ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions. Within this report, certain dollar amounts and percentages have been rounded to their approximate values.

The extent to which COVID-19 may impact our financial condition or results of operations is uncertain. As of the date of issuance of this report, we are not aware of any specific events or circumstances that would require us to update our estimates or judgments or adjust the carrying amount of our assets or liabilities.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Forward Industries, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (Forward US, Forward Switzerland, Forward UK, IPS and Kablooe). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

The acquisition of Kablooe took place in August 2020 and its results of operations have been included in our consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date. Accordingly, our results of operations for Fiscal 2021 include Kablooe’s results of operations for 12 months, while our results of operations for Fiscal 2020 include Kablooe’s results of operations for approximately six weeks. Key terms of the acquisition are described in Note 3.

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

The Company has three reportable segments: OEM distribution, retail distribution and design. The OEM distribution segment sources and distributes carrying cases and other accessories for medical monitoring and diagnostic kits and a variety of other portable electronic and non-electronic devices directly to OEMs or their contract manufacturers. The retail distribution segment sources and sells smart-enabled furniture and a variety of other products through agreements with various retailers, both in stores and through online retailer websites. The design segment consists of two operating segments (IPS and Kablooe, which have been aggregated into one reportable segment) that provide a full spectrum of hardware and software product design and engineering services. See Note 16 for more information on segments.

Goodwill

Goodwill

The Company reviews goodwill for impairment at least annually, or more often if triggering events occur. The Company has two reporting units with goodwill (IPS and Kablooe) and we perform our annual goodwill impairment test on September 30, the end of the fiscal year, or upon the occurrence of a triggering event. The Company has the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine if an impairment is more likely than not to have occurred. If the Company can support the conclusion that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the Company would not need to perform a quantitative impairment test for the reporting unit. If the Company cannot support such a conclusion or does not elect to perform the qualitative assessment, then the Company will perform the quantitative impairment test by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, no impairment charge is recognized. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, an impairment charge will be recognized for the amount by which the reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value. A significant amount of judgment is required in performing goodwill impairment tests including estimating the fair value of a reporting unit. See Note 4.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets include trademarks and customer relationships, which were acquired as part of the acquisitions of IPS in Fiscal 2018 and Kablooe in Fiscal 2020 (see Note 3) and are recorded based on their estimated fair value determined in conjunction with the purchase price allocation. These intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which are periodically evaluated for reasonableness.

Our intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. In assessing the recoverability of our intangible assets, we must make estimates and assumptions regarding future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of the respective assets. These estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on whether an impairment charge is recognized and also the magnitude of any such charge. Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant information. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgments and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates. If these estimates or material related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record impairment charges related to our intangible assets. Management evaluated and concluded that there were no indications of impairment of intangible assets at September 30, 2021 or 2020.

Cash

Cash

The Company maintains its cash in bank and financial institution deposits in the United States (that at times may exceed federally insured limits of $250,000 per financial institution) and Switzerland. At September 30, 2021 and 2020, there were deposits totaling $805,000 (which includes $436,000 in a foreign bank) and $2,300,000 (which includes $770,000 in a foreign bank), respectively, held in excess of federally insured limits. Historically, we have not experienced any losses due to such cash concentrations.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consist of unsecured trade accounts with customers. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is recorded as a reduction to accounts receivable on the consolidated balance sheets. Collectability of accounts receivable is estimated by evaluating the number of days accounts are outstanding, customer payment history, recent payment trends and perceived creditworthiness, adjusted as necessary based on specific customer situations. At September 30, 2021, the Company had allowances for doubtful accounts of $90,000 and $706,000 related to its OEM distribution segment and design segment accounts receivable, respectively. At September 30, 2020, the Company had allowances for doubtful accounts of $249,000 and $347,000 related to its OEM distribution segment and design segment accounts receivable, respectively. The Company did not have any allowance for doubtful accounts related to its retail distribution segment at September 30, 2021 or 2020.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories consist primarily of finished goods and are stated at the lower of cost (determined by the first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value. Based on management’s estimates, an allowance is made to reduce excess, obsolete, or otherwise unsellable inventories to net realizable value. The allowance is established through charges to cost of sales in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. As reserved inventory is disposed, the Company charges off the associated allowance. In determining the adequacy of the allowance, management’s estimates are based upon several factors, including analyses of inventory levels, historical loss trends, sales history and projections of future sales demand. The Company’s estimates of the allowance may change from time to time based on management’s assessments, and such changes could be material. At September 30, 2021 and 2020, the allowance for slow-moving inventory was $50,000 and $0, respectively.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consist of computer hardware and software, furniture, fixtures and equipment and are recorded at cost. Expenditures for major additions and improvements are capitalized, and minor replacements, maintenance, and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When property and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in the results of operations for the respective period. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the related assets using the straight-line method. The estimated useful lives for all property and equipment ranges from three to five years.

Leases

Leases

The Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842, "Leases", effective October 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective transition method and elected to apply the available practical expedients to enable the preparation of financial information on adoption. The practical expedients applied under the new standard allow the Company to carry forward the historical lease classification and not reassess its prior conclusions about lease identification or initial direct costs. In accordance with this guidance, lease assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term, using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate commensurate with the lease term, since the Company’s lessors do not provide an implicit rate, nor is one readily available. The Company has certain leases that may include an option to renew and when it is reasonably probable to exercise such option, the Company will include the renewal option terms in determining the lease asset and lease liability. Lease assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Operating lease assets are shown as right of use assets and financing lease assets are a component of property and equipment on the consolidated balance sheets. The current and long-term portions of operating and financing lease liabilities are shown separately as such on the consolidated balance sheets. Upon adoption of ASC 842, the Company recognized right of use assets of $3,649,000 and corresponding lease liabilities of $3,729,000 pertaining to its operating leases on its consolidated balance sheets.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company recognizes future tax benefits and liabilities measured at enacted rates attributable to temporary differences between financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities and to net tax operating loss carryforwards to the extent that realization of these benefits is more likely than not. At September 30, 2021, there was no change to our assessment that a full valuation allowance was required against all net deferred tax assets. Accordingly, any deferred tax provision or benefit was offset by an equal and opposite change to the valuation allowance. Our income tax provision or benefit is generally not significant due to the existence of significant net operating loss carryforwards. 

