Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

v2.4.1.9
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

i.   Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Pressure BioSciences, Inc., and its wholly-owned subsidiary PBI BioSeq, Inc. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

ii.   Use of Estimates

 

To prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, we are required to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. In addition, significant estimates were made in projecting future cash flows to quantify impairment of assets, deferred tax assets, the costs associated with fulfilling our warranty obligations for the instruments that we sell, and the estimates employed in our calculation of fair value of stock options awarded, beneficial conversion features and derivative liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from the estimates and assumptions used.

 

iii.   Revenue Recognition

 

Revenue is recognized when realized or earned when all the following criteria have been met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; delivery has occurred and risk of loss has passed to the customer; the seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; and collectability is reasonably assured.

 

Our current instruments, the Barocycler NEP3229 and NEP2320, require a basic level of instrumentation expertise to set-up for initial operation. To support a favorable first experience for our customers, we send a highly trained technical representative to the customer site to install every Barocycler that we sell, lease, or rent through our domestic sales force. The installation process includes uncrating and setting up the instrument, followed by introductory user training. Product revenue related to current Barocycler instrumentation is recognized upon the completion of the installation and introductory training process of the instrumentation at the customer location, for domestic installations. Product revenue related to sales of PCT instrumentation to our foreign distributors is recognized upon shipment through a common carrier. We provide for the expected costs of warranty upon the recognition of revenue for the sales of our instrumentation. Our sales arrangements do not provide our customers with a right of return. Product revenue related to the HUB440 and our consumable products such as PULSE Tubes, MicroTubes, and application specific kits is recorded upon shipment through a common carrier. Shipping costs are included in sales and marketing expense. Any shipping costs billed to customers are recognized as revenue.

 

We account for our lease agreements under the operating method. We record revenue over the life of the lease term and we record depreciation expense on a straight-line basis over the thirty-six month estimated useful life of the Barocycler instrument. The depreciation expense associated with assets under lease agreement is included in the “Cost of PCT products and services” line item in our consolidated statements of operations. Many of our lease and rental agreements allow the lessee to purchase the instrument at any point during the term of the agreement with partial or full credit for payments previously made. We pay all maintenance costs associated with the instrument during the term of the leases.

 

Revenue from government grants is recorded when expenses are incurred under the grant in accordance with the terms of the grant award. Under fixed fee government grants the Company records revenue over the life of the government grant.

 

Revenue from service contracts is recorded ratably over the length of the contract.

 

Our transactions sometimes involve multiple elements (i.e., products and services). Revenue under multiple element arrangements is recognized in accordance with FASB ASC 605-25 Multiple-Element Arrangements (“ASC 605”). When vendor specific objective evidence or third party evidence of selling price for deliverables in an arrangement cannot be determined, the Company develops a best estimate of the selling price to separate deliverables and allocates arrangement consideration using the relative selling price method. If an arrangement includes undelivered elements that are not essential to the functionality of the delivered elements, we defer the fair value of the undelivered elements to such time as they are delivered. Fair value is determined based upon the price charged when the element is sold separately. If there is not sufficient evidence of the fair value of the undelivered elements the Company uses its best estimate of the value of those items and recognizes revenues based on the relative values of the delivered and undelivered items. We provide certain customers with extended service contracts with revenue recognized ratably over the life of the contract.

 

iv.   Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Our policy is to invest available cash in short-term, investment grade interest-bearing obligations, including money market funds, and bank and corporate debt instruments. Securities purchased with initial maturities of three months or less are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value, and are classified as cash equivalents.

 

v.   Research and Development

 

Research and development costs, which are comprised of costs incurred in performing research and development activities including wages and associated employee benefits, facilities, consumable products and overhead costs that are expensed as incurred. In support of our research and development activities we utilize our Barocycler instruments that are capitalized as fixed assets and depreciated over their expected useful life.

