XML 38 R11.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.24.0.1
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).
The SRNG Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, in accordance with GAAP (the “Reverse Recapitalization”). Under this method of accounting, SRNG was treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Reverse Recapitalization was treated as the equivalent of Old Ginkgo issuing stock for the net assets of SRNG, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of SRNG are stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded.
The consolidated assets, liabilities and results of operations prior to the Reverse Recapitalization are those of Old Ginkgo. The shares and corresponding capital amounts and loss per share prior to the Reverse Recapitalization have been retroactively restated to reflect the Exchange Ratio established in the Merger Agreement.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly owned subsidiaries, majority owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities if the Company is the primary beneficiary. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
As discussed in Note 3, Acquisitions and Divestitures, effective October 3, 2023, the Company deconsolidated its wholly owned subsidiary, Zymergen Inc. (“Zymergen”), following Zymergen's filing for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current year presentation. In the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, $4.4 million in inventory as of December 31, 2022 was reclassified from inventory, net to prepaid expenses and other current assets. Total current assets as of December 31, 2022 is not changed as a result of this reclassification. In the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows, (i) $0.2 million and $0.6 million of changes in inventory were reclassified to changes in prepaid expenses and other current assets for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, (ii) $1.3 million and $0.3 million was reclassified from other non-cash activity to change in fair value of contingent consideration liability for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and (iii) $1.2 million was reclassified from other non-cash activity to non-cash in-process research and development for the year ended December 31, 2022. The total cash used in operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 is not changed as a result of these reclassifications.
Variable Interest Entities
The Company evaluates its variable interests in variable interest entities (“VIE”) and consolidates VIEs when the Company is the primary beneficiary. The Company determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of each VIE based on its assessment of whether the Company possesses both (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses that could be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits that could be significant to the VIE. The Company reevaluates the accounting for its VIEs upon the occurrence of events that could change the primary beneficiary conclusion. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the maximum risk of loss related to the Company’s VIEs was limited to the carrying value of its investment in such entities.
Use of Estimates
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, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent liabilities in the consolidated financial statements. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and other market-specific or relevant assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Reported amounts and disclosures reflect the overall economic conditions that management believes are most likely to occur, and the anticipated measures management intends to take. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. All revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimates are revised.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade accounts receivable and notes receivable. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash are maintained in bank deposit accounts and money market funds that regularly exceed federally insured limits. The Company is exposed to credit risk on its cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in the event of default by the financial institutions to the extent account balances exceed the amount insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Company believes that it is not exposed to significant credit risk as its deposits are generally held in financial institutions that management believes to be of high credit quality. To date, the Company has not experienced any material write-offs related to its trade accounts receivable. A portion of the Company’s Biosecurity revenue is derived from sales of services to foreign government agencies in certain developing countries. The Company’s maximum credit risk exposure with respect to notes receivable is equivalent to the carrying value of the notes as of the balance sheet date. The Company mitigates this risk by requiring collateral for certain notes and monitoring the counterparty’s financial condition.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, one customer within the Cell Engineering segment and one customer within the Biosecurity segment accounted for 12% and 11%, respectively, of the Company’s total revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2022, two customers within the Biosecurity segment each accounted for 11% of the Company’s total revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2021, one customer within the Cell Engineering segment and one customer within the Biosecurity segment accounted for 11% and 17%, respectively, of the Company’s total revenue.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company’s cash is comprised of bank deposits, overnight sweep accounts and money market funds. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash
equivalents. The carrying value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities.
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash primarily includes cash balances collateralizing letters of credit associated with the Company’s facility leases and a customer prepayment requiring segregation and restrictions in its use in accordance with the customer agreement. Restricted cash is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheet.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses to provide for the estimated amounts of receivables that will not be collected over the estimated life of the assets. The allowance is calculated by considering previous loss history, delinquency of receivables balances, current economic conditions and anticipated future economic conditions in the geographies and industries in which the Company’s customers operate. To the extent an individual customer’s credit quality deteriorates, the Company measures an allowance based on the risk characteristics of the individual customer. Once a receivable is deemed to be uncollectible, such balance is charged against the allowance. The allowance is calculated at each reporting period with changes recorded to general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Accounts receivable are net of an allowance for credit losses of $1.0 million and $1.1 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Property, Plant, and Equipment, net
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Land is stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets or the remaining lease term for leasehold improvements. Estimated lives of property, plant and equipment are as follows:
Estimated Useful Life
Computer equipment and software
2 to 5 years
Furniture and fixtures7 years
Lab equipment
1 to 5 years
Buildings and facilities
15 to 30 years
Vehicles5 years
Leasehold improvementsShorter of useful life or remaining lease term
Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation or amortization is removed from the balance sheet and any resulting gain or loss is recorded in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Construction in progress relates to assets which have not been placed in service as of period end.
