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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark
One)
☑ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the
fiscal year ended October 31,
2017
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the
transition period from _____________ to ______________
Commission
File No. 000-50956
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
|
|
20-0653570
|
(State
or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or
Organization)
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|
(IRS Employer Identification
No.)
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Pharma-Bio Serv Building,
#6 Road 696
Dorado, Puerto Rico
|
|
00646
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(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
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(Zip
Code)
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787-278-2709
(Registrant’s
Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, par
value $0.0001 per share
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as
defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐
No ☑
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes
☐ No ☑
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such
shorter period that the registrant was required to file such
reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. Yes ☑ No
☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically
and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive
Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405
of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit and post such files).
Yes ☑ No ☐
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not
contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the
registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K
or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer,
an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting
company, or emerging growth company. See the definitions of
“large accelerated filer,” “accelerated
filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and
“emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act.
Large
accelerated filer
|
☐
|
Accelerated
filer
|
☐
|
Non-accelerated
filer
|
☐
|
Smaller
reporting company
|
☑
|
|
|
Emerging
growth company
|
☐
|
If an
emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant
has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided
pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined
in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No
☑
The
aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of
the registrant, based on the closing price for the
registrant’s common stock on April 28, 2017 (the last
business day of the second quarter of the registrant’s
current fiscal year), was $9,364,839.
The
number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding
as of January 25, 2018 was 23,062,531.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions
of the registrant’s Proxy Statement relative to the 2017
Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference in
Part III hereof.
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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PART I
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ITEM
1
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BUSINESS
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1
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ITEM
1A
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RISK
FACTORS
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5
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ITEM
1B
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UNRESOLVED
STAFF COMMENTS
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11
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ITEM
2
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PROPERTIES
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11
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ITEM
3
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LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
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11
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ITEM
4
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MINE
SAFETY DISCLOSURES
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11
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PART II
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ITEM
5
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MARKET
FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
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12
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ITEM
6
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SELECTED
FINANCIAL DATA
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13
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ITEM
7
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MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
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13
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ITEM
7A
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QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
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20
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ITEM
8
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FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA (See page F-1)
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20
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ITEM
9
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CHANGES
IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
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20
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ITEM
9A
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CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
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20
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ITEM
9B
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OTHER
INFORMATION
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21
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PART III
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ITEM
10
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DIRECTORS,
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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22
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ITEM
11
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EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
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22
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ITEM
12
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SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
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22
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ITEM
13
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CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
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22
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ITEM
14
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PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
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22
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PART
IV
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ITEM
15
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EXHIBITS,
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
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23
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ITEM
16
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FORM
10-K SUMMARY
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23
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SIGNATURES
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24
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
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F-1
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
GENERAL
Pharma-Bio Serv,
Inc. is a Delaware corporation, organized in 2004 under the name
Lawrence Consulting Group, Inc. In February 2006, our corporate
name was changed to Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc ("Pharma-Bio" or the
“Company”).
On
January 25, 2006, pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger,
Pharma-Bio acquired Pharma-Bio Serv PR, Inc.
(“Pharma-PR”).
Pharma-PR business
was established as a sole proprietorship in 1993 and incorporated
in 1997 to offer compliance consulting services to the
pharmaceutical industry. The business operations provide services
to the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology, medical devices,
cosmetic and food industries, and allied products companies
principally in Puerto Rico, the United States, Europe and
Brazil.
Our
executive offices are located at Pharma-Bio Serv Building, #6 Road
696, Dorado, Puerto Rico 00646. Our telephone number is
(787) 278-2709. The financial information about our reporting
segments appear in Note K to our Consolidated Financial Statements
included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our
website is www.pharmabioserv.com. Information on our website or any
other website is not part of this Annual Report on Form
10-K.
References to
“we,” “us,” “our” and similar
words in this Annual Report on Form 10-K refer to Pharma-Bio Serv,
Inc. and its subsidiaries.
OVERVIEW
We are
a compliance and technology transfer services consulting firm with
a laboratory testing facility (“Lab”) with headquarters
in Puerto Rico, servicing the Puerto Rico, United States, Europe
and Brazil markets. The compliance consulting service sector in
those markets consists of local compliance and validation
consulting firms, United States dedicated validation and compliance
consulting firms, and large publicly traded and private domestic
and foreign engineering and consulting firms. We provide a broad
range of compliance related consulting services. We also provide
microbiological testing services and chemical testing services
through our Lab in Puerto Rico. In addition, we provide technical
training/seminars, which services are not currently significant to
our operating results. We market our services to pharmaceutical,
chemical, biotechnology, medical devices, cosmetic and food
industries, and allied products companies in Puerto Rico, the
United States, Europe and Brazil. Our consulting team includes
experienced engineering and life science professionals, former
quality assurance managers and directors, and professionals with
bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees in health sciences and
engineering.
We have
a well-established and consistent relationships with the major
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and chemical
manufacturing companies in Puerto Rico and the United States, which
provides us access to affiliated companies in other markets. We
seek opportunities in markets that can yield profitable margins
using our professional consulting force, and provide services such
as those performed by our Lab.
We
believe the most significant factors to achieving future business
growth include our ability to: (i) continue to provide quality
value-added compliance services to our clients; (ii) recruit and
retain highly educated and experienced consultants; (iii) further
expand our products and services to address the expanding needs of
our clients; and (iv) expand our market presence in the United
States, Europe, Brazil and other emerging pharmaceutical markets in
order to respond to the international compliance needs of our
clients and potential clients. Our business is affected to the
extent the current economic downturn affects the decision of our
clients and potential clients to establish operations or to
continue or expand their existing operations.
Our
revenue is derived from (i) time and materials contracts
(representing approximately 86% of total revenue), where the
clients are charged for the time, materials and expenses incurred
on a particular project or service, (ii) fixed-fee contracts or
from “not to exceed” contracts (approximately 1% of
total revenue), which are generally short-term contracts, in which
the value of the contract cannot exceed a stated amount, and (iii)
laboratory testing (representing approximately 13% of total
revenue) which generally is completed and certified within days of
sample receipt. For time and materials contracts, our revenue is
principally a function of the number of consultants and the
number of hours billed per consultant. To the extent that our
revenue is based on fixed-fee or “not to exceed”
contracts, our ability to operate profitably is dependent upon our
ability to estimate accurately the costs that we will incur on a
project and to manage and monitor the project. If we underestimate
our costs on any contract, we could sustain a loss on the contract
or its profitability might be reduced.
The
principal components for our consulting costs of services
are resource compensation to our consulting team and expenses
relating to the performance of the services. In order to ensure
that our pricing is competitive yet minimize the impact on our
margins, we manage increasing labor costs by (i)
selecting consultants according to our cost for specific
projects, (ii) negotiating, where applicable, rates with the
consultant, (iii) subcontracting labor and (iv) negotiating and
passing rate increases to our customers, as applicable. Although
this strategy has been successful in the past, we cannot give any
assurance that such strategy will continue to be successful. As for
our laboratory testing operation, the major costs of services
components are salaries and wages, occupancy and depreciation
expenses, and consumable goods usage.
We have
established quality systems for our employees which
include:
●
Training Programs -
including a current Good Manufacturing Practices exam prior to
recruitment and periodic refreshers;
●
Recruitment Full
Training Program - including employee manual, dress code, time
sheets and good project management and control procedures, job
descriptions, and firm operating and administration
procedures;
●
Safety Program -
including Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”)
and Environmental Health and Safety; and
●
Code of Ethics and
Business Conduct - a code of ethics and business conduct is used
and enforced as one of the most significant company controls on
personal behavior.
In
addition, we have implemented procedures to respond to client
complaints and have in place customer satisfaction survey
procedures. As part of our employee performance appraisal annual
process, our clients receive an evaluation form for employee
project performance feedback, including compliance with our code of
ethics and business conduct.
BUSINESS STRATEGY AND OBJECTIVES
We are
actively pursuing to expand our services in the United States and
European markets as part of our growth strategy, while maintaining
our position in the Puerto Rico market. We have a well-established
and consistent relationship with the major pharmaceutical,
biotechnology, medical device and chemical manufacturing companies
in Puerto Rico and the United States which provides us access to
affiliated companies in other markets. We seek opportunities in
markets that can yield profitable margins using our professional
consulting force and also provide new services such as those
performed by our Lab.
Our
business strategy is based on a commitment to provide premium
quality and professional consulting services and reliable customer
service to our customer base. Our business strategy and objectives
are as follow:
●
Growth in
consulting services in each technical service, quality assurance,
regulatory compliance, technology transfer, validation,
engineering, laboratory testing and manufacturing departments by
achieving greater market penetration from our marketing and sales
efforts;
●
Continue to
enhance our technical consulting services through internal growth
and acquisitions that provide solutions to our customers’
needs;
●
Motivate our
consulting and support staff by implementing a compensation program
which includes both individual performance and overall company
performance as elements of compensation;
●
Create a pleasant
corporate culture and emphasize operational quality safety and
timely service;
●
Continue to
maintain our reputation as a trustworthy and highly ethical
partner; and
●
Efficiently manage
our operating and financial costs and expenses.
2006 U.S. Validation Compliance Service Business
Acquisition
In
January 2006, we acquired a validation compliance service business
which served as the foundation to enter the United States
market.
2007 Entrance to Ireland Market
In
September 2007, through the formation of an Irish subsidiary,
we entered into the Ireland market. We currently provide the
same consulting services in Ireland as we provide in the Puerto
Rico and United States markets.
2009 Laboratory Testing Facility
Our Lab
located in Puerto Rico, with an investment of $1.5 million for
microbiology, chemical and environmental testing, commenced
operations in early fiscal 2009. The Lab is U.S. Food and Drug
Administration ("FDA") registered, European Medicines Agency
(“EMA”) inspected and ISO 9001 certified. The Lab
incorporates the latest technology and test methodologies meeting
pharmacopoeia industry standards and regulations. It offers testing
and related services to our core industries already serviced as
well as the cosmetic and food industries.
2012 Entrance to Spain Market
In
January 2012, we initiated a consulting services operation in the
Spanish market. Currently, these services are covered under a
Spanish subsidiary. Consulting services provided in the Spanish
market are similar to those covered in the other markets we
serve.
2015 Entrance to Brazil Market
In
April 2015, we registered in Brazil our wholly owned subsidiary,
Pharma-Brazil, which started providing consulting services last
year. Consulting services provided in Brazil are similar to those
covered in the other markets we serve.
2015 Calibrations Services Division
During
the year ended October 31, 2015, the Company started the
development of a Puerto Rico based Calibrations Services Division
(“Metrologix”) which provides lab and field
calibration, verification and qualification of equipment and
installations, readiness audits, heating/ventilation and air
conditioning ("HVAC") and clean room qualification and related
services. The Company signed a three-year strategic collaboration
agreement with a Spain-based company specializing in calibrations,
validation, HVAC and clean room qualification services to assist
the Company in the development process. The Calibrations Division
development was substantially completed during the year ended
October 31, 2017.
2016 US Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control
(“OFAC”) – License
In
December 2016, the Company obtained a license from the United
States Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control
(“OFAC”) which authorizes the Company to perform
certain services and transactions with a Cuban state-run
organization. The license is not transferable and expires on
January 31, 2019. The Company has not generated any significant
activity from this license.
2017 Minority Controlled Company Certification
In line
with the strategy to penetrate the United States market, on
December 19, 2017, we obtained the renewal of the certification as
a "minority-controlled company" as defined by the National Minority
Supplier Development Council and Growth Initiative ("NMSDC"). The
certification allows us to participate in corporate diversity
programs available from existing and various potential customers in
the United States and Puerto Rico. The certification is subject to
renewal on December 19, 2018.
TECHNICAL CONSULTING SERVICES
We have
established a reputation as a premier technical consulting services
firm to the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology, medical
devices, cosmetic and food industries, and allied products
companies in various markets. These services include regulatory
compliance, validation, technology transfer, engineering, project
management and process support. We have approximately 60 clients
that are among the largest pharmaceutical, chemical manufacturing,
medical device and biotechnology companies. We are actively
participating in exhibitions, conferences, conventions and
seminars as either exhibitors, sponsors or conference
speakers.
MARKETING
We
conduct our marketing activities in Puerto Rico, United States,
Europe and other marketplaces. We actively utilize our project
managers and leaders who are currently managing consulting service
contracts at various client locations to also market consulting and
laboratory testing services to their existing and past client
relationships. Our senior management is also actively involved in
the marketing process, especially in marketing to major accounts.
Our senior management and staff also concentrate on developing new
business opportunities and focus on the larger customer accounts
(by number of consultants or dollar volume) and responding to
prospective customers’ requests for proposals.
PRINCIPAL CUSTOMERS
We
provide a substantial portion of our services to three customers,
each of whom accounted for 10% or more of our revenues in either of
the years ended October 31, 2017 and 2016. During the years ended
October 31, 2017 and 2016, these customers accounted for, in the
aggregate, 31.9% and 29.8% of total revenue, respectively. In spite
of the fact that just a few customers represent a significant
source of revenue, our functions are not a continuous process,
accordingly, the client base for which our services are typically
rendered, on a project-by-project basis, changes
regularly. Therefore, in any given year a small number of
customers could represent a significant source of our revenue for
that year. The loss of, or significant reduction in the scope of
work performed for any major customer or our inability to replace
customers upon completion of contracts could adversely affect our
revenue and impair our ability to operate profitably.
COMPETITION
We are
engaged in a highly competitive and fragmented industry. Some of
our competitors are, on an overall basis, larger than we are or are
subsidiaries of larger companies, and therefore may possess greater
resources than we do. Furthermore, because the technical
professional aspects of our consulting business do not usually
require large amounts of capital, there is relative ease of market
entry for a new entrant possessing acceptable professional
qualifications. Accordingly, we compete with regional, national,
and international firms. Within the Puerto Rico, United States,
Europe and Brazil markets, certain competitors, including local
competitors, may possess greater resources than we do as well as
better access to clients and potential clients.
Competition for
validation and consulting services used to be primarily based on
reputation, track record, experience, and quality of service.
However, given the recent economic recession and our clients'
strategies to reduce costs, price of service has become a major
factor in sourcing our services. We believe we benefit from
competitive advantages over other consulting service firms because
of our historical market share within Puerto Rico (over 24 years),
brand name, reputation and track record with many of the major
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and chemical
manufacturing companies, which have a presence in the markets we
service and are pursuing, and the Lab services we provide to
them.
The
market of qualified and experienced consultants that are
capable of providing technical consulting services is very
competitive and consists primarily of our competitors as well as
companies in the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology and
medical device industries who are our clients and potential
clients. In seeking qualified personnel, we market our name
recognition in the Puerto Rico market, our reputation with our
clients, and salary and benefit packages.