 

vi.   Inventories

 

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (average cost) or market (sales price). The cost of Barocyclers consists of the cost charged by the contract manufacturer. The cost of manufactured goods includes material, freight-in, direct labor, and applicable overhead. The composition of inventory as of December 31 is as follows:

 

    2014     2013  
Raw materials   $ 304,928     $ 147,290  
Finished goods     595,624       639,386  
Inventory reserve     (50,000 )     (50,000 )
Total   $ 850,552     $ 736,676  

 

 

vii.   Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. For financial reporting purposes, depreciation is recognized using the straight-line method, allocating the cost of the assets over their estimated useful lives of three years for certain laboratory equipment, from three to five years for management information systems and office equipment, and three years for all PCT finished units classified as fixed assets.

 

viii.   Intangible Assets

 

We have classified as intangible assets, costs associated with the fair value of acquired intellectual property. Intangible assets, including patents, are being amortized on a straight-line basis over sixteen years. We perform an annual review of our intangible assets for impairment. When impairment is indicated, any excess of carrying value over fair value is recorded as a loss. An impairment analysis of intangible assets was performed as of December 31, 2013. Based on this analysis, we concluded that no impairment of intangible assets had occurred.

  

ix.   Long-Lived Assets and Deferred Costs

 

The Company’s long-lived assets and other assets are reviewed for impairment in accordance with the guidance of the FASB ASC 360-10-05, Property, Plant, and Equipment, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of an asset to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such asset is considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. Through December 31, 2014, the Company had not experienced impairment losses on its long-lived assets. While our current and historical operating losses and cash flow are indicators of impairment, we performed an impairment test at December 31, 2014 and determined that such long-lived assets were not impaired.

 

x.   Concentrations

 

Credit Risk

 

Our financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and trade receivables. We have cash investment policies which, among other things, limit investments to investment-grade securities. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers, and the risk with respect to trade receivables is further mitigated by the fact that many of our customers are government institutions and university labs. Allowances are provided for estimated amounts of accounts receivable which may not be collected.  At December 31, 2014 and 2013, we determined that no allowance against accounts receivable was necessary.

 

The following table illustrates the level of concentration of the below two groups within revenue as a percentage of total revenues during the years ended December 31:

 

    2014     2013  
Top Five Customers     32 %     53 %
Federal Agencies     6 %     33 %

 

The following table illustrates the level of concentration of the below two groups within accounts receivable as a percentage of total accounts receivable balance as of December 31:

 

    2014     2013  
Top Five Customers     86 %     86 %
Federal Agencies     9 %     16 %

 

Product Supply

 

BIT Group USA, formerly Source Scientific, LLC, has been our sole contract manufacturer for all of our PCT instrumentation. Until we develop a broader network of manufacturers and subcontractors, obtaining alternative sources of supply or manufacturing services could involve significant delays and other costs and challenges, and may not be available to us on reasonable terms, if at all. The failure of a supplier or contract manufacturer to provide sufficient quantities, acceptable quality and timely products at an acceptable price, or an interruption of supplies from such a supplier could harm our business and prospects.

 

xi.   Computation of Loss per Share

 

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing loss available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted loss per share is computed by dividing loss available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued. For purposes of this calculation, convertible preferred stock, common stock dividends, warrants to acquire preferred stock convertible into common stock, and warrants and options to acquire common stock, are all considered common stock equivalents in periods in which they have a dilutive effect and are excluded from this calculation in periods in which these are anti-dilutive. The following table illustrates our computation of loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

    For the Year Ended  
    December 31,  
    2014     2013  
Numerator:            
Net loss   $ (4,612,540 )   $ (4,084,427 )
Beneficial conversion feature for preferred stock     (1,495,415 )     (1,002,602 )
Preferred dividends accrued     (143,771 )     (100,420 )
Preferred dividends paid in cash     -       (60,000 )
Net loss applicable to common shareholders   $ (6,251,726 )   $ (5,247,449 )
                 
Denominator for basic and diluted loss per share:                
Weighted average  common shares outstanding     14,264,753       11,821,870  
                 
Loss per common share - basic and diluted   $ (0.44 )   $ (0.44 )

 

The following table presents securities that could potentially dilute basic loss per share in the future. For all periods presented, the potentially dilutive securities were not included in the computation of diluted loss per share because these securities would have been anti-dilutive for the years ended December 31:

