Related Party Transactions

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

10. Related Party Transactions

Shared Facilities and Service Agreements with Affiliates

The receivables from affiliates shown on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018, primarily represent amounts owed to BioTime by OncoCyte and AgeX under separate Shared Facilities and Service Agreements (each a “Shared Facilities Agreement”), with amounts owed by OncoCyte comprising most of that amount. These outstanding amounts were paid in full in the first quarter of 2019. Under the terms of the Shared Facilities Agreements, BioTime allows OncoCyte and AgeX to use BioTime’s premises and equipment located at BioTime’s headquarters in Alameda, California for the purpose of conducting business. BioTime also provides accounting, billing, bookkeeping, payroll, treasury, payment of accounts payable, and other similar administrative services to OncoCyte and AgeX. BioTime may also provide the services of attorneys, accountants, and other professionals who may provide professional services to BioTime and its other subsidiaries. BioTime also has provided OncoCyte and AgeX with the services of laboratory and research personnel, including BioTime employees and contractors, for the performance of research and development work for OncoCyte and AgeX at the premises.

BioTime charges OncoCyte and AgeX a “Use Fee” for services provided and for use of BioTime facilities, equipment, and supplies. For each billing period, BioTime prorates and allocates to OncoCyte and AgeX costs incurred, including costs for services of BioTime employees and use of equipment, insurance, leased space, professional services, software licenses, supplies and utilities. The allocation of costs depends on key cost drivers, including actual documented use, square footage of facilities used, time spent, costs incurred by BioTime for OncoCyte and AgeX, or upon proportionate usage by BioTime, OncoCyte and AgeX, as reasonably estimated by BioTime. BioTime, at its discretion, has the right to charge OncoCyte and AgeX a 5% markup on such allocated costs. The allocated cost of BioTime employees and contractors who provide services is based upon the number of hours or estimated percentage of efforts of such personnel devoted to the performance of services.

The Use Fee is determined and invoiced to OncoCyte and AgeX on a regular basis, generally monthly or quarterly. Each invoice is payable in full within 30 days after receipt. Any invoice, or portion thereof, not paid in full when due will bear interest at the rate of 15% per annum until paid, unless the failure to make a payment is due to any inaction or delay in making a payment by BioTime. Through June 30, 2019, BioTime has not charged OncoCyte or AgeX any interest.

In addition to the Use Fee, OncoCyte and AgeX reimburse BioTime for any out of pocket costs incurred by BioTime for the purchase of office supplies, laboratory supplies, and other goods and materials and services for the account or use of OncoCyte or AgeX. BioTime is not obligated to purchase or acquire any office supplies or other goods and materials or any services for OncoCyte or AgeX, and if any such supplies, goods, materials or services are obtained, BioTime may arrange for the suppliers to invoice OncoCyte or AgeX directly.

The Shared Facilities Agreements remain in effect until a party gives the other party written notice that the Shared Facilities Agreement will terminate on December 31 of that year, or unless it is otherwise terminated under another provision of the agreement. In addition, BioTime and AgeX may each terminate their Shared Facilities Agreement prior to December 31 of the year by giving the other party written six months’ notice to terminate, but BioTime may not do so prior to September 1, 2020.

On May 7, 2019, AgeX provided written notice that it will terminate its use of BioTime’s office and laboratory facilities as of July 31, 2019. On July 3, 2019, AgeX provided written notice that the remaining shared services would terminate as of September 30, 2019. On July 30, 2019, OncoCyte provided written notice that it planned to terminate shared services effective as of September 30, 2019, except for the use of shared facilities, which remains in force.

In the aggregate, BioTime charged Use Fees to OncoCyte and AgeX as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended June 30, (unaudited)				Six Months Ended June 30, (unaudited)
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Research and development	$	491	$	217	$	984	$	437
General and administrative		179		175		411		346
Total use fees	$	670	$	392	$	1,395	$	783

The Use Fees charged to OncoCyte and AgeX shown above are not reflected in revenues, but instead BioTime’s general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses are shown net of those charges in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

BioTime accounts for receivables from affiliates, net of payables to affiliates, if any, for similar shared services and other transactions BioTime’s consolidated subsidiaries may enter into with nonconsolidated affiliates. BioTime and the affiliates record those receivables and payables on a net basis since BioTime and the affiliates intend to exercise a right of offset of the receivable and the payable and to settle the balances net by having the party that owes the other party pay the net balance owed.

Transactions with Ascendance Biotechnology, Inc.

On March 21, 2018, AgeX and Ascendance Biotechnology, Inc. (“Ascendance”), an equity method investee of AgeX and former equity method investee of BioTime, entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Asset Agreement”) in which AgeX purchased for $800,000 in cash certain assets consisting primarily of in-process research and development assets related to stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (heart muscle cells) to be developed by AgeX. The transaction was considered an asset acquisition rather than a business combination in accordance with ASC 805. Accordingly, the $800,000 purchase price was expensed on the acquisition date as acquired in-process research and development as those assets have no alternative future use. Also, on March 21, 2018, BioTime received $0.2 million from Ascendance as settlement of its accounts receivable from Ascendance.

Disposition of ownership interest in Ascendance

On March 23, 2018, Ascendance was acquired by a third party in a merger through which AgeX received approximately $3.2 million in cash for its shares of Ascendance common stock. AgeX recognized a $3.2 million gain on the sale of its equity method investment in Ascendance, which is included in other income and expenses, net, for the six months ended June 30, 2018.

Other related party transactions

In February 2018, Alfred D. Kingsley, the Chairman of BioTime’s Board of Directors and a former officer and director of AgeX, purchased AgeX stock purchase warrants entitling him to purchase 248,600 shares of AgeX common stock at an exercise price of $2.50 per share. AgeX received $124,300, or $0.50 per warrant, from Mr. Kingsley. The warrants were sold to Mr. Kingsley on the same terms as other warrants were sold by AgeX to other unaffiliated investors.

BioTime currently pays $5,050 per month for the use of approximately 900 square feet of office space in New York City, which is made available to BioTime on a month-by-month basis by one of its directors at an amount that approximates his cost (see Note 15).

In April 2019, BioTime issued 251,835 shares of BioTime common stock to Broadwood Partners, L.P., an Asterias and BioTime shareholder, in exchange for the settlement of Asterias Warrants in connection with the Asterias Merger (see Note 3).

In connection with the putative shareholder class action lawsuit filed in February 2019 challenging the Asterias Merger (see Note 15), BioTime has agreed to pay for the legal defense of Neal Bradsher, director, and Broadwood Partners, L.P., a shareholder of BioTime, and Broadwood Capital, Inc., which manages Broadwood Partners, L.P., all of which were named in the lawsuit. Through June 30, 2019, BioTime has incurred a total of $140,000 in legal expenses on behalf of the director, shareholder, and the manager of the shareholder.