Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2024

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a) Basis of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries, Marine Advanced Robotics Inc. (CA), referred to herein as MAR, 3dent Technologies LLC (3Dent), Oregon Wave Energy Partners I LLC (DE), ReedSport OPT WavePark, LLC (OR) and Ocean Power Technologies Ltd. in the United Kingdom. ReedSport OPT WavePark, LLC (OR) and Oregon Wave Energy Partners I, LLC (DE) were dissolved during the first quarter of fiscal 2024. 3dent was sold in November 2023 and the consolidated financial statements include 3dent’s results of operations through the date of sale. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

(b) Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make several estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, among other items, stock-based compensation based on actual and projected revenues, over time revenue recognition, valuation consideration related to business combinations, including contingent consideration based on actual and projected revenues, including discount rates and present values, and other assumptions and estimates used to evaluate the recoverability of long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(c) Business Combinations

The Company accounts for business combinations in accordance with Financial Accounting and Standards Board (“FASB”) Business Combinations (Topic 805). The Company allocates the fair value of consideration transferred in a business combination to the estimated fair value at the acquisition date of the tangible and intangible assets acquired as well as the liabilities assumed. Acquisition costs are expensed as incurred. Any excess consideration transferred is recorded as goodwill and in instances where the fair value of consideration transferred is less than the estimated fair value of tangible and intangible assets acquired less liabilities assumed, such amounts are recorded as a gain on the bargain purchase.

(d) Revenue Recognition

The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 606 (ASC 606) for contracts with customers and Accounting Standards Codification 842 (ASC 842) for leasing arrangements. In relation to ASC 606, which states that a performance obligation is the unit of account for revenue recognition, the Company assesses the goods or services promised in a contract with a customer and identifies as a performance obligation as either: a) a good or service (or a bundle of goods or services) that is distinct; or b) a series of distinct goods or services that are substantially the same and that have the same pattern of transfer to the customer. A contract may contain a single performance obligation or multiple performance obligations. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the contracted transaction price to each performance obligation based upon the relative standalone selling price, which represents the price the Company would sell a promised good or service separately to a customer. The Company determines the standalone selling price based upon the facts and circumstances of each obligated good or service. When no observable standalone selling price is available, the standalone selling price is generally estimated based upon the Company’s forecast of the total cost to satisfy the performance obligation plus an appropriate profit margin.

The nature of the Company’s contracts may give rise to several types of variable consideration, including unpriced change orders, liquidated damages and penalties. Variable consideration can also arise from modifications to the scope of services. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur once the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. Estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include such amounts in the transaction price are based largely on the assessment of legal enforceability, performance, and any other information (historical, current, and forecasted) that is reasonably available to us. There was no variable consideration as of April 30, 2024 or 2023. The Company presents shipping and handling costs, that occur after control of the promised goods or services transfer to the customer, as fulfillment costs in costs of goods sold and regular shipping and handling activities charged to operating expenses.

The Company recognizes revenue when or as it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring a good or service to a customer, either (1) at a point in time or (2) over time. A good or service is transferred when or as the customer obtains control. The evaluation of whether control of each performance obligation is transferred at a point in time or over time is made at contract inception. Input measures such as costs incurred are utilized to assess progress against specific contractual performance obligations for the Company’s services. The selection of the method to measure progress towards completion requires judgment and is based on the nature of the services to be provided. For the Company, the input method using costs or labor hours incurred best represents the measure of progress against the performance obligations incorporated within the contractual agreements. If estimated total costs on any contract project a loss, the Company charges the entire estimated loss to operations in the period the loss becomes known. The cumulative effect of revisions to revenue, estimated costs to complete contracts, including penalties, change orders, claims, anticipated losses, and others are recorded in the accounting period in which the events indicating a loss are known and the loss can be reasonably estimated. These loss projections are reassessed for each subsequent reporting period until the project is complete. Such revisions could occur at any time and the effects may be material. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024 the Company recognized approximately $3.7 million in revenue related to performance obligations satisfied at a point in time and approximately $1.9 million in revenue related to performance obligations satisfied over time.