Equity Method Investments
The Company utilizes the equity method to account for its investments in common stock, or in-substance common stock, when it possesses the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the operating and financial policies of the investee. The Company uses judgment when determining the level of influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee considering key factors including, among others, the Company’s ownership interest, representation on the board of directors, participation in policy-making decisions and material contractual arrangements and obligations. Income and losses are allocated based upon relative ownership interest unless there is a substantive profit-sharing agreement in place.
For investments with a substantive profit-sharing agreement, the Company utilizes the hypothetical liquidation at book value (“HLBV”) method to allocate income and losses from the equity method investment. Under the HLBV method, the Company utilizes the capital account at the end of the period assuming the book value of the entity was liquidated or sold
minus the same calculation at the beginning of the period. The difference is the share of earnings or losses attributable to the equity method investment.
Under the equity method, if there is a commitment for the Company to fund the losses of its equity method investees, the Company would continue to record its share of losses resulting in a negative equity method investment, which would be presented as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet. Commitments may be explicit and may include formal guarantees, legal obligations, or arrangements by contract. Implicit commitments may arise from reputational expectations, intercompany relationships, statements by the Company of its intention to provide support, a history of providing financial support or other facts and circumstances. When the Company has no commitment to fund the losses of its equity method investees, the carrying value of its equity method investments will not be reduced below zero. The Company had no commitment to fund additional losses of its equity method investments during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, other than dissolution costs for Joyn Bio, LLC (see Notes 3 and 6).
The Company evaluates its equity method investments for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the investment may not be recoverable. The Company considers the investee’s financial position, forecasts and economic outlook, and the estimated duration and extent of losses to determine whether a recovery is anticipated. An impairment that is other-than-temporary is recognized in the period identified. The Company has not recognized an impairment loss related to its equity method investments for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
The Company may elect the fair value option for its equity method investments on an investment-by-investment basis. For all equity method investments accounted for under the fair value option, the Company carries the equity method investment at fair value and records all subsequent changes in fair value as a component of loss on equity method investments in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Investments
Investments include marketable equity securities in publicly-traded companies, non-marketable equity securities in privately-held companies, Simple Agreement for Future Equity (“SAFE”) and warrants, in each case, in which the Company does not possess the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee.
Investments in marketable equity securities of publicly-traded companies and warrants are measured at fair value with subsequent changes in fair value recorded in loss on investments in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Investments in non-marketable equity securities of privately-held companies and SAFEs, which do not have readily determinable fair values, are carried at cost, less any impairments, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. Each period the Company assesses relevant transactions to identify observable price changes, and the Company regularly monitors these investments to evaluate whether there is an indication of impairment. The Company evaluates whether an investment’s fair value is less than its carrying value using an estimate of fair value, if such an estimate is available. For periods in which there is no estimate of fair value, the Company evaluates whether an event or change in circumstances has occurred that may have a significant adverse effect on the value of the investment. See Notes 4 and 5 for additional information on Investments.
Fair Value Measurements
The Company categorizes its assets and liabilities measured at fair value in accordance with the authoritative accounting guidance that establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and requires disclosures for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis.
ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”), establishes a fair value hierarchy for instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.
ASC 820 identifies fair value as the exchange price, or exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy that distinguishes among the following:
Level 1- Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2- Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable; and
Level 3- Unobservable inputs in which little or no market activity exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing.
To the extent that the valuation is based on models or inputs that are either less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The Company valued its money market fund holdings, notes receivable, marketable equity securities, warrant liabilities and contingent consideration liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. The carrying amounts of the Company’s other financial instruments, which include accounts receivable, certain prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the book values of the assets to the expected future net undiscounted cash flows that the assets are expected to generate. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the book values of the assets exceed their fair value. See Notes 8 and 10 for a description of impairment losses recorded on long-lived assets.
