Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Basis of Presentation, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Nature of Operations

v3.8.0.1
Basis of Presentation, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Nature of Operations
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements  
Note 1. Basis of Presentation, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Nature of Operations

The Company was formed on October 6, 2006, when Thorium Power, Ltd. merged with Thorium Power, Inc., (“TPI”), which had been formed in the State of Delaware on January 8, 1992. On September 29, 2009, we changed our name from Thorium Power, Ltd. to Lightbridge Corporation (subsequently referred to as “we” or the “Company”). We are engaged in two operating business segments: our Technology Business Segment and our Consulting Business Segment (see Note 11-Business Segment Results).

 

Liquidity

 

The Company has adopted Accounting Standards Codification 205-40. This guidance amended the existing requirements for disclosing information about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and explicitly requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related disclosure in certain circumstances. This guidance was effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual and interim reporting periods thereafter. The following information reflects the results of management’s assessment, plans and conclusion of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

As of December 31, 2017, the Company has an accumulated deficit of approximately $87.8 million, representative of recurring losses since inception. The Company has incurred recurring losses since inception due to the fact that it is a development stage nuclear fuel development company. The Company expects to continue to incur losses as a result of costs and expenses related to the Company’s research and development expenses and corporate general and administrative expenses.

 

At December 31, 2017, the Company had $4.5 million in cash and had a working capital surplus of approximately $3.9 million. The Company had expended substantial funds on its research and development activities and expects to increase this spending. The Company’s net cash used in operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2017 was approximately $5 million, and current projections indicate that the Company will have continued negative cash flows for the foreseeable future. Net losses incurred for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 amounted to approximately $(7.1) million, $(6.3) million respectively. 

 

The amount of cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet as of the date of the filing is approximately $27 million. The Company has raised substantial additional funds after December 31, 2017 through its equity financings (Note 13 - Subsequent Events – ATM Transactions and Series B Preferred Stock Transaction). The Company also may consider other plans to fund operations including: (1) raising additional capital through debt financings or from other sources; (2) additional funding through new relationships to help fund future research and development costs (i.e. Department of Energy Funding); (3) reducing spending on certain research and development programs; and/or (4) restructuring operations to change its overhead structure. The Company may issue securities, including common stock, preferred stock and stock purchase contracts through private placement transactions or registered public offerings, pursuant to its registration statement on Form S-3 initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on June 11, 2015. There can be no assurance as to the availability or terms upon which financing and capital might be available. The Company’s future liquidity needs, and ability to address those needs, will largely be determined by the success of the development of its nuclear fuel and key nuclear development and regulatory events and its business decisions in the future.

 

The Company believes that its current financial resources, as of the date of the issuance of these financial statements, are sufficient to fund its current 12 month operating budget, alleviating the substantial doubt raised by our historical operating results and satisfying our estimated liquidity needs 12 months from the issuance of these financial statements.

   

Reverse Stock Split

 

Effective July 20, 2016, we conducted a one for five reverse stock-split of our issued and outstanding common stock and have retroactively adjusted our common shares outstanding, options and warrants amounts outstanding. We have presented our share data for and as of all periods presented on this basis. Our authorized capital of 500,000,000 shares of common stock and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, each with a par value of $0.001, was changed to 100,000,000 shares of common stock authorized and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized with a par value of $0.001. The par value was not adjusted as a result of the one for five reverse stock split.

 

Enfission LLC - Joint Venture with Framatome Inc.

 

In January 2018, Lightbridge Corporation and Framatome Inc. a subsidiary of Framatome (formerly AREVA) finalized and launched Enfission LLC, a 50-50 joint venture company to develop, license and sell nuclear fuel assemblies based on Lightbridge-designed metallic fuel technology and other advanced nuclear fuel intellectual property. Framatome and Framatome Inc. (collectively “Framatome”) is a leader in designing, building, servicing, and fueling today’s reactor fleet and advancing nuclear energy. The two companies already began joint fuel development and regulatory licensing work under previously signed agreements initiated in March 2016. The joint venture Enfission LLC is a Delaware-based limited liability company that was formed on January 24, 2018.

 

Technology Business Segment

 

Our primary business segment, based on future revenue potential, is to develop and commercialize innovative, proprietary nuclear fuel designs which we expect will significantly enhance the nuclear power industry’s economics due to higher power output and improve safety margins.

 

We are currently focusing our development efforts primarily on the metallic fuel with a power uprate of potentially up to 10% and a 24-month operating cycle in existing Westinghouse-type four-loop pressurized water reactors. Those reactors represent the largest segment of our global target market. Our metallic fuel could also be adapted for use in other types of water-cooled commercial power reactors, such as boiling water reactors, CANDU heavy water reactors, as well as water-cooled small and modular reactors.

 

Lightbridge will seek patent validation in key countries that either currently operate or are expected to build and operate a large number of suitable nuclear power reactors.

