NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased, as cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates fair market value.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash represents $0.2 million relating to a revolving 90-day certificate of deposit maintained by the Company as collateral in connection with corporate credit cards and $0.1 million relating to its commercial credit card servicing agreement with Western Alliance Bank. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the restricted cash balance was $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported in the consolidated balance sheets to the same total reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):

Inventory

The Company values inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined using the first-in, first-out method. The carrying value of inventory is evaluated periodically for excess quantities and obsolescence. Management evaluates quantities on hand, physical condition, and technical functionality as these characteristics may be impacted by anticipated customer demand for current products and new product introductions. The allowance is adjusted based on such evaluation, with a corresponding provision included in cost of revenue. Abnormal amounts of idle facility expenses, freight, handling costs and wasted material are recognized as current period charges, and the Company’s allocation of fixed production overhead is based on the normal capacity of its production facilities.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment is stated at acquisition cost less accumulated depreciation. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Upon sale or disposition of assets, any gain or loss is included in the consolidated statements of operations.

The cost of property, plant, and equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives of the respective assets, except for leasehold improvements, which are depreciated over the lesser of the estimated useful lives of the respective assets or the related lease terms.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill is not subject to amortization but is evaluated for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The Company operates in one reporting segment and operating unit; therefore, goodwill is tested for impairment at the consolidated level against the fair value of the Company. The fair value of a reporting unit refers to the amount at which the unit as a whole could be bought or sold in a current transaction between willing parties. Quoted market prices in active markets are the best evidence of fair value and are used as the basis for measurement, if available. Management assesses potential impairment on an annual basis on June 30^th and compares the Company’s market capitalization to its carrying amount, including goodwill. A significant decrease in the Company’s stock price could indicate a material impairment of goodwill which, after further analysis, could result in a material charge to operations. Inherent in the Company’s fair value determinations are certain judgments and estimates, including projections of future cash flows, the discount rate reflecting the inherent risk in future cash flows, the interpretation of current economic indicators and market valuations, and strategic plans with regard to operations. A change in these underlying assumptions could cause a change in the results of the tests, which could cause the fair value of the reporting unit to be less than its respective carrying amount.

Costs incurred to acquire and successfully defend patents, and costs incurred to acquire trademarks and trade names are capitalized. Costs related to the internal development of technologies that are ultimately patented are expensed as incurred. Intangible assets, except those determined to have an indefinite life, are amortized using the straight-line method or over management’s best estimate of the pattern of economic benefit over the estimated useful life of the assets. Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable.

Long-Lived Assets

The carrying values of long-lived assets, including intangible assets subject to amortization, are reviewed when indicators of impairment, such as reductions in demand or significant economic slowdowns, are present. Reviews are performed to determine whether carrying value of an asset is impaired based on comparisons to undiscounted expected future cash flows. If this comparison indicates that there is impairment, the impaired asset is written down to fair value, which is typically calculated using discounted expected future cash flows. Impairment is based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of those assets.

Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income

Other comprehensive (loss) income encompasses the change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources and is included as a component of stockholders’ equity but is excluded from net (loss) income. Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income is comprised of foreign currency translation adjustments.

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

Transactions of the Company’s German, Spanish, Australian, and Indian subsidiaries are denominated in their local currencies which have been determined to be their functional currencies. The results of operations and cash flows are translated at average exchange rates during the period, and assets and liabilities are translated at end-of-period exchange rates. Translation gains or losses are shown as a component of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income in stockholders’ equity. Income and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions which are denominated in a currency other than the entity’s functional currency, are included in the consolidated statements of operations.

Revenue Recognition

Contracts with Customers

Revenue for sales of products and services is derived from contracts with customers. The products and services promised in customer contracts include delivery of laser systems, imaging systems, and consumables as well as certain ancillary services such as training and extended warranties. Contracts with each customer generally state the terms of the sale, including the description, quantity and price of each product or service. Payment terms are stated in the contract and vary according to the arrangement. Because the customer typically agrees to a stated rate and price in the contract that does not vary over the life of the contract, the Company’s contracts do not contain variable consideration.  The Company establishes a provision for estimated warranty expense.

Performance Obligations

At contract inception, the Company assesses the products and services promised in its contracts with customers. The Company then identifies performance obligations to transfer distinct products or services to the customers. In order to identify performance obligations, the Company considers all of the products or services promised in contracts regardless of whether they are explicitly stated or are implied by customary business practices.

