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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation: The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“generally accepted accounting principles”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, which are unaudited, include all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2011 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the periods presented. The unaudited consolidated financial statements herein should be read together with the historical consolidated financial statements of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.  Operating results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2011.
 
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 reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Estimates also affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.

Concentration of Risks:  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, three major suppliers provided approximately 29% and 28%, respectively, of Erye’s purchases of raw materials.  As of September 30, 2011, the total accounts payable to the three major suppliers represented 14% of the total accounts payable balance.
 
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, two major suppliers provided approximately 17% and 20%, respectively, of Erye’s purchases of raw material.  As of December 31, 2010, the total accounts payable to the two major suppliers was 18% of the total accounts payable.
 
Approximately 80% of Erye’s revenues are derived from products that use penicillin or cephalosporin as the key active ingredient. These products are manufactured on two of the eight production lines in Erye’s manufacturing facility. Any issues or incidents that might disrupt the manufacturing of products requiring penicillin or cephalosporin could have a material impact on the operating results of Erye. Any interruption or cessation in production could impact market sales.
 
In addition, over 70% of these drugs are on China’s essential drug list and any policies that might lower the pricing of these drugs and any policies that could reduce the consumption of these drugs could have a material impact on operating results.
 
Inventories:  Inventories are stated at the approximate lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out basis. The Company reviews its inventory periodically and will reduce inventory to its net realizable value depending on certain factors, such as product demand, remaining shelf life, future marketing plans, obsolescence and slow-moving inventories.  The Company includes in work in process the cost incurred on projects at PCT that have multiple deliverables and therefore cannot be recognized as revenue until the project is completed. The Company reviews these projects periodically to determine that the value of each project is stated at the lower of cost or market.

Inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
   
September 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
Raw materials and supplies
  $ 3,839.8     $ 8,043.8  
Work in process
    7,136.5       4,792.4  
Finished goods
    9,606.0       8,187.2  
Total inventory
  $ 20,582.3     $ 21,023.4  
 
Income Taxes:  The Company recognizes (a) the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and (b) deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. The Company continues to evaluate the accounting for uncertainty in tax positions. The guidance requires companies to recognize in their financial statements the impact of a tax position if the position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit. The position ascertained inherently requires judgment and estimates by management. As of September 30, 2011, management does not believe the Company has any material uncertain tax positions that would require it to measure and reflect the potential lack of sustainability of a position on audit in its financial statements. The Company will continue to evaluate its uncertain tax positions in future periods to determine if measurement and recognition in its financial statements is necessary. The Company does not believe there will be any material changes in its unrecognized tax positions over the next year.
 
The Company classifies taxes related to witholding taxes paid on dividends declared by Erye to the Company that are reinvested into Erye as general and administrative expense.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties as a component of income tax expense. There were no interest and penalties recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The Company files income tax returns with the U.S. Federal government and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The statute of limitations has expired on all consolidated U.S. Federal corporate income tax returns filed through 2006, and the Internal Revenue Service is not currently examining any of the post-2006 returns filed by the Company.
 
Comprehensive Income (Loss):  The accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) balance at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 in the amount of approximately $5,001,600 and $2,779,100, respectively, is comprised entirely of foreign currency translation adjustments. Comprehensive loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Net loss
  $ (7,328.5 )   $ (5,994.6 )   $ (27,728.7 )   $ (13,040.3 )
Other comprehensive (loss)/income
                               
Foreign currency translation
    712.1       1,483.4       2,222.6       1,651.1  
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income
    712.1       1,483.4       2,222.6       1,651.1  
Comprehensive (loss)
    (6,616.4 )     (4,511.2 )     (25,506.1 )     (11,389.2 )
Comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interests
    366.9       1,864.0       1,648.1       4,877.8  
Comprehensive loss attributable to NeoStem, Inc.
  $ (6,983.3 )   $ (6,375.2 )   $ (27,154.2 )   $ (16,267.0 )
 
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets:  Goodwill is the excess of purchase price over the fair value of identified net assets of businesses acquired. The Company’s intangible assets with an indefinite life are related to in process research and development at Erye, as the Company expects this research and development to provide the Company with substantial benefit for a period that extends beyond the foreseeable horizon. Amortized intangible assets consist of Erye’s customer list, manufacturing technology, standard operating procedures, tradename, lease rights and patents, as well as patents and rights associated primarily with the     VSEL TM Technology. These intangible assets are amortized on a straight line basis over their respective useful lives.

The Company reviews goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets at least annually for possible impairment. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for possible impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying value. The Company tests its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for its Cell Therapy – United States, and its Pharmaceutical Manufacturing – China reporting units on October 31. The Company reviews the carrying value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets utilizing a discounted cash flow model, and, where appropriate, a market value approach is also utilized to supplement the discounted cash flow model. The Company makes assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows, discount rates, long-term growth rates and market values to determine each reporting unit’s estimated fair value. If these estimates or related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record impairment charges.

