Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Significant Accounting Policies

v3.23.1
Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
NOTE 2 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the financial statements on a consistent basis, are as follows, except for the adoption of new accounting standards:

 

  A. Basis of presentation and principles of consolidation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, BiomX Israel and RondinX Ltd. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

  B. Use of estimates in the preparation of financial statements

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the amounts of expenses during the reported years. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may directly or indirectly impact the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition will depend on future developments that are uncertain, including as a result of new information that may emerge concerning COVID-19 and the actions taken to contain it or treat COVID-19, as well as the economic impact on local, regional, national and international markets.

 

  C. Functional currency and foreign currency translation

 

Transactions and balances originally denominated in U.S. dollars (“USD”) are presented at their original amounts. Balances in non-USD currencies are translated into USD using historical and current exchange rates for non-monetary and monetary balances, respectively. For non-USD transactions and other items in the statements of income (indicated below), the following exchange rates are used: (i) for transactions – exchange rates at transaction dates or average exchange rates; and (ii) for other items (derived from non-monetary balance sheet items such as depreciation and amortization) – historical exchange rates. Currency transaction gains and losses are presented in financial expenses (income), net as appropriate. The functional currency of the Company is USD. 

 

  D. Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

The Company considers cash equivalents to be all short-term, highly liquid investments, which include money market funds, that are not restricted as to withdrawal or use, and short-term bank deposits with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase that are not restricted as to withdrawal or use and are readily convertible to known amounts of cash. Restricted cash consists of funds that are contractually restricted to a credit line for outstanding short-term foreign exchange contracts and bank guarantee due to rental agreements. The Company has presented restricted cash separately from cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company includes its restricted bank deposits in cash and cash equivalents when reconciling beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the combined statement of cash flows.

 

  E. Concentrations of credit risk

 

Financial instruments which potentially subject us to credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, and short-term deposits. These amounts at times may exceed federally insured limits. We have not experienced any credit losses in such accounts and do not believe we are exposed to any significant credit risk on these funds. Most of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and bank deposits are invested in USD instruments with major banks in the U.S. and Israel. Management believes that the credit risk with respect to the financial institutions that hold the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and bank deposits is low. Refer to Note 2K.

 

  F. Property and equipment

 

Property and equipment are presented at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated based on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets or terms of the related leases, as follows:

 

    Estimated Useful Lives
     
Laboratory equipment   7 years
Computers and software   3 years
Equipment and furniture   15 years
Leasehold improvements   Shorter of lease term or useful life

 

  G. Intangible assets

 

Intangible research and development assets acquired in a business combination are recognized at fair value as of the acquisition date and capitalized as an indefinite life intangible asset until the related research and development efforts are either completed or abandoned. In the reporting periods where they are treated as indefinite life intangible assets, they are not amortized but rather are monitored for triggering events and tested for impairment. Upon completion of the related research and development efforts, management determines the useful life of the intangible assets and amortizes them accordingly.

 

  H. Long-lived assets

 

In accordance with ASC 360-10, “Impairment and Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, management reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable based on estimated future undiscounted cash flows. If so indicated, an impairment loss would be recognized for the difference between the carrying amount of the asset and its fair value. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, no impairment expenses were recorded.

 

  I. Income taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and the tax rates in effect when these differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all the deferred tax assets will not be realized. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had a full valuation allowance against deferred tax assets.

 

The Company is subject to the provisions of ASC 740-10-25, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). ASC 740 prescribes a more likely-than-not threshold for the financial statement recognition of uncertain tax positions. ASC 740 clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. On a yearly basis, the Company undergoes a process to evaluate whether income tax accruals are in accordance with ASC 740 guidance on uncertain tax positions. The Company has not recorded any liability for uncertain tax positions for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

 

  J. Derivative activity

 

The Company uses foreign exchange contracts (option and forward contracts) to hedge cash flows from currency exposure. These foreign exchange contracts are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. In connection with these foreign exchange contracts, the Company recognizes gains or losses that offset the revaluation of the cash flows also recorded under financial expenses (income), net in the consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had outstanding short-term foreign exchange contracts for the exchange of USD to NIS in the amount of approximately $4,547 with a fair value liability of $55. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had outstanding short-term foreign exchange contracts for the exchange of USD to NIS in the amount of approximately $4,180 with a fair value asset of $62.

 

  K. Fair value of financial instruments

 

The Company accounts for financial instruments in accordance with ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”). ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under ASC 820 are described below:

 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2 – Quoted prices in non-active markets or in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, observable inputs other than quoted prices, and inputs that are not directly observable but are corroborated by observable market data.

