Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity is the ability of a company to generate funds to support its current and future operations, satisfy its obligations, and otherwise operate on an ongoing basis. Significant factors in the management of liquidity are funds generated by operations, levels of accounts receivable and accounts payable and capital expenditures.

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $154,000 of cash, total current assets of $4,033,000 and total current liabilities of $11,581,000 creating a working capital deficit of $7,548 thousand. Current assets as of December 31, 2018 consisted of $154,000 of cash, marketable securities in the amount of $79,000, accounts receivable net of allowance of $3,673,000 and other current assets of $127,000.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $93,000 of cash, total current assets of $7,935,000 and total current liabilities of $14,649,000 creating a working capital deficit of $6,714,000. Current assets as of December 31, 2017 consisted of $93,000 of cash, accounts receivable net of allowance of $7,632,000 and other current assets of $210,000

The decrease in our working capital deficit was mainly attributable to the decrease of $3,959,000 in our trade account receivables and increase of $1,886,000 in our short-term related parties’ payables, which was mitigated by a decrease of $2,384,000 in our trade account payables.

Net cash used in operating activities was $517,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, as compared to cash used in operating activities of $309,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017. The Company’s primary uses of cash have been for professional support, marketing expenses and working capital purposes.

Net cash used in investing activities was $9,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, as compared to net cash generated from investing activities of $134,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $587,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, as compared to approximately $12,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017. We have principally financed our operations through the sale of our common stock and the issuance of debt. Due to our operational losses, we relied to a large extent on funding received from Next Communications, Inc., an organization in which our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman holds a controlling equity interest and holds an executive position. During the first calendar quarter of 2017, Next Communications, Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection. As a result, the related party payable is being handled by a court appointed trustee as an asset of Next Communications, Inc. and the Company may need to begin repaying the amounts due on a more fixed schedule. There was $2,972,000 and $2,920,000 due to Next Communications, Inc as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. As discussed in an 8-K filed with the SEC on February 5, 2019, On January 29, 2019, the United States Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Florida Miami Division approved a Plan of Reorganization for Next Communications, Inc., whereby Cuentas Inc. would pay $600,000 to a specific creditor in consideration from forgiveness of the balance of the payable balance. Our financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern.

These above conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Although we anticipate that cash resources will be available to the Company through its current operations, it believes existing cash will not be sufficient to fund planned operations and projects investments through the next 12 months. Therefore, we are still striving to increase our sales, attain profitability and raise additional funds for future operations and any meaningful equity or debt financing will likely result in significant dilution to our existing stockholders. There is no assurance that additional funds will be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all.

Our liquidity needs for the next 12 months and beyond are principally for the funding of our operations and the development and the launch of the Cuentas GPR Card. Based on the foregoing, On February 28, 2019, The Company signed a Binding Term Sheet with Optima Fixed Income LLC (“Optima”) for a total investment of $2,500,000over one year and received the first deposit of $500,000on the same date. Management believes that those funds will provide the required financing of the operations of the Company and the launch of the Cuentas GPR Card. Nevertheless, the Company is continuing to engage in various strategies to ensure the continuance of operations for the foreseeable future. 

Since inception, we have financed our cash flow requirements through issuance of common stock, related party advances and debt. As we expand our activities, we may, and most likely will, continue to experience net negative cash flows from operations. Additionally, we anticipate obtaining additional financing to fund operations through common stock offerings, to the extent available, or to obtain additional financing to the extent necessary to augment our working capital. In the future we need to generate sufficient revenues from sales in order to eliminate or reduce the need to sell additional stock or obtain additional loans. There can be no assurance we will be successful in raising the necessary funds to execute our business plan.

We anticipate that we will incur operating losses in the next twelve months. Our lack of operating history makes predictions of future operating results difficult to ascertain. Our prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in their early stage of development, particularly companies in new and rapidly evolving markets. Such risks for us include, but are not limited to, an evolving and unpredictable business model and the management of growth.

To address these risks, we must, among other things, implement and successfully execute our business and marketing strategy surrounding our Cuentas braded general-purpose reloadable cards, continually develop and upgrade our website, respond to competitive developments, lower our financing costs and specifically our accounts receivable factoring costs, and attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in addressing such risks, and the failure to do so can have a material adverse effect on our business prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements and does not anticipate entering into any such arrangements in the foreseeable future.

Impact of Inflation

The Company does not expect inflation to be a significant factor in operation of the business.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

There are no off-balance sheet arrangements between the Company and any other entity that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future effect on financial conditions, changes in financial conditions, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to stockholders.