RAW MATERIALS
We
require the use of various raw materials, including culture media,
DNA reagents, LAL reagents, chemical reagents, solutions, reference
materials and biological indicators, in our LAB. We
purchase these raw materials from various suppliers. At times, we
concentrate orders among a few suppliers in order to strengthen our
supplier relationships and receive quantity discounts. Raw
materials are generally available from multiple suppliers at
competitive prices, and amounts kept in stock are not
significant.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
Activities in our
Lab are regulated under Puerto Rico and U.S. federal laws designed
to protect workers and the environment. Some of these laws include
the OSHA and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. These laws
apply to the use, handling and disposal of various biological and
chemical substances used in our processes. We believe we are in
material compliance with these laws and that continued compliance
will not have a material adverse effect on our business. No
specific accounting for environmental compliance has been
maintained or projected by us at this time.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
We have
no proprietary software or products. We rely on non-disclosure
agreements with our employees to protect the proprietary software
and other proprietary information of our clients. Any unauthorized
use or disclosure of this information could harm our
business.
EMPLOYEES
We
employ approximately 155 employees, all of whom are full time
employees. None of our employees are represented by a
labor union, and we consider our employee relations to be
good.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to our
executive officers.
Name
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Age
|
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Position
|
Victor
Sanchez
|
|
47
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Chief
Executive Officer, President and President of European
Operations
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Pedro
J. Lasanta
|
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58
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Chief
Financial Officer, Vice President - Finance and Administration and
Secretary
|
Victor Sanchez has served as our Chief
Executive Officer and President since January 1, 2015 and as the
President of the European Operations of the Company since January
2011. Prior to joining the Company, he served as Operations
Manager in the LOCM and OSD divisions of Merck Sharp & Dohme
(“MSD”), a pharmaceutical company, in Madrid, Spain
from April 2010 to January 2011 and as Operations Manager of the
LOCM division of Schering-Plough S.A., a pharmaceutical company, in
Madrid, Spain, from September 2004 to April 2010. He served
as Quality Control Validations Manager for Schering-Plough
Products, LLC, a pharmaceutical company
(“Schering-Plough”), in Puerto Rico from December 2000
to August 2004 and as Quality Control Laboratory Supervisor of
Schering-Plough from April 1996 to December 2000. Mr. Sanchez
holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, summa cum laude, and a
M.B.A. in Industrial Management, cum laude, from the Interamerican
University of Puerto Rico. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in
Pharmaceutical Validation Technology from the Dublin Institute of
Technology, Ireland. He also has a US Regulatory Affairs
Certification ("RAC") from the Regulatory Affairs Professional
Society. Mr. Sanchez is a chemist licensed by the Puerto Rico State
Department and a member of the American Chemical Society, the
Parenteral Drug Association, the Regulatory Affairs Professional
Society, and the International Society for Pharmaceutical
Engineers.
Pedro J. Lasanta has served as our Chief
Financial Officer and Vice President - Finance and Administration
since November 2007, and our Secretary since December 1, 2014. From
2006 until October 2007, Mr. Lasanta was in private practice as an
accountant, tax and business counselor. From 1999 until 2006, Mr.
Lasanta was the Chief Financial Officer for Pearle Vision Center
PR, Inc. In the past, Mr. Lasanta was also an audit manager for
Ernst & Young, formerly Arthur Young & Company. He is a cum
laude graduate in business administration (accounting) from the
University of Puerto Rico. Mr. Lasanta is a Certified
Public Accountant. In 2012, he was awarded the Puerto Rico
Manufacturers Association (North Region) Service Manager of the
Year. Mr. Lasanta has served as a Member of the Puerto Rico
District Export Council for the U.S. Department of Commerce since
January 2014.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
This
Annual Report on Form 10-K includes “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, in
particular, certain statements about our plans, strategies and
prospects. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and
expectations reflected in or suggested by such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that such plans,
intentions or expectations will be achieved. Important factors that
could cause our actual results to differ materially from our
forward-looking statements include those set forth in this Risk
Factors section.
If any
of the following risks, or other risks not presently known to us or
that we currently believe to not be significant, develop into
actual events, then our business, financial condition, results of
operations, cash flows or prospects could be materially adversely
affected.
Risks That Relate to our Business
Because our business is concentrated in the lifescience and medical
devices industries in Puerto Rico, the United States, Europe and
Brazil, any changes in those industries or in those markets could
impair our ability to generate revenue and realize a
profit.
Since
most of our business is performed in Puerto Rico, the United
States, Europe and Brazil, for pharmaceutical, biotechnology,
medical device and chemical manufacturing companies, our ability to
generate revenue and realize a profit could be impaired by factors
impacting those markets. For example, changes in tax
laws or regulatory, political or economic conditions, which
discourage businesses from operating in the markets we serve, which
affect the need for services such as those provided by us, could
impair our ability to generate revenue and realize a
profit.
Companies in the
pharmaceutical and related industries for which we perform services
are subject to economic pressures, which affect their global
operations and which may influence the decision to reduce or
increase the scope of their operations in the markets we serve.
These companies consider a wide range of factors in making such a
decision, and may be influenced by a need to consolidate
operations, to reduce expenses, to increase their business in
geographical regions where there are large customer bases, tax,
regulatory and political considerations and many other factors. We
cannot assure you that our customers and potential customers will
not make extensive reductions or terminate their operations in the
markets we serve entirely, which could significantly impair our
ability to generate revenue and realize a profit.
Puerto Rico’s economy, including its governmental financial
crisis and the impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria (the
"Hurricanes"), may affect the willingness of businesses to commence
or expand operations in Puerto Rico, or may also consider closing
operations located in Puerto Rico.
As a result of Puerto Rico’s governmental
financial crisis and the impacts of the Hurricanes, businesses
may be reluctant to establish or expand their operations in Puerto
Rico, or might consider closing operations currently in Puerto
Rico. The
damage resulting from the Hurricanes may cause potential
unstainable operating conditions for our clients, and insufficient
federal recovery and rebuilding assistance may cause lasting and
severe damage to the island’s economic base.
Further, since Puerto Rico’s
economy is petroleum-based, the fluctuating price of oil, combined
with Puerto Rico’s high level of debt, may make Puerto Rico a
less attractive place to expand existing operations or commence new
business activities. In the event that companies in the
pharmaceutical and related industries decide not to commence new
operations or not to expand their existing operations in Puerto
Rico, or consider closing operations in Puerto Rico,
the demand for our services could be negatively
affected.
Puerto Rico government enacted ACT 154-2010 may adversely affect
the willingness of our customers to do business in Puerto Rico and
consequently adversely affect our business.
On October 22, 2010, Act No. 154 was enacted by
the Puerto Rico government. The act primarily affects the
industries we serve and consequently our customer base. Act
154-2010, as amended, extends the circumstances under which a
non-resident alien individual or a non-resident corporation or
partnership can be treated as doing business in Puerto Rico and is
deriving income from sources within Puerto Rico for purposes of
income tax. It also provides for the imposition of a temporary
excise tax on some acquisitions by non-resident individuals,
corporations or partnerships, of products totally or partially
manufactured or produced in Puerto Rico and of related services to
said products of affiliated entities with the buyer. It basically
adopts a modified income sourcing rule and a temporary excise tax
that will be enforced until December 31, 2021. The impact of the Act, if any, over the
industries and its willingness to do business in Puerto Rico
continues to be uncertain.
US Federal Tax Reform may affect the willingness of companies to
continue or expand their operations in Puerto Rico.
Customers and other
companies with operations in Puerto Rico will be affected by the
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 or the US Federal Tax Reform (the
“Reform”) enacted on December 22, 2017. The Reform
places a new 12.5 percent excise tax on profits derived from
patents and other intangible assets supporting their Puerto Rican
plants. Also, among other provisions, the Reform established a
mandatory repatriation of foreign accumulated undistributed
earnings and profits (the “E&Ps”). In the past,
most of these E&Ps were not repatriated since such E&Ps
were considered to be reinvested indefinitely on the foreign
location. As a result, the Reform affects the tax business model of
various US companies and their subsidiaries doing business in
Puerto Rico and other foreign jurisdictions, making them less
investment attractive. Consequently, this affects the willingness
of such companies to continue, expand and/or bring new operations
to Puerto Rico, which may impair our ability to generate business
in this market.
Further changes in tax laws in Puerto Rico or in other
jurisdictions may adversely impact the willingness of our customers
to continue or to expand their Puerto Rico operations.
In
order to promote business activities in Puerto Rico, in May 2008
the Puerto Rico government enacted a tax incentive law (“Act
73”). Act 73 provides tax exemption from various taxes,
including income tax, and investment credits for activities similar
to those of our customers and our Company. Any changes in Act 73 or
changes in laws of other jurisdictions that may be perceived as
more favorable than Act 73 may cause other companies to develop and
manufacture products outside of Puerto Rico, and as a result, our
ability to generate new business may be adversely
impacted.
Our business and operating results may be adversely impacted if we
are unable to maintain our certification as a minority-controlled
company.
On
December 19, 2017, we obtained the renewal of the certification as
a "minority-controlled company" as defined by the National Minority
Supplier Development Council and Growth Initiative ("NMSDC"). The
certification, which has been held by us since July 2008, allows us
to participate in corporate diversity programs available from
various potential customers in the United States and Puerto Rico.
The certification is subject to renewal on December 19, 2018. Our
business and operating results may be adversely impacted if we are
unable to maintain our certification as a minority-controlled
company.
Because our business is dependent upon a small number of clients,
the loss of a major client could impair our ability to operate
profitably.
Our
business has been dependent upon a small number of clients. During
the years ended October 31, 2017 and 2016, a small number of
clients accounted for a disproportionately large percentage of our
revenue. In the years ended October 31, 2017 and 2016, three
customers accounted for, in aggregate, approximately 31.9% and
29.8% of total revenue, respectively.
The
loss of, or significant reduction in the scope of work performed
for, or any significant change in the financial terms related to,
any major customer, could impair our ability to operate profitably.
We cannot assure that we will not sustain significant decreases in
revenue from our major customers or that we will be able to replace
any major customers or the resulting decline in
revenue.
Customer procurement and sourcing practices intended to reduce
costs could have an adverse effect on our margins and
profitability.
In an
effort to reduce their costs, many of our customers are
establishing or extending the scope of their procurement
departments to include consulting and project management services,
such as ours. As a result, we have less interaction with the end
user of our services (typically labs or production units) when
bidding on a project, which we believe decreases the focus on the
quality of service provided and increases the emphasis on cost of
the service. This may cause us to lower the price of our bids,
which would reduce the margins in a given project. Also, some
customers have established vendor management/vendor
neutral-programs with third-parties (some of whom are also our
competitors). Because these vendor management programs may receive
a percentage of our fees, without a corresponding increase in the
fee itself, our margins may be adversely affected. In addition,
where a vendor management program is a competitor for a particular
service we provide, we may have difficulty securing that particular
project, which would adversely impact revenue. Some of these vendor
neutral programs are intended to limit our interaction with our
direct end user, and our interaction is limited to the
representative of the vendor neutral agency. This limitation
impairs our ability to establish and maintain our relationships
with our customers and recognition of the value added in the
service.
Since our business is dependent upon the development and
enhancement of patented pharmaceutical products or processes by our
clients, the failure of our clients to obtain and maintain patents
could impair our ability to operate profitably.
Companies in the
pharmaceutical industry are highly dependent on their ability to
obtain and maintain patents for their products or processes. The
inability by our clients to obtain new patents and the expiration
of active patents may reduce the need for our services and thereby
impair our ability to operate profitably.
We may be unable to pass on increased labor costs to our
clients.
The
principal components of our cost of revenues are employee
compensation (salaries, wages, taxes and benefits) and expenses
relating to the performance of the services we provide. We face
increasing labor costs which we seek to pass on to our customers
through increases in our rates. To remain competitive, we may not
be able to pass these increased costs on to our clients, and, to
the extent that we are not able to pass these increased costs on to
our clients, our operating margin may be
reduced.
Consolidation
in the pharmaceutical industry may have a harmful effect on our
business.
In
recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has undergone
consolidation, and may in the future undergo further substantial
consolidation which may reduce the number of our existing and
potential customers. The consolidation in the
pharmaceutical industry may have a harmful effect on our business
and or ability to maintain and replace customers.
Because the pharmaceutical industry is subject to government
regulations, changes in government regulations relating to this
industry may affect the need for our services.
Because
government regulations affect all aspects of the pharmaceutical,
biotechnology, medical device and chemical manufacturing
industries, including regulations relating to the testing and
manufacturing of pharmaceutical products and the disposal of
materials which are or may be considered toxic, any change in
government regulations could have a profound effect upon not only
these companies but companies, such as ours, that provide services
to these industries. If we are not able to adapt and provide
necessary services to meet the requirements of these companies in
response to changes in government regulations, our ability to
generate business may be impaired.
Our reputation and divisions may be impacted by regulatory
standards applicable to our customer products.
We
provide microbiological and chemical testing services to our
customer products that are distributed worldwide. Any concerns
regarding our customer products complying with regulatory standards
could result in inquiries regarding our laboratory or testing
services. As a result, we may be subject to litigation or
regulatory audits requiring the investment of significant time and
funds. In addition, the reputation of our Lab and technical
services, as well as our technical expertise, might suffer.
Furthermore, any such inquiries or any adverse impact of such
inquiries may financially impact our Lab and other divisions,
including our consulting division.
If we are unable to protect our clients’ intellectual
property, our ability to generate business will be
impaired.
Our
services either require us to develop intellectual property for
clients or provide our personnel with access to our clients’
intellectual property. Because of the highly competitive nature of
the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and chemical
manufacturing industries and the sensitivity of our clients’
intellectual property rights, our ability to generate business
would be impaired if we fail to protect those rights. Although all
of our employees and contractors are required to sign
non-disclosure agreements, any disclosure of a client’s
intellectual property by an employee or contractor may subject us
to litigation and may impair our ability to generate business
either from the affected client or other potential clients. In
addition, we are required to enter into confidentiality agreements
and our failure to protect the confidential information of our
clients may impair our business relationship.
We may be subject to liability if our services or solutions for our
clients infringe upon the intellectual property rights of
others.
It is
possible that in performing services for our clients, we may
inadvertently infringe upon the intellectual property rights of
others. In such event, the owner of the intellectual property may
commence litigation seeking damages and an injunction against both
us and our client, and the client may bring a claim against us. Any
infringement litigation would be costly. Even if we prevail, we
will incur significant expenses and our reputation could be hurt,
which would affect our ability to generate business and the terms
on which we would be engaged, if at all.
We may be held liable for the actions of our employees or
contractors when on assignment.
We may
be exposed to liability for actions taken by our employees or
contractors while on assignment, such as damages caused by their
errors, misuse of client proprietary information or theft of client
property. Due to the nature of our assignments, we cannot assure
you that we will not be exposed to liability as a result of our
employees or contractors being on assignment. Furthermore,
our reputation may be hurt and our ability to generate business may
be affected.
To the extent that we perform services pursuant to fixed-price or
incentive-based contracts, our cost of services may exceed our
revenue on the contract.
Some of
our revenue is derived from fixed-price contracts. Our costs of
services may exceed revenue of these contracts if we do not
accurately estimate the time and complexity of an engagement.
