During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, cash paid for income taxes was $22,838 and $10,466, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, cash paid for interest was $81,993 and $15,262, respectively.

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activity:

 

As of September 30, 2016, we had property and equipment purchases of $7,105 which were included in accounts payable.

 

In connection with our acquisitions of franchises during the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we acquired $293,014 of property and equipment, intangible assets of $339,000, goodwill of $269,780 and assumed deferred revenue associated with membership packages paid in advance of $45,072 in exchange for $839,000 in cash and notes payable issued to the sellers for an aggregate amount of $186,000. Additionally, at the time of these transactions, we carried deferred revenue of $29,000, representing franchise fees collected upon the execution of franchise agreements, and deferred costs of $1,450, related to our acquisition of undeveloped franchises. We netted these amounts against the aggregate purchase price of the acquisitions (Note 2).

 

In connection with our reacquisition and termination of regional developer rights during the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we had deferred revenue of $224,750 representing license fees collected upon the execution of the regional developer agreements. In accordance with ASC-952-605, we netted these amounts against the aggregate purchase price of the acquisitions.

 

In connection with our sale of the regional developer territories in Central Florida, Maryland/Washington DC, and Minnesota we issued notes receivable in the amount of $423,622 with revenue to be recognized over the anticipated number of clinics to be opened in the respective territories. We have recognized $9,412 of revenue related to these notes in the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Note 1: Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation

 

These unaudited financial statements represent the condensed consolidated financial statements of The Joint Corp. (“The Joint”) and its wholly owned subsidiary The Joint Corporate Unit No. 1, LLC (collectively, the “Company”). These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with The Joint Corp. and Subsidiary consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto as set forth in The Joint Corp.’s Form 10-K, which included all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles. In the opinion of management, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position on a consolidated basis and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are not necessarily indicative of expected operating results for the full year. The information presented throughout the document as of and for the periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 is unaudited.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Joint Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiary, The Joint Corporate Unit No. 1, LLC, which was dormant for all periods presented.

 

All significant intercompany accounts and transactions between The Joint Corp. and its subsidiary have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain balances were reclassified from general and administrative expenses to other (expense) income, net, as well as certain balances from other revenues to revenues and management fees from company clinics for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 to conform to the current year presentation and align with the segment footnote presentation.

 

 

Comprehensive Loss

 

Net loss and comprehensive loss are the same for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

  

Nature of Operations

 

The Joint, a Delaware corporation, was formed on March 10, 2010 for the principal purpose of franchising, developing and managing chiropractic clinics, selling regional developer rights and supporting the operations of franchised chiropractic clinics at locations throughout the United States of America. The franchising of chiropractic clinics is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission and various state authorities.  

 

The following table summarizes the number of clinics in operation under franchise agreements and as company-owned or managed clinics for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

 

 

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

An entity deemed to hold the controlling interest in a voting interest entity or deemed to be the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) is required to consolidate the VIE in its financial statements. An entity is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE if it has both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb the majority of losses of the VIE or the right to receive the majority of benefits from the VIE. Investments where the Company does not hold the controlling interest and is not the primary beneficiary are accounted for under the equity method.

 

Certain states in which the Company manages clinics regulate the practice of chiropractic care and require that chiropractic services be provided by legal entities organized under state laws as professional corporations or PCs. Such PCs are VIEs. In these states, the Company has entered into management services agreements with such PCs under which the Company provides, on an exclusive basis, all non-clinical services of the chiropractic practice.  The Company has analyzed its relationship with the PCs and has determined that the Company does not have the power to direct the activities of the PCs. As such, the activities of the PCs are not included in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company continually monitors its positions with, and credit quality of, the financial institutions with which it invests. As of the balance sheet date and periodically throughout the period, the Company has maintained balances in various operating accounts in excess of federally insured limits. The Company has invested substantially all its cash in short-term bank deposits. The Company had no cash equivalents as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

  

Restricted Cash

 

Restricted cash relates to cash that franchisees and company-owned or managed clinics contribute to the Company’s National Marketing Fund and cash that franchisees provide to various voluntary regional Co-Op Marketing Funds. Cash contributed by franchisees to the National Marketing Fund is to be used in accordance with the Company’s Franchise Disclosure Document with a focus on regional and national marketing and advertising. 

