UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
[X] | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 20132014
or
[ ] | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from _________ to _________
Commission file number: 001-32046
Simulations Plus, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | 95-4595609 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
42505 Tenth Street West Lancaster, CA 93534-7059 (Address of principal executive offices including zip code) |
(661) 723-7723 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) |
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
Title of Each Class Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered NASDAQ Stock Market LLC |
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT: NONE
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes £[ ] No T[X]
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes £[ ] No T[X]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filings requirements for the past 90 days.
days Yes T[X] No £[ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes T[X] No £[ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. £[ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
[ ] Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).£ Yes [ ] No T[X]
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of February 28, 2013,2014, based upon the closing price of the common stock as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market on such date, was approximately $39,168,468.$57,581,229. This calculation does not reflect a determination that persons are affiliates for any other purposes.
As of November 15, 2013, 16,041,89426, 2014, 16,841,114 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share were outstanding, and no shares of preferred stock were outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Certain portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statementproxy statement to be delivered to its shareholders in connection with the 2014registrant’s 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K to10-K. Such definitive proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the closeend of the fiscal year covered by this annual report.
The Exhibit Index (Item 15) lists several documents incorporated by reference.
Simulations Plus, Inc.
FORM 10-K
For the Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 20132014
Table of Contents
Page
PART I | 3 | |
ITEM 1 – BUSINESS | 3 | |
ITEM 1A – RISK FACTORS | ||
ITEM 1B – UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS | ||
ITEM 2 – PROPERTIES | ||
ITEM 3 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS | 10 | |
ITEM 4 – MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES. | 10 | |
PART II | ||
ITEM 5 – MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES | ||
ITEM 6 – SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA | ||
ITEM 7 – MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS | ||
ITEM 7A – QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK | ||
ITEM 8 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA | ||
ITEM 9 – CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE | ||
ITEM 9A – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES | ||
ITEM 9B – OTHER INFORMATION | ||
PART III | ||
ITEM 10 – DIRECTORS, AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | ||
ITEM 11 – EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | ||
ITEM 12 – SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS | ||
ITEM 13 – CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE | ||
ITEM 14 – PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES | ||
PART IV | ||
ITEM 15 – EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES | ||
SIGNATURES |
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Forward-Looking Statements
This document and the documents incorporated in this document by reference contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this document and the materials accompanying this document are forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of our management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Frequently, but not always, forward-looking statements are identified by the use of the future tense and by words such as “believes,” expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “will,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “projects,” “continues,” “estimates” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this document are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include declarations regarding our plans, intentions, beliefs or current expectations.
Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements are the risks and uncertainties described under “Risk Factors” in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise.otherwise, except as required by law.
PART I
ITEM 1 – BUSINESS
As used in this report, each of the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “Simulations Plus” refers to Simulations Plus, Inc. and Cognigen Corporation, unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires.
OVERVIEW
Simulations Plus, Inc. (“Simulations Plus” or the “Company,” “us,” “we,” or “our”), which was incorporated in 1996, is a premier developer of groundbreaking drug discovery and development software for mechanistic modeling and simulation. Our software is licensed to major pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agrochemical, and food industry companies and to regulatory agencies worldwide for use in the conduct of industry-based research. We also provide consulting services to these industries. Recently, we have been exploring the application of some of our machine-learning technologies for problems in aerospace and healthcare outside of our traditional markets. Simulations Plus is headquartered in Southern California and its common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “SLP.”
After the end of our 2014 fiscal year, in September 2014, Simulations Plus acquired Cognigen Corporation (Cognigen) as a wholly owned subsidiary. The acquisition is expected to add approximately $5 million to our revenues for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.
Cognigen, incorporated in 1992, is a leading provider of population modeling and simulation contract research services for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Cognigen’s clinical pharmacology-based consulting services include pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling, clinical trial simulations, data programming, and technical writing services in support of regulatory submissions. Cognigen develops software for harnessing cloud-based computing in support of modeling and simulation activities and provides consulting services to improve interdisciplinary collaborations and R&D productivity.
We are a global leader focused on improving the ways scientists use knowledge and data to predict the properties and outcomes of pharmaceutical and biotechnology agents, and one of only two global companies who provide a wide range of preclinical and clinical consulting services and software. Our innovations in integrating new and existing science in medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, pharmaceutical science, biology, and physiology into our software have made us the leading software provider for physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) modeling and simulation.
We generate revenue by delivering relevant, cost-effective software and creative and insightful consulting services. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies use our software programs and scientific knowledge to guide discovery and preclinical development programs. They also use it to enhance their understanding of the properties of potential new medicines and to use emerging data to improve formulations, select and justify dosing regimens, support the generics industry, optimize clinical trial design, and simulate outcomes in special populations, such as the elderly and pediatric patients.
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PRODUCTS
General
Simulations Plus develops and produces software for use in pharmaceutical research and forin the education of pharmacy and medical students, as well as provides consulting and contract researchconsulting services to the pharmaceutical industry. Words+, founded in 1981, producedand chemical industries. Our wholly owned subsidiary, Cognigen, conducts high-quality analysis and regulatory report generation for data gathered during clinical trials of new and existing pharmaceutical products. Cognigen also has developed a proprietary software product called KIWI™ which is used internally and by some of its customers to access data and analysis results on Cognigen’s internal computer softwarecloud. Each business division is discussed separately below, followed by a discussion of the expected synergies from the combination of Simulations Plus and specialized hardware for use by persons with disabilities. The Words+ subsidiary was sold effective November 30, 2011, and is treated as “discontinued operations” in the financial statements. This discussion will therefore focus on the ongoing operations for pharmaceutical software and services.Cognigen.
PRODUCTSSimulations Plus
We currently offer fivesix software products for pharmaceutical research: three simulation programs that provide time-dependent results based on solving large sets of differential equations: GastroPlus™, DDDPlus™, and MembranePlus™; and three programs that are based on predicting and analyzing static (not time-dependent) properties of chemicals: ADMET Predictor™, MedChem Designer™, and MedChem Studio™, DDDPlus™, and GastroPlus™. A sixth product, MembranePlus™, is well along in development with testing and validation studies under way. We plan to release MembranePlus™ by March 2014.
ADMET Predictor™
ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity) Predictor is a computer program that takes molecular structures as inputs and predicts over 140 different properties for them atcall the rate of about 200,000 compounds per hour on a fast laptop computer. This capability allows chemists to get estimates for a large number of important properties without the need to synthesize and test the molecules. ADMET Predictor has been consistently top-ranked in peer-reviewed, independent comparison studies for predictive accuracy, while generating its results at a very high throughput rate. The current state-of-the-art of this type of software does not enable finding the best molecule in a series, but it does allow identifying molecules that are highly likely to fail as potential drug candidates (the worst molecules, which is often the majority of a chemical library) before synthesizing and testing them. Thus, millions of “virtual” compounds can be created and screened in a day, compared to potentially months of work to actually synthesize and test a much smaller number of actual compounds.
The ADMET Modeler™ subprogram that is integrated into ADMET Predictor enables scientists to use their own experimental data to quickly create high-quality, proprietary predictive models using the same powerful modeling methods we use to build our top-ranked class property predictions. Pharmaceutical companies expend substantial time and money conducting a wide variety of experiments on new molecules each year, resulting in large databases of experimental data. Using this proprietary data to build predictive models can provide a second return on their investment; however, model building has traditionally been a difficult and tedious activity performed by specialists.
We released Version 6.5combination of ADMET Predictor, during this reporting period. This version extends our metabolism predictions by training on a much larger experimental data set, and for the first time, provides specific metabolism rates for individual atoms within a molecule, rather than only for the molecule as a whole. These improvements are also available via MedChem Designer and MedChem Studio for customers who licenseour ADMET Predictor. We are now working on version 7.0, which we expect to release before the end of calendar 2013. This new version will incorporate a new model for predicting ionization constants (pKa’s) developedDesign Suite™. After years in a collaboration with Bayer AG that enabled us to approximately double the size of our data set from about 16,000 pKa values to more than 30,000 and to expand the chemical space it covers to include more molecules representative of those of interest to the pharmaceutical industry today. We believe the resulting improvement in pKa prediction puts our already best-in-class model well in front of any competitor.Predicting ionization is critical to predicting most other properties, so all of our models (approximately 140) are being retrained based on this new capability for version 7.0.
Version 6.5 also adds confidence levels to most of our toxicity models so that users have an idea of the reliability of each individual prediction.
MedChem Designer™
MedChem Designer was launched in 2011. It was initially a molecule drawing program, or “sketcher”, but now has capabilities exceeding those of other molecule drawing programs because of its integration with both MedChem Studio and ADMET Predictor. We provide MedChem Designer for free because we believe that in the long run it will help to increase demand for ADMET Predictor and MedChem Studio, and because most other existing molecule drawing programs are also free. Our free version includes a small set of ADMET Predictor property predictions, allowing the chemist to modify molecular structures and then see a few key properties very quickly. The chemist also sees that with a paid ADMET Predictor license, a total of over 140 predictions would be available.
When coupled with a license for ADMET Predictor, MedChem Designer becomes a de novo design tool for medicinal chemists. With it, they can draw one or more molecular structures, then click on the ADMET Predictor icon and have over 140 properties for each structure calculated in seconds, including our proprietary ADMET Risk™ index. They can also click on an icon to generate likely metabolites and predict their properties and ADMET Risks as well. ADMET Risk provides a single number that tells the chemist how many default threshold values for 24 predicted properties were crossed (or violated) by each structure. The rules can be modified and new rules added by the user to include any desired rule set based on any combination of calculated descriptors, predicted properties, and user inputs. Thus, in a single number, the chemist can instantly compare the effects of different structural changes in many dimensions. As chemists attempt to modify structures to improve one property, they often cause others to become unacceptable. Without ADMET Risk, the chemist would have to separately examine many key properties for each new molecule to check whether any became unacceptable as a result of changing the structure.
We released MedChem Designer 2.5 during this reporting period. This new version now shows the chemist the specific predicted atom locations for metabolism by each of the enzymes predicted to act upon a molecule.
MedChem Studio™
Over the past several years, MedChem Studio updates have resulted in a very powerful tool for medicinal and computational chemists for both data mining and for designing new drug-like molecules. We released version 3.5 of MedChem Designer during this reporting period. The new features are too numerous to list, but include such important items as:
MedChem Designer can be used to refine a small number of molecules: however, creating and screening a very large number of molecules down to a few promising lead candidates is the primary function of MedChem Studio (with ADMET Predictor). MedChem Studio has features that enable it to generate very large numbers of new molecular structures using a variety of de novo design methods. Coupled with ADMET Predictor and MedChem Designer, we believe the programs provide an unmatched capability for chemists to search through large libraries of compounds that have undergone high-throughput screening experiments to find the most promising classes (groups of molecules with a large part of their structures the same) and molecules that are active against a particular target. In addition, MedChem Studio with ADMET Predictor can take an interesting (but not acceptable) molecule and very quickly generate many thousands of high quality analogs (i.e., similar new molecules) using a variety of design algorithms to generate new molecules that are predicted (via ADMET Predictor) to be both active against the target as well as acceptable in a variety of ADMET properties.
MedChem Studio version 3.5development, MembranePlus was released duringin October 2014 after the close of the current reporting period, adding a number of new features, including:
NCE Projectperiod.
Based on our strong belief in our ADMET Design Suite’s (MedChem Studio/MedChem Designer/ADMET Predictor) exceptional capabilities, we initiated our own project to design new molecules (NCEs, or New Chemical Entities). After considering various targets, we selected the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, both because there is an unmet need for a very low-cost cure, and because we believed that external funding opportunities might exist if we were successful in generating high-quality lead compounds using our software. Our goal was to demonstrate how well the ADMET Design Suite worked to generate new lead molecules in a fraction of the time and cost normally required in the pharmaceutical industry. We completed the design process in September 2012 and we announced that we had requested quotations from chemical synthesis companies for the cost and time to make a small set of molecules. Five molecules of our own design and two precursors (almost the final designed structures, but a step away in synthesis) were synthesized and tested for inhibition of the parasite at the University of California at Riverside. We were hoping that at least one would show inhibition of the growth cycle of the parasite.
We were excited to learn that every molecule showed activity against the parasite at less than micromolar concentrations, with two showing activity at less than 100 nanomolar concentration (high potency) against the drug-sensitive strain of the parasite. They were then tested against the drug-resistant strain of the malaria parasite, and again potency was observed, with two molecules showing nanomolar activity. We believe this exercise – a software company using its own products to design novel molecules and have them synthesized and tested – is unprecedented.
Several of these molecules were sent to another outside laboratory for additional experiments to measure a few key properties to compare the values versus our ADMET Predictor predictions. Our predictions for solubility, ionization constants (pKa), and lipophilicity were all well within accepted tolerances. Metabolism by human liver microsomes was much faster than predicted, probably due to metabolism by pathways our models did not yet predict. These molecules were only expected to be good lead molecules, not to be final drug molecules. Further structural changes to these lead compounds might meet all requirements for an approved drug.
At this time, we are not pursuing this project any further using internal funding, but would do so if external funding can be secured, because our goal for this project was not to develop a cure for malaria. Rather, we wanted to demonstrate that our software tools can enable scientists to quickly and efficiently analyze high-throughput data, to generate new molecular structures, and to assess their qualities via ADMET Predictor, resulting in high-quality lead candidates in a small fraction of the time and cost usually required. We accomplished that and we have been presenting our results in scientific meetings and in webinars to a worldwide audience. New software license sales resulting from these presentations have already more than recovered our investment.
During this reporting period, we announced that we had completed the design of a number of new molecules for a different target – the cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme that is the target for Celebrex®. Celebrex is the only COX-2 inhibitor remaining on the market, after the withdrawal of other approved drugs (such as Vioxx®) due to cardiac toxicity. Our chemical synthesis contractor has been working on developing the synthetic methods to make these new molecules for a number of weeks and progress is encouraging. We hope to have samples of several of our new molecules, if not all of them, in the next few months, at which time we will contract for testing them against both COX-2 and COX-1 enzymes (COX-1 is inhibited by aspirin and other drugs). The reason for also testing against the COX-1 enzyme is that it appears from the scientific research that was conducted after the withdrawal of other COX-2 inhibitors from the market that it is important to inhibit both COX-2 and COX-1 at a certain ratio in order to provide the benefits of COX-2 inhibition without the cardiotoxicity risk that has been associated with inhibiting COX-2 alone. We designed our new molecules based on activity models for both COX-2 and COX-1 built from public data, with the goal of providing an acceptable ratio of COX-2 to COX-1 inhibition.
DDDPlus
DDDPlus simulates in vitro laboratory experiments used to measure the rate of dissolution of the drug and, if desired, the additives (excipients) contained in tablets and capsules under a variety of experimental conditions. This software program is used by formulation scientists in industry and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to (1) understand the physical mechanisms affecting the dissolution rate for various formulations, (2) reduce the number of cut-and-try attempts to design new drug formulations, and (3) to design in vitro dissolution experiments to better mimic in vivo conditions.
GastroPlus
Our flagship product and largest source of revenues is GastroPlus. GastroPlus simulates the absorption, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of drugs administered to humans and animals, and is currently the most widely used software of its type in widespread use at pharmaceutical companies, the FDA,U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies in the U.S. and other countries. Because of the widespread use of GastroPlus, we were the only non-European company invited to join the European Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) program for Oral Bioavailability Tools (“OrBiTo”)(OrBiTo). OrBiTo is aan international collaboration among 27 industry, academic, and government organizations working in the area of oral absorption of pharmaceutical products. Because we are outside of Europe, our participation in this project is at our own expense, while other members are compensated for their work; however, we are a full member with access to all of the data and discussions of all other members. We believe participation in this initiative enables us to benefit from and to contribute to advancing the prediction of human oral absorption from preclinical data, and ensures that we are in front of the audience of member pharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies.
Version 8.5After the end of our 2014 fiscal year, in September 2014, we entered into a research collaboration agreement (RCA) with the FDA to enhance the Ocular Compartmental Absorption and Transit (OCAT™) model within the Additional Dosing Routes Module of GastroPlus to provide a tool for generic companies and the FDA to assess the likely bioequivalence of generic drug formulations dosed to the eye. Under this RCA, we receive $200,000 per year. This RCA may be renewed for up to a total of three years based on the progress achieved during the project.
Because we did not want our customers to have to wait for the next major release, an interim release of GastroPlus, version 8.6, was released duringin August 2014, adding two important requested capabilities: (1) the current reporting period, addingaddition of minipig physiology – a species becoming common in preclinical research; and (2) the expansion of the Drug-Drug Interaction (DDI) Module to include population simulations.
The next major release, version 9.0, is already in development. This version will add the ability to simulate dermal (through the skin) drug absorption from creams and ointments. This capability was developed through a funded collaboration with a top-5 pharmaceutical company, and is currently in use at the customer’s sites. A number of important new capabilities requested by customers as well asother improvements will be included in version 9.0 that will be announced with the release of the product, and which we have identified in-house, including:believe will expand the market for GastroPlus in pharmaceutical research and development. We currently expect release of version 9.0 in December 2014 or early in 2015.
DDDPlus
DDDPlus simulatesin vitro laboratory experiments used to measure the rate of dissolution of the drug and, if desired, the additives (excipients) in a particular dosage form (e.g., tablet or capsule) under a variety of experimental conditions. This software program is used by formulation scientists in industry and the FDA to (1) understand the physical mechanisms affecting the dissolution rate for various formulations, (2) reduce the number of cut-and-try attempts to design new drug formulations, and (3) designin vitrodissolution experiments to better mimicin vivo conditions.
MembranePlus™
MembranePlus is a new product that has been under development for a number of years, but was put on hold for several years due to other priorities. ItThe development effort was revived in the past year and is now nearing commercial release. Likethe program was released in October 2014 after the close of the current reporting period. Similar to DDDPlus, MembranePlus simulates laboratory experiments, but in this case, the experiments are for measuring permeability of drug-like molecules through various membranes, including several different cell cultures (Caco-2, MDCK) as well as artificially formulated membranes (PAMPA). The value of such a simulation isderives from the fact that when the permeabilities of the same molecules are measured in different laboratories, results are often strikinglysignificantly different. TheThese differences are caused by a complex interplay of factors in how the experiment was set up. The ability to simulateup and run. MembranePlus simulates these experiments with their specific setups in detail is provided by MembranePlus,experimental details, and this enables the scientist to better interpret how results from various experimentsspecific experimental protocols can be used to predict permeability in human and animals, which is the ultimate goal. We believe MembranePlus is unique and our customers have expressed significant interest in the new capability.
