Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICY

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BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICY
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICY
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICY
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Era Group Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Company”). The condensed consolidated financial information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 has been prepared by the Company and has not been audited by its independent registered public accounting firm. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) have been made to fairly present the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2014, its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, its comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, its changes in equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, and its cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. Results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of operating results for the full year or any future periods.
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S.”) have been condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Unless the context otherwise indicates, any reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to the “Company” refers to Era Group Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries and any reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to “Era Group” refers to Era Group Inc.
Prior to January 31, 2013, the Company was wholly owned by SEACOR Holdings Inc. (along with its other majority-owned subsidiaries being collectively referred to as “SEACOR”) and represented SEACOR’s aviation services business segment. On January 31, 2013, SEACOR completed a spin-off by means of a dividend to SEACOR’s stockholders of all of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock (the “Spin-off”). Era Group is now an independent company with its common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ERA.”     
In connection with the Spin-off, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Transition Services Agreement with SEACOR. Under the terms of the Amended and Restated Transition Services Agreement, SEACOR continues to provide the Company with certain support services, for up to two years from the effective date of the Spin-off, including information systems support, cash disbursement support, cash receipt processing and treasury management.
Certain of the Company’s operations are subject to seasonal factors. Operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico are often at their highest levels from April to September, as daylight hours increase, and are at their lowest levels from November to February, as daylight hours decrease. The Company’s Alaskan operations also see an increase during May to September, as its firefighting and flightseeing operations occur during this time and daylight hours are significantly longer.
Basis of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Era Group Inc., its wholly-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. Era do Brazil LLC is a VIE of which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Aeróleo Taxi Aereo S/A (“Aeróleo”) meets the criteria of a VIE, however, the Company is not the primary beneficiary.
Revenue Recognition. The Company recognizes revenues when they are realized or realizable and earned. Revenues are realized or realizable and earned when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenues that do not meet these criteria are deferred until the criteria are met. Deferred revenues, the balance of which is offset in receivables, and related activity during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, were as follows (in thousands): 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Balance at beginning of period
$
28,477

 
$
15,620

 
$
24,243

 
$
8,953

Revenues deferred during the period
8,861

 
9,362

 
25,773

 
27,571

Revenues recognized during the period
(7,837
)
 
(4,713
)
 
(20,515
)
 
(16,255
)
Balance at end of period
$
29,501

 
$
20,269

 
$
29,501

 
$
20,269


As of September 30, 2014, deferred revenues included $27.8 million related to dry-lease revenues for certain helicopters leased by the Company to Aeróleo, its Brazilian joint venture. The deferral originated from difficulties experienced by Aeróleo following Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.’s (“Petrobras Brazil”) cancellation of certain contract awards for a number of AW139 medium helicopters under dry-lease from the Company, and the deferral continues as a result of financial difficulties at Aeróleo. The Company will recognize revenues as cash is received or earlier should future collectability become reasonably assured. All costs and expenses related to these dry-leases were recognized as incurred.
As of September 30, 2014, deferred revenues also included $1.7 million related to dry-lease revenues for certain helicopters leased by the Company to a customer in India. The deferral resulted from the customer having its operating certificate revoked for a period of time and therefore being unable to operate. The certificate has since been reinstated but uncertainty remains regarding the collectability of the dry-lease revenues due to the customer’s short-term liquidity issues. The Company will recognize revenues as cash is received or earlier should future collectability become reasonably assured. All costs and expenses related to these dry-leases were recognized as incurred.
Receivables. Customers are primarily major integrated and independent exploration and production companies, hospitals, international helicopter operators and the U.S. government. Customers are typically granted credit on a short-term basis and related credit risks are considered minimal. The Company routinely reviews its 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. Receivables are deemed uncollectible and removed from receivables and the allowance for doubtful accounts when collection efforts have been exhausted. During the second quarter of 2014, the Company recorded a pre-tax $2.5 million impairment on a note receivable extended as a loan to a foreign company to facilitate the establishment of a helicopter operating certificate in connection with the joint submission of bids for international contracts.
New Accounting Standards. In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09 - Revenue From Contracts With Customers, which will base revenue recognition on the contract between a vendor and customer and will require reporting entities to allocate the transaction price to various performance obligations in a contract and recognize revenues when those performance obligations are satisfied. ASU 2014-09 will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and any interim periods within that period. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact and the method of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 on its consolidated financial statements.