Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sangamo and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Ceregene and Gendaq Limited, after elimination of all intercompany balances and transactions.

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for acquisitions in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 805, Business Combinations (ASC Topic 805). ASC Topic 805 establishes principles and requirements for recognizing and measuring the total consideration transferred to and the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any non-controlling interests in the acquired target in a business combination. ASC Topic 805 also provides guidance for recognizing and measuring goodwill acquired in a business combination; requires purchased in-process research and development to be capitalized at fair value as an intangible asset at the time of acquisition; requires acquisition-related expenses and restructuring costs to be recognized separately from the business combination; expands the definition of what constitutes a business; and requires the acquirer to disclose information that users may need to evaluate and understand the financial effect of the business combination.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Sangamo considers all highly-liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less at the purchase date to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of deposits in money market investment accounts.

Marketable Securities

Sangamo classifies its marketable securities as available-for-sale and records its investments at estimated fair value based on quoted market prices or observable market inputs of almost identical assets, with the unrealized holding gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income.

The Company’s investments are subject to a periodic impairment review. The Company recognizes an impairment charge when a decline in the fair value of its investments below the cost basis is judged to be other-than-temporary. The Company considers various factors in determining whether to recognize an impairment charge, including the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than the Company’s cost basis, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the investee, and the Company’s intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in the market value. Realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in other income, which is determined using the specific identification method.

Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amounts for financial instruments consisting of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their short maturities. Marketable securities and contingent consideration liabilities are stated at their estimated fair values. The counterparties to the agreements relating to the Company’s investment securities consist of the US Treasury, governmental agencies, various major corporations and financial institutions with high credit standing.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the related assets (generally three to five years). For leasehold improvements, amortization is calculated using the straight-line method based on the shorter of the useful life or the lease term. The Company reviews its property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, including critical accounting policies or estimates related to revenue recognition, clinical trial accruals, and stock-based compensation. Estimates are based on historical experience and on various other market specific and other relevant assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates. During the fourth quarter of 2016, we revised our estimated performance period under the Bioverativ license agreement from June 2019 to June 2020, which also extended the recognition period of the related up-front payment we received upon entering this agreement (See Note 5). This change decreased revenues by $4.3 million and increased net loss and net loss per share by $0.06 for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues from research activities made under strategic partnering agreements and collaborations are recognized as the services are provided when there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue generated from research and licensing agreements typically includes upfront signing or license fees, cost reimbursements, research services, minimum sublicense fees, milestone payments and royalties on future licensee’s product sales.

Multiple Element Arrangements prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2009-13, Revenue Recognition—Multiple Deliverable Revenue Arrangements (ASU 2009-13). For revenue arrangements entered into before January 1, 2011, that include multiple deliverables, the elements of such agreement were divided into separate units of accounting if the deliverables met certain criteria, including whether the fair value of the delivered items could be determined and whether there was evidence of fair value of the undelivered items. In addition, the consideration was allocated among the separate units of accounting based on their fair values, and the applicable revenue recognition criteria are considered separately for each of the separate units of accounting. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2009-13, the Company recognized nonrefundable signing, license or non-exclusive option fees as revenue when rights to use the intellectual property related to the license were delivered and over the period of performance obligations if the Company had continuing performance obligations. The Company estimated the performance period at the inception of the arrangement and reevaluated it each reporting period. Changes to these estimates were recorded on a prospective basis.

Multiple Element Arrangements after the adoption of ASU 2009-13. ASU 2009-13 amended the accounting standards for certain multiple element revenue arrangements to:

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provide updated guidance on whether multiple elements exist, how the elements in an arrangement should be separated, and how the arrangement consideration should be allocated to the separate elements;

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require an entity to allocate arrangement consideration to each element based on a selling price hierarchy where the selling price for an element is based on vendor-specific objective evidence, or VSOE, if available; third-party evidence, or TPE, if available and VSOE is not available; or the best estimate of selling price, or ESP, if neither VSOE nor TPE is available; and

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eliminate the use of the residual method and require an entity to allocate arrangement consideration using the relative selling price method.

For revenue agreements with multiple element arrangements, such as license and development agreements, entered into on or after January 1, 2011, the Company allocates revenue to each non-contingent element based on the relative selling price of each element. When applying the relative selling price method, the Company determines the selling price for each deliverable using VSOE of selling price or TPE of selling price. If neither exists the Company uses ESP for that deliverable. Revenue allocated is then recognized when the basic four revenue recognition criteria are met for each element. The collaboration and license agreements entered into with Shire International GmbH, formerly Shire AG, or Shire, in January 2012, Biogen MA Inc., or Biogen, in January 2014, and Pfizer Inc., or Pfizer, in May and December of 2017, were evaluated under these amended accounting standards.

