Blueprint
 
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-K
 
(Mark One)
☑ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018
 
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from _____________ to ______________
 
Commission File No. 000-50956
 
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
 Delaware
 
 20-0653570
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
 
  (IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
Pharma-Bio Serv Building,
#6 Road 696
Dorado, Puerto Rico
 
00646
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
787-278-2709
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐   No ☑
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐   No ☑
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☑    No ☐
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes ☑    No ☐
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☑
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
 
 
Emerging growth company
  
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐   No ☑
 
The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing price for the registrant’s common stock on April 30, 2018 (the last business day of the second quarter of the registrant’s current fiscal year), was $8,003,365.
 
The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of January 25, 2019 was 22,997,883.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement relative to the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III hereof.
 


 
 
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2018
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
Page
PART I
 
 
 
1
4
9
9
10
10
 
 
 
PART II
 
 
11
12
12
18
18
18
19
19
 
 
 
PART III
 
 
20
20
20
20
20
 
 
 
PART IV
 
 
21
22
23
 
 
 
F-1
 
 
 
 
PART I
 
ITEM 1.  BUSINESS.
 
GENERAL
 
Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc. is a Delaware corporation, organized in 2004 under the name Lawrence Consulting Group, Inc. In February 2006, our corporate name was changed to Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc. ("Pharma-Bio" or the “Company”). On January 25, 2006, pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger, Pharma-Bio acquired Pharma-Bio Serv PR, Inc. (“Pharma-PR”). Pharma-PR's business was established as a sole proprietorship in 1993 and incorporated in 1997 to offer compliance consulting services to the pharmaceutical industry. The business operations provide services to the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology, medical devices, cosmetic and food industries, and allied products companies principally in Puerto Rico, the United States, Europe and Brazil.
 
Our executive offices are located at Pharma-Bio Serv Building, #6 Road 696, Dorado, Puerto Rico 00646.  Our telephone number is (787) 278-2709. The financial information about our reporting segments appear in Note N to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Our website is www.pharmabioserv.com. Information on our website or any other website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
References to “we,” “us,” “our” and similar words in this Annual Report on Form 10-K refer to Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
 
OVERVIEW
 
We are a compliance and technology transfer services consulting firm with headquarters in Puerto Rico, servicing the Puerto Rico, United States, Europe and Brazil markets. The compliance consulting service sector in those markets consists of local compliance and validation consulting firms, United States dedicated validation and compliance consulting firms, and large publicly traded and private domestic and foreign engineering and consulting firms. We provide a broad range of compliance related consulting services. We market our services to pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology, medical devices, cosmetic and food industries, and allied products companies in Puerto Rico, the United States, Europe and Brazil. Our consulting team includes experienced engineering and life science professionals, former quality assurance managers and directors, and professionals with bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees in health sciences and engineering.
 
We have a well-established and consistent relationships with the major pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and chemical manufacturing companies in Puerto Rico and the United States, which provides us access to affiliated companies in other markets. We seek opportunities in markets that can yield profitable margins using our professional consulting force.
 
We believe the most significant factors to achieving future business growth include our ability to: (i) continue to provide quality value-added compliance services to our clients; (ii) recruit and retain highly educated and experienced consultants; (iii) further expand our products and services to address the expanding needs of our clients; and (iv) expand our market presence in the United States, Europe, Brazil and other emerging pharmaceutical markets in order to respond to the international compliance needs of our clients and potential clients. Our business is affected to the extent economic conditions impact the decisions of our clients and potential clients to establish operations or to continue or expand their existing operations.
 
Our revenue is derived from (i) time and materials contracts (representing approximately 99% of total revenue), where the clients are charged for the time, materials and expenses incurred on a particular project or service and (ii) fixed-fee contracts or from “not to exceed” contracts (approximately 1% of total revenue), which are generally short-term contracts, in which the value of the contract cannot exceed a stated amount. For time and materials contracts, our revenue is principally a function of the number of consultants and the number of hours billed per consultant. To the extent that our revenue is based on fixed-fee or “not to exceed” contracts, our ability to operate profitably is dependent upon our ability to estimate accurately the costs that we will incur on a project and to manage and monitor the project. If we underestimate our costs on any contract, we could sustain a loss on the contract or its profitability might be reduced.
 
 
1
 
 
The principal components for our consulting costs of services are resource compensation to our consulting team and expenses relating to the performance of the services. In order to ensure that our pricing is competitive yet minimize the impact on our margins, we manage increasing labor costs by (i) selecting consultants according to our cost for specific projects, (ii) negotiating, where applicable, rates with the consultant, (iii) subcontracting labor and (iv) negotiating and passing rate increases to our customers, as applicable. Although this strategy has been successful in the past, we cannot give any assurance that such strategy will continue to be successful.
 
We have established quality systems for our employees which include:
 
● 
Training Programs - including a current Good Manufacturing Practices exam prior to recruitment and periodic refreshers;
 
● 
Recruitment Full Training Program - including employee manual, dress code, time sheets and good project management and control procedures, job descriptions, and firm operating and administration procedures;
 
● 
Safety Program - including Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) and Environmental Health and Safety; and
 
● 
Code of Ethics and Business Conduct - a code of ethics and business conduct is used and enforced as one of the most significant company controls on personal behavior.
 
In addition, we have implemented procedures to respond to client complaints and have in place customer satisfaction survey procedures. As part of our employee performance appraisal annual process, our clients receive an evaluation form for employee project performance feedback, including compliance with our code of ethics and business conduct.
 
During the year ended October 31, 2017 and most of the year ended October 31, 2018, we operated in four reportable segments: (i) Puerto Rico technical compliance consulting, (ii) United States technical compliance consulting, (iii) Europe technical compliance consulting, and (iv) a Puerto Rico microbiological and chemical laboratory testing division (“Lab”). On September 17, 2018, based on a corporate strategy to refocus the Company on consulting services, the Company sold substantially all of its laboratory business assets. As a result of the sale, the Company currently operates three reportable business segments: (i) Puerto Rico technical compliance consulting, (ii) United States technical compliance consulting, and (iii) Europe technical compliance consulting.
 
BUSINESS STRATEGY AND OBJECTIVES
 
We are actively pursuing to expand our services in the United States, European and Brazilian markets as part of our growth strategy, while maintaining our position in the Puerto Rico market. We have a well-established and consistent relationship with the major pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and chemical manufacturing companies in Puerto Rico and the United States which provides us access to affiliated companies in other markets. We seek opportunities in markets that can yield profitable margins using our professional consulting force.
 
Our business strategy is based on a commitment to provide premium quality and professional consulting services and reliable customer service to our customer base. Our business strategy and objectives are as follow:
 
Growth in consulting services in each technical service, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, technology transfer, validation, engineering, and manufacturing departments by achieving greater market penetration from our marketing and sales efforts;
 
Continue to enhance our technical consulting services through internal growth and acquisitions that provide solutions to our customers’ needs;
 
Motivate our consulting and support staff by implementing a compensation program which includes both individual performance and overall company performance as elements of compensation;
 
Create a pleasant corporate culture and emphasize operational quality, safety and timely service;
 
Continue to maintain our reputation as a trustworthy and highly ethical partner; and
 
Efficiently manage our operating and financial costs and expenses.
 
 
2
 
 
TECHNICAL CONSULTING SERVICES
 
We have established a reputation as a premier technical consulting services firm to the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology, medical devices, cosmetic and food industries, and allied products companies in various markets. These services include regulatory compliance, validation, technology transfer, engineering, project management and process support. We have approximately 60 clients that are among the largest pharmaceutical, chemical manufacturing, medical device and biotechnology companies. We are actively participating in exhibitions, conferences, conventions and seminars as either exhibitors, sponsors or conference speakers.
 
MARKETING
 
We conduct our marketing activities in Puerto Rico, United States, Europe and other marketplaces. We actively utilize our project managers and leaders who are currently managing consulting service contracts at various client locations to also market consulting and laboratory testing services to their existing and past client relationships. Our senior management is also actively involved in the marketing process, especially in marketing to major accounts. Our senior management and staff also concentrate on developing new business opportunities and focus on the larger customer accounts (by number of consultants or dollar volume) and responding to prospective customers’ requests for proposals.
 
PRINCIPAL CUSTOMERS
 
We provide a substantial portion of our services to three customers, each of whom accounted for 10% or more of our revenues in either of the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017. During the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, these customers accounted for, in the aggregate, 34.7% and 25.9% of total revenue, respectively. Although a few customers represent a significant source of revenue, our functions are not a continuous process, accordingly, the client base for which our services are typically rendered, on a project-by-project basis, changes regularly. Therefore, in any given year a small number of customers could represent a significant source of our revenue for that year. The loss of, or significant reduction in the scope of work performed for any major customer or our inability to replace customers upon completion of contracts could adversely affect our revenue and impair our ability to operate profitably.
 
COMPETITION
 
We are engaged in a highly competitive and fragmented industry. Some of our competitors are, on an overall basis, larger than we are or are subsidiaries of larger companies, and therefore may possess greater resources than we do. Furthermore, because the technical professional aspects of our consulting business do not usually require large amounts of capital, there is relative ease of market entry for a new entrant possessing acceptable professional qualifications. Accordingly, we compete with regional, national, and international firms. Within the Puerto Rico, United States, Europe and Brazil markets, certain competitors, including local competitors, may possess greater resources than we do as well as better access to clients and potential clients.
 
Competition for validation and consulting services used to be primarily based on reputation, track record, experience, and quality of service. However, given our clients' strategies to reduce costs, price of service has become a major factor in sourcing our services. We believe we benefit from competitive advantages over other consulting service firms because of our historical market share within Puerto Rico (over 25 years), brand name, reputation and track record with many of the major pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and chemical manufacturing companies, which have a presence in the markets we serve and are pursuing.
 
The market of qualified and experienced consultants that are capable of providing technical consulting services is very competitive and consists primarily of our competitors as well as companies in the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology and medical device industries who are our clients and potential clients. In seeking qualified personnel, we market our name recognition in the Puerto Rico market, our reputation with our clients, and salary and benefit packages.
 
 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
 
We have no proprietary software or products. We rely on non-disclosure agreements with our employees to protect the proprietary software and other proprietary information of our clients. Any unauthorized use or disclosure of this information could harm our business.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
We employ approximately 185 employees, all of whom are full time employees.  None of our employees are represented by a labor union, and we consider our employee relations to be good.
 
 
3
 
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
 
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our executive officers.
 
Name
 
Age
 
Position
Victor Sanchez
 
48
 
Chief Executive Officer, President and President of European Operations
 
 
 
 
 
Pedro J. Lasanta
 
59
 
Chief Financial Officer, Vice President - Finance and Administration and Secretary
 
Victor Sanchez has served as our Chief Executive Officer and President since January 1, 2015 and as the President of the European Operations of the Company since January 2011.  Prior to joining the Company, he served as Operations Manager in the LOCM and OSD divisions of Merck Sharp & Dohme (“MSD”), a pharmaceutical company, in Madrid, Spain from April 2010 to January 2011 and as Operations Manager of the LOCM division of Schering-Plough S.A., a pharmaceutical company, in Madrid, Spain, from September 2004 to April 2010.  He served as Quality Control Validations Manager for Schering-Plough Products, LLC, a pharmaceutical company (“Schering-Plough”), in Puerto Rico from December 2000 to August 2004 and as Quality Control Laboratory Supervisor of Schering-Plough from April 1996 to December 2000.  Mr. Sanchez holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, summa cum laude, and a M.B.A. in Industrial Management, cum laude, from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical Validation Technology from the Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland. He also has a US Regulatory Affairs certification from the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society. Mr. Sanchez is a chemist licensed by the Puerto Rico State Department and a member of the American Chemical Society, the Parenteral Drug Association, the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society, and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineers.
 
Pedro J. Lasanta has served as our Chief Financial Officer and Vice President - Finance and Administration since November 2007, and our Secretary since December 1, 2014. From 2006 until October 2007, Mr. Lasanta was in private practice as an accountant, tax and business counselor. From 1999 until 2006, Mr. Lasanta was the Chief Financial Officer for Pearle Vision Center PR, Inc. In the past, Mr. Lasanta was also an audit manager for Ernst & Young, formerly Arthur Young & Company. He is a cum laude graduate in business administration (accounting) from the University of Puerto Rico.  Mr. Lasanta is a Certified Public Accountant. In 2012, he was awarded the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association (North Region) Service Manager of the Year.  Mr. Lasanta has served as a Member of the Puerto Rico District Export Council for the U.S. Department of Commerce since January 2014.
 
ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS.
 
This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, in particular, certain statements about our plans, strategies and prospects. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements include those set forth in this Risk Factors section.
 
If any of the following risks, or other risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe to not be significant, develop into actual events, then our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or prospects could be materially adversely affected.
 
Risks That Relate to our Business
 
Because our business is concentrated in the life science and medical devices industries in Puerto Rico, the United States, Europe and Brazil, any changes in those industries or in those markets could impair our ability to generate revenue and realize a profit.
 
Since most of our business is performed in Puerto Rico, the United States, Europe and Brazil, for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and chemical manufacturing companies, our ability to generate revenue and realize a profit could be impaired by factors impacting those markets.  For example, changes in tax laws or regulatory, political or economic conditions, which discourage businesses from operating in the markets we serve, which affect the need for services such as those provided by us, could impair our ability to generate revenue and realize a profit.
 
