Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v3.8.0.1
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Liquidity and Financial Condition

LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had a cash balance, a working capital deficiency and an accumulated deficit of $185,151, $34,762,130 and $156,435,278, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 the Company incurred net losses of $75,363,496 and $7,699,127, respectively. The Company has not yet achieved profitability. Subsequent to December 31, 2017, the Company raised aggregate net proceeds of approximately $14.1 million in connection with its public offering (“Public Offering”) and exchanged aggregate liabilities of approximately $26.0 million for equity. See Note 15 – Subsequent Events for additional details.

 

The Company believes its current cash on hand, as of the date of this filing, is sufficient to meet its operating and capital requirements for at least the next twelve months from the date of this filing. Thereafter, the Company will need to raise further capital through the sale of additional equity or debt securities or other debt instruments to support its future operations. The Company’s operating needs include the planned costs to operate its business, including amounts required to fund working capital and capital expenditures. The Company’s future capital requirements and the adequacy of its available funds will depend on many factors, including the Company’s ability to successfully commercialize its products and services, competing technological and market developments, and the need to enter into collaborations with other companies or acquire other companies or technologies to enhance or complement its product and service offerings. There is also no assurance that the amount of funds the Company might raise will enable the Company to complete its development initiatives or attain profitable operations. If the Company is unable to obtain additional financing on a timely basis, it may have to curtail its development, marketing and promotional activities, which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations, and ultimately, the Company could be forced to discontinue its operations and liquidate.

Principles of Consolidation

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Blink Charging Co. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Car Charging, Inc., Beam Charging LLC (“Beam”), EV Pass LLC (“EV Pass”), Blink Network LLC (“Blink Network”) and Car Charging China Corp. (“Car Charging China”). All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Through April 16, 2014, 350 Green LLC (“350 Green”) was a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company in which the Company had full voting control and was therefore consolidated. Beginning on April 17, 2014, when 350 Green’s assets and liabilities were transferred to a trust mortgage, 350 Green became a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”). The consolidation guidance relating to accounting for VIEs requires an enterprise to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity and perform ongoing reassessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. The Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of 350 Green, and as such, effective April 17, 2014, and as such 350 Green’s assets, liabilities and results of operations were included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. On May 18, 2017, each of 350 Green and Green 350 Trust Mortgage LLC filed to commence an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, which resulted in its residual assets being controlled by an assignee in a judicial proceeding. As a result, as of May 18, 2017, 350 Green is no longer a variable interest entity of the Company and, accordingly, 350 Green, which had approximately $3.7 million of liabilities, has been deconsolidated from the Company’s financial statements which resulted in a loss $97,152 and was recorded on the statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017. On March 26, 2018, final judgment has been reached relating to the Assignment for the Benefit of the Creditors, whereby all remaining assets of 350 Green are abandoned to their respective property owners where the charging stations have been installed, thus on March 26, 2018 the assignment proceeding has closed.

Use of Estimates

USE OF ESTIMATES

 

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, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, together with amounts disclosed in the related notes to the financial statements. The Company’s significant estimates used in these financial statements include, but are not limited to, stock-based compensation, accounts receivable reserves, warranty reserves, inventory valuations, the valuation allowance related to the Company’s deferred tax assets, the carrying amount of intangible assets, estimates of future EV sales and the effects thereon, derivative liabilities and the recoverability and useful lives of long-lived assets. Certain of the Company’s estimates could be affected by external conditions, including those unique to the Company and general economic conditions. It is reasonably possible that these external factors could have an effect on the Company’s estimates and could cause actual results to differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents in the consolidated financial statements. The Company has cash on deposits in several financial institutions which, at times, may be in excess of FDIC insurance limits. The Company has not experienced losses in such accounts.

Accounts Receivable

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

 

Accounts receivable are carried at their contractual amounts, less an estimate for uncollectible amounts. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, there was an allowance for uncollectable amounts of $35,000 and $42,349, respectively. Management estimates the allowance for bad debts based on existing economic conditions, the financial conditions of the customers, and the amount and age of past due accounts. Receivables are considered past due if full payment is not received by the contractual due date. Past due accounts are generally written off against the allowance for bad debts only after all collection attempts have been exhausted.

Inventory

INVENTORY

 

Inventory is comprised of electric charging stations and related parts, which are available for sale or for warranty requirements. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out method. Inventory that is sold to third parties is included within cost of sales and inventory that is installed on the premises of participating owner/operator properties, where the Company retains ownership, is transferred to fixed assets at the carrying value of the inventory. The Company periodically reviews for slow-moving, excess or obsolete inventories. Products that are determined to be obsolete, if any, are written down to net realizable value. Based on the aforementioned periodic reviews, the Company recorded an inventory reserve for slow-moving or excess inventory of $209,325 and $154,000 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company’s inventory was comprised solely of finished goods and parts that are available for sale.

Fixed Assets

FIXED ASSETS

 

Fixed assets are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization which is recorded commencing at the in-service date using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.

