Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of significant accounting policies

v2.4.0.8
Summary of significant accounting policies
12 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Note 1 - Summary of significant accounting policies


Nature of business


Enzo Biochem, Inc. (the “Company”) is an integrated life science and biotechnology company engaged in research, development, manufacturing and marketing of diagnostic and research products based on genetic engineering, biotechnology and molecular biology. These products are designed for the diagnosis of and/or screening for infectious diseases, cancers, genetic defects and other medically pertinent diagnostic information and are distributed in the United States and internationally. The Company is conducting research and development activities in the development of therapeutic products based on the Company’s technology platform of genetic modulation and immune modulation. The Company also operates a clinical laboratory that offers and provides diagnostic medical testing services in the New York, New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania medical communities. The Company operates in three segments (see Note 15).


Principles of consolidation


The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Enzo Clinical Labs, Inc., Enzo Life Sciences, Inc. (and its wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries), Enzo Therapeutics, Inc. and Enzo Realty LLC (“Realty”). All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.


Use of Estimates


The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying footnotes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


Foreign Currency Translation/Transactions


The Company has determined that the functional currency for its foreign subsidiaries is the local currency. For financial reporting purposes, assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at current exchange rates and profit and loss accounts are translated at weighted average exchange rates. Resulting translation gains and losses are included as a separate component of stockholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Gains or losses resulting from transactions entered into in other than the functional currency are recorded as foreign exchange gains and losses in the consolidated statements of operations.


Cash and cash equivalents


Cash and cash equivalents consist of demand deposits with banks and highly liquid money market funds.. At July 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had cash and cash equivalents in foreign bank accounts of $1.1 million and $1.5 million, respectively.


Fair Values of Financial Instruments


The recorded amounts of the Company’s cash and equivalents, receivables, loan payable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair values principally because of the short-term nature of these items.


Concentration of credit risk


Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable.


The Company believes the fair value of the aforementioned financial instruments approximates the cost due to the immediate or short-term nature of these items.


Concentration of credit risk with respect to the Company’s Life Sciences segment is mitigated by the diversity of the Company’s clients and their dispersion across many different geographic regions. To reduce risk, the Company routinely assesses the financial strength of these customers and, consequently, believes that its accounts receivable credit exposure with respect to these customers is limited.


The Company believes that the concentration of credit risk with respect to the Clinical Labs accounts receivable is mitigated by the diversity of third party payers that insure individuals. To reduce risk, the Company routinely assesses the financial strength of these payers and, consequently, believes that its accounts receivable credit risk exposure, with respect to these payers, is limited. While the Company also has receivables due from the Federal Medicare program, the Company does not believe that these receivables represent a credit risk since the Medicare program is funded by the federal government and payment is primarily dependent on our submitting the appropriate documentation.


Accrual for Self-Funded Medical


Accruals for self-funded medical insurance are determined based on a number of assumptions and factors, including historical payment trends, claims history and current estimates. These estimated liabilities are not discounted. If actual trends differ from these estimates, the financial results could be impacted.


Revenue Recognition - Product revenues


Revenues from product sales are recognized when the products are shipped and title transfers, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.


Royalties


Royalty revenues are recorded in the period earned. Royalties received in advance of being earned are recorded as deferred revenues.


Clinical laboratory services


Revenues from the Clinical Labs segment are recognized upon completion of the testing process for a specific patient and reported to the ordering physician. These revenues and the associated accounts receivable are based on gross amounts billed or billable for services rendered, net of a contractual adjustment, which is the difference between amounts billed to payers and the expected reimbursable settlements from such payers.


The following table summarizes the Clinical Lab segment’s net revenues and revenue percentages by revenue category:


    Years Ended July 31,  
    2014     2013     2012    
Revenue category    Amount     %      Amount     %      Amount     %    
Third-party payers   $   29,509       50     $   26,014       47     $   29,616       50    
Medicare     12,815       22       12,497       22       12,658       21    
Patient self-pay     11,204       19       12,172       22       11,895       20    
HMO’s     5,161       9       5,206       9       5,234       9    
Total   $ 58,689       100 %   $ 55,889       100 %   $ 59,403       100 %  
                                                     

The Company provides services to certain patients covered by various third-party payers, including the Federal Medicare program. Laws and regulations governing Medicare are complex and subject to interpretation for which action for noncompliance includes fines, penalties and exclusion from the Medicare programs (See Note 14).


