Nature of Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

The Company

The Company:

The Company is a leading supplier of digital transaction management (DTM) software enabling the paperless, secure and cost-effective management of document-based transactions. iSign’s solutions encompass a wide array of functionality and services, including electronic signatures, biometric authentication and simple-to-complex workflow management. These solutions are available across virtually all enterprise, desktop and mobile environments as a seamlessly integrated platform for both ad-hoc and fully automated transactions. The Company’s products and services result in legally binding transactions that are compliant with applicable laws and regulations and that can provide a higher level of security than paper-based processes. The Company has been a leading supplier of enterprise software solutions within the financial services and insurance industries and has delivered significant expense reduction by enabling complete document and workflow automation and the resulting reduction in mailing, scanning, filing and other costs related to the use of paper.

The Company’s research and development activities have given rise to numerous technologies and products. The Company’s core DTM technologies include various forms of electronic signatures, such as handwritten biometric, click-to-sign and others, as well as signature verification, cryptography and the logging of audit trails to show signers’ intent. These technologies can enable secure, legal and regulatory compliant electronic transactions that can enhance customer experience at a fraction of the time and cost required by traditional, paper-based processes. The Company’s products include SignatureOne^® Ceremony^™ Server, Sign-it^® and the iSign^® family of products and services.

Going concern and management plans

Going concern and management plans:

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. Except for 2004, the Company has incurred significant losses since its inception and, at December 31, 2018, the Company’s accumulated deficit was $133,589. The Company has primarily met its working capital needs through the sale of debt and equity securities. As of December 31, 2018, the Company’s cash balance was $335. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in securing adequate capital resources to fund planned operations or that any additional funds will be available to the Company when needed, or if available, will be available on favorable terms or in amounts required by the Company. If the Company is unable to obtain adequate capital resources to fund operations, it may be required to delay, scale back or eliminate some or all of its operations, which may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and ability to operate as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Basis of consolidation

Basis of consolidation:

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. All amounts shown in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are in thousands of dollars except per share amounts.

Use of estimates

Use of estimates:

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Fair value measures

Fair value measures:

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an ordinary transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Our policy on fair value measures requires us to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The policy establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the level of independent, objective evidence surrounding the inputs used to measure fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The policy prioritizes the inputs into three levels that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1: Applies to assets or liabilities for which there are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Applies to assets or liabilities for which there are inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.

Level 3: Applies to assets or liabilities for which there are unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

The Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value, whether recurring or non-recurring, at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and the fair value calculation input hierarchy level that we have determined applies to each asset and liability category.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments:

The Company carries financial instruments on the consolidated balance sheet at the fair value of the instruments as of the consolidated balance sheet date. At the end of each period, management assesses the fair value of each instrument and adjusts the carrying value to reflect its assessment. At December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the carrying values of accounts receivable and accounts payable approximated their fair values.

Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock:

Shares of common stock returned to, or repurchased by, the Company are recorded at cost and are included as a separate component of stockholders’ equity (deficit).

Under the cost method, the gross cost of the shares reacquired is charged to a contra equity account titled treasury stock. The equity accounts that were credited for the original share issuance (Common Stock, additional paid-in capital, etc.) remain intact. When the treasury shares are reissued, proceeds in excess of cost are credited to additional paid-in capital. Any deficiency is charged to accumulated deficit (unless additional paid-in capital from previous treasury share transactions exists, in which case the deficiency is charged to that account, with any excess charged to accumulated deficit).

Derivatives

Derivatives:

The Company, from time to time, enters into transactions which contain conversion privileges, the settlement of which may entitle the holder or the Company to settle the obligation(s) by issuance of Company securities. The Company applies a two-step model in determining whether a financial instrument or an embedded feature is indexed to an issuer’s own stock and thus able to qualify for the scope exception. The fair value of each derivative is estimated each reporting period.

The conversion option included within the unsecured convertible promissory notes is accounted for as a derivative liability at its estimated fair value. The derivative is subject to re-measurement at the end of each reporting period, with changes in fair value recognized as a component of interest and other income, in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company will continue to adjust the liability for changes in fair value until the earlier of the conversion or maturity of the unsecured convertible promissory note purchase agreements.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents:

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities at the date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents, at December 31, consisted of the following:

	2018		2017
Cash in bank	$	335	$	285
Cash and cash equivalents	$	335	$	285

Concentrations of credit risk

Concentrations of credit risk:

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, and accounts receivable. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents with various financial institutions. This diversification of risk is consistent with Company policy to maintain liquidity, and mitigate risk of loss as to principal.

To date, accounts receivable have been derived principally from revenue earned from end users, manufacturers, and distributors of computer products in North America. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers, and does not require collateral. The Company maintains reserves for potential credit losses; historically, such losses have been within management’s expectations.

