Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

v3.19.3.a.u2
Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Note 1 – Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies


Basis of Presentation


These financial statements and related notes are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and are expressed in US dollars. The Company has adopted a fiscal year end of May 31st.


Principals of Consolidation


The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CLS Holdings USA, Inc., and its wholly owned operating subsidiaries, CLS Nevada, Inc., (“CLS Nevada”), CLS Labs, Inc. (“CLS Labs”), CLS Labs Colorado, Inc. (“CLS Colorado”), CLS Massachusetts, Inc. (“CLS Massachusetts”), and Alternative Solutions, LLC (“Alternative Solutions”). Alternative Solutions is the sole owner of the following three entities (collectively, the “Oasis LLCs”): Serenity Wellness Center, LLC (“Serenity Wellness Center”); Serenity Wellness Products, LLC (“Serenity Wellness Products”); and Serenity Wellness Growers, LLC (“Serenity Wellness Growers”). All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation of these entities.


Nature of Business


CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (the “Company”) was originally incorporated as Adelt Design, Inc. (“Adelt”) on March 31, 2011 to manufacture and market carpet binding art. Production and marketing of carpet binding art never commenced.


On November 12, 2014, CLS Labs, Inc. (“CLS Labs”) acquired 10,000,000 shares, or 55.6%, of the outstanding shares of common stock of Adelt from its founder, Larry Adelt. On that date, Jeffrey Binder, the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of CLS Labs, was appointed Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. On November 20, 2014, Adelt adopted amended and restated articles of incorporation, thereby changing its name to CLS Holdings USA, Inc. Effective December 10, 2014, the Company effected a reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding common stock at a ratio of 1-for-0.625 (the “Reverse Split”), wherein 0.625 shares of the Company’s common stock were issued in exchange for each share of common stock issued and outstanding. As a result, 6,250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock were issued to CLS Labs in exchange for the 10,000,000 shares that it owned by virtue of the above-referenced purchase from Larry Adelt.


On April 29, 2015, the Company, CLS Labs and CLS Merger Inc., a Nevada corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of CLS Holdings  (“Merger Sub”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) and completed a merger, whereby CLS Merger Inc. merged with and into CLS Labs, with CLS Labs remaining as the surviving entity (the “Merger”). Upon the consummation of the Merger, the shares of the common stock of CLS Holdings owned by CLS Labs were extinguished and the former stockholders of CLS Labs were issued an aggregate of 15,000,000 (post Reverse Split) shares of common stock in CLS Holdings in exchange for their shares of common stock in CLS Labs. As a result of the Merger, the Company acquired the business of CLS Labs and abandoned its previous business.


The Company has been issued a U.S. patent with respect to its proprietary method of extracting cannabinoids from cannabis plants and converting the resulting cannabinoid extracts into concentrates such as oils, waxes, edibles and shatter. These concentrates may be ingested in a number of ways, including through vaporization via electronic cigarettes (“e-cigarettes”), and used for a variety of pharmaceutical and other purposes. Internal testing of this extraction method and conversion process has revealed that it produces a cleaner, higher quality product and a significantly higher yield than the cannabinoid extraction processes currently existing in the marketplace. The Company has not commercialized its patented proprietary process or otherwise earned any revenues from it.  The Company plans to generate revenues through licensing, fee-for-service and joint venture arrangements related to its patented proprietary method of extracting cannabinoids from cannabis plants and converting the resulting cannabinoid extracts into saleable concentrates.


On December 4, 2017, the Company and Alternative Solutions, entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the “Acquisition Agreement”), as amended, for the Company to acquire the Oasis LLCs from Alternative Solutions. Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, the Company initially contemplated acquiring all of the membership interests in the Oasis LLCs from Alternative Solutions. Just prior to closing, the parties agreed that the Company would instead acquire all of the membership interests in Alternative Solutions, the parent of the Oasis LLCs, from its members, and the membership interests in the Oasis LLCs owned by members other than Alternative Solutions.  


Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, the Company paid a non-refundable deposit of $250,000 upon signing, which was followed by an additional payment of $1,800,000 paid in February 2018, for an initial 10% of each of the Oasis LLCs.  At that time, the Company applied for regulatory approval to own an interest in the Oasis LLCs, which approval was received. On June 27, 2018, the Company made the payments to indirectly acquire the remaining 90% of the Oasis LLCs, which were equal to cash in the amount of $5,995,543, a $4.0 million promissory note due in December 2019 (the “Oasis Note”), and 22,058,823 shares of its common stock (the “Purchase Price Shares”) (collectively, the “Closing Consideration”). The cash payment of $5,995,543 was less than the $6,200,000 payment originally contemplated because the Company assumed an additional $204,457 of liabilities. The Company used the proceeds of a Canadian private securities offering to fund the cash portion of the Closing Consideration.  The Company then applied for regulatory approval to own the additional 90% in membership interests in the Oasis LLCs, which it received on December 12, 2018. 


On October 31, 2018, the Company, CLS Massachusetts, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“CLS Massachusetts”), and In Good Health, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (“IGH”), entered into an Option Agreement (the “IGH Option Agreement”). Under the terms of the IGH Option Agreement, CLS Massachusetts has an exclusive option to acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of IGH (the “IGH Option”) during the period beginning on the earlier of the date that is one year after the effective date of the conversion and December 1, 2019 and ending on the date that is 60 days after such date. If CLS Massachusetts exercises the IGH Option, the Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and IGH will enter into a merger agreement (the form of which has been agreed to by the parties) (the “IGH Merger Agreement”). At the effective time of the merger contemplated by the IGH Merger Agreement, CLS Massachusetts will pay a purchase price of $47,500,000, subject to reduction as provided in the IGH Merger Agreement, payable as follows: $35 million in cash, $7.5 million in the form of a five-year promissory note, and $5 million in the form of restricted common stock of the Company, plus $2.5 million as consideration for a non-competition agreement with IGH’s President, payable in the form of a five-year promissory note. IGH and certain IGH stockholders holding sufficient aggregate voting power to approve the transactions contemplated by the IGH Merger Agreement have entered into agreements pursuant to which such stockholders have, among other things, agreed to vote in favor of such transactions. On October 31, 2018, as consideration for the IGH Option, the Company made a loan to IGH, in the principal amount of $5,000,000, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in that certain loan agreement, dated as of October 31, 2018 between IGH as the borrower and the Company as the lender. The loan is evidenced by a secured promissory note of IGH, which bears interest at the rate of 6% per annum and matures on October 31, 2021. To secure the obligations of IGH to the Company under the loan agreement and the promissory note, the Company and IGH entered into a security agreement dated as of October 31, 2018, pursuant to which IGH granted to the Company a first priority lien on and security interest in all personal property of IGH. If the Company does not exercise the Option on or prior to the date that is 30 days following the end of the option period, the loan amount will be reduced to $2,500,000 as a break-up fee, subject to certain exceptions set forth in the IGH Option Agreement. On August 26, 2019, the parties amended the IGH Option Agreement to, among other things, delay closing until January 2020.


On January 29, 2019, the Company made a line of credit loan to CannAssist, LLC (“CannAssist”), in the principal amount of up to $500,000, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in that certain Loan Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2019 between CannAssist as the Borrower and the Company as the Lender (the “CannAssist Loan Agreement”). Any draws on the line of credit in excess of $150,000 will only be made in the sole discretion of the Company. The loan is evidenced by a secured promissory note of CannAssist (the “CannAssist Note”), which bears interest at the rate of 8% per annum and is personally guaranteed by the two equity owners of CannAssist.  To secure the obligations of CannAssist to the Company under the CannAssist Loan Agreement and the CannAssist Note, the Company and CannAssist entered into a security agreement dated as of January 29, 2019, pursuant to which CannAssist granted to the Company a first priority lien on and security interest in all personal property of CannAssist.


On March 11, 2019, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, CLS Massachusetts, entered into a membership interest purchase agreement (the “CannAssist Purchase Agreement”) with CannAssist, each of the members of CannAssist, and David Noble, as the members’ representative, to acquire an 80% ownership interest in CannAssist. After conducting diligence, the parties decided to terminate the CannAssist Purchase Agreement effective August 26, 2019. 


On August 26, 2019, the Company and CannAssist entered into an agreement to amend the CannAssist Note. Pursuant to the amendment, there will be no additional advances under the CannAssist Note beyond the $150,000 advanced on February 4, 2019, and the $175,000 advanced on June 24, 2019. In addition, the CannAssist Note shall become due and payable in full on or before February 28, 2020. See note 15. At November 30, 2019, the Company was owed principal in the amount of $325,000 and accrued interest in the amount of $17,046 pursuant to the CannAssist Note.


