Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

v2.4.0.6
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2012
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business.

Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (“the Company” or “Cryo-Cell”) was incorporated in Delaware on September 11, 1989 and is located in Oldsmar, Florida. The Company operates in one reportable segment and is principally engaged in cellular processing and cryogenic cellular storage, with a current focus on the collection and preservation of umbilical cord blood stem cells for family use. Revenues recognized primarily represent sales of the umbilical cord blood stem cells program to customers, and income from licensees selling the umbilical cord blood stem cells program to customers outside the United States. The Company’s headquarters facility in Oldsmar, Florida handles all aspects of its U.S.-based business operations including the processing and storage of specimens, including specimens obtained from certain of its licensees’ customers. The specimens are stored in commercially available cryogenic storage equipment.

The Company formed its then wholly owned Delaware subsidiaries, Safti-Cell, Inc., CCEL Immune System Technologies, Inc., Stem Cell Preservation Technologies, Inc. (formerly CCEL Expansion Technologies, Inc.), CCEL Bio-Therapies, Inc. and Multi-Monitoring Systems, Inc., in 1993. In 1998, the Company formed Info-Medical Technologies, Inc. In 2000, the Company formed Tumor Tissue Technology, Inc. and Stem Cell Preservation, Inc. CCEL Immune Technologies, Inc., Tumor Tissues Technology, Inc., Stem Cell Preservation, Inc., Stem Cell Preservation Technologies, Inc., Multi-Monitoring Systems, Inc. and Info-Medical Technologies, Inc. did not have operations during the fiscal years ended November 30, 2012 and 2011. As of November 30, 2012, no shares had been issued for any of these subsidiaries except for Stem Cell Preservation Technologies, Inc. During 2009, the Company sold its interest in Safti-Cell, Inc. as part of an Asset Purchase Agreement.

On October 10, 2001, Saneron Therapeutics, Inc. merged into one of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, CCEL Bio-Therapies, Inc. (“CCBT”), which then changed its name to Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, Inc. (“SCTI” or “Saneron”). As part of the merger, the Company contributed 260,000 shares of its common stock, whose fair value was $1,924,000 and 195,000 common shares of another of its subsidiaries, Stem Cell Preservation Technologies, Inc., whose fair value was $3,900. At the conclusion of the merger, the Company retained a 43.42% non-controlling interest in the voting stock of SCTI. As of November 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company had an interest of approximately 34% in the voting stock of SCTI. The accompanying consolidated financial statements as of November 30, 2012 and 2011 reflect the investment in SCTI under the equity method of accounting.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements as of November 30, 2012 and 2011 and for the years then ended includes the accounts of the Company and all of its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.

 

Concentration of Risks

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk are principally cash and cash equivalent accounts in financial institutions, which often exceed the Federal Depository Insurance (FDIC) limit. The Company places its cash with high quality financial institutions and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk. The Company may from time to time invest some of its cash funds in certificates of deposit and bond investments maintained by brokers who are insured under the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). The Company believes these are conservative investments with a low risk for any loss of principal. The Company regularly assesses its marketable security investments for impairment and adjusts its investment strategy as it deems appropriate.

The Company depends on one supplier for the source of its collection kits, a critical component of the umbilical cord blood stem cell collection process. However, the Company believes that alternative sources of supply are available.

As of November 30, 2012 and November 30, 2011, the Company has amounts due from certain foreign license affiliates that account for approximately 55% and 41%, respectively, of accounts receivable on the consolidated balance sheets.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of 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 reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition for Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables

For multi-element arrangements, the Company allocates revenue to all deliverables based on their relative selling prices. In such circumstances, accounting principles establish a hierarchy to determine the selling price to be used for allocating revenue to deliverables as follows: (i) vendor-specific objective evidence of fair value (“VSOE”), (ii) third-party evidence of selling price (“TPE”), and (iii) best estimate of the selling price (“ESP”). VSOE generally exists only when the Company sells the deliverable separately and it is the price actually charged by the Company for that deliverable.

