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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Nature of Operations
 
The Company is primarily engaged in the development, marketing and manufacturing of detection, sensing and analysis technology, precision instruments and optical components as well as contract research.  The Company’s products and services are used in a broad range of application markets including the homeland security, industrial and medical markets sectors.  The products and services are sold throughout the United States and internationally.
 
Principles of Consolidation
 
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Dynasil Corporation of America (“Dynasil” or the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: Optometrics Corporation (“Optometrics”), Dynasil International Incorporated, Hibshman Corporation, Evaporated Metal Films Corp (“EMF”), RMD Instruments Corp (“Dynasil Products”), Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc (“RMD Research”) Hilger Crystals, Ltd (“Hilger”) and Dynasil Biomedical Corp (“Dynasil Biomedical”).   All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
Revenue from sales of products is recognized at the time title and the risks and rewards of ownership pass.  This is when the products are shipped per customers’ instructions, the sales price is fixed and determinable, and collections are reasonably assured.  Revenue from research and development activities consists of up-front fees, research and development funding and milestone payments, if any.  Periodic payments for research and development activities and government grants are recognized over the period that the Company performs the related activities under the terms of the agreements.
 
Government funded services revenues from cost plus contracts are recognized as costs are incurred on the basis of direct costs plus allowable indirect costs and an allocable portion of the contracts’ fixed fees.  Revenue from fixed-type contracts is recognized under the percentage of completion method with estimated costs and profits included in contract revenue as work is performed.  Revenues from time and materials contracts are recognized as costs are incurred at amounts represented by agreed billing amounts.  Recognition of losses on projects is taken as soon as the loss is reasonably determinable.  The Company has no current accrual provision for potential losses on existing research projects based on Management expectations as well as historical experience.
 
The majority of the Company’s contract research revenue is derived from the United States government and government related contracts.  Such contracts have certain risks which include dependence on future appropriations and administrative allotment of funds and changes in government policies.  Costs incurred under United States government contracts are subject to audit.  The Company believes that the results of such audits will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position or its results of operations.
 
Allowances for Doubtful Accounts Receivable
 
The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and adjusts credit limits based upon payment history and the customer's current credit worthiness, as determined by a review of their current credit information.  The Company continuously monitors collections and payments from our customers and maintains a provision for estimated credit losses based upon historical experience and any specific customer
 
 
collection issues that have been identified.  While such credit losses have historically been minimal, within expectations and the provisions established, the Company cannot guarantee that it will continue to experience the same credit loss rates as in the past.  A significant change in the liquidity or financial position of any significant customers could have a material adverse effect on the collectability of accounts receivable and future operating results.
 
Shipping and Handling Costs
 
The Company includes shipping and handling fees billed to customers in sales and shipping and handling costs incurred in cost of revenues.
 
Research and Development
 
The Company expenses research and development costs as incurred.  Research and development costs include salaries, employee benefit costs, department supplies, direct project costs and other related costs.  Research and development costs incurred during the years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were $23,985,088 and $20,600,349, respectively.  Substantially all of these research and development costs relate to research contracts performed by RMD Research, and are in turn billed to the contracting party.
 
Costs in Excess of Billings
 
Costs in excess of billings, or billings in excess of costs, relates to research and development contracts and consists of pre-contract costs and/or billings at provisional contract rates less actual costs plus fees.
 
Convertible Preferred Stock
 
The Company considers the guidance of EITF 98-5, "Accounting for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios" and EITF 00-27, "Application of Issue No. 98-5 to Certain Convertible Instruments", codified in FASB ASC Topic  470-20 when accounting for the issuance of convertible preferred stock. The Company's convertible preferred stock, when issued, are generally convertible to common stock at or above the then current market price of the Company's common stock and therefore, contain no beneficial conversion feature.
 
Patent Costs (principally Legal Fees)
 
Costs incurred in filing, prosecuting and maintaining patents are expensed as incurred.  Such costs aggregated approximately $315,549 and $367,657 for the years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Inventories
 
Inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or market.  Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.  Inventories consist primarily of raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods.  The Company evaluates inventory levels and expected usage on a periodic basis and records adjustments for impairments as required.
 
Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation and Amortization
 
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost or at fair market value for acquired assets.  Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes and accelerated methods for income tax purposes over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets
 
The estimated useful lives of assets for financial reporting purposes are as follows:  building and
 
improvements, 8 to 25 years; machinery and equipment, 5 to 10 years; office furniture and fixtures, 5 to 10 years; transportation equipment, 5 years. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred; major renewals and betterments are capitalized.  When items of property, plant and equipment are sold or retired, the related costs and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in income.
 
Valuation of Long-Lived Assets, Intangible Assets and Goodwill
 
Goodwill
 
Goodwill and intangible assets which have indefinite lives are subject to annual impairment tests.  Goodwill is tested by reviewing the carrying value compared to the fair value at the reporting unit level.  Fair value for the reporting unit is derived using the income approach.  Under the income approach, fair value is calculated based on the present value of estimated future cash flows.  Assumptions by management are necessary to evaluate the impact of operating and economic changes and to estimate future cash flows.  Management’s evaluation includes assumptions on future growth rates and cost of capital that are consistent with internal projections and operating plans.
 
The Company generally performs its annual impairment testing of goodwill during the fourth quarter of its fiscal year, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired.  The Company tests impairment at the reporting unit level using the two-step process.  The Company’s primary reporting units tested for impairment are RMD Research, which comprises the Contract Research segment, Dynasil Products (previously known as RMD Instruments), which is a component of the Products and Technology segment, and Hilger Crystals for the first time, also in the Products and Technology segment.
 
Step one of the impairment testing compares the carrying value of a reporting unit to its fair value.  The carrying value represents the net book value of the net assets of the reporting unit or simply the equity of the reporting unit if the reporting unit is the entire entity.  If the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying value, no impairment has been incurred and no further testing or analysis is necessary.  The Company estimates fair value using a discounted cash flow methodology which calculates fair value based on the present value of estimated future cash flows.  Estimating future cash flows requires significant judgment and includes making assumptions about projected growth rates, industry-specific factors, working capital requirements, weighted average cost of capital, and current and anticipated operating conditions.  Assumptions by management are necessary to evaluate the impact of operating and economic changes.  The Company’s evaluation includes assumptions on future growth rates and cost of capital that are consistent with internal projections and operating plans.  The use of different assumptions or estimates for future cash flows could produce different results.  The Company regularly assesses the estimates based on the actual performance of each reporting unit.
 
If the carrying value of a reporting unit is greater than its fair value, step two of the impairment testing process is performed to determine the amount of impairment to be recognized.  Step two requires the Company to estimate an implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities other than goodwill.  An impairment then exists if the carrying value of the goodwill is greater than the goodwill’s implied fair value.  With respect to the Company's annual goodwill impairment testing performed during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011, step one of the testing determined the estimated fair values of RMD Research and Hilger Crystals substantially exceeded their carrying values by more than 20%.  The estimated fair value of the Dynasil Products reporting unit narrowly exceeded its carrying value.  Therefore, the Company undertook a step two analysis by performing essentially a new purchase price allocation as of the date of the impairment test.  Values were determined of both originally recognized assets and any new assets that may have been unrecognized at the time of the original transaction, but were developed between the acquisition date and the test date.  The result was confirmation that the new residual value of goodwill is higher than the carrying value.  Accordingly, the Company concluded that no impairment had occurred and no further testing was necessary.
 
Intangible Assets
 
The Company’s intangible assets consist of an acquired customer base of Optometrics, LLC, acquired customer relationships and trade names of RMD Instruments, LLC, acquired backlog and know how of Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. and provisionally patented technologies within Dynasil Biomedical Corp.  The Company amortizes its intangible assets with definitive lives over their useful lives, which range from 4 to 15 years, based on the time period the Company expects to receive the economic benefit from these assets.  No impairment charge was recorded during the periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.
 
