UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-K

 

[X]

[x]       ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014

2016

or

[   ][_]       TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _________ to _________

Commission file number: 001-32046

 

Simulations Plus, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

California

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

95-4595609

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

  

42505 Tenth Street West

Lancaster, CA 93534-7059

(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)


(661) 723-7723

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

 

Title of Each Class

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT: NONE

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.   Yes   [   ][_]  No  [X]

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  [X]

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 filings requirements for the past 90 daysdays.  Yes  [X]  No  [   ]

[_]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, 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  [X]  No  [   ]

[_]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of 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.           [  ]

[X]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

[   ]_]  Large accelerated filer[   ]AcceleratedX]  Accelerated filer

[   ]_]  Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

[X]   Smaller reporting company

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [  ] No [X]

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of February 28, 2014,2016, based upon the closing price of the common stock as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market on such date, was approximately $57,581,229.$102,975,104. This calculation does not reflect a determination that persons are affiliates for any other purposes.

As of November 26, 2014, 16,841,11414, 2016, 17,226,478 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Certain portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be delivered to its shareholders in connection with the registrant’s 20152017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K. Such definitive proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this annual report.report on Form 10-K.

 

 
 

 

Simulations Plus, Inc.
FORM 10-K
For the Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 20142016

 

Table of Contents

 

Page

Page
PART I3
  
ITEM 1 – BUSINESS31
ITEM 1A – RISK FACTORS109
ITEM 1B – UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS109
ITEM 2 – PROPERTIES109
ITEM 3 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS10
ITEM 4 – MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.10
  
PART II11
  
ITEM 5 – MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES11
ITEM 6 – SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA1112
ITEM 7 – MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS12
ITEM 7A – QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK1922
ITEM 8 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA1922
ITEM 9 – CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE1922
ITEM 9A – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES1922
ITEM 9B – OTHER INFORMATION2023
  
PART III20
  
ITEM 10 – DIRECTORS, AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE2024
ITEM 11 – EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION2024
ITEM 12 – SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS2024
ITEM 13 – CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE2024
ITEM 14 – PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES2024
  
PART IV21
  
ITEM 15 – EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES21
25
SIGNATURES2227

i

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This document and the documents incorporated in this document by reference contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this document and the materials accompanying this document are forward-looking statements.

 

The forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of our management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Frequently, but not always, forward-looking statements are identified by the use of the future tense and by words such as “believes,” expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “will,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “projects,” “continues,” “estimates” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

 

The forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this document are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include declarations regarding our plans, intentions, beliefs or current expectations.

 

Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements are the risks and uncertainties described under “Risk Factors” in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

Forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1 – BUSINESS–BUSINESS

 

As used in this report, each of the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “Simulations Plus” refers to Simulations Plus, Inc. and Cognigen Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Simulations Plus, unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires.

 

OVERVIEW

 

Simulations Plus, Inc., incorporated in 1996, is a premier developer of groundbreaking drug discovery and development software for mechanistic modeling and simulation.simulation, for machine-learning-based prediction of properties of molecules solely from their structure, and is exploring the application of its machine-learning technologies in other industries, including aerospace/military and general healthcare. Our pharmaceutical/chemistry software is licensed to major pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agrochemical, and food industry companies and to regulatory agencies worldwide for use in the conduct of industry-based research. We also provide consulting services ranging from early drug discovery through preclinical and clinical trial data analysis and for submissions to these industries. Recently, we have been exploring the application of some of our machine-learning technologies for problems in aerospace and healthcare outside of our traditional markets.regulatory agencies. Simulations Plus is headquartered in Southern California, with offices in Buffalo, New York, and its common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “SLP.”

 

After the end of our 2014 fiscal year, inIn September 2014, Simulations Plus acquired Cognigen Corporation (Cognigen) as a wholly owned subsidiary. The acquisition is expectedwholly-owned subsidiary pursuant to add approximately $5 million to our revenues for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 23, 2014, by and between Simulations Plus and Cognigen (the “Merger Agreement”). Cognigen, was originally incorporated in 1992,1992. Through the integration of Cognigen into Simulations Plus, Simulations Plus is now also a leading provider of population modeling and simulation contract research services for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Cognigen’s clinical pharmacology-basedOur clinical-pharmacology-based consulting services include pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling, clinical trial simulations, data programming, and technical writing services in support of regulatory submissions. Cognigen developsWe have also developed software for harnessing cloud-based computing in support of modeling and simulation activities and providessecure data archiving, and we provide consulting services to improve interdisciplinary collaborations and R&Dresearch and development productivity.

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We are a global leader focused on improving the ways scientists use knowledge and data to predict the properties and outcomes of pharmaceutical and biotechnology agents, and are one of only two global companies who provide a wide range of preclinical and clinical consulting services and software. Our innovations in integrating new and existing science in medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, pharmaceutical science, biology, physiology, and physiologymachine learning into our software have made us the leading software provider for physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) modeling and simulation.simulation and for prediction of molecular properties from structure.

 

We generate revenue by delivering relevant, cost-effective software and creative and insightful consulting services. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies use our software programs and scientific knowledge to guide early drug discovery (molecule design and screening), preclinical, and clinical development programs. They also use it to enhance their understanding of the properties of potential new medicines and to use emerging data to improve formulations, select and justify dosing regimens, support the generics industry, optimize clinical trial design, and simulate outcomes in special populations, such as the elderly and pediatric patients.

 

PRODUCTS

 

General

Simulations Plus develops and produces software for use in pharmaceutical research and in the education of pharmacy and medical students, as well as provides contract consulting services to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Our wholly owned subsidiary, Cognigen, conducts high-quality analysis and regulatory report generation for data gathered during clinical trials of new and existing pharmaceutical products. Cognigen also has developed a proprietary software product called KIWI™ which is used internally and by some of its customers to access data and analysis results on Cognigen’s internal computer cloud. Each business division is discussed separately below, followed by a discussion of the expected synergies from the combination of Simulations Plus and Cognigen.

Simulations Plus

We currently offer sixeight software products for pharmaceutical research:research and development: three simulation programs that provide time-dependent results based on solving large sets of differential equations: GastroPlus™,; DDDPlus™,; and MembranePlus™; and three programs that are based on predicting and analyzing static (not time-dependent) properties of chemicals: ADMET Predictor™,; MedChem Designer™,; and MedChem Studio™. We call the (the combination of ADMET Predictor, MedChem Designer, and MedChem Studio is called our ADMET Design Suite™. After years in development, MembranePlus was released in October 2014 after); one recently-announced program for rapid clinical trial data analysis and regulatory submissions called PKPlus™; and one program called KIWI™ that provides an integrated platform for data analysis and reporting through our proprietary secure cloud. During the closefourth fiscal quarter of the currentfiscal year ended August 31, 2016, we announced the release of our newest software offering, PKPlus™, a next-generation software package for noncompartmental and compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis and reporting, period.which is further described below.

GastroPlus

Our flagship product and currently our largest source of revenuesrevenue is GastroPlus. GastroPlus simulates the absorption, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of drugs administered to humans and animals, and is currently the most widely used software of its type inby pharmaceutical companies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies in the U.S. and other countries. The FDA currently has 70 GastroPlus licenses.

Because of the widespread use of GastroPlus, we were the only non-European company invited to join the European Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) program for Oral Bioavailability Tools (OrBiTo). OrBiTo, begun in 2012, is an international collaboration among 27 industry, academic, and government organizations working in the area of oral absorption of pharmaceutical products. Because we are outside of Europe,the European Union, our participation in this project is at our own expense, while other members are compensated for their work; however, we are a full member with access to all of the data and discussions of all other members. We believe participationour investment to participate in this initiative enables us to benefit from, and to contribute to, advancing the prediction of human oral absorptionbioavailability from preclinical data, and ensures that we are in front of the audience ofwell-known to member pharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies.

 

AfterIn September 2016 we announced that Simulations Plus had been invited to join the endEuropean SimInhale Consortium and had been admitted to this prestigious group focused on advancing the state of our 2014 fiscal year,the art for simulation of inhaled dosage forms. As one of only two U.S. participants, Simulations Plus will participate in activities designed toadvance particle designs for improved deposition and interaction with lung tissue; promote realistic computer simulations of particle aerosolization, delivery and deposition; promote patient-tailored inhaled medicines; promote integration of device and formulation design; and promote critical assessment of toxicity issues and related risks.

In September 2014, we entered into a research collaboration agreement (RCA) with the FDA to enhance the Ocular Compartmental Absorption and Transit (OCAT™) model within the Additional Dosing Routes Module of GastroPlusGastroPlus. The objective of this agreement is to provide a tool for generic companies and the FDA to assess the likely bioequivalence of generic drug formulations dosed to the eye. Under this RCA, we receive up to $200,000 per year. This RCA may be renewed for up to a total of three years based on the progress achieved during the project. After a successful second year, the RCA was renewed for its third year in September 2016, and will expire in September 2017.

 

Because

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We were awarded another RCA by the FDA in September 2015, this time to expand the capabilities of GastroPlus to simulate the dosing of long-acting injectable microspheres. This type of dosage form is usually injected via subcutaneous or intramuscular routes, but can also be used for ocular dosing. Once again, this RCA provides up to $200,000 per year for up to three years. Under this agreement, we did not want our customersare developing simulation models to have to waitdeal with the slow dissolution/decomposition of the microsphere carrier material that gradually releases the active drug over periods as long as weeks or months. After a successful first year, the RCA was renewed for the next major release,second year in September 2016, and will expire in September 2017 unless re-renewed.

In addition to the two funded efforts with the FDA described above, we also have an interim releaseunfunded RCA with the FDA’s Office of Generic Drugs (OGD) that began in 2014. The objective of this RCA, which has a five-year term, is directed toward the FDA’s evaluation of mechanistic IVIVCs (in vitro-in vivo correlations) to determine whether mechanistic absorption modeling (MAM) can relate laboratory (in vitro) dissolution experiment results to the behavior of dosage forms in humans and animals (in vivo) better than traditional empirical methods.

In April 2015, we released Version 9.0 of GastroPlus. This was the largest single upgrade we have made to the program to date, and the added level of science and technology enabled valuable new functionalities that we believe provide the most advanced decision-making tool for preclinical and early clinical trial simulation and modeling analysis available today. Several of the significant enhancements include:

·ability to simulate the absorption and distribution of biologics (antibodies and proteins);
·ability to simulate dosing to the skin, including patches, creams, ointments, and subcutaneous injections; and
·tighter integration with our ADMET Predictor™ software to increase the utility of the program in early drug discovery.

Our goal with GastroPlus version 8.6, was releasedis to integrate the most advanced science into user-friendly software to enable pharmaceutical researchers and regulators to perform sophisticated analyses of complex drug behaviors in August 2014, adding two important requested capabilities: (1)humans and laboratory animals. Already the most widely used program in the world for physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK), the addition of minipig physiology – a species becoming common in preclinical research; and (2) the expansion of the Drug-Drug Interaction (DDI) Modulethese new capabilities is expected to include population simulations.

The next major release, version 9.0, is already in development. This version will add the ability to simulate dermal (through the skin) drug absorption from creams and ointments. This capability was developed through a funded collaboration with a top-5 pharmaceutical company, and is currently in use at the customer’s sites. A number of other improvements will be included in version 9.0 that will be announced with the release of the product, and which we believe will expand the market for GastroPlususer base in the early pharmaceutical research and development. development process, while also helping us further penetrate the biopharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, and general toxicology markets.

We currently expect releaseare now finalizing the development of version 9.09.5 of GastroPlus, which will add a number of new capabilities and will refine and enhance some of the existing capabilities in December 2014 or early in 2015.the program, including intramuscular dosing, simulation of antibody-drug conjugates, additional animal physiologies, enhanced report generation, and enhancements to the PBPK tissue models. We expect to release version 9.5 before the end of calendar year 2016.

 

DDDPlus

DDDPlus simulatesin vitro laboratory(laboratory) experiments used tothat measure the rate of dissolution of thea drug and, if desired, the additives (excipients) in a particular dosage form (e.g., powder, tablet, or capsule) under a variety of experimental conditions. This unique software program is used by formulation scientists in industry and the FDA to (1) understand the physical mechanisms affecting the dissolution rate for various formulations, (2) reduce the number of cut-and-try attempts to design new drug formulations, and (3) designin vitrodissolution experiments to better mimicin vivo (animal and human) conditions. Version 5.0 of DDDPlus, which adds a number of significant enhancements, was released in April 2016. This version adds new formulation types (controlled release bilayer tablet, delayed release coated tablet, and immediate release coated beads), expanded formulation specification options, biorelevant solubilities and surfactant effects on dissolution, tablet compression and disintegration models, links with GastroPlus, and updated licensing.

 

MembranePlus™

MembranePlus is a new product that has been under development for a number of years, but was put on hold for several years due to other priorities. The development effort was revived in the past year and the program was released in October 2014 after the close of the current reporting period.2014. Similar to DDDPlus, MembranePlus simulates laboratory experiments, but in this case, the experiments are for measuring permeability of drug-like molecules through various membranes, including several different standard cell cultures (Caco-2, MDCK), as well as artificially formulated membranes (PAMPA). The value of such a simulation derives from the fact that when the permeabilities of the same molecules are measured in different laboratories using (supposedly) the same experimental conditions, the results are often significantly different. These differences are caused by a complex interplay of factors in how the experiment was set up and run. MembranePlus simulates these experiments with their specific experimental details, and this enables the scientistscientists to better interpret how results from specific experimental protocols can be used to predict permeability in human and animals, which is the ultimate goal. A few initial sales of MembranePlus have been made. Similar to DDDPlus ten years ago, this program is a new concept that requires educating scientists on how and why to use it, and our marketing and sales program has been tasked with providing that training.

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PKPlus™

On August 25, 2016, we announced the release of a new standalone software product called PKPlus, based on the internal PKPlus Module in GastroPlus that has been available since 2000. The PKPlus Module in GastroPlus provides quick and easy fitting of compartmental pharmacokinetic (PK) models as well as noncompartmental analysis (NCA) for intravenous and extravascular (oral, dermal, ocular, pulmonary, etc.) doses; however, the PKPlus Module in GastroPlus was not designed to meet all of the requirements for performing these analyses for Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials and producing report-quality output for regulatory submissions. The new standalone PKPlus program has been developed to provide the full level of functionality needed by pharmaceutical industry scientists to perform the analyses and generate the outputs needed to fully satisfy regulatory agency requirements for both NCA and compartmental PK modeling. We believe MembranePlusthe potential number of eventual users for PKPlus is unique and customers have expressed interest in the new capability.thousands world-wide and that it has the potential to eventually become one of our leading revenue producers.

 

ADMET Predictor™

ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) Predictor is a chemistry-based computer program that takes molecular structures (i.e., drawings of molecules represented in various formats) as inputs and predicts approximately 145150 different properties for them at an average rate of over 100,000 compounds per hour.hour on a modern laptop computer. This capability allows chemists to generate estimates for a large number of important molecular properties without the need to synthesize and test the molecules, oras well as to generate estimates of unknown properties for molecules that have been synthesized, but for which only a limited number of experimental properties have been measured. Thus, a chemist can assess the likely success of a large number of existing molecules in a company’s chemical library, as well as molecules that have never been made, by providing their molecular structures, either by drawing them using a tool such as our MedChem Designer software, or by automatically generating large numbers of molecules using various computer algorithms, including those embedded in our MedChem Studio software.

 

ADMET Predictor has been top-ranked for predictive accuracy in multiple peer-reviewed, independent comparison studies, while generating its results at a high throughput rate. Although the state-of-the-artstate of the art of this type of software does not enable identifying the best molecule in a series, it does allow early screening of molecules that are highly likely to fail as potential drug candidates (i.e., the worst molecules, which is usually the majority of a chemical library) before synthesizing and testing them. Thus, millions of virtual compounds can be created and screened in a day, compared to potentially months or years of work to actually synthesize and test a much smaller number of actual compounds.

 

During fiscal year 2014, we released version 7.1The most recent release of ADMET Predictor.Predictor, version 8.0, was released on August 1, 2016. This new version incorporatesfeatures a powerful new model for predicting ionization constants (pKa’s), developed incompletely redesigned and modernized interface as well as a collaboration with Bayer AG that enabled us to more than double the size of our data set from about 16,000 pKa values to more than 35,000, and to expand the chemical space it covers to include a larger number of molecules more like thosenew capabilities to enhance the performance and user-friendliness of interest to the pharmaceutical industry today. We believeprogram. In addition, we have integrated a number of MedChem Studio features into the resulting improvement in pKa prediction will further differentiate our best-in-class model from any competitor.Predicting ionizationnew ADMET Predictor, and created a tighter integration between the two programs when a MedChem Studio license is critical to predicting most other properties, so all of our models (approximately 144) were retrained based on this new capability for version 7.1.obtained along with an ADMET Predictor license.

 

The optional ADMET Modeler™ subprogram that is integrated intoModule in ADMET Predictor enables scientists to use their own experimental data to quickly create proprietary high-quality predictive models using the same powerful modelingmachine-learning methods we use to build our top-ranked property predictions. Pharmaceutical companies expend substantial time and money conducting a wide variety of experiments on new molecules each year, resulting ingenerating large databases of experimental data. Using this proprietary data to build predictive models can provide a second return on their investment; however, model building has traditionally been a difficult and tedious activity performed by specialists. The automation in ADMET Modeler makes it easy for a scientist to create very powerful models with a minimum ofminimal training.

  

Potential new markets for machine learning

We are currently examining two differentinvestigating applications of this modeling engine:our sophisticated machine-learning engine outside of our normal pharmaceutical markets. To date, we have conducted several proof-of-concept studies including: (1) building predictive models for missile aerodynamic force and moment coefficients as a function of missile geometry, Mach number, and angle of attack, (2) classifying/identifying missiles and (2)other objects from radar tracking data, (3) mapping jet engine compressor performance to predict when maintenance might be required, and (4) classifying patients as healthy or experiencing some disease state or genetic disorder evidenced by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Other potential applications for this modeling engine have also been identified; however, our focus to date has been primarily in these two areas.

 

The aerodynamic coefficient prediction problem was identified by the aerospace engineering department at Auburn University. Working with them, we have done some preliminary testing of the ADMET Modeler modeling engine for this type of problem. Results have been encouraging, and we believe there are government agencies and industrial aerospace companies that will find such a capability to be useful. To this end, we are developing a prototype AEROModeler™ program to test this concept and to use as a demonstrator for proposal efforts directed to potential funding agencies. A joint Simulations Plus/Auburn University scientific poster was accepted for presentation at the National Space and Missile Material Symposium/Commercial and Government Responsive Access to Space Technology Exchange (NSMMS/CRASTE) Conference in Huntsville, Alabama, in June 2014, and received attention and positive feedback from both government agencies and aerospace contractors, not only for aerodynamic coefficient predictions, but also for application to several other potential problems of interest to the industry.

The analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to classify patients as healthy or (in our first proof-of-concept case) likely to experience a form of autism has been developed in cooperation with the MRI facility at Auburn University. This state-of-the-art facility has two MRIs –a 3-Tesla machine and a 7-Tesla machine. The amount of data from MRI imaging is massive, requiring us to modify our code to handle much larger data arrays than our previous applications have required. Our current goal is to demonstrate the potential of our modeling technology to provide useful classification of a patient into one of the four groups based only on MRI data, so that we can approach various agencies (such as the NIH) to obtain funding to develop a commercial product. We presented a scientific poster at the Fourth Biennial Conference on Resting State/Brain Connectivity hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in September 2014 that received interest from a number of researchers working in this area. We believe our artificial neural network ensemble modelingproprietary machine-learning software engine has variousa wide variety of potential applications and we intend to pursue funding to develop customized tools based onto further monetize our investment in this technology by expanding our markets beyond the life sciences and chemistry. In addition, we are examining a variety of expanded capabilities to add to the basic modeling engine for a number of potentialto accommodate even larger data sets (“big data analytics”) and new applications.

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MedChem Designer™

MedChem Designer was launched in 2011. It was initially a molecule drawingmolecule-drawing program, or “sketcher”, but now has capabilities exceeding those of other molecule drawingmolecule-drawing programs because of its integration with both MedChem Studio and ADMET Predictor. We provide MedChem Designer for free to our customers because we believe that in the long run it will help to increase demand for ADMET Predictor and MedChem Studio, and because most other existing molecule drawingmolecule-drawing programs are also provided for free. Our free version includes a small set of ADMET PredictorPredictor’s best-in-class property predictions, allowing the chemist to modify molecular structures and then see a few key properties very quickly. With a paid ADMET Predictor license, the chemist would see the entire 145approximately 150 predictions that are available. Over 16,000 copies of MedChem Designer have been downloaded by scientists around the world to date.