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

From time to time, the Company grants credit in the normal course of business to franchisees and PCs related to the collection of royalties and other operating revenues. The Company periodically performs credit analysis and monitors the financial condition of the franchisees and PCs to reduce credit risk. As of September 30, 2017, one PC entity and four franchisees represented 19% of outstanding accounts receivable, compared to three PC entities and six franchisees representing 24% of outstanding accounts receivable as of December 31, 2016. The Company did not have any customers that represented greater than 10% of its revenues during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivable represent amounts due from franchisees for initial franchise fees and royalty fees, working capital advances due from PCs, and tenant improvement allowances due from landlords. The Company considers a reserve for doubtful accounts based on the creditworthiness of the entity. The provision for uncollectible amounts is continually reviewed and adjusted to maintain the allowance at a level considered adequate to cover future losses. The allowance is management’s best estimate of uncollectible amounts and is determined based on specific identification and historical performance that the Company tracks on an ongoing basis. Actual losses ultimately could differ materially in the near term from the amounts estimated in determining the allowance. As of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, the Company had an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0 and $131,830, respectively.

 

The Company writes off accounts receivable when it deems them uncollectible and records recoveries of accounts receivable previously written off when it receives them. In the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company determined that certain working capital advances from its PC entities in Illinois and New York were no longer collectible as a result of the sale or closure of the related clinics. Accordingly, the Company wrote-off approximately $47,000 of accounts receivable to loss on disposition or impairment related to these entities during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

 

Deferred Franchise Costs

 

Deferred franchise costs represent commissions that are paid in conjunction with the sale of a franchise and are recognized as an expense when the respective revenue is recognized, which is generally upon the opening of a clinic.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost or for property acquired as part of franchise acquisitions at fair value at the date of closing. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of three to seven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the assets.

 

Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred; major renewals and improvements are capitalized. When items of property or equipment are sold or retired, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in income.

 

 

Software Developed

 

The Company capitalizes certain software development costs. These capitalized costs are primarily related to proprietary software used by clinics for operations and by the Company for the management of operations. Costs incurred in the preliminary stages of development are expensed as incurred. Once an application has reached the development stage, internal and external costs, if direct, are capitalized as assets in progress until the software is substantially complete and ready for its intended use. Capitalization ceases upon completion of all substantial testing. The Company also capitalizes costs related to specific upgrades and enhancements when it is probable the expenditures will result in additional functionality. Software developed is recorded as part of property and equipment. Maintenance and training costs are expensed as incurred. Internal use software is amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life, generally five years. 

 

Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets consist primarily of re-acquired franchise and regional developer rights and customer relationships.  The Company amortizes the fair value of re-acquired franchise rights over the remaining contractual terms of the re-acquired franchise rights at the time of the acquisition, which range from six to eight years. In the case of regional developer rights, the Company amortizes the acquired regional developer rights over seven years. The fair value of customer relationships is amortized over their estimated useful life of two years. 

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill consists of the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired in the acquisitions completed in the years ended December 31, 2014 through December 31, 2016.  Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests. As required, the Company performs an annual impairment test of goodwill as of the first day of the fourth quarter or more frequently if events or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. No impairments of goodwill were recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

Long-Lived Assets

 

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recovered. The Company looks primarily to estimated undiscounted future cash flows in its assessment of whether or not long-lived assets have been impaired. No impairments of long-lived assets were recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

Advertising Fund

 

The Company has established an advertising fund for national/regional marketing and advertising of services offered by its clinics. The monthly marketing fee is 2% of clinic sales. The Company segregates the marketing funds collected which are included in restricted cash on its condensed consolidated balance sheets. As amounts are expended from the fund, the Company recognizes advertising fund revenue and a related expense.

 

Co-Op Marketing Funds

 

Some franchises have established regional Co-Ops for advertising within their local and regional markets. The Company maintains a custodial relationship under which the marketing funds collected are segregated and used for the purposes specified by the Co-Ops’ officers. The marketing funds are included in restricted cash on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities

 

The Company recognizes a liability for the cost associated with an exit or disposal activity that is measured initially at its fair value in the period in which the liability is incurred.

