Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying consolidated and combined financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to U.S. GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). The consolidated and combined financial statements include accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Certain prior year amounts have been updated to conform to the current year presentation. The Company has opted to present the financial information on the consolidated and combined balance sheets and consolidated and combined statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ deficit and cash flows in thousands.

 

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. Significant estimates include valuing derivatives, options, warrants and convertible notes payable using the Binomial Lattice, Black-Scholes and Monte Carlo models, and analysis of the recoverability of goodwill and long-lived assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates, particularly given the significant social and economic disruptions and uncertainties associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the COVID-19 control responses.

 

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

The Company measures and records certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. U.S. GAAP provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority, referred to as Level 1, to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. The next priority, referred to as Level 2, is given to quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; that is, markets in which there are few transactions for the asset or liability. The lowest priority, referred to as Level 3, is given to unobservable inputs. The table below reflects the level of the inputs used in the Company’s fair value calculations:

 

(in thousands)  

Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets

(Level 1)

    Significant
Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
    Total Fair
Value
 
December 31, 2021                                
Assets (Note 5)                                
Common stock of Sonnet   $ 50     $     $     $ 50  
Liabilities (Note 4)                                
Convertible note payable   $     $     $ 1,099     $ 1,099  

 

(in thousands)  

Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets

(Level 1)

    Significant
Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
    Total Fair Value  
December 31, 2020                                
Assets (Note 5)                                
Common stock of Sonnet   $ 413     $     $     $ 413  
Liabilities (Note 12)                                
True-up provision of Convertible Preferred Series 2   $     $     $ 185     $ 185  

 

 

Inputs used in the Company’s Level 3 calculation of fair value for the convertible note payable issued in conjunction with the PizzaRev acquisition are discussed in Note 4. Inputs used in the Company’s Level 3 calculation of fair value for the True-up provision of Convertible Preferred Series 2 are discussed in Note 12.

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

 

The Company is required to disclose fair value information about financial instruments when it is practicable to estimate that value. The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable, other receivables, accounts payable, other current liabilities, convertible notes payable (other than the convertible note payable discussed above) and notes payable approximate fair value due to the short-term maturities of these financial instruments and/or because related interest rates offered to the Company approximate current rates.

 

SEGMENTS

 

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company operates under four brands but views its operations and manages its business in one segment – fast casual dining.

 

CASH

 

Cash consists of deposits held at financial institutions and is stated at fair value. The Company limits its credit risk associated with cash by maintaining its bank accounts at major financial institutions.

 

RESTRICTED CASH

 

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company maintained restricted cash of $1.7 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The restricted cash is maintained in a segregated bank account. The restrictions on the restricted cash at December 31, 2020 have lapsed and the restricted cash at December 31, 2021 relates to the acquisition discussed in Note 3.

 

For purposes of the cash flow statements, the restricted cash is aggregated with cash of $0.6 million and $0.7 million to arrive at total cash and restricted cash of $2.3 million and $1.9 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

 

The Company monitors its exposure for credit losses on its receivable balances and the credit worthiness of its receivables on an ongoing basis and records related allowances for doubtful accounts. Allowances are estimated based upon specific customer and other balances where a risk of default has been identified, and also include a provision for non-customer specific defaults based upon historical experience. The majority of the Company’s accounts are from customer credit card transactions with minimal historical credit risk. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company has not recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts. If circumstances related to specific customers change, estimates of the recoverability of receivables could also change.

 

INVENTORIES

 

Inventories are recorded at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value, and consist primarily of restaurant food items, supplies, beverages and merchandise.

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation and amortization, are recorded generally using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the expected lease term or the estimated useful lives of the related assets using the straight-line method. Maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the useful lives of the assets are not considered assets and are charged to expense when incurred.