The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of specific customer accounts and an assessment of international, political and economic risk as well as the aging of the accounts receivable. If there is a change in actual defaults from the Company’s historical experience, the Company’s estimates of recoverability of amounts due could be affected and the Company will adjust the allowance accordingly.

Deferred financing costs

Deferred financing costs:

Deferred financing costs include costs paid in cash, such as professional fees and commissions. The costs associated with equity financings, such as in the sale of Common or Preferred Stock, are netted against the proceeds of the offering. In the case of note financings, costs are amortized to interest expense over the life of the notes or upon early payment using the effective interest method.

Property and equipment, net

Property and equipment, net:

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, ranging from three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over their estimated useful lives, not to exceed the term of the related lease. The cost of additions and improvements is capitalized while maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation expense was $4 and $8 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets:

Intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated lives of the related assets, ranging from five to seventeen years. Amortization expense was $269 for the year ended December 31, 2017. The intangible assets were fully amortized as of December 31, 2017.

Long-lived assets

Long-lived assets:

The Company evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets, including intangible assets at least annually or whenever circumstances or events indicate such assets might be impaired. The Company would recognize an impairment charge in the event the net book value of such assets exceeded the future undiscounted cash flows attributable to such assets. No such impairment charge was recorded during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Share-based payment

Share-based payment:

Share-based compensation expense is based on the estimated grant date fair value of the portion of share-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period. The grant date fair value of share-based awards to employees and directors is calculated using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model. Forfeitures of share-based payment awards are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates and it is assumed no dividends will be declared. The estimated fair value of share-based compensation awards to employees is amortized over the vesting period of the options.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Revenue from Contracts with Customers:

The Company adopted the guidance of Accounting Standards Update No 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), on January 1, 2018.

The Company’s principal sources of revenues are from the sale of software products, SOW (engineering services), annual software product, and software maintenance contracts. The Company also derives revenue from customers based on the numbers of signatures produced by the Company’s signature software solutions imbedded within the customer’s product.

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized using the following five steps:

a) Identify the contract(s) with a customer;

b) Identify the performance obligations (a good or service) in the contract;

c) Determine the transaction price; for each performance obligation within the contract

d) Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and

e) Recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies a performance obligation.

Contracts contain performance obligation(s) for the transfer goods or services to a customer. The performance obligations are a promise (or a group of promises) that are distinct. The transaction price is the amount of consideration a Company expects to receive from a customer in exchange for satisfying the performance obligations specified in the contract.

Contracts may contain one or more performance obligations (a good or service). Performance obligations are accounted for separately if they are distinct. A good or service is distinct if the customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own or together with other resources readily available to the customer, and the good or service is distinct in the context of the contract. Otherwise performance obligations will be combined with other promised goods or services until the Company identifies a bundle of goods or services that is distinct.

The transaction price is allocated to all separate performance obligations within the contract based on their relative standalone selling prices (“SSP”). The best evidence for SSP is the price the Company would charge for that good or service when sold separately in similar circumstances to similar customers. If goods or services are not always sold separately, the Company would use the best estimate of SSP in the allocation of transaction price.

The transaction price reflects the amount of consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services, which may include an estimate of variable consideration to the extent that it is probable of not being subject to significant reversals in the future based on the Company’s experience with similar arrangements. The transaction price also reflects the impact of the time value of money if there is a significant financing component present in an arrangement. The transaction price excludes amounts collected on behalf of third parties, such as sales taxes.

Revenue is recognized when the Company satisfies each performance obligation identified within the contract by transferring control of the promised goods or services to the customer. Goods or services can transfer at a point in time or over time depending on the nature of the arrangement.

Deferred revenue represents the Company’s obligation to transfer goods or services to a customer for which the Company has received consideration from the customer. Our payment terms do not vary by the type of products or services offered. The term between invoicing and when payment is due is not significant. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recognized $411 of revenue that was included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the period.

Contract assets exist when the Company has satisfied a performance obligation but does not have an unconditional right to consideration (e.g., because the entity first must satisfy another performance obligation in the contract before it is entitled to invoice the customer).

The Company transfers all of its goods and services electronically with the associated costs recorded in cost of sales in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Software. Revenue from the sale of software products is recognized when the control is transferred. For most of the Company’s software product sales, the control is transferred at the time the product is electronically transferred because the customer has significant risks and rewards of ownership of the asset and the Company has a present right to payment at that time.

Statement of Work (SOW). Revenue from SOW (engineering services) is recognized upon completion, transfer and satisfaction of the performance obligations identified with in the contract by the customer.

Transactional revenue. For transactional type contracts, the Company’s performance obligations are met upon transfer of the software master to the customer. Revenue from transactional customers is recognized as the customer reports the number of units (signatures) rendered over the specified reporting period, generally three months.