Additionally, the Company may be entitled to receive certain milestone payments which are contingent upon reaching specified objectives. These milestone payments are recognized as revenue in full upon achievement of the milestone if there is substantive uncertainty at the date the arrangement is entered into that objectives will be achieved and if the achievement is based on the Company’s performance.

Minimum annual sublicense fees are also recognized as revenue in the period in which such fees are due. Royalty revenues are generally recognized when earned and collectability of the related royalty payment is reasonably assured. The Company recognizes cost reimbursement revenue under collaborative agreements as the related research and development costs for services are rendered. Deferred revenue represents the portion of research or license payments received but not earned.

Sangamo’s research grants are typically multi-year agreements and provide for the reimbursement of qualified expenses for research and development as defined under the terms of the grant agreement. Revenue under grant agreements is recognized when the related qualified research expenses are incurred.

During 2017, revenues related to Pfizer and Bioverativ represented 47% and 34%, respectively, of the Company’s total revenue. During 2016 revenue related to Bioverativ, DAS and Shire represented 46%, 26%, and 17%, respectively, of total revenue. During 2015 revenue related to Shire and Biogen represented 40% and 35%, respectively, of total revenues. Receivables from collaborations are typically unsecured and are concentrated in the biopharmaceutical industry. Accordingly, we may be exposed to credit risk generally associated with biopharmaceutical companies or specific to our collaboration agreements. To date, we have not experienced any losses related to these receivables.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses consist of direct and research-related allocated overhead costs such as facilities costs, salaries and related personnel costs, and material and supply costs. In addition, research and development expenses include costs related to clinical trials, validation of the Company’s testing processes and procedures as well as related overhead expenses. Research and development costs incurred in connection with collaborator-funded activities are expensed as incurred. Costs to acquire technologies that are utilized in research and development that have no alternative future use are expensed as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based payment awards made to Sangamo employees and directors, including employee share options, restricted stock units (RSUs) and employee stock purchases related to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), based on estimated fair values at the award grant date. The fair value of stock-based awards is amortized over the vesting period of the award using a straight-line method.

To estimate the fair value of an award, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model. This model requires inputs such as expected life, expected volatility and risk-free interest rate. These inputs are subjective and generally require significant analysis and judgment to develop. While estimates of expected life and volatility are derived primarily from the Company’s historical data, the risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant commensurate with the expected life assumption. Further, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-09 and accounts for forfeitures in the period they occur.

Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

As part of the Ceregene acquisition the Company recognized indefinite-lived intangible assets for in-process research and development and goodwill as further discussed below. ASC 350 and related updates require companies to test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, and more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. ASC 350 includes an optional qualitative assessment for testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment that permits companies to assess whether it is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of greater than 50%) that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If a company concludes based on the qualitative assessment that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset or, in the case of goodwill, that the fair value of the related reporting unit, is less than carrying value, it would not have to determine the asset’s or reporting unit’s fair value, as applicable.

In-Process Research and Development

Intangible assets related to in-process research and development costs, or IPR&D, are considered to be indefinite-lived until the completion or abandonment of the associated research and development efforts. If and when development is complete, which generally occurs if and when regulatory approval to market a product is obtained, the associated assets would be deemed finite-lived and would then be amortized based on their respective estimated useful lives at that point in time. Prior to completion of the research and development efforts, the assets are considered indefinite-lived. During this period, the assets will not be amortized but will be tested for impairment on an annual basis and between annual tests if the Company becomes aware of any events occurring or changes in circumstances that would indicate a reduction in the fair value of the IPR&D projects below their respective carrying amounts. In the first quarter of 2015, the Company decided to discontinue the CERE-110 and CERE-120 clinical trial programs. As such, the probability of achieving projected revenues and cash flows associated with these programs were adversely affected. The Company did not believe the programs have an alternative future use for itself or other market participants. Accordingly, the Company recognized a $1.9 million impairment charge related to these assets during the year ended December 31, 2015, which was recognized as research and development (R&D) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration transferred over the estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination and is considered to be indefinite-lived. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment on an annual basis and between annual tests if the Company becomes aware of any events occurring or changes in circumstances that would indicate an impairment of goodwill has occurred. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company performed an assessment of the qualitative factors affecting the fair value of its reporting unit and concluded that it was not more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting unit was less than carrying value and that, as a result, it is not more likely than not that goodwill is impaired.