Further, we are seeking contracts by which our compensation is
based on specified performance objectives, such as the realization
of cost savings, quality improvements or other performance
objectives. Our failure to achieve these objectives would reduce
our revenue and could impair our ability to operate
profitably.
Our
profit margin is largely a function of the rates we are able to
charge and collect for our services and the utilization rate of our
consultants. Accordingly, if we are not able to maintain our
pricing for our services or an appropriate utilization rate for
our consultants without corresponding cost reductions, our
profit margin and profitability will suffer. The rates we are able
to charge for our services are affected by a number of factors,
including:
●
Our clients’
perception of our ability to add value through our
services;
●
Our ability to
complete projects on time;
●
Pricing
policies of competitors;
●
Our ability to
accurately estimate, attain and sustain engagement revenues,
margins and cash flows over increasingly longer contract periods;
and
●
General economic
and political conditions.
Our
utilization rates are also affected by a number of factors,
including:
●
Our ability to
shift employees and contractors from completed projects to new
engagements; and
●
Our ability to
manage attrition of our employees and contractors.
Because most of our contracts may be terminated on little or no
advance notice, our failure to generate new business could impair
our ability to operate profitably.
Most of
our contracts can be terminated by our clients with little or no
advance notice. Our clients typically retain us on a non-exclusive,
engagement-by-engagement basis, and the client may terminate,
cancel or delay any engagement or the project for which we are
engaged, at any time and on no advance notice. As a result, the
termination, cancellation, expiration or delay of contracts could
have a significant impact on our ability to operate
profitably.
Because
of the competitive nature of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology,
medical device and chemical manufacturing consulting market, we may
not be able to compete effectively if we cannot efficiently respond
to changes in the structure of the market and developments in
technology.
Because
of recent consolidations in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology,
medical device and chemical manufacturing consulting business, we
are faced with an increasing number of larger companies that offer
a wider range of services and have better access to capital than we
have. We believe that larger and better-capitalized competitors
have enhanced abilities to compete for both clients and skilled
consultants. In addition, one or more of our competitors may
develop and implement methodologies that result in superior
productivity and price reductions without adversely affecting their
profit margins. We cannot assure you that we will be able to
compete effectively in an increasingly competitive
market.
Because we are dependent upon our management and technical
personnel, our ability to develop our business may be impaired if
we are not able to engage skilled personnel.
Our
future success will depend in part upon our ability to attract and
retain qualified management and technical personnel. Competition
for such personnel is intense and we compete for qualified
personnel with numerous other employers, including consulting
firms, some of which have greater resources than we have, as well
as pharmaceutical companies, most of which have significantly
greater financial and other resources than we do. We may experience
increased costs in order to retain and attract skilled employees.
Our failure to attract additional personnel or to retain the
services of key personnel and independent contractors could have a
material adverse effect on our ability to operate
profitably.
Our cash could be adversely affected if the financial institutions
in which we hold our cash fail.
The
Company maintains domestic cash deposits in Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") insured banks and in money market
obligation trusts registered under the US Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended. The domestic bank deposit balances may exceed the
FDIC insurance limits. In the foreign markets we serve, we also
maintain cash deposits in foreign banks, some of which are not
insured or partially insured by the FDIC or other similar agency.
These balances could be impacted if one or more of the financial
institutions in which we deposit monies fails or is subject to
other adverse conditions in the financial or credit markets. We can
provide no assurance that access to our invested cash will not be
impacted by adverse conditions in the financial and credit
markets.
We may be harmed if we do not penetrate markets and grow our
current business operations.
If we
fail to further penetrate our core and existing geographic markets,
or to successfully expand our business into new markets, the growth
in sales of our services, along with our operating results, could
be materially adversely impacted. A key element of our growth
strategy may be to grow our business through acquisitions.
Acquisitions involve many different risks, including (1) the
ability to finance acquisitions, either with cash, debt, or equity
issuances; (2) the ability to integrate acquisitions;
(3) the ability to realize anticipated benefits of the
acquisitions; (4) the potential to incur unexpected costs,
expenses, or liabilities; and (5) the diversion of
management’s attention and Company resources. Many of our
competitors may also compete with us for acquisition candidates,
which can increase the price of acquisitions and reduce the number
of available acquisition candidates. We cannot assure you that
efforts to increase market penetration in our core markets and
existing geographic markets will be successful. Our failure to
penetrate markets and grow our current business operations could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Risks Concerning our Securities
Because there is a limited market in our common stock, stockholders
may have difficulty in selling our common stock and our common
stock may be subject to significant price swings.
There
is a very limited market for our common stock. Since trading
commenced in December 2006, there has been limited volume and on
some days there has been no trading in our common stock. Because of
the limited market for our common stock, the purchase or sale of a
relatively small number of shares may have an exaggerated effect on
the market price for our common stock. We cannot assure
stockholders that they will be able to sell common stock or, that
if they are able to sell their shares, that they will be able to
sell the shares in any significant quantity at the quoted
price.
Our revenues, operating results and profitability will vary from
quarter to quarter, which may result in increased volatility of our
stock price.
Our
quarterly revenues, operating results and profitability have varied
in the past and are likely to vary significantly from quarter to
quarter, making them difficult to predict. This may lead to
volatility in our share price. The factors that are likely to cause
these variations are:
●
Seasonality,
including number of workdays and holiday and summer
vacations;
●
The business
decisions of clients regarding the use of our
services;
●
Periodic
differences between clients’ estimated and actual levels of
business activity associated with ongoing engagements, including
the delay, reduction in scope and cancellation of
projects;
●
The stage of
completion of existing projects and their termination;
●
Our ability to
move employees quickly from completed projects to new engagements
and our ability to replace completed contracts with new contracts
with the same clients or other clients;
●
The introduction
of new services by us or our competitors;
●
Changes in pricing
policies by us or our competitors;
●
Our ability to
manage costs, including personnel compensation, support-services
and severance costs;
●
Acquisition and
integration costs related to possible acquisitions of other
businesses;
●
Changes in
estimates, accruals and payments of variable compensation to our
employees or contractors; and
●
Global economic
and political conditions and related risks, including acts of
terrorism.
The Company Stock Repurchase Program could affect the market price
of our common stock and increase its volatility.
On June
13, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the
Company Stock Repurchase Program authorizing the Company to
repurchase up to two million shares of its outstanding common
stock. The timing, manner, price and amount of any
repurchases is at the discretion of the Company, subject to the
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and related rules. The Company Stock Repurchase Program could
affect the market price of our common stock and increase its
volatility.
The issuance of securities, whether in connection with an
acquisition or otherwise, may result in significant dilution to our
stockholders.
If we
are required to issue securities either as payment of all or a
portion of the purchase price of an acquisition or in order to
obtain financing for the acquisition or for other corporate
purposes, such an issuance could result in dilution to our
stockholders. The amount of such dilution will be dependent upon
the terms on which we issue securities. The issuance of securities
at a price which is less than the exercise price of outstanding
warrants or the conversion price of securities could result in
additional dilution if we are required to reduce the exercise price
or conversion price of the then outstanding options or warrants or
other convertible securities.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
Not
applicable.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
In July
2016, the Company renegotiated a lease agreement, effective as of
January 1, 2016, with an affiliate of our Chairman of the Board,
for our headquarters and laboratory testing facilities in Dorado,
Puerto Rico. The renegotiated lease incorporates additional space
for the laboratory testing facility expansion. The lease agreement
is for a five-year term, with a renewal option of five years, and
monthly rental payments of $30,316 for the term of the lease
agreement and renewal option. The lease agreement also requires the
payment of utilities, property taxes, insurance and expenses
incurred by the affiliate in connection with the maintenance of
common areas.
Also,
the Company maintains operation facilities in Madrid, Spain, which
are under month-to-month leases with monthly payments of
approximately $2,500.
We
believe that our present facilities are adequate to meet our needs
and that, if we require additional space, it will be available on
commercially reasonable terms.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
From
time to time, we may be a party to legal proceedings incidental to
our business. We do not believe that there are any
proceedings threatened or pending against us, which, if determined
adversely to us, would have a material effect on our financial
position or results of operations and cash flows.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not
applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON
EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY
SECURITIES.
Our
common stock has been quoted on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board
under the trading symbol PBSV since December 4, 2006. The table
below presents the closing high and low bid prices for our common
stock for each quarter during the two most recent fiscal years.
These prices reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail markup,
markdown, or commission, and may not represent actual
transactions.
Quarter
Ending
|
|
|
October 31,
2017
|
$0.69
|
$0.33
|
July 31,
2017
|
0.70
|
0.48
|
April 30,
2017
|
0.87
|
0.63
|
January 31,
2017
|
0.99
|
0.55
|
October 31,
2016
|
1.00
|
0.55
|
July 31,
2016
|
1.02
|
0.76
|
April 30,
2016
|
0.92
|
0.65
|
January 31,
2016
|
1.05
|
0.83
|
On
January 25, 2018, the closing price of our common stock on the Over
the Counter Bulletin Board was $0.59 per share and there were
approximately 68 holders of record of our common
stock.
Prior
to the acquisition of Pharma-PR in 2006, Pharma-PR was taxed as an
N Corporation under the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code, which is
similar to that of an S Corporation under the Internal Revenue
Code. As a result, all of the income from Pharma-PR was taxed to
our then sole stockholder. Other than the distributions to our then
sole stockholder which were made during the period that we were an
N Corporation, we have not paid dividends on our common stock. We
plan to retain future earnings, if any, for use in our business,
including to finance growth of the Company both organically and
through potential acquisitions. We do not anticipate paying
dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.
Alternatively, we may use our capital, including our earnings, to
repurchase our stock in the open market, as discussed
elsewhere.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The
following table summarizes the equity compensation plans under
which our securities may be issued as of October 31,
2017.
Plan Category
|
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options
|
Weighted-average exercise
price per share of
outstanding options and
warrants
|
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans
|
Equity compensation
plans approved by security holders:
|
|
|
|
2005 Long-Term
Incentive Plan
|
200,000
|
$1.4820
|
-
|
2014 Long-Term
Incentive Plan
|
460,000
|
$0.8887
|
1,840,000
|
Total
|
660,000
|
|
1,840,000
|
The
2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan was approved by stockholders in April
2006, and amended by stockholder approval in April 2007. No further
stock options may be issued under this equity compensation plan
since its term ended in October 2015.
The
2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan was approved by stockholders in April
2014.
Stock repurchase program
The following
table provides information about purchases by the Company of its
shares of common stock under the Company Stock Repurchase Program
during the three month period ended October 31, 2017:
Period
|
Total
Number
of
Shares
Purchased
(1)
|
Average
Price Paid per
Share
|
Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
as
Part of
Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
|
Maximum
Number of Shares
that May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs (1)
|
August 1, 2017
through August 31, 2017
|
-
|
$-
|
-
|
1,768,848
|
September 1, 2017
through September 30, 2017
|
-
|
$-
|
-
|
1,768,848
|
October 1, 2017
through October 31, 2017
|
12,300
|
$0.45
|
12,300
|
1,756,548
|
Total
|
12,300
|
$0.45
|
12,300
|
|
(1)
|
On June
13, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the
Company Stock Repurchase Program authorizing the Company to
repurchase up to two million shares of its outstanding common
stock. The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases will
be at the discretion of the Company, subject to the requirements of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and related rules.
The Company Stock Repurchase Program does not oblige the Company to
repurchase any shares and it may be modified, suspended or
terminated at any time and for any reason. No shares will be
repurchased directly from directors or officers of the
Company.
|
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
Not
Applicable.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The
following discussion of our results of operations and financial
condition should be read in conjunction with Part I, including
matters set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K, and our Consolidated Financial
Statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
We are
a compliance and technology transfer services consulting firm with
a laboratory testing facility with headquarters in Puerto Rico,
servicing the Puerto Rico, United States, Europe and Brazil
markets. The compliance consulting service sector in those markets
consists of local compliance and validation consulting firms,
United States dedicated validation and compliance consulting firms
and large publicly traded and private domestic and foreign
engineering and consulting firms. We provide a broad range of
compliance related consulting services. We also provide
microbiological testing services and chemical testing services
through our Lab in Puerto Rico. We also provide technical
training/seminars, which services are not currently significant to
our operating results. We market our services to pharmaceutical,
chemical, biotechnology, medical devices, cosmetics and food
industries, and allied products companies in Puerto Rico, the
United States, Europe and Brazil. Our consulting team includes
experienced engineering and life science professionals, former
quality assurance managers and directors, and professionals with
bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees in health sciences and
engineering.
We
actively operate in Puerto Rico, the United States, Ireland, Spain
and Brazil and pursue to further expand these markets by
strengthening our business development infrastructure and by
constantly realigning our business strategies as new opportunities
and challenges arise.
We
market our services with an active presence in industry trade
shows, professional conventions, industry publications and company
provided seminars to the industry. Our senior management is also
actively involved in the marketing process, especially in marketing
to major accounts. Our senior management and staff also concentrate
on developing new business opportunities and focus on the larger
customer accounts (by number of consultants or dollar volume)
and responding to prospective customers’ requests for
proposals.
While
our core business is FDA and international agencies regulatory
compliance related services, we feel that our clients are in need
of other services that we can provide and allow us to present the
company as a global solution provider with a portfolio of
integrated services that will bring value added solutions to our
customers. Accordingly, our portfolio of services includes a
laboratory testing facility and a training center that provides
seminars/training to the industry.
The Lab
incorporates the latest technology and test methodologies meeting
pharmacopoeia industry standards and regulations. It currently
offers services to our core industries already serviced as well as
the cosmetic and food industries.
We also
provide technical seminars/training that incorporate the latest
regulatory trends and standards as well as other related areas. A
network of leading industry professional experts in their field,
which include resources of our own, provide these seminars/training
to the industry through our “Pharma Serv Academy”
division. These services are provided in the markets we currently
serve, as well as others, and position our Company as a key leader
in the industry.
During
the year ended October 31, 2015, the Company started the
development of a new Puerto Rico based Calibrations Services
Division that provides lab and field calibration, verification and
qualification of equipment and installations, readiness audits,
heating/ventilation and air conditioning ("HVAC") and clean room
qualification and related services. The Company signed a three-year
strategic collaboration agreement with a Spain-based company
specializing in calibrations, validation, HVAC and clean room
qualification services to assist the Company in the development
process. The collaboration agreement terminates October 2018. The
Calibrations Division development was substantially completed
during the year ended October 31, 2017.
In April 2015, we registered in
Brazil our wholly owned subsidiary, Pharma-Brazil, which started
providing consulting services last year.
In
December 2014, the Company entered into an agreement with a firm to
provide (i) mergers and acquisition and (ii) business development
services to the Company. These services are aimed to improve and
assist the expansion of our market reach and customer base,
primarily to the United States consulting business.
