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Nature of Operations, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Nature of Operations, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1 – Nature of Operations, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Nature of Operations

 

The Company plans to pursue the exploration of potential oil and gas resources in the Perlas and Tyra concession blocks offshore Nicaragua in the Caribbean Sea (the “Nicaraguan Concessions” or “Concessions”), which contain a total of approximately 1.4 million acres. The Company sold its wholly-owned subsidiary Infinity Oil and Gas of Texas, Inc. in 2012 and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Infinity Oil and Gas of Wyoming, Inc., was administratively dissolved in 2009.

 

The Nicaraguan Concessions represent its principal asset and only exploration and development project. On March 5, 2009 Infinity signed the contracts relating to its Nicaraguan Concessions. Infinity conducted activities to develop geological information from the processing and evaluation of 2-D seismic data that was acquired for the Nicaraguan Concessions. The Company identified multiple sites for exploratory drilling and intends to plan the initial exploratory well on the Perlas Block in order to determine the existence of commercial hydrocarbon reserves, subject to receipt from the Nicaraguan government of authorizations for the drilling of up to five wells, financing and satisfaction of other conditions. In order to meet its obligations under the Perlas Block of the Nicaraguan Concession, the Company had to drill its initial exploratory well during 2016, which did not occur. As a result of this and other defaults, the Company is in default of the Perlas development plan and may lose its rights under the Nicaraguan Concessions. The work plan on the Tyra block requires the Company to shoot additional seismic prior to the commencement of exploratory drilling. The Company is seeking a waiver of the additional seismic mapping on the Tyra Block and extension of time to complete its initial well from the Nicaraguan government. It has not been able to pay the 2016, 2017 and 2018 area fees and training fees for both the Perlas and Tyra blocks as required under the Nicaraguan Concessions and is in default. The Company is seeking to negotiate extensions, waivers and/or new Perlas and Tyra Concession agreements with the Nicaraguan government to cure such defaults. It has encountered challenges in this regard because of the political situation in Nicaragua. There can be no assurance whether it will be able to obtain such extensions, waivers and/or new agreements that will cure its various defaults under the Nicaraguan Concessions. The current environment for oil and gas development projects, especially discoveries in otherwise undeveloped regions of the world, is very challenging given the depressed commodity prices for oil and gas products and the resulting industry-wide reduction in capital expenditure budgets for exploration and development projects. There can be no assurance whether the Company will be able to cure its various defaults under the Nicaraguan Concessions and obtain adequate financing to fund the exploration and development of its Nicaraguan Concessions.

 

The Company is assessing various opportunities and strategic alternatives involving the acquisition, exploration and development of natural gas and oil properties in the United States, including the possibility of acquiring businesses or assets that provide support services for the production of oil and gas in the United States.

 

On May 7, 2015, the Company completed the private placement (the “May 2015 Private Placement”) of a $12.0 million principal amount Secured Convertible Note (the “Note”) and a common stock purchase warrant to purchase 1,800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrant”) with an institutional investor (the “Investor”). At the closing, the Investor acquired the Note by paying $450,000 in cash and issuing a promissory note, secured by cash, with a principal amount of $9,550,000 (the “Investor Note”).

 

On May 4, 2017, the Investor notified the Company that it elected to effect an Investor Optional Offset under Section 7(a) of the Investor Note of the full $9,490,000 principal amount outstanding under the Investor Note against $9,490,000 in aggregate principal outstanding under the Convertible Note. It did so by surrendering and concurrently cancelling $9,490,000 in aggregate principal of the Convertible Note in exchange for the satisfaction in full and cancellation of the Investor Note. The Convertible Note had an aggregate outstanding principal balance of $11,687,231 as of the date of the exchange. The Investor requested the Company to deliver a new convertible note (the “Replacement Note”) representing the remaining principal balance of $2,197,231 to replace the Convertible Note. The Replacement Note provides for a one-year maturity from May 7, 2017, a conversion price of $0.50 per share and is currently in technical default. The Company is continuing to negotiate with the Investor a resolution of this matter regarding the issuance of the Replacement Note under the terms of the financing and taking into consideration that the Investor only funded $510,000 in the entire transaction, but there can be no assurance that it will be successful in this regard.