Critical Accounting Policies

The methods, estimates and judgments we use in applying our accounting policies have a significant impact on the results we report in our financial statements, which we discuss under the heading “Results of Operations” following this section of our MD&A. Some of our accounting policies require us to make difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain.

We set forth below those material accounting policies that we believe are the most critical to an investor’s understanding of our financial results and condition and that require complex management judgment.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“‘US GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. As applicable to the consolidated financial statements, the most significant estimates and assumptions relate to allowances for impairment of goodwill, impairment of intangible assets, fair value of stock-based compensation and fair value calculations related to embedded derivative features of outstanding convertible notes payable and Going Concern.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess cost over the fair value of the assets of an acquired business. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a business combination accounted for as a purchase and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized but are tested for impairment at least annually. Intangible assets with estimable useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values and reviewed periodically for impairment. The Company evaluates the possible impairment of goodwill annually as part of its reporting process for the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. The Company determines the fair value of each subsidiary the goodwill relates to and compares the fair value to the carrying amount of the subsidiary. To the extent the carrying amount of the subsidiary exceeds the fair value of it, an impairment loss is recorded.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

In accordance with ASC Topic 360, formerly SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, the Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be fully recoverable. The assessment of possible impairment is based on the Company’s ability to recover the carrying value of its asset based on estimates of its undiscounted future cash flows. If these estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset, an impairment charge is recognized for the difference between the asset’s estimated fair value and its carrying value.

Derivative Liabilities and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value accounting requires bifurcation of embedded derivative instruments such as conversion features in convertible debt or equity instruments and measurement of their fair value for accounting purposes. In assessing the convertible debt instruments, management determines if the convertible debt host instrument is conventional convertible debt and further if there is a beneficial conversion feature requiring measurement. If the instrument is not considered conventional convertible debt under ASC 470, the Company will continue its evaluation process of these instruments as derivative financial instruments under ASC 815.

Once determined, derivative liabilities are adjusted to reflect fair value at each reporting period end, with any increase or decrease in the fair value being recorded in results of operations as an adjustment to fair value of derivatives.

Fair value of certain of the Company’s financial instruments including cash, accounts receivable, account payable, accrued expenses, notes payables, and other accrued liabilities approximate cost because of their short maturities. The Company measures and reports fair value in accordance with ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure” defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value investments.

Fair value, as defined in ASC 820, is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value of an asset should reflect its highest and best use by market participants, principal (or most advantageous) markets, and an in-use or an in-exchange valuation premise. The fair value of a liability should reflect the risk of nonperformance, which includes, among other things, the Company’s credit risk.

Valuation techniques are generally classified into three categories: the market approach; the income approach; and the cost approach. The selection and application of one or more of the techniques may require significant judgment and are primarily dependent upon the characteristics of the asset or liability, and the quality and availability of inputs. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value under ASC 820 must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. ASC 820 also provides fair value hierarchy for inputs and resulting measurement as follows:

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; and

Level 3: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability that are supported by little or no market activity, and that are significant to the fair values.

Fair value measurements are required to be disclosed by the Level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements in their entirety fall. Fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (in Level 3 measurements) are subject to expanded disclosure requirements including a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances, separately presenting changes during the period attributable to the following: (i) total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), segregating those gains or losses included in earnings, and a description of where those gains or losses included in earning are reported in the statement of income.

The Company records a debt discount related to the issuance of convertible debts that have conversion features at adjustable rates. The debt discount for the convertible instruments is recognized and measured by allocating a portion of the proceeds as an increase in additional paid-in capital and as a reduction to the carrying amount of the convertible instrument equal to the fair value of the conversion features. The debt discount will be accreted by recording additional non-cash gains and losses related to the change in fair values of derivative liabilities over the life of the convertible notes.

Revenue recognition

The Company follows paragraph 605-10-S99 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification for revenue recognition. The Company will recognize revenue when it is realized or realizable and earned. The Company considers revenue realized or realizable and earned when all the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) the product has been shipped or the services have been rendered to the customer, (iii) the sales price is fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. The Company primarily generates revenues through the brokering of sales of minutes from one telecommunications carrier to another through Limecom and to a lesser extent the sales of prepaid calling minutes to consumers through its Tel3 division. While the Company collects payment for such minutes in advance, revenue is recognized upon delivery to and consumption of minutes by the consumer. Minutes are forfeited buy the consumer after 12 consecutive months of non-use at which point the Company recognizes revenue from the forfeiture of prepaid minutes. Next Cala generated revenues from commissions earned from Incomm, a leading financial services provider, and NxtGn generated revenues from the sale of voice over IP platform software during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company applies ASC 718-10, “Share-Based Payment,” which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expenses for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors (including employee stock options under the Company’s stock plans) based on estimated fair values.

