ToughBuilt Industries, Inc. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company regularly evaluates estimates and assumptions related recognition of revenue, valuation of accounts receivable, valuation of long-lived assets, going concern assumptions, warrant valuation, inventory reserve, and deferred income tax asset valuation allowances. The Company bases its estimates and assumptions on current facts, historical experience and various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the accrual of costs and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. The actual results experienced by the Company may differ materially and adversely from the Company’s estimates. To the extent there are material differences between the estimates and the actual results, future results of operations will be affected.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with maturity of three months or less at the time of issuance to be cash equivalents. The Company did

not

have any cash equivalents at December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable represent income earned from the sale of tools and accessories for which the Company has not yet received payment. Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and adjusted for amounts management expects to collect from balances outstanding at period-end. The Company estimates the allowance for doubtful accounts based on an analysis of specific accounts and an assessment of the customer’s ability to pay, among other factors. At December 31, 2022

an allowance for doubtful accounts of $

2,918,869

was recorded. As of December 31, 2021, no allowance for doubtful accounts was recorded.

The Company also has an agreement with a third party to be able to receive advance payments for certain accounts receivables, for a specified fee. Under this agreement, the respective customer will repay the third party within a predetermined term. Receivables transferred under this agreement generally meet the requirements to be accounted for as sales in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 860, “

Transfers and Servicing

.” ASC 860 requires that several conditions be met in order to present the transfer of accounts receivable as a sale. The Company has isolated the transferred (sold) assets and has the legal right to transfer its assets (accounts receivable). In addition, control has effectively been transferred.

Inventory

Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the first-in, first-out method. The reported net value of inventory includes finished salable products that will be sold or used in future periods. The Company reserves for obsolete and slow-moving inventory. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were no reserves for obsolete and slow-moving inventory.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation. The Company provides for depreciation on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets which are as follows: furniture 5 years, computers 3 years, production equipment 5 years, auto 5 years, tooling and molds 3 years, application development 3 years and website design in progress 4 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the related assets when they are placed into service. The Company evaluates property and equipment for impairment periodically to determine if changes in circumstances or the occurrence of events suggest the carrying value of the asset or asset group may not be recoverable. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Expenditures which substantially increase the useful lives of the related assets are capitalized.

Long-lived Assets

In accordance with ASC 360, “

Property, Plant, and Equipment

”, the Company tests long-lived assets or asset groups for recoverability when events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. Circumstances which could trigger a review include, but are not limited to: significant decreases in the market price of the asset; significant adverse changes in the business climate or legal factors; accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition or construction of the asset; current period cash flow or operating losses combined with a history of losses or a forecast of continuing losses associated with the use of the asset; and current expectation that the asset will more likely than not be sold or disposed of significantly before the end of its estimated useful life. Recoverability is assessed based on the carrying amount of the asset compared to the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and the eventual disposal of the asset, as well as specific appraisal in certain instances. An impairment loss equal to the excess of the carrying value over the assets fair market value is recognized when the carrying amount exceeds the undiscounted cash flows. The impairment loss is recorded as an expense and a direct write-down of the asset. No impairment loss was recorded during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Common stock purchase warrants

The Company accounts for the common stock purchase warrants in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40, under which the Warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as liabilities. Accordingly, the Company classifies the Warrants as liabilities at their fair value and adjusts the Warrants to fair value in respect of each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until the Warrants are exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the statements of operations.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

The Company adheres to ASC 820

“Fair Value Measurement”,

which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. ASC 820 applies to reported balances that are required or permitted to be measured at fair value under existing accounting pronouncements; accordingly, the standard does not require any new fair value measurements of reported balances.

ASC 820 emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).

	●	Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access.

	●	Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.

●

Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which is typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity.

In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

There were no transfers in our out of Level 3 financial instruments during the years ending December 31, 2022 or 2021.

The fair value of the Company’s warrant liability recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements was determined using a Black-Scholes valuation methodology and the quoted price of the Company’s common stock in an active market, a Level 3 measurement. Volatility was based on the actual market activity of the Company for the period in which the Company was public and its peer group for the remaining period. The expected life was based on the remaining contractual term of the warrants, and the risk-free interest rate was based on the implied yield available on U.S. Treasury Securities with a maturity equivalent to the warrants’ expected life.

The Company calculated the estimated fair value of warrants on the date of issuance and at each subsequent reporting date using the following assumptions:

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2022			For the Year Ended December 31, 2021
Risk-free interest rate		4.06% - 4.32%			0.80% - 1.19%
Contractual term		1.75 – 4.75 years			4.54 – 5 years
Dividend yield		0	%		0	%
Expected volatility		88%-99.5%			56.27%- 88.3%

Warrant and preferred investment option liability

From time to time, the Company sells common stock warrants that are derivative instruments. The Company does not enter into speculative derivative agreements and does not enter into derivative agreements for the purpose of hedging risks.

The fair value of the warrant liability includes the estimated volatility and risk-free rate. The higher/lower the estimated volatility, the higher/lower the value of the debt conversion feature liability. The higher/lower the risk-free interest rate, the higher/lower the value of the debt conversion feature liability.

