Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization—Mitcham Industries, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company”), was incorporated in 1987. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Seamap International Holdings Pte, Ltd. (“Seamap”), and its wholly owned subsidiary, Klein Marine Systems, Inc. (“Klein”), designs, manufactures and sells a broad range of proprietary products for the seismic, hydrographic and offshore industries with product sales and support facilities based in New Hampshire, USA, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The Company, through its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, Mitcham Canada, ULC (“MCL”), its wholly owned Hungarian subsidiary, Mitcham Europe Ltd. (“MEL”), its wholly owned Singaporean subsidiary, Mitcham Marine Leasing Pte. Ltd. (“MML”), and its branch operations in Colombia, provides full-service equipment leasing, sales and service to the seismic industry worldwide. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. During August 2018, the Company completed the sale of its wholly owned Russian subsidiary, Mitcham Seismic Eurasia (“MSE”) and no longer operates within Russia. During February 2019, the Company completed the sale of its wholly owned Australian subsidiary, Seismic Asia Pacific Pty Ltd. (“SAP”) (see Note 22 - “Sale of Subsidiaries” for additional details related to this transaction).

Revenue Recognition of Leasing Arrangements

Revenue Recognition of Leasing Arrangements—The Company leases various types of seismic equipment to seismic data acquisition companies. All leases at January 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 are for one year or less. Lease revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the lease. The Company does not enter into leases with embedded maintenance obligations. The standard lease provides that the lessee is responsible for maintenance and repairs to the equipment, excluding normal wear and tear. The Company occasionally provides technical advice to its customers without additional compensation as part of its customer service practices. Repairs or maintenance performed by the Company is charged to the lessee, generally on a time and materials basis. Repair and maintenance revenue are recognized as incurred.

Revenue Recognition of Equipment Sales

Revenue Recognition of Equipment Sales—Revenues and cost of sales from the sale of equipment are recognized upon acceptance of terms and when delivery has occurred, unless there is a question as to collectability. In cases where the equipment sold is manufactured by others, the Company reports revenues at gross amounts billed to customers because the Company: (a) is the obligor in the sales arrangement; (b) has full latitude in pricing the product for sale; (c) has general inventory risk should there be a problem with the equipment being sold to the customer or if the customer does not complete payment for the items purchased; (d) has discretion in supplier selection if the equipment ordered is not unique to one manufacturer; and (e) assumes credit risk for the equipment sold to its customers.

Revenue Recognition of Long-term Projects

Revenue Recognition of Long-term Projects—From time to time, Klein enters into contracts whereby they assemble and sell certain marine equipment, primarily to governmental entities. Performance under these contracts generally occurs over a period of several months.

Revenue Recognition of Service Agreements

Revenue Recognition of Service Agreements—Seamap provides on-going support services pursuant to contracts that generally have a term of 12 months. The Company recognizes revenue from these contracts ratably over the term of the contract. In some cases, the Company will provide support services on a time and material basis. Revenue from these arrangements is recognized as the services are provided. For certain new systems that Seamap sells, the Company provides support services for up to 12 months at no additional charge. Any amounts attributable to these support obligations are immaterial. Revenues from service contracts for each of the three months ended January 31, 2020 were not material. Due to immateriality, service revenues are not presented separately in the financial statements.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts—Trade receivables are uncollateralized customer obligations due under normal trade terms. The carrying amount of trade receivables and contracts receivable is reduced by a valuation allowance that reflects management’s estimate of the amounts that will not be collected, based on the age of the receivable, payment history of the customer, general industry conditions, general financial condition of the customer and any financial or operational leverage the Company may have in a particular situation. Amounts are written-off when collection is deemed unlikely. Past due amounts are determined based on contractual terms. The Company generally does not charge interest on past due accounts.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents—The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Short-term Investments

Short-term Investments—The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity greater than three months, but less than twelve months, to be short-term investments.

Inventories

Inventories—Inventories are stated at the lower of average cost (which approximates first-in, first-out) or market. An allowance for obsolescence is maintained to reduce the carrying value of any materials or parts that may become obsolete. Inventories are periodically monitored to ensure that the allowance for obsolescence covers any obsolete items.