 

Level 3 – Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

 

There were no changes in the fair value hierarchy levelling during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

 

The following table summarizes the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis, by level within the fair value hierarchy:

 

    December 31, 2022  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Fair Value  
Assets:                        
Cash equivalents:                        
Money market funds     27,824      
-
     
-
      27,824  
                                 
      27,824                       27,824  
Liabilities:                                
Contingent consideration    
-
     
-
      148       148  
Foreign exchange contracts payable    
-
      55      
-
      55  
     
-
      55       148       203  

 

    December 31, 2021  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Fair Value  
Assets:                        
Cash equivalents:                        
Money market funds     30,007      
-
     
-
      30,007  
Foreign exchange contracts receivable    
 
      62      
 
      62  
      30,007       62      
-
      30,069  
Liabilities:                                
Contingent consideration    
-
     
-
      175       175  
     
-
     
-
      175       175  

 

Refer to Note 13A regarding the fair value of the financial instrument that resulted from an agreement with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (“CF Foundation”).

 

Financial instruments with carrying values approximating fair value include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term deposits, other current assets, trade accounts payable and other current liabilities, due to their short-term nature.

 

The Company determined the fair value of the liabilities for the contingent consideration based on a probability discounted cash flow analysis. This fair value measurement is based on significant unobservable inputs in the market and thus represents a Level 3 measurement within the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the contingent consideration is based on several factors, such as: the attainment of future clinical, developmental, regulatory, commercial and strategic milestones relating to product candidates for treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis. The discount rate applied ranged from 2.42% to 3.99%. The contingent consideration is evaluated quarterly, or more frequently, if circumstances dictate. Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration are recorded in consolidated statements of operations. Significant changes in unobservable inputs, mainly the probability of success and cash flows projected, could result in material changes to the contingent consideration liability. Changes in contingent consideration for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 resulted mainly from revaluation‏.

 

  L. Defined contribution plans

 

Under Israeli employment laws, employees of BiomX Israel are included under Section 14 of the Severance Compensation Act, 1963 (“Section 14”) for a portion of their salaries. Pursuant to Section 14, these employees are entitled to monthly deposits made by the Company on their behalf with insurance companies.

 

Payments in accordance with Section 14 release the Company from any future severance payments (under the Israeli Severance Compensation Act, 1963) with respect of those employees. The aforementioned deposits are not recorded as an asset on the Company’s balance sheet, and there is no liability recorded as the Company does not have a future obligation to make any additional payments. The Company’s contributions to the defined contribution plans are charged to the consolidated statements of operations as and when the services are received from the Company’s employees. Total expenses with respect to these contributions were $562 and $689 for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Company expects to contribute approximately $430 in the year ending December 31, 2023 to insurance companies in connection with its expected severance liabilities for the year.

 

For U.S. employees the Company has a defined contribution savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. This plan covers substantially all employees of BiomX Inc in the U.S. who meet minimum age and service requirements and allows participants to defer a portion of their annual compensation on a pre-tax basis.

 

The Company has not elected to match any of the employee’s deferral. During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 the Company did not record any expenses for 401(k) match contributions.

 

  M. Financial instruments

 

When the Company issues freestanding instruments, it first analyzes the provisions of ASC 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities From Equity” (“ASC 480”) in order to determine whether the instrument should be classified as a liability, with subsequent changes in fair value recognized in the consolidated statements of operations in each period. If the instrument is not within the scope of ASC 480, the Company further analyzes the provisions of ASC 815-10 in order to determine whether the instrument is considered indexed to the entity’s own stock, and qualifies for classification within equity. All warrants issued by the Company are classified within stockholders’ equity as “Additional paid-in capital”. Equity classification is permitted when warrants are indexed to the Company’s own shares and meet the classification requirements for stockholders’ equity classification of ASC 815-40, Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC 815-40”).

 

  N. Collaborative arrangements

 

The Company entered into collaborative arrangements with partners that fall under the scope of Topic 808, “Collaborative Arrangements” (“ASC 808”). While these arrangements are in the scope of ASC 808, the Company may analogize to ASC 606 for some aspects of the arrangements. The Company analogizes to ASC 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASC 606”) for certain activities within the collaborative arrangement for the delivery of a good or service (i.e., a unit of account) that is part of its ongoing major or central operations.

 

The terms of the Company’s collaborative arrangements typically include reimbursements or cost-sharing of R&D expenses. Each of these payments results in an offset against R&D expenses.

 

Under certain collaborative arrangements, the Company has been reimbursed for a portion of its R&D expenses or participates in the cost-sharing of such R&D expenses. Such reimbursements and cost-sharing arrangements have been reflected as a reduction of R&D expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations, as the Company does not consider performing research and development services for reimbursement to be a part of its ongoing major or central operations. 

 

  O. Research and development costs

 

Research and development costs are charged to statements of operations as incurred. Royalty-bearing grants from the IIA are recognized at the time the Company is entitled to such grants, on the basis of the costs incurred and applied as a deduction from research and development expenses.

