Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements and related notes reflect the historical results of MJF prior to the mergers completed in June 2019, or the Mergers, with MTech Acquisition Corp., or MTech, and other related entities, which resulted in the combined company and do not include the historical results of MTech prior to the completion of the Mergers. The consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, and our reporting currency is the United States Dollar.

Principles of Consolidation

Our accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Akerna, our wholly-owned subsidiaries, and those entities in which we otherwise have a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

We evaluate our ownership interests, contractual rights, and other interests in entities to determine if the entities are variable interest entities or VIEs when we have a variable interest in those entities. Generally, a VIE is a legal entity in which the equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or the equity investors lack sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support. These evaluations can be complex and involve judgment and the use of estimates and assumptions based on available historical information.

If we determine that we hold a variable interest in a VIE and we are the primary beneficiary of the VIE, we must consolidate the VIE in our financial statements. In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE, we consider qualitative and quantitative factors, including, but not limited to: which activities most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and which party controls such activities; the amount and characteristics of our investment; the obligation or likelihood for us or other investors to provide financial support; and the similarity with and significance to our business activities and the business activities of the other investors. Significant judgments related to these determinations include estimates about the current and future fair values and performance of these VIE's operations and general market conditions. We determine whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE upon our initial involvement with the VIE and reassess our status on an ongoing basis.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts included in the financial statements and accompanying notes thereto. We base our estimates on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form a basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily available from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions; however, we believe that our estimates are reasonable.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. There were no cash equivalents as of June 30, 2020 and 2019. We continually monitor our positions with, and the credit quality of, the financial institutions with which we invest. As of the balance sheet date, and periodically throughout the year, we have maintained balances in various operating accounts in excess of federally insured limits. As of June 30, 2020, approximately $23.5 million of our cash balances were uninsured. We have not experienced any losses on such accounts.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of funds that are contractually or legally restricted as to usage or withdrawal and is presented separately from cash and cash equivalents on our consolidated balance sheets. Our restricted cash serves as collateral for a letter of credit.

Accounts Receivable, Net

We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts equal to the estimated uncollectible amounts based on our historical collection experience and review of the current status of trade accounts receivable. Receivables are written-off and charged against the recorded allowance when we have exhausted collection efforts without success. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $0.2 million as of June 30, 2020, and 2019. The allowance for doubtful accounts consists of the following activity for the years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019:

Concentrations of Credit Risk

We grant credit in the normal course of business to customers in the United States. We periodically perform credit analysis and monitor the financial condition of our customers to reduce credit risk.

During the year ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, one government client accounted for 25% and 30% of total revenues, respectively. As of June 30, 2020, and 2019 two government clients accounted for a total of 36% and 18%, and 34% and 24% of net accounts receivable, respectively. 

Equity Method Investments

We make strategic investments in privately held equity securities of companies that provide technology solutions that are complementary to ours. When we can exert significant influence over, but do not control, the investee's operations, through voting rights or representation on the investee's board of directors, we account for the investment using the equity method of accounting. We record our share in the investee's earnings and losses in the consolidated statement of operations. We assess our investment for other-than-temporary impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investment might not be recoverable and recognize an impairment loss to adjust the investment to its then-current fair value.

Intangible Assets Acquired through Business Combinations

Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives. We evaluate the estimated remaining useful life of our intangible assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate an adjustment to the remaining amortization may be needed. We similarly evaluate the recoverability of these assets upon events or changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of each asset to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate. If the undiscounted cash flows used in the test for recoverability are less than the carrying amount of these assets, the carrying amount of such assets is reduced to fair value. There were no impairments of intangible assets during the year ended June 30, 2020, or 2019.

Goodwill Impairment Assessment

We evaluate and test the recoverability of our goodwill for impairment at least annually during October of each year or more often if circumstances indicate that goodwill may not be recoverable.

