Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)

v3.23.1
Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation The accompanying audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, under the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) except the shares and corresponding equity amounts and loss per share related to Nauticus’ Common Stock prior to the Business Combination have been retroactively restated to reflect the post-combination Common Stock capital structure.

 

Principles of Consolidations

Principles of Consolidations - These audited consolidated financial statements reflect the financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) of Nauticus Robotics Holdings Inc. for periods until September 9, 2022, the Closing Date of the Business Combination, and the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) of Nauticus Robotics, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiary, Nauticus Robotics Holdings Inc. for the period from September 10, 2022 through December 31, 2022. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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 revenues and expenses during the period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the (i) estimates of future costs to complete customer contracts recognized over time, (ii) valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets, (iii) valuation of stock-based compensation awards and (iv) the valuation of conversion options, warrants and earnouts. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents – The Company classifies all highly-liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less as cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents in bank deposit accounts, which at times may exceed federally insured limits of $250,000. Historically, the Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. There were no cash equivalents at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively

 

Restricted Certificate of Deposit

Restricted Certificate of Deposit — The restricted certificate of deposit on December 31, 2022 and 2021 is held with a bank and is used as a guarantee against corporate credit cards.

 

Short-term Investments

Short-term Investments – Short-term investments on December 31, 2022 include an investment in a US Treasury Bill maturing March 14, 2023. The original maturity for this investment was more than 3 months and any change in the investment is recognized in the statement of operations.

 

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable – Trade credit is generally extended on a short-term basis in the normal course of business. If necessary, the Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts to provide for the estimated amount of accounts receivable that will not be collected which is based on an analysis of specific customers, taking into consideration the age of past due accounts and an assessment of the customer’s ability to pay. Accounts receivable outstanding longer than contractual terms, generally up to 90 days, are considered past due. Accounts deemed uncollectible are applied against the allowance for doubtful accounts.

 

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment – property and equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method. Expenditures which extend the useful lives of existing property and equipment are capitalized. Those costs which do not extend the useful lives are expensed as incurred. Upon disposition, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed and any gain or loss on the disposal is reflected in the statements of operations.

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets – The Company reviews long-lived assets for potential impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. In this assessment, future pre-tax cash flows (undiscounted) resulting from the use of the asset and its eventual disposal are estimated. If the undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between its carrying value and estimated fair value. There were no impairments for December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting – Our operations represent a single segment because each revenue stream possesses similar production methods, distribution methods, and customer quality and consumption characteristics, resulting in similar long-term expected financial performance.

 

Revenue

Revenue – Our primary sources of revenue are from providing technology and engineering services and products to the offshore industry and governmental entities. Revenue is generated pursuant to contractual arrangements to design and develop subsea robots and software and to provide related engineering, technical, and other services according to the specifications of the customers. These contracts can be service sales (cost plus fixed fee or firm fixed price) or product sales and typically have terms of up to 18 months. The Company has no product sales in 2022 as its core products are still under development.

 

A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer distinct goods or services to a customer. For all contracts, we assess if there are multiple promises that should be accounted for as separate performance obligations or combined into a single performance obligation. We generally separate multiple promises in a contract as separate performance obligations if those promises are distinct, both individually and in the context of the contract. If multiple promises in a contract are highly interrelated or require significant integration or customization within a group, they are combined and accounted for as a single performance obligation.

 

Our performance obligations under service agreements generally are satisfied over time as the service is provided. Revenue under these contracts is recognized over time using an input measure of progress (typically costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion). This requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions to estimate contract sales and costs associated with its contracts with customers. At the outset of a long-term contract, the Company identifies risks to the achievement of the technical, schedule and cost aspects of the contract. Throughout the contract term, on at least a quarterly basis, we monitor and assess the effects of those risks on its estimates of sales and total costs to complete the contract. Changes in these estimates could have a material effect on our results of operations.