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ADMET Predictor™
ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) Predictor is a chemistry-based computer program that takes molecular structures as inputs and predicts approximately 145 different properties for them at an average rate of over 100,000 compounds per hour. This capability allows chemists to generate estimates for a large number of important molecular properties without the need to synthesize and test the molecules, or to generate estimates of unknown properties for molecules that have been synthesized but for which only a limited number of experimental properties have been measured. Thus, a chemist can assess the likely success of a large number of existing molecules in a company’s chemical library, as well as molecules that have never been made, by providing their molecular structures, either by drawing them using a tool such as our MedChem Designer software, or by automatically generating large numbers of molecules using various computer algorithms, including those embedded in our MedChem Studio software.
ADMET Predictor has been top-ranked for predictive accuracy in peer-reviewed, independent comparison studies, while generating its results at a high throughput rate. Although the state-of-the-art of this type of software does not enable identifying the best molecule in a series, it does allow early screening of molecules that are highly likely to fail as potential drug candidates (i.e., the worst molecules, which is usually the majority of a chemical library) before synthesizing and testing them. Thus, millions of compounds can be created and screened in a day, compared to potentially months or years of work to actually synthesize and test a much smaller number of actual compounds.
During fiscal year 2014, we released version 7.1 of ADMET Predictor. This new version incorporates a powerful new model for predicting ionization constants (pKa’s), developed in a collaboration with Bayer AG that enabled us to more than double the size of our data set from about 16,000 pKa values to more than 35,000, and to expand the chemical space it covers to include a larger number of molecules more like those of interest to the pharmaceutical industry today. We planbelieve the resulting improvement in pKa prediction will further differentiate our best-in-class model from any competitor.Predicting ionization is critical to releasepredicting most other properties, so all of our models (approximately 144) were retrained based on this new capability for version 1.07.1.
The ADMET Modeler™ subprogram that is integrated into ADMET Predictor enables scientists to use their own experimental data to quickly create proprietary high-quality predictive models using the same powerful modeling methods we use to build our top-ranked property predictions. Pharmaceutical companies expend substantial time and money conducting a wide variety of MembranePlusexperiments on new molecules each year, resulting in large databases of experimental data. Using this proprietary data to build predictive models can provide a second return on their investment; however, model building has traditionally been a difficult and tedious activity performed by Marchspecialists. The automation in ADMET Modeler makes it easy for a scientist to create very powerful models with a minimum of training.
We are currently examining two different applications of this modeling engine: (1) building predictive models for missile aerodynamic force and moment coefficients as a function of missile geometry, Mach number, and angle of attack, and (2) classifying patients as healthy or experiencing some disease state or genetic disorder evidenced by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Other potential applications for this modeling engine have also been identified; however, our focus to date has been in these two areas.
The aerodynamic coefficient prediction problem was identified by the aerospace engineering department at Auburn University. Working with them, we have done some preliminary testing of the ADMET Modeler modeling engine for this type of problem. Results have been encouraging, and we believe there are government agencies and industrial aerospace companies that will find such a capability to be useful. To this end, we are developing a prototype AEROModeler™ program to test this concept and to use as a demonstrator for proposal efforts directed to potential funding agencies. A joint Simulations Plus/Auburn University scientific poster was accepted for presentation at the National Space and Missile Material Symposium/Commercial and Government Responsive Access to Space Technology Exchange (NSMMS/CRASTE) Conference in Huntsville, Alabama, in June 2014, and received attention and positive feedback from both government agencies and aerospace contractors, not only for aerodynamic coefficient predictions, but also for application to several other potential problems of interest to the industry.
The analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to classify patients as healthy or (in our first proof-of-concept case) likely to experience a form of autism has been developed in cooperation with the MRI facility at Auburn University. This state-of-the-art facility has two MRIs –a 3-Tesla machine and a 7-Tesla machine. The amount of data from MRI imaging is massive, requiring us to modify our code to handle much larger data arrays than our previous applications have required. Our current goal is to demonstrate the potential of our modeling technology to provide useful classification of a patient into one of the four groups based only on MRI data, so that we can approach various agencies (such as the NIH) to obtain funding to develop a commercial product. We presented a scientific poster at the Fourth Biennial Conference on Resting State/Brain Connectivity hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in September 2014 that received interest from a number of researchers working in this area. We believe our artificial neural network ensemble modeling engine has various applications and we intend to pursue funding to develop customized tools based on the engine for a number of potential applications.
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MedChem Designer™
MedChem Designer was launched in 2011. It was initially a molecule drawing program, or “sketcher”, but now has capabilities exceeding those of other molecule drawing programs because of its integration with both MedChem Studio and ADMET Predictor. We provide MedChem Designer for free to our customers because we believe that in the long run it will help to increase demand for ADMET Predictor and MedChem Studio, and because most other existing molecule drawing programs are also provided for free. Our free version includes a small set of ADMET Predictor best-in-class property predictions, allowing the chemist to modify molecular structures and then see a few key properties very quickly. With a paid ADMET Predictor license the chemist would see the entire 145 predictions that are available.
When used with a license for ADMET Predictor, MedChem Designer becomes ade novo molecule design tool. With it, a researcher can draw one or more molecular structures, then click on the ADMET Predictor icon and have over 140 properties for each structure calculated in seconds, including our proprietary ADMET Risk™ index. Researchers can also click on an icon to generate the likely metabolites of a molecule and then predict all of the properties of those metabolites from ADMET Predictor, including their ADMET Risk scores. This is important because a metabolite of a molecule can be therapeutically beneficial (or harmful) even though the parent molecule is not.
Our proprietary ADMET Risk score provides a single number that tells the chemist how many default threshold values for various predicted properties were crossed (or violated) by each structure. The rules can be modified and new rules added by the user to include any desired rule set based on any combination of calculated descriptors, predicted properties, and user inputs. Thus, in a single number, the chemist can instantly compare the effects of different structural changes in many dimensions. The ideal score is zero; however, a low score greater than zero might be acceptable, depending on what property(s) caused the points to be assigned. If the number is too high (greater than 5-6), the molecule is not likely to be successful as a drug. As chemists attempt to modify structures to improve one property, they often cause others to become unacceptable. Without ADMET Risk, the chemist would have to individually examine many key properties for each new molecule (and its metabolites) to determine whether any of them became unacceptable as a result of changing the structure.
During fiscal year 2014, we released version 3.0 of MedChem Designer, which added the ability to capture the image of a molecular structure from a variety of publication files with a new snapshot tool, and then have the program automatically convert the graphic image into any of several computer-based chemical structure files. Converting from lines and letters on the screen to an exact chemical representation of the molecule (Optical Structure Recognition, or OSR) is a complex task. Although a few OSR programs are in existence, we are not aware of any that can accurately convert as many varieties of images to chemical representation as the OSR tool within MedChem Designer. Such a capability allows chemists to quickly capture molecular structures from the scientific literature to use for various purposes, including for use in our simulation and modeling software programs.
MedChem Studio™
MedChem Studio is a tool that is used both for data mining and forde novo design of new molecules. In its data-mining role, MedChem Studio facilitates searching of large chemical libraries to find molecules that contain identified substructures, and it enables rapid generation of clusters (classes) of molecules that share common substructures from high throughput screening (HTS) data. MedChem Studio version 4.0 was released during fiscal year 2014.
While MedChem Designer can be used to refine a small number of molecules, MedChem Studio can be used to create and screen (with ADMET Predictor) a very large number of molecules down to a few promising lead candidates. MedChem Studio has features that enable it to generate new molecular structures using a variety ofde novo design methods. When MedChem Studio is used with ADMET Predictor and MedChem Designer (which we refer to as our ADMET Design Suite), we believe the programs provide an unmatched capability for chemists to search through large libraries of compounds that have undergone high-throughput screening experiments to find the most promising classes (groups of molecules with a large part of their structures the same) and molecules that are active against a particular target. In addition, MedChem Studio can take an interesting (but not acceptable) molecule and, using a variety of design algorithms, quickly generate many thousands to millions of high quality analogs (similar new molecules). These molecules can then be screened using ADMET Predictor to find molecules that are both active against the target as well as acceptable in a variety of ADMET properties.
NCE Projects
During late 2012, we initiated a new molecule (NCE, or New Chemical Entity) design project in which we used our own products to design novel molecules and have them synthesized and tested. Our goal was to demonstrate the ability of our ADMET Design Suite to generate new lead molecules in a fraction of the time and cost normally required in the pharmaceutical industry. We have conducted two NCE design projects. In the first, we designed molecules to test against the malaria parasite and in the other we designed molecules to test against the cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme that is the target for Celebrex®. Both projects were successful in that when the molecules that we designed were tested against the malaria parasite and the COX-2 enzyme, the molecules successfully inhibited the malaria parasite and the COX-2 enzyme. We believe these projects demonstrate that our ADMET Design Suite can save considerable time and money in developing new lead compounds for particular targets. We have generated revenue from new software sales that resulted from presenting our results of the malaria parasite project.
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Contract Research and Consulting Services
Our employees have expertise in oral absorption and pharmacokinetics is evidenced by the fact that our staff memberspharmacokinetics. They have been speakers or presenters at over 80150 scientific meetings worldwide in the past four years. We frequently conduct contracted studies for large customers (including the largest five pharmaceutical companies) who have particularly difficult problems and who recognize our expertise in solving them, as well as for smaller customers who prefer to have studies run by our scientists rather than to license our software and train someone to use it. The demand for our consulting services has been steadily increasing. Long-term collaborationsincreasing, and shorter-termwe have expanded our Simulations Studies team to meet the increased workload. Our acquisition of Cognigen is expected to result in increased demand for the consulting contracts serveservices of both to showcase our technologiescompanies.
We currently are working with the FDA on three different RCAs: the one for the ocular model in GastroPlus described above under “--GastroPlus,” and to build and strengthen customer relationships.two more described below.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 20132014, we continued to work onperform under our 5-year collaboration agreementRCA with the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) of the FDA.. This RCA has a five-year term that commenced in [Month Year]. FDA scientists and our scientists are using ADMET Predictor/Modeler to build predictive models for likely toxicities of food additives and contaminants. During the first year of this collaboration, we analyzed FDA databases and worked with FDA scientists to ensure that the FDA data to be used for building new predictive models is as accurate as we can reasonably make it. Both FDA scientists and our scientists are building a series of models to classify new compounds as toxic or nontoxic from FDA datasets. Included early on in this effort was a special modification to ADMET Predictor requested by FDA scientists to allow the user to set a minimum value for specificity or sensitivity when building a model.model, and this is now a standard part of the program available to all users. Sensitivity refers to how well a model identifies toxic (or any other property) compounds. A model that determined all compounds are toxic would have 100% sensitivity, because all toxic compounds would be labeled as such; however, all nontoxic compounds would also be labeled toxic. Specificity refers to how well a model distinguishes between toxic and nontoxic compounds. Increasing one usually results in decreasing the other. Depending on the purpose of the model, some scientists will prefer to train models that emphasize one statistic over the other.
During fiscal year 2014 we entered into an RCA with the FDA’s Office of Generic Drugs (OGD). The objective of this RCA, which also has a five-year term, is directed toward the FDA’s evaluation of mechanistic IVIVCs (in vitro-in vivo correlations), an approach to determine whether mechanistic absorption modeling (MAM) correlates laboratory (in vitro) dissolution experiments with thein vivo behavior of dosage forms better than traditional empirical methods.
Cognigen
We acquired Cognigen after the end of our 2014 fiscal year, on September 2, 2014. Cognigen has a reputation for high-quality analysis and regulatory reporting of data collected during clinical trials of new and existing pharmaceutical products, typically working on 30-40 drug projects per year. The analysis of clinical trial data that Cognigen performs is different from the type of consulting services offered by Simulations Plus, the former relies more on statistical models, whereas the latter relies more on mechanistic models. Statistical models rely on equations that are shown to fit the data, but without a detailed mechanistic understanding of why they do so. Mechanistic models involve detailed science-based mathematical representations of phenomena involved in drug absorption, distribution throughout the body, metabolism, and other effects.
At recent meetings held by the FDA and other regulatory agencies, such agencies emphasized an interest in bringing physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK – a core strength of Simulations Plus) into clinical pharmacology (a core strength of Cognigen). We believe the combined strengths of Cognigen and Simulation Plus will uniquely position us at the forefront of model-based drug development going forward.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Development of our software is focused on expanding product lines, designing enhancements to our core technology and integrating existing and new products into our principal software architecture and platform technology. We intend to continue to offer regular updates to our products and to continue to look for opportunities to expand our existing product suite.suite of products and services.
We develop all of ourTo date, we have developed products internally. We haveinternally, sometimes also licensed productslicensing or have otherwise acquiredacquiring products, or portions of our products, from other organizations.third parties. These arrangements sometimes require the payment ofthat we pay royalties by us.to third parties. We intend to continue to license or otherwise acquire technology or products from third parties.parties when it makes business sense to do so. We currently have two royalty agreements, one with TSRL, Inc. (“TSRL”) and another with Symyx Technologies (“Symyx”). In July 1997, we entered into a royaltylicense agreement, with TSRLAccelrys, Inc., pursuant to which royalties werea small royalty is paid to TSRLAccelrys from revenues on each license for GastroPlus basic software. the Metabolite module in ADMET Predictor. This license agreement continues in perpetuity and either party has the right to terminate it.
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In March 2010,1997 we entered into a royaltyan exclusive software licensing agreement with Symyx, which was merged with Accelrys,TSRL, Inc. (fka Therapeutic Systems Research Laboratories), pursuant to which TSRL licensed certain software technology and databases to us, and we paid royalties were paid to Symyx from revenues on each license for Metabolite module. AfterTSRL. On May 15, 2014, we and TSRL entered into a buyouttermination and non-assertion agreement pursuant to which the parties agreed to terminate the 1997 exclusive software licensing agreement, As a result, the company obtained a perpetual right to use certain source code and data, and TSRL relinquished any rights and claims to any GastroPlus products and to any claims to royalties or other payments under that agreement, and we agreed to pay TSRL total consideration of $6,000,000 as follows: (a) $3,500,000 by May 20, 2014, which amount was comprised of $2,500,000 in cash and $1,000,000 worth of our common stock (which was 164,745 shares based upon the April 25, 2014 closing price per share of $6.07 per share), (b) $750,000 payable on or before April 25, 2015, (c) $750,000 payable on or before April 25, 2016, and (d) $1,000,000 payable on or before April 25, 2017. Our payment obligations described above are non-interest bearing and will be amortized at a constant rate of $150,000 per quarter until it is completely amortized, after which no further expense will be incurred. For most quarters, we expect that this will result in a savings over the royalty payments that would have been paid to TSRL if paid consistent with Enslein Research, we combined Metabolism module and Metabolite module, and currently we pay royalties to Symyx from the sale of a new Metabolism module.These license agreements have no expiration date.past practices.
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
We distribute our products and offer our services in North America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, and the People’s Republic of China.
We market our pharmaceutical software and consulting services through attendance and presentations at scientific meetings, exhibits at trade shows, seminars at pharmaceutical companies and government agencies, through our web pages on the Internet,website, and using various communication mediachannels to our compiled database of prospects and customer names.customers. At various scientific meetings around the world each year there are numerous presentations and posters presented in which the research that was reported on was performed using our software. Many of these presentations were from industry and FDA scientists; some were from our staff.
We have one independent distributor in JapanOur sales and two independent representatives in China; however,marketing efforts are handled primarily internally with our scientific team is also the majority of our sales and marketing team,several senior management staff assisting our Vice President of Marketingmarketing and Sales and hissales staff with trade shows, seminars, and customer training both via the Internet and on-site. We believe that this is more effective than a completely separate sales team for several reasons: (1) customers appreciate talking directly with software developers and scientists who can answer a wide range of technical questions about methods and features in depth; (2) our scientists and engineers benefit from direct customer contact by gaining an appreciation for the environment and problems of the customer; and (3) we believe the relationships we build through scientist-to-scientist contact are stronger than relationships built through salesperson-to-scientist contacts. We also have one independent distributor in Japan and two independent representatives in China who also sell and market our products.
We provide support to the GastroPlus User Group in Japan, which was organized by Japanese researchers several years ago.in 2009. As of early 2013, a group of scientists in Europe and North America have organized another group following the example set in Japan. The number ofNearly 500 members who have joined this group is more than 330.to date. We support this group as well through coordination of online meetings each month and managing the web site for exchange of information among members.
We use the Internet to provide product information and software updates, and as a forum for user feedback and information exchange. We have cultivated market share in North America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the People’s Republic of China. Internet and e-mail technologies have had a positive influence on our ability to communicate with existing and potential customers worldwide.
PRODUCTION
Our pharmaceutical software products are designed and developed entirely by our development team in California, with locations in Lancaster, Petaluma, San Jose, and San Diego. In addition, we have one team member working out of North Carolina and our Chief Executive Officer works primarily from Auburn, Alabama.
The principal materials and components used in the manufacture of simulation software products include CD-ROMs and instruction manuals, which are also produced in-house and through outside contractors. In-house graphic art and engineering talent enables us to accomplish this production in a cost-efficient manner.
COMPETITION
In our pharmaceutical software and services business, we compete against a number of established companies that provide screening, testing and research services, and products that are not based on simulation software. There are also software companies whose products do not compete directly with, but are sometimes closely related to, ours. Our competitors in this field include some companies with financial, personnel, research and marketing resources that are larger than ours. Our management believes there is currently no significant competitive threat to GastroPlus, DDDPlus, or DDDPlus,MembranePlus; however, in spite of a barrier to entry, one could be developed over time. MedChem Studio, MedChem Designer, and ADMET Predictor/ADMET Modeler operate in a more competitive environment. Several other companies presently offer simulation or modeling software, or simulation-software-based services, to the pharmaceutical industry.
Major pharmaceutical companies conduct drug discovery and development efforts through their internal development staffs and through outsourcing some of this work.outsourcing. Smaller companies generally need to outsource a greater percentage of this research. Thus, we compete not only with other software suppliers, but also with the in-house development teams at some of the larger pharmaceutical companies.
Although competitive products exist, both new licenses and license renewals for GastroPlus have continued to grow in spite of this competition. We believe that we enjoy a dominantsignificant market share in this segment. We believe that the success of our recenttwo NCE projectprojects in which we designed, had synthesized, and tested a number of new molecules to treat malaria has cultivated strong interest in our ADMET Design Suite™ (ADMET Predictor/MedChem Studio/MedChem Designer). Presentations in the U.S., Japan, and Europe since the results were released have beenas well received and new licenses for our cheminformatics software have already more than recouped our investment. Our newas COX-2/COX-1 NCE project is intended towill further promote the abilities of our ADMET Design Suite for rapid and cost-effective design of lead compounds.