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

 

The estimated useful lives used to compute depreciation and amortization are as follows:

 

Leasehold improvements 5-15 years
Restaurant furnishings and equipment 3-10 years
Furniture and fixtures 3-10 years
Office and computer equipment 3-7 years

 

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Trademark//Tradenames

 

Certain of the Company’s trademark/tradenames have been determined to have a definite life and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of 3-10 years. The amortization expense of these definite-lived intangibles is included in depreciation and amortization in the Company’s consolidated and combined statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Certain of the Company’s trademark/tradenames have been classified as indefinite-lived intangible assets and are not amortized. Definite lived intangible assets are assessed for impairment the using methods discussed below in the long-lived assets section. The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment at least annually by estimating their fair value and comparing it to the asset’s carrying value. The Company estimates the fair value of trademarks using the relief-from-royalty method, which requires assumptions related to projected sales from its annual long-range plan; assumed royalty rates that could be payable if the Company did not own the trademarks; and a discount rate.

 

Franchise Rights

 

Intangible assets are recorded for the initial franchise fees for our Hooters and PizzaRev restaurants. The Company amortizes these amounts over a 20 and 5 year period, respectively, which is the life of the franchise agreements. As of December 31, 2021, the Company no longer has any active franchise agreements with Hooters. The Company also has intangible assets representing the acquisition date fair value of customer contracts acquired in connection with BGR’s franchise business. The Company also amortizes these amounts over the estimated useful life of the related intangible asset and amortizes the related asset over the weighted average life of the underlying franchise agreements.

 

LONG-LIVED ASSETS

 

Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, operating lease assets, and purchased intangible assets subject to depreciation and amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Some of the events or changes in circumstances that would trigger an impairment test include, but are not limited to:

 

  significant under-performance relative to expected and/or historical results (negative comparable sales growth or operating cash flows for two consecutive years);
  significant negative industry or economic trends;
  knowledge of transactions involving the sale of similar property at amounts below the Company’s carrying value; or
  the Company’s expectation to dispose of long-lived assets before the end of their estimated useful lives, even though the assets do not meet the criteria to be classified as “Held for Sale.”

 

If circumstances require a long-lived asset or asset group be tested for possible impairment, the Company first compares undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset or asset group to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, an impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying value exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary.

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

 

During the third quarter of 2019 and continuing in 2020 and 2021, the Company determined that triggering events occurred, some of which were related to the COVID-19 outbreak, requiring management to review certain long-lived assets for impairment. Due to the continued impact of this pandemic on the Company’s business, management has performed an impairment analysis of its long-lived assets at each quarter end in 2020 and through December 31, 2021, and determined that the carrying value of the Company’s definite lived trademark/tradename intangible asset, property and equipment and operating lease assets (see Notes 6, 7, and 13 for further discussion) were impaired during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. The determination was based on the best judgment of management for the future of the asset and on information known at the time of the assessment.

 

GOODWILL

 

Goodwill, which is not subject to amortization, is evaluated for impairment annually as of the end of the Company’s year-end, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change, such as material deterioration in performance or a significant number of store closures, that would indicate an impairment may exist. Goodwill is tested for impairment at a level of reporting referred to as a reporting unit. Management determined that the Company has one reporting unit.

 

As discussed in Note 1, in March 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus COVID-19 a global pandemic. Due to the continued impact of this pandemic on the Company’s business, management has performed an impairment analysis of goodwill beginning in each quarter end in 2020 through 2021, including December 31, 2021 and 2020.

 

When evaluating goodwill for impairment, the Company may first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit is impaired. If the Company does not perform a qualitative assessment, or determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, a quantitative assessment is performed to calculate the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value, an impairment charge is recorded to reduce the carrying value to the estimated fair value. The Company’s decision to perform a qualitative impairment assessment is influenced by a number of factors, including the significance of the excess of the reporting unit’s estimated fair value over carrying value at the last quantitative assessment date, the amount of time in between quantitative fair value assessments, and the price of our common stock.

 

Step one of the impairment test is based upon a comparison of the carrying value of net assets, including goodwill balances, to the fair value of net assets. The Company performed a quantitative assessment at each quarter end during 2021 and 2020 and determined that goodwill was not impaired due to the excess fair value of the reporting unit over its carrying value based on the best judgement of management on information known at the time of the assessment.