In line
with the strategy to further penetrate the United States and Puerto
Rico markets, we submit annually for renewal the certification as a
"minority-controlled company" as defined by the National Minority
Supplier Development Council and Growth Initiative ("NMSDC"). This
certification, which has been held by us since July 2008, allows us
to participate in corporate diversity programs available from
various potential customers in the United States and Puerto
Rico.
The
Company holds a tax grant issued by the Puerto Rico Industrial
Development Company (“PRIDCO”), which provides relief
on various Puerto Rico taxes, including income tax, with certain
limitations, for most of the activities carried on within Puerto
Rico, including those that are for services to parties located
outside of Puerto Rico.
In
December 2016, the Company obtained a license from the OFAC which
authorizes the Company to perform certain services and transactions
with a Cuban state-run organization. The license is not
transferable and expires on January 31, 2019. The Company has not
generated any significant activity from this license.
During
September 2017, the Hurricanes severely impacted Puerto Rico
causing extensive destruction and flooding throughout the island.
As a result of Hurricane Maria’s direct hit on September 20,
2017, all of Puerto Rico was left without electrical power and
other basic utility and infrastructure services such as water,
communications, ports and other transportation networks, causing a
significant disruption to the island’s economic activity.
Most business establishments were closed for several days. Within a
few days, the Company resumed operations using a diesel power
generator at its Puerto Rico facilities, which houses the Lab
operations and the Company’s headquarters. As of the filing
of this Form 10-K, only minimal property damage mitigation repairs
were performed for the Company to resume the daily operations of
its Puerto Rico facilities. To enable the continuance of the
operations, additional expenses like diesel, water supply, and
security, among others were incurred. The Company’s
electrical power and other basic utilities were restored on
November 22, 2017. As of October 31, 2017, the Company incurred
approximately $50,000 in property damage mitigation repairs and
related expenses. The Company is currently assessing the complete
extent of the property damage to its facilities and will perform
the repairs, accordingly
The
Company’s consulting and laboratory services to the Puerto
Rico market were negatively impacted by the Hurricanes primarily by
the lack or unreliability of electric power alternatives, either on
site, or at clients’ sites. Because of the sales volume
decline and unavoidable direct fix cost, the Company currently
estimates that as of October 31, 2017, the impact of the Hurricanes
on the Company’s gross profit was approximately $275,000 for
the fourth quarter. The Company carries insurance to mitigate these
losses, as well as for property damages. The Company’s
insurance provider is currently assessing the extent of the damages
to the facilities, as well as the business interruption losses and
additional expenses incurred by the Company until electrical power
and other basic utilities were restored on November 22, 2017. Based
on current accounting guidance, the insurance proceeds will be
recognized upon collection, as a gain contingency.
On
December 22, 2017, Public Law 115-97, commonly known as the Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 or the US Federal Tax Reform (the
“Reform”), was enacted. Among other provisions, the
Reform has established a mandatory repatriation of foreign
accumulated undistributed earnings and profits (the
“E&Ps”) for US companies’ subsidiaries. As
more fully disclosed in Note D of the Company’s consolidated
financial statements, the Company is subject to the Reform
provisions, including the mandatory repatriation of
E&Ps.
The
following table sets forth information as to our revenue for the
years ended October 31, 2017 and 2016, by geographic regions
(dollars in thousands).
|
|
|
|
|
Puerto
Rico
|
$13,230
|
84.9%
|
$17,107
|
87.6%
|
United
States
|
1,217
|
7.8%
|
1,448
|
7.4%
|
Europe
|
1,088
|
7.0%
|
816
|
4.2%
|
Other
|
44
|
0.3%
|
165
|
0.8%
|
|
$15,579
|
100.0%
|
$19,536
|
100.0%
|
For the year
ended October 31, 2017, revenues for the Company were $15.6
million, a decrease of approximately $4.0 million, or 20%, when
compared to last year. The revenue decrease is mainly attributable
to decreases in the Puerto Rico consulting market and the Puerto
Rico Lab of $3.7 and $0.4 million, respectively. Also, these
results include (i) declines of $0.2 and $0.1 million, in the
Puerto Rico consulting market and the Puerto Rico Lab respectively,
which are attributable to the impacts of the Hurricanes, and (ii)
declines in the United States and Brazil consulting markets of $0.2
and $0.1 million, respectively. These declines are partially offset
by gains in the European consulting and Calibrations operations of
approximately $0.3 and $0.2 million, respectively. In addition to
the impact of the Hurricanes, the declines in the Puerto Rico
consulting market and the Puerto Rico Lab are attributable to
consulting project closings, non-recurring low-margin testing and
development projects. Furthermore, the Company experienced declines
in the United States and Brazil consulting markets which are also
attributable to the closing of projects. The Company experienced
gains in the European consulting and Calibrations operations which
are attributable to a new project, expected to last for a year, and
the non-recurring rental of calibration equipment,
respectively.
When
compared to the same period last year, the Company’s gross
profit decreased from 29.6% to 23.1%, approximately 6.5 percentage
points. The Hurricanes impacted the Company’s overall gross
profit by approximately 1.3 percentage points, or by 0.6 and 0.7
percentage points for the Puerto Rico consulting operations and the
Puerto Rico Lab, respectively. The Company’s net decrease in
gross profit is mainly due to decreases of 3.1 and 3.3 percentage
points in the consulting operations and the Puerto Rico Lab,
respectively. To address the decline in profitability, management
implemented various cost reduction measures during the year geared
to align operational support expenses to market conditions. These
actions resulted in net savings in operational support expenses
totaling $0.8 million. These cost reductions included (i) the
closing of operational satellite offices and (ii) the net reduction
ofbusiness development personnel and global support personnel.
These factors resulted in a net loss for the year ended October 31,
2017 of approximately $1.4 million, an increase in net loss of $1.1
million, when compared to the same period last year. (See
“Results of Operations” below.)
The
long-term impacts of the Hurricanes, the Puerto Rico government
financial crisis, the Reform, other tax reforms on the markets
where we do business, and Puerto Rico Act 154-2010, all pose
current and future challenges which may adversely affect our future
performance. We believe that our future profitability and liquidity
will be highly dependent on the effect the local economy and global
economy, changes in tax laws and healthcare reform, and worldwide
lifescience manufacturing industry consolidations will have on our
operations, and our ability to seek service opportunities and adapt
to the industry trends.
Results of Operations
The
following table sets forth our statements of operations for the
years ended October 31, 2017 and 2016, (dollars in thousands) and
as a percentage of revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
$15,579
|
100.0%
|
$19,536
|
100.0%
|
Cost of
services
|
11,968
|
76.8%
|
13,753
|
70.4%
|
Gross
profit
|
3,611
|
23.2%
|
5,783
|
29.6%
|
Selling, general
and administrative expenses
|
5,036
|
32.3%
|
5,875
|
30.0%
|
Other-than-temporary
impairment on marketable securities
|
-
|
-%
|
(55)
|
-0.3%
|
Other income
(expense), net
|
14
|
-%
|
(57)
|
-0.3%
|
Loss before income
taxes
|
(1,411)
|
-9.1%
|
(204)
|
-1.0%
|
Income tax
expense
|
4
|
0.0%
|
53
|
0.3%
|
Net
loss
|
(1,415)
|
-9.1%
|
(257)
|
-1.3%
|
Revenues. Revenues for the year ended October 31, 2017 were
$15.6 million, a decrease of approximately $4 million, or 20%, when
compared to last year. The revenue decrease is mainly attributable
to decreases in the Puerto Rico consulting market and the Puerto
Rico Lab of $3.7 and $0.4 million, respectively. Also, these
results include (i) declines of $0.2 and $0.1 million, in the
Puerto Rico consulting market and the Puerto Rico Lab respectively,
which are attributable to the impacts of the Hurricanes, and (ii)
declines in the United States and Brazil consulting markets of $0.2
and $0.1 million, respectively. These declines are partially offset
by gains in the European consulting and Calibrations operations of
approximately $0.3 and $0.2 million, respectively. Other Company divisions sustained minor revenue
gains/losses or remained constant.
Cost of Services; gross profit. The overall gross profit for
the year ended in October 31, 2017 reflected a gross profit net
decrease of 6.5 percentage points, when compared to last year. The
Hurricanes affected the Company’s overall gross profit by
approximately 1.3 percentage points, or by 0.6 and 0.7 percentage
points the Puerto Rico consulting operations and the Puerto Rico
Lab, respectively.
The
Company’s net decrease in gross profit is mainly due to
decreases of 3.1 and 3.3 percentage points in the consulting
operations and the Puerto Rico Lab, respectively. These declines
are attributable to consulting project closings, non-recurring
low-margin testing and development projects in the Puerto Rico Lab,
and the impact of the Hurricanes.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling,
general and administrative expenses for the year ended in October
31, 2017 were approximately $5.0 million, a net decrease in
expenses of approximately $0.8 million as compared to last year.
The decrease is mainly attributable to adopted cost reduction
measures geared to align our operational support expenses to the
market conditions. These reductions include, among others, the
closing of operational satellite offices and the net reduction of
business development and global support personnel.
Other-than-temporary impairment on marketable securities.
During the year ended October 31, 2016, the Company determined that
a $95,000 5.4% Puerto Rico Commonwealth Government Development Bank
Bond had permanently declined in value. Accordingly, the credit
loss of $55,000 was recognized in 2016. (See Note B to the
Consolidated Financial Statements included herewith.)
Income Tax Expense. No
significant income tax expense for the years ended October 31, 2017
and 2016 has been provided due to the various segments and/or
divisions net loss position.
Net Income (Loss). For the year ended October 31, 2017, we
incurred a net loss of approximately $1.4 million, an increase in
net loss of $1.1 million when compared to the same period last
year. The variance is mainly attributable to the decline in revenue
and gross margin, and partially offset by net savings in operational support
expenses.
For the
year ended October 31, 2017, the loss per common share for both
basic and diluted was $0.061. This represents a common share basic
and diluted decrease for both of $0.050 when compared to last year.
The variance is attributable to the increase in net loss when
compared to the same period last year.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity is a
measure of our ability to meet potential cash requirements,
including planned capital expenditures. As of October 31, 2017, the
Company had approximately $18 million in working
capital.
On June
13, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the
Company to repurchase up to two million shares of its common stock
(the "Company Stock Repurchase Program"). During the year ended
October 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company repurchased 26,500 and
51,428 shares of its common stock, respectively.
Our
primary cash needs consist of the payment of compensation to our
consulting team, overhead expenses, and statutory taxes.
Additionally, we may use cash for the repurchase of our common
stock under the Company Stock Repurchase Program, capital
expenditures and business development expenses. Management
believes that based on the current level of working capital,
operations and cash flows from operations, and the collectability
of high quality customer receivables will be sufficient to fund
anticipated expenses and satisfy other possible long-term
contractual commitments for the next twelve months.
To the
extent that we pursue possible opportunities to expand our
operations, either by acquisition or by the establishment of
operations in a new locale, we will incur additional overhead, and
there may be a delay between the period we commence operations and
our generation of net cash flow from operations.
While
uncertainties relating to the current local and global economic
condition, competition, the industries and geographical regions
served by us and other regulatory matters exist within the
consulting services industry, as described above, management is not
aware of any other trends or events likely to have a material
adverse effect on liquidity or its financial
statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We were
not involved in any significant off-balance sheet arrangements
during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The
discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of
operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements,
which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States. We
believe the following are the critical accounting policies that
impact the consolidated financial statements, some of which are
based on management’s best estimates available at the time of
preparation. Actual experience may differ from these
estimates.
Consolidation - The
accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts
of all of our wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany
transactions and balances have been eliminated in
consolidation.
Use of Estimates -
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
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 consolidated
financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results may differ
from these estimates.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Accounting standards have
established a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to
maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of
unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial
instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy
is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the
fair value measurement. Accounting standards have established three
levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair
value:
Level 1:
|
Quoted
prices in active markets for identical assets and
liabilities.
|
|
|
Level 2:
|
Observable
inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar
assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets with insufficient
volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets), or
model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are
observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by
observable market data for substantially the full term of the
assets or liabilities.
|
|
|
Level 3:
|
Prices
or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both
significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable
(supported by little or no market activity).
|
Marketable
securities available-for-sale consist of U.S. Treasury securities
and an obligation from the Puerto Rico Government Development Bank
valued using quoted market prices in active markets. Accordingly,
these securities are categorized in Level 1.
The
carrying value of the Company's financial instruments (excluding
marketable securities and obligations under capital leases), cash
and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and
accrued liabilities, are considered reasonable estimates of fair
value due to their liquidity or short-term nature. Management
believes, based on current rates, that the fair value of its
obligations under capital leases approximates the carrying
amount.
Revenue Recognition - Revenue is primarily derived from: (1)
time and materials contracts (representing approximately 86% of
total revenues), which is recognized by applying the proportional
performance model, whereby revenue is recognized as performance
occurs, (2) short-term fixed-fee contracts or "not to exceed"
contracts (representing approximately 1% of total revenues), which
revenue is recognized similarly, except that certain milestones
also have to be reached before revenue is recognized, and (3)
laboratory testing revenue (representing approximately 13% of total
revenues) which is mainly recognized as the testing is completed
and certified (normally within days of sample receipt from
customer). If we determine that a contract will result in a loss,
we recognize the estimated loss in the period in which such
determination is made.
Cash Equivalents - For purposes of the consolidated
statements of cash flows, cash equivalents include investments in a
money market obligations trust that is registered under the U.S.
Investment Company Act of 1940 and liquid investments with original
maturities of three months or less.
Marketable Securities - We consider our marketable
security investment portfolio and marketable equity investments
available-for-sale and, accordingly, these investments are recorded
at fair value with unrealized gains and losses generally recorded
in other comprehensive income; whereas realized gains and losses
are included in earnings and determined based on the specific
identification method.
We
review our available-for-sale securities for other-than-temporary
declines in fair value below their cost basis on a quarterly basis
and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the
cost basis of an asset may not be materially recoverable. This
evaluation is based on a number of factors including, the length of
time and extent to which the fair value has been less than our cost
basis and adverse conditions specifically related to the security
including any changes to the rating of the security by a rating
agency.
Accounts Receivable - Accounts receivable are recorded at
their estimated realizable value. Accounts are deemed past due when
payment has not been received within the stated time period. Our
policy is to review individual past due amounts periodically and
write off amounts for which all collection efforts are deemed to
have been exhausted. Due to the nature of our customers, bad debts
are mainly accounted for using the direct write-off method whereby
an expense is recognized only when a specific account is determined
to be uncollectible. The effect of using this method approximates
that of the allowance method.
Income Taxes - We follow an asset and liability approach
method of accounting for income taxes. This method measures
deferred income taxes by applying enacted statutory rates in effect
at the balance sheet date to the differences between the tax basis
of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts on the
financial statements. The resulting deferred tax assets or
liabilities are adjusted to reflect changes in tax laws as they
occur. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely
than not that a deferred tax asset will not be
realized.
