Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  
Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Summit Wireless Technologies, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries also referred to herein as “we”, “us”, “our”, or the “Company”) was originally formed as a limited liability company in Delaware on July 23, 2010. Our business is to deliver the best-in-class immersive wireless sound technology for intelligent devices and next generation home entertainment systems through the sale of module components to audio companies as well as audio products to resellers and consumers.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and include all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The consolidated financial statements reflect the accounts of Summit Wireless Technologies, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Summit Wireless K.K., a Japanese corporation, which was closed in May 2020, and WiSA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. All intercompany balances and transactions are 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 notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassification

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods’ consolidated financial statements to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications did not result in any change in previously reported net loss, total assets or stockholders’ equity.

Concentration of Credit Risk and Other Risks and Uncertainties

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. Cash and cash equivalents are deposited in demand and money market accounts at one financial institution. At times, such deposits may be in excess of insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash and cash equivalents.

The Company’s accounts receivable are derived from revenue earned from customers located throughout the world. The Company performs credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and sometimes requires full or partial payment in advance of shipping. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there was no allowance for doubtful accounts. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had two customers accounting for 35%, and 27% of accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had three customers accounting for 36%, 31% and 15% of accounts receivable. The Company had three customers accounting for 27%, 17% and 14% of its net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Company had three customers accounting for 43%, 10% and 10% of its net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020.

The Company’s future results of operations involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could affect the Company’s future operating results and cause actual results to vary materially from expectations include, but are not limited to, rapid technological change, continued acceptance of the Company’s products, competition from substitute products and larger companies, protection of proprietary technology, strategic relationships and dependence on key individuals.

The Company relies on sole-source suppliers to manufacture some of the components used in its product. The Company’s manufacturers and suppliers may encounter problems during manufacturing due to a variety of reasons, any of which could delay or impede their ability to meet demand. The Company is heavily dependent on a single contractor in China for assembly and testing of its products, a single contractor in Japan for the production of its transmit semiconductor chip and a single contractor in China for the production of its receive semiconductor chip.

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Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoice amount and are generally not interest bearing. The Company reviews its trade receivables aging to identify specific customers with known disputes or collection issues. The Company exercises judgment when determining the adequacy of these reserves as it evaluates historical bad debt trends and changes to customers’ financial conditions. Uncollectible receivables are recorded as bad debt expense when all efforts to collect have been exhausted and recoveries are recognized when they are received. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, there was no allowance for doubtful accounts.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Carrying amounts of certain of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their relatively short maturities. The carrying value of the Company’s borrowings and capital lease liabilities approximates fair value based upon borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans and capital leases with similar terms.

Inventories

Inventories, principally purchased components, are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using an average cost, which approximates actual cost on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventory in excess of salable amounts and inventory which is considered obsolete based upon changes in existing technology is written off. At the point of loss recognition, a new lower cost basis for that inventory is established and subsequent changes in facts and circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in the new cost basis.

Deferred Offering Costs

Deferred offering costs, consisting of legal, accounting and filing fees relating to public offerings, are capitalized. The deferred offering costs will be offset against public offering proceeds upon the effectiveness of an offering. In the event that an offering is terminated, deferred offering costs will be expensed. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had capitalized $83,000 and $0, respectively, of deferred offering costs in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet.

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives of two to five years. Leasehold improvements and assets acquired under capital lease are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful life or term of the lease. Upon retirement or sale, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the balance sheet and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consisted of trademarks and are presented at cost, net of accumulated amortization. The intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives of three years, which approximates the economic benefit. If our underlying assumptions regarding the estimated useful life of an intangible asset change, then the amortization period, amortization expense and the carrying value for such asset would be adjusted accordingly.

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Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates its long-lived assets for indicators of possible impairment by comparison of the carrying amounts to future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by such assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Should an impairment exist, the impairment loss would be measured based on the excess carrying value of the asset over the asset’s fair value or discounted estimates of future cash flows. The Company has not identified any such impairment losses to date.

Convertible Financial Instruments

The Company bifurcates conversion options and warrants from their host instruments and accounts for them as freestanding derivative financial instruments if certain criteria are met. The criteria include circumstances in which (a) the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative instrument are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract, (b) the hybrid instrument that embodies both the embedded derivative instrument and the host contract is not re-measured at fair value under otherwise applicable generally accepted accounting principles with changes in fair value reported in earnings as they occur and (c) a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative instrument would be considered a derivative instrument. An exception to this rule is when the host instrument is deemed to be conventional, as that term is described under applicable U.S. GAAP.