The Note was to mature on the three-year anniversary of its issuance, bore interest at 8% per annum, and was convertible at any time at the option of the holder into shares of the Company’s common stock at $5.00 per share (the “Conversion Price”). The Note is now in default and the Company has had discussions with the Holder regarding a resolution to the default, but there has been no progress at present. As a part of the May 2015 Private Placement, the Company issued a Warrant to the Investor giving it the right to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $5.00 per share. The Warrant is exercisable commencing nine months from the date of issuance for a period of seven years from the date of issuance. The Note ranked senior to the Company’s existing and future indebtedness and is secured by all the assets of the Company, excluding the Concessions. The proposed Replacement Note would have the same security interest as the Convertible Note.

 

In addition, the Company continues to seek offers from industry operators and other third parties for interests in the acreage in the Nicaraguan Concessions in exchange for cash and a carried interest in exploration and development operations or other joint venture arrangement.

 

Going Concern

 

As reflected in the accompanying statements of operations, the Company has had a history of losses. The Company has a significant working capital deficit, has notes payable that are in default and is experiencing substantial liquidity issues. In addition, the Company’s most significant asset and its primary business plan is the exploration and development of the Nicaraguan Concessions which are now in default and in risk of being terminated.

 

The Company has relied on raising debt and equity capital to fund its ongoing maintenance/expenditure obligations under the Nicaraguan Concession, for its day-to-day operations and its corporate overhead because it has generated no operating revenues or cash flows in recent years. The $1.0 million December 2013 Note (See Note 3) matured in April 2016 and is currently in default and five other notes payable with principal balances of $338,125 as of December 31, 2018 are now either due on demand or currently in default. The Company is seeking resolutions to these defaults including extensions of the maturity date for these notes payable; however, there can be no assurance that it will be able to obtain such extensions or what the final terms will be if the lenders agree to such extensions.

 

The Company was in default of various provisions of the 30-year Concession for both Perlas and Tyra blocks as of December 31, 2018, including (1) the drilling of at least one exploratory well on the Perlas Block; (2) the shooting of additional seismic on the Tyra Block; (3) the provision of the Ministry of Energy with the required letters of credit in the amounts totaling $1,356,227 for the Perlas block and $278,450 for the Tyra block for exploration requirements on the leases; (4) payment of the 2016, 2017 and 2018 area fees required for both the Perlas and Tyra which total approximately $167,000; and (5) payment of the 2016, 2017 and 2018 training fees required for both the Perlas and Tyra totaling approximately $300,000. The Company is seeking to extend, renew and/or renegotiate the terms of the Nicaraguan Concessions with the Nicaraguan government to cure the defaults. The Company has encountered challenges in this regard because of the political situation in Nicaragua. There can be no assurance whether it will be able to extend, renew and/or renegotiate the Nicaraguan Concessions and whether any new terms will be favorable to the Company. The Company must raise substantial amounts of debt and equity capital from other sources in the immediate future in order to fund the foregoing and (i) normal day-to-day operations and corporate overhead, (ii) outstanding debt and other financial obligations as they become due, including the $1.0 million December 2013 Note, and the five notes payable totaling $338,125, which are either due on demand or currently in default and the Replacement Note, if issued. These are substantial operational and financial issues that must be successfully addressed during 2019 or the Company’s ability to satisfy the conditions necessary to maintain and/or renegotiate its Nicaragua Concessions will be in significant doubt.

 

The Company is seeking sources of debt and equity capital to fund the substantial needs enumerated above. The Company is also attempting to obtain extensions of the maturity date for its debt. There can be no assurance that it will be successful in these regards.

 

Due to the uncertainties related to these matters, there exists substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financials are issued. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of asset carrying amounts or the amount and classification of liabilities that might result should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

Management Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates with regard to the financial statements include the estimated carrying value of unproved properties, the estimated fair value of derivative liabilities, secured convertible note payable, stock-based awards and overriding royalty interests, and the realization of deferred tax assets.

 

Concentrations

 

The Company’s business plan consists of developing the Nicaraguan Concessions and it expects to be active in Nicaragua for the foreseeable future, given sufficient capital and curing the defaults under the Nicaraguan Concessions and it other financial obligations. The political climate in Nicaragua is unstable and is subject to radical change over a short period of time. In the event of a significant negative change in political and economic stability in the vicinity of the Nicaraguan Concessions or of the inability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing, the Company might be forced to abandon or suspend its efforts and its rights under its Nicaraguan Concessions.