The
Company follows guidance from the Financial Accounting Standards
Board (“FASB”) related to Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes, which includes a two-step approach to recognizing,
de-recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. As of October
31, 2017, the Company had no significant uncertain tax positions
that would be reduced as a result of a lapse of the applicable
statute of limitations.
Property and equipment - Owned property and equipment, and
leasehold improvements are stated at cost. Vehicles under capital
leases are stated at the lower of fair market value or net present
value of the minimum lease payments at the inception of the
leases.
Depreciation
and amortization of owned assets are provided for, when placed in
service, in amounts sufficient to relate the cost of depreciable
assets to operations over their estimated service lives, using
straight-line basis. Assets under capital leases and leasehold
improvements are amortized, over the shorter of the estimated
useful lives of the assets or the lease term, including renewals
that have been determined to be reasonably assured. Major renewals
and betterments that extend the life of the assets are capitalized,
while expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed when
incurred.
We
evaluate for impairment our long-lived assets to be held and used,
and long-lived assets to be disposed of, whenever events or changes
in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may
not be recoverable. Based on management estimates, no
impairment of the operating properties was present.
Stock-based Compensation - Stock-based compensation expense
is recognized in the consolidated financial statements based on the
fair value of the awards granted. Stock-based compensation cost is
measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and
is recognized as expense over the requisite service period, which
generally represents the vesting period, and includes an estimate
of awards that will be forfeited. We calculate the fair value of
stock options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model at grant
date, while for restricted stock units the fair market value of the
units is determined by Company’s share market value at grant
date. Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation are
reflected as cash flows from financing activities rather than cash
flows from operating activities. We have not recognized such cash
flow from financing activities since there has been no tax benefit
related to the stock-based compensation.
Loss Per Share of Common Stock - Basic loss per share of
common stock is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted
average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted loss
per share includes the dilution of common stock equivalents. The
diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding were
calculated using the treasury stock method for the respective
periods.
Foreign Operations -
The functional currency of our foreign subsidiaries are their
respective local currencies. The assets and liabilities of our
foreign subsidiary are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange
rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expense items
are translated at the average exchange rates prevailing during the
period. The cumulative translation effect for subsidiaries using a
functional currency other than the U.S. dollar is included as a
cumulative translation adjustment in stockholders’ equity and
as a component of comprehensive income.
Our
intercompany accounts are typically denominated in the functional
currency of the foreign subsidiary. Gains and losses resulting from
the remeasurement of intercompany receivables that we consider to
be of a long-term investment nature are recorded as a cumulative
translation adjustment in stockholders’ equity and as a
component of comprehensive income, while gains and losses resulting
from the remeasurement of intercompany receivables from those
international subsidiaries for which we anticipate settlement in
the foreseeable future are recorded in the consolidated statements
of operations.
New Accounting Standards
In May
2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)
issued a new accounting standard that amends the guidance for the
recognition of revenue from contracts with customers to transfer
goods and services. The FASB has subsequently issued additional,
clarifying standards to address issues arising from implementation
of the new standard. The new standards are required to be adopted
using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective
approach. We expect to adopt this standard using the modified
retrospective approach beginning with our fiscal year 2019. Based
on our preliminary assessment, we currently do not anticipate a
material impact to our total revenues. We continue to review the
impact that this new standard will have on our consolidated
financial statements.
In
February 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that
amends the guidance for the accounting and disclosure of leases.
This new standard requires that lessees recognize the assets and
liabilities that arise from leases on the balance sheet and
disclose qualitative and quantitative information about their
leasing arrangements. The new standard is effective for interim and
annual periods beginning on January 1, 2019, and may be adopted
earlier. We continue to evaluate the impact that this new standard
will have on our consolidated financial statements. We do not
expect that this standard will have a material impact to our
Consolidated Statements of Operations but expect that this standard
will have a material impact to assets and liabilities on our
Consolidated Balance Sheets upon adoption.
Other
recently issued FASB guidance and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletins
have either been implemented, are not applicable to the Company, or
will have limited effects upon the Company’s
implementation.
Forward-Looking Statements
Our
business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows
and prospects, and the prevailing market price and performance of
our common stock, may be adversely affected by a number of factors,
including the matters discussed below. Certain statements and
information set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well
as other written or oral statements made from time to time by us or
by our authorized executive officers on our behalf, constitute
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the
Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements include all statements other than those made solely with
respect to historical fact and identified by words such as
“believes”, “anticipates”,
“expects”, “intends” and similar
expressions, but such words are not the exclusive means of
identifying such statements. We intend for our
forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor
provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we set forth this
statement and these risk factors in order to comply with such safe
harbor provisions. You should note that our forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form
10-K or when made and we undertake no duty or obligation to update
or revise our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
law. Although we believe that the expectations, plans, intentions
and projections reflected in our forward-looking statements are
reasonable, such statements are subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
the forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties and other
factors that our stockholders and prospective investors should
consider are discussed in Item 1A Risk Factors above.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES
ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Not
applicable.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY
DATA.
Our
Consolidated Financial Statements, together with the report of our
independent registered public accounting firm are included herein
immediately following the signature page of this report. See Index
to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-1.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting
Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate
“internal control over financial reporting,” as defined
in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, for
the Company. This rule defines internal control over financial
reporting as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, a
company’s principal executive officer and principal financial
officer, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability
of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements
for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. Our internal control over financial
reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
●
pertain to the
maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and
fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of
the Company;
●
provide reasonable
assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures
of the Company are being made only in accordance with
authorizations of management and directors of the Company;
and
●
provide reasonable
assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that
could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
Because
of its inherent limitations, our internal control systems and
procedures may not prevent or detect misstatements. An internal
control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can
provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the
objectives of the control system are met. Because of the inherent
limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can
provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of
fraud, if any, have been detected. Also, projections of any
evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the
risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in
conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and
procedures may deteriorate.
We,
under the supervision of and with the participation of our
management, including the principal executive officer and principal
financial officer, assessed the effectiveness of the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of
October 31, 2017, based on criteria for effective internal control
over financial reporting described in “Internal Control
— Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this
assessment, our principal executive officer and principal financial
officer concluded that the Company maintained effective internal
control over financial reporting as of October 31,
2017.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
We
carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the
participation of our management, including our principal executive
officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of
our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act
Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered
by this Annual Report. Based upon that evaluation, our principal
executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that
our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end
of the period covered by this Annual Report.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Based
on an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation
of our management, including our principal executive officer and
principal financial officer, there has been no change in our
internal control over financial reporting during our last fiscal
quarter identified in connection with that evaluation that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect,
our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE.
The
information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to
our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, which will be filed with
Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the
end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, or,
alternatively, by amendment to this Form 10-K under cover of Form
10-K/A no later than the end of such 120 day period.
Information with
respect to our executive officers is included in Part
I.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
The
information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to
our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, which will be filed with
Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the
end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, or,
alternatively, by amendment to this Form 10-K under cover of Form
10-K/A no later than the end of such 120 day period.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS.
The
information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to
our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, which will be filed with
Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the
end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, or,
alternatively, by amendment to this Form 10-K under cover of Form
10-K/A no later than the end of such 120 day period.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS,
AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
The
information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to
our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, which will be filed with
Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the
end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, or,
alternatively, by amendment to this Form 10-K under cover of Form
10-K/A no later than the end of such 120 day period.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND
SERVICES.
The
information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to
our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, which will be filed with
Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the
end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, or,
alternatively, by amendment to this Form 10-K under cover of Form
10-K/A no later than the end of such 120 day period.
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT
SCHEDULES.
The
following documents are filed as a part of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K:
1.
All Financial
Statements: Consolidated Financial Statements are
included herein immediately following the signature page of this
report. See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page
F-1.
2.
Financial Statement
Schedules: None.
3.
Exhibits: The
following exhibits are filed herewith or are incorporated by
reference to exhibits previously filed with the Commission, as
indicated in the description of each.
|
|
|
|
|
Incorporated By Reference
|
Exhibit Number
|
|
Exhibit Description
|
|
Form
|
|
File Number
|
|
Exhibit
|
|
Filing Date
|
|
|
Restated
Certificate of Incorporation
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
99.1
|
|
5/1/2006
|
|
|
Certificate of
Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
3.1
|
|
4/12/13
|
|
|
By-laws
|
|
10-SB12G
|
|
000-50956
|
|
3.2
|
|
9/24/2004
|
|
|
Amendment No. 1 to
the By-laws
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
3.1
|
|
6/6/2008
|
|
|
Amendment No. 2 to
the By-laws
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
3.2
|
|
4/12/13
|
|
|
Consulting
Agreement, effective January 1, 2014, between Pharma-Bio Serv Inc.,
Strategic Consultants International, LLC and Elizabeth
Plaza.
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
10.1
|
|
12/31/13
|
|
|
Consulting
Agreement Amendment, effective January 1, 2015, between Pharma-Bio
Serv Inc., Strategic Consultants International, LLC and Elizabeth
Plaza.
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
10.1
|
|
1/5/2015
|
|
|
Consulting
Agreement Amendment, effective January 1, 2016, between Pharma-Bio
Serv Inc., Strategic Consultants International, LLC and Elizabeth
Plaza.
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
10.1
|
|
1/5/2016
|
|
|
Consulting
Agreement Amendment, effective January 1, 2017, between Pharma-Bio
Serv Inc., Strategic Consultants International, LLC and Elizabeth
Plaza.
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
10.1
|
|
1/20/2017
|
|
|
Employment
Agreement, effective January 1, 2015, between Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc.
and Victor Sanchez
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
10.2
|
|
1/5/2015
|
|
|
Employment
Agreement dated November 5, 2007 between the Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc.
and Pedro Lasanta
|
|
10-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
10.8
|
|
1/29/2009
|
|
|
Amendment to
Employment Agreement dated December 17, 2008 between the Registrant
and Pedro Lasanta
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
99.1
|
|
12/23/2008
|
|
|
Amendment to
Employment Agreement, dated March 11, 2009, by and between the
Company and Pedro Lasanta
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
10.3
|
|
3/17/2009
|
|
|
Employment
Agreement Amendment, effective as of January 1, 2010, by and
between the Company and Pedro Lasanta.
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
10.2
|
|
1/07/2010
|
|
|
Employment
Agreement Amendment, dated January 31, 2012, by and between the
Company and Pedro J. Lasanta
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
10.1
|
|
2/2/2012
|
|
|
Employment
Agreement Amendment, dated December 31, 2012, by and between the
Company and Pedro J. Lasanta
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
10.1
|
|
1/7/2013
|
|
|
Employment
Agreement Amendment between Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc. and Pedro
Lasanta, effective January 1, 2014.
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
10.2
|
|
2/21/2014
|
|
|
2005
Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended
|
|
DEF
14A
|
|
000-50956
|
|
Appendix
C
|
|
3/26/2007
|
|
|
Amendment to 2005
Long-Term Incentive Plan
|
|
10-Q
|
|
000-50956
|
|
10.4
|
|
3/17/2014
|
|
|
Pharma-Bio Serv,
Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan
|
|
8-K
|
|
000-50956
|
|
10.1
|
|
5/2/2014
|
|
|
Code
of business conduct and ethics for senior management
|
|
10-KSB
|
|
000-50956
|
|
14.1
|
|
2/2/2007
|
|
|
List
of Subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consent of Horwath
Vélez & Co, PSC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certification of
chief executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certification of
chief financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certification of
chief executive officer and chief financial officer pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.INS*
|
|
XBRL
Instance Document
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.SCH*
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Schema
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.CAL*
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.DEF*
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.LAB*
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.PRE*
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* Filed
herewith
** Furnished
herewith
Exhibits
10.1 through 10.15 are management contracts or compensatory plans,
contracts or arrangements.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY.
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized.
|
|
|
|
|
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dated:
January 29, 2018
|
By:
|
/s/
Victor Sanchez
|
|
|
Name:
Victor Sanchez
|
|
|
Title: Chief
Executive Officer and
President Europe
Operations
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of
the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Victor Sanchez
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer and President Europe Operations
|
|
January
29, 2018
|
Victor
Sanchez
|
|
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Pedro J. Lasanta
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer, Vice President Finance and Administration and
Secretary
|
|
January
29, 2018
|
Pedro
J. Lasanta
|
|
(Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Elizabeth Plaza
|
|
Chairman
|
|
January
29, 2018
|
Elizabeth
Plaza
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Kirk Michel
|
|
Director
|
|
January
29, 2018
|
Kirk
Michel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Howard Spindel
|
|
Director
|
|
January
29, 2018
|
Howard
Spindel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Dov
Perlysky
|
|
Director
|
|
January
29, 2018
|
Dov
Perlysky
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Irving Wiesen
|
|
Director
|
|
January
29, 2018
|
Irving
Wiesen
|
|
|
|
|
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
|
F-2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of October 31, 2017 and 2016
|
|
F-3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations for the Years Ended October 31, 2017 and
2016
|
|
F-4
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the Years Ended October 31,
2017 and 2016
|
|
F-5
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Years
Ended October 31, 2017 and 2016
|
|
F-6
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended October 31, 2017 and
2016
|
|
F-7
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
|
F-8
|
|
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM
To the
Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc.
Dorado,
Puerto Rico
We have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of
Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc. (the
“Company”) as of October 31, 2017 and 2016, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income
(loss), changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for
the years then ended. Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc.’s management
is responsible for these financial statements. Our responsibility
is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements
based on our audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor
were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over
financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal
control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit
procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for
the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as
well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our
opinion, the financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial
position of Pharma-Bio Serv,
Inc. as of October 31, 2017 and 2016, and the consolidated
results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then
ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America.
/S/
HORWATH VÉLEZ & CO, PSC
San
Juan, Puerto Rico
January
29, 2018
Puerto
Rico Society of Certified Public Accountants
Stamp
number E252480 was
affixed
to the original of this report
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
October 31, 2017 and 2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
assets
|
|
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
$11,751,714
|
$13,773,582
|
Marketable
securities
|
26,600
|
20,283
|
Accounts
receivable
|
7,208,054
|
6,853,123
|
Other
|
550,163
|
981,105
|
Total current
assets
|
19,536,531
|
21,628,093
|
|
|
|
Property and
equipment
|
2,390,545
|
2,334,029
|
Other
assets
|
422,925
|
35,579
|
Total
assets
|
$22,350,001
|
$23,997,701
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|
Current
liabilities
|
|
|
Current
portion-obligations under capital leases
|
$13,949
|
$22,950
|
Accounts payable
and accrued expenses
|
1,526,904
|
2,090,818
|
Income taxes
payable
|
2,067
|
44,770
|
Total current
liabilities
|
1,542,920
|
2,158,538
|
|
|
|
Obligations under
capital leases
|
59,795
|
29,002
|
Total
liabilities
|
1,602,715
|
2,187,540
|
|
|
|
Commitments and
contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders'
equity
|
|
|
Preferred stock,
$0.0001 par value; authorized 10,000,000 shares; none issued or
outstanding
|
-
|
-
|
Common stock,
$0.0001 par value; authorized 50,000,000 shares; 23,333,083 and
23,226,268 shares
issued, and 23,089,631 and 23,009,316 shares outstanding at October
31, 2017 and 2016, respectively
|
2,333
|
2,323
|
Additional paid-in
capital
|
1,295,314
|
1,231,439
|
Retained
earnings
|
19,560,131
|
20,975,050
|
Accumulated other
comprehensive loss
|
137,671
|
(165,915)
|
|
20,995,449
|
22,042,897
|
Treasury stock, at
cost; 243,452 and 216,952 common shares held at October 31, 2017
and
2016,
respectively
|
(248,163)
|
(232,736)
|
Total stockholders'
equity
|
20,747,286
|
21,810,161
|
Total liabilities
and stockholders' equity
|
$22,350,001
|
$23,997,701
|
See
notes to consolidated financial statements.