 

When used with a license for ADMET Predictor, MedChem Designer becomes ade novo molecule design tool. With it, a researcher can draw one or more molecular structures, then click on the ADMET Predictor icon and have over 140approximately150 properties for each structure calculated in seconds, including our proprietary ADMET Risk™ index. Researchers can also click on an icon to generate the likely metabolites of a molecule and then predict all of the properties of those metabolites from ADMET Predictor, including each of their ADMET Risk scores. This is important because a metabolite of a molecule can be therapeutically beneficial (or harmful) even though the parent molecule is not.

 

Our proprietary ADMET Risk score provides a single number that tells the chemist how many default threshold values for various predicted properties were crossed (or violated) by each structure. The rules can be modified and new rules added by the user to include any desired rule set based on any combination of calculated descriptors, predicted properties, and user inputs. Thus, in a single number, the chemist can instantly compare the effects of different structural changes in many dimensions. The ideal score is zero; however, a low score greater than zero might be acceptable, depending on what property(s) caused the points to be assigned. If the number is too high (greater than 5-6)5 or 6), the molecule is not likely to be successful as a drug. The default rules can be modified and new rules can be added by the user to include any desired rule set based on any combination of calculated descriptors, predicted properties, and user inputs. As chemists attempt to modify structures to improve one property, they often cause others to become unacceptable. Without ADMET Risk, the chemist would have to individually examine many key properties for each new molecule (and its metabolites) to determine whether any of them became unacceptable as a result of changing the structure.

 

During fiscal year 2014, we released version 3.0 of MedChem Designer, which added the ability to capture the image of a molecular structure from a variety of publication files with a new snapshot tool, and then have the program automatically convert the graphic image into any of several computer-based chemical structure files. Converting from lines and letters on the screen to an exact chemical representation of the molecule (Optical Structure Recognition, or OSR) is a complex task. Although a few OSR programs are in existence, we are not aware of any that can accurately convert as many varieties of images to chemical representation as the OSR tool within MedChem Designer. Such a capability allows chemists to quickly capture molecular structures from the scientific literature to use for various purposes, including for use in our simulation and modeling software programs.

MedChem Studio™

MedChem Studio is a powerful software tool that is used both for data mining and forde novo design of new molecules. In its data-mining role, MedChem Studio facilitates searching of large chemical libraries to find molecules that contain identified substructures, and it enables rapid generationidentification of clusters (classes) of molecules that share common substructures from high throughput screening (HTS) data.substructures. MedChem Studio version 4.0 was released during fiscal year 2014. We have now merged MedChem Studio with the refactoring of ADMET Predictor 8.0, so that either program can be entered through the same interface, and the communication between the two programs is enhanced through the seamless integration of both technologies. We believe this will enhance the attractiveness of both ADMET Predictor and MedChem Studio to medicinal and computational chemists.

  

While MedChem Designer can be used to refine a small number of molecules, MedChem Studio can be used to create and screen (with ADMET Predictor) a very large numbernumbers of molecules down to a few promising lead candidates. MedChem Studio has features that enable it to generate new molecular structures using a variety ofde novo design methods. When MedChem Studio is used with ADMET Predictor and MedChem Designer (which(the combination of which we refer to as our ADMET Design Suite), we believe the programs provide an unmatched capability for chemists to search through large libraries of compounds that have undergone high-throughput screening experiments to find the most promising classes (groups of molecules with a large common part of their structures the same)structures) and molecules that are active against a particular target. In addition, MedChem Studio can take an interesting (but not acceptable) molecule and, using a variety of design algorithms, quickly generate many thousands to millions of high quality analogs (similar new molecules). These molecules can then be screened using ADMET Predictor to find molecules that are predicted to be both active against the target as well asand acceptable in a variety of ADMET properties.

NCE Projects

During late 2012, we initiated a new molecule (NCE, or New Chemical Entity) design project in which we used our own products to design novel molecules and have them synthesized and tested. Our goal was to demonstrate We demonstrated the abilitypower of ourthe ADMET Design Suite to generate newduring two NCE (new chemical entity) projects wherein we designed lead molecules in a fractionto inhibit the growth of theplasmodium falciparum malaria parasite in one study and lead molecules that were combined COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors. In each case, we announced ahead of time that we were attempting to do this, and cost normally required inwe reported the pharmaceutical industry. We have conducted two NCE design projects. Inresults when the first,projects were complete. Every molecule we designed molecules to test against the malaria parasite and had synthesized hit their targets in the other we designed molecules to test against the cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme that is the target for Celebrex®. Both projects were successful in that when the molecules that we designed were tested against the malaria parasite and the COX-2 enzyme, the molecules successfully inhibited the malaria parasite and the COX-2 enzyme. We believe these projects demonstrate that our ADMET Design Suite can save considerable time and money in developing new lead compounds for particular targets. We have generated revenue from new software sales that resulted from presenting our results of the malaria parasite project.both projects.

 

KIWITM

Drug development programs rely increasingly on modeling and simulation analyses to support decision-making and submissions to regulatory agencies. To ensure high-quality analyses, organizations must not only apply high-quality science, but must also be able to support the science by being able to validate the results. KIWI is a cloud-based web application that was developed to efficiently organize, process, maintain, and communicate the volume of data and results generated by pharmacologists and scientists over the duration of a drug development program. The validated workflow and tools within KIWI promote traceability and reproducibility of results.

5

The pharmaceutical industry has been rapidly adopting cloud technology as a solution to ever-expanding computer processing needs. Leveraging our 20-plus years of experience in providing an architecture supporting modeling and simulation efforts, we have developed KIWI as a secure, validated, enterprise-scale environment, enabling global teams to collaborate on model-based decision making. KIWI has proven to be a valuable platform for encouraging interdisciplinary discussions about the model development process and interpretation of results. We continue to receive positive feedback about the functionality implemented in KIWI and the value of the approach we have taken to harness cloud technology. We continue to improve functionality and collaboration within the KIWI platform, and we expect the licensing fee will be a source of recurring revenue for further development and growth. KIWI Version 1.3 was released in May 2015. This version of KIWI provides our user community with access to new features that accelerate completion of modeling projects by decreasing run times and facilitating the comparison and exporting of results across models. These features include dynamic comparisons of model parameter estimates and diagnostic plots, export of model run records for regulatory submissions, and accelerated infrastructure with the upgrade to the latest versions of NONMEM® and Perl-speaks-NONMEM running in a 64-bit Linux environment.

KIWI Version 1.5 was released in March 2016. This new version introduced major enhancements in the functionality of visualization tools offered by the platform. These enhancements include simplifying the creation of plots and comparing them across multiple models, thus accelerating the model refinement process. In addition, analysts can now conveniently copy visualization preferences across projects, improving consistency and facilitating collaboration and communication with clients and colleagues.

Contract Research and Consulting Services

Our employeesscientists and engineers have expertise in oraldrug absorption via various dosing routes (oral, intravenous, ocular, nasal/pulmonary, and pharmacokinetics.dermal), pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics. They have been speakers or presenters at over 150 scientific meetings worldwide in the past four years. We frequently conduct contracted consulting studies for large customers (including the five largest five pharmaceutical companies) who have particularly difficult problems and who recognize our expertise in solving them, as well as for smaller customers who prefer to have studies run by our scientists rather than to license our software and train someone to use it. The demand for our consulting services has been steadily increasing, and we have expanded our Simulations Studies teamconsulting teams to meet the increased workload. Our acquisition of Cognigen is expected

We closed a five-year consulting agreement with a major research foundation to resultimplement a platform for coordinating the data generated by global teams engaged in increased demand formodel-based drug development and began work on the consulting services of both companies.project.

 

We currently are working with the FDA on three different RCAs:Research Collaboration Agreements (RCAs): the onetwo funded efforts for the ocular model in GastroPlusand long-acting injectable microspheres and the unfunded IVIVC effort, all described above under “--GastroPlus,” and two more described below.

During fiscal“GastroPlus”. We also successfully completed the fifth year 2014, we continued to perform underof our RCAfive-year renewable collaboration with the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). This RCA has a five-year term that commenced in [Month Year].of the FDA scientists and our scientists are using ADMET Predictor/Modeler to builddevelop predictive toxicity models for likely toxicities of food additives and contaminants. Both FDA scientists and our scientists are building a series of models to classify new compounds as toxic or nontoxic from FDA datasets. Included early on in this effort was a special modification to ADMET Predictor requested by FDA scientists to allow the user to set a minimum value for specificity or sensitivity when building a model, and this is now a standard part of the program available to all users. Sensitivity refers to how well a model identifies toxic (or any other property) compounds. A model that determined all compounds are toxic would have 100% sensitivity, because all toxic compounds would be labeled as such; however, all nontoxic compounds would also be labeled toxic. Specificity refers to how well a model distinguishes between toxic and nontoxic compounds. Increasing one usually results in decreasing the other. Depending on the purpose of the model, some scientists will prefer to train models that emphasize one statistic over the other.

 

During fiscal year 2014 we entered into an RCA with the FDA’s Office of Generic Drugs (OGD). The objective of this RCA, which also has a five-year term, is directed toward the FDA’s evaluation of mechanistic IVIVCs (in vitro-in vivo correlations), an approach to determine whether mechanistic absorption modeling (MAM) correlates laboratory (in vitro) dissolution experiments with thein vivo behavior of dosage forms better than traditional empirical methods.

Cognigen

Pharmacometric Modeling

We acquired Cognigen after the end of our 2014 fiscal year, on September 2, 2014. Cognigen hashave a reputation for high-quality analysisanalyses and regulatory reporting of data collected during preclinical experiments as well as clinical trials of new and existing pharmaceutical products, typically working on 30-40 drug projects per year. The model-based analysis of clinical trial data that Cognigen performswe perform is different from the type of consulting servicesmodeling analysis offered by Simulations Plus,GastroPlus; the former relies more on statistical and semi-mechanistic models, whereas the latter relies more on very detailed mechanistic models. Statistical models rely on direct observation and mathematical equations that are shownused to fit data collected across multiple studies along with describing the data, but withoutvariability within and between patients. Mechanistic models are based on a detailed mechanistic understanding of why they do so. Mechanistic modelsthe human body and the chemistry of the drug and involve detailed science-based mathematical representationsand scientific representation of the phenomena involved in drug dissolution/precipitation, absorption, distribution, throughout the body, metabolism, and other effects.elimination. Collectively, the models guide drug formulation design and dose selection.

 

At recent meetings heldBecause of the synergies achieved through the integration of our Buffalo division (Cognigen) into Simulations Plus, our first full fiscal year of combined operations resulted in significantly increased revenues and earnings. Our clinical pharmacometricians in Buffalo, supported by our consulting team in California, are learning to use the FDAPBPK modeling capabilities of GastroPlus and other regulatory agencies,are performing such agencies emphasized an interest in bringing physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK – a core strength of Simulations Plus) into clinical pharmacology (a core strength of Cognigen). We believe the combined strengths of Cognigenstudies under new and Simulation Plus will uniquely position us at the forefront of model-based drug development going forward.expanded contracts with pharmaceutical customers.

6

 

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Development of our software is focused on expanding product lines, designing enhancements to our core technologytechnologies, and integrating existing and new products into our principal software architecture and platform technology.technologies. We intend to continue to offer regular updates to our products and to continue to look for opportunities to expand our existing suite of products and services.

 

To date, we have developed products internally, sometimes also licensing or acquiring products, or portions of products, from third parties. These arrangements sometimes require that we pay royalties to third parties. We intend to continue to license or otherwise acquire technology or products from third parties when it makes business sense to do so. We currently have one license agreement, with BIOVIA, a San Diego division of Dassault Systemes in France (formerly known as Accelrys, Inc.), pursuant to which a small royalty is paid to AccelrysBIOVIA from revenues on each license for the Metabolite module in ADMET Predictor. This license agreement continues in perpetuity and either party has the right to terminate it.

 

In 1997 we entered into an exclusive software licensing agreement with TSRL, Inc. (fka(aka Therapeutic Systems Research Laboratories) (TSRL), pursuant to which TSRL licensed certain software technology and databases to us, and we paid royalties to TSRL. On May 15, 2014, we and TSRL entered into a termination and non-assertion agreement pursuant to which the parties agreed to terminate the 1997 exclusive software licensing agreement,agreement. As a result, the companyCompany obtained a perpetual right to use certain source code and data, and TSRL relinquished any rights and claims to any GastroPlus products and to any claims to royalties or other payments under that agreement, and we agreed to pay TSRL total consideration of $6,000,000 as follows: (a) $3,500,000 by May 20, 2014, which amount was comprised of $2,500,000 in cash and $1,000,000 worth of our common stock (which was 164,745 shares based upon the April 25, 2014 closing price per share of $6.07 per share), (b) $750,000 payable on or before April 25, 2015, (c) $750,000 payable on or before April 25, 2016, and (d) $1,000,000 payable on or before April 25, 2017. All payments have now been made except the final $1 million, which will be paid in April 2017. Our outstanding payment obligationsobligation described above are non-interest bearingis non-interest-bearing and will be amortized at a constant rate of $150,000 per quarter until it is completely amortized, after which no further expense will be incurred. For most quarters, we expect that this will result in a savings over the royalty payments that would have been paid to TSRL if paid consistent with past practices.

 

MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION

We distribute our products and offer our services in North America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Taiwan, and the People’s Republic of China.

 

We market our pharmaceutical software and consulting services through attendance and presentations at scientific meetings, exhibits at trade shows, seminars at pharmaceutical companies and government agencies, through our website, and using various communication channels to our database of prospects and customers. At various scientific meetings around the world each year there are numerous presentations and posters presented in which the research that was reported onresearch was performed using our software. Many of these presentations wereare from industry and FDA scientists; some wereare from our staff. In addition, more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, posters, and podium presentations are published each year using our software, mostly by our customers, further supporting its use in a wide range of preclinical and clinical studies.

 

Our sales and marketing efforts are handled primarily internally with our scientific team and several senior management staff assisting our marketing and sales staff with trade shows, seminars, and customer trainingtrainings both via the Internetonline and on-site. We believe that this is more effective than a completely separate sales team for several reasons: (1) customers appreciate talking directly with software developers and consulting scientists who can answer a wide range of in-depth technical questions about methods and features in depth;features; (2) our scientists and engineers benefit from direct customer contact by gaininggain an appreciation for the customer’s environment and problems of the customer;problems; and (3) we believe the relationships we build through scientist-to-scientist contact are stronger than relationships built through salesperson-to-scientist contacts. We also have one independent distributor in Japan and two independent representatives in China who also sell and market our products.products with support from our scientists and engineers.

 

We provide support to the GastroPlus User Group in Japan, which was organized by Japanese researchers in 2009. As ofIn early 2013, a group of scientists in Europe and North America have organized another group following the example set in Japan. Nearly 500Over 850 members have joined this group to date. We support this group through coordination of online meetings each month and managing the user group web site for exchange of information among members. These user groups provide us valuable feedback with respect to desired new features and suggested interface changes.

 

PRODUCTION

 

7

PRODUCTION

Our pharmaceutical software products are designed and developed by our development teamteams in California and New York, with locations in Lancaster, Petaluma, San Jose, San Diego, and San Diego.Buffalo. In addition, we have one team member working out of North Carolina and our Chief Executive Officer works primarily from Auburn, Alabama.

The principal materials Our products and components used in the manufacture of simulation software products includeservices are now delivered electronically – we no longer provide CD-ROMs and instructionprinted manuals which are also produced in-house and through outside contractors. In-house graphic art and engineering talent enables us to accomplish this production in a cost-efficient manner.or reports.

 

COMPETITION

In our pharmaceutical software and services business, we compete against a number of established companies that provide screening, testing and research services, and products that are not based on simulation software. There are also software companies whose products do not compete directly with, but are sometimes closely related to, ours. Our competitors in this field include some companies with financial, personnel, research, and marketing resources that are larger than ours. Our management believes there is currently no significant competitive threat to GastroPlus, DDDPlus, or MembranePlus;GastroPlus; however, in spite of a high barrier to entry, one could be developed over time. Our new PKPlus software product will compete with one major and a few minor software programs; however, the capabilities and design features of PKPlus, along with more affordable licensing, are expected to generate significant interest. MedChem Studio, MedChem Designer, and ADMET Predictor/ADMET Modeler operate in a more competitive environment. Several other companies presently offer simulation or modeling software, or simulation-software-based services, to the pharmaceutical industry.

 

Major pharmaceutical companies conduct drug discovery and development efforts through their internal development staffs and through outsourcing. Smaller companies generally need to outsource a greater percentage of this research. Thus, we compete not only with other software suppliers, but also with the in-house development teams at some of the larger pharmaceutical companies.

 

Although competitive products exist, both new licenses and license renewals for GastroPlus have continued to grow in spite of this competition.grow. We believe that we enjoy a significant market share in this segment. We believe that the success of our two NCE projects in which we successfully designed, synthesized, and tested new lead molecules to treat malaria as well as COX-2/COX-1 will further promote the abilities of our ADMET Design Suite for rapid and cost-effective design of lead compounds. We expect the completely refactored ADMET Predictor 8.0 version with its fresh look and expanded features will generate increased interest in drug discovery and early drug development teams.

 

We believe the key factors in our ability to successfully compete in this field are our ability to: (1) continue to invest in research and development, and develop and support industry-leading simulation and modeling software and related products and services to effectively predict activities and ADMET-related behaviors of new drug-like compounds, (2) design new molecules with acceptable activity and ADMET properties, (3) develop and maintain a proprietary database of results of physical experiments that serve as a basis for simulated studies and empirical models, (4) attract and retain a highly skilled scientific and engineering team, and (5) develop and maintain relationships with research and development departments of pharmaceutical companies, universities and government agencies.

 

We actively seek acquisitions to expand the pharmaceutical software and services business. In July 2014 we signed a merger agreement with Cognigen. The merger closed on September 2, 2014, subsequent to the end of fiscal year 2014. We plan to continue our efforts to find strategic targets and alliances that will enhance our position in the industry.industry, and to pursue the application of our machine-learning technology to new industries.

 

TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Customer training and technical support are important factors in customer satisfaction for our pharmaceutical products, and we believe we are an industry leader in providing customer training and technical support in our business areas. We provide in-house seminars at customers’ and potential customers’ sites, as well at selected universities to train students who will soon be industry scientists. These seminars often serve as initial training in the event the potential customer decides to license or evaluate our software. Technical support is provided after the sale of any software in the form of on-site training (at the customer’s expense), web meetings and telephone, fax, and e-mail assistance to the customer’s users during the customer’s license period.

 

Technical support for pharmaceutical software is provided by our life sciences team and our inside sales and support staff based at our headquarters facilities in Lancaster, California. We provide free telephone support offering toll-free numbers in the U.S. and Canada, and e-mail and web-based support for all of our pharmaceutical software products worldwide. Technical support for pharmaceutical software products is minimal, averaging a few person-hours per month.

 

8

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Research and development (R&D) activities include both enhancement of existing products and development of new products. Development of new products and adding functionality to existing products are capitalized in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 985-20, “Costs of Software to Be Sold Leased, or Marketed”. R&D expenditures, which primarily relate to both capitalized and expensed salaries, R&D supplies, laboratory testing, and R&D consulting, were approximately $2,322,000$2,641,000 during fiscal year 2014,2016, of which $1,369,000$1,196,000 was capitalized. R&D expenditures during fiscal year 20132015 were approximately $1,931,000,$2,496,000 during fiscal year 2015, of which $1,129,000$1,168,000 was capitalized.

 

Our pharmaceutical business R&D activities during fiscal year 20142015 were focused on improving our ADMET Predictor/ADMET Modeler, MedChem Studio, MedChem Designer and GastroPlus products, as well as the development of our new MembranePlus software product described above.

