Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Going Concern

Going Concern

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The Company has accumulated a deficit of $98.3 million, including a net loss of $28.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, and has not generated significant revenue or positive cash flows from operations. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or amounts of liabilities that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. To meet its capital needs, the Company is considering multiple alternatives, including, but not limited to, additional equity financings, debt financings and other funding transactions. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to complete any such transaction on acceptable terms or otherwise. If the Company is unable to obtain the necessary capital, it will need to pursue a plan to license or sell its assets, seek to be acquired by another entity, cease operations and/or seek bankruptcy protection.

Consolidation

Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Isis Tele-Communications, Inc., which has no current operations, SafeStitch LLC, and TransEnterix Surgical, Inc. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management 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 the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include identifiable intangible assets and goodwill, the valuation of common stock for purposes of determining stock compensation expense, excess and obsolete inventory reserves, allowance for uncollectible accounts, and deferred tax asset valuation allowances.

Reverse Merger

Reverse Merger

On September 3, 2013, SafeStitch and TransEnterix Surgical, consummated the Merger whereby TransEnterix Surgical merged with a merger subsidiary of SafeStitch, with TransEnterix Surgical as the surviving entity in the Merger. As a result of the Merger, TransEnterix Surgical became a wholly owned subsidiary of SafeStitch. On December 6, 2013, SafeStitch changed its corporate name to TransEnterix, Inc.

The Reverse Merger has been accounted for as a reverse acquisition under which TransEnterix Surgical was considered the acquirer of SafeStitch. As such, the financial statements of TransEnterix Surgical are treated as the historical financial statements of the combined company, with the results of SafeStitch being included from September 3, 2013.

As a result of the Reverse Merger with SafeStitch, historical common stock amounts and additional paid in capital have been retroactively adjusted using an Exchange Ratio of 1.1533.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Short-Term Investments

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Short-Term Investments

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents and investments with original maturities of between 91 days and one year to be short-term investments. In order to manage exposure to credit risk, the Company invests in high-quality investments rated at least A2 by Moody’s Investors Service or A by Standard & Poor.

Restricted cash consisting of a money market account used as collateral securing a letter of credit under the terms of the corporate office operating lease that commenced in 2010 was $375,000 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

The Company’s investments consist of corporate bonds and are classified as available for sale. Investments classified as available for sale are measured at fair value, and net unrealized gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the balance sheet until realized. Realized gains and losses on sales of investment securities are determined based on the specific-identification method and are recorded in interest and other income. The amortized cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity computed under the effective interest method. Such amortization and accretion is included in interest and other income.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded at net realizable value, which includes an allowance for estimated uncollectable accounts. The allowance for uncollectible accounts was determined based on historical collection experience.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying values of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, interest receivable, accounts payable, and certain accrued expenses at December 31, 2013 and 2012, approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these items. The Company’s debt balance approximates fair value as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Concentration and Credit Risk

Concentrations and Credit Risk

The Company’s principal financial instruments subject to potential concentration of credit risk are cash and cash equivalents and investments held in money market accounts. The Company places cash deposits with a federally insured financial institution. The Company maintains its cash at banks and financial institutions it considers to be of high credit quality; however the Company’s cash deposits may at times exceed the FDIC insured limit. Balances in excess of federally insured limitations may not be insured. The Company has not experienced losses on these accounts, and management believes that the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such accounts.

The Company had one customer who constituted 61% of the Company’s net accounts receivable at December 31, 2013. The Company had two customers who constituted 42% and 13%, respectively, of the Company’s net accounts receivable at December 31, 2012. The Company had one customer who accounted for 37% and 21% of revenues in 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Inventory

Inventory

Inventory, which includes material, labor and overhead costs, is stated at standard costs which approximates actual cost, determined on a first-in, first-out basis, not in excess of market value. Raw materials consist of purchased material as well as sub-assemblies for which some labor has been applied. The Company records reserves, when necessary, to reduce the carrying value of inventory to their net realizable value. At the point of loss recognition, a new, lower-cost basis for that inventory is established, and any subsequent improvements in facts and circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in that newly established cost basis.

Identifiable Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Identifiable Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Identifiable intangible assets are recorded at cost, or when acquired as part of a business acquisition, at estimated fair value. Certain intangible assets are amortized over 10 years. Similar to tangible personal property and equipment, the Company periodically evaluates identifiable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. No impairment existed at December 31, 2013 or 2012.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets, such as goodwill are not amortized. The Company tests the carrying amounts of goodwill for recoverability on an annual basis at December 31^st or when events or changes in circumstances indicate evidence of potential impairment exists, using a fair value based test. No impairment existed at December 31, 2013.

Debt Issuance Costs

Debt Issuance Costs

The Company capitalizes costs associated with the issuance of debt instruments and amortizes these costs to interest expense over the term of the related debt agreement using the effective yield amortization method. Unamortized debt issuance costs will be charged to operations when indebtedness under the related credit facility is repaid prior to maturity.

Business Acquisitions

Business Acquisitions

Business acquisitions are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, “Business Combinations.” ASC 805 requires, among other things, that assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their fair values, as determined in accordance with ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements,” as of the acquisition date. For certain assets and liabilities, book value approximates fair value. In addition, ASC 805 establishes that consideration transferred be measured at the closing date of the acquisition at the then-current market price, which may be different than the amount of consideration assumed in the pro forma financial statements. Under ASC 805, acquisition related costs (i.e., advisory, legal, valuation and other professional fees) and certain acquisition-related restructuring charges impacting the target company are expensed in the period in which the costs are incurred. The application of the acquisition method of accounting requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions related to the estimated fair values of net assets acquired. Significant judgments are used during this process, particularly with respect to intangible assets. Generally, intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangibles are not amortized, but are annually assessed for impairment. Therefore, the purchase price allocation to intangible assets and goodwill has a significant impact on future operating results.