The Company’s contracts are either cost-plus contracts, fixed-price contracts, time and material agreements, lease or service agreements. Under cost plus contracts, customers are billed for actual expenses incurred plus an agreed-upon fee.

The Company has two types of fixed-price contracts, firm fixed-price and cost-sharing. Under firm fixed-price contracts, the Company receives an agreed-upon amount for providing products and services specified in the contract, and a profit or loss is recognized depending on whether actual costs are more or less than the agreed-upon amount. Under cost-sharing contracts, the fixed amount agreed upon with the customer is only intended to fund a portion of the costs on a specific project. Under cost sharing contracts, an amount corresponding to the revenue is recorded in cost of revenue, resulting in gross profit on these contracts of zero. For the fiscal years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, the majority of the Company’s contracts were classified as firm fixed-price and the remainder were cost-sharing.

The Company’s contract assets and liabilities primarily relate to the timing differences between cash received from a customer in connection with contractual rights to invoicing and the timing of revenue recognition following completion of performance obligations. The Company’s accounts receivable balance is made up entirely of customer contract-related balances.

The Company’s revenue also includes revenue from certain contracts which do not fall within the scope of ASC 606, but under the scope of ASC 842. At inception of a contract for those classified under ASC 842, the Company classifies leases as either operating or financing in accordance with the authoritative accounting guidance contained within ASC Topic 842, “Leases”. If the direct financing or sales-type classification criteria are met, then the lease is accounted for as a finance lease. All others are treated as operating leases. The Company recognizes revenue from operating lease arrangements generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term, or as agreed upon in-use days are utilized, which is presented in Revenue in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company also enters into lease arrangements for its PowerBuoys® and Wave Adaptive Modular Vessels (“WAM-V®”) with certain customers. Revenue related to multiple-element arrangements is allocated to lease and non-lease elements based on their relative standalone selling prices or expected cost plus a margin approach. Lease elements generally include a PowerBuoy®, WAM-V®, and components, while non-lease elements, which the Company expects to become more prevalent, generally include engineering, monitoring and support services. In the lease arrangement, the customer may be provided with an option to extend the lease term or purchase the leased buoy or WAM-V® at some point during and/or at the end of the lease term.

As of April 30, 2024, the Company’s remaining performance obligations, also called contracted backlog, totaled $4.9 million.

The Company has elected to record taxes collected from customers on a net basis and does not include tax amounts in revenue or costs of revenue.

The below table represents the total revenue recognized under ASC 606 and ASC 842 fiscal years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023:

	Fiscal year ended April 30, 2024						Fiscal year ended April 30, 2023
	ASC 606		ASC 842		Total		ASC 606		ASC 842		Total
	(in thousands)						(in thousands)
Product Line:
WAM-V	$	1,912	$	1,392	$	3,304	$	919	$	667	$	1,586
Buoy		1,739		—		1,739		269		—		269
Services		482		—		482		877		—		877
Total	$	4,133	$	1,392	$	5,525	$	2,065	$	667	$	2,732
Region:
North and South America	$	4,101	$	1,177	$	5,278	$	1,722	$	667	$	2,389
Europe		32		215		247		90		-		90
Asia and Australia		—		—		—		253		—		253
Total	$	4,133	$	1,392	$	5,525	$	2,065	$	667	$	2,732

(e) Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, Security Agreements and Investments

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased, to be cash equivalents. The Company invests excess cash in a money market account or in short term investments that are held-to-maturity. The Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $3.3 million and $7.1 million as of April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Restricted Cash and Security Agreements

The Company has a letter of credit agreement with Santander Bank, N.A. (“Santander”). Cash of $154,000 is on deposit at Santander and serves as security for a letter of credit issued by Santander for the lease of warehouse/office space in Monroe Township, New Jersey.

In the prior year Santander also issued one letter of credit to subsidiaries of Enel Green Power (“EGP”) pursuant to the Company’s contracts with EGP. A letter of credit was issued in the amount of $645,000 and was reduced to $323,000 in August 2020. The letter of credit was further reduced by an additional $258,000 in January of 2023, when the PB3 and its accompanying systems passed final acceptance testing. The remaining restricted amount of $65,000 was released in January of 2024.