 

Consulting Business Segment

 

Our business model expanded with the establishment of a consulting business segment in 2007, through which we provide consulting and strategic advisory services to companies and governments planning to create or expand electricity generation capabilities using nuclear power plants.

 

Accounting Policies and Pronouncements

 

Basis of Consolidation

 

These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Lightbridge, a Nevada corporation, and our wholly-owned subsidiaries, TPI, a Delaware corporation and Lightbridge International Holding LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

   

All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. We registered a branch office in the United Kingdom in 2008 called Lightbridge Advisors Limited (inactive) and we also established a branch office in Moscow, Russia, in July 2009, which were wholly owned by Lightbridge International Holding LLC. The Moscow branch was closed in 2016 and the United Kingdom branch was closed in 2017. Translation gains and losses for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were not significant.

 

Use of Estimates and Assumptions

 

The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, 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 financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Significant Estimates

 

These accompanying consolidated financial statements include some amounts that are based on management’s best estimates and judgments. The most significant estimates relate to valuation of stock grants and stock options, the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, and various contingent liabilities. It is reasonably possible that these above-mentioned estimates and others may be adjusted as more current information becomes available, and any adjustment could be significant in future reporting periods. It is also reasonably possible that the actual grant date value of the stock options vested might have been materially different than the estimated value.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The Company’s financial instruments consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received in an asset sale or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between unaffiliated market participants. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are categorized based on whether the inputs are observable in the market and the degree that the inputs are observable. The categorization of financial instruments within the valuation hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

Certain Risks, Uncertainties and Concentrations

 

We are an early stage company and will likely need additional funding by way of strategic alliances, further offerings of equity securities, an offering of debt securities, or a financing through a bank in order to support the remaining research and development activities required to further enhance and complete the development of our fuel products to a commercial stage. Currently, we are working on consulting revenue opportunities with the overall goal of increasing our profitability and cash flow.

 

We participate in a government-regulated industry. Our operating results are affected by a wide variety of factors including decreases in the use or public favor of nuclear power, the ability of our technology to safeguard the production of nuclear power and our ability to safeguard our patents and intellectual property from competitors. Due to these factors, we may experience substantial period-to-period fluctuations in our future operating results. Potentially, a loss of a key officer, key management and other personnel could impair our ability to successfully execute our business strategy, particularly when these individuals have acquired specialized knowledge and skills with respect to nuclear power and our operations.

   

Our future operations and earnings may depend on the results of the Company’s operations outside the United States, including some of its research and development activities. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully continue to conduct such operations, and a failure to do so would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s research and development activities, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Also, the success of the Company’s operations will be subject to other numerous contingencies, some of which are beyond management’s control. These contingencies include general and regional economic conditions, competition, changes in regulations, changes in accounting and taxation standards, inability to achieve overall long-term goals, future impairment charges and global or regional catastrophic events. Because the Company is dependent on its international operations for almost all its revenue, the Company may be subject to various additional political, economic, and other uncertainties.

 

Accounts receivable are typically unsecured and are primarily derived from revenues earned from prime contractors and customers located in the Middle East and the United States. We perform ongoing evaluations to determine customer credit and we limit the amount of credit we extend, but generally we do not require collateral from our customers. We maintain reserves for estimated credit losses if necessary, however, no reserve has been set up at December 31, 2017 and 2016, as we expect to collect all of our outstanding receivables. Accounts receivable from one customer constituted approximately 100% of the total accounts receivable at December 31, 2017 and accounts receivable from two customers each constituted approximately 80% and 20% of the total accounts receivable at December 31, 2016, respectively.

 

Approximately 15% and 49% of the total revenues reported for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, were from the ENEC and FANR contracts. Contracts with one other utility customer in the United States constituted approximately 22% of total revenues reported for the year ended December 31, 2016, and contracts with one other customer constituted 85% and 29% for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Consulting Business Segment

 

At the present time, we derive all of our revenue from our consulting business segment on a time and expense basis as provided, by offering consulting services to utilities as well as to governments outside the United States planning to create or expand electricity generation capabilities using nuclear power plants. Our fee structure for each client engagement is dependent on a number of variables, including the size of the client, the complexity, the level of the opportunity for us to improve the client’s electrical generation capabilities using nuclear power plants, and other factors. The accounting policy we use to recognize revenue depends on the terms and conditions of the specific contract.

 

Revenues are billed on a time and expense basis.

 

We recognize revenue in accordance with ASC 605-10-S99, “Revenue Recognition.” We recognize revenue when all of the following conditions are met:

 

(1) There is persuasive evidence of an arrangement;
(2) The service has been provided to the customer;
(3) The collection of the fees is reasonably assured; and
(4) The amount of fees to be paid by the customer is fixed or determinable.

