Note 3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The significant accounting policies of the Company were described in Note 1 to the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. There have been no material changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies for the three months ended  March 31, 2024. 

Cash

The Company places its cash with high credit quality financial institutions. The Company’s account at these institutions are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250,000. All cash amounts in excess of $250,000, approximately $1.0 million, are unsecured. The Company has a deposit placement agreement for Insured Cash Sweep Service (“ICS”). This service is a secure, and convenient way to access FDIC protection on large deposits, earn a return, and enjoy flexibility. The Company believes that the ICS agreement will mitigate its credit risk as it relates to uninsured FDIC amounts in excess of $250,000.

Foreign Currency Translation

The Company’s reporting currency is U.S. Dollars. The accounts of one of the Company’s subsidiaries, GTC, is maintained using the appropriate local currency, Great British Pound, as the functional currency. All assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars at balance sheet date, shareholders’ equity is translated at historical rates and revenue and expense accounts are translated at the average exchange rate for the year or the reporting period. The translation adjustments are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, captioned as accumulated other comprehensive (loss) gain. Transaction gains and losses arising from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

The relevant translation rates are as follows: for the three months ended March 31, 2024, closing rate at $1.28 US$: GBP, quarterly average rate at $1.27 US$: GBP, for the three months ended March 31, 2023, closing rate at $1.23 US$: GBP, quarterly average rate at $1.22 US$: GBP, for the year ended  December 31, 2023 closing rate at 1.27 US$: GBP, yearly average rate at 1.24 US$: GBP.

Unearned Revenue

Contract liabilities are shown separately in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as current liabilities. At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we had contract liabilities of approximately $140,000 and $42,000, respectively.

Direct and Indirect Remuneration (“DIR”) Fees

Progressive Care reports DIR fees as a reduction of revenue on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. DIR fees are fees charged by PBMs to pharmacies for network participation as well as periodic reimbursement reconciliations. The Company accrues an estimate of PBM fees, including DIR fees, which are assessed or expected to be assessed by payers at some point after adjudication of a claim, as a reduction of prescription revenue at the time revenue is recognized. Changes in the estimate of such fees are recorded as an adjustment to revenue when the change becomes known. Through December 31, 2023, for some PBMs, DIR fees were charged at the time of the settlement of a pharmacy claim. Other PBMs do not determine DIR fees at the claim settlement date, and therefore DIR fees are collected from pharmacies after claim settlement, often as clawbacks of reimbursements based on factors that vary from plan to plan. For example, two PBMs calculate DIR fees on a trimester basis and charge the Company for these fees as reductions of reimbursements paid to the Company two to three months after the end of the trimester (e.g., DIR fees for January – April 20xx claims were clawback by these PBMs in July – August 20xx). As of December 31, 2023, DIR fees that were not collected at the time of claim settlement, the Company recorded an accrued liability for estimated DIR fees that are expected to be collected by the PBMs by the end of the second quarter of 2024. The estimated liability for these fees is highly subjective and the actual amount collected may differ from the accrued liability. The uncertainty of management’s estimates is due to inadequate disclosure to the Company by the PBMs as to exactly how these fees are calculated either at the time the DIR fees are actually assessed and reported to the Company. The detail level of the disclosure of assessed DIR fees varies based on the information provided by the PBM. Effective January 1, 2024, all PBMs began charging DIR fees at the time of the settlement of a pharmacy claim.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Pronouncements Issued but not yet Adopted

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280) - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-07”), which improves reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant expenses. ASU 2023-07 is required to be adopted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim period within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt the standard in its interim reporting beginning with Q1-2025, and the Company will adopt the standard in its annual reporting for the year ending December 31, 2024. The Company expects that the adoption of the standard will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements but will enhance our current disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740)—Improvements to Income Tax Disclosure” (“ASU 2023-09”), which establishes new income tax disclosure requirements in addition to modifying and eliminating certain existing requirements. ASU 2023-09 is required to be adopted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt this accounting standard update effective January 1, 2025. The Company expects that the adoption of the standard will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by FASB that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to be relevant or have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements upon adoption. 

Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through May 15, 2024, the date the condensed consolidated financial statements were available to be issued. See Note 21 for subsequent events that require disclosure in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Note 3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The significant accounting policies of the Company are described below the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Progressive Care became a consolidated subsidiary of the Company on July 1, 2023 and as a result the Company has incorporated certain significant accounting policies of Progressive Care for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Discontinued Operations

The Company’s former operations were developing and manufacturing products and services, which reduce fuel costs, save power and energy and protect the environment. The products and services were made available for sale into markets in the public and private sectors. In December 2009, the Company discontinued these operations and disposed of certain of its subsidiaries.

The remaining liabilities for discontinued operations are presented in the consolidated balance sheets under the caption “Liabilities from discontinued operation” and relates to the discontinued operations of developing and manufacturing of energy saving and fuel-efficient products and services. The carrying amounts of the major classes of these liabilities as of December 31, 2023, and 2022 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

Liquidity

January 2022 Private Placement of Common Stock

On December 31, 2021, after markets closed, a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) was circulated to, and signatures were received from, certain institutional and accredited investors (the “December Investors”) in connection with the sale in a private placement by the Company of 2,229,950 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “December Offering”). On January 2, 2022, the Company delivered to December Investors a fully executed Purchase Agreement, which was dated December 31, 2021. The purchase price for the common stock sold in the December Offering was $3.24 per share, the closing transaction price reported by Nasdaq on December 31, 2021.

The closing of the December Offering occurred on January 5, 2022. The Company received gross proceeds from the sale of the common stock in the December Offering of approximately $7.2 million.

December 2022 Private Placement of Common Stock

On December 9, 2022, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional and accredited investors for the sale by the Company in a private placement of 4,575,429 units, each unit comprising (i) one share of the Company’s common stock, and (ii) one warrant to purchase one share of common stock. The offering price of the units was $1.75 per unit. The warrants included in the units are exercisable at a price of $1.75 per share and expire three years from the date of issuance.

On December 9, 2022, the Company entered into placement agency agreement (the “Placement Agency Agreement”) with Dawson James Securities, Inc. (“Dawson James”). The Company has agreed to pay Dawson James a placement agent fee of 6% of the gross proceeds received in the private placement and 3% on all proceeds from officers and directors including any directed orders from the Company. As additional compensation under the Placement Agency Agreement, the Company will issue Dawson James warrants (the “Placement Agent Warrants”) to purchase up to 549,051 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $1.75 per share. The Placement Agent Warrants are exercisable at any time and from time to time during the three-year period commencing on the six-month anniversary of the closing date. The Company reimbursed Dawson for up to $100,000 for its legal and due diligence expenses.

The offering closed on December 14, 2022, and the Company received gross proceeds of approximately $8.0 million for the units.

April 2023 Private Placement of Common Stock

On April 5, 2023, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with an accredited investor (the “Investor”) for the sale by the Company in a private placement of 3,428,571 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”). The offering price of the Common Stock was $1.75 per share, the closing price of the Common Stock on April 4, 2023. On April 11, 2023, the Private Placement closed. Upon the closing of the Private Placement, the Company received gross proceeds of approximately $6.0 million. The Company sold the Common Stock to the Investor in reliance on the exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and corresponding provisions of state securities or “blue sky” laws.

As of the date of this report, the Company’s existing cash resources and existing borrowing availability are sufficient to support planned operations for the next 12 months. As a result, management believes that the Company’s existing financial resources are sufficient to continue operating activities for at least one year past the issuance date of the financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company places its cash with high credit quality financial institutions. The Company’s account at this institution is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250,000. All cash amounts in excess of $250,000, approximately $3.1 million, are unsecured. In April 2023, the Company entered into a deposit placement agreement for Insured Cash Sweep Service (“ICS”). This service is a secure, and convenient way to access FDIC protection on large deposits, earn a return, and enjoy flexibility. The Company believes that the ICS agreement will mitigate its credit risk as it relates to uninsured FDIC amounts in excess of $250,000.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company has a policy of reserving for questionable accounts based on its best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in its existing accounts receivable. The Company periodically reviews its accounts receivable to determine whether an allowance is necessary based on an analysis of past due accounts and other factors that may indicate that the realization of an account may be in doubt. Account balances deemed to be uncollectible are offset against sales and relieved from accounts receivable, after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.

