Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v3.21.2
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  
Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. Management’s opinion is that all adjustments (consisting of normal accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending September 30, 2021. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2020 and related notes thereto in the Form S–1 filed on May 28, 2021 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Reclassification

Reclassification

Certain amounts in prior periods related to the classification of disaggregated revenue have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the previously reported net loss.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, current business factors, and various other assumptions that the Company believes are necessary to consider to form a basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities, the recorded amounts of revenue and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company is subject to uncertainties such as the impact of future events, economic and political factors, and changes in the Company’s business environment; therefore, actual results could differ from these estimates. Accordingly, the accounting estimates used in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements will change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is obtained and as the Company’s operating environment evolves.

Changes in estimates are made when circumstances warrant. Such changes in estimates and refinements in estimation methodologies are reflected in reported results of operations; if material, the effects of changes in estimates are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. Significant estimates and assumptions by management include the allowance for doubtful accounts, the carrying value of long-lived assets, the carrying value of intangible assets, the fair value of warrant liabilities, revenue recognition, contingencies, the provision for income taxes and related deferred tax accounts and the fair value of stock options and other stock-based awards.

Emerging Growth Company

Emerging Growth Company

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected to use such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s consolidated financial statements with another public company that is not an emerging growth company or is an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period, difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

Warrant Liability

Warrant Liability

The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”) and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own common shares and whether the warrant holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of the Company’s control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the warrants are outstanding.

For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance, and each balance sheet date thereafter. The Company accounts for the warrants issued in connection with its Initial Public Offering in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40-15-7D, 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 at each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less on their acquisition date as cash and cash equivalents. Restricted cash consists principally of Company funds on deposit with a financial institution, which supports a letter of credit by the financial institution in favor of the Company’s obligations to the United States Department of Transportation as well as deposits posted for collateral with certain of the Company’s vendors.

Short Term Investments

Short Term Investments

Short-term investments consist of highly liquid investments available for sale. As of June 30, 2021, short-term investments consisted of available-for-sale traded debt securities funds, which are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported, net of tax, in accumulated Other Comprehensive Income(loss), unless unrealized losses are determined to be unrecoverable. Realized gains and losses on the sale of securities are determined by specific identification. The Company considers all available-for-sale securities, as available to support current operational liquidity needs and, therefore, classifies all securities as current assets within short-term investments on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. These short-term investments are excluded from disclosure under “fair value of financial instruments” due to the Net Asset Value practical expedient.

Concentrations

Concentrations

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consists principally of cash amounts on deposit with financial institutions. At times, the Company’s cash in banks is in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limit. The Company has not experienced any loss as a result of these deposits.

Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Concentrations (Continued)

Major Customers

For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, there was no single customer that generated 10% or more of the Company’s revenue.

Most of the Company’s customers remit payment in advance of the date of the flight. Accounts receivable consists principally of amounts due from the Company’s MediMobility organ transport customers, which are large hospitals that receive terms for payment, along with receivables from our credit card processors. Three of these customers accounted for 29%, 25%, and 16%, respectively, of accounts receivable as of June 30, 2021 and three customers accounted for 36%, 29% and 10%, respectively, of accounts receivable as of September 30, 2020. These concentrations make the Company vulnerable to a near-term severe impact should these relationships be terminated. To limit such risks, the Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition.

Major Vendors

Three vendors accounted for 16%, 12%, and 12% of the Company’s purchases from operating vendors for the three months ended June 30, 2021. For the three months ended June 30, 2020, one vendor accounted for 12% of the Company’s purchases from operating vendors.

No vendor accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s purchases from operating vendors for the nine months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.

Three vendors accounted for 26%, 22%, and 11% of the Company’s outstanding accounts payable as of June 30, 2021. One vendor accounted for 26% of the Company’s outstanding accounts payable as of September 30, 2020.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consists principally of amounts due from the Company’s MediMobility organ transport customers, which are large hospitals that receive terms for payment. Receivables are reviewed on a regular basis for collectability. Based upon these reviews and historical collection experience, the Company determined that no allowance for uncollectible accounts was required at June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020.