Companies in the pharmaceutical and related industries for which we perform services are subject to economic pressures, which affect their global operations, and which may influence the decision to reduce or increase the scope of their operations in the markets we serve. These companies consider a wide range of factors in making such a decision, and may be influenced by a need to consolidate operations, to reduce expenses, to increase their business in geographical regions where there are large customer bases, tax, regulatory and political considerations and many other factors. We cannot assure you that our customers and potential customers will not make extensive reductions or terminate their operations in the markets we serve entirely, which could significantly impair our ability to generate revenue and realize a profit.
 
 
4
 
 
Puerto Rico’s economy, including its governmental financial crisis and the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria (the “Hurricanes”), may affect the willingness of businesses to commence or expand operations in Puerto Rico, or may also consider closing operations located in Puerto Rico.
 
As a result of Puerto Rico’s governmental financial crisis and the impacts of the Hurricanes, businesses may be reluctant to establish or expand their operations in Puerto Rico, or might consider closing operations currently in Puerto Rico. The damage resulting from the Hurricanes to the operating conditions of our clients, and insufficient federal recovery and rebuilding assistance may cause lasting and severe damage to the island’s economic base. Further, since Puerto Rico’s economy is petroleum-based, the fluctuating price of oil, combined with Puerto Rico’s high level of debt, may make Puerto Rico a less attractive place to expand existing operations or commence new business activities. In the event that companies in the pharmaceutical and related industries decide not to commence new operations or not to expand their existing operations in Puerto Rico, or consider closing operations in Puerto Rico, the demand for our services could be negatively affected.
 
Puerto Rico government enacted ACT 154-2010 may adversely affect the willingness of our customers to do business in Puerto Rico and consequently adversely affect our business.
 
On October 22, 2010, Act No. 154 was enacted by the Puerto Rico government. The act primarily affects the industries we serve and consequently our customer base. Act 154-2010, as amended, extends the circumstances under which a non-resident alien individual or a non-resident corporation or partnership can be treated as doing business in Puerto Rico and is deriving income from sources within Puerto Rico for purposes of income tax. It also provides for the imposition of a temporary excise tax on some acquisitions by non-resident individuals, corporations or partnerships, of products totally or partially manufactured or produced in Puerto Rico and of related services to said products of affiliated entities with the buyer. It basically adopts a modified income sourcing rule and a temporary excise tax that will be enforced until December 31, 2021. The impact of the Act, if any, over the industries and its willingness to do business in Puerto Rico continues to be uncertain.
 
US Federal Tax Reform may affect the willingness of companies to continue or expand their operations in Puerto Rico.
 
Customers and other companies with operations in Puerto Rico will be affected by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 or the US Federal Tax Reform (the “Reform”) enacted on December 22, 2017. The Reform places a new 12.5 percent excise tax on profits derived from patents and other intangible assets supporting their Puerto Rican plants. Also, among other provisions, the Reform established a mandatory repatriation of foreign accumulated undistributed earnings and profits (the “E&Ps”). In the past, most of these E&Ps were not repatriated since such E&Ps were considered to be reinvested indefinitely on the foreign location. As a result, the Reform affects the tax business model of various US companies and their subsidiaries doing business in Puerto Rico and other foreign jurisdictions, making them a less attractive investment. Consequently, this affects the willingness of such companies to continue, expand and/or bring new operations to Puerto Rico, which may impair our ability to generate business in this market.
 
Further changes in tax laws in Puerto Rico or in other jurisdictions may adversely impact the willingness of our customers to continue or to expand their Puerto Rico operations.
 
In order to promote business activities in Puerto Rico, in May 2008 the Puerto Rico government enacted a tax incentive law (“Act 73”). Act 73 provides tax exemption from various taxes, including income tax, and investment credits for activities similar to those of our customers and our Company. Any changes in Act 73 or changes in laws of other jurisdictions that may be perceived as more favorable than Act 73 may cause other companies to develop and manufacture products outside of Puerto Rico, and as a result, our ability to generate new business may be adversely impacted.
 
Our business and operating results may be adversely impacted if we are unable to maintain our certification as a minority-controlled company. 
 
Since July 2008, we have held certification as a "minority-controlled company" as defined by the National Minority Supplier Development Council and Growth Initiative ("NMSDC"). The certification allows us to participate in corporate diversity programs available from various potential customers in the United States and Puerto Rico. The certification is subject to renewal every year. Our business and operating results may be adversely impacted if we are unable to maintain our certification as a minority-controlled company. 
 
 
5
 
 
Because our business is dependent upon a small number of clients, the loss of a major client could impair our ability to operate profitably.
 
Our business has been dependent upon a small number of clients. During the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, a small number of clients accounted for a disproportionately large percentage of our revenue. In the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, three customers accounted for, in aggregate, approximately 34.7% and 25.9% of total revenue, respectively.
 
The loss of, or significant reduction in the scope of work performed for, or any significant change in the financial terms related to, any major customer, could impair our ability to operate profitably. We cannot assure that we will not sustain significant decreases in revenue from our major customers or that we will be able to replace any major customers or the resulting decline in revenue.
 
Customer procurement and sourcing practices intended to reduce costs could have an adverse effect on our margins and profitability.
 
In an effort to reduce their costs, many of our customers are establishing or extending the scope of their procurement departments to include consulting and project management services, such as ours. As a result, we have less interaction with the end user of our services (typically labs or production units) when bidding on a project, which we believe decreases the focus on the quality of service provided and increases the emphasis on cost of the service. This may cause us to lower the price of our bids, which would reduce the margins in a given project. Also, some customers have established vendor management/vendor neutral-programs with third-parties (some of whom are also our competitors). Because these vendor management programs may receive a percentage of our fees, without a corresponding increase in the fee itself, our margins may be adversely affected. In addition, where a vendor management program is a competitor for a particular service we provide, we may have difficulty securing that particular project, which would adversely impact revenue. Some of these vendor neutral programs are intended to limit our interaction with our direct end user, and our interaction is limited to the representative of the vendor neutral agency. This limitation impairs our ability to establish and maintain our relationships with our customers and recognition of the value added in the service.
 
We may be unable to pass on increased labor costs to our clients.
 
The principal components of our cost of revenues are employee compensation (salaries, wages, taxes and benefits) and expenses relating to the performance of the services we provide. We face increasing labor costs which we seek to pass on to our customers through increases in our rates. To remain competitive, we may not be able to pass these increased costs on to our clients, and, to the extent that we are not able to pass these increased costs on to our clients, our operating margin may be reduced.
 
 Consolidation in the pharmaceutical industry may have a harmful effect on our business.
 
In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has undergone consolidation, and may in the future undergo further substantial consolidation which may reduce the number of our existing and potential customers.  The consolidation in the pharmaceutical industry may have a harmful effect on our business and or ability to maintain and replace customers.
 
Because the pharmaceutical industry is subject to government regulations, changes in government regulations relating to this industry may affect the need for our services.
 
Because government regulations affect all aspects of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and chemical manufacturing industries, including regulations relating to the testing and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products and the disposal of materials which are or may be considered toxic, any change in government regulations could have a profound effect upon not only these companies but companies, such as ours, that provide services to these industries. If we are not able to adapt and provide necessary services to meet the requirements of these companies in response to changes in government regulations, our ability to generate business may be impaired. 
 
Since our business is dependent upon the development and enhancement of patented pharmaceutical products or processes by our clients, the failure of our clients to obtain and maintain patents could impair our ability to operate profitably.
 
Companies in the pharmaceutical industry are highly dependent on their ability to obtain and maintain patents for their products or processes. The inability by our clients to obtain new patents and the expiration of active patents may reduce the need for our services and thereby impair our ability to operate profitably.
 
 
6
 
 
If we are unable to protect our clients’ intellectual property, our ability to generate business will be impaired.
 
Our services either require us to develop intellectual property for clients or provide our personnel with access to our clients’ intellectual property. Because of the highly competitive nature of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and chemical manufacturing industries and the sensitivity of our clients’ intellectual property rights, our ability to generate business would be impaired if we fail to protect those rights. Although all of our employees and contractors are required to sign non-disclosure agreements, any disclosure of a client’s intellectual property by an employee or contractor may subject us to litigation and may impair our ability to generate business either from the affected client or other potential clients. In addition, we are required to enter into confidentiality agreements and our failure to protect the confidential information of our clients may impair our business relationship.
 
We may be subject to liability if our services or solutions for our clients infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others.
 
It is possible that in performing services for our clients, we may inadvertently infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others. In such event, the owner of the intellectual property may commence litigation seeking damages and an injunction against both us and our client, and the client may bring a claim against us. Any infringement litigation would be costly. Even if we prevail, we will incur significant expenses and our reputation could be hurt, which would affect our ability to generate business and the terms on which we would be engaged, if at all.
 
We may be held liable for the actions of our employees or contractors when on assignment.
 
We may be exposed to liability for actions taken by our employees or contractors while on assignment, such as damages caused by their errors, misuse of client proprietary information or theft of client property. Due to the nature of our assignments, we cannot assure you that we will not be exposed to liability as a result of our employees or contractors being on assignment.  Furthermore, our reputation may be hurt and our ability to generate business may be affected.
 
To the extent that we perform services pursuant to fixed-price or incentive-based contracts, our cost of services may exceed our revenue on the contract.
 
Some of our revenue is derived from fixed-price contracts. Our costs of services may exceed revenue of these contracts if we do not accurately estimate the time and complexity of an engagement. Further, we are seeking contracts by which our compensation is based on specified performance objectives, such as the realization of cost savings, quality improvements or other performance objectives. Our failure to achieve these objectives would reduce our revenue and could impair our ability to operate profitably.
 
Our profit margin is largely a function of the rates we are able to charge and collect for our services and the utilization rate of our consultants. Accordingly, if we are not able to maintain our pricing for our services or an appropriate utilization rate for our consultants without corresponding cost reductions, our profit margin and profitability will suffer. The rates we are able to charge for our services are affected by a number of factors, including:
 
Our clients’ perception of our ability to add value through our services;
Our ability to complete projects on time;
Pricing policies of competitors;
Our ability to accurately estimate, attain and sustain engagement revenues, margins and cash flows over increasingly longer contract periods; and
General economic and political conditions.
 
Our utilization rates are also affected by a number of factors, including:
 
Our ability to shift employees and contractors from completed projects to new engagements; and
 
Our ability to manage attrition of our employees and contractors.
 
 
7
 
 
Because most of our contracts may be terminated on little or no advance notice, our failure to generate new business could impair our ability to operate profitably.
 
Most of our contracts can be terminated by our clients with little or no advance notice. Our clients typically retain us on a non-exclusive, engagement-by-engagement basis, and the client may terminate, cancel or delay any engagement or the project for which we are engaged, at any time and on no advance notice. As a result, the termination, cancellation, expiration or delay of contracts could have a significant impact on our ability to operate profitably.
 
Because of the competitive nature of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and chemical manufacturing consulting market, we may not be able to compete effectively if we cannot efficiently respond to changes in the structure of the market and developments in technology.
 
Because of recent consolidations in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and chemical manufacturing consulting business, we are faced with an increasing number of larger companies that offer a wider range of services and have better access to capital than we have. We believe that larger and better-capitalized competitors have enhanced abilities to compete for both clients and skilled consultants. In addition, one or more of our competitors may develop and implement methodologies that result in superior productivity and price reductions without adversely affecting their profit margins. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete effectively in an increasingly competitive market.
 
Because we are dependent upon our management and technical personnel, our ability to develop our business may be impaired if we are not able to engage skilled personnel.
 
Our future success will depend in part upon our ability to attract and retain qualified management and technical personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense and we compete for qualified personnel with numerous other employers, including consulting firms, some of which have greater resources than we have, as well as pharmaceutical companies, most of which have significantly greater financial and other resources than we do. We may experience increased costs in order to retain and attract skilled employees. Our failure to attract additional personnel or to retain the services of key personnel and independent contractors could have a material adverse effect on our ability to operate profitably.
 
Our cash could be adversely affected if the financial institutions in which we hold our cash fail.
 
The Company maintains domestic cash deposits in Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") insured banks and in money market obligation trusts registered under the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The domestic bank deposit balances may exceed the FDIC insurance limits. In the foreign markets we serve, we also maintain cash deposits in foreign banks, some of which are not insured or partially insured by the FDIC or other similar agency. These balances could be impacted if one or more of the financial institutions in which we deposit monies fails or is subject to other adverse conditions in the financial or credit markets. We can provide no assurance that access to our invested cash will not be impacted by adverse conditions in the financial and credit markets.
 
We may be harmed if we do not penetrate markets and grow our current business operations.
 
If we fail to further penetrate our core and existing geographic markets, or to successfully expand our business into new markets, the growth in sales of our services, along with our operating results, could be materially adversely impacted. A key element of our growth strategy may be to grow our business through acquisitions. Acquisitions involve many different risks, including (1) the ability to finance acquisitions, either with cash, debt, or equity issuances; (2) the ability to integrate acquisitions; (3) the ability to realize anticipated benefits of the acquisitions; (4) the potential to incur unexpected costs, expenses, or liabilities; and (5) the diversion of management’s attention and Company resources. Many of our competitors may also compete with us for acquisition candidates, which can increase the price of acquisitions and reduce the number of available acquisition candidates. We cannot assure you that efforts to increase market penetration in our core markets and existing geographic markets will be successful. Our failure to penetrate markets and grow our current business operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
 
 
8
 
 
Risks Concerning our Securities
 
Because there is a limited market in our common stock, stockholders may have difficulty in selling our common stock and our common stock may be subject to significant price swings.
 