Progressive Care trade accounts receivable are stated at the invoiced amount. Trade accounts receivable primarily include amounts from third-party pharmacy benefit managers (“PBMs”) and insurance providers and are based on contracted prices. Trade accounts receivable are unsecured and require no collateral. Progressive Care records an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated differences between the expected and actual payment of accounts receivable. These reductions were made based upon reasonable and reliable estimates that were determined by reference to historical experience, contractual terms, and current conditions. Each quarter, the Progressive Care reevaluates its estimates to assess the adequacy of its allowance and adjusts the amounts as necessary. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value, using the first-in first-out cost method. The Company assesses the valuation of its inventories and reduces the carrying value of those inventories that are obsolete or in excess of the Company’s forecasted usage to their estimated net realizable value. The Company estimates the net realizable value of such inventories based on analysis and assumptions including, but not limited to, historical usage, expected future demand and market requirements. A change to the carrying value of inventories is recorded to cost of goods sold.

Prepaid Expenses

Prepaid expenses current and long term amounted to approximately $640,000 and $61,000, respectively for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $46,000 and $49,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. Prepaid expenses include prepayments in cash for accounting fees, which are being amortized over the terms of their respective agreements, as well as cost associated with certain contract liabilities. The current portion consists of costs paid for future services which will occur within a year.

Investments

The Company applies the equity method of accounting to investments when it has significant influence, but not controlling interest, in the investee. Judgment regarding the level of influence over each equity method investment includes considering key factors such as ownership interest, representation on the board of directors, participation in policy-making decisions and material intercompany transactions. The carrying value of our equity method investment is reported as “equity method investment” on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s equity method investment is reported at cost and adjusted each period for the Company’s share of the investee’s income or loss and dividend paid, if any. The Company’s proportionate share of the net loss resulting from these investments is reported under the line item captioned “equity in net loss of affiliate” in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Note 15 contains additional information on the equity method investment.

The Company assesses investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an investment may not be recoverable. Management reviewed the underlying net assets of the investee as of December 31, 2023 and determined that the Company’s proportionate economic interest in the investee indicate that the investments were not impaired.

Foreign Currency Translation

The Company’s reporting currency is U.S. Dollars. The accounts of one of the Company’s subsidiaries, GTC, is maintained using the appropriate local currency, Great British Pound, as the functional currency. All assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars at balance sheet date, shareholders’ equity is translated at historical rates and revenue and expense accounts are translated at the average exchange rate for the year or the reporting period. The translation adjustments are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, captioned as accumulated other comprehensive (loss) gain. Transaction gains and losses arising from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the statements of operations.

The relevant translation rates are as follows: for the year ended December 31, 2023, closing rate at $1.27 US$: GBP, yearly average rate at $1.24 US$: GBP, for the year ended  December 31, 2022 closing rate at $1.21 US$: GBP, yearly average rate at $1.24 US$: GBP.

Revenue Recognition and Unearned Revenue

In accordance with ASU No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedient, which is to (1) clarify the objective of the collectability criterion for applying paragraph 606-10-25-7; (2) permit an entity to exclude amounts collected from customers for all sales (and other similar) taxes from the transaction price; (3) specify that the measurement date for noncash consideration is contract inception; (4) provide a practical expedient that permits an entity to reflect the aggregate effect of all modifications that occur before the beginning of the earliest period presented when identifying the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations, determining the transaction price, and allocating the transaction price to the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations; (5) clarify that a completed contract for purposes of transition is a contract for which all (or substantially all) of the revenue was recognized under legacy GAAP before the date of initial application, and (6) clarify that an entity that retrospectively applies the guidance in Topic 606 to each prior reporting period is not required to disclose the effect of the accounting change for the period of adoption. The amendments of this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. There was no impact as a result of adopting this ASU on the financial statements and related disclosures. Based on the terms and conditions of the product arrangements, the Company believes that its products and services can be accounted for separately as its products and services have value to the Company’s customers on a stand-alone basis. When a transaction involves more than one product or service, revenue is allocated to each deliverable based on its relative fair value; otherwise, revenue is recognized as products are delivered or as services are provided over the term of the customer contract.

e-Commerce Operations:

The Company recognizes revenue from satellite services when earned, as services are rendered or delivered to customers. Equipment sales revenue is recognized when the equipment is delivered to and accepted by the customer. Only equipment sales are subject to warranty. Historically, the Company has not incurred significant expenses for warranties. Equipment sales which have been prepaid, before the goods are shipped are recorded as contract liabilities and once shipped is recognized as revenue. The Company also records as contract liabilities, certain annual plans for airtime, which are paid in advance. Once airtime services are incurred, they are recognized as revenue. Unbilled revenue is recognized for airtime plans whereby the customer is invoiced for its data usage the following month after services are incurred.

