SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE A — SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

General

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2017 and for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 are unaudited. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and are presented in accordance with the requirements of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and with the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete consolidated financial statements.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 and footnotes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (the “Company”) filed with the SEC on December 6, 2016.

The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2016 contained herein has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2016, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.

Business and Basis of Presentation

The Company is principally devoted to developing and marketing SigNature DNA technology solutions in the United States, Europe and Asia. To date, the Company has had a limited operating history with its current business model, and as a result, its operations have produced limited recurring revenues from its products and services; it has incurred expenses and has sustained losses. Consequently, its operations are subject to all the risks inherent in the establishment and development of a biotechnology company.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, APDN (B.V.I.) Inc., Applied DNA Sciences Europe Limited, and Applied DNA Sciences India Private Limited which currently have no operations or activity. Applied DNA Sciences India Private Limited was incorporated in India on June 22, 2017. Significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.  To facilitate comparison of information across periods, certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current year's presentation.

Inventories

Inventories, which consist primarily of raw materials, and finished goods, is stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined by using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”). ASC 605 requires that four basic criteria must be met before revenue can be recognized: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred and/or service has been performed; (3) the selling price is fixed and determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. Determination of criteria (3) and (4) are based on management’s judgments regarding the fixed nature of the selling prices of the products delivered or services provided and the collectability of those amounts. Provisions for allowances and other adjustments are provided for in the same period the related sales are recorded. The Company defers any revenue for which the product has not been delivered, service has not been provided, or is subject to refund until such time that the Company and the customer jointly determine that the product has been delivered, the service has been provided, or no refund will be required. At June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, the Company recorded deferred revenue of $674,429 and $2,737,588, respectively.

Revenue arrangements with multiple components are divided into separate units of accounting if certain criteria are met, including whether the delivered component has stand-alone value to the customer. Consideration received is allocated among the separate units of accounting based on their respective selling prices. The selling price for each unit is based on vendor-specific objective evidence, or VSOE, if available, third party evidence if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price if neither VSOE nor third party evidence is available. The applicable revenue recognition criteria are then applied to each of the units.

Revenue for government contract awards, which supports the Company’s development efforts on specific projects, is recognized as milestones are achieved as per each contract. Revenue for firm fixed price government contract awards are recognized over the period of the contract. The Company recognized revenue from these contracts of $62,337 for the three and nine month period ended June 30, 2017. The Company recognized revenue from these contracts of $210,219 and $993,266 for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2016, respectively.

The Company recognized the revenue under its former memorandum of understanding ("MOU"), which expired on May 30, 2017, with LD Commodities Cotton LLC ("Dreyfus") when the product has been shipped, as there is no right of return under this arrangement and there is a commitment from their customer to purchase the marked cotton. The Company has evaluated the other indicators of gross and net revenue recognition, including whether or not the Company is the primary obligor and if it has general inventory risk. The Company does not have any general inventory risk and is not the primary obligor as it relates to the marketing portion of the cotton tagging fee. With respect to the Company’s former mutual license agreement with Himatsingka America Inc. (formerly known as Divatex Home Fashion, Inc.) (“Himatsingka”), the Company has evaluated all of the key gross and net revenue recognition indicators and has concluded that the circumstances as they relate to Himatsingka’s portion of the tagging fee are more consistent with those key indicators that support net revenue reporting. In addition, the nature of some of the Company’s cotton contracts includes extended payment terms that will result in a longer collection period and slower cash inflows.

The Company had an accounts receivable balance due from Dreyfus related to the former MOU of $2,783,246 and tagging fees payable to Himatsingka of $594,614 as of June 30, 2017. The Company received proceeds in respect of the accounts receivable balance of $1,286,320 on August 4, 2017, net of Himatsingka’s portion of the tagging fee.