 

 

Costs to terminate an operating lease or other contracts are (a) costs to terminate the contract before the end of its term or (b) costs that will continue to be incurred under the contract for its remaining term without economic benefit to the entity. A liability for costs that will continue to be incurred under a contract for its remaining term without economic benefit to the entity is recognized at the cease-use date. In periods subsequent to initial measurement, changes to the liability are measured using the credit adjusted risk-free rate that was used to measure the fair value of the liability initially. The cumulative effect of a change resulting from a revision to either the timing or the amount of estimated cash flows is recognized as an adjustment to the liability in the period of the change.

  

As of September 30, 2017, the Company maintained a lease exit liability of approximately $0.4 million classified in other liabilities on its condensed consolidated balance sheets related to remaining operating leases that will no longer provide economic benefit to the Company, net of estimated sublease income. 

 

Lease exit liability at December 31, 2016		$	338,151
Additions			883,146
Settlements			(706,991	)
Net Accretion			(66,030	)
Lease exit liability at September 30, 2017		$	448,276

 

In the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company ceased use of eight clinic locations from its corporate clinics segment and recognized a liability for lease exit costs incurred based on the remaining lease rental due, reduced by estimated sublease rental income that could be reasonably obtained for the properties. The Company recognized the resulting expense of approximately $418,000 in loss on disposition or impairment in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations.

 

Deferred Rent

 

The Company leases office space for its corporate offices and company-owned or managed clinics under operating leases, which may include rent holidays and rent escalation clauses.  It recognizes rent holiday periods and scheduled rent increases on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.  The Company records tenant improvement allowances as deferred rent and amortizes the allowance over the term of the lease, as a reduction to rent expense.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company generates revenue through initial franchise fees, regional developer fees, royalties, advertising fund revenue, IT related income, and computer software fees, and from its company-owned and managed clinics.

 

Franchise Fees. The Company requires the entire non-refundable initial franchise fee to be paid upon execution of a franchise agreement, which typically has an initial term of ten years. Initial franchise fees are recognized as revenue when the Company has substantially completed its initial services under the franchise agreement, which typically occurs upon opening of the clinic.  The Company’s services under the franchise agreement include: training of franchisees and staff, site selection, construction/vendor management and ongoing operations support. The Company provides no financing to franchisees and offers no guarantees on their behalf. 

 

Regional Developer Fees. During 2011, the Company established a regional developer program to engage independent contractors to assist in developing specified geographical regions. Under the historical program, regional developers paid a license fee ranging from $7,250 to 25% of the then current franchise fee for each franchise they received the right to develop within the region. In 2017, the program was revised to grant exclusive geographical territory and establish a minimum development obligation within that defined territory. Regional developers receive fees ranging from $14,500 to $19,950 which are collected from franchisees upon the sale of franchises within their region and a royalty of 3% of sales generated by franchised clinics in their region. Regional developer fees paid to the Company are nonrefundable and are recognized as revenue when the Company has performed substantially all initial services required by the regional developer agreement, which generally is considered to be upon the opening of each franchised clinic. Accordingly, revenue is recognized on a pro-rata basis determined by the number of franchised clinics to be opened in the area covered by the regional developer agreement. Upon the execution of a regional developer agreement, the Company estimates the number of franchised clinics to be opened, which is typically consistent with the contracted minimum. The Company reassesses the number of clinics expected to be opened as the regional developer performs under its regional developer agreement. When a material change to the original estimate becomes apparent, the amount of revenue to be recognized per clinic is revised on a prospective basis, and the unrecognized fees are allocated among, and recognized as revenue upon the opening of, the expected remaining unopened franchised clinics within the region. The franchisor’s services under regional developer agreements include site selection, grand opening support for the clinics, sales support for identification of qualified franchisees, general operational support and marketing support to advertise for ownership opportunities. Several of the regional developer agreements grant the Company the option to repurchase the regional developer’s license.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company entered into eight regional developer agreements for which it received approximately $1.7 million, which was deferred as of the respective transaction dates and will be recognized on a pro-rata basis over the estimated number of franchised clinics to be opened in the respective regions. Certain of these regional developer agreements resulted in the regional developer acquiring the rights to existing royalty streams from clinics already open in the respective territory. In those instances, the revenue associated from the sale of the royalty stream is being recognized over the remaining life of the respective franchise agreements.

