Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

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Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
3 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

(1) Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

 

Dataram Corporation (the “Company”) is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of large capacity memory products primarily used in high-performance network servers and workstations. The Company provides customized memory solutions for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and compatible memory for leading brands including Dell, HP, IBM and Sun Microsystems. Additionally, the Company manufactures a line of memory products for Intel and AMD motherboard based servers. The Company has developed and currently markets a line of high-performance storage caching products.

 

The Company’s memory products are sold worldwide to OEMs, distributors, value-added resellers and end-users. The Company has one leased manufacturing facility in the United States with sales offices in the United States, Europe and Japan.

 

The Company is an independent memory manufacturer specializing in high-capacity memory and competes with several other large independent memory manufacturers as well as the OEMs mentioned above. The primary raw material used in producing memory boards is dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips. The purchase cost of DRAMs is the largest single component of the total cost of a finished memory board. Consequently, average selling prices for computer memory boards are significantly dependent on the pricing and availability of DRAM chips.

 

Liquidity and Basis of Presentation

 

The information for the three months ended July 31, 2014 and 2013 is unaudited, but includes all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which, in the opinion of management, are necessary to state fairly the financial information set forth therein in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The interim results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full fiscal year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements for the year ended April 30, 2014 included in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The April 30, 2014 balance sheet has been derived from these statements

 

The Company's financial statements are prepared using the accrual method of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business. For the fiscal years ended April 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company incurred losses in the amounts of approximately $2,609,000, $4,625,000 and $3,259,000, respectively. Net cash used in operating activities totaled approximately $1,554,000, $3,882,000 and $1,218,000 for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. In the first quarter of the current fiscal year ended July 31, 2014 the Company incurred losses of approximately $760,000, and used net cash in operations totaled approximately $166,000.

 

On July 15, 2014, the Company entered into a Subordinated Secured Convertible Bridge Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) governing the issuance of $750,000 aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Secured Convertible Bridge Notes (the “Bridge Notes”) and Warrants (the “Warrants”).  The Bridge Notes and Warrants were issued on July 15, 2014.  The Company issued $600,000 aggregate principal amount of the Bridge Notes to certain institutional investors (“Institutional Investors”) and $150,000 aggregate principal amount of the Bridge Notes to certain members of management, officers and directors of the Company (“Management”). The Bridge Notes, which mature on October 15, 2014 (subject to a three-month extension at the option of the holders), are convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock. The initial conversion price for Institutional Investors is $2.50 per share, and the initial conversion price for Management is equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the closing date of the Purchase Agreement, $2.94. The Bridge Notes are secured obligations of the Company and bear interest at a rate of 8% per year. The Warrants are exercisable for five years after the closing date of the Purchase Agreement. For each $1,000 of principal amount of Bridge Notes, the holder received 1,200 Warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock. Each holder is entitled to exercise one-third of all warrants received at an exercise price of $3.00, one-third of all warrants received at an exercise price of $3.50, and one-third of all warrants received at an exercise price that is equal to the closing price on the closing date of the Purchase Agreement, $2.94. Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to register the shares underlying the Bridge Notes and the Warrants.

 

The Company has come to terms with multiple investors for the sale of 1,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (“Preferred Shares”) at $5.00 per share. This transaction is subject to stockholders approval at the Company’s Annual Meeting currently scheduled for October 15, 2014. The closing is to take place as soon as practicable therefore with a minimum purchase of 400,000 shares. The balance is callable by the Company on an as needed basis. The Preferred Shares are convertible into Common Stock at the rate of 2.5 shares of common stock for every 1 share of Preferred Stock. There is no assurance that the stockholders will approve this transaction and a closing will take place.

 

Our continuation as a going concern is dependent upon obtaining the additional working capital necessary to sustain our operations. Management projects the Company currently has sufficient cash and borrowing availability to last into fiscal quarter ending January 31, 2015. Our future is dependent upon our ability to obtain financing, raise capital through the sales of equity and or debt securities and upon future profitable operations. There is no assurance that our current operations will be profitable or we will raise sufficient funds to continue operating. The Company continues to seek out opportunities to trim overhead expenses to meet revenues.