 

    Useful Lives  
Asset   (In Years)  
       
Computer software and office and computer equipment     3 - 5  
Machinery and equipment, automobiles, furniture and fixtures     3 - 10  
Installed Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations     3  
Installed Level 3 (DC Fast Chargers (“DCFC”)) electric vehicle charging stations     5  

 

When fixed assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in the statements of operations for the respective period. Minor additions and repairs are expensed in the period incurred. Major additions and repairs which extend the useful life of existing assets are capitalized and depreciated using the straight-line method over their remaining estimated useful lives.

 

EV charging stations represents the cost, net of accumulated depreciation, of charging devices that have been installed on the premises of participating owner/operator properties or are earmarked to be installed. The Company held approximately $0 and $48,000 in EV charging stations that were not placed in service as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

The Company’s long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The Company assesses the recoverability of its long-lived assets by monitoring current selling prices of car charging units in the open market, the adoption rate of various auto manufacturers in the EV market and projected car charging utilization at various public car charging stations throughout its network in determining fair value. An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition are less than its carrying amount. See Note 3 – Fixed Assets for additional details.

Intangible Assets

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Intangible assets were acquired in conjunction with the acquisition of Blink Network during 2013 and were recorded at their fair value at such time. Trademarks are amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful life of ten years. Patents are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lives of the patent (twenty years or less), commencing when the patent is approved and placed in service.

Segments

SEGMENTS

 

The Company operates a single segment business. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, who is the chief operating decision maker, views the Company’s operating performance on a consolidated basis as its only business is the sale and distribution of electric vehicle charging machines and revenues that it earns from customers who use machines connected to its network, whether owned by the Company or third-party hosts.

Derivative Financial Instruments

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

The Company evaluates its convertible instruments to determine if those contracts or embedded components of those contracts qualify as derivative financial instruments to be separately accounted for in accordance with Topic 815 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC. The accounting treatment of derivative financial instruments requires that the Company record the conversion options and warrants at their fair values as of the inception date of the agreement and at fair value as of each subsequent balance sheet date. Any change in fair value is recorded as non-operating, non-cash income or expense for each reporting period at each balance sheet date. Conversion options are recorded as a discount to the host instrument and are amortized as interest expense over the life of the underlying instrument. The Company reassesses the classification of its derivative instruments at each balance sheet date. If the classification changes as a result of events during the period, the contract is reclassified as of the date of the event that caused the reclassification.

 

The Binomial Lattice Model was used to estimate the fair value of the warrants that are classified as derivative liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The model includes subjective input assumptions that can materially affect the fair value estimates. The expected volatility is estimated based on the most recent historical period of time equal to the weighted average life of the warrants.

Sequencing Policy

SEQUENCING POLICY

 

Under ASC 815-40-35, the Company has adopted a sequencing policy whereby, in the event that reclassification of contracts from equity to assets or liabilities is necessary pursuant to ASC 815 due to the Company’s inability to demonstrate it has sufficient authorized shares as a result of certain securities with a potentially indeterminable number of shares, shares will be allocated on the basis of the earliest issuance date of potentially dilutive instruments, with the earliest grants receiving the first allocation of shares. Pursuant to ASC 815, issuance of securities to the Company’s employees or directors are not subject to the sequencing policy.

Revenue Recognition

REVENUE RECOGNITION

 

The Company recognizes revenue when it is realized or realizable and earned. The Company considers revenue realized or realizable and earned when all of the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) the services have been rendered to the customer, (iii) the sales price is fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. Accordingly, when a customer completes use of a charging station, the service can be deemed rendered and revenue may be recognized based on the time duration of the session or kilowatt hours drawn during the session. Sales of EV stations are recognized upon shipment to the customer, free on board shipping point, or the point of customer acceptance.

 

Governmental grants and rebates pertaining to revenues and periodic expenses are recognized as income when the related revenue and/or periodic expense are recorded. Government grants and rebates related to EV charging stations and their installation are deferred and amortized in a manner consistent with the related depreciation expense of the related asset over their useful lives.

 

For arrangements with multiple elements, which is comprised of (1) a charging station unit, (2) installation of the charging station unit, (3) maintenance and (4) network fees, revenue is recognized dependent upon whether vendor specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) of fair value exists for separating each of the elements. The Company determined that VSOE exists for both the delivered and undelivered elements of the company’s multiple-element arrangements. The Company limited their assessment of fair value to either (a) the price charged when the same element is sold separately or (b) the price established by management having the relevant authority.

 

See Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for details surrounding the Company’s adoption of Accounting Standards Codification 606 – Revenue Recognition.

Concentrations

CONCENTRATIONS

 

During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, revenues generated from Entity C represented approximately less than 10% and 13% of the Company’s total revenue, respectively. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, accounts receivable from Entity C was approximately less than 10% and 18%, respectively, of total accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016 accounts receivable from Entity D was approximately 32% and less than 10%, respectively, of total accounts receivable.