 

  P. Basic and diluted loss per share

 

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the year excluding ordinary shares purchased by the Company and held as treasury shares. Diluted loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the year, plus the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been outstanding if all potentially dilutive shares of Common Stock had been issued, using the treasury stock method, in accordance with ASC 260-10 “Earnings per Share.” Potentially dilutive shares of Common Stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share for all periods presented due to their anti-dilutive effect due to losses in each period.

 

  Q. Stock compensation plans

 

The Company applies ASC 718-10, “Stock-Based Payment,” (“ASC 718-10”) which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expenses for all stock-based payment awards made to employees and directors including employee stock options under the Company’s stock plans based on estimated fair values.

 

ASC 718-10 requires companies to estimate the fair value of stock-based payment awards granted to employees and non-employees on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. The fair value of the award is recognized as an expense over the requisite service periods in the Company’s statements of operations using the graded vesting method. The Company accounts for share-based payment awards classified as equity awards. The Company recognizes stock-based award forfeitures as they occur rather than estimate by applying a forfeiture rate.

 

All issuances of stock options or other equity instruments to non-employees as consideration for goods or services received by the Company are accounted for based on the fair value of the equity instruments issued.

 

The Company estimates the fair value of stock options granted as equity awards using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The option-pricing model requires a number of assumptions, of which the most significant are share price, expected volatility and the expected option term (the time from the grant date until the options are exercised or expire). The Company uses an average historical stock price volatility based on a combined weighted average of the Company’s historical average volatility and that of a selected peer group of comparable public companies within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry that were deemed to be representative of future stock price trends as the Company does not have a sufficient historical trading history of its own Common Stock. The Company will continue to apply this process until a sufficient amount of historical information regarding the volatility of its own stock price becomes available. The Company has historically not paid dividends and has no foreseeable plans to issue dividends. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield from governmental zero-coupon bonds with an equivalent term. The expected option term is calculated for options granted to employees and directors using the “simplified” method. Grants to non-employees are based on the contractual term. Changes in the determination of each of the inputs can affect the fair value of the options granted and the results of operations of the Company.

 

  R. Leases

 

Under Accounting Standards Update, “Leases” (“ASC 842”), the Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Upon initial recognition, the Company recognizes a liability at the present value of the lease payments to be made over the lease term, and concurrently recognizes a right-of-use asset at the same amount of the liability, adjusted for any prepaid or accrued lease payments, plus initial direct costs incurred in respect of the lease. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date to determine the present value of the lease payments. The subsequent measurement depends on whether the lease is classified as a finance lease or an operating lease. During the reporting periods, the Company has only operating leases. Lease terms include options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expenses for operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

The Company has made a policy election not to capitalize leases with a term of 12 months or less. 

 

In accordance with ASC 360-10, management reviews operating lease assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable based on estimated future undiscounted cash flows. If so indicated, an impairment loss would be recognized for the difference between the carrying amount of the asset and its fair value.

 

  S. Treasury stock

 

Treasury shares are presented as a reduction of equity, at their cost to the Company.

 

  T. New accounting pronouncements

 

As an “emerging growth company,” the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”) allows the Company to delay adoption of new or revised accounting pronouncements applicable to public companies until such pronouncements are made applicable to private companies. The Company has elected not to use this extended transition period under the JOBS Act. The adoption dates referenced below reflect this election.

 

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

 

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, “Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40)-Accounting For Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity”. The ASU simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current GAAP. Consequently, more convertible debt instruments will be reported as a single liability instrument with no separate accounting for embedded conversion features. The ASU removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception, which will permit more equity contracts to qualify for it. The ASU also simplifies the diluted net income per share calculation in certain areas. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2021, and early adoption was permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Effective January 1, 2022, the Company adopted ASU 2020-06 using the modified retrospective approach which resulted in no effect.

 

In May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, “Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation— Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815- 40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options”. The guidance is effective for the Company on January 1, 2022. The Company adopted the guidance on January 1, 2022, and has concluded the adoption did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-10, “Government Assistance (Topic 832)”, which requires annual disclosures that increase the transparency of transactions involving government grants, including (1) the types of transactions, (2) the accounting for those transactions, and (3) the effect of those transactions on an entity’s financial statements. The amendments in this update are effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company applied the guidance prospectively to all in-scope transactions beginning fiscal year 2022. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Recently issued accounting pronouncements, not yet adopted

 

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses—Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” This guidance replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The guidance will be effective for smaller reporting companies (as defined by the rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) for the fiscal year beginning on January 1, 2023, including interim periods within that year. The Company has concluded the adoption will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, “Business Combinations (Topic 805), Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers”, which requires contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination to be recognized and measured by the acquirer on the acquisition date in accordance with ASC 606. The guidance will result in the acquirer recognizing contract assets and contract liabilities at the same amounts recorded by the acquiree. The guidance should be applied prospectively to acquisitions occurring on or after the effective date. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including in interim periods, for any financial statements that have not yet been issued. The Company has concluded the adoption will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.