Business Combinations
The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting. The Company recognizes the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their acquisition-date fair values and recognizes any excess of the total consideration paid over the fair value of the identifiable net assets as goodwill. Any purchase price that is considered contingent consideration is measured at its estimated fair value at the acquisition date and remeasured at each reporting period, with changes in estimated fair value recorded in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Acquisition transaction costs are expensed when incurred. The operating results of an acquisition are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of the acquisition date.
Intangible Assets, net
Intangible assets, net consist of certain definite-lived assets including patents, processes and know-how related to technology acquired through business combinations and asset acquisitions. The Company amortizes such intangible assets on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful life.
The Company reviews intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances have occurred which could indicate that the carrying value of the assets are not recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the carrying value of the intangible assets to the future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. In determining the expected future cash flows, the Company uses assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are unpredictable and inherently uncertain. Actual future cash flows may differ from the estimates used in impairment testing. The Company recognizes an impairment loss when and to the extent that the estimated fair value of an intangible asset is less than its carrying value. The Company has not recognized an impairment loss for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition cost over the fair market value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is tested for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company considers various qualitative factors that could indicate impairment such as macroeconomic conditions, industry and market environment, technological obsolescence, overall financial performance of the Company, cash flow from operating activities and market capitalization. If the qualitative assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company performs a quantitative assessment to compare the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value, an impairment loss is recognized. A combination of the income approach and the market approach may be used to determine fair value of the reporting unit. The Company has not recognized an impairment loss for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. A portion of the goodwill balance was eliminated following the deconsolidation of Zymergen (see Notes 3 and 7).
Leases
The Company adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASC 842”) on January 1, 2022 using the modified retrospective approach with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated deficit in the period of adoption.
In accordance with ASC 842, the Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at contract inception based on the terms and conditions in the contract. A contract contains a lease if there is an identified asset and the Company has the right to control the asset. For leases with terms greater than 12 months, the Company recognizes a right-of-use asset (“ROU asset”) and a lease liability as of the lease commencement date on the balance sheet. ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset over the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Lease ROU assets and liabilities are measured based on the present value of fixed lease payments that are unpaid as of the lease commencement date. The Company’s ROU assets balance is reduced by any initial direct costs and lease incentives received or expected to be received. Some of the Company's leases include options to extend or terminate the lease; these options are included in the lease term for calculations of its ROU assets and liabilities when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise those options.
The Company’s leases are classified as either operating or finance, as determined at inception, with the classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of operations. A lease is classified as a finance lease if risks and rewards are conveyed without the transfer of control. For operating leases, expense is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For finance leases, interest on the lease liability is recognized using the effective interest method, while the ROU asset is amortized on a straight-line basis from the commencement date to the earlier of the end of the useful life of the ROU asset or the end of the lease term. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less which meet the definition of a short-term lease are not recorded on the balance sheet and the lease expense for these leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In limited instances, the Company acts as a lessor, primarily with certain real estate subleases. Finance leases, short-term leases and subleases are not a significant component of the Company's financial condition or results of operations. The current portion of the Company’s operating lease liabilities is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the balance sheet.
The Company has lease agreements with both lease and non-lease components (such as real estate taxes, insurance and common area maintenance charges) and has elected the practical expedient to combine these lease and non-lease components for its real estate leases and non-lab equipment leases. The Company has not elected this practical expedient for lab equipment leases and the lease and non-lease components are accounted for separately for these leases. Non-lease components are typically variable in nature and are recognized as lease expense in the period in which they arise.
As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments and uses the implicit rate when readily determinable. The Company’s incremental borrowing rate is based on management’s estimate of the rate of interest the Company would have to pay to borrow on a fully collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment.
Revenue Recognition
The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). Under ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue when the customer obtains control of the promised goods or services at
an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that are within the scope of ASC 606, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (ii) identify the promises and distinct performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies the performance obligations.
Cell Engineering Revenue
The Company generates license and service revenue through the execution of license and collaboration agreements whereby customers obtain license rights to the Company’s proprietary technology and intellectual property for use in the research, development and commercialization of engineered organisms, and derived products. Under these agreements, the Company typically provides research and development services, which includes the provision of a license to the Company’s intellectual property. Additionally, the customer obtains license rights to the output of the Company’s services in order to commercialize the resulting output of such services. Generally, the terms of these agreements provide that the Company receives some combination of: (1) service fees in the form of (i) upfront payments upon consummation of the agreement or other fixed payments, (ii) reimbursement for costs incurred for research and development services and (iii) milestone payments upon the achievement of specified technical criteria, plus (2) downstream value share payments in the form of (i) milestone payments upon the achievement of specified commercial criteria, (ii) royalties on sales of products from or comprising engineered organisms arising from the collaboration or licensing agreement and (iii) royalties related to cost of goods sold reductions realized by customers.
