GSE SYSTEMS INC - Quarter Report: 2021 June (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ☒   No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒   No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", and "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in rule 12(b)-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐  No ☒

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

There were 20,863,518 shares of common stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share outstanding as of July 31, 2021.

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GSE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

GSE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

GSE Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of professional and technical engineering, staffing services and simulation software to clients in the power and process industries. References in this report to "GSE" or "we" or "our" or "the Company" are to GSE Systems, Inc. and our subsidiaries, collectively.

The consolidated interim financial statements included herein have been prepared by GSE and are unaudited. In the opinion of our management, all adjustments and reclassifications of a normal and recurring nature necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented, have been made. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") have been condensed or omitted.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. The accompanying balance sheet data for the year ended December 31, 2020 was derived from our audited financial statements, but it does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP.

The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily an indication of the results for the full year. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 2021.

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 disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Our most significant estimates relate to revenue recognition on contracts with customers, product warranties, valuation of goodwill and intangible assets acquired including the determination of fair value in impairment tests, valuation of long-lived assets to be disposed of, valuation of stock-based compensation awards, and the recoverability of deferred tax assets. Actual results of these and other items not listed could differ from these estimates and those differences could be material.

COVID-19

GSE employees began working remotely during the first quarter of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to do so when practical and as mandated by local, state and federal directives and regulations. Employees almost entirely work from home within our Performance Improvement Solutions (“Performance”) segment, except when required to be at the client site for essential project work. Our Performance contracts, which are considered an essential service, are permitted to and mostly continue without pause; however, we have experienced certain delays in new business. For our staff augmentation business, we have seen certain contracts for our Nuclear Industry Training and Consulting (“NITC” or “workforce solutions”) customers paused or delayed as clients reduce their own on-premise workforces to the minimum operating levels in response to the pandemic; as a result, our NITC segment has experienced a decline in its billable employee base since the start of the pandemic. Although we cannot fully estimate the length or gravity of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to our business at this time, we have experienced delays in commencing new projects and thus our ability to recognize revenue has been delayed for some contracts. Reductions in orders and other negative changes to orders experienced at the beginning of the pandemic have started to reverse in 2021, but not at the level expected as ongoing COVID concerns continue to hinder the pace of recovery. We continue to closely monitor our operating expenses as a result of contract delays and have made adjustments to keep our gross profit at a sustainable level.

Going Concern

These actions, which are further supported by positively trending macroeconomic conditions, and the potential of recovery of business and orders may ease the risk of further bank covenant violations. However, when considering the unpredictability of the above, there continues to be substantial doubt the Company will continue as a going concern.

Note 2 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting pronouncements recently adopted

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, Investments – Equity Securities, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures, and Derivatives and Hedging, which provides clarity for companies that hold equity securities at cost to first update the fair value of an investment, immediately prior to applying the Equity Method of Accounting; or clarity for companies that enter into forward contracts to purchase additional shares of an equity security that would then require the investee to account for the investment via the Equity Method. This ASU is applicable for public companies starting with fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted ASU 2020-01 on January 1, 2021. This standard did not have a significant impact to our consolidated financial statements since the Company does not currently hold any investments at cost.

In September 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-10, Codification Improvements, which is part of an ongoing attempt to improve the consistency of the codification. Previously the option to disclose information in the footnotes to the financial statements was in one of two sections: Disclosure Section (Section 50) or Other Presentation Matters (Section 45). ASU 2020-10 conforms the disclosure requirements into Section 50 and provides additional information on specific guidance that was previously unclear or not included in the codification. This ASU is applicable for public companies starting with fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption available for interim and annual financial statements not already filed and using the retrospective approach. however, the FASB does not believe that this should change any of the current reporting or disclosure requirements. The Company adopted ASU 2020-10 on January 1, 2021. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

Accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, which introduces new guidance for credit losses on instruments within its scope. The new guidance introduces an approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including, but not limited to, trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and net investments in leases. The new guidance also modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities and requires the entities to determine whether all or a portion of the unrealized loss on an available-for-sale debt security is a credit loss. The standard also indicates that entities may not use the length of time a security has been in an unrealized loss position as a factor in concluding whether a credit loss exists. Early adoption is permitted for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. On October 16, 2019, the FASB voted to defer the deadlines for private companies and certain small public companies, including smaller reporting companies, to implement the new accounting standards on credit losses. The new effective date is January 1, 2023. As a smaller reporting company, we have elected to defer adoption in line with new deadlines and are currently evaluating the effects, if any, that the adoption of this guidance will have on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Management has evaluated other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe that any of these pronouncements will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Note 4 - Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act

