Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

v3.19.1
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had a cash balance, net working capital and an accumulated deficit of $18,417,513, $15,586,510 and $159,856,481, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 the Company incurred net losses of $3,421,203 and $75,363,496, respectively.

 

The Company believes its current cash on hand is sufficient to meet its operating obligations and capital requirements for at least twelve months from the issuance date of these financial statements. Thereafter, the Company may 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.

 

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.

 

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

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Blink Charging Co. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. 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

 

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, right of use assets and related leases payable 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

 

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 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limits. The Company has not experienced losses in such accounts and periodically evaluates the creditworthiness of its financial institutions. The Company reduces its credit risk by placing its cash and cash equivalents with major financial institutions. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had cash balances in excess of FDIC insurance limits of $862,145, of which, $16,992,416, was held in a money market account at a financial institution at December 31, 2018. No funds were held in money market accounts at December 31, 2017.

 

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

 

Accounts receivable are carried at their contractual amounts, less an estimate for uncollectible amounts. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, there was an allowance for uncollectable amounts of $84,542 and $35,000, 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 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 property and equipment 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 $396,000 and $209,325 as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company’s inventory was comprised solely of finished goods and parts that are available for sale.

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

Property and equipment is 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 - 7
Installed Level 3 (DC Fast Chargers (“DCFC”)) electric vehicle charging stations   5

 

When property and equipment 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 had no EV charging stations that were not placed in service as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

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 4 – Property and Equipment for additional details.

 

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Intangible assets were acquired in conjunction with the acquisition of Blink Network LLC (“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

 

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 Blink’s only business is the sale and distribution of electric vehicle charging equipment and its associated revenues earned from customers and/or Property Partners who use equipment connected to its network.

 

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”) Accounting Standards Codification (“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.

 

REVENUE RECOGNITION

 

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASC 606”). 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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“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 Company adopted ASC 606 for all applicable contracts using the modified retrospective method, which would have required a cumulative-effect adjustment, if any, as of the date of adoption. The adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of the date of adoption. As a result, a cumulative-effect adjustment was not required.

 

The Company recognizes revenue primarily from five different types of contracts:

 

  Charging service revenue – company-owned charging stations - Revenue is recognized at the point when a particular charging session is completed.
  Product sales – Revenue is recognized at the point where the customer obtains control of the goods and the Company satisfies its performance obligation, which generally is at the time it ships the product to the customer.
  Network fees and other – Represents a stand-ready obligation whereby the Company is obligated to perform over a period of time and, as a result, revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the contract term. Network fees are billed annually.
  Other – Primarily related to charging service revenue from non-company-owned charging stations. Revenue is recognized from non-company-owned charging stations at the point when a particular charging session is completed.

 

The following table summarizes our revenue recognized under ASC 606 in our consolidated statements of operations:

 

    For The Years Ended  
    December 31,  
    2018     2017  
             
Revenues - Recognized at a Point in Time                
Charging service revenue - company-owned charging stations   $ 1,264,719     $ 1,186,710  
Product sales     476,930       495,086  
Other     187,252       338,440  
Total Revenues - Recognized at a Point in Time     1,928,901       2,020,236  
                 
Revenues - Recognized Over a Period of Time:                
Network fees and other     351,440       359,216  
Total Revenues - Recognized Over a Period of Time     351,440       359,216  
                 
Total Revenue Under ASC 606   $ 2,280,341     $ 2,379,452  

 

The timing of the Company’s revenue recognition may differ from the timing of payment by its customers. A receivable is recorded when revenue is recognized prior to payment and the Company has an unconditional right to payment. Alternatively, when payment precedes the provision of the related services, the Company records deferred revenue until the performance obligations are satisfied.

 

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $264,860 related to contract liabilities where performance obligations have not yet been satisfied, which has been included within deferred revenue on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018. The Company expects to satisfy its remaining performance obligations for network fees and warranty revenue and recognize the revenue within the next twelve months.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recognized $324,956 of revenues related to network fees and warranty contracts, which was included in deferred revenues as of December 31, 2017.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, there was no revenue recognized from performance obligations satisfied (or partially satisfied) in previous periods.