There is a very limited market for our common stock. Since trading commenced in December 2006, there has been limited volume and on some days there has been no trading in our common stock. Because of the limited market for our common stock, the purchase or sale of a relatively small number of shares may have an exaggerated effect on the market price for our common stock. We cannot assure stockholders that they will be able to sell common stock or, that if they are able to sell their shares, that they will be able to sell the shares in any significant quantity at the quoted price.
 
Our revenues, operating results and profitability will vary from quarter to quarter, which may result in increased volatility of our stock price.
 
Our quarterly revenues, operating results and profitability have varied in the past and are likely to vary significantly from quarter to quarter, making them difficult to predict. This may lead to volatility in our share price. The factors that are likely to cause these variations are:
 
Seasonality, including number of workdays and holiday and summer vacations;
The business decisions of clients regarding the use of our services;
Periodic differences between clients’ estimated and actual levels of business activity associated with ongoing engagements, including the delay, reduction in scope and cancellation of projects;
The stage of completion of existing projects and their termination;
Our ability to move employees quickly from completed projects to new engagements and our ability to replace completed contracts with new contracts with the same clients or other clients;
The introduction of new services by us or our competitors;
Changes in pricing policies by us or our competitors;
Our ability to manage costs, including personnel compensation, support-services and severance costs;
Acquisition and integration costs related to possible acquisitions of other businesses;
Changes in estimates, accruals and payments of variable compensation to our employees or contractors; and
Global economic and political conditions and related risks, including acts of terrorism.
 
The Company Stock Repurchase Program could affect the market price of our common stock and increase its volatility. 
 
On June 13, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the Company Stock Repurchase Program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to two million shares of its outstanding common stock.  The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases is at the discretion of the Company, subject to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and related rules.  The Company Stock Repurchase Program could affect the market price of our common stock and increase its volatility.
 
The issuance of securities, whether in connection with an acquisition or otherwise, may result in significant dilution to our stockholders.
 
If we are required to issue securities either as payment of all or a portion of the purchase price of an acquisition or in order to obtain financing for the acquisition or for other corporate purposes, such an issuance could result in dilution to our stockholders. The amount of such dilution will be dependent upon the terms on which we issue securities. The issuance of securities at a price which is less than the exercise price of outstanding warrants or the conversion price of securities could result in additional dilution if we are required to reduce the exercise price or conversion price of the then outstanding options or warrants or other convertible securities.
 
ITEM 1B.  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES.
 
In July 2016, the Company renegotiated a lease agreement, effective as of January 1, 2016, with an affiliate of our Chairman of the Board, for our headquarters and laboratory testing facilities in Dorado, Puerto Rico. The renegotiated lease incorporates additional space for the laboratory testing facility expansion. The lease agreement is for a five-year term, with a renewal option of five years, and monthly rental payments of $30,316 for the term of the lease agreement and renewal option. The lease agreement also requires the payment of utilities, property taxes, insurance and expenses incurred by the affiliate in connection with the maintenance of common areas. As part of the Laboratory Assets transaction (see Note B), this lease was amended to (i) allow the Company to sublease to the Laboratory Assets purchaser (the “Subtenant”) the laboratory leased space area, and (ii) if Subtenant defaults under the Sublease or terminates the Sublease, the Company shall have the option to either (a) terminate the Sublease and re-occupy the Subleased Premises pursuant to the terms of the Lease, or (b) modify the Lease to terminate the Lease for the portion of the Premises that is the Subleased Premises only, without penalty. The Sublease calls for monthly rental payments of $17,950 each, with an initial term commencing on September 17, 2018 through December 31, 2019, a one-year renewal option, followed by a second renewal option of five years.
  
 
9
 
 
Also, the Company maintains an office facility in Madrid, Spain, which are under a month-to-month lease with monthly payment of approximately $1,000.
 
We believe that our present facilities are adequate to meet our needs and that, if we require additional space, it will be available on commercially reasonable terms.
 
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
 
From time to time, we may be a party to legal proceedings incidental to our business.  We do not believe that there are any proceedings threatened or pending against us, which, if determined adversely to us, would have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations and cash flows.
 
ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
 
Not applicable.
 
 
 
 
10
 
 
PART II
 
ITEM 5.   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
 
Our common stock has been quoted on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board under the trading symbol PBSV since December 4, 2006. Any over the counter market quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail markup, markdown, or commission, and may not represent actual transactions.
 
On January 25, 2019, there were approximately 64 holders of record of our common stock.
 
On October 26, 2018, the Company paid a cash dividend of $0.075 per share to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 15, 2018.  The Board of Directors will continue to evaluate the Company’s strategic plan, which might include future acquisitions, sales of business units, dividends or any combination of these opportunities while continuing its stock repurchase plan.
 
Equity Compensation Plan Information
 
The following table summarizes the equity compensation plans under which our securities may be issued as of October 31, 2018.
 
Plan Category
 
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options  
 
 
Weighted-average exercise price per share of  outstanding options and  warrants    
 
 
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans      
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan
  160,000 
 $1.6650 
  - 
2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan
  329,600 
 $0.8238 
  1,760,000 
           Total
  489,600 
    
  1,760,000 
 
The 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan was approved by stockholders in April 2006, and amended by stockholder approval in April 2007. No further stock options may be issued under this equity compensation plan since its term ended in October 2015.
 
The 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan was approved by stockholders in April 2014.
 
Stock repurchase program
 
 The following table provides information about purchases by the Company of its shares of common stock under the Company Stock Repurchase Program during the three-month period ended October 31, 2018:
 
Period
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased (1)
 
 
Average
Price Paid per Share
 
 
Total
Number of Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or Programs
 
 
Maximum
Number of Shares
that May Yet Be
Purchased Under the Plans or
Programs (1)
 
August 1, 2018 through August 31, 2018
  - 
 $- 
  - 
  1,729,448 
September 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018
  21,700 
 $0.92 
  21,700 
  1,707,748 
October 1, 2018 through October 31, 2018
  23,152 
 $0.99 
  23,152 
  1,684,596 
Total
  44,852 
 $0.96 
  44,852 
    
 
(1)
On June 13, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the Company Stock Repurchase Program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to two million shares of its outstanding common stock. The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases will be at the discretion of the Company, subject to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and related rules. The Company Stock Repurchase Program does not oblige the Company to repurchase any shares and it may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time and for any reason. Under the program no shares will be repurchased directly from directors or officers of the Company.
 
 
11
 
 
On November 26, 2018, the Company repurchased 62,972 shares of common stock, outside of the Company’s Stock Repurchase Program, from the Company’s Chief Executive Officer at $1.00 per share. These shares were repurchased at a discount to market to provide for an orderly disposition of the shares.
 
ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
 
Not Applicable.
 
ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
 
The following discussion of our results of operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with Part I, including matters set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and our Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Overview
 
We are a compliance and technology transfer services consulting firm with headquarters in Puerto Rico, servicing the Puerto Rico, United States, Europe and Brazil markets. The compliance consulting service sector in those markets consists of local compliance and validation consulting firms, United States dedicated validation and compliance consulting firms and large publicly traded and private domestic and foreign engineering and consulting firms. We provide a broad range of compliance related consulting services. We market our services to pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology, medical devices, cosmetics and food industries, and allied products companies in Puerto Rico, the United States, Europe and Brazil. Our consulting team includes experienced engineering and life science professionals, former quality assurance managers and directors, and professionals with bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees in health sciences and engineering.
 
We actively operate in Puerto Rico, the United States, Spain and Brazil and pursue to further expand these markets by strengthening our business development infrastructure and by constantly realigning our business strategies as new opportunities and challenges arise.
 
We market our services with an active presence in industry trade shows, professional conventions, industry publications and company provided seminars to the industry. Our senior management is also actively involved in the marketing process, especially in marketing to major accounts. Our senior management and staff also concentrate on developing new business opportunities and focus on the larger customer accounts (by number of consultants or dollar volume) and responding to prospective customers’ requests for proposals.
 
We consider our core business to be Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and international agencies regulatory compliance consulting related services. Accordingly, based on a corporate strategy to refocus the Company on consulting services, on September 17, 2018, we sold substantially all of our laboratory business assets (the “Laboratory Assets”) and discontinued our efforts on pursuing businesses that were not considered significant to the Company, including calibrations and a small laboratory in Spain. The sale of the Laboratory Assets for $5 million generated a net tax gain of approximately $2.7 million. For further details see Note B to our consolidated financial statements.
 
In line with the strategy to further penetrate the United States and Puerto Rico markets, we submit annually for renewal the certification as a "minority-controlled company" as defined by the National Minority Supplier Development Council and Growth Initiative ("NMSDC"). This certification, which has been held by us since July 2008, allows us to participate in corporate diversity programs available from various potential customers in the United States and Puerto Rico.
 
The Company holds a tax grant issued by the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (“PRIDCO”), which provides relief on various Puerto Rico taxes, including income tax, with certain limitations, for most of the activities carried on within Puerto Rico, including those that are for services to parties located outside of Puerto Rico.
 
 
12
 
 
As more fully disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2017, during September 2017, our Puerto Rico operations were affected by hurricanes which severely impacted Puerto Rico (the “Hurricanes”). Within a few days of the last hurricane affecting Puerto Rico in September 2017, we resumed operations using a diesel power generator at our Puerto Rico facilities. Our electrical power and other basic utilities were restored on November 22, 2017. By April 30, 2018, our clients’ businesses in Puerto Rico were restored. The Company’s insurance claim for property damages resulting from the Hurricanes was settled with the insurance carrier in July 2018 for the aggregate amount of approximately $148,000. Business interruption losses and additional expenses incurred by us until electrical power and other basic utilities were restored is currently being assessed by our insurance provider. As a result of the Hurricanes, the United States federal government granted a salaries subsidy to Puerto Rico employers which retained employees for a specific period of time. During July 2018, the Company’s Puerto Rico subsidiaries applied and collected an aggregate amount of approximately $220,000 related to this salary subsidy. (See Note M to our consolidated financial statements for further details.)
 
As more fully disclosed in Note F of the Company’s consolidated financial statements included herewith, we are subject to the recent Tax Reform provisions, including an estimated one-time non-recurring Transition Tax of $2.7 million, payable over eight years starting on February 2019. The payment will be funded from our working capital.
 
The following table sets forth information as to our revenue for the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, by geographic regions (dollars in thousands).
 
 
 
Year ended October 31,
 
Revenues by Region
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Puerto Rico
 $14,439 
  81.1%
 $10,936 
  82.2%
United States
  2,138 
  12.0%
  1,217 
  9.2%
Europe
  1,153 
  6.5%
  1,088 
  8.2%
Other
  67 
  0.4%
  56 
  0.4%
 
 $17,797 
  100.0%
 $13,297 
  100.0%
 
  For the year ended October 31, 2018, the Company’s revenues from continuing operations were $17.8 million, an increase of $4.5 million when compared to last year. The revenue increase is mainly attributable to increases in projects in the Puerto Rico, US and European consulting markets of $3.5, $0.9 and $0.1 million, respectively. When compared to the same period last year, gross margin increased 3.1 percentage points. The net increase in gross margin is mainly attributable to favorable consulting projects in the Puerto Rico consulting market. Selling, general and administrative expenses were approximately $4.6 million, a net decrease in expenses of approximately $0.1 million as compared to last year. The decrease is mainly attributable to cost reduction measures geared to align our operational support expenses to the market conditions. These reductions include the closing of operational satellite offices and the net reduction of business development and global support personnel. During July 2018, we received non-recurring proceeds from the insurance claim for property damages resulting from the Hurricanes and related federal Salaries Subsidy of approximately $148,000 and $220,000, respectively. These factors contributed to our income before income tax and US Tax Reform Transition Tax expense of approximately $1.5 million, an earnings improvement of approximately $2.3 million, when compared to last year. For the year ended October 31, 2018, discontinued operations net loss from operations through disposal and the net gain on disposal were $0.2 million and $2.7 million, respectively. These factors resulted in a net income for the year ended October 31, 2018 of approximately $1.3 million, an increase in net earnings of $2.7 million, when compared to last year. (See “Results of Operations” below.)
 
The long-term impacts of the Hurricanes, the Puerto Rico government financial crisis, the Tax Reform, other tax reforms on the markets where we do business, and Puerto Rico Act 154-2010, all pose current and future challenges which may adversely affect our future performance. We believe that our future profitability and liquidity will be highly dependent on the effect the local economy and global economy, changes in tax laws and healthcare reform, and worldwide life science manufacturing industry consolidations will have on our operations, and our ability to seek service opportunities and adapt to industry trends.
 