 

Certain customer arrangements require evaluation of the criteria outlined in the accounting standards for reporting revenue “Gross as a Principal Versus Net as an Agent” in determining whether it is appropriate to record the gross amount of revenue and related costs, or the net amount earned as agent fees. Generally, when we are primarily obligated in a transaction, revenue is recorded on a gross basis.

   

Other factors that we consider in determining whether to recognize revenue on a gross versus net basis include our assumption of credit risk, latitude in establishing prices, our determination of service specifications, and our involvement in the provision of services. We have determined, based on the credit risk that we bear for collecting consulting fees, travel costs, and other reimbursable costs from our customers, that in 2017 and 2016 we acted as a principal, and therefore we are recognizing as revenue all travel costs and other reimbursable costs billed to our customers.

 

Cost of consulting services includes labor, travel expenses, stock-based compensation and other related consulting costs.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

 

We may at times invest our excess cash in money market mutual funds. We classify all highly liquid investments with stated maturities of three months or less from date of purchase as cash equivalents and all highly liquid investments with stated maturities of greater than three months as marketable securities. We hold cash balances in excess of the federally insured limits of $250,000 with one prominent financial institution. We deem this credit risk not to be significant as our cash is held by a major prominent financial institution. Total cash and cash equivalents held in checking accounts, as reported on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, totaled approximately $4.5 million and $3.6 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

Restricted cash represents cash being held by the same prominent financial institution that is being used as collateral for our corporate credit cards and letters of credit to secure contingent obligations under the sub-lease and our ACH transactions. The total balance of our restricted cash at December 31, 2016 was approximately $114,000.

 

Trade Accounts Receivable

 

We record accounts receivable at the invoiced amount and we do not charge interest. We review the accounts receivable by amounts due from customers which are past due, to identify specific customers with known disputes or collectability issues. In determining the amount of the reserve, we make judgments about the creditworthiness of significant customers based on ongoing credit evaluations. We will also maintain a sales allowance to reserve for potential credits issued to customers. We will determine the amount of the reserve based on historical credits issued.

 

There was no provision for doubtful accounts or a sales allowance recorded at December 31, 2017 and 2016, as we have not experienced any bad debts from any of our customers or issued significant credits to customers.

 

Foreign Currency

 

Foreign currency transaction gains/losses were not significant for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

Patents and Legal Costs

 

Patents are stated on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at cost. Patent costs consist primarily of legal fees and application costs for filing and pursuing patent applications. The costs of the patents, once placed in service, will be amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives or the remaining legal lives of the patents, whichever is shorter. The amortization periods for our patents can range between 17 and 20 years if placed into service at the beginning of their legal lives. Our patents have not been placed in service for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

Legal costs are expensed as incurred except for legal costs to file for patent protection, which are capitalized and reported as patents on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

   

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

Long-lived assets of the Company are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. The Company recognizes an impairment loss when the sum of expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset. The amount of impairment is measured as the difference between the asset’s estimated fair value and its book value. The Company did not consider it necessary to record any impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

Research, Development and Related Expenses

 

These costs from our technology business segment are charged to operations in the period incurred and are shown on a separate line on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

Common Stock Warrants

 

The Company accounts for common stock warrants as either equity instruments or derivative liabilities depending on the specific terms of the warrant agreement. Common stock warrants are accounted for as a derivative in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”) if the stock warrants contain terms that could potentially require “net cash settlement” and therefore, do not meet the scope exception for treatment as a derivative. Warrant instruments that could potentially require “net cash settlement” in the absence of express language precluding such settlement are initially classified as derivative liabilities at their estimated fair values, regardless of the likelihood that such instruments will ever be settled in cash.

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Company follows subtopic 450-20 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification to report accounting for contingencies. Certain conditions may exist as of the date the consolidated financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to the Company but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company assesses such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment.

 

If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a material loss has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, then the estimated liability would be accrued in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. If the assessment indicates that a potentially material loss contingency is not probable but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability, and an estimate of the range of possible losses, if determinable and material, would be disclosed.

 

Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the guarantees would be disclosed. The Company’s legal costs associated with contingent liabilities are recorded to expense as incurred.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The stock-based compensation expense incurred by Lightbridge for employees and directors in connection with its equity incentive plan is based on the employee model of ASC 718, and the fair value of the options is measured at the grant date. Under ASC 718 employee is defined as, “An individual over whom the grantor of a share-based compensation award exercises or has the right to exercise sufficient control to establish an employer-employee relationship based on common law as illustrated in case law and currently under U.S. Tax Regulations.” Our consultants do not meet the employer-employee relationship as defined by the IRS and therefore are accounted for under ASC 505-50.