When the Company has determined that the embedded conversion options and warrants should be bifurcated from their host instruments, discounts are recorded for the intrinsic value of conversion options embedded in the instruments based upon the differences between the fair value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date of the transaction and the effective conversion price embedded in the instrument.

Debt discounts under these arrangements are amortized to interest expense using the interest method over the earlier of the term of the related debt or their earliest date of redemption.

Warrants for Common Shares and Derivative Financial Instruments

Warrants for our shares of common stock and other derivative financial instruments are classified as equity if the contracts (1) require physical settlement or net-share settlement or (2) give the Company a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in its own shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement). Contracts which (1) require net-cash settlement (including a requirement to net cash settle the contract if an event occurs and if that event is outside the control of the Company), (2) give the counterparty a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement), or (3) that contain reset provisions that do not qualify for the scope exception are classified as equity or liabilities. The Company assesses classification of its warrants for shares of common stock and other derivatives at each reporting date to determine whether a change in classification between equity and liabilities is required.

In an equity-classified freestanding financial instrument, as of the date that a down round feature is triggered, the Company measures the fair value of the instrument without the down round feature (that is, before the strike price is reduced) and the fair value of the financial instrument with a strike price that reflects the adjustment from the down round. The incremental difference in the fair value is recorded a deemed dividend. As the Company has an accumulated deficit, the deemed dividend is recorded as a reduction of additional paid-in capital in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company increases the net loss available to common stockholders by the amount of the deemed dividend.

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Product Warranty

The Company’s products are generally subject to a one year warranty, which provides for the repair, rework, or replacement of products (at the Company’s option) that fail to perform within the stated specification. The Company has assessed its historical claims and, to date, product warranty claims have not been significant. The Company will continue to assess if there should be a warranty accrual going forward.

Revenue Recognition

The Company generates revenue primarily from two product categories which include the sale of Consumer Audio Products as well as the sale of Components The Company applies the following five steps: (1) identify the contract with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (5) recognize revenue when a performance obligation is satisfied. The Company considers customer purchase orders to be the contracts with a customer. Revenues, net of expected discounts, are recognized when the performance obligations of the contract with the customer are satisfied and when control of the promised goods are transferred to the customer, typically when products, which have been determined to be the only distinct performance obligations, are shipped to the customer. Expected costs of assurance warranties and claims are recognized as expense.

Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction, that are collected by us from a customer and deposited with the relevant government authority, are excluded from revenue. Our revenue arrangements do not contain significant financing components.

Sales to certain distributors are made under arrangements which provide the distributors with price adjustments, price protection, stock rotation and other allowances under certain circumstances. The Company does not provide its customers with a contractual right of return. However, the Company accepts limited returns on a case-by-case basis. These returns, adjustments and other allowances are accounted for as variable consideration. We estimate these amounts based on the expected amount to be provided to customers and reduce revenue recognized. We believe that there will not be significant changes to our estimates of variable consideration.

If a customer pays consideration, or the Company has a right to an amount of consideration that is unconditional before we transfer a good or service to the customer, those amounts are classified as contract liabilities which are included in other current liabilities when the payment is made or it is due, whichever is earlier.

During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, net revenue consisted of the following:

For The Fiscal Year Ended December 31,

(in thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Components

$

5,504

$

2,263

Consumer Audio Products

 

1,037

 

141

Total

$

6,541

$

2,404

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Contract Balances

We receive payments from customers based on a billing schedule as established in our contracts to partially offset prepayments required by our vendors on long lead time materials. Amounts collected prior to the fulfillment of the performance obligation are considered contract liabilities and classified as customer advances within accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Contract assets are recorded when we have a conditional right to consideration for our completed performance under the contracts. Accounts receivables are recorded when the right to this consideration becomes unconditional. We do not have any material contract assets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

December 31,

December 31,

(in thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Contract liabilities

$

$

373

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized $373,000 of revenue that was included in the contract balances as of December 31, 2020.

 

  

 

  

Revenue by Geographic Area

In general, revenue disaggregated by geography (See Note 10) is aligned according to the nature and economic characteristics of our business and provides meaningful disaggregation of our results of operations. Since we operate in one segment, all financial segment and product line information can be found in the consolidated financial statements.

Practical Expedients and Exemptions

As part of our adoption of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, we elected to use the following practical expedients: (i) not to adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component when we expect, at contract inception, that the period between our transfer of a promised product or service to a customer and when the customer pays for that product or service will be one year or less; (ii) to expense costs as incurred for costs to obtain a contract when the amortization period would have been one year or less; (iii) not to assess whether promised goods or services are performance obligations if they are immaterial in the context of the contract with the customer.

In addition, we do not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected length of one year or less.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures and recognizes the compensation expense for restricted stock units and restricted stock awards granted to employees and directors based on the fair value of the award on the grant date.