Results of Operations
 
On September 17, 2018, the Company sold substantially all of its Laboratory Assets. Accordingly, the operations of the Lab are treated as a discontinued operation in the following table that sets forth our statements of operations for the year ended October 31, 2018 and 2017 (dollars in thousands, and as a percentage of revenues for continuing operations only):
 
 
13
 
 
 
 
Year ended October 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Revenues 
 $17,797 
  100.0%
 $13,297 
  100.0%
Cost of services 
  12,110 
  68.0%
  9,455 
  71.1%
Gross profit 
  5,687 
  32.0%
  3,842 
  28.9%
Selling, general and administrative expenses 
  4,599 
  25.8%
  4,660 
  35.0%
Other income, net
  436 
  2.4%
  44 
  0.3%
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
  1,524 
  8.6%
  (774)
  -5.8%
Income tax and US Tax Reform transition tax expense 
  2,785 
  15.6%
  4 
  0.1%
Net loss from continuing operations
  (1,261)
  -7.1%
  (778)
  -5.9%
 
    
    
    
    
Discontinued operations, net of tax
    
    
    
    
    Net loss from operations through disposal
  (171)
    
  (637)
    
    Gain on disposal
  2,712 
    
  - 
    
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations
  2,541 
    
  (637)
    
 
    
    
    
    
Net income (loss)
  1,280 
    
  (1,415)
    
 
Revenues. Revenues from continuing operations for the year ended October 31, 2018 were $17.8 million, an increase of approximately $4.5 million, or 34%, when compared to last year. The increase is mainly attributable to increases in projects in the Puerto Rico, US and European consulting markets of $3.5, $0.9 and $0.1 million, respectively.
 
Cost of Services; gross profit. The overall gross profit from continuing operations for the year ended in October 31, 2018 reflected a gross profit net increase of 3.1 percentage points, when compared to last year. The favorable variance is mainly attributable to favorable non-recurring consulting projects in the Puerto Rico consulting market.
 
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses from continuing operations for the year ended in October 31, 2018 were approximately $4.6 million, a net decrease in expenses of approximately $0.1 million as compared to last year. The decrease is mainly attributable to cost reduction measures adopted since the end of fiscal year 2017 geared to align our operational support expenses to the market conditions. These reductions include, among others, the closing of operational satellite offices and the net reduction of business development and global support personnel.
 
Other Income, net. Other income for the year ended on October 31, 2018 increased by approximately $0.4 million, when compared to last year. The increase is mainly attributable to proceeds from the Salaries Subsidy and insurance claim for property damages resulting from the Hurricanes of approximately $220,000 and $148,000, respectively, collected during July 2018. For additional information see Note M to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included herewith.
 
Income Tax and US Tax Reform Transition Tax Expense. The income tax expense is mainly attributable to the effect of the $2.7 million non-recurring Transition Tax imposed by the Tax Reform over the Company’s E&Ps. For additional information on the Transition Tax, see Note F of the Company’s consolidated financial statements included herewith.
 
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations. For the year ended October 31, 2018, our income before income tax and US Tax Reform Transition Tax from continuing operations was approximately $1.5 million, an improvement of approximately $2.3 million when compared to last year. The variance is mainly attributable to the improvement in revenue, savings in operational support expenses, and the proceeds from the Salaries Subsidy and insurance claim for property damages resulting from the Hurricanes.
 
After considering the $2.7 million Tax Reform Transition Tax adjustment recorded during our first quarter of the current fiscal year, for the year ended October 31, 2018 we attained a net loss from continuing operations of $1.3 million. This represents a decrease in earnings from continuing operations of $0.5 million when compared to last year.
 
For the year ended October 31, 2018, net income before income tax and Transition Tax from continuing operations per common share for both basic and diluted was $0.066, an improvement of $0.100 per share when compared to the last year.
 
For the year ended October 31, 2018, after considering the income tax and the US Tax Reform Transition Tax adjustment recorded during the first quarter of the current fiscal year, net loss from continuing operations per common share for both basic and diluted was $0.055, a decline of $0.021 per share when compared to the last year.
 
 
14
 
 
Net Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations. On September 17, 2018, the Company completed the sale of its Laboratory Assets for $5 million. The gain related to this transaction of approximately $2.7 million, net of a preferential income tax rate, is included as a component of discontinued operations for the year ended October 31, 2018.
 
Losses per share, basic and diluted, for discontinued operations through disposal date were $0.007 and $0.028, for the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. For the year ended October 31, 2018 the earnings per share, basic and diluted, for the gain on the disposal of the discontinued operations was $0.117.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Liquidity is a measure of our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including planned capital expenditures. As of October 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $20.8 million in working capital.
 
On June 13, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Company to repurchase up to two million shares of its common stock (the "Company Stock Repurchase Program"). During the year ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company repurchased 71,952 and 26,500 shares of its common stock, respectively.
 
Our primary cash needs consist of the payment of compensation to our consulting team, overhead expenses, and statutory taxes. Additionally, we may use cash for the repurchase of our common stock under the Company Stock Repurchase Program, capital expenditures and business development expenses.  Management believes that based on the current level of working capital, operations and cash flows from operations, and the collectability of high quality customer receivables will be sufficient to fund anticipated expenses and satisfy other possible long-term contractual commitments for the next twelve months.
 
To the extent that we pursue possible opportunities to expand our operations, either by acquisition or by the establishment of operations in a new market, we will incur additional overhead, and there may be a delay between the period we commence operations and our generation of net cash flow from operations.
 
While uncertainties relating to the current local and global economic condition, competition, the industries and geographical regions served by us and other regulatory matters exist within the consulting services industry, as described above, management is not aware of any other trends or events likely to have a material adverse effect on liquidity or its financial statements.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We were not involved in any significant off-balance sheet arrangements during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States. We believe the following are the critical accounting policies that impact the consolidated financial statements, some of which are based on management’s best estimates available at the time of preparation. Actual experience may differ from these estimates.
 
Consolidation - The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all of our wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. 
 
Segments - During the year ended October 31, 2017, the Company operated four reportable segments: (i) Puerto Rico technical compliance consulting, (ii) United States technical compliance consulting, (iii) Europe technical compliance consulting, and (iv) a Puerto Rico microbiological and chemical laboratory testing division (“Lab”). On September 17, 2018 the Company sold substantially all of its Laboratory Assets. As a result of the sale, the Company currently operates three reportable business segments: (i) Puerto Rico technical compliance consulting, (ii) United States technical compliance consulting, and (iii) Europe technical compliance consulting. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented to show these three reportable segments as continuing operations, while the Lab is presented as a discontinued operation.
 
 
15
 
 
Use of Estimates - The preparation 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 at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Accounting standards have established a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Accounting standards have established three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
 
Level 1:
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
 
 
Level 2:
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets), or model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
 
 
Level 3:
Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (supported by little or no market activity).
 
Marketable securities available-for-sale consist of U.S. Treasury securities and an obligation from the Puerto Rico Government Development Bank valued using quoted market prices in active markets. Accordingly, these securities are categorized in Level 1.
 
The carrying value of the Company's financial instruments (excluding marketable securities and obligations under capital leases), cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, are considered reasonable estimates of fair value due to their liquidity or short-term nature. Management believes, based on current rates, that the fair value of its obligations under capital leases approximates the carrying amount.
 
Revenue Recognition Continuing operations - Revenue is primarily derived from: (1) time and materials contracts (representing approximately 99% of total revenues), which is recognized by applying the proportional performance model, whereby revenue is recognized as performance occurs, and (2) short-term fixed-fee contracts or "not to exceed" contracts (representing approximately 1% of total revenues), which revenue is recognized similarly, except that certain milestones also have to be reached before revenue is recognized. If the Company determines that a contract will result in a loss, the Company recognizes the estimated loss in the period in which such determination is made.
 
Revenue Recognition Discontinued operations - Laboratory testing revenue is mainly recognized as the testing is completed and certified (normally within days of sample receipt from customer).
 
Cash Equivalents - For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, cash equivalents include investments in a money market obligations trust that is registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 and liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
 
Marketable Securities - We consider our marketable security investment portfolio and marketable equity investments available-for-sale and, accordingly, these investments are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses generally recorded in other comprehensive income; whereas realized gains and losses are included in earnings and determined based on the specific identification method.
 
We review our available-for-sale securities for other-than-temporary declines in fair value below their cost basis on a quarterly basis and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the cost basis of an asset may not be materially recoverable. This evaluation is based on a number of factors including, the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than our cost basis and adverse conditions specifically related to the security including any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency.
 
 
16
 
 
Accounts Receivable - Accounts receivable are recorded at their estimated realizable value. Accounts are deemed past due when payment has not been received within the stated time period. Our policy is to review individual past due amounts periodically and write off amounts for which all collection efforts are deemed to have been exhausted. Due to the nature of our customers, bad debts are mainly accounted for using the direct write-off method whereby an expense is recognized only when a specific account is determined to be uncollectible. The effect of using this method approximates that of the allowance method.
 
Income Taxes - We follow an asset and liability approach method of accounting for income taxes. This method measures deferred income taxes by applying enacted statutory rates in effect at the balance sheet date to the differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts on the financial statements. The resulting deferred tax assets or liabilities are adjusted to reflect changes in tax laws as they occur. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized.
 
The Company follows guidance from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) related to Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, which includes a two-step approach to recognizing, de-recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. As of October 31, 2018, the Company had no significant uncertain tax positions that would be reduced as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations.
 
Property and equipment - Owned property and equipment, and leasehold improvements are stated at cost. Vehicles under capital leases are stated at the lower of fair market value or net present value of the minimum lease payments at the inception of the leases.
 
Depreciation and amortization of owned assets are provided for, when placed in service, in amounts sufficient to relate the cost of depreciable assets to operations over their estimated service lives, using straight-line basis. Assets under capital leases and leasehold improvements are amortized, over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease term, including renewals that have been determined to be reasonably assured. Major renewals and betterments that extend the life of the assets are capitalized, while expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed when incurred.
 
We evaluate for impairment our long-lived assets to be held and used, and long-lived assets to be disposed of, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Based on management estimates, no impairment of the operating properties was present.
 
Stock-based Compensation - Stock-based compensation expense is recognized in the consolidated financial statements based on the fair value of the awards granted. 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 requisite service period, which generally represents the vesting period, and includes an estimate of awards that will be forfeited. We calculate the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model at grant date, while for restricted stock units the fair market value of the units is determined by Company’s share market value at grant date. Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation are reflected as cash flows from financing activities rather than cash flows from operating activities. We have not recognized such cash flow from financing activities since there has been no tax benefit related to the stock-based compensation.
 
Earnings (Loss) Per Share of Common Stock - Basic earnings (loss) per share of common stock is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted earnings (loss) per share includes the dilution of common stock equivalents. The diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding were calculated using the treasury stock method for the respective periods.
 
Foreign Operations - The functional currency of our foreign subsidiaries are their respective local currencies. The assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiary are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The cumulative translation effect for subsidiaries using a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar is included as a cumulative translation adjustment in stockholders’ equity and as a component of comprehensive income.
 
Our intercompany accounts are typically denominated in the functional currency of the foreign subsidiary. Gains and losses resulting from the remeasurement of intercompany receivables that we consider to be of a long-term investment nature are recorded as a cumulative translation adjustment in stockholders’ equity and as a component of comprehensive income, while gains and losses resulting from the remeasurement of intercompany receivables from those international subsidiaries for which we anticipate settlement in the foreseeable future are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
 
17
 
 
New Accounting Standards
 
In May 2014, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the guidance for the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers to transfer goods and services. The FASB has subsequently issued additional, clarifying standards to address issues arising from implementation of the new revenue standard. The new standards are required to be adopted using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach. The Company expects to adopt this standard using the modified retrospective approach beginning with the Company’s fiscal year 2019. Based on the Company’s preliminary assessment, it currently does not anticipate a material impact to the Company’s total revenues. The Company continues to review the impact that this new standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.
 
In February 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the guidance for the accounting and disclosure of leases. This new standard requires that lessees recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases on the balance sheet and disclose qualitative and quantitative information about their leasing arrangements. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on January 1, 2019 and may be adopted earlier. The Company continues to evaluate the impact that this new standard will have on its consolidated financial statements. The Company does not expect that this standard will have a material impact to its Consolidated Statements of Operations but expects that this standard will have a material impact on the assets and liabilities on its Consolidated Balance Sheets upon adoption.
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
Our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects, and the prevailing market price and performance of our common stock, may be adversely affected by a number of factors, including the matters discussed below. Certain statements and information set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as other written or oral statements made from time to time by us or by our authorized executive officers on our behalf, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include all statements other than those made solely with respect to historical fact and identified by words such as “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends” and similar expressions, but such words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.  We intend for our forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we set forth this statement and these risk factors in order to comply with such safe harbor provisions. You should note that our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or when made and we undertake no duty or obligation to update or revise our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Although we believe that the expectations, plans, intentions and projections reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties and other factors that our stockholders and prospective investors should consider are discussed in Item 1A Risk Factors above.
 
ITEM 7A.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
 
Our Consolidated Financial Statements, together with the report of our independent registered public accounting firm are included herein immediately following the signature page of this report. See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-1.
 
ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
 
None.
 
 
18
 
 
ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
 
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate “internal control over financial reporting,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, for the Company. This rule defines internal control over financial reporting as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, a company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
 
● 
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;
 
● 
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and
 
● 
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, our internal control systems and procedures may not prevent or detect misstatements. An internal control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate.
 
We, under the supervision of and with the participation of our management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2018, based on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in “Internal Control — Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2018.
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
 
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report. Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report.
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
Based on an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our last fiscal quarter identified in connection with that evaluation that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION.
 
None.
 
 
19
 
 
PART III
 
ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018, which will be filed with Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, or, alternatively, by amendment to this Form 10-K under cover of Form 10-K/A no later than the end of such 120 day period.
 