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We believe the key factors in competingour ability to successfully compete in this field are our ability to: (1) continue to invest in research and development, and develop and support industry-leading simulation and modeling software and related products and services to effectively predict activities and ADMET-related behaviors of new drug-like compounds, to(2) design new molecules with acceptable activity and ADMET properties, to(3) develop and maintain a proprietary database of results of physical experiments that will serve as a basis for simulated studies and empirical models, to(4) attract and retain a highly skilled scientific and engineering team, and to(5) develop and maintain relationships with research and development departments of pharmaceutical companies, universities and government agencies.
We are actively seekingseek acquisitions to expand the pharmaceutical software and services business. Earlier attemptsIn July 2014 we signed a merger agreement with Cognigen. The merger closed on September 2, 2014, subsequent to acquire other companies have not been successful eitherthe end of fiscal year 2014. We plan to continue our efforts to find strategic targets and alliances that will enhance our position in arriving at mutually agreeable terms and conditions, or because of adverse conditions discovered during our due diligence process.the industry.
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Customer training and technical support are important factors in customer satisfaction for our pharmaceutical products, and we believe we are an industry leader in providing customer training and technical support in our business areas. We provide in-house seminars at customers’, and potential customers’, sites. sites, as well at selected universities to train students who will soon be industry scientists. These seminars often serve as initial training in the event the potential customer decides to license or evaluate our software. Technical support is provided after the sale of any software in the form of on-site training (at the customer’s expense), web meetings and telephone, fax, and e-mail assistance to the customer’s users during the customer’s license period. We have used Internet meetings extensively to provide demonstrations and customer assistance, resulting in rapid response to requests worldwide and reducing our travel time and expenses.
Technical support for pharmaceutical software is provided by our life sciences team and our inside sales and support staff based at our headquarters facilities in Lancaster, California. We provide free telephone support offering toll-free numbers in the U.S. and Canada, and e-mail and web-based support for all of our pharmaceutical software products worldwide. Technical support for pharmaceutical software products is minimal, averaging a few person-hours per month.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
We believe that our ability to grow and remain competitive in our markets is strongly dependent on investment into researchResearch and development (“R&D”). R&D(R&D) activities include both enhancement of existing products and development of new products. Development of new products and adding functionality to existing products are capitalized in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)(FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”)(ASC) 985-20, “Costs of Software to Be Sold Leased, or Marketed”. R&D expenditures, which primarily relate to both capitalized and expensed salaries, R&D supplies, laboratory testing, and R&D consulting, were approximately $1,931,000$2,322,000 during fiscal year 2013,2014, of which $1,129,000$1,369,000 was capitalized. R&D expenditures during fiscal year 20122013 were approximately $1,907,000,$1,931,000, of which $959,000$1,129,000 was capitalized.
Our pharmaceutical business R&D activities during fiscal year 20132014 were focused on improving our ADMET Predictor/ADMET Modeler, MedChem Studio, MedChem Designer and GastroPlus products, as well as the development of our new MembranePlus software product described above.
EMPLOYEES
As of August 31, 2013, we2014, Simulations Plus employed 2730 full-time employees, and no part-time employees, including 1922 in research and development, 4 in marketing and sales, 4 in administration and accounting. An additional Ph.D. level employee joined Simulations Plus in September 2014. Currently 1516 employees hold Ph.D.s and 1 is a Ph.D. candidatePh.Ds. in their respective science or engineering disciplines. Additionally, 46 employees hold one or more Master’s degrees. Most of the senior management team and the members of our Board of Directors hold graduate degrees.
The Cognigen acquisition added 35 full-time employees, bringing our total workforce to 66.
We believe that our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to continue to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel. We continue to seek additions to our life sciences team although the competition for such personnel in the pharmaceutical industry is intense. None of our employees is represented by a labor union, and we have never experienced a work stoppage. We believe that our relations with our employees are good.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND OTHER PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
We own two patents that were acquired as part of our acquisition of certain assets of Bioreason, Inc. We primarily protect our intellectual property through copyrights and trade secrecy. Our intellectual property consists primarily of source code for computer programs and data files for various applications of those programs in the pharmaceutical software businesses. The expertise of our staff is a considerable asset closely related to intellectual property, and attracting and retaining highly qualified scientists and engineers is essential to our business.
EFFECT OF GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
Our pharmaceutical software products are tools used in research and development and are neither approved nor approvable by the FDA or other government agencies.
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ITEM 1A – RISK FACTORS
Not applicable because we are a smaller reporting company.
ITEM 1B – UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.None.
ITEM 2 – PROPERTIES
We lease approximately 13,500 square feet of space in Lancaster, California. The original agreementlease had a five-year term with two, (2), three (3)-yearthree-year options to extend. SinceFollowing the originalexpiration of initial five-year term expired in February 2011, we have exercised the first of the two (2), three (3)-yearthree-year options which will end onextended the lease to February 2, 2014. We made an amendment to our currentIn June 2013, the lease with a single remaining extension of three (3) years at an annual increase of 4% per year. Thewas amended lease extendsextending the term to February 2, 2017 with2017. As amended, the lease provides for an annual base rent increase of 3% per year and has an option of two, (2) two-year extensions.options to extend the term. The current base rent amount of $24,272.42is $24,272 per month remains the same;month; however, we had 3three months’ free base rent during the months of June, July and August of 2013. We record these three (3) months as a discount divided equally through the firstinitial term of thisthe amended lease from June 2013 through January 2017. The amended lease is filed with the SEC as an exhibit to our Form 10-Q filed on July 10, 2013.
AfterThe Company believes its existing facilities and equipment are in good operating condition and are suitable for the saleconduct of Words+ to Prentke Romich Company (PRC), we entered into a sublease agreement under which Words+ paid 20% of the monthly rent we pay to our landlord, plus 20% of facility-related operating expenses. The term of this month to month sublease commenced on January 1, 2012 and ended on February 28, 2013.its business.
ITEM 3 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
WeExcept as described below, we are not a party to any legal proceedings and are not aware of any pending legal proceedings of any kind.
In June 2014, the Company was served with a complaint in a civil action entitled Sherri Winslow v. Incredible Adventures, Inc., et al. (Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC545789) alleging wrongful death and seeking unspecified damages arising out of a May 18, 2012 plane crash in the State of Nevada. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer owns the subject aircraft and is also a named defendant. The complaint alleged that the Company was the owner of the subject aircraft. The Company denies all material allegations against it, including that it owns or has ever owned any interest in the subject aircraft. On November 25, 2014, the plaintiff and the Company signed a stipulation of dismissal pursuant to which the plaintiff agreed to dismiss the Company without prejudice. If the plaintiff does not discover evidence during a nine month period to and including August 31, 2015 that justifies bringing the Company back into the litigation, the Company will prepare a dismissal with prejudice to be signed on behalf of the plaintiff.
ITEM 4 – MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
Not applicable.
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PART II
ITEM 5 – MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
The Company’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “SLP.”
Price Range of Common Stock
The following table shows low and high sales price for the Company’s common stock for the last eight fiscal quarters.
Low Sales Price | High Sales Price | |
FY14: | ||
Quarter ended August 31, 2014 | 5.43 | 7.00 |
Quarter ended May 31, 2014 | 5.61 | 6.76 |
Quarter ended February 29, 2014 | 4.86 | 6.08 |
Quarter ended November 30, 2013 | 4.70 | 5.41 |
FY13: | ||
Quarter ended August 31, 2013 | 4.01 | 4.83 |
Quarter ended May 31, 2013 | 3.92 | 4.39 |
Quarter ended February 29, 2013 | 4.01 | 4.59 |
Quarter ended November 30, 2012 | 4.38 | 4.80 |
Holders
As of November 26, 2014, there were 47 shareholders of record.
Dividends
We paid a total of $3.1 million and $4.0 million in cash dividends during fiscal years 2014 and 2013, respectively, as set forth in the table below. We expect to pay quarterly dividends of $0.05 per share of common stock each quarter, subject to declaration by our Board of Directors. However, there can be no assurances that our Board of Directors will continue the dividend distributions for any specified number of quarters.
Fiscal Year | Record Date | Distribution Date | # of Shares Outstanding on Record Date | Dividend per Share | Total Amount | |
2013 | 11/8/2012 | 11/13/2012 | 15,927,806 | $0.05 | $796,390 | |
12/24/2012 | 12/28/2012 | 16,021,309 | $0.14 | * | $2,242,983 | |
5/7/2013 | 5/10/2013 | 16,030,433 | $0.03 | ** | $480,913 | |
8/12/2013 | 8/15/2013 | 16,030,894 | $0.03 | ** | $480,926 | |
2014 | 11/08/2013 | 11/15/2013 | 16,073,894 | $0.04 | ** | $642,956 |
2/17/2014 | 2/24/2014 | 16,149,460 | $0.05 | $807,473 | ||
5/09/2014 | 5/16/2014 | 16,165,171 | $0.05 | $808,259 | ||
8/04/2014 | 8/11/2014 | 16,337,955 | $0.05 | $816,897 |
* As a tax benefit to shareholders considering the increase in federal income tax for capital gains in 2013, the Board of Directors declared an accelerated cash dividend of $0.14 per share on December 14, 2012, consisting of all of the planned February 2013 dividend of $0.05 per share, plus $0.03 per share of the planned $0.05 dividend per quarter per share for the remaining three fiscal quarters ending in calendar year 2013.
** The Board of Directors decided to increase the May, August, and November 2013 dividend distributions from the planned $0.02 per share ($0.03 of the $0.05 per share quarterly dividend having been distributed in December 2012) to $0.03 per share in May and August 2013 and to $0.04 in November 2013.
Repurchases
There is currently no share repurchase program pending, and the Company made no repurchases of its securities within the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2013.2014.
The following table shows low and high sales price for the Company’s common stock for the last eight fiscal quarters.
Low Sales Price | High Sales Price | |||
FY13: | ||||
Quarter ended August 31, 2013 | 4.01 | 4.83 | ||
Quarter ended May 31, 2013 | 3.92 | 4.39 | ||
Quarter ended February 29, 2013 | 4.01 | 4.59 | ||
Quarter ended November 30, 2012 | 4.38 | 4.80 | ||
FY12: | ||||
Quarter ended August 31, 2012 | 3.76 | 4.46 | ||
Quarter ended May 31, 2012 | 3.66 | 4.61 | ||
Quarter ended February 29, 2012 | 2.91 | 4.25 | ||
Quarter ended November 30, 2011 | 2.97 | 3.24 |
ITEM 6 – SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Not applicable because we are a smaller reporting company.
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ITEM 7 – MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and related notes included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Management Overview
Fiscal year 20132014 highlights:
· | In July 2014 we signed a merger agreement with Cognigen Corporation and completed the merger on September 2, 2014. As a result of this merger the Company now provides clinical trial consulting services to the pharmaceutical industry. |
· | In May 2014 we terminated an exclusive software licensing agreement we entered into with Therapeutic Systems Research Laboratories (TSRL) in 1997. As a result, the company obtained a perpetual right to use certain source code and data, and TSRL relinquished any rights and claims to any GastroPlus products and to any claims to royalties or other payments under the 1997 agreement. We agreed to pay TSRL total consideration of $6,000,000 payable in installments through April 2017. For most quarters, we expect that this will result in a savings over the royalty payments that would have been paid to TSRL if paid consistent with past practices. |
· | We released updated versions of all major software products. |
· | We advanced the development of our new MembranePlus™ software program for simulation of in vitro permeability experiment, which |
· |
We successfully completed the |
· | We |
· | We expanded our technical staff by over 10%, adding |
· |
· |
· |
· |
· |
· |
· | Our Board of Directors declared dividends totaling $0.19 per share ($0.04 dividend in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 and $0.05 per share for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters of fiscal year 2014). |
Fiscal Year 2014 Financial Summary:
· |
· |
· |
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Fiscal year 2013 Financial Summary:
Income from continuing operations increased |
· | Net income exceeded $3,000,000 for the first time |
Strategy Going Forward:
· | Continue to advance our software offerings through both our in-house developments and our funded and unfunded collaborations with our industry and government customers |
· | Continue to seek acquisition and partnership possibilities to broaden our offerings of products and services |
· | Continue our marketing and sales campaign including attending and exhibiting at numerous scientific conferences and meetings, expanded use of social media, and expanded advertising |
· | Increase our marketing and sales efforts with respect to our consulting services in both pharmacokinetics and in small molecule design |
· |
Fiscal year 20132014 was another record year. We believe the continued growth of our pharmaceutical software and services business segment is the result of steadily increasing adoption of simulation and modeling software tools across the pharmaceutical industry, as well as the expertise we offer as consultants to assist companies involved in the research and development of new medicines. We have received a continuing series of study contracts with pharmaceutical companies ranging from several of the largest in the world to a number of medium-sized and smaller companies in the U.S. and Europe.
Our financial performance has enabled us to maintain significant cash deposits remain debt-free, and to continue to invest in our marketing and sales activities we began in early 2009 in order to reach a wider customer base, as well as to distribute significant cash dividends to our shareholders.shareholders, purchase the intellectual property rights related to GastroPlus™, and still have sufficient reserves to close an acquisition just after the fiscal year ended.
We have not beenwere successful in identifying and completing any acquisitions during this reporting periodthe acquisition of Cognigen in spite of ongoing investigations. ItSeptember 2014; it is our intent to continue to search for acquisition opportunities that would beare compatible with our current businesses and that would be immediatelyare accretive, i.e., adding to both revenues and earnings.
In the past, we have used some of our cash to repurchase shares of our common stock because we believe that reducing the number of fully diluted sharesdoing so provides greater value to our shareholders than receiving a low interest rate on our cash, deposits, and because we believe that our cash deposits after such repurchases remain sufficient to accomplish any reasonable potential acquisitions as well as to maintainwhile leaving us with sufficient cash reserves to ensure meetingmeet our operational needs for the foreseeable future.future and to pursue reasonable potential acquisitions. Although there are no stock repurchase programs pending, our Board of Directors may consider additional repurchases at anyprograms from time at prices and under conditions set by our Board of Directors.to time.
Results of Operations
The following sets forth selected items from our statements of operations (in thousands) and the percentages that such items bear to net sales for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2013 (“FY13”)2014 (FY14) and August 31, 2012 (“FY12”)2013 (FY13).
Fiscal years ended | Fiscal years ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
08/31/13 | 08/31/12 | 08/31/14 | 08/31/13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 10,071 | 100% | $ | 9,449 | 100% | $ | 11,461 | 100% | $ | 10,071 | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales | 1,647 | 16.4 | 1,510 | 16.0 | 1,629 | 14.2 | 1,647 | 16.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross profit | 8,424 | 83.6 | 7,939 | 84.0 | 9,832 | 85.8 | 8,424 | 83.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 3,550 | 35.2 | 3,379 | 35.8 | 4,440 | 38.8 | 3,550 | 35.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Research and development | 802 | 8.0 | 948 | 10.0 | 953 | 8.3 | 802 | 8.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 4,352 | 43.2 | 4,327 | 45.8 | 4,393 | 47.1 | 4,352 | 43.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income from operations | 4,072 | 40.4 | 3,612 | 38.2 | 4,439 | 38.7 | 4,072 | 40.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other income | 184 | 1.8 | 343 | 3.6 | 74 | 0.7 | 184 | 1.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income before taxes | 4,256 | 42.3 | 3,955 | 41.9 | 4,513 | 39.4 | 4,256 | 42.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Provision) for income taxes | (1,370 | ) | (13.6 | ) | (1,143 | ) | (12.1 | ) | (1,488 | ) | (13.0 | ) | (1,370 | ) | (13.6 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations | 2,886 | 28.7% | 2,812 | 29.8% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Results of discontinued operations, net of tax | – | – | 216 | 2.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 2,886 | 28.7% | $ | 3,028 | 32.1% | $ | 3,025 | 26.4% | $ | 2,886 | 28.7% |
FY13FY14 COMPARED WITH FY12FY13
Net Sales
Net sales increased $622,000,$1,390,000 or 6.6%13.8%, to $11,461,000 in FY14 from $10,071,000 in FY13FY13. Revenues from $9,449,000 in FY12.sales of software increased approximately $1,642,000 or 17.8%. We attribute the increase in pharmaceutical software sales to increases in the number of licenses with new and existing customers, as well as licensing of new modules to existing customers, especially for our GastroPlus line of products because it has more optional modules than our other products we offer. The revenueproducts. Revenues from sales of software increased approximately $254,000, or 3%. In FY13, the revenue from twostudies decreased in FY14 by $244,000 as funded collaborations which will expand the capabilitiesthat generated approximately $213,000 of our GastroPlus software and analytical studies also increased approximately $368,000, or 101%.revenues recorded in FY13 were completed.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales increased $137,000,decreased by $18,000, or 9.0%1.1%, to $1,629,000 in FY14 from $1,647,000 in FY13 from $1,510,000 in FY12.FY13. As a percentage of net sales, cost of sales increaseddecreased by 0.3%2.2%. This decrease was primarily due to decreased FY14 royalty payments as a result of the termination of the TRSL license agreement in May 2014 described below.
A significant portion
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In 1997 we entered into an exclusive software licensing agreement with TSRL, pursuant to which TSRL licensed certain software technology and databases to us, and we paid royalties to TSRL. On May 15, 2014, we and TSRL entered into a termination and non-assertion agreement pursuant to which the parties agreed to terminate the 1997 exclusive software licensing agreement, as a result, the company obtained a perpetual right to use certain source code and data, and TSRL relinquished any rights and claims to any GastroPlus products and to any claims to royalties or other payments under that agreement. We agreed to pay TSRL total consideration of cost$6,000,000 as follows: (a) $3,500,000 by May 20, 2014, which amount was comprised of sales$2,500,000 in cash and $1,000,000 worth of our common stock (which was 164,745 shares based upon the April 25, 2014 closing price per share of $6.07 per share), (b) $750,000 payable on or before April 25, 2015, (c) $750,000 payable on or before April 25, 2016, and (d) $1,000,000 payable on or before April 25, 2017. Our payment obligations described above are non-interest bearing and will be amortized at a constant rate of $150,000 per quarter until it is completely amortized, after which no further expense will be incurred. The amortization began May 15, 2014 resulting in a total amortization expense of $175,000 for FY14. For most quarters, we expect that this will result in a savings over the systematic amortization of capitalized software development costs, which is an independent fixed cost rather than a variable cost relatedroyalty payments that would have been paid to sales. This amortization cost increased approximately $49,000, or 7%, in FY13 comparedTSRL if paid consistent with FY12.past practices, and thereby increase earnings over time.
Royalty expense, a variable cost relatedWe continue to sales of our GastroPlus core program as well aspay royalties from the agreement withto Accelrys, Inc. (the original agreement was with Symyx Technologies which merged with Accelrys, Inc.) Metabolite/Metabolism,Metabolism. Total royalties paid to Accelrys, Inc. in FY14 were $47,000.