The Company has identified two deliverables generally contained in the arrangements involving the sale of its umbilical cord blood product. The first deliverable is the processing of a specimen. The second deliverable is either the annual storage of a specimen or the 21 year storage fee charged for a specimen. The Company has allocated revenue between these deliverables using the relative selling price method. The Company has VSOE for its annual storage fees as the Company renews storage fees annually with its customers on a standalone basis. Because the Company has neither VSOE nor TPE for the processing and 21 year storage deliverables, the allocation of revenue has been based on the Company’s ESPs. Amounts allocated to processing a specimen are recognized at the time of sale. Amounts allocated to the storage of a specimen are recognized ratably over the contractual storage period. Any discounts given to the customer are recognized by applying the relative selling price method whereby after the Company determines the selling price to be allocated to each deliverable (processing and storage), the sum of the prices of the deliverables is then compared to the arrangement consideration, and any difference is applied to the separate deliverables ratably.

The Company’s process for determining its ESP for deliverables without VSOE or TPE considers multiple factors that may vary depending upon the unique facts and circumstances related to each deliverable. Key factors considered by the Company in developing the ESPs for its processing and 21 year storage fee include the Company’s historical pricing practices as well as expected profit margins.

 

The Company records revenue from processing and storage of specimens and pursuant to agreements with licensees. The Company recognizes revenue from processing fees upon completion of processing and recognizes storage fees ratably over the contractual storage period, as well as, other income from royalties paid by licensees related to long-term storage contracts which the Company has under license agreements. Contracted storage periods can range from one to twenty-one years. Deferred revenue on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets includes the portion of the annual storage fee and the twenty-one year storage fee that is being recognized over the contractual storage period as well as royalties received from foreign licensees related to long-term storage contracts in which the Company has future obligations under the license agreement. The Company classifies deferred revenue as current if the Company expects to recognize the related revenue over the next 12 months. The Company also records revenue within processing and storage fees from shipping and handling billed to customers when earned. Shipping and handling costs that the Company incurs are expensed and included in cost of sales.

The Company has not had a third party conduct a physical inventory count of all specimens stored; however, the Company from time to time will perform a physical inventory count of specimens stored to ensure that all records are accurate.

Revenue Sharing Agreements

The Company maintains Revenue Sharing Agreements (“RSAs”) entered into with various parties prior to 2002, whereby these parties contracted with the Company for a percentage of future storage revenues the Company generates from clients in specific geographical areas. The parties typically paid the Company a non-refundable up-front fee for the rights to these future payments. The Company has initially recorded this up-front fee as a long-term liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Given the criteria under which these RSAs were established, cash payments from these contracts can fluctuate from period to period. All payments made to the other parties to the RSAs are recognized as interest expense. At such time as the total payments can be determined, the Company will commence amortizing these liabilities under the effective interest method (See Note 12).

License and Royalty Agreements

The Company has entered into licensing agreements with certain investors in various international markets in an attempt to capitalize on the Company’s technology. The investors typically pay a licensing fee to receive Company marketing programs, technology and know-how in a selected area. The investor may be given a right to sell sub-license agreements as well. As part of the accounting for the up-front license fee paid, or payable, to the Company, revenue from the up-front license fee is recognized based on such factors as when the payment is due, collectability and when all material services or conditions relating to the sale have been substantially performed by the Company based on the terms of the agreement. The Company has fourteen active licensing agreements. The following areas each have one license agreement: Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, Panama, Honduras, China, and Pakistan. The following areas each have two license agreements: India, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

In October 2012, the Company sent notice of termination to the Company’s Venezuelan affiliate, which represents Venezuela, Chile, Colombia and Peru, for failure to meet its payment obligation in accordance with the contract. Subsequent to the notice of termination, payment was received for outstanding processing and storage fees due from Venezuela. The Company is in the process of discussing a new agreement. The Company continues to accept umbilical cord blood and menstrual stem cell specimens to be processed and stored during the negotiations. In December 2012, the Company sent notice of termination to the Company’s affiliate in Ecuador for failure to meet its payment obligation in accordance with the contract. Subsequent to the notice of termination, payment was received for outstanding processing and storage fees due from Ecuador. The Company is in the process of discussing a new agreement. The Company continues to accept umbilical cord blood and menstrual stem cell specimens to be processed and stored during the negotiations.