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the Consolidated Balance Sheets that total to the same amounts shown in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

	April 30, 2024		April 30, 2023
	(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,151	$	6,883
Restricted cash- short term		—		65
Restricted cash- long term		154		155
	$	3,305	$	7,103

Short Term Investments

As of April 30, 2024 and 2023, their carrying value was approximately zero and $27.8 million, respectively. All short-term investments consist of corporate bonds, government agency bonds, or U.S. Treasury Notes and Bonds, are investment grade rated or better, and mature within 12 months. The Company has the ability and the intention to hold all investments to maturity, and as such are classified as held-to-maturity investments and carried at amortized cost. As of April 30, 2024, as all short term investments have matured.

The total accretion of discounts recognized for the years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023 is approximately $290,000 and $122,000, respectively. Additionally, there has been no impairment on these investments.

The following table summarizes the Company’s short-term investments as of April 30, 2024 and 2023:

	April 30, 2024						April 30, 2023
Category	Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gains (Losses)		Market Value		Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gains (Losses)		Market Value
	(in thousands)
Corporate Bonds	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	14,776	$	100	$	14,876
Government Bonds & Notes		—		—		—		9,188		33		9,221
Government Agency		—		—		—		3,826		25		3,851
Total Short Term Investments	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	27,790	$	158	$	27,948

(f) Inventory

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 330 (ASC 330), inventory is stated at the lower of costs or net realizable value applicable to goods on hand. Items remain in inventory until they are shipped to the customer, at which time the costs are transferred on a FIFO basis to cost of revenue, or moved to leased assets as applicable, following the matching principle where costs and revenue are recognized in the same period. The Company has three classes of inventory; raw materials, work in process, and finished goods.

(g) Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are stated at the net amount expected to be collected. Amounts are usually due between 30 and 90 days after the invoice issuance. The Company is exposed to credit losses primarily on accounts receivable and contract assets related to sales to customers. If applicable, an allowance for credit losses is established to provide for the expected lifetime credit losses by evaluating factors such as customer creditworthiness, historical payment and loss experiences, current economic conditions (including geographic and political risk), and the age and status of outstanding receivables. Based on these factors, management has determined the allowance for credit losses was immaterial. Expected credit losses are written off in the period in which the financial asset is no longer collectible.

The Company grants credit to its customers, generally, without collateral, under normal payment terms (typically 30 to 90 days after invoicing). Generally, invoicing occurs after the services are performed or control of the product has transferred to the customer. Accounts receivable represent an unconditional right to consideration arising from the Company’s performance under contracts with customers.

(h) Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives (three to ten years) of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the remaining lease term. Expenses for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Property and equipment is also reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, then an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

Description	Estimated useful life
Equipment	5-7 years
Computer equipment & software	3 years
Office furniture & fixtures	3-7 years
Leasehold improvements	Shorter of the estimated useful life or lease term
Leased Power Buoy assets	10 years
Leased WAM-V assets	10 years

(i) Foreign Exchange Gains and Losses

Transactions denominated in a foreign currency may result in realized and unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses from exchange rate fluctuations, which are included in “Foreign exchange (loss)/gain” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(j) Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of trade accounts receivable, short-term investments and cash equivalents. The Company believes that its credit risk is limited because the Company’s current contracts are with entities with a reliable payment history. The Company invests its excess cash in a money market fund and short-term held-to maturity investments and does not believe that it is exposed to any significant risks related to its cash accounts, money market fund, or held-to maturity investments.

As of the year ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company had four and two customers whose revenue accounted for at least 10% of the Company’s consolidated revenue, respectively. These customers accounted for approximately 52% and 32% of the Company’s total revenue for the respective periods.

(k) Net Loss per Common Share

Basic and diluted net loss per share for all periods presented is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding during the period. Due to the Company’s net losses, potentially dilutive securities, consisting of options to purchase shares of common stock, warrants on common stock and unvested restricted stock units (“RSU”) issued to employees and non-employee directors, were excluded from the diluted loss per share calculation due to their anti-dilutive effect.