A significant portion of cost of sales for pharmaceutical software products is the systematic amortization of capitalized software development costs. Amortization cost increased approximately $46,000,$91,000, or 8%12.7%, in FY13FY14 compared with FY12.FY13.
Service cost, such as labor costs for trainings/workshops, analytical studies, and technical support, increased approximately $42,000, or 71%,$39,000, in FY13FY14 compared with FY12FY13 due to morea larger number of person-hours allocated to those services during FY13 compared with FY12.our expanded customer base.
Gross Profit
Gross profit increased $485,000,$1,408,000 or 6.1%16.7%, to $9,832,000 in FY14 from $8,424,000 in FY13 from $7,939,000 in FY12.FY13. We attribute this increase to the increased sales of pharmaceutical software, which outweighed an increase in the cost of goods sold.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”)(SG&A) expenses increased $171,000,$890,000, or 5.0%25.1% to $4,440,000 in FY14, compared to $3,550,000 in FY13, compared to $3,379,000 in FY12; however,FY13; and, as a percentage of sales, SG&A decreased toincreased by 3.6% year-over-year from approximately 35.2%35. 2% in FY13 from approximately 35.8%to 38.8% in FY12.FY14. The major increaseschanges in SG&A expense were:
· |
· | Consulting fees increased by $87,000 as we used consultants in FY14 in connection with the |
· | Commission expense increased by |
The major decreases in SG&A expense were:
· | Marketing labor costs increased by $43,000, as substantial employee time was incurred in conjunction with updating of training materials, trade shows, and |
· |
· | Bonus expense increased by |
· | Salaries and wages increased $106,000, or 9.5% in FY14 due primarily to |
Thus, increases in SG&A expenses outweighed decreases.
Research and Development
We incurred approximately $2,322,000 of research and development costs during FY14. Of this amount, $1,369,000 was capitalized and $953,000 was expensed. In FY13, we incurred $1,931,000 of research and development costs, during FY13. Of this amount,of which $1,129,000 was capitalized and $802,000 was expensed. In FY12, we incurred $1,900,000 of research and development costs, of which $952,000 was capitalized and $948,000 was expensed. The increase of $24,000,$391,000, or 1.3%20%, in total research and development expenditures from FY12FY13 to FY13FY14 was due to staff increases and salary increases for existing staff, which outweighed the reduction instaff. In addition, we incurred $40,000 of costs related to our NCE (new chemical entity) malaria project costs.COX2/COX1 project.
Income from operations
During FY13,FY14, we generated income from operations of $4,072,000,$4,439,000 as compared to $3,612,000$4,072,000 for FY12,FY13, an increase of 12.7%9%. We attribute this increase to increases in gross profit and decreases in research and development expense, whichthat outweighed the increase in SG&A expense.and research and development expenses.
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Other Income and (Expense)
Net other income (expense) decreased by $159,000,$110,000, or 46.2%59.9%, to $74,000 in FY14 from $184,000 in FY13 from $343,000 in FY12.FY13. This is due to the lower interest income and lower currency exchange gain in FY13 compared with FY12, and a decrease in sublease income from Words+ as they closed their operations in March 2013.
Provision for Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes for FY13FY14 increased by $227,000,$118,000, or 19.9%, to $1,370,000,$1,488,000 compared to $1,143,000$1,370,000 for FY12FY13 due to higher taxable income. The effective tax rate was 33% for 2014 compared to 32.2% in FY13
Net Income from Continuing Operations
Net income from continuing operations for FY13FY14 increased by $74,000,$139,000, or 2.7%4.8%, to $2,886,000,$3,026,000, compared to $2,812,000$2,886,000 for FY12.FY13. We attribute this increase in net income to increasedincreases in gross profit and decrease in research and development expense, and decrease in tax expense, whichthat outweighed the increase in SG&A expense,and research and development expenses, the decrease in other income, and increase inincreased tax expense.
SEASONALITY
Sales in our business segment exhibitsOur sales exhibit some seasonal fluctuations, with the fourth fiscal quarter (June-August) generally having the lowest sales over the past three fiscal years because of summer vacations and reduced activities at our customers’ sites. This unaudited quarterly sales information has been prepared on the same basis as the annual information presented elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and, in the opinion of management, reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring entries) necessary for a fair presentation of the information presented. Net sales for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of sales for any future period; however, because our pharmaceutical software is licensed on an annual basis, renewals are usually within the same quarter year after year.
Net Sales (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
FY | First Quarter | Second Quarter | Third Quarter | Fourth Quarter | Total | |||||||||||||||
2013 | 2,290 | 3,118 | 3,095 | 1,568 | 10,071 | |||||||||||||||
2012 | 2,248 | 2,789 | 2,772 | 1,640 | 9,449 | |||||||||||||||
2011 | 2,050 | 2,622 | 2,640 | 1,427 | 8,739 | |||||||||||||||
2010 | 1,735 | 2,227 | 2,325 | 1,334 | 7,621 | |||||||||||||||
2009 | 1,430 | 1,779 | 1,985 | 1,107 | 6,301 | |||||||||||||||
2008 | 1,438 | 1,550 | 1,975 | 1,092 | 6,055 | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 824 | 1,808 | 1,659 | 1,465 | 5,756 | |||||||||||||||
2006 | 199 | 884 | 1,096 | 1,007 | 3,186 | |||||||||||||||
2005 | 524 | 410 | 662 | 473 | 2,069 | |||||||||||||||
2004 | 642 | 742 | 603 | 869 | 2,856 | |||||||||||||||
2003 | 507 | 582 | 614 | 1,403 | 3,106 |
Net Sales (in thousands of dollars) | |||||
FY | First Quarter | Second Quarter | Third Quarter | Fourth Quarter | Total |
2014 | 2,641 | 3,081 | 3,741 | 1,998 | 11,461 |
2013 | 2,290 | 3,118 | 3,095 | 1,568 | 10,071 |
2012 | 2,248 | 2,789 | 2,772 | 1,640 | 9,449 |
2011 | 2,050 | 2,622 | 2,640 | 1,427 | 8,739 |
2010 | 1,735 | 2,227 | 2,325 | 1,334 | 7,621 |
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our principal source of capital has been cash flow from our operations. We have achieved continuous positive operating cash flow over the last nineten fiscal years. We believe that our existing capital and anticipated funds from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for working capital and capital expenditures for the foreseeable future. Thereafter, if cash generated from operations is insufficient to satisfy our capital requirements, we may open a revolving line of credit with a bank, or we may have to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain expanded credit facilities. In the event such financing is needed in the future, there can be no assurance that such financing will be available to us, or, if available, that it will be in amounts and on terms acceptable to us.
We are not aware of any trends or demands, commitments, events or uncertainties that are reasonably likely to result in a decrease in liquidity of our assets. The trend over the last ten years has been increasing cash deposits from our operating cash flows, and we expect that trend to continue for the foreseeable future. In FY14 we used $2,500,000 of our cash reserves to pay the initial installment of the amounts we owe under termination and non-assertion agreement we entered into with TSRL in May 2014 that terminated the exclusive software licensing agreement we entered with TSRL in 1997. We havealso incurred $2,500,000 of debt in connection with termination and non-assertion agreement. We anticipate that that debt will be paid out of operations from the reduction in royalty payments that are no material commitments for capital expenditureslonger payable under the 1997 licensing agreement as a result of its termination. See “FY14 COMPARED WITH FY13—Cost of Sales,” above.
On July 23, 2014, we signed a merger agreement with Cognigen. The merger closed on September 2, 2014, subsequent to the end of FY14, and Cognigen became our wholly owned subsidiary. In connection with the latest fiscal period.closing we paid $2,080,000 in cash and issued 491,159 shares of common stock to the former Cognigen stockholders. The 491,159 shares were valued at $3,120,000 based on a $6.35 per share price, which was the volume-weighted average closing price of our common stock for the 30-consecutive trading day period ending two trading days before the closing date. Within three business days of July 23, 2016, subject to certain holdback provisions, we will pay an additional $720,000 in cash and issue an additional 170,014 shares of common stock to the former Cognigen stockholders, which additional shares are valued at $1,080,000 under the formula described above.
We will continue to seek opportunities for strategic acquisitions. If one or more such acquisitions is identified, a substantial portion of our cash reserves may be required to complete it; however, we intend to maintain sufficient cash reserves after any acquisition to provide reasonable assurance that outside financing will not be necessary to continue operations. If we identify an attractive acquisition that would require more cash to complete than we are willing or able to use from our cash reserves, we will consider financing options to complete the acquisition, including obtaining loans and issuing additional securities.
Because we have not been able to find suitable acquisitions for several years, the
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Our board of directors decided to distributedeclared a portion of our cash reserves to our shareholders, declaring an ongoing $0.05 per share per quarterquarterly cash dividend beginning with the second quarter of FY12.our 2012 fiscal year. Quarterly dividend payments made in FY12FY13 and FY13FY14 are listed in the following table.
Record Date | Distribution Date | Number of Shares Outstanding on Record Date | Dividend per Share | Total Amount | ||||||||||
2/21/2012 | 3/1/2012 | 15,813,844 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 790,692 | ||||||||
4/27/2012 | 5/8/2012 | 15,923,019 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 796,151 | ||||||||
8/7/2012 | 8/10/2012 | 15,923,019 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 796,151 | ||||||||
11/8/2012 | 11/13/2012 | 15,927,806 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 796,390 | ||||||||
12/24/2012 | 12/28/2012 | 16,021,309 | $ | 0.14 | * | $ | 2,242,983 | |||||||
5/7/2013 | 5/10/2013 | 16,030,433 | $ | 0.03 | ** | $ | 480,913 | |||||||
8/12/2013 | 8/15/2013 | 16,030,894 | $ | 0.03 | ** | $ | 480,926 |
Fiscal Year | Record Date | Distribution Date | # of Shares Outstanding on Record Date | Dividend per Share | Total Amount | |
2013 | 11/8/2012 | 11/13/2012 | 15,927,806 | $0.05 | $796,390 | |
12/24/2012 | 12/28/2012 | 16,021,309 | $0.14 | * | $2,242,983 | |
5/7/2013 | 5/10/2013 | 16,030,433 | $0.03 | ** | $480,913 | |
8/12/2013 | 8/15/2013 | 16,030,894 | $0.03 | ** | $480,926 | |
2014 | 11/08/2013 | 11/15/2013 | 16,073,894 | $0.04 | ** | $642,956 |
2/17/2014 | 2/24/2014 | 16,149,460 | $0.05 | $807,473 | ||
5/09/2014 | 5/16/2014 | 16,165,171 | $0.05 | $808,259 | ||
8/04/2014 | 8/11/2014 | 16,337,955 | $0.05 | $816,897 |
* As a tax benefit to shareholders considering the increase in federal income tax for capital gains in 2013, the Board of Directors declared an accelerated cash dividend of $0.14 per share on December 14, 2012, consisting of all of the planned February 2013 dividend of $0.05 per share, plus $0.03 per share of the planned $0.05 dividend per quarter per share for the remaining three fiscal quarters ending in calendar year 2013.
**The Board of Directors decided to increase the May, August, and November 2013 dividend distributions from the planned $0.02 per share ($0.03 of the $0.05 per share quarterly dividend having been distributed in December 2012) to $0.03 per share in May and August 2013 and to $0.04 in November 2013.
There can be no assurances that our Board of Directors will continue the dividend distributions for any specified number of quarters; however, there is no current plan to discontinue the quarterly dividend distributions. After the end of this reporting period,FY14, in November 2014, our Board of Directors declared a dividend distribution of $0.04$0.05 per share for November 2013, an increase of 100% over the planned $0.02 per share that remained after the accelerated distribution in December 2012.
UNUSUAL OR INFREQUENT EVENTS
On November 30, 2011, we sold our entire interest in our former wholly-owned subsidiary, Words+, an augmentative and alternative communication device manufacturer, for aggregate gross proceeds of $1.97 million. We recognized a gain of approximately $465,820, net of tax, from the sale of Words+, which is included in discontinued operations in our statement of operations for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012. The difference between the sales price and the net gain is a result of adjustments to net working capital from August 31, 2011, until the closing on November 30, 2011, legal fees, auditing fees, tax specialist’s fees, and severance compensation for terminated employees.share.
KNOWN TRENDS OR UNCERTAINTIES
Although we have not seen any significant reduction in revenues to date, we have seensaw some consolidation in the pharmaceutical industry during the currentfairly recent economic downturn. This trend has not had a negative effect on our total sales to that industry; however, theseshould consolidations and downsizing in the industry continue, those events could have anadversely impact on our revenues and earnings going forward.
We believe that the need for improved productivity in the research and development activities directed toward developing new medicines will continue to result in increasing adoption of simulation and modeling tools such as those we produce. New product developments in the pharmaceutical business segments could result in increased revenues and earnings if they are accepted by our markets; however, there can be no assurances that new products will result in significant improvements to revenues or earnings. For competitive reasons, we do not disclose all of our new product development activities.
Our continued quest for acquisitions in the pharmaceutical business segment could result in a significant change to revenues and earnings if one or more such acquisitions are completed.
The potential for growth in new markets (e.g., aerospace and healthcare) is uncertain. We will continue to explore these opportunities until such time as we either generate sales or determine that resources would be more efficiently used elsewhere.
INFLATION
We have not been affected materially by inflation during the periods presented, and no material effect is expected in the near future.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
As of August 31, 2013,2014, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As such, we are not materially exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in such relationships.
We do not have relationships or transactions with persons or entities that derive benefits from their non-independent relationship with us or our related parties.
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RECENTLY ISSUED OR NEWLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update 2012-02, “Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment” (“ASU 2012-02”), which amended the guidance in Accounting Standards Update 2011-08 Testing Goodwill for Impairment to simplify the testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill for impairment. ASU 2012-02 becomes effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning on or after September 15, 2012 and earlier adoption is permitted. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013. We believe adoption did not have a material effect on our financial statements.
In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11,Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists, which eliminates diversity in practice for the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward is available to reduce the taxable income or tax payable that would result from disallowance of a tax position. ASU 2013-11 affects only the presentation of such amounts in an entity’s balance sheet and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of ASU 2013-11 on our balance sheet.
In May 2014, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The standard will eliminate the transaction- and industry-specific revenue recognition guidance under current U.S. GAAP and replace it with a principles-based approach for determining revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The revenue recognition standard is required to be applied retrospectively, including any combination of practical expedients as allowed in the standard. We are evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to our financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Estimates
Our financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by management’s application of accounting policies. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant accounting policies for us include revenue recognition, accounting for capitalized software development costs, and accounting for income taxes.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenues related to software licenses and software maintenance in accordance with the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 985-605, “Software – Revenue Recognition”. Software productsproduct revenue is recorded when the following conditions are met: 1) evidence of arrangement exists; 2) delivery has been made; 3) the amount is fixed; and 4) collectability is probable. Post-contract customer support (“PCS”) obligations are insignificant; therefore, revenue for PCS is recognized at the same time as the licensing fee, and the costs of providing such support services are accrued and amortized over the obligation period.
As a byproduct of ongoing improvements and upgrades for the new programs and new modules of software, some modifications are provided to our customers who have already purchased software at no additional charge. Other software modifications result in new, additional cost modules that expand the functionality of the software. These are licensed separately. We consider the modifications that are provided without charge to be minimal, as they do not significantly change the basic functionality or utility of the software, but rather add convenience, such as being able to plot some additional variable on a graph in addition to the numerous variables that had been available before, or adding some additional calculations to supplement the information provided from running the software. Such software modifications for any single product have typically occurred once or twice per year, sometimes more, sometimes less. Thus, they are infrequent. The Company provides, for a fee, additional training and service calls to its customers and recognizes revenue at the time the training or service call is provided.
Generally, we enter into one-year license agreements with customers for the use of our pharmaceutical software products. We recognize revenue on these contracts when all the criteria are met.
Most license agreements have a term of one year; however, from time to time, we enter into multi-year license agreements. We generally unlock and invoice software one year at a time for multi-year licenses. Therefore, revenue is generally recognized one year at a time. On some smaller low-revenue agreements with academia, we have recognized revenues for multiple-year agreements in the first year.
We recognize the revenue from collaboration research and the revenue from grants equally over their terms. However, we recognize the contract study revenue using the percentage of completionpercentage-of-completion method, depending upon how the contract studies are engaged, in accordance with FASB ASC 605-35, “Revenue Recognition – Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts”. To recognize revenue using the percentage of completionpercentage-of-completion method, we must determine whether we meet the following criteria: 1) there is a long-term, legally enforceable contract, and 2) it is possible to reasonably estimate the total project costs, and 3) it is possible to reasonably estimate the extent of progress toward completion.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the statements of cash flows, we consider all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable
We analyze the age of customer balances, historical bad-debt experience, customer creditworthiness, and changes in customer payment terms when making estimates of the collectability of the Company’s trade accounts receivable balances. If we determine that the financial conditions of any of its customers deteriorated, whether due to customer-specific or general economic issues, an increase in the allowance may be made. Accounts receivable are written off when all collection attempts have failed. We have not experienced any bad-debts in our pharmaceutical software and services business.
Capitalized Computer Software Development Costs
Software development costs are capitalized in accordance with FASB ASC 985-20, “Costs of Software to Be Sold Leased, or Marketed”. Capitalization of software development costs begins upon the establishment of technological feasibility and is discontinued when the product is available for sale.
The establishment of technological feasibility and the ongoing assessment for recoverability of capitalized software development costs require considerable judgment by management with respect to certain external factors including, but not limited to, technological feasibility, anticipated future gross revenues, estimated economic life, and changes in software and hardware technologies. Capitalized computer software development costs are comprised primarily of salaries and direct payroll-related costs and the purchase or licensing of existing software to be used in the Company’s software products.
Amortization of capitalized computer software development costs is provided on a product-by-product basis on the straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the products (notnot to exceed five years).years, although all of our current software products have already been on the market for 7-15 years except for our newest programs, MedChem Designer and MembranePlus, and we do not foresee an end-of-life for any of them at this point. Amortization of software development costs amounted to $716,888$807,705 and $668,021$716,888 for the years ended August 31, 20132014 and 2012,2013, respectively. We expect future amortization expense to vary due to increases in capitalized computer software development costs.
We test capitalized computer software development costs for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives as follows:
Equipment | 5 years |
Computer equipment | 3 to 7 years |
Furniture and fixtures | 5 to 7 years |
Leasehold improvements | Shorter of life of asset or lease |
Maintenance and minor replacements are charged to expense as incurred. Gains and losses on disposals are included in the results of operations.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the Condensed Balance Sheets are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. The categories, as defined by the standard are as follows:
Level Input: | Input Definition: | |
Level I | Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date. | |
Level II | Inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level I, that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data at the measurement date. | |
Level III | Unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. |
For certain of our financial instruments, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, contract payable, accrued payroll and other expenses, and accrued bonus to officer, the amounts approximate fair value due to their short maturities.
