2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT POLICIES

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT POLICIES

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT POLICIES

Basis of Presentation and Liquidity

The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s most recent Annual Financial Statements filed with the SEC on Form 10-K. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of financial position and the results of operations for the interim period presented have been reflected herein. The results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. Notes to the financial statements which would substantially duplicate the disclosures contained in the audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal period, as reported in the Form 10-K, have been omitted.

The Company has incurred losses for the past several years while developing infrastructure and its software platforms. As shown in the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements, the Company incurred net losses of $16,282,653 during the nine months ended June 30, 2020. In response to these conditions and to ensure the Company has sufficient capital for ongoing operations for a minimum of 12 months, we have raised additional capital through the sale of debt and equity securities pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3. (See Note 10 and Note 18 for additional details.) As of June 30, 2020, the Company had working capital of $5,631,164.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CleanSpark, Inc., and its wholly owned operating subsidiaries, CleanSpark, LLC, CleanSpark II LLC, CleanSpark Critical Power Systems Inc. and p2kLabs, Inc. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation of these entities.

Use of estimates

The preparation of 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, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates include estimates used to review the Company’s goodwill impairment, impairments and estimations of long-lived assets, revenue recognition on percentage of completion type contracts, allowances for uncollectible accounts, and the valuations of non-cash capital stock issuances. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable in the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions including, but not limited to, the ultimate impact that COVID-19 may have on the Company’s operations and financial results during 2020 as such impact will depend on the ultimate severity and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are not able to fully quantify the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our financial results during 2020 and beyond, but developments related to COVID-19 could affect the Company’s financial performance in 2020.

Revenue Recognition

Upon adoption of ASC Topic 606, the Company revised its accounting policy on revenue recognition from the policy provided in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2019. The revised accounting policy on revenue recognition is provided below. The Company accounts for revenue contracts with customers through the following steps:

• Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer

• Identification of the performance obligations in the contract

• Determination of the transaction price

• Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract

• Recognition of revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation

Engineering, Service & Installation or Construction Contracts

The Company recognizes engineering and construction contract revenue over time, as performance obligations are satisfied, due to the continuous transfer of control to the customer. Engineering and construction contracts are generally accounted for as a single unit of account (a single performance obligation) and are not segmented between types of services. The Company recognizes revenue based primarily on contract cost incurred to date compared to total estimated contract cost (an input method). The input method is the most faithful depiction of the Company’s performance because it directly measures the value of the services transferred to the customer. Customer-furnished materials, labor and equipment and, in certain cases, subcontractor materials, labor and equipment, are included in revenue and cost of revenue when management believes that the company is acting as a principal rather than as an agent (i.e., the company integrates the materials, labor and equipment into the deliverables promised to the customer). Customer-furnished materials are only included in revenue and cost when the contract includes construction activity and the Company has visibility into the amount the customer is paying for the materials or there is a reasonable basis for estimating the amount. The Company recognizes revenue, but not profit, on certain uninstalled materials that are not specifically produced, fabricated, or constructed for a project. Revenue on these uninstalled materials is recognized when the cost is incurred (when control is transferred). Changes to total estimated contract cost or losses, if any, are recognized in the period in which they are determined as assessed at the contract level. Pre-contract costs are expensed as incurred unless they are expected to be recovered from the client. Project mobilization costs are generally charged to project costs as incurred when they are an integrated part of the performance obligation being transferred to the client. Customer payments on engineering and construction contracts are typically due within 30 to 45 days of billing, depending on the contract.

For service contracts (including maintenance contracts) in which the Company has the right to consideration from the customer in an amount that corresponds directly with the value to the customer of the Company’s performance completed to date, revenue is recognized when services are performed and contractually billable. Service contracts that include multiple performance obligations are segmented between types of services. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation using an estimate of the stand-alone selling price of each distinct service in the contract. Revenue recognized on service contracts that have not been billed to clients is classified as a current asset under contract assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amounts billed to clients in excess of revenue recognized on service contracts to date are classified as a current liability under contract liabilities. Customer payments on service contracts are typically due within 30 days of billing, depending on the contract.

Revenues from Sale of Equipment

Performance Obligations Satisfied at a point in time.

We recognize revenue on agreements for non-customized equipment we sell on a standardized basis to the market at a point in time. We recognize revenue at the point in time that the customer obtains control of the good, which is generally upon shipment or when the customer has physical possession of the product depending on contract terms. We use proof of delivery for certain large equipment with more complex logistics, whereas the delivery of other equipment is estimated based on historical averages of in-transit periods (i.e., time between shipment and delivery).