In addition to the license fee, the Company earns processing and storage fees on subsequent processing and storage revenues received by the licensee in the licensed territory and a fee on any sub-license agreements that are sold by the licensee where applicable. The Company processes and stores specimens sent directly from customers of licensees in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Pakistan and Venezuela. The Company also processes and stores specimens from sub-licenses of Venezuela, who are Chile, Colombia and Peru. These fees are included in processing and storage fees revenue on the consolidated statements of operations. As part of the accounting for royalty revenue from China, India and Mexico, the Company uses estimates and judgments based on historical processing and storage volume in determining the timing and amount of royalty revenue to recognize. The Company periodically reviews license and royalty receivables for collectability and, if necessary, will record an expense for an allowance for uncollectible accounts. If the financial condition of the Company’s sub-licensees were to deteriorate beyond the estimates, the Company may have to increase the allowance for doubtful accounts which could have a negative impact on earnings. If the licensee’s customer base were to decrease, it would negatively impact the Company’s ongoing license income.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with a maturity date at acquisition of three months or less at the time of purchase.

Restricted Cash

The Company has restricted cash of $2,576,844 and $2,700,000 as of November 30, 2012 and November 30, 2011, respectively. The Company’s bank provided a Letter of Credit in favor of a company that provides third-party financing to the Company’s clients. As a requirement to issue the Letter of Credit, the Company’s bank required that $200,000 of cash be designated restricted.

On August 25, 2011, the Company transferred $2,500,000 to a Grantor Trust (See Note 16) for payments under certain executive employment agreements. The Trust is irrevocable and the Company has no power to direct the Trustee (Wells Fargo National Association) to return the funds to the Company. The funds will be returned to the Company when the Trustee is satisfied that the obligations have been satisfied per any agreed upon terms. If the Company becomes insolvent, the Trustee will cease payments of benefits to the Participants and the cash will revert to the Company. Upon written approval of all Participants, the Company may terminate the Trust. The Trustee may reduce the Grantor Trust for legal fees that the Trustee incurs. During fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, $81,250 and $0, respectively, of legal expenses were deducted from the trust balance. As of November 30, 2012, the trust monies are being held as cash.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consist of uncollateralized amounts due from clients that have enrolled and processed in the umbilical cord blood and menstrual stem cell processing and storage programs and amounts due from license affiliates, and sublicensee territories and do not require collateral. Accounts receivable due from clients and license affiliates that store specimens at the Company’s facility in Oldsmar, Florida are due within 30 days and are stated at amounts due from clients net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts outstanding longer than the contractual payment terms are considered past due. The Company determines its allowance by considering the length of time accounts receivable are past due, the Company’s previous loss history, and the client’s current ability to pay its obligations. Therefore, if the financial condition of the Company’s clients were to deteriorate beyond the estimates, the Company may have to increase the allowance for doubtful accounts which could have a negative impact on earnings. The Company writes-off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible, and payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to the allowance for doubtful accounts. The activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows for the years ended November 30, 2012 and 2011:

 

         

December 1, 2010

  $ 783,354  

Bad Debt Expense

    227,907  

Write-offs

    (193,184

Recoveries

    124,456  
   

 

 

 

November 30, 2011

    942,533  
   

Bad Debt Expense

    746,007  

Write-offs

    (434,401

Recoveries

    113,326  
   

 

 

 

November 30, 2012

  $ 1,367,465  

 

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided primarily by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Estimated useful lives of property and equipment are as follows:

 

     
Furniture and equipment   3-10 years
Leasehold improvements   Lesser of 8-10 years or the lives of the leases
Computer software – internal use   1-5 years

Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the respective life of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the improvements. Upon the sale or retirement of depreciable assets, the cost and related accumulated depreciation is removed from the accounts and the resulting profit or loss is reflected in income. Expenditures for maintenance, repairs and minor betterments are expensed as incurred.