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Years Ended October 31, 2017 and 2016
|
|
|
|
|
REVENUES
|
$15,579,275
|
$19,536,715
|
|
|
|
COST OF
SERVICES
|
11,968,145
|
13,753,483
|
|
|
|
GROSS
PROFIT
|
3,611,130
|
5,783,232
|
|
|
|
SELLING, GENERAL
AND ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES
|
5,036,272
|
5,874,991
|
|
|
|
LOSS FROM
OPERATIONS
|
(1,425,142)
|
(91,759)
|
|
|
|
OTHER-THAN-TEMPORARY
IMPAIRMENT ON MARKETABLE
SECURITIES
|
-
|
(55,000)
|
|
|
|
OTHER INCOME
(EXPENSE), NET OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE
SETTLEMENT
|
14,099
|
(56,982)
|
|
|
|
LOSS BEFORE INCOME
TAXES
|
(1,411,043)
|
(203,741)
|
|
|
|
INCOME
TAXES
|
3,866
|
52,834
|
|
|
|
NET
LOSS
|
$(1,414,909)
|
$(256,575)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BASIC LOSSES PER
COMMON SHARE
|
$(0.061)
|
$(0.011)
|
|
|
|
DILUTED LOSSES PER
COMMON SHARE
|
$(0.061)
|
$(0.011)
|
|
|
|
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
NUMBER OF COMMON
|
|
|
SHARES OUTSTANDING
– BASIC
|
23,096,547
|
23,015,522
|
|
|
|
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
NUMBER OF COMMON
|
|
|
SHARES OUTSTANDING
– DILUTED
|
23,099,376
|
23,185,951
|
See
notes to consolidated financial statements.
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
For the Years Ended October 31, 2017 and 2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET
LOSS
|
$(1,414,909)
|
$(256,575)
|
|
|
|
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME (LOSS), NET OF RECLASSIFICATION
ADJUSTMENTS AND TAXES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency
translation gain (loss):
|
|
|
Net unrealized
gain
|
35,029
|
18,811
|
Intercompany
balances foreign exchange settlement, included in net
income
|
262,240
|
-
|
Available-for-sale
securities:
|
|
|
Net unrealized gain
(loss)
|
6,317
|
(13,146)
|
Other-than-temporary
impairment, included in net income
|
-
|
55,000
|
|
|
|
TOTAL OTHER
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
|
303,586
|
60,665
|
|
|
|
COMPREHENSIVE
LOSS
|
$(1,111,323)
|
$(195,910)
|
See
notes to consolidated financial statements.
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders'
Equity
For the Years Ended October 31, 2017 and 2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BALANCE AT OCTOBER 31,
2015
|
23,185,975
|
$2,319
|
-
|
$-
|
$1,142,555
|
$21,231,629
|
$(226,580)
|
$(186,819)
|
$21,963,104
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STOCK-BASED
COMPENSATION
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
88,884
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
88,884
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK PURSUANT TO
THE CASHLESS EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS
|
23,846
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(2)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK PURSUANT TO
RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENTS WITH EMPLOYEES
|
16,447
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(2)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PURCHASE OF TREASURY STOCK (51,428
SHARES)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(45,917)
|
(45,917)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET LOSS
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(256,575)
|
-
|
-
|
(256,575)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME,
NET OF TAX
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
60,665
|
-
|
60,665
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BALANCE AT OCTOBER 31,
2016
|
23,226,268
|
2,323
|
-
|
-
|
1,231,439
|
20,975,050
|
(165,915)
|
(232,736)
|
21,810,161
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STOCK-BASED
COMPENSATION
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
63,875
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
63,875
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK PURSUANT TO
THE CASHLESS EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS
|
90,318
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(9)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK PURSUANT TO
RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENTS WITH EMPLOYEES
|
16,497
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PURCHASE OF TREASURY STOCK (26,500
SHARES)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(15,427)
|
(15,427)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET LOSS
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,414,909)
|
-
|
-
|
(1,414,909)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME,
NET OF TAX
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
303,586
|
-
|
303,586
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BALANCE AT OCTOBER 31,
2017
|
23,333,083
|
$2,333
|
-
|
$-
|
$1,295,314
|
$19,560,131
|
$137,671
|
$(248,163)
|
$20,747,286
|
See
notes to consolidated financial statements.
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Years Ended October 31, 2017 and 2016
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
$(1,414,909)
|
$(256,575)
|
Adjustments to
reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating
activities:
|
|
|
Gain on disposition
of property and equipment
|
(19,092)
|
(13,635)
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
63,875
|
88,884
|
Depreciation and
amortization
|
443,994
|
312,558
|
Other-than-temporary
impairment on available-for-sale securities
|
-
|
55,000
|
(Increase) decrease
in accounts receivable
|
(18,996)
|
647,282
|
(Increase) decrease
in other assets
|
47,999
|
(107,967)
|
Decrease in
liabilities
|
(651,079)
|
(15,894)
|
NET CASH PROVIDED
BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
(1,548,208)
|
709,653
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
Acquisition of
property and equipment
|
(451,705)
|
(1,808,632)
|
Proceeds from
disposition of property and equipment
|
47,757
|
29,625
|
NET CASH USED IN
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
(403,948)
|
(1,779,007)
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOW FROM
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
Repurchase of
common stock
|
(15,427)
|
(45,917)
|
Payments on
obligations under capital lease
|
(55,678)
|
(22,784)
|
NET CASH USED IN
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
(71,105)
|
(68,701)
|
|
|
|
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE
RATE CHANGES ON CASH
|
1,393
|
18,250
|
|
|
|
NET DECREASE IN
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
(2,021,868)
|
(1,119,805)
|
|
|
|
CASH AND CASH
EQUIVALENTS - BEGINNING OF YEAR
|
13,773,582
|
14,893,387
|
|
|
|
CASH AND CASH
EQUIVALENTS – END OF YEAR
|
$11,751,714
|
$13,773,582
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURES OF
|
|
|
CASH FLOW
INFORMATION:
|
|
|
Cash paid during
the period for:
|
|
|
Income
taxes
|
$65
|
$39,075
|
Interest
|
$2,946
|
$3,430
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTARY
SCHEDULES OF NON-CASH
INVESTING AND
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
Property and
equipment with accumulated depreciation of $87,364 and $167,061
disposed
during the years ended October 31, 2017 and 2016,
respectively
|
$116,029
|
$183,051
|
Obligations under
capital lease incurred for the acquisition of a
vehicle
|
$77,470
|
$-
|
Income tax withheld
by clients to be used as a credit in the Company’s income tax
returns
|
$42,471
|
$46,124
|
Conversion of
cashless exercise of options to shares of common stock and shares
issued
under restricted stock units agreements
|
$10
|
$4
|
See
notes to consolidated financial statements.
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended October 31, 2017 and 2016
NOTE A - ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
POLICIES
ORGANIZATION
Pharma-Bio
Serv, Inc. (“Pharma-Bio”) is a Delaware corporation
organized on January 14, 2004. Pharma-Bio is the parent company of
Pharma-Bio Serv PR, Inc. (“Pharma-PR”), Pharma Serv,
Inc. (“Pharma-Serv”), Scienza Labs, Inc., the three of
them Puerto Rico corporations, Pharma-Bio Serv US, Inc.
(“Pharma-US”), a Delaware corporation, Pharma-Bio Serv
Validation & Compliance Limited (“Pharma-IR”), an
Irish corporation, Pharma-Bio Serv SL (“Pharma-Spain”),
a Spanish limited liability company, and Pharma-Bio Serv Brasil
Servicos de Consultoria Ltda. (“Pharma-Brazil”), a
Brazilian limited liability company. Pharma-Bio, Pharma-PR,
Pharma-Serv, Pharma-US, Pharma-IR, Pharma-Spain and Pharma-Brazil
are collectively referred to as the “Company.” The
Company operates in Puerto Rico, the United States, Ireland, Spain
and Brazil under the name of Pharma-Bio Serv and is engaged in
providing technical compliance consulting service, and
microbiological and chemical laboratory testing.
Scienza
Labs is a wholly owned subsidiary, which was organized in Puerto
Rico in April 2016. As of October 31, 2017, this subsidiary was in
development stage and has not incurred significant revenues or
expenses.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Consolidation
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts
of the Company and all of its wholly owned subsidiaries. All
intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in
consolidation.
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
consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results
may differ from these estimates.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Accounting
standards have established a fair value hierarchy that requires an
entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the
use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial
instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy
is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the
fair value measurement. Accounting standards have established three
levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair
value:
Level 1:
|
Quoted
prices in active markets for identical assets and
liabilities.
|
|
|
Level 2:
|
Observable
inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar
assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets with insufficient
volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets), or
model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are
observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by
observable market data for substantially the full term of the
assets or liabilities.
|
|
|
Level 3:
|
Prices
or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both
significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable
(supported by little or no market activity).
|
Marketable
securities available-for-sale consist of U.S. Treasury securities
and an obligation from the Puerto Rico Government Development Bank
valued using quoted market prices in active markets. Accordingly,
these securities are categorized in Level 1.
The
carrying value of the Company's financial instruments (excluding
marketable securities and obligations under capital leases): cash
and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and
accrued liabilities, are considered reasonable estimates of fair
value due to their liquidity or short-term nature. Management
believes, based on current rates, that the fair value of its
obligations under capital leases approximates the carrying
amount.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue
is primarily derived from: (1) time and materials contracts
(representing approximately 86% of total revenues), which is
recognized by applying the proportional performance model, whereby
revenue is recognized as performance occurs, (2) short-term
fixed-fee contracts or "not to exceed" contracts (representing
approximately 1% of total revenues), which revenue is recognized
similarly, except that certain milestones also have to be reached
before revenue is recognized, and (3) laboratory testing revenue
(representing approximately 13% of total revenues), which is mainly
recognized as the testing is completed and certified (normally
within days of sample receipt from customer). If the Company
determines that a contract will result in a loss, the Company
recognizes the estimated loss in the period in which such
determination is made.
Cash Equivalents
For
purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, cash
equivalents include investments in money market obligation’s
trusts that are registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act of
1940 and liquid investments with original maturities of three
months or less.
Marketable Securities
We
consider our marketable security investment portfolio and
marketable equity investments as available-for-sale and,
accordingly, these investments are recorded at fair value with
unrealized gains and losses generally recorded in other
comprehensive income; whereas realized gains and losses are
included in earnings and determined based on the specific
identification method.
We
review our available-for-sale securities for other-than-temporary
declines in fair value below their cost basis on a quarterly basis
and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the
cost basis of an asset may not be recoverable. This evaluation is
based on a number of factors including, the length of time and
extent to which the fair value has been less than our cost basis
and adverse conditions specifically related to the security
including any changes to the rating of the security by a rating
agency.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts
receivable are recorded at their estimated realizable value.
Accounts are deemed past due when payment has not been received
within the stated time period. The Company's policy is to review
individual past due amounts periodically and write off amounts for
which all collection efforts are deemed to have been exhausted. Due
to the nature of the Company’s customers, bad debts are
mainly accounted for using the direct write-off method whereby an
expense is recognized only when a specific account is determined to
be uncollectible. The effect of using this method approximates that
of the allowance method.
Income Taxes
The
Company follows an asset and liability approach method of
accounting for income taxes. This method measures deferred income
taxes by applying enacted statutory rates in effect at the balance
sheet date to the differences between the tax basis of assets and
liabilities and their reported amounts on the financial statements.
The resulting deferred tax assets or liabilities are adjusted to
reflect changes in tax laws as they occur. A valuation allowance is
provided when it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset
will not be realized.
The
Company follows guidance from the Financial Accounting Standards
Board (“FASB”) related to Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes, which includes a two-step approach to recognizing,
de-recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. As of October
31, 2017, the Company had no significant uncertain tax positions
that would be reduced as a result of a lapse of the applicable
statute of limitations.
Property and Equipment
Owned
property and equipment, and leasehold improvements are stated at
cost. Vehicles under capital leases are stated at the lower of fair
market value or net present value of the minimum lease payments at
the inception of the leases. Depreciation and amortization of owned
assets are provided for, when placed in service, in amount
sufficient to relate the cost of depreciable assets to operations
over their estimated service lives, using straight-line basis.
Assets under capital leases and leasehold improvements are
amortized, over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the
assets or the lease term, including renewals that have been
determined to be reasonably assured. Major renewals and betterments
that extend the life of the assets are capitalized, while
expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed when
incurred.
The
Company evaluates for impairment its long-lived assets to be held
and used, and long-lived assets to be disposed of, whenever events
or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an
asset may not be recoverable. Based on management estimates, no
impairment of the operating properties was present.
Stock-based Compensation
Stock-based
compensation expense is recognized in the consolidated financial
statements based on the fair value of the awards granted.
Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based
on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over
the requisite service period, which generally represents the
vesting period, and includes an estimate of awards that will be
forfeited. The Company calculates the fair value of stock options
using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model at grant date, while
for restricted stock units the fair market value of the units is
determined by Company’s share market value at grant date.
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation are
reflected as cash flows from financing activities rather than cash
flows from operating activities. However, the Company has not
recognized such cash flow from financing activities since there has
been no tax benefit related to the stock-based
compensation.
Loss Per Share of Common Stock
Basic
loss per share of common stock is calculated dividing net income by
the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding.
Diluted loss per share includes the dilution of common stock
equivalents.
The
diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding were
calculated using the treasury stock method for the respective
periods.
Foreign Operations
The
functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are
its local currency. The assets and liabilities of the
Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S.
dollars at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date.
Income and expense items are translated at the average exchange
rates prevailing during the period. The cumulative translation
effect for subsidiaries using a functional currency other than the
U.S. dollar is included as a cumulative translation adjustment in
stockholders’ equity and as a component of comprehensive
income.
The
Company’s intercompany accounts are typically denominated in
the functional currency of the foreign subsidiary. Gains and losses
resulting from the remeasurement of intercompany receivables that
the Company considers to be of a long-term investment nature are
recorded as a cumulative translation adjustment in
stockholders’ equity and as a component of comprehensive
income, while gains and losses resulting from the remeasurement of
intercompany receivables from those international subsidiaries for
which the Company anticipates settlement in the foreseeable future
are recorded in the consolidated statements of
operations.