 

EMPLOYEES

EMPLOYEES

As of August 31, 2014,2016, Simulations Plus and its subsidiary Cognigen Corporation employed 30a total of 63 employees, including 60 full-time employees and 3 part-time employees, including 2248 in technical and research and development, 45 in marketing and sales, 410 in administration and accounting. An additional Ph.D. level employee joined Simulations Plus in September 2014. Currently 1625 employees hold Ph.Ds. in their respective science or engineering disciplines. Additionally, 6disciplines, and 16 employees hold one or more Master’s degrees. Most of the senior management team and the members of our Board of Directors hold graduate degrees.

The Cognigen acquisition added 35 full-time employees, bringing our total workforce to 66.

 

We believe that our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to continue to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel. We continue to seek additions to our life sciences team although the competition for such personnel in the pharmaceutical industry is intense. None of our employees is represented by a labor union, and we have never experienced a work stoppage. We believe that our relations with our employees are good.

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND OTHER PROPRIETARY RIGHTS

We own two patents that were acquired as part of our acquisition of certain assets of Bioreason, Inc. We primarily protect our intellectual property through copyrights and trade secrecy.secrets. Our intellectual property consists primarily of source code for computer programs and data files for various applications of those programs in the pharmaceutical software businesses. The expertise of our staff is a considerable asset closely related to intellectual property, and attracting and retaining highly qualified scientists and engineers is essential to our business.

 

EFFECT OF GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

Our pharmaceutical software products are tools used in research and development and are neither approved nor approvable by the FDA or other government agencies.

 

ITEM 1A – RISK FACTORS

 

Not applicable because we are a smaller reporting company.

 

ITEM 1B – UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 2 – PROPERTIES–PROPERTIES

 

We lease approximately 13,500 square feet of office space in Lancaster, California. The original lease had a five-year term with two, three-year options to extend. Following the expiration ofThe initial five-year term expired in February 2011, and we exercised the first of the three-year options which extended the lease to February 2, 2014. In June 2013, the lease was amended extendingto extend the term to February 2, 2017. AsThe amended the lease also provides for an annual base rent increase of 3% per year and two, two-year options to extend. In May 2016 the Company exercised the two, two-year options extending the term of the lease through February 2, 2021 at a fixed rate of $25,000 per month. The new extension agreement gives the Company the right, upon 90 days’ prior notice, to terminate the lease in the last two years of the term upon payment of a recapture payment equal to the 3% base payment increase that would have been due under the original agreement.

9

Our subsidiary leases approximately 12,225 square feet of office space in Buffalo, New York. The initial five-year term expires in October 2018; the lease allows for a three-year option to extend the term.to October 2021. The current base rent amount is $24,272$15,638 per month; however, we had three months’ free base rent duringmonth.

Rent expense, including common area maintenance fees for the months of June, Julyfiscal years ended August 31, 2016 and August of 2013. We record these three months as a discount divided equally through the initial term of the amended lease from June 2013 through January 2017.2015 was $491,800 and $488,888, respectively.

 

The Company believes its existing facilities and equipment are in good operating condition and are suitable for the conduct of its business.

 

ITEM 3 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Except as described below, we are not a party to any legal proceedings and are not aware of pending legal proceedings of any kind.

 

In June 2014, the Company was served with a complaint in a civil action entitled Sherri Winslow v. Incredible Adventures, Inc., et al. (Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC545789) alleging wrongful death and seeking unspecified damages arising out of a May 18, 2012 plane crash in the State of Nevada. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer owns the subject aircraft and is also a named defendant. The complaint alleged that the Company was the owner of the subject aircraft. The Company denies all material allegations against it, including that it owns or has ever owned any interest in the subject aircraft. On November 25, 2014, the plaintiff and the Company signed a stipulation of dismissal pursuant to which the plaintiff agreed to dismiss the Company without prejudice. IfThe Company planned to prepare a dismissal with prejudice to be signed on behalf of the plaintiff doesin the event the plaintiff did not discover evidence during a nine month period to and including August 31, 2015 that justifiesjustified bringing the Company back into the litigation,litigation. The Company did not receive any notification of any such discovery and is in the Company will prepare aprocess of preparing documents for the plaintiff’s final dismissal with prejudice to be signed on behalf of the plaintiff.prejudice.

 

ITEM 4 – MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

 

Not applicable.

 

10

PART II

 

ITEM 5 – MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

The Company’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “SLP.”

 

Price Range of Common Stock

 

The following table shows low and high sales price for the Company’s common stock for the last eight fiscal quarters.

 

 Low Sales PriceHigh Sales Price
FY14:  
Quarter ended August 31, 20145.437.00
Quarter ended May 31, 20145.616.76
Quarter ended February 29, 20144.866.08
Quarter ended November 30, 20134.705.41
FY13:  
Quarter ended August 31, 20134.014.83
Quarter ended May 31, 20133.924.39
Quarter ended February 29, 20134.014.59
Quarter ended November 30, 20124.384.80
   Low Sales Price  High Sales Price 
FY15:       
 Quarter ended August 31, 2015   5.67   6.82 
 Quarter ended May 31, 2015   5.65   6.30 
 Quarter ended February 28, 2015   6.18   6.88 
 Quarter ended November 30, 2014   5.87   7.00 
 FY16:         
 Quarter ended August 31, 2016   6.73   8.68 
 Quarter ended May 31, 2016   7.61   9.60 
 Quarter ended February 29, 2016   8.86   11.34 
 Quarter ended November 30, 2015   6.67   10.14 

 

Holders

As of November 26, 2014,14, 2016, there were 4742 shareholders of record.

 

Dividends

We paid a total of $3.1 million and $4.0approximately $3.4 million in cash dividends during each of fiscal years 20142016 and 2013, respectively,2015 as set forth in the table below. We expect to pay quarterly dividends of $0.05 per share of common stock each quarter, subject to declaration by our Board of Directors. However, there can be no assurances that our Board of Directors will continue the dividend distributions for any specified number of quarters.

 

Fiscal YearRecord DateDistribution Date# of Shares Outstanding
on Record Date
Dividend per Share Total Amount
201311/8/201211/13/201215,927,806$0.05 $796,390
12/24/201212/28/201216,021,309$0.14*$2,242,983
5/7/20135/10/201316,030,433$0.03**$480,913
8/12/20138/15/201316,030,894$0.03**$480,926
201411/08/201311/15/201316,073,894$0.04**$642,956
2/17/20142/24/201416,149,460$0.05 $807,473
5/09/20145/16/201416,165,171$0.05 $808,259
8/04/20148/11/201416,337,955$0.05 $816,897
Fiscal Year  Record Date Distribution
Date
 # of Shares
Outstanding on
Record Date
  Dividend per
Share
  Total
Amount
 
 2015  11/7/2014 11/14/2014  16,841,114  $0.05  $842,056 
    1/26/2015 2/2/2015  16,852,117  $0.05  $842,606 
    5/11/2015 5/18/2015  16,875,117  $0.05  $843,754 
    7/23/15 7/30/2015  16,943,001  $0.05  $847,150 
 2016  11/09/2015 11/16/2015  16,996,001  $0.05  $849,800 
    1/29/2016 02/05/2016  17,018,001  $0.05  $850,900 
    5/02/2016 5/09/2016  17,029,501  $0.05  $851,475 
    8/11/2016 8/18/2016  17,221,978  $0.05  $861,099 

* As a tax benefit to shareholders considering the increase in federal income tax for capital gains in 2013, the Board of Directors declared an accelerated cash dividend of $0.14 per share on December 14, 2012, consisting of all of the planned February 2013 dividend of $0.05 per share, plus $0.03 per share of the planned $0.05 dividend per quarter per share for the remaining three fiscal quarters ending in calendar year 2013.

 

** The Board of Directors decided to increase the May, August, and November 2013 dividend distributions from the planned $0.02 per share ($0.03 of the $0.05 per share quarterly dividend having been distributed in December 2012) to $0.03 per share in May and August 2013 and to $0.04 in November 2013.

11

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

RepurchasesThe following information is provided as of August 31, 2016:

 

Plan category Number of securities
to be issued
upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a)
  Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(b)
  Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected
in column (a))
(c)
 
       
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders  947,500  $7.50   438,760 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders  -0-   -0-   -0- 
Total  947,500  $7.50   438,760 

Repurchases

There is currently no share repurchase program pending, and the Company has made no repurchases of its securities within the fourth quarter of thesince fiscal year 2014.2011.

 

ITEM 6 – SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

Not applicable because we are a smaller reporting company.

 

ITEM 7 – MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and related notes included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Management Overview

 

Fiscal year 20142016 highlights:

·In July 2014 we signed a merger agreement with Cognigen CorporationWe released new versions of our ADMET Predictor™, DDDPlus™, and completed the merger on September 2, 2014. As a result of this merger the Company now provides clinical trial consulting services to the pharmaceutical industry.
·In May 2014 we terminated an exclusiveKIWI™ software licensing agreement we entered into with Therapeutic Systems Research Laboratories (TSRL) in 1997. As a result, the company obtained a perpetual right to use certain source code and data, and TSRL relinquished any rights and claims to any GastroPlus products and to any claims to royalties or other payments under the 1997 agreement. We agreed to pay TSRL total consideration of $6,000,000 payable in installments through April 2017. For most quarters, we expect that this will result in a savings over the royalty payments that would have been paid to TSRL if paid consistent with past practices.programs.
·We released updated versions of all majorour new software products.product, PKPlus™.
·We advancedclosed a five-year consulting agreement with a major research foundation to implement a platform for global teams engaged in model-based drug development and began work on the developmentprojectWe successfully completed the first year of our new MembranePlus™ software programthree-year funded collaboration with the Office of Generic Drugs of the FDA to develop mechanistic models for simulationdelivery of in vitro permeability experiment, which has now been released.long-acting injectable microsphere dosage forms.
·We successfully completed the thirdsecond year of our three-year funded collaboration with the Office of Generic Drugs of the FDA to develop mechanistic models for ocular delivery of drug products.
·We successfully completed the fifth year of our five-year renewable collaboration with the Center for Food Safety and Nutrition of the FDA to develop predictive toxicity models for food additives and contaminants.
·Wecontaminants.We successfully completed a new drug design project targeting COX-2the third year of our five-year collaboration with the Office of Testing and COX-1 enzymes. In this project, we synthesized four new molecules,Research of the FDA to validate the mechanistic absorption model and all four molecules inhibited both the COX-2 and COX-1 enzymes, and one of them provided the desired characteristic of higher affinity for COX-2 than COX-1. We believe this is a significant achievement for a software company, and that it demonstrates that our ADMET Design Suite can save considerable time and money in developing new lead compounds for particular targets.
·We expanded our technical staff by over 10%, adding one new Ph.D. and one new Masters level scientist to the Life Sciences department and one new Masters level engineer to our Computational Technologies team.vitro-in vivocorrelations in GastroPlus™.
·We hosted five multi-daynine workshops in the United States, Europe, Japan, China, Japan,Korea, and KoreaIndia to educate users on the various features and applications of our software.
·WeOur employees attended 4843 scientific conferences, presenting 3041 posters and oral podium lectures.
·We achieved 92%an 88% renewal rate for software licenses.license accounts (>94% in terms of revenue).
·We signed 7975 new clients (includes new organizations and departments at existing clients).
·We finalized new orders for software licenses at several major regulatory agencies (including the FDA, U.S. EPA, China SFDA,Environmental Protection Agency, and Japan PMDA).China’s CFDA
·We realized significant growth in license revenue from Asian territories (Japan, China, Korea, and India)contract research organizations (CROs) in excess of 50%, while recognizing greater than 95% growth in license revenue from non-pharmaceutical industry companies (e.g., chemicals, consumer goods).
·We saw an approximately 25% increase in membership numbers for the GastroPlus User Group.
·Our Board of Directors declared dividends totaling $0.19$0.20 per share ($0.04 dividend in the first0.05 per share each quarter of fiscal year 2014 and $0.05 per share for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters of fiscal year 2014)2016).

12

Fiscal Year 20142016 Financial Summary:

·GrossConsolidated net revenues increased 13.8%by $1.658 million, or 9.1%, to $11,461,000 from $10,071,000$19.972 million in fiscal year 20132016 from $18.314 million in fiscal year 2015.
·Selling, general and administrative expensesConsolidated gross margin increased 25.1%$1.449 million or 10.4%, to $4,440,000 from $3,550,000$15.371 million in fiscal year 2013
·Research and development expenses increased 17.2% to $2,322,0002016 from $1,931,000$13.922 million in fiscal year 2013
·Income from continuing operations increased 9% to $4,439,000 from $2,886,000 in fiscal year 20132015.
·Net income exceeded $3,000,000 for the first timefrom operations increased $1.385 million, or 23.5%, to $7.232 million in fiscal year 2016 from $5.857 million in fiscal year 2015.
·Net income increased by $1.107 million, or 28.8%, to $4.950 million in fiscal year 2016 from $3.843 million in fiscal year 2015.

Strategy Going Forward:

·ContinueThe Company will continue to advance our software offerings through both our in-house developments and our funded and unfunded collaborations with our industry and government customerscustomers;
·Continue to seek acquisition and partnership possibilities to broaden our offerings of products and servicesservices;
·Continue our marketing and sales campaign including attending and exhibiting at numerous scientific conferences and meetings, expanded use of social media, and expanded advertisingadvertising;
·Increase our marketing and sales efforts with respect to our consulting services in both pharmacokinetics and in small molecule designdesign;
·Continue to explore the application of our technologies to new markets in aerospace and healthcarehealthcare; and
·Continue to seek strategic acquisitions that can add to both revenues and earnings.

Fiscal year 20142016 was another record year. We believe the continued growth of our pharmaceutical software and services business segment is the result of steadily increasing adoption of simulation and modeling software tools across the pharmaceutical industry, as well as the expertise we offer as consultants to assist companies involved in the research and development of new medicines. We have received a continuing series of study contracts with pharmaceutical companies ranging from several of the largest in the world to a number of medium-sized and smaller companies in the U.S., Europe, and Europe.Japan.

 

Our financial performance has enabled us to maintain significant cash deposits and to continue to invest in our marketing and sales activities in order to reach a wider customer base, as well as to distribute significant cash dividends to our shareholders, purchase the intellectual property rights related to GastroPlus™, and still have sufficient reserves to close an acquisition just after the fiscal year ended.shareholders.

 

We werecompleted a second successful in identifying and completingyear of the integration of Cognigen, following our acquisition of Cognigen in September 2014; it is our intent to continue to search for acquisition opportunities that are strategically compatible with our current businesses and that are accretive, i.e., adding to both revenues and earnings.

 

In the past, weWe do not have used some of our cash to repurchase shares of our common stock because we believe doing so provides greater value to our shareholders than receiving interest on our cash, while leaving us with sufficient cash to meet our operational needs for the foreseeable future and to pursue reasonable potential acquisitions. Although there are noany stock repurchase programs pending,currently in place or pending; however, our Board of Directors may consider additional programs from time to time.

 

Results of Operations

The following sets forth selected items from our statements of operations (in thousands) and the percentages that such items bear to net sales for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014 (FY14)2016 (FY16) and August 31, 2013 (FY13)2015 (FY15)(because of rounding, numbers may not foot).

 

 Fiscal years ended  Fiscal years ended 
 08/31/14 08/31/13   08/31/16  08/31/15 * 
Net sales $11,461   100% $10,071   100% $19,972   100%  $18,314   100% 
Cost of sales  1,629   14.2   1,647   16.4   4,602   23.0   *4,392  24.0 
Gross profit  9,832   85.8   8,424   83.6   15,370   77.0   13,922   76.0 
Selling, general and administrative  4,440   38.8   3,550   35.2   6,694   33.5   *6,736   36.8 
Research and development  953   8.3   802   8.0   1,445   7.3   1,329   7.2 
Total operating expenses  4,393   47.1   4,352   43.2   8,139   40.8   8,065   44.0 
Income from operations  4,439   38.7   4,072   40.4   7,232   36.2   5,857   32.0 
Other income  74   0.7   184   1.8   4   (0.0)  (164)  (0.9)
Net income before taxes  4,513   39.4   4,256   42.3   7,236   36.2   5,693   31.1 
(Provision) for income taxes  (1,488)  (13.0)  (1,370)  (13.6)  (2,286)  (11.4)  (1,850)  (10.1)
Net income $3,025   26.4% $2,886   28.7% $4,950   24.8%  $3,843   21.0% 

* Numbers in the prior year have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation

13

 

FY14FY16 COMPARED WITH FY13FY15

 

Net SalesRevenues

NetConsolidated net revenues increased by 9.1% or $1.658 million to $19.972 million in FY16 from $18.314 million in FY15. $326,000 of this increase was from revenues generated by our Buffalo subsidiary (Cognigen), while net revenues of the California division increased $1.332 million or 10.2%, to $14.418 million in FY16 from $13.086 million in FY15. FY16 software license sales increased $1,390,000 or 13.8%,$1.340 million, while consulting revenues increased by $318,000 compared to $11,461,000 in FY14 from $10,071,000 in FY13. Revenues from sales of software increased approximately $1,642,000 or 17.8%. We attribute the increase in pharmaceutical software sales to increases in the number of licenses with new and existing customers, as well as licensing of new modules to existing customers, especially for our GastroPlus line of products because it has more optional modules than our other products. Revenues from studies decreased in FY14 by $244,000 as funded collaborations that generated approximately $213,000 of revenues recorded in FY13 were completed.FY15.

 

Cost of SalesRevenues

Consolidated cost of revenues increased by $209,000 to $4.602 million in FY16 from $4.392 million in FY15. The majority of this increase was salary-related expenses from annual salary increases and the first year of expensed bonuses for our Buffalo division (Cognigen).

Cost of sales decreased by $18,000, or 1.1%, to $1,629,000 in FY14 from $1,647,000 in FY13. Asrevenues as a percentage of net sales, costrevenue decreased from 24.0% in FY15 to 23.0% in FY16. The majority of sales decreased by 2.2%. This decrease was primarily due to decreased FY14 royalty payments asthis percentage change is a result of the terminationpercentage blend of the TRSL license agreement in May 2014 described below.

In 1997 we entered into an exclusive software licensing agreement with TSRL, pursuantsales compared to which TSRL licensed certain software technology and databases to us, and we paid royalties to TSRL. On May 15, 2014, we and TSRL entered into a termination and non-assertion agreement pursuant to which the parties agreed to terminate the 1997 exclusive software licensing agreement, as a result, the company obtained a perpetual right to use certain source code and data, and TSRL relinquished any rights and claims to any GastroPlus products and to any claims to royalties or other payments under that agreement. We agreed to pay TSRL total consideration of $6,000,000 as follows: (a) $3,500,000 by May 20, 2014, which amount was comprised of $2,500,000 in cash and $1,000,000 worth of our common stock (which was 164,745 shares based upon the April 25, 2014 closing price per share of $6.07 per share), (b) $750,000 payable on or before April 25, 2015, (c) $750,000 payable on or before April 25, 2016, and (d) $1,000,000 payable on or before April 25, 2017. Our payment obligations described above are non-interest bearing and will be amortized at a constant rate of $150,000 per quarter until it is completely amortized, after which no further expense will be incurred. The amortization began May 15, 2014 resulting in a total amortization expense of $175,000 for FY14. For most quarters, we expect that this will result in a savings over the royalty payments that would have been paid to TSRL if paid consistent with past practices, and thereby increase earnings over time.

We continue to pay royalties to Accelrys, Inc. (the original agreement was with Symyx Technologies which merged with Accelrys, Inc.) Metabolite/Metabolism. Total royalties paid to Accelrys, Inc. in FY14 were $47,000.consulting services during FY16.

 

A significant portion of cost of salesrevenues for pharmaceutical software products is the systematic amortization of capitalized software development costs. Amortizationcosts, which is an independent fixed cost rather than a variable cost related to revenues. This amortization cost decreased approximately $42,000 in FY16 compared with FY15. In FY15, amortization expense increased approximately $91,000, or 12.7%, in FY14 compared with FY13.

Service cost, such as labor costs for trainings/workshops, analytical studies, and technical support, increased approximately $39,000, in FY14 compared with FY13$215,000 due to a larger numberreleases of person-hours allocated to those services with our expanded customer base.GastroPlus and ADMET Predictor and amortization of software acquired as part of the Cognigen acquisition.

