Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v3.23.1
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation
In the opinion of management, the accompanying Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared on a consistent basis with the Company’s Audited Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, and include all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to fairly state the information set forth herein. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and therefore, omit certain information and footnote disclosures necessary to present the financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”).
The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023 or any future periods. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2022 was derived from the Company’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2022, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023. The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which includes a broader discussion of the Company’s business and the risks inherent therein.
Certain reclassifications have been made to the amounts in prior periods to conform to the current period’s presentation.
Assets Held for Sale
On November 10, 2022, the Company completed the Acquisition of EHT in accordance with the Arrangement Agreement. At the time of the Acquisition there were arrangements in place to sell the acquired assets and liabilities that comprised of two of EHT's subsidiaries, Emerald Health Therapeutics Canada, Inc. ("EHTC") and Verdélite Sciences, Inc. ("VDL"). As a result, EHTC and VDL were considered held for sale since the Acquisition and the Company has classified the associated assets of VDL as held for sale on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and the period costs related to both EHTC and VDL have been presented as wind-down costs in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. EHTC was divested on December 28, 2022 and VDL was divested on February 9, 2023 (see Note 3). Subsequent to March 31, 2023 the Board approved a plan to pursue the sale of the real-estate held by AVI, which is substantially the only asset held by AVI. The asset will be classified as held for sale on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets in subsequent periods until sold. Refer to Note 13 for further information.
Assets that meet the held for sale criteria are held for sale and reported at the lower of their carrying value or their fair value, less estimated costs to sell. Changes in fair value are recorded as a gain or loss in the results of operations but not to exceed the original carrying value.
Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets
The Company generally accounts for sales of nonfinancial assets that are outside the scope of our ordinary activities under ASC 610-20, Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets. Pursuant to ASC 610-20, the Company applies the guidance in ASC 606 to determine if a contract exists, identify the distinct nonfinancial assets, and determine when control transfers and, therefore, when to derecognize the nonfinancial asset. Additionally, the Company applies the measurement principles of ASC 606 to determine the amount of consideration, if any, to include in the calculation of the gain or loss for the sale of the nonfinancial asset.
Principles of Consolidation
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries SKYE Bioscience Australia, EHT, AVI, VDL, EHTC, and Nemus Sub. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP 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 Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of income and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant accounting estimates inherent in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements include estimates and judgements as to the appropriate carrying values of equity instruments, debt with embedded features, estimates related to the Company's estimation of the percentage of completion under its research and development contracts, contingent legal liabilities, fair value of assets acquired in the acquisition, and the valuation of stock based compensation awards, which are not readily apparent from other sources.
Risks and Uncertainties
Risks and Uncertainties
The Company’s operations are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, changes in the general economy, the size and growth of the potential markets for any of the Company’s product candidates, uncertainties related to the current global environment, including economic factors such as inflation, and risks related to the global supply chain disruptions (Note 1), risks related to operating primarily in a virtual environment, results of research and development activities, uncertainties surrounding regulatory developments in the United States, Canada, the European Union, and Australia and the Company’s ability to attract new funding.
As noted above, in January 2023, the Company was subject to an unfavorable outcome in a lawsuit with a former employee which resulted in the recognition of an estimated legal contingency of $6,205,310. The Company intends to vigorously challenge the verdict in the trial court and appeal and pursue reimbursement under its existing insurance policies. However, the outcome of the litigation and the amount recoverable under its existing insurance policies, if any, is inherently uncertain (Note 12). Furthermore, the uncertainty as to the resolution of the litigation could limit our ability to raise new capital from investors to operate our business.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Stock-based compensation expense is estimated at the grant date based on the fair value of the award, and the fair value is recognized as expense ratably over the vesting period with forfeitures accounted for as they occur. Upon the exercise of stock option awards, the Company's policy is to issue new shares of its common stock. The Company uses the Black-Scholes valuation method for estimating the grant date fair value of stock options using the following assumptions:
Volatility - Expected volatility is estimated using the historical stock price performance over the expected term of the award.
Expected term - The expected term is based on a simplified method which defines the life as the weighted average of the contractual term of the options and the vesting period for each award.
Risk-free rate - The risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option is based on the average market rate on U.S. Treasury securities in effect during the period in which the awards were granted.
Dividends - The dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s history and expectation of paying no dividends in the foreseeable future.
The Company accounts for liability-classified stock option awards (“liability options”) under ASC 718 - Compensation - Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), under which the Company accounts for its awards containing other conditions as liability classified instruments. Liability options are initially recognized at fair value in stock-compensation expense and subsequently re-measured to their fair values at each reporting date with changes in the fair value recognized in share-based compensation expense or additional paid-in capital upon settlement or cancellation.
Loss Per Common Share Loss Per Common ShareThe Company applies ASC No. 260, Earnings per Share in calculating its basic and diluted loss per common share. Basic loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted loss per share of common stock is computed by giving effect to all potential common stock equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury stock method. For purposes of this calculation, options to purchase common stock, restricted stock subject to vesting, warrants to purchase common stock and common shares underlying convertible debt instruments are considered to be common stock equivalents. In periods with a reported net loss, such common stock equivalents are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share of common stock if their effect is anti-dilutive.
Government Assistance Government AssistanceThe Company adopted ASU 2021-10 Government Assistance on January 1, 2022. The Company accounts for the tax rebates received from the Australian Taxation Office ("ATO") under such guidance. The Company accounts for the rebates that it receives under the AusIndustry research and development tax incentive program under the income recognition model of IAS 20. Under this model, when there is reasonable assurance that the rebate will be received, the Company recognizes the income from the tax rebate as an offset to research and development expense during the period which the benefit applies to the research and development costs incurred.
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company follows ASC 440 & ASC 450, subtopic 450-20 to report accounting for contingencies and commitments respectively. 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 assesses 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 un-asserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Company evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or un-asserted claims 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, and an estimate of the range of possible losses, if determinable and material, would be disclosed. Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the guarantees would be disclosed. Based upon information available at this time, management believes that the current litigation matter related to the Cunning lawsuit will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. This ASU amends the guidance on convertible instruments and the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity and improves and amends the related EPS guidance for both Subtopics. The ASU will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within those annual periods and early adoption is permitted in fiscal periods ending after December 15, 2020. Upon implementation, the Company may use either a modified retrospective or full retrospective method of adoption. The adoption of ASU 2020-06 will likely impact the way the Company calculates its (loss) earnings per share, result in expanded disclosures around convertible instruments and remove the requirement to assess and record beneficial conversion features. The Company currently plans to adopt the provisions of this ASU on the effective date.