BASIS OF PRESENTATION, CONSOLIDATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies) |
12 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2021 | |
| Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | |
| Basis of Presentation |
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Bristow Group Inc. and its consolidated entities. On January 23, 2020, Era Group Inc. (“Era”), Ruby Redux Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Era (“Merger Sub”) and Bristow Group Inc. (“Old Bristow”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, as amended on April 22, 2020 (the “Merger Agreement”). On June 11, 2020, the merger (the “Merger”) contemplated by the Merger Agreement was consummated and Merger Sub merged with and into Old Bristow, with Old Bristow continuing as the surviving corporation and as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Era. Following the Merger, Era changed its name to Bristow Group Inc., and Old Bristow changed its name to Bristow Holdings U.S. Inc. Unless the context otherwise indicates, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, references to:
•the “Company”, “Combined Company,” “Bristow”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to the entity currently known as Bristow Group Inc. and formerly known as Era Group Inc., together with all of its current subsidiaries;
•“Old Bristow” refers to the entity formerly known as Bristow Group Inc. and now known as Bristow Holdings U.S. Inc., together with its subsidiaries prior to the consummation of the Merger; and
•“Era” refers to Era Group Inc. (currently known as Bristow Group Inc., the parent of the Combined Company) and its subsidiaries prior to consummation of the Merger.
Pursuant to the United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Merger was accounted for as an acquisition by Old Bristow of Era even though Era was the legal acquirer and remained the ultimate parent of the Combined Company. As a result, upon the closing of the Merger, Old Bristow’s historical financial statements replaced Era’s historical financial statements for all periods prior to the completion of the Merger, and the financial condition, results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows of Era have been included in those financial statements since June 12, 2020. Any reference to comparative period disclosures in this Annual Report on Form 10-K refers to Old Bristow.
Effective upon the closing of the Merger, the Company changed its fiscal year-end from December 31 to March 31, to correspond with Old Bristow’s fiscal year-end. The Company’s fiscal year ends March 31, and fiscal years are referenced based on the end of such period. Therefore, the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021 is referred to as “fiscal year 2021”.
As more fully described below under “—Emergence from Voluntary Reorganization under Chapter 11”, in May 2019 Old Bristow and a number of its subsidiaries filed for bankruptcy protection in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the “Bankruptcy Court”) and emerged from bankruptcy proceedings on October 31, 2019. Upon emergence Old Bristow adopted fresh start accounting, which resulted in Old Bristow becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes. In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, references to:
•“Predecessor” refer to Old Bristow on and prior to October 31, 2019; and
•“Successor” refer to the reorganized Old Bristow on and after November 1, 2019 until completion of the Merger and after completion of the Merger refer to the Combined Company.
The consolidated financial information for the twelve months ended March 31, 2021 (Successor) (“fiscal year 2021”), five months ended March 31, 2020 (Successor) and seven months ended October 31, 2020 (Predecessor) and for the twelve months ended March 31, 2019 (“fiscal year 2019”) has been prepared by the Company in accordance with GAAP and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC on this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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| Basis of Consolidation |
Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Bristow Group Inc., its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries and entities that meet the criteria of variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of which the Company is the primary beneficiary. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
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| Use of Estimates |
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 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 and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Such estimates may include, among other items, those related to allowance for doubtful accounts, useful lives of property and equipment, inventories, income tax provisions, impairments, fair values used in purchase price allocations and certain accrued and contingent liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences may be material.
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| Reclassifications | Reclassifications — Certain amounts reported for prior periods in the consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the current period’s presentation. |
| Maintenance and Repairs | Maintenance and Repairs — The Company generally charges maintenance and repair costs, including major aircraft component overhaul costs, to earnings as the costs are incurred. However, certain major aircraft components, such as engines and transmissions, are maintained by third-party vendors under contractual agreements also referred to as PBH maintenance agreements. Under these agreements, the Company is charged an agreed amount per hour of flying time related to maintenance, repair and overhaul of the parts and components covered. The costs charged under these contractual agreements are recognized in the period in which the flight hours occur. To the extent that the Company has not yet been billed for costs incurred under these arrangements, these costs are included in accrued maintenance and repairs on its consolidated balance sheets. From time to time, the Company receives credits from its original equipment manufacturers. The Company records these credits as a reduction in maintenance expense when the credits are utilized in lieu of cash payments for purchases or services. |
| Taxes |
Taxes — The Company follows the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon temporary differences between the carrying amount and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities and measured using enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in the tax rates is recognized in income in the period in which the change occurs. The Company records a valuation reserve when it believes that it is more-likely-than-not that any deferred income tax asset created will not be realized.