Subsequent Events
The
Company has evaluated subsequent events to the date of the audit
report as of January 29, 2018. The Company has determined that
there are no events occurring in this period that required
disclosure or adjustment, except as disclosed in the accompanying
consolidated financial statements.
Reclassifications
Certain
reclassifications have been made to the October 31, 2016
consolidated financial statements to conform them to the October
31, 2017 consolidated financial statements presentation. Such
reclassifications do not have effect on net income as previously
reported.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May
2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)
issued a new accounting standard that amends the guidance for the
recognition of revenue from contracts with customers to transfer
goods and services. The FASB has subsequently issued additional,
clarifying standards to address issues arising from implementation
of the new revenue standard. The new standards are required to be
adopted using either a full retrospective or a modified
retrospective approach. We expect to adopt this standard using the
modified retrospective approach beginning with our fiscal year
2019. Based on our preliminary assessment, we currently do not
anticipate a material impact to our total revenues. We continue to
review the impact that this new standard will have on our
consolidated financial statements.
In
February 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that
amends the guidance for the accounting and disclosure of leases.
This new standard requires that lessees recognize the assets and
liabilities that arise from leases on the balance sheet and
disclose qualitative and quantitative information about their
leasing arrangements. The new standard is effective for interim and
annual periods beginning on January 1, 2019, and may be adopted
earlier. We continue to evaluate the impact that this new standard
will have on our consolidated financial statements. We do not
expect that this standard will have a material impact to our
Consolidated Statements of Operations but expect that this standard
will have a material impact to assets and liabilities on our
Consolidated Balance Sheets upon adoption.
Other
recently issued FASB guidance and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletins
have either been implemented, are not applicable to the Company, or
will have limited effects upon the Company’s
implementation.
NOTE B – MARKETABLE SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR
SALE
The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses
and estimated fair values of available-for-sale securities by type
of security were as follows as of October 31, 2017 and
2016:
Type of security as of October 31, 2017
|
|
|
|
|
U.S.
Treasury securities
|
$4,500,000
|
$—
|
$—
|
$4,500,000
|
Other
government-related debt securities:
|
|
|
|
|
Puerto
Rico Commonwealth Government Development Bond
|
40,000
|
—
|
(13,400)
|
26,600
|
Total
interest-bearing and available-for-sale securities
|
$4,540,000
|
$—
|
$(13,400)
|
$4,526,600
|
Type of security as of October 31, 2016
|
|
|
|
|
U.S.
Treasury securities
|
$4,500,000
|
$—
|
$—
|
$4,500,000
|
Other
government-related debt securities:
|
|
|
|
|
Puerto
Rico Commonwealth Government Development Bond
|
40,000
|
—
|
(19,717)
|
20,283
|
Total
interest-bearing and available-for-sale securities
|
$4,540,000
|
$—
|
$(19,717 )
|
$4,520,283
|
At
October 31, 2017 and 2016, the above marketable securities includes
a $95,000 5.4% Puerto Rico Commonwealth Government Development Bank
Bond, purchased at par and maturing in August 2019. During the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2016, the Company determined that an
other-than-temporary impairment of $55,000 occurred for this bond.
Accordingly, the credit loss of $55,000 was recognized on
earnings.
The fair values of available-for-sale securities by classification
in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows as of
October 31, 2017 and 2016:
Classification in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$4,500,000
|
$4,500,000
|
Marketable
securities
|
26,600
|
20,283
|
Total
available-for-sale securities
|
$4,526,600
|
$4,520,283
|
Cash and cash equivalents in the table above exclude cash in banks
of approximately $7.2 million and $9.3 million as of
October 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
The
primary objectives of the Company’s investment portfolio are
liquidity and safety of principal. Investments are made with the
objective of achieving the highest rate of return consistent with
these two objectives. Our investment policy limits investments to
certain types of debt and money market instruments issued by
institutions primarily with investment grade credit ratings and
places restrictions on maturities and concentration by type and
issuer.
NOTE C - PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
The
balance of property and equipment at October 31, 2017 and 2016
consisted of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vehicles
|
5
|
$248,152
|
$256,677
|
Leasehold
improvements
|
5-8
|
1,425,474
|
674,625
|
Computers
|
3
|
422,050
|
314,380
|
Equipment
|
3-7
|
2,099,361
|
1,858,295
|
Furniture and
fixtures
|
10
|
84,820
|
82,240
|
Projects in
process
|
-
|
404,017
|
1,084,511
|
Total
|
|
4,683,874
|
4,270,728
|
Less: Accumulated
depreciation and amortization
|
|
(2,293,329)
|
(1,936,699)
|
Property and
equipment, net
|
|
$2,390,545
|
$2,334,029
|
NOTE D - INCOME TAXES
In June
2011, Pharma-Bio, Pharma-PR and Pharma-Serv obtained a Grant of
Industrial Tax Exemption pursuant to the terms and conditions set
forth in Act No. 73 of May 28, 2008 (“the Grant”)
issued by the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company
(“PRIDCO”). The Grant was effective as of November 1,
2009 and covers a fifteen-year period. The Grant provides relief on
various Puerto Rico taxes, including income tax, with certain
limitations, for most of the activities carried on within Puerto
Rico, including those that are for services to parties located
outside of Puerto Rico. Industrial Development Income
(“IDI”) covered under the Grant are subject to a fixed
income tax rate of 4%. In addition, IDI earnings distributions
accumulated since November 1, 2009 are totally exempt from Puerto
Rico earnings distribution tax.
For the
year ended October 31, 2016, the favorable consolidated net income
aggregate dollar effect of the Grant was approximately $344,000, or
$0.015 per basic weighted average share. For the year ended October
31, 2017, subsidiaries under the Grant were on a net loss position,
therefore no income tax benefit was derived from the
Grant.
Puerto
Rico operations not covered in the exempt activities of the Grant
are subject to Puerto Rico income tax at a maximum tax rate of 39%
as provided by the 1994 Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code, as
amended. The operations carried out in the United States by the
Company’s subsidiary was taxed in the United States at a
maximum regular federal income tax rate of 35%. On December 22,
2017, Public Law 115-97, commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs
Act of 2017 or the US Federal Tax Reform (the
“Reform”), was enacted. Among other provisions,
effective with the Company’s fiscal year ending on October
31, 2018, the regular federal income tax rate was reduced to
21%.
Distribution
of earnings by the Puerto Rican subsidiaries to its parent are
taxed at the federal level; however, the parent is able to receive
a credit for the taxes paid by the subsidiary on its operations in
Puerto Rico, to the extent of the federal taxes that result from
those earnings. As a result, the income tax expense of the Company,
under its present corporate structure, would normally be the Puerto
Rico taxes on operations in Puerto Rico, federal and state taxes on
operations in the United States, plus the earnings distribution tax
in Puerto Rico from dividends paid to the Puerto Rican
subsidiaries’ parent, and the parent’s federal income
tax, if any, incurred upon the subsidiary’s earnings
distribution.
The reconciliation between the United States federal statutory rate
and our effective tax rate for the years ended October 31, 2017,
and 2016 is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
United States
federal statutory rate
|
35.0%
|
35.0%
|
Puerto Rico,
including foreign loss positions for which the resulting deferred
asset has been allowed, net
|
(26.2)%
|
(26.6)%
|
Other, including US
loss positions for which the resulting
deferred tax asset has been allowed, net
|
(9.1)%
|
(34.3)%
|
Effective tax
rate
|
(0.3)%
|
(25.9)%
|
The
recent US Federal Tax Reform has established a mandatory
repatriation of foreign accumulated undistributed earnings and
profits (the “E&Ps”) for US companies’
subsidiaries. In the past, most of these E&Ps’ were not
repatriated since such E&Ps’ were considered to be
reinvested indefinitely in the foreign location. The Reform
provisions are applicable to our Company commencing with our fiscal
year 2018, however the E&Ps’ mandatory repatriation
provisions establishes measurement dates for various computations,
in our Company’s case these dates are November 2, 2017,
December 31, 2017 and October 31, 2018. Based on the
Company’s E&Ps’ as of October 31, 2017, the
Company’s estimated tax for the mandatory repatriation is
estimated to be approximately $2.7 million. However, the final tax
due must be assessed with our October 31, 2018 closing figures. The
tax liability might be paid over a period of eight years starting
on February 28, 2019. As of the issuance date of this report the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Accounting
Standards Board have issued some preliminary guidance, but have not
issued final rules on how the effects of the Reform will be
required to be reported for financial statements
purposes.
At
October 31, 2017, Pharma-Spain, Pharma-IR, Pharma-Bio/Pharma-US,
Pharma-PR and Pharma-Serv have unused operating losses of
approximately $997,000, $1,082,000, $1,471,000, $624,000, and
$259,000, respectively. These net operating losses are available to
offset future taxable income until October 31, 2028, 2029, 2030,
2031 and 2032 for the aggregate amounts of $178,000, 332,000,
$266,000, $181,000 and $40,000, respectively for Pharma-Spain;
indefinitely for Pharma-IR; until October 31, 2035, 2036, and 2037
for the aggregate amounts of $292,000, $834,000 and $345,000,
respectively for Pharma-Bio/Pharma-US; until October 31, 2027 in
the amount of $624,000 for Pharma-PR; and until October 31, 2027 in
the amount of $259,000 for Pharma-Serv. After considering various
timing differences for income tax purposes, these unused operating
losses result in a potential deferred tax asset for Pharma-Spain,
Pharma-IR, Pharma-Bio, Pharma-PR and Pharma-Serv of approximately
$199,000, $135,000 $309,000, $24,000 and $10,000, respectively.
However, an allowance has been provided covering the total amount
of such balance since it is uncertain whether the net operating
losses can be used to offset future taxable income. Realization of
future tax benefits related to a deferred tax asset is dependent on
many factors, including the Company’s ability to generate
taxable income. Accordingly, the income tax benefit will be
recognized when realization is determined to be more probable than
not.
The
Company files income tax returns in the United States (federal and
various states jurisdictions), Puerto Rico, Ireland, Spain and
Brazil. The 2013 (2012 for Puerto Rico) through 2016 tax years are
open and may be subject to potential examination in one or more
jurisdictions. Currently, the Company is currently not subject to a
federal, state, Puerto Rico or foreign income tax
examination.
NOTE E – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Capitalized lease obligations - The Company leases vehicles
under non-cancelable capital lease agreements with a cost of
$77,470 and $118,790 for the years ended October 31, 2017 and 2016
(accumulated amortization of $5,668 and $73,740 as of October 31,
2017 and 2016, respectively). Amortization expense for vehicles
under non-cancelable lease agreements amounted to $22,053 and
$23,758 for the years ended October 31, 2017 and 2016,
respectively.
The
following is a schedule, by year, of future minimum lease payments
under the capitalized leases together with the present value of the
net minimum lease payments at October 31, 2017:
Twelve
months ending October 31,
|
|
2018
|
$15,502
|
2019
|
15,502
|
2020
|
15,502
|
2021
|
15,502
|
2022
|
18,016
|
Total future
minimum lease payments
|
80,024
|
Less: Amount of
imputed interest
|
( 6,280)
|
Present value of
future minimum lease payments
|
73,744
|
Current portion of
obligation under capital leases
|
(13,949)
|
Long-term portion
|
$59,795
|
Operating facilities - The Company conducts its
administrative operations in office facilities which are leased
under five different rental agreements.
In July
2016, with effective date January 1st, 2016, the Company
renegotiated a lease agreement with an affiliate of our Chairman of
the Board, for the headquarters and laboratory testing facilities
in Dorado, Puerto Rico. The renegotiated lease incorporates
additional space for the laboratory testing facility expansion. The
lease agreement is for a five-year term, with a renewal option of
five years, and monthly rental payments of $30,316 for the term of
the lease agreement and renewal option. The lease agreement also
requires the payment of utilities, property taxes, insurance and
expenses incurred by the affiliate in connection with the
maintenance of common areas.
The
Company maintains an office and Lab facilities in Madrid, Spain.
The facilities are under month-to-month lease with monthly payments
of approximately $2,500.
The
Company leases certain apartments as dwellings for employees. The
leases are under short-term lease agreements and usually are
cancelable upon 30-day notification.
Minimum
future rental payments under non-cancelable operating leases having
remaining terms in excess of one year as of October 31, 2017 are as
follows:
|
|
2018
|
$363,800
|
2019
|
363,800
|
2020
|
363,800
|
2021
|
60,633
|
Total minimum lease
payments
|
$1,152,033
|
Rent
expense for the years ended October 31, 2017 and 2016 was
approximately $413,000 and $483,000 respectively.
Contingencies - In the ordinary course of business, the
Company may be a party to legal proceedings incidental to the
business. These proceedings are not expected to have a material
adverse effect on the Company’s business or financial
condition.
NOTE F – WARRANTS
On
December 2014, the Company entered into an agreement with a firm
for providing (i) business development and (ii) mergers and
acquisition services to the Company. Pursuant to the agreement
terms, the Company issued warrants for the purchase of 1,000,000
common shares at an exercise price of $1.80 per share. As of July
31, 2016, the underlying common shares of the warrants were fully
vested. The warrants expire on December 1, 2019.
NOTE G – CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS
On June
13, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the
Company to repurchase up to two million shares of its outstanding
common stock. The timing, manner, price and amount of any
repurchases will be at the discretion of the Company, subject to
the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and related rules. The program does not oblige the Company
to repurchase any shares and it may be modified, suspended or
terminated at any time and for any reason. No shares will be
repurchased directly from directors or officers of the Company. As
of October 31, 2017 and 2016, pursuant to the program a total of
243,452 and 216,952 shares of the Company’s common stock were
purchased for an aggregate amount of $248,163 and $232,736,
respectively.
NOTE H – EARNINGS (LOSSES) PER SHARE
The computation of basic losses per share is based on the
weighted-average number of our common shares outstanding. The
computation of diluted losses per share is based on the
weighted-average number of our common shares outstanding and
dilutive potential common shares, which include principally shares
that may be issued under: warrants, our stock option and restricted
stock unit awards, determined using the treasury stock
method. The following data show the amounts used in the
calculations of basic and diluted earnings per share.
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss) available to common equity holders - used to
compute basic
and diluted earnings (losses) per
share
|
$(1,414,909)
|
$(256,575)
|
|
|
|
Weighted average
number of common shares - used to compute basic earnings (losses)
per share
|
23,096,547
|
23,015,522
|
Effect of warrants
to purchase common stock
|
-
|
-
|
Effect of
restricted stock units to issue common stock
|
2,829
|
19,224
|
Effect of options
to purchase common stock
|
-
|
151,205
|
Weighted average
number of shares - used to compute diluted earnings
(losses) per
share
|
23,099,376
|
23,185,951
|
For the
year ended October 31, 2017, warrants and options for the purchase
of 1,000,000 and 660,000 shares of common stock, respectively, were
not included in computing losses per share because their effect
were antidilutive. Also, for the year ended on October 31, 2016,
warrants and options for the purchase of 1,000,000 and 240,000
shares of common stock, respectively, were not included in
computing diluted losses per share because their effect were also
antidilutive.
