Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
3 Months Ended
May 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as 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. Those estimates and assumptions include estimates for depreciable lives of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, analysis of impairments of recorded intangible assets, accruals for potential liabilities and assumptions made in calculating the fair value of stock-based compensation and other stock instruments.

 

Foreign currency translations and transactions

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, the reporting currency of the Company. Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries that have a functional currency other than that of the Company are translated to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate as at the balance sheet date. Income and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate of the period. The resulting translation adjustments are included in other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”). As a result, foreign currency exchange fluctuations may impact operating expenses. The Company currently has not engaged in any currency hedging activities.

 

For transactions and balances, monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency of the entity at the prevailing exchange rate at the reporting date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities, and revenue and expense items denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rate prevailing at the dates of the respective transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, except for gains or losses arising from the translation of intercompany balances denominated in foreign currencies that forms part in the net investment in the subsidiary which are included in OCI.

 

Stock-based compensation

 

Loop Industries, Inc. periodically issues stock options and restricted stock units to employees and non-employees in non-capital raising transactions for services and financing costs. The Company accounts for stock options granted to employees based on the authoritative guidance provided by the FASB wherein the fair value of the award is measured on the grant date and where there are no performance conditions, recognized as compensation expense on the straight-line basis over the vesting period and where performance conditions exist, recognize compensation expense when it becomes probable that the performance condition will be met. Forfeitures on share-based payments are accounted for by recognizing forfeitures as they occur.

 

The Company accounts for stock options granted to non-employees in accordance with the authoritative guidance of the FASB wherein the fair value of the stock compensation is based upon the measurement date determined as the earlier of the date at which either a) a commitment is reached with the counterparty for performance or b) the counterparty completes its performance.

 

The Company estimates the fair value of restricted stock unit awards to employees and directors based on the closing market price of its common stock on the date of grant.

 

The fair value of the stock options granted are estimated using the Black-Scholes-Merton Option Pricing (“Black-Scholes”) model, which uses certain assumptions related to risk-free interest rates, expected volatility, expected life of the stock options, and future dividends. Stock-based compensation expense is recorded based on the value derived from the Black-Scholes model and on actual experience. The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model could materially affect stock-based compensation expense recorded in the current and future periods.

 

Income taxes

 

The Company calculates its provision for income tax on the basis of the tax laws enacted at the balance sheet date in the countries where the Company and its subsidiaries operate and generate taxable income, in accordance with FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes. The Company uses an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes that allows recognition and measurement of deferred tax assets based upon the likelihood of realization of tax benefits in future years. Under the asset and liability approach, deferred taxes are provided for 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. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not these items will either expire before the Company is able to realize their benefits, or that future deductibility is uncertain. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.

 

Research and development expenses

 

Research and development expenses relate primarily to the development, design, testing of preproduction samples, prototypes and models, compensation, and consulting fees, and are expensed as incurred. Total research and development costs recorded during the three-month periods ended May 31, 2019 and 2018 amounted to $997,861 and $1,066,079, respectively, and are net of government research and development tax credits and government grants from the federal and provincial taxation authorities accrued and recorded based on qualifying expenditures incurred during the fiscal periods.

 

Net earnings (loss) per share

 

The Company computes net loss per share in accordance with FASB ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year. The Company includes common stock issuable in its calculation. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if all dilutive potential common shares had been issued, using the treasury stock method. Potential common shares are excluded from the computation if their effect is antidilutive.

 

For the three-month periods ended May 31, 2019 and 2018, the calculations of basic and diluted loss per share are the same because potential dilutive securities would have an antidilutive effect. As at May 31, 2019, the potentially dilutive securities consisted of 1,691,973 outstanding stock options (May 31, 2018 – 2,254,581), 403,767 outstanding restricted stock units (May 31, 2018 – 22,755), 962,132 outstanding warrants (May 31, 2018 – 140,667) and 1,000,000 outstanding issuable common stock (May 31, 2018 – 1,000,000).

 

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

 

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which permits entities to reclassify the disproportionate income tax effects of the Tax Reform Act on items within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI") to retained earnings. These disproportionate income tax effect items are referred to as "stranded tax effects." Amendments in this update only relate to the reclassification of the income tax effects of the Tax Reform Act. Other accounting guidance that requires the effect of changes in tax laws or rates to be included in net income from continuing operations is not affected by this update. ASU 2018-02 should be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Reform Act is recognized. ASU 2018-02 is applicable beginning March 1, 2019. The adoption of the standard had no impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The amendments in this Update expand the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. An entity should apply the requirements of Topic 718 to nonemployee awards except for specific guidance on inputs to an option pricing model and the attribution of cost (that is, the period of time over which share-based payment awards vest and the pattern of cost recognition over that period). The amendments specify that Topic 718 applies to all share-based payment transactions in which a grantor acquires goods or services to be used or consumed in a grantor’s own operations by issuing share-based payment awards. The amendments also clarify that Topic 718 does not apply to share-based payments used to effectively provide (1) financing to the issuer or (2) awards granted in conjunction with selling goods or services to customers as part of a contract accounted for under Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The amendments in this Update are effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The adoption of the standard had no impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

 

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-09, Codification Improvements, which clarify certain amendments to guidance that may have been incorrectly or inconsistently applied by certain entities and includes Amendments to Subtopic 718-740, Compensation – Stock Compensation – Income Taxes. The guidance in paragraph 718-740-35-2, as amended by the amendments in ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, is unclear on whether an entity should recognize excess tax benefits (or tax deficiencies) for compensation expense that is taken on the entity’s tax return. The amendment to paragraph 718-740-35-2 in this Update clarifies that an entity should recognize excess tax benefits in the period in which the amount of deduction is determined. The amendments in this Update are effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The adoption of the standard had no impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases,” amended in July by ASU 2018-10, “Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases,” ASU 2018-11, “Targeted Improvements,” and ASU 2018-20, “Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors,” which requires lessees to recognize leases on the balance sheet while continuing to recognize expenses in the income statement in a manner similar to current accounting standards. For lessors, the new standard modifies the classification criteria and the accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases. Enhanced disclosures will also be required to give financial statement users the ability to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. This ASU may either be adopted on a modified retrospective approach at the beginning of the earliest comparative period, or through a cumulative-effect adjustment at the adoption date. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted these standards effective March 1, 2019. The adoption of the standard had no impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company. The Company elected to apply the package of practical expedients that allows us not to reassess whether expired or existing contracts contain leases, the classification of these leases and whether previously capitalized initial direct costs would qualify for capitalization under Accounting Standards Codification (or “ASC”) 842. Furthermore, we elected to use hindsight in determining the lease term and assessing impairment of the right-of-use assets.