Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates and Risks and Uncertainties

The preparation of financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain assumptions are also necessary to assess the impact of risks and uncertainties on the financial statements, such as cash flow projections, availability of capital if needed to support the ongoing operations of the business, and our expected compliance with contractual commitments. These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in Note 13. Any changes in these assumptions or business plans could have a material impact on the financial statements.

Cash

The Cash balance on December 31, 2020 consists of funds borrowed from our Convertible Promissory Note, held by Bradford T. Whitmore, and our Term Loan and Revolving Line of Credit, both of which are facilitated by Beachcorp, LLC. Our ability to access cash from our credit facility solely depends on carrying an Accounts Receivable balance greater than the outstanding loan balance in the Revolving Line of Credit. As part of the agreement, we are required to have a bank account in place to act as a depository account for our customers. This account is referred to as the Control Account. Furthermore, there is an Account Control Agreement in place which provides Beachcorp, LLC the ability to exercise control over the account via approval of requested transfers. According to our agreements with Beachcorp, LLC, Nanophase is to be the party initiating any transfers, whether to Nanophase or to Beachcorp, LLC, and approval to access any monies within this account can only be withheld by Beachcorp, LLC if the borrowing base falls below the Company’s qualified receivables, or if we are in arrears with respect to interest payments due Beachcorp, LLC. The failure of Nanophase to remedy the previously mentioned conditions could lead to Beachcorp, LLC gaining the right, through a “springing” feature administered by Libertyville Bank and Trust, a Wintrust Community Bank (“Libertyville”), to transfer funds to itself without direct approval from Nanophase.  Cash is held at a federally insured institution, but our cash balances at times exceed insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses related to these statutory limits.

Trade Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are carried at original invoice amount less an estimate made for doubtful receivables based on a review of all outstanding amounts on a monthly basis. We determine the allowance for doubtful accounts by identifying troubled accounts and by using historical experience applied to an aging of accounts. Trade accounts receivable are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of trade accounts receivable previously written off are recorded when received. Our typical credit terms are between thirty and sixty days from shipment and invoicing.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, maintained on a first in, first out basis, or net realizable value. We have recorded allowances to reduce inventory relating to excess quantities of certain materials. Write-downs of inventories establish a new cost basis, which is not increased for future increases in market value of inventories or changes in estimated excess quantities.

Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

Equipment is stated at cost and is being depreciated over its estimated useful life (3-20 years) using the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are stated at cost and are being amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or the term of the lease (3-7 years). Depreciation expense for leased assets is included with depreciation expense for owned assets. From time to time we have self-constructed assets. These assets are stated at cost plus the capitalization of labor and are depreciated over an estimated useful life (7-10 years) using the straight-line method.

Long Lived Assets

We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable. We conduct long-lived asset impairment analyses in accordance with ASC 360-10-15, Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. ASC 360-10-15 requires us to group assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities and evaluate the asset group against the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows. If the undiscounted cash flows do not indicate the carrying amount of the asset is recoverable, an impairment charge is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds its fair value based on discounted cash flow analysis or appraisals. Based upon our analysis, there were no impairment charges recognized in either period presented.

Deferred Revenue

The Company records deferred revenue for development projects due to the contractual billing of these projects not always aligning with revenue recognition. In addition, it is now the Company’s policy to frequently require deposits relating to the initial production of our Solésence products.

Asset Retirement Obligations

In connection with our leased facilities, we are required to remove certain leasehold improvements upon termination of our occupancy. We follow the provisions of the FASB issued ASC 410-20, Asset Retirement Obligations, under which we recognize a liability for the fair value of these asset retirement obligations. The fair value of that liability is measured based on an expected cash flow approach and accretion expense is recognized each period to recognize increases to the fair value of the liability due to the passage of time. Increases to the fair value of the liability, except for accretion, are added to the carrying value of the long-lived asset. Those increases are then reported in amortization expense over the estimated useful life of the long-lived asset.

Activity in the asset retirement obligation account for the years ended December 31, is as follows:

	2020		2019
Balance, beginning	$	206	$	198
Accretion of liability due to passage of time		8		8
Amortization of asset due to passage of time		—		—
Balance, ending	$	214	$	206

Financial Instruments

We follow ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The fair value framework requires the categorization of assets and liabilities into three levels based upon the assumptions (inputs) used to price the assets or liabilities. Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, whereas Level 3 generally requires significant management judgment.

Our financial instruments include cash, any cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, along with the promissory note with no related borrowings described in Note 4, any borrowings on the working capital line of credit from Libertyville Bank and Trust, and any borrowings on the working capital line of credit, along with the term loan from Beachcorp, LLC, and the promissory note payable associated with the convertible loan described in Note 4. The fair values of all financial instruments were not materially different from their carrying values.

There were no financial instruments adjusted to fair value on December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Product Revenue

Revenues are recognized at a point in time, typically when control of the promised goods is transferred to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those goods.

We generally expense sales commissions when incurred because the amortization period would have been one year or less. These costs are recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses. Customers’ deposits, deferred revenue and other receipts are deferred and recognized when the revenue is realized and earned. Cash payments to customers are classified as reductions of revenue in our statements of operations.

We do not disclose the value of the unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected length of one year or less or contracts for which we recognize revenue that we have the right to invoice for goods completed.

Other Revenue

Other revenue may include revenue from technology license fees and paid development projects. Technology license fees and paid development projects are recognized over time when the obligations under the agreed upon contractual arrangements are performed on our part.  Revenue recognized over time was $701 and $657 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses are recognized as expense when incurred.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes using the liability method. As such, deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the anticipated reversal of these differences is scheduled to occur. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

When tax returns are filed, it is highly certain that some positions taken would be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities, while others are subject to uncertainty about merits of the position taken or the amount of the position that would be ultimately sustained. The benefit of a tax position is recognized in the financial statements in the period during which, based on all available evidence, management believes it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including the resolution of appeals or litigation processes, if any. Tax positions taken are not offset or aggregated with other positions. Tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold are measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement with the applicable taxing authority. The portion of the benefits associated with tax positions taken that exceeds the amount measured, as described above, is reflected as a liability for uncertain tax benefits in the accompanying balance sheets along with any associated interest and penalties that would be payable to the taxing authorities upon examination.

We have not recorded a reserve for any tax positions for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility. We file tax returns in all appropriate jurisdictions, which includes a federal tax return and Illinois state tax return. When and if applicable, potential interest and penalty costs are accrued as incurred, with expenses recognized in selling, general and administrative expenses in the statements of operations. As of December 31, 2020, and 2019, we had no liability for unrecognized tax benefits.

Earnings Per Share

Options to purchase approximately 387,000 shares of common stock that were outstanding as of December 31, 2020 were included in the computation of earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2020.  Options to purchase approximately 243,000 shares of common stock that were outstanding as of December 31, 2019 were not included in the computation of earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2019, as the impact of such shares are anti-dilutive.

Earnings applicable to common stock and common stock shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
Numerator: (in Thousands)
Net income (loss)	$	989	$	(3,006	)
Denominator:
Weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding		38,158,586		36,596,372
Weighted average additional shares assuming conversion of in-the-money stock options to common shares		387,000		—
Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding		38,545,586		36,596,372
Basic earnings per common share:
Net income (loss) per share – basic	$	0.03	$	(0.08	)
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net income (loss) per share – diluted	$	0.03	$	(0.08	)

New Accounting Pronouncements

 In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which replaces existing incurred loss impairment guidance and establishes a single allowance framework for financial assets carried at amortized cost. The effective date for our adoption (as amended) of this updated Standard will be January 1, 2023.