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Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred until technological feasibility has been established. These costs consist primarily of salaries and direct payroll-related costs. It also includes purchased software and databases that were developed by other companies and incorporated into, or used in the development of, our final products.
Income Taxes
We utilize FASB ASC 740-10, “Income Taxes”, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns.
Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each year-end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax 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 provision for income taxes represents the tax payable for the period and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.
The California Franchise Tax Board (“FTB”) audited us for the fiscal years ended (“FYE”) August 31, 2007 and 2008. We received refunds as we claimed; however they continued their audit to include fiscal years 2009 and 2010, and were reviewing 2007 and 2008 R&D credits, since those credits were carried forward to FYE 2009 and 2010. In May 2013, we received a letter from the FTB stating that an audit will not be conducted for those years at this time; however it may be subject to future audit if they receive new information.
In March 2012, we also received a notice from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that our fiscal year ended August 31, 2008 was subject to their examination. In October 2012, the IRS completed their examination of our 2007 tax filing. The outcome of this examination was a decrease of $36,868 in the amount refundable. We received a refund of $151,246 in December 2012.
Stock-Based Compensation
We accountThe Company accounts for stock options using the modified prospective method in accordance with FASB ASC 718-10,“Compensation-Stock CompensationCompensation”” (“FASB 718-10”). Under this method, compensation costs include: (1) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of September 1, 2006, based on the grant-dateinclude estimated grant date fair value estimated in accordance withof the original provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123awards amortized over the options’ vesting period, and (2) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted subsequent to September 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 718-10, amortized on a straight-line basis over the options’ vesting period. Stock-based compensation was $115,740$144,327 and $181,521$115,740 for the fiscal years ended August 31, 20132014 and 2012,2013, respectively, and is included in the consolidated statements of operations as Consulting, Salaries, and Research and Development expense.
ITEM 7A – QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable because we are a smaller reporting company.
ITEM 8 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The responses to this item areSee the financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K (see pages F1 – F23) andreport beginning at page F-1, which are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 9 – CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
There have been no changes to our public accountants during the past two years.
ITEM 9A – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
We are responsible for maintaining disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Based on our management’s evaluation (with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer) of our disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b) under the Exchange Act, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of August 31, 2013, the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.2014.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Our internal controls over financial reporting are designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
19 |
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting based on the framework established by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under such framework, including the completion and review of internal review assessment forms and the completion and review of financial reporting information systems and controls checklists in the framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of August 31, 2013.2014.
No changes were made in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended August 31, 2013,2014, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls or internal controls over financial reporting will prevent all errors or all instances of fraud. A control system, no matter how well-designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple errors or mistakes. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and any design may not succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures. Because of the inherent limitation of a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
ITEM 9B –- OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEM 10 – DIRECTORS, AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Code of Ethics
Our code of ethics is posted on our website: www.simulations-plus.com.
Changes to Procedures for Recommending Nominees to the Board of Directors
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our board of directors since we last described such procedures.
The remaining information required by Item 10 is incorporated by reference from the sections entitled “Board Matters and Corporate Governance,” “Election of Directors,” “Executive Compensation and Other Information,” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”) to be distributed in connection with our 20142015 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.Meeting (the “Proxy Statement”).
ITEM 11 – EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by Item 11 is incorporated by reference from the sections entitled “Executive Compensation and Other Information” and “Board Matters and Corporate Governance” in ourthe Proxy Statement to be distributed in connection with our 2014 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.Statement.
ITEM 12 – SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by Item 12 is incorporated by reference from the sections entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Executive Compensation and Other Information” in ourthe Proxy Statement to be distributed in connection with our 2014 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.Statement.
ITEM 13 – CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by Item 13 is incorporated by reference from the subsection entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions; Transactions with Related Persons” and the section entitled “Board Matters and Corporate Governance” in ourthe Proxy Statement to be distributed in connection with our 2014 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.Statement.
ITEM 14 – PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by Item 14 is incorporated by reference from the section of the proposal entitled “Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in ourthe Proxy Statement to be distributed in connection with our 2014 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.Statement.
20 |
PART IV
ITEM 15 – EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)
(1) Financial Statements. The consolidated financial statements are included in this Annual Report.Report on Form 10-K beginning on page F-1.
(2) Financial Statement Schedules. All financial statement schedules have been omitted since the information is either not applicable or required or was included in the financial statements or notes included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K10-K.
(3) List of Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K. See part (b) below.
(b) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed as part ofor furnished with this report. Those exhibits marked with a (†) refer to management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.
EXHIBITNUMBER | DESCRIPTION |
2.1 | Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated July 23, 2014, by and among the Company, Cognigen Corporation and the other parties thereto. (13)^ |
3.1 | Articles of Incorporation of the Company. (5) |
3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company. (5) |
4.1 | Articles of Incorporation of the Company. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 hereof) |
4.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 hereof) |
4.3 | Form of Common Stock Certificate (1) |
4.4 | Share Exchange Agreement (1) |
10.1 | The Company’s 1996 Stock Option Plan |
Exclusive License Software Agreement by and between the Company and Therapeutic Systems Research Laboratories dated June 30, 1997. (2) | |
Termination and Non-Assertion Agreement entered into on May 15, 2014 by and between the Company and TSRL, Inc. (11) | |
10.3(a) | The Company’s 2007 Stock Option Plan. (3) (†) |
The Company’s 2007 Stock Option Plan as amended as of December 6, 2013. (10) (†) | |
10.4(a) | Lease dated May 12, 2005 by and between Freeway Ventures, LLC and the Company. (6) |
10.4(b) | Notice of Election to Extend Term of Lease by and between the Company and Crest Development LLC |
Stock Purchase Agreement by and among the Company, Words+, Inc., and Prentke Romich Company dated November 15, 2011. (7) | |
Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Walter S. Woltosz, dated as of August 22, 2013. (9) (†) | |
10.8 | Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Walter S. Woltosz, dated as of August 28, 2014. (12) (†) |
10.9 | Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Thaddeus H Grasela Jr. dated as of September 2, 2014. (12) (†) |
23.1 | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting |
31.1 | Section 302 – Certification of the Principal Executive |
31.2 | Section 302 – Certification of the Principal Financial |
32.1 | Section 906 – Certification of the Chief Executive Office and Chief Financial |
101.INS | XBRL Instance Document. |
101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. |
101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. |
101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. |
101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. |
101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. |
______________________________________
^ Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Registration S-K. The registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the SEC upon request.
* Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith
(1) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (Registration No. 333-6680) filed on March 25, 1997.
(2) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997.
(3) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009.
(4) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010.
(5) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011.
(6) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006.
(7) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K filed November 16, 2011.
(8) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed July 10, 2013.
(9) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K filed November 18, 2013.
(10) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed April 9, 2014.
(11) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K filed May 19, 2014.
(12) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K filed September 4, 2014.
(13) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K/A filed November 18, 2014.
(c) Financial Statement Schedule.
See Item 15(a)(2) above.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lancaster, State of California, on November 15, 2013.authorized.
November 28, 2014 SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. By:/s/ John R. Kneisel John R. Kneisel Chief Financial Officer | |||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | |
/s/ Walter S. Woltosz | Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer | |
Walter S. Woltosz | ||
November | ||
/s/ | ||
November | 28, 2014 | |
/s/ Dr. David Z. D’Argenio | Director | |
Dr. David Z. D’Argenio | ||
November | 28, 2014 | |
/s/ Dr. David L. Ralph | Director | |
Dr. David L. Ralph | ||
November | 28, 2014 | |
/s/ Harold W. Rosenberger | Director | |
Harold W. Rosenberger | ||
November | 28, 2014 | |
/s/ | John R. Kneisel | Chief Financial Officer of the Company |
John R. Kneisel | (Principal financial officer and principal accounting officer) | |
November |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
CONTENTS
August 31, 20132014 and 20122013
Page | |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | F-2 |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | |
Balance Sheets | F-3 |
Statements of Operations | F-4 |
Statements of Shareholders’ Equity | F-5 |
Statements of Cash Flows | F-6 |
Notes to Financial Statements | F-7 – |
F-1 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Simulations Plus, Inc.
Lancaster, California
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Simulations Plus, Inc. (a California corporation) as of August 31, 20132014 and 20122013 and the related statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Simulations Plus, Inc. as of August 31, 20132014 and 2012,2013, and the results of its operations and cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP
Encino, California
November 15, 201326, 2014
F-2 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
As of August 31, 2014 and 2013
August 31, | ||||||||
ASSETS | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||
Current assets | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 10,179,298 | $ | 12,701,075 | ||||
Prepaid income taxes | 301,573 | 153,896 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $0 | 1,910,615 | 1,451,864 | ||||||
Contracts receivable | 203,913 | 18,893 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 192,173 | 150,856 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | 184,258 | 193,712 | ||||||
Total current assets | 12,971,830 | 14,670,296 | ||||||
Long-term assets | ||||||||
Capitalized computer software development costs, net of accumulated amortization of $5,801,578 and $5,084,690 | 2,891,169 | 2,479,468 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net (note 3) | 117,987 | 107,410 | ||||||
Intellectual property, net of accumulated amortization of $11,250 and $3,750 | 63,750 | 71,250 | ||||||
Other assets | 18,445 | 18,445 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 16,063,181 | $ | 17,346,869 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 146,011 | $ | 177,509 | ||||
Accrued payroll and other expenses | 311,209 | 312,912 | ||||||
Accrued bonuses to officer | 60,000 | 60,000 | ||||||
Accrued income taxes | – | 733,233 | ||||||
Other current liabilities | 19,859 | – | ||||||
Deferred revenue | 89,227 | 131,782 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 626,306 | 1,415,436 | ||||||
Long-term liabilities | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes | 1,146,389 | 788,857 | ||||||
Other long-term liabilities | 47,993 | – | ||||||
Total liabilities | 1,820,688 | 2,204,293 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies (note 4) | ||||||||
Shareholders' equity (note 5) | ||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value 10,000,000 shares authorized no shares issued and outstanding | – | – | ||||||
Common stock, $0.001 par value 50,000,000 shares authorized 16,030,894 and 15,927,806 shares issued and outstanding | 4,502 | 4,399 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 4,842,794 | 4,628,366 | ||||||
Retained earnings | 9,395,197 | 10,509,811 | ||||||
Total shareholders' equity | 14,242,493 | 15,142,576 | ||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 16,063,181 | $ | 17,346,869 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the years ended
August 31, | ||||||||
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Net sales | $ | 10,070,770 | $ | 9,448,608 | ||||
Cost of sales | 1,646,530 | 1,510,148 | ||||||
Gross profit | 8,424,240 | 7,938,460 | ||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||
Selling, general, and administrative | 3,549,495 | 3,379,017 | ||||||
Research and development | 802,374 | 947,556 | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 4,351,869 | 4,326,573 | ||||||
Income from operations | 4,072,371 | 3,611,887 | ||||||
Other income (expense) | ||||||||
Interest income | 49,492 | 89,265 | ||||||
Miscellaneous income | 35,488 | 76,149 | ||||||
Gain on currency exchange | 99,429 | 177,790 | ||||||
Gain on sale of assets | – | (433 | ) | |||||
Interest expense | – | (3 | ) | |||||
Total other income (expense) | 184,409 | 342,768 | ||||||
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes | 4,256,780 | 3,954,655 | ||||||
Provision for income taxes (note 6) | (1,370,182 | ) | (1,142,693 | ) | ||||
Income from continuing operations | $ | 2,886,598 | $ | 2,811,962 | ||||
Discontinued operations: | ||||||||
Gain (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | – | (249,898 | ) | |||||
Gain on sale of Words+, net of tax | – | 465,820 | ||||||
Results of discontinued operations | – | 215,922 | ||||||
Net Income | $ | 2,886,598 | $ | 3,027,884 | ||||
Basic earnings per share: | ||||||||
Continuing operations | $ | 0.18 | $ | 0.18 | ||||
Discontinued operations | – | 0.01 | ||||||
Net basic earnings per share | $ | 0.18 | $ | 0.19 | ||||
Diluted earnings per share | ||||||||
Continuing operations | $ | 0.18 | $ | 0.18 | ||||
Discontinued operations | – | 0.01 | ||||||
Net diluted earnings per share | $ | 0.18 | $ | 0.19 | ||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding | ||||||||
Basic | 15,996,432 | 15,763,674 | ||||||
Diluted | 16,319,983 | 16,151,873 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
For the years ended
Common Stock | Additional Paid-In | Retained | ||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | Earnings | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Balance, August 31, 2011 | 15,572,943 | $ | 4,044 | $ | 4,167,650 | $ | 9,864,921 | $ | 14,036,615 | |||||||||||
Exercise of stock options | 354,863 | 355 | 301,286 | 301,641 | ||||||||||||||||
Stock-based Compensation | 181,521 | 181,521 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax adjustments | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Change in prior year tax refund | (36,868 | ) | (36,868 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
- Current deferred tax adjustments | 14,777 | 14,777 | ||||||||||||||||||
Declaration of Dividend | (2,382,994 | ) | (2,382,994 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Net income | 3,027,884 | 3,027,884 | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance, August 31, 2012 | 15,927,806 | $ | 4,399 | $ | 4,628,366 | $ | 10,509,811 | $ | 15,142,576 | |||||||||||
Exercise of stock options | 103,088 | 103 | 27,882 | 27,985 | ||||||||||||||||
Stock-based Compensation | 115,740 | 115,740 | ||||||||||||||||||
Excess tax benefits from share-based arrangement | 70,806 | 70,806 | ||||||||||||||||||
Declaration of Dividend | (4,001,212 | ) | (4,001,212 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Net income | 2,886,598 | 2,886,598 | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance, August 31, 2013 | 16,030,894 | $ | 4,502 | $ | 4,842,794 | $ | 9,395,197 | $ | 14,242,493 |
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current assets | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 8,614,929 | $ | 10,179,298 | ||||
Prepaid income taxes | 748,359 | 301,573 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $0 | 1,708,158 | 1,910,615 | ||||||
Contracts receivable | 158,914 | 203,913 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 188,160 | 192,173 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | 114,846 | 184,258 | ||||||
Total current assets | 11,533,366 | 12,971,830 | ||||||
Long-term assets | ||||||||
Capitalized computer software development costs, net of accumulated amortization of $6,609,283 and $5,801,578 | 3,452,541 | 2,891,169 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net (note 3) | 95,242 | 117,987 | ||||||
Intellectual property, net of accumulated amortization of $193,750 and $11,250 | 5,881,250 | 63,750 | ||||||
Other assets | 18,445 | 18,445 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 20,980,844 | $ | 16,063,181 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 130,547 | $ | 146,011 | ||||
Accrued payroll and other expenses | 340,709 | 311,209 | ||||||
Accrued bonuses to officer | 120,000 | 60,000 | ||||||
Other current liabilities | 19,859 | 19,859 | ||||||
Current portion - Contract payable (note 4) | 750,000 | – | ||||||
Deferred revenue | 30,370 | 89,227 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 1,391,485 | 626,306 | ||||||
Long-term liabilities | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes | 2,375,874 | 1,146,389 | ||||||
Payments due under Contract payable (note 4) | 1,750,000 | – | ||||||
Other long-term liabilities | 28,134 | 47,993 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 5,545,493 | 1,820,688 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies (note 5) | ||||||||
Shareholders' equity (note 6) | ||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value 10,000,000 shares authorized no shares issued and outstanding | – | – | ||||||
Common stock, $0.001 par value 50,000,000 shares authorized 16,349,955 and 16,030,894 shares issued and outstanding | 4,821 | 4,502 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 6,085,427 | 4,842,794 | ||||||
Retained earnings | 9,345,103 | 9,395,197 | ||||||
Total shareholders' equity | 15,435,351 | 14,242,493 | ||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 20,980,844 | $ | 16,063,181 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-3 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Net sales | $ | 11,460,880 | $ | 10,070,770 | ||||
Cost of sales | 1,629,069 | 1,646,530 | ||||||
Gross profit | 9,831,811 | 8,424,240 | ||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||
Selling, general, and administrative | 4,439,665 | 3,549,495 | ||||||
Research and development | 952,774 | 802,374 | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 5,392,439 | 4,351,869 | ||||||
Income from operations | 4,439,372 | 4,072,371 | ||||||
Other income (expense) | ||||||||
Interest income | 31,437 | 49,492 | ||||||
Miscellaneous income | – | 35,488 | ||||||
Gain on currency exchange | 42,488 | 99,429 | ||||||
– | – | |||||||
Total other income (expense) | 73,925 | 184,409 | ||||||
Income before provision for income taxes | 4,513,297 | 4,256,780 | ||||||
Provision for income taxes (note 7) | (1,487,806 | ) | (1,370,182 | ) | ||||
Net Income | $ | 3,025,491 | $ | 2,886,598 | ||||
Earnings per share | ||||||||
Basic | $ | 0.19 | $ | 0.18 | ||||
Diluted | $ | 0.18 | $ | 0.18 | ||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding | ||||||||
Basic | 16,173,674 | 15,996,432 | ||||||
Diluted | 16,407,751 | 16,319,983 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-4 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
For the years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013
Additional | ||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid-In | Retained | ||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | Earnings | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Balance, August 31, 2012 | 15,927,806 | $ | 4,399 | $ | 4,628,366 | $ | 10,509,811 | $ | 15,142,576 | |||||||||||
Exercise of stock options | 103,088 | 103 | 27,882 | 27,985 | ||||||||||||||||
Stock-based Compensation | 115,740 | 115,740 | ||||||||||||||||||
Excess tax benefits from share-based arrangement | 70,806 | 70,806 | ||||||||||||||||||
Declaration of Dividends | (4,001,212 | ) | (4,001,212 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Net income | 2,886,598 | 2,886,598 | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance, August 31, 2013 | 16,030,894 | $ | 4,502 | $ | 4,842,794 | $ | 9,395,197 | $ | 14,242,493 | |||||||||||
Exercise of stock options | 154,316 | 154 | 98,471 | 98,625 | ||||||||||||||||
Stock-based Compensation | 144,327 | 144,327 | ||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of stock-TSRL agreement(Note 4) | 164,745 | 165 | 999,835 | 1,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||
Declaration of Dividends | (3,075,585 | ) | (3,075,585 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Net income | 3,025,491 | 3,025,491 | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance, August 31, 2014 | 16,349,955 | $ | 4,821 | $ | 6,085,427 | $ | 9,345,103 | $ | 15,435,351 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 2,886,598 | $ | 3,027,884 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities | ||||||||
(Income) from Discontinued Operations | – | (215,922 | ) | |||||
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment | 42,573 | 41,802 | ||||||
Amortization of customer relationships | – | 1,871 | ||||||
Amortization of capitalized computer software development costs | 716,887 | 668,021 | ||||||
Amortization of Intellectual property | 7,500 | 3,750 | ||||||
Excess tax benefits from share-based arrangement | (70,806 | ) | 22,091 | |||||
Stock-based compensation | 115,740 | 127,738 | ||||||
(Gain)/Loss from sale of assets | – | 433 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | 366,986 | 207,617 | ||||||
(Increase) decrease in | ||||||||
Accounts receivable and Contracts receivable | (643,771 | ) | (114,080 | ) | ||||
Prepaid income taxes | (147,677 | ) | 105,538 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | (41,317 | ) | (26,903 | ) | ||||
Increase (decrease) in | ||||||||
Accounts payable | (31,498 | ) | 1,372 | |||||
Accrued payroll and other expenses | (1,703 | ) | 28,798 | |||||
Accrued bonus | – | 60,000 | ||||||
Accrued income taxes | (662,427 | ) | 542,245 | |||||
Other liabilities | 67,852 | – | ||||||
Deferred revenue | (42,555 | ) | (9,409 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations | 2,562,382 | 4,472,846 | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of discontinued operations | – | (688,862 | ) | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 2,562,382 | 3,783,984 | ||||||
Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||
Proceeds from sale of Words+, Inc. | – | 1,973,096 | ||||||
Proceeds from sale of assets | – | 200 | ||||||
Purchases of property and equipment | (53,150 | ) | (106,835 | ) | ||||
Purchase of royalty | – | (75,000 | ) | |||||
Capitalized computer software development costs | (1,128,588 | ) | (958,507 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations | (1,181,738 | ) | 832,954 | |||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of discontinued operations | – | 6,532 | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (1,181,738 | ) | 839,486 | |||||
Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||
Excess tax benefits from share-based arrangement | 70,806 | (22,091 | ) | |||||
Dividends | (4,001,212 | ) | (2,382,994 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options | 27,985 | 301,641 | ||||||
Net cash (used in) financing activities of continuing operations | (3,902,421 | ) | (2,103,444 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations | (2,521,777 | ) | 3,202,356 | |||||
Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations | – | (682,330 | ) | |||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (2,521,777 | ) | 2,520,026 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 12,701,075 | 10,181,049 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 10,179,298 | $ | 12,701,075 | ||||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information | ||||||||
Interest paid | $ | – | $ | 3 | ||||
Income taxes paid | $ | 1,964,545 | $ | 457,000 |
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 3,025,491 | $ | 2,886,598 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment | 47,231 | 42,573 | ||||||
Amortization of capitalized computer software development costs | 807,705 | 716,887 | ||||||
Amortization of Intellectual property | 182,500 | 7,500 | ||||||
Excess tax benefits from share-based arrangement | – | (70,806 | ) | |||||
Stock-based compensation | 144,327 | 115,740 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | 1,298,896 | 366,986 | ||||||
(Increase) decrease in | ||||||||
Accounts receivable and Contracts receivable | 247,456 | (643,771 | ) | |||||
Prepaid income taxes | (446,786 | ) | (147,677 | ) | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 4,014 | (41,317 | ) | |||||
Increase (decrease) in | ||||||||
Accounts payable | (15,464 | ) | (31,498 | ) | ||||
Accrued payroll and other expenses | 29,500 | (1,703 | ) | |||||
Accrued bonus | 60,000 | – | ||||||
Accrued income taxes | – | (662,427 | ) | |||||
Other liabilities | (19,859 | ) | 67,852 | |||||
Deferred revenue | (58,857 | ) | (42,555 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 5,306,154 | 2,562,382 | ||||||
Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||
Purchase of intellectual property rights | (2,500,000 | ) | – | |||||
Purchases of property and equipment | (24,486 | ) | (53,150 | ) | ||||
Capitalized computer software development costs | (1,369,077 | ) | (1,128,588 | ) | ||||
Net cash (used in) investing activities | (3,893,563 | ) | (1,181,738 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||
Excess tax benefits from share-based arrangement | – | 70,806 | ||||||
Dividends | (3,075,585 | ) | (4,001,212 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options | 98,625 | 27,985 | ||||||
Net cash (used in) financing activities of continuing operations | (2,976,960 | ) | (3,902,421 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (1,564,369 | ) | (2,521,777 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 10,179,298 | 12,701,075 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | $ | 8,614,929 | $ | 10,179,298 | ||||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information | ||||||||
Interest paid | $ | – | $ | – | ||||
Income taxes paid | $ | 692,562 | $ | 1,964,545 | ||||
Non-Cash Investing and Financing | ||||||||
Purchase of intellectual property rights with shares and notes payable | $ | 3,500,000 | $ | – |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 20132014 and 20122013
NOTE 1 -– ORGANIZATION AND LINES OF BUSINESS
Organization
Simulations Plus, Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “us”, “our”) was incorporated on July 17, 1996. OnSubsequent to August 29, 1996,31, 2014, on September 2, 2014, the shareholdersCompany acquired 100% of Words+, Inc. (“Words+”) exchanged their 2,000 sharesthe stock of Words+, Inc. common stock for 2,200,000 (Pre-split) shares of Simulations Plus, Inc. common stock, and Words+ became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Simulations Plus, Inc. The Words+ subsidiary was sold effective November 30, 2011, and is treated as “discontinued operations” in the accompanying financial statements.Cognigen Corporation.