 

Foreign Currency

 

The United States dollar is the functional currency for the Company’s operations. Although the Company’s acquisition and exploration activities have been conducted in Nicaragua, a significant portion of the payments incurred for exploration activities are denominated in United States dollars. The Company expects that a significant portion of its required and discretionary expenditures in the foreseeable future will also be denominated in United States dollars. Any foreign currency gains and losses are included in the results of operations in the period in which they occur. The Company does not have any cash accounts denominated in foreign currencies.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash consists of cash on hand and demand deposits with financial institutions. Although the Company had minimal cash as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, it is the Company’s policy that all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased would be cash equivalents and would be included along with cash as cash and equivalents.

 

Oil and Gas Properties

 

The Company follows the full cost method of accounting for exploration and development activities. Accordingly, all costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration, and development of properties (including costs of surrendered and abandoned leaseholds, delay lease rentals, dry holes and seismic costs) and the fair value of estimated future costs of site restoration, dismantlement, and abandonment activities are capitalized. Overhead related to development activities is also capitalized during the acquisition phase.

 

Depletion of proved oil and gas properties is computed on the units-of-production method, with oil and gas being converted to a common unit of measure based on relative energy content, whereby capitalized costs, as adjusted for estimated future development costs and estimated asset retirement costs, are amortized over the total estimated proved reserve quantities. Investments in unproved properties, including capitalized interest and internal costs, are not depleted pending determination of the existence of proved reserves.

 

Unproved properties are assessed periodically (at least annually) to ascertain whether impairment has occurred. Unproved properties whose costs are individually significant are assessed individually by considering the primary lease terms of the properties, the holding period of the properties, geographic and geologic data obtained relating to the properties, and estimated discounted future net cash flows from the properties. Estimated discounted future net cash flows are based on discounted future net revenues associated with probable and possible reserves, risk adjusted as appropriate. Where it is not practicable to assess individually the amount of impairment of properties for which costs are not individually significant, such properties are grouped for purposes of assessing impairment. The amount of impairment assessed is deducted from the costs to be amortized, and reported as a period expense when the impairment is recognized. All unproved property costs as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 relate to the Nicaraguan Concessions. In assessing the unproved property costs for impairment, the Company takes into consideration various information including: (i) the terms of the Concessions, (ii) the status of the Company’s compliance with the Nicaraguan Concessions’ requirements, (iii) the ongoing evaluation of the seismic data, (iv) the commodity prices for oil and gas products, (v) the overall environment related to oil and gas exploration and development projects for unproven targets in unproven regions of the world, (vi) the availability of financing for financial and strategic partners, and (vii) other factors that would impact the viability of a significant long-term oil and gas exploration and development project.

 

The current environment for oil and gas development projects, especially discoveries in otherwise undeveloped regions of the world, is very challenging given the depressed commodity prices for oil and gas products and the resulting industry-wide reduction in capital expenditure budgets for exploration and development projects. These are substantial impediments for the Company to obtain adequate financing to fund the exploration and development of its Nicaraguan projects. The Company has performed its impairment tests as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and has concluded that a full impairment reserve should be provided on the costs capitalized for the Nicaraguan Concessions oil and gas properties. All costs related to the Nicaraguan Concessions from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018 have been charged to operating expenses as incurred.

 

Pursuant to full cost accounting rules, the Company must perform a “ceiling test” each quarter. The ceiling test provides that capitalized costs less related accumulated depletion and deferred income taxes for each cost center may not exceed the sum of (1) the present value of future net revenue from estimated production of proved oil and gas reserves using prices based on the arithmetic mean of the previous 12 months’ first-of month prices and current costs, including the effects of derivative instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges, but excluding the future cash outflows associated with settling asset retirement obligations that have been accrued on the balance sheet, and a discount factor of 10%; plus (2) the cost of properties not being amortized, if any; plus (3) the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties included in the costs being amortized, if any; less (4) income tax effects related to differences in the book and tax basis of oil and gas properties. If capitalized costs exceed the ceiling, the excess must be charged to expense and may not be reversed in future periods. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company did not have any proved oil and gas properties, and all unproved property costs relate to its Nicaraguan Concessions.

 

Proceeds from the sales of oil and gas properties are accounted for as adjustments to capitalized costs with no gain or loss recognized, unless such adjustments would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves of oil and gas, in which case the gain or loss would be recognized in the determination of the Company’s net earnings/loss.