  

 

Revenues and Management Fees from Company Clinics.  The Company earns revenues from clinics that it owns and operates or manages throughout the United States.  In those states where the Company owns and operates the clinic, revenues are recognized when services are performed. The Company offers a variety of membership and wellness packages which feature discounted pricing as compared with its single-visit pricing.  Amounts collected in advance for membership and wellness packages are recorded as deferred revenue and recognized when the service is performed.  In other states where state law requires the chiropractic practice to be owned by a licensed chiropractor, the Company enters into a management agreement with the doctor’s PC.  Under the management agreement, the Company provides administrative and business management services to the doctor’s PC in return for a monthly management fee.  When the collectability of the full management fee is uncertain, the Company recognizes management fee revenue only to the extent of fees expected to be collected from the PCs. 

 

Royalties. The Company collects royalties, as stipulated in the franchise agreement, equal to 7% of gross sales, and a marketing and advertising fee currently equal to 2% of gross sales. Certain franchisees with franchise agreements acquired during the formation of the Company pay a monthly flat fee. Royalties are recognized as revenue when earned. Royalties are collected bi-monthly two working days after each sales period has ended.

 

IT Related Income and Software Fees.  The Company collects a monthly fee for use of its proprietary chiropractic software, computer support, and internet services support. These fees are recognized on a monthly basis as services are provided. IT related revenue represents a flat fee to purchase a clinic’s computer equipment, operating software, preinstalled chiropractic system software, key card scanner (patient identification card), credit card scanner and credit card receipt printer. These fees are recognized as revenue upon receipt of equipment by the franchisee.

 

Advertising Costs

 

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses were $314,695 and $961,106 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.  Advertising expenses were $600,804 and $1,770,699 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

   

Income Taxes

 

The Company uses an estimated annual effective tax rate method in computing its interim tax provision. This effective tax rate is based on forecasted annual pre-tax income, permanent tax differences and statutory tax rates. Deferred income taxes are recognized for differences between the basis of assets and liabilities for financial statement and income tax purposes. The differences relate principally to depreciation of property and equipment, amortization of goodwill, accounting for leases, and treatment of revenue for franchise fees and regional developer fees collected. Deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax consequence for those differences, which will either be taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. Deferred taxes are also recognized for operating losses that are available to offset future taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. 

 

The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes by recognizing the tax benefit or expense from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company measures the tax benefits and expenses recognized in the condensed consolidated financial statements from such a position based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution.

 

At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company maintained a liability for income taxes for uncertain tax positions of approximately $27,000 and $40,000, respectively, of which $26,000 and $27,000, respectively, represent penalties and interest and are recorded in the “other liabilities” section of the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Interest and penalties associated with tax positions are recorded in the period assessed as general and administrative expenses. The Company’s tax returns for tax years subject to examination by tax authorities include 2013 through the current period for state, and 2014 through the current period for federal reporting purposes.

 

 

Loss per Common Share

 

Basic loss per common share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per common share is computed by giving effect to all potentially dilutive common shares including preferred stock, restricted stock and stock options.

 

 

The following table summarizes the potential shares of common stock that were excluded from diluted net loss per share, because the effect of including these potential shares was anti-dilutive:

 

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for share-based payments by recognizing compensation expense based upon the estimated fair value of the awards on the date of grant. The Company determines the estimated grant-date fair value of restricted shares using quoted market prices and the grant-date fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. In order to calculate the fair value of the options, certain assumptions are made regarding the components of the model, including the estimated fair value of underlying common stock, risk-free interest rate, volatility, expected dividend yield and expected option life. Changes to the assumptions could cause significant adjustments to the valuation. The Company recognizes compensation costs ratably over the period of service using the straight-line method.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Items subject to significant estimates and assumptions include the allowance for doubtful accounts, share-based compensation arrangements, fair value of stock options, useful lives and realizability of long-lived assets, classification of deferred revenue and deferred franchise costs, uncertain tax positions, realizability of deferred tax assets, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and purchase price allocations.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The standard also calls for additional disclosures around the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The Company has performed a preliminary review of ASU 2014-09 and does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to have a material impact on its revenues and management fees from company clinics or franchise royalty revenues, which are based on a percent of sales. The Company expects the adoption of Topic 606 to impact its accounting for initial franchise fees and regional developer fees. Currently, the Company recognizes revenue from initial franchise fees and regional developer fees upon the opening of a franchised clinic when the Company has performed all of its material obligations and initial services under the respective agreements. Upon the adoption of Topic 606, the Company expects to recognize the revenue related to initial franchise fees and regional developer fees over the term of the related franchise agreement or regional developer agreement. The Company is in the process of implementing this standard and has drafted certain accounting policies. The Company will be finalizing accounting policies, selecting its transition method, quantifying the impact of adopting this standard, and designing internal controls during the fourth quarter of the year ending December 31, 2017. The Company is currently unable to estimate the impact on its consolidated financial statements.