Lines of Business
The Company designs and develops pharmaceutical simulation software to promote cost-effective solutions to a number of problems in pharmaceutical research and in the education of pharmacy and medical students. Thestudents, and it provides consulting services to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Recently, the Company also developedhas begun to explore developing software applications for defense and sells a productivity software program called Abbreviate! that was moved fromfor health care outside of the Words+ subsidiary to Simulations Plus, Inc.pharmaceutical industry.
NOTE 2 -– SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Use of Estimates
Our financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by management’s application of accounting policies. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Principles of Consolidation
The financial statements of Simulations Plus, Inc. include the accounts of Words+ up to November 30, 2011 (FY12), the date of sale of the wholly-owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions were eliminated in consolidation. The operations of Words+ are presented as “discontinued operations” in the financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenues related to software licenses and software maintenance in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 985-605, “Software - Revenue Recognition”. Software products revenue is recorded when the following conditions are met: 1) evidence of arrangement exists, 2) delivery has been made, 3) the amount is fixed, and 4) collectability is probable. Post-contract customer support ("PCS") obligations are insignificant; therefore, revenue for PCS is recognized at the same time as the licensing fee, and the costs of providing such support services are accrued and amortized over the obligation period.
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2013 and 2012
As a byproduct of ongoing improvements and upgrades for the new programs and new modules of software, some modifications are provided to customers who have already purchased software at no additional charge. Other software modifications result in new, additional cost modules that expand the functionality of the software. These are licensed separately. We consider the modifications that are provided without charge to be minimal, as they do not significantly change the basic functionality or utility of the software, but rather add convenience, such as being able to plot some additional variable on a graph in addition to the numerous variables that had been available before, or adding some additional calculations to supplement the information provided from running the software. Such software modifications for any single product have typically occurred once or twice per year, sometimes more, sometimes less. Thus, they are infrequent. The Company provides, for a fee, additional training and service calls to its customers and recognizes revenue at the time the training or service call is provided.
F-7 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2014 and 2013
Generally, we enter into one-year license agreements with customers for the use of our pharmaceutical software products. We recognize revenue on these contracts when all the criteria are met.
Most license agreements have a term of one year; however, from time to time, we enter into multi-year license agreements.We generally unlock and invoice software one year at a time for multi-year licenses. Therefore, revenue is recognized one year at a time.
We recognize the revenue from collaboration research and the revenue from grants equally over their terms. However, we recognize the contract study revenue using the percentage of completion method, depending upon how the contract studies are engaged, in accordance with ASC 605-35, “Revenue Recognition – Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts”. To recognize revenue using the percentage of completion method, we must determine whether we meet the following criteria: 1) there is a long-term, legally enforceable contract, 2) it is possible to reasonably estimate the total project costs, and 3) it is possible to reasonably estimate the extent of progress toward completion.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable
We analyze the age of customer balances, historical bad debt experience, customer creditworthiness, and changes in customer payment terms when making estimates of the collectability of the Company’s trade accounts receivable balances. If we determine that the financial conditions of any of our customers have deteriorated, whether due to customer-specific or general economic issues, an increase in the allowance may be made. Accounts receivable are written off when all collection attempts have failed. The Company also estimated the contractual discount obligation for third party funding such as Medicaid and private insurance companies. Those estimated discounts were reflected in the allowance for doubtful accounts and contractual discounts and included in discontinued operations. Although we experienced significant collection problems with our former Words+ subsidiary, we have not had customers fail to pay on the pharmaceutical software and services side of the business, which now represents our entire business after the sale of our former subsidiary on November 30, 2011.
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2013 and 2012
Capitalized Computer Software Development Costs
Software development costs are capitalized in accordance with ASC 985-20,“Costs of Software to Be Sold, Leased, or Marketed”. Capitalization of software development costs begins upon the establishment of technological feasibility and is discontinued when the product is available for sale.
The establishment of technological feasibility and the ongoing assessment for recoverability of capitalized software development costs require considerable judgment by management with respect to certain external factors including, but not limited to, technological feasibility, anticipated future gross revenues, estimated economic life, and changes in software and hardware technologies. Capitalized computer software development costs are comprised primarily of salaries and direct payroll-related costs and the purchase of existing software to be used in the Company's software products.
F-8 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2014 and 2013
Amortization of capitalized computer software development costs is provided on a product-by-product basis on the straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the products (notnot to exceed five years).years, although all of our current software products have already been on the market for 7-15 years except for our newest MedChem Designer™ and MembranePlus™ programs (MembranePlus™ was released following the close of the reporting period covered by this report), and we do not foresee an end-of-life for any of them at this point. Amortization of software development costs amounted to $716,888$807,705 and $668,021$716,887 for the years ended August 31, 20132014 and 2012,2013, respectively. We expect future amortization expense to vary due to increases in capitalized computer software development costs.
We test capitalized computer software development costs for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives as follows:
Equipment | 5 years |
Computer equipment | 3 to 7 years |
Furniture and fixtures | 5 to 7 years |
Leasehold improvements | Shorter of life of asset or lease |
Maintenance and minor replacements are charged to expense as incurred. Gains and losses on disposals are included in the results of operations.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
AFinancial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the Company’s Balance Sheet are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. The categories, as defined by the standard, are as follows:
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2013 and 2012
Level Input: | Input Definition: | |
Level I | Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date. | |
Level II | Inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level I, that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data at the measurement date. | |
Level III | Unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. |
The following table summarizes fair value measurements by level at August 31, 2013 for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
Level I | Level II | Level III | Total | |||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 10,179,298 | $ | – | $ | – | $ | 10,179,298 | ||||||||
Total assets | $ | 10,179,298 | $ | – | $ | – | $ | 10,179,298 |
For certain of our financial instruments, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued payroll and other expenses, and accrued bonuses to officers and accrued warranty and service costs, the carrying amounts are approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.
F-9 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2014 and 2013
Advertising
The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs for the years ended August 31, 20132014 and 20122013 were $38,000 and $79,000,$38,000, respectively.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred until technological feasibility has been established. These costs include salaries, laboratory experiment, and purchased software which was developed by other companies and incorporated into, or used in the development of, our final products.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740-10,“Income Taxes” which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns.
Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each year-end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax 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 provision for income taxes represents the tax payable for the period and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2013 and 2012
The California Franchise Tax Board (“FTB”) audited us for the fiscal years ended (“FYE”) August 31, 2007 and 2008. We received refunds as we claimed; however they continued their audit to include FYE 2009 and 2010, and are reviewing 2007 and 2008 R&D credits since those credits were carried forward to FYE 2009 and 2010. In May 2013, we received a letter from FTB stating that an audit will not be conducted for those years at this time; however it may be subject to future audit if they receive new information.
In March 2012, we also received a notice from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) that our FYE 2008 is subject to their examination. In October 2012, the IRS completed their examination of our 2007 tax filing. The outcome of this examination was a decrease of $36,868 in the amount refundable. We received a refund of $151,246 in December 2012.
Intellectual property
On February 28, 2012, we bought out the royalty agreement with Enslein Research of Rochester, New York.Research. The cost of $75,000 is being amortized over 10 years under the straight-line method. Amortization expense for each of the fiscal yearyears ended August 31, 2014 and 2013 was $7,500. Accumulated amortization as of August 31, 2014 and 20122013 was $7,500$18,750 and $3,750,$11,250, respectively.
On May 15, 2014, we entered into a termination and non-assertion agreement with TSRL, Inc., pursuant to which the parties agreed to terminate an exclusive software licensing agreement entered into between the parties in 1997. As a result, the company obtained a perpetual right to use certain source code and data, and TSRL relinquished any rights and claims to any GastroPlus products and to any claims to royalties or other payments under that 1997 agreement. We agreed to pay TSRL total consideration of $6,000,000, which is being amortized over 10 years under the straight-line method. Amortization expense for the period of May 15, 2014 to August 31, 2014 was $175,000. Accumulated amortization as of August 31, 2014 was $175,000. (See Note 4)
Total amortization expense for intellectual property agreements for the years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013 was $182,500 and $7,500, respectively. Accumulated amortization as of August 31, 2014 and 2013 was $193,750 and 2012 was $11,250, respectively.
F-10 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2014 and $3,750, respectively.2013
Earnings per Share
The Company reports earnings per share in accordance with FASB ACS 260-10. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares available. Diluted earnings per share is computed similarly to basic earnings per share except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the potential common shares had been issued and if the additional common shares were dilutive. The components of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended August 31, 20132014 and 20122013 were as follows:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Numerator | ||||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ | 3,141,384 | $ | 3,027,884 | ||||
Denominator | ||||||||
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year | 15,996,432 | 15,763,674 | ||||||
Dilutive effect of stock options | 323,551 | 388,199 | ||||||
Common stock and common stock equivalents used for diluted earnings per share | 16,319,983 | 16,151,873 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2013 and 2012
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Numerator | ||||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ | 3,025,491 | $ | 2,886,598 | ||||
Denominator | ||||||||
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year | 16,173,674 | 15,996,432 | ||||||
Dilutive effect of stock options | 234,077 | 323,551 | ||||||
Common stock and common stock equivalents used for diluted earnings per share | 16,407,751 | 16,319,983 |
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock options using the modified prospective method in accordance with FASB ASC 718-10,“Compensation-Stock Compensation”. Under this method, compensation costs include: (1) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of September 1, 2006, based on theinclude estimated grant date fair value estimated in accordance withof the original provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 123awards amortized over the options’ vesting period, and (2) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted subsequent to September 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123R, amortized on a straight-line basis over the options’ vesting period. Stock-based compensation was $115,740$144,327 and $181,521$115,740 for the fiscal years ended August 31, 20132014 and 2012,2013, respectively, and is included in the statements of operations as Consulting, Salaries, and Research and Development expense.
Impairment of Long-lived Assets
The Company accounts for the impairment and disposition of long-lived assets in accordance with ASC 350,“Intangibles – Goodwill and Other” and ASC 360,“Property and Equipment”. Long-lived assets to be held and used are reviewed for events or changes in circumstances that indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. We measure recoverability by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to the expected future undiscounted net cash flows generated by the asset. If we determine that the asset may not be recoverable, or if the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future undiscounted cash flows, we recognize an impairment charge to the extent of the difference between the fair value and the asset's carrying amount. No impairment losses were recorded during the years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013.
F-11 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2014 and 2013
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In July 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2012-02, “Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment”(“ASU 2012-02”), which amended the guidance in ASU 2011-08, “Intangibles-Goodwill “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment”Impairment”) to simplify the testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill for impairment. ASU 2012-02 becomesbecame effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning on or after September 15, 2012 and earlier adoption iswas permitted. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of FYE 2013. We believeour 2013 fiscal year. The adoption did not have a material effect on our financial statements.
In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11,Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists, which eliminates diversity in practice for the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward is available to reduce the taxable income or tax payable that would result from disallowance of a tax position. ASU 2013-11 affects only the presentation of such amounts in an entity’s balance sheet and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of ASU 2013-11 on our balance sheet.
In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The standard will eliminate the transaction- and industry-specific revenue recognition guidance under current U.S. GAAP and replace it with a principles-based approach for determining revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The revenue recognition standard is required to be applied retrospectively, including any combination of practical expedients as allowed in the standard. We are evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to our financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.
NOTE 3 – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment at August 31, 20132014 and 20122013 consisted of the following:
2013 | 2012 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||
Equipment | $ | 141,355 | $ | 123,062 | $ | 125,541 | $ | 141,355 | ||||||||
Computer equipment | 295,174 | 272,562 | 51,466 | 295,174 | ||||||||||||
Furniture and fixtures | 53,096 | 48,813 | 147,541 | 53,096 | ||||||||||||
Leasehold improvements | 61,860 | 53,898 | 23,645 | 61,860 | ||||||||||||
551,485 | 498,335 | 348,193 | 551,485 | |||||||||||||
Less accumulated depreciation and Amortization | 433,498 | 390,925 | ||||||||||||||
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization | 252,951 | 433,498 | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 117,987 | $ | 107,410 | $ | 95,242 | $ | 117,987 |
Depreciation expense was $42,573$47,231 and $41,802$42,573 for the years ended August 31, 20132014 and 2012,2013, respectively.