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2013-11, "Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists," which updated the guidance in ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. The amendments in ASU 2013-11 provide guidance for the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists at the reporting date. The guidance requires an unrecognized tax benefit to be presented as a decrease in a deferred tax asset where a net operating loss, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists and certain criteria are met. This guidance is effective January 1, 2014. The Company does not expect adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

Effective January 1, 2013, the Company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 220, Comprehensive Income. The amended guidance requires entities to disclose additional information about reclassification adjustments, including (1) changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component and (2) significant items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by presenting the amount reclassified and the individual income statement line items affected. The adoption of ASU No. 2013-02 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Risk And Uncertainties

Risk and Uncertainties

The Company is subject to a number of risks similar to other similarly-sized companies in the medical device industry. These risks include, without limitation, the historical lack of profitability, our ability to raise additional capital, our ability to successfully develop, clinically test and commercialize our products, the timing and outcome of the regulatory review process for our products, changes in the health care and regulatory environments of the United States and other countries in which we intend to operate, our ability to attract and retain key management, marketing and scientific personnel, competition from new entrants, our ability to successfully prepare, file, prosecute, maintain, defend and enforce patent claims and other intellectual property rights, our ability to successfully transition from a research and development company to a marketing, sales and distribution concern, and our ability to identify and pursue development of additional products.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consists primarily of molds, machinery, manufacturing equipment, computer equipment, furniture, and leasehold improvements, which are recorded at cost.

Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

Molds	3 years
Machinery and manufacturing equipment	5 years
Computer equipment	3 years
Furniture	5 years
Leasehold improvements	Lesser of lease term or 3 to 10 years

Upon retirement or sale, the cost of assets disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is credited or charged to operations. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

Intellactual Property

Intellectual Property

Intellectual property consists of purchased patent rights. Amortization is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the patents of 10 years. This method approximates the period over which the Company expects to receive the benefit from these assets.

Long-lived assets

Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets including property and equipment and purchased intellectual property, for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. To determine the recoverability of its long-lived assets, the Company evaluates the probability that future estimated undiscounted net cash flows will be less than the carrying amount of the assets. If such estimated cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the long-lived assets, then such assets are written down to their fair value. The Company’s estimates of anticipated cash flows and the remaining estimated useful lives of long-lived assets could be reduced in the future, resulting in a reduction to the carrying amount of long-lived assets.

Preferred Stock Warrant Liability

Preferred Stock Warrant Liability

In January and December 2012, TransEnterix Surgical entered into promissory notes with two lenders and issued preferred stock warrants to each lender in connection with the issuance of the promissory notes. At December 31, 2012, TransEnterix Surgical accounted for these freestanding warrants to purchase TransEnterix Surgical Series B-1 Convertible Preferred Stock as liabilities at fair value on the accompanying balance sheet. The warrants were subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date prior to the Merger, and the change in fair value through the Merger date was recognized as other income (expense). TransEnterix Surgical used the Monte Carlo simulation method to value the warrants prior to the Merger which is a generally accepted statistical method used to generate a defined number of stock price paths in order to develop a reasonable estimate of the range of TransEnterix Surgical’s future expected stock prices and minimizes standard error. In connection with the Merger, the warrants, which previously were convertible into shares of TransEnterix Surgical Series B-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, were amended to be convertible into warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock. Upon conversion of the warrants upon the date of the Merger, the preferred stock warrant liability was reclassified into additional paid-in capital.

 

 Significant assumptions used in the valuation of the preferred stock warrants liability December 31, 2012 were as follows:

Exercise price	$	0.29
Risk-free interest rate		1.78	%
Expected volatility		160	%
Expected life (years)		9
Expected dividend yield		0	%

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from product sales is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred which is typically at shipping point, the fee is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Shipping and handling costs billed to customers are included in revenue.

Cost of Good Sold

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold consists of materials, labor and overhead incurred internally to produce the products. Shipping and handling costs incurred by the Company are included in cost of goods sold.

Research and Development Costs

Research and Development Costs

Research and development expenses primarily consist of engineering, product development and regulatory expenses, incurred in the design, development, testing and enhancement of our products and legal services associated with our efforts to obtain and maintain broad protection for the intellectual property related to our products. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company follows ASC 718 (“Stock Compensation”) and ASC 505-50 (“Equity-Based Payments to Non-employees”), which provide guidance in accounting for share-based awards exchanged for services rendered and requires companies to expense the estimated fair value of these awards over the requisite service period. The Company determines the fair value of the stock-based compensation awards granted as either the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. If the fair value of the equity instruments issued is used, it is measured using the stock price and other measurement assumptions as of the earlier of either of (1) the date at which a commitment for performance by the counterparty to earn the equity instruments is reached, or (2) the date at which the counterparty’s performance is complete.

The Company records as expense the fair value of stock-based compensation awards, including employee stock options. Compensation expense for stock-based compensation was $941,245 and $343,137 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets or liabilities for the temporary differences between financial reporting and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities, and for tax carryforwards at enacted statutory rates in effect for the years in which the asset or liability is expected to be realized. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income during the period that includes the enactment date. In addition, valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets and liabilities to the amounts expected to be realized.

Comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. The Company’s comprehensive net loss is equal to its net loss for all periods presented.