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Note 12 - Joint Venture and Noncontrolling Interests
12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Noncontrolling Interest Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 12 - Joint venture and non-controlling interest

 

On June 1, 2023, the Company closed on its formation of the joint venture ("The JV Agreement" or "JV") with Gulf Insulation Group ("GIG") a leading provider of pre-insulated piping systems and pipe fabrication, in which the Company acquired a 60% financial controlling interest and contributed assets consisting of a building and equipment. The JV is a limited liability company named Perma Pipe Gulf Arabia Industry and is a closed joint stock Company established under laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Company’s capital is comprised of ordinary shares with 60% owned by the Company and remaining 40% owned by GIG. The Company expects this collaborative business arrangement to result in expanding its market presence in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The primary business activities of the JV include the manufacture and sale of the pre-insulated piping systems and pipe coating services. The other party to this business arrangement acquired a 40% non-controlling interest in the JV by contributing assets (i.e. acquired by the Company) of approximately $6.8 million in fair value, mainly consisting of an idle building and equipment. The fair value of the net assets contributed was determined through the use of a third-party appraiser using the indirect cost method.

 

Pursuant to the applicable guidance in ASC 805, Business Combinations and Noncontrolling Interests, the Company determined that the transaction did not meet the necessary conditions to be considered a business as the set of assets acquired did not contain an organized workforce and therefore was recorded as an asset acquisition. The assets transferred by the Company to JV were recorded at historical cost, and no gain was recognized as a result of this exchange since the Company has a controlling interest in the JV. The Company’s measurement of the acquired assets is comprised of the fair value of the contributed net assets given up by the Company and the fair value of the non-controlling interest excluding the contributed assets. The non-controlling interest attributable to the other party was recorded as of the investment date and was measured as part of the carrying amount of the ownership interest in the net assets given up by the Company plus the fair value of the non-controlling interest excluding the contributed assets. No gain or loss was recognized as a result of this exchange. In connection with the joint venture, the Company also assumed a promissory note issued as part of the formation of the JV in the principal amount of $2.8 million payable to GIG. The principal amount is presented within the Long-term debt, less current maturities caption in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company also has a promissory note due from the JV that was issued as part of the formation of the JV in the amount of approximately $4.2 million and eliminates in consolidation.

 

The Company has a 60% controlling financial interest in the joint venture which is not considered a wholly owned subsidiary. Accordingly, there remains a minority portion of the equity interest that is owned by a third party, GIG. Pursuant to the applicable guidance contained in ASC 810, Consolidations, the balance sheets and operating activities of this investment are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements. The carrying amount of the assets and liabilities of the JV that are consolidated by the Company totaled $27.3 million and $19.8, respectively, as of  January 31, 2024.

 

The Company adjusts net income in the consolidated statements of operations to exclude the proportionate share of results that is attributable to the non-controlling interest. Additionally, the Company presents the proportionate share that is attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest as temporary equity within the consolidated balance sheets. This mezzanine presentation is the result of the non-controlling interest being subject to a put option that is not solely within the Company's control and in connection with the equity shares of the business arrangement that is redeemable any time after five years following the date of incorporation. The redemption amount per the JV agreement is at fair value of the non-controlling interest which is the fair value of ordinary shares of JV owned by GIG. Further, neither the call option or put option contained in the business arrangement met the definition of a derivative as a result of not containing a net settlement provision and the shares not being readily convertible to cash, thereby being considered embedded with respect to non-controlling interest and not a freestanding instrument.

 

As a result of the non-controlling interest being subject to redemption rights that are not entirely within the Company's control, it was concluded that the necessary conditions were met to be accounted for in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity. Pursuant to this accounting standard, the Company determined that the only criteria for the security to become redeemable is the passage of time and, therefore, is considered probable of redemption. The Company made a policy election to measure changes in the non-controlling interest immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying amount of non-controlling interest equal to its redemption amount as the non-controlling interest has no stated fixed price or fixed date. As such, at each subsequent balance sheet date following the formation of this business arrangement, the Company must determine whether further adjustment is required to increase the carrying value of the redeemable non-controlling interest. If the Company determines that the fair value of the redeemable non-controlling interest exceeds its carrying value, an adjustment is made to reflect this change. However, if the value is determined to be less than its carrying value, such adjustment is limited to its original carrying value at the formation of the business arrangement. Additionally, adjustments made to reflect the change in the value of the redeemable non-controlling interest are offset against permanent equity within the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

 

Net income attributable to GIG was $2.7 million and $0.0 million for the twelve months ended  January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The proportionate share of net income was accounted for as a reduction in deriving net income attributable to common stock in the Company's consolidated statements of operations.

 

The Company is the ultimate parent of the JV through its 60% financial control and as part of the JV agreement has majority control of the operational activities of the JV and no joint control exists. The JV agreement has no veto or kickout rights and board voting is proportional to the ownership interest. Certain activities do include a two-third majority affirmative vote of shareholders of the JV and include acquiring another company, establishing new subsidiaries, entering another partnership or joint venture, any merger or material change to the business of the JV. These are considered protective rights. The 60% equity ownership of the JV by the Company allows it to receive its proportionate share of losses and residual returns.

 

The non-controlling interest is measured at fair value was $6.3 million and $0.0 million recorded within temporary equity at  January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The change in non-controlling interest consists of an initial measurement of the JV of approximately $1.0 million, $2.7 million in current year net income attributable to non-controlling interest, and approximately $2.5 million as an adjustment in the carrying value of the redeemable non-controlling interest pertaining to the business arrangement. In addition, there were no dividends or any other form of distributions from non-controlling interest for the year ended  January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.