Information with respect to our executive officers is included in Part I.
 
ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018, which will be filed with Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, or, alternatively, by amendment to this Form 10-K under cover of Form 10-K/A no later than the end of such 120 day period.
 
ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND   RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018, which will be filed with Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, or, alternatively, by amendment to this Form 10-K under cover of Form 10-K/A no later than the end of such 120 day period.
 
ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018, which will be filed with Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, or, alternatively, by amendment to this Form 10-K under cover of Form 10-K/A no later than the end of such 120 day period.
 
ITEM 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018, which will be filed with Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, or, alternatively, by amendment to this Form 10-K under cover of Form 10-K/A no later than the end of such 120 day period.
 
 
20
 
 
PART IV
 
ITEM 15.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
The following documents are filed as a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
 
1.
All Financial Statements:  Consolidated Financial Statements are included herein immediately following the signature page of this report. See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-1.
 
2.
Financial Statement Schedules:  None.
 
3.
Exhibits:  The following exhibits are filed herewith or are incorporated by reference to exhibits previously filed with the Commission, as indicated in the description of each.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Incorporated By Reference
Exhibit Number
 
Exhibit Description
 
Form
 
File Number
 
Exhibit
 
Filing Date
 
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated August 13, 2018 by and between Scienza Labs, Inc. and Romark Global Pharma, LLC (1)
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
2.1
 
8/17/18
 
Restated Certificate of Incorporation
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
99.1
 
5/1/2006
 
Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
3.1
 
4/12/13
 
By-laws
 
10-SB12G
 
000-50956
 
3.2
 
9/24/2004
 
Amendment No. 1 to the By-laws
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
3.1
 
6/6/2008
 
Amendment No. 2 to the By-laws
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
3.2
 
4/12/13
 
Consulting Agreement, effective January 1, 2014, between Pharma-Bio Serv Inc., Strategic Consultants International, LLC and Elizabeth Plaza.
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
10.1
 
12/31/13
 
Consulting Agreement Amendment, effective January 1, 2015, between Pharma-Bio Serv Inc., Strategic Consultants International, LLC and Elizabeth Plaza.
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
10.1
 
1/5/2015
 
Consulting Agreement Amendment, effective January 1, 2016, between Pharma-Bio Serv Inc., Strategic Consultants International, LLC and Elizabeth Plaza.
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
10.1
 
1/5/2016
 
Consulting Agreement Amendment, effective January 1, 2017, between Pharma-Bio Serv Inc., Strategic Consultants International, LLC and Elizabeth Plaza.
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
10.1
 
1/20/2017
 
Employment Agreement, effective January 1, 2015, between Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc. and Victor Sanchez 
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
10.2
 
1/5/2015
 
Employment Agreement dated November 5, 2007 between the Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc. and Pedro Lasanta
 
10-K
 
000-50956
 
10.8
 
1/29/2009
 
Amendment to Employment Agreement dated December 17, 2008 between the Registrant and Pedro Lasanta
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
99.1
 
12/23/2008
 
Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated March 11, 2009, by and between the Company and Pedro Lasanta
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
10.3
 
3/17/2009
 
Employment Agreement Amendment, effective as of January 1, 2010, by and between the Company and Pedro Lasanta. 
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
10.2
 
1/07/2010
 
Employment Agreement Amendment, dated January 31, 2012, by and between the Company and Pedro J. Lasanta
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
10.1
 
2/2/2012
 
Employment Agreement Amendment, dated December 31, 2012, by and between the Company and Pedro J. Lasanta
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
10.1
 
1/7/2013
 
Employment Agreement Amendment between Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc. and Pedro Lasanta, effective January 1, 2014.
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
10.2
 
2/21/2014
 
21
 
 
 
2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended
 
DEF 14A
 
000-50956
 
Appendix C
 
3/26/2007
 
Amendment to 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan
 
10-Q
 
000-50956
 
10.4
 
3/17/2014
 
Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
10.1
 
5/2/2014
 
Consulting Agreement Amendment, dated January 2, 2018, by and among Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc., Strategic Consultants International, LLC and Elizabeth Plaza, effective January 1, 2018.
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
10.1
 
1/8/18
 
Consulting Agreement Amendment, dated December 31, 2018, by and among Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc., Strategic Consultants International, LLC and Elizabeth Plaza, effective January 1, 2019.
 
8-K
 
000-50956
 
10.1
 
1/4/19
 
Code of business conduct and ethics for senior management
 
10-KSB
 
000-50956
 
14.1
 
2/2/2007
 
List of Subsidiaries 
 
10-K
 
000-50956
 
21.1
 
1/29/2018
 
Consent of Crowe PR PSC (formerly known as Horwath Vélez & Co, PSC)
 
10-K
 
000-50956
 
23.1
 
1/29/2018
 
Certification of chief executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Certification of chief financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Certification of chief executive officer and chief financial officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS*
 
XBRL Instance Document 
 
10-K
 
000-50956
 
101.INS
 
1/29/2018
101.SCH*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema 
 
10-K
 
000-50956
 
101.SCH
 
1/29/2018
101.CAL*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
 
10-K
 
000-50956
 
101.CAL
 
1/29/2018
101.DEF*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase 
 
10-K
 
000-50956
 
101.DEF
 
1/29/2018
101.LAB*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase 
 
10-K
 
000-50956
 
101.LAB
 
1/29/2018
101.PRE*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase 
 
10-K
 
000-50956
 
101.PRE
 
1/29/2018
———————
*
Filed herewith
**
Furnished herewith
 
(1)
The schedule and similar attachments to the Asset Purchase Agreement have been omitted from this listing pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company will furnish copies of any such schedules and exhibits to the US Securities Exchange Commission upon request.
 
Exhibits 10.1 through 10.17 are management contracts or compensatory plans, contracts or arrangements.
 
ITEM 16.  FORM 10-K SUMMARY.
 
None.
 
 
22
 
 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
Dated: January 29, 2019
By:  
/s/ Victor Sanchez
 
 
Name: Victor Sanchez
 
 
Title:  Chief Executive Officer and
President Europe Operations
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
Signature
 
Title
 
Date
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Victor Sanchez
 
Chief Executive Officer and President Europe Operations
 
January 29, 2019
Victor Sanchez
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Pedro J. Lasanta
 
Chief Financial Officer, Vice President Finance and Administration and Secretary
 
January 29, 2019
Pedro J. Lasanta
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Elizabeth Plaza
 
Chairman
 
January 29, 2019
Elizabeth Plaza
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Kirk Michel
 
Director
 
January 29, 2019
Kirk Michel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Howard Spindel
 
Director
 
January 29, 2019
Howard Spindel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Dov Perlysky
 
Director
 
January 29, 2019
Dov Perlysky
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Irving Wiesen
 
Director
 
January 29, 2019
Irving Wiesen
 
 
 
 
 
 
23
 
 
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
 
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
F-2
 
 
 
 
F-3
 
 
 
 
F-4
 
 
 
 
F-5
 
 
 
 
F-6
 
 
 
 
F-7
 
 
 
 
F-8
 
 
 
F-1
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc.
Dorado, Puerto Rico
 
Opinion on the Financial Statements
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc. (the “Company”) as of October 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements"). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company at October 31, 2018 and 2017, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
Basis for Opinion
 
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
 
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2006.
 
/S/ CROWE PR PSC
San Juan, Puerto Rico
 
January 29, 2019
Puerto Rico Society of Certified Public Accountants
Stamp number E351186 was
affixed to the original of this report
 
 
F-2
 
 
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
October 31, 2018 and 2017
 
 
 
October 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
ASSETS
 
Current assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 $16,029,920 
 $11,591,548 
Marketable securities
  44,475 
  26,600 
Accounts receivable
  5,193,385 
  6,317,390 
Current portion - promissory note receivable due from sale of assets from discontinued operations
  1,750,000 
  - 
Prepaids and other assets
  394,017 
  443,464 
Assets of discontinued operations
  - 
  3,297,462 
Total current assets
  23,411,797 
  21,676,464 
 
    
    
Promissory note receivable due from sale of assets from discontinued operations
  1,250,000 
  - 
Property and equipment
  298,020 
  250,612 
Other assets
  418,495 
  422,925 
Total assets
 $25,378,312 
 $22,350,001 
 
    
    
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
    
    
Current portion-obligations under capital leases
 $13,768 
 $13,949 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  2,140,001 
  1,416,698 
Current portion of US Tax Reform Transition Tax and income taxes payable
  411,903 
  2,067 
Liabilities of discontinued operations
  - 
  110,206 
Total current liabilities
  2,565,672 
  1,542,920 
 
    
    
US Tax Reform Transition Tax payable 
  2,485,000 
  - 
Obligations under capital leases
  46,027 
  59,795 
Other liabilities
  17,950 
  - 
Total liabilities
  5,114,649 
  1,602,715 
 
    
    
Commitments and contingencies
    
    
 
    
    
Stockholders' equity
    
    
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; authorized 10,000,000 shares; none issued or outstanding
  - 
  - 
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; authorized 50,000,000 shares; 23,373,817 and 23,333,083 shares issued, and 23,058,413 and 23,089,631 shares outstanding at October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively
  2,337 
  2,333 
Additional paid-in capital
  1,346,956 
  1,295,314 
Retained earnings
  19,111,111 
  19,560,131 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
  107,947 
  137,671 
 
  20,568,351 
  20,995,449 
Treasury stock, at cost; 315,404 and 243,452 common shares held at October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively
  (304,688)
  (248,163)
Total stockholders' equity
  20,263,663 
  20,747,286 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 $25,378,312 
 $22,350,001 
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F-3
 
 
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Years Ended October 31, 2018 and 2017
 
 
 
Years ended October 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
REVENUES
 $17,797,425 
 $13,297,598 
 
    
    
COST OF SERVICES
  12,110,618 
  9,455,274 
 
    
    
GROSS PROFIT
  5,686,807 
  3,842,324 
 
    
    
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
  4,598,545 
  4,660,027 
 
    
    
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
  1,088,262 
  (817,703)
 
    
    
OTHER INCOME, NET OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE SETTLEMENT
  435,527 
  43,751 
 
    
    
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  1,523,789 
  (773,952)
 
    
    
INCOME TAX AND US TAX REFORM TRANSITION TAX EXPENSE
  2,785,525 
  3,866 
 
    
    
NET LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
  (1,261,736)
  (777,818)
 
    
    
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX:
    
    
NET LOSS FROM OPERATIONS THROUGH DISPOSAL
  (170,774)
  (637,091)
GAIN ON DISPOSAL
  2,712,244 
  - 
 
    
    
NET INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
  2,541,470 
  (637,091)
 
    
    
NET INCOME (LOSS)
 $1,279,734 
 $(1,414,909)
 
    
    
 
    
    
BASIC AND DILUTED LOSSES PER COMMON SHARE (Continuing operations)
 $(0.055)
 $(0.034)
BASIC AND DILIUTED EARNINGS (LOSSES) PER COMMON SHARE (Discontinued operations)
 $0.110 
 $(0.027)
 
    
    
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON
    
    
SHARES OUTSTANDING – BASIC
  23,080,995 
  23,096,547 
 
    
    
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON
    
    
SHARES OUTSTANDING – DILUTED
  23,096,252 
  23,099,376 
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F-4
 
 
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the Years Ended October 31, 2018 and 2017
 
 
 
Years ended October 31,
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
 $1,279,734 
 $(1,414,909)
 
    
    
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF RECLASSIFICATION ADJUSTMENTS AND TAXES:
    
    
 
    
    
Foreign currency translation gain (loss):
    
    
Net unrealized gain
  73,538 
  35,029 
Intercompany balances foreign exchange settlement, included in net income
  (121,137)
  262,240 
Net unrealized gain on available-for sale securities
  17,875 
  6,317 
 
    
    
TOTAL OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
  (29,724)
  303,586 
 
    
    
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
 $1,250,010 
 $(1,111,323)
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F-5
 
 
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
For the Years Ended October 31, 2018 and 2017
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
 
Preferred Stock
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares
 
 
Amount
 
 
Shares
 
 
Amount
 
 
Additional Paid-in Capital
 
 
Retained Earnings
 
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
 
Treasury
Stock
 
 
Total
 
BALANCE AT OCTOBER 31, 2016
  23,226,268 
 $2,323 
  - 
 $- 
 $1,231,439 
 $20,975,050 
 $(165,915)
 $(232,736)
 $21,810,161 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  63,875 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  63,875 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK PURSUANT TO THE CASHLESS EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS
  90,318 
  9 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  (9)
  - 
  - 
  - 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK PURSUANT TO RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENTS WITH EMPLOYEES
  16,497 
  1 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  (1)
  - 
  - 
  - 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
PURCHASE OF TREASURY STOCK (26,500 SHARES)
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  (15,427)
  (15,427)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
NET LOSS
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  (1,414,909)
  - 
  - 
  (1,414,909)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  303,586 
  - 
  303,586 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
BALANCE AT OCTOBER 31, 2017
  23,333,083 
  2,333 
  - 
  - 
  1,295,314 
  19,560,131 
  137,671 
  (248,163)
  20,747,286 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  51,642 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  51,642 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK PURSUANT TO THE CASHLESS EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS
  40,734 
  