 

Grants, rebates and alternative fuel credits, which are not within the scope of ASC 606, pertaining to revenues and periodic expenses are recognized as income when the related revenue and/or periodic expense are recorded. 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 over the useful life of the charging station. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded $74,776 and $120,905, respectively, related to grant and rebate revenue. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, there was $106,066 and $181,913, respectively, of deferred grant and rebate revenue to be amortized. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recognized $331,120 of revenue related to alternative fuel credits, which is included within other revenue on the consolidated statement of operations.

 

CONCENTRATIONS

 

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, accounts receivable from a significant customer were approximately 35% and 32%, respectively, of total accounts receivable.

 

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 and non-employees, the fair value of the award is measured on the grant date. 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. The Company computes the fair value of equity-classified warrants and options granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

 

LEASES

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued a new standard related to leases to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring the recognition of operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. Most prominent among the changes in the standard is the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases. Under the standard, disclosures are required to meet the objective of enabling users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The Company is also required to recognize and measure new leases at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment in the period of adoption using a modified retrospective approach, with certain practical expedients available.

 

The Company early adopted ASC 842 effective July 1, 2018 and elected to apply the available practical expedients and implemented internal controls and key system functionality to enable the preparation of financial information on adoption. The standard had an impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets but did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations or consolidated statements of cash flows upon adoption. The most significant impact was the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities for operating leases, while the Company’s accounting for finance leases remained substantially unchanged. The adoption of ASC 842 did not have a material impact in the current year and prior year comparative periods and as a result, a cumulative-effect adjustment was not required.

 

The Company provides charging services at designated locations on the hosts property at which the charging station is situated. In consideration thereof, the host shares in the monthly revenue generated by the charging station on percentage basis. As the charging station monthly revenue generated is variable, the host’s monthly revenue derived there from is similarly variable. In accordance with ASC 842 the hosts’ portion of revenue is variable and not predicated on an index or rate, as defined, these payments are not within the scope ASC 842.

 

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, 2018 and 2017, 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 2015 (or the tax year ended December 31, 2010 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, 2018 and 2017, 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.

 

NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE

 

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

 

    For the Years Ended  
    December 31,  
    2018     2017  
Convertible preferred stock     1,647,756       2,998,355  
Warrants     6,837,061       275,332  
Options     109,546       107,901  
Convertible notes     -       20,555  
Total potentially dilutive shares     8,594,363       3,402,143  

 

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.

 

RECLASSIFICATIONS

 

Certain prior year balances have been reclassified in order to conform to current year presentation. These reclassifications have no effect on previously reported results of operations or loss per share.

 

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUCEMENTS

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 - Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 amends the impairment model to utilize an expected loss methodology in place of the currently used incurred loss methodology, which will result in more timely recognition of losses. The new standard applies to financial assets measured at amortized cost basis, including receivables that result from revenue transactions and held-to-maturity debt securities. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. 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. The Company adopted ASU 2017-11 effective January 1, 2019 and its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

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 adopted ASU 2017-12 effective January 1, 2019 and its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”). The amendments in ASU 2018-13 modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements based on the concepts in the Concepts Statement, including the consideration of costs and benefits. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. The amendments are effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2018-13 and its impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15 - Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software: Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs in such cloud computing arrangements with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. This ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted. Entities can choose to adopt the new guidance prospectively or retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In November 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-18, Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808): Clarifying the Interaction between Topic 808 and Topic 606 (“ASU 2018-18”), which clarifies that certain transactions between participants in a collaborative arrangement should be accounted for under ASC 606 when the counterparty is a customer. In addition, ASU 2018-18 precludes an entity from presenting consideration from a transaction in a collaborative arrangement as revenue from contracts with customers if the counterparty is not a customer for that transaction. For public business entities, the amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period, (1) for public business entities for periods for which financial 3 statements have not yet been issued and (2) for all other entities for periods for which financial statements have not yet been made available for issuance. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.