SIFCO INDUSTRIES INC

In the normal course of business, the Company may be involved in ordinary, routine legal actions. The Company cannot reasonably estimate future costs, if any, related to these matters and does not believe any such matters are material to its financial condition or results of operations. The Company maintains various liability insurance coverages to protect its assets from losses arising out of or involving activities associated with ongoing and normal business operations; however, it is possible that the Company’s future operating results could be affected by future costs of litigation. See Note 12 —Commitments and Contingencies of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding the legal proceedings in which the Company is involved.

C. Critical Accounting Policies and 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, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Estimates are revised as additional information becomes available. The Company believes that the accounting estimates employed and the resulting balances are reasonable; however, actual results in these areas could differ from management’s estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Significant accounting policies used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are discussed in Note 1 —Summary of Significant Accounting Policiesof the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company believes that the assumptions and estimates associated with allowance for credit losses, inventory valuation, goodwill, contract balances, and income taxes have the greatest potential impact on our financial statements because they are inherently uncertain, involve significant judgements, and include areas where different estimates reasonably could materially impact the financial statements. The Company believes that the critical accounting estimates employed and the resulting balances are reasonable; however, actual results in these areas could differ from management’s estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Allowances for Credit Losses

The Company establishes allowances for credit losses on accounts receivable, customer financing receivables, and certain other financial assets. The adequacy of these allowances are assessed quarterly through consideration of factors including, but not limited to, customer credit ratings, bankruptcy filings, published or estimated credit default rates, age of the receivable, expected loss rates and collateral exposures. The Company determines the creditworthiness of each customer based upon publicly available information and information obtained directly from its customers. As these factors change, the Company’s allowances for credit losses may change in subsequent periods. Historically, losses have been within management’s expectations and have not been significant.

Inventories

Approximately 30% of the Company’s inventory is valued using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method with the remaining valued using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less reasonably predictable costs of completion.

The Company evaluates obsolete and excess inventory on a quarterly basis. The Company maintains a formal policy, which requires at a minimum, that amounts are written down based on an analysis of the age of the inventory. In addition, if the Company learns of specific obsolescence, other than that identified by the aging criteria, an additional write down will be recognized. Specific obsolescence may arise due to a technological or market change or based on cancellation of an order. Management’s judgment is necessary in determining the proper write down for obsolete and excess inventory. For the portion of the Company’s inventory not valued at LIFO, inventory is valued at FIFO and stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The Company evaluates net realizable value on a quarterly basis. See Note 3 — Inventoriesof the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue using the five-step revenue recognition model in which it depicts the transfer of goods to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which a company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The revenue standard also requires disclosure sufficient to enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers, including qualitative and quantitative disclosures about contracts with customers, significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from the cost to obtain or fulfill a contract.

Contract assets on the consolidated balance sheets are recognized when a good is transferred to the customer and the Company does not have the contractual right to bill for the related performance obligations. In these instances, revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed to the customer and the right to payment is not solely subject to the passage of time. Amounts do not exceed their net realizable value. Contract liabilities relate to payments received in advance of the satisfaction of performance under the contract. Payment from customers are received based on the terms established in the contract with the customer.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the long-lived asset (group) might not be recoverable. This review involves judgment and is performed using estimates of future undiscounted cash flows, which include proceeds from disposal of assets and which the Company considers a critical accounting estimate. The Company would assess the fair value of the asset group and compare it to its carrying value. Under the Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 360 (“Topic 360”), if the carrying value of a long-lived asset or asset group is greater than the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, then the long-lived asset or asset group is considered impaired and an impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset or asset group exceeds its fair value.

In projecting future undiscounted cash flows, the Company relies on internal budgets and forecasts, including revenue and cash flow projections,, and estimated residual value of the asset group upon disposal of long-lived assets. The Company’s budgets and forecasts are based on historical results and anticipated future market conditions, such as the general business climate and the effectiveness of competition. The Company believes that its estimates of future undiscounted cash flows and fair value are reasonable; however, changes in estimates of such undiscounted cash flows and fair value could change the Company’s estimates, which could result in future impairment charges.

2024 and 2023 Long-Lived Asset Recoverability Tests

In the third quarter of fiscal 2024, certain qualitative factors, including operating results, at the Orange location, triggered a recoverability test. The results indicated that the long-lived assets were recoverable and did not require further review for impairment. The Company did not identify any indicators that the asset groups might be impaired in any of the other quarters assessed during fiscal 2024 and 2023.

Impairment of Goodwill

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually as of July 31. If circumstances change during interim periods between annual tests that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value, the Company will test goodwill for impairment. Factors that would necessitate an interim goodwill impairment assessment include a sustained decline in the Company’s stock price, prolonged negative industry or economic trends, or significant under-performance relative to expected, historical or projected future operating results. Management uses judgment to determine whether to use a qualitative analysis or a quantitative fair value measurement for its goodwill impairment testing. The Company’s fair value measurement approach combines the income and market valuation techniques for each of the Company’s reporting units that carry goodwill. These valuation techniques use estimates and assumptions including, but not limited to, the determination of appropriate market comparables, projected future cash flows (including timing and profitability), discount rate reflecting the risk inherent in future cash flows, perpetual growth rate, and projected future economic and market conditions.