The aim of the PPP Loan is to provide funding for businesses for certain payroll and nonpayroll costs. Proceeds for the PPP Loan are eligible for complete forgiveness, if used at least 60% for payroll cost with up to 40% for certain other nonpayroll costs. Forgiveness for amounts less than the total amount of the PPP Loan ($10 million) is allowed, retaining 60/40 requirements, but will be limited based upon the amount of funds used for payroll costs and further reduced by a full-time employee and salary/hourly rate wage reduction limitation. GSE has relied primarily on eligible wages and expenses and is well within the ratios.

The SBA has stated that PPP loans above $2 million will be subject to audit for appropriate usage of the funds and confirmation of loan forgiveness. GSE has stated, as part of the initial application, that the receipt of such funds were required in order to maintain its employees during the pandemic, and GSE was confident in its ability to report on the proper use the funds and obtain full forgiveness. GSE has also prepared and performed extensive review in its submission of the mandated Form 3590 – PPP Loan Necessity Questionnaire and remains confident to that end.

The July 5 legislation provides for an automatic 10 month deferment, after the coverage period, on the first payment, placing it on August 9, 2021. Subsequent payments, in accordance with our loan documentation, will occur monthly in equal monthly proportions, beginning with the first full month following the deferment period and will be comprised of principal and interest, with the loan fully due on April 23, 2022. Although the first payment is not required until September 2021, the loan balance accrues at an interest rate of 1% from April 23, 2020. If the loan is forgiven, the related interest incurred is also forgiven.

We realized all possible PPP Loan forgiveness expenses through the 24 week coverage period during the 2020 fiscal year. We applied for forgiveness in Q1 of 2021 with expected response in Q2 of 2021 (although the exact timing of a response from the SBA is not free from doubt). Any balance unforgiven by the SBA and accruing 1% interest since inception will be payable starting on the date instructed by the SBA and in equal monthly payments with the final balance due by April 23, 2022. Loan forgiveness is achieved by applying for forgiveness with the Company’s lender, the Bank, with expenses eligible for forgiveness as incurred and receiving final clearance from the SBA. The Bank has successfully completed their review and provided the loan forgiveness application and support to the SBA on February 26, 2021. SBA provided through regulation that its process would take no more than 90 days. Upon receipt of the funds, a Loan Payable – PPP balance of $10 million was recorded and related interest expense is being accrued. As of June 30, 2021, GSE reported the loan balance and accrued interest as a short term payable.

The PPP Loan contains events of default and other provisions customary for a loan of this type. The Payroll Protection Program provides that (1) the use of PPP Loan amount shall be limited to certain qualifying expenses, and (2) 100% of the principal amount of the loan is guaranteed by the Small Business Administration.

The SBA provides for certain customary events of default, including if the Company (i) fails to do anything required by the Note and other Loan Documents; (ii) does not disclose, or anyone acting on its behalf does not disclose, any material fact to the Bank or the SBA; (iii) makes, or anyone acting on its behalf makes, a materially false or misleading representation to lender or the SBA; (iv) reorganizes, merges, consolidates or otherwise changes ownership or business structure without the Bank’s prior written consent; (v) takes certain prohibited actions after the Bank makes a determination that the PPP Loan is not entitled to full forgiveness. Upon default the Bank may require immediate payment of all amounts owing under the PPP Loan or file suit and obtain judgment.

As of June 30, 2021, we had $10 million of principal remained outstanding on the PPP Loan together with accrued interest of $118 thousand as debt, which are classified as current in our consolidated balance sheets. We recorded $25 and $50 thousand of interest expense during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021.

Note 5 - Contract Receivables

 

Contract receivables represent our unconditional rights to consideration due from our domestic and international customers. We expect to collect all contract receivables within the next twelve months.

