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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation 

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Nuta Technology Corp. (“Nuta”), Spherix Portfolio Acquisition II, Inc. (“SPXII”), Guidance IP, LLC (“Guidance”), Directional IP, LLC (“Directional”), Spherix Management Services, LLC (“SMS”), Spherix Delaware Merger Sub Inc. (“Merger Sub”) and NNPT, LLC (“NNPT”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates 

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). This requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. The Company’s significant estimates and assumptions include the recoverability and useful lives of long-lived assets, stock-based compensation, the valuation of derivative liabilities, the valuation of investments and the valuation allowance related to the Company’s deferred tax assets. Certain of the Company’s estimates, including the carrying amount of the intangible assets, could be affected by external conditions, including those unique to the Company and general economic conditions. It is reasonably possible that these external factors could have an effect on the Company’s estimates and could cause actual results to differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Concentration of Cash

Concentration of Cash

 

The Company maintains cash balances at two financial institutions in checking accounts and money market accounts. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash and cash equivalents. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had $0.1 million and 0.2 million, respectively, in cash and cash equivalents. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash.

Marketable Securities

Marketable Securities 

 

Marketable securities are classified as trading and are carried at fair value. The Company’s marketable securities consist of corporate bonds and highly liquid mutual funds which are valued at quoted market prices. 

 

The realized gain or loss, unrealized gain or loss, and dividend income related to marketable securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 are as follows ($ in thousands): 

 

    For the Three Months Ended September 30,     For the Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2018     2017     2018     2017  
Realized gain (loss)   $ (86 )   $ (174 )   $ (361 )   $ (303 )
Unrealized gain (loss)     3       124       (14 )     262  
Dividend income     44       18       121       72  
    $ (39 )   $ (32 )   $ (254 )   $ 31  

  

The Company reinvested such dividend income into its marketable securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The fair values of such marketable securities held as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were $3.4 million and $4.0 million, respectively.  

 

The marketable securities were classified as a Level 2 financial instrument at September 30, 2018 (see Note 8).

Investment

Investment

 

The Company records its investment in Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Hoth”) at fair value. As of September 30, 2018, the fair value of this investment was $1,700,000. The Company also records its investment in TheBit Daily LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TheBit Daily”) at fair value. As of September 30, 2018, the fair value of this investment was $25,000. In addition, the Company made an $1,000,000 investment in DatChat on August 8, 2018. These investments were classified as a Level 3 financial instrument at September 30, 2018 (see Note 8). 

 

While the Company believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date.

 

The decision to elect the fair value option, which is irrevocable once elected, is determined on an instrument by instrument basis and applied to an entire instrument. The net gains or losses, if any, are recognized as an unrealized gain on investment in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Net Loss per Share

Net Loss per Share

 

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing the net income or loss applicable to common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders includes the effect of the deemed capital contribution on extinguishment of preferred stock and the deemed dividend related to the immediate accretion of beneficial conversion feature of convertible preferred stock. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and, if dilutive, potential common shares outstanding during the period. Potential common shares consist of the incremental common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options (using the treasury stock method) and the conversion of the Company’s convertible preferred stock and warrants (using the if-converted method). Diluted loss per share excludes the shares issuable upon the conversion of preferred stock and the exercise of stock options and warrants from the calculation of net loss per share if their effect would be anti-dilutive. 

 

Securities that could potentially dilute loss per share in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted loss per share at September 30, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:  

 

    As of September 30,  
    2018     2017  
Convertible preferred stock     2,926       2,926  
Warrants to purchase common stock     1,249,754       1,251,709  
Options to purchase common stock     528,490       328,716  
Total     1,781,170       1,583,351  
Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenue when it is realized or realizable and earned. We consider revenue realized or realizable and earned when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement when the services have been provided to the customer, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is probable. Our material revenue stream is related to revenue generated from its settlement and licensing agreements. The appropriate recognition of revenue is determined as one performance obligation and revenue is recognized upon delivery of the final performance obligations, including the license for past and future use and the release. 

 

The Company recognizes revenue under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The core principle of the new revenue standard is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The following five steps are applied to achieve that core principle: 

 

Step 1: Identify the contract with the customer

  

Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract

  

Step 3: Determine the transaction price

  

Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract

  

Step 5: Recognize revenue when the company satisfies a performance obligation

  

In order to identify the performance obligations in a contract with a customer, a company must assess the promised goods or services in the contract and identify each promised good or service that is distinct. A performance obligation meets ASC 606’s definition of a “distinct” good or service (or bundle of goods or services) if both of the following criteria are met:

  

The customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available to the customer (i.e., the good or service is capable of being distinct).
The entity’s promise to transfer the good or service to the customer is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract (i.e., the promise to transfer the good or service is distinct within the context of the contract).