ASC 718-10 requires companies to estimate the fair value of equity-based payment awards on the date of grant. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as an expense over the requisite service periods in the Company’s statement of operations.

The Company recognizes compensation expenses for the value of non-employee awards based on the straight-line method over the requisite service period of each award, net of estimated forfeitures.

The Company estimates the fair value of stock options granted as equity awards using a Black-Scholes options pricing model. The option-pricing model requires a number of assumptions, of which the most significant are share price, expected volatility and the expected option term (the time from the grant date until the options are exercised or expire). Expected volatility is estimated based on volatility of similar companies in the technology sector. The Company has historically not paid dividends and has no foreseeable plans to issue dividends. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield from governmental zero-coupon bonds with an equivalent term. The expected option term is calculated for options granted to employees and directors using the “simplified” method. Grants to non-employees are based on the contractual term. Changes in the determination of each of the inputs can affect the fair value of the options granted and the results of operations of the Company.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards  

On February 14, 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The amendments in this Update allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The amendments in this Update affect any entity that is required to apply the provisions of Topic 220, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income, and has items of other comprehensive income for which the related tax effects are presented in other comprehensive income as required by GAAP. The amendments in this Update are effective for all organizations for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Organizations should apply the proposed amendments either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is recognized.

On March 9, 2018 the FASB issued ASU 2018-04, Investments—Debt Securities (Topic 320) and Regulated Operations (Topic 980): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 117 and SEC Release No. 33-9273 (SEC Update). The amendments in this Update supersedes various SEC paragraphs and adds an SEC paragraph pursuant to the issuance of Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 117. This amendment is effective upon issuance.

On March 14, 2018 the FASB issued Income Taxes (Topic 740): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118. This amendment is effective upon issuance.

In June 2018, the FASB issued Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The amendments in this Update expand the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. The amendments in this Update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than an entity’s adoption date of Topic 606.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements. The amendments in this Update related to separating components of a contract affect the amendments in Update 2016-02, which are not yet effective but can be early adopted. For entities that have not adopted Topic 842 before the issuance of this Update, the effective date and transition requirements for the amendments in this Update related to separating components of a contract are the same as the effective date and transition requirements in Update 2016-02. For entities that have adopted Topic 842 before the issuance of this Update, the transition and effective date of the amendments related to separating components of a contract in this Update are as follows: 1. The practical expedient may be elected either in the first reporting period following the issuance of this Update or at the original effective date of Topic 842 for that entity. 2. The practical expedient may be applied either retrospectively or prospectively. All entities, including early adopters, that elect the practical expedient related to separating components of a contract in this Update must apply the expedient, by class of underlying asset, to all existing lease transactions that qualify for the expedient at the date elected.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820)—Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The amendments in this Update improve the effectiveness of fair value measurement disclosures and modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, based on the concepts in FASB Concepts Statement, Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting—Chapter 8: Notes to Financial Statements, including the consideration of costs and benefits. The amendments in this ASU are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. Early adoption is permitted.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The amendments in this Update align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). Accordingly, the amendments require an entity (customer) in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract to follow the guidance in Subtopic 350-40 to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset related to the service contract and which costs to expense. For public business entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance to determine the impact it may have on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The amendments apply to reporting entities that are required to make disclosures about recurring or nonrecurring fair value measurements and should improve the cost, benefit, and effectiveness of the disclosures. ASU 2018-13 categorized the changes into those disclosures that were removed, those that were modified, and those that were added. The primary disclosures that were removed related to transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 investments, along with the policy for timing of transfers between levels. In addition, disclosing the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements was removed. The amendments are effective for all organizations for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance to determine the impact it may have on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-18 “Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808)—Clarifying the interaction between Topic 808 and Topic 606”. The amendments provide guidance on whether certain transactions between collaborative arrangement participants should be accounted for as revenue under ASC 606. It also specifically (i) addresses when the participant should be considered a customer in the context of a unit of account, (ii) adds unit-of-account guidance in ASC 808 to align with guidance in ASC 606, and (iii) precludes presenting revenue from a collaborative arrangement together with revenue recognized under ASC 606 if the collaborative arrangement participant is not a customer. The guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted and should be applied retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance to determine the impact it may have on its consolidated financial statements.

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements upon adoption.