Other than the Medicare program, one provider whose programs are included in the “Third-party payers” and “Health Maintenance Organizations” (“HMO’s”) categories represent approximately 25%, 22% and 21% of the Clinical Labs segment net revenue for the years ended July 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 respectively.


Contractual Adjustment


The Company’s estimate of contractual adjustment is based on significant assumptions and judgments, such as its interpretation of payer reimbursement policies, and bears the risk of change. The estimation process is based on the experience of amounts approved as reimbursable and ultimately settled by payers, versus the corresponding gross amount billed to the respective payers. The contractual adjustment is an estimate that reduces gross revenue based on gross billing rates to amounts expected to be approved and reimbursed. Gross billings are based on a standard fee schedule the Company sets for all third-party payers, including Medicare, HMO’s and managed care providers. The Company adjusts the contractual adjustment estimate quarterly, based on its evaluation of current and historical settlement experience with payers, industry reimbursement trends, and other relevant factors which include the monthly and quarterly review of: 1) current gross billings and receivables and reimbursement by payer, 2) current changes in third party arrangements and 3) the growth of in-network provider arrangements and managed care plans specific to our Company.


During the years ended July 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the contractual adjustment percentages, determined using current and historical reimbursement statistics, were approximately 86%, 85% and 85%, respectively, of gross billings.


Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts


Accounts receivable are reported at realizable value, net of allowances for doubtful accounts, which is estimated and recorded in the period of the related revenue.


For the Clinical Labs segment, the allowance for doubtful accounts represents amounts that the Company does not expect to collect after the Company has exhausted its collection procedures. The Company estimates its allowance for doubtful accounts in the period the related services are billed and adjusts the estimate in future accounting periods as necessary. It bases the estimate for the allowance on the evaluation of historical collection experience, the aging profile of accounts receivable, payer mix and other relevant factors.


During the years ended July 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company determined an allowance for doubtful accounts for customers whose accounts receivable have been outstanding less than 210 days and either fully reserved or wrote off 100% of accounts receivable over 210 days, as it determined based on historical trends that those accounts were uncollectible, except for certain fully reserved balances, principally related to Medicare. These accounts have not been written off because the payer’s filing date deadline has not occurred or the collection process has not been exhausted. The Company adjusts the historical collection analysis for recoveries, if any, on an ongoing basis.


The Company’s ability to collect outstanding receivables from third-party payers is critical to its operating performance and cash flows. The primary collection risk lies with uninsured patients or patients for whom primary insurance has paid but a patient portion remains outstanding. The Company also assesses the current state of its billing functions in order to identify any known collection issues and to assess the impact, if any, on the allowance estimates which involves judgment. The Company believes that the collectability of its receivables is directly linked to the quality of its billing processes, most notably, those related to obtaining the correct information in order to bill effectively for the services provided. Should circumstances change (e.g. shift in payer mix, decline in economic conditions or deterioration in aging of receivables), our estimates of net realizable value of receivables could be reduced by a material amount.


The Clinical Labs segment’s net receivables are detailed by billing category and as a percent to its total net receivables. At July 31, 2014 and 2013, approximately 60% of the Company’s net accounts receivable relates to its Clinical Labs business, which operates in the New York, New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania medical communities.


The Life Sciences segment’s accounts receivable includes royalties receivable of $1.0 million and $1.2 million, as of July 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, due from QIAGEN Gaithersburg Inc. (“Qiagen”) (see Note 12).


The following is a table of the Company’s net accounts receivable by segment.