On June 23, 2017, the Company entered into a new licensing agreement (the “Licensing Agreement”) with Himatsingka, which replaces the terms of the MOU. The Licensing Agreement terminates an earlier licensing agreement dated March 25, 2015 between Divatex Home Fashion, Inc. (a predecessor to Himatsingka) and the Company. Under the terms of the Licensing Agreement, Himatsingka will be solely responsible for promoting, marketing and selling on a worldwide basis the Company’s technology with respect to finished and unfinished cotton products. The Licensing Agreement grants Himatsingka an exclusive license to use the Company’s technology in respect of cotton, subject to certain carve-outs including governmental users, non-commercial trade associations and others. The Licensing Agreement has a term that continues until June 23, 2042, except in the case of patents, in which case the term continues with respect to a patent until such patent is no longer in effect. The Company will no longer ship taggant to mark cotton pursuant to the terms of the MOU with Dreyfus. Instead, the Company will ship taggant to mark cotton to locations designated by Himatsingka, and Himatsingka will take possession of inventory upon shipment. The Licensing Agreement provides that Himatsingka will make payments for the use of the Company’s taggant technology on a net 60 days basis (with the exception of the first delivery which was on a 180 day basis). In addition, Himatsingka will make royalty payments on a quarterly basis in arrears in the event the Company’s technology is used on non-home products. Himatsingka is responsible for the inspection and compliance within the supply chain. Himatsingka is generally required to use the Company’s technology during the term of the Licensing Agreement, subject, among other things, to their customers’ requirements. As part of the Licensing Agreement, the Company will establish an independent testing laboratory in Ahmedabad, India. The Licensing Agreement includes customary mutual indemnification provisions.

The cotton ginning season in the United States takes place between September and February each year, therefore, revenues from these customer contracts may be seasonal.

Use of Estimates

In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Income Taxes

The Company recognizes deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company estimates the degree to which tax assets and credit carry forwards will result in a benefit based on expected profitability by tax jurisdiction.

In its interim financial statements, the Company follows the guidance in ASC 270, “Interim Reporting” and ASC 740 “Income Taxes”, whereby the Company utilizes the expected annual effective tax rate in determining its income tax provisions for the interim periods. That rate differs from U.S. statutory rates primarily as a result of valuation allowance related to the Company’s net operating loss carryforward as a result of the historical losses of the Company.

Net Loss Per Share

The Company presents loss per share utilizing a dual presentation of basic and diluted loss per share. Basic loss per share includes no dilution and has been calculated based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive common stock equivalents consist of shares issuable upon the exercise of the Company’s stock options and warrants.

For the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, common stock equivalent shares are excluded from the computation of the diluted loss per share as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

Securities that could potentially dilute basic net income per share in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share because including those securities would have been anti-dilutive for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. Common stock equivalents as of June 30, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:

	2017		2016
Warrants		9,548,969		7,323,060
Stock options		5,276,222		4,414,865
		14,825,191		11,737,925

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation for employees and directors in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the statement of operations based on their fair values. Under the provisions of ASC 718, stock-based compensation costs are measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and are recognized as expense over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant). The fair value of the Company’s common stock options are estimated using the Black Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: expected volatility, dividend rate, risk free interest rate and the expected life. The Company expenses stock-based compensation by using the straight-line method. In accordance with ASC 718, excess tax benefits realized from the exercise of stock-based awards are classified as cash flows from financing activities. The future realization of the reserved deferred tax assets related to these tax benefits associated with the exercise of stock options will result in a credit to additional paid in capital if the related tax deduction reduces taxes payable. The Company has elected the “with and without approach” regarding ordering of windfall tax benefits to determine whether the windfall tax benefit did reduce taxes payable in the current year. Under this approach, the windfall tax benefit would be recognized in additional paid-in-capital only if an incremental tax benefit is realized after considering all other benefits presently available.

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation awards issued to non-employees for services, as prescribed by ASC 718-10, at either the fair value of the services rendered or the instruments issued in exchange for such services, whichever is more readily determinable, using the measurement date guidelines enumerated in ASC 505-50.