  

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” The ASU requires that substantially all operating leases be recognized as assets and liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet, which is a significant departure from the current standard, which classifies operating leases as off-balance sheet transactions and accounts for only the current year operating lease expense in the statement of operations. The right to use the leased property is to be capitalized as an asset and the expected lease payments over the life of the lease will be accounted for as a liability. The effective date is for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2018. While the Company has not yet quantified the impact that this standard will have on its financial statements, it will result in a significant increase in the assets and liabilities reflected on the Company’s balance sheet and in the interest expense and depreciation and amortization expense reflected in its statement of operations, while reducing the amount of rent expense. This could potentially decrease the Company’s reported net income.

 

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing,” to clarify the following two aspects of Topic 606: 1) identifying performance obligations, and 2) the licensing implementation guidance. The effective date and transition requirements for these amendments are the same as the effective date and transition requirements of ASU 2014-09. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients,” to clarify certain core recognition principles including collectability, sales tax presentation, noncash consideration, contract modifications and completed contracts at transition and disclosures no longer required if the full retrospective transition method is adopted. The effective date and transition requirements for these amendments are the same as the effective date and transition requirements of ASU 2014-09. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.” This update addresses how certain cash inflows and outflows are classified in the statement of cash flows to eliminate existing diversity in practice. This update is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash” (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force), to provide guidance on the presentation of restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The amendments should be applied using a retrospective transition method, and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements.

  

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business,” to clarify the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The amendments should be applied prospectively, and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements. 

 

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.” This update simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating “Step 2” from the goodwill impairment test. This update is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this standard will have on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting,” to provide clarity and reduce both (1) diversity in practice and (2) cost and complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, to a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The ASU provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in ASC 718.The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this standard will have on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities,” to (1) improve the transparency and understandability of information conveyed to financial statement users about an entity’s risk management activities by better aligning the entity’s financial reporting for hedging relationships with those risk management activities and (2) reduce the complexity of and simplify the application of hedge accounting by preparers. Specifically, the guidance creates better alignment of hedge accounting with risk management activities, eliminates the separate measurement and recording of hedge ineffectiveness, simplifies effectiveness assessments, and improves presentation and disclosure. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For cash flow and net investment hedges existing at the date of adoption, an entity should apply a cumulative-effect adjustment related to eliminating the separate measurement of ineffectiveness to accumulated other comprehensive income with a corresponding adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year that an entity adopts the amendments in this update. The amended presentation and disclosure guidance is required only prospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on its financial statements.

Note 2: Acquisitions

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company entered into a series of unrelated transactions with existing franchisees to re-acquire an aggregate of six developed franchises and one undeveloped franchise throughout California and New Mexico for an aggregate purchase price of $1,025,000, subject to certain adjustments, consisting of cash of $839,000 and notes payable of $186,000. The Company is operating the six developed franchises as company-owned or managed clinics and has terminated the undeveloped clinic license. At the time these transactions were consummated, the Company carried a deferred revenue balance of $29,000, representing franchise fees collected upon the execution of the franchise agreements, and deferred franchise costs of $1,450, related to an undeveloped franchise.  The Company accounted for the franchise rights associated with the undeveloped franchise as a cancellation, and the respective deferred revenue and deferred franchise costs were netted against the aggregate purchase price.  The remaining $997,450 was accounted for as consideration paid for the acquired franchises.