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
 
The Company’s long-lived assets include property, plant and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization.  The Company evaluates long-lived assets for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset may have been impaired.  In evaluating an asset for recoverability, the Company estimates the future cash flow expected to result from the use of the asset and eventual disposition. If the expected future undiscounted cash flow is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss, equal to the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the asset, is recognized.  The Company reviewed its long-lived assets and determined there was no impairment charge during the years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.
 
Deferred Financing Costs
 
Deferred financing costs, net of $150,656 and $190,568 at September 30, 2011 and 2010 include accumulated amortization of $48,898 and $8,986, respectively.  Amortization expense for the years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was $39,912 and $20,122.  Unamortized debt financing costs of $106,999 were expensed during the year ended September 30, 2010 due to refinancing.
 
Advertising
 
The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred.  Advertising expense for the years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was $246,426 and $177,891.
 
Deferred Rent
 
Deferred rent consists of the excess of the allocable straight line rent expense to date as compared to the total amount of rent due and payable through such period.  Deferred rent is amortized as a reduction to rent expense over the term of the lease.  Deferred rent was $96,840 and $103,314 as of September 30, 2011 and 2010 and is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities.
 
Income Taxes
 
Dynasil Corporation of America and its wholly-owned subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return.
 
The Company uses the asset and liability approach to account for income taxes.  Under this approach, deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes and net operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards.  The amount of deferred taxes on these temporary differences is determined using the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realized or the liability is settled, as applicable, based on tax rates, and tax laws, in the respective tax jurisdiction then in
effect.  Valuation allowances are provided if it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.  The provision for income taxes includes taxes currently payable, if any, plus the net change during the year in deferred tax assets and liabilities recorded by the Company.
 
The Company applies the authoritative provisions related to accounting for uncertainty in income taxes.  As required by these provisions, the Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit.  For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority.  The Company has applied these provisions to all tax positions for which the statute of limitations remained open.  There was no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows as of September 30, 2011 and 2010.  As of September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits.  The Company’s practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.  As of September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company had no accrued interest or penalties related to income taxes.  The Company currently has no federal or state tax examinations in progress.
 
Earnings Per Common Share
 
Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing the net income applicable to common shares after preferred dividends paid, if applicable, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period.  Diluted earnings per common share adjusts basic earnings per share for the effects of common stock options, common stock warrants, convertible preferred stock and other potential dilutive common shares outstanding during the periods.
 
For purposes of computing diluted earnings per share, 194,778 and 2,532,874 common share equivalents were assumed to be outstanding for the year ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, with the large difference being convertible preferred stock.  The Series C Preferred Stock was converted into 2,102,400 common shares on December 21, 2010 thus is not part of the calculations for the year ended September 30, 2011. The computations of the weighted shares outstanding for the years ended September 30 are as follows:
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Weighted average shares outstanding
           
Basic
    14,932,226       12,404,701  
Effect of dilutive securities
               
Stock Options
    194,778       430,474  
Convertible Preferred Stock
    0       2,102,400  
Dilutive Average Shares Outstanding
    15,127,004       14,937,575  
 
Stock Based Compensation
 
Stock-based compensation cost is measured using the fair value recognition provisions of the FASB authoritative guidance, which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock-based awards made to employees and directors, including employee stock options, based on estimated fair values.
 
We elected to use the modified prospective application transition method as provided by the FASB authoritative guidance.  In accordance with the modified prospective transition method, compensation cost is recognized in the consolidated financial statements for all awards granted after the date of adoptions.
 
Foreign Currency Translation
 
The operations of Hilger, the Company’s foreign subsidiary, use their local currency as its functional currency. Assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign operations, denominated in their local currency, Great Britain Pounds (GBP), are translated at the rate of exchange at the balance sheet date.  Revenue and expense accounts are translated at the average exchange rates during the period.  Adjustments resulting from translating foreign functional currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are included in the foreign currency translation adjustment, a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity.  Gains and losses generated by transactions denominated in foreign currencies are recorded in the accompanying statement of operations in the period in which they occur.
 