 

CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE

 

The Company analyzes its convertible debt instruments for embedded attributes that may require bifurcation from the host and accounting as derivatives. At the inception of each instrument, the Company performs an analysis of the embedded features requiring bifurcation and may elect, if eligible, to account for the entire debt instrument at fair value. If the fair value option were to be elected, any changes in fair value would be recognized in the accompanying statements of operations until the instrument is settled. The Company elected to account for its convertible note payable issued in 2021 in connection with the PizzaRev acquisition (see Note 3) at fair value and, as such, has recognized the change in fair value in the consolidated and combined statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2021. For the convertible note payable issued in 2020, the Company performed an analysis of embedded features requiring bifurcation and concluded that the convertible debt includes redemption features that required bifurcation (see Note 8).

 

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION

 

Assets and liabilities denominated in local currency are translated to U.S. dollars using the exchange rates as in effect at the balance sheet date. Results of operations are translated using average exchange rates prevailing throughout the period. Adjustments resulting from the process of translating foreign currency financial statements from functional currency into U.S. dollars are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss within stockholders’ equity. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in current earnings. The Company has determined that local currency is the functional currency for its foreign operations. The foreign subsidiary was sold in 2021 and there are no foreign assets held at December 31, 2021.

 

REVENUE RECOGNITION

 

The Company generates revenues from the following sources: (i) restaurant sales; (ii) gaming income; and (iii) franchise income, consisting of royalties based on a percentage of sales reported by franchise restaurants and initial signing fees.

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

 

Restaurant Sales, Net

 

The Company records revenue from restaurant sales at the time of sale, net of discounts, coupons, employee meals, and complimentary meals. Sales tax and value added tax (“VAT”) collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are presented on a net basis within revenue in the consolidated and combined statements of operations.

 

Gaming Income

 

The Company receives revenue from operating a gaming facility adjacent to its restaurant in Jantzen Beach, Oregon. Revenue from gaming is recognized as earned from gaming activities, net of payouts to customers, taxes and government fees. These fees are recognized as they are earned based on the terms of the agreements.

 

Franchise Income

 

The Company grants franchises to operators in exchange for initial franchise license fees and continuing royalty payments. The license granted for each restaurant or area is considered a performance obligation. All other obligations (such as providing assistance during the opening of a restaurant) are combined with the license and were determined to be a single performance obligation. Accordingly, the total transaction price (comprised of the restaurant opening and territory fees) is allocated to each restaurant expected to be opened by the licensee under the contract. There are significant judgments regarding the estimated total transaction price, including the number of stores expected to be opened. We recognize the fee allocated to each restaurant as revenue on a straight-line basis over the restaurant’s license term, which generally begins upon the signing of the contract for area development agreements and upon the signing of a store lease for franchise agreements. The payments for these upfront fees are generally received upon contract execution. Continuing fees, which are based upon a percentage of franchisee revenues and are not subject to any constraints, are recognized on the accrual basis as those sales occur. The payments for these continuing fees are generally made on a weekly basis.

 

Contract Liabilities

 

Contract liabilities consist of deferred revenue resulting from initial and renewal franchise license fees paid by franchisees, which are generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the underlying franchise agreement, as well as upfront development fees paid by franchisees, which are generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the underlying franchise agreement once it is executed. The recognition of initial and renewal license fees are accelerated if the development agreement is terminated. Approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million of revenue related to contract liabilities was recognized during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

RESTAURANT PRE-OPENING AND CLOSING EXPENSES

 

Restaurant pre-opening expenses consist of the costs of hiring and training the initial hourly work force for each new restaurant, travel, the cost of food and supplies used in training, grand opening promotional costs, the cost of the initial stocking of operating supplies and other direct costs related to the opening of a restaurant, including rent during the construction and in-restaurant training period. Restaurant opening expenses are expensed as incurred.

 

Restaurant closing expenses consist of costs related to closing a restaurant location and include, among other things lease termination costs and franchise breakage fees directly related to the closure. Impairment charges associated with closed locations are recorded as a component of asset impairment charges. The derecognition of lease liabilities due to the Company negotiating the cancellation of its obligations under certain lease agreements is recorded as gain on extinguished lease liabilities. Restaurant closing costs are expensed as incurred.

