| Summary of significant accounting policies | Summary of significant accounting policies Basis of presentation The consolidated financial statements, which include the Company’s accounts and the accounts of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (or “GAAP”). The Company’s consolidated financial statements included its wholly-owned subsidiaries and Revelar, a variable interest entity ("VIE") for which the Company was the primary beneficiary through September 30, 2022. All intercompany balances and accounts are eliminated in consolidation. To conform with current fiscal year 2024 presentation, we reclassified $6.8 million of impairment of property and equipment included within restructuring and other costs to impairment of long-lived assets in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended September 30, 2023. This reclassification had no impact on our consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended September 30, 2023. Use of estimates The presentation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Such estimates include the valuation of deferred tax assets, stock-based compensation expense, transaction price and progress toward completion of performance obligation under the contracts with customers, determination of the net realizable value of inventory, valuation and useful life of developed technology and customer relationships, valuation assumptions used in the calculation of the impairment of long-lived assets, restructuring costs and incremental borrowing rate for operating leases. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Concentration of credit risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable. Substantially all of the Company’s cash is held with two financial institutions that management believe are of high credit quality. Such deposits may, at times, exceed federally insured limits. The Company’s investment policy addresses the level of credit exposure by establishing a minimum allowable credit rating and by limiting the concentration in any one investment. The Company’s accounts receivable is derived from customers located principally in the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific region ("APAC"). The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and maintains allowances for potential credit losses on customers’ accounts when deemed necessary. The Company does not typically require collateral from its customers. Credit losses historically have not been material. The Company continuously monitors customer payments and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts based on its assessment of various factors including historical experience, age of the receivable balances, and other current economic conditions or other factors that may affect customers’ ability to pay. Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash Cash equivalents that are readily convertible to cash are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original or remaining maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of investments in money market funds as of September 30, 2024 and 2023. Restricted cash represents cash held at financial institutions that are pledged as collateral for stand-by letters of credit for lease commitments. The lease related letters of credit will lapse at the end of the respective lease terms through 2044. (in thousands) September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 Cash and cash equivalents $ 226,316 $ 286,470 Restricted cash, non-current 2,816 2,811 Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 229,132 $ 289,281 Short-term investments The Company invests in various types of securities, including United States government, commercial paper, and corporate debt securities. The Company classifies its investments as available-for-sale and records them at fair value based upon market prices at period end. The Company regularly reviews its short-term investments to identify and evaluate investments that have indications of possible impairment from credit losses or other factors. For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company evaluates whether a current expected credit loss exists based on available information relevant to the credit rating of the security, current economic conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The allowance for credit loss is recorded in other income (expense), net, on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, not to exceed the amount of the unrealized loss. Any excess unrealized loss other than the credit loss is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in the stockholders' equity section of the consolidated balance sheets. There was no allowance for credit losses relating to the short-term investments recognized as of September 30, 2024. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method and realized gains and losses are included in other income (expense), net. Dividend and interest income are recognized when earned. The Company may sell these securities at any time for use in current operations. Accounts receivable and allowance for credit losses Accounts receivables include amounts billed and currently due from customers, recorded at the net invoice value and are not interest bearing. The Company has a short order-to-invoice lifecycle, as most products can be manufactured within one month. Upon delivery of the products to the customer, the Company invoices the customer. The typical timing of payment is net 30 days. If the right to payment for services performed was conditional on something other than the passage of time, the unbilled amount would be recorded as a separate contract asset. The Company is exposed to credit losses primarily through accounts receivable from sales of its products and services. The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses for expected uncollectible accounts receivable and contract assets, which is recorded as an offset to accounts receivable or contract assets and provisions for credit losses are recorded in selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The allowance for current expected credit losses is based on a review of customer accounts and considers historical credit loss information that is adjusted for current economic and business conditions and anticipated future economic events that may impact collectability. In developing its expected credit loss estimate, the Company evaluated the appropriate grouping of accounts receivable and contract assets based upon its evaluation of risk characteristics, including consideration of region and industries of the customers. Specific allowance amounts are established to record the appropriate provision for customers that have a higher probability of default. The allowance for credit losses is reviewed on a regular basis to assess the adequacy of the allowance and once a receivable is deemed to be uncollectible, such balance is charged against the allowance. Allowance for credit losses were $0.7 million and $0.2 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Fair value of financial instruments The Company applies fair value accounting for all financial and non-financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities which are required to be recorded at fair value, we consider the principal or most advantageous market in which we would transact and the market-based risk measurements or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, such as risks inherent in valuation techniques, transfer restrictions and credit risks. See Note 5, Fair value measurements, for more information. The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments including cash equivalents, short term investments, and accounts receivable approximate fair value due to their relatively short maturities. Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is computed using standard cost which approximates actual cost on a first-in, first-out basis. The Company periodically review its inventories to identify obsolete, slow-moving, excess or otherwise unsaleable items. If obsolete, slow-moving, excess or unsaleable items are observed and there are no alternate uses for the inventory, the Company records a write-down to net realizable value through a charge to cost of revenues on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The determination of net realizable value requires judgment, including consideration of many factors, such as estimates of future product demand, past experience, product net selling prices, current and future market conditions, the age and nature of inventories, and potential product obsolescence, among others. Property and equipment Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lesser of the useful life and the remaining lease term of the respective leasehold improvements assets, if any. Upon retirement or sale, the cost of assets disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is credited or charged to operations in the period recognized. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Estimated lives of property and equipment are as follows: Laboratory equipment 5 Years Furniture, fixtures and other equipment 5 Years Computer equipment 3 Years Vehicles 5 Years Computer software 3 Years Leasehold improvements Lesser of useful life or facilities’ lease term Capitalized software held for internal use Costs associated with internal-use software systems during the application development stage are capitalized. Capitalization of costs begins when the preliminary project stage is completed, management has committed to funding the project, and it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used to perform the function intended. Costs include external direct costs of services and applicable personnel costs of employees devoted to specific software application development. Personnel costs consist of salaries, employee benefit costs, bonuses and stock-based compensation expenses. The capitalized amounts are included in property and equipment, net on the consolidated balance sheets. Capitalization ceases at the point when the project is substantially complete and is ready for its intended purpose. Capitalized costs are amortized from the project completion date, using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of the assets. Finite-lived intangible assets Finite-lived intangible assets are recorded at cost, net of accumulated amortization, and, if applicable, impairment charges. Amortization of finite-lived intangible assets is recorded over the assets’ estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis or based on the pattern in which economic benefits are consumed, if reliably determinable. The Company reviews the finite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. See “Impairment of long-lived assets” for additional information. Impairment of long-lived assets The Company's long-lived assets consists of property and equipment, right of use assets and finite-lived intangible assets. The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If indicators of impairment are present, the Company tests for recoverability by comparing the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset over its remaining useful life to the carrying amount of the asset or asset group. If the asset or asset group is determined to be impaired, any excess of the carrying value of the asset or asset group over its estimated fair value is recognized as an impairment loss. Impairment assessments inherently involve judgment as to assumptions about expected future cash flows and the impact of market conditions on those assumptions. See Note 15, Impairment of long-lived assets for the additional information and disclosures related to impairment of long-lived assets. Leases The Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at inception and classifies each lease as operating or financing. Operating lease right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments made during the lease term, net of any tenant improvement allowance. Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. In determining the present value of committed lease payments, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date which includes significant assumptions made including the Company’s estimated credit rating, annual percentage yields from corporate debt financings of companies of similar size and credit rating over a loan term approximating the remaining term of each lease, and government bond yields for terms approximating the remaining term of each lease in countries where the leased assets are located. Certain leases include payments of operating expenses that are dependent on the landlord’s estimate, and these variable payments are therefore excluded from the lease payments used to determine the operating lease right-of-use asset and lease liability. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise any such options. Operating lease right-of-use assets are adjusted for prepaid lease payments, lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. The Company elected to not apply the recognition requirements of Topic 842 to short-term leases with terms of 12 months or less which do not include an option to purchase the underlying asset that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. For short-term leases, lease payments are recognized as operating expenses on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company elected to account for lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. Additional information and disclosures required by Topic 842 are contained in Note 8, Leases . Goodwill Determining when to test for impairment, the reporting unit, the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit, and the fair value of the reporting unit requires significant judgment and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. The Company tests goodwill for impairment in the fourth quarter each year, or more frequently if indicators of an impairment exist. Evaluating goodwill for impairment involves the determination of the fair value of the reporting unit in which goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are recorded using a qualitative or quantitative analysis. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is considered not impaired. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company will record an impairment loss up to the difference between the carrying value and implied fair value . The Company has an unconditional option to bypass the qualitative assessment in any period and proceed directly to performing the first step of the goodwill impairment test. For 2024, the Company elected to proceed directly to the step-one assessment which indicated that the fair value of its single reporting unit substantially exceeded the carrying value . Segment information The Company is a synthetic biology and genomics company that has developed a disruptive DNA synthesis platform to industrialize the engineering of biology and manufactures synthetic genes, tools for next-generation sequencing preparation, and antibody libraries for drug discovery and development and operates as one reportable and operating segment. The Company’s chief operating decision-maker, its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), reviews the Company’s operating results on an aggregate basis for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. Foreign currency transactions and translation The Company's consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars. The functional currency for certain foreign subsidiaries is their local currency. Revenues, expenses, gains and losses for non-U.S. dollar functional currency entities are translated into U.S. dollars using average currency exchange rates for the period. Assets and liabilities for such entities are translated using exchange rates that approximate the rate at the balance sheet date. Foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses on transactions not denominated in functional currency are recorded in Other income (expense), net, on the consolidated statements of operations. Revenue recognition The Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for contracts with customers, the Company performs the following five steps: i. identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; ii. determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; iii. measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; iv. allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations based on estimated selling prices; and v. recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account. See Note 3, Revenue recognition , for detailed discussions of revenue recognition, and how the five steps described above are applied. Cost of Revenue Cost of revenues primarily consists of cost incurred in the production and delivery of the Company's products and consists of production materials, personnel costs, cost of expensed equipment and consumables, laboratory supplies, consulting costs, depreciation, production overhead costs, information technology, maintenance and facility costs. Personnel costs consist of salaries, employee benefit costs, bonuses, and stock-based compensation expenses. In addition, cost of revenue includes royalty costs for licensed technologies included in the Company’s products, and provisions for slow-moving and obsolete inventory. Research and development Research and development expenses consist of compensation costs, employee benefits, subcontractors, research supplies, allocated facility related expenses and allocated depreciation and amortization. All research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs Costs related to advertising and promotions are expensed to sales and marketing as incurred. Advertising and promotion expenses for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, were $5.2 million, $2.9 million and $2.4 million, respectively. Stock-based compensation The Company maintains performance incentive plans under which incentive and nonqualified stock options, performance-based stock options, restricted stock units, performance-based stock units and through employer purchase plan are granted primarily to employees and may be granted to members of the board of directors and certain non-employee consultants, and employees may participate in an employee stock purchase plan. The Company recognizes stock compensation in accordance with the Accounting Standard Codification ("ASC") 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation . ASC 718 requires the recognition of compensation expense, using a fair value-based method, for costs related to all stock-based payments including stock options, restricted stock units and employee stock purchase plan. The Company recognizes fair value of stock options granted to employees and non-employees as a stock-based compensation expense over the period in which the related services are received. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur. The Company believes that the estimated fair value of stock options is more readily measurable than the fair value of the services rendered. For performance-based awards, expense is recognized over the period from the grant date to the estimated attainment date, which is the derived service period of the award, if management determines that it is probable that the performance-based vesting conditions will be achieved. Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders The Company calculates its basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders in conformity with the two-class method required for companies with participating securities. In computing diluted net loss attributable to common stockholders, undistributed earnings are re-allocated to reflect the potential impact of dilutive securities. For purposes of the calculation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, unvested shares of common stock issued upon the early exercise of stock options, shares issuable for employee stock purchase plan contributions received, warrants to purchase common stock, unvested restricted common stock, unvested restricted stock units and stock options to purchase common stock are considered potentially dilutive securities but have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders as their effect is antidilutive. Basic and diluted net loss per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, less shares subject to repurchase, and excludes any dilutive effects of employee stock-based awards and warrants. Because the Company has reported a net loss for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, diluted net loss per common share is the same as the basic net loss per share for those years. Income taxes The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes, in which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which those tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is established if it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company’s tax positions are subject to income tax audits. The Company recognizes the tax benefit of an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the position is sustainable upon examination by the taxing authority, based on the technical merits. The tax benefit recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit which is more likely than not (greater than 50% likely) to be realized upon settlement with the