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

OEM and Retail Distribution Segments

The Company generally recognizes revenue in its OEM and retail distribution segments when: (i) finished goods are shipped to its customers (in general, these conditions occur at either point of shipment or point of destination, depending on the terms of sale and transfer of control); (ii) there are no other deliverables or performance obligations; and (iii) there are no further obligations to the customer after the title of the goods has transferred. When the Company receives consideration before achieving the criteria previously mentioned, it records a contract liability, which is classified as a component of deferred income in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The retail distribution segment had contract liabilities of $0, $75,000 and $0 at September 30, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The OEM distribution segment had no contract liabilities at September 30, 2021, 2020 or 2019.

Design Segment

The Company applies the “cost to cost” and “right to invoice” methods of revenue recognition to the contracts with customers in the design segment. The design segment typically engages in two types of contracts: (i) time and material and (ii) fixed price. The Company recognizes revenue over time on its time and material contracts utilizing a “right to invoice” method. Revenues from fixed price contracts that require performance of services that are not related to the production of tangible assets are recognized by using cost inputs to measure progress toward the completion of its performance obligations, or the “cost to cost” method. Revenues from fixed price contracts that contain specific deliverables are recognized when the performance obligation has been satisfied or the transfer of goods to the customer has been completed and accepted.

Recognized revenues that will not be billed until a later date, or contract assets, are recorded as an asset and classified as a component of accounts receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The design segment had contract assets of $693,000, $649,000 and $611,000 at September 30, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Contracts where collections to date have exceeded recognized revenues, or contract liabilities, are recorded as a liability and classified as a component of deferred income in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The design segment had contract liabilities at of $188,000, $410,000 and $220,000 at September 30, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Shipping and Handling Fees

Shipping and Handling Fees

The Company includes shipping and handling fees billed to customers in net revenues and the related transportation costs in cost of sales.

Foreign Currency Transactions

Foreign Currency Transactions

The Company’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Foreign currency transactions may generate receivables or payables that are fixed in terms of the amount of foreign currency that will be received or paid. Fluctuations in exchange rates between such foreign currency and the functional currency increase or decrease the expected amount of functional currency cash flows upon settlement of the transaction. These increases or decreases in expected functional currency cash flows are foreign currency transaction gains or losses that are included in other expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The approximate net losses from foreign currency transactions were $5,000 and $3,000 for Fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively. Such foreign currency transaction losses were primarily the result of euro denominated revenues from certain customers.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

We perform fair value measurements in accordance with the guidance provided by ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurement.” ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required to be recorded at their fair values, we consider the principal or most advantageous market in which we would transact and consider assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the assets or liabilities, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions, and risk of nonperformance.

ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. An asset's or liability's categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. ASC 820 establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

· Level 1: quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

· Level 2: inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; or

· Level 3: unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair values of the assets or liabilities.

Share-Based Compensation Expense

Share-Based Compensation Expense

The Company estimates the fair value of employee and non-employee director share-based compensation on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which includes variables such as the expected volatility of the Company’s share price, the exercise behavior of its grantees, interest rates, and dividend yields. These variables are projected based on the Company’s historical data, experience, and other factors. The fair value of employee and non-employee director share-based compensation is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations over the related service or vesting period of each grant. In the case of awards with multiple vesting periods, the Company has elected to use the graded vesting attribution method, which recognizes compensation cost on a straight-line basis over each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was, in substance, multiple awards (see Note 9).

Business Combinations

Business Combinations

The Company allocates the fair value of purchase consideration to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase consideration over the fair values of these identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. When determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, the Company makes significant estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to intangible assets.

Critical estimates in valuing certain intangible assets include but are not limited to future expected cash flows from customer relationships and developed technology, discount rates and terminal values. Our estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but actual results may differ from estimates. Other estimates associated with the accounting for acquisitions may change as additional information becomes available regarding the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the accompanying Fiscal 2020 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the Fiscal 2021 presentation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13 “Fair Value Measurement – Disclosure Framework (Topic 820)” to improve the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for any removed or modified disclosures. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of Fiscal 2021 with no material impact to its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-08, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) and Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” to provide guidance for share-based payment awards granted to a customer in conjunction with selling goods or services accounted for under Topic 606. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of Fiscal 2021 with no material impact to its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-11, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses.” ASU 2019-11 is an accounting pronouncement that provides clarity to and amends earlier guidance on this topic and would be effective concurrently with the adoption of such earlier guidance. This pronouncement is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of this pronouncement on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15 “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40)” addressing customers’ accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract, which requires customers to apply internal-use software guidance to determine the implementation costs that are able to be capitalized. Capitalized implementation costs are required to be amortized over the term of the arrangement, beginning when the cloud computing arrangement is ready for its intended use. The effective date of the new guidance for public companies is for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of Fiscal 2021 with no material impact to its consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.” This guidance removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and provides consistent application of U.S. GAAP by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The effective date of the new guidance for public companies is for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of this pronouncement on its consolidated financial statements.