On January 4, 2018, the Attorney General of the United States issued new written guidance concerning the enforcement of federal laws relating to marijuana. The Attorney General’s memorandum stated that previous DOJ guidance specific to marijuana enforcement, including the memorandum issued by former Deputy Attorney General James Cole on August 29, 2013 (as amended on February 14, 2014, the “Cole Memo”) is unnecessary and is rescinded, effective immediately. The Cole Memo told federal prosecutors that in states that had legalized marijuana, they should use their prosecutorial discretion to focus not on businesses that comply with state regulations, but on illicit enterprises that create harms like selling drugs to children, operating with criminal gangs, and selling across state lines. While the rescission did not change federal law, as the Cole Memo and other DOJ guidance documents were not themselves laws, the rescission removed the DOJ’s formal policy that state-regulated cannabis businesses in compliance with the Cole Memo guidelines should not be a prosecutorial priority. Notably, former Attorney General Sessions’ rescission of the Cole Memo has not affected the status of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) memorandum issued by the Department of Treasury, which remains in effect. This memorandum outlines Bank Secrecy Act-compliant pathways for financial institutions to service state-sanctioned cannabis businesses, which echoed the enforcement priorities outlined in the Cole Memo. In addition to his rescission of the Cole Memo, Attorney General Sessions issued a one-page memorandum known as the “Sessions Memorandum”. The Sessions Memorandum explains the DOJ’s rationale for rescinding all past DOJ cannabis enforcement guidance, claiming that Obama-era enforcement policies are “unnecessary” due to existing general enforcement guidance adopted in the 1980s, in chapter 9.27.230 of the USAM. The USAM enforcement priorities, like those of the Cole Memo, are based on the use of the federal government’s limited resources and include “law enforcement priorities set by the Attorney General,” the “seriousness” of the alleged crimes, the “deterrent effect of criminal prosecution,” and “the cumulative impact of particular crimes on the community.” Although the Sessions Memorandum emphasizes that cannabis is a federally illegal Schedule I controlled substance, it does not otherwise instruct U.S. Attorneys to consider the prosecution of cannabis-related offenses a DOJ priority, and in practice, most U.S. Attorneys have not changed their prosecutorial approach to date. However, due to the lack of specific direction in the Sessions Memorandum as to the priority federal prosecutors should ascribe to such cannabis activities, there can be no assurance that the federal government will not seek to prosecute cases involving cannabis businesses that are otherwise compliant with state law. 


Use of Estimates


The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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 amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


Cash and Cash Equivalents


The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $4,937,013 and $10,525,791 as of November 30, 2019 and May 31, 2019, respectively.


Allowance for Doubtful Accounts


The Company generates the majority of its revenues and corresponding accounts receivable from the sale of cannabis, and cannabis related products. The Company evaluates the collectability of its accounts receivable considering a combination of factors. In circumstances where it is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations to it, the Company records a specific reserve for bad debts against amounts due in order to reduce the net recognized receivable to the amount it reasonably believe will be collected. For all other customers, the Company recognizes reserves for bad debts based on past write-off experience and the length of time the receivables are past due. During the three and six months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company reserved the amount of $0 for uncollectible accounts receivable. 


Inventory


Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using a perpetual inventory system whereby costs are determined by acquisition costs of individual items included in inventory. Market is determined based on net realizable value. Appropriate consideration is given to obsolescence, excessive levels, deterioration, and other factors in evaluating net realizable values. Our cannabis products consist of prepackaged purchased goods ready for resale, along with produced edibles and extracts developed under our production license. 


Property, Plant and Equipment


Property and equipment is recorded at the lower of cost or estimated net recoverable amount, and is depreciated using the straight-line method over its estimated useful life.  Property acquired in a business combination is recorded at estimated initial fair value. Property, plant, and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method based on the lesser of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease term based upon the following life expectancy:


   

Years

 

Office equipment

    3 to 5  

Furniture & fixtures

    3 to 7  

Machinery & equipment

    3 to 10  

Leasehold improvements

 

Term of lease

 

Long-Lived Assets


The Company reviews its property and equipment and any identifiable intangibles including goodwill for impairment on an annual basis utilizing the guidance set forth in the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board ASC 350 “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other” and ASC 360 “Property, Plant, and Equipment”. Based on Step 1 of ASC 350 and ASC 360, there were no impairments to the Company’s long-lived assets as of November 30, 2019. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.