The Company capitalizes external direct costs of materials and services consumed in developing or obtaining internal-use computer software. Capitalized internal-use software costs, which are included in property and equipment, are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the software.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates the realizability of its long-lived assets, which requires impairment losses to be recorded on long-lived assets used in operations when indicators of impairment, such as reductions in demand or when significant economic slowdowns are present. Reviews are performed to determine whether the carrying value of an asset is impaired, based on comparisons to undiscounted expected future cash flows. If this comparison indicates that there is impairment and carrying value is in excess of fair value, the impaired asset is written down to fair value, which is typically calculated using: (i) quoted market prices or (ii) discounted expected future cash flows utilizing a discount rate. During fiscal 2011, the Company determined that previously capitalized costs associated with the development of internal use computer software would be of no further use to the Company and should be written off and the asset was fully impaired. As of November 30, 2011, the Company impaired the related internal use computer software costs in the amount of $627,034 which is included in impairment of internal use software in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. There was no impairment as of November 30, 2012.

Patents and Trademarks

The Company incurs certain legal and related costs in connection with patent and trademark applications. If a future economic benefit is anticipated from the resulting patent or trademark or an alternate future use is available to the Company, such costs are capitalized and amortized over the expected life of the patent or trademark. The Company’s assessment of future economic benefit involves considerable management judgment. A different conclusion could result in the reduction of the carrying value of these assets. During 2012 and 2011, management decided to discontinue pursuing certain patents and trademarks resulting in a write-off of approximately $53,000 and $210,000 respectively for abandoned patents and trademarks which is reflected as abandonment of patents in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the twelve months ended November 30, 2012 and November 30, 2011.

Amortization expense was approximately $74,000 and $40,000 in 2012 and 2011, respectively. Accumulated amortization was approximately $87,000 and $74,000 in 2012 and 2011, respectively. The difference in amortization expense and accumulated amortization is due to the abandonment of patents during 2012 and 2011. Patent costs are capitalized on the date that the utility patent was filed and are amortized over a period of 20 years. Capitalized net patent costs are included in deposits and other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Patent costs are as follows:

 

                 
    2012     2011  

Patents

  $ 490,545     $ 529,385  

Less: Accumulated amortization

    (87,249     (74,060
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     

Net Patents

  $ 403,296     $ 455,325  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The future amortization expenses are as follows:

 

         

Fiscal Year Ending November 30,

  Amortization  

2013

  $ 25,900  

2014

  $ 25,900  

2015

  $ 25,900  

2016

  $ 25,900  

2017

  $ 25,900  

Thereafter

  $ 273,796  

Investment in Saneron

The Company owns 34% as of November 30, 2012 and November 30, 2011, of an entity that is involved in the area of stem cell research. The Company accounts for this investment under the equity method. The Company previously recorded equity in losses of affiliate until the investment balance was zero and only goodwill remained. The Company continues to record compensation expense related to expense for stock and warrant awards that were granted by Saneron at below fair market value to certain employees, consultants and members of Saneron management who represent owners of Saneron and serve on its board of directors. The investment is reviewed annually to determine if an other than temporary impairment exists. The Company does not believe that an impairment exists as of November 30, 2012 and November 30, 2011. If actual future results are not consistent with the Company’s assumptions and estimates, the Company may be required to record impairment charges in the future which could have a negative impact on earnings.

Income Taxes

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to be recovered or settled. The Company has recorded a valuation allowance of approximately $10,947,000 and $7,756,000 as of November 30, 2012 and November 30, 2011, respectively, as the Company does not currently believe it is “more likely than not” that all of the future income tax benefits will be realized. When the Company changes its determination as to the amount of deferred income tax assets that can be realized, the valuation allowance is adjusted with a corresponding impact to income tax expense in the period in which such determination is made. The ultimate realization of the Company’s deferred income tax assets depends upon generating sufficient taxable income prior to the expiration of the tax attributes. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, the Company projects future levels of taxable income. This assessment requires significant judgment. The Company examines the evidence related to the recent history of losses, the economic conditions in which the Company operates and forecasts and projections to make that determination.

