2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Remark Media and its subsidiaries (1) HSW Brasil – Tecnologia e Informação Ltda., (2) HSW (HK) Inc. Limited, (3) Bonet (Beijing) Technology Limited Liability Company, (4) BoWenWang Technology (Beijing) Limited Liability Company, (5) Banks.com, Inc., (6) My Stock Fund Securities, Inc., (7) Dotted Ventures, Inc. and (8) Pop Factory, LLC ("Pop Factory").   Banks.com, MyStockFund and DottedVentures are wholly-owned subsidiaries acquired through the Banks.com’s acquisition completed on June 28, 2012. Pop Factory is a wholly-owned subsidiary acquired through the Pop Factory acquisition completed on March 29, 2013.  The equity of certain of these entities is partially or fully held by citizens of the country of incorporation to comply with local laws and regulations. 

 

Equity investments in which the Company exercises significant influence but does not control and is not the primary beneficiary are accounted for using the equity method.  In the event of a change in ownership, any gain or loss resulting from an investee share issuance is recorded in earnings.  Investments in which the Company is not able to exercise significant influence over the investee are accounted for under the cost method.  Controlling interest is determined by majority ownership interest and the ability to unilaterally direct or cause the direction of management and policies of an entity after considering any third-party participatory rights. 

 

The Company uses qualitative analysis to determine whether or not it is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity ("VIE") in accordance with FASB ASC 810-10, "Consolidation Accounting for a Variable Interest Entity" ("FASB ASC 810"). The Company considers the rights and obligations conveyed by its implicit and explicit variable interest in each VIE and the relationship of these with the variable interests held by other parties to determine whether the variable interests will absorb a majority of a VIE’s expected losses, receive a majority of its expected residual returns, or both.  If the Company determines that its variable interests will absorb a majority of the VIE’s expected losses, receive a majority of its expected residual returns, or both, it consolidates the VIE as the primary beneficiary, and if not, the Company does not consolidate.  

 

The Company has determined that Bonet (Beijing) Technology Limited Liability Company is a variable interest entity as defined in FASB ASC 810. Remark Media is the primary beneficiary of this entity and accordingly, the results of this entity have been consolidated along with other subsidiaries.  

 

All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company generally recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; services have been provided; fees are fixed or determinable; and collectability is reasonably assured.   

The Company generally recognizes revenue from its network of domestic and international websites. Revenue is recognized as visitors are exposed to or react to advertisements on its websites, or purchase goods or services. Revenue from advertising is generated in the form of sponsored links and display ads. This includes both pay-per-performance ads and paid-for-impression advertising. In the pay-per-performance model, revenue is generally earned based on the number of clicks or other actions taken associated with such ads; in the paid-for-impression model, revenue is derived from the display of ads.

 

Operating Expenses  

General and administrative expenses include all legal, finance, accounting and administrative expenses such as professional fees and facilities costs.  Depreciation and amortization include the depreciation of our acquired fixed assets and amortization of software and definite-lived intangible assets.  All periods presented have been reclassified to conform to the new presentation. 

Stock-Based Compensation  

The Company measures stock-based compensation at the grant date based on the calculated fair value of the award.  The Company recognizes the expense over the recipient’s requisite service period, generally the vesting period of the award.  The Company estimates the fair value of stock options at the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with weighted average assumptions for the activity under its stock plans. The fair value estimate is impacted by option pricing model input assumptions such as expected term, expected volatility and risk-free interest rate among others.  These assumptions generally require significant analysis and use of judgment and estimates to develop. Options vest based on meeting a minimum service period or performance condition. Restricted stock grants are recorded using the fair value of the granted shares based on the market value at the grant date.  In addition, the forfeiture rate impacts the amount of aggregate compensation. These assumptions are subjective and generally require significant analysis and judgment to develop.  

The Company does not recognize a deferred tax asset for unrealized tax benefits associated with the tax deductions in excess of the compensation recorded (excess tax benefit).  The Company applies the “with and without” approach for utilization of tax attributes upon realization of net operating losses in the future.  This method allocates stock-based compensation benefits last among other tax benefits recognized.  In addition, the Company applies the “direct only” method in calculating the amount of windfalls or shortfalls. 