The Company recognizes deferred income tax assets to the extent that it believes that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. If the Company determines that it would be able to realize its deferred income taxes assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, the Company would adjust the valuation allowance.
The Company recognizes tax benefits attributable to uncertain tax positions when it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by the authorities. The benefit from a position that has surpassed the more-likely-than-not threshold is the largest amount of benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of benefit (provision) for income taxes in its statement of operations.
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| Cash Equivalents | Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of overnight investments. |
| Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) | Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”) — The Company’s customers are primarily major integrated, national and independent offshore energy companies and government agencies. The Company designates trade receivables as a single pool of assets based on their short-term nature, similar customer base and risk characteristics. Customers are typically granted credit on a short-term basis, and related credit risks are considered minimal. The Company conducts periodic quantitative and qualitative analysis on historic customer payment trends, customer credit ratings and foreseeable economic conditions. Historically, losses on trade receivables have been immaterial and uncorrelated to each other. Based on these analyses, the Company decides if additional reserve amounts are needed against the trade receivables asset pool on a case by case basis. Trade receivables are deemed uncollectible and removed from accounts receivable and the allowance for doubtful accounts when collection efforts have been exhausted.The Company routinely reviews its trade receivables and makes provisions for probable doubtful accounts; however, those provisions are estimates and actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences may be material. Trade receivables are deemed uncollectible and removed from accounts receivable and the allowance for doubtful accounts when collection efforts have been exhausted. |
| Inventories | Inventories — Inventories are stated at the lower of moving average cost or net realizable value and consist primarily of spare parts utilized for maintaining the Company’s global fleet of aircraft. The Company establishes an allowance to accrue for the retirement of the cost of spare parts expected to be on hand at the end of a fleet’s life over the service lives of the related equipment, taking into account the estimated salvage value of the parts. |
| Goodwill | Goodwill — Goodwill is recorded when the cost of acquired businesses exceeds the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but is assessed for impairment annually, as of March 31, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that a potential impairment exists. Impairment of goodwill is the condition that exists when the carrying value of a reporting unit that includes goodwill exceeds its carrying value. A goodwill impairment loss is recognized for the amount that the carrying value of a reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds fair value, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. |
| Other Intangible Assets | Other Intangible Assets — Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values. The residual value of an intangible asset is generally assumed to be zero, with certain limited exceptions. Finite lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment when indicators of impairment are present. Indicators of impairment for finite lived intangible assets are the same as those for impairment of long-lived assets. For finite lived intangible assets, an impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the undiscounted cash flows projected to be generated by the asset. If the finite lived intangible asset is impaired, then the amount of the impairment is calculated as the excess of the asset’s carrying amount over its fair value. After an impairment loss is recognized, the adjusted carrying amount of the intangible asset will be its new accounting basis. After adjusting the carrying amount for impairment loss, the Company’s policy requires the reevaluation of the useful life of that asset. |
| Property and equipment |
Property and equipment — Property and equipment, stated at cost, is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset to an estimated salvage value. With respect to helicopters, the estimated useful life is typically based upon a newly built asset being placed into service and represents the point at which it is typically not justifiable for the Company to continue to operate the asset in the same or similar manner. From time to time, the Company may acquire older assets that have already exceeded the Company’s useful life policy, in which case the Company depreciates such assets based on its best estimate of remaining useful life. The Company reviews the estimated useful lives and salvage values of its property and equipment on an ongoing basis for any changes in estimates.