Derivatives:  Derivative instruments, including derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, are recorded on the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recognized currently in results of operations unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. The Company has not entered into hedging activities to date. As a result of certain financings (see Note 8), derivative instruments were created that are measured at fair value and marked to market at each reporting period. Changes in the derivative value are recorded as other income (expense) on the consolidated statements of operations.

Evaluation of Long-lived Assets:  The Company reviews long-lived assets and finite-lived intangibles assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. If other events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset that the Company expects to hold and use may not be recoverable, the Company will estimate the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset or its eventual disposition, and recognize an impairment loss. The impairment loss, if determined to be necessary, would be measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets.

Share-Based Compensation:  The Company expenses all share-based payment awards to employees, directors, advisors and consultants, including grants of stock options, warrants, and restricted stock, over the requisite service period based on the grant date fair value of the awards. Advisor and consultant awards are remeasured each reporting period through vesting. For awards with performance-based vesting criteria, the Company estimates the probability of achievement of the performance criteria and recognizes compensation expense related to those awards expected to vest. The Company determines the fair value of certain share-based awards using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model which uses both historical and current market data to estimate the fair value. This method incorporates various assumptions such as the risk-free interest rate, expected volatility, expected dividend yield and expected life of the options or warrants. The fair value of the Company’s restricted stock and restricted stock units is based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. See Note 9.

Loss Per Share:  Basic loss per share is based on the weighted effect of all common shares issued and outstanding, and is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per share, which is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares used in the basic loss per share calculation plus the number of common shares that would be issued assuming conversion of all potentially dilutive securities outstanding, is not presented as such potentially dilutive securities are anti-dilutive in all periods presented. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company incurred net losses and therefore no common stock equivalents were utilized in the calculation of loss per share. At September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company excluded the following potentially dilutive securities:
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Stock Options
    17,749,895       13,558,214  
Warrants
    35,208,817       17,352,028  
Series E Preferred Stock, Common stock equivalents
    4,693,730       -  
 
Revenue Recognition: The Company recognizes revenue from pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical intermediary product sales when title has passed, the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the customer, the fee is fixed and determinable, and the collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured which is at the time of delivery. The Company recognizes revenue for its cell development and manufacturing services based on the terms of individual contracts.  In certain cases, there are multiple elements that cannot be considered separate deliverables and therefore the Company recognizes revenue on a completed contract basis for these arrangements. In other cases, the Company is paid for time and materials or for fixed monthly amounts and revenue is recognized when efforts are expended or contractual terms have been met.  The Company recognizes revenue related to the collection and cryopreservation of cord blood and autologous adult stem cells when the cryopreservation process is completed which is twenty four hours after cells have been collected. Revenue related to advance payments of storage fees is recognized ratably over the period covered by the advance payments. The Company earns revenue, in the form of license fees, from physicians seeking to establish autologous adult stem cell collection centers. These license fees are typically billed upon signing of the collection center agreement and qualification of the physician by the Company’s credentialing committee and at various times during the term of license agreements based on the terms of the specific agreement. These fees are recognized as revenue ratably over the appropriate period of time to which the revenue element relates. The Company also receives licensing fees from a licensee for use of its technology and knowledge to operate an adult stem cell banking operation in China, which licensing fees are recognized as revenues ratably over the appropriate period of time to which the revenue element relates. In addition, the Company earns royalties for the use of its name and scientific information in connection with its License and Referral Agreement with Ceregenex Corporation, which royalties are recognized as revenue when they are received.

Revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were comprised of the following (in thousands):
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Revenues
                       
Prescription drugs and intermediary pharmaceutical products
  $ 15,513.0     $ 16,384.5     $ 49,806.0     $ 51,528.7  
Stem cell related service revenues
    1,529.1       91.1       4,266.9       187.6  
Stem cell related services - reimbursed expenses
    714.0       -       1,785.1       -  
    $ 17,756.1     $ 16,475.6     $ 55,858.0     $ 51,716.3  
 
Fair Value Measurements:  Fair value of financial assets and liabilities that are being measured and reported are defined as the exchange price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal market at the measurement date (exit price). The Company is required to classify fair value measurements in one of the following categories:

Level 1 inputs which are defined as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 inputs which are defined as inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3 inputs are defined as unobservable inputs for the assets or liabilities. Financial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of the fair value of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