Revenue from products and services transferred to customers at a single point in time accounted for 86%, 85%, and 86% of net revenue for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. The majority of the Company’s revenue recognized at a point in time is for the sale laser systems, imaging systems, and consumables. Revenue from these contracts is recognized when the customer is able to direct the use of and obtain substantially all of the benefits from the product which generally coincides with title transfer during the shipping process.

Revenue from services transferred to customers over time accounted for 14%, 15%, and 14% of net revenue for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. The majority of our revenue that is recognized over time relates to product training and extended warranties. Deferred revenue attributable to undelivered elements, which primarily consists of product training, totaled approximately $0.7 million and $1.0 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Transaction Price Allocation

The transaction price for a contract is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, each performance obligation is satisfied. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the contract’s transaction price to each performance obligation using the best estimate of the standalone selling price of each distinct good or service in a contract. The primary method used to estimate standalone selling price is the observable price when the good or service is sold separately in similar circumstances and to similar customers.

Significant Judgments

Revenue is recorded for extended warranties over time as the customer benefits from the warranty coverage. This revenue will be recognized equally throughout the contract period as the customer receives benefits from the Company's promise to provide such services.  Revenue is recorded for product training as the customer attends a training program or upon the expiration of the obligation, which is generally after nine months.  

The Company also has contracts that include both the product sales and product training as performance obligations. In those cases, the Company records revenue for product sales at the point in time when the product has been shipped.  The customer obtains control of the product when it is shipped, as all shipments are made FOB shipping point, and after the customer selects its shipping method and pays all shipping costs and insurance.  The Company has concluded that control is transferred to the customer upon shipment.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are stated at estimated net realizable value. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on an analysis of customer accounts and the Company’s historical experience with accounts receivable write-offs.

Contract Liabilities

The Company performs its obligations under a contract with a customer by transferring products and/or services in exchange for consideration from the customer. The Company typically invoices its customers as soon as control of an asset is transferred and a receivable for the Company is established. The Company, however, recognizes a contract liability when a customer prepays for goods and/or services and the Company has not transferred control of the goods and/or services. The opening and closing balances of the Company’s contract liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

Provision for Warranty Expense

The Company provides warranties against defects in materials and workmanship of its laser systems for specified periods of time. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, laser systems sold were covered by the warranty for a period of up to two years from the date of sale by the Company or the distributor to the end-user. In 2017, for Waterlase systems sold domestically and purchased in 2017 or later, the Company decreased the warranty period from two years to one year. Laser systems sold internationally were covered by the warranty for a period of up to 28 months from the date of sale to the international distributor. Estimated warranty expenses are recorded as an accrued liability with a corresponding provision to cost of revenue. This estimate is recognized concurrent with the recognition of revenue on the sale to the distributor or end-user. Warranty expenses expected to be incurred after one year from the time of sale to the distributor are classified as a long-term warranty accrual. The Company’s overall accrual is based on its historical experience and management’s expectation of future conditions, taking into consideration the location and type of customer and the type of laser, which directly correlate to the materials and components under warranty, the duration of the warranty period, and the logistical costs to service the warranty. Additional factors that may impact the Company’s warranty accrual include changes in the quality of materials, leadership and training of the production and services departments, knowledge of the lasers and workmanship, training of customers, and adherence to the warranty policies. Additionally, an increase in warranty claims or in the costs associated with servicing those claims would likely result in an increase in the accrual and a decrease in gross profit. All imaging products are initially covered by the manufacturer’s warranties. However, the Company offers extended warranties on certain imaging products.

Changes in the initial product warranty accrual and the expenses incurred under the Company’s initial and extended warranties for the years ended December 31 are included within accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and were as follows (in thousands):

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and totaled approximately $0.6 million, $0.3 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

Engineering and Development

Engineering and development expenses are generally expensed as incurred and consist of engineering personnel salaries and benefits, prototype supplies, contract services, and consulting fees related to product development.

Stock-Based Compensation

During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, the Company recognized compensation cost related to stock options of $2.8 million, $2.2 million, and $3.1 million, respectively, based on the grant-date fair value. In 2018, $0.1 million of the total stock compensation cost related to performance-based awards was recognized as a liability. The following table summarizes the income statement classification of compensation expense associated with share-based payments (in thousands):

Income Taxes

Differences between accounting for income taxes for financial statement purposes and accounting for tax return purposes are stated as deferred tax assets or deferred tax liabilities in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The provision for income taxes represents the tax payable for the period and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company establishes a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The income tax provisions for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 were calculated using the discrete year-to-date method. See Note 5 for additional disclosures related to the Company’s income taxes.

Net Loss Per Share — Basic and Diluted

Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing income (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. In computing diluted net income (loss) per share, the weighted average number of shares outstanding is adjusted to reflect the effect of potentially dilutive securities.

Outstanding stock options, restricted stock units and warrants to purchase approximately 5,862,000, 3,384,000, , and 4,107,000 shares were not included in the calculation of diluted loss per share amounts for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Changes to GAAP are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in the form of accounting standards updates (“ASUs”) to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”).

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined not to be applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

Adopted Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein.

ASU 2014-09 supersedes existing guidance on revenue recognition with a five-step model for recognizing and measuring revenue from contracts with customers. The objective of the new standard is to provide a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers to improve comparability within industries, across industries, and across capital markets. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires a number of disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and the related cash flows. The guidance can be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method) or retrospectively with a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings for initial application of the guidance at the date of initial adoption (modified retrospective method). The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts that were not completed or substantially completed as of January 1, 2018. The timing and measurement of revenue recognition under the new standard is not materially different than under the old standard. The adoption of the new standard did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) (“ASU 2016-15”). The updated standard addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing diversity in practice. ASU 2016-15 is effective for public business entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) (“ASU 2016-18”). The updated standard requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is effective for public business entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual reporting periods. The Company adopted ASU 2016-18 as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-18 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) (“ASU 2017-09”). The updated standard clarifies when an entity must apply modification accounting to changes in the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. ASU 2017-09 is effective for public business entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2017-09 as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2017-09 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In July 2017, FASB issued ASU 2017-11 (Part I) Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features, (Part II) Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception (“ASU 2017-11”). The new standard simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with down round features. Part I of ASU 2017-11 changes the classification analysis of certain equity-linked financial instruments, such as warrants and embedded conversion features, such that a down round feature is disregarded when assessing whether the instrument is indexed to an entity’s own stock under Subtopic 815-40, Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity. As a result, a down round feature, by itself, no longer requires an instrument to be remeasured at fair value through earnings each period, although all other aspects of the indexation guidance under Subtopic 815-40 continue to apply. Part II of ASU 2017-11 recharacterizes the indefinite deferral of certain provisions of Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, (currently presented as pending content in the Codification) as a scope exception. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company early-adopted ASU 2017-11 using the modified-retrospective method, which resulted in the reclassification of previously liability classified warrants of approximately $0.8 million to Additional Paid-In Capital and no cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. These warrants were issued in connection with the Company’s debt financing activities in 2018. For further information on these warrants see Notes 6 and 8.   The amendments in Part II have no accounting impact and therefore do not have an associated effective date.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB established ASU Topic 842 – Leases, by issuing ASU Topic No. 2016-02, which requires lessees to recognize lease on-balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU Topic 2018-11 – Targeted Improvements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model (“ROU”) that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the statement of operations. The new standard is effective for the Company on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company expects to adopt the new standard on its effective date.  A modified retrospective transition method is required, applying the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application.  An entity may choose to use either (1) the effective date or (2) the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements as its date of initial application. If an entity chooses the second option, the transition requirements for existing leases also apply to leases entered into between the date of initial application and the effective date.  The entity must also recast its comparative period financial statements and provide disclosures required by the new standard for the comparative periods. The Company expects to adopt the new standard on January 1, 2019 and use the effective date as the date of initial application.  Consequently, financial information will not be updated and the disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for dates and periods before January 1, 2019.

The new standard provides a number of optional practical expedients in transition. The Company expects to elect the practical expedients which permits the Company to not reassess under the new standard its prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification, and initial direct costs.  

The Company expects this standard to have a material effect on our financial statements. While the Company assesses all of the effects of adoption, it currently believes the most significant effects relate to (1) the recognition of new ROU assets and lease liabilities on its balance sheet for its real property. The Company does not expect a significant change in its leasing activities between now and its adoption.

On adoption, we currently expect to recognize additional operating liabilities ranging from $0.8 million to $1.0 million with corresponding ROU assets of the same amount based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments under current leasing standards for existing operating leases. Our conclusions are preliminary and subject to change as we finalize our analysis. Changes in our lease population or changes in incremental borrowing rates may alter these estimates. We will expand our consolidated financial statements disclosure upon adoption of the new standard.

In June 2016, the FASB issued a new standard to replace the incurred loss impairment methodology under current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The Company will be required to use a forward-looking expected credit loss model for accounts receivables, loans, and other financial instruments. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will also be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a reduction in the amortized cost basis of the securities. The standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted beginning January 1, 2019. We are currently evaluating the impact of this standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, including accounting policies, processes, and systems.