Seismic Equipment Lease Pool

Seismic Equipment Lease Pool—Seismic equipment held for lease consists primarily of recording channels and peripheral equipment and is carried at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the equipment, which are five to seven years for channel boxes and two to 10 years for other peripheral equipment. As this equipment is subject to technological obsolescence and wear and tear, no salvage value is assigned to it. The Company continues to lease seismic equipment after it has been fully depreciated if it remains in acceptable condition and meets acceptable technical standards. This fully depreciated equipment remains in fixed assets on the Company’s books. The Company removes from its books the cost and accumulated depreciation of fully depreciated assets that are not expected to generate future revenues.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment—Property and equipment is carried at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method over the related estimated useful lives. The estimated useful lives of equipment range from three to seven years. Buildings are depreciated over 30 years and property improvements are amortized over 10 years or the shorter of their useful life. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the realized estimated useful life or the life of the respective leases. No salvage value is assigned to property and equipment.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets—Intangible assets are carried at cost, net of accumulated amortization. Amortization is computed on the straight-line method (for customer relationships, the straight-line method is not materially different from other methods that estimate run off of the underlying customer base) over the estimated life of the asset. Proprietary rights, developed technology and amortizable tradenames are amortized over a 10 to 15-year period. Customer relationships are amortized over an eight-year period. Patents are amortized over an eight to nine-year period.

Impairment

Impairment—The Company reviews its long-lived assets, including its amortizable intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. In reviewing for impairment, the carrying value of such assets is compared to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If such cash flows are not sufficient to support the asset’s recorded value, an impairment charge is recognized to reduce the carrying value of the long-lived asset to its estimated fair value. The determination of future cash flows as well as the estimated fair value of long-lived assets involves significant estimates on the part of management. The Company performs an impairment test on goodwill and indefinite lived assets on an annual basis. The Company performs a qualitative review to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting units is greater their carrying value. If the Company is unable to conclude qualitatively that it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value exceeds its carrying value, then the Company performs a quantitative assessment of fair value of the reporting unit. The quantitative reviews involve significant estimates on the part of management.

Product Warranties

Product Warranties—Seamap provide its customers warranties against defects in materials and workmanship generally for a period of three months after delivery of the product. Klein also provides its customers with similar warranties against defects in material and workmanship for an approximate twelve months period subsequent to delivery of the product. The Company maintains an accrual for potential warranty costs based on historical warranty claims.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes—The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method, whereby the Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities which represent differences between the financial and income tax reporting basis of its assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between income and expenses reported for financial reporting and tax reporting. The Company has assessed, using all available positive and negative evidence, the likelihood that the deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income.

The weight given to the potential effect of positive and negative evidence is commensurate with the extent to which it can be objectively verified. The preponderance of negative or positive evidence supports a conclusion regarding the need for a valuation allowance for some portion, or all, of the deferred tax asset. The more significant types of evidence considered include the following:


•	projected taxable income in future years;


•	our history of taxable income within a particular jurisdiction;


•	any history of deferred tax assets expiring prior realization;


•	whether the carry forward period is so brief that it would limit realization of tax benefits;


•	other limitations on the utilization of tax benefits;


•	future sales and operating cost projections that will produce more than enough taxable income to realize the deferred tax asset based on existing sales prices and cost structures;


•	our earnings history exclusive of the loss that created the future deductible amount coupled with evidence indicating that the loss is an aberration rather than a continuing condition; and


•	tax planning strategies that will create additional taxable income.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates—The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in these consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, the allowance for doubtful accounts, lease pool valuations, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, the evaluation of uncertain tax positions, estimated depreciable lives of fixed assets and intangible assets, impairment of fixed assets and intangible assets, valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations and the valuation of stock options. Future events and their effects cannot be perceived with certainty. Accordingly, these accounting estimates require the exercise of judgment. The accounting estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements will change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is obtained and as the Company’s operating environment changes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments—The Company’s financial instruments consist of accounts and contracts receivable and accounts payable.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) has issued guidance on the definition of fair value, the framework for using fair value to measure assets hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. These tiers include:


•	Level 1: Defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

•

Level 2: Defined as pricing inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date. Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued using models or other valuation methodologies. These models are primarily industry standard models that consider various assumptions, including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, volatility factors and current and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures.