 

Asset Retirement Obligations

 

The Company records estimated future asset retirement obligations pursuant to the provisions of ASC 410. ASC 410 requires entities to record the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred with a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Subsequent to initial measurement, the asset retirement liability is required to be accreted each period. The Company’s asset retirement obligations consist of costs related to the plugging of wells, the removal of facilities and equipment, and site restoration on oil and gas properties. Capitalized costs are depleted as a component of the full cost pool using the units of production method. Although the Company had divested all of its domestic oil properties that contain operating and abandoned wells as of December 31, 2012, the Company may have obligations related to the divestiture of certain abandoned non-producing domestic leasehold properties should the new owner not perform its obligations to reclaim abandoned wells in a timely manner. Management believes the Company has been relieved from asset retirement obligation related to Infinity-Texas because of the sale of its Texas oil and gas properties in 2011 and its sale of 100% of the stock in Infinity-Texas in 2012. The Company has recognized an additional liability of $734,897 related to its former Texas oil and gas producing properties (included in asset retirement obligations) to recognize the potential personal liability of the Company and its officers for the Infinity-Texas oil and gas properties should the new owner not perform its obligations to reclaim abandoned wells in a timely manner. In addition, management believes the Company has been relieved from asset retirement obligations related to Infinity-Wyoming because of the sale of its Wyoming and Colorado oil and gas properties in 2008; however, the Company has recognized since 2012 an additional liability of $981,106 related to its former Wyoming and Colorado oil and gas producing properties (included in asset retirement obligations) to recognize the potential liability of the Company and its officers should the new owner not perform its obligations to reclaim abandoned wells in a timely manner.

 

Derivative Instruments

 

The Company accounts for derivative instruments or hedging activities under the provisions of ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging. ASC 815 requires the Company to record derivative instruments at their fair value. If the derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, the changes in the fair value of the derivative and of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portions of changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) and are recognized in the statement of operations when the hedged item affects earnings. Ineffective portions of changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges, if any, are recognized in earnings. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that do not qualify for hedge treatment are recognized in earnings.

 

The purpose of hedging is to provide a measure of stability to the Company’s cash flows in an environment of volatile oil and gas prices and to manage the exposure to commodity price risk. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and during the years then ended, the Company had no oil and natural gas derivative arrangements outstanding.

 

As a result of certain terms, conditions and features included in certain common stock purchase warrants issued by the Company (Notes 2, 3, 5 and 6), those warrants are required to be accounted for as derivatives at estimated fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in operations.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying values of the Company’s accounts payable, accrued liabilities and short term notes represent the estimated fair value due to the short-term nature of the accounts.

 

In accordance with ASC Topic 820 — Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), the Company utilizes the market approach to measure fair value for its financial assets and liabilities. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets, liabilities or a group of assets or liabilities, such as a business.

 

ASC 820 utilizes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The following is a brief description of those three levels:

 

  Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
       
  Level 2 — Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities).
       
  Level 3 — Significant unobservable inputs (including the Company’s own assumptions in determining the fair value.

 

The estimated fair value of the Company’s Note and various derivative liabilities, which are related to detachable warrants issued in connection with various notes payable, were estimated using a closed-ended option pricing model utilizing assumptions related to the contractual term of the instruments, estimated volatility of the price of the Company’s common stock, interest rates, the probability of both of the downward adjustment of the exercise price and the upward adjustment to the number of warrants as provided by the warrant agreement terms and non-performance risk factors, among other items. The fair values for the warrant derivatives as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were classified under the fair value hierarchy as Level 3.

 

The following table represents the Company’s hierarchy for its financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

December 31, 2018   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Liabilities:                                
Senior convertible note payable   $     $     $ 2,197,231     $ 2,197,231  
Derivative liabilities                 65,502       65,502  
    $     $     $ 2,262,733     $ 2,262,733  

 

December 31, 2017   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Liabilities:                                
Senior convertible note payable   $     $     $ 2,046,437     $ 2,046,437  
Derivative liabilities                 104,183       104,183  
    $     $     $ 2,150,620     $ 2,150,620  

 