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

 

LIQUOR LICENSES

 

The costs of obtaining non-transferable liquor licenses that are directly issued by local government agencies for nominal fees are expensed as incurred. The costs of purchasing transferable liquor licenses through open markets in jurisdictions with a limited number of authorized liquor licenses are capitalized as indefinite-lived intangible assets and included in other assets. Liquor licenses are reviewed for impairment annually or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Annual liquor license renewal fees are expensed over the renewal term.

 

ADVERTISING

 

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses, which are included in restaurant operating expenses and general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated and combined statements of operations, totaled approximately $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

LEASES

 

We determine if a contract contains a lease at inception. Our material operating leases consist of restaurant locations and office space. Our leases generally have remaining terms of 1-20 years and most include options to extend the leases for additional 5-year periods. Generally, the lease term is the minimum of the non-cancelable period of the lease or the lease term inclusive of reasonably certain renewal periods up to a term of 20 years. If the estimate of our reasonably certain lease term was changed, our depreciation and rent expense could differ materially.

 

Operating lease assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date. Operating lease liabilities represent the present value of lease payments not yet paid. Operating lease assets represent our right to use an underlying asset and are based upon the operating lease liabilities adjusted for prepayments or accrued lease payments, initial direct costs, lease incentives, and impairment of operating lease assets. To determine the present value of lease payments not yet paid, we estimate incremental borrowing rates corresponding to the reasonably certain lease term. We estimated this rate based on prevailing financial market conditions, comparable company and credit analysis, and management judgment. If the estimate of our incremental borrowing rate was changed, our operating lease assets and liabilities could differ materially.

 

In April 2020, the FASB staff issued a question and answer document (“FASB Q&A”) focused on the application of lease accounting guidance to lease concessions provided as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under existing lease guidance, the Company would have to determine, on a lease-by-lease basis, if a lease concession was the result of a new arrangement reached with the tenant or if a lease concession was under the enforceable rights and obligations within the existing lease agreement. The FASB Q&A allows the Company, if certain criteria have been met, to bypass the lease-by-lease analysis, and instead elect to either apply the lease modification accounting framework or not, with such election applied consistently to leases with similar characteristics and similar circumstances. The Company elected to apply such relief and availed itself of the election to avoid performing a lease-by-lease analysis for the lease concessions received as the concessions granted as relief were due to the COVID-19 pandemic and result in the cash flows to the landlord remaining substantially the same or less.

 

EMPLOYEE RETENTION CREDIT

 

The ERC under the CARES Act is a refundable tax credit which encourages businesses to keep employees on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible employers can qualify for up to $7,000 of credit for each employee based on qualified wages paid after December 31, 2020 and before January 1, 2022. Qualified wages are the wages paid to an employee during an economic hardship, specifically, either (1) a full or partial suspension of operations by order of a governmental authority due to COVID-19, or (2) a significant decline in gross receipts. The Company recognized $2.5 million of ERC as a contra-expense in the consolidated and combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021. Approximately $0.8 million of ERC is included in accounts and other receivables in the consolidated and combined balance sheet as of December 31, 2021. No such activity existed for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND

 

The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (“RRF”) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. This program provided restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10.0 million per business and no more than $5.0 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023. In 2021 and prior to the acquisition (see Note 3), Pie Squared Holdings received a grant under the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) RRF for approximately $10.0 million. The proceeds received were mainly used to repay existing debt and to also pay operating expenses. The unused funds received under the RRF at closing of the acquisition were $2.0 million, and these funds were placed into escrow for the benefit of the Company for working capital to be used solely in the operations of the acquired business. The Company recognizes grant income as it expends the funds on eligible costs. The Company recognized $0.5 million of RRF as a contra-expense in the consolidated and combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021. See additional information regarding RRF funds received in Note 3. No such activity existed for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

 

The Company measures and recognizes share-based compensation expense for both employee and nonemployee awards based on the grant date fair value of the awards. The Company recognizes share-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.