 

The Company incurred approximately $64,000 of transaction costs related to these acquisitions for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, which are included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of operations.

  

 

Purchase Price Allocation

 

The following summarizes the aggregate estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed during 2016 as of the acquisition date:

 

 

Intangible assets in the table above consist of reacquired franchise rights of $181,000 and customer relationships of $158,000, and will be amortized over their estimated useful lives ranging from six to eight years and two years, respectively.

 

Goodwill recorded in connection with these acquisitions was attributable to the workforce of the clinics and synergies expected to arise from cost savings opportunities. All of the recorded goodwill is tax-deductible. 

 

Pro Forma Results of Operations (Unaudited)

 

The following table summarizes selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations data for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 as if the acquisitions in 2016 had been completed on January 1, 2016.

 

 

 

This selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial data is included only for the purpose of illustration and does not necessarily indicate what the operating results would have been if the acquisitions had been completed on that date. Moreover, this information is not indicative of what the Company’s future operating results will be. The information for 2016 is included based on prior accounting records maintained by the acquired companies. In some cases, accounting policies differed materially from accounting policies adopted by the Company following the acquisitions. For 2016, this information includes actual data recorded in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for the period subsequent to the date of the acquisitions. The Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2016 includes net revenue and net income of approximately $2.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, attributable to the acquisitions. The Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 includes net revenue and net income of approximately $5.6 million and $0.5 million, respectively, attributable to the acquisitions.

 

The pro forma amounts included in the table above reflect the application of accounting policies and adjustment of the results of the clinics to reflect the additional depreciation and amortization that would have been charged assuming the fair value adjustments to property and equipment and intangible assets had been applied from January 1, 2016, together with the consequential tax impacts.

Note 3: Notes Receivable

 

Effective July 2012, the Company sold a company-owned clinic, including the license agreement, equipment, and customer base, in exchange for a $90,000 unsecured promissory note. The note bore interest at 6% per annum for fifty-four months and required monthly principal and interest payments over forty-two months, beginning on August 2013. The note matured in January 2017 and was paid in full upon maturity. 

 

 

Effective July 2015, the Company entered into two license transfer agreements, in exchange for $10,000 and $29,925 in separate unsecured promissory notes.  The non-interest-bearing notes require monthly principal payments over 24 months, beginning on September 1, 2015. The note was settled in full in 2017.

   

Effective May 2016, the Company entered into three license transfer agreements, in exchange for three separate $7,500 unsecured promissory notes.  The non-interest-bearing notes require monthly principal payments over six months, beginning on May 1, 2017. The note matured in October, 2017 and was paid in full upon maturity. 

 

Effective April 29, 2017, the Company entered into a regional developer agreement for certain territories in the state of Florida in exchange for $320,000, of which $187,000 was funded through a promissory note. The note bears interest at 10% per annum for 42 months and requires monthly principal and interest payments over 36 months, beginning November 1, 2017 and maturing on October 1, 2020. The note is secured by the regional developer rights in the respective territory.

 

Effective August 31, 2017, the Company entered into a regional developer agreement for certain territories in Maryland/Washington DC in exchange for $220,000, of which $117,475 was funded through a promissory note. The note bears interest at 10% per annum for 36 months and requires monthly principal and interest payments over 36 months, beginning September 1, 2017 and maturing on August 1, 2020. The note is secured by the regional developer rights in the respective territory.

 

Effective September 22, 2017, the Company entered into a regional developer and asset purchase agreement for certain territories in Minnesota in exchange for $228,293, of which $119,147 was funded through a promissory note. The note bears interest at 10% per annum for 36 months and requires monthly principal and interest payments over 36 months, beginning October 1, 2017 and maturing on September 1, 2020. The note is secured by the regional developer rights in the respective territory.

 

The net outstanding balances of the notes as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $424,560 and $40,826, respectively.

Note 4: Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment consists of the following:

 

 

Depreciation expense was $340,238 and $1,099,698 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. Depreciation expense was $492,076 and $1,356,176 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. 