There were no changes in valuation techniques or reclassifications of fair value measurements between Levels 1, 2 or 3 during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. This method requires the recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between financial accounting bases and tax bases of assets and liabilities. The tax benefits of tax loss carryforwards and other deferred taxes are recorded as an asset to the extent that management assesses the utilization of such assets to be more likely than not. Management routinely assesses the realizability of the Company’s deferred income tax assets, and a valuation allowance is recognized if it is determined that deferred income tax assets may not be fully utilized in future periods. Management considers future taxable earnings in making such assessments. Numerous judgments and assumptions are inherent in the determination of future taxable earnings, including such factors as future operating conditions. When the future utilization of some portion of the deferred tax asset is determined not to be more likely than not, a valuation allowance is provided to reduce the recorded deferred tax asset. When the Company can project that a portion of the deferred tax asset can be realized through application of a portion of tax loss carryforward, the Company will record that utilization as a deferred tax benefit and recognize a deferred tax asset in the same amount. There can be no assurance that facts and circumstances will not materially change and require the Company to adjust its deferred income tax asset valuation allowance in a future period. The Company recognized a deferred tax asset, net of valuation allowance, of $0 at December 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

The Company is potentially subject to taxation in many jurisdictions, and the calculation of income tax liabilities (if any) involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex income tax laws and regulations in various taxing jurisdictions. It recognizes certain income tax positions that meet a more-likely-than not recognition threshold. If the Company ultimately determines that the payment of these liabilities will be unnecessary, it will reverse the liability and recognize an income tax benefit. No liability for unrecognized tax benefit was recorded as of December 31, 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2018 the Company determined that the payment of the certain liabilities related to the alternative minimum tax from prior years will be unnecessary, and therefore it reversed the liability and recognized an income tax benefit as described in the following section.

 

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”),which significantly changes U.S. corporate income tax laws by, among other things, reducing the U.S. corporate income tax rate to 21% starting in 2018.

 

Under the Act, corporations are no longer subject to the AMT, effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. However, where a corporation has an AMT Credit from a prior taxable year, the corporation still carries it forward and may use a portion of it as a refundable credit in any taxable year beginning after 2017 but before 2022. Generally, 50% of the corporation’s AMT Credit carried forward to one of these years will be claimable and refundable for that year. In tax years beginning in 2021, however, the entire remaining carryforward generally will be refundable. The Company has generated an AMT credit carryforward during prior years totaling $150,000 which previously was reported as income taxes payable on the Company’s balance sheet and the corresponding deferred tax asset was fully reserved based on all available evidence, the Company considered it more likely than not that all of the AMT tax credit carryforward would not be realized. Based on the provisions of the new Act, the Company now considers it more likely than not that all the AMT tax credit carryforward will be realized. Accordingly, the Company has recognized an income benefit of $150,000 during the year ended December 31, 2018 as it reduced the corresponding income taxes payable to zero as of December 31, 2018. The Company will receive no cash from the elimination of this AMT tax credit carryforward because the Company had not previously paid the AMT tax but rather it recorded the income tax liability on the accompanying balance sheet.

 

Net Income (Loss) per Share

 

Pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 260, Earnings per Share, basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Common share equivalents included in the diluted computation represent shares issuable upon assumed exercise of stock options and warrants using the treasury stock and “if converted” method. For periods in which net losses are incurred, weighted average shares outstanding is the same for basic and diluted loss per share calculations, as the inclusion of common share equivalents would have an anti-dilutive effect.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which provides guidance on a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The effective date for this ASU, which was deferred by ASU 2015-14 issued in August 2015, is for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. In March 2016, the FASB also issued ASU 2016-08, an amendment to the guidance in ASU 2014-09 which revises the structure of the indicators to provide indicators of when the entity is the principal or agent in a revenue transaction, and eliminated two of the indicators (“the entity’s consideration is in the form of a commission” and “the entity is not exposed to credit risk”) in making that determination. This amendment also clarifies that each indicator may be more or less relevant to the assessment depending on the terms and conditions of the contract. In April 2016, the FASB also issued ASU 2016-10, which clarifies the implementation guidance on identifying promised goods or services and on determining whether an entity’s promise to grant a license with either a right to use the entity’s intellectual property (which is satisfied at a point in time) or a right to access the entity’s intellectual property (which is satisfied over time). The amendments, collectively, should be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method. Under the modified retrospective method, the Company would recognize the cumulative effect of initially applying the ASU as an adjustment to opening retained earnings at the date of initial application. The Company did not have any material adjustments at the date of adoption. The comparative periods have not been restated.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” Among other things, in the amendments in ASU 2016-02, lessees will be required to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date: (1) A lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and (2) A right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. Certain targeted improvements were made to align, where necessary, lessor accounting with the lessee accounting model and Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted upon issuance. Lessees (for capital and operating leases) and lessors (for sales-type, direct financing, and operating leases) must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The modified retrospective approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the earliest comparative period presented. Lessees and lessors may not apply a full retrospective transition approach. The Company is currently assessing the impact that ASU 2016-02 will have on its financial statements.