The Company has made certain strategic decisions during 2011 and 2012 concerning the negotiated termination of some of the perpetual Revenue Sharing Agreements (“RSA’s”), the impairment of internal use software that is being replaced with a technology platform that is better suited for the Company’s business needs and the implementation of a national sales force in order to generate growth and future value for the Company’s stockholders. These strategic decisions, including the decision to terminate the former CEO’s employment, have increased the Company’s expenses which have resulted in losses in the past few quarters in late fiscal 2011 and in fiscal 2012. The accounting standards surrounding income taxes require a company to consider whether it is more likely than not that the deferred income tax assets will be realized. Once a company has had cumulative losses in recent years, regardless of the nature of the loss, the accounting standards do not allow the Company to put significant reliance on future taxable income projections to overcome the more likely than not threshold that the deferred tax assets will be realized.

As a result of the cumulative losses, the Company reserved $1,718,919 during the second quarter of 2012 resulting in U.S. tax expense being recorded for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2012 due to the Company’s decision in the second quarter of 2012 to record a valuation allowance associated with certain of the Company’s deferred income tax assets, as it is more likely than not that the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. There was no U.S. income tax expense for fiscal 2011 as the Company incurred a tax loss which resulted in an increase to the net operating loss deferred tax asset, which was offset by an increase to the valuation allowance.

The Company records foreign income taxes withheld from installment payments of non-refundable up-front license fees and royalty income earned on the processing and storage of cord blood stem cell specimens in certain geographic areas where the Company has license agreements. The Company recorded approximately $169,000 and $172,000 for the years ended November 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, of foreign income tax expense, which is included in income tax expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

The Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. Increases or decreases to the unrecognized tax benefits could result from management’s belief that a position can or cannot be sustained upon examination based on subsequent information or potential lapse of the applicable statute of limitation for certain tax positions.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. For fiscal 2012 and 2011, the Company had no provisions for interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions.

Research, Development and Related Engineering Costs

Research, development and related engineering costs are expensed as incurred.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales represents the associated expenses resulting from the processing, testing and storage of the umbilical cord blood and menstrual stem cell specimens.

Advertising

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The total amount included in selling, general and administrative expenses for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2012 and 2011 was approximately $692,000 and $2,200,000, respectively.

 

Rent Expense

Rent paid is expensed based on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease due to the existence of fixed escalation clauses in the leases, and is included in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. All leases include provisions for escalations and related costs.

Legal Expense

Legal fees are expensed as incurred and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Management uses a fair value hierarchy, which gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets. The fair value of financial instruments is estimated based on market trading information, where available. Absent published market values for an instrument or other assets, management uses observable market data to arrive at its estimates of fair value. Management believes that the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, notes receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses. The Company believes that the fair value of its revenue sharing agreement’s liability recorded on the balance sheet is between the recorded book value and up to the Company’s recent settlement experience as discussed in Note 12, due to the various terms and conditions associated with each Revenue Sharing Agreement.

The Company uses an accounting standard that defines fair value as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, the standard establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:

 

     
Level 1   Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
   
Level 2   Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
   
Level 3   Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

The following table summarizes our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of November 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, segregated among the appropriate levels within the fair value hierarchy:

 

                                 
    Fair Value at
November 30,
2012
    Fair Value Measurements
at November 30, 2012 Using
 

Description

    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  

Assets:

                               

Trading securities

  $    13,660     $ 13,660                —         —    

 

                                 
    Fair Value at
November 30,
2011
    Fair Value Measurements
at November 30, 2011 Using
 

Description

    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  

Assets:

                               

Available-for-sale securities

  $ 1,008,404     $  6,404     $ 1,002,000       —    

The following is a description of the valuation techniques used for these items, as well as the general classification of such items pursuant to the fair value hierarchy:

Trading securities – The Company invested in exchange-traded equity securities of $20,760 and $0 at November 30, 2012 and November 30, 2011, respectively. Fair values for these investments are based on quoted prices in active markets and are therefore classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. There was $7,100 in unrealized holding loss recorded in other income and expense on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the twelve months ended November 30, 2012.