 

Firm-fixed price contracts present the risk of unreimbursed cost overruns, potentially resulting in lower-than-expected contract profits and margins. This risk is generally lower for cost plus fixed fee contracts which, as a result, generally have a lower margin.

 

Performance obligations for product sales are typically satisfied at a point in time. This occurs when control of the products is transferred to the customer, which generally is when title and risk of loss have passed to the customer.

 

Inventories

Inventories – Inventories include raw materials and work in process used in the construction and installation of a portfolio of ocean robotics systems technology products that include the Aquanaut and Olympic Arm. Raw materials consist of composite marine structures, commercial off-the-shelf or COTS, batteries, and hardware and electrical components. Work in progress inventories consist of raw materials and labor for construction of projects. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. The Company periodically reviews inventories for specifically identifiable items that are unusable or obsolete based on assumptions about future demand and market conditions. Based on this evaluation, we make provisions for unusable and obsolete inventories in order to write inventories down to their net realizable value.

 

Inventories consisted of the following:

 

    December 31,
2022
    December 31,
2021
 
Raw material and supplies   $ 1,499,030     $
        -
 
Work in progress     5,167,882      
-
 
Finished goods    
-
     
-
 
Total inventories   $ 6,666,912     $
-
 

 

Leases

Leases – The Company’s lease arrangements are operating leases which are capitalized on the balance sheet as right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and obligations. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. These are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of payments over the lease term. If leases do not provide for an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the estimated rate of interest for collateralized borrowing over a similar term as the lease payments. Lease expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation – The Company accounts for employee stock-based compensation using the fair value method. Compensation cost for equity incentive awards is based on the fair value of the equity instrument generally on the date of grant and is recognized over the requisite service period. The Company’s policy is to issue new shares upon the exercise or conversion of options and recognize option forfeitures as they occur.

 

Income Taxes

Income Taxes – Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax asset (including the impact of available carryback and carryforward periods), projected future taxable income, and tax-planning strategies in making this assessment. A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is recorded when it is more likely than not that the benefit from the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

 

The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which a change in judgment occurs. The Company had no material uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2022 or 2021.

 

The Company is subject to the Texas margin tax and margin tax expense was $9,705 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation – Nauticus purchases certain materials and equipment from foreign companies and these transactions are generally denominated in the vendors’ local currency. The Company recorded $261,000 and $470 of foreign currency transaction gains for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively that are included in other income, net.

 

Common Stock Warrants

Common Stock Warrants – We account for common stock warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance. This assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments, meet the definition of a liability or requirements for equity classification, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s Common Stock, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the warrants are outstanding.

 

We have determined that the Private Warrants and Public Warrants should be accounted for as liabilities. The Private Warrants and Public Warrants were initially recorded at their estimated fair value on the Closing Date and are then revalued at each reporting date thereafter, with changes in the fair value reported in the consolidated statements of operations. Derivative warrant liabilities are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date. The fair value of the Private Warrants was estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model (a Level 3 measurement). The Public Warrants are valued using their publicly traded price at each measurement date (a Level 1 measurement).

 

We have determined that the SPA Warrants (defined below) should be accounted for as liabilities. The SPA Warrants were initially recorded at their estimated fair value on the Closing Date and are then revalued at each reporting date thereafter, with changes in the fair value reported in the consolidated statements of operations. Derivative warrant liabilities are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date. At the Closing Date, the SPA Warrants fair value upon issuance was estimated using a Monte Carlo valuation model (a Level 3 measurement).

 

Earnout Shares

Earnout Shares – Earnout shares, issuable to former holders of Nauticus Robotics Holdings, Inc.’s Common Stock, are held in escrow. The Earnout Shares will be released upon occurrence of a Triggering Event within five years of the Closing Date. The Earnout Shares are considered legally issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock subject to restrictions on transfer and potential forfeiture pending the achievement of the earnout targets. The Company evaluated the Earnout Shares and concluded that they meet the criteria for equity classification. The Earnout Shares were classified in stockholders’ equity, recognized at fair value upon the closing of the Business Combination and will not be subsequently remeasured. Their estimated fair value upon issuance is determined using a Monte Carlo valuation model (a Level 3 measurement).

