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Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies

Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies

(a) Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”).

(b) Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of electroCore and its wholly owned subsidiaries. electroCore (Aust) Pty Limited, a VIE for which electroCore is the primary beneficiary, is also consolidated with the non-controlled equity presented as non-controlling interest. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

(c) Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the useful lives of fixed assets; allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns; valuation of inventory, property and equipment, warrants and derivative instruments, stock compensation, and contingencies.

(d) Revenue Recognition

The Company accounts for its revenue transactions under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC Topic 606”). In accordance with ASC Topic 606, the Company recognizes revenues when its customers obtain control of its product for an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive from its customers in exchange for that product. To determine revenue recognition for contracts that are determined to be in scope of ASC Topic 606, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies the performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. Once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC Topic 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when such performance obligation is satisfied.

The transaction price is based on the consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for its products and includes the fixed per-unit price of the product and variable consideration in the form of trade credits, vouchers, rebates, and co-payment assistance. The per-unit price is based on the Company’s established wholesale acquisition cost less a contractually agreed upon distributor discount with the customer.

Trade credits are discounts that are contingent upon a timely remittance of payment and are estimated based on historical experience. Damaged or defective products are replaced at no charge under the Company’s standard warranty. A cash refund is allowed under specific circumstances for undamaged and non-defective returned products.

Shipping fees are not billed to the customer and are reflected as part of selling, general, and administrative expenses.

(e) Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased.

(f) Marketable Securities

Marketable securities, all of which are available-for-sale, consist of corporate debt securities, U.S. bonds and U.S. sponsored agencies. Marketable securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported as accumulated other comprehensive income, except for losses from impairments which are determined to be other-than-temporary. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary are included in the determination of net loss and are included in interest and other income net. Fair values are based on quoted market prices at the reporting date. Interest and dividends on available-for-sale securities are included in Interest and other income.

(g) Concentration of Credit Risk

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities are financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk. The Company periodically invests its cash in corporate debt securities, U.S. bonds, and U.S. sponsored agencies and municipal bonds with strong credit ratings. The Company has established guidelines relative to diversification and maturities that are designed to help ensure safety and liquidity. These guidelines are periodically reviewed to take advantage of trends in yields and interest rates.

(h) Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses inherent in its accounts receivable portfolio. Management considers an account receivable to be past due when it is not settled under its stated terms. In establishing the required allowance, management considers historical losses adjusted to take into account current market conditions and customers’ financial condition, the amount of receivables in dispute, and the current receivables aging and current payment patterns. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The Company does not have any off balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

The Company controls its exposure to credit risk through credit analysis and approvals, credit limits, and monitoring procedures. Collateral is generally not required for the Company’s accounts receivables. Management believes the credit risk is limited.

(i) Inventories

Inventory, which consists of raw materials, work-in-process and finished product, is stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Inventory is valued on a first-in first-out basis. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.

The Company evaluates inventory with respect to its operating cycle and classifies inventory as current or long-term on its balance sheet. Based upon estimated production needs and current inventory levels, the Company determined the amount of inventory necessary for the next twelve months. Any amounts over this projection are reclassified as Inventories, noncurrent.

In addition, the Company’s product is subject to strict quality control and monitoring which the Company performs throughout the manufacturing process. If certain units of product no longer meet quality specification or become obsolete, the Company records a charge to cost of sales sold to write down such unmarketable inventory to zero.

(j) Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at historical cost.  Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, as discussed below. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the lease terms or the estimated useful lives of the assets. Amounts expended for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.