Comprehensive Income


ASC 220-10-15 “Reporting Comprehensive Income,” establishes standards for reporting and displaying of comprehensive income, its components and accumulated balances.  Comprehensive income is defined to include all changes in equity except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.  Among other disclosures, ASC 220-10-15 requires that all items that are required to be recognized under current accounting standards as components of comprehensive income be reported in a financial statement that is displayed with the same prominence as other financial statements.  The Company does not have any items of comprehensive income in any of the periods presented.


Concentrations of Credit Risk


The Company maintains its cash in bank deposit accounts and other accounts, the balances of which at times may be uninsured or exceed federally insured limits. From time to time, some of the Company’s funds are also held by escrow agents; these funds may not be federally insured. The Company continually monitors its banking relationships and consequently has not experienced any losses in such accounts.


Advertising and Marketing Costs


All costs associated with advertising and promoting products are expensed as incurred. Total recognized advertising and marketing expenses were $218,041 and $48,284 for the three months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Total recognized advertising and marketing expenses were $424,019 and $175,676 for the six months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.


Research and Development


Research and development expenses are charged to operations as incurred. The Company incurred no research and development costs for the three and six months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.


Fair Value of Financial Instruments


Pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 825 - Financial Instruments, the Company is required to estimate the fair value of all financial instruments included on its balance sheets. The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, notes receivable, convertible notes payable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, none of which is held for trading, approximate their estimated fair values due to the short-term maturities of those financial instruments.


A three-tier fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize the inputs in measuring fair value as follows:


Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.


Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly.


Level 3 - Significant unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by market data.


Derivative Financial Instruments


Derivatives are recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The conversion features of the convertible notes are embedded derivatives and are separately valued and accounted for on the consolidated balance sheets with changes in fair value recognized during each period of change as a separate component of other income/expense. Fair values for exchange-traded securities and derivatives are based on quoted market prices. The pricing model the Company uses for determining the fair value of its derivatives is the Lattice Model. Valuations derived from this model are subject to ongoing internal and external verification and review. The model uses market-sourced inputs such as interest rates and stock price volatilities. Selection of these inputs involves management’s judgment and may impact net income (see note 18). 


On June 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2017-11 and accordingly reclassified the fair value of the reset provisions embedded in convertible notes payable and certain warrants with embedded anti-dilutive provisions from liability to equity in the aggregate amount of $1,265,751. 


There were no reset provisions triggered, and derivative liabilities were not revalued, during the six months ended November 30, 2019.


During the six months ended November 30, 2018, a reset event occurred in connection with one of the Company’s convertible notes (see note 15). The following assumptions were used for the valuation of the derivative liability related to the convertible notes that contain a derivative component during the six months ended November 30, 2018:


-     That the quoted market price of the common stock, which increased from $0.6865 as of June 1, 2018 to $0.710 as of June 20, 2018, would fluctuate with the Company’s projected volatility;


-     That the conversion price of the YAN II PN Convertible Notes would be equal to $0.40 with a full reset feature, and upon default, 75% of the lowest Variable Weighted Average Price (“VWAP”) in the 15 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day that is immediately prior to the applicable conversion date;


-     That the new convertible notes issued this period with full resets were issued with conversion prices of $0.40, which were not reset as a result of subsequent transactions;


-     That an event of default at 24% or 15% interest rate would occur 0% of the time, increasing 1.00% per month to a maximum of 25%, and that instead of a penalty, there would be an alternative conversion price;


-     That the projected volatility curve from an annualized analysis for each valuation period would be based on the historical volatility of the Company and the remaining term for each convertible note. The projected volatility was in the range 97.4% to 242.8%.


-     That the Company would redeem the convertible notes, projected initially at 0% of the time and increasing monthly by 1.0% to a maximum of 10.0% (from alternative financing);


-     That the holder would automatically convert the notes at the maximum of 2 times the conversion price or the stock price if the common stock underlying certain 2017 convertible notes was eligible for sale in compliance with securities laws and the Company was not in default;


-     That unless an Event of Default occurred, the holder would sell, per trading day, an amount of common stock up to the greater of (i) $5,000 or (ii) 25% multiplied by the “Aggregate Amount,” as defined in the YA II PN Convertible Notes.