The Company’s collaboration and licensing agreements often contain multiple promises, including (i) licenses and assignments of intellectual property and materials and (ii) research and development services, and the Company determines whether each of the promises is a distinct performance obligation based on the nature of each agreement. As the Company is generally performing research and development services that are highly integrated and interrelated to the licenses and assignments of intellectual property and materials, the promises are generally inseparable. As such, the Company typically combines the research and development services, licenses, and assignments into a single performance obligation. However, for certain agreements, the Company only grants licenses or effects such transfers and assignments upon the successful completion of the research and development services or delivery of a developed product. For these agreements, the Company typically considers (i) the research and development services and (ii) the licenses, transfers, and assignments as distinct performance obligations, as each is transferred separately and has a separately identifiable benefit.
Options to acquire additional goods and services are evaluated to determine if such options provide a material right to the counterparty that it would not have otherwise received without entering into the contract. If so, the option is accounted for as a separate performance obligation. If not, the option is considered a marketing offer which is accounted for as a separate contract upon the counterparty’s election of the option.
At contract inception, the Company determines the transaction price, including fixed consideration and any estimated amounts of variable consideration. Any upfront cash payment received upon consummation of the agreement is fixed and generally nonrefundable. Variable consideration is subject to a constraint, and amounts are included in the transaction price to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. Variable consideration may include reimbursement for costs incurred for the Company’s research and development efforts, milestone payments upon the achievement of certain technical and commercial criteria, and royalties on sales of products from or comprising engineered organisms arising from the agreement. With respect to the research and development reimbursements and milestone payments, the Company uses the most likely amount method to estimate variable consideration. With respect to agreements that include royalties on sales or other contingent payments based on sales, the Company applies the royalty recognition constraint which requires a constraint until the royalty or value-sharing transaction occurs.
Certain agreements contain payment in the form of shares of equity securities or other financial instruments that are convertible into equity upon a triggering event. Any non-cash consideration is measured at the estimated fair value of the non-cash consideration at contract inception. For equity securities and financial instruments received that are not actively traded, the Company generally engages a third-party valuation specialist to determine the estimated fair value of the upfront non-cash consideration. The fair value is generally determined based on a recent round of financing or by using a scenario-based valuation model. Significant unobservable inputs are used in the fair value measurements including expectations regarding future financings of the customer, scenario dates and probabilities, expected volatility, discount
rates and recovery rates. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the value of the non-cash consideration at contract inception and, accordingly, the total amount of revenue recognized for the contract.
For agreements with promises that are combined into a single performance obligation, the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. For agreements with multiple performance obligations, the transaction price is allocated to the performance obligations using the relative standalone selling price methodology. For agreements featuring variable consideration, the Company allocates variable consideration to one or more, but not all, performance obligations if certain conditions are met. Specifically, the Company assesses whether the variable consideration relates solely to its efforts to satisfy the performance obligation and whether allocating such variable consideration entirely to the performance obligation is consistent with the overall allocation objective. If these conditions are not met, the Company allocates the variable consideration based on the relative standalone selling price methodology. The key assumptions utilized in determining the standalone selling price for each performance obligation include development timelines, estimated research and development costs, commercial markets, likelihood of exercise (in the case of options considered to be material rights), and probabilities of success.
For agreements where the licenses or assignments are considered separate performance obligations or represent the only performance obligation, the Company recognizes revenue at the point in time that the Company effectively grants the license as the licenses or assignments represent functional intellectual property. For agreements where the licenses and the research and development services represent a combined performance obligation, the Company recognizes revenue over the period of performance using a measure of progress based on costs incurred to date as compared to total estimated costs.
The Company evaluates its measure of progress to recognize revenue at each reporting period and, as necessary, adjusts the measure of progress and related revenue recognition. The Company’s measure of progress and revenue recognition involves significant judgment and assumptions, including, but not limited to, estimated costs and timelines to complete its performance obligations. The Company evaluates contract modifications and amendments to determine whether any changes should be accounted for prospectively or on a cumulative catch-up basis. The Company utilizes the right to invoice practical expedient when it has a right to consideration in an amount that corresponds directly with the value of the Company’s performance to date.