In situations where arrangements include customer acceptance provisions based on seller or customer-specified objective criteria, we recognize revenue when we have concluded that the customer has control of the goods and that acceptance is likely to occur. We generally do not provide for anticipated losses on point in time transactions prior to transferring control of the equipment to the customer.

Our billing terms for these point in time equipment contracts vary and generally coincide with shipment to the customer; however, within certain businesses, we receive progress payments from customers for large equipment purchases, which is generally to reserve production slots with our manufacturing partners, which are recorded as contract liabilities.

Service Performance obligations satisfied over time.

We enter into long-term product service agreements with our customers primarily within our microgrid segment. These agreements require us to provide preventative maintenance, and standby support services that include certain levels of assurance regarding system performance throughout the contract periods; these contracts will generally range from 1 to 10 years. We account for items that are integral to the maintenance of the equipment as part of our service-related performance obligation, unless the customer has a substantive right to make a separate purchasing decision (e.g., equipment upgrade). Contract modifications that extend or revise contract terms are not uncommon and generally result in our recognizing the impact of the revised terms prospectively over the remaining life of the modified contract (i.e., effectively like a new contract). Revenues are recognized for these arrangements on a straight-line basis consistent with the nature, timing and extent of our services, which primarily relate to routine maintenance and as needed product repairs. Our billing terms for these contracts vary, but we generally invoice periodically as services are provided.

Contract assets represent revenue recognized in excess of amounts billed and include unbilled receivables (typically for cost reimbursable contracts) of $0 and contract work in progress (typically for fixed-price contracts) of $0 and $57,077 as of June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively. Unbilled receivables, which represent an unconditional right to payment subject only to the passage of time, are reclassified to accounts receivable when they are billed under the terms of the contract. Advances that are payments on account of contract assets of $321,000 and $360,000 as of June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively, have been deducted from contract assets. Contract liabilities represent amounts billed to clients in excess of revenue recognized to date. The Company recorded $149,493 and $499,401 in contract liabilities as of June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively.

Revenues from software 

The Company derives its revenue from subscription fees from customers for access to its mVSO platform. The Company’s policy is to exclude sales and other indirect taxes when measuring the transaction price of its subscription agreements.  

The Company’s subscription agreements generally have monthly or annual contractual terms. Revenue is recognized ratably over the related contractual term beginning on the date that the platform is made available to a customer. Access to the platform represents a series of distinct services as the Company continually provides access to, and fulfills its obligation to the end customer over the subscription term. The series of distinct services represents a single performance obligation that is satisfied over time.

Revenues from design, software development and other technology-based consulting services

For service contracts performed under Master Services Agreements (“MSA”) and accompanying Statement(s) of Work (“SOW”), revenue is recognized based on the performance obligation(s) outlined in the SOW which is typically hours worked or specific deliverable milestones. In the case of a milestone-based SOW, the Company recognizes revenues as each deliverable is signed off by the customer.

Variable Consideration

The nature of the Company’s contracts gives rise to several types of variable consideration, including claims and unpriced change orders; awards and incentive fees; and liquidated damages and penalties. The Company recognizes revenue for variable consideration when it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. The Company estimates the amount of revenue to be recognized on variable consideration using the expected value (i.e., the sum of a probability-weighted amount) or the most likely amount method, whichever is expected to better predict the amount. Factors considered in determining whether revenue associated with claims (including change orders in dispute and unapproved change orders in regard to both scope and price) should be recognized include the following: (a) the contract or other evidence provides a legal basis for the claim, (b) additional costs were caused by circumstances that were unforeseen at the contract date and not the result of deficiencies in the company’s performance, (c) claim-related costs are identifiable and considered reasonable in view of the work performed, and (d) evidence supporting the claim is objective and verifiable. If the requirements for recognizing revenue for claims or unapproved change orders are met, revenue is recorded only when the costs associated with the claims or unapproved change orders have been incurred. Back charges to suppliers or subcontractors are recognized as a reduction of cost when it is determined that recovery of such cost is probable, and the amounts can be reliably estimated. Disputed back charges are recognized when the same requirements described above for claims accounting have been satisfied.

