impairment analysis, the Company determined that recorded goodwill at the Fyfe reporting unit was impaired by $45.4 million, which was recorded to “Goodwill impairment” in the Consolidated Statement of Operations during the third quarter of 2017. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had remaining Fyfe goodwill of $9.6 million. Projected cash flows were based, in part, on the ability to grow third-party product sales and pressure pipe contracting in North America, and maintaining a presence in other international markets. If these assumptions do not materialize in a manner consistent with Company’s expectations, there is risk of additional impairment to recorded goodwill.

Investments in Variable Interest Entities

The Company evaluates all transactions and relationships with variable interest entities (“VIE”) to determine whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of the entities in accordance with FASB ASC 810, Consolidation.

The Company’s overall methodology for evaluating transactions and relationships under the VIE requirements includes the following two steps:


•	determine whether the entity meets the criteria to qualify as a VIE; and


•	determine whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE.

In performing the first step, the significant factors and judgments that the Company considers in making the determination as to whether an entity is a VIE include:


•	the design of the entity, including the nature of its risks and the purpose for which the entity was created, to determine the variability that the entity was designed to create and distribute to its interest holders;


•	the nature of the Company’s involvement with the entity;


•	whether control of the entity may be achieved through arrangements that do not involve voting equity;


•	whether there is sufficient equity investment at risk to finance the activities of the entity; and


•	whether parties other than the equity holders have the obligation to absorb expected losses or the right to receive residual returns.

If the Company identifies a VIE based on the above considerations, it then performs the second step and evaluates whether it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE by considering the following significant factors and judgments:


•	whether the entity has the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance; and


•	whether the entity has the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity.

Based on its evaluation of the above factors and judgments, as of December 31, 2018, the Company consolidated any VIEs in which it was the primary beneficiary.

Accounting Standards Update

Accounting Standards Updates

In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement: Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which modifies the disclosure requirements for Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 instruments in the fair value hierarchy. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2020, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which permits a company to reclassify the income tax effects of the TCJA on items within accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2019, including interim periods within that fiscal year. Companies may adopt the new guidance using one of two transition methods: (i) retrospective to each period (or periods) in which the income tax effects are recognized, or (ii) at the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2019 and elected not to reclassify the tax effects due to the immaterial impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, which amends the recognition and presentation requirements for hedge accounting activities. The standard improves the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements and reduces the complexity of applying hedge accounting. This new guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2019, but the Company early-adopted this standard, effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash, which requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash. As a result, restricted cash is included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. This new guidance was effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2018 and applied retrospectively. The Company’s adoption of this standard, effective January 1, 2018, did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements, other than the classification of restricted cash on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which addresses diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The standard was effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2018, the adoption of which did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), that requires lessees to present right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with lease terms longer than twelve months. The standard is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2019, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Company will adopt the new guidance using the cumulative effect method, which would apply to all new lease contracts initiated on or after January 1, 2019. The Company will also elect the package of practical expedients not to reassess prior conclusions related to contracts containing leases, lease classification and initial direct costs and the lessee practical expedient to combine lease and non-lease components. The Company also made a policy election to not recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases for all asset classes.

Based on the Company’s current lease portfolio, adoption of the standard will result in a right-of-use asset and related lease liability in a range from $60 million to $70 million in the consolidated balance sheets. The impact to the Company’s consolidated statements of income and consolidated statements of cash flows is not expected to be material. The Company is also implementing enhanced internal controls and a third-party software solution to support recognition and disclosure under the new standard.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which replaces revenue recognition requirements regarding contracts with customers to transfer goods or services with a single revenue recognition model for recognizing revenue. Under the new guidance, entities are required to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance provides a five-step analysis to be performed on transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The Company adopted this standard, effective January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method. See Note 3.

Derivatives

As a matter of policy, the Company uses derivatives for risk management purposes, and does not use derivatives for speculative purposes. From time to time, the Company may enter into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge foreign currency cash flow transactions. For cash flow hedges, gain or loss is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations upon settlement of the hedge. All of the Company’s hedges that are designated as hedges for accounting purposes were highly effective; therefore, no notable amounts of hedge ineffectiveness were recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for either the settlement of cash flow hedges or the outstanding hedged balance.

Segment Reporting

The Company has three operating segments, which are also its reportable segments: Infrastructure Solutions; Corrosion Protection; and Energy Services. The Company’s operating segments correspond to its management organizational structure. Each operating segment has leadership that reports to the chief operating decision manager (“CODM”). The operating results and financial information reported by each segment are evaluated separately, regularly reviewed and used by the CODM to evaluate segment performance, allocate resources and determine management incentive compensation.

The following disaggregated financial results have been prepared using a management approach that is consistent with the basis and manner with which management internally disaggregates financial information for the purpose of making internal operating decisions. The Company evaluates performance based on stand-alone operating income (loss), which includes acquisition and divestiture expenses, restructuring charges and an allocation of corporate-related expenses.