Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and our wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

ARCA Recycling, Inc., provides turnkey recycling services for electric utility energy efficiency programs. ARCA Canada Inc., provides turnkey recycling services for electric utility energy efficiency programs. Customer Connexx, LLC, provides call center services for electric utility programs.

On August 18, 2017, we acquired GeoTraq. GeoTraq is engaged in the development, design, and, ultimately, we expect, sale of cellular transceiver modules, also known as Mobile IoT modules, and associated wireless services. As a result of this transaction, GeoTraq became a wholly-owned subsidiary and, therefore, the results of GeoTraq are included in our consolidated results as of August 18, 2017.

Reincorporation in the State of Nevada

On March 12, 2018, we reincorporated from the State of Minnesota to the State of Nevada (the “Reincorporation”) pursuant to a plan of conversion, dated March 12, 2018 (the “Plan of Conversion”). The Reincorporation was accomplished by the filing of (i) articles of conversion (the “Minnesota Articles of Conversion”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota and (ii) articles of conversion (the “Nevada Articles of Conversion”) and articles of incorporation (the “Nevada Articles of Incorporation”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada. Pursuant to the Plan of Conversion, the Company also adopted new bylaws (the “Nevada Bylaws”).

The Reincorporation did not affect any of the Company’s material contracts with any third parties, and the Company’s rights and obligations under such material contractual arrangements continue to be rights and obligations of the Company after the Reincorporation. The Reincorporation did not result in any change in headquarters, business, jobs, management, location of any of the offices or facilities, number of employees, assets, liabilities or net worth (other than as a result of the costs incident to the Reincorporation) of the Company.

The Reincorporation changed the par value of the Company’s common shares from no par value to a par value of $0.001 per common share.

Financial Instruments

Financial instruments consist primarily of cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, notes receivables, and obligations under accounts payable, accrued expenses and notes payable. The carrying amounts of cash equivalents, trade receivables and other receivables, accounts payable, accrued expenses and short-term notes payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. The fair value of the long-term debt is calculated based on interest rates available for debt with terms and maturities similar to the Company’s existing debt arrangements, unless quoted market prices were available (Level 2 inputs). The carrying amounts of long-term debt at March 30, 2019 and December 29, 2018 approximate fair value.

Trade Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We carry unsecured trade receivables at the original invoice amount less an estimate made for doubtful accounts based on a monthly review of all outstanding amounts. Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts by regularly evaluating individual customer receivables and considering a customer’s financial condition, credit history and current economic conditions. We write off trade receivables when we deem them uncollectible. We record recoveries of trade receivables previously written off when we receive them. We consider a trade receivable to be past due if any portion of the receivable balance is outstanding for more than ninety days. We do not charge interest on past due receivables. Our management considers the allowance for doubtful accounts of $29 and $29 to be adequate to cover any exposure to loss as of March 30, 2019, and December 29, 2018, respectively.

Right to use asset – Operating Leases

The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) as of December 30,2018, the beginning of our fiscal year. Using the modified retrospective approach with transition relief, we recorded operating lease right of use assets and obligations of approximately $1,800 and made no adjustments to retained earnings. Adoption of the new standard did not materially impact our consolidated net earnings or cash flows. The amounts recognized reflect the present value of remaining lease payments for all leases that have a lease term greater than 12 months. The discount rate used is an estimate of the Company’s incremental borrowing rate based on information available at lease commencement. In considering the lease asset value, the Company considers fixed and variable payment terms, prepayments and options to extend, terminate or purchase. Renewal, termination or purchase options affect the lease term used for determining lease asset value only if the option is reasonably certain to be exercised.

Intangible Assets

The Company accounts for intangible assets in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other. Under ASC 350, intangible assets subject to amortization, shall be reviewed for impairment in accordance with the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets in ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment.

Under ASC 360, long-lived assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances (‘triggering event’) indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. In making this determination, triggering events that were considered included:

If a triggering event has occurred, for purposes of recognition and measurement of an impairment loss, a long-lived asset or assets shall be grouped with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. After the asset group determination is completed, a two-step testing is performed. If after identifying a triggering event it is determined that the asset group’s carrying value may not be recoverable, a recoverability test must then be performed. The recoverability test is performed by forecasting the expected cash flows to be derived from the asset group for the remaining useful life of the asset group’s primary asset compared to their carrying value. The recoverability test relies upon the undiscounted cash flows (excluding interest and taxes) which are derived from the company’s specific use of those assets (not how a market participant would use those assets); and, are based upon the existing service potential of the current assets (excluding any improvements that would materially enhance the assets). If the expected undiscounted cash flows exceed the carrying value, the assets are considered recoverable. If the recoverability test is failed a second fair market value test is required to calculate the amount of the impairment (if any). This second test calculates the fair value of the asset or asset group, with the impairment being the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the asset or asset group’s fair value. Under this test, the financial projections have been created using market participant assumptions and fair value concepts.