 

Concentration of Credit Risk and Accounts Receivable

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject Remark Media to a concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash and accounts receivable.  At December 31, 2013, more than 99% of cash was denominated in U.S. dollars, and less than 1% was denominated in Brazilian Reais, Chinese Renminbi or Hong Kong dollars.  The majority of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents balances are in one financial institution, which is believed to have high credit quality.  Cash is maintained in bank deposit accounts, which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and does not believe its cash is exposed to any significant credit risk. Cash held by non-U.S. subsidiaries is subject to foreign currency fluctuations against the U.S. dollar. However, the risk in foreign currency is somewhat mitigated at this time as U.S. funds are transferred to Brazil and China to fund that subsidiary’s operating activity.  If, however, the U.S. dollar is devalued significantly against the Brazilian Reais or the Chinese Renminbi, the cost to further develop the Company’s websites in Brazil and China could exceed original estimates.

 

The Company regularly evaluates the collectability of trade receivable balances based on a combination of factors such as customer credit-worthiness, past transaction history with the customer, current economic industry trends and changes in customer payment patterns.  If the Company determines that a customer will be unable to fully meet its financial obligation, such as in the case of a bankruptcy filing or other material events impacting its business, a specific reserve for bad debt will be recorded to reduce the related receivable to the amount expected to be recovered.  

 

There were no significant concentrations of revenue or accounts receivable during 2013 or 2012. 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  A large portion of the cash balance is maintained at one financial institution.  Cash denominated in foreign currencies is translated to U.S dollars at the month-end rate of exchange.  The impact of foreign currency on cash and cash equivalents is presented in the Company’s statements of cash flows in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). 

 

The Company maintains cash accounts at three banks, and, at times, balances exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses related to these balances - $250,000 per depositor at each financial institution. At December 31, 2013, the Company's cash deposits exceeded federally insured limits by approximately $0.6 million. The Company believes that it's not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalent balances.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.  Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.  On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to accounts receivable, intangible assets, useful lives of property and equipment, stock-based compensation, equity-method investments, and income taxes, among other things.

 

Income Taxes

 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities that could result in future taxable or deductible amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income.  Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

 

The application of income tax law is inherently complex.  Laws and regulations in this area are voluminous and are often ambiguous.  As a result, the Company is required to make many subjective assumptions and judgments regarding income tax exposures, interpretations of, and guidance, surrounding income tax laws and regulations change over time.  As a result, changes in the Company’s assumptions and judgments can materially affect amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements.

 

The Company classifies interest and penalties arising from unrecognized income tax positions in the statement of operations as general and administrative expenses if they occur.  At December 31, 2013, and 2012, the Company had no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions.  The tax years 2007 through 2012 are not or have not been under examination but remain open to examination under the IRS statute.

  

Foreign Currency

 

The functional currency of the Company’s international subsidiaries is the local currency, Reais in Brazil, Renminbi in China or Hong Kong dollars in Hong Kong.  The financial statements of these subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars using month-end rates of exchange for assets and liabilities, and average rates of exchange for revenue, costs and expenses.  Translation gains and losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as a component of stockholders’ equity.  Net gains and losses resulting from foreign exchange transactions are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses.  Currency translation gains and losses during 2013 and 2012 were immaterial to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Purchase Price Allocations

 

Occasionally, the Company enters into material business combinations.  The purchase price is allocated to the various assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair value.  Fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based upon available information and may involve engaging an independent third party to perform an appraisal of tangible and intangible assets.  Estimating fair values can be complex and subject to significant business judgment and most commonly impacts property, equipment, software, and definite- or indefinite-lived intangible assets.

 

Property, Equipment and Software

 

Property, equipment and software is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation.  Depreciation is recorded within operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations, using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally one to three years for computer equipment and software and three to five years for building improvements and office equipment.  Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of their estimated useful life or lease term.  Costs represent the purchase price and any directly attributable costs of bringing the asset to working condition for its intended use.  Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.  Betterments and capital improvements are capitalized and depreciated over the remaining useful life of the related asset.  Gains or losses from disposal of property and equipment are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

Software Development Costs

 

The Company capitalizes qualifying costs of computer software and website development costs. Costs incurred during the application development stage as well as upgrades and enhancements that result in additional functionality are capitalized. The internally developed software costs capitalized were $0.6 million and $0.5 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and are included in “Property, equipment and software” in the consolidated balance sheet. Internally developed software and website development costs will be amortized utilizing the straight-line method over a period of three years, the expected period of the benefit.  There was approximately $28 thousand and $10 thousand of amortization expense recorded for these costs as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

Advertising Expenses

 

The Company expenses advertising costs in the year in which they are incurred.  Advertising expenses for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 were minimal.