Software Development Costs

Costs incurred during the application development stage of a newly developed application and costs we incur to enhance our existing platforms that meet certain criteria are subject to capitalization and subsequent amortization. Product development stage costs were approximately $3.2 million during the year ended June 30, 2020. Product development costs are primarily comprised of personnel costs such as payroll and benefits, vendor costs, and other costs directly attributable to the project. We capitalize costs only during the development phase. Any costs in connection to planning, design, and maintenance subsequent to release are expensed as incurred. We amortize software development costs over the expected useful life of the specific application, generally 2-5 years. We evaluate capitalized software development costs for impairment when there is an indication that the unamortized cost may not be recoverable. 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Under this guidance, we are required to classify certain assets and liabilities based on the fair value hierarchy, which groups fair value-measured assets and liabilities based upon the following levels of inputs:

The fair value of financial instruments is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties. The carrying values of financial instruments such as accounts receivable accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value based on their short maturities. Please refer to Note 11 - Fair Value Measurements for additional information regarding the fair value of financial instruments that we measure at fair value, including senior secured convertible notes and contingent consideration.

Fair Value Option

The fair value option provides an election that allows a company to irrevocably elect to record certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on an instrument-by-instrument basis at initial recognition. We have elected to apply the fair value option to certain convertible notes due to the complexity of the various conversion and settlement options available to both the Note Holders and Akerna.

The convertible notes accounted for under the fair value option election are each a debt host financial instrument containing embedded features that would otherwise be required to be bifurcated from the debt-host and recognized as separate derivative liabilities subject to initial and subsequent periodic estimated fair value measurements in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding, When the fair value option election is applied to financial liabilities, bifurcation of an embedded derivative is no required, and the financial liability is initially measured at its issue-date estimated fair value and then subsequently remeasured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis as of each reporting period date.

The portion of the change in fair value attributed to a change in the instrument-specific credit risk is recognized as a component of other comprehensive income and the remaining amount of the fair value adjustment is recognized as other income (expense) in our consolidated statement of operations. The estimated fair value adjustment is presented in a respective single line item within other income (expense) in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations because the change in fair value of the convertible notes was not attributable to instrument-specific credit risk.

Revenue Recognition

We derive our revenues primarily from the following sources: software revenues, which are primarily comprised of subscription fees from government and commercial customers accessing our enterprise cloud computing services and from customers paying for additional support beyond the standard support that is included in the basic subscription fees; and consulting services provided to operators interested in integrating our platform into their respective operations, such services include: assessing compliance requirements, monitoring systems and readiness; assisting with the application process; and evaluating the operator's inspection readiness and business plan.

We commence revenue recognition when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the service has been or is being provided to the customer, the collection of the fees is reasonably assured, and the amount of fees to be paid by the customer is fixed or determinable.

Software Revenue

Software revenue primarily consists of subscription revenue that is recognized ratably over the term of the contract, beginning when access to the applicable software is provided to the customer. We typically invoice customers at the beginning of the term, in multi-year, annual, quarterly, or monthly installments. When a collection of fees occurs in advance of service delivery, revenue recognition is deferred until such services commence. Revenue for implementation fees is recognized ratably over the expected term of the contract, including expected renewals.

We include service level commitments to customers warranting certain levels of uptime reliability and performance and permitting those customers to receive credits if those levels are not met. In addition, customer contracts often include: specific obligations that require us to maintain the availability of the customer's data through the service and that customer content is secured against unauthorized access or loss, and indemnity provisions whereby we indemnify customers from third-party claims asserted against them that result from our failure to maintain the availability of their content or securing the same from unauthorized access or loss. To date, we have not incurred any material costs as a result of such commitments. Any such credits or payments made to customers under these arrangements are recorded as a reduction of revenue.

Consulting Services Revenue

Consulting services revenue consists of contracts with fixed terms and fee structures based upon the volume and activity or fixed-price contracts for consulting and strategic services. When these services are not combined with subscription revenues as a single unit of account, as discussed below, these revenues are recognized as services are rendered and accepted by the customer.

