Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v3.19.3
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation

  (a) Basis of Presentation

 

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company are prepared in U.S. Dollars and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAP).

 

Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP have been condensed. As such, the information included in these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 included in the Company’s 2018 Form 10-K, as filed on April 1, 2019. In the opinion of the management, these condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair statement of the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2019 and its results of operations and cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.

 

The Company is an emerging growth company as the term is used in The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act enacted on April 5, 2012 and has elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements.

Use of Estimates and Judgments

  (b) Use of Estimates and Judgments

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimates are revised and in any future periods affected. Information about significant areas of estimation, uncertainty and critical judgments in applying accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the financial statements is included in the following notes for revenue recognition, allowances for doubtful accounts, inventory write-downs, impairment of intangible assets and valuation of share-based payments.

Functional and Presentation Currency

  (c) Functional and Presentation Currency

 

These condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. Dollars, which is the Company’s functional currency. All financial information presented in U.S. Dollars has been rounded to the nearest dollar. Foreign Currency Transaction Gains or Losses, resulting from cash balances denominated in Foreign Currencies, are recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.

Comprehensive Income (loss)

  (d) Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

The Company follows Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) 220 in reporting comprehensive income (loss). Comprehensive income is a more inclusive financial reporting methodology that includes disclosure of certain financial information that historically has not been recognized in the calculation of net income.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

  (e) Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments, which include short-term bank deposits (up to three months from date of deposit) that are not restricted as to withdrawal date or use, to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

  (f) Restricted Cash

 

At September 30, 2019, restricted cash included in non-current assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet was $115,094 representing cash in trust for the purpose of funding legal fees for certain litigations.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

  (g) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, receivables and trade and other payables. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and trade and other payables approximate their fair value because of their short maturities.

 

The framework for measuring fair value provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under FASB ASC 820 are described as follows:

 

  Level 1 Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access.
     
  Level 2 Inputs to the valuation methodology include:

 

  quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
     
  quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;
     
  inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability;
     
  inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means
     
  If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

 

  Level 3 Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The asset or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques maximize the use of relevant observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

  

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

 

U.S. Agency Securities: Valued using pricing models maximizing the use of observable inputs for similar securities. This includes basing value on yields currently available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings.

 

   

Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities

(Level 1)

   

Quoted Prices for Similar Assets or Liabilities in Active Markets

(Level 2)

   

Significant Unobservable

Inputs

(Level 3)

 
Marketable securities at September 30, 2019   $        -     $ 2,845,250     $            -  
                         
Marketable securities at December 31, 2018   $ -     $ 5,272,998     $ -  

 

Marketable securities include U.S. agency securities, which are classified as available for sale. The securities are valued at fair market value. Maturities of the securities are less than one year. Unrealized gains and losses relating to the available for sale investment securities were recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity as comprehensive (loss) income. These amounts were $1,805 unrealized loss and $45,597 in unrealized gain for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and an increase of $6,900 and a decrease of $5,543 in unrealized loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.

 

Gains and losses resulting from the sales of marketable securities were a gain of $6,416 and a loss of $6,900 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, and a gain of $2,155 and a loss of $11,300 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

Proceeds from the sale of marketable securities in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 were $1,201,870 and $2,556,516, respectively and in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 were $3,153,987 and $5,460,662, respectively.

Trade Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

  (h) Trade Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

The carrying amounts of current trade receivables is stated at cost, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and approximate their fair value given their short-term nature.

 

The normal credit terms extended to customers ranges between 30 and 90 days. Credit terms longer than these may be extended after considering the credit worthiness of the customers and the business requirements. The Company reviews all receivables that exceed terms and establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based on management’s assessment of the collectability of trade and other receivables. A considerable amount of judgment is required in assessing the amount of allowance. The Company considers the historical level of credit losses, makes judgments about the credit worthiness of each customer based on ongoing credit evaluations and monitors current economic trends that might impact the level of credit losses in the future.

 

As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, allowances for doubtful accounts for trade receivables were $458,902 and $606,835. Bad debt expenses for trade receivables were $1,078 and $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively and $5,325 and $125,500 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2019, the Company charged off $148,024 against the allowance for doubtful accounts.

Deposits and Other Receivables

  (i) Deposits and Other Receivables

 

Further to the Company’s pursuit of strategic alternatives, pursuant to an unsecured promissory note dated July 4, 2019, on July 25, 2019 the Company advanced $100,000 to a company in the hemp related industry with which the Company had been considering a potential business transaction. Discussions with this party toward a potential transaction have been suspended. The unsecured promissory note became due on October 2, 2019 and the Company is pursuing collection of the obligation.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2019, the Company established a reserve of $100,000 which is included in Administrative Expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.