Restricted stock units give an employee an interest in Company stock but they have no tangible value until vesting is complete. Restricted stock units and restricted stock awards are equity classified and measured at the fair market value of the underlying stock at the grant date and recognized as expense over the related service or performance period. The Company elected to account for forfeitures as they occur. The fair value of stock awards is based on the quoted price of our common stock on the grant date. Compensation cost for restricted stock units and restricted stock awards is recognized using the straight-line method over the requisite service period.

Research and Development

Research and development costs are charged to operations as incurred.

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Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are charged to sales and marketing expenses as incurred. Advertising costs for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are $688,000 and $334,000, respectively.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss represents the changes in equity of an enterprise, other than those resulting from stockholder transactions. Accordingly, comprehensive loss may include certain changes in equity that are excluded from net loss. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company’s comprehensive loss is the same as its net loss.

Foreign Currency

The financial position and results of operations of the Company’s foreign operations are measured using currencies other than the U.S. dollar as their functional currencies. Accordingly, for these operations all assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rates as of the respective balance sheet date. Expense items are translated using the weighted average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Cumulative gains and losses from the translation of these operations’ financial statements are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, while foreign currency transaction gains or losses, resulting from re-measuring local currency to the U.S. dollar are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations in other expense, net and were not material for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Net Loss per Common Share

Basic and diluted net loss per common share is presented in conformity with the two-class method required for participating securities. The Company considers all series of convertible preferred stock to be participating securities. Under the two-class method, the net loss attributable to common stockholders is not allocated to the convertible preferred stock as the holders of the convertible preferred stock do not have a contractual obligation to share in the losses of the Company. Under the two-class method, net income would be attributed to common stockholders and participating securities based on their participation rights.

Basic net loss per common share is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, without consideration for potentially dilutive securities. Diluted net loss per common share is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares and potentially dilutive common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock and if-converted methods. For purposes of the diluted net loss per common share calculation, Series A 8% Senior Convertible Preferred Stock, (“Series A Preferred Stock”), warrants exercisable for common stock, restricted stock units and shares issuable upon the conversion of convertible notes payable are considered to be potentially dilutive securities.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, warrants to purchase 4,489,721 shares of common stock, 728,255 shares of restricted stock, 303,542 shares of restricted stock issued under an inducement grant and 438,462 shares underlying restricted stock units have been excluded from the calculation of net loss per common share because the inclusion would be antidilutive. For the year ended December 31, 2020, warrants to purchase 7,314,102 shares of common stock, 87,169 shares of restricted stock, 626,974 restricted stock units and 250,000 shares of convertible preferred stock have been excluded from the calculation of net loss per common share because the inclusion would be antidilutive.

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Income Taxes

Deferred taxes are provided on the liability method whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is “more-likely-than-not” that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company has recognized valuation allowances against its deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.

The Company uses a comprehensive model for recognizing, measuring, presenting, and disclosing in the consolidated financial statements tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more-likely-than-not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more-likely-than-not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. The Company recognizes interest accrued and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in tax expense. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized no interest and penalties.

Recently Issued and Not Yet Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases”. The objective of the update is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for leases with a lease term of more than 12 months. In addition, the update will require additional disclosures regarding key information about leasing arrangements. Under existing guidance, operating leases are not recorded as lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. In October 2019, the FASB decided to defer the mandatory effective date of ASU 2016-02 to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 for certain entities, including private companies. In June 2020, in response to adverse effect caused by Coronavirus Disease pandemic on private businesses, the FASB issued ASU 2020-05 which deferred the effective date for ASU 2016-02 for private businesses to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021. As an emerging growth company, the Company is allowed to adopt accounting pronouncements at the same time as non-public business entities. As a result, we will adopt the update for our fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to significantly impact the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06 “Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity”. This ASU simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current U.S. GAAP. Consequently, more convertible debt instruments will be reported as a single liability instrument and more convertible preferred stock as a single equity instrument with no separate accounting for embedded conversion features. The ASU removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception, which will permit more equity contracts to qualify for the exception. The ASU also simplifies the diluted earnings per share (EPS) calculation in certain areas. As an emerging growth company, the Company is allowed to adopt the accounting pronouncement at the same time as non-public business entities. As a result, the Company will adopt the update for its fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2023. The Company is evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

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In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, as amended, which requires the early recognition of credit losses on financing receivables and other financial assets in scope. ASU 2016-13 requires the use of a transition model that will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the new standard and its possible impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

We have reviewed other recent accounting pronouncements and concluded they are either not applicable to the business, or no material effect is expected on the consolidated financial statements as a result of future adoption.