Joint Venture

Joint Venture

Investments in joint arrangements are classified as joint ventures. Joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method. Under the equity method of accounting, interests in joint ventures are initially recognized at cost and adjusted thereafter to recognize the Company’s share of the profits and losses. When the Company’s share of losses in a joint venture equals or exceeds its interests in the joint venture, the Company does not recognize further losses, unless it has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the joint venture.

When the Company’s investment in the joint venture does not qualify for accounting under the equity method because the Company does not have sufficient control or influence, then, except as provided for below, the investment in the joint venture would be accounted for at fair value.

Specifically, ASC 321-10-35-2 states, in part, that an entity may measure an equity security without a readily determinable fair value that does not qualify for the practical expedient to estimate fair value in accordance with paragraph 820-10-35-59 at its cost minus impairment, if any. As such, the Company has recorded its investment in the joint venture at cost less impairment, if any (See Note 4).

Net Loss per Common Share

Net Loss per Common Share

Basic loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, plus the impact of common shares, if dilutive, resulting from the exercise of outstanding stock options, restricted shares and the warrants.

At June 30, 2021 and 2020, the following outstanding Common Stock equivalents have been excluded from the calculation of net loss per share because their impact would be anti-dilutive.

    

For the Three and Nine Months Ended June 30,

    

2021

    

2020

Warrants to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock

14,166,667

Options to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock

 

9,689,826

 

8,486,974

Restricted shares of Class A Common Stock

 

703,137

 

Total potentially dilutive securities

 

24,559,630

 

8,486,974

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The core principle of the revenue standard is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods and services transferred to the customer. The following five steps are applied to achieve that core principle:

Step 1: Identify the contract with the customer

Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract

Step 3: Determine the transaction price

Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract

Step 5: Recognize revenue when the company satisfies a performance obligation

The Company does not have any significant contracts with customers requiring performance beyond delivery.

For passenger revenue, seats or monthly or annual flight passes are typically purchased using the Blade App, and paid for via credit card transactions, wire, check, customer credit and gift cards, with payments principally collected by the Company in advance of the performance of related services. The Company initially records flight sales in its unearned revenue, deferring revenue recognition until the travel occurs. Unearned revenue from gift card purchases is recognized as revenue when a flight is flown or upon the expiration of the gift card. Unearned revenue from the Company’s monthly commuter pass and annual pass is recognized ratably over the term of the pass. For travel that has more than one flight segment, the Company deems each segment as a separate performance obligation and recognizes revenue for each segment as travel occurs. Fees charged in association with add-on services or changes or extensions to non-refundable seats sold are considered part of the Company's passenger performance obligation. As such, those fees are deferred at the time of collection and recognized at the time the travel is provided.

As of June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020, the Company's balance in its deferred revenue is $5,266 and $3,973, respectively. Deferred revenue consists of unearned revenue, prepaid monthly and annual flight passes, customer credits, and gift card obligations. Unearned revenue represents principally the flight revenues received in advance of the actual flight. Customer credits represents unearned revenue for flights reservations that typically were cancelled for good reason by the customer. The customer has one year to use the credit as payment for a future flight with the Company. Gift cards represent prepayment of flight costs. The Company recognizes revenue for expired customer credits upon expiration.

Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Revenue Recognition (Continued)

Certain governmental taxes are imposed on the Company's flight sales through a fee included in flight prices. The Company collects these fees and remits them to the appropriate government agency. These fees are excluded from revenue.

The Company’s quarterly financial data is subject to seasonal fluctuations. Historically, its third and fourth quarter (quarters ended on June 30 and September 30) financial results have reflected higher travel demand, and were better than the first and second quarter financial results.