 

    2014     2013  
Stock options     3,406,250       1,771,708  
Convertible debt     5,453,571       2,242,024  
Common stock warrants     19,182,201       15,012,327  
Convertible preferred stock:                
Series D Convertible Preferred     750,000       750,000  
Series G Convertible Preferred     865,700       1,453,200  
Series H Convertible Preferred     1,000,000       1,000,000  
Series H2 Convertible Preferred     2,100,000       -  
Series J Convertible Preferred     3,546,000       5,087,500  
Series K Convertible Preferred     11,416,000       4,000,000  
      47,719,722       31,316,759  

 

xii.   Accounting for Income Taxes

 

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires recognition of deferred tax assets, subject to valuation allowances, and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax purposes. The Company considers many factors when assessing the likelihood of future realization of our deferred tax assets, including recent cumulative earnings experience by taxing jurisdiction, expectations of future taxable income or loss, the carry-forward periods available to us for tax reporting purposes, and other relevant factors. A valuation allowance is established if it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the net deferred tax assets will not be realized. If substantial changes in the Company’s ownership should occur, as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, there could be significant limitations on the amount of net loss carry forwards that could be used to offset future taxable income.

 

xiii.   Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

 

We maintain equity compensation plans under which incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options are granted to employees, independent members of our Board of Directors and outside consultants. We recognize equity compensation expense over the requisite service period using the Black-Scholes formula to estimate the fair value of the stock options on the date of grant.

 

Determining Fair Value of Stock Option Grants

 

Valuation and Amortization Method - The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model based on certain assumptions. The estimated fair value of employee stock options is amortized to expense using the straight-line method over the vesting period, which generally is over three years.

 

Expected Term - The Company uses the simplified calculation of expected life, described in the FASB ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, as the Company does not currently have sufficient historical exercise data on which to base an estimate of expected term. Using this method, the expected term is determined using the average of the vesting period and the contractual life of the stock options granted.

 

Expected Volatility - Expected volatility is based on the Company’s historical stock volatility data over the expected term of the award.

 

Risk-Free Interest Rate - The Company bases the risk-free interest rate used in the Black-Scholes valuation method on the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with an equivalent remaining term.

 

Forfeitures - As required by FASB ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, the Company records stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest. The Company estimated a forfeiture rate of 5% for awards granted based on historical experience and future expectations of options vesting. We used this historical rate as our assumption in calculating future stock-based compensation expense.

 

The following table summarizes the assumptions we utilized for grants of stock options to the three sub-groups of our stock option recipients during the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

Assumptions   Non-Employee Board Members     CEO, other Officers and Employees  
Expected life   6.0 (yrs)     6.0 (yrs)  
Expected volatility   134.75%-141.15%     132.2%-141.15%  
Risk-free interest rate   1.90%-2.54%     1.09%-2.54%  
Forfeiture rate   5.00%     5.00%  
Expected dividend yield   0.0%     0.0%  

 

We recognized stock-based compensation expense of $101,125 and $136,796 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The following table summarizes the effect of this stock-based compensation expense within each of the line items within our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31:

 

    2014     2013  
Research and development   $ 30,550     $ 53,509  
Selling and marketing     19,792       26,551  
General and administrative     50,783       56,736  
Total stock-based compensation expense   $ 101,125     $ 136,796  

 

During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the total fair value of stock options awarded was $401,617 and $128,642, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the total estimated fair value of unvested stock options to be amortized over their remaining vesting period was $323,811. The non-cash, stock based compensation expense associated with the vesting of these options will be $181,992 in 2015, $82,761 in 2016, and $59,058 in 2017. 

 

xiv.   Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Due to their short maturities, the carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximate their fair value. Short-term and long-term liabilities are primarily related to liabilities transferred under contractual arrangements with carrying values that approximate fair value.

 

xv.   Advertising

 

        Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. We did not spend anything on advertising in 2014 or 2013.

 

xvi.   Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company follows the guidance of FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”) as it related to financial assets and financial liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis.