The Company’s customers generally purchase a combination of our products and services as part of a multiple element arrangement. The Company’s assessment of which revenue recognition guidance is appropriate to account for each element in an arrangement can involve significant judgment. This assessment has a significant impact on the amount and timing of revenue recognition.

The Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of ASC 606, we perform 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) we satisfy a performance obligation. The five-step model is applied to contracts when it is probable that we will collect the consideration we are entitled to in exchange for the goods or services transferred to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, we assess the goods or services promised within each contract and determine those that are performance obligations and assess whether each promised good or service is distinct. We then recognize revenue in the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.

Contract liabilities are shown separately in the consolidated balance sheets as current liabilities. At December 31, 2023, we had contract liabilities of approximately  $42,000. At December 31, 2022, we had contract liabilities of approximately $36,000.

Healthcare Operations:

The Company provides prescription pharmaceuticals, COVID-19 related diagnostics and vaccinations, TPA services, and contracted pharmacy services for 340B covered entities under the 340B Drug Discount Pricing Program. Under the terms of the contracted pharmacy services for 340B covered entities, the Company acts as a pass-through for reimbursements on prescription claims adjudicated on behalf of the 340B covered entities in exchange for a dispensing fee per prescription. 

The Company recognizes product sales from prescriptions dispensed to patients (customers) at the time the drugs are physically delivered to a customer or when a customer picks up their prescription, which is the point in time when control transfers to the customer. 340B dispensing fees are a component of 340B contract revenue, which are recognized at the time the drugs are received by the patient, by either delivery or customer pick up. Each prescription claim is considered an arrangement with the customer and is a separate performance obligation. Payments are received directly from the customer at the point of sale, or the customers’ insurance provider is billed electronically. For third-party medical insurance and other claims, authorization is obtained to ensure payment from the customer’s insurance provider before the medication is dispensed to the customer. Authorization is obtained for these sales electronically and a corresponding authorization number is issued by the customer’s insurance provider. The Company is the agent in all of the 340B pharmacy dispensing service agreements transactions with 340B covered entities and not the principal in the transactions. Thus, the Company only recognizes its net fee for the prescription dispensing transactions and not the gross billing and cost of goods sold for the drugs dispensed.

The Company accrues an estimate of PBM fees, including direct and indirect remuneration (“DIR”) fees, which are assessed or expected to be assessed by payers at some point after adjudication of a claim, as a reduction of prescription revenue at the time revenue is recognized. Changes in the estimate of such fees are recorded as an adjustment to revenue when the change becomes known.

DIR fees are fees charged by PBMs to pharmacies for network participation as well as periodic reimbursement reconciliations. For some PBMs, DIR fees are charged at the time of the settlement of a pharmacy claim. Other PBMs do not determine DIR fees at the claim settlement date, and therefore DIR fees are collected from pharmacies after claim settlement, often as clawbacks of reimbursements based on factors that vary from plan to plan. For example, two PBMs calculate DIR fees on a trimester basis and charge the Company for these fees as reductions of reimbursements paid to the Company two to three months after the end of the trimester (e.g., DIR fees for January – April 2023 claims were clawback by these PBMs in July – August 2023). For DIR fees that are not collected at the time of claim settlement, the Company records an accrued liability at each reporting date for estimated DIR fees that are expected to be collected by the PBMs in a future period. The estimated liability for these fees is highly subjective and the actual amount collected may differ from the accrued liability. The uncertainty of management’s estimates is due to inadequate disclosure to the Company by the PBMs as to exactly how these fees are calculated either at the time the DIR fees are actually assessed and reported to the Company. The detail level of the disclosure of assessed DIR fees varies based on the information provided by the PBM.

Billings for most prescription orders are with third-party payers, including Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance carriers. Customer returns are nominal.