We last performed intangible asset impairment testing as of March 30, 2019. Based on the testing, there was no impairment of intangibles as of March 30, 2019.

The Company’s intangible assets consist of customer relationship intangibles, trade names, licenses for the use of internet domain names, Universal Resource Locators, or URL’s, software, patent USPTO reference No. 10,182,402, and historical know-how, designs and related manufacturing procedures. Upon acquisition, critical estimates are made in valuing acquired intangible assets, which include but are not limited to: future expected cash flows from customer contracts, customer lists, and estimating cash flows from projects when completed; tradename and market position, as well as assumptions about the period of time that customer relationships will continue; and discount rates. Management's estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and, as a result, actual results may differ from the assumptions used in determining the fair values. All intangible assets are capitalized at their original cost and amortized over their estimated useful lives as follows: domain name and marketing – 3 to 20 years; software – 3 to 5 years, technology intangibles – 7 years, customer relationships – 7 to 15 years. Intangible amortization expense is $933 and $932 for the 13 weeks ended March 30, 2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively.

Shipping and Handling

The Company classifies shipping and handling charged to customers as revenues and classifies costs relating to shipping and handling as cost of revenues.

Fair Value Measurements

ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” requires disclosure of the fair value of financial instruments held by the Company. ASC Topic 825, “Financial Instruments,” defines fair value, and establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosures of fair value measurement that enhances disclosure requirements for fair value measures. The three levels of valuation hierarchy are defined as follows: Level 1 - inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Level 2 – to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 3 – inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

Lease Accounting

We lease warehouse facilities and office space. These assets and properties are generally leased under noncancelable agreements that expire at various dates through 2022 with various renewal options for additional periods. The agreements, which have and continue to be classified as operating leases, generally provide for base rent and require us to pay all insurance, taxes and other maintenance costs. We adopted ASC 842 Leases at the beginning of our fiscal year, December 30, 2018. This accounting standard requires all lessees to record the impact of leasing contracts on the balance sheet as a right to use asset and corresponding liability. This is measured by taking the present value of the remaining lease payments over the lease term and recording a right to use asset (“ROU”) and corresponding lease obligation for lease payments. Rent expense is realized on a straight-line basis and the lease obligation is amortized based on the effective interest method. Adoption of this standard resulted in the recognition of a $1,900 Right of Use asset and corresponding liability. In considering the lease asset value, the Company considers fixed or variable payment terms, prepayments and options to extend, terminate or purchase. Renewal, termination or purchase options affect the lease term used for determining lease asset value only if the option is reasonably certain to be exercised. The Company uses an estimate of its incremental borrowing rate based on information available at lease commencement in determining present value of lease payments.

The Company has signed replacement leases that will commence in periods after the quarter end date. These facilities located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Franklin, Massachusetts and Nova Scotia, Canada. The Company has also signed a new lease after the quarter end date for a facility in Syracuse, New York to help support two new programs in upper State New York. Lease terms for these leases range from 24 to 36 months.

The Company’s operating leases are exclusively for building space in the different cities we have operations. The lease terms typically last from 2-3 years with some being longer or shorter depending on needs of the business and the lease partners. Operations has also engaged in month to month leases for parking spaces that the company has elected to expense as incurred. Our lease agreements do not include variable lease payments. Our lessors do offer options to extend lease terms as leases expire and management evaluates against current rental markets and other strategic factors in making the decision to renew. When leases are within 6 months of being renewed, management will estimate probabilities of renewing for an additional term based on market and strategic factors and if the probability is more likely than not that the lease will be renewed, the financials will assume the lease is renewed under the lease renewal option.

The operating leases we have do not contain residual value guarantees and do not contain restrictive covenants. The company currently has one sublease in Ontario, Canada.

Leases accounting under ASC 842 were determined based on analysis of the lease contracts using lease payments and timing spelled out in the contract. Non lease contracts were also evaluated to understand if the contract terms provided for an asset that we controlled and provided us with substantially all the economic benefits. We did not observe any contracts with embedded leases. Lease contracts were reviewed, and distinctions made between non lease and lease payments. Only payments related to the lease of the asset were included in lease payment calculations. Management uses an estimation of its incremental borrowing rate at lease commencement over similar terms as the lease contracts in determining the present value of its lease obligations.

Adopting the new lease standard had minimal impact on consolidated earnings and cash flows. The weighted average lease term for operating leases is 31 months and the weighted average discount term is 8%.