4
 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  (4)
  - 
  - 
  - 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
PURCHASE OF TREASURY STOCK (71,952 SHARES)
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  (56,525)
  (56,525)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
NET INCOME
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  1,279,734 
  - 
  - 
  1,279,734 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS,
NET OF TAX
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  (29,724)
  - 
  (29,724)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
CASH DIVIDEND ($0.075 PER COMMON SHARE AT RECORD DATE)
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  (1,728,750)
  - 
  - 
  (1,728,750)
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
BALANCE AT OCTOBER 31, 2018
  23,373,817 
 $2,337 
  - 
 $- 
 $1,346,956 
 $19,111,111 
 $107,947 
 $(304,688)
 $20,263,663 
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F-6
 
 
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Years Ended October 31, 2018 and 2017
 
 
 
Years ended October 31,          
 
 
 
2018  
 
 
2017    
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
 $1,279,734 
 $(1,414,909)
Add: net (income) loss from discontinued operations
  (2,541,470)
  637,091 
Net loss from continuing operations
  (1,261,736)
  (777,818)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss from continuing operations to net cash provided by (used in) continuing operating activities:
    
    
Gain on disposition of property and equipment
  (6,000)
  (19,092)
Stock-based compensation
  51,642 
  63,875 
Depreciation and amortization
  74,601 
  107,679 
Decrease in accounts receivable
  1,158,809 
  139,866 
Decrease in other assets
  64,815 
  21,426 
Increase (decrease) in liabilities
  3,636,553 
  (458,603)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS
  3,718,684 
  (922,667)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS:
    
    
Acquisition of property and equipment
  (122,009)
  (56,973)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment
  6,000 
  47,757 
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS
  (116,009)
  (9,216)
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS:
    
    
Repurchase of common stock
  (56,525)
  (15,427)
Payments on obligations under capital lease
  (13,949)
  (55,678)
Cash dividends paid to shareholders
  (1,728,750)
  - 
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS
  (1,799,224)
  (71,105)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH
  (93,805)
  1,393 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
  1,709,646 
  (1,001,595)
 DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
    
    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  728,726 
  (785,707)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
  2,000,000
 
  (394,732)
Net cash used in financing activities
  - 
  - 
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
  2,728,726
 
  (1,180,439)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
  4,438,372 
  (2,182,034)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - BEGINNING OF YEAR
  11,591,548 
  13,773,582 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS – END OF YEAR
 $16,029,920 
 $11,591,548 
 
    
    
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF
    
    
CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
    
    
Cash paid during the period for:
    
    
Income taxes
 $- 
 $65 
Interest
 $1,498 
 $2,946 
SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEDULES OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
    
    
Promissory note receivable received from sale of assets om discontinued operations
 $3,000,000
 
 $-
 
Property and equipment with accumulated depreciation of $32,795 and $87,364 disposed during the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively
 $32,795 
 $116,029 
Obligations under capital lease incurred for the acquisition of a vehicle
 $- 
 $77,470 
Income tax withheld by clients to be used as a credit in the Company’s income tax returns
 $16,691 
 $42,471 
Conversion of cashless exercise of options to shares of common stock and shares issued under restricted stock units agreements
 $4 
 $10 
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
F-7
 
PHARMA-BIO SERV, INC.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended October 31, 2018 and 2017
 
NOTE A - ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
ORGANIZATION
 
Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc. (“Pharma-Bio”) is a Delaware corporation organized on January 14, 2004. Pharma-Bio is the parent company of Pharma-Bio Serv PR, Inc. (“Pharma-PR”), Pharma Serv, Inc. (“Pharma-Serv”), and Scienza Labs, Inc. (“Scienza Labs”), each a Puerto Rico corporation, Pharma-Bio Serv US, Inc. (“Pharma-US”), a Delaware corporation, Pharma-Bio Serv Validation & Compliance Limited (“Pharma-IR”), an Irish corporation currently inactive, Pharma-Bio Serv SL (“Pharma-Spain”), a Spanish limited liability company, and Pharma-Bio Serv Brasil Servicos de Consultoria Ltda. (“Pharma-Brazil”), a Brazilian limited liability company. Pharma-Bio, Pharma-PR, Pharma-Serv, Scienza Labs, Pharma-US, Pharma-IR, Pharma-Spain and Pharma-Brazil are collectively referred to as the “Company.” The Company operates in Puerto Rico, the United States, Ireland, Spain and Brazil under the name of Pharma-Bio Serv and is engaged in providing technical compliance consulting service, and until September 17, 2018 microbiological and chemical laboratory testing.
 
On September 17, 2018 (the “Sales Closing Date”), the Company sold substantially all of its Lab business assets (the “Laboratory Assets”). See Note B for further information.
 
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Consolidation
 
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. 
 
Segments
 
During the year ended October 31, 2017, the Company operated in four reportable segments: (i) Puerto Rico technical compliance consulting, (ii) United States technical compliance consulting, (iii) Europe technical compliance consulting, and (iv) a Puerto Rico microbiological and chemical laboratory testing division (“Lab”). On the Sales Closing Date the Company sold substantially all of its Laboratory Assets. As a result of the sale, the Company currently operates three reportable business segments: (i) Puerto Rico technical compliance consulting, (ii) United States technical compliance consulting, and (iii) Europe technical compliance consulting. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented to show these three reportable segments as continuing operations, while the Lab is presented as a discontinued operation. See Note B for further information.
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
Accounting standards have established a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Accounting standards have established three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
 
Level 1:
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
 
 
Level 2:
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets), or model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
 
 
Level 3:
Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (supported by little or no market activity).
 
Marketable securities available-for-sale consist of U.S. Treasury securities and an obligation from the Puerto Rico Government Development Bank valued using quoted market prices in active markets. Accordingly, these securities are categorized in Level 1.
 
 
F-8
 
 
The carrying value of the Company's financial instruments (excluding marketable securities and obligations under capital leases): cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, are considered reasonable estimates of fair value due to their liquidity or short-term nature. Management believes, based on current rates, that the fair value of its obligations under capital leases approximates the carrying amount.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
Continuing operations - Revenue is primarily derived from: (1) time and materials contracts (representing approximately 99% of total revenues), which is recognized by applying the proportional performance model, whereby revenue is recognized as performance occurs, and (2) short-term fixed-fee contracts or "not to exceed" contracts (representing approximately 1% of total revenues), which revenue is recognized similarly, except that certain milestones also have to be reached before revenue is recognized. If the Company determines that a contract will result in a loss, the Company recognizes the estimated loss in the period in which such determination is made.
 
Discontinued operations - Laboratory testing revenue is mainly recognized as the testing is completed and certified (normally within days of sample receipt from customer).
 
Cash Equivalents
 
For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, cash equivalents include investments in money market obligation’s trusts that are registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 and liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
 
Marketable Securities
 
We consider our marketable security investment portfolio and marketable equity investments as available-for-sale and, accordingly, these investments are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses generally recorded in other comprehensive income; whereas realized gains and losses are included in earnings and determined based on the specific identification method.
 
We review our available-for-sale securities for other-than-temporary declines in fair value below their cost basis on a quarterly basis and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the cost basis of an asset may not be recoverable. This evaluation is based on a number of factors including, the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than our cost basis and adverse conditions specifically related to the security including any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency.
 
Accounts Receivable
 
Accounts receivable are recorded at their estimated realizable value. Accounts are deemed past due when payment has not been received within the stated time period. The Company's policy is to review individual past due amounts periodically and write off amounts for which all collection efforts are deemed to have been exhausted. Due to the nature of the Company’s customers, bad debts are mainly accounted for using the direct write-off method whereby an expense is recognized only when a specific account is determined to be uncollectible. The effect of using this method approximates that of the allowance method.
 
Income Taxes
 
The Company follows an asset and liability approach method of accounting for income taxes. This method measures deferred income taxes by applying enacted statutory rates in effect at the balance sheet date to the differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts on the financial statements. The resulting deferred tax assets or liabilities are adjusted to reflect changes in tax laws as they occur. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized.
 
The Company follows guidance from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) related to Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, which includes a two-step approach to recognizing, de-recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. As of October 31, 2018, the Company had no significant uncertain tax positions that would be reduced as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations.
 
 
F-9
 
 
Property and Equipment
 
Owned property and equipment, and leasehold improvements are stated at cost. Vehicles under capital leases are stated at the lower of fair market value or net present value of the minimum lease payments at the inception of the leases. Depreciation and amortization of owned assets are provided for, when placed in service, in amount sufficient to relate the cost of depreciable assets to operations over their estimated service lives, using straight-line basis. Assets under capital leases and leasehold improvements are amortized, over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease term, including renewals that have been determined to be reasonably assured. Major renewals and betterments that extend the life of the assets are capitalized, while expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed when incurred.
 
The Company evaluates for impairment its long-lived assets to be held and used, and long-lived assets to be disposed of, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Based on management estimates, no impairment of the operating properties was present.
 
Stock-based Compensation
 
Stock-based compensation expense is recognized in the consolidated financial statements based on the fair value of the awards granted. 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 requisite service period, which generally represents the vesting period, and includes an estimate of awards that will be forfeited. The Company calculates the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model at grant date, while for restricted stock units the fair market value of the units is determined by Company’s share market value at grant date. Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation are reflected as cash flows from financing activities rather than cash flows from operating activities. However, the Company has not recognized such cash flow from financing activities since there has been no tax benefit related to the stock-based compensation.
 
Earnings (Loss) Per Share of Common Stock
 
Basic earnings (loss) per share of common stock is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted earnings (loss) per share includes the dilution of common stock equivalents.
 
The diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding were calculated using the treasury stock method for the respective periods.
 
Foreign Operations
 
The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is its local currency. The assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The cumulative translation effect for subsidiaries using a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar is included as a cumulative translation adjustment in stockholders’ equity and as a component of comprehensive income.
 
The Company’s intercompany accounts are typically denominated in the functional currency of the foreign subsidiary. Gains and losses resulting from the remeasurement of intercompany receivables that the Company considers to be of a long-term investment nature are recorded as a cumulative translation adjustment in stockholders’ equity and as a component of comprehensive income, while gains and losses resulting from the remeasurement of intercompany receivables from those international subsidiaries for which the Company anticipates settlement in the foreseeable future are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
Subsequent Events
 
The Company has evaluated subsequent events to the date of the audit report as of January 29, 2019. The Company has determined that there are no events occurring in this period that required disclosure or adjustment, except as disclosed in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
 
Reclassifications
 
Certain reclassifications have been made to the October 31, 2017 consolidated financial statements to conform them to the October 31, 2018 consolidated financial statements presentation. Such reclassifications do not have an effect on net loss as previously reported.
 
 
F-10
 
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In May 2014, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the guidance for the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers to transfer goods and services. The FASB has subsequently issued additional, clarifying standards to address issues arising from implementation of the new revenue standard. The new standards are required to be adopted using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach. The Company expects to adopt this standard using the modified retrospective approach beginning with the Company’s fiscal year 2019. Based on the Company’s preliminary assessment, it currently does not anticipate a material impact to the Company’s total revenues.
 
In February 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the guidance for the accounting and disclosure of leases. This new standard requires that lessees recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases on the balance sheet and disclose qualitative and quantitative information about their leasing arrangements. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on January 1, 2019 and may be adopted earlier. The Company continues to evaluate the impact that this new standard will have on its consolidated financial statements. The Company does not expect that this standard will have a material impact to its Consolidated Statements of Operations but expects that this standard will have a material impact on the assets and liabilities on its Consolidated Balance Sheets upon adoption.
 
NOTE B — LABORATORY ASSETS SALE – DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
 
On September 17, 2018, the Company completed the sale of its Laboratory Assets for $5 million ($1.75 million in cash, $3.0 million in the form of a promissory note receivable (the “Promissory Note”), and $0.25 million from the application of a previously paid deposit). See Note D for further information. The gain related to this transaction of approximately $2.7 million, net of a preferential income tax rate, is included in the consolidated financial statements as a component of discontinued operations for the year ended October 31, 2018.
 
As part of the Laboratory Assets sale transaction, the Laboratory Assets purchaser leased from the Company the laboratory space previously used by the Company’s Lab operation. See Note G for further information.
 
Together with the Laboratory Assets sale, the Company discontinued its efforts on pursuing businesses that were not considered significant for the Company, including calibrations and a small laboratory in Spain.
 
The following table presents summarized operating results for these discontinued operations for the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017.
 
 
 
Years ended October 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Revenues
 $2,164,304 
 $2,281,677 
Net income (loss) after taxes, and 2018 gain on disposal of $2,712,244
 $2,541,470 
 $(637,091)
 
Any corporate allocations in prior year filings to the above discontinued operations have been included in continuing operations as the amounts are not expected to change as a result of the Laboratory Assets sale.
 