 

If current and projected revenue growth does not meet estimates, the Company may continue to choose to raise additional capital through debt and/or equity transactions, reduce certain overhead costs through the deferral of salaries and other means, and settle liabilities through negotiation. The Company cannot provide assurances that additional financing will be available to it on favorable terms, or at all. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded assets, or the amounts of and classification of liabilities that might be necessary in the event we cannot continue in existence.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, including deferred tax asset valuation allowances and certain other reserves and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically and the effects of revisions are reflected in the consolidated financial statements in the period they are determined to be necessary. Some of the more significant estimates made by management include the allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns, the deferred income tax asset valuation allowance and other operating allowances and accruals. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Engineering and Research and Development

 

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred, including Company-sponsored research and development and costs of patents and other intellectual property that have no alternative future use when acquired and in which we had an uncertainty in receiving future economic benefits. Development costs of a computer software product to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed are subject to capitalization beginning when a product’s technological feasibility has been established and ending when a product is available for general release to customers. Technological feasibility of a computer software product is established when all planning, designing, coding and testing activities that are necessary to establish that the product can be produced to meet its design specifications (including functions, features and technical performance requirements) are completed.

 

The Company has been developing computer software for its storage caching product line. On May 1, 2014, the Company determined that technological feasibility for the product was established, and development costs subsequent to that date totaling approximately $142,000 have been capitalized. Prior to May 1, 2014, the Company expensed all development costs related to this product line.

 

Advertising

 

Advertising is expensed as incurred and amounted to approximately $12,000 in the three months ended July 31, 2014 compared to approximately $45,000 in the comparable prior year period.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company utilizes the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with the provisions of the “Expenses – Income Taxes Topic” of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). Under the asset and liability method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. The Company considers certain tax planning strategies in its assessment as to the recoverability of its tax assets. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period that the tax rate changes. The Company recognizes, in its consolidated financial statements, the impact of a tax position, if that position is more likely than not to be sustained on audit, based on technical merits of the position.  There are no material unrecognized tax positions in the financial statements. As of July 31, 2014, the Company had Federal and state net operating loss (“NOL”) carry-forwards of approximately $25,600,000 and $24,000,000, respectively. These can be used to offset future taxable income and expire between 2023 and 2034 for Federal tax purposes and 2016 and 2034 for state tax purposes. The Company’s NOL carry-forwards are a component of its deferred income tax assets which are reported net of a full valuation allowance in the Company’s consolidated financial statements at July 31, 2014 and April 30, 2014.

 

Net Loss per Share

 

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding during the period. The calculation of diluted loss per share for the three months ended July 31, 2014 and 2013 includes only the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. The denominator excludes the dilutive effect of stock options and warrants outstanding as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

 

The following presents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share for the three month periods ended July 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

    Three Months ended July 31, 2014  
    Loss     Shares     Per share  
    (numerator)     (denominator)     amount  
                   
Basic net loss per share – net loss and weighted average common shares outstanding   $ (759,767 )     2,410,512     $ (.32 )
                         
Effect of dilutive securities – stock options     —         —         —    
Effect of dilutive securities – warrants     —         —         —    
                         
Diluted net loss per share – net loss, weighted average common shares outstanding and effect of stock options and warrants   $ (759,767 )     2,410,512     $ (.32 )

 

    Three Months ended July 31, 2013  
    Loss     Shares     Per share  
    (numerator)     (denominator)     amount  
                   
Basic net loss per share – net loss and weighted average common shares outstanding   $ (881,630 )     1,754,662     $ (.50 )
                         
Effect of dilutive securities – stock options     —         —         —    
Effect of dilutive securities – warrants     —         —         —    
                         
Diluted net loss per share – net loss, weighted average common shares outstanding and effect of stock options and warrants   $ (881,630 )     1,754,662     $ (.50 )

 

Diluted net loss per common share for the three month periods ended July 31, 2014 and 2013 do not include the effect of options to purchase 272,580 and 319,908 shares, respectively, of common stock because they are anti-dilutive. Diluted net loss per common share for the three month periods ended July 31, 2014 and 2013 also do not include the effect of warrants to purchase 1,385,775 and 221,875 shares, respectively, because they are anti-dilutive.

 

Common Stock Repurchases

 

On December 4, 2002, the Company announced an open market repurchase plan providing for the repurchase of up to 83,333 shares of the Company’s common stock. On April 10, 2012, the Company announced the additional authorization to repurchase up to 138,000 shares of the Company’s common stock which at that time made the total available for purchase of up to 166,667 shares. The Company did not purchase shares in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 or fiscal 2014. As of July 31, 2014, the total number of shares authorized for purchase under the program is 136,408 shares.