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Company records liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments and litigation and other sources when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment can be reasonably estimated.  In the opinion of management, and after consultation with legal counsel, there were no material claims, assessments and litigation against the Company as of December 31, 2013.

 

Impairment of Property, Equipment and Software and Definite-Lived Intangible Assets

 

Property, equipment, software and definite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable.  Such events include significant adverse changes in the business climate, the impact of significant customer losses, unanticipated current period operating or cash flow losses, forecasted continuing losses or a current expectation that an asset group will be disposed of before the end of its useful life.  Recoverability of these assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying amounts to future net undiscounted cash flows the assets are expected to generate.  For purposes of recognition and measurement of an impairment loss, property, equipment, software and definite-lived intangible assets are grouped with other assets at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets.

 

In December 2012, the Company abandoned certain software development projects associated with its Content and Platform Services business.  As a result, the Company recorded $0.1 million and $0.4 million impairment charges in the fourth quarters of 2013 and 2012, respectively.  No impairment charges were recorded for the property and equipment portfolio in 2013 or 2012.  

 

Impairment of Investments

 

Investments are reviewed to determine if events have occurred which would indicate that a decrease in value has occurred which is other than temporary.  Evidence of a loss in value include, but are not limited to, absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity that would justify the carrying amount of the investment. The Company monitors its assets for potential impairment on an ongoing basis.  No impairment charge has been recognized related to investments as of December 31, 2013 or 2012.

 

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets Impairment

 

In December 2013 and 2012, the Company performed a qualitative assessment of the carrying value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets under the Step Zero process. The Step Zero process determines whether it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than the carrying amount.  After consideration of the Company’s market capitalization and the fact that the majority of these assets are comprised of the Banks.com merger in June 2012 and Pop Factory acquisition in March 2013, the Company determined there were no impairment charges of goodwill or indefinite-lived intangibles in 2013 or 2012.   

 

Derivative Liability for Warrants to Purchase Common Stock

 

The Company's derivative liability for warrants represents the fair value of warrants issued in connection with equity financing related to the Banks.com acquisition on February 27, 2012 ("Equity Financing"). These warrants are presented as liabilities based on certain exercise price reductions provisions. The liability, which is recorded at the fair value on the balance sheet, is calculated using the Monte Carlo simulation valuation method. The change in the fair value of these warrants is recognized as other income or expense in the consolidated statement of operations.

 

Net Loss per Share

 

The Company computes basic loss per share by dividing net loss applicable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The Company calculates diluted loss per share by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares, if any, outstanding during the period.  Stock options and warrants are not included in the computation of diluted loss per share because their effects are anti-dilutive.

 

 

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASC 2013-11, “Income Taxes — Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists”  (“ASU 2013-11”) which is part of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740: Income Taxes. The new guidance requires an entity to present an unrecognized tax benefit and an NOL carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward on a net basis as part of a deferred tax asset, unless the unrecognized tax benefit is not available to reduce the deferred tax asset component or

would not be utilized for that purpose, then a liability would be recognized. ASU 2013-11 is effective for annual and interim periods for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the July 1, 2014 adoption of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("ASU 2013-02"). ASU 2013-02 requires an entity to provide information about amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the financial statements or a single note, any significant amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income in the period in its entirety to net income, and the income statement line item affected by the reclassification. For other amounts that are not required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under U.S. GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. We adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2013. The adoption of ASU 2013-02 impacted disclosure only and did not have any impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

In October 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-04, “Technical Corrections and Improvements”. The ASU prescribes technical corrections and improvements to the Accounting Standards Codification for source literature amendments, guidance clarification and reference correction, and relocated guidance within the Accounting Standards Codification. The ASU is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2012. Adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact to the consolidated financial statements.

 

In July 2012, the FASB issued ASC update No. 2012-02, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment” (ASC 2012-02). Under the amendments in this update, a company has the option first to assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicates that it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the qualitative impairment test in accordance with Topic 350. The more likely than not threshold is defined as having a likely-hood of more than fifty percent. If after assessing the qualitative factors, a company determines it does not meet the more likely than not threshold, a company is required to perform the quantitative impairment test by calculating the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset and comparing the fair value with the carrying amount of the asset. The amendments in this update are effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012 (early adoption permitted). The adoption of this update had no impact on the reported consolidated financial statements or results of operations.