taxing authority. The Company recognizes interest accrued and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in its tax provision. The Company calculates the current and deferred income tax provision based on estimates and assumptions that could differ from the actual results reflected in income tax returns filed in subsequent years. Adjustments based on filed income tax returns are recorded when identified. The amount of income tax paid is subject to examination by U.S. and foreign tax authorities. The estimate of the potential outcome of any uncertain tax issue is subject to management’s assessment of the relevant risks, facts and circumstances existing at that time. To the extent the assessment of such tax position changes, the change in estimate is recorded in the period in which the determination is made. Variable interest entities The Company consolidates a VIE in which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. An entity is generally a VIE if it meets any of the following criteria: (i) the entity has insufficient equity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, (ii) the equity investors cannot make significant decisions about the entity’s operations or (iii) the voting rights of some investors are not proportional to their obligations to absorb the expected losses of the entity or receive the expected returns of the entity and substantially all of the entity’s activities involve or are conducted on behalf of the investor with disproportionately few voting rights. The Company periodically makes judgments in determining whether its investees are VIEs and, for each reporting period, the Company assesses whether it is the primary beneficiary of its VIE. Business combinations The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method. Under the acquisition method, the purchase price of the acquisition is allocated to the acquired tangible and identifiable intangible assets and assumed liabilities based on their estimated fair values at the time of the acquisition. This allocation involves a number of assumptions, estimates, and judgments that could materially affect the timing or amounts recognized in the Company’s financial statements. As a result, the Company may record adjustments to the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed within the measurement period (up to one year from the acquisition date) with the corresponding offset to goodwill. The most subjective areas of the acquisition accounting method include determining the fair value of the following: • identifiable intangible assets, including the valuation methodology, estimates of projected revenues, technology obsolescence, and discount rates, as well as the estimated useful life of the intangible assets; • contingent consideration; and • goodwill, as measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the acquisition date fair value of the assets acquired, including the amount assigned to identifiable intangible assets, and the liabilities assumed. The assumptions and estimates are based upon comparable market data and information obtained from the management of the acquired business. Goodwill is assigned to reporting units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the business combination as of the acquisition date. Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives in a pattern in which the asset is consumed. Acquisition-related costs, including advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other similar costs, are expensed in the periods in which those costs are incurred. The results of operations of acquired businesses are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date. Restructuring and other costs Restructuring and other costs are comprised of employee separation costs and other associated costs primarily related to implementing a plan. Employee separation costs principally consist of one-time termination benefits and contractual termination benefits for severance, other termination benefit costs, and stock-based compensation expense for the acceleration of stock awards. The Company records restructuring charges based on whether the termination benefits are provided under an on-going benefit arrangement or under a one-time benefit arrangement. The Company accounts for on-going benefit arrangements, such as those documented by employment agreements, in accordance with ASC 712, Nonretirement Postemployment Benefits. Under ASC 712, liabilities for post employment benefits are recorded at the time the obligations are probable of being incurred and can be reasonably estimated. The Company accounts for one-time employment benefit arrangements in accordance with ASC 420 Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations. One-time termination benefits are expensed at the date the entity notifies the employee, unless the employee must provide future service, in which case the benefits are expensed ratably over the future service period. Other associated costs are recognized in the period in which the liability is incurred. Recent accounting pronouncements New accounting guidance adopted In June 2016, FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13 “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” and has since modified the standard with several ASUs (collectively, “Topic 326”). Topic 326 requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets. The ASU replaced previous incurred loss impairment guidance and established a single expected credit losses allowance framework for financial assets carried at amortized cost. It also eliminated the concept of other-than-temporary impairment and requires credit losses related to certain available-for-sale debt securities to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. On October 1, 2023, the Company adopted this standard using a modified retrospective approach, which requires a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings to be recognized on the date of adoption and, accordingly, recorded a net increase of $0.1 million to accumulated deficit as of the beginning of fiscal year 2024. In connection with the adoption of Topic 326, the Company made an accounting policy election to not measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivable. New accounting guidance issued but not yet effective In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09 "Income Taxes (Topic 740)". The amendments in this ASU require that public business entities on an annual basis (1) disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation and (2) provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The standard is not expected to have a material impact to the Company's consolidated financial statements. In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07 "Segment Reporting (Topic 280)". The amendments in this ASU improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The standard is not expected to have a material impact to the Company's consolidated financial statements. The Company has evaluated other recently issued accounting pronouncements and has concluded that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on the Comp |