The components of contract receivables were as follows:

Management reviews collectability of receivables periodically and records an allowance for doubtful accounts to reduce the Company's receivables to their net realizable value when management determines it is probable that we will not be able to collect all amounts due from customers. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on historical trends of past due accounts, write-offs, specific identification and review of customer accounts.

During the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, we recorded bad debt (recovery) expense of $(133) thousand and $93 thousand, respectively.

During the month of July 2021, we invoiced $2.9 million of the unbilled amounts as of the three months ended June 30, 2021.

As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we had no customer that accounted over 10% of our consolidated contract receivables.

Note 6 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The following table shows the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of definite-lived intangible assets:

Amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets totaled $0.3 million and $0.4 million for the  three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 and $0.6 million and $1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The following table shows the estimated amortization expense of the definite-lived intangible assets for the next five years and thereafter:

 

Note 7 -  Equipment, Software and Leasehold Improvements

Equipment, software and leasehold improvements, net consist of the following:

Depreciation expense was $147 thousand and $178 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Capitalization of internal-use software cost of $165 thousand and $315 thousand were recorded in software for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021.

Note 8 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

The levels of the fair value hierarchy established by ASC 820 are:

Level 1:  inputs are quoted prices, unadjusted, in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2:  inputs are other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. A Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3:  inputs are unobservable and reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we considered the recorded value of certain of our financial assets and liabilities, which consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, contract receivable and accounts payable, to approximate fair value based upon their short-term nature.

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, we did not have any transfers into or out of Level 3.

The following table presents assets measured at fair value at June 30, 2021:

The following table presents assets and liabilities measured at fair value at December 31, 2020:

Note 9 - Stock-Based Compensation

Note 10 - Debt

On December 29, 2016, we entered a 3-year $5.0 million revolving line of credit facility with the Bank to fund general working capital needs and acquisitions. On May 11, 2018, we entered into the Amended and Restated Credit and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement” or the “Credit Facility”) to (a) expand the $5.0 million revolving line of credit (the “RLOC”) to include a letter of credit sub-facility and not be subject to a borrowing base and (b) to add a $25 million term loan facility, available to finance permitted acquisitions over the following 18 months. The credit facility was subject to certain financial covenants and reporting requirements  and was scheduled to mature on May 11, 2023 and accrue interest at the USD LIBOR, plus a margin that varies depending on our overall leverage ratio. The RLOC had required monthly payments of only interest, with principal due at maturity, while our term loan draws required monthly payments of principal and interest based on an amortization schedule. Our obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by our wholly owned subsidiaries, Hyperspring, Absolute, True North, DP Engineering and by any future material domestic subsidiaries (collectively, “the Guarantors”).

On March 29, 2021, due to a projected violation of Q1 2021 leverage ratio, we signed the Ninth Amendment and Reaffirmation Agreement with an effective date of March 29, 2021, with our bank to waive the fixed charge coverage ratio and leverage ratio for the quarters ending March 31 and June 30, 2021, and we agreed, for each quarter thereafter, that the fixed charge coverage ratio shall not be less than 1.10 to 1.00. In addition, we agreed to not exceed a maximum leverage ratio and starting on September 30, 2021 as follows: (i) 3.25 to 1.00 for the period ending September 30, 2021; (ii) 3.00 to 1.00 for the period ending on December 31, 2021, (iii) 2.75 to 1.00 for the period ending March 31, 2022; (iv) 2.50 to 1.00 for the period ending June 30, 2022 and (v) 2.00 to 1.00 for the periods ending September 30, 2022 and each December 31st, March 31st, June 30th and September 30th thereafter. We are also required to maintain a minimum of $2.5 million in aggregate USA liquidity. As part of the amendment, we agreed, at closing, (i) to make a $0.5 million pay down of RLOC; (ii) RLOC commitment to be reduced to $4.25 million; and (iii) $0.5 million of RLOC will only be available for issuance of Letters of Credit. We also agreed to pay $0.5 million to reduce RLOC to $3.75 million by June 30, 2021 and to $3.5 million by September 30, 2021. Commencing December 31, 2021 and on the last day of each quarter, we will pay $75 thousand to reduce the RLOC. We incurred $25 thousand fees related to this amendment during the year ended December 31, 2020.