F-12 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 20132014 and 20122013
NOTE 4 – CONTRACT PAYABLE
On May 15, 2014, the Company entered into a termination and non-assertion agreement with TSRL, Inc., pursuant to which the parties agreed to terminate an exclusive software licensing agreement entered into between the parties in 1997, as a result, the company obtained a perpetual right to use certain source code and data, and TSRL relinquished any rights and claims to any GastroPlus products and to any claims to royalties or other payments under that 1997 agreement. The Company agreed to pay TSRL total consideration of $6.0 million. The Company paid $3.5 million on May 20, 2014, comprised of cash in the amount of $2.5 million and the issuance of $1 million worth of the Company’s common stock -- 164,745 shares of the Company’s common stock based upon the April 25, 2014 closing price per share of $6.07. Future payments under the termination and non-assertion agreement, which are non-interest- bearing, are due as follows:
April 25, 2015 | $ | 750,000 | ||
April 25, 2016 | 750,000 | |||
April 25, 2017 | 1,000,000 | |||
Total | $ | 2,500,000 | ||
Less Current portion | (750,000 | ) | ||
Contract payable, net of current portion | $ | 1,750,000 |
NOTE 4 -5 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Leases
Our originalWe lease for approximately 13,500 square feet of space was underin Lancaster, California. The original lease had a five-year term with two, (2), three (3)-yearthree-year options to extend. The initial five-year term expired in February 2011, and we extended the lease to February 2, 2014. In June 2013, the lease was amended to extend the lease. The base rent was $18,445 per month plus common area maintenance fees with annual 4% increase on the base rent. We made an amendmentterm to our original lease which will end on February 2, 2014 with one remaining extension of three (3) years at an annual increase of 4% per year.2017. The amended lease extends to February 2, 2017, withalso provides for an annual base rent increase of 3% per year and has an option of two, (2) two (2)-year extensions.two-year options to extend. The current base rent amount ofis $24,272 per month remains the same;month; however, we havehad three (3) months’ free base rent during the months of June, July and August of 2013. We will record these three (3) months as a discount divided equally through the first term of thisthe amended lease from June 2013 through January 2017. The amended lease is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an exhibit in ourQuarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2013 filed with the SEC on July 10, 2013.
Rent expense, including common area maintenance fees for the years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013 was $295,410 and $305,636, respectively.
During our fiscal year ended August 31, 2013 and 2012, were $305,636 and $293,089, respectively.
After the sale ofwe sold our former Words+, subsidiary, at which time we entered into a month to monthmonth-to-month sublease agreement commencing January 1, 2012 under which Words+ payspaid 20% of the monthly rent we paypaid to our landlord, plus 20% of facility-related operating expenses. We report our gross lease expense under Selling, General and Administrative expense; however, the sublease payments received from Words+ arewere reported under Other Income. The sublease to Words+ ended aton February 28, 2013. Sublease payments totaled $35,500 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013.
F-13 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2014 and 2013 when it closed its business operation.
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases with remaining terms of one year or more at August 31, 20132014 were as follows:
Years Ending August 31, | ||||||
2014 | $ | 291,269 | ||||
2015 | 297,094 | $ | 297,094 | |||
2016 | 306,007 | 306,007 | ||||
2017 | 129,526 | 129,526 | ||||
$ | 1,023,896 | $ | 732,627 |
On October 30, 2006,The Company leases a copier/printer under an operating lease that expires in April 2015. The terms of the Company entered into an equipment lease agreement. In this agreement, the Company leased a Ricoh Copier/Printercall for 36 months with the option ofpayments based on usage, and allow for earlier termination withupon a 60-day30-day written notice. On October 30, 2009, we renewed the same agreement for another 36 months with an increment of 1 cent per copy on color printing which reflects their material cost. On April 17, 2012, we entered into a new lease agreement with ARC, a successor of Ricoh, former leasing company, for 36 months under the same term as the existing agreement which we pay as we use.
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2013 and 2012
Employment Agreement
On August 22, 2013, the Company entered into an employment agreement with its President/Chief Executive Officer, Walter S. Woltosz, that expiresexpired in August 2014. The employment agreement providesprovided for an annual base salary of $300,000 per year, and a performance bonus in an amount equal to 5% of the Company’s net income before taxes of the previous fiscal year, not to exceed $60,000. The employment agreement also provides Employeeprovided stock options, exercisable for five years, to purchase ten (10)10 shares of Common Stockthe Company’s common stock for each one thousand dollars ($1,000)$1,000 of net income before taxes at the end of each fiscal year up to a maximum of 20,000 optionsshares over the term of the agreement. The Company may terminate the employment agreement upon 30 days written notice if termination is without cause. The Company's only obligation under that circumstance would be to pay its PresidentPresident/Chief Executive Officer the greater of a) 12 monthsmonths’ salary or b) the salary payable to him for the remainder of the term of the employment agreement from the date of notice of termination.
For fiscal year 2013, the Compensation Committee awarded a $30,000 performance bonus to Walter Woltosz, our President/Chief Executive Officer,under that employment agreement, which was paid in September 2013.
For fiscal year 2012,Effective September 1, 2014, the Compensation Committee awardedCompany entered into a $30,000 performance bonusnew employment agreement with Mr. Woltosz to Walter Woltosz, our President/serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Under the terms of this employment agreement, which washas a one-year term, Mr. Woltosz is required to devote a minimum of 60% of his productive time to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company. He will receive annual compensation of $180,000, be eligible to receive stock options to purchase up to 12,000 shares of the Company’s common stock as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors, and will be paid in September 2012.an annual performance bonus of up to 5% of the Company’s net income before taxes not to exceed $36,000.
License Agreement
In 1997, the Company entered into an exclusive software licensing agreement with TSRL, Inc. (fka Therapeutic Systems Research Laboratory ("TSRL")Laboratories), to develop a computer simulation software program of the absorption of drug compounds in the gastrointestinal tract. Upon execution of a definitive License Agreement on July 9, 1997, TSRL received an initial payment of $75,000, and thereafter,that agreement the Company iswas obligated to pay a royalty of 20% of the net sales of the basic GastroPlus software without additional modules. On May 15, 2014, the parties entered into a termination and non-assertion agreement pursuant to which the parties agreed to terminate the 1997 exclusive software licensing agreement, as a result, the company obtained a perpetual right to use certain source code and data, and TSRL relinquished any rights and claims to any GastroPlus products and to any claims to royalties or other payments under that agreement. The Company agreed to pay TSRL total consideration of $6,000,000. The Company has no further obligation to pay royalties to TSRL. (See Note 4)
F-14 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2014 and 2013
In September 2007, we entered into an agreement with Enslein Research, Inc. (“Enslein”) to jointly create a new metabolism module as part of ADMET Predictor. The fee for the exclusive license to the Enslein Data, in the form of a royalty, is 50% of the gross sales revenues of the ADMET Predictor Enslein Metabolism Module, and a $50,000 bonus at the time the cumulative revenue from ADMET Predictor Enslein Metabolism Module sales reaches $250,000. On February 28, 2012, we signed a buyout agreement with Enslein for $75,000, and are amortizing its cost over 10 years after this date.
We also have a royalty agreement with Accelrys, Inc. (the original agreement was entered into with Symyx Technologies in March 2010; Symyx Technologies later merged with Accelrys, Inc.) for Metabolite Database access for developing our Metabolite module which was renamed as Metabolism module when we released ADMET Predictor version 6 on April 19, 2012. Under this agreement, we pay 25% of revenue derived from the sale of Metabolism/Metabolite module.
For the years ended August 31, 20132014 and 2012,2013, we incurred total royalty expense of approximately $646,000$222,000 and $601,000,$646,000, respectively.
Legal MattersLitigation
WeExcept as described below, we are not a party to any litigation at this timelegal proceedings and we are not aware of any pending litigationlegal proceedings of any kind.
In June 2014, the Company was served with a complaint in a civil action entitled Sherri Winslow v. Incredible Adventures, Inc., et al. (Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC545789) alleging wrongful death and seeking unspecified damages arising out of a May 18, 2012 plane crash in the State of Nevada. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer owns the subject aircraft and is also a named defendant. The complaint alleged that the Company was the owner of the subject aircraft. The Company denies all material allegations against it, including that it owns or has ever owned any interest in the subject aircraft. On November 25, 2014, the plaintiff and the Company signed a stipulation of dismissal pursuant to which the plaintiff agreed to dismiss the Company without prejudice. If the plaintiff does not discover evidence during a nine month period to and including August 31, 2015 that justifies bringing the Company back into the litigation, the Company will prepare a dismissal with prejudice to be signed on behalf of the plaintiff.
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 20132014 and 20122013
NOTE 5 -6 – SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Dividend
The Company’s Board of Directors declared cash dividends during fiscal year 20132014 and 2012.2013. The details of dividend paid are in the following table:tables:
FY2014
Record Date | Distribution Date | Number of Shares Outstanding on Record Date | Dividend per Share | Total Amount | ||||||||||
11/08/2013 | 11/15/2013 | 16,073,894 | $ | 0.04 | ** | $ | 642,956 | |||||||
2/17/2014 | 2/24/2014 | 16,149,460 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 807,473 | ||||||||
5/09/2014 | 5/16/2014 | 16,165,171 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 808,259 | ||||||||
8/04/2014 | 8/11/2014 | 16,337,955 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 816,897 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 3,075,585 |
FY2013
Record Date | Distribution Date | Number of Shares Outstanding on Record Date | Dividend per Share | Total Amount | ||||||||||
11/08/2012 | 11/13/2012 | 15,927,806 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 796,390 | ||||||||
12/24/2012 | 12/28/2012 | 16,021,309 | $ | 0.14 | * | $ | 2,242,983 | |||||||
05/07/2013 | 05/10/2013 | 16,030,433 | $ | 0.03 | ** | $ | 480,913 | |||||||
08/12/2013 | 08/15/2013 | 16,030,894 | $ | 0.03 | ** | $ | 480,926 | |||||||
Total | $ | 4,001,212 |
Record Date | Distribution Date | Number of Shares Outstanding on Record Date | Dividend per Share | Total Amount | ||||||||||
11/08/2012 | 11/13/2012 | 15,927,806 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 796,390 | ||||||||
12/24/2012 | 12/28/2012 | 16,021,309 | $ | 0.14 | * | $ | 2,242,983 | |||||||
05/07/2013 | 05/10/2013 | 16,030,433 | $ | 0.03 | ** | $ | 480,913 | |||||||
08/12/2013 | 08/15/2013 | 16,030,894 | $ | 0.03 | ** | $ | 480,926 | |||||||
Total | $ | 4,001,212 |
*As a tax benefit to our shareholders considering the increase in federal income tax for capital gains in 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors declared an accelerated cash dividend, $0.14 per share, on December 14, 2012, consisting of all of the planned February 2013 distribution of $0.05 per share, plus $0.03 per share of the planned $0.05 per quarter per share for the remaining three fiscal quarters ending in calendar year 2013.
** The Company’s Board of Directors decided to increase the May, August, and AugustNovember 2013 dividend distribution by 50% from the planned $0.02/$0.02 per share to $0.03/$0.03 per share, and in November 2013 they increased the amount to $0.04 per share.
Although dividend distributions are currently expected to continue on a quarterly basis, the Company’s Board of Directors reserves the right to discontinue the dividend distribution any time to meet the cash priorities of the business.
FY2012
Record Date | Distribution Date | Number of Shares Outstanding on Record Date | Dividend per Share | Total Amount | ||||||||||
02/21/2012 | 03/01/2012 | 15,813,844 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 790,692 | ||||||||
04/27/2012 | 05/08/2012 | 15,923.019 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 796,151 | ||||||||
08/07/2012 | 08/10/2012 | 15,923.019 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 796,151 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 2,382,994 |
Stock Option Plan
In September 1996, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted, and the Company’s shareholders approved, the 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Option"1996 Plan") under which a total of 1,000,000 shares of common stock had been reserved for issuance. In March 1999, the shareholders approved an increase in the number of shares that may be granted under the Option Plan to 2,000,000. In February 2000, the shareholders approved an increase in the number of shares that may be granted under the Option Plan to 4,000,000. In December 2000, the shareholders approved an increase in the number of shares that may be granted under the Option Plan to 5,000,000. Furthermore, in February 2005, the shareholders approved an additional 1,000,000 shares, resulting in theThe total number of shares that may be granted under the Option1996 Plan was increased to 2,000,000 in March 1999, to 4,000,000 in February 2000, to 5,000,000 in December 2000 and to 6,000,000 in February 2005. All such increases were approved by the Company’s Board of 6,000,000.Directors and the Company’s shareholders. The 1996 Stock Option Plan terminated in September 2006 byin accordance with its term.
terms.
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 20132014 and 20122013
On February 23, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted and the Company’s shareholders approved the 2007 Stock Option Plan (the “2007 Plan”) under which a total of 1,000,000 shares of common stock had been reserved for issuance. On February 25, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors and the Company’s shareholders approved an increase of the total number of shares that may be granted under the 2007 Plan to 2,000,000.
Qualified Incentive Stock Options (“Qualified ISO”ISOs”)
As of August 31, 2013,2014, employees hold Qualified ISOISOs to purchase in the aggregate 532,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at exercise prices ranging from $1.00 to $5.06 which were granted prior to $6.85 per share.
Transactions in FY13 (ISOs) | Number of Options | Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share | Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life(Years) | |||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2012 | 689,800 | $ | 1.74 | 4.52 | ||||||||
Granted | 20,000 | $ | 5.06 | |||||||||
Exercised | (175,800 | ) | $ | 1.90 | ||||||||
Canceled/Forfeited | (2,000 | ) | $ | 1.00 | ||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2013 | 532,000 | $ | 1.82 | 3.95 | ||||||||
Vested and Exercisable, August 31, 2013 | 392,600 | $ | 1.45 | 3.79 | ||||||||
Vested and Expected to Vest, August 31, 2013 | 519,600 | $ | 1.79 | 3.91 |
Transactions in FY14 (ISOs) | Number of Options | Weighted-Average Exercise Price | Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life | |||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2013 | 532,000 | $ | 1.82 | 3.95 | ||||||||
Granted | 447,500 | $ | 6.57 | |||||||||
Exercised | (175,000 | ) | $ | 1.34 | ||||||||
Canceled/Forfeited | (6,000 | ) | $ | 1.00 | ||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2014 | 798,500 | $ | 4.59 | 6.27 | ||||||||
Vested and Exercisable, August 31, 2014 | 299,000 | $ | 1.82 | 3.16 | ||||||||
Vested and Expected to Vest, August 31, 2014 | 728,079 | $ | 4.41 | 5.99 |
F-17 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2013.2014 and 2013
Transactions in FY12 (Incentive Stock Option Plan) | Number of Options | Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share | Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life | |||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2011 | 957,636 | $ | 1.40 | 5.220 | ||||||||
Granted | 100,000 | $ | 3.25 | |||||||||
Exercised | (360,736 | ) | $ | 1.22 | ||||||||
Expired | (7,100 | ) | $ | 2.54 | ||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2012 | 689,800 | $ | 1.74 | 4.523 | ||||||||
Vested and Exercisable, August 31, 2012 | 467,100 | $ | 1.42 | 4.071 | ||||||||
Vested and Expected to Vest, August 31, 2012 | 666,789 | $ | 1.71 | 4.451 |
Transactions in FY13 (Incentive Stock Option Plan) | Number of Options | Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share | Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life | |||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2012 | 689,800 | $ | 1.74 | 4.523 | ||||||||
Granted | 20,000 | $ | 5.06 | |||||||||
Exercised | (175,800 | ) | $ | 1.90 | ||||||||
Canceled/Forfeited | (2,000 | ) | $ | 1.00 | ||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2013 | 532,000 | $ | 1.82 | 3.953 | ||||||||
Vested and Exercisable, August 31, 2013 | 392,600 | $ | 1.45 | 3.798 | ||||||||
Vested and Expected to Vest, August 31, 2013 | 519,600 | $ | 1.79 | 3.912 |
Non-Qualified Stock Options (“NQSO”NQSOs”)
As of August 31, 2013,2014, the outside members of the Company’s Board of Directors hold optionsNQSOs to purchase in the aggregate 48,600 shares of the Company’s common stock at exercise prices ranging from $1.67 to $6.68 which were granted prior to August 31, 2013.
per share.
Transactions in FY13 (NQSOs) | Number of Options | Weighted-Average Exercise Price | Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life | |||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2012 | 36,600 | $ | 3.47 | 8.14 | ||||||||
Granted | 12,000 | $ | 4.78 | |||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2013 | 48,600 | $ | 3.79 | 7.85 | ||||||||
Exercisable, August 31, 2013 | 28,200 | $ | 3.28 | 6.67 |
Transactions in FY14 (NQSOs) | Number of Options | Weighted-Average Exercise Price | Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life | |||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2013 | 48,600 | $ | 3.79 | 7.85 | ||||||||
Granted | 15,000 | $ | 6.72 | |||||||||
Exercised | (7,000 | ) | $ | 1.30 | ||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2014 | 56,600 | $ | 4.82 | 7.96 | ||||||||
Exercisable, August 31, 2014 | 31,400 | $ | 3.96 | 6.74 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2013 and 2012
Transactions in FY12 | Number of Options | Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share | Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life | |||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2011 | 79,000 | $ | 2.29 | 5.150 | ||||||||
Granted | 10,000 | $ | 4.46 | |||||||||
Exercised | (40,800 | ) | $ | 1.25 | ||||||||
Canceled/Forfeited | (11,600 | ) | $ | 4.10 | ||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2012 | 36,600 | $ | 3.47 | 8.139 | ||||||||
Exercisable, August 31, 2012 | 17,000 | $ | 3.35 | 6.975 |
Transactions in FY13 | Number of Options | Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share | Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life | |||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2012 | 36,600 | $ | 3.47 | 8.139 | ||||||||
Granted | 12,000 | $ | 4.78 | |||||||||
Outstanding, August 31, 2013 | 48,600 | $ | 3.79 | 7.845 | ||||||||
Exercisable, August 31, 2013 | 28,200 | $ | 3.28 | 6.671 |
The fair value of the options, including both ISOISOs and NQSO options,NQSOs, granted duringFYE2013 fiscal year 2014 is estimated at $30,200.$1,103,600. The fair value of these options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions forFYE2013:assumptions: dividend yield of 3.01%, pre-vest forfeiture rate of 6.25%, expected volatility of 46.18%, risk-free interest rate of 1.80%, and expected life of 6.27 years. The total fair value of non-vested stock options as of August 31, 2014 was $1,133,865 and is amortizable over a weighted average period of 4.58 years.
During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013, the fair value of these options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: dividend yield of 4.35%, pre-vest forfeiture rate of 6.13%, expected volatility of 57.65%, risk-free interest rate of 0.66%, and expected life of 5.05 years. The total fair value of non-vested stock options as of August 31, 2013 was $194,956 and is amortizable over a weighted average period of 1.37 years.
During the previous fiscal year ended August 31, 2012, the fair value of the options, including both ISO and NQSO options, granted duringFYE2012 is estimated at $167,124. The fair value of these options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions forFYE2012: dividend yield of 0.41%, pre-vest forfeiture rate of 5.61% to 6.09%, expected volatility of 62.27% to 69.87%, risk-free interest rate of 0.82% to 1.01%, and expected life of 5.0 years to 7.0 years. The total fair value of non-vested stock options as of August 31, 2012 was $292,426 and is amortizable over a weighted average period of 2.03 years.
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2013 and 2012
The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which do not have vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility. Because our employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management's opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.
