Local Bounti Corporation Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to the valuation of instruments issued for stock-based compensation, the March 2023 Cargill Warrant liability, inventory valuation reserve, valuation of acquired intangibles and goodwill in business combinations, impairment analysis for goodwill and other intangible assets, and income taxes, among others. The Company bases these estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates.

Significant Risks and Uncertainties

The Company is subject to those risks common in the consumer products and agriculture industries and those risks common to early stage development companies, including, but not limited to, the possibility of not being able to successfully develop or market its products, competition, dependence on key personnel and key external alliances, the ability to maintain and establish relationships with current and future vendors and suppliers, the successful protection of its proprietary technologies, compliance with government regulations, and the possibility of not being able to obtain additional financing when needed.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid, short-term investments with an original maturity date of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

The Company maintains its cash with major financial institutions that may at times exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash is restricted through legal contracts or regulations. As described in more detail below, and using terms defined, in Note 9, Financing Obligations, as part of the April 2023 California Facilities Lease transaction, Hollandia delivered to the lessor a letter of credit in an amount equal to $6.5 million as security for the full and faithful performance by Hollandia of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of the California Facilities Lease. In the event of default under the California Facilities Lease, the lessor would have the right to draw on the letter of credit to satisfy any monetary obligations under the California Facilities Lease. The letter of credit will be released after five years, contingent on achieving certain financial metrics as specified in the California Facilities Lease. The $6.5 million for the letter of credit is included in "Restricted cash" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses

Accounts receivable includes billed receivables and is presented net of an allowance for credit losses. Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. In establishing the required allowance, management considers historical losses, current market conditions, customers’ financial condition, the age of the receivables, and current payment patterns. Account balances are written off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The allowance for doubtful accounts represents the Company’s best estimate of the amount of expected credit losses in existing accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $0.1 million and $0.1 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company measures fair value based on the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As such, fair value may be based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The authoritative guidance on fair value measurements establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis whereby inputs used in valuation techniques are assigned a hierarchical level. The following are the hierarchical levels of inputs to measure fair value:

•Level 1—This level consists of quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities.

•Level 2—This level consists of observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets but corroborated by market data.

•Level 3—This level consists of unobservable inputs that are used when little or no market data is available.

A financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

Business Combinations

The purchase consideration of acquisitions is allocated to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated respective fair values. The excess of the fair value of purchase consideration over the fair values of these identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. Goodwill is adjusted for any changes to acquisition date fair value amounts made within the measurement period. Acquisition-related transaction costs are recognized separately from the business combination and expensed as incurred.

Debt Issuance Costs

Debt issuance costs are amortized into interest expense over the terms of the related loan agreements using the effective interest method or other methods which approximate the effective interest method. Debt issuance costs related to debt instruments are presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability.

Inventory

Inventory is carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the weighted average cost method. Inventory write-downs are recorded for shrinkage, damaged, stale and slow-moving items.

The assessment of recoverability of inventories and the amounts of any write-downs are based on currently available information and assumptions about future demand and market conditions. Demand for produce may fluctuate significantly over time, and actual demand and market conditions may be more or less favorable than the Company’s projections. If actual demand is lower than originally projected, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for additions and improvements are capitalized; expenditures for maintenance and repairs that neither materially add to the value of the property nor appreciably prolong its economic life are charged to expense as incurred.

Assets to be disposed of are reported as assets held for sale at the lower of the carrying amount or the asset's fair value less cost to sell and depreciation is ceased. Upon sale or other disposition of an asset, the Company recognizes a gain or loss on disposal measured as the difference between the net carrying amount of the asset and the net proceeds received. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized $4.7 million on loss on disposals, primarily related to construction-in-progress assets related to certain growing technology equipment that will not be utilized in the Company's current facilities under construction or future construction projects, following the Company’s assessment of recent growing process advancements and alignment of its technology across its facilities. Loss on disposals are included in "Selling, general and administrative” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are as follows:


Asset Class			Estimated Useful Life
Greenhouse facility			30 years
Production Equipment			5 to 15 years
Office Equipment			3 years
Leasehold Improvements			Shorter of lease term or useful life of asset

Capitalization of Interest

The Company capitalizes interest on capital projects in accordance with ASC 835-20, Capitalization of Interest, which requires the capitalization of interest costs to get certain assets ready for their intended use. The Company capitalizes interest costs on borrowings during the construction period of major construction projects as part of the cost of the constructed assets. Interest is capitalized based on the interest rate applicable to specific borrowings or the weighted average of the rates applicable to other borrowings during the period. Capitalization of interest ceases when the project is substantially complete and ready for its intended use. The Company amortizes capitalized interest to depreciation expense using the straight-line method over the same lives as the related assets.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets, Net

Definite-lived intangible assets are carried at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives or over the pattern in which the economic benefit is expected to be consumed.