Revenue Recognition


Revenue is primarily generated through the Company’s subsidiary, Serenity Wellness Center LLC, d/b/a Oasis Cannabis (“Oasis”). Oasis operates a 24-hour cannabis dispensary that recognizes revenue from the sale of medical and recreational cannabis products within the State of Nevada.


Revenue from the sale of cannabis products is recognized by Oasis at the point of sale, at which time payment is received. Management estimates an allowance for sales returns.


The Company also recognizes revenue from Serenity Wellness Products LLC and Serenity Wellness Growers LLC, d/b/a City Trees (“City Trees”). City Trees recognizes revenue from the sale of the following cannabis products and services to licensed dispensaries within the State of Nevada:


 

Premium organic medical cannabis sold wholesale to licensed retailers


 

Recreational marijuana cannabis products sold wholesale to licensed distributors and retailers


 

Extraction products such as oils and waxes derived from in-house cannabis production


 

Processing and extraction services for licensed medical cannabis cultivators in Nevada


 

High quality cannabis strains in the form of vegetative cuttings for sale to licensed medical cannabis cultivators in Nevada


Effective June 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606 — Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Under ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue from commercial sales of products, licensing agreements and contracts to perform pilot studies by applying the following steps: (1) identifying the contract with a customer; (2) identifying the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determining the transaction price; (4) allocating the transaction price to each performance obligation in the contract; and (5) recognizing revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. For the comparative periods, revenue has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under ASC 605 — Revenue Recognition. Under ASC 605, revenue is recognized when the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) the performance of the service has been rendered to a customer or delivery has occurred; (3) the amount of fee to be paid by a customer is fixed and determinable; and (4) the collectability of the fee is reasonably assured.


There was no impact on the Company’s financial statements as a result of adopting Topic 606 for the three and six months ended November 30, 2019 or 2018.


Disaggregation of Revenue


The following table represents a disaggregation of revenue for the three and six months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018:


   

For the Six

   

For the Six

   

For the Three

   

For the Three

 
   

Months Ended

   

Months Ended

   

Months Ended

   

Months Ended

 
   

November 30, 2019

   

November 30, 2018

   

November 30, 2019

   

November 30, 2018

 

Cannabis Dispensary

    4,398,262       2,459,973       2,312,362       1,683,266  

Cannabis Production

    1,517,184       696,290       744,069       293,644  
      5,915,446       3,156,263       3,056,431       1,976,910  

Basic and Diluted Earnings or Loss Per Share


Basic net earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period, while fully diluted net earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock and potentially dilutive securities assumed to be outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method. Potentially dilutive securities consist of options and warrants to purchase common stock, and convertible debt. Basic and diluted net loss per share are computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period.  At November 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company excluded from the calculation of fully diluted shares outstanding the following shares because the result would have been anti-dilutive: At November 30, 2019, a total of 86,932,861 shares (54,835,145 issuable upon the exercise of warrants; 7,676,974 issuable upon the exercise of unit warrants; 24,184,074 issuable upon the conversion of convertible notes payable and accrued interest; and 236,668 in stock payable; at November 30, 2018, a total of 71,785,424 shares (57,062,190 issuable upon the exercise of warrants; 4,635,684 issuable upon the exercise of unit warrants; 4,635,684 issuable upon the conversion of convertible notes payable and accrued interest; and 164,459 in stock payable).


The Company uses the treasury stock method to calculate the impact of outstanding stock options and warrants. Stock options and warrants for which the exercise price exceeds the average market price over the period have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per common share and, accordingly, are excluded from the calculation.


A net loss causes all outstanding stock options and warrants to be antidilutive. As a result, the basic and dilutive losses per common share are the same for the three and six months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018. 


Income Taxes


The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method in accordance with ASC 740.  The Company recognizes deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.  The components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as current and non-current based on their characteristics.  A valuation allowance is provided for certain deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize tax assets through future operations.


Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, prohibits businesses from deducting certain expenses associated with trafficking controlled substances (within the meaning of Schedule I and II of the Controlled Substances Act). The IRS has invoked Section 280E in tax audits against various cannabis businesses in the U.S. that are permitted under applicable state laws. Although the IRS has issued a clarification allowing the deduction of certain expenses, the bulk of operating costs and general administrative costs are generally not permitted to be deducted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact and application of Section 280E on its business. The Company believes that its net operating loss carryforwards will be sufficient to offset any potential income tax liability associated with Section 280E as of November 30, 2019.