Stock-Based Compensation

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

The Company measures the cost of services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award. For employees, the fair value of the award is measured on the grant date and for non-employees, the fair value of the award is measured on the measurement date and re-measured on vesting dates and interim financial reporting dates until the service period is complete. The fair value amount is then recognized over the period during which services are required to be provided in exchange for the award, usually the vesting period. Awards granted to non-employee directors for their service as a director are treated on the same basis as awards granted to employees. The Company computes the fair value of equity-classified warrants and options granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

Income Taxes

INCOME TAXES

 

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of items that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are based on the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent management concludes it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the statements of operations in the period that includes the enactment date. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company maintained a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets, since it is more likely than not that the future tax benefit on such temporary differences will not be realized.

 

The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain income tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement by examining taxing authorities. The Company has open tax years going back to 2014 (or the tax year ended December 31, 2009 if the Company were to utilize its NOLs) which will be subject to audit by federal and state authorities upon filing. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued on uncertain income tax positions in interest expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had no liability for unrecognized tax benefits. The Company does not expect the unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the next 12 months.

 

See Note 12 – Income Taxes for additional details including the effects of the tax cuts and Jobs Act enacted in December 2017.

Net Loss Per Common Share

NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE

 

Basic net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, plus the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the common share equivalents had been issued (computed using the treasury stock or if converted method), if dilutive.

 

The following common share equivalents are excluded from the calculation of weighted average common shares because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive:

 

    For the Years Ended  
    December 31,  
    2017     2016  
Convertible preferred stock     2,998,355       1,053,004  
Warrants     275,332       1,035,115  
Options     107,901       149,233  
Convertible notes     20,555       16,332  
Total potentially dilutive shares     3,402,143       2,253,684  

Commitments and Contingencies

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines and penalties and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment can be reasonably estimated.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUCEMENTS

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605 - Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”) and most industry-specific guidance throughout ASC 605. The FASB has issued numerous updates that provide clarification on a number of specific issues as well as requiring additional disclosures. The core principle of ASC 606 requires that an entity recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASC 606 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, it is possible more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than required under existing U.S. GAAP including identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. The guidance also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. The guidance may be adopted through either retrospective application to all periods presented in the financial statements (full retrospective approach) or through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings at the effective date (modified retrospective approach). The guidance was revised in July 2015 to be effective for public companies for annual and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017.

 

The Company plans to adopt ASC 606 effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. As of the date of filing, the Company has not completed its ASC 606 implementation process and, as a result, cannot disclose the quantitative impact of adoption on its financial statement. That being said, based on its preliminary analysis, the Company believes that revenue related to charging service, product sales and network fees, which, in aggregate, represented approximately 75% of its total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, will not be materially impacted as a result of adopting ASC 606. Revenues related to grants and rebates, warranty and other revenues represented approximately 25% of its total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and, while the Company does not currently believe these revenue streams will be materially impacted as a result of adopting ASC 606, it needs to complete the implementation process before it is able to conclude, including related to the timing of revenue recognition of these revenue streams.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 requires an entity to recognize assets and liabilities arising from a lease for both financing and operating leases. ASU 2016-02 will also require new qualitative and quantitative disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2016-02 and its impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” (“ASU 2016-15”). ASU 2016-15 will make eight targeted changes to how cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. ASU 2016-15 requires adoption on a retrospective basis unless it is impracticable to apply, in which case the Company would be required to apply the amendments prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 effective January 1, 2018 and its adoption of did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718)” (“ASU 2017-09”). ASU 2017-09 provides clarity on the accounting for modifications of stock-based awards. ASU 2017-09 requires adoption on a prospective basis in the annual and interim periods for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 for share-based payment awards modified on or after the adoption date. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-11, “Earnings Per Share (Topic 260) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) - Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features” (“ASU 2017-11”). Equity-linked instruments, such as warrants and convertible instruments may contain down round features that result in the strike price being reduced on the basis of the pricing of future equity offerings. Under ASU 2017-11, a down round feature will no longer require a freestanding equity-linked instrument (or embedded conversion option) to be classified as a liability that is remeasured at fair value through the income statement (i.e. marked-to-market). However, other features of the equity-linked instrument (or embedded conversion option) must still be evaluated to determine whether liability or equity classification is appropriate. Equity classified instruments are not marked-to-market. For earnings per share (“EPS”) reporting, the ASU requires companies to recognize the effect of the down round feature only when it is triggered by treating it as a dividend and as a reduction of income available to common shareholders in basic EPS. The amendments in this ASU are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

  

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities” (“ASU 2017-12”) which is intended to better align an entity’s risk management activities and its financial reporting for hedging relationships. ASU 2017-12 will change both the designation and measurement guidance for a qualifying hedging relationship and the presentation of the impact of the hedging relationship on the entity’s financial statements. In addition, ASU 2017-12 contains targeted improvements to ease the application of current guidance related to the assessment of hedge effectiveness and eliminates the requirement for an entity to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness. For public companies, these amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.