At October 31, 2017, total assets and liabilities from discontinued operations were classified as current based on the disposition date occurring one year from that balance sheet date. Components of assets from discontinued operations and liabilities from discontinued operations classified as current consist of the following:
 
 
 
October 31,
2017  
 
Current assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 $160,166 
Accounts receivable
  890,664 
Prepaids and other assets
  106,699 
Total current assets from discontinued operations
  1,157,529 
 
    
Property and equipment
  2,139,933 
Total assets from discontinued operations
 $3,297,462 
 
    
Current liabilities
    
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 $110,206 
Total liabilities from discontinued operations
 $110,206 
 
    
 
 
F-11
 
 
NOTE C – MARKETABLE SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE
 
The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and estimated fair values of available-for-sale securities by type of security were as follows as of October 31, 2018 and 2017:
 
Type of security as of October 31, 2018
 
Amortized Cost
 
 
Gross
Unrealized Gains
 
 
Gross
Unrealized Losses
 
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
U.S. Treasury securities
 $4,570,275 
 $ 
 $ 
 $4,570,275 
Other government-related debt securities:
    
    
    
    
Puerto Rico Commonwealth Government Development Bond
  40,000 
  4,475 
  - 
  44,475 
Total interest-bearing and available-for-sale securities
 $4,610,275 
 $4,475 
 $- 
 $4,614,750 
 
Type of security as of October 31, 2017
 
Amortized Cost
 
 
Gross
Unrealized Gains
 
 
Gross
Unrealized Losses
 
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
U.S. Treasury securities
 $4,500,000 
 $ 
 $ 
 $4,500,000 
Other government-related debt securities:
    
    
    
    
Puerto Rico Commonwealth Government Development Bond
  40,000 
   
  (13,400)
  26,600 
Total interest-bearing and available-for-sale securities
 $4,540,000 
 $ 
 $(13,400)
 $4,526,600 
 
At October 31, 2018 and 2017, the above marketable securities included a Puerto Rico Commonwealth Government Development Bank Bond, purchased at par for $95,000 and amortized by $55,000. Subsequent to October 31, 2018, the bond was sold at an amount similar to the recorded net book value.
 
The fair values of available-for-sale securities by classification in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows as of October 31, 2018 and 2017:
 
Classification in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 $4,570,275 
 $4,500,000 
Marketable securities
  44,475 
  26,600 
Total available-for-sale securities
 $4,614,750 
 $4,526,600 
 
Cash and cash equivalents in the table above exclude cash in banks of approximately $11.4 million and $7.1 million as of October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
 
The primary objectives of the Company’s investment portfolio are liquidity and safety of principal. Investments are made with the objective of achieving the highest rate of return consistent with these two objectives. Our investment policy limits investments to certain types of debt and money market instruments issued by institutions primarily with investment grade credit ratings and places restrictions on maturities and concentration by type and issuer.
 
NOTE D – PROMISSORY NOTE
 
On September 17, 2018, the Company completed the sale of its Laboratory Assets for $5 million and received, as partial payment, a $3 million Promissory Note from the purchaser. The Promissory Note is composed of two tranches; (i) Tranche A for $2 million and secured with lab equipment and (ii) Tranche B for $1 million which is unsecured. The interest rate accrual is 3% for Tranche A and 5% for Tranche B. Interest is due semi-annually in arrears commencing on the six-month after the completed sale of the Laboratory Assets. Tranche A is due in two installments of $750,000 and $1,250,000, on September 17, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Tranche B is due in two equal installments of $500,000 each, on March 17, 2019 and September 17, 2019.
 
 
F-12
 
 
NOTE E - PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
The balance of property and equipment at October 31, 2018 and 2017 consisted of the following:
 
 
 
 
 
 
October 31,
 
 
 
Useful life (years)
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Vehicles
5 
 $269,257 
 $248,152 
Leasehold improvements
5-8 
  84,485 
  70,168 
Computers
3 
  307,579 
  313,199 
Equipment
3-7 
  132,089 
  70,522 
Furniture and fixtures
10 
  1,563 
  3,718 
Total
       
  794,973 
  705,759 
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization   
       
  (496,953)
  (455,147)
Property and equipment, net   
       
 $298,020 
 $250,612 
 
NOTE F - INCOME TAXES
 
On December 22, 2017, Public Law 115-97, commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Reform”), was enacted. The Tax Reform is applicable to the Company commencing with its fiscal year 2018, including the Transition Tax provisions which establishes measurement dates for various computations, November 2, 2017, December 31, 2017 and October 31, 2018. The Tax Reform imposed a mandatory one-time transition tax (the “Transition Tax”) over foreign subsidiaries undistributed earnings and profits (“E&Ps”) earned prior to a date set by the statute. Based on the Company’s E&Ps, the Transition Tax is estimated to be approximately $2.7 million. The Transition Tax liability may be paid over a period of eight years starting on February 28, 2019. In the past, most of these E&Ps’ were not repatriated since such E&Ps’ were considered to be reinvested indefinitely in the foreign location, therefore no US tax liability was incurred unless the E&Ps were repatriated as a dividend. After December 31, 2017, the Tax Reform has established a 100% tax exemption on the foreign-source portion of dividends received attributable to E&Ps, with certain limitations.
 
In June 2011, Pharma-Bio, Pharma-PR and Pharma-Serv obtained a Grant of Industrial Tax Exemption pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in Act No. 73 of May 28, 2008 (“the Grant”) issued by the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (“PRIDCO”). The Grant was effective as of November 1, 2009 and covers a fifteen-year period. The Grant provides relief on various Puerto Rico taxes, including income tax, with certain limitations, for most of the activities carried on within Puerto Rico, including those that are for services to parties located outside of Puerto Rico. Industrial Development Income (“IDI”) covered under the Grant are subject to a fixed income tax rate of 4%. In addition, IDI earnings distributions accumulated since November 1, 2009 are totally exempt from Puerto Rico earnings distribution tax.
 
For the year ended October 31, 2018, the favorable consolidated net income aggregate dollar effect of the Grant was approximately $652,000, or $0.028 per basic weighted average share. For the year ended October 31, 2017, subsidiaries under the Grant were on a net loss position, therefore no income tax benefit was derived from the Grant.
 
Puerto Rico operations not covered in the exempt activities of the Grant are subject to Puerto Rico income tax at a maximum tax rate of 39% as provided by the 1994 Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code, as amended. The operations carried out in the United States by the Company’s subsidiary was taxed in the United States at a maximum regular federal income tax rate of 35%. Among the Tax Reform provisions, effective with the Company’s fiscal year ending on October 31, 2018, is a provision whereby the regular federal income tax rate is reduced to a 23.5% blended rate and 21% thereafter.
 
The reconciliation between the United States federal statutory rate and our effective tax rate applicable to continuing operations for the years ended October 31, 2018, and 2017 is as follows:
 
 
 
October 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
United States federal statutory rate
  23.5%
  35.0%
US Tax Reform Transition Tax Expense
  177.2%
  - 
Puerto Rico, including foreign loss positionsfor which the resulting deferred asset has been allowed, net
  (16.5)%
  (26.2)%
Other, including US loss positions for which the resulting deferred tax asset has been allowed, net
  (1.4)%
  (9.1)%
Effective tax rate
  182.8%
  (0.3)%
 
 
 
F-13
 
 
At October 31, 2018, Pharma-Spain, Pharma-IR, Pharma-Bio/Pharma-US, and Pharma-Serv have unused operating losses of approximately $1,270,000, $121,000, $2,695,000, and $22,000, respectively. These net operating losses are available to offset future taxable income until October 31, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033 for the aggregate amounts of $178,000, $332,000, $266,000, $181,000, $40,000 and $273,000, respectively for Pharma-Spain; indefinitely for Pharma-IR; until October 31, 2035, 2036, 2037, and 2038 for the aggregate amounts of $292,000, $834,000, $345,000 and $1,224,000, respectively for Pharma-Bio/Pharma-US; and until October 31, 2027 in the amount of $22,000 for Pharma-Serv. After considering various timing differences for income tax purposes, these unused operating losses result in a potential deferred tax asset for Pharma-Spain, Pharma-IR, Pharma-Bio, and Pharma-Serv of approximately $254,000, $15,000, $566,000 and $1,000, respectively. However, an allowance has been provided covering the total amount of such balance since it is uncertain whether the net operating losses can be used to offset future taxable income. Realization of future tax benefits related to a deferred tax asset is dependent on many factors, including the Company’s ability to generate taxable income. Accordingly, the income tax benefit will be recognized when realization is determined to be more probable than not.
 
The Company files income tax returns in the United States (federal and various states jurisdictions), Puerto Rico, Ireland, Spain and Brazil. The 2014 (2013 for Puerto Rico) through 2017 tax years are open and may be subject to potential examination in one or more jurisdictions. Currently, the Company is currently not subject to a federal, state, Puerto Rico or foreign income tax examination.
 
NOTE G – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
Capitalized lease obligations - The Company leases vehicles under non-cancelable capital lease agreements with a cost of $77,470 for the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017 (accumulated amortization of $21,163 and $5,668 as of October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively). Amortization expense for vehicles under non-cancelable lease agreements amounted to $15,495 and $22,053 for the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
 
The following is a schedule, by year, of future minimum lease payments under the capitalized leases together with the present value of the net minimum lease payments at October 31, 2018:
 
Twelve months ending October 31,
 
Amount  
 
2019 
 $15,502 
2020 
  15,502 
2021
  15,502 
2022 
  17,397 
Total future minimum lease payments  
  63,903 
Less: Amount of imputed interest  
  ( 4,108)
Present value of future minimum lease payments  
  59,795 
Current portion of obligation under capital leases 
  (13,768)
Long-term portion  
 $46,027 
 
Operating facilities - The Company conducts its administrative operations in office facilities which are leased under two different rental agreements.
 
In July 2016, with effective date January 1st, 2016, the Company renegotiated a lease agreement with an affiliate of our Chairman of the Board, for the headquarters and laboratory testing facilities in Dorado, Puerto Rico. The renegotiated lease incorporates additional space for the laboratory testing facility expansion. The lease agreement is for a five-year term, with a renewal option of five years, and monthly rental payments of $30,316 for the term of the lease agreement and renewal option. The lease agreement also requires the payment of utilities, property taxes, insurance and expenses incurred by the affiliate in connection with the maintenance of common areas. As part of the Laboratory Assets transaction (see Note B), this lease was amended to (i) allow the Company to sublease to the Laboratory Assets purchaser (the “Subtenant”) the laboratory leased space area, and (ii) if Subtenant defaults under the Sublease or terminates the Sublease, the Company shall have the option to either (a) terminate the Sublease and re-occupy the Subleased Premises pursuant to the terms of the Lease, or (b) modify the Lease to terminate the Lease for the portion of the Premises that is the Subleased Premises only, without penalty.
 
Simultaneously with the Laboratory Assets sale closing transaction the Company and Subtenant entered into a sublease agreement (the “Sublease”) with an initial term commencing at Sales Closing Date through December 31, 2019. The Sublease contains a one-year renewal option, followed by a second renewal option of five years. Provided a six months’ notice of termination, Subtenant may terminate without penalty the Sublease within the term of the second renewal option of five years. The Sublease calls for monthly rental payments of $17,950 each, and a 5% annual rent increase beginning on the second lease year and thereafter until the expiration of the Sublease initial term or the first renewal option. No rent increase will apply to the five-year term renewal option if exercised. The Sublease requires the payment of utilities, property taxes, insurance and common area expenses incurred and/or allocated to Subtenant.
 
 
F-14
 
 
The Company maintains an office facility in Madrid, Spain. The facility is under a month-to-month lease with monthly payments of approximately $1,000.
 
The Company leases certain apartments as dwellings for employees. The leases are under short-term lease agreements and usually are cancelable upon 30-day notification.
 
Minimum future rental payments under non-cancelable operating leases having remaining terms in excess of one year as of October 31, 2018 are as follows:
 
 
 
Amount
 
2019
 $363,800 
2020
  363,800 
2021
  60,633 
Total minimum future rental payments
 $788,233 
 
Total minimum future rental payments have not been reduced by approximately $252,000 of sublease rentals to be received in the future under non-cancelable subleases.
 
Rent expense for the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017 was approximately $389,000 and $413,000, respectively.
 
Contingencies - In the ordinary course of business, the Company may be a party to legal proceedings incidental to the business. These proceedings are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business or financial condition.
 
NOTE H – WARRANTS
 
On December 2014, the Company entered into an agreement with a firm for providing (i) business development and (ii) mergers and acquisition services to the Company. Pursuant to the agreement terms, the Company issued warrants for the purchase of 1,000,000 common shares at an exercise price of $1.80 per share. As of July 31, 2016, the underlying common shares of the warrants were fully vested. The warrants expire on December 1, 2019.
 
NOTE I – EQUITY TRANSACTIONS
 
On June 13, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Company to repurchase up to two million shares of its outstanding common stock. The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases will be at the discretion of the Company, subject to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and related rules. The program does not oblige the Company to repurchase any shares and it may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time and for any reason. Under the program no shares will be repurchased directly from directors or officers of the Company. As of October 31, 2018 and 2017, a total of 315,404 and 243,452 shares of the Company’s common stock were purchased for an aggregate amount of $304,688 and $248,163, respectively.
 
On October 3, 2018, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.075 per common share for shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 15, 2018. Accordingly, an aggregate dividend payment of $1,728,750 was paid on October 26, 2018.
 
NOTE J – EARNINGS (LOSSES) PER SHARE
 
The computation of basic earnings and losses per share is based on the weighted-average number of our common shares outstanding. The computation of diluted earnings and losses per share is based on the weighted-average number of our common shares outstanding and dilutive potential common shares, which include principally shares that may be issued under: warrants, our stock option and restricted stock unit awards, determined using the treasury stock method. The following data show the amounts used in the calculations of basic and diluted earnings per share.
 
