Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Principles of Consolidation These financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Our financial statements consolidate all of our affiliated entities in which we have a controlling financial interest. Because we hold certain rights that give us the power to direct the activities of two variable interest entities ("VIEs") (Note 18) that most significantly impact the VIEs economic performance, combined with a variable interest that gives us the right to receive potentially significant benefits or the obligation to absorb potentially significant losses, we have a controlling financial interest in those VIEs. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic In March 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the coronavirus ("COVID-19") a pandemic, and the President of the United States declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency. The rapid spread of the pandemic and the continuously evolving responses to combat it have had an increasingly negative impact on the global economy. Our manufacturing operations are considered a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as such, the decrees issued by national, state, and local governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have had minimal impact on our operations except for higher employee absenteeism in our manufacturing facilities. We had continuous operations during the year ended December 31, 2020 except for a planned (unrelated to COVID-19) shut down at out Tulsa, OK facility during the last week of December 2020. For the most part, our workers are able to socially distance themselves during the manufacturing process. Additional precautions have been taken to social distance workers that work in close environments. The Company utilizes sanitation stations, requires the use of a facial covering when unable to socially distance, performs daily temperature scanning, and performs additional cleaning and sanitation throughout the day and deep cleaning overnight. The Company did see significant employee absenteeism in the latter part of June 2020. These unexpected employee absences resulted in reduced shipments and longer lead times in the second quarter 2020. During the third quarter and fourth quarter 2020, employee attendance levels were stronger than previously anticipated. Additionally, our work force has adapted well to school and childcare related issues. Furthermore, COVID-19 has had no significant impact on our planned cash outflow for raw materials, dividend payments, or capital expenditure including our Longview, Texas expansion project. The magnitude of the impact of COVID-19 remains unpredictable and we, therefore, continue to anticipate potential supply chain disruptions, increased employee absenteeism and additional health and safety costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic that could unfavorably impact our business. Although these disruptions and costs are expected to be temporary, there is significant uncertainty around the duration and overall impact to our business operations. We are continually monitoring the progression of the pandemic and its potential effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Cash and Cash Equivalents We consider all highly liquid temporary investments with original maturity dates of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of bank deposits and highly liquid, interest-bearing money market funds. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held in a few financial institutions in amounts that exceed the insurance limits of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. However, management believes that the Company’s counterparty risks are minimal based on the reputation and history of the institutions selected. Restricted Cash Restricted cash held at December 31, 2020 consist of bank deposits and highly liquid, interest-bearing money market funds held for the purpose of the Company's qualified New Markets Tax Credit program (Note 18) to benefit an investment in plant and equipment to facilitate the expansion of our Longview, Texas manufacturing operations. The Company’s restricted cash is held in a financial institutions in amounts that exceed the insurance limits of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. However, management believes that the Company’s counterparty risks are minimal based on the reputation and history of the institutions selected. Certificates of Deposit We held no certificates of deposit at December 31, 2020 and 2019. Investments Held to Maturity At December 31, 2020 and 2019, we held no investments. We record the amortized cost basis and accrued interest of the corporate notes and bonds in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. We record the interest and amortization of bond premium to interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Accounts and Note Receivable We adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) , as amended, as of January 1, 2020. The ASU requires a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected, which would include accounts receivable. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectibility of the reported amount. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material effect on our financial statements. Accounts and note receivable are stated at amounts due from customers, net of an allowance for credit losses. We generally do not require that our customers provide collateral. The Company determines its allowance for credit losses by considering a number of factors, including the credit risk of specific customers, the customer’s ability to pay current obligations, historical trends, economic and market conditions, and the age of the receivable. Accounts are considered past due when the balance has been outstanding for ninety days past negotiated credit terms. Past due accounts are generally written-off against the allowance for credit losses only after all collection attempts have been exhausted. Concentration of Credit Risk Our customers are concentrated primarily in the domestic commercial and industrial new construction and replacement markets. To date, our sales have been primarily to the domestic market, with foreign sales accounting for approximately 2%, 3%, and 3% of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. One customer, Texas AirSystems LLC, accounted for more than 10% of our sales during 2020, 2019, and 2018. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of our sales during 2020, 2019, and 2018. Two customers, Texas AirSystems LLC and Johnson Borrow Inc., accounted for more than 10% of our accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2020. One customer, Texas AirSystems LLC, accounted for more than 10% of our accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2019. No single customer accounted for more than 15% of our sales during 2020, 2019, and 2018 or more than 15% of our accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2020 and 2019. Inventories Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. Cost in inventory includes purchased parts and materials, direct labor and applied manufacturing overhead. We establish an allowance for excess and obsolete inventories based on product line changes, the feasibility of substituting parts and the need for supply and replacement parts. Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment, including significant improvements, are recorded at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Repairs and maintenance and any gains or losses on disposition are included in operations. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: Buildings 3 - 40 years Machinery and equipment 3 - 15 years Furniture and fixtures 3 - 7 years On April 22, 2020, our plant and office facilities in Tulsa, Oklahoma experienced hail related weather damage and we filed a property insurance claim which carried a $500,000 deductible. We did not experience any significant structural damage or any operational interruption as a result of this weather event. In November 2020, we reached a final settlement with our insurance carrier, resulting in a net cumulative gain of $6.4 million, which is included in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The received proceeds will be used in future periods to make improvements to the current roof at our plant and office facilities in Tulsa, Oklahoma to extend the overall useful life. Business Combinations We record the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination at their acquisition date fair values. Fair Value Financial Instruments and Measurements The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of the items. The carrying amount of the Company’s revolving line of credit, and other payables, approximate their fair values either due to their short term nature, the variable rates associated with the debt or based on current rates offered to the Company for debt with similar characteristics. We adopted ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820), as amended, as of January 1, 2020. The ASU includes additional disclosure requirements for unrealized gains and losses for Level 3 fair value measurements and significant observable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. There was not a material impact to financial statements upon adoption. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is based upon assumptions that market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability. We use the following fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes valuation technique inputs used to measure fair value into three broad levels: • Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that we have the ability to access at the measurement date. • Level 2: Inputs (other than quoted prices included within Level 1) that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability, including (i) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, (ii) quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, (iii) inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and (iv) inputs that are derived from observable market data by correlation or other means. • Level 3: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability including situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. Items categorized in Level 3 include the estimated fair values of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and goodwill acquired in a business combination. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). In some cases, the inputs used to measure fair value might fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. The lowest level input that is significant to a fair value measurement determines the applicable level in the fair value hierarchy. Assessing the significance of a particular input to a fair value measurement requires judgment, considering factors specific to the asset or liability. Intangible Assets Our intangible assets include various trademarks, service marks, and technical knowledge acquired in our February 2018 business combination (Note 4). We amortize our intangible assets on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. We evaluate the carrying value of our amortizable intangible assets for potential impairment when events and circumstances warrant such a review. Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration paid for the acquired businesses over the fair value of the individual assets acquired, net of liabilities assumed. Goodwill at December 31, 2020 is deductible for income tax purposes. Goodwill is not amortized, but instead is evaluated for impairment at least annually. We perform our annual assessment of impairment during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, and more frequently if circumstances warrant. To perform this assessment, we first consider qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount. If we conclude that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit does not exceed its carrying amount, we calculate the fair value for the reporting unit and compare the amount to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is not considered impaired. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered to be impaired and the goodwill balance is reduced by the difference between the fair value and carrying amount of the reporting unit. We performed a qualitative assessment as of December 31, 2020 to determine whether it was more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit was greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit. Based on these qualitative assessments, we determined that the fair value of the reporting unit was more likely than not greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit. Estimates and assumptions used to perform the impairment evaluation are inherently uncertain and can significantly affect the outcome of the analysis. The estimates and assumptions we use in the annual goodwill impairment assessment included market participant considerations and future forecasted operating results. Changes in operating results and other assumptions could materially affect these estimates. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets We review long-lived assets for possible impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate, in management’s judgment, that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to its estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset or asset group, an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset or asset group exceeds its fair value. Research and Development The costs associated with research and development for the purpose of developing and improving new products are expensed as incurred. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 research and development costs amounted to approximately $17.4 million, $14.8 million, and $13.5 million, respectively. Advertising Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 was approximately $0.8 million, $0.8 million, and $0.8 million, respectively. Shipping and Handling We incur shipping and handling costs in the distribution of products sold that are recorded in cost of sales. Shipping charges that are billed to the customer are recorded in revenues and as an expense in cost of sales. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 shipping and handling fees amounted to approximately $14.3 million, $14.4 million, and $12.6 million, respectively. Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the book carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Excess tax benefits and deficiencies are reported as an income tax benefit or expense on the statement of income and are treated as discrete items to the income tax provision in the reporting period in which they occur. We establish accruals for unrecognized tax positions when it is more likely than not that our tax return positions may not be fully sustained. The Company records a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be realized. Share-Based Compensation The Company recognizes expense for its share-based compensation based on the fair value of the awards that are granted. The Company’s share-based compensation plans provide for the granting of stock options and restricted stock. The fair values of stock options are estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model. The use of the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model requires the input of subjective assumptions. The fair value of restricted stock awards is based on the fair market value of AAON common stock on the respective grant dates, reduced for the present value of dividends. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period of the related share-based compensation award. Stock options and restricted stock awards, granted to employees, vest at a rate of 20% per year. Restricted stock awards granted to directors historically vest one-third each year or, if granted on or after May 2019, vest over the shorter of directors' remaining elected term or one-third each year. Historically, if the employee or director is retirement eligible (as defined by the Long Term Incentive Plans) or becomes retirement eligible during service period of the related share-based compensation award, the service period is the lesser of 1) the grant date, if retirement eligible on grant date, or 2) the period between grant date and retirement eligible date. All share-based compensation awards granted on or after March 1, 2020 to retirement eligible employees or directors contain a one Derivative Instruments In the course of normal operations, the Company occasionally enters into contracts such as forward priced physical contracts for the purchase of raw materials that qualify for and are designated as normal purchase or normal sale contracts. Such contracts are exempted from the fair value accounting requirements and are accounted for at the time product is purchased or sold under the related contract. The Company does not engage in speculative transactions, nor does the Company hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. Revenue Recognition On January 1, 2018, we adopted the new accounting standard FASB ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , and all the related amendments to all contracts using the retrospective method. The impact at adoption was not material to the consolidated financial statements. The new accounting policy provides results substantially consistent with prior revenue recognition policies. The Company recognizes revenue, presented net of sales tax, when it satisfies the performance obligation in its contracts. The primary performance obligation in our contract is delivery of the requested manufactured equipment. Most of the Company’s products are highly customized, cannot be resold to other customers and the cost of rework to be resold is not economical. The Company has a formal cancellation policy and generally does not accept returns on these units. As a result, many of the Company’s products do not have an alternative use and therefore, for these products we recognize revenue over the time it takes to produce the unit. For all other products that are part sales or standardized units, we satisfy the performance obligation when the control is passed to the customer, generally at time of shipment. Final sales prices are fixed based on purchase orders. Sales allowances and customer incentives are treated as reductions to sales and are provided for based on historical experiences and current estimates. Sales of our products are moderately seasonal with the peak period being May-October of each year. We are responsible for billings and collections resulting from all sales transactions, including those initiated by our independent manufacturer representatives (“Representatives”). Representatives are national companies that are in the business of providing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) units and other related products and services to customers. The end user customer orders a bundled group of products and services from the Representative and expects the Representative to fulfill the order. These additional products and services may include controls purchased from another manufacturer to operate the unit, start-up services, and curbs for supporting the unit (“Third Party Products”). All are associated with the purchase of a HVAC unit but may be provided by the Representative or another third party. Only after the specifications are agreed to by the Representative and the customer, and the decision is made to use an AAON HVAC unit, will we receive notice of the order. We establish the amount we must receive for our HVAC unit (“minimum sales price”), but do not control the total order price that is negotiated by the Representative with the end user customer. The Representatives submit the total order price to us for invoicing and collection. The total order price includes our minimum sales price and an additional amount which may include both the Representatives’ fee and amounts due for additional products and services required by the customer. The Company is considered the principal for the equipment we design and manufacture and records that revenue gross. The Company has no control over the Third Party Products to the end customer and the Company is under no obligation related to the Third Party Products. Amounts related to Third Party Products are not recognized as revenue but are recorded as a liability and are included in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The Representatives’ fee and Third Party Products amounts (“Due to Representatives”) are paid only after all amounts associated with the order are collected from the customer. The amount of payments to our representatives was $50.0 million, $46.1 million, and $47.8 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. The Company also sells extended warranties on parts for various lengths of time ranging from six months to 10 years. Revenue for these separately priced warranties is deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the separately priced warranty period. Insurance Reserves Under the Company’s insurance programs, coverage is obtained for significant liability limits as well as those risks required to be insured by law or contract. It is the policy of the Company to self-insure a portion of certain expected losses related primarily to workers’ compensation and medical liability. Provisions for losses expected under these programs are recorded based on the Company’s estimates of the aggregate liabilities for the claims incurred. Product Warranties A provision is made for the estimated cost of maintaining product warranties to customers at the time the product is sold based upon historical claims experience by product line. The Company records a liability and an expense for estimated future warranty claims based upon historical experience and management’s estimate of the level of future claims. Changes in the estimated amounts recognized in prior years are recorded as an adjustment to the liability and expense in the current year. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Because these estimates and assumptions require significant judgment, actual results could differ from those estimates and could have a significant impact on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows. We reevaluate our estimates and assumptions as needed, but at a minimum on a quarterly basis. The most significant estimates include, but are not limited to, the allowance for credit losses, inventory reserves, warranty accrual, workers compensation accrual, medical insurance accrual, share-based compensation, and income taxes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. |