The Company performs an impairment analysis on long-lived assets used in operations when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. The Company’s long-lived assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets, which is generally at the fleet group level. If an impairment is indicated for the asset group classified as held and used, an impairment evaluation will be performed. Asset impairment evaluations are based on estimated undiscounted cash flows over the remaining useful life for the assets being evaluated. If the sum of the expected future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset group, the Company would be required to recognize an impairment loss.
For aircraft types that are still operating where management has made the decision to sell or abandon the aircraft type at a fixed date, an analysis is completed to determine whether depreciation needs to be accelerated or additional depreciation recorded for an expected reduction in residual value at the planned disposal date.
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| Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates | Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliates — Are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The Company uses a measurement alternative approach for equity investments without readily determinable fair values. The alternative method measures equity investments at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions in a similar investment of the same issuer. The Company performs regular reviews of each unconsolidated affiliate investee’s financial condition, the business outlook for its products and services and its present and projected results and cash flows. When an investee has experienced consistent declines in financial performance or difficulties raising capital to continue operations, the investment is written down to fair value. |
| Contingent Liabilities |
Contingent Liabilities — The Company establishes reserves for estimated loss contingencies when it believes a loss is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company’s contingent liability reserves relate primarily to potential tax assessments, litigation, personal injury claims and environmental liabilities and are adjusted as a result of changes in facts or circumstances that become known or changes in previous assumptions with respect to the likelihood or amount of loss. Such revisions are based on information that becomes known or circumstances that change after the reporting date for the previous period through the reporting date of the current period. Should the outcome differ from the Company’s assumptions and estimates or other events result in a material adjustment to the accrued estimated reserves, revisions to the estimated reserves for contingent liabilities would be required to be recognized. Legal costs are expensed as incurred.
Proceeds from casualty insurance settlements in excess of the carrying value of damaged assets are recognized in gain (loss) on disposal of assets when the Company has received proof of loss documentation or are otherwise assured of collection of these amounts. However if the aircraft damage does not result in a total loss and disposal of the asset, any insurance proceeds above the loss amount are recorded to other income.
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| Guarantors of Securities |
Guarantors of Securities
In March 2020, the SEC amended Rule 3-10 and 3-16 of Regulation S-X, CFR 210.1-01 through 210.3-16, regarding financial disclosure requirements for debt securities issued in registered offerings involving subsidiaries of the registrant as either issuers or guarantors. This amended rule narrows the circumstances that require separate financial statements or summarized financial disclosures of issuers and subsidiary guarantors and simplifies the summarized disclosures required in lieu of those statements. Under the amended rule, comparative period information is no longer required. As a result of this amended rule, the Company has included narrative disclosures in lieu of separate financial statements. The Company has early adopted this new rule and has elected to provide the simplified disclosure within the MD&A.
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| Recent Accounting Pronouncements |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company considers the applicability and impact of all accounting standard updates (“ASUs”). ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Adopted
In August 2018, the FASB modified ASU No. 2018-14, “Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans” (Subtopic 715-20), for changes to disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension plans. Certain disclosure requirements were removed and certain disclosure requirements were added. The amendment also clarifies disclosure requirements for projected benefit obligations and accumulated benefit obligations in excess of respective plan assets. The amendment was effective beginning in the Company’s fiscal year 2021 financial statements. The disclosure requirement was adopted effective April 1, 2020 by removing the weighted-average expected long-term rate of return on assets in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual disclosure requirements herein.
