NOTE 2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Accounting Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated 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 disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Forward Industries, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (Forward US and Forward Switzerland; Forward HK and Forward UK are inactive). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of cash on deposit and highly liquid money market accounts, short-term bonds, and certificates of deposit with original contractual maturities of three months or less, predominately in U.S. dollar denominated instruments. The Company may purchase these short-term bonds with anticipated maturity of 90 days or less at a premium or discount. The Company records these investments as cash and cash equivalents net of amortization of premium or discount. The Company minimizes its credit risk associated with cash and cash equivalents by investing in high quality instruments and by periodically evaluating the credit quality of the primary financial institution issuers of such instruments. The Company holds cash and cash equivalents at major financial institutions in the United States, at which cash amounts may significantly exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s insured limits. At September 30, 2014 and 2013, this amount was approximately $6.3 million (which includes $1.7 million in a foreign bank) and $6.5 million (which includes $1.4 million in a foreign bank), respectively. Historically, the Company has not experienced any losses due to such cash concentrations.

Marketable Securities

At September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company has investments in marketable securities that are classified as trading and are recorded at fair value with the corresponding unrealized holding gains or losses recognized in earnings. The fair value of marketable securities is determined based on quoted market prices. The cost of marketable securities sold is determined by the specific identification method. The Company classifies its realized and unrealized gains and losses as non-operating income (expense) in its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. In addition, the Company classifies the cash flows from the trading of these marketable securities as investing activities in its consolidated statements of cash flows.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consist of unsecured trade accounts with customers or their contract manufacturers. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers including an evaluation of days outstanding, payment history, recent payment trends, and perceived creditworthiness, and believes that adequate allowances for any uncollectible receivables are maintained. Credit terms to customers generally range from net thirty (30) days to net one hundred and twenty (120) days. The Company has not historically experienced significant credit or collection problems with its OEM customers or their contract manufacturers. At September 30, 2014 and 2013, no allowance for doubtful accounts relating to the Company’s continuing operations was deemed necessary.

Inventories

Inventories consist primarily of finished goods and are stated at the lower of cost (determined by the first-in, first-out method) or market. Based on management’s estimates, an allowance is made to reduce excess, obsolete, or otherwise un-saleable inventories to net realizable value. The allowance is established through charges to cost of goods sold in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. As reserved inventory is disposed of, the Company charges off the associated allowance. In determining the adequacy of the allowance, management’s estimates are based upon several factors, including analyses of inventory levels, historical loss trends, sales history and projections of future sales demand. The Company’s estimates of the allowance may change from time to time based on management’s assessments, and such changes could be material.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consist of furniture, fixtures, and equipment and leasehold improvements and are recorded at cost. Expenditures for major additions and improvements are capitalized, and minor replacements, maintenance, and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When property and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in the results of operations for the respective period. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the related assets using the straight-line method. The estimated useful life for furniture, fixtures and equipment ranges from three to ten years. Amortization of leasehold improvements is computed using the straight-line method over the shorter of the remaining lease term or the estimated useful lives of the improvements. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded approximately $64,000 and $75,000 of depreciation and amortization expense from continuing operations, respectively.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for its income taxes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which requires, among other things, recognition of future tax benefits and liabilities measured at enacted rates attributable to temporary differences between financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities and to net tax operating loss carry-forwards to the extent that realization of these benefits is more likely than not. The Company periodically evaluates the realizability of its net deferred tax assets. See Note 9 to these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company’s policy is to account for interest and penalties relating to income taxes, if any, in “income tax expense” in its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss and include accrued interest and penalties within “accrued liabilities” in its consolidated balance sheets, if applicable. For fiscal years ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, no income tax related interest or penalties were assessed or recorded.

6% Senior Convertible Preferred Stock

Temporary Equity

The 6% Senior Convertible Preferred Stock has been classified as temporary equity in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480-10-s99 - Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity – Overall – SEC Materials and Accounting Series Release (“ASR”) 268 – Presentation in Financial Statements of “Redeemable Preferred Stock”, as the redemption feature is not solely within the control of the Company.

Warrants

In accordance with ASC 815-40 – Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity, the Company’s warrants were initially classified as a liability, at fair value, as a result of a related registration rights agreement that contained certain requirements for registering the underlying common shares, but has no provision for penalties upon the failure to register. At each consolidated balance sheet date, this liability’s fair value was re-measured and adjusted with the corresponding change in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. After the Company met the requirements for registering the underlying common shares in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014, the warrants were reclassified to equity (additional paid-in capital). The liability associated with the warrants was included in “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2013.