Depreciation and leasehold improvement amortization is computed using the following estimated useful lives:

 

Machinery and equipment

 

3–15 years

Leasehold improvements

 

Lease term

Furniture and fixtures

 

5–10 years

Computer equipment

 

5 years

 

(k) Leases

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. For each lease, the lease term is determined at the commencement date and includes renewal options and termination options when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Operating leases with the lease terms greater than one year are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and current and long-term operating lease liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Operating lease ROU assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term using an estimated rate of interest the Company would have to pay to borrow equivalent funds on a collateralized basis at the lease commencement date. The operating lease ROU assets are based on the liability adjusted for any prepaid or deferred rent and lease incentives. The incremental borrowing rate was utilized to discount lease payments over the expected term given that the Company’s operating leases do not provide an implicit rate. The Company estimates the incremental borrowing rate to reflect the profile of secured borrowing over the expected term of the leases based on the information available at the later of the date of adoption or the lease commencement date. Rent expense for the operating lease is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The new lease accounting guidance permits companies to utilize certain practical expedients in their implementation of the new standard. The Company elected this package of practical expedients and was therefore not required to reassess the following upon adoption: (i) whether an expired or existing contract met the definition of a lease; (ii) the lease classification at January 1, 2019 for existing leases; and (iii) whether leasing costs previously capitalized as initial direct costs would continue to be amortized. This allowed the Company to continue to account for its existing office space leases as operating leases. Upon adoption, the Company did not have an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings due to the election of these practical expedients. 

(l) Cloud Computing Arrangement

Implementation costs for the Company’s cloud computing arrangement (“CCA”) are capitalized and amortized using the straight-line method over the life of the arrangement. The Company has capitalized implementation costs incurred in implementing its cloud computing arrangements, which is a hosting arrangement that is a service contract per FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-15. These costs include payroll costs of employees devoting time to the project and external direct costs for materials and services are capitalized.  Software maintenance and training costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. The capitalized costs are included as a component of other assets.  

(m) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If circumstances require a long-lived asset or asset group be tested for possible impairment, the Company first compares undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset or asset group to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, an impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values, and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary.

(n) Stock-based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with the ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. The Company estimates the fair value of stock option awards using the Black-Scholes option pricing model on the date of the grant. Restricted stock unit awards and restricted stock awards without a market condition are valued based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. Compensation expense reflects actual forfeitures and is primarily recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the individual grants, which typically equals the vesting period.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2018-07”), which expands the scope of ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation to include share-based payments issued to non-employees for goods or services. Consequently, the Company’s accounting for share-based payments to non-employees and employees was substantially aligned.

(o) Income Taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred taxes are recognized based on the differences between financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The Company provides a full valuation allowance on substantially all deferred tax assets. The provision for income taxes represents the current state tax payable for the period. The federal tax provision is immaterial given the Company reports losses in all its taxable jurisdictions and is recording a full valuation allowance on the net deferred tax asset. The Company recognizes the effect of an income tax position only if, based on its merits, the position is more likely than not to be sustained on audit by the taxing authorities. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recorded as income tax expense.

(p) Research and Development

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. These costs include, but are not limited to, costs related to clinical trials, and compensation and related overhead for employees and consultants involved in research and development activities.

(q) Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

The functional currency of the Company’s international operations has been determined to be the respective local currency. The Company translates functional currency assets and liabilities to their U.S. dollar equivalents at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and translates functional currency income and expense amounts to their U.S. dollar equivalents at average exchange rates for the period. The U.S. dollar affects that arise from changing translation rates are recorded in other comprehensive loss. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses related to assets and liabilities that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period they occur.

(r) Segment Information  

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business as one operating segment.

(s) Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB established Topic 842, Leases by issuing ASU No. 2016-02 which requires lessees to recognize leases on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU No. 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU No 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases, and ASU No. 2018-11, Targeted Improvements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating.

At January 1, 2019, the Company recognized Lease ROU Assets and Lease Liabilities, principally for its office space leases, in which it is the lessee, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. (See Note 9. Leases)

(t) Recently Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326); Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, ASU 2016-13 changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments. For trade and other receivables, the Company will be required to use a new forward looking “expected loss” model that will replace the current “incurred loss” model and generally will result in the earlier recognition for losses. The Company is required to adjust this new guidance effective January 1, 2020. The Company is reviewing the pronouncement of the new standard and currently does not expect a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.