Concentrations

  (j) Concentrations

 

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash on deposit with financial institutions and accounts receivable. At times, the Company’s cash in banks is in excess of the FDIC insurance limit. The Company has not experienced any loss as a result of these cash deposits. These cash balances are maintained with two banks.

 

Major Customers

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2019, two customers generated 57% and 35%, or 92% in the aggregate, of the Company’s revenue. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, two customers generated 47% and 34%, or 81% in the aggregate, of the Company’s revenue.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2018, three customers generated 61%, 18%, and 16%, or 95% in aggregate, of the Company’s revenue. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, two customers generated 55% and 17%, or 72% in the aggregate, of the Company’s revenue.

 

Three customers accounted for 66%, 17% and 14%, or 97% in the aggregate, of gross trade receivables, before accounting for allowance for doubtful accounts, as of September 30, 2019. As of September 30, 2019, the Company had $458,902, $114,538 and $97,908 in trade receivables, respectively, from these customers. These concentrations make the Company vulnerable to a near-term severe impact should these relationships be terminated. The largest of these customer balances was fully reserved as of September 30, 2019, and on September 21, 2019, this customer filed suit against the Company (see note 8).

 

To limit such risks, the Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition.

 

Major Suppliers

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2019, two suppliers accounted for 28% and 22%, or 50%, in the aggregate, of the Company’s purchases. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, one supplier accounted for 44%, of the Company’s purchases.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2018, three suppliers accounted for 25%, 18% and 11%, or 54% in the aggregate, of the Company’s purchases. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, one supplier accounted for 14% of the Company’s purchases.

 

Two vendors accounted for 68% in the aggregate, of total payables as of September 30, 2019. As of September 30, 2019, the Company had $200,913 and $45,785 in total payables, respectively, to these vendors.

Property, Plant and Equipment

  (k) Property, Plant and Equipment

 

Items of property, plant and equipment are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Costs include expenditures that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset.

 

Gains and losses on disposal of an item of property, plant and equipment are determined by comparing the proceeds from disposal with the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment and are recognized within “other income” in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.

 

Depreciation is recognized in profit and loss on the accelerated basis over the estimated useful lives of the property, plant and equipment. Leased assets are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term or their useful lives.

 

Depreciation expense totaled $9,541 and $17,366 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively and $24,516 and $44,716 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Intangible Assets

  (l) Intangible Assets

 

The Company’s long-lived intangible assets, other than goodwill, are assessed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate there may be an impairment. These assets were initially recorded at their estimated fair value at the time of acquisition and assets not acquired in acquisitions were recorded at historical cost. However, if their estimated fair value is less than the carrying amount, other intangible assets with indefinite lives are reduced to their estimated fair value through an impairment charge to our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

Intangible assets as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 were $213,405 and $243,411, respectively. Intangible assets at September 30, 2019 consisted of patents, trademarks and customer lists of $3,897,635 net of accumulated amortization and impairment of $3,684,230. Intangible assets at December 31, 2018 consisted of patent, trademarks and customer lists of $3,897,635 net of accumulated amortization and impairment of $3,654,224.

 

Amortization is recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of intangible assets, other than goodwill, from the date that they are available for use. Amortization expense was $10,001 and $42,777 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively and $30,006 and $128,331 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

The following is an annual schedule of approximate future amortization of the Company’s intangible assets:

 

Period   Amount  
2019 (three months)   $ 10,002  
2020     40,008  
2021     40,008  
2022     40,008  
2023     40,008  
Thereafter     43,371  
    $ 213,405  

Revenue Recognition

  (m) Revenue Recognition

 

Beginning on January 1, 2019, the Company recognizes revenue under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The core principle of the revenue standard is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods and services transferred to the customer. The following five steps are applied to achieve that core principle:

 

Step 1: Identify the contract with the customer

Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract

Step 3: Determine the transaction price

Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract

Step 5: Recognize revenue when the company satisfies a performance obligation

 

The Company does not have any significant contracts with customers requiring performance beyond delivery. Shipping and handling activities are performed before the customer obtains control of the goods and therefore represent a fulfillment activity rather than a promised service to the customer. Revenue and costs of sales are recognized when control of the product transfers to our customer, which generally occurs upon delivery to the customer but can also occur when goods are shipped by the Company, depending on the shipment terms of the contract. The Company’s performance obligations are satisfied at that time.

 

The Company uses the most likely amount approach to determine the variable consideration of the transaction price in order to account for the contractual rebates and incentives that are estimated and adjusted for over time. The Company provides for rebates to its distributors. The Company had accrued for rebates and incentives of $0 and $23,179, as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. Accounts receivable will be reduced when the rebates are applied by the customer. The Company recognized $6,220 and $26,262 during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 and $22,597 and $70,156 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 for rebates, which is included as a reduction of product revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.