In computing diluted net loss per share on the Consolidated Statement of Operations, warrants on common stock, options to purchase shares of common stock and unvested restricted stock units issued to employees and non-employee directors, totaling 5,859,072 and 7,777,026 for the years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, were excluded from each of the computations as the effect would have been anti-dilutive due to the net loss for the period. Share purchase rights, which include a contingency, are not included in the calculation until the contingency is resolved.

(l) Share-Based Compensation

Costs resulting from all share-based payment transactions are recognized in the consolidated financial statements at their fair values. The aggregate share-based compensation expense recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023 was approximately $1.2 million and $1.5 million, respectively. The Company’s policy is to account for forfeitures of share-based compensation as they occur.

Additionally, upon vesting of an RSU granted to an employee, the employee is given the option to either pay the taxes themselves, or have enough shares of their RSU award withheld by the Company to cover the taxes incurred by the employee. In the event the employee elects to surrender shares to cover the tax implication, the Company maintains those shares in the Company’s treasury stock account.

(m) Intangibles, net

Intangible assets acquired in a business combination are recognized separately from goodwill and are initially recognized at their fair value at the acquisition date (which is regarded as their cost). Intangible assets, including patents, are amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset on a basis that approximates the pattern of economic benefit. The patents, trade name and customer relationship intangibles are being amortized over 20, 12 and 10 years respectively, which is consistent with the estimated pattern of economic benefit of the assets. The trademark is not subject to amortization.

Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment if indicators of potential impairment exist. There was no indication of impairment of intangible assets for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2024 and April 30, 2023. However, in connection with the sale of 3Dent in November of 2023, the trade-name and customer relationships were both expensed fully during the year ended April 30, 2024 under Loss on disposition of assets on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(n) Goodwill

Goodwill is assessed for impairment using a qualitative or quantitative approach. The Company performs an annual impairment test of goodwill and further periodic tests to the extent indicators of impairment develop between annual impairment tests. There were no indications of potential impairment of goodwill identified for the year ended April 30, 2024 and 2023. Where the Company uses a qualitative analysis, it considers factors that include historical financial performance, macroeconomic and industry conditions, and the legal and regulatory environment. If the qualitative assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that an impairment exists, then a quantitative assessment is also performed. The quantitative assessment requires an analysis of several estimates including future cash flows or income consistent with management’s strategic business plans, annual sales growth rates and the selection of assumptions underlying a discount rate (weighted average cost of capital) based on market data available at the time to determine fair value of the Company. If the fair value is less than the carrying amounts, an impairment charge for the difference is recorded. The Company acquired goodwill as part of its purchase of MAR. Management performed its annual qualitative assessment in fiscal year 2024 and 2023 and determined that it is more likely than not that no goodwill impairment existed as of April 30, 2024 and 2023.

(o) Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under ACS 740 utilizing the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences and operating loss and tax credit carry forwards are expected to be recovered, settled or utilized. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all the deferred tax assets will not be realized. If such event occurs, a valuation allowance is recorded. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained upon examination. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. The Company records interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in selling, general, and administrative expenses, to the extent incurred. Refer to Note 14 for additional disclosure.

(p) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The functional currency for the Company’s foreign operations is the applicable local currency. The translation from the applicable foreign currencies to U.S. dollars is performed for balance sheet accounts using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and for revenue and expense accounts using an average exchange rate during the period. The unrealized gains or losses resulting from such translation are included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss within Shareholders’ Equity. For the year ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, there were no amounts recorded to other comprehensive (income) loss due to limited foreign operations.

(q) Warranty

The Company does not include a right of return on its products other than rights related to standard warranty provisions that permit repair or replacement of defective goods. Warranty expense incurred to date has not been material.

(r) Product development

Costs related to research and development activities by the Company are expensed as incurred. The Company had approximately $7.7 million and $10.0 million in product development expense for the year ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

(s) Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), which improves the transparency of income tax disclosures by requiring companies to (1) disclose consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the effective rate reconciliation and (2) provide information on income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, although early adoption is permitted. The guidance should be applied on a prospective basis with the option to apply the standard retrospectively. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU 2023-09 on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures.” This ASU improves financial reporting by requiring disclosure of incremental segment information. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU 2023-07 on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

(t) Reclassifications

Certain amounts may have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. This reclassification had no impact on the previously reported net loss or comprehensive loss.