Comprehensive Income
 
Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, including foreign currency translation adjustments.  Accumulated comprehensive income at September 30, 2011 and 2010 represents cumulative translation adjustments related to Hilger Crystals, the Company’s foreign subsidiary.  The Company presents comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
 
Financial Instruments
 
The carrying amount reported in the balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The carrying amount for long-term debt approximates fair value because the underlying instruments are primarily at current market rates.
 
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of accounts receivable. In the normal course of business, the Company extends credit to certain customers. Management performs initial and ongoing credit evaluations of their customers and generally does not require collateral.
 
Concentration of Credit Risk
 
The Company maintains allowances for potential credit losses and has not experienced any significant losses related to the collection of its accounts receivable.  As of September 30, 2011 and 2010, approximately $1,762,872 and $2,166,759 or 24% and 34% of the Company’s accounts receivable are due from foreign sales.
 
The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents at various financial institutions in New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York.  Accounts at each institution are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000. At September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company's uninsured bank balances totaled $3,308,182 and $3,163,714. The Company has not experienced any significant losses on its cash and cash equivalents.
 
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
 
In July 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-20 (ASU 2010-20), Receivables (Topic 310) — Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses. ASU 2010-20 requires disclosures about the nature of the credit risk in an entity’s financing receivables, how that risk is incorporated into the allowance for credit losses, and the reasons for any changes in the allowance. Disclosure is required to be disaggregated at the level at which an entity calculates its allowance for credit losses. ASU 2010-20 was effective for the Company beginning March 31, 2011, but was extended to September 30, 2011 per ASU 2011-01. The adoption of this accounting standard did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures.
In December 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-28 (ASU 2010-28), Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts. The amendments in this Update modify Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that an impairment may exist. The qualitative factors are consistent with the existing guidance, which requires that goodwill of a reporting unit be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. Early adoption is not permitted. ASU 2010-28 is effective for us beginning October 1, 2011 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures.
 
In December 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-29 (ASU 2010-29), Business Combinations (Topic 805) — Disclosure of Supplementary Pro Forma Information for Business Combinations. ASU 2010-29 requires a public entity to disclose pro forma information for business combinations that occurred in the current reporting period. The disclosures include pro forma revenue and earnings of the combined business combinations that occurred during the year had been as of the beginning of the annual reporting period. If comparative financial statements are presented, the pro forma revenue and earnings of the combined entity for the comparable prior reporting period should be reported as though the acquisition date for all business combinations that occurred during the current year had been as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period. The amendments in this update are effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after October 1, 2011 effective for the Company beginning September 30, 2011. The adoption of this accounting standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures.
 
In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-04 (ASU 2011-04), Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. ASU 2011-04 clarifies some existing concepts, eliminates wording differences between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), and in some limited cases, changes some principles to achieve convergence between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. ASU 2011-04 results in a consistent definition of fair value and common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. ASU 2011-04 also expands the disclosures for fair value measurements that are estimated using significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs. ASU 2011-04 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011.  The adoption of this accounting standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures.
 
In June 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. ASU 2011-05 (ASU 2011-05), Presentation of Comprehensive Income, which requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income, or in two separate but consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of stockholders’ equity. ASU 2011-05 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this accounting standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures.
 
In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), Testing Goodwill for Impairment (“ASU 2011-08”). ASU 2011-08 simplifies the goodwill impairment guidance, providing entities with a qualitative assessment option when performing their annual impairment test. An entity will have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether performing the current two-step test is necessary. If an entity believes, as a result of its qualitative assessment, that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test will be required. Otherwise, no further testing is required. ASU 2011-08 is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, and early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt ASU 2011-08 in fiscal 2012. The adoption is not expected to materially impact the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
 
Statement of Cash Flows
 
For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company generally considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
 
Reclassifications
 
Certain amounts as previously reported have been reclassified to conform to the current year financial statement presentation.