NOTE I - STOCK OPTIONS, RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AND STOCK BASED
COMPENSATION
The
Company has two incentive plans, the 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan
(the “2005 Plan”) and the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan
(the “2014 Plan”), together the “Plans”.
The 2005 Plan and the 2014 Plan cover 2,500,000 and 2,300,000
shares of the Company’s common stock, respectively. Both
Plans provide for the grant of incentive and non-qualified options,
stock grants, stock appreciation rights and other equity-based
incentives to employees, including officers, consultants and
directors for a period of ten years. The 2005 Plan expired in
October 2015, accordingly no further grants have been issued under
this plan. The Plans are to be administered by a committee of
independent directors. In the absence of a committee, the plans are
administered by the board of directors. Options intended to be
incentive stock options must be granted at an exercise price per
share which is not less than the fair market value of the common
stock on the date of grant and may have a term which is not longer
than ten years. If the option holder holds at least 10% of the
Company’s common stock, the exercise price must be at least
110% of the fair market value on the date of grant and the term of
the option cannot exceed five years.
Stock-based
compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair
value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite
service period, which generally represents the vesting period, and
includes an estimate of awards that will be forfeited. The fair
value of stock-based awards to employees is calculated using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes model
requires subjective assumptions, including future stock price
volatility and expected time to exercise, which greatly affect the
calculated values. The expected term of the option has been
estimated using the “simplified” method as provided in
Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 107, for plans with insufficient exercise experience.
Under this method, the expected term equals the arithmetic average
of the vesting term and the contractual term of the option. The
risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rates in effect during
the corresponding period of grant. The expected volatility is based
on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock price.
These factors could change in the future, which would affect fair
values of stock options granted in such future periods, and could
cause volatility in the total amount of the stock-based
compensation expense reported in future periods.
The
2005 Plan stock options activity and status for the years ended
October 31, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at
beginning of year
|
815,000
|
$0.9106
|
900,000
|
$0.8779
|
Granted
|
-
|
$0.0000
|
-
|
$0.0000
|
Exercised
|
(370,000)
|
$0.7186
|
(45,000)
|
$0.4167
|
Expired and/or
forfeited
|
(245,000)
|
$0.7341
|
(40,000)
|
$0.7300
|
Total outstanding
at end of year
|
200,000
|
$1.4820
|
815,000
|
$0.9106
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
exercisable stock options at end of year
|
200,000
|
$1.4820
|
815,000
|
$0.9106
|
|
|
|
Weighted average
remaining years in contractual life for:
|
|
0.8 years
|
Total outstanding
options
|
1.4 years
|
0.8 years
|
Outstanding
exercisable options
|
1.4 years
|
|
Shares of common
stock available for issuance pursuant to future stock option
grants
|
-
|
-
|
The
2014 Plan stock options activity and status for the years ended
October 31, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at
beginning of year
|
430,000
|
$ 0.8860
|
-
|
$-
|
Granted
|
80,000
|
$ 0.9100
|
430,000
|
$0.8860
|
Exercised
|
-
|
$ -
|
-
|
$-
|
|
(50,000)
|
$ 0.9000
|
-
|
$-
|
Total outstanding
at end of year
|
460,000
|
$ 0.8887
|
430,000
|
$0.8860
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
exercisable stock options at end of year
|
219,998
|
$ 0.9098
|
40,000
|
$0.9500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
October
31,
2017
|
|
October
31,
2016
|
Weighted average
remaining years in contractual life for:
|
|
|
|
Total outstanding
options
|
3.3
years
|
|
4.1
years
|
Outstanding
exercisable options
|
3.3
years
|
|
4.2
years
|
Shares of common
stock available for issuance pursuant to future stock option
grants
|
1,840,000
|
|
1,870,000
|
The
following weighted average assumptions were used to estimate the
fair value of stock options granted under the 2014 Plan for the
year ended October 31, 2017:
|
Year
ended
October
31,
2017
|
Expected dividend
yield
|
0.0%
|
Expected stock
price volatility
|
68.6%
|
Risk free interest
rate
|
1.5%
|
Expected life of
options
|
|
Weighted average
fair value of options granted
|
$0.4286
|
As of
October 31, 2017, estimated stock based compensation expense to be
recognized in future periods for granted nonvested stock options is
attributable to stock options granted under the 2014 Plan. The
nonvested stock options compensation expense in the amount of
$49,100 will be recognized in a weighted average period of
approximately 0.6 years.
As of
October 31, 2016, the aggregate intrinsic values of options
outstanding under the 2014 Plan and 2005 Plan were approximately
$27,500 and $147,000, respectively. As of October 31, 2017, all
options outstanding exercise price was above the Company’s
stock market value. The aggregate intrinsic value represents the
difference between the Company’s stock price at year end and
the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the money
options had all option holders exercised their options. This amount
changes based on the fair market value of the Company’s
stock.
The
following table presents the total stock-based compensation
included in the Company’s consolidated statement of income
and the effect in earnings per share:
|
|
|
|
|
Stock-based
compensation expense:
|
|
|
Cost of
services
|
$-
|
$-
|
Selling, general
and administrative
|
63,875
|
88,884
|
Stock-based
compensation before tax
|
63,875
|
88,884
|
Income tax benefit
|
-
|
-
|
Net stock-based
compensation expense
|
$63,875
|
$88,884
|
Effect on earnings
per share:
|
|
|
Basic earnings per
share
|
$(0.003)
|
$(0.004)
|
Diluted earnings
per share
|
$(0.003)
|
$(0.004)
|
NOTE
J - CONCENTRATION OF RISKS
Cash and cash equivalents
The
Company domestic cash and cash equivalents consist of cash deposits
in FDIC insured banks (substantially covered by FDIC insurance by
the spread of deposits in multiple FDIC insured banks), a money
market obligations trust registered under the US Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended, and U.S. Treasury securities with
maturities of three months or less. In the foreign markets we
serve, we also maintain cash deposits in foreign banks, which tend
to be not significant and have no specific insurance. No losses
have been experienced or are expected on these
accounts.
Accounts receivable and revenues
Management
deems all its accounts receivable to be fully collectible, and, as
such, does not maintain any allowances for uncollectible
receivables.
The
Company's revenues, and the related receivables, are concentrated
in the pharmaceutical industry in Puerto Rico, the United States of
America, Ireland and Spain. Although few customers represent a
significant source of revenue, the Company’s functions are
not a continuous process, accordingly, the client base for which
the services are typically rendered, on a project-by-project basis,
changes regularly.
The
Company provided a substantial portion of its services to two
customers, who accounted for 10% or more of its revenues in either
of the years ended October 31, 2017 or 2016. During the year ended
October 31, 2017, revenues from these customers were 13.6% and
7.6%, or a total of 21.2%, as compared to the same period last year
for 9.0% and 10.5%, or a total of 19.5%, respectively. At October
31, 2017 and 2016, amounts due from these customers represented
8.9% and 15.9% of total accounts receivable balance,
respectively.
The
major customer information in the above paragraph is based on
revenues earned from said customers at the segment level because in
management’s opinion contracts by segments are totally
independent of each other, and therefore such information is more
meaningful to the reader. However, at global level three groups of
affiliated companies accounted for 10% or more of our revenues in
either October 31, 2017 or 2016. During the year ended October 31,
2017, aggregate revenues from these global groups of affiliated
companies were 13.6%, 10.7% and 7.6%, or a total of 31.9%, as
compared to the same period last year for 9.0%, 10.3%, and 10.5%,
or a total of 29.8%, respectively. At October 31, 2017 and 2016,
amounts due from these global groups of affiliated companies
represented 15.5% and 21.2% of total accounts receivable balance,
respectively.
As of
October 31, 2017, one of the Company’s customers owes the
Company approximately $3.2 million, which represents approximately
17.9% of the Company’s total working capital. We are
providing multiple services to this customer related to their
construction of a manufacturing facility in Puerto Rico. From this
facility the customer will do the manufacturing and distribution of
an existing product and an investigational new drug to be marketed
to worldwide markets, once approved by regulators. A significant
portion of the customer’s funding comes from different
financing sourcing. As of the issuance date of this report the
customer has paid $2 million of this balance and recurrent services
are provided. Management estimates that collectability of the
account is reasonably assured, accordingly, no provision for
losses, if any, have been recorded in the financial
statements.
NOTE K - SEGMENT DISCLOSURES
The
Company’s segments are based on the organizational structure
for which financial results are regularly evaluated by the
Company’s chief operating decision maker to determine
resource allocation and assess performance. Each reportable segment
is managed by its own management team and reports to executive
management. The Company has four reportable segments: (i) Puerto
Rico technical compliance consulting, (ii) United States technical
compliance consulting, (iii) Europe technical compliance
consulting, and (iv) a Puerto Rico microbiological and chemical
laboratory testing division (“Lab”). These reportable
segments provide services primarily to the pharmaceutical,
chemical, medical device and biotechnology industries in their
respective markets.
The
following table presents information about the reported revenue
from services and earnings from operations of the Company for the
years ended in October 31, 2017 and 2016. There is no intersegment
revenue for the mentioned periods. Corporate expenses that support
the operating units have been allocated to the segments. Asset
information by reportable segment is not presented, since the
Company does not produce such information internally, nor does it
use such data to manage its business.
|
|
|
|
|
REVENUES:
|
|
|
Puerto Rico
consulting
|
$10,936,206
|
$14,579,015
|
United States
consulting
|
1,217,498
|
1,448,579
|
Europe
consulting
|
1,087,610
|
815,931
|
Lab
(microbiological and chemical testing)
|
2,040,602
|
2,446,594
|
Other
segments¹
|
297,359
|
246,596
|
Total consolidated
revenues
|
$15,579,275
|
$19,536,715
|
|
|
|
INCOME (LOSS)
BEFORE TAXES:
|
|
|
Puerto Rico
consulting
|
$(544,658)
|
$623,175
|
United States
consulting
|
(377,035)
|
(858,481)
|
Europe
consulting
|
(44,597)
|
(242,566)
|
Lab
(microbiological and chemical testing)
|
(648,609)
|
(45,888)
|
Other
segments¹
|
203,856
|
320,019
|
Total consolidated
income before taxes
|
$(1,411,043)
|
$(203,741)
|
¹
|
Other
segments represent activities that fall below the reportable
threshold and are carried out in Puerto Rico, United States and
Brazil. These activities include a Brazilian compliance consulting
division, technical seminars/training division, an information
technology services and consulting division, a calibrations
division and corporate headquarters, as applicable.
|
Long
lived assets (property and equipment) and related depreciation and
amortization expense for the years ended October 31, 2017 and 2016,
were concentrated in the Lab in Puerto Rico. Accordingly,
depreciation expense and acquisition of property and equipment, as
presented in the statements of cash flows are mainly related to the
Lab.
NOTE L - RETIREMENT PLAN
Pharma-PR
and Pharma-US each have a separate qualified retirement plan in
accordance with the applicable laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico and the United States of America, for employees who meet
certain age and service period requirements. The Company makes
contributions to these plans as required by the provisions of the
plan document. Contributions for the years ended October 31, 2017
and 2016 were $66,000 and $82,700, respectively.
NOTE M – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
On
December 31, 2013, the Company entered into a Consulting Agreement
with a company (the “Consultant”) affiliated to our
Chairman and our Chairman, effective as of January 1,
2014. Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement as amended,
the Consultant will consult with the Board regarding the
Company’s strategic initiatives, company services,
management, operations and other matters as may be requested from
time to time by the Board. The Chairman will receive a
company automobile and such insurance as she was provided by the
Company during her last year of employment with the
Company. The Consulting Agreement also included standard
provisions relating to non-competition, confidentiality,
non-transferability and non-disparagement. On January 8, 2018, the
Company extended the Consulting Agreement for an additional year to
December 31, 2018. The Company will compensate Consultant a monthly
retainer of $33,700 during the Extension Term. Additionally, in the
event the Company achieves at least eighty percent (80%) of its
budget for the year ending October 31, 2018, Consultant shall
receive a payment in the amount of $100,000 (the “Incentive
Fee”). If the Company achieves one hundred percent (100%) or
more of its budget for the year ending October 31, 2018, the
Incentive Fee shall be $120,000.
As more
fully disclosed in Note E to the consolidated financial statements,
the Company leases its headquarters and laboratory testing
facilities in Dorado, Puerto Rico, from an affiliate of our
Chairman of the Board.
NOTE N - HURRICANES IMPACT OVER PUERTO RICO OPERATIONS
During September 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria (the
“Hurricanes”) severely impacted Puerto Rico causing
extensive destruction and flooding throughout the island. As a
result of Hurricane Maria’s direct hit on September 20, 2017,
all of Puerto Rico was left without electrical power and other
basic utility and infrastructure services such as water,
communications, ports and other transportation networks, causing a
significant disruption to the island’s economic activity.
Most business establishments were closed for several days. Within a
few days, the Company resumed operations using a diesel power
generator at its Puerto Rico facilities, which houses the Lab
operations and the Company’s headquarters. As of the issuance
of this report, only minimal property damage mitigation repairs
were performed for the Company to resume the daily operations of
its Puerto Rico facilities. To enable the continuance of the
operations, additional expenses like diesel, water supply, and
security, among others were incurred. The Company’s
electrical power and other basic utilities were restored on
November 22, 2017. As of October 31, 2017, the Company incurred
approximately $50,000 in property damage mitigation repairs and
related expenses. The Company is currently assessing the complete
extent of the property damage to its facilities and will perform
the repairs, accordingly.
The Company’s consulting and laboratory services to the
Puerto Rico market were negatively impacted primarily by the lack
or unreliability of electric power alternatives, either on site, or
at clients’ sites. Because of the sales volume decline and
unavoidable direct fix cost, the Company currently estimates that
as of October 31, 2017, the impact of the Hurricanes on the
Company’s gross profit was approximately $275,000 for the
fourth quarter.
The Company carries insurance to mitigate these losses, as well as
for property damages. The Company’s insurance provider is
currently assessing the extent of the damages to the facilities, as
well as the business interruption losses and additional expenses
incurred by the Company until electrical power and other basic
utilities were restored on November 22, 2017. Based on current
accounting guidance, the insurance proceeds will be recognized upon
collection, as a gain contingency.
NOTE O – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On
January 2018, the Company renewed the Consulting Agreement with a
company affiliated to our Chairman and our Chairman, as more fully
disclosed in Note M.
On
December 22, 2017, Public Law 115-97, commonly known as the Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 or the US Federal Tax Reform (the
“Reform”), was enacted. Among other provisions, the
Reform has established a mandatory repatriation of foreign
accumulated undistributed earnings and profits (the
“E&Ps”) for US companies’ subsidiaries. As
more fully disclosed in Note
D, the Company is subject to the Reform provisions, including the
mandatory repatriation of E&Ps.