Foreign Currency

The financial statements of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiary are translated into U.S. dollars in accordance with ASC 830, Foreign Currency Matters. Under ASC 830, if the assets and liabilities of the Company are recorded in certain non-U.S. functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar, they are translated at rates of exchange at year end. Revenue and expense items are translated at the average monthly exchange rates. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded directly into accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Segment Reporting

ASC Topic 280, “Segment Reporting,” requires use of the “management approach” model for segment reporting. The management approach model is based on the way a Company’s management organizes segments within the Company for making operating decisions and assessing performance. The Company determined it has two reportable segments (See Note 24).

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ASU 2014-09, which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). Early adoption is not permitted. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-04, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. The amendment in this ASU defers the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 for all entities for one year. Public business entities should apply the guidance in ASU 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period.

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The standard addresses the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations in the new revenue recognition standard. The ASU clarifies how an entity should identify the unit of accounting (i.e. the specified good or service) for the principal versus agent evaluation and how it should apply the control principle to certain types of arrangements.

Subsequently, the FASB has issued the following standards related to ASU 2014-09 and ASU No. 2016-08: ASU No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing (“ASU 2016-10”); ASU No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients (“ASU 2016-12”); ASU No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2016-20”); and, ASU 2017-05—Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets (“ASU 2017-05). The Company must adopt ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12, ASU 2016-20 and ASU 2017-05 with ASU 2014-09 (collectively, the “new revenue standards”). The Company has evaluated the provisions of the new revenue standards. We transitioned to the new revenue standards using the modified retrospective method effective December 30, 2017 and did not have a significant impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

In September 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The standard requires an entity’s management to determine whether substantial doubt exists regarding the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The amendments denote how and when companies are obligated to disclose going concern uncertainties, which are required to be evaluated every interim and annual period. If management determines that substantial doubt exists, particular disclosures are required. The extent of these disclosures is dependent upon management’s evaluation of mitigation of the going concern uncertainty. ASU 2014-15 applies prospectively to annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and to interim and annual periods thereafter. The Company has adopted this guidance during its 2017 fiscal year, and it did not have a significant impact on the disclosures to the consolidated financial statements.

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, Business Combinations (Topic 805). Topic 805 requires that an acquirer retrospectively adjust provisional amounts recognized in a business combination, during the measurement period. To simplify the accounting for adjustments made to provisional amounts, the amendments in the update require that the acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amount is determined. The acquirer is required to also record, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. In addition, an entity is required to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes to the financial statements the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. ASU 2015-16 is effective for fiscal years beginning December 15, 2015. The Company has adopted this guidance during its 2017 fiscal year and it did not have a significant impact on its consolidated results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The standard requires a lessee to recognize a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing a right to use the underlying asset for the lease term on the balance sheet. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company has adopted this guidance during its first fiscal quarter ending March 30, 2019 and it did have a significant financial impact on its consolidated financial condition. Adoption did not have a significant financial impact on its consolidated statement of operations and cash flows.

ASU 2017-09, Compensation- Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting, clarifies such that an entity must apply modification accounting to changes in the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award unless all of the following criteria are met: (1) the fair value of the modified award is the same as the fair value of the original award immediately before the modification. The ASU indicates that if the modification does not affect any of the inputs to the valuation technique used to value the award, the entity is not required to estimate the value immediately before and after the modification; (2) the vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the modification; and (3) the classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a liability instrument is the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the modification. The ASU is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. We adopted ASU 2017-09 as of the beginning of fiscal year 2018 and it did not have a significant impact on its consolidated results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480) and Derivative and Hedging (Topic 815). The standard is intended to simplify the accounting for certain financial instruments with down round features. This ASU changes the classification analysis of particular equity-linked financial instruments (e.g. warrants, embedded conversion features) allowing the down round feature to be disregarded when determining whether the instrument is to be indexed to an entity’s own stock. Because of this, the inclusion of a down round feature by itself exempts an instrument from having to be remeasured at fair value each earnings period. The standard requires that entities recognize the effect of the down round feature on EPS when it is triggered (i.e., when the exercise price is adjusted downward due to the down round feature) equivalent to the change in the fair value of the instrument instantly before and after the strike price is modified. An adjustment to diluted EPS calculation may be required. The standard does not change the accounting for liability-classified instruments that occurred due to a different feature or term other than a down round feature. Additionally, entities must disclose the presence of down round features in financial instruments they issue, when the down round feature triggers a strike price adjustment, and the amount of the adjustment necessary. ASU 2017-11 is effective for all fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company decided to early adopt ASU 2017-11 and it did not have a significant impact on its consolidated results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.