The Company recognizes revenue from TPA services as it satisfies the performance obligations under the TPA contract with a 340B covered entity. TPA services provided to covered entities include consulting services, accounting and reconciliation of contract pharmacy billings, and various compliance services. The covered entity simultaneously receives and consumes benefits as the Company performs services under the TPA contract. These services are capable of being distinct from one another, e.g., the covered entity may receive benefit from each separate service, but in the context of a TPA contract, the services are not distinct with the context of the TPA contract. Instead, the Company provides a significant service of integrating the services into a combined output that benefits the covered entity. Therefore, the Company considers the combined services to be a single performance obligation in each TPA contract. 

For each TPA contract, the Company recognizes revenue by measuring the progress toward complete satisfaction of each performance obligation. The Company uses various observable output methods in measuring progress toward satisfaction of each performance obligation, most notably gross billings under each contract.

ASC 606 provides a practical expedient wherein an entity may recognize revenue in the amount to which it has a right to invoice a customer if the entity has a right to consideration from the customer in an amount that corresponds directly with the value to the customer of the entity’s performance completed to date. This expedient could be available, for example, for a service contract in which an entity bills a fixed amount for each hour of service provided. The Company believes that this practical expedient applies to its TPA contracts and we have elected this method in measuring revenue over the TPA contract term.

The Company recognizes COVID-19 testing revenue when the tests are performed and results are delivered to the customer. Each test is considered an arrangement with the customer and is a separate performance obligation. Payment is generally received in advance from the customer.

Cost of Product Sales and Services

Cost of sales consists primarily of materials, airtime and overhead costs incurred internally and amounts incurred to contract manufacturers to produce our products, airtime and other implementation costs incurred to install our products and train customer personnel, and customer service and third-party original equipment manufacturer costs to provide continuing support to our customers. There are certain costs which are deferred and recorded as prepaids, until such revenue is recognized. Refer to revenue recognition above as to what constitutes deferred revenue.

Shipping and handling costs are included as a component of costs of product sales in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations because the Company includes in revenue the related costs that the Company bills its customers.

Advertising

Costs incurred for producing and communicating advertising for the Company are charged to operations as incurred. Advertising expense was approximately $188,000 and $93,000 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Intangible Assets

Acquired intangible assets with finite lives other than goodwill are amortized over their useful lives. For intangible assets acquired in a business combination, the estimated fair values of the assets received are used to establish their recorded values. Acquired intangible assets other than goodwill are amortized over their useful lives unless the lives are determined to be indefinite. Valuation techniques consistent with the market approach, income approach, and/or cost approach are used to measure fair value. Intangible assets subject to amortization represent the fair value of pharmacy records, tradenames and customer contracts acquired, and capitalized software development costs. In valuing these assets, the Company makes assumptions regarding useful lives and projected growth rates, and significant judgment is required. The Company periodically reviews its identifiable intangible assets for impairment as events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If the carrying amounts of those assets exceed their respective fair values, additional impairment tests are performed to measure the amount of the impairment losses, if any.

Pharmacy records and developed software are amortized over 5 years. Tradenames and customer contracts are amortized over 10 years. Useful lives of intangible assets are periodically evaluated for reasonableness and the assets are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may no longer be recoverable.

Business acquisitions

The Company records business acquisitions using the acquisition method of accounting. All of the assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and contractual contingencies are recognized at their fair value on the acquisition date. The application of the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions in the determination of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in order to properly allocate purchase price consideration between assets that are depreciated and amortized and goodwill. The excess of the fair value of purchase consideration over the fair values of these identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. Acquisition-related expenses and restructuring costs are recognized separately from the business combination and are expensed as incurred. The Company uses a measurement period following the acquisition date to gather information that existed as of the acquisition date that is needed to determine the fair value of the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and equity interests. The measurement period ends once all information is obtained, but no later than one year from the acquisition date

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the value assigned to net tangible and identifiable intangible assets. Progressive Care, which is our Healthcare Operations, is considered to be the reporting unit for goodwill. Valuation techniques consistent with the market approach, income approach, and/or cost approach are used to measure fair value. Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are assessed annually for impairment in the fourth fiscal quarter and in interim periods if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are carried at historical cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is based on the estimated service lives of the depreciable assets and is calculated using the straight-line method. Expenditures that increase the value or productive capacity of assets are capitalized. Fully depreciated assets are retained in the property and equipment, and accumulated depreciation accounts until they are removed from service. When property and equipment are retired, sold or otherwise disposed of, the asset’s carrying amount and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in operations. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