 

The Company estimates the fair value of employee and non-employee stock awards as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Management estimates the expected share price volatility based on the historical volatility of the Company. The expected term of the Company’s stock awards has been determined utilizing the “simplified” method for awards that qualify as “plain-vanilla” stock awards. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to the yield curve of a zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bond on the date of grant of the award for time periods approximately equal to the expected term of the award. Expected dividend yield is zero based on the fact that the Company has never paid cash dividends on common stock and does not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

INCOME TAXES

 

Deferred income 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 basis. 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. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

 

Based on the rules of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), Amergent has determined that it has approximately $17.9 million of net operating loss carryforwards available to the Company as of December 31, 2021 to offset future taxable income of the Company. Approximately $7.2 million of the net operating loss carryforwards available will be limited by section 382 of the IRC. There were no other income tax implications to Amergent as a result of the Merger and Spin-off.

 

The Company has provided a valuation allowance for the full amount of the deferred tax assets in the accompanying consolidated and combined financial statements.

 

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had no accrued interest or penalties relating to any income tax obligations. The Company currently has no federal or state examinations in progress, nor has it had any federal or state tax examinations since its inception. The last three years of the Company’s tax years are subject to federal and state tax examination.

 

LOSS PER COMMON SHARE

 

The Company computes net loss per share using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Basic and diluted net loss per share are the same because the conversion, exercise or issuance of all potential common stock equivalents, which comprise the entire amount of the Company’s outstanding warrants, as described in Note 11, the potential conversion of the convertible debt instruments, as described in Note 8, and share-based compensation awards as described in Note 14, would be anti-dilutive.

 

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

Standards for reporting and displaying comprehensive income (loss) and its components (revenues, expenses, gains and losses) in a full set of general-purpose financial statements requires that all items that are required to be recognized under accounting standards as components of comprehensive income (loss) be reported in a financial statement that is displayed with the same prominence as other financial statements. We are required to (a) classify items of other comprehensive income (loss) by their nature in financial statements, and (b) display the accumulated balance of other comprehensive income (loss) separately in the equity section of the balance sheet for all periods presented. Other comprehensive income (loss) represents foreign currency translation adjustments.

 

RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740). The objective of the standard is to improve areas of U.S. GAAP by removing certain exceptions permitted by ASC 740 and clarifying existing guidance to facilitate consistent application. The standard was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 as of January 1, 2021 did not have a material impact on the consolidated and combined financial statements.

 

 

Amergent Hospitality Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Consolidated and Combined 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, to address the complexity associated with applying U.S. GAAP to certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. ASU 2020-06 includes amendments to the guidance on convertible instruments and the derivative scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity and simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments which include beneficial conversion features or cash conversion features by removing certain separation models in Subtopic 470-20. Additionally, ASU 2020-06 will require entities to use the “if-converted” method when calculating diluted earnings per share for convertible instruments. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 (fiscal year 2024 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years, and early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted ASU 2020-06 on January 1, 2021.

 

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, Earnings per Share (Topic 260), Debt – Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges or Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options. The pronouncement outlines how an entity should account for modifications made to equity-classified written call options, including stock options and warrants to purchase the entity’s own common stock. The guidance in the ASU requires an entity to treat a modification of an equity-classified option that does not cause the option to become liability-classified as an exchange of the original option for a new option. This guidance applies whether the modification is structured as an amendment to the terms and conditions of the equity-classified written call option or as termination of the original option and issuance of a new option. The guidance is effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and early adoption is permitted. The Company plans to adopt this guidance on January 1, 2022, and does not expect it to have a material effect on the consolidated and combined financial statements.

 

In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-10, Government Assistance (Topic ASC 832): Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance. This standard requires disclosures about transactions with a government that have been accounted for by analogizing to a grant or contribution accounting model to increase transparency about the types of transactions, the accounting for the transactions, and the effect of the transactions on an entity’s financial statements. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company plans to adopt this guidance on January 1, 2022, and does not expect it to have a material effect on the consolidated and combined financial statements.

 

We reviewed all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they were either not applicable or not expected to have a significant impact to the consolidated and combined financial statements.