 

Stock Option Expense

 

a. Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company has a 2001 incentive and non-statutory stock option plan for the purpose of permitting certain key employees to acquire equity in the Company and to promote the growth and profitability of the Company by attracting and retaining key employees. In general, the plan allows granting of up to 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an option price to be no less than the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date such options are granted. Options granted under the plan vest ratably on the annual anniversary date of the grants. Vesting periods for options currently granted under the plan range from one to five years. No further options may be granted under this plan.

 

The Company also has a 2011 incentive and non-statutory stock option plan for the purpose of permitting certain key employees and consultants to acquire equity in the Company and to promote the growth and profitability of the Company by attracting and retaining key employees. No executive officer or director of the Company is eligible to receive options under the 2011 plan. In general, the plan allows granting of up to 33,333 shares of the Company’s common stock at an option price to be no less than the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date such options are granted. Options granted under the plan vest ratably on the annual anniversary date of the grants. Vesting periods for options currently granted under the plan range from one to five years. There have been 25,000 shares granted under this plan.

 

The Company periodically grants nonqualified stock options to non-employee directors of the Company. These options are granted for the purpose of retaining the services of directors who are not employees of the Company and to provide additional incentive for such directors to work to further the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The options granted to these non-employee directors are exercisable at a price representing the fair value at the date of grant and expire either five or ten years after date of grant. Vesting periods for options currently granted range from one to two years.

 

On September 23, 2010, the Company granted Mr. Sheerr, who is employed by the Company as the General Manager of the acquired Micro Memory Bank, Inc. (“MMB”) business unit described in Note 2 and is an executive officer of the Company, nonqualified stock options to purchase 16,667 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to his employment agreement. On September 22, 2011, the Company granted Mr. Sheerr additional nonqualified stock options to purchase 16,667 shares of the Company’s common stock, pursuant to his employment agreement. On July 19, 2012, the Company granted Mr. Sheerr additional nonqualified stock options to purchase 16,667 shares of the Company’s common stock, also pursuant to his employment agreement. The options granted are exercisable at a price representing the fair value at the date of grant and expire five years after date of grant. The options vested in one year.

 

New shares of the Company's common stock are issued upon exercise of stock options.

 

As required by the “Compensation - Stock Compensation” Topic of the FASB, the accounting for transactions in which an enterprise receives employee services in exchange for (a) equity instruments of the enterprise or (b) liabilities that are based on the fair value of the enterprise’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity instruments are accounted for using a fair value-based method with a recognition of an expense for compensation cost related to share-based payment arrangements, including stock options and employee stock purchase plans.

 

Our consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended July 31, 2014 and 2013 include approximately $5,000 and $21,000 of stock-based compensation expense, respectively. These stock option grants have been classified as equity instruments and, as such, a corresponding increase has been reflected in additional paid-in capital in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

 

A summary of option activity for the three months ended July 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

    Shares     Weighted
average
exercise
price
    Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life (1)
    Aggregate
intrinsic
value (2)
 
                                 
Balance April 30, 2014     264,244     $ 12.42       4.46     $ 14,750  
                                 
Granted     0       —         —         —    
Exercised     0       —         —         —    
Expired     0       —         —         —    
Balance July 31, 2014     264,244     $ 12.42       4.21     $ 14,750  
Exercisable July 31, 2014     251,744     $ 12.92       3.98     $ 7,375  
Expected to vest July 31, 2014     251,744     $ 12.42       3.98     $ 7,375  

 

(1) This amount represents the weighted average remaining contractual life of stock options in years.

 

(2) This amount represents the difference between the exercise price and $3.03, the closing price of Dataram common stock on July 31, 2014 as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market, for all in-the-money options outstanding and all the in-the-money shares exercisable.

 

As of July 31, 2014, there was approximately $9,000 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to stock options. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately nine months.

 

b. Other Stock Options

 

On June 30, 2008, the Company granted options to purchase 8,333 shares of the Company’s common stock to a privately held company in exchange for certain patents and other intellectual property. The options granted are exercisable at a price of $15.60 per share, which was the fair value at the date of grant, were 100% exercisable on the date of grant and expire ten years after the date of grant.