  

If a good or service is not distinct, the good or service is combined with other promised goods or services until a bundle of goods or services is identified that is distinct.

  

The transaction price is the amount of consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring promised goods or services to a customer. The consideration promised in a contract with a customer may include fixed amounts, variable amounts, or both. When determining the transaction price, an entity must consider the effects of all of the following:

  

Variable consideration

  

Constraining estimates of variable consideration

  

The existence of a significant financing component in the contract

  

Noncash consideration

  

Consideration payable to a customer

  

Variable consideration is included in the transaction price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved.

  

The transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis.

  

The transaction price allocated to each performance obligation is recognized when that performance obligation is satisfied, at a point in time or over time as appropriate.

  

As of September 30, 2018, there were no contract assets or liabilities associated with the Company’s settlement and licensing agreements. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company did not generate any revenue.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes FASB ASC Topic 840, Leases (Topic 840) and provides principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both lessees and lessors. The new standard requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. This classification will determine whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, respectively. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than twelve months regardless of classification. Leases with a term of twelve months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases. The standard is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted upon issuance. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

  

In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): I. Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features; 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). Part I of this update addresses the complexity of accounting for certain financial instruments with down round features. Down round features are features of certain equity-linked instruments (or embedded features) that result in the strike price being reduced on the basis of the pricing of future equity offerings. Current accounting guidance creates cost and complexity for entities that issue financial instruments (such as warrants and convertible instruments) with down round features that require fair value measurement of the entire   instrument or conversion option. Part II of this update addresses the difficulty of navigating Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, because of the existence of extensive pending content in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. This pending content is the result of the indefinite deferral of accounting requirements about mandatorily redeemable financial instruments of certain nonpublic entities and certain mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests. The amendments in Part II of this update do not have an accounting effect. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of adopting ASU 2017-11 on its financial statements and related disclosures.

  

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2018-07”). ASU 2018-07 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for nonemployee share-based payment transactions resulting from expanding the scope of Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. ASU 2018-07 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Company is currently assessing the effect this guidance may have on its financial statements.

  

In August 2018, the SEC adopted the final rule under SEC Release No. 33-10532, Disclosure Update and Simplification, amending certain disclosure requirements that were redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated or superseded. In addition, the amendments expanded the disclosure requirements on the analysis of stockholders’ equity for interim financial statements. Under the amendments, an analysis of changes in each caption of stockholders’ equity presented in the balance sheet must be provided in a note or separate statement. The analysis should present a reconciliation of the beginning balance to the ending balance of each period for which a statement of comprehensive income is required to be filed. This final rule is effective on November 5, 2018. The Company is evaluating the impact of this guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

  

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), – Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement,” which makes a number of changes meant to add, modify or remove certain disclosure requirements associated with the movement amongst or hierarchy associated with Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted upon issuance of the update. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its condensed consolidated Financial Statements.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (ASU 2014-09) as modified by ASU No. 2015-14, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date,” ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net),” ASU No. 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing,” and ASU No. 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients.” The revenue recognition principle in ASU 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, new and enhanced disclosures will be required. Companies may adopt the new standard either using the full retrospective approach, a modified retrospective approach with practical expedients, or a cumulative effect upon adoption approach. The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective approach. The Company has determined that its licenses represent functional intellectual property under Topic 606. Therefore, revenue is recognized at the point in time when the customer has the right to use the intellectual property rather than over the license period. Accordingly, the Company’s deferred revenue related to its licenses was eliminated and accumulated deficit as of January 1, 2018 was decreased by approximately $3.2 million so that the Company will not recognize revenue on earnings statements in the future as to its license.

 

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU No. 2016-01 requires equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment; eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet; requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; requires an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments; requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial assets on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements; and clarifies that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. ASU No. 2016-01 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2016-01 on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this update did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.  

 

In May 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the FASB) issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting, (ASU 2017-09). ASU 2017-09 provides clarity and reduces both (1) diversity in practice and (2) cost and complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718, to a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The amendments in ASU 2017-09 should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted ASU 2017-09 on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.