The estimated useful lives of property and equipment are generally as follows:

Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 was approximately $758,000 and $465,000, respectively.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets, comprised of property and equipment, right-of-use assets, and intangible assets, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable and consider market participants in accordance with ASC 360-10, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. The Company evaluates the long-lived assets of the reporting units for impairment at the lowest asset group level for which individual cash flows can be identified. When evaluating long-lived assets for potential impairment, the carrying amount of the asset group is compared to the estimated future undiscounted cash flows. The impairment loss calculation compares the carrying amount of the assets to the fair value based on estimated discounted future cash flows. If required, an impairment loss is recorded for that portion of the asset’s carrying value in excess of fair value. As of December 31, 2023, there were no indications that the carrying amounts of our long-lived assets exceeded their respective fair values. The Company did not consider it necessary to record any impairment charges during the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Derivatives are required to be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. These derivatives, including embedded derivatives in the Company’s structured borrowings, are separately valued and accounted for on the Company’s balance sheet. Fair values for exchange traded securities and derivatives are based on quoted market prices. Where market prices are not readily available, fair values are determined using market-based pricing models incorporating readily observable market data and requiring judgment and estimates.

The Company did not identify any other assets or liabilities that are required to be presented on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value in accordance with the accounting guidance. The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash, accounts payable, accrued expenses, and notes payable approximate their estimated fair market values based on the short-term maturity of the instruments.

Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based compensation is accounted for based on the requirements of the Share-Based Payment Topic of ASC 718 which requires recognition in the consolidated financial statements of the cost of employee and director services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments over the period the employee or director is required to perform the services in exchange for the award (presumptively, the vesting period). The ASC also requires measurement of the cost of employee and director services received in exchange for an award based on the grant-date fair value of the award.

The Company estimated the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing formula. This fair value is then amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. The Company’s determination of the fair value using the option-pricing model is affected by the stock price as well as assumptions regarding the number of highly subjective variables.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation – Stock Compensation. (Topic 718). This update was intended to reduce cost and complexity and to improve financial reporting for share-based payments issues to non-employees (for example, service providers, external legal counsel, suppliers, etc.). The ASU expanded the scope of ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which previously only included share-based payments issued to employees, to include share-based payments issues to non-employees for goods and services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payment to non-employees and employees will be substantially aligned. This standard became effective for the financial statements issues by public companies for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Management adopted this standard on January 1, 2019.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes pursuant to the provision of ASC 740-10, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (“ASC 740-10”) which requires, among other things, an asset and liability approach to calculating deferred income taxes. The asset and liability approach require the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is provided to offset any net deferred tax assets for which management believes it is more likely than not that the net deferred asset will not be realized.

The Company follows the provision of ASC 740-10 related to Accounting for Uncertain Income Tax Positions. When tax returns are filed, there may be uncertainty about the merits of positions taken or the amount of the position that would be ultimately sustained. In accordance with the guidance of ASC 740-10, the benefit of a tax position is recognized in the financial statements in the period during which, based on all available evidence, management believes it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including the resolution of appeals or litigation processes, if any. Tax positions taken are not offset or aggregated with other positions.

Tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold is measured at the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement with the applicable taxing authority. The portion of the benefit associated with tax positions taken that exceed the amount measured as described above should be reflected as a liability for uncertain tax benefits in the accompanying balance sheet along with any associated interest and penalties that would be payable to the taxing authorities upon examination.

The Company believes its tax positions are all more likely than not to be upheld upon examination. As such, the Company has not recorded a liability for uncertain tax benefits.

The Company has adopted ASC 740-10-25, “Definition of Settlement,” which provides guidance on how an entity should determine whether a tax position is effectively settled for the purpose of recognizing previously unrecognized tax benefits and provides that a tax position can be effectively settled upon the completion and examination by a taxing authority without being legally extinguished. For tax positions considered effectively settled, an entity would recognize the full amount of tax benefit, even if the tax position is not considered more likely than not to be sustained based solely on the basis of its technical merits and the statute of limitations remains open. The federal and state income tax returns of the Company are subject to examination by the IRS and state taxing authorities, generally for three years after they are filed.