 

Gross ProfitMargin

Gross profitConsolidated gross margin increased $1,408,000$1.449 million or 16.7%10.4%, to $9,832,000$15.371 million in FY14FY16 from $8,424,000$13.922 in FY13. We attributeFY15. $1.372 of this increase tois from the California division, which showed an 84.3% gross margin. The Buffalo Division Gross margins increased sales$77,000 with margins of pharmaceutical software, which outweighed an increase in the cost58% after first-time bonuses of goods sold.$139,000.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased $890,000,decreased $43,000, or 25.1%0.6% to $4,440,000$6.694 million in FY14, compared to $3,550,000FY16 from $6.737 million in FY13; and, as a percentage of sales, SG&A increased by 3.6% year-over-year from approximately 35. 2% in FY13 to 38.8% in FY14. FY15.

The major changesincreases in SG&A expense were:

 

·oAdvertising expenses increased by $97,000 as the Company increased its web presence and incurred other advertising-related costs;
oMarketing labor expenses increased by $46,000, related to more time spent by scientific staff;
oTrade show expenses increased by $49,000, related to greater attendance and presence during FY16;
oProfessional fees increased by $288,000, primarily due to increased legal expenses$120,000 associated with reviewcosts of proxy issues, plus one-time charges for legal expenses associated with the amendment of our 2007 Stock Option Plan, with the negotiation of the termination of the TSRL license agreement,consolidated audits and with the acquisition of Cognigen.other compliance-related expenses; and
·oConsultingOutside software licensing fees increased by $87,000 as we used consultants in FY14 in connection with the analysis of the termination of the TSRL license agreement, review of contracts and other strategic issues related to potential acquisitions, including the Cognigen acquisition.$59,000.

The major decreases in SG&A expense were:

·oCommission expense increasedOutside consulting fees decreased by $144,000, or 53%, to $419,000$397,000; in FY14 from $275,000 in FY13 We incurred higher commissions payable to our dealers in JapanFY15, we paid fees and China due to increased sales.
·Marketing labor costs increased by $43,000, as substantial employee time was incurred in conjunction with updating of training materials, trade shows, and visiting our Asian dealers and customers.
·Travel expenses increased by $80,000 as we continued to increase our presence at trade shows and conferences in FY14. In addition, a higher percentage of travel was to international destinations.
·Bonus expense increased by $60,000 due to the changes in 2014 compensation plan for our Chief Executive Officer (see Note 10 to our financial statements includedadvisor/business broker related to the Cognigen acquisition. There were no such expenses in this report).
·Salaries and wages increased $106,000, or 9.5% in FY14 due primarily to annual salary increases and duplicated salaries associated with the transition of our Chief Financial Officer. In addition the Life Science staff spent more time on general and administrative activities (marketing, sales, and support) in FY14 compared to FY13, resulting in more expense allocated to SG&A.FY16.

Research and Development

We incurred approximately $2,322,000$2,641,000 of research and development costs during FY14.FY16. Of this amount, $1,369,000$1,196,000 was capitalized and $953,000$1,445,000 was expensed. In FY13, weWe incurred $1,931,000approximately $2,496,000 of research and development costs of which $1,129,000during FY15. Of this amount, $1,168,000 was capitalized and $802,000$1,328,000 was expensed. The increase of $391,000,$ 145,000, or 20%5.8%, in total research and development expenditures from FY13FY15 to FY14FY16 was mainly due to staff increases and salary increases for existing staff. In addition, we incurred $40,000 of costs related to our NCE COX2/COX1 project.

 

Income from operations

During FY14, we generated income from operations of $4,439,000 as compared to $4,072,000 for FY13, an increase of 9%. We attribute this increase to increases in gross profit that outweighed the increase in SG&A and research and development expenses.

14

 

Other Incomeincome (expense)

Net other income decreased(expense) in FY16 increased by $110,000, or 59.9%,$168,000 to $74,000a net other income of $5,000 from an expense of $164,000 in FY14 from $184,000 in FY13.FY15. This is due mainly to the lower interest income and lowera $168,000 reduction in currency exchange gainlosses in FY13 compared with FY12, and a decrease in sublease income from Words+ as they closed their operations in March 2013.FY16.

 

Provision for Income Taxes

ProvisionThe provision for income taxes was $2.286 million for FY14 increased by $118,000, or 19.9%, to $1,488,000FY16 compared to $1,370,000$1.850 million for FY13 due to higher taxable income. TheFY15. Our effective tax rate was 33% for 2014 compareddecreased to 32.2%31.6% in FY13FY16 from 32.5% in FY15.

 

Net Income

Net income for FY14 increased by $139,000,$1,107,000, or 4.8%28.8%, to $3,026,000, compared to $2,886,000 for FY13. We attribute this increase to increases$4.950 million in gross profit that outweighed the increaseFY15 from $3.843 million in SG&A and research and development expenses, the decrease in other income, and increased tax expense.FY15.

 

SEASONALITY

Our sales exhibit some seasonal fluctuations, with the fourth fiscal quarter (June-August) generally having the lowest sales over the past three fiscal years because of summer vacations and reduced activities at our customers’ sites. This unaudited quarterly sales information has been prepared on the same basis as the annual information presented elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and, in the opinion of management, reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring entries) necessary for a fair presentation of the information presented. Net sales for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of sales for any future period; however, because our pharmaceutical software is licensed on an annual basis, renewals are usually within the same quarter year after year.

 

 Net Sales (in thousands of dollars)
FYFirst QuarterSecond QuarterThird QuarterFourth QuarterTotal
20142,6413,0813,7411,99811,461
20132,2903,1183,0951,56810,071
20122,2482,7892,7721,6409,449
20112,0502,6222,6401,4278,739
20101,7352,2272,3251,3347,621
   Net Sales (in thousands of dollars) 
FY  First Quarter  Second Quarter  Third Quarter  Fourth Quarter  Total 
 2016   4,839   5,164   6,011   3,958   19,972 
 2015   4,086   4,574   5,942   3,712   18,314 
 2014   2,641   3,081   3,741   1,998   11,461 
 2013   2,290   3,118   3,095   1,568   10,071 
 2012   2,248   2,789   2,772   1,640   9,449 
 2011   2,050   2,622   2,640   1,427   8,739 
 2010   1,735   2,227   2,325   1,334   7,621 

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our principal source of capital has been cash flow from our operations. We have achieved continuous positive operating cash flow over the last tentwelve fiscal years. We believe that our existing capital and anticipated funds from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for working capital and capital expenditures for the foreseeable future. Thereafter, if cash generated from operations is insufficient to satisfy our capital requirements, we may open a revolving line of credit with a bank, or we may have to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain credit facilities. In the event such financing is needed in the future, there can be no assurance that such financing will be available to us, or, if available, that it will be in amounts and on terms acceptable to us.

 

We are not aware of any trends or demands, commitments, events or uncertainties that are reasonably likely to result in a decrease in liquidity of our assets. The trend over the last ten years has been increasing cash deposits from our operating cash flows, and we expect that trend to continue for the foreseeable future. In FY14 we used $2,500,000 of our cash reserves to pay the initial installment of the amounts we owe under termination and non-assertion agreement we entered into with TSRL in May 2014 that terminated the exclusive software licensing agreement we entered with TSRL in 1997. We also incurred $2,500,000 of debt in connection with termination and non-assertion agreement. We have been paying that debt out of, and anticipate that that debt will continue to be, paid out of operations from the reduction in royalty payments that are no longer payable under the 1997 licensing agreement as a result of its termination. See “FY14 COMPARED WITH FY13—Cost of Sales,” above.

15

 

On July 23, 2014, we signed a merger agreementthe Merger Agreement with Cognigen. The merger closed on September 2, 2014, subsequent to the end of FY14, and Cognigen became our wholly ownedwholly-owned subsidiary. In connection with the closing we paid $2,080,000 in cash and issued 491,159 shares of common stock of the Company to the former Cognigen stockholders. The 491,159 shares were valued at $3,120,000 based on a $6.35 per share price, which was the volume-weighted average closing price of our common stock for the 30-consecutive trading day30 consecutive trading-day period ending two trading days before the closing date. Within three business days ofIn July 23, 2016, subject to certain holdback provisions, we will pay anpaid the additional $720,000 in cash due, and issue anissued the additional 170,014 shares of common stock due, to the former Cognigen stockholders, which additional shares arewere valued at $1,080,000 under the formula described above.

 

We will continue to seek opportunities for strategic acquisitions. If one or more such acquisitions is identified, a substantial portion of our cash reserves may be required to complete it; however, we intend to maintain sufficient cash reserves after any acquisition to provide reasonable assurance that outside financing will not be necessary to continue operations. If we identify an attractive acquisition that would require more cash to complete than we are willing or able to use from our cash reserves, we will consider financing options to complete the acquisition, including obtaining loans and issuing additional securities.

 

Our board of directors declared a $0.05 per share quarterly cash dividend beginning with the second quarter of our 2012 fiscal year. Quarterly dividend payments made in FY13FY15 and FY14FY16 are listed in the following table.

 

Fiscal YearRecord DateDistribution Date

# of Shares Outstanding

on Record Date

Dividend per Share Total Amount
201311/8/201211/13/201215,927,806$0.05 $796,390
12/24/201212/28/201216,021,309$0.14*$2,242,983
5/7/20135/10/201316,030,433$0.03**$480,913
8/12/20138/15/201316,030,894$0.03**$480,926
201411/08/201311/15/201316,073,894$0.04**$642,956
2/17/20142/24/201416,149,460$0.05 $807,473
5/09/20145/16/201416,165,171$0.05 $808,259
8/04/20148/11/201416,337,955$0.05 $816,897
Fiscal Year  Record Date Distribution Date # of Shares Outstanding on Record Date  Dividend per
Share
  Total Amount 
 2015  11/7/2014 11/14/2014  16,841,114  $0.05  $842,056 
    1/26/2015 2/2/2015  16,852,117  $0.05  $842,606 
    5/11/2015 5/18/2015  16,875,117  $0.05  $843,754 
    7/23/15 7/30/2015  16,943,001  $0.05  $847,150 
 2016  11/09/2015 11/16/2015  16,996,001  $0.05  $849,800 
    1/29/2016 02/05/2016  17,018,001  $0.05  $850,900 
    5/02/2016 5/09/2016  17,029,501  $0.05  $851,475 
    8/11/2016 8/18/2016  17,221,978  $0.05  $861,099 

 

* As a tax benefit to shareholders considering the increase in federal income tax for capital gains in 2013, the Board of Directors declared an accelerated cash dividend of $0.14 per share on December 14, 2012, consisting of all of the planned February 2013 dividend of $0.05 per share, plus $0.03 per share of the planned $0.05 dividend per quarter per share for the remaining three fiscal quarters ending in calendar year 2013.

**The Board of Directors decideddirectors has indicated its intension to increase the May, August, and November 2013 dividend distributions from the planned $0.02 per share ($0.03 of thepay $0.05 per share quarterly dividend having been distributed in December 2012) to $0.03 per share in May and August 2013 and to $0.04 in November 2013.

Theredividends; however, there can be no assurances that our Board of Directors will continue the dividend distributions for any specified number of quarters; however, thereas the decision is nomade on a quarterly basis based on current plan to discontinue the quarterly dividend distributions.financial conditions and strategic plans. After the end of FY14,FY16, in November 2014,2016, our Board of Directors declared a dividend distribution of $0.05 per share.

 

KNOWN TRENDS OR UNCERTAINTIES

Although we have not seen any significant reduction in revenues to date, we sawhave seen some consolidation in the pharmaceutical industry during the fairly recent economic downturn. This trend hasdownturns. These consolidations have not had a negative effect on our total sales to that industry; however, should consolidations and downsizing in the industry continue to occur, those events could adversely impact our revenues and earnings going forward.

 

We believe that the need for improved productivity in the research and development activities directed toward developing new medicines will continue to result in increasing adoption of simulation and modeling tools such as those we produce. New product developments in the pharmaceutical business segments could result in increased revenues and earnings if they are accepted by our markets; however, there can be no assurances that new products will result in significant improvements to revenues or earnings. For competitive reasons, we do not disclose all of our new product development activities.

 

Our continued quest for acquisitions could result in a significant change to revenues and earnings if one or more such acquisitions are completed.

The potential for growth in new markets (e.g., aerospace and healthcare) is uncertain. We will continue to explore these opportunities until such time as we either generate sales or determine that resources would be more efficiently used elsewhere.

16

 

INFLATION

We have not been affected materially by inflation during the periods presented, and no material effect is expected in the near future.

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

As of August 31, 2014,2016, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As such, we are not materially exposed to any financing, liquidity, market, or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in such relationships.

 

We do not have relationships or transactions with persons or entities that derive benefits from their non-independent relationship with us or our related parties.

 

RECENTLY ISSUED OR NEWLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In July 2012,May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issuedFranchise Accounting Standards Update 2012-02, “Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment” (“ASU 2012-02”), which amended the guidance in Accounting Standards Update 2011-08 Testing Goodwill for Impairment to simplify the testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill for impairment. ASU 2012-02 becomes effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning on or after September 15, 2012 and earlier adoption is permitted. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013. We believe adoption did not have a material effect on our financial statements.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11,Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists, which eliminates diversity in practice for the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward is available to reduce the taxable income or tax payable that would result from disallowance of a tax position. ASU 2013-11 affects only the presentation of such amounts in an entity’s balance sheet and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of ASU 2013-11 on our balance sheet.

In May 2014, FASBBoard (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09,Revenue from Contracts with Customers.Customers(ASU 2014-09). The standard will eliminate the transaction- and industry-specific revenue recognition guidance under current generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. GAAP(GAAP) and replace it with a principles-based approach for determining revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016.2017. Early adoption is not permitted.permitted for years beginning after December 15, 2016. The revenue recognition standard is required to be applied retrospectively, including any combination of practical expedients as allowed in the standard. We are evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to our financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No 2015-17,Income Taxes (Topic 740)(“ASU 2015-17). The amendments in ASU 2015-17 change the requirements for the classification of deferred taxes on the balance sheet. Currently, GAAP requires an entity to separate deferred income tax liabilities and assets into current and noncurrent amounts in a classified statement of financial position. To simplify the presentation of deferred income taxes, the amendments in this ASU require that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Earlier application is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes existing guidance on accounting for leases in "Leases (Topic 840)" and generally requires all leases to be recognized in the consolidated balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018; early adoption is permitted. The provisions of ASU 2016-02 are to be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09,Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (ASU 2016-09). This ASU affects entities that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. The ASU is designed to simplify several aspects of accounting for share-based payment award transactions which include - the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, classification on the statement of cash flows and forfeiture rate calculations. ASU 2016-09 will become effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

In April 2016, the FASB issued AS 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which amends certain aspects of the Board's new revenue standard, ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The standard should be adopted concurrently with adoption of ASU 2014-09 which is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

17

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Estimates

Our financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.GAAP. Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by management’s application of accounting policies. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant accounting policies for us include revenue recognition, accounting for capitalized software development costs, valuation of stock options, and accounting for income taxes.

 

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenues related to software licenses and software maintenance in accordance with the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 985-605, “Software – Revenue Recognition”. Software product revenue is recorded when the following conditions are met: 1) evidence of arrangement exists; 2) delivery has been made; 3) the amount is fixed; and 4) collectability is probable. Post-contract customer support (“PCS”) obligations are insignificant; therefore, revenue for PCS is recognized at the same time as the licensing fee, and the costs of providing such support services are accrued and amortized over the obligation period.

 

As a byproduct of ongoing improvements and upgrades for the new programs and new modules of software, some modifications are provided to our customers who have already purchased software at no additional charge. Other software modifications result in new, additional cost modules that expand the functionality of the software. These are licensed separately. We consider the modifications that are provided without charge to be minimal, as they do not significantly change the basic functionality or utility of the software, but rather add convenience, such as being able to plot some additional variable on a graph in addition to the numerous variables that had been available before, or adding some additional calculations to supplement the information provided from running the software. Such software modifications for any single product have typically occurred once or twice per year, sometimes more, sometimes less. Thus, they are infrequent. The Company provides, for a fee, additional training and service calls to its customers and recognizes revenue at the time the training or service call is provided.

 

Generally, we enter into one-year license agreements with customers for the use of our pharmaceutical software products. We recognize revenue on these contracts when all the criteria are met.

Most license agreements have a term of one year; however, from time to time, we enter into multi-year license agreements. We generally unlock and invoice software one year at a time for multi-year licenses. Therefore, revenue is generally recognized one year at a time. On some smaller low-revenue agreements with academia, we have recognizedCertain of the Company's software products are housed and supported on the Company's computer networks. Software revenues for multiple-year agreementsthose products are included in income over the first year.life of the contract.

 

We recognize the revenue from collaboration research and the revenue from grants equally over their terms. However,For contract revenues based on actual hours incurred we recognize revenues when the work is performed. For fixed price contracts, we recognize contract study revenueand other contract revenues using the percentage-of-completion method, depending upon how the contract studies are engaged, in accordance with FASB ASC 605-35, “RevenueRevenue Recognition – Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts”. To recognize revenue using the percentage-of-completion method, we must determine whether we meet the following criteria: 1) there is a long-term, legally enforceable contract, 2) it is possible to reasonably estimate the total project costs, and 3) it is possible to reasonably estimate the extent of progress toward completion.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the statements of cash flows, we consider all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

 

Accounts Receivable

We analyze the age of customer balances, historical bad-debt experience, customer creditworthiness, and changes in customer payment terms when making estimates of the collectability of the Company’s trade accounts receivable balances. If we determine that the financial conditions of any of its customers deteriorated, whether due to customer-specific or general economic issues, an increase in the allowance may be made. Accounts receivable are written off when all collection attempts have failed. We have not experienced any bad-debtsbad debts in our pharmaceutical software and services business.

18

 

Capitalized Computer Software Development Costs

Software development costs are capitalized in accordance with FASB ASC 985-20, “Costs of Software to Be Sold Leased, or Marketed”. Capitalization of software development costs begins upon the establishment of technological feasibility and is discontinued when the product is available for sale.

 

The establishment of technological feasibility and the ongoing assessment for recoverability of capitalized software development costs require considerable judgment by management with respect to certain external factors including, but not limited to, technological feasibility, anticipated future gross revenues, estimated economic life, and changes in software and hardware technologies. Capitalized computer software development costs are comprised primarily of salaries and direct payroll-related costs and the purchase or licensing of existing software to be used in the Company’s software products.

 

Amortization of capitalized computer software development costs is provided on a product-by-product basis on the straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the products not to exceed five years, although all of our current software products have already been on the market for 7-15 years except for our newest programs, MedChem Designer and MembranePlus, and we do not foresee an end-of-life for any of them at this point.years. Amortization of software development costs amounted to $807,705$981,066 and $716,888$1,023,139 for the years ended August 31, 2014FY16 and 2013,FY15, respectively. We expect future amortization expense to vary due to increases in capitalized computer software development costs.

 

We test capitalized computer software development costs for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

 

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives as follows:

 

Equipment5 years
Computer equipment3 to 7 years
Furniture and fixtures5 to 7 years
Leasehold improvementsShorter of life of asset or lease

 

Maintenance and minor replacements are charged to expense as incurred. Gains and losses on disposals are included in the results of operations.

Intangible Assets and Goodwill

The Company performs valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed on each acquisition accounted for as a business combination and recognizes the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair value. Acquired intangible assets include customer relationships, software, trade name, and non-compete agreements. The Company determines the appropriate useful life by performing an analysis of expected cash flows based on historical experience of the acquired businesses. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method, which approximates the pattern in which the majority of the economic benefits are expected to be consumed.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the fair value of the acquired net assets. Goodwill is not amortized, instead it is tested for impairment annually or when events or circumstances change that would indicate that goodwill might be impaired. Events or circumstances that could trigger an impairment review include, but are not limited to, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, unanticipated competition, a loss of key personnel, significant changes in the manner of the Company's use of the acquired assets or the strategy for the Company's overall business, significant negative industry or economic trends or significant under-performance relative to expected historical or projected future results of operations.

19

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is one level below or the same as an operating segment. As of August 31, 2016, the Company determined that it has two reporting units, Simulations Plus and Cognigen. When testing goodwill for impairment, the Company first performs a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is necessary to perform step one of a two-step annual goodwill impairment test for each reporting unit. The Company is required to perform step one only if it concludes that it is more likely than not that a reporting unit's fair value is less than its carrying value. Should this be the case, the first step of the two-step process is to identify whether a potential impairment exists by comparing the estimated fair values of the Company's reporting units with their respective book values, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeds book value, goodwill is considered not to be impaired, and no additional steps are necessary. If, however, the fair value of the reporting unit is less than book value, then the second step is performed to determine if goodwill is impaired and to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. The amount of the impairment loss is the excess of the carrying amount of the goodwill over its implied fair value. The estimate of implied fair value of goodwill is primarily based on an estimate of the discounted cash flows expected to result from that reporting unit, but may require valuations of certain internally generated and unrecognized intangible assets such as the Company's software, technology, patents and trademarks. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess.

As of August 31, 2016, the entire balance of goodwill was attributed to the Company's Cognigen reporting unit. Intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. The Company has not recognized any impairment charges during FY16 and FY15.

Reconciliation of Goodwill for FY16 and FY15:

 Balance,  August 31, 2014  $–  
 Addition   4,789,248 
 Impairments    
 Balance,  August 31, 2015  $4,789,248 
 Addition    
 Impairments    
 Balance,  August 31, 2016  $4,789,248 

Other Intangible Assets

The following table summarizes other intangible assets as of August 31, 2016:

  Amortization
Period
 Acquisition
Value
  Accumulated
Amortization
  Net book
value
 
Customer relationships Straight line 8 years $1,100,000  $275,000  $825,000 
Trade Name-Cognigen None  500,000   0   500,000 
Covenants not to compete Straight line 5 years  50,000   20,000   30,000 
    $1,650,000  $295,000  $1,355,000 

Amortization expense for each of FY16 and FY15 was $147,500.

20

Business Acquisitions

The Company accounted for the acquisition of Cognigen using the purchase method of accounting where the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recognized based on their respective estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Determining the fair value of certain acquired assets and liabilities is subjective in nature and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including, but not limited to, the selection of appropriate valuation methodology, projected revenue, expenses and cash flows, weighted average cost of capital, discount rates, estimates of advertiser and publisher turnover rates and estimates of terminal values. Business acquisitions are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements as of the date of the acquisition.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the Condensed Balance Sheets are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. The categories, as defined by the standard are as follows:

 

Level Input: Input Definition:
Level I Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date.
Level II Inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level I, that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data at the measurement date.
Level III Unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

For certain of our financial instruments, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, contract payable, accrued payroll and other expenses, and accrued bonus to officer, the amounts approximate fair value due to their short maturities.

 

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred until technological feasibility has been established. These costs consist primarily of salaries and direct payroll-related costs. It also includes purchased software and databases that were developed by other companies and incorporated into, or used in the development of, our final products.

 

Income Taxes

We utilize FASB ASC 740-10, “Income Taxes”, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns.

 

Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each year-end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The provision for income taxes represents the tax payable for the period and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock options using the modified prospective method in accordance with FASB ASC 718-10,“Compensation-Stock Compensation”. Under this method, compensation costs include estimated grant date fair value of the awards amortized over the options’ vesting period. Stock-based compensation was $144,327$347,077 and $115,740$295,243 for the fiscal years ended August 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, respectively, and is included in the statements of operations as Consulting, Salaries, and Research and Development expense.

21

 

ITEM 7A – QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Not applicable because we are a smaller reporting company.

 

ITEM 8 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

See the financial statements included elsewhere in this report beginning at page F-1, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 9 – CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

There have been no changes to our public accountants during the past two years.

 

ITEM 9A – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES9A. Controls and Procedures

 

We are responsible for maintainingmaintain a set of disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Disclosure controls and proceduresthat are controls and other procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in theour reports that we file or submitfiled under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act") is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’sSEC's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to ourthe Company's management, including our principal executive officerthe Company's Principal Executive Officer and principal financial officer,Principal Financial Officer (i.e. its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer), as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing

The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's Principal Executive Officer and evaluatingPrincipal Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management(as such term is required to apply its judgmentdefined in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

Based on our management’s evaluation (with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer) of our disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b)Rules 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, our principal executive officerAct) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on such evaluation, the Company's Principal Executive Officer and principal financial officerPrincipal Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, due to the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting described below, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of August 31, 2014.not effective.

 

Management’sManagement's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controlscontrol over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Our internal controls over financial reporting areis a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) 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 (iii) 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.

 

UnderInternal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. Internal control over financial reporting can also be circumvented by collusion or improper management override. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the supervision andrisk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the participationpolicies or procedures may deteriorate. However, these inherent limitations are known features of our management, including our principal executive officer and principalthe financial officer, wereporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.

22

A material weakness (as defined in SEC Rule 12b-2) is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

Management conducted an evaluationassessment of the effectiveness of ourthe Company's internal controlscontrol over financial reporting based onas of August 31, 2016. In making this assessment, management used the framework establishedcriteria described in 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.Commission (COSO). Based on our evaluation under such framework, including the completion and review of internal reviewthis assessment, forms and the completion and review of financial reporting information systems and controls checklists in the framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of August 31, 2014.2016. Management has identified the following material weakness of internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2016:

 

NoInformation Technology General Controls

During our review of internal controls, we identified various deficiencies related to the design, implementation, and effectiveness of our general information technology controls (“GITCs”) over financial reporting. In particular, these deficiencies related to the configuration set-up of the information technology system and related financial applications, segregation of duties, user access, and change management controls that are intended to ensure that access to financial applications and data, and the ability to place program changes were madeinto production for such financial applications and data, are adequately restricted to appropriate internal personnel. Due to these GITC deficiencies, we concluded that those deficiencies, in the aggregate, result in a reasonable possibility that material misstatements in our interim or annual financial statements would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis and, as such, constitute a material weakness as of August 31, 2016. Management believes that although our financial reports have been accurate and that the weaknesses identified in our review have not resulted in any material misstatement in our interim or annual financial statements at any time, that we will improve our GITCs to ensure accurate reporting is not compromised in the future.

Management has taken steps to remediate the GITC deficiencies, including enhancing its internal documentation and monitoring approach to ensure that all GITC procedures designed to restrict access to applications and data are operating in an optimal manner in order to provide management with comfort that access is properly limited to the appropriate internal personnel. Management implemented the majority of the remedial steps during the fourth quarter of 2016 and expects that all steps will be substantially implemented and tested by February 28, 2017. In accordance with our internal control compliance program, a material weakness is not considered remediated until the remediation processes have been operational for a sufficient period of time and successfully tested.

Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has also audited our internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2016, as stated in their report which is included herein.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting

Except as described above in this Item 9A, there was no change in our internal controlscontrol over financial reporting (as definedidentified in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)connection with our evaluation that occurred during the fourth quarter of the Exchange Act) during the quarterfiscal year ended August 31, 2014,2016, that havehas materially affected, or areis reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controlscontrol over financial reporting.

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls or internal controls over financial reporting will prevent all errors or all instances of fraud. A control system, no matter how well-designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. 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, within our company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple errors or mistakes. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and any design may not succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures. Because of the inherent limitation of a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 

ITEM 9B - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Not applicable.

 

23

PART III

 

ITEM 10 – DIRECTORS, AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Code of Ethics

Our code of ethics is posted on our website: www.simulations-plus.com.

 

Changes to Procedures for Recommending Nominees to the Board of Directors

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our board of directors since we last described such procedures.

The remaining information required by Item 10 is incorporated by reference from the sections entitled “Board Matters and Corporate Governance,” “Election of Directors,” “Executive Compensation and Other Information,” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A to be distributed in connection with our 20152017 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting (the “Proxy Statement”).

 

ITEM 11 – EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The information required by Item 11 is incorporated by reference from the sections entitled “Executive Compensation and Other Information” and “Board Matters and Corporate Governance” in the Proxy Statement.

 

ITEM 12 - SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

The information required by Item 12 is incorporated by reference from the sections entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Executive Compensation and Other Information” in the Proxy Statement.

 

ITEM 13 – CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

The information required by Item 13 is incorporated by reference from the subsection entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions; Transactions with Related Persons” and the section entitled “Board Matters and Corporate Governance” in the Proxy Statement.

 

ITEM 14 – PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

 

The information required by Item 14 is incorporated by reference from the section of the proposal entitled “Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Proxy Statement.

 

24

PART IV

 

ITEM 15 – EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)

 

(1)       Financial Statements. The consolidated financial statements are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K beginning on page F-1.

 

(2)       Financial Statement Schedules. All financial statement schedules have been omitted since the information is either not applicable or required or was included in the financial statements or notes included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

(3)       List of Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K. See part (b) below.

 

(b)       Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed or furnished with this report. Those exhibits marked with a (†) refer to management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.

 

25

EXHIBITNUMBERDESCRIPTION
2.1Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated July 23, 2014, by and among the Company, Cognigen Corporation and the other parties thereto. (13)^
3.1Articles of Incorporation of the Company. (5)
3.2Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company. (5)
4.1Articles of Incorporation of the Company. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 hereof)
4.2Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 hereof)
4.3Form of Common Stock Certificate (1)
4.4Share Exchange Agreement (1)
10.1The Company’s 1996 Stock Option Plan and forms of agreements relating thereto (1) (†)
10.2(a)Exclusive License Software Agreement by and between the Company and Therapeutic Systems Research Laboratories dated June 30, 1997. (2)
10.2(b)Termination and Non-Assertion Agreement entered into on May 15, 2014 by and between the Company and TSRL, Inc. (11)
10.3(a)The Company’s 2007 Stock Option Plan. (3) (†)
10.3(b)The Company’s 2007 Stock Option Plan as amended as of December 6, 2013. (10) (†)
10.4(a)Lease dated May 12, 2005 by and between Freeway Ventures, LLC and the Company. (6)
10.4(b)Notice of Election to Extend Term of Lease by and between the Company and Crest Development LLC (formerly Freeway Ventures LLC) dated July 29, 2010.(4)
10.4(c)One Amendment to Lease by and between the Company and Crest Development LLC entered into as of May 23, 2013. (8)
10.4(d)Second Amendment to Lease by and between the Company and Crest Development LLC Entered into as of May 1, 2016*
10.5Stock Purchase Agreement by and among the Company, Words+, Inc., and Prentke Romich Company dated November 15, 2011. (7)
10.6Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Walter S. Woltosz, dated as of July 22, 2011. (5) (†)
10.7Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Walter S. Woltosz, dated as of August 22, 2013. (9) (†)
10.8Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Walter S. Woltosz, dated as of August 28, 2014. (12) (†)
10.910.7Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Thaddeus H Grasela Jr. dated as of September 2, 2014. (12) (†)
10.8Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Walter S. Woltosz, dated as of July 9, 2015. (9) (†)
10.9Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Walter S. Woltosz, dated as of August 8, 2016. (15) (†)
10.10Form of Indemnification Agreement. (16)
21.1List of Subsidiaries*
23.1Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm*
31.131.v1Section 302 – Certification of the Principal Executive Officer*
31.231.v2Section 302 – Certification of the Principal Financial Officer*
32.132.v1Section 906 – Certification of the Chief Executive Office and Chief Financial Officer**
101.INS101v.INSXBRL Instance Document.
101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

______________

^ Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Registration S-K. The registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the SEC upon request.__________________________

* Filed herewith

** Furnished herewith

(1) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (Registration No. 333-6680) filed on March 25, 1997.

(2) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997.

(3) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009.

(4) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010.

(5) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011.

(6) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006.

(7) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K filed November 16, 2011.

(8) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed July 10, 2013.

(9) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K filed November 18, 2013.

(10) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed April 9, 2014.

(11) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K filed May 19, 2014.

(12) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K filed September 4, 2014.

(13)
^Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Registration S-K. The registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the SEC upon request.
*Filed herewith
**Furnished herewith
(1)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (Registration No. 333-6680) filed on March 25, 1997.
(2)Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997.
(3)Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009.
(4)Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010.
(5)Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011.
(6)Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006.
(7)Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K filed November 16, 2011.
(8)Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed July 10, 2013.
(9)Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed November 18, 2013.
(10)Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed April 9, 2014.
(11)Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K filed May 19, 2014.
(12)Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K filed September 4, 2014.
(13)Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K/A filed November 18, 2014.
(14)Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K filed July 15, 2015.
(15)Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K filed August 11, 2016.
(16).Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K filed August 10, 2016

 

(c)       Financial Statement Schedule.

 

See Item 15(a)(2) above.

26

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.

 

November 28, 2014

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.14, 2016

 

By:/s/ John R. Kneisel

      John R. Kneisel

      Chief Financial Officer

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
 By:/s/ John R. Kneisel
John R. Kneisel
Chief Financial 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
  

/s/                    /s/ Walter S. Woltosz

Walter S. Woltosz

Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Walter S. Woltosz(Principal (Principal executive officer)

November 28, 201414, 2016

 
  

/s/                 /s/ Dr. Thaddeus H. Grasela

Thaddeus H. Grasela

President and Director of the Company
Thaddeus H. Grasela

November 28, 201414, 2016

 
  

/s/                 /s/ Dr. David Z. D’Argenio

Dr. David Z. D’Argenio

Director
Dr. David Z. D’Argenio

November 28, 201414, 2016

 
  

/s/                    /s/ Dr. David L. Ralph

Dr. David L. Ralph

Director
Dr. David L. Ralph

November 28, 201414, 2016

 
  

/s/ Harold W. Rosenberger                   /s/ Dr. John K. Paglia                  

John K. Paglia

Director
Harold W. Rosenberger

November 28, 201414, 2016

 
  

/s/                   /s/ John R. Kneisel

John R. Kneisel

Chief Financial Officer of the Company
John R. Kneisel(Principal (Principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)
November 28, 201414, 2016 

 

 

27

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

CONTENTS

August 31, 20142016 and 20132015

 

 

 Page
  
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMF-2
  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
  
Consolidated Balance SheetsF-3
Statements of OperationsF-4
  
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ EquityOperationsF-5
  
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ EquityF-6
Consolidated Statements of Cash FlowsF-6F-7
  
Notes to Consolidated Financial StatementsF-7F-8 – F-24

 

F-1

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

 

To the Board of Directors and ShareholdersStockholders of

Simulations Plus, Inc.

Lancaster, California

and Subsidiary

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Simulations Plus, Inc. (a California corporation) and subsidiary (the “Company”) as of August 31, 20142016 and 20132015, and the related consolidated statements of operations,income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. 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 established byof 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 consolidated 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 audits 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 consolidated financial statements,statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall consolidated financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Simulations Plus, Inc. as ofand subsidiary at August 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, and the consolidated results of its operationstheir income and their cash flows for each of the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principlesU.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the United Statesstandards of America.the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Simulations Plus, Inc. and subsidiary’s internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated November 14, 2016 expressed an adverse opinion thereon.

 

 

/s/ Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP

 

Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP

 

Encino, California

 

November 26, 201414, 2016

 

F-2

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders ofSimulations Plus, Inc.

We have audited Simulations Plus, Inc. and subsidiary’s internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (“the COSO Criteria”). Simulations Plus, Inc. and Subsidiary’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit 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 effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed 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. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) 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 (3) 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, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The following material weakness has been identified and included in management’s assessment:

-Ineffective information technology (IT) controls

This material weakness was considered in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2016 consolidated financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated November 14, 2016, on those consolidated financial statements.

In our opinion, because of the effect of the material weakness described above on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, Simulations Plus, Inc. and Subsidiary has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework).

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows of Simulations Plus, Inc. and Subsidiary, and our report dated November 14, 2016, expressed an unqualified opinion.

/s/ Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP

Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP

Encino, California

November 14, 2016

F-3

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

As of August 31 2014 and 2013

 

ASSETS 
  2016  2015 
Current assets        
Cash and cash equivalents $8,030,284  $8,551,275 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $0  3,009,517   1,593,707 
Revenues in excess of billings  694,131   795,125 
Prepaid income taxes  555,486    
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  410,811   381,718 
Deferred income taxes  228,713   210,972 
Total current assets  12,928,942   11,532,797 
Long-term assets        
Capitalized computer software development costs, net of accumulated amortization of $8,613,487 and $7,632,421  4,013,127   3,798,339 
Property and equipment, net (note 4)  256,381   413,510 
Intellectual property, net of accumulated amortization of $1,408,750 and $801,250  4,666,250   5,273,750 
Other intangible assets net of accumulated amortization of $295,000 and $147,500  1,355,000   1,502,500 
Goodwill  4,789,248   4,789,248 
Other assets  34,082   34,082 
Total assets $28,043,030  $27,344,226 
         
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY  
Current liabilities        
Accounts payable $108,111  $209,407 
Accrued payroll and other expenses  481,610   429,580 
Accrued bonuses to officers  121,000   121,000 
Income taxes payable     43,602 
Other current liabilities  8,274   19,859 
Current portion - Contracts payable (note 5)  1,000,000   2,604,404 
Billings in excess of revenues  230,100   106,534 
Deferred revenue  176,422   78,945 
Total current liabilities  2,125,517   3,613,331 
         
Long-term liabilities        
Deferred income taxes  3,184,919   3,190,419 
Payments due under Contracts payable (note 5)     1,000,000 
Other long-term liabilities     8,274 
Total liabilities $5,310,436  $7,812,024 
         
Commitments and contingencies(note 6)        
         
Shareholders' equity(note 7)        
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value 10,000,000 shares authorized no shares issued and outstanding $  $ 
Common stock, $0.001 par value 50,000,000 shares authorized 17,225,478 and 16,943,001 shares issued and outstanding  7,227   5,414 
Additional paid-in capital  11,376,007   9,714,290 
Retained earnings  11,349,360   9,812,498 
Total shareholders' equity $22,732,594  $19,532,202 
         
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $28,043,030  $27,344,226 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

  2014  2013 
ASSETS      
Current assets        
Cash and cash equivalents $8,614,929  $10,179,298 
Prepaid income taxes  748,359   301,573 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $0  1,708,158   1,910,615 
Contracts receivable  158,914   203,913 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  188,160   192,173 
Deferred income taxes  114,846   184,258 
Total current assets  11,533,366   12,971,830 
Long-term assets        
Capitalized computer software development costs, net of accumulated amortization of $6,609,283 and $5,801,578  3,452,541   2,891,169 
Property and equipment, net (note 3)  95,242   117,987 
Intellectual property, net of accumulated amortization of $193,750 and $11,250  5,881,250   63,750 
Other assets  18,445   18,445 
Total assets $20,980,844  $16,063,181 
         
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Current liabilities        
Accounts payable $130,547  $146,011 
Accrued payroll and other expenses  340,709   311,209 
Accrued bonuses to officer  120,000   60,000 
Other current liabilities  19,859   19,859 
Current portion - Contract payable (note 4)  750,000    
Deferred revenue  30,370   89,227 
Total current liabilities  1,391,485   626,306 
         
Long-term liabilities        
Deferred income taxes  2,375,874   1,146,389 
Payments due under Contract payable (note 4)  1,750,000    
Other long-term liabilities  28,134   47,993 
Total liabilities  5,545,493   1,820,688 
         
Commitments and contingencies (note 5)        
         
Shareholders' equity (note 6)        
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value 10,000,000 shares authorized no shares issued and outstanding      
Common stock, $0.001 par value 50,000,000 shares authorized 16,349,955 and 16,030,894 shares issued and outstanding  4,821   4,502 
Additional paid-in capital  6,085,427   4,842,794 
Retained earnings  9,345,103   9,395,197 
Total shareholders' equity  15,435,351   14,242,493 
         
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $20,980,844  $16,063,181 

F-4

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the years ended August 31,

  2016  2015 
       
Net Revenues $19,972,079  $18,314,248 
Cost of revenues  4,601,513   4,392,477 
Gross margin  15,370,566   13,921,771 
Operating expenses        
Selling, general, and administrative  6,693,691   6,736,767 
Research and development  1,445,069   1,328,476 
Total operating expenses  8,138,760   8,065,243 
         
Income from operations  7,231,806   5,856,528 
         
Other income (expense)        
Interest income  18,014   17,935 
Gain(loss) on currency exchange  (13,428)  (181,534)
Total other income (expense)  4,586   (163,599)
Income from operations before provision for income taxes  7,236,392   5,692,929 
Provision for income taxes  (2,286,256)  (1,849,968)
Net Income $4,950,136  $3,842,961 
         
Earnings per share        
Basic $0.29  $0.23 
Diluted $0.29  $0.23 
         
Weighted-average common shares outstanding        
Basic  17,028,566   16,864,670 
Diluted  17,209,506   17,032,158 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

F-5

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.


STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
For the years ended August 31, 20142016 and 20132015

 

  2014  2013 
         
Net sales $11,460,880  $10,070,770 
Cost of sales  1,629,069   1,646,530 
Gross profit  9,831,811   8,424,240 
Operating expenses        
Selling, general, and administrative  4,439,665   3,549,495 
Research and development  952,774   802,374 
Total operating expenses  5,392,439   4,351,869 
         
Income from operations  4,439,372   4,072,371 
         
Other income (expense)        
Interest income  31,437   49,492 
Miscellaneous income     35,488 
Gain on currency exchange  42,488   99,429 
       
Total other income (expense)  73,925   184,409 
         
Income before provision for income taxes  4,513,297   4,256,780 
         
Provision for income taxes (note 7)  (1,487,806)  (1,370,182)
Net Income $3,025,491  $2,886,598 
         
Earnings per share        
Basic $0.19  $0.18 
Diluted $0.18  $0.18 
         
Weighted-average common shares outstanding        
Basic  16,173,674   15,996,432 
Diluted  16,407,751   16,319,983 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

For the years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013

     Additional       
  Common Stock  Paid-In  Retained    
  Shares  Amount  Capital  Earnings  Total 
                     
Balance, August 31, 2012  15,927,806  $4,399  $4,628,366  $10,509,811  $15,142,576 
                     
Exercise of stock options  103,088   103   27,882       27,985 
                     
Stock-based Compensation          115,740       115,740 
                     
Excess tax benefits from share-based arrangement          70,806       70,806 
                     
Declaration of Dividends              (4,001,212)  (4,001,212)
                     
Net income              2,886,598   2,886,598 
                     
Balance, August 31, 2013  16,030,894  $4,502  $4,842,794  $9,395,197  $14,242,493 
                     
Exercise of stock options  154,316   154   98,471       98,625 
                     
Stock-based Compensation          144,327       144,327 
                     
Issuance of stock-TSRL agreement(Note 4)  164,745   165   999,835       1,000,000 
                     
Declaration of Dividends              (3,075,585)  (3,075,585)
                     
Net income              3,025,491   3,025,491 
                     
Balance, August 31, 2014  16,349,955  $4,821  $6,085,427  $9,345,103  $15,435,351 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013

  2014  2013 
Cash flows from operating activities        
Net income $3,025,491  $2,886,598 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities        
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment  47,231   42,573 
Amortization of capitalized computer software development costs  807,705   716,887 
Amortization of Intellectual property  182,500   7,500 
Excess tax benefits from share-based arrangement     (70,806)
Stock-based compensation  144,327   115,740 
Deferred income taxes  1,298,896   366,986 
(Increase) decrease in        
Accounts receivable and Contracts receivable  247,456   (643,771)
Prepaid income taxes  (446,786)  (147,677)
Prepaid expenses and other assets  4,014   (41,317)
Increase (decrease) in        
Accounts payable  (15,464)  (31,498)
Accrued payroll and other expenses  29,500   (1,703)
Accrued bonus  60,000    
Accrued income taxes     (662,427)
Other liabilities  (19,859)  67,852 
Deferred revenue  (58,857)  (42,555)
Net cash provided by operating activities  5,306,154   2,562,382 
         
Cash flows from investing activities        
Purchase of intellectual property rights  (2,500,000)   
Purchases of property and equipment  (24,486)  (53,150)
Capitalized computer software development costs  (1,369,077)  (1,128,588)
Net cash (used in) investing activities  (3,893,563)  (1,181,738)
         
Cash flows from financing activities        
Excess tax benefits from share-based arrangement     70,806 
Dividends  (3,075,585)  (4,001,212)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options  98,625   27,985 
Net cash (used in) financing activities of continuing operations  (2,976,960)  (3,902,421)
         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  (1,564,369)  (2,521,777)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year  10,179,298   12,701,075 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year $8,614,929  $10,179,298 
         
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information        
Interest paid $  $ 
Income taxes paid $692,562  $1,964,545 
Non-Cash Investing and Financing        
Purchase of intellectual property rights with shares and notes payable $3,500,000  $ 
     Additional     
 Common Stock Paid-In Retained   
 Shares Amount Capital Earnings Total 
           
Balance, August 31, 2014 16,349,955 $4,821 $6,085,427 $9,345,103 $15,435,351 
                
Exercise of stock options 101,887  102  56,941    57,043 
                
Stock-based Compensation     295,243    295,243 
                
Issuance of stock-Cognigen Acquisition 491,159  491  3,276,679    3,277,170 
                
Declaration of Dividend       (3,375,566) (3,375,566)
                
Net income       3,842,961  3,842,961 
                
Beginning balance August 31, 2015 16,943,001 $5,414 $9,714,290 $9,812,498 $19,532,202 
                
                
Exercise of stock options 112,463  113  181,936    182,049 
                
Stock-based Compensation     347,077    347,077 
                
Issuance of stock-Cognigen Acquisition 170,014  1,700  1,132,704    1,134,404 
                
Declaration of Dividend       (3,413,274) (3,413,274)
                
Net income       4,950,136  4,950,136 
                
Balance, August 31, 2016 17,225,478 $7,227 $11,376,007 $11,349,360 $22,732,594 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

F-6

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the years ended August 31,

  2016  2015 
Cash flows from operating activities        
Net income $4,950,136  $3,842,961 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities        
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment  196,250   211,454 
Amortization of capitalized computer software development costs  981,066   1,023,139 
Amortization of Intellectual Property  755,000   755,000 
Stock-based compensation  347,077  ��295,243 
Deferred income taxes  (23,241)  55,919 
(Increase) decrease in        
Accounts receivable  (1,415,810)  1,048,969 
Revenues in excess of billings  100,994   (238,502)
Prepaid income taxes  (555,486)  748,359 
Prepaid expenses and other assets  (29,093)  (104,836)
Increase (decrease) in        
Accounts payable  (101,296)  19,443 
Accrued payroll and other expenses  52,030   (355,567)
Accrued bonus     1,000 
Billings in excess of revenues  123,566   (239,906)
Accrued income taxes  (43,602)  43,602 
Other liabilities  (19,859)  (19,860)
Deferred revenue  97,477   48,573 
Net cash provided by operating activities  5,415,209   7,134,991 
         
Cash flows from investing activities        
Purchases of property and equipment  (39,121)  (71,369)
Cash used to purchase Cognigen  (720,000)  (2,080,000)
Cash received in acquisition     190,184 
Capitalized computer software development costs  (1,195,854)  (1,168,937)
Net cash (used in) investing activities  (1,954,975)  (3,130,122)
         
Cash flows from financing activities        
Payment of Dividends  (3,413,274)  (3,375,566)
Payments on Contracts Payable  (750,000)  (750,000)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options  182,049   57,043 
Net cash (used in) financing activities of continuing operations  (3,981,225)  (4,068,523)
         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  (520,991)  (63,654)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year  8,551,275   8,614,929 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $8,030,284  $8,551,275 
         
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information        
Income taxes paid $2,908,587  $961,907 
         
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities        
 Stock issued for acquisition of Cognigen Corporation $1,134,404  $3,277,170 
 Creation of contract liability for acquisition of Cognigen Corporation $  $1,854,404 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

F-7

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 20142016 and 20132015

 

NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND LINES OF BUSINESS

 

Organization

Simulations Plus, Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “us”, “our”) was incorporated on July 17, 1996. Subsequent to August 31, 2014, onOn September 2, 2014, Simulations Plus, Inc. acquired all outstanding equity interests of Cognigen Corporation (“Cognigen”) pursuant to the Company acquired 100%terms of the stockMerger Agreement and Cognigen became a wholly owned subsidiary of Cognigen Corporation.Simulations Plus, Inc. (collectively, the "Company").

 

Lines of Business

The Company designs and develops pharmaceutical simulation software to promote cost-effective solutions to a number of problems in pharmaceutical research and in the education of pharmacy and medical students, and it provides consulting services to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Recently, the Company has begun to explore developing software applications for defense and for health care outside of the pharmaceutical industry.

 

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Simulations Plus, Inc. and, as of September 2, 2014, its wholly owned subsidiary, Cognigen Corporation. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates

Our financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by management’s application of accounting policies. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant accounting policies for us include revenue recognition, accounting for capitalized computer software development costs, valuation of stock options, and accounting for income taxes.

Reclassifications

Certain numbers in the prior year have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.

 

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenues related to software licenses and software maintenance in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 985-605, Software -“Software – Revenue Recognition”. Software productsproduct revenue is recorded when the following conditions are met: 1) evidence of arrangement exists,exists; 2) delivery has been made,made; 3) the amount is fixed,fixed; and 4) collectability is probable. Post-contract customer support ("PCS"(“PCS”) obligations are insignificant; therefore, revenue for PCS is recognized at the same time as the licensing fee, and the costs of providing such support services are accrued and amortized over the obligation period.

 

As a byproduct of ongoing improvements and upgrades for the new programs and new modules of software, some modifications are provided to our customers who have already purchased software at no additional charge. Other software modifications result in new, additional cost modules that expand the functionality of the software. These are licensed separately. We consider the modifications that are provided without charge to be minimal, as they do not significantly change the basic functionality or utility of the software, but rather add convenience, such as being able to plot some additional variable on a graph in addition to the numerous variables that had been available before, or adding some additional calculations to supplement the information provided from running the software. Such software modifications for any single product have typically occurred once or twice per year, sometimes more, sometimes less. Thus, they are infrequent. The Company provides, for a fee, additional training and service calls to its customers and recognizes revenue at the time the training or service call is provided.

 

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2014 and 2013

Generally, we enter into one-year license agreements with customers for the use of our pharmaceutical software products. We recognize revenue on these contracts when all the criteria are met.

Most license agreements have a term of one year; however, from time to time, we enter into multi-year license agreements.Weagreements. We generally unlock and invoice software one year at a time for multi-year licenses. Therefore, revenue is recognized one year at a time. Certain of the Company's software products are housed and supported on the Company's computer networks. Software revenues for those products are included in income over the life of the contract.

F-8

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2016 and 2015

 

We recognize the revenue from collaboration research and the revenue from grants equally over their terms. However,For contract revenues based on actual hours incurred we recognize revenues when the work is performed. For fixed price contracts, we recognize contract study revenueand other contract revenues using the percentage of completionpercentage-of-completion method, depending upon how the contract studies are engaged, in accordance with ASC 605-35, “Revenue Recognition – Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts”. To recognize revenue using the percentage of completionpercentage-of-completion method, we must determine whether we meet the following criteria: 1) there is a long-term, legally enforceable contract, 2) it is possible to reasonably estimate the total project costs, and 3) it is possible to reasonably estimate the extent of progress toward completion.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

 

Accounts Receivable

We analyze the age of customer balances, historical bad debt experience, customer creditworthiness, and changes in customer payment terms when making estimates of the collectability of the Company’s trade accounts receivable balances. If we determine that the financial conditions of any of our customers have deteriorated, whether due to customer-specific or general economic issues, an increase in the allowance may be made. Accounts receivable are written off when all collection attempts have failed.

 

Capitalized Computer Software Development Costs

Software development costs are capitalized in accordance with ASC 985-20,“Costs of Software to Be Sold, Leased, or Marketed”. Capitalization of software development costs begins upon the establishment of technological feasibility and is discontinued when the product is available for sale.

 

The establishment of technological feasibility and the ongoing assessment for recoverability of capitalized software development costs require considerable judgment by management with respect to certain external factors including, but not limited to, technological feasibility, anticipated future gross revenues, estimated economic life, and changes in software and hardware technologies. Capitalized computer software development costs are comprised primarily of salaries and direct payroll-related costs and the purchase of existing software to be used in the Company's software products.

 

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2014 and 2013

Amortization of capitalized computer software development costs is provided on a product-by-product basis on the straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the products not to exceed five years, although all of our current software products have already been on the market for 7-15 years except for our newest MedChem Designer™ and MembranePlus™ programs (MembranePlus™ was released following the close of the reporting period covered by this report), and we do not foresee an end-of-life for any of them at this point.years. Amortization of software development costs amounted to $807,705$981,066 and $716,887$1,023,139 for the years ended August 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, respectively. We expect future amortization expense to vary due to increases in capitalized computer software development costs.

 

We test capitalized computer software development costs for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

 

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, or fair market value for property and equipment acquired in business combinations, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives as follows:

 

Equipment5 years
Computer equipment3 to 7 years
Furniture and fixtures5 to 7 years
Leasehold improvementsShorter of life of asset or lease

 

Maintenance and minor replacements are charged to expense as incurred. Gains and losses on disposals are included in the results of operations.

 

F-9

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2016 and 2015

Intangible Assets and Goodwill

The Company performs valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed on each acquisition accounted for as a business combination and recognizes the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair value. Acquired intangible assets include customer relationships, software, trade name, and non-compete agreements. The Company determines the appropriate useful life by performing an analysis of expected cash flows based on historical experience of the acquired businesses. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method, which approximates the pattern in which the majority of the economic benefits are expected to be consumed.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the fair value of the acquired net assets. Goodwill is not amortized, instead it is tested for impairment annually or when events or circumstances change that would indicate that goodwill might be impaired. Events or circumstances that could trigger an impairment review include, but are not limited to, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, unanticipated competition, a loss of key personnel, significant changes in the manner of the Company's use of the acquired assets or the strategy for the Company's overall business, significant negative industry or economic trends or significant under-performance relative to expected historical or projected future results of operations.

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is one level below or the same as an operating segment. As of August 31, 2016, the Company determined that it has two reporting units, Simulations Plus and Cognigen Corporation. When testing goodwill for impairment, the Company first performs a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is necessary to perform step one of a two-step annual goodwill impairment test for each reporting unit. The Company is required to perform step one only if it concludes that it is more likely than not that a reporting unit's fair value is less than its carrying value. Should this be the case, the first step of the two-step process is to identify whether a potential impairment exists by comparing the estimated fair values of the Company's reporting units with their respective book values, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeds book value, goodwill is considered not to be impaired, and no additional steps are necessary. If, however, the fair value of the reporting unit is less than book value, then the second step is performed to determine if goodwill is impaired and to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. The amount of the impairment loss is the excess of the carrying amount of the goodwill over its implied fair value. The estimate of implied fair value of goodwill is primarily based on an estimate of the discounted cash flows expected to result from that reporting unit, but may require valuations of certain internally generated and unrecognized intangible assets such as the Company's software, technology, patents and trademarks. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess.

As of August 31, 2016, the entire balance of goodwill was attributed to the Company's Cognigen Corporation reporting unit. Intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. The Company has not recognized any impairment charges during the periods ended August 31, 2016 and 2015.

Reconciliation of Goodwill for the period ended August 31, 2016:

Balance,  August 31, 2014 $ 
Addition  4,789,248 
Impairments   
Balance,  August 31, 2015 $4,789,248 
Addition   
Impairments   
Balance,  August 31, 2016 $4,789,248 

F-10

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2016 and 2015

Other Intangible Assets

The following table summarizes other intangible assets as of August 31, 2016:

  Amortization
Period
 Acquisition
Value
  Accumulated
Amortization
  Net book
value
 
Customer relationships Straight line 8 years $1,100,000  $275,000  $825,000 
Trade Name-Cognigen None  500,000   0   500,000 
Covenants not to compete Straight line 5 years  50,000   20,000   30,000 
    $1,650,000  $295,000  $1,355,000 

Amortization expense for the year ended August 31, 2016 and 2015 was $147,500.

Future amortization for the next five years is as follows:

Year ending

August 31,

Amount
2017147,500
2018147,500
2019147,500
2020137,500
2021137,500

Business Acquisitions

The Company accounted for the acquisition of Cognigen using the purchase method of accounting where the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recognized based on their respective estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Determining the fair value of certain acquired assets and liabilities is subjective in nature and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including, but not limited to, the selection of appropriate valuation methodology, projected revenue, expenses and cash flows, weighted average cost of capital, discount rates, estimates of advertiser and publisher turnover rates and estimates of terminal values. Business acquisitions are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements as of the date of the acquisition.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Financial assetsassets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the Company’s Balance Sheet are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. The categories, as defined by the standard, are as follows:

 

Level Input: Input Definition:
Level I Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date.
Level II Inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level I, that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data at the measurement date.
Level III Unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

F-11

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2016 and 2015

For certain of our financial instruments, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued payroll and other expenses, and accrued bonuses to officers the carrying amounts are approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

 

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2014 and 2013

Advertising

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs for the years ended August 31, 20142016 and 20132015 were $38,000approximately $131,783 and $38,000, respectively.

 

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred until technological feasibility has been established. These costs include salaries, laboratory experiment, and purchased software which was developed by other companies and incorporated into, or used in the development of, our final products.

 

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740-10,“Income Taxes” which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns.

 

Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each year-end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The provision for income taxes represents the tax payable for the period and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.

 

Intellectual property

On February 28, 2012, we bought out the royalty agreement with Enslein Research. The cost of $75,000 is being amortized over 10 years under the straight-line method. Amortization expense for each of the fiscal years ended August 31, 20142016 and 20132015 was $7,500. Accumulated amortization as of August 31, 20142016 and 20132015 was $18,750$33,750 and $11,250,$26,250, respectively.

 

On May 15, 2014, we entered into a termination and non-assertion agreement with TSRL, Inc., pursuant to which the parties agreed to terminate an exclusive software licensing agreement entered into between the parties in 1997. As a result, the company obtained a perpetual right to use certain source code and data, and TSRL relinquished any rights and claims to any GastroPlus products and to any claims to royalties or other payments under that 1997 agreement. We agreed to pay TSRL total consideration of $6,000,000, which is being amortized over 10 years under the straight-line method. Amortization expense for the period of May 15, 2014 toyear ended August 31, 20142016 and 2015 was $175,000.$600,000. Accumulated amortization as of August 31, 20142016 and 2015 was $175,000.$1,375,000 and $775,000, respectively. (See Note 4)5)

 

Total amortization expense for intellectual property agreements for the years ended August 31, 20142016 and 20132015 was $182,500 and $7,500, respectively.$607,500. Accumulated amortization as of August 31, 20142016 and 20132015 was $193,750$1,408,750 and $11,250,$801,250, respectively.

 

Future amortization for the next five years is as follows:

Year ending August 31,

TSRLEnslienTotal
2017$ 600,000$ 7,500$ 607,500
2018$ 600,000$ 7,500$ 607,500
2019$ 600,000$ 7,500$ 607,500
2020$ 600,000$ 7,500$ 607,500
2021$ 600,000$ 7,500$ 607,500

F-12

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 20142016 and 20132015

 

 

Earnings per Share

The Company reports earnings per share in accordance with FASB ACS 260-10. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares available. Diluted earnings per share is computed similarly to basic earnings per share except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the potential common shares had been issued and if the additional common shares were dilutive. The components of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended August 31, 20142016 and 20132015 were as follows:

 

 2014 2013  2016 2015 
Numerator             
Net income attributable to common shareholders $3,025,491  $2,886,598  $4,950,136  $3,842,961 
                
Denominator                
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year  16,173,674   15,996,432   17,028,566   16,864,670 
Dilutive effect of stock options  234,077   323,551   180,940   167,488 
                
Common stock and common stock equivalents used for diluted earnings per share  16,407,751   16,319,983   17,209,506   17,032,158 

 

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock options using the modified prospective method in accordance with FASB ASC 718-10,“Compensation-Stock Compensation”. Under this method, compensation costs include estimated grant date fair value of the awards amortized over the options’ vesting period. Stock-based compensation was $144,327$347,077 and $115,740$295,243 for the fiscal years ended August 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, respectively, and is included in the statements of operations as Consulting, Salaries, and Research and Development expense.

 

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

The Company accounts for the impairment and disposition of long-lived assets in accordance with ASC 350,“Intangibles – Goodwill and Other” and ASC 360,“Property and Equipment”. Long-lived assets to be held and used are reviewed for events or changes in circumstances that indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. We measure recoverability by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to the expected future undiscounted net cash flows generated by the asset. If we determine that the asset may not be recoverable, or if the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future undiscounted cash flows, we recognize an impairment charge to the extent of the difference between the fair value and the asset's carrying amount. No impairment losses were recorded during the years ended August 31, 20142016 and 2013.

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2014 and 2013

2015.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In July 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2012-02, “Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment”, which amended the guidance in ASU 2011-08 “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment”) to simplify the testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill for impairment. ASU 2012-02 became effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning on or after September 15, 2012 and earlier adoption was permitted. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of our 2013 fiscal year. The adoption did not have a material effect on our financial statements.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11,Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists, which eliminates diversity in practice for the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward is available to reduce the taxable income or tax payable that would result from disallowance of a tax position. ASU 2013-11 affects only the presentation of such amounts in an entity’s balance sheet and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of ASU 2013-11 on our balance sheet.

 

In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The standard will eliminate the transaction- and industry-specific revenue recognition guidance under current U.S. GAAP and replace it with a principles-based approach for determining revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The revenue recognition standard is required to be applied retrospectively, including any combination of practical expedients as allowed in the standard. We are evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to our financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740). The amendments in ASU 2015-17 change the requirements for the classification of deferred taxes on the balance sheet. Currently, GAAP requires an entity to separate deferred income tax liabilities and assets into current and noncurrent amounts in a classified statement of financial position. To simplify the presentation of deferred income taxes, the amendments in this ASU require that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Earlier application is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

F-13

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2016 and 2015

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes existing guidance on accounting for leases in "Leases (Topic 840)" and generally requires all leases to be recognized in the consolidated balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018; early adoption is permitted. The provisions of ASU 2016-02 are to be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This ASU affects entities that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. The ASU is designed to simplify several aspects of accounting for share-based payment award transactions which include - the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, classification on the statement of cash flows and forfeiture rate calculations. ASU 2016-09 will become effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

In April 2016, the FASB issued AS 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which amends certain aspects of the Board's new revenue standard, ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The standard should be adopted concurrently with adoption of ASU 2014-09 which is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

NOTE 3 – CONTRACTS IN PROGRESS

Cost, estimated earnings, and billings on uncompleted contracts are summarized as follows as of August 31, 2016 and 2015:

  2016  2015 
Revenues earned to date on uncompleted contract $2,557,507  $3,155,123 
Billings to date on uncompleted contracts  (2,093,476)  (2,466,532)
  $464,031  $688,591 

Contracts in progress are included in the accompanying balance sheets under the following captions:

  2016  2015 
Revenues in excess of billings $694,131  $795,125 
Billings in excess of revenues  (230,100)  (106,534)
  $464,031  $688,591 

 

NOTE 34 – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

Property and equipment at August 31, 20142016 and 20132015 consisted of the following:

 

 2014 2013  2016 2015 
Equipment $125,541  $141,355  $487,458  $460,626 
Computer equipment  51,466   295,174   125,385   123,235 
Furniture and fixtures  147,541   53,096   200,595   190,456 
Leasehold improvements  23,645   61,860   103,599   103,599 
  348,193   551,485   917,037   877,916 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization  252,951   433,498   660,656   464,406 
Total $95,242  $117,987  $256,381  $413,510 

 

Depreciation expense was $47,231$196,250 and $42,573$211,454 for the years ended August 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, respectively.

 

F-14

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 20142016 and 20132015

 

 

NOTE 4 – CONTRACT5: CONTRACTS PAYABLE

 

On May 15, 2014,TSRL

Pursuant to the Company entered into a termination and non-assertion agreement with TSRL Inc.(See note 2), pursuant to which the partiesCompany will pay TSRL $2,500,000 over a three-year period. The remaining payment of $1,000,000 will be made in April 2017.

Cognigen Acquisition Liability-Related Party

On September 2, 2014, the Company acquired Cognigen Corporation (See note 13). As part of the consideration the Company agreed to terminate an exclusive software licensing agreement entered into betweenthat within three business days following the parties in 1997, as a result,two year anniversary of July 23, 2014 (the date of the company obtained a perpetual right to use certain source codeMerger Agreement) and data, and TSRL relinquished any rights and claimssubject to any GastroPlus products and to any claims to royalties or other payments under that 1997 agreement. Theoffsets, the Company agreed towill pay TSRLthe former shareholders of Cognigen a total consideration of $6.0 million. The Company paid $3.5 million on May 20, 2014,$1,854,404, comprised of cash in the amount$720,000 of $2.5 millioncash and the issuance of $1 million worth of the Company’s common stock -- 164,745170,014 shares of stock. The former shareholders of Cognigen are currently employed by the Company’s common stock based uponconsolidated Company, one of whom serves as the April 25, 2014 closing price per sharePresident of $6.07. Future payments underSimulations Plus, Inc. and Cognigen. In July 2016 the terminationfinal payment was made and non-assertion agreement, which are non-interest- bearing, are due as follows:the shares were issued.

April 25, 2015 $750,000 
April 25, 2016  750,000 
April 25, 2017  1,000,000 
Total $2,500,000 
Less Current portion  (750,000)
Contract payable, net of current portion $1,750,000 

 

NOTE 5 –6 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Leases

We lease approximately 13,500 square feet of space in Lancaster, California. The original lease had a five-year term with two, three-year options to extend. The initial five-year term expired in February 2011, and we extended the lease to February 2, 2014. In June 2013, the lease was amended to extend the term to February 2, 2017. The amended lease also provides for an annual base rent increase of 3% per year and two, two-year options to extend. In May 2016 the company exercised the two, two-year options extending the term of the lease through February 2, 2021 at a fixed rate of $25,000 per month. The new extension agreement allowed the company with 90 days notice to opt out of the remaining lease in the last two years of the term upon payment of a recapture payment equal to the 3% base payment increase that would have been due under the original agreement.

Our subsidiary leases approximately 12,225 square feet of space in Buffalo, New York. The initial five-year term expires in October 2018; the lease allows for a three year option to extend to October 2021. The current base rent is $24,272$15,638 per month; however, we had three months’ free base rent during the months of June, July and August of 2013. We record these three months as a discount divided equally through the first term of the amended lease from June 2013 through January 2017.month.

Rent expense, including common area maintenance fees for the years ended August 31, 20142016 and 20132015 was $295,410$491,800 and $305,636,$488,888, respectively.

During our fiscal year ended August 31, 2012, we sold our former Words+ subsidiary, at which time we entered into a month-to-month sublease agreement commencing January 1, 2012 under which Words+ paid 20% of the monthly rent we paid to our landlord, plus 20% of facility-related operating expenses. We report our gross lease expense under Selling, General and Administrative expense; however, the sublease payments received from Words+ were reported under Other Income. The sublease to Words+ ended on February 28, 2013. Sublease payments totaled $35,500 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013.

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2014 and 2013

 

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases with remaining terms of one year or more at August 31, 20142016 were as follows:

 

Years Ending August 31,    
2015$297,094
2016 306,007
2017 129,526 $487,654
2018  498,654
2019  331,276
2020  300,000
2021  126,786
$732,627 $1,744,370

 

The Company leases a copier/printer under an operating lease that expires in April 2015. The terms of the lease call for payments based on usage,

F-15

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2016 and allow for earlier termination upon a 30-day written notice.2015

 

Employment Agreement

On August 22, 2013, the Company entered into an employment agreement with its President/Chief Executive Officer, Walter S. Woltosz, that expired in August 2014. The employment agreement provided for an annual base salary of $300,000 per year, and a performance bonus in an amount equal to 5% of the Company’s net income before taxes of the previous fiscal year, not to exceed $60,000. The employment agreement also provided stock options, exercisable for five years, to purchase 10 shares of the Company’s common stock for each $1,000 of net income before taxes at the end of each fiscal year up to a maximum of 20,000 shares over the term of the agreement. The Company may terminate the employment agreement upon 30 days written notice without cause. The Company's obligation under that circumstance would be to pay its President/Chief Executive Officer the greater of a) 12 months’ salary or b) the salary payable to him for the remainder of the term of the employment agreement from the date of notice of termination.

For fiscal year 2013, the Compensation Committee awarded a $30,000 performance bonus under that employment agreement, which was paid in September 2013.

Effective September 1, 2014, the Company entered into a new employment agreementEmployment Agreement with Mr.Walter S. Woltosz to serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company.Company (the “Woltosz Employment Agreement”). The Woltosz Employment Agreement has a one-year term. Under the terms of this employment agreement, which has a one-year term,the Woltosz Employment Agreement, Mr. Woltosz is required to devote a minimum of 60% of his productive time to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company. He will receive annual compensation of $180,000, be eligible to receive stock options to purchase up to 12,000 shares ofCompany stock options under the Company’s common stock2007 Simulations Plus, Inc. Stock Option Plan, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors, and willshall be paid an annual performance bonus of up to 5% of the Company’s net income before taxes, not to exceed $36,000. A copy of the Woltosz Employment Agreement was filed as an attachment to the 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 4, 2014. On July 9, 2015, the Company renewed this employment agreement for another year at the same terms as the September 2014 agreement. A copy of the agreement was filed as an attachment to the 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 15, 2015. On August 8, 2016 the Company renewed this employment agreement for another year at the same terms as the September 2014 agreement. A copy of the agreement was filed as an attachment to the 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 11, 2016.

On September 2, 2014, Thaddeus H. Grasela, Jr., Ph.D., was appointed President of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary Cognigen, and the Company and Cognigen have entered into an Employment Agreement with Dr. Grasela (the “Grasela Employment Agreement”) which has a three-year term. Pursuant to the Grasela Employment Agreement, Dr. Grasela will receive an annual base salary of $250,000, will be eligible to receive Company stock options under the 2007 Simulations Plus, Inc. Stock Option Plan, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors, and will be eligible to receive an annual performance bonus in an amount not to exceed 10% of salary to be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. On September, 2016 and 2015 the Compensation Committee awarded a $25,000 performance bonuses, this expense was accrued as an expense as of August 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

License Agreement

In 1997, the Company entered into an exclusive software licensing agreement with TSRL, Inc. (fka Therapeutic Systems Research Laboratories), to develop a computer simulation software program of the absorption of drug compounds in the gastrointestinal tract. Upon execution of that agreement the Company was obligated to pay a royalty of 20% of the net sales of the basic GastroPlus software without additional modules. On May 15, 2014, the parties entered into a termination and non-assertion agreement pursuant to which the parties agreed to terminate the 1997 exclusive software licensing agreement, as a result, the company obtained a perpetual right to use certain source code and data, and TSRL relinquished any rights and claims to any GastroPlus products and to any claims to royalties or other payments under that agreement. The Company agreed to pay TSRL total consideration of $6,000,000. The Company has no further obligation to pay royalties to TSRL. (See Note 4)

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2014 and 2013

In September 2007, we entered into an agreement with Enslein Research, Inc. (“Enslein”) to jointly create a new metabolism module as part of ADMET Predictor. The fee for the exclusive license to the Enslein Data, in the form of a royalty, is 50% of the gross sales revenues of the ADMET Predictor Enslein Metabolism Module, and a $50,000 bonus at the time the cumulative revenue from ADMET Predictor Enslein Metabolism Module sales reaches $250,000. On February 28, 2012, we signed a buyout agreement with Enslein for $75,000, and are amortizing its cost over 10 years after this date.

We also haveexecuted a royalty agreement with Accelrys, Inc. (the original agreement was entered into with Symyx Technologies in March 2010; Symyx Technologies later merged with Accelrys, Inc.) for access to their Metabolite Database access for developing our Metabolite Module within ADMET Predictor™. The module which was renamed asthe Metabolism moduleModule when we released ADMET Predictor version 6 on April 19, 2012. Under this agreement, we pay a royalty of 25% of revenue derived from the sale of the Metabolism/Metabolite module.

Formodule to Accelrys. In 2014, Dassault Systemes of France acquired Accelrys and the yearscompany now operates under the name Biovia. Under this agreement for the year ended August 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015 we incurred total royalty expense of approximately $222,000$119,620 and $646,000,$77,307, respectively.

 

Litigation

Except as described below, we are not a party to any legal proceedings and are not aware of any pending legal proceedings of any kind.

In June 2014, the Company was served with a complaint in a civil action entitled Sherri Winslow v. Incredible Adventures, Inc., et al. (Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC545789) alleging wrongful death and seeking unspecified damages arising out of a May 18, 2012 plane crash in the State of Nevada. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer owns the subject aircraft and is also a named defendant. The complaint alleged that the Company was the owner of the subject aircraft. The Company denies all material allegations against it, including that it owns or has ever owned any interest in the subject aircraft. On November 25, 2014, the plaintiff and the Company signed a stipulation of dismissal pursuant to which the plaintiff agreed to dismiss the Company without prejudice. If the plaintiff does not discover evidence during a nine month period to and including August 31, 2015 that justifies bringing the Company back into the litigation, the Company will prepare a dismissal with prejudice to be signed on behalf of the plaintiff. The Company did not receive any notification and is in the process of further discussion with the Plaintiffs’ regarding final dismissal with prejudice.

 

F-16

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 20142016 and 20132015

 

 

NOTE 6 –7 - SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

Dividend

The Company’s Board of Directors declared cash dividends during fiscal year 20142016 and 2013.2015. The details of dividend paid are in the following tables:

 

FY2014FY2015

Record Date Distribution Date 

Number of Shares

Outstanding on

Record Date

  Dividend per Share  Total Amount 
11/08/2013 11/15/2013  16,073,894  $0.04** $642,956 
2/17/2014 2/24/2014  16,149,460  $0.05 $807,473 
5/09/2014 5/16/2014  16,165,171  $0.05 $808,259 
8/04/2014 8/11/2014  16,337,955  $0.05 $816,897 
Total           $3,075,585 
Record Date Distribution Date Number of Shares Outstanding on
Record Date
 Dividend per
Share
  Total Amount 
11/7/2014 11/14/2014 16,841,114 $0.05  $842,056 
1/26/2015 2/2/2015 16,852,117 $0.05  $842,606 
5/11/2015 5/18/2015 16,875,117 $0.05  $843,754 
7/23/2015 7/30/2015 16,943,001 $0.05  $847,150 
Total         $3,375,566 

 

FY2013FY2016

Record Date Distribution Date 

Number of Shares

Outstanding on

Record Date

  Dividend per Share  Total Amount 
11/08/2012 11/13/2012  15,927,806  $0.05  $796,390 
12/24/2012 12/28/2012  16,021,309  $0.14* $2,242,983 
05/07/2013 05/10/2013  16,030,433  $0.03** $480,913 
08/12/2013 08/15/2013  16,030,894  $0.03** $480,926 
Total           $4,001,212 
Record Date Distribution Date Number of Shares
Outstanding on
Record Date
 Dividend per
Share
  Total Amount 
11/09/2015 11/16/2015 16,996,001 $0.05  $849,800 
1/29/2016 02/05/2016 17,018,001 $0.05  $850,900 
5/02/2016 5/09/2016 17,029,501 $0.05  $851,475 
8/11/2016 8/18/2016 17,221,978 $0.05  $861,099 
Total         $3,413,274 

 

*As a tax benefit to our shareholders considering the increase in federal income tax for capital gains in 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors declared an accelerated cash dividend, $0.14 per share, on December 14, 2012, consisting of all of the planned February 2013 distribution of $0.05 per share, plus $0.03 per share of the planned $0.05 per quarter per share for the remaining three fiscal quarters ending in calendar year 2013.

 

** The Company’s Board of Directors decided to increase the May, August, and November 2013 dividend distribution from the planned $0.02 per share to $0.03 per share, and in November 2013 they increased the amount to $0.04 per share.

Although dividend distributions are currently expected to continue on a quarterly basis, the Company’s Board of Directors reserves the right to discontinue the dividend distribution any time.time.

 

Stock Option Plan

In September 1996, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted, and the Company’s shareholders approved, the 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "1996 Plan") under which a total of 1,000,000 shares of common stock had been reserved for issuance. The total number of shares that may be granted under the 1996 Plan was increased to 2,000,000 in March 1999, to 4,000,000 in February 2000, to 5,000,000 in December 2000 and to 6,000,000 in February 2005. All such increases were approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and the Company’s shareholders. The 1996 Plan terminated in September 2006 in accordance with its terms.

 

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2014 and 2013

On February 23, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted and the Company’s shareholders approved the 2007 Stock Option Plan (the “2007 Plan”) under which a total of 1,000,000 shares of common stock had been reserved for issuance. On February 25, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors and the Company’s shareholders approved an increase of the total number of shares that may be granted under the 2007 Plan to 2,000,000.

 

Incentive Stock Options (“ISOs”)

As of August 31, 2014,2016, employees hold ISOs to purchase in the aggregate 532,000894,750 shares of the Company’s common stock at exercise prices ranging from $1.00 to $6.85$9.82 per share.

 

Transactions in FY13
(ISOs)
 Number of Options  

Weighted-Average

Exercise Price

Per Share

  Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life(Years) 
             
Outstanding, August 31, 2012  689,800  $1.74   4.52 
Granted  20,000  $5.06     
Exercised  (175,800) $1.90     
Canceled/Forfeited  (2,000) $1.00     
Outstanding, August 31, 2013  532,000  $1.82   3.95 
Vested and Exercisable, August 31, 2013  392,600  $1.45   3.79 
Vested and Expected to Vest, August 31, 2013  519,600  $1.79   3.91 

 

Transactions in FY14
(ISOs)
 Number of Options  

Weighted-Average

Exercise Price
Per Share

  Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life 
 
            
Outstanding, August 31, 2013  532,000  $1.82   3.95 
Granted  447,500  $6.57     
Exercised  (175,000) $1.34     
Canceled/Forfeited  (6,000) $1.00     
Outstanding, August 31, 2014  798,500  $4.59   6.27 
Vested and Exercisable, August 31, 2014  299,000  $1.82   3.16 
Vested and Expected to Vest, August 31, 2014  728,079  $4.41   5.99 

F-17

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 20142016 and 20132015

 

 

Transactions in FY15
(ISOs)
 Number of
Options
  Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
  Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
 
          
Outstanding, August 31, 2014  798,500  $4.59   6.27 
Granted  37,000  $6.99     
Exercised  (95,384) $2.49     
Canceled/Forfeited  (119,116) $4.86     
Outstanding, August 31, 2015  621,000  $5.01   6.01 
Vested and Exercisable, August 31, 2015  265,700  $2.81   4.40 
Vested and Expected to Vest, August 31, 2015  576,952  $4.87   6.32 

Transactions in FY16
(ISOs)
 Number of
Options
  Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
  Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
 
          
Outstanding, August 31, 2015  621,000  $5.01   6.01 
Granted  412,100  $9.71     
Exercised  (100,863) $1.45     
Canceled/Forfeited  (27,487) $7.66     
Expired  (10,000) $1.13     
Outstanding, August 31, 2016  894,750  $7.54   7.72 
Vested and Exercisable, August 31, 2016  253,380  $4.85   5.26 
Vested and Expected to Vest, August 31, 2016  812,458  $7.40   7.58 

Non-Qualified Stock Options (“NQSOs”)

As of August 31, 2014,2016, the outside members of the Company’s Board of Directors hold NQSOs to purchase in the aggregate 48,60052,750 shares of the Company’s common stock at exercise prices ranging from $1.67$1.78 to $6.68$8.62 per share.

 

Transactions in FY13
(NQSOs)
 Number of Options  

Weighted-Average

Exercise Price
Per Share

  Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life 
             
Outstanding, August 31, 2012  36,600  $3.47    8.14 
Granted  12,000  $4.78     
Outstanding, August 31, 2013  48,600  $3.79   7.85 
Exercisable, August 31, 2013  28,200  $3.28   6.67 
Transactions in FY15
(NQSOs)
 Number of
Options
  Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
  Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
 
Outstanding, August 31, 2014  56,600  $4.82   7.96 
Granted  13,750  $6.75     
Exercised  (6,503) $3.28     
Cancelled/Forfeited  (14,497) $4.97     
Outstanding, August 31, 2015  49,350  $5.52   7.75 
Exercisable, August 31, 2015  27,200  $4.70   6.31 

 

Transactions in FY14
(NQSOs)
 Number of Options  

Weighted-Average

Exercise Price
Per Share

  Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life 
             
Outstanding, August 31, 2013  48,600  $ 3.79    7.85 
Granted  15,000  $6.72     
Exercised  (7,000) $1.30     
Outstanding, August 31, 2014  56,600  $4.82   7.96 
Exercisable, August 31, 2014  31,400  $3.96   6.74 

F-18

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2016 and 2015

Transactions in FY16
(NQSOs)
 Number of Options  Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Per Share
  Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life 
Outstanding, August 31, 2015  49,350  $5.52   7.75 
Granted  15,000  $8.62     
Exercised  (11,600) $3.33     
Cancelled/Forfeited  (0) $     
Outstanding, August 31, 2016  52,750  $6.88   8.07 
Exercisable, August 31, 2016  26,500  $5.95   6.70 

 

The fair value of the options, including both ISOs and NQSOs, granted during fiscal year 20142016 is estimated at $1,103,600.$1,189,730. The fair value of these options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: dividend yield of 3.01%2.32%, pre-vest forfeiture rate of 6.25%6.31%, expected volatility of 46.18%34.22%, risk-free interest rate of 1.80%1.42%, and expected life of 6.276.80 years. The total fair value of non-vested stock options as of August 31, 20142016 was $1,133,865$1,366,269 and is amortizable over a weighted average period of 4.587.58 years.

 

DuringThe fair value of the options, including both ISOs and NQSOs, granted during fiscal year ended August 31, 2013, the2015 was estimated at $113,435. The fair value of these options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: dividend yield of 4.35%3.03%, pre-vest forfeiture rate of 6.13%6.20%, expected volatility of 57.65%47.13%, risk-free interest rate of 0.66%2.09%, and expected life of 56.89 years.

 

The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which do not have vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility. Because our stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management's opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its stock options.

 

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2014 and 2013

Intrinsic Value of options outstanding and options exercisable

 

  Intrinsic Value of Options Outstanding  Intrinsic Value of Options Exercisable  Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised 
FY13 $1,636,422  $1,357,870  $402,406 
FY14 $1,850,239  $1,552,171  $737,266 
  Intrinsic Value
of Options
Outstanding
  Intrinsic
Value of
Options
Exercisable
  Intrinsic
Value of
Options
Exercised
 
FY15 $1,182,797  $1,109,489  $396,485 
FY16 $1,500,659  $1,025,718  $853,423 

 

The weighted-average remaining contractual life of options outstanding issued under the 1996 and 2007 Plan was 6.387.74 years at August 31, 2014.2016. The exercise prices for the options outstanding at August 31, 20142016 ranged from $1.00 to $6.85$9.82 per share, and the information relating to these options is as follows:

 

Exercise PriceExercise Price Awards Outstanding Awards ExercisableExercise Price Awards Outstanding Awards Exercisable
Low High Quantity Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life Weighted Average Exercise Price Quantity Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life Weighted Average Exercise Price High Quantity Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life Weighted Average Exercise Price Quantity Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life Weighted Average Exercise Price
$1.00 $1.50  197,500  3.5 years $1.05  197,500  3.5 years $1.05 $ 1.50 67,000 3.0 years $ 1.00 67,000 3.0 years $1.03
$1.51 $3.00  17,600  5.7 years $2.42  7,600  5.9 years $2.34 $ 3.00      –-
$3.01 $4.50  141,500  3.1 years $3.28  108,500  3.2 years $3.26 $ 4.50 20,000 1.9 years $ 3.16 20,000 1.9 years $3.16
$4.51 $6.85  498,500  8.5 years $6.47  16,800  4.7 years $5.36 $ 6.00 74,000 2.7 years $ 5.48 44,000 2.9 years $5.38
$6.01 $ 7.50 367,200 8.0 years $ 6.85 148,880 7.9 years $6.85
$7.51 $ 9.00 15,000 10.0 years $ 8.62 0    
$9.01 $ 9.82 404,300 9.5 years $ 9.71 0    
    855,100       330,400        947,500     279,880    

 

F-19

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2016 and 2015

NOTE 7 –8 - INCOME TAXES

 

We utilize FASB ASC 740-10,“Income Taxes” which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns.

 

Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each year end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The provision for income taxes represents the tax payable for the period and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.

 

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2014 and 2013

The components of the income tax provision for fiscal year 20142016 and 20132015 were as follows:

 

  2014  2013 
Current        
Federal $186,052  $891,153
State  2,858   112,042
   188,910   1,003,195
Deferred        
Federal  1,180,655   57,805 
State  118,241   309,182
   1,298,896   366,987 
         
Total $1,487,806  $1,370,182

  2016  2015 
Current      
Federal $2,118,229  $1,482,798 
State  171,840   236,152 
Foreign  19,428   75,099 
   2,309,497   1,794,049 
Deferred        
Federal  22,936   (15,036)
State  (46,177)  70,955 
   (23,241)  55,919 
         
Total $2,286,256  $1,849,968 

 

A reconciliation of the expected income tax (benefit) computed using the federal statutory income tax rate to the Company's effective income tax rate is as follows for fiscal year 20142016 and 2013:2015:

  2016  2015 
Income tax computed at federal statutory tax rate  34.0%  34.0%
State taxes, net of federal benefit  3.4   5.0 
Meals & Entertainment  0.1   0.1 
Stock Based Compensation  1.3   0.3 
Other permanent differences  (0.6)  (0.5)
Research and development credit  (6.3)  (6.9)
Change in prior year estimated taxes  (0.3)  0.5 
Total  31.6%  32.5%

F-20

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2016 and 2015

 

  2014  2013 
Income tax computed at federal statutory tax rate  34.0%   34.0% 
State taxes, net of federal benefit  5.1   5.2 
Meals & Entertainment  0.1   0.1 
Other permanent differences  2.6  (0.5)
Research and development credit  (9.6)  (11.3)
Change in prior year estimated taxes  0.8   4.7
Total  33.0%   32.2% 

 

Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities for income taxes for the fiscal years ended August 31, 20142016 and 20132015 are as follows:

 

  2014  2013 
Deferred tax assets        
Accrued payroll and other expenses $88,574  $82,104 
Deferred revenue  12,473   38,225 
Deferred rent     29,068 
Capitalized merger costs  93,306    
Intellectual property  19,442   30,326 
Research and development credit  216,917    
State taxes  272   45,343 
State Tax Deferred  120,575   74,458 
Total deferred tax assets  551,558   299,524 
Less: Valuation allowance      
   551,558   299,524 
Deferred tax liabilities        
Property and equipment  (27,178)  (23,077)
State Tax Deferred  (5,914)   
Intellectual Property  (1,361,535)  
Capitalized computer software development costs  (1,417,959)  (1,238,578)
         
Total deferred tax liabilities  (2,812,586)  (1,261,655)
         
Net deferred tax liabilities $(2,261,028) $(962,131)

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2014 and 2013

  2016  2015 
Deferred tax assets        
Accrued payroll and other expenses $108,769  $97,625 
Deferred revenue  71,009   43,703 
Capitalized merger costs  292,693   299,965 
Intellectual property  21,205   24,221 
Research and development credit  54,427   90,365 
State taxes  58,426   78,089 
State Tax Deferred  160,391   175,044 
Total deferred tax assets  766,920   809,012 
Less:  Valuation allowance      
   766,920   809,012 
Deferred tax liabilities        
Property and equipment  (93,900)  (159,980)
State Tax Deferred  (9,491)  (8,445)
Intellectual Property  (2,004,451)  (2,053,220)
Capitalized computer software development costs  (1,615,284)  (1,566,815)
Total deferred tax liabilities  (3,723,126)  (3,788,460)
         
Net deferred tax liabilities $(2,956,206) $(2,979,447)

 

We follow guidance issued by the FASB with regard to our accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements. Such guidance prescribes a recognition threshold of more likely than not and a measurement process for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. In making this assessment, a company must determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, based solely on the technical merits of the position and must assume that the tax position will be examined by taxing authorities. Our policy is to include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Interest and penalties totaled $ -0- and $6,347$-0- for fiscal year 20142016 and 2013,2015, respectively. We file income tax returns with the IRS and various state jurisdictions and India. Our federal income tax returns for fiscal year 20102012 thru 2013 and 2015 are open for audit, and our state tax returns for fiscal year 20092011 through 20132015 remain open for audit. In addition our California tax return for the fiscal year 2007 and fiscal year 2008 remains open with regard to R&D tax credits as a result of a previous audit for which we received a letter from the California Franchise Tax Board stating that an audit will not be conducted for those years at this time; however it may be subject to future audit. In 2015 the Company was informed that the IRS was auditing the Company’s tax return for 2014. This audit was completed during FY2016; there were no changes as a result of the audit.

 

Our review of prior year tax positions using the criteria and provisions presented in guidance issued by FASB did not result in a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

NOTE 89 – CONCENTRATIONS AND UNCERTAINTIES

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash, cash equivalents and trade accounts receivable. The Company holds cash and cash equivalents at banks located in California, with balances that often exceed FDIC insured limits. Historically, the Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents. However, considering the current banking environment, the Company is investigating alternative ways to minimize its exposure to such risks. While the Company may be exposed to credit losses due to the nonperformance of its counterparties, the Company does not expect the settlement of these transactions to have a material effect on its results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

 

F-21

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2016 and 2015

Revenue concentration shows that international sales accounted for 51%38% and 48%37% of net sales for fiscal year 20142016 and 2013,2015, respectively. TwoThree customers accounted for 14%(a10% (a dealer account in Japan representing various customers), 7% and 6% of net sales for fiscal year 2016. Three customers accounted for 10% (a dealer account in Japan representing various customers), 8% and 6% of net sales for fiscal year 2015.

Accounts receivable concentration shows that three customers comprised 16% (a dealer account in Japan representing various customers), 10%, and 10% of accounts receivable at August 31, 2016, and three customers comprised 12% (a dealer account in Asia representing various customer), 11% (a dealer account in Japan representing various customers), and 8% of net sales for fiscal year 2014. Two customers accounted for 9% and 6% of net sales for fiscal year 2013.

Accounts receivable concentration shows that two customers comprised 30%(a dealer account in Japan representing various customers), and 17%11% of accounts receivable at August 31, 2014, and two customers comprised 27% and 22% of accounts receivable at August 31, 2013.2015.

 

We operate in the computer software industry, which is highly competitive and changes rapidly. Our operating results could be significantly affected by our ability to develop new products and find new distribution channels for new and existing products.

 

The majority of our customers are in the pharmaceutical industry. During the current economic downturn,downturns, we have seen consolidations in the pharmaceutical industry, especially in this first fiscal quarter of 2013.industry. Although we have not seen any significant reduction in total revenues to date, our growth rate has been affected. Continuedcould be effected by consolidation and downsizing in the pharmaceutical industry could have an impact on our revenues and earnings going forward.industry.

 

NOTE 10: SEGMENT ANDGeographic Reporting

We account for segments and geographic revenues in accordance with guidance issued by the FASB. Our reportable segments are strategic business units that offer different products and services.

Results for each segment and consolidated results are as follows years ended August 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands, because of rounding, numbers may not foot):

Year ended August 31, 2015
  Simulations Plus, Inc.  Cognigen Corporation  Eliminations  Total 
Net Revenues $13,086  $5,228      $18,314 
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes $4,816  $1,041      $5,857 
Total assets $25,549  $9,033  $(7,238) $27,344 
Capital expenditures $23  $14      $37 
Capitalized software costs $1,019  $151      $1,170 
Depreciation and Amortization $1,633  $357      $1,990 

Year ended August 31, 2016
  Simulations Plus, Inc.  Cognigen Corporation  Eliminations  Total 
Net Revenues $14,417   5,554      $19,972 
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes $6,330  $901      $7,231 
Total assets $26,306  $8,975  $(7,238) $28,043 
Capital expenditures $6  $32      $38 
Capitalized software costs $1,017  $178      $1,195 
Depreciation and Amortization $1,556  $375      $1,931 

F-22

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 20142016 and 20132015

 

 

NOTE 9 – GEOGRAPHIC REPORTING

TheIn addition, the Company allocates revenues to geographic areas based on the locations of its customers. Geographical revenues for the years ended August 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows for fiscal year 2014 and 2013: (in thousands, because of rounding, numbers may not foot):

Year ended August 31, 2015

                     
(in ‘000)  North America   

Europe

   

Asia

   South America   

Total

 
August 31, 2014 $5,633  $2,983  $2,819  $26  $11,461 
August 31, 2013 $5,203  $2,980  $1,882  $6  $10,071 
  North America  Europe  Asia  South America  Total 
                
Simulations Plus, Inc. $6,261  $3,629  $3,153  $43  $13,086 
Cognigen Corporation  5,228            5,228 
Total $11,489  $3,629  $3,153  $43  $18,314 

Year ended August 31, 2016

  North America  Europe  Asia  South America  Total 
                
Simulations Plus, Inc. $6,830  $4,022  $3,564  $2  $14,418 
Cognigen Corporation  5,554            5,554 
Total $12,384  $4,022  $3,564  $2  $19,972 

 

NOTE 1011 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

During fiscal year 2014,2016 and 2015, included in bonus expenses to officers was $150,000,$121,000, of which $60,000 was accrued bonus representing 5% of the Company’s net income before bonuses and taxes, not exceeding $60,000, paid to the Corporate Secretary, Virginia Woltosz, as an annual bonus as part of the terms of the original sale of Words+ to the Company in 1996. In addition, $60,000$36,000 was accrued under the employment agreement with Walter Woltosz, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The other $30,000, paid in September 2013,Officer, and another $25,000 was expensed as a fiscal year 20132014 performance bonus to Walter Woltosz. Asfor Thaddeus Grasela the Company’s President. These bonuses were accrued as of August 31, 2014, $120,000 was accrued. These amounts were2016 and 2015, and paid in September 2014.the month following the fiscal close.

 

During fiscal year 2013, included in bonus expensesOn September 2, 2014 the Company acquired Cognigen Corporation. The Company incurred a liability of $1,854,404 due to officers was $90,000,the former shareholders of which $60,000 was accrued bonus representing 5%Cognigen Corporation who are currently employees and shareholders of the Company’s net income before bonusesConsolidated Company. (See note 5). This liability was settled in July 2016 with a cash payment of $720,000 and taxes, not exceeding $60,000, paid to the Corporate Secretary, Virginia Woltosz, as an annual bonus as partbalance of the terms of the sale of Words+ to the Company in 1996. The other $30,000, paid in September 2012, was fiscal year 2012 performance bonus to Walter Woltosz, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. As of August 31, 2013, $60,000 was accrued and was paid in September 2013.$1,134,404 stock issuance.

 

NOTE 11 –12 - EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

 

We maintain a 401(k) Plan for eligible employees. We make matching contributions equal to 100% of the employee’s elective deferral, not to exceed 4% of the total employee compensation. We can also elect to make a profit-sharing contribution. We contributed $117,200$219,756 and $104,162$237,300 for fiscal year 20142016 and 2013,2015, respectively.

 

NOTE 13 - ACQUISITION/MERGER WITH COGNIGEN CORPORATION

On July 23, 2014, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Cognigen Corporation (“Cognigen”). On September 2, 2014, the Company consummated the acquisition of all outstanding equity interests of Cognigen pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, with Cognigen merging with and into a newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. We believe the combination of Simulations Plus and Cognigen provides substantial future potential based on the complementary strengths of each of the companies.

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SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. & SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 20142016 and 20132015

 

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, as described below, the Company will pay the former shareholders of Cognigen total consideration of $7,000,000, consisting of $2,800,000 of cash and $4,200,000 worth of newly issued, unregistered shares of the Company’s common stock.

On September 2, 2014, the Company paid the former shareholders of Cognigen a total of $5,200,000, comprised of cash in the amount of $2,080,000 and the issuance of 491,159 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $3,120,000 (under the terms of the Merger Agreement a price of approximately $6.35 dollars per share was used based upon the volume-weighted average closing price of the Company’s shares of common stock for the 30-consecutive-trading-day period ending two trading days prior to September 2, 2014). The actual stock price at September 2, 2014 was $6.67, so the total value of the stock issued was approximately $3,277,000. The Merger Agreement provides for a two-year market standoff period in which the newly issued shares may not be sold by the recipients thereof.

Within three business days following the two-year anniversary of July 23, 2014 (the date of the Merger Agreement) and subject to any offsets, the Company will pay the former shareholders of Cognigen a total of $1,800,000, comprised of $720,000 of cash and the issuance of 170,014 shares of stock valued at $1,080,000 under the formula described above.

The Merger Agreement provided for a targeted working capital adjustment to be made 120 days after the closing date.

Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total estimated purchase price is allocated to Cognigen’s tangible and intangible assets and liabilities based on their estimated fair values at the date of the completion of the acquisition (September 2, 2014). The following table summarizes the preliminary allocation of the purchase price for Cognigen:

Assets acquired, including accounts receivable of $934,000 and estimated Contracts receivable of $398,000 $1,524,389 
Fixed assets acquired  458,351 
Estimated value of software acquired  200,000 
Estimated value of Intangibles acquired (Customer Lists, trade name etc.)  1,600,000 
Working Capital Adjustment  (26,707)
Current Liabilities assumed  (644,499)
Goodwill  4,789,248 
Estimated Deferred income taxes  (662,500)
     
Total Consideration $7,238,282 

Goodwill has been provided in the transaction based on estimates of future earnings of this subsidiary including anticipated synergies associated with the positioning of the combined company as a leader in model-based drug development. Based on the structure of the transaction, the Company does not anticipate benefiting from any tax deductions in future periods for recognized goodwill.

 

NOTE 12 –14 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Dividend Declared

 

On October 28, 2014,31, 2016, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share to our shareholders. The dividend waswill be distributed on Friday,Thursday, November 14, 2014,17, 2016, for shareholders of record as of Friday,Thursday, November 7, 2014.

Acquisition/Merger with Cognigen Corporation

On July 23, 2014, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Cognigen Corporation (“Cognigen”). On September 2, 2014, the Company consummated the acquisition of all outstanding equity interests of Cognigen pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, with Cognigen merging with and into a newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. We believe the combination of Simulations Plus and Cognigen provides substantial future potential based on the complementary strengths of each of the companies.

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, as described below, the Company will pay the former shareholders of Cognigen total consideration of $7,000,000, consisting of $2,800,000 of cash and $4,200,000 worth of newly issued, unregistered shares of the Company’s common stock.

On September 2, 2014, the Company paid the former shareholders of Cognigen a total of $5,200,000, comprised of cash in the amount of $2,080,000 and the issuance of 491,159 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $3,120,000 (under the terms of the Merger Agreement a price of approximately $6.35 dollars per share was used based upon the volume-weighted average closing price of the Company’s shares of common stock for the 30-consecutive-trading-day period ending two trading days prior to September 2, 2014). The actual stock price at September 2, 2014 was $6.67, so the total value of the stock issued was approximately $3,276,000. The Merger Agreement provides for a two-year market standoff period in which the newly issued shares may not be sold by the recipients thereof.

Within three business days following the two year anniversary of July 23, 2014 (the date of the Merger Agreement) and subject to any offsets, the Company will pay the former shareholders of Cognigen a total of $1,800,000, comprised of $720,000 of cash and the issuance of 170,014 shares of stock valued at $1,080,000 under the formula described above.

The Merger Agreement provides for a targeted working capital adjustment to be made 120 days after the closing date. Currently the amount of this adjustment has been preliminarily estimated to be $307,086 and is included in the following table showing estimated assets, liabilities, and total consideration.10, 2016.

 

SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2014 and 2013

Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total estimated purchase price is allocated to Cognigen’s tangible and intangible assets and liabilities based on their estimated fair values at the date of the completion of the acquisition (September 2, 2014). The following table summarizes the preliminary allocation of the purchase price for Cognigen:

Assets acquired, including accounts receivable of $934,000 and estimated Contracts receivable of $530,000 $1,719,579 
Fixed assets acquired  480,000 
Estimated value of software acquired  200,000 
Estimated value of Intangibles acquired (Customer Lists, trade name etc.)  1,600,000 
Estimated amount due to sellers - Working Capital Adjustment  (307,086)
Current Liabilities assumed  (644,499)
Goodwill  4,209,571 
     
Total Consideration $7,257,565 

Goodwill has been provided in the transaction based on estimates of future earnings of this subsidiary including anticipated synergies associated with the positioning of the combined company as a leader in model-based drug development.

The accounting for this acquisition has not been completed, as further valuations and analyses are required to establish beginning fair market values and the implication on deferred taxes. The amounts shown are provisional, anddo not include any adjustments for liabilities that will result from integration activities related to the acquisition. Additional assets or liabilities may be recorded that could affect the amounts. During the measurement period, any such adjustments to provisional amounts would increase or decrease goodwill. Adjustments that occur after the end of the measurement period will be recognized in the post-combination current period operations.

Option Activity

On September 24, 2014 the Board of Directors granted options to purchase 500 shares of the Company’s common stock to each of the employees of Cognigen. Each option has an exercise price of $6.85 per share, vests at a rate of 20% per year over the first 5 years and expires on September 24, 2024.

 

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