Available-for-sale securities – As of November 30, 2011, the Company invested $1,002,000 in variable-rate demand notes. The interest rate on these variable rate demand notes resets every seven days to adjust to current market conditions. The Company could have redeemed these investments at cost at any time with seven days’ notice. Therefore, the investments were held at cost, which approximates fair value, and are classified as short-term investments on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. During fiscal 2012, the Company redeemed these variable-rate demand notes for an amount that closely approximated redemption date carrying value. As a result, no gain or loss was recognized upon redemption.

The Company further invested in exchange-traded equity securities of and $0 and $6,404 at November 30, 2012 and November 30, 2011, respectively. Fair values for these investments are based on quoted prices in active markets and are therefore classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

The Company is permitted to make an election to carry certain eligible financial assets and liabilities at fair value, even if fair value measurement has not historically been required for such assets and liabilities under U.S. GAAP. The Company made no elections to record any such assets and or liabilities at fair value. Adjustments to the fair value in the Company’s available-for-sale securities and other investments were reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Product Warranty and Cryo-Cell Cares TM Program

In December 2005, the Company began providing its customers that enrolled after December 2005 a payment warranty under which the Company agrees to pay $50,000 to its client if the umbilical cord blood product retrieved is used for a stem cell transplant for the donor or an immediate family member and fails to engraft, subject to various restrictions. Effective February 1, 2012, the Company increased the $50,000 payment warranty to a $75,000 payment warranty to all of its new clients. Additionally, under the Cryo-Cell Cares TM program, the Company will pay $10,000 to the client to offset personal expenses if the umbilical cord blood product is used for bone marrow reconstitution in a myeloblative transplant procedure. The product warranty and the Cryo-Cell Cares program are available to clients who enroll under this structure for as long as the specimen is stored with the Company. The Company has not experienced any claims under the warranty program nor has it incurred costs related to these warranties. The Company does not maintain insurance for this warranty program and therefore maintains reserves to cover any estimated potential liabilities. The Company’s reserve balance is based on the $75,000 or $50,000 (as applicable) maximum payment and the $10,000 maximum expense reimbursement multiplied by formulas to determine the projected number of units requiring a payout. The Company determined the estimated expected usage and engraftment failure rates based on an analysis of the historical usage and failure rates and the historical usage and failure rates in other private and public cord blood banks based on published data. The Company’s estimates of expected usage and engraftment failure could change as a result of changes in actual usage rates or failure rates and such changes would require an adjustment to the established reserves. The historical usage and failure rates have been very low and a small increase in the number of transplants or engraftment failures could cause a significant increase in the estimated rates used in determining the Company’s reserve. In addition, the reserve will increase as additional umbilical cord blood specimens are stored which are subject to the warranty. As of November 30, 2012 and November 30, 2011 the Company recorded reserves under these programs in the amounts of $14,485 and $13,351, respectively, which are included in accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Loss per Common Share

Basic (loss) income per common share was computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted loss per common share includes the effect of all dilutive stock options. The composition of basic and diluted net income per share is as follows:

 

                 
    November 30, 2012     November 30, 2011  

Numerator:

               

Net Loss

  ($ 6,308,470   ($ 2,095,526

Denominator:

               

Weighted-average shares outstanding - basic

    11,308,872       11,763,290  

Dilutive common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options

               
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares - diluted

    11,308,872       11,763,290  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss per share:

               

Basic

  ($ 0.56   ($ 0.18
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

  ($ 0.56   ($ 0.18
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the years ended November 30, 2012 and November 30, 2011, the Company excluded the effect of all outstanding stock options from the computation of diluted loss per share, as the effect of potentially dilutive shares would be anti-dilutive. The number of outstanding options was 1,823,098 and 608,419 as of November 30, 2012 and November 30, 2011, respectively.