Commitments and Contingencies


Certain conditions may exist as of the date the financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to the Company but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur.  The Company’s management and its legal counsel assess such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment.  In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against the Company or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Company’s legal counsel evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims brought to such legal counsel’s attention as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein.


If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a material loss has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, then the estimated liability would be accrued in the Company’s financial statements.  If the assessment indicates that a potentially material loss contingency is not probable, but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if determinable and material, would be disclosed.


Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the nature of the guarantee would be disclosed.


Recent Accounting Pronouncements


In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842): Accounting for Leases. This update requires that lessees recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities that are measured at the present value of the future lease payments at the lease commencement date. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee will largely remain unchanged and shall continue to depend on its classification as a finance or operating lease. The Company has performed a comprehensive review in order to determine what changes were required to support the adoption of this new standard. The Company adopted the ASU and related amendments on June 1, 2019 and has elected certain practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance. The Company has elected the optional transition method that allows for a cumulative-effect adjustment in the period of adoption and will not restate prior periods. Under the new guidance, the majority of the Company’s leases continue to be classified as operating. During the first quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company completed its implementation of its processes and policies to support the new lease accounting and reporting requirements. During the first quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company completed its implementation of its processes and policies to support the new lease accounting and reporting requirements. This resulted in an initial increase in both its total assets and total liabilities in the amount of $1,781,446.


In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. In computing the implied fair value of goodwill under Step 2, current U.S. GAAP requires the performance of procedures to determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of assets and liabilities (including unrecognized assets and liabilities) following the procedure that would be required in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Instead, the amendments under this ASU require the goodwill impairment test to be performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge should be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The ASU becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. The amendments in this ASU will be applied on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.


In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230). The update addresses eight specific cash flow issues and is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. This update is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within the reporting period. Adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have a material effect on our financial statements.


In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Stock Compensation - Scope of Modification Accounting, which provides guidance on which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. The ASU requires that an entity account for the effects of a modification unless the fair value (or calculated value or intrinsic value, if used), vesting conditions and classification (as equity or liability) of the modified award are all the same as for the original award immediately before the modification. The ASU became effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, and is applied to an award modified on or after the adoption date. Adoption of ASU 2017-09 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.


Effective June 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606 — Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Under ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue from the commercial sales of products, licensing agreements and contracts to perform pilot studies 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 each performance obligation in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. For the comparative periods, revenue has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under ASC 605 — Revenue Recognition. Under ASC 605, revenue is recognized when the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) the performance of a service has been rendered to a customer or delivery has occurred; (3) the amount of the fee to be paid by a customer is fixed and determinable; and (4) the collectability of the fee is reasonably assured. There was no impact on the Company’s financial statements as a result of adopting ASC 606.


In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). The amendments in Part I of this update change the classification analysis of certain equity-linked financial instruments (or embedded features) with down round features.


When determining whether certain financial instruments should be classified as liabilities or equity instruments, a down round feature no longer precludes equity classification when assessing whether the instrument is indexed to an entity’s own stock. The amendments also clarify existing disclosure requirements for equity-classified instruments. As a result, a freestanding equity-linked financial instrument (or embedded conversion option) no longer would be accounted for as a derivative liability at fair value as a result of the existence of a down round feature. For freestanding equity classified financial instruments, the amendments require entities that present earnings per share (EPS) in accordance with Topic 260 to recognize the effect of the down round feature when it is triggered. That effect is treated as a dividend and as a reduction of income available to common shareholders in basic EPS. Convertible instruments with embedded conversion options that have down round features are now subject to the specialized guidance for contingent beneficial conversion features (in Subtopic 470-20, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options), including related EPS guidance (in Topic 260). The amendments in Part II of this update recharacterize the indefinite deferral of certain provisions of Topic 480 that now are presented as pending content in the codification, to a scope exception.


Those amendments do not have an accounting effect. For public business entities, the amendments in Part I of this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted for all entities, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period.


On June 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2017-11 and accordingly reclassified the fair value of the reset provisions embedded in convertible notes payable and certain warrants with embedded anti-dilutive provisions from liability to equity in the aggregate amount of $1,265,751.


There are various other updates recently issued, most of which represented technical corrections to the accounting literature or application to specific industries and are not expected to a have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.