If a reporting unit fails the quantitative impairment test, impairment expense is immediately recorded as the difference between the reporting unit’s fair value and carrying value not to exceed the amount of goodwill recorded.

2024 Annual Goodwill Impairment Tests

SIFCO performed its annual test as of July 31, 2024. Goodwill existed at one of the Company’s reporting units, Cleveland, Ohio as of July 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024. No impairment charge was identified in connection with the annual goodwill impairment test with respect to the Cleveland reporting unit. Refer to Note 4 —Goodwill and Intangible Assetsof the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2023 Annual Goodwill Impairment Tests

SIFCO performed its annual test as of July 31, 2023. Goodwill existed at one of the Company’s reporting units, Cleveland, Ohio as of July 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023. No impairment charge was identified in connection with the annual goodwill impairment test with respect to the Cleveland reporting unit. Refer to Note 4 —Goodwill and Intangible Assetsof the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Defined Benefit Pension Plan Expense

The Company maintains three defined benefit pension plans in accordance with the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). The amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements for pension benefits under these three defined benefit pension plans are determined on an actuarial basis utilizing various assumptions. The following table illustrates the sensitivity to change in the assumed discount rate and expected long-term rate of return on assets for the Company’s pension plans as of September 30, 2024.

The discussion that follows provides information on the significant assumptions/elements associated with these defined benefit pension plans.

The Company determines the expected return on plan assets principally based on (i) the expected return for the various asset classes in the respective plans’ investment portfolios and (ii) the targeted allocation of the respective plans’ assets. The expected return on plan assets is developed using historical asset return performance as well as current and anticipated market conditions such as inflation, interest rates and market performance. Should the actual rate of return differ materially from the assumed/expected rate, the Company could experience a material adverse effect on the funded status of its plans and, accordingly, on its related future net pension expense.

The discount rate for each plan is determined, as of the fiscal year end measurement date, using prevailing market spot-rates (from an appropriate yield curve) with maturities corresponding to the expected timing/date of the future defined benefit payment amounts for each of the respective plans. Such corresponding spot-rates are used to discount future years’ projected defined benefit payment amounts back to the fiscal year end measurement date as a present value. A composite discount rate is then developed for each plan by determining the single rate of discount that will produce the same present value as that obtained by applying the annual spot-rates. The discount rate may be further revised if the market environment indicates that the above methodology generates a discount rate that does not accurately reflect the prevailing interest rates as of the fiscal year end measurement date. The Company computes a weighted-average discount rate taking into account anticipated plan payments and the associated interest rates from the USI Consulting Group Pension Discount Curve.

As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, SIFCO used the following weighted-average assumptions:

Deferred Tax Valuation Allowance

The Company accounts for deferred taxes in accordance with the provisions of the Accounting Standards Codification guidance related to accounting for income taxes, whereby the Company recognizes an income tax benefit related to income tax credits, loss carryforwards and deductible temporary differences between financial reporting basis and tax reporting basis.

A high degree of judgment is required to determine the extent a valuation allowance should be provided against deferred tax assets. On a quarterly basis, the Company assesses the likelihood of realization of its deferred tax assets considering all available evidence, both positive and negative. In determining whether a valuation allowance is warranted, the Company evaluates factors such as prior earnings history, expected future earnings, carry-back and carry-forward periods and tax strategies that could potentially enhance the likelihood of the realization of a deferred tax asset. The weight given to the positive and negative evidence is commensurate with the extent to which the evidence may be objectively verified. It is generally difficult to outweigh objectively verifiable negative evidence of recent financial reporting losses. Based on the weight of available evidence, the Company determines if it is more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will be realized in the future.

As a result of losses incurred in recent years, the Company entered into a three-year cumulative loss position in the U.S. jurisdiction during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 and remains in a cumulative loss position at the conclusion of fiscal 2024. Accordingly, the Company maintained its valuation allowance on its U.S. deferred tax assets as of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. As a result of income incurred in recent years, CBlade is in a three-year cumulative income position as of the end of fiscal 2024. In assessing all available positive and negative evidence available as of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, based on the weight of positive evidence, primarily related to the cumulative income position, the Company has concluded that it is more-likely-than-not that the deferred tax assets for CBlade will be realized. Accordingly, valuation allowance of $0.7 million was fully released during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. In October 2024, the Company sold 100% of the share capital of CBlade for cash consideration. As a result of the transaction, the Company’s financial statements have been prepared with CBlade presented as assets held for sale and discontinued operations as of and for the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.

Uncertain Tax Positions

The calculation of the Company’s tax liabilities also involves considering uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. SIFCO recognizes liabilities for uncertain income tax positions based on its estimate of whether it is more likely than not that additional taxes will be required, and it reports related interest and penalties as income taxes. Refer to Note 8 —Income Taxes of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

D. Impact of Newly Issued Accounting Standards

Refer to Note 1 —Summary of Significant Accounting Policiesof the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for information regarding recent accounting pronouncements.