 The Company generally provides limited warranties for work performed under its engineering and construction contracts. The warranty periods typically extend for a limited duration following substantial completion of the Company’s work on a project. Historically, warranty claims have not resulted in material costs incurred.

Practical Expedients

If the Company has a right to consideration from a customer in an amount that corresponds directly with the value of the Company’s performance completed to date (a service contract in which the company bills a fixed amount for each hour of service provided), the Company recognizes revenue in the amount to which it has a right to invoice for services performed.

The Company does not adjust the contract price for the effects of a significant financing component if the company expects, at contract inception, that the period between when the company transfers a service to a customer and when the customer pays for that service will be one year or less.

The Company has made an accounting policy election to exclude from the measurement of the transaction price all taxes assessed by governmental authorities that are collected by the Company from its customers (use taxes, value added taxes, some excise taxes).

For the nine months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company reported revenues of $8,073,781 and $2,209,542, respectively.

Cash and cash equivalents

For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments and short-term debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. There was $1,955,776 and $7,838,857 in cash and no cash equivalents as of June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively.

Accounts receivable

Is comprised of uncollateralized customer obligations due under normal trade terms. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluation of its customers and management closely monitors outstanding receivables based on factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends, and other information. The carrying amount of accounts receivable is reviewed periodically for collectability. If management determines that collection is unlikely, an allowance that reflects management’s best estimate of the amounts that will not be collected is recorded. Accounts receivable are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $400,741 and $254,570 at June 30, 2020, and September 30, 2019, respectively.

Retention receivable is the amount withheld by a customer until a contract is completed. Retention receivables of $171,513 and $159,989 were included in the balance of trade accounts receivable as of June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively.

Investment securities

Investment securities include debt securities and equity securities. Debt securities are classified as available for sale (“AFS”) and are reported as an asset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at their estimated fair value. As the fair values of AFS debt securities change, the changes are reported net of income tax as an element of OCI, except for other-than-temporarily-impaired securities. When AFS debt securities are sold, the unrealized gains or losses are reclassified from OCI to non-interest income. Securities classified as AFS are securities that the Company intends to hold for an indefinite period of time, but not necessarily to maturity. Any decision to sell a security classified as AFS would be based on various factors, including significant movements in interest rates, changes in the maturity mix of the Company’s assets and liabilities, liquidity needs, decline in credit quality, and regulatory capital considerations.

Interest income is recognized based on the coupon rate and increased by accretion of discounts earned or decreased by the amortization of premiums paid over the contractual life of the security.

For individual debt securities where the Company either intends to sell the security or more likely than not will not recover all of its amortized cost, the OTTI is recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the security's cost basis and its fair value at the balance sheet date. For individual debt securities for which a credit loss has been recognized in earnings, interest accruals and amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts are suspended when the credit loss is recognized. Interest received after accruals have been suspended is recognized in income on a cash basis.

The Company holds investments in both publicly held and privately held equity securities.

Privately held equity securities are recorded at cost and adjusted for observable transactions for same or similar investments of the issuer (referred to as the measurement alternative) or impairment. All gains and losses on privately held equity securities, realized or unrealized, are recorded through gains or losses on equity securities on the consolidated statement of operations.

Publicly held equity securities are based on fair value accounting with unrealized gains or losses resulting from changes in fair value reflected as unrealized gains or losses on equity securities in our consolidated statement of operations.

Concentration Risk

At times throughout the year, the Company may maintain cash balances in certain bank accounts in excess of FDIC limits. As of June 30, 2020, the cash balance in excess of the FDIC limits was $1,705,776. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk in these accounts. The Company had certain customers whose revenue individually represented 10% or more of the Company’s total revenue. (See Note 17 for details.)

Warranty Liability

The Company establishes warranty liability reserves to provide for estimated future expenses as a result of installation and product defects, product recalls and litigation incidental to the Company’s business. Liability estimates are determined based on management’s judgment, considering such factors as historical experience, the likely current cost of corrective action, manufacturers’ and subcontractors’ participation in sharing the cost of corrective action, consultations with third party experts such as engineers, and discussions with the Company’s general counsel and outside counsel retained to handle specific product liability cases. The Company’s manufacturers and service providers currently provide substantial warranties between ten to twenty-five years with full reimbursement to replace and install replacement parts. Warranty costs and associated liabilities were $0 and $0 at June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively.