 

In December 2016, the Company determined that 14 clinics from its Corporate Clinics segment met the criteria for classification as held for sale. Accordingly, in December 2016, the Company recognized a $2.4 million impairment charge to lower the carrying costs of the property and equipment to its estimated fair value less cost to sell which was recorded in the loss on disposition or impairment line of the 2016 consolidated statement of operations. The Company completed the sale of the property in the first quarter of 2017 for nominal consideration.

 

Note 5: Fair Value Consideration

 

The Company’s financial instruments include cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable, notes receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and notes payable. The carrying amounts of its financial instruments approximate their fair value due to their short maturities. 

 

The Company does not use derivative financial instruments to hedge exposures to cash-flow, market or foreign-currency risks.

 

Authoritative guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The guidance establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on reliability of the inputs as follows:

 

Level 1:

Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;

  

Level 2:

Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and

 

Level 3:

Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

 

As of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, the Company did not have any financial instruments that were measured on a recurring basis as Level 1, 2 or 3.

Note 6: Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets consist of the following:

 

 

 

 

  

Amortization expense was $128,562 and $450,315 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. Amortization expense was $203,503 and $552,062 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

 

Estimated amortization expense for 2017 and subsequent years is as follows:

 

 

Note 7: Debt

 

Notes Payable

 

During 2015, the Company delivered 12 notes payable totaling $800,350 as a portion of the consideration paid in connection with the Company’s various acquisitions. Interest rates range from 1.5% to 5.25% with maturities through February 2017.

 

During 2016, the Company delivered two notes payable totaling $186,000 as a portion of the consideration paid in connection with the Company’s various acquisitions. Interest rates for both notes are 4.25% with maturities through May 2017. The remaining note payable is expected to be settled in the quarter ended December 31, 2017.

 

Maturities of notes payable are as follows as of September 30, 2017:

 

 

Credit and Security Agreement

 

On January 3, 2017, the Company entered into a Credit and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) and signed a revolving credit note payable to the lender. Under the Credit Agreement, the Company is able to borrow up to an aggregate of $5,000,000 under revolving loans. Interest on the unpaid outstanding principal amount of any revolving loans is at a rate equal to 10% per annum, provided that the minimum amount of interest paid in the aggregate on all revolving loans granted over the term of the Credit Agreement is $200,000. Interest is due and payable on the last day of each fiscal quarter in an amount determined by the Company, but not less than $25,000. The lender’s lending commitments under the Credit Agreement terminate in December 2019, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement is collateralized by the assets in the Company’s company-owned or managed clinics. The Company is using the credit facility for general working capital needs. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had drawn $1,000,000 of the $5,000,000 available under the Credit Agreement.

Note 8: Equity

 

Stock Options

 

In the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company granted 195,286 stock options to employees with exercise prices ranging from $2.65 - $3.88. 

 

 

Upon the completion of the Company’s IPO in November 2014, its stock trading price became the basis of fair value of its common stock used in determining the value of share-based awards. To the extent the value of the Company’s share-based awards involves a measure of volatility, it will rely upon the volatilities from publicly traded companies with similar business models until its common stock has accumulated enough trading history for it to utilize its own historical volatility. The expected life of the options granted is based on the average of the vesting term and the contractual term of the option. The risk-free rate for periods within the expected life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury 10-year yield curve in effect at the date of the grant. 

 

The Company has computed the fair value of all options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, using the following assumptions:

 

 

 

The information below summarizes the stock options activity:

 

 

The intrinsic value of the Company’s stock options outstanding was $1,405,592 at September 30, 2017.

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, stock-based compensation expense for stock options was $125,588 and $261,471, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, stock based compensation expense for stock options was $183,608, and $522,519, respectively. Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense for stock options as of September 30, 2017 was $716,667, which is expected to be recognized ratably over the next 2.2 years.

 

Restricted Stock

 

The information below summaries the restricted stock activity:

 

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock was $59,804 and $151,041, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, stock based compensation expense for restricted stock was $71,698, and $490,181, respectively. Unrecognized stock based compensation expense for restricted stock awards as of September 30, 2017 was $206,502 to be recognized ratably over the next year. 