 

The Company generally defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The Company uses a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which classifies the inputs used in measuring fair values. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

 

Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company has determined that it does not have any financial assets measured at fair value and that its financial liabilities are currently all classified within Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

The following tables set forth the Company’s financial liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The assumptions used to determine fair value of the warrants are contained in the table in Note 9 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The development of the unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements and fair value calculations are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

 

          Fair value measurements at December 31, 2014 using:  
    December 31, 2014     Quoted prices in active markets (Level 1)     Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)     Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)  
Series D common stock Purchase Warrants   $ 159,875     $ -     $ -     $ 159,875  
                                 

 

 

          Fair value measurements at December 31, 2013 using:  
    December 31, 2013     Quoted prices in active markets (Level 1)     Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)     Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)  
Series D common stock Purchase Warrants   $ 344,570     $ -     $ -     $ 344,570  
                                 

 

 

   

January 1,

2014

    Change in Fair Value     Reclassification into equity     December 31, 2014  
Series D common stock Purchase Warrants   $ 344,570     $ 145,710     $ (330,405 )   $ 159,875  
                                 

 

 

    January 1, 2013     Change in Fair Value     December 31, 2013  
Series D common stock Purchase Warrants   $ 160,812     $ 183,758     $ 344,570  
                         

 

          Fair value measurements at December 31, 2014 using:  
    December 31, 2014     Quoted prices in active markets (Level 1)     Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)     Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)  
July 7, 2014 note, conversion option   $ 53,673       -       -     $ 53,673  
July 7, 2014 note, conversion option     70,604       -       -       70,604  
August 28, 2014 note, conversion option     25,146       -       -       25,146  
September 3, 2014 note, conversion option     95,938       -       -       95,938  
September 10, 2014 note, conversion option     99,124       -       -       99,124  
September 26, 2014 note, conversion option     92,699       -       -       92,699  
November 10, 2014 note, conversion option     74,343                       74,343  
November 17, 2014 note, conversion option     78,814       -       -       78,814  
Embedded conversion options   $ 590,341       -       -     $ 590,341  

 

    Jan. 1, 2014     Issuance fair value     Change in fair value     Reclassification into equity     Dec. 31, 2014  
April 11, 2013 note, conversion option   $ 130,734     $ -     $ 7,348     $ (138,082 )   $ -  
June 26, 2013 note, conversion option     55,307       -       6,118       (61,425 )     -  
December 4, 2013 note, conversion option     98,129       -       (98,129 )     -       -  
December 23, 2013 note, conversion option     72,027       -       48,804       (120,831 )     -  
June 4, 2014 note, conversion option     -       57,071       (57,071 )     -       -  
July 7, 2014 note, conversion option     -       64,233       (10,560 )     -       53,673  
July 7, 2014 note, conversion option     -       89,926       (19,322 )     -       70,604  
August 28, 2014 note conversion option             36,892       (11,746 )             25,146  
September 3 2014 note, conversion option     -       122,340       (26,402 )     -       95,938  
September 10, 2014 note, conversion option     -       129,710       (30,586 )     -       99,124  
September 26, 2014 note, conversion option     -       140,060       (47,361 )     -       92,699  
November 10, 2014 note, conversion option             136,021       (61,678 )             74,343  
November 17, 2014 note, conversion option     -       122,431       (43,617 )     -       78,814  
Embedded conversion options   $ 356,197     $ 898,684     $ (344,202 )   $ (320,338 )   $ 590,341  

 

 

The assumptions for the binomial pricing model are represented in the table below for the conversion options reflected on a per share common stock equivalent basis.