Not Yet Adopted
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform” (Topic 848). The guidance is intended to provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions to ease the financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01 update to Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) providing clarification of which derivative instruments and hedging relationships are explicitly eligible for certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848. This update primarily clarifies that practical expedients may be applied not only to derivative instruments and hedging relationships that reference LIBOR or other reference rates that are expected to be discontinued, but also those that are being modified as a result of the discounting transition. The standard will be effective for the Company in fiscal year 2022. The Company has not yet adopted this accounting guidance and is currently evaluating the effect this accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, “Income Taxes” (Topic 740), new guidance to simplify the accounting for income taxes, which eliminates certain exceptions for recognizing deferred taxes for investments, performing intraperiod allocation and calculating income taxes in interim periods. This ASU also includes guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including recognizing deferred taxes for tax goodwill and allocating taxes to members of a consolidated group. The standard will be effective for the Company in fiscal year 2022 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-01, “Investments-Equity Securities” (Topic 321), “Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures” Topic 323 and “Derivatives and Hedging” Topic 815 (ASU No. 2020-01) as an update to ASU No. 2016-01 “Financial Instruments-Overall”, further clarifying certain interactions between the guidance to account for certain equity securities under Topic 321, 323 and 815, and improve current GAAP by reducing diversity in practice and increasing comparability of accounting. The standard will be effective for the Company in fiscal year 2022, and early adoption is permitted. The Company has not yet adopted this accounting guidance and is currently evaluating the effect this accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, “Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options” (Subtopic 470-20) and “Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity's Own Equity” (Topic 815) as a means of simplifying and reducing the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock. The ASU also amends the guidance for derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity's own equity. The goal of the ASU is to reduce differences in accounting for similar contracts between different companies that are accounted for as derivatives by some and equity by others. The standard will be effective for the Company in fiscal year 2022. The Company has not yet adopted this accounting guidance and is currently evaluating the effect this accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.
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| Revenue Recognition |
Revenue Recognition
The Company derives its revenues primarily from aviation services. A majority of the Company’s revenues are generated through two types of contracts: helicopter services and fixed wing services. Revenues are recognized when control of the identified distinct goods or services has been transferred to the customer, the transaction price is determined and allocated to the satisfied performance obligations and the Company has determined that collection has occurred or is probable of occurring.
The Company determines revenue recognition by applying the following steps:
1.Identify the contract with a customer;
2.Identify the performance obligations in the contract;
3.Determine the transaction price;
4.Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations; and
5.Recognize revenues as the performance obligations are satisfied.
Helicopter services — The Company’s principal customers — international, independent and major integrated energy companies and government agencies— charter its helicopters primarily to transport personnel to, from and between onshore bases and offshore production platforms, drilling rigs and other installations. Revenue from helicopter services is recognized when the performance obligation is satisfied over time based on contractual rates as the related services are performed. A performance obligation arises under contracts with customers to render services. Operating revenue is derived mainly from fixed-term contracts with the Company’s customers. A small portion of the Company’s oil and gas customer revenue is derived from providing services on an “ad-hoc” basis. The Company’s fixed-term contracts typically have original terms of one year to five years (subject to provisions permitting early termination by its customers). The Company accounts for services rendered separately if they are distinct and the service is separately identifiable from other items provided to a customer and if a customer can benefit from the services rendered on its own or with other resources that are readily available to the customer.
A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. Within this contract type for helicopter services, the Company determined that each contract has a single distinct performance obligation. These contracts include a fixed monthly rate for a particular model of aircraft plus an incremental charge based on flight hours flown, which represents the variable component of a typical contract with a customer. Rates for these services vary depending on the type of services provided and can be based on a per flight hour, per day, or per month basis. The variable component of a contract is not effective until a customer-initiated flight order is received, and the actual hours flown are determined; variable consideration is recognized when the services are rendered pursuant to the variable allocation exception.
Revenue is recognized as performance obligations are satisfied over time, by measuring progress towards satisfying the contracted services in a manner that best depicts the transfer of services to the customer, which is generally represented by a period of 30 days or less. The Company typically invoices customers on a monthly basis and the term between invoicing and when the payment is due is typically between 30 and 60 days.
Cost reimbursements from customers are recorded as reimbursable revenue with the related reimbursed costs recorded as reimbursable expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
Fixed wing services — Airnorth provides fixed wing transportation services through regular passenger transport (scheduled airline service with individual ticket sales) and charter services. A performance obligation arises under contracts with customers to render services. Within fixed wing services, the Company determined that each contract has a single distinct performance obligation. Revenue is recognized over time at the earlier of the period in which the service is provided or the period in which the right to travel expires, which is determined by the terms and conditions of the ticket. Ticket sales are recorded within deferred revenue in accordance with the above policy. Both chartered and scheduled airline service revenue is recognized net of passenger taxes and discounts.
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