Concentrations

Financial instruments and related items, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and trade receivables. The Company places its cash and temporary cash investments with high credit quality institutions. At times, such investments may be in excess of the FDIC insurance limit.

The Company’s revenues earned from sale of products and services for the three month period ended June 30, 2017 included an aggregate of 11% and 71% from two customers, respectively. The Company’s revenues earned from sale of products and services for the nine month period ended June 30, 2017 included an aggregate of 15%, 18%, and 38% from three customers, respectively.

The Company’s revenues earned from sale of products and services for the three month period ended June 30, 2016 included 34% and 43% from two customers, respectively. The Company’s revenues earned from sale of products and services for the nine month period ended June 30, 2016 included 16% and 47%, from two customers, respectively. 

Two customers accounted for 59% and 32% of the Company’s accounts receivable at June 30, 2017. One customer accounted for 78% of the Company’s total accounts receivable at September 30, 2016.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Updated (“ASU”) 2017-09, Compensation – “Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting”, which provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. This pronouncement is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-09 to have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB ASU 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business” (“ASU 2017-01”). The amendments in this update are to clarify the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The definition of a business affects many areas of accounting including acquisitions, disposals, goodwill, and consolidation. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU 2017-04”). The purpose of the amendment is to simplify how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. For public entities, the amendments in ASU 2017-04 are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2017-04 on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, "Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting." The objective of this update is to simplify several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it may have on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)." The objective of this update is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those annual periods and is to be applied utilizing a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it may have on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, "Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes" ("ASU 2015-17").   This update requires an entity to classify deferred tax liabilities and assets as noncurrent within a classified statement of financial position.  ASU 2015-17 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  This update may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented.  Early application is permitted as of the beginning of the interim or annual reporting period.  The Company expects the impact of the adoption of this pronouncement on its condensed consolidated balance sheet to be a reclassification only, and does not expect the pronouncement to have a significant impact.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (Topic 330)” ("ASU 2015-11"). ASU 2015-11 simplifies the accounting for the valuation of all inventory not accounted for using the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") method by prescribing that inventory be valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value. ASU 2015-11 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016 on a prospective basis. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-11 to have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-15, “Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern” (“ASU 2014-15”). ASU 2014-15 provides guidance on management’s responsibility in evaluating whether there is substantial doubt about a company’s ability to continue as a going concern and about related footnote disclosures. For each reporting period, management will be required to evaluate whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about a company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the date the financial statements are issued. The amendments in ASU 2014-15 are effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt the methodologies prescribed by ASU 2014-15 by the date required, and does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2014-15 will have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”), which was subsequently modified in August 2015 by ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date. This guidance will be effective for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2017. The core principle of ASU No. 2014-09 is that companies should recognize revenue when the transfer of promised goods or services to customers occurs in an amount that reflects what the company expects to receive. It requires additional disclosures to describe the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows from contracts with customers. In 2016 and 2017, the FASB issued additional ASUs that clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations (ASU 2016-08), on identifying performance obligations and licensing (ASU 2016-10), and on narrow-scope improvements and practical expedients (ASU 2016-12), revenue recognition criteria and other technical corrections (ASU 2016-20) as well as clarifying the scope of asset derecognition guidance and accounting for partial sales of nonfinancial assets (ASU 2017-05). The Company is in the process of evaluating the provisions of these ASU’s and assessing the potential effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position or results of operations. However, based upon the revenue recognized for the current contracts in place as of June 30, 2017, we expect to identify similar performance obligations under these ASUs as compared with the deliverables and separate units of accounting previously identified. As a result, we expect the timing of our revenue to be the same assuming that there are no significant changes to our current contracts and arrangements. The Company is also evaluating the transition guidance under ASU 2014-09 to determine if it will apply the full retrospective or modified retrospective approach.