   

ASC 505-50-30-11 (previously EITF 96-18) further provides that an issuer shall measure the fair value of the equity instruments in these transactions using the stock price and other measurement assumptions as of the earlier of the following dates, referred to as the measurement date:

 

  i. The date at which a commitment for performance by the counterparty to earn the equity instruments is reached (a performance commitment); and
     
  ii. The date at which the counterparty’s performance is complete.

 

Awards with service-based vesting conditions only – Expense recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award.

 

Awards with performance-based vesting conditions – Expense is not recognized until it is determined that it is probable the performance-based conditions will be met. When achievement of a performance-based condition is probable, a catch-up of expense will be recorded as if the award had been vesting on a straight-line basis from the award date. The award will continue to be expensed on a straight-line basis until a higher performance-based condition is met, if applicable.

 

Awards with market-based vesting conditions – Expense recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the lesser of the derived service period or the explicit service period if one is present. However, if the market condition is satisfied prior to the end of the requisite service period, we will accelerate all remaining expense to be recognized.

 

Awards with both performance-based and market-based vesting conditions - if an awards vesting or exerciseability is conditional upon the achievement of either a market condition or performance or service conditions, the requisite service period is generally the shortest of the explicit, implicit, and derived service period.

 

We have elected to use the Black-Scholes pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options on the measurement date of the grant for service-based vesting conditions and the Monte-Carlo valuation method for performance-based or market-based vesting conditions. Restricted stock units are measured based on the fair values of the underlying stock on the measurement date of the grant. Shares that are issued to officers on the exercise dates of their stock options may be issued net of the minimum statutory withholding requirements to be paid by us on behalf of our employees. As a result, the actual number of shares issued will be fewer than the actual number of shares exercised under the stock option. We recognize stock-based compensation using the straight-line method over the requisite service period.

 

Segment Reporting

 

We use the “management approach” in determining reportable operating segments. The management approach considers the internal organization and reporting used by our chief decision makers for making operating decisions and assessing performance, as the source for determining our reportable segments. We have determined that we have two operating segments as defined by the FASB accounting pronouncement, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information”. As discussed above, our two reporting business segments are our technology business and our consulting services business (see Note 11 - Business Segment Results).

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

Stock Compensation - In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which will simplify the income tax consequences, accounting for forfeitures and classification on the Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows. This standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. This new pronouncement has been adopted on January 1, 2017 and did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

   

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Intangibles, Goodwill and Other —In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) – Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU No. 2017-04”).  To simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill, ASU No. 2017-04 eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test.  In computing the implied fair value of goodwill under Step 2, an entity had to perform procedures to determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of its assets and liabilities following the procedure that would be required in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination.  Instead, ASU No. 2017-04 requires an entity to perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount.  An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. ASU No. 2017-04 also eliminates the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment and, if it fails that qualitative test, to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test.  Therefore, the same impairment assessment applies to all reporting units.  An entity is required to disclose the amount of goodwill allocated to each reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount of net assets.  An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary.  ASU No. 2017-04 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company will adopt ASU No. 2017-04 commencing in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. The Company does not believe this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements or the related footnote disclosures.  

 

Statement of Cash Flows - In 2016 the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” and ASU 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash”. ASU 2016-15 addresses the presentation and classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is intended to reduce diversity in the presentation of restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the cash flows statement. The statement requires that restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents to be included as components of total cash and cash equivalents as presented on the statement of cash flows. These pronouncements go into effect for periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company does not believe the adoption of these pronouncements will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Leases – In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 which amends existing lease accounting guidance and requires recognition of most lease arrangements on the balance sheet. The adoption of this standard will result in the Company recognizing a right-of-use asset representing its rights to use the underlying asset for the lease term with an offsetting lease liability. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this accounting pronouncement to its consolidated financial statements. This new pronouncement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Revenue Recognition — In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance on revenue from contracts with customers that will supersede most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. Other major provisions include capitalization of certain contract costs, consideration of time value of money in the transaction price and allowing estimates of variable consideration to be recognized before contingencies are resolved in certain circumstances. The guidance also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations”. ASU 2016-08 clarifies implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations in ASU 2014-09. ASU 2016-10 was issued to clarify ASC Topic 606 related to (i) identifying performance obligations; and (ii) the licensing implementation guidance. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients”, to clarify certain narrow aspects of Topic 606 such as assessing the collectability criterion, presentation of sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from customers, noncash consideration, contract modifications at transition, completed contracts at transition, and technical correction. The guidance is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017 (early adoption is permitted but not sooner than the annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016). The guidance permits the use of either a retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company has evaluated its various contracts subject to these updates and completed its assessment. The Company has concluded that the adoption of this pronouncement will not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures since we do not expect revenue to be significant in 2018.

   

Compensation-Stock Compensation — In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. ASU 2017-09 provides clarity and reduces both (1) diversity in practice and (2) cost and complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718, to a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The amendments in ASU 2017-09 should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. This new pronouncement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.