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

In December 2013, the Company exercised its right of first refusal under the terms of a Stockholders Agreement dated March 10, 2010 to repurchase 534,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The shares were purchased for $0.45 per share or $240,000 in cash along with the issuance of an option to repurchase the 534,000 shares. The repurchased shares were recorded as treasury stock, at cost in the amount of $791,638. The option is classified in equity as it is considered indexed to the Company’s stock and meets the criteria for classification in equity.  The option was granted to the seller for a term of 8 years.  The option contained the following exercise prices:

 

  

Consideration given in the form of the option was valued using a Binomial Lattice-Based model resulting in a fair value of $1.03 per share option for a total fair value of $551,638. The option was valued using the Binomial Lattice-Based valuation methodology because that model embodies all of the relevant assumptions that address the features underlying the instrument.

 

During December 2016, the option holder partially exercised the call option and purchased 250,872 shares at a total repurchase price of $210,000. The Company reduced the cost of treasury shares by approximately $113,000 related to the transaction, reduced the value of the option by approximately $259,000, and reduced additional paid-in-capital by approximately $162,000.

 

During September 2017, the option holder exercised the remainder of the call option and purchased 283,128 shares at a total repurchase price of $292,671. The Company reduced the cost of treasury shares by approximately $127,000 related to the transaction, reduced the value of the option by approximately $292,000, and reduced additional paid-in-capital by approximately $127,000.

Note 9: Income Taxes

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recorded income tax expense of approximately $36,000 and $79,000, respectively, with the difference due to state tax expense, the impact of certain permanent differences, and penalties related to state income tax filings pursuant to a voluntary disclosure agreement which was rejected by the tax authority.

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded income tax expense of approximately $14,000 and $132,000, respectively, due to a revised estimate for the valuation allowance on the company’s deferred tax assets, as well as state tax expense as a result of current year state income taxes and a lower estimate of income tax refunds available through net operating loss (NOL) carrybacks.

Note 10: Related Party Transactions

 

The Company entered into consulting and legal agreements with certain common stockholders related to services performed for the operations and transaction related activities of the Company. Amounts paid to or for the benefit of these stockholders was approximately $56,000 and $169,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. Amounts paid to or for the benefit of these stockholders was approximately $111,000 and $421,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

 

Note 11: Commitments and Contingencies

 

Operating Leases

 

The Company leases its corporate office space and the space for each of the company-owned or managed clinics in the portfolio.

 

Total rent expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $688,031 and $2,114,118, respectively. Total rent expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $903,771 and $2,510,782, respectively.

  

Future minimum annual lease payments are as follows:

 

 

Note 12: Segment Reporting

 

An operating segment is defined as a component of an enterprise for which discrete financial information is available and is reviewed regularly by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) to evaluate performance and make operating decisions. The Company has identified its CODM as the Chief Executive Officer.

  

The Company has two operating business segments. The Corporate Clinics segment is comprised of the operating activities of the company-owned or managed clinics. As of September 30, 2017, the Company operated or managed 47 clinics under this segment. The Franchise Operations segment is comprised of the operating activities of the franchise business unit. As of September 30, 2017, the franchise system consisted of 342 clinics in operation. Corporate is a non-operating segment that develops and implements strategic initiatives and supports the Company’s two operating business segments by centralizing key administrative functions such as finance and treasury, information technology, insurance and risk management, legal and human resources. Corporate also provides the necessary administrative functions to support the Company as a publicly traded company. A portion of the expenses incurred by Corporate are allocated to the operating segments.  

 

 

The tables below present financial information for the Company’s two operating business segments (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

“Unallocated cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash” relates primarily to corporate cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash (see Note 1), “unallocated property and equipment” relates primarily to corporate fixed assets, and “other unallocated assets” relates primarily to deposits, prepaid and other assets.

 

The Company reclassified approximately $545,000 of assets from Other unallocated assets to Corporate clinics segment assets for the year ended December 31, 2016 to align with current period presentation of segment assets.

Note 13: Subsequent Events

 

On October 10, 2017, the Company entered into a regional developer agreement for a number of counties in the state of Texas, one county in the state of Arkansas, and the entire state of Oklahoma. The party paid an initial development fee of $170,000. The development schedule requires the opening and operating of a minimum of 22 clinics over a ten-year period. A portion of the development fee will be funded through a promissory note. The note will bear interest at 10% per annum for 36 months and requires monthly principal and interest payments, beginning November 24, 2017 and maturing on October 24, 2020.