Stock-based compensation

The Company follows the guidelines in FASB Codification Topic ASC 718-10 “Compensation-Stock Compensation,” which requires companies to measure the cost of employee and non-employee services received in exchange for an award of an equity instrument based on the grant-date fair value of the award. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The Company may issue compensatory shares for services including, but not limited to, executive, management, accounting, operations, corporate communication, financial and administrative consulting services.

Earnings (loss) per share

The Company reports earnings (loss) per share in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 260-10 “Earnings Per Share,” which provides for calculation of “basic” and “diluted” earnings per share. Basic earnings per share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing net income or loss available to common stockholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of an entity. The calculation of diluted net loss per share gives effect to common stock equivalents; however, potential common shares are excluded if their effect is anti-dilutive. As of June 30, 2020, there are 1,503,639 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options and warrants which have been excluded as anti-dilutive.

Fair value of financial instruments and derivative asset

The carrying value of cash, accounts payable and accrued expenses, and debt (See Notes 9 & 10) approximate their fair values because of the short-term nature of these instruments. Management believes the Company is not exposed to significant interest or credit risks arising from these financial instruments. The carrying amount of the Company’s long-term debt is also stated at fair value of $681,169 since the stated rate of interest approximates market rates.

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The Company utilizes a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable.

• Level 1 Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. These are typically obtained from real-time quotes for transactions in active exchange markets involving identical assets.

• Level 2 Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices included for identical or similar assets and liabilities that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets. These are typically obtained from readily-available pricing sources for comparable instruments.

• Level 3 Unobservable inputs, where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability. These inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own beliefs about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, based on the best information available in the circumstances.  

The following table presents the Company’s financial instruments that are measured and recorded at fair value on the Company’s balance sheets on a recurring basis, and their level within the fair value hierarchy as of June 30, 2020:

	Amount		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Derivative asset	$	1,544,185	$	—	$	—	$	1,544,185
Investment in equity security		421,500		421,500		—	$	—
Investment in debt security		487,788		—		—		487,788
Total	$	2,453,473	$	421,500	$	—	$	2,031,973

The below table presents the change in the fair value of the derivative asset and investment in debt security during the nine months ended June 30, 2020:

	Amount
Balance at September 30, 2019	$	—
Fair value at issuance, net of premium		487,788
Gain on derivative asset		1,544,185
Balance at June 30, 2020	$	2,031,973

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the reported results of operations or net assets of the Company.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, "Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting," which modifies the accounting for share-based payment awards issued to nonemployees to largely align it with the accounting for share-based payment awards issued to employees. ASU 2018-07 is effective for us for annual periods beginning October 1, 2019. The new standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, "Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract," which allows for the capitalization of certain implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract. ASU 2018-15 allows for either retrospective adoption or prospective adoption to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. ASU 2018-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this new standard will have on our financial position and results of operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance within ASU 2016-02, Leases. The amendments in ASU 2016-02 to Topic 842, Leases, require lessees to recognize the lease assets and lease liabilities arising from operating leases in the statement of financial position. The accounting applied by a lessor is largely unchanged from that applied under previous GAAP. The Company adopted the amendments to Topic 842 on October 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach. The Company elected the transition option issued under ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842) Targeted Improvements, which allows entities to continue to apply the legacy guidance in ASC 840, Leases, to prior periods, including disclosure requirements. Accordingly, prior period financial results and disclosures have not been adjusted. The Company also elected to apply the package of practical expedients permitting entities to forgo reassessment of: 1) expired or existing contracts that may contain leases; 2) lease classification of expired or existing leases; and 3) initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company has also elected to apply the short term lease measurement and recognition exemption to leases with an initial term of 12 months or less. The most significant impact of the new standard on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements was the recognition of a right of use asset and lease liability for operating leases for which the Company is the lessee. Upon adoption of this guidance, on October 1, 2019, the Company recorded a Right of use asset and corresponding lease liability of $85,280 and $85,280, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. No cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings resulted from adoption of this guidance. The new standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows.

In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance within ASU 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other. The amendments in ASU 2017-04 simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. ASU 2017-04 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this new standard will have on our financial position and results of operations.

In June, 2016, the FASB issued guidance within ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses. The amendments in ASU 2016-13 require assets measured at amortized cost and establishes an allowance of credit losses for available for sale debt securities. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this new standard will have on our financial position and results of operations.

The Company has evaluated all other recent accounting pronouncements, and believes that none of them will have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.