Goodwill

The Company records goodwill when consideration paid in a purchase acquisition exceeds the fair value of the net tangible assets and the identified intangible assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but rather tested for impairment annually during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate impairment may exist.

The Company's impairment tests are based on a single reporting unit structure. The goodwill impairment test consists of one step comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value. Based on the 2023 annual impairment test, the Company determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount and recorded a goodwill impairment of $38.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. See Note 6, Goodwill & Intangible Assets, for more information.

Impairment Assessment

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates intangible assets and other long-lived assets for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. This includes but is not limited to significant adverse changes in business climate, market conditions or other events that indicate an asset's carrying amount may not be recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of each asset to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate. If the undiscounted cash flows used in the test for recoverability are less than the carrying amount of these assets, the carrying amount of such assets is reduced to fair value. The Company did not recognize any impairment of intangible assets and other long-lived assets for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Leases

The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at inception of a contract, and leases are classified at commencement as either operating or finance leases. For operating leases, the Company recognizes a right-of-use ("ROU") asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet. ROU assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and the lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease.

The lease liability is determined as the present value of future lease payments over the lease term. The ROU asset is based on the lease liability adjusted for any prepaid lease payments or lease incentives. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease. These options are included in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate at the recognition date in determining the present value of future payments for leases that do not have a readily determinable implicit rate.

The Company utilizes certain practical expedients and policy elections available under ASC 842. The Company does not recognize right-of-use assets or lease liabilities for short-term leases (leases with an initial term of 12 months or less) and the Company has elected to separate lease and non-lease components for all existing classes of assets.

Operating lease expense for fixed lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease payments to the lessor such as maintenance, utilities, insurance, and real estate taxes are expensed as incurred.

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s principal business is the production and sale of sustainably grown fresh greens through CEA facilities. Revenue is recognized at a point in time when control of the product is transferred or passed to the customer in amounts that reflect the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods. Control over the product generally passes to the customer based upon applicable shipping terms, which typically occurs when products leave the Company’s facilities with the first transportation carrier. Customer contracts do not include more than one performance obligation. Product prices are based on agreed upon rates with customers and do not include financing components or noncash consideration.

Customer contracts do not include more than one performance obligation. Product prices are based on agreed upon rates with customers and do not include a financing component or noncash consideration. Also, the Company’s customer contracts do not include variable consideration and product sales are recorded net of discounts, returns and promotional allowances. Consideration given to customers for cooperative advertising is recognized as a reduction of revenue except to the extent there is a distinct good or service, in which case the expense is classified as selling or marketing expense. Provisions for discounts, returns and promotional allowances were not material at December 31, 2023 and 2022.

The Company’s product sales do not typically include return rights, but the Company may offer in certain cases an assurance-type warranty to refund or replace the product if it does not meet quality specifications and such nonconformity is communicated to the Company within a set number of days of shipment. Refunds are recognized as a reduction of revenue based on a historical rate of experience when the product sale is consummated. Also, an estimate of the cost to replace a returned product is based on a historical rate of experience and recognized as a liability and related expense when the product sale is consummated. Product returns have not been material to date.

The Company does not have unbilled receivable balances arising from transactions with customers. Payment terms are generally between 10 to 30 days.

The Company does not capitalize contract inception costs, as contracts (which are in the form of purchase orders from customers) are one year or less and the Company does not incur significant fulfillment costs requiring capitalization.

The Company has made the accounting policy election to exclude any sales and similar taxes from the transaction price.

Research and Development

Research and development expenses consist primarily of compensation to employees engaged in research and development activities, which include salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation, overhead (including depreciation, utilities and other related allocated expenses), and supplies and services related to the development and testing of the Company's growing processes. Research and development efforts are focused on the development of the Company's processes utilizing its facilities, increasing production yields, developing new leafy green SKUs and value-added products such as grab-and-go salads, and exploring new crops, including spinach, arugula, and berries. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

Derivatives

Equity instruments issued in connection with debt and other equity instruments are required to be evaluated for derivative liability accounting treatment in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. Unless certain exception criteria are met, the freestanding financial instrument or embedded feature must be recognized as a separate liability and subsequently measured on the balance sheet at fair value in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement.