The table below provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the warrant and preferred investment option liability which is measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):

Balance, January 1, 2021	$	-
Fair value of warrant liability at issuance		7,463,005
Change in the fair value of warrant liability		(2,661,076	)
Balance, December 31, 2021	$	4,801,929

Balance, January 1, 2022	$	4,801,929
Fair value of warrant and preferred investment option liability at issuance		37,687,895
Fair value of warrant and preferred investment option liability upon exercise		(9,610,346	)
Change in the fair value of warrant and preferred investment option liability		(16,763,205	)
Balance, December 31, 2022	$	16,116,273

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenues when product is delivered to the customer, and the ownership is transferred. The Company’s revenue recognition policy is based on the revenue recognition criteria established under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) – Accounting Standards Codification 606

“Revenue From Contracts With Customers

” which has established a five-step process to govern contract revenue and satisfy each element is as follows: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when or as you satisfy a performance obligation. The Company records the revenue once all the above steps are completed. See Note 10 for further information on revenue recognition.

Advertising

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense totaled $4,680,366 and $9,626,374 for the years ending December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Patents

Legal fees and similar costs incurred relating to patents are capitalized and are amortized over their estimated useful life once determined. Such costs amounted to $1,459,232 and $615,439 as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and are included in other assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Amortization is expected to commence during 2023.

Research and development

Expenditures for research activities relating to patents and product development are charged to expense as incurred. Such expenditures amounted to $11,296,948 and $6,980,453 for the years ending December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes following the asset and liability method in accordance with ASC 740 “Income Taxes.” Under such method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. The Company applies the accounting guidance issued to address the accounting for uncertain tax positions. This guidance clarifies the accounting for income taxes, by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the consolidated financial statements as well as provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company classifies interest and penalty expense related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years that the asset is expected to be recovered or the liability settled. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends on the generation of future taxable income during the period in which related temporary differences become deductible. The Company considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in its assessment of a valuation allowance.

During 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was passed, which temporarily removed 80% limitations on net operating loss carryforwards for the years 2019 and 2020.

The Company adopted FASB ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting of Income Taxes,” as of January 1, 2021. ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Stock Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718-10, “

Share-Based Payment

,” which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors including employee stock options, restricted stock units, and employee stock purchases based on estimated fair values. In addition, as of January 1, 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-07,

Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Non-employee Share-Based Payment Accounting

. This ASU simplified aspects of share-based compensation issued to non-employees by making the guidance consistent with accounting for employee share-based compensation. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

The Company estimates the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing formula. This fair value is then amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. The Company’s determination of fair value using an option-pricing model is affected by the stock price as well as assumptions regarding the number of highly subjective variables.

The Company estimates volatility based upon the historical stock price of the comparable companies and estimates the expected term for employee stock options using the simplified method for employees and directors and the contractual term. The risk-free rate is determined based upon the prevailing rate of United States Treasury securities with similar maturities.

The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur rather than applying a prospective forfeiture rate in advance.

Loss Per Share

The Company computes net loss per share in accordance with ASC 260, “

Earnings per Share”

. ASC 260 requires presentation of both basic and diluted net earnings per share (“EPS”) on the face of the statement of operations. Basic EPS is computed by dividing loss available to common shareholders (numerator) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding (denominator) during the period. Diluted EPS gives effect to all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method and convertible preferred stock using the if-converted method. In computing diluted EPS, the average stock price for the period is used in determining the number of shares assumed to be purchased from the exercise of warrants, options, and restricted stock units. Diluted EPS excludes all dilutive potential shares if their effect is anti-dilutive.

Potentially dilutive securities that are not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share because their effect is anti-dilutive are as follows (in common equivalent shares):

	Year Ended
	December 31, 2022		December 31, 2021
Warrants and preferred investment options		11,624,579		281,832
Options and restricted stock units		1,351,271		1,354
Total anti-dilutive weighted average shares		12,975,850		283,186

Segment Reporting

The Company operates one reportable segment referred to as the tools segment. A single management team that reports to the Chief Executive Officer comprehensively manages the business. Accordingly, the Company does not have separately reportable segments.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

As an emerging growth company, the Company has elected to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “

Leases

(Topic 842).” The objective of this update is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and is to be applied utilizing a modified retrospective approach. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2022, and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s stockholders’ equity balance as of January 1, 2022. Due to this adoption of this guidance, the Company now recorded a right-of-use asset and lease liability on its consolidated balance sheet. As a result of the adoption of the new lease accounting guidance, the Company recognized on January 1, 2022 (a) a lease liability of $1,044,828, which represents the present value of the remaining lease payments of existing leases, discounted using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate of 4%, and (b) a right-of-use asset of $1,034,588, which represents the initial lease liability.

In August 2020, the FASB issued “ASU 2020-06, Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40)” (“

ASU 2020-06

”) which simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments. The guidance removes certain accounting models which separate the embedded conversion features from the host contract for convertible instruments. Either a modified retrospective method of transition or a fully retrospective method of transition was permissible for the adoption of this standard. Update No. 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company has adopted ASU 2020-06 as of January 1, 2022, and as a result no longer is required to analyze embedded conversion features for separation from its host contract in convertible instruments.