    July 31, 2014     July 31, 2013  
Net accounts receivable by segment   Amount     %     Amount      %  
Clinical Labs (by billing category)                                
Third party payers   $ 3,499       46     $ 3,395       46  
Patient self-pay     2,193       29       2,696       37  
Medicare     1,558       21       930       13  
HMO’s     280       4       300       4  
Total Clinical Labs     7,530       100 %     7,321       100 %
                                 
Total Life Sciences     4,940               4,967          
Total accounts receivable – net   $ 12,470             $ 12,288          

Changes in the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:


    July 31, 2014     July 31, 2013  
Beginning balance   $ 2,707     $ 3,273  
Provision for doubtful accounts     3,063       4,496  
Write-offs     (3,628 )     (5,062 )
Ending balance   $ 2,142     $ 2,707  

Inventories


The Company values inventory at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market. Work-in-process and finished goods inventories consist of material, labor, and manufacturing overhead. Write downs of inventories to market value are based on a review of inventory quantities on hand and estimated sales forecasts based on sales history and anticipated future demand. Unanticipated changes in demand could have a significant impact on the value of our inventory and require additional write downs of inventory which would impact our results of operations.


Property, plant and equipment


Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, and depreciated on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the various asset classes as follows: building and building improvements: 15 - 30 years, and laboratory machinery and equipment and office furniture and computer equipment which range from 3 - 10 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of the related leases or estimated useful lives of the assets, whichever is shorter.


Goodwill and Intangible Assets


Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired.


Intangible assets (exclusive of patents), arose primarily from acquisitions, and primarily consist of customer relationships, trademarks, licenses, and website and database content. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized according to their estimated useful lives, which range from 4 to 15 years. Indefinite-lived intangibles are not amortized and are evaluated each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support their having an indefinite life. Indefinite-lived intangibles found to no longer have an indefinite life are evaluated for impairment and are then amortized over their remaining useful life as finite-lived intangible assets. Patents represent capitalized legal costs incurred in pursuing patent applications. When such applications result in an issued patent, the related capitalized costs are amortized over a ten year period or the life of the patent, whichever is shorter, using the straight-line method. The Company reviews its issued patents and pending patent applications, and if it determines to abandon a patent application or that an issued patent no longer has economic value, the unamortized balance in deferred patent costs relating to that patent is immediately expensed.


Impairment testing for Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets


The Company tests goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets annually as of the first day of the fourth quarter, or more frequently if indicators of potential impairment exist. In assessing goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment, the Company has the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit or intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. If the Company determines that it is not more likely that not that the fair value of a reporting unit or intangible asset is less than its carrying amount, the Company is not required to perform any additional tests in assessing goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. For goodwill, if the Company concludes otherwise or elects not to perform the qualitative assessment, then it is required to perform the first step of a two-step quantitative impairment review process. The first step of the quantitative impairment test requires the identification of the reporting units and comparison of the fair value of each of these reporting units to their respective carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit is less than its fair value, no impairment exists and the second step is not performed. If the carrying value of the reporting unit is higher than its fair value, the second step must be performed to compute the amount of the goodwill impairment, if any. In the second step, the impairment is computed by comparing the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized for the excess. For indefinite-lived intangible assets, if the Company concludes otherwise or elects not to perform the qualitative assessment, then the fair value of the intangible asset is compared to its carrying value, and impairment is recognized for the excess of the carrying value over the fair value, if any. 


The Company performed a qualitative assessment in 2014 and a quantitative assessment in 2013 and concluded there were no impairments. The Company performed a quantitative assessment in fiscal 2012 and concluded goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets had been impaired (see Note 2).


The Company reviews the recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived assets (including intangible assets with finite lives) for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable. Should indicators of impairment exist, the carrying values of the assets are evaluated in relation to the operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying business. The net book value of an asset is adjusted to fair value if its expected future undiscounted cash flow is less than its book value. There were 0 impairments in 2014, 2013 or 2012, exclusive of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles in 2012.


Comprehensive loss


Comprehensive loss consists of the Company’s consolidated net loss and foreign currency translation adjustments. Foreign currency translation adjustments included in comprehensive loss were not tax effected as investments in international affiliates are deemed to be permanent. Accumulated other comprehensive income is a separate component of stockholders’ equity and consists of the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments.


Shipping and Handling Costs


Shipping and handling costs associated with the distribution of finished goods to customers are recorded in cost of goods sold.


Research and Development


Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred.


Advertising


All costs associated with advertising are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense, included in Selling, general and administrative expense, approximated $440, $302 and $237 for the years ended July 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.


Income Taxes


The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. The liability method requires that any tax benefits recognized for net operating loss carry forwards and other items be reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that the benefits may not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Under the liability method, the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.