Contingent Consideration Liability

Under the merger agreement with Ceregene, the Company is required to make contingent earn-out payments if the Company grants a third-party license to develop and commercialize certain product candidates acquired from Ceregene, or if the Company commercializes any of such product candidates itself. These earn-out payments will become payable in the period they are earned. In accordance with ASC Topic 805, the Company determined the fair value of this liability for contingent consideration on the acquisition date using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow analysis. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the recognized amount of the liability for contingent consideration decreased by $1.8 million due to the decrease in the probability of incurring potential future royalty payments associated with the impairment of IPR&D assets acquired from Ceregene.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense has been provided using the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities as measured by the enacted tax rates that will be in effect when these differences reverse. The Company provides a valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets if, based upon the available evidence, it is not more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized.

Net Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per share has been computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and potential dilutive securities outstanding during the period.

Because Sangamo is in a net loss position, diluted net loss per share excludes the effects of common stock equivalents consisting of options and restricted stock units, which are all anti-dilutive. All stock options and restricted stock units outstanding were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share for all periods presented. Stock options and restricted stock units outstanding at the end of 2017, 2016 and 2015 were 8,367,628, 9,578,322, and 9,008,185, respectively.

Segments

The Company operates in one segment. Management uses one measure of profitability and does not segregate its business for internal reporting. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, all of the Company’s assets were maintained in the U.S. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, substantially all the Company’s revenues and operating expenses were generated and incurred in the U.S.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2016 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (Topic 718). The amendments in ASU 2016-09 affect all entities that issue share-based payment awards to their employees and involve multiple aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for any entity in any interim or annual period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. An entity that elects early adoption must adopt all of the amendments in the same period. The Company adopted the ASU in the first quarter of 2017 and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The impact of ASU 2016-09 as it relates to stock-based compensation for deferred tax assets and liabilities balances were not material to the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016 the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 (ASU 2016-02) “Leases.” ASU 2016-02 amends a number of aspects of lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize almost all leases with a term greater than one year as a right-of-use asset and corresponding liability, measured at the present value of the lease payments. The guidance will become effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of 2019 with early adoption permitted and will be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. We are evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on our consolidated financial statements, and expect our operating lease commitments will be subject to the new standard and recognized as a right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities upon adoption which will increase our total assets and total liabilities as compared to amounts prior to adoption.

In May 2014 the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), or ASC 606. This standard outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The main 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 that is expected to be received for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 provides companies with two implementation methods: (i) apply the standard retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective application); or (ii) apply the standard retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings of the annual reporting period that includes the date of initial application (modified retrospective application). This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Under Topic 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of Topic 606, the entity 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 entity satisfies a performance obligation. Topic 606 also impacts certain other areas, such as the accounting for costs to obtain or fulfill a contract.

The Company will adopt ASC 606 during the first quarter of 2018 and using the modified retrospective method. The Company has substantially completed its evaluation of the impact of adopting ASC 606 on its contracts with Bioverativ, Shire, DAS, and Sigma (as defined below). The Company’s performance obligations with respect to Shire, DAS and Sigma were substantially complete at December 31, 2017 and any future receipts are contingent upon these counterparties achieving specified development, commercial, and/or sales targets and would be in the form of milestones or royalties, all of which management concluded are constrained at December 31, 2017 as defined under ASC 606. The Company has also performed an assessment of the impact of adopting ASC 606 on its Bioverativ collaboration arrangement and has preliminarily concluded that the timing of the recognition of up-front payments and research and development reimbursements will be decelerated under the new guidance while development and commercialization milestones are constrained at December 31, 2017, as defined under ASC 606. Based on this assessment, management has preliminarily concluded that the transition adjustment to be recognized on January 1, 2018 will be less than $5.0 million and will result in a decrease to accumulated deficit and an increase to deferred revenue at that date as a result of decelerating the recognition of amounts related to research and development reimbursements and up-front payments under ASC 606.

The Company has not completed its assessment of the effect that the adoption of ASC 606 will have on its agreements with Pfizer that were entered into during 2017. The Company has preliminarily concluded that any potential milestone and royalty payments payable under these agreements are constrained at December 31, 2017, as defined under ASC 606, and thus will not result in a change upon adoption of ASC 606 from the accounting for such payments under ASC 605. No revenue or other amounts were recognized in 2017 related to the agreement that was entered into with Pfizer in late December 2017 and, accordingly, management does not expect any amounts to be recognized as part of the January 2018 transition adjustment related to this agreement. During 2017, the Company recognized as revenue $17.0 million of the $70.0 million up-front payment received from agreement the Company entered into with Pfizer in May 2017, the amount and timing of which may change upon adoption of ASC 606.

The estimates of the expected effects of the Company’s adoption of ASU 2014-09 represent management’s best estimates of the effects of adopting ASU 2014-09 at the time of the preparation of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The actual, final quantitative effects of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 are subject to change from these estimates and such change may be significant, pending the completion of the Company’s assessment in the first quarter of 2018.