 
 
Years ended October 31,            
 
 
 
2018  
 
 
2017      
 
Net loss available to common equity holders - used to compute basic and diluted earnings (losses) per share (continuing operations)
 $(1,261,736)
 $(777,818)
Net income (loss) available to common equity holders - used to compute basic and diluted earnings (losses) per share (discontinued operations)
 $2,541,470 
 $(637,091)
Weighted average number of common shares - used to compute basic earnings (losses) per share 
  23,080,995 
  23,096,547 
Effect of warrants to purchase common stock
  - 
  - 
Effect of restricted stock units to issue common stock
  - 
  2,829 
Effect of options to purchase common stock
  15,257 
  - 
Weighted average number of shares - used to compute diluted earnings (losses) per share
  23,096,252 
  23,099,376 
 
 
F-15
 
 
For the year ended October 31, 2018, warrants and options for the purchase of 1,000,000 and 419,600 shares of common stock, respectively, were not included in computing losses per share because their effect were antidilutive. Also, for the year ended on October 31, 2017, warrants and options for the purchase of 1,000,000 and 660,000 shares of common stock, respectively, were not included in computing diluted losses per share because their effect were also antidilutive.
 
NOTE K - STOCK OPTIONS, RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AND STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
 
The Company has two incentive plans, the 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”) and the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”, together the “Plans”). The 2005 Plan and the 2014 Plan cover 2,500,000 and 2,300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, respectively. Both Plans provide for the grant of incentive and non-qualified options, stock grants, stock appreciation rights and other equity-based incentives to employees, including officers, consultants and directors for a period of ten years. The 2005 Plan expired in October 2015, accordingly no further grants have been issued under this plan. The Plans are to be administered by a committee of independent directors. In the absence of a committee, the plans are administered by the board of directors. Options intended to be incentive stock options must be granted at an exercise price per share which is not less than the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant and may have a term which is not longer than ten years. If the option holder holds at least 10% of the Company’s common stock, the exercise price must be at least 110% of the fair market value on the date of grant and the term of the option cannot exceed five years.
 
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 requisite service period, which generally represents the vesting period, and includes an estimate of awards that will be forfeited. The fair value of stock-based awards to employees is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes model requires subjective assumptions, including future stock price volatility and expected time to exercise, which greatly affect the calculated values. The expected term of the option has been estimated using the “simplified” method as provided in the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, for plans with insufficient exercise experience. Under this method, the expected term equals the arithmetic average of the vesting term and the contractual term of the option. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rates in effect during the corresponding period of grant. The expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock price. These factors could change in the future, which would affect fair values of stock options granted in such future periods, and could cause volatility in the total amount of the stock-based compensation expense reported in future periods.
 
The 2005 Plan stock options activity and status for the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 

 
 Year ended October 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
 
Number of  Shares
 
 
Weighted-Average Option Exercise Price
 
 
Number of Shares
 
 
Weighted-Average Option Exercise Price
 
Outstanding at beginning of year
  200,000 
 $1.4820 
  815,000 
 $0.9106 
Granted
  - 
 $- 
  - 
 $- 
Exercised
  - 
 $- 
  (370,000)
 $0.7186 
Expired and/or forfeited
  (40,000)
 $0.7500 
  (245,000)
 $0.7341 
Total outstanding at end of year
  160,000 
 $1.6650 
  200,000 
 $1.4820 
 
    
    
    
    
Outstanding exercisable stock options at end of year
  160,000 
 $1.6650 
  200,000 
 $1.4820 
 
 
October 31,
2018
 
October 31,
2017
 
Weighted average remaining years in contractual life for:
 
 
 
 
Total outstanding options
  0.7 years
 
1.4 years
 
Outstanding exercisable options
  0.7 years
 
1.4 years
 
Shares of common stock available for issuance pursuant to future stock option grants
-
 
 -
 
 
 
F-16
 
 
The 2014 Plan stock options activity and status for the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 

 
Year ended October 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
 
 Number of Shares
 
 
Weighted-Average Option Exercise Price
 
 
Number of  Shares
 
 
Weighted-Average Option Exercise Price
 
Outstanding at beginning of year
  460,000 
 $0.8887 
  430,000 
 $0.8860 
Granted
  80,000 
 $0.5200 
  80,000 
 $0.9100 
Exercised
  (210,400)
 $0.8502 
  - 
 $- 
Expired and/or forfeited
  - 
 $- 
  (50,000)
 $0.9000 
Total outstanding at end of year
  329,600 
 $0.8238 
  460,000 
 $0.8887 
 
    
    
    
    
Outstanding exercisable stock options at end of year
  190,000 
 $0.8653 
  219,998 
 $0.9098 
 
 
October 31,
2018
 
October 31,
2017
 
Weighted average remaining years in contractual life for:
 
 
 
 
Total outstanding options
2.8 years
 
3.3 years
 
Outstanding exercisable options
2.9 years
 
3.3 years
 
Shares of common stock available for issuance pursuant to future stock option grants
1,760,000
 
1,840,000
 
 
The following weighted average assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted under the 2014 Plan for the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017:
 
 
 
Year ended October 31,          
 
 
 
2018  
 
 
2017    
 
Expected dividend yield
  0.0%
  0.0%
Expected stock price volatility
  73.6%
  68.6%
Risk free interest rate
  2.0%
  1.5%
Expected life of options
  3.2 years 
  3.2 years 
Weighted average fair value of options granted
 $0.2624 
 $0.4286 
 
As of October 31, 2018, estimated stock based compensation expense to be recognized in future periods for granted nonvested stock options is attributable to stock options granted under the 2014 Plan. The nonvested stock options compensation expense in the amount of $13,457 will be recognized in a weighted average period of approximately 0.3 years.
 
As of October 31, 2018, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding under the 2014 Plan was approximately $74,570, while outstanding options exercise price under the 2005 Plan were above the Company’s share market value. As of October 31, 2017, the exercise price for all options outstanding under the 2005 Plan and 2014 Plan were also above the Company’s stock market value. The aggregate intrinsic value represents the difference between the Company’s stock price at year end and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the money options had all option holders exercised their options. This amount changes based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock.
 
The following table presents the total stock-based compensation included in the Company’s consolidated statement of income and the effect in earnings per share:
 
 
 
Year ended October 31,          
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Stock-based compensation expense:   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services 
 $- 
 $- 
Selling, general and administrative  
  51,642 
  63,875 
Stock-based compensation before tax  
  51,642 
  63,875 
Income tax benefit  
  - 
  - 
Net stock-based compensation expense 
 $51,642 
 $63,875 
Effect on earnings per share:
    
    
Basic earnings per share
 $(0.002)
 $(0.003)
Diluted earnings per share
 $(0.002)
 $(0.003)
 
 
F-17
 
 
NOTE L - CONCENTRATION OF RISKS
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
The Company domestic cash and cash equivalents consist of cash deposits in FDIC insured banks (substantially covered by FDIC insurance by the spread of deposits in multiple FDIC insured banks), a money market obligations trust registered under the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and U.S. Treasury securities with maturities of three months or less. In the foreign markets we serve, we also maintain cash deposits in foreign banks, which tend to be not significant and have no specific insurance. No losses have been experienced or are expected on these accounts.
 
Accounts receivable and revenues
 
Management deems all its accounts receivable to be fully collectible, and, as such, does not maintain any allowances for uncollectible receivables.
 
The Company's revenues, and the related receivables, are concentrated in the pharmaceutical industry in Puerto Rico, the United States of America and Europe. Although a few customers represent a significant source of revenue, the Company’s functions are not a continuous process, accordingly, the client base for which the services are typically rendered, on a project-by-project basis, changes regularly.
 
The Company provided a substantial portion of its services to two customers, who accounted for 10% or more of its revenues in either of the years ended October 31, 2018 or 2017. During the year ended October 31, 2018, revenues from these customers were 15.6% and 13.8%, or a total of 29.4%, as compared to the same period last year for 1.6% and 13.6%, or a total of 15.2%, respectively. At October 31, 2018 and 2017, amounts due from these customers represented 36.9% and 9.2% of total accounts receivable balance, respectively.
 
The major customer information in the above paragraph is based on revenues earned from said customers at the segment level because in management’s opinion contracts by segments are totally independent of each other, and therefore such information is more meaningful to the reader. However, at the global level three groups of affiliated companies accounted for 10% or more of our revenues in either October 31, 2018 or 2017. During the year ended October 31, 2018, aggregate revenues from these global groups of affiliated companies were 15.6%, 13.8% and 5.3%, or a total of 34.7%, as compared to the same period last year for 1.6%, 13.6%, and 10.7%, or a total of 25.9%, respectively. At October 31, 2018 and 2017, amounts due from these global groups of affiliated companies represented 42.4% and 12.4% of total accounts receivable balance, respectively.
 
NOTE M – OTHER INCOME
 
During September 2017, the Company’s Puerto Rico operations were affected by hurricanes which severely impacted Puerto Rico (“Hurricanes”). The Company’s insurance claim for property damages resulting from the Hurricanes was settled with the insurance carrier on July 2018 for the aggregate amount of approximately $148,000. Business interruption losses and additional expenses incurred by the Company until electrical power and other basic utilities were restored is currently being assessed by the Company’s insurance provider. Based on current accounting guidance, the insurance proceeds are being recognized upon collection, as a gain contingency against other income in the consolidated financial statements.
 
Administered and disbursed by the Puerto Rico Treasury Department, the United States federal government granted a salaries subsidy (the “Salaries Subsidy”) to Puerto Rico employers which retained employees for the period since the Hurricanes until the sooner of (i) when the employer operations were fully able to operate, or (ii) December 31, 2017. During July 2018, the Company’s Puerto Rico subsidiaries applied and collected from the Salaries Subsidy an aggregate amount of approximately $220,000. This Salaries Subsidy was recorded against other income in the consolidated financial statements.
 
NOTE N - SEGMENT DISCLOSURES
 
The Company’s segments are based on the organizational structure for which financial results are regularly evaluated by the Company’s chief operating decision maker to determine resource allocation and assess performance. Each reportable segment is managed by its own management team and reports to executive management. The Company has three reportable segments: (i) Puerto Rico technical compliance consulting, (ii) United States technical compliance consulting, and (iii) Europe technical compliance consulting. These reportable segments provide services primarily to the pharmaceutical, chemical, medical device and biotechnology industries in their respective markets.
 
 
F-18
 
 
The following table presents information about the reported revenue from services and earnings from operations of the Company for the years ended in October 31, 2018 and 2017. There is no intersegment revenue for the mentioned periods. Corporate expenses that support the operating units have been allocated to the segments. Asset information by reportable segment is not presented, since the Company does not produce such information internally, nor does it use such data to manage its business.
 
 
 
Year ended October 31,          
 
 
 
2018  
 
 
2017    
 
REVENUES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Puerto Rico consulting
 $14,438,772 
 $10,936,206 
United States consulting
  2,137,748 
  1,217,498 
Europe consulting
  1,153,740 
  1,087,610 
Other segments¹
  67,165 
  56,284 
Total consolidated revenues
 $17,797,425 
 $13,297,598 
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES:
    
    
Puerto Rico consulting
 $1,217,758 
 $(544,658)
United States consulting
  (119,140)
  (377,035)
Europe consulting
  11,194 
  (44,597)
Other segments¹
  413,977 
  192,338 
Total consolidated income before taxes
 $1,523,789 
 $(773,952)
 

¹
Other segments represent activities that fall below the reportable threshold and are carried out in Puerto Rico and Brazil. These activities include a Brazilian compliance consulting division and corporate headquarters, as applicable.
 
Long lived assets (property and equipment) and related depreciation and amortization expense for the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, were concentrated in the corporate headquarters in Puerto Rico. Accordingly, depreciation expense and acquisition of property and equipment, as presented in the statements of cash flows are mainly related to the corporate headquarters.
 
NOTE O - RETIREMENT PLAN
 
Pharma-PR and Pharma-US each have a separate qualified retirement plan in accordance with the applicable laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States of America, for employees who meet certain age and service period requirements. The Company makes contributions to these plans as required by the provisions of the plan document. For the year ended October 31, 2018 the Company suspended the Contributions to the plans. During the year ended October 31, 2017, the Company contributed to these plans $66,000.
 
NOTE P – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
On December 31, 2013, the Company entered into a Consulting Agreement with a company (the “Consultant”) affiliated to our Chairman and our Chairman, effective as of January 1, 2014.  Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement as amended, the Consultant will consult with the Board regarding the Company’s strategic initiatives, company services, management, operations and other matters as may be requested from time to time by the Board.  The Chairman will receive a company automobile and such insurance as she was provided by the Company during her last year of employment with the Company.  The Consulting Agreement also included standard provisions relating to non-competition, confidentiality, non-transferability and non-disparagement. On December 31, 2018, the Company extended the Consulting Agreement for an additional year to December 31, 2019 and maintained the past compensation structure. Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement the Company will compensate Consultant a monthly retainer of $33,700 during the Extension Term. In addition, in the event the Company achieves at least eighty percent (80%) of its budget for the year, Consultant shall receive a payment in the amount of $100,000 (the “Incentive Fee”). If the Company achieves one hundred percent (100%) or more of its budget for the year, the Incentive Fee shall be $120,000.
 
As more fully disclosed in Note G to the consolidated financial statements, the Company leases its headquarters facilities in Dorado, Puerto Rico, from an affiliate of our Chairman of the Board.
 
NOTE Q – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
On December 31, 2018, the Company renewed the Consulting Agreement with a company affiliated to our Chairman and our Chairman, as more fully disclosed in Note P.
 
 
F-19