Royalties are recognized as revenue when sales have occurred as the Company applies the sales or usage-based royalties recognition constraint. The Company has determined the application of this exception is appropriate because the license granted in the agreement is the predominant item to which the royalties relate.
As the Company receives upfront payments for technical services under certain of its arrangements, the Company evaluates whether any significant financing components exist given the term over which the fees will be earned may exceed one year. Based on the nature of the Company’s agreements, there are no significant financing components as the purpose of the upfront payment is not to provide financing, but rather to secure technical services, exclusivity rights, and Foundry capacity, or the timing of transfer of those goods or services is at the discretion of the customer.
Deferred revenue represents consideration received by the Company in excess of revenue recognized and primarily results from transactions where the Company receives upfront payments and non-cash equity consideration. In instances where the Company has received consideration in advance for an undefined number of technical development plans (“TDPs”) under its customer agreements, the Company records the advance payments as deferred revenue, net of current portion on the consolidated balance sheet. Upon the execution of a specific TDP, the Company reclassifies the estimated consideration to be earned under that TDP within the next twelve months as current deferred revenue. The Company also classifies unexercised material rights related to future TDPs as deferred revenue, net of current portion on the consolidated balance sheet. When a TDP is executed, and the material right is exercised, the amount allocated to the material right, which will be earned within the next twelve months, is reclassified to current deferred revenue. All other deferred revenue is classified as current or non-current based on the timing of when the Company expects to earn the underlying revenue based upon the projected progress of activities under the TDP.
Biosecurity Revenue
The Company has generated Biosecurity revenue through its commercial pathogen testing, sequencing, and analysis services provided to governments and other organizations. Service revenue also consists of biomonitoring and bioinformatic support services. The Company recognizes product and service revenue using the five-step model under ASC 606.
Before the fourth quarter of 2023, product revenue consisted of sales of lateral flow assay (“LFA”) diagnostic test kits, polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”) sample collection kits, and pooled test kits, which the Company sold to customers on a standalone basis. Product revenue was billed and recognized when the test kits were shipped, and risk of loss is transferred to the carrier. The Company’s test kits were generally not subject to a customer right of return except for product recalls under the rules and regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). The Company elected to include shipping and handling fees billed to customers as a component of Biosecurity revenue.

Service revenue generally consists of multiple promised goods and services including, but not limited to, sample collection, sample storage and transportation, outsourced laboratory analysis, access to results reported through a web-based portal, analytical reporting of results, and overall program management. Service revenue is generally recognized ratably over time as the related services are performed, which depicts the pattern of transfer to the customer.

The Company’s contracts with customers are generally two years or less in length and contain a fixed amount of consideration. Under typical payment terms for testing services, amounts are billed monthly in arrears for services performed or in advance based on contractual billing terms.

Options to acquire additional goods and services are evaluated to determine whether they provide the counterparty with a material right that it would not have otherwise received without entering into the contract. If so, the option is accounted for as a separate performance obligation. If not, the option is considered a marketing offer, and upon the counterparty's election of the option, it is accounted for as a separate contract.
Cost of Biosecurity Revenue
The cost of Biosecurity service revenue consists of costs related to the Company's end-to-end pathogen testing, sequencing, and analysis services. This includes costs incurred for sample collection equipment and materials, outsourced laboratory analysis, access to results reported through a proprietary web-based portal, and reporting of results to public authorities. Additionally, the cost of Biosecurity service revenue includes direct labor cost associated with bioinformatics, lab network management, delivery logistics, and customer support. Before the fourth quarter of 2023, cost of Biosecurity product revenue consisted of costs associated with the sale of diagnostic and sample collection test kits, which included costs incurred to purchase test kits from third parties.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs consist of direct and indirect internal costs related to specific projects and initiatives, acquired intellectual property deemed to be in-process research and development, as well as fees paid to other entities that conduct certain research and development activities on the Company’s behalf.
Patent Costs
The Company expenses all costs as incurred in connection with the filing, prosecution, maintenance, defense, and enforcement of patent applications, including direct application fees and related legal and consulting expenses. Patent costs are included in general and administrative expenses within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based awards based on estimated grant-date fair values recognized over the requisite service period. For awards that vest solely based on a service condition, the Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. For awards that vest based on multiple conditions, the Company recognizes compensation expense using the accelerated attribution method on a tranche-by-tranche basis over the requisite service period such that the amount of compensation expense recognized at each reporting period is at least equal to the vested tranches at that date. For awards with a performance-based vesting condition, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation when achievement of the performance condition is deemed probable. Upon achieving a performance condition that was not previously considered as probable, the Company records a cumulative catch-up adjustment to reflect the portion of the grantee’s requisite service that has been provided to date. For awards with market conditions, the compensation expense recognized over the requisite service period is not reversed if the market condition is not satisfied. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.