Leases

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company accounts for its leases under ASC 842, Leases. Under this guidance, we determine if an arrangement contains a lease at inception based on whether or not the Company has the right to control the asset during the contract period and other facts and circumstances. Arrangements meeting the definition of a lease are classified as operating or financing leases and are recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as both a right of use asset and lease liability, calculated by discounting fixed lease payments over the lease term at the rate implicit in the lease or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. Lease liabilities are increased by interest and reduced by payments each period, and the right of use asset is amortized over the lease term. For operating leases, interest on the lease liability and the amortization of the right of use asset result in straight-line rent expense over the lease term. For finance leases, interest on the lease liability and the amortization of the right of use asset results in front-loaded expense over the lease term. Variable lease expenses are recorded when incurred.

In calculating the right of use asset and lease liability, the Company has elected to combine lease and non-lease components. The Company excludes short-term leases having initial terms of 12 months or less from the new guidance as an accounting policy election and recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Research and Development

The Company accounts for research and development costs in accordance with the Accounting Standards Codification subtopic 730-10, Research and Development (“ASC 730-10”). Under ASC 730-10, all research and development costs must be charged to expense as incurred. Accordingly, internal research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Third-party research and development costs are expensed when the contracted work has been performed or as milestone results have been achieved. Company-sponsored research and development costs related to both present and future products are expensed in the period incurred. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were no expenditures on research and development.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of net income (loss) and all changes to the statements of stockholders’ equity. For the Company, comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 included net income (loss) and unrealized income (losses) from foreign currency translation adjustments.

Earnings per Common Share

Net income (loss) per common share is calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 260: Earnings per Share (“ASC 260”). Basic income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. The computation of diluted net loss per share does not include dilutive common stock equivalents in the weighted average shares outstanding as they would be anti-dilutive. In periods where the Company has a net loss, all dilutive securities are excluded.

Related Party Transactions

A party is considered to be related to the Company if the party directly or indirectly or through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company. Related parties also include principal owners of the Company, its management, members of the immediate families of principal owners of the Company and its management and other parties with which the Company may deal if one party controls or can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests. A party which can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the transacting parties or if it has an ownership interest in one of the transacting parties and can significantly influence the other to an extent that one or more of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests is also a related party, (see Note 25).

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted

In August 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-04, “Liabilities (Topic 405) - Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121”, to amend and add various SEC paragraphs in the Accounting Standards Codification to reflect the issuance of SEC Staff Bulletin No. 121. 

In July 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-03, “Presentation of Financial Statement (Topic 205), Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480), Equity (Topic 505), and Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718)”, to amend various SEC paragraphs in the Accounting Standards Codification to reflect the issuance of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 120, among other things. The Company adopted this conforming guidance upon issuance and the adoption had no material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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”), which introduces an impairment model based on expected, rather than incurred, losses. Additionally, it requires expanded disclosures regarding (a) credit risk inherent in a portfolio and how management monitors the portfolio’s credit quality; (b) management’s estimate of expected credit losses; and (c) changes in estimates of expected credit losses that have taken place during the period. In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-19, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses.” This ASU clarifies receivables from operating leases are accounted for using the lease guidance and not as financial instruments. In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments.” This ASU clarifies various scoping and other issues arising from ASU 2016-13. In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-03, “Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments.” This ASU improves the Codification and amends the interaction of Topic 842 and Topic 326. ASU 2016-13 and related amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. On an ongoing basis, the Company will contemplate forward-looking economic conditions in recording lifetime expected credit losses for the Company’s financial assets measured at cost.

Any new accounting standards, not disclosed above, that have been issued or proposed by FASB that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

Accounting Pronouncements Issued but not yet Adopted

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740)—Improvements to Income Tax Disclosure” (“ASU 2023-09”), which establishes new income tax disclosure requirements in addition to modifying and eliminating certain existing requirements. ASU 2023-09 is required to be adopted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt this accounting standard update effective January 1, 2025. The Company expects that the adoption of the standard will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280) - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-07”), which improves reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant expenses. ASU 2023-07 is required to be adopted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim period within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt this accounting standard update effective January 1, 2024. The Company expects that the adoption of the standard will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Management has evaluated other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe that any of these pronouncements will have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.