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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Use of Estimates
a) Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses in the reporting period. The Company regularly evaluates estimates and assumptions related to deferred income tax asset valuations, asset impairment, conversion features embedded in convertible notes payable, derivative valuations, stock based compensation and loss contingencies. The Company bases its estimates and assumptions on current facts, historical experience and various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the accrual of costs and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. The actual results experienced by the Company may differ materially and adversely from the Company’s estimates. To the extent there are material differences between the estimates and the actual results, future results of operations will be affected.

Principles of Consolidation
b) Principles of Consolidation

 

These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Anavex Life Sciences Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Anavex Australia Pty Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Australia, Anavex Germany GmbH, a company incorporated under the laws of Germany, and Anavex Canada Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Cash and equivalents
c) Cash and equivalents

 

The Company considers only those investments which are highly liquid, readily convertible to cash and that mature within three months from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Research and Development Incentive Income
d) Research and Development Incentive Income

 

The Company is eligible to obtain a research and development tax credit from the Australian Tax Authority (the “ATO”) for certain research and development activities undertaken in Australia. The tax incentive is available on the basis of specific criteria with which the Company must comply. Although the tax incentive is administered through the ATO, the Company has accounted for the tax incentive outside of the scope of ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes since the incentive is not linked to the Company’s income tax liability and can be realized regardless of whether the Company has generated taxable income in Australia. The Company recognizes as other income the amount received for qualified expenses in the period they are received.

Basic and Diluted Loss per Share
e) Basic and Diluted Loss per Share

 

Basic loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per common share is computed similar to basic loss per common share except that the denominator is increased to include the weighted average number of all potentially dilutive securities convertible into shares of common stock that were outstanding during the period.

 

As of September 30, 2017, loss per share excludes 6,711,339 (2016 – 6,008,309) potentially dilutive common shares related to outstanding options and warrants, as their effect was anti-dilutive.

Financial Instruments
f) Financial Instruments

 

The carrying value of the Company’s financial instruments, consisting of cash and equivalents and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair value due to the short-term maturity of such instruments. Unless otherwise noted, it is management’s opinion that the Company is not exposed to significant interest, currency or credit risks arising from these financial instruments.

Foreign Currency Translation
g) Foreign Currency Translation

 

The functional currency of the Company is the US dollar. Monetary items denominated in a foreign currency are translated into US dollars at exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date and non-monetary items are translated at exchange rates prevailing when the assets were acquired or obligations incurred. Foreign currency denominated expense items are translated at exchange rates prevailing at the transaction date. Unrealized gains or losses arising from the translations are credited or charged to income in the period in which they occur.

 

The Company has determined that the functional currency of Anavex Australia Pty Limited is the US dollar. The Company has determined that the functional currency of Anavex Germany GmbH is the US dollar. The functional currency of Anavex Canada Ltd. is the Canadian dollar.

Research and Development Expenses
h) Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. These expenses are comprised of the costs of the Company’s proprietary research and development efforts, including salaries, facilities costs, overhead costs and other related expenses, as well as costs incurred in connection with third-party collaboration efforts. Milestone payments made by the Company to third parties are expensed when the specific milestone has been achieved.

 

In addition, the Company incurs expenses in respect of the acquisition of intellectual property relating to patents and trademarks. The probability of success and length of time to develop commercial applications of the drugs subject to the acquired patents and trademarks is difficult to determine and numerous risks and uncertainties exist with respect to the timely completion of the development projects. There is no assurance the acquired patents and trademarks will ever be successfully commercialized. Due to these risks and uncertainties, the acquisition of patents and trademarks does not meet the definition of an asset and thus are expensed as incurred within general and administrative expenses.

Grant Income
i) Grant Income

 

Research and development incentive income is recognized when the research and development activities have been undertaken and the Company has completed its assessment of whether such activities meet the relevant qualifying criteria. The Company recognizes such income at the fair value of the grant when it is received, and all substantive conditions have been satisfied. Grants received from government and other agencies in advance of the specific research and development costs to which they relate are deferred and recognized in the consolidated statement of operations in the period they are earned and when the related research and development costs are incurred.

Income Taxes
j) Income Taxes

 

The Company has adopted the provisions of FASB ASC 740 “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”) which requires the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

 

The Company follows the provisions of ASC 740 regarding accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. The Company initially recognizes tax positions in the financial statements when it is more likely than not the position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. Such tax positions are initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority assuming full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts. Application requires numerous estimates based on available information. The Company considers many factors when evaluating and estimating its tax positions and tax benefits, and its recognized tax positions and tax benefits may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes. As additional information is obtained, there may be a need to periodically adjust the recognized tax positions and tax benefits. These periodic adjustments may have a material impact on the consolidated statements of operations.

Stock-based Compensation
k) Stock-based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for all stock-based payments and awards under the fair value method.

 

Stock-based payments to non-employees are measured at the fair value of the consideration received, or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, or liabilities incurred, whichever is more reliably measurable. The fair value of stock-based payments to non-employees is periodically re-measured until the counterparty performance is complete, and any change therein is recognized over the vesting period of the award and in the same manner as if the Company had paid cash instead of paying with or using equity based instruments. Compensation costs for stock-based payments with graded vesting are recognized on a straight-line basis. The cost of the stock-based payments to non-employees that are fully vested and non-forfeitable at the grant date is measured and recognized at that date, unless there is a contractual term for services in which case such compensation would be amortized over the contractual term.