The Company estimates the grant date fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the input of subjective assumptions, including expected term, expected volatility, risk-free interest rate and expected dividend yield. The expected term is determined using the “simplified” method, which estimates the expected term as the average of the vesting term plus the contractual term. The Company uses the “simplified” method as it does not have sufficient historical data regarding employee exercise behavior. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the stock prices of similar publicly traded peer companies. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues similar in duration to the expected term of the stock options. The Company has not paid, and does not expect to pay, dividends in the foreseeable future.
For awards with market conditions, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation based on the estimated grant date fair value of the awards determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model, which incorporates various assumptions including expected stock price volatility, risk-free interest rates, expected term, and expected dividend yield. The Company estimates volatility using a weighted average of its own historical volatility and the historical volatility of selected comparable publicly-traded companies due to the limited time period of historical market data for the Company's Class A common stock. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues similar in duration to the expected term of the awards. The expected term is equal to the contractual term and a dividend yield of zero is assumed.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements or in the Company’s tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of the assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance against deferred tax assets is recorded if, based on the weight of the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Potential for recovery of deferred tax assets is evaluated by considering several factors, including estimating the future taxable profits expected, estimating future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, considering taxable profits in carryback periods, and considering prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions using a more-likely-than-not threshold for recognizing and resolving uncertain tax positions. The evaluation of uncertain tax positions is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in the law, the measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in tax returns, the effective settlement of matters subject to audit, new audit activity, and changes in facts or circumstances related to a tax position. The Company evaluates uncertain tax positions on an annual basis and adjusts the level of the liability to reflect any subsequent changes in the relevant facts surrounding the uncertain positions. The Company accounts for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as part of its provision for income taxes. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not have any uncertain tax positions and no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The Company does not expect a material change in unrecognized tax benefits in the next twelve months.
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss is defined as the change in equity during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Other comprehensive loss consists of foreign currency translation adjustments.
Net Loss per Share
The Company follows the two-class method when computing net loss per share attributable to Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. common stockholders as the Company has issued shares that meet the definition of participating securities. The two-class method determines net loss per share for each class of common and participating securities according to dividends declared or accumulated and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The two-class method requires earnings for the period to be allocated between common and participating securities based upon their respective rights to share in the earnings as if all earnings for the period had been distributed. During periods of loss, there is no allocation required under the two-class method since the participating securities do not have a contractual obligation to fund the losses of the Company.
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period increased to include the effect of dilutive potential common shares, such as outstanding stock options, unvested restricted stock awards, unvested restricted stock units, warrants and contingently issued shares. Dilutive securities are excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average common shares outstanding if their effect would be anti-dilutive based on the treasury stock method.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-02, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures. The amendments in this ASU eliminate the accounting guidance for troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) by creditors while enhancing disclosure requirements for certain loan refinancings and restructurings by creditors when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty. Specifically, rather than applying the recognition and measurement guidance for TDRs, an entity must evaluate whether a modification results in a new loan or a continuation of an existing loan. The Company adopted ASU 2022-02 on January 1, 2023. The adoption of ASU 2022-02 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740), which focuses on improvements to income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. The amendments in this ASU require that public business entities on an annual basis (1) disclose specific categories in the tabular rate reconciliation, using both percentages and reporting currency amounts, and (2) provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. In addition, all entities are required to disclose income taxes paid, net of refunds received disaggregated by federal, state/local, and foreign and by jurisdiction if the amount is at least 5% of total income tax payments, net of refunds received. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The amendments should be applied on a prospective basis, with retrospective application permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this ASU will have on its disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280). This standard requires that a public entity disclose, on an annual and interim basis, significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief
operating decision maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss, as well as other segment items and a description of its components. Additionally, it requires disclosure of the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. The ASU does not change how a public entity identifies its operating segments, aggregates those operating segments, or applies the quantitative thresholds to determine its reportable segments. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this ASU will have on its disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.
In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-03, Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions. This standard clarifies that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security is not considered part of the unit of account of the equity security, and therefore is not considered in measuring fair value. It also introduces required disclosures for equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions. This standard becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of the ASU to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.