 

Convertible Instruments

Convertible Instruments – In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-06, Debt — Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. ASU 2020-06 simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments by reducing the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock. Limiting the accounting models results in fewer embedded conversion features being separately recognized from the host contract as compared with current GAAP. Convertible instruments that continue to be subject to separation models are (1) those with embedded conversion features that are not clearly and closely related to the host contract, which meet the definition of a derivative, and that do not qualify for a scope exception from derivative accounting and (2) convertible debt instruments issued with substantial premiums for which the premiums are recorded as paid-in capital. ASU 2020-06 also amends the guidance for the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity to reduce form-over-substance-based accounting conclusions.

 

The amendments in ASU 2020-06 further revise the guidance in ASC 260, Earnings Per Share, to require entities to calculate diluted earnings per share for convertible instruments using the if-converted method. In addition, entities must presume share settlement for purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share when an instrument may be settled in cash or shares.

 

The Company elected to early adopt ASU 2020-06 as of January 1, 2021 using the modified retrospective method. Adoption of this new guidance had no impact on prior year retained earnings as we have stated the convertible debt instruments at their face value in prior period financial statements without bifurcation. Adoption of this guidance had no impact on Company financial statements at the date of adoption but is applicable to newly issued instruments.

 

Capitalized Interest

Capitalized Interest – The Company capitalizes interest costs incurred to work in process during the related construction periods. Capitalized interest is charged to cost of revenue when the related completed project is delivered to the buyer. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company capitalized interest totaling $804,000 to work in process attributable to inventories and property and equipment. No amounts of interest were capitalized during the year ended December 31, 2021.

 

Earnings (Loss) per Share

Earnings (Loss) per ShareBasic earnings per share is computed by dividing income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed in the same manner as basic earnings per share except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that could have been outstanding assuming the exercise of stock options and warrants (determined using the treasury stock method) and conversion of convertible debt. The Earnout Shares, which are subject to forfeiture if the achievement of certain stock price thresholds is not met, are not considered participating securities and are not included in the weighted-average shares outstanding for purposes of calculating loss per share.

 

Major Customer and Concentration of Credit Risk

Major Customer and Concentration of Credit Risk We have a limited number of customers. During the year ended December 31, 2022, sales to two customers accounted for 95% of total revenue. The total balance due from these customers as of December 31, 2022 comprised 82% of accounts receivable. During the year ended December 31, 2021, sales to one customer accounted for 89% of total revenue. The total balances due from this customer as of December 31, 2021, made up 82% of accounts receivable. No other customer represented more than 10% of our revenue.

 

Other Current assets consist of the following

Other Current assets consist of the following:

 

    December 31, 2022     December 31, 2021  
Prepaid material purchases   $ 2,454,298     $ 96,095  
Other prepayments     199,323       110,326  
Other     56,410       3,804  
Total other current assets   $ 2,710,031     $ 210,225  

 

Accrued liabilities consist of the following

Accrued liabilities consist of the following:

 

    December 31, 2022     December 31, 2021  
Accrued compensation   $ 1,501,736     $ 349,255  
Accrued professional fees     794,021       -  
Accrued insurance     590,936       61,752  
Accrued interest     -       703,544  
Advance customer payments     -       373,791  
Other accrued expenses     256,284       88,091  
Total accrued expenses   $ 3,142,977     $ 1,576,433  

 

Reclassifications

Reclassifications – Financial statements presented for prior periods include reclassifications that were made to conform to the current-period presentation. There was no material impact to the consolidated financial statements for these changes.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements – In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses, which replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. We adopted this standard on January 1, 2022. There was no impact from the adoption of this standard on our consolidated financial statements.

 

There are no other new accounting pronouncements that are expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.