Income Taxes

  (n) Income Taxes

 

The Company utilizes an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. The provision for income taxes is based upon income or loss after adjustment for those permanent items that are not considered in the determination of taxable income. Deferred income taxes represent the tax effects of differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities at the enacted tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse.

 

The Company evaluates the recoverability of deferred tax assets and establishes a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Management makes judgments as to the interpretation of the tax laws that might be challenged upon an audit and cause changes to previous estimates of tax liability. In management’s opinion, adequate provisions for income taxes have been made. If actual taxable income by tax jurisdiction varies from estimates, additional allowances or reversals of reserves may be necessary.

  

Tax benefits are recognized only for tax positions that are more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. The amount recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon settlement. A liability for “unrecognized tax benefits” is recorded for any tax benefits claimed in the Company’s tax returns that do not meet these recognition and measurement standards. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, no liability for unrecognized tax benefits was required to be reported.

 

There is no income tax benefit for the losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 since management has determined that the realization of the net deferred assets is not assured and has created a valuation allowance for the entire amount of such tax benefits.

 

The Company’s policy for recording interest and penalties associated with tax audits is to record such items as a component of general and administrative expense. There were no amounts accrued for penalties and interest for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. The Company does not expect its uncertain tax position to change during the next twelve months. Management is currently unaware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviations from its position.

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs

  (o) Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs

 

The Company charges actual shipping costs plus a handling fee to customers, which amounted to $8,567 and $8,625 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 and $30,564 and $41,006 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. These fees are classified as part of product revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. Shipping and other related delivery costs, including those for incoming raw materials are classified as product cost of sales, which amounted to $10,900 and $18,126 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively and $38,479 and $83,063 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock

  (p) Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share of Common Stock

 

Basic earnings per common share is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the periods presented. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares plus dilutive common share equivalents outstanding during the period. Potential common shares that would have the effect of increasing diluted earnings per share are considered anti-dilutive.

 

The calculation of basic and diluted loss per share for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was based on the net loss of $837,026 and $3,083,950, respectively and $2,548,875 and $7,011,394 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was 12,512,709 and 11,779,584, respectively and 12,499,055 and 10,805,151 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

Diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of common and dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period.

 

The following securities are excluded from the calculation of weighted average dilutive common shares because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive:

 

    For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2019     2018  
Stock Options     938       10,500  
RSUs     374,481       -  
Warrants     2,110,737       1,416,229  
Total potentially dilutive shares     2,486,156       1,426,729  

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

  (q) Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

 

As the Company is an emerging growth company (“EGC”), it has elected to adopt recently issued accounting pronouncements based on effective dates applicable to other than public business entities. The Company is expected to lose its EGC status on December 31, 2019 as it is the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the effective date of its registration statement on January 23, 2014.

 

In May 2014 and April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09 and ASU No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which deferred the effective date of Update 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 for entities other than public business entities, and to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period for public business entities.

 

The Company has elected to apply the modified retrospective method and the impact was determined to be immaterial on the condensed consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, the new revenue standard was applied prospectively in our condensed consolidated financial statements from January 1, 2019 forward and reported financial information for historical comparable periods will not be revised and will continue to be reported under the accounting standards in effect during those historical periods.

 

The Company has performed an analysis and identified its revenues and costs that are within the scope of the new guidance. The Company has determined that its methods of recognizing revenues will not be significantly impacted by the new guidance.

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. The guidance is effective for public business entities, certain not-for-profit entities, and certain employee benefit plans for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. For all other entities, ASU 2018-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than an entity’s adoption date of Topic 606. The Company early adopted ASC 2018-07 effective January 1, 2019. There was no material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements upon this adoption.

 

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-09, Codification Improvements, to makes changes to a variety of topics to clarify, correct errors in, or make minor improvements to the Accounting Standards Codification. Certain items of the amendments in ASU 2018-09 will be effective for the Company in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2018-09 did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

  

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Adopted

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02—Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU-2016-02”), which requires an entity to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on its balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 offers specific accounting guidance for a lessee, a lessor, and sale and leaseback transactions. Lessees and lessors are required to disclose qualitative and quantitative information about leasing arrangements to enable a user of the financial statements to assess the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that reporting period, and requires a modified retrospective adoption, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this guidance will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosure, and anticipates the guidance to result in increases in its assets and liabilities as most of its operating lease commitments will be subject to the new standard and recognized as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities.

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU-2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 affects loans, debt securities, trade receivables, and any other financial assets that have the contractual right to receive cash. The ASU requires an entity to recognize expected credit losses rather than incurred losses for financial assets. ASU 2016-13 is effective for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this guidance will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.