Blade operates in three key lines of business:

Short Distance – Consisting primarily of flights: (i) between 60 and 100 miles in distance, largely servicing commuters with prices between $595 and $795 per seat and (ii) between New York area airports and dedicated Blade terminals in Manhattan’s heliports for $195 per seat (or $95 per seat with the purchase of an annual Airport Pass for $795). Prices per seat presented at full dollar value and not rounded.
MediMobility Organ Transport and Jet – Consisting of transportation of human organs for transplant, non-medical jet charter and, by-the-seat, jet flights between New York and both Miami and Aspen.
Other – Consists principally of revenues from brand partners for exposure to Blade fliers and certain ground transportation services.

Disaggregated revenue by product line was as follows:

 

For the Three Months Ended

June 30, 

Product Line

    

2021

    

2020

Short distance

$

5,721

$

629

MediMobility organ transport and jet

 

6,500

 

2,636

Other

 

730

 

173

Total Revenue

$

12,951

$

3,438

    

For the Nine Months Ended

June 30, 

Product Line

    

2021

    

2020

Short distance

$

8,900

$

5,767

MediMobility organ transport and jet

 

19,753

 

9,089

Other

 

1,557

 

259

Total Revenue

$

30,210

$

15,115

Advertising

Advertising

Advertising costs, which are included in selling and marketing expenses, are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs were $383 and $138 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Advertising costs were $1,093 and $1,019 for the nine months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue consists principally of flight costs paid to operators of aircraft under contractual arrangements with Blade and landing fees.

Software Development Costs for Internal Use

Software Development Costs for Internal Use

Costs incurred for the development of the Company’s internal use software are expensed as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation - Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 establishes accounting for stock-based awards exchanged for employee and consultant services. Under the provisions of ASC 718, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant). The fair value of the Company’s stock options are estimated using the Black Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: fair value of the Company’s common stock, expected volatility, dividend rate, risk free interest rate and the expected life. The Company utilized a third party to determine the fair value of the Company’s common stock. The Company calculates the expected volatility using the historical volatility for a pool of peer companies over the most recent period equal to the expected term and evaluates the extent to which available information indicate that future volatility may differ from historical volatility. The expected dividend rate is zero as the Company does not expect to pay or declare any cash dividends on its common stock. The risk-free rates for the expected terms of the stock options are based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The Company has not experienced significant exercise activity on stock options. Due to the lack of historical information, the Company determined the expected term of its stock option awards issued using the simplified method. The simplified method assumes each vesting tranche of the award has a term equal to the midpoint between when the award vests and when the award expires. The Company recognizes forfeitures at the time the forfeiture occurs.

Restricted stock awards are granted at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors. These awards are restricted as to the transfer of ownership and generally vest over the requisite service period.

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, FASB issued ASU 2019-12 Simplification of Income Taxes (Topic 740) Income Taxes. ASU 2019-12 simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify U.S. GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. ASU 2019-12 is effective for public companies for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The standard will apply as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2019-12 on the Company’s financial statements and disclosures.

Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements (Continued)

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, “Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging— Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40).” The objective of this update is to simplify the accounting for convertible preferred stock by removing the existing guidance in ASC 470-20, “Debt: Debt with Conversion and Other Options,” that requires entities to account for beneficial conversion features and cash conversion features in equity, separately from the host convertible debt or preferred stock. The guidance in ASC 470-20 applies to convertible instruments for which the embedded conversion features are not required to be bifurcated from the host contract and accounted for as derivatives. In addition, the amendments revise the scope exception from derivative accounting in ASC 815-40 for freestanding financial instruments and embedded features that are both indexed to the issuer’s own stock and classified in stockholders’ equity, by removing certain criteria required for equity classification. These amendments are expected to result in more freestanding financial instruments qualifying for equity classification (and, therefore, not accounted for as derivatives), as well as fewer embedded features requiring separate accounting from the host contract. This amendment also further revises the guidance in ASU 260, “Earnings per Share,” to require entities to calculate diluted earnings per share (EPS) for convertible instruments by using the if-converted method. In addition, entities must presume share settlement for purposes of calculating diluted EPS when an instrument may be settled in cash or shares. The amendments in ASU 2020-06 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2020-06 to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.