Preferred Stock Accretion

The carrying amount of the convertible preferred stock is less than the redemption value. As a result of the Company’s determination that redemption is probable, the carrying value will be increased by periodic accretions so that the carrying value will equal the redemption amount at the earliest redemption date. Such accretion is recorded as a preferred stock dividend.

Preferred Stock Beneficial Conversion Feature

On the date of issuance, the fair value, or carrying amount, of preferred stock was convertible into common stock at a discount to the market price of the underlying common stock at the conversion date. Such embedded “beneficial conversion feature”, which was equal to the difference between the accounting conversion price and the fair value of the common stock, is analogous to a dividend and was recorded as a return to preferred shareholders as of the date of issuance, which was the earliest possible conversion date.

Revenue Recognition

The Company generally recognizes revenue from product sales to its customers when: (1) title and risk of loss are transferred (in general, these conditions occur at either point of shipment or point of destination, depending on the terms of sale); (2) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (3) the Company has no continuing obligations to the customer; and (4) collection of the related accounts receivable is reasonably assured.

Shipping and Handling Costs

The Company classifies shipping and handling costs, including inbound and outbound freight charges, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs and other costs, as a component of cost of goods sold in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Foreign Currency Transactions

Foreign currency transactions may generate receivables or payables that are fixed in terms of the amount of foreign currency that will be received or paid. Fluctuations in exchange rates between such foreign currency and the functional currency increase or decrease the expected amount of functional currency cash flows upon settlement of the transaction. These increases or decreases in expected functional currency cash flows are foreign currency transaction gains or losses that are included in “other income (expense), net” in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The approximate net losses from foreign currency transactions for continuing operations was approximately $28,000 and $16,000 for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Such foreign currency transaction losses were primarily the result of Euro denominated sales to certain customers.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September 30, 2014 and 2013, which is included as a component of shareholders’ equity, represents translation adjustments related to the Company’s foreign subsidiaries.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

For certain of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other accrued liabilities, the carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. The Company records its financial instruments that are accounted for under ASC 320, “Investments-Debt and Equity Securities” (“ASC 320”) at fair value. In addition, the Company recorded its warrant liability at fair value, prior to its reclassification to equity. The determination of fair value is based upon the fair value framework established by ASC 820 “Fair Value Measurement”. ASC 820 provides that a fair value measurement assumes that the transaction to sell an asset or transfer a liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability. The fair value hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the source of inputs as follows: (a) Level 1 – valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities; (b) Level 2 – valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active, or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable; either directly or indirectly; and (c) Level 3 – valuations based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable, thus, reflecting assumptions about the market participants.

Share-Based Payment Expense

The Company recognizes employee and director share-based compensation in its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss at the grant-date fair value of stock options and other equity-based compensation. The determination of stock option grant-date fair value is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which includes variables such as the expected volatility of the Company’s share price, the exercise behavior of its grantees, interest rates, and dividend yields. These variables are projected based on the Company’s historical data, experience, and other factors. In the case of awards with multiple vesting periods, the Company has elected to use the graded vesting attribution method, which recognizes compensation cost on a straight-line basis over each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was, in-substance, multiple awards. Refer to Note 8 – Share Based Compensation. In addition, the Company recognizes share-based compensation to non-employees based upon the fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, determined at the deemed measurement dates over the related contract service period.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists." This ASU addresses the requirements regarding the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit within ASC Topic 740 for the purpose of providing consistency between the financial reporting of U.S. GAAP entities. Generally, this ASU provides guidance for the preparation of financial statements and disclosures when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. This ASU is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605 - Revenue Recognition and most industry-specific guidance throughout the ASC. The standard requires that an entity recognizes 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. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and should be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of initial application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period," ("ASU 2014-12"). The amendments in ASU 2014-12 require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. A reporting entity should apply existing guidance in ASC Topic No. 718, "Compensation - Stock Compensation" as it relates to awards with performance conditions that affect vesting to account for such awards. The amendments in ASU 2014-12 are effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. Entities may apply the amendments in ASU 2014-12 either: (a) prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date; or (b) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2014-12 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.