•	Level 3: Defined as pricing inputs that are unobservable form objective sources. These inputs may be used with internally developed methodologies that result in management’s best estimate of fair value.

The Company measures the fair values of goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived assets on a recurring basis if required by impairment tests applicable to these assets. The Company utilized Level 3 inputs to value goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived assets as of January 31, 2020.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation—All balance sheet accounts of the Canadian, Australian and United Kingdom resident subsidiaries have been translated at the current exchange rate as of the end of the accounting period. Statements of operations items have been translated at average currency exchange rates. The resulting translation adjustment is recorded as a separate component of comprehensive income within shareholders’ equity.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation—Stock-based compensation expense is recorded based on the grant date fair value of share-based awards. Restricted stock awards are valued at the closing price on the date of grant. Determining the grant date fair value for options requires management to make estimates regarding the variables used in the calculation of the grant date fair value. Those variables are the future volatility of our common stock price, the length of time an optionee will hold their options until exercising them (the “expected term”), and the number of options that will be forfeited before they are exercised (the “forfeiture rate”). We utilize various mathematical models in calculating the variables. Share-based compensation expense could be different if we used different models to calculate the variables.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share—Net income (loss) per basic common share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Net income (loss) per diluted common share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares outstanding during the period. Potential common shares result from the assumed exercise of outstanding common stock options having a dilutive effect using the treasury stock method, from unvested shares of restricted stock using the treasury stock method and from outstanding common stock warrants.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications—Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the results of operations or comprehensive income.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation – Stock Compensation (“Topic 718”): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees except for certain circumstances. Any transition impact will be a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption. This ASU is effective for the annual period beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that annual period and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this ASU as of February 1, 2019. The adoption of ASU No. 2018-07 did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, to simplify impairment testing of goodwill and other intangible assets by eliminating step two of the impairment test. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2017-04 as of January 31, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2017-04 did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash, to require that amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents be 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. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2016-18 as of February 1, 2017. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-18 did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, to address how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. This update addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2016-15 as of February 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-15 did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation -Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, to reduce complexity in accounting standards involving several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted this new standard as of February 1, 2017, utilizing the prospective transition method. As a result, the Company now recognizes all excess tax charges or benefits as income tax expense or benefit in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations and in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as operating activities.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires organizations that lease assets to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases. Qualitative and quantitative disclosures are required, and optional practical expedients may be elected. This ASU is effective for the annual period beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that annual period. Subsequent amendments to the initial guidance have been issued in January 2017, January 2018, and July 2018 within ASU No. 201703, ASU No. 2018-01, ASU No. 2018-10, and ASU No. 2018-11 regarding qualitative disclosures, optional practical expedients, codification improvements and an optional transition method to adopt with a cumulative-effect adjustment versus a modified retrospective approach. These updates do not change the core principle of the guidance under ASU No. 2016-02, but rather provide implementation guidance. The Company adopted the accounting standard as of February 1, 2019, using the cumulative-effect transition method, which applies the guidance at the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted, which, among other things, allowed the Company to carry forward the historical lease classification. In addition, the Company made the accounting policy elections to not recognize lease assets and lease liabilities with an initial term of 12 months or less and to not separate lease and non-lease components. The impact of adoption on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet was the recognition of a ROU asset of $3.0 million and an operating lease liability of $3.0 million, primarily for office and shop space leases that are currently off-balance sheet. The adoption did not have a material impact on its results of operations nor any material impact on its cash flows.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Inventory: (Topic 330), to provide guidance on measurement of inventory. ASU 2015-11 requires that inventories utilizing the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method be measured at lower of cost or net realizable value. The Company has adopted the provisions of ASU 2015-11 as of February 1, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as the Company’s inventory is determined using the average cost and standard cost methods.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. ASU 2014-09 was later amended by ASU No. 2016-10 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, and ASU No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. ASU 2014-09, as amended, (the “New Revenue Standard”) supersedes most industry specific guidance and intends to enhance comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities and industries by providing a principle-based, comprehensive framework for addressing revenue recognition issues. The Company adopted the New Revenue Standard as of February 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. The adoption of the New Revenue Standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.