 

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases and ASU 2018-11 “Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements” (ASU 2018-11). ASU 2018-10 clarifies certain areas within ASU 2016-02. Prior to ASU 2018-11, a modified retrospective transition was required for financing or operating leases existing at or entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. ASU 2018-11 allows entities an additional transition method to the existing requirements whereby an entity could adopt the provisions of ASU 2016-02 by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption without adjustment to the financial statements for periods prior to adoption. ASU 2018-11 also allows a practical expedient that permits lessors to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component if certain conditions are present. An entity that elects to use the practical expedients will, in effect, continue to account for leases that commenced before the effective date in accordance with previous GAAP unless the lease is modified, except that lessees are required to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all operating leases at each reporting date based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments that were tracked and disclosed under previous GAAP. ASU 2016-02, ASU 2018-10 and ASU 2018-11 will be effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2019 and subsequent interim periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of these ASUs will have on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01 (“ASU 2017-01”), Business Combinations, which clarifies the definition of a business, particularly when evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses. The first part of the guidance provides a screen to determine when a set is not a business; the second part of the guidance provides a framework to evaluate whether both an input and a substantive process are present. The guidance will be effective after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for transactions that have not been reported in issued financial statements. The Company does not believe that the adoption of this pronouncement will have an impact on the presentation of its financial statements.

 

In January 2017, FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Accounting for Goodwill Impairment, Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test, which requires determining the implied fair value of goodwill and comparing it with its carrying amount has been eliminated. Thus, the goodwill impairment test is performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount (i.e., what was previously referred to as Step 1). In addition, ASU No. 2017-04 requires entities having one or more reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts to disclose (1) the identity of such reporting units, (2) the amount of goodwill allocated to each, and (3) in which reportable segment the reporting unit is included. ASU No. 2017-04 is effective as follows: (1) for a public business entity that is an SEC filer for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on our financial statements.

 

In February 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This update will be effective for all interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company does not believe that the adoption of these amendments have an impact on its financial statements.

 

In March 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-05, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“ASU 2018-05”). ASU 2018-05 adds various SEC paragraphs pursuant to the issuance of the December 2017 SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“SAB No. 118”), which was effective immediately. SAB No.118 provides for a provisional one year measurement period for entities to finalize their accounting for certain income tax effects related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The adoption of ASU 2018-05 had no material impact on the Company’s financial statements as of and for the year ending December 31, 2018. See Note 8, Income Taxes, for disclosures related to this amended guidance.

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This ASU is intended to simplify aspects of share-based compensation issued to non-employees by making the guidance consistent with the accounting for employee share based compensation. The guidance is effective for the Company for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2020. While the exact impact of this standard is not known, the guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements, as non-employee stock compensation is nominal relative to the Company’s total expenses as of December 31, 2018.

 

In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-17, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Targeted Improvements to Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities” (“ASU 2018-17”). This ASU reduces the cost and complexity of financial reporting associated with consolidation of variable interest entities (VIEs). A VIE is an organization in which consolidation is not based on a majority of voting rights. The new guidance supersedes the private company alternative for common control leasing arrangements issued in 2014 and expands it to all qualifying common control arrangements. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently assessing the impact the adoption of ASU 2018- 17 will have on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases and ASU 2018-11 “Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements” (ASU 2018-11). ASU 2018-10 clarifies certain areas within ASU 2016-02. Prior to ASU 2018-11, a modified retrospective transition was required for financing or operating leases existing at or entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. ASU 2018-11 allows entities an additional transition method to the existing requirements whereby an entity could adopt the provisions of ASU 2016-02 by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption without adjustment to the financial statements for periods prior to adoption. ASU 2018-11 also allows a practical expedient that permits lessors to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component if certain conditions are present. An entity that elects to use the practical expedients will, in effect, continue to account for leases that commenced before the effective date in accordance with previous GAAP unless the lease is modified, except that lessees are required to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all operating leases at each reporting date based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments that were tracked and disclosed under previous GAAP. ASU 2016-02, ASU 2018-10 and ASU 2018-11 will be effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2019 and subsequent interim periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of these ASUs will have on the Company’s financial statements.

 

The Company does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements.