Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Policies)

v3.5.0.2
Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]  
Use of Estimates

Use of estimates

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses in the financial statements and disclosures in the accompanying notes. Significant estimates are used for, but are not limited to, revenue recognition, deferred tax assets, liabilities and valuation allowances, fair value of stock options and various accruals. Management evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis. Actual results and outcomes could differ materially from management’s estimates, judgments and assumptions.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses are charged to the statement of operations as incurred. Research and development expenses are comprised of costs incurred in performing research and development activities, including salaries and benefits, facilities costs, pre-clinical and clinical costs, contract services, consulting, depreciation and amortization expense, and other related costs. Costs associated with acquired technology, in the form of upfront fees or milestone payments, are charged to research and development expense as incurred.

Recent Pronouncements

In August 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-15, “Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern” which is intended to define management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an organization’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. Substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern exists when relevant conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, indicate that it is probable that the entity will be unable to meet its financial obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or are available to be issued). ASU No. 2014-15 provides guidance to an organization’s management, with principles and definitions intended to reduce diversity in the timing and content of disclosures commonly provided by organizations in the footnotes of their financial statements. ASU No. 2014-15 is effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. Had this standard been adopted as of September 30, 2016, the Company does not believe it would have been required to make any additional disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)”. Under the amendments in ASU 2016-02 lessees will be required to recognize (i) a lease liability, which is a lessee‘s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and (ii) a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact the adoption of this standard will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, “Revenues from Contract with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)”. The amendments are intended to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations by amending certain existing illustrative examples and adding additional illustrative examples to assist in the application of the guidance. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact the adoption of this standard will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting”. Under the amendments in ASU 2016-09 several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions are simplified, including (i) income tax consequences, (ii) classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and (iii) classification on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for any interim or annual period. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact the adoption of this standard will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU. No. 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing”. The amendments in ASU 2016-10 add further guidance on identifying performance obligations and also to improve the operability and understandability of the licensing implementation guidance. The amendments do not change the core principle of the guidance in Topic 606. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim reporting periods therein. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact the adoption of this standard will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customer (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients”. The amendments in ASU 2016-12 address narrow-scope improvements to the guidance on collectability, noncash consideration, and completed contracts at transition. Additionally, the amendments in this update provide a practical expedient for contract modifications at transition and an accounting policy election related to the presentation of sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from customers. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim reporting periods therein. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact the adoption of this standard will have on its financial statements and related disclosures. Pieris has considered other recent accounting pronouncements and concluded that they are either not applicable to the business, or that the effect is not expected to be material to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as a result of future adoption.