2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Simulations Plus and, as of September 2, 2014, its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cognigen. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Our financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by management’s application of accounting policies. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant accounting policies for us include revenue recognition, accounting for capitalized computer software development costs, valuation of stock options, and accounting for income taxes.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenues related to software licenses and software maintenance in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 985-605, “Software – Revenue Recognition”. Software product revenue is recorded when the following conditions are met: 1) evidence of arrangement exists; 2) delivery has been made; 3) the amount is fixed; and 4) collectability is probable. Post-contract customer support (“PCS”) obligations are insignificant; therefore, revenue for PCS is recognized at the same time as the licensing fee, and the costs of providing such support services are accrued and amortized over the obligation period.

As a byproduct of ongoing improvements and upgrades for the new programs and new modules of software, some modifications are provided to our customers who have already purchased software at no additional charge. Other software modifications result in new, additional cost modules that expand the functionality of the software. These are licensed separately. We consider the modifications that are provided without charge to be minimal, as they do not significantly change the basic functionality or utility of the software, but rather add convenience, such as being able to plot some additional variable on a graph in addition to the numerous variables that had been available before, or adding some additional calculations to supplement the information provided from running the software. Such software modifications for any single product have typically occurred once or twice per year, sometimes more, sometimes less. Thus, they are infrequent. The Company provides, for a fee, additional training and service calls to its customers and recognizes revenue at the time the training or service call is provided.

Generally, we enter into one-year license agreements with customers for the use of our pharmaceutical software products. We recognize revenue on these contracts when all the criteria are met. Most license agreements have a term of one year; however, from time to time, we enter into multi-year license agreements. We generally unlock and invoice software one year at a time for multi-year licenses. Therefore, revenue is recognized one year at a time. Certain of the Company's software products are housed and supported on the Company's computer networks. Software revenues for those products are included in income over the life of the contract.

We recognize revenue from collaboration research and revenue from grants equally over their terms. For contract revenue based on actual hours incurred we recognize revenues when the work is performed. For fixed price contracts, we recognize contract study and other contract revenue using the percentage-of-completion method, depending upon how the contract studies are engaged, in accordance with FASB ASC 605-35, “Revenue Recognition – Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts”. To recognize revenue using the percentage-of-completion method, we must determine whether we meet the following criteria: 1) there is a long-term, legally enforceable contract, 2) it is possible to reasonably estimate the total project costs, and 3) it is possible to reasonably estimate the extent of progress toward completion.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable

We analyze the age of customer balances, historical bad debt experience, customer creditworthiness, and changes in customer payment terms when making estimates of the collectability of the Company’s trade accounts receivable balances. If we determine that the financial conditions of any of our customers have deteriorated, whether due to customer-specific or general economic issues, an increase in the allowance may be made. Accounts receivable are written off when all collection attempts have failed.

Capitalized Computer Software Development Costs

Software development costs are capitalized in accordance with FASB ASC 985-20, “Costs of Software to Be Sold, Leased, or Marketed”. Capitalization of software development costs begins upon the establishment of technological feasibility and is discontinued when the product is available for sale.

The establishment of technological feasibility and the ongoing assessment for recoverability of capitalized software development costs require considerable judgment by management with respect to certain external factors including, but not limited to, technological feasibility, anticipated future gross revenues, estimated economic life, and changes in software and hardware technologies. Capitalized computer software development costs are comprised primarily of salaries and direct payroll-related costs and the purchase of existing software to be used in the Company's software products.

Amortization of capitalized computer software development costs is provided on a product-by-product basis on the straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the products not to exceed five years, although all of our current software products have already been on the market for 7-15 years except for our newest MedChem Designer™ and MembranePlus™ programs (MembranePlus™ was released following the close of the Company’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2014), and we do not foresee an end-of-life for any of them at this point. Amortization of software development costs amounted to $1,023,139 and $807,705 for the years ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. We expect future amortization expense to vary due to increases in capitalized computer software development costs.