During the six months ended June 30, 2021, we paid for $1.5 million and had a draw of $0.8 million on our RLOC. As of June 30, 2021, we had outstanding borrowings of $2.3 million under the RLOC and three letters of credit totaling $933 thousand outstanding to certain of our customers. The total borrowing capacity under RLOC was $3.8 million as of June 30, 2021. After consideration of letters of credit, and the $0.5 million reserved for issuance of new letters of credit, there was no amount available for borrowing under the RLOC.

We intend to continue using the RLOC for short-term working capital needs when capacity is available and the issuance of letters of credit in connection with business operations provided, we remain in compliance with our covenants. As discussed above, we signed the Ninth Amendment on our credit facility as such our covenants have been waived through June 30, 2021. Letter of credit issuance fees range between 1.25% and 2.00% of the value of the letter of credit, depending on our overall leverage ratio. We pay a fee for unused RLOC quarterly based on the average daily unused balance.

Note 11 - Product Warranty

We accrue for estimated warranty costs at the time the related revenue is recognized and based on historical experience and projected claims. Our System Design and Build contracts generally include a one base warranty on the systems. The portion of our warranty provision expected to be incurred within 12 months is classified as current within accrued warranty and totals $547 thousand, and the remaining $197 thousand is classified as long-term within other liabilities.

The activity in the accrued warranty accounts during the current period is as follows:

Note 14 - Leases

According to ASC 842 Leases (Topic 842), for leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. If a lessee makes this election, it should recognize lease expense for such leases generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Leases generally have remaining terms of one to six, whereas leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recognized on our consolidated balance sheet. We recognize lease expense for minimum lease payments on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. We maintain leases of office facilities and equipment, and certain leases include options to renew or terminate. Renewal options are exercisable based upon our discretion and vary based on the nature of each lease, with renewal periods generally ranging from one to five. The term of the lease includes renewal periods, only if we are reasonably certain that we will exercise the renewal option. When determining if a renewal option is reasonably certain of being exercised, we consider several factors, including but not limited to, the cost of moving to another location, the cost of disruption to our operations, the purpose or location of the leased asset and the terms associated with extending the lease.

Operating lease Right-of-Use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. The operating lease ROU assets represent the lease liability, plus any lease payments made at or before the commencement date, less any lease incentives received. Our real estate leases, which are comprised primarily of office spaces, represent most of our remaining lease liability. Most of our lease payments are fixed, although an immaterial portion of payments are variable in nature. These lease payments vary based on changes in facts and circumstances related to the use of the ROU asset and are recorded as incurred. We use an incremental borrowing rate based on rates available at commencement in determining the present value of future payments.

We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are accounted for as a single lease. We apply a portfolio approach to effectively account for the operating lease ROU assets and liabilities.

Lease contracts are evaluated at inception to determine whether they contain a lease and whether we obtain the right to control an identified asset. The following table summarizes the classification of operating ROU assets and lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

We executed a sublease agreement with a tenant to sublease 3,650 square feet from the office space in Sykesville on May 1, 2019. This agreement is in addition to the 3,822 of square feet previously subleased, which was entered into on April 1, 2017. The sublease does not relieve us of our primary lease obligation. The lessor agreements are both considered operating leases, maintaining the historical classification of the underlying lease. We do not recognize any underlying assets for the subleases as a lessor of operating leases. The net amount received from the sublease is recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses.

				Three months ended								Six months ended
Lease Cost		Classification		June 30, 2021				June 30, 2020				June 30, 2021				June 30, 2020
Operating lease cost (1)		Selling, general and administrative expenses		$	177			$	321			$	369			$	418
Short-term leases costs (2)		Selling, general and administrative expenses			14				1				30				1
Sublease income (3)		Selling, general and administrative expenses			(32	)			(32	)			(64	)			(64	)
Net lease cost				$	159			$	290			$	335			$	355

The Company is obligated under certain noncancelable operating leases for office facilities and equipment. Future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases as of June 30, 2021 are as follows (in thousands):

We calculated the weighted-average remaining lease term, presented in years below and the weighted-average discount rate for our operating leases. As noted in our lease accounting policy, we use the incremental borrowing rate as the lease discount rate.

The table below sets out the classification of lease payments in the consolidated statement of cash flows.