It is the Company’s policy to provide for uncertain tax positions and the related interest and penalties based upon management’s assessment of whether a tax benefit is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. At July 31, 2014, the Company believes it has appropriately accounted for any unrecognized tax benefits. To the extent the Company prevails in matters for which a liability for an unrecognized tax benefit is established or is required to pay amounts in excess of the liability, the Company’s effective tax rate in a given financial statement period may be affected.


Segment Reporting


The Company follows accounting pronouncements which establish standards for reporting information on operating segments in interim and annual financial statements. An enterprise is required to separately report information about each operating segment that engages in business activities from which the segment may earn revenues and incur expenses, whose separate operating results are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker regarding allocation of resources and performance assessment and which exceed specific quantitative thresholds related to revenue and profit or loss. The Company’s operating activities are reported in three segments (see Note 15).


Net income (loss) per share


Basic net income (loss) per share represents net income (loss) divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The dilutive effect of potential common shares, consisting of outstanding stock options and unvested restricted stock, is determined using the treasury stock method. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 do not include the potential common shares from stock options and unvested restricted stock because to do so would have been antidilutive and as such is the same as basic weighted average shares outstanding. The number of potential common shares (“in the money options”) and unvested restricted stock excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the years ended July 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 was 159,000, 32,000, and 0, respectively.


For the years ended July 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the effect of approximately 604,000, 727,000 and 736,000 respectively, of outstanding “out of the money” options to purchase common shares were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share because their effect would be anti-dilutive. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share for the years ended July 31:


    2014     2013     2012  
Net loss   $ (9,977 )   $ (18,237 )   $ (39,269 )
                         
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Basic     42,561       39,607       38,798  
Add: effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock                  
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Diluted     42,561       39,607       38,798  
                         
Net loss per share:                        
Basic and diluted   $ (0.23 )   $ (0.46 )   $ (1.01 )

Share-Based Compensation


The Company records compensation expense associated with stock options and restricted stock based upon the fair value of stock based awards as measured at the grant date. The expense is recorded by amortizing the fair values on a straight line basis over the vesting period, adjusted for estimated forfeitures.


For the years ended July 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, share-based compensation expense relating to the fair value of stock options, restricted shares and restricted stock units was approximately $594, $545, and $719, respectively (see Note 10). 0 excess tax benefits were recognized for the year ended July 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.


The following table sets forth the amount of expense related to share-based payment arrangements included in specific line items in the accompanying statement of operations for the years ended July 31:


    2014     2013     2012  
Cost of clinical laboratory services   $ 9     $ 10     $ 10  
Research and development     1       2       4  
Selling, general and administrative     584       533       705  
    $ 594     $ 545     $ 719  

As of July 31, 2014, there was $462 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based payment arrangements granted under the Company’s incentive stock plans, which will be recognized over a weighted average remaining life of approximately fourteen months.


Effect of new accounting pronouncements


In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Topic 606, or ASU 2014-09. ASU 2014-09 amends the guidance for revenue recognition to replace numerous, industry-specific requirements and converges areas under this topic with those of the International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2014-09 implements a five-step process for customer contract revenue recognition that focuses on transfer of control, as opposed to transfer of risk and rewards. The amendment also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows from contracts with customers. Other major provisions include the capitalization and amortization of certain contract costs, ensuring the time value of money is considered in the transaction price, and allowing estimates of variable consideration to be recognized before contingencies are resolved in certain circumstances. The amendments in ASU 2014-09 are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and early adoption is prohibited. Entities can transition to the standard either retrospectively or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. We are currently assessing the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on the Company’s combined consolidated financial statements.


In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, A Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (A Consensus the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). ASU 2013-11 requires an entity to present an unrecognized tax benefit as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, or similar tax loss or tax credit carryforward, rather than as a liability when the uncertain tax position would reduce the net operating loss or other carryforward under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction and the entity intends to use the deferred tax asset for that purpose. This amendment is effective prospectively but allows optional retrospective adoption (for all periods presented). We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.


In August 2014, the FABS issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. ASU 2014-15 will explicitly require management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, and to provide related footnote disclosure in certain circumstances. The new standard will be effective for all entities in the first annual period ending after December 15, 2016. Earlier adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2014-15.