We test capitalized computer software development costs for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, or fair market value for property and equipment acquired in business combinations, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives as follows:

Equipment	5 years
Computer equipment	3 to 7 years
Furniture and fixtures	5 to 7 years
Leasehold improvements	Shorter of life of asset or lease

Maintenance and minor replacements are charged to expense as incurred. Gains and losses on disposals are included in the results of operations.

Intangible Assets and Goodwill

The Company performs valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed on each acquisition accounted for as a business combination and recognizes the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair value. Acquired intangible assets include customer relationships, software, trade names, and non-compete agreements. The Company determines the appropriate useful life by performing an analysis of expected cash flows based on historical experience of the acquired businesses. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method, which approximates the pattern in which the majority of the economic benefits are expected to be consumed.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the fair value of the acquired net assets. Goodwill is not amortized, instead it is tested for impairment annually or when events or circumstances change that would indicate that goodwill might be impaired. Events or circumstances that could trigger an impairment review include, but are not limited to, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, unanticipated competition, a loss of key personnel, significant changes in the manner of the Company's use of the acquired assets or the strategy for the Company's overall business, significant negative industry or economic trends or significant under-performance relative to expected historical or projected future results of operations.

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is one level below or the same as an operating segment. As of August 31, 2015, the Company determined that it has two reporting units, Simulations Plus and Cognigen. When testing goodwill for impairment, the Company first performs a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is necessary to perform step one of a two-step annual goodwill impairment test for each reporting unit. The Company is required to perform step one only if it concludes that it is more likely than not that a reporting unit's fair value is less than its carrying value. Should this be the case, the first step of the two-step process is to identify whether a potential impairment exists by comparing the estimated fair values of the Company's reporting units with their respective book values, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeds book value, goodwill is considered not to be impaired, and no additional steps are necessary. If, however, the fair value of the reporting unit is less than book value, then the second step is performed to determine if goodwill is impaired and to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. The amount of the impairment loss is the excess of the carrying amount of the goodwill over its implied fair value. The estimate of implied fair value of goodwill is primarily based on an estimate of the discounted cash flows expected to result from that reporting unit, but may require valuations of certain internally generated and unrecognized intangible assets such as the Company's software, technology, patents and trademarks. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess.

As of August 31, 2015, the entire balance of goodwill was attributed to the Company's Cognigen reporting unit. Intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. The Company has not recognized any impairment charges during the fiscal years ended each of August 31, 2015 and 2014.

Reconciliation of Goodwill for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 is as follows:

Balance, August 31, 2014	$	–
Addition		4,789,248
Impairments		–
Balance, August 31, 2015	$	4,789,248

Other Intangible Assets

The following table summarizes other intangible assets as of August 31, 2015:

	Amortization Period	Acquisition Value		Accumulated Amortization		Net book value
Customer relationships	Straight line 8 years	$	1,100,000	$	137,500	$	962,500
Trade Name-Cognigen	None		500,000		0		500,000
Covenants not to compete	Straight line 5 years		50,000		10,000		40,000
		$	1,650,000	$	147,500	$	1,502,500

Amortization expense for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 was $147,500.

Future amortization for the next five years is as follows:

Year ending August 31,	Amount
2016	147,500
2017	147,500
2018	147,500
2019	147,500
2020	137,500

Business Acquisitions

The Company accounted for the acquisition of Cognigen using the purchase method of accounting where the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recognized based on their respective estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Determining the fair value of certain acquired assets and liabilities is subjective in nature and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including, but not limited to, the selection of appropriate valuation methodology, projected revenue, expenses and cash flows, weighted average cost of capital, discount rates, estimates of advertiser and publisher turnover rates and estimates of terminal values. Business acquisitions are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements as of the date of the acquisition.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the Company’s Balance Sheet are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. The categories, as defined by the standard, are as follows:

Level Input:	Input Definition:
Level I	Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date.
Level II	Inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level I, that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data at the measurement date.
Level III	Unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.