 

The Company accounts for the granting of share purchase options to employees using the fair value method whereby all awards to employees will be recorded at fair value on the date of the grant. The fair value of all share purchase options are expensed over their vesting period with a corresponding increase to additional paid-in capital.

 

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to calculate the fair value of share purchase options at the date of the grant. Option pricing models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected price volatility. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimates.

Fair Value Measurements
l) Fair Value Measurements

 

The fair value hierarchy under GAAP is based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value which are the following:

 

  Level 1 - quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

 

  Level 2 - observable inputs other than Level 1, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, and model-derived prices whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable; and

 

  Level 3 - assets and liabilities whose significant value drivers are unobservable by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

  

The book value of cash and cash equivalents and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair values due to the short term maturity of those instruments.

 

At September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not have any Level 3 assets or liabilities.

Derivative Liabilities
  m) Derivative Liabilities

 

The Company evaluates its financial instruments and other contracts to determine if those contracts or embedded components of those contracts qualify as derivatives to be separately accounted for in accordance with ASC 815. The result of this accounting treatment is that the fair value of the embedded derivative is marked- to-market at each balance sheet date and recorded as a liability and the change in fair value is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as other income or expense. Upon conversion or exercise of a derivative instrument, the instrument is marked to fair value at the conversion date and then that fair value is reclassified to equity.

 

The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is re-assessed at the end of each reporting period. Derivative instruments that become subject to reclassification are reclassified at the fair value of the instrument on the reclassification date. Derivative instrument liabilities will be classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not settlement of the derivative instrument is expected within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

 

From time to time, certain of the Company’s embedded conversion features on debt and outstanding warrants have been treated as derivative liabilities for accounting purposes under ASC 815 due to insufficient authorized shares to fully settle conversion features of the instruments if exercised. In this case, the Company utilized the latest inception date sequencing method to reclassify outstanding instruments as derivative instruments. These contracts were recognized at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings until such time as the conditions giving rise to such derivative liability classification were settled.

 

These derivative instruments did not trade in an active securities market. The Company used a binomial option pricing model to value derivative liabilities. This model used Level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy established by ASC 820 Fair Value Measurement.

 

The Company did not have any derivative instruments outstanding as at September 30, 2017 and 2016

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
n) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period (“ASU 2014-12”). ASU 2014-12 requires that a performance target that affects vesting, and that could be achieved after the requisite service period, be treated as a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant date fair value of the award. This update further clarifies that compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the period(s) for which the requisite service has already been rendered. The Company adopted this standard on October 1, 2016. The adoption of this standard did not have any effect on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (“ASU 2014-15”). ASU 2014-15 explicitly requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, and to provide related footnote disclosure in certain circumstances. The Company adopted this standard on October 1, 2016. The adoption of this standard did not have any effect on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), issued the Accounting Standards Update 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) - Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, that requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the debt liability rather than as an asset. Upon adoption, an entity must apply the new guidance retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company adopted this standard on October 1, 2016. The adoption of this standard did not have any effect on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

 

In May 2014, the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued a converged standard on revenue recognition from contracts with customers, ASU 2014-09 (Topic 606 and IFRS 15). This standard will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance. ASU 2014-09 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact for any period presented and the Company will apply this standard to all future revenues.

 

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-17 “Income Taxes: Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (“ASU 2015-17”). ASU 2015-17 eliminates the requirement to bifurcate deferred taxes between current and non-current on the balance sheet and requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 is effective for public entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments for ASU-2015-17 can be applied retrospectively or prospectively and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact for any period presented.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). The guidance would require lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets as lease liabilities with corresponding right –of use assets. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASC 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) – Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU 2016-09”). These amendments are intended to simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. These amendments are effective for the Company on October 1, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. Entities have the option to apply the amendments on either a prospective basis or a modified retrospective basis. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact for any period presented.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”). ASU 2016-15 reduces the existing diversity in practice in financial reporting across all industries by clarifying certain existing principles in ASC 230, Statement of Cash Flows, (“ASC 230”) including providing additional guidance on how and what an entity should consider in determining the classification of certain cash flows. In addition, in November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Restricted Cash (“ASU 2016-18”). ASU 2016-18 clarifies certain existing principles in ASC 230, including providing additional guidance related to transfers between cash and restricted cash and how entities present, in their statement of cash flows, the cash receipts and cash payments that directly affect the restricted cash accounts. This amendment is effective for the Company beginning on October 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 and ASU 2016-18 will modify the Company’s current disclosures and reclassifications within the consolidated statement of cash flows but they are not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statement

 

In May 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-09, “Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting,” clarifying when a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award must be accounted for as a modification. The new guidance requires modification accounting if the fair value, vesting condition or the classification of the award is not the same immediately before and after a change to the terms and conditions of the award. The new guidance is effective for the Company on a prospective basis beginning on October 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Other than noted above, the Company does not expect the adoption of recently issued accounting pronouncements to have a significant impact on its results of operations, financial position or cash flow.