F-18 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2014 and 2013
Intrinsic Value of options outstanding and options exercisable
Intrinsic Value of Options Outstanding | Intrinsic Value of Options Exercisable | Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised | ||||||||||
FY12 | $ | 1,918,904 | $ | 1,447,900 | $ | 982,786 | ||||||
FY13 | $ | 1,636,422 | $ | 1,357,870 | $ | 402,406 |
Intrinsic Value of Options Outstanding | Intrinsic Value of Options Exercisable | Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised | ||||||||||
FY13 | $ | 1,636,422 | $ | 1,357,870 | $ | 402,406 | ||||||
FY14 | $ | 1,850,239 | $ | 1,552,171 | $ | 737,266 |
The weighted-average remaining contractual life of options outstanding issued under the 1996 and 2007 Plan was 4.286.38 years at August 31, 2013.2014. The exercise prices for the options outstanding at August 31, 20122014 ranged from $1.00 to $6.68,$6.85 per share, and the information relating to these options is as follows:
Exercise Price | Exercise Price | Awards Outstanding | Awards Exercisable | Exercise Price | Awards Outstanding | Awards Exercisable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Low | High | Quantity | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Quantity | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life | Weighted Average Exercise Price | High | Quantity | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Quantity | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life | Weighted Average Exercise Price | ||||||||||||||||||||||
$1.00 | $1.50 | 353,100 | 3.9 years | $1.06 | 319,700 | 3.8 years | $1.07 | $1.50 | 197,500 | 3.5 years | $1.05 | 197,500 | 3.5 years | $1.05 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
$1.51 | $3.00 | 34,600 | 6.5 years | $2.30 | 14,600 | 6.3 years | $2.04 | $3.00 | 17,600 | 5.7 years | $2.42 | 7,600 | 5.9 years | $2.34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
$3.01 | $4.50 | 156,900 | 4.1 years | $3.26 | 82,500 | 4.4 years | $3.18 | $4.50 | 141,500 | 3.1 years | $3.28 | 108,500 | 3.2 years | $3.26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
$4.51 | $6.68 | 36,000 | 6.0 years | $5.15 | 4,000 | 4.0 years | $6.68 | $6.85 | 498,500 | 8.5 years | $6.47 | 16,800 | 4.7 years | $5.36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
580,600 | 420,800 | 855,100 | 330,400 |
NOTE 6 -7 – INCOME TAXES
We utilize FASB ASC 740-10,“Income Taxes” which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns.
Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each year end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax 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 provision for income taxes represents the tax payable for the period and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 20132014 and 20122013
The components of the income tax provision for FYEfiscal year 2014 and 2013 and 2012 were as follows:
2013 | 2012 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||
Current | ||||||||||||||||
Federal | $ | 891,153 | $ | 872,907 | $ | 186,052 | $ | 891,153 | ||||||||
State | 112,042 | 177,975 | 2,858 | 112,042 | ||||||||||||
1,003,195 | 1,050,882 | 188,910 | 1,003,195 | |||||||||||||
Deferred | ||||||||||||||||
Federal | 57,805 | 114,712 | 1,180,655 | 57,805 | ||||||||||||
State | 309,182 | (22,901 | ) | 118,241 | 309,182 | |||||||||||
366,987 | 91,811 | 1,298,896 | 366,987 | |||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,370,182 | $ | 1,142,693 | $ | 1,487,806 | $ | 1,370,182 |
A reconciliation of the expected income tax (benefit) computed using the federal statutory income tax rate to the Company's effective income tax rate is as follows for FYE 2013fiscal year 2014 and 2012:
2013:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Income tax computed at federal statutory tax rate | 34.0% | 34.0% | ||||||
State taxes, net of federal benefit | 5.2 | 3.3 | ||||||
Meals & Entertainment | 0.1 | 0.1 | ||||||
Other permanent differences | (0.5 | ) | 0.8 | |||||
Research and development credit | (11.3 | ) | (8.4 | ) | ||||
Change in prior year estimated taxes | 4.7 | (0.9 | ) | |||||
Total | 32.2% | 28.9% |
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Income tax computed at federal statutory tax rate | 34.0% | 34.0% | ||||||
State taxes, net of federal benefit | 5.1 | 5.2 | ||||||
Meals & Entertainment | 0.1 | 0.1 | ||||||
Other permanent differences | 2.6 | (0.5 | ) | |||||
Research and development credit | (9.6 | ) | (11.3 | ) | ||||
Change in prior year estimated taxes | 0.8 | 4.7 | ||||||
Total | 33.0% | 32.2% |
Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities for income taxes for FYEthe fiscal years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Deferred tax assets | ||||||||
Accrued payroll and other expenses | $ | 88,574 | $ | 82,104 | ||||
Deferred revenue | 12,473 | 38,225 | ||||||
Deferred rent | – | 29,068 | ||||||
Capitalized merger costs | 93,306 | – | ||||||
Intellectual property | 19,442 | 30,326 | ||||||
Research and development credit | 216,917 | – | ||||||
State taxes | 272 | 45,343 | ||||||
State Tax Deferred | 120,575 | 74,458 | ||||||
Total deferred tax assets | 551,558 | 299,524 | ||||||
Less: Valuation allowance | – | – | ||||||
551,558 | 299,524 | |||||||
Deferred tax liabilities | ||||||||
Property and equipment | (27,178 | ) | (23,077 | ) | ||||
State Tax Deferred | (5,914 | ) | – | |||||
Intellectual Property | (1,361,535 | ) | – | |||||
Capitalized computer software development costs | (1,417,959 | ) | (1,238,578 | ) | ||||
Total deferred tax liabilities | (2,812,586 | ) | (1,261,655 | ) | ||||
Net deferred tax liabilities | $ | (2,261,028 | ) | $ | (962,131 | ) |
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Deferred tax assets | ||||||||
Accrued payroll and other expenses | $ | 82,104 | $ | 79,922 | ||||
Deferred revenue | 38,225 | 56,456 | ||||||
Deferred rent | 29,068 | – | ||||||
Property and equipment | – | 32,916 | ||||||
Intellectual property | 30,326 | – | ||||||
Research and development credit | – | 261,526 | ||||||
State taxes | 45,343 | 66,902 | ||||||
State Tax Deferred | 74,458 | – | ||||||
Total deferred tax assets | 299,524 | 497,722 | ||||||
Less: Valuation allowance | – | – | ||||||
299,524 | 497,722 | |||||||
Deferred tax liabilities | ||||||||
Property and equipment | (23,077 | ) | – | |||||
State Tax Deferred | (30,663 | ) | – | |||||
Capitalized computer software development costs | (1,238,578 | ) | (1,062,204 | ) | ||||
Total deferred tax liabilities | (1,261,655 | ) | (1,092,867 | ) | ||||
Net deferred tax liabilities | $ | (962,131 | ) | $ | (595,145 | ) |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 20132014 and 20122013
We follow guidance issued by the FASB with regard to itsour accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements. Such guidance prescribes a recognition threshold of more likely than not and a measurement process for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. In making this assessment, a company must determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, based solely on the technical merits of the position and must assume that the tax position will be examined by taxing authorities. Our policy is to include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Interest and penalties totaled $6,357$ -0- and $1,300$6,347 for FYEfiscal year 2014 and 2013, and 2012, respectively. We file income tax returns with the IRS and various state jurisdictions and India. Our federal income tax returns for fiscal year 2010 thru 2013 are open for audit, and our state tax returns for fiscal year 2009 through 2013 remain open for audit. In addition our California tax return for the FTB. FTB audited us for FYE2007 and 2008. We received refunds as we claimed; however they continued their audit to include FYE 2009 and 2010, and were reviewingfiscal year 2007 and fiscal year 2008 research and developmentremains open with regard to R&D tax credits since those credits were carried forward to FYE 2009 and 2010. In May 2013,as a result of a previous audit for which we received a letter from FTBthe California Franchise Tax Board stating that an audit will not be conducted for those years at this time; however it may be subject to future audit for the FYE 2007 through FYE 2010 if they receive new information.
In March 2012, we also received a notice from the IRS that our FYE 2008 is subject to their examination. In October 2012, the IRS completed their examination of our 2007 tax filing. The outcome of this examination was a decrease of $36,868 in the amount refundable. We received a refund of $151,246 in December 2012.audit.
Our review of prior year tax positions using the criteria and provisions presented in guidance issued by FASB did not result in a material impact on the Company’sour financial position or results of operations.
NOTE 78 – CONCENTRATIONS AND UNCERTAINTIES
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash, cash equivalents and trade accounts receivable. The Company holds cash and cash equivalents at banks located in California, with balances that often exceed FDIC insured limits. Historically, the Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents. However, considering the current banking environment, the Company is investigating alternative ways to minimize its exposure to such risks. While the Company may be exposed to credit losses due to the nonperformance of its counterparties, the Company does not expect the settlement of these transactions to have a material effect on its results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2013 and 2012
Revenue concentration shows that Internationalinternational sales accounted for 48%51% and 49%48% of net sales for FYEfiscal year 2014 and 2013, and 2012, respectively. Two customers (one is accounted for 14%(a dealer account in Japan representing various customers), and 8% of net sales for fiscal year 2014. Two customers accounted for 9% and 6% of net sales for FYEfiscal year 2013. For FYE 2012, two customers accounted for 10% (one is a dealer account representing various customers) and 6% of net sales.
Accounts receivable concentration shows that two customers comprised 27% and 22% (a30%(a dealer account in Japan representing various customers), and 17% of accounts receivable at August 31, 2013,2014, and two customers comprised 28% (a dealer account representing various customers)27% and 22% of accounts receivable at August 31, 2012.2013.
We operate in the computer software industry, which is highly competitive and changes rapidly. Our operating results could be significantly affected by our ability to develop new products and find new distribution channels for new and existing products.
The majority of our customers are in the pharmaceutical industry. During the current economyeconomic downturn, we have seen consolidationconsolidations in the pharmaceutical industry.industry, especially in this first fiscal quarter of 2013. Although we have not seen any significant reduction in total revenues to date, continuedour growth rate has been affected. Continued consolidation and downsizing in the pharmaceutical industry could have an impact on our revenues and earnings going forward.
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SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2014 and 2013
NOTE 8 -9 – GEOGRAPHIC REPORTING
The Company allocates revenues to geographic areas based on the locations of its customers. Geographical revenues were as follows for FYE 2013fiscal year 2014 and 2012:
2013:
(in ‘000) | North America |
Europe |
Asia | South America |
Total | |||||||||||||||
August 31, 2013 | $ | 5,203 | $ | 2,980 | $ | 1,882 | $ | 6 | $ | 10,071 | ||||||||||
August 31, 2012 | $ | 4,805 | $ | 2,986 | $ | 1,633 | $ | 25 | $ | 9,449 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2013 and 2012
(in ‘000) | North America | Europe | Asia | South America | Total | |||||||||||||||
August 31, 2014 | $ | 5,633 | $ | 2,983 | $ | 2,819 | $ | 26 | $ | 11,461 | ||||||||||
August 31, 2013 | $ | 5,203 | $ | 2,980 | $ | 1,882 | $ | 6 | $ | 10,071 |
NOTE 910 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During FYEfiscal year 2014, included in bonus expenses to officers was $150,000, of which $60,000 was accrued bonus representing 5% of the Company’s net income before bonuses and taxes, not exceeding $60,000, paid to the Corporate Secretary, Virginia Woltosz, as an annual bonus as part of the terms of the original sale of Words+ to the Company in 1996. In addition, $60,000 was accrued under the employment agreement with Walter Woltosz, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The other $30,000, paid in September 2013, was a fiscal year 2013 performance bonus to Walter Woltosz. As of August 31, 2014, $120,000 was accrued. These amounts were paid in September 2014.
During fiscal year 2013, included in bonus expenses to officers was $90,000, of which $60,000 was accrued bonus representing 5% of the Company’s FYE 2012 net income before bonuses and taxes, not exceeding $60,000, paid to the Corporate Secretary, Virginia Woltosz, as an annual bonus as part of the terms of the sale of Words+ to Simulations Plus, Inc.the Company in 1996. The other $30,000, paid in September 2012, was FYEfiscal year 2012 performance bonus to Walter Woltosz, our President/the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. As of August 31, 2013, $60,000 was accrued and unpaid.
During FYE 2012, included in bonus expenses to officers was $87,500, of which $60,000 was accrued bonus representing 5% of the Company’s FYE 2012 net income before bonuses and taxes, not exceeding $60,000, paid to the Corporate Secretary, Virginia Woltosz, as an annual bonus as part of the terms of the sale of Words+ to Simulations Plus in 1996. The other $27,500, paid in December 2011, was FYE 2011 performance bonus to Walter Woltosz, our President/Chief Executive Officer.
NOTE 10 – CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
The Company purchased customer relationships as a part of the acquisition of certain assets of Bioreason, Inc. in November 2005. Customer relationships was recorded at a cost of $128,042 and is being amortized over 78 months under the sum-of-the-years’-digits method. Amortization expense for FYE 2013 and 2012 amounted to $0 and $1,870, respectively. Accumulated amortization was $128,042 as of August 31, 2012 and the net book value of $0 was removed from the company’s accounts during FYESeptember 2013.
NOTE 11 -– EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
We maintain a 401(k) Plan for all eligible employees. We make matching contributions equal to 100% of the employee’s elective deferral, not to exceed 4% of the total employee compensation. We can also elect to make a profit-sharing contribution. Contributions by the Company to this Plan amounted toWe contributed $117,200 and $104,162 for fiscal year 2014 and $89,258 for FYE 2013, and 2012, respectively.
NOTE 12 - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
On November 30, 2011, we sold our interest in Words+for $1,973,096 in cash. Words+ operations are now presented as discontinued operations in accordance with accounting rules related to the disposal of long-lived assets.
F-22 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 20132014 and 20122013
We recognized a gain of $465,820, net of tax, from this sale, which is included in income from discontinued operations in our statement of operations for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2011. The revenue and expenses of discontinued operations for the first fiscal quarter of 2012 are as follows:
(in thousands) | Period from 09/01/11 to 11/30/11 | |||
Net sales | $ | 479 | ||
Cost of sales | 265 | |||
Gross profit | 214 | |||
Selling, general and administrative | 563 | |||
Research and development | 55 | |||
Total operating expenses | 618 | |||
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations | (404 | ) | ||
Other income | – | |||
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes | (404 | ) | ||
(Provision for) income taxes | 154 | |||
Results from discontinued operations, net of tax | $ | (250 | ) |
The carrying amount of the assets and liabilities of discontinued operations just prior to the date of the sale on November 30, 2011 were as follows:
(in thousands) | 11/30/11 | |||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 6 | ||
Receivables, net | 357 | |||
Inventory | 392 | |||
Prepaid and other current assets | 33 | |||
Capitalized software development costs, net | 212 | |||
Property and equipment, net | 91 | |||
Total Assets | 1,091 | |||
Accounts payable | 72 | |||
Accrued payroll and other expenses | 109 | |||
Accrued warranty and service costs | 37 | |||
Total Liabilities | 218 | |||
Net Assets of discontinued operations | $ | 873 |
NOTE 13 -12 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Dividend Declared
On October 29, 2013,28, 2014, our Board of Directors declared the nexta quarterly cash dividend of $0.04$0.05 per share to our shareholders. The dividend will bewas distributed on Friday, November 15, 2013,14, 2014, for shareholders of record as of Friday, November 8, 2013.
7, 2014.
FromAcquisition/Merger with Cognigen Corporation
On July 23, 2014, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Cognigen Corporation (“Cognigen”). On September 1, 20132, 2014, the Company consummated the acquisition of all outstanding equity interests of Cognigen pursuant to November 13, 2013, an additional 43,000the terms of the Merger Agreement, with Cognigen merging with and into a newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. We believe the combination of Simulations Plus and Cognigen provides substantial future potential based on the complementary strengths of each of the companies.
Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, as described below, the Company will pay the former shareholders of Cognigen total consideration of $7,000,000, consisting of $2,800,000 of cash and $4,200,000 worth of newly issued, unregistered shares wereof the Company’s common stock.
On September 2, 2014, the Company paid the former shareholders of Cognigen a total of $5,200,000, comprised of cash in the amount of $2,080,000 and the issuance of 491,159 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $3,120,000 (under the terms of the Merger Agreement a price of approximately $6.35 dollars per share was used based upon the volume-weighted average closing price of the Company’s shares of common stock for the 30-consecutive-trading-day period ending two trading days prior to September 2, 2014). The actual stock price at September 2, 2014 was $6.67, so the total value of the stock issued aswas approximately $3,276,000. The Merger Agreement provides for a resulttwo-year market standoff period in which the newly issued shares may not be sold by the recipients thereof.
Within three business days following the two year anniversary of options exercised.July 23, 2014 (the date of the Merger Agreement) and subject to any offsets, the Company will pay the former shareholders of Cognigen a total of $1,800,000, comprised of $720,000 of cash and the issuance of 170,014 shares of stock valued at $1,080,000 under the formula described above.
The Merger Agreement provides for a targeted working capital adjustment to be made 120 days after the closing date. Currently the amount of this adjustment has been preliminarily estimated to be $307,086 and is included in the following table showing estimated assets, liabilities, and total consideration.
F-23 |
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2014 and 2013
Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total estimated purchase price is allocated to Cognigen’s tangible and intangible assets and liabilities based on their estimated fair values at the date of the completion of the acquisition (September 2, 2014). The following table summarizes the preliminary allocation of the purchase price for Cognigen:
Assets acquired, including accounts receivable of $934,000 and estimated Contracts receivable of $530,000 | $ | 1,719,579 | ||
Fixed assets acquired | 480,000 | |||
Estimated value of software acquired | 200,000 | |||
Estimated value of Intangibles acquired (Customer Lists, trade name etc.) | 1,600,000 | |||
Estimated amount due to sellers - Working Capital Adjustment | (307,086 | ) | ||
Current Liabilities assumed | (644,499 | ) | ||
Goodwill | 4,209,571 | |||
Total Consideration | $ | 7,257,565 |
Goodwill has been provided in the transaction based on estimates of future earnings of this subsidiary including anticipated synergies associated with the positioning of the combined company as a leader in model-based drug development.
The accounting for this acquisition has not been completed, as further valuations and analyses are required to establish beginning fair market values and the implication on deferred taxes. The amounts shown are provisional, anddo not include any adjustments for liabilities that will result from integration activities related to the acquisition. Additional assets or liabilities may be recorded that could affect the amounts. During the measurement period, any such adjustments to provisional amounts would increase or decrease goodwill. Adjustments that occur after the end of the measurement period will be recognized in the post-combination current period operations.
Option Activity
On September 24, 2014 the Board of Directors granted options to purchase 500 shares of the Company’s common stock to each of the employees of Cognigen. Each option has an exercise price of $6.85 per share, vests at a rate of 20% per year over the first 5 years and expires on September 24, 2024.
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