Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Policies  
Going Concern

The Company's financial statements are prepared using generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") applicable to a going concern which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has incurred losses since inception of $29,039,693, has negative cash flows from operations, and currently no revenues, which creates substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.

 

The future of the Company as an operating business will depend on its ability to obtain sufficient capital contributions and/or financings as may be required to sustain its operations. Management's plan to address these needs includes, (a) continued exercise of tight cost controls to conserve cash, (b) receiving additional grant funds, and (c) obtaining additional financing through debt or equity financing.

 

The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to successfully accomplish the plans described in the preceding paragraph and eventually secure other sources of financing and attain profitable operations. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern. If the Company is unable to obtain adequate capital, it could be forced to cease operations.

Basis of Presentation

The financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and are expressed in U.S. dollars. The Company's fiscal year end is December 31.

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, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company also regularly evaluates estimates and assumptions related to deferred income tax asset valuation allowances.

 

The Company bases its estimates and assumptions on current facts, historical experiences and various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the accrual of costs and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. The actual results experienced by the Company may differ materially and adversely from the Company's estimates. To the extent there are material differences between the estimates and the actual results, future results of operations could be affected.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Singapore Volition Pte Ltd., Belgian Volition SA, Hypergenomics Pte. Ltd. and Volition Diagnostics UK Limited. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of issuance to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had $5,916,006 and $2,138,964, respectively in cash and cash equivalents. At December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 the Company had approximately $762,187 and $nil in its domestic accounts in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured limits, respectively. At December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 the Company had approximately $395,100 and $233,727 in its foreign accounts in excess of the Belgian Deposit Guarantee insured limits, respectively. At December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 the Company had approximately $4,338,088 and $1,879,840 in its foreign accounts in excess of the Singapore Deposit Insurance Scheme, respectively.

Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share

The Company computes net loss per share in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share, which requires presentation of both basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) on the face of the income statement. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders (numerator) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding (denominator) during the period. Diluted EPS gives effect to all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method and convertible preferred stock using the if-converted method. In computing Diluted EPS, the average stock price for the period is used in determining the number of shares assumed to be purchased from the exercise of stock options or warrants. As of December 31, 2015, 2,257,809 dilutive warrants and options were excluded from the Diluted EPS calculation as their effect is anti-dilutive. As of December 31, 2014, 1,857,761 dilutive warrants and options were excluded from the Diluted EPS calculation as their effect is anti-dilutive.

Foreign Currency Translation

The Company's functional currency is the Euro and its reporting currency is the United States dollar. Management has adopted ASC 830-20, "Foreign Currency Matters – Foreign Currency Transactions". All assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated using the exchange rate prevailing at the balance sheet date. For revenues and expenses, the weighted average exchange rate for the period is used. Gains and losses arising on translation or settlement of foreign currency denominated transactions or balances are included in other comprehensive loss.

Financial Instruments

Pursuant to ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, an entity is required to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the level of independent, objective evidence surrounding the inputs used to measure fair value. A financial instrument's categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. ASC 820 prioritizes the inputs into three levels that may be used to measure fair value:

 

Level 1

 

Level 1 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2

 

Level 2 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.

 

Level 3

 

Level 3 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

 

The Company's financial instruments consist principally of cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, notes payable, and amounts due to related parties. Pursuant to ASC 820, the fair value of cash is determined based on "Level 1" inputs, which consists of quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. The Company believes that the recorded values of all of our other financial instruments approximate their current fair values because of their nature and respective maturity dates or durations.

Income Taxes

Potential benefits of income tax losses are not recognized in the accounts until realization is more likely than not. The Company has adopted ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes as of its inception. Pursuant to ASC 740, the Company is required to compute tax asset benefits for net operating losses carried forward. The potential benefits of net operating losses have not been recognized in these financial statements because the Company cannot be assured it is more likely than not it will utilize the net operating losses carried forward in future years.

Comprehensive Loss

ASC 220, Comprehensive Loss, establishes standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive loss and its components in the financial statements. At December 31, 2015, the Company had $84,171 of accumulated other comprehensive loss, relating to foreign currency translation.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is stated at cost and is amortized on a straight-line basis, at the following rates:

 

Computer hardware 3 years
Laboratory equipment 5 years
Equipment held under capital lease 5 years
Office furniture and equipment 5 years
Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are stated at cost and are amortized on a straight line basis, at the following rates:

 

Patents and Intellectual Property 13 years and 20 years

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when all of the following have occurred (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the price is fixed or determinable and (iv) the ability to collect is reasonably assured.

Research and Development

In accordance with ASC 730, the Company follows the policy of expensing its research and development costs in the period in which they are incurred. The Company incurred research and development expenses of $6,101,718 and $4,044,023 during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

In accordance with ASC 360, Property Plant and Equipment, the Company tests long-lived assets or asset groups for recoverability when events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. Circumstances which could trigger a review include, but are not limited to: significant decreases in the market price of the asset; significant adverse changes in the business climate or legal factors; accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition or construction of the asset; current period cash flow or operating losses combined with a history of losses or a forecast of continuing losses associated with the use of the asset; and current expectation that the asset will more likely than not be sold or disposed of significantly before the end of its estimated useful life. Recoverability is assessed based on the carrying amount of the asset and its fair value which is generally determined based on the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and the eventual disposal of the asset, as well as specific appraisal in certain instances. An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount is not recoverable and exceeds fair value. No impairment losses were recognized during the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company records stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation and ASC 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees. All transactions in which goods or services are the consideration received for the issuance of equity instruments are accounted for based on the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instrument issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. Equity instruments issued to employees and the cost of the services received as consideration are measured and recognized based on the fair value of the equity instruments issued and are recognized over the employees required service period, which is generally the vesting period.

Grants received

The Company receives funding from public bodies for a proportion of the costs of specific projects. Funds are received in line with claims submitted for the agreed expenditure. The Company recognizes grant income once claims submitted are approved and funds are received. General working capital funding received at the commencement of a project is treated as deferred income until it has been utilized for the expenditure claimed. Funding received that is repayable is shown as a liability.

Reclassification

Certain balances in previously issued financial statements have been reclassified to be consistent with the current period presentation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Company has implemented all new accounting pronouncements that are in effect. The Company does not believe that there are any other new accounting pronouncements that have been issued that might have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.