For certain of our financial instruments, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued payroll and other expenses, and accrued bonuses to officers, the carrying amounts are approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

Advertising

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs for the years ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 were approximately $38,000 and $38,000, respectively.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred until technological feasibility has been established. These costs include salaries, laboratory experiment, and purchased software which was developed by other companies and incorporated into, or used in the development of, our final products.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with FASB ASC 740-10, “Income Taxes” which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns.

Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each year-end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The provision for income taxes represents the tax payable for the period and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Intellectual property

On February 28, 2012, we bought out the royalty agreement with Enslein Research. The cost of $75,000 is being amortized over 10 years under the straight-line method. Amortization expense for each of the fiscal years ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 was $7,500. Accumulated amortization as of August 31, 2015 and 2014 was $26,250 and $18,750, respectively.

On May 15, 2014, we entered into a termination and non-assertion agreement with TSRL, Inc. (“TSRL”), pursuant to which the parties agreed to terminate an exclusive software licensing agreement entered into between the parties in 1997. As a result, the Company obtained a perpetual right to use certain source code and data, and TSRL relinquished any rights and claims to any GastroPlus products and to any claims to royalties or other payments under that 1997 agreement. We agreed to pay TSRL total consideration of $6,000,000, which is being amortized over 10 years under the straight-line method. Amortization for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 was $600,000. Amortization expense for the period of May 15, 2014 to August 31, 2014 was $175,000. Accumulated amortization as of August 31, 2015 was $775,000. (See note 4)

Total amortization expense for intellectual property agreements for the years ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 was $607,500 and $193,700, respectively. Accumulated amortization as of August 31, 2014 and 2013 was $801,250 and $193,750, respectively.

Future amortization for the next five years is as follows:

Year ending August 31,	TSRL	Enslien Research	Total
2016	$ 600,000	$ 7,500	$ 607,500
2017	$ 600,000	$ 7,500	$ 607,500
2018	$ 600,000	$ 7,500	$ 607,500
2019	$ 600,000	$ 7,500	$ 607,500
2020	$ 600,000	$ 7,500	$ 607,500

Earnings per Share

The Company reports earnings per share in accordance with FASB ACS 260-10. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares available. Diluted earnings per share is computed similarly to basic earnings per share except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the potential common shares had been issued and if the additional common shares were dilutive. The components of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

	2015		2014
Numerator
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	3,842,961	$	3,025,491
Denominator
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year		16,864,670		16,173,674
Dilutive effect of stock options		234,077		167,507
Common stock and common stock equivalents used for diluted earnings per share		17,032,158		16,407,751

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock options using the modified prospective method in accordance with FASB ASC 718-10, “Compensation-Stock Compensation”. Under this method, compensation costs include estimated grant date fair value of the awards amortized over the options’ vesting period. Stock-based compensation was $295,243 and $144,327 for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and is included in the statements of operations as Consulting, Salaries, and Research and Development expense.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

The Company accounts for the impairment and disposition of long-lived assets in accordance with FASB ASC 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other” and FASB ASC 360, “Property and Equipment”. Long-lived assets to be held and used are reviewed for events or changes in circumstances that indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. We measure recoverability by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to the expected future undiscounted net cash flows generated by the asset. If we determine that the asset may not be recoverable, or if the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future undiscounted cash flows, we recognize an impairment charge to the extent of the difference between the fair value and the asset's carrying amount. No impairment losses were recorded during the years ended August 31, 2015 and 2014.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (“ASU 2013-11”), which eliminates diversity in practice for the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward is available to reduce the taxable income or tax payable that would result from disallowance of a tax position. ASU 2013-11 affects only the presentation of such amounts in an entity’s balance sheet and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of ASU 2013-11 on our balance sheet. The adoption of ASU 2013-11 did not have a material effect on our balance sheet.

In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09. The standard will eliminate the transaction- and industry-specific revenue recognition guidance under current U.S. GAAP and replace it with a principles-based approach for determining revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The revenue recognition standard is required to be applied retrospectively, including any combination of practical expedients as allowed in the standard. We are evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to our financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.