The Company determined the fair value of funds invested in short term investments, which are considered trading securities, to be level 1 inputs measured by quoted prices of the securities in active markets. The Company determined the fair value of funds invested in money market funds to be level 1. The Company determined the fair value of the embedded derivative liabilities and warrant derivative liabilities to be level 3 inputs. These inputs require material subjectivity because value is derived through the use of a lattice model that values the derivatives based on probability weighted discounted cash flows. The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2011, and December 31, 2010 (in thousands):
 
    September 30, 2011  
   
Fair Value Measurements Using Fair Value Hierarchy
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
Money market investments
  $ 2,500.8     $ -     $ -  
Short term investments
    0.6       -       -  
Embedded derivative liabilities
    -       -       783.4  
Warrant derivative liabilities
    -       -       126.9  
                         
      December 31, 2010  
   
Fair Value Measurements Using Fair Value Hierarchy
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
Money market investments
  $ -     $ 2,501.0     $ -  
Short term investments
    0.5       -       -  
Embedded derivative liabilities
    -       -       2,281.8  
Warrant derivative liabilities
    -       -       289.6  
 
Subsequent to December 31, 2010 the Company reevaluated the characteristics of the money market savings account, currently recorded as other assets, and determined it is not tied to underlying securities and has been reclassified to level 1.

For those financial instruments with significant Level 3 inputs, the following table summarizes the activity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 by type of instrument (in thousands):
 
   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2011
   
September 30, 2011
 
   
Embedded
         
Embedded
       
   
Derivatives
   
Warrants
   
Derivatives
   
Warrants
 
Beginning liability balance
  $ 1,933.7     $ 342.3     $ 2,281.8     $ 289.6  
Change in fair value recorded in earnings
    (1,150.3 )     (215.4 )     (1,498.4 )     (162.7 )
Ending liability balance
  $ 783.4     $ 126.9     $ 783.4     $ 126.9  
 
Some of the Company’s financial instruments are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis, but are recorded at amounts that approximate fair value due to their liquid or short-term nature, such as cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, notes payable and bank loans.

Foreign Currency Translation:  As the Company’s Chinese pharmaceutical business is a self-contained and integrated entity, and the Company’s Chinese stem cell business’ future cash flow is intended to be sufficient to service its additional financing requirements, the Chinese subsidiaries’ functional currency is the Renminbi (“RMB”), and the Company’s reporting currency is the US dollar. Results of foreign operations are translated at the average exchange rates during the period, and assets and liabilities are translated at the closing rate at the end of each reporting period. Cash flows are also translated at average exchange rates for the period, therefore, amounts reported on the consolidated statement of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the consolidated balance sheet.

Research and Development Costs:  Research and development (“R&D”) expenses include salaries, benefits, and other headcount related costs, clinical trial and related clinical manufacturing costs, contract and other outside service fees including sponsored research agreements, and facilities and overhead costs. The Company expenses the costs associated with research and development activities when incurred.

To further drive the Company’s cell therapy initiatives, the Company will continue targeting key governmental agencies, congressional committees and not-for-profit organizations to contribute funds for the Company’s research and development programs. The Company accounts for government grants as a deduction to the related expense in research and development operating expenses when earned.

Statutory Reserves:  Pursuant to laws applicable to entities incorporated in the PRC, the PRC subsidiaries are prohibited from distributing their statutory capital and are required to appropriate from PRC GAAP profit after tax to other non-distributable reserve funds. These reserve funds include one or more of the following: (i) a general reserve, (ii) an enterprise expansion fund and (iii) a staff bonus and welfare fund. Subject to certain cumulative limits (i.e., 50% of the registered capital of the relevant company), the general reserve fund requires annual appropriation at 10% of after tax profit (as determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the PRC at each year-end); the appropriation to the other funds are at the discretion of the subsidiaries.
 
The general reserve is used to offset extraordinary losses. Subject to approval by the relevant authorities, a subsidiary may, upon a resolution passed by the shareholders, convert the general reserve into registered capital provided that the remaining general reserve after the conversion shall be at least 25% of the registered capital of the subsidiary before the capital increase as a result of the conversion. The staff welfare and bonus reserve is used for the collective welfare of the employees of the subsidiary. The enterprise expansion reserve is for the expansion of the subsidiary’s operations and can also be converted to registered capital upon a resolution passed by the shareholders subject to approval by the relevant authorities. These reserves represent appropriations of the retained earnings determined in accordance with Chinese law, and are not distributable as cash dividends to the parent company, NeoStem. Statutory reserves are $2,300,900 and $2,234,600 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

Relevant PRC statutory laws and regulations permit payment of dividends by the Company’s PRC subsidiaries only out of their accumulated earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. As a result of these PRC laws and regulations, the Company’s PRC subsidiaries are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets either in the form of dividends, loans or advances. The restricted amount was $184,500 at September 30, 2011 and $214,200 at December 31, 2010.