Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

(a) Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

 

(b) Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of electroCore and its wholly owned subsidiaries. electroCore Australia was consolidated with the non-controlled equity presented as non-controlling interest in the Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020. As described in Note 1, the Company terminated its affiliation with electroCore Australia on November 2, 2021 and, as such, this dormant entity was not included in the Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

(c) Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include allowances for doubtful accounts, trade credits, rebates, co-payment assistance and sales returns, valuation of inventory, stock compensation, incremental borrowing rate and contingencies.

 

(d) Revenue Recognition

The Company accounts for its revenue transactions under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC Topic 606”). In accordance with ASC Topic 606, the Company recognizes revenues when its customers obtain control of its product for an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive from its customers in exchange for that product. To determine revenue recognition for contracts that are determined to be in scope of ASC Topic 606, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies the performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. Once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC Topic 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when such performance obligation is satisfied.

The transaction price is based on the consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for its products and includes the fixed per-unit price of the product and variable consideration in the form of trade credits, vouchers, rebates, and co-payment assistance. The per-unit price is based on the Company’s established wholesale acquisition cost less a contractually agreed upon distributor discount with the customer.

Trade credits are discounts that are contingent upon a timely remittance of payment and are estimated based on historical experience. Damaged or defective products are replaced at no charge under the Company’s standard warranty. A cash refund is allowed under specific circumstances for undamaged and non-defective returned products.

 

(e) Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased. The Company’s accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250,000 per financial institution in the United States, and up to £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (“FSCS”) per financial institution in the United Kingdom.

 

(f) Marketable Securities

Marketable securities, all of which are available-for-sale, consist of corporate debt securities, U.S. bonds and U.S. sponsored agencies. Marketable securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported as accumulated other comprehensive income, except for losses from impairments which are determined to be other-than-temporary. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary are included in the determination of net loss and are included in interest and other income net. Fair values are based on quoted market prices at the reporting date. Interest and dividends on available-for-sale securities are included in Interest and other income.

 

(g) Concentration of Credit Risk

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities are financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk. As of December 31, 2021, the Company's cash equivalents and marketable securities were largely comprised of money market funds. The Company has established guidelines relative to diversification and maturities that are designed to help ensure safety and liquidity. These guidelines are periodically reviewed to take advantage of trends in yields and interest rates. As of December 31, 2021, approximately 99.2% of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities was denominated in U.S. Dollars, the balance is subject to foreign exchange risk.

 

(h) Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses inherent in its accounts receivable portfolio. Management considers an account receivable to be past due when it is not settled under its stated terms. In establishing the required allowance, management considers historical losses adjusted to take into account current market conditions and customers financial condition, the amount of receivables in dispute, and the current receivables aging and current payment patterns. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company's allowance for doubtful accounts was immaterial. The Company does not have any off balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

 

(i) Inventories

Inventory, which consists of raw materials, work-in-process and finished product, is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory is valued on a first-in first-out basis. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. 

The Company evaluates inventory with respect to its operating cycle and classifies inventory as current or long-term on its balance sheet. Based upon estimated production needs and current inventory levels, the Company determined the amount of inventory necessary for the next twelve months. Any amounts over this projection are reclassified as Inventories, noncurrent.

In addition, the Company’s product is subject to strict quality control and monitoring which the Company performs throughout the manufacturing process. If certain units of product no longer meet quality specification or become obsolete, the Company records a charge to cost of sales sold to write down such unmarketable inventory to zero.

 

(j) Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at historical cost.  Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, as discussed below.  Amounts expended for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.

Depreciation and leasehold improvement amortization is computed using the following estimated useful lives:


Machinery and equipment

 

3–15 years

Leasehold improvements

 

Lesser of estimated useful life or remaining term of lease

Furniture and fixtures

 

5–10 years

Computer equipment

 

5 years


(k) Leases

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. For each lease, the lease term is determined at the commencement date and includes renewal options and termination options when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Operating leases with the lease terms greater than one year are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and current and long-term operating lease liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Operating lease ROU assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term using an estimated rate of interest the Company would have to pay to borrow equivalent funds on a collateralized basis at the lease commencement date. The operating lease ROU assets are based on the liability adjusted for any prepaid or deferred rent and lease incentives. The incremental borrowing rate was utilized to discount lease payments over the expected term given that the Company’s operating leases do not provide an implicit rate. The Company estimates the incremental borrowing rate to reflect the profile of secured borrowing over the expected term of the leases based on the information available at the later of the date of adoption or the lease commencement date. Rent expense for the operating lease is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. 


(l) Cloud Computing Arrangement

Implementation costs for the Company’s cloud computing arrangement (“CCA”) are capitalized and amortized using the straight-line method over the life of the arrangement. The Company has capitalized implementation costs incurred in implementing its cloud computing arrangements, which is a hosting arrangement that is a service contract per FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-15. These costs include payroll costs of employees devoting time to the project and external direct costs for materials and services are capitalized.  Software maintenance and training costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. The capitalized costs are included as a component of other assets.  


(m) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If circumstances require a long-lived asset or asset group be tested for possible impairment, the Company first compares undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset or asset group to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, an impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values, and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary.


(n) Stock-based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with the ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. The Company estimates the fair value of stock option awards using the Black-Scholes option pricing model on the date of the grant. Restricted stock unit awards and restricted stock awards without a market condition are valued based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. Compensation expense reflects actual forfeitures and is primarily recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the individual grants, which typically equals the vesting period.


(o) Income Taxes

The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under ASC 740, "Income Taxes." Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax provisions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or deviation from its position during the next twelve months.


(p) Research and Development

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. These costs include, but are not limited to, costs related to clinical trials, and compensation and related overhead for employees and consultants involved in research and development activities.


(q) Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

The functional currency of the Company’s international operations has been determined to be the respective local currency. The Company translates functional currency assets and liabilities to their U.S. dollar equivalents at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and translates functional currency income and expense amounts to their U.S. dollar equivalents at average exchange rates for the period. The U.S. dollar affects that arise from changing translation rates are recorded in other comprehensive loss. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses related to assets and liabilities that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period they occur.


(r) Segment Information  

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business as one operating segment.

(s) Revision of Statement of Cash Flows Activity

In preparation of its financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, the Company realized that proceeds from its July 1, 2020 Commercial Insurance Premium Finance and Security Agreement should have been treated as a noncash activity instead of grossed up on the accompanying consolidated statement of cash flows. Even though the amount was not considered material, the financial statements have been revised. As a result, net cash used in operating and provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020, decreased by approximately $52,000. 

(t) Prior year presentation

Prior year presentation has been conformed to current year presentation.


(u) Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance which modified the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for the year ended December 31, 2020. The Company adopted this guidance, and it was properly reflected in the consolidated financial statements. The impact on the consolidated financial statements was immaterial.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326); Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, ASU 2016-13 changes the impairment model for most financial assets, including trade and other receivables, from an incurred loss method to a new forward looking approach based on expected losses. The new approach includes the consideration of historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company adopted this guidance and determined the impact on the consolidated financial statements was immaterial.

In December 2019, the FASB issued an update to simplify the accounting for income taxes and improve consistent application by clarifying or amending existing guidance. This guidance is effective for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Company adopted this guidance and determined the impact on the consolidated financial statements was immaterial.