Stock Compensation

As of November 30, 2012, the Company has three stock-based employee compensation plans, which are described in Note 7. The Company’s third stock-based employee compensation plan became effective December 1, 2011 as approved by the Board of Directors and approved by the stockholders at the 2012 Annual Meeting. The Company recognized approximately $1,325,000 and $329,000 for the years ended November 30, 2012 and November 30, 2011, respectively, of stock compensation expense. On May 30, 2012, the Company received a Nomination Solicitation Notice nominating six individuals for election as directors to compete with the Company’s existing board of directors at the 2012 Annual Meeting. Pursuant to the Co-CEOs employment agreements, if the Company receives a Nomination Solicitation Notice, as defined in the Company’s Bylaws, all options that have been issued to the Co-CEOs will immediately vest. Included in the 2012 stock compensation expense is approximately $700,000 that is due to the immediate vesting of the options issued to the Co-CEOs. Also included in the 2012 stock option expense is approximately $171,000 due to the Company’s election to accelerate certain advisory board options.

 

The Company recognizes stock-based compensation based on the fair value of the related awards. Under the fair value recognition guidance of stock-based compensation accounting rules, stock-based compensation expense is estimated at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period of the award. The fair value of service-based vesting condition and performance-based vesting condition stock option awards is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The Company estimates the fair value of stock option awards as of the grant date by applying the Black-Scholes option pricing model. For stock option awards with only service-based vesting conditions and graded vesting features, the Company recognizes stock compensation expense based on the graded-vesting method. To value awards with market-based vesting conditions the Company uses a binomial valuation model. The Company recognizes compensation cost for awards with market-based vesting conditions on a graded-vesting basis over the derived service period calculated by the binomial valuation model. The use of these valuation models involve assumptions that are judgmental and highly sensitive in the determination of compensation expense and include the expected life of the option, stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate, dividend yield, exercise price, and forfeiture rate. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of valuation and reduce expense ratably over the vesting period.

The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment and to the extent that actual results or updated estimates differ from current estimates, such amounts will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period they become known. The Company considered many factors when estimating forfeitures, including the recipient groups and historical experience. Actual results and future changes in estimates may differ substantially from current estimates.

The Company issues performance-based equity awards which vest upon the achievement of certain financial performance goals, including revenue and income targets. Determining the appropriate amount to expense based on the anticipated achievement of the stated goals requires judgment, including forecasting future financial results. The estimate of the timing of the expense recognition is revised periodically based on the probability of achieving the required performance targets and adjustments are made as appropriate. The cumulative impact of any revision is reflected in the period of the change. If the financial performance goals are not met, the award does not vest, so no compensation cost is recognized and any previously stock-recognized stock-based compensation expense is reversed.

The Company issues equity awards with market-based vesting conditions which vest upon the achievement of certain stock price targets. If the awards are forfeited prior to the completion of the derived service period, any recognized compensation is reversed. If the awards are forfeited after the completion of the derived service period, the compensation cost is not reversed, even if the awards never vest.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”). ASU 2011-05 will require companies to present the components of net income and other comprehensive income either as one continuous statement or as two consecutive statements. It eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the changes in stockholders’ equity. The standard does not change the items which must be reported in other comprehensive income, how such items are measured or when they must be reclassified to net income. ASU 2011-05 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt ASU 2011-05 when required in the first quarter of 2013. The adoption of ASU 2011-05 will only impact presentation and will not have any effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or on its financial condition.

In December 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-12: Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05 (ASU 2011-12). The Update defers the specific requirement to present items that are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income separately with their respective components of net income and other comprehensive income. As part of this update, the FASB did not defer the requirement to report comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive financial statements. ASU 2011-12 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company will adopt ASU 2011-12 in the first quarter of 2013. The adoption will not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2013-02”). This update will require companies to present information about amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income and their corresponding effect on net income in one place and reference the amounts to the related footnote disclosures. Current accounting standards present this information in different places throughout the financial statements. ASU 2013-02 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2013-02 will only impact disclosure requirements and will not have any effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or on its financial condition.