Recurring Product revenue. The company has revenue contracts that allow the customer to utilize the Company’s signature software on an annual basis. Maintenance and support costs are included in the annual price to the customer. The customer has the right to renew or cancel the contract on an annual basis. Recurring revenue is recognized on a straight line basis over the contract period, generally one year.

Maintenance and support. Maintenance and support services are satisfied ratably over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the services. As a result, support and maintenance revenue is recognized on a straight line basis over the period of the contract.

Arrangements with Multiple Performance Obligations. The Company has, from time to time, revenue arrangements that include multiple performance obligations. The Company allocates transaction price to all separate performance obligations based on their relative standalone selling prices (“SSP”). The Company’s best evidence for SSP is the price the Company would charge for that good or service when the Company sells it separately in similar circumstances to similar customers. If goods or services are not always sold separately, the Company uses the best estimate of SSP in the allocation of transaction price. The Company’s process for determining best estimate of SSP involves management’s judgment, and considers multiple factors including, but not limited to, major product groupings, gross margin objectives and pricing practices. Pricing practices may vary over time, depending upon the unique facts and circumstances related to each deliverable. If the facts and circumstances underlying the factors considered change or should future facts and circumstances lead the Company to consider additional factors, the Company’s best estimate of SSP may also change.

Contract costs. The incremental costs of obtaining a contract are capitalized if the costs are expected to be recovered. Costs that are recognized as assets are amortized straight-line over the period as the related goods or services transfer to the customer. Costs incurred to fulfill a contract are capitalized if they are not covered by other relevant guidance, relate directly to a contract, will be used to satisfy future performance obligations, and are expected to be recovered.

Significant Judgments. The Company may exercise significant judgment when determining whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately versus together.

Practical Expedients and Exemptions. Under Topic 606, incremental costs of obtaining a contract, such as sales commissions, are capitalized if they are expected to be recovered. Expensing these costs as they are incurred is not permitted unless they qualify for the practical expedient. The Company elected the practical expedient to expense the costs to obtain a contract as incurred when the expected amortization period is one year or less.

The Company elected the practical expedient under Topic 606 to not disclose the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations, since the majority of the Company’s arrangements have original expected durations of one year or less, or the invoicing corresponds to the value of the Company’s performance completed to date.

The Company elected the practical expedient that allows the Company to not assess a contract for a significant financing component if the period between the customer’s payment and the transfer of the goods or services is one year or less.

Research and development

Research and development:

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred.

Marketing

Marketing:

The Company expenses advertising (marketing) costs as incurred. These expenses are outbound marketing expenses associated with participation in industry events, related sales collateral and email campaigns aimed at generating customer participation in webinars. There were no advertising expenses for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Net loss per share

Net loss per share:

The Company calculates net loss per share under the provisions of the relevant accounting guidance. That guidance requires the disclosure of both basic net loss per share, which is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding, and diluted loss per share, which is based on the weighted average number of shares and dilutive potential shares outstanding.

The number of shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options and shares issuable upon exercise of warrants excluded from the calculation of loss per share as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive are as follows:

	December 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Common Stock subject to outstanding options		1,037		736
Common Stock subject to outstanding warrants		1,828		1,878

Foreign currency assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the end-of-period exchange rates except for long-term assets and liabilities, which are translated at historical exchange rates. Revenue and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates in effect during each period except for those expenses related to consolidated balance sheet amounts which are translated at historical exchange rates.

Net foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in interest and other income, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses in 2018 and 2017 were insignificant.

Income taxes

Income taxes:

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial statement reported amounts and for tax loss and credit carry-forwards. A valuation allowance is provided against deferred tax assets when it is determined to be more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

Foreign currency translation

Foreign currency translation:

There have been no unrecognized tax benefits and, accordingly, there has been no effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal tax examinations for years before 2009, and state tax examinations for years before 2008. Management is in the process of reviewing the effects on the Company’s unrecognized tax positions in response to the changes the federal tax rates adopted in December of 2018.

The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

Recently issued accounting pronouncements:

Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-02, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The amendments in ASU 2018-02 allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (See Footnote 9). Consequently, the amendments eliminate the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and will improve the usefulness of information reported to financial statement users. The Financial Accounting Standards Board decided that the amendments in this Update should be effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Due to the Company’s net operating losses, implementation of ASU 2018-2 would not be expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-05, Income Taxes (Topic 740), Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118. ASU 2018-05 covers income tax accounting implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, for instance, ASU 2018-05 introduces changes that impact U.S. corporate tax rates, business-related exclusions, and deductions and credits. The Act will also have international tax consequences for many companies that operate internationally. The Financial Accounting Standards Board decided that the amendments in this Update should be effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after March 13, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2018-05 on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Other Accounting Standards Updates issued in 2018 are not applicable to the Company, therefore implementation would not be expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.