Other Revenues

We sell solo*TAG^™ s and solo*CODE^™s to customers by the roll of printed labels or as a digital code that allows customers to print directly their packing. When customers active a solo*TAG^™ or solo*CODE^™, we receive an activation fee, which is recognized upon activation by the customer. From time to time, we may purchase equipment for resale to customers. Such equipment is generally drop-shipped to our customers. We recognize revenue as these products are delivered. 

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue consists primarily of costs related to providing subscription and other services to our customers, including employee compensation and related expenses for data center operations, customer support and professional services personnel, payments to outside technology service providers, security services, and other tools.

Deferred Revenue

Deferred revenue consists of payments received in advance of revenue recognition from subscription services. The deferred revenue balance is influenced by several factors, including seasonality, the compounding effects of renewals, contract duration, and invoice frequency. Deferred revenue that will be recognized during the succeeding twelve-month period is recorded as deferred revenue, which is a current liability on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. 

Reclassifications

Certain prior year financial statement amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current year presentation.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax basis of other assets and liabilities. We provide for income taxes at the current and future enacted tax rates and laws applicable in each taxing jurisdiction. We use a two-step approach for recognizing and measuring tax benefits taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and disclosures regarding uncertainties in income tax positions. We recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations.

We recognize deferred tax assets to the extent that its assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and results of recent operations. If we determine that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in the future in excess of its net recorded amount, we will make an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.

Stock-Based Compensation

We measured stock-based compensation based on the fair value of the share-based awards on the date of grant and recognize the related costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period.

Segments

Our chief operating decision maker reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance and information for different revenue streams is not evaluated separately. As such, we have a single operating segment.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

The Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, has issued guidance to revise accounting for revenue from contracts with customers, which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements and industry-specific guidance currently in effect for us. The new revenue standard requires an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The new revenue standard is effective for our fiscal 2021 annual reporting period and for interim periods thereafter. The new revenue standard allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption. We will adopt the new standard using the modified retrospective approach and anticipate that the timing of recognition of incremental costs of obtaining contracts will be the most significant change to our results of operations upon adoption.

The FASB has issued new guidance related to the accounting for leases. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model that requires a lessee to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of operations. The new standard is effective for us in our fiscal year beginning in 2022. We are evaluating the impact of the adoption of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements and do not anticipate a significant impact on our results of operations.

The FASB has issued guidance to introduce a new model for recognizing credit losses on financial instruments based on estimated current expected credit losses, or CECL. Under the new standard, an entity is required to estimate CECL on trade receivables at inception, based on historical information, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The new guidance is effective for us in our fiscal year beginning in 2023. We are evaluating the impact of the adoption of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.

The FASB has issued guidance related to the accounting for share-based compensation to nonemployees, which eliminates the separate accounting model for nonemployee share-based payment awards and generally requires companies to account for share-based payment transactions with nonemployees in the same way as share-based payment transactions with employees. Under the new guidance, nonemployee share-based payment transactions are measured at the grant-date fair value and are no longer remeasured at the then-current fair values at each reporting date until the share options have vested. The amended guidance is effective for our annual financial statements for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2020, and for interim periods beginning in the subsequent fiscal year. We do not anticipate the adoption of this guidance to have a significant effect on our results of operations.

The FASB has issued guidance regarding when internal-use software development costs should be capitalized or charged to expense. Depending upon the nature of the costs and the project stage in which they are incurred. Capitalized development costs are subject to amortization and impairment guidance consistent with existing internal-use software development cost guidance. The guidance is applicable for us in our fiscal year beginning in 2023 with early adoption permitted, including adoption in an interim period. We are evaluating the impact of the adoption of the new standard on our financial statements.

The FASB has issued guidance clarifying the interactions between various standards governing investments in equity securities. The new guidance addresses accounting for the transition into and out of the equity method and measurement of certain purchased options and forward contracts to acquire investments. The standard is effective for us for annual and interim periods in our fiscal year beginning in 2022, with early adoption permitted. Adoption of the standard requires changes to be made prospectively. We are evaluating the impact of adoption of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.