 

Assumptions   April 11, 2013     Conversion options revalued at February 10, 2014  
Expected life (in months)     12       2  
Expected volatility     206.2 %     119.7 %
Risk-free interest rate     0.10 %     0.04 %
Exercise price   $ 0.14     $ 0.25  
Fair value per conversion option   $ 0.29     $ 0.20  

 

Assumptions   June 26, 2013     Conversion options revalued at February 10, 2014  
Expected life (in months)     12       5  
Expected volatility     189.2 %     137.9 %
Risk-free interest rate     0.13 %     0.07 %
Exercise price   $ 0.17     $ 0.25  
Fair value per conversion option   $ 0.25     $ 0.23  

 

Assumptions   December 4, 2013     Conversion options revalued at June 30, 2014  
Expected life (in months)     24       1  
Expected volatility     170.3 %     77.1 %
Risk-free interest rate     0.30 %     0.02 %
Exercise price   $ 0.40     $ 0.40  
Fair value per conversion option   $ 0.16     $ 0.02  

 

Assumptions   December 23, 2013     Conversion options revalued at June 23, 2014  
Expected life (in months)     36       30  
Expected volatility     151.4 %     159.2 %
Risk-free interest rate     0.77 %     0.73 %
Exercise price   $ 0.40     $ 0.40  
Fair value per conversion option   $ 0.17     $ 0.32  

 

Assumptions   June 4, 2014     Conversion options revalued at Dec. 31, 2014  
Expected life (in months)     8       1  
Expected volatility     121.8 %     77.4 %
Risk-free interest rate     0.07 %     0.03 %
Exercise price   $ 0.45     $ 0.45  
Fair value per conversion option   $ 0.16     $ 0.00  

 

Assumptions   July 7, 2014     Conversion options revalued at Dec. 31, 2014  
Expected life (in months)     12       6  
Expected volatility     117.9 %     114.7 %
Risk-free interest rate     0.12 %     0.12 %
Exercise price   $ 0.21     $ 0.16  
Fair value per conversion option   $ 0.18     $ 0.11  

  

 

Assumptions   July 7, 2014     Conversion options revalued at Dec. 31, 2014  
Expected life (in months)     12       6  
Expected volatility     117.9 %     114.7 %
Risk-free interest rate     0.12 %     0.12 %
Exercise price   $ 0.21     $ 0.17  
Fair value per conversion option   $ 0.18     $ 0.11  
                 

 

Assumptions   August 28, 2014     Conversion options revalued at Dec. 31, 2014  
Expected life (in months)     6       2  
Expected volatility     104.4 %     121.7 %
Risk-free interest rate     0.05 %     0.04 %
Exercise price   $ 0.14     $ 0.15  
Fair value per conversion option   $ 0.15     $ 0.11  
                 

 

Assumptions   Sept. 3, 2014     Conversion options revalued at Dec.31, 2014  
Expected life (in months)     36       32  
Expected volatility     153.8 %     154.1 %
Risk-free interest rate     0.99 %     0.88 %
Exercise price   $ 0.35     $ 0.35  
Fair value per conversion option   $ 0.24     $ 0.19  

 

Assumptions   Sept. 10, 2014     Conversion options revalued at Dec. 31, 2014  
Expected life (in months)     12       8  
Expected volatility     117.6 %     106.6 %
Risk-free interest rate     0.12 %     0.18 %
Exercise price   $ 0.13     $ 0.14  
Fair value per conversion option   $ 0.17     $ 0.14  

 

Assumptions   Sept. 26, 2014     Conversion options revalued at Dec. 31, 2014  
Expected life (in months)     12       9  
Expected volatility     116.6 %     106.2 %
Risk-free interest rate     0.11 %     0.17 %
Exercise price   $ 0.16     $ 0.15  
Fair value per conversion option   $ 0.19     $ 0.13  

 

Assumptions   Nov. 10, 2014     Conversion options revalued at Dec. 31, 2014  
Expected life (in months)     10       8  
Expected volatility     104.2 %     106.6 %
Risk-free interest rate     0.10 %     0.18 %
Exercise price   $ 0.13     $ 0.14  
Fair value per conversion option   $ 0.23     $ 0.14  

 

Assumptions   Nov. 17, 2014     Conversion options revalued at Dec. 31, 2014  
Expected life (in months)     12       10  
Expected volatility     117.9 %     107.1 %
Risk-free interest rate     0.12 %     0.15 %
Exercise price   $ 0.17     $ 0.17  
Fair value per conversion option   $ 0.20     $ 0.13