The Company has evaluated the terms and features of its debt and equity instruments and identified a freestanding equity-linked instrument (the March 2023 Cargill Warrant) issued in connection with the Sixth Amendment that did not meet the criteria necessary to qualify for the derivative scope exception. See Note 8, Debt, and Note 11, Fair Value Measurements, for more information related to the Sixth Amendment and the March 2023 Cargill Warrant, respectively. Due to certain provisions that could result in the issuance of additional shares upon settlement, the warrant instrument did not meet the fixed-for-fixed criteria necessary for the instrument to be classified and recorded within equity. As a result, the warrant is accounted for at fair value until settled through exercise or expiration and is classified as a derivative liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2023. The initial $25.7 million fair value of the March 2023 Cargill Warrant was recorded as additional debt discount to the Facilities (as defined below) and a derivative liability in the "Warrant liability" line item of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The change in fair value of the warrant is remeasured each quarter until the instrument is settled or expires with changes in fair value recorded in "Change in fair value of warrant liability" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The fair value of the warrant liability is determined using a Black-Scholes model.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all equity-based awards made to employees, directors, and non-employees, based on estimated fair values recognized over the requisite service period in accordance with ASC 718, Stock-Based Compensation. The Company recognizes compensation expense for all equity-based awards with service vesting requirements on a tranche-by-tranche basis using the accelerated attribution method over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the award’s vesting period. Forfeitures of awards are accounted for in the period in which they occur.

Advertising

Advertising expenses are expensed as incurred. The Company incurred advertising expenses of $1.1 million and $0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Advertising expenses are included in "Selling, general and administrative" expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Under this method, deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for income tax purposes and operating losses carried forward, measured by applying tax rates based on currently enacted tax laws.

Valuation allowances are calculated, when necessary, to reduce the net deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized. Changes in the valuation allowances occurring in subsequent periods are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company recognizes uncertain tax positions based upon its estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due when such estimates are more likely than not to be sustained. Uncertain income tax positions are not recognized if there is less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. The Company reviews the tax reserves as circumstances warrant and adjusts the reserves as events occur that affect its potential liability for additional taxes. The Company follows the applicable guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition with respect to tax positions. The Company reflects interest and

penalties related to income tax liabilities as a component of income tax expense.

Concentrations of Risk and Significant Customers

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents accounts with financial institutions which management believes to be of high-credit quality. The Company is exposed to risk in the event of default by these financial institutions or the issuers of these securities to the extent the balances are in excess of amounts that are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

The Company's receivables are derived from revenue earned primarily from customers located in the United States. The Company provides credit to its customers in the normal course of business and requires no collateral to secure accounts receivable. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts related to estimated credit losses.

Significant customers are those customers who represent 10% or more of total revenue during the year or 10% or more of net accounts receivable at the balance sheet date.

At December 31, 2023, there was one significant customer that accounted for approximately 34% of the Company's accounts receivable. For the year ended December 31, 2023, three individual customers represented more than 10% of total revenue. In aggregate, these customers represented approximately 37% of the Company's revenue.

At December 31, 2022, there were two significant customers that accounted for approximately 28% of the Company's accounts receivable. For the year ended December 31, 2022, two individual customers represented more than 10% of total revenue. In aggregate, these two customers represented approximately 27% of the Company's revenue.

Contingencies

Loss contingencies (other than income tax-related contingencies) arise from actual or possible claims and assessments and pending or threatened litigation that may be brought against the Company by individuals, governments or other entities. Based on the Company's assessment of loss contingencies at each balance sheet date, a loss is recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements if it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.

Segment Reporting

The Company has a single operating and reportable segment. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is its Chief Executive Officer, who reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis for purposes of making operating decisions, assessing financial performance, and allocating resources.

Emerging Growth Company

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 are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The Company qualifies as an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act, and therefore intends to take advantage of certain exemptions from various public company reporting requirements, including delaying adoption of new or revised accounting standards until those standards apply to private companies. The effective dates shown in the Accounting Pronouncements sections shown below reflect the election to use the extended transition period.

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted, Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326), which amends the guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost and available for sale debt securities. For assets held at amortized cost, the amendment eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current U.S. GAAP and, instead, requires an entity to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost of the financial assets to present the net amount expected to be collected. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2023 using the modified retrospective method. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740), which requires disclosure of specific categories and disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation table. The ASU also requires disclosure of disaggregated information related to income taxes paid, income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit, and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations. The standard is effective for the Company for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted and the amendments should be applied on a prospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280), which improves reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The standard is effective for the Company for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 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): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity, which simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liability and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’s own equity. The standard reduces the number of models used to account for convertible instruments, removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception, and requires the if-converted method for calculation of diluted earnings per share for all convertible instruments. The standard is effective for the Company for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2023. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its Consolidated Financial Statements.