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Simulations Plus, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2009 November (Form 10-Q)

simulations_10q-113009.htm


 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC  20549

FORM 10-Q

 
[x]
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Security Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended November 30, 2009

 
[_]
Transmission Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Security Exchange Act of 1937 for the transition period from ______ to ______

Commission file number:  001-32046

Simulations Plus, Inc.
(Name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
California
 
95-4595609
(State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
identification No.)
 
42505 10th Street West
Lancaster, CA  93534-7059
(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)

(661) 723-7723
(Issuer’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 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 [x]  No [_]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer [_]                                           Non-accelerated filer [_]                                          Smaller reporting company [x]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).Yes [_]  No [_]
 
The number of shares outstanding of the Issuer’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, as of January 12, 2010, was 15,681,460.
 


 
 

 

Simulations Plus, Inc.
FORM 10-Q
For the Quarterly Period Ended November 30, 2009

Table of Contents
 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   
Item 1.  Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Page
     
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets at November 30, 2009 (unaudited) and August 31, 2009 (audited)
2
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended November 30, 2009 and 2008 (unaudited)
3
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended November 30, 2009 and 2008 (unaudited)
4
     
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
5
     
Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operations
 
     
 
General
16
     
 
Results of Operations
21
     
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
23
     
Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
23
     
Item 4.  Controls and Procedures
23
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
     
Item 1.  Legal Proceedings
24
     
Item 2.  Changes in Securities
24
     
Item 3.  Defaults upon Senior Securities
24
     
Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
24
     
Item 5.  Other Information
24
     
Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
24
     
Signature
25
     
Exhibit – Certifications
 
 

 
 

 
 
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
November 30, 2009 (Unaudited) and August 31, 2009 (Audited)

 
ASSETS
           
   
November 30, 2009
   
August 31, 2009
 
Current assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 7,973,340     $ 7,473,485  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and estimated contractual discounts of $387,149 and $447,073
    1,831,307       1,888,904  
Contracts receivable
    177,259       79,565  
Inventory
    370,691       325,926  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    58,870       158,738  
Deferred income taxes
    338,516       338,516  
Total current assets
    10,749,983       10,265,134  
                 
Capitalized computer software development costs,
               
net of accumulated amortization of $3,994,139 and $3,843,743
    1,993,035       1,942,893  
Property and equipment, net (note 4)
    47,644       53,220  
Customer relationships, net of accumulated amortization of $108,717 and $104,728
    19,325       23,314  
Other assets
    18,445       18,445  
                 
Total assets
  $ 12,828,432     $ 12,303,006  
                 
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Current liabilities
               
Accounts payable
  $ 299,502     $ 199,218  
Accrued payroll and other expenses
    576,874       552,431  
Accrued bonuses to officers
    123,749       60,000  
Accrued warranty and service costs
    35,101       43,236  
Accrued income taxes
    36,591       -  
Deferred revenue
    149,810       82,190  
Total current liabilities
    1,221,627       937,075  
                 
Long-Term liabilities
               
Deferred income taxes
    795,140       795,140  
                 
Total liabilities
    2,016,767       1,732,215  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (note 5)
               
                 
Shareholders' equity (note 6)
               
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value 10,000,000 shares authorized no shares issued and outstanding
    -       -  
Common stock, $0.001 par value 50,000,000 shares authorized 15,684,046 and 15,700,382 shares issued and outstanding
    4,155       4,172  
Additional paid-in capital
    5,383,499       5,572,411  
Retained earnings
    5,424,011       4,994,208  
                 
Total shareholders' equity
    10,811,665       10,570,791  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 12,828,432     $ 12,303,006  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
2

 
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Three Months Ended November 30,
(Unaudited)

 
   
2009
   
2008
 
             
Net sales
  $ 2,437,052     $ 2,133,250  
                 
Cost of sales
    606,889       558,726  
                 
Gross profit
    1,830,163       1,574,524  
                 
Operating expenses
               
Selling, general, and administrative
    1,004,273       903,690  
Research and development
    261,325       269,085  
                 
Total operating expenses
    1,265,598       1,172,775  
                 
Income from operations
    564,565       401,749  
                 
Other income (expense)
               
Interest income
    22,486       33,387  
Interest expense
    (302 )     -  
Miscellaneous income
    231       43  
Gain on sales of property and equipment
    1,024       -  
Gain on currency exchange
    73,232       17,876  
                 
Total other income (expense)
    96,671       51,306  
                 
Income before provision for income taxes
    661,236       453,055  
                 
Provision for income taxes
    (231,433 )     (141,333 )
                 
Net income
  $ 429,803     $ 311,722  
                 
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.03     $ 0.02  
                 
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.03     $ 0.02  
                 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
               
Basic
    15,648,630       16,348,818  
                 
Diluted
    16,775,287       17,516,583  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
3

 
SIMULATIONS PLUS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Three Months Ended November 30,
(Unaudited)

 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Cash flows from operating activities
           
Net income
  $ 429,803     $ 311,722  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
               
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment
    6,377       12,383  
Amortization of customer relationships
    3,989       5,486  
Amortization of capitalized computer software development costs
    150,396       123,831  
Bad debts
    (12,901 )     56,418  
Stock-based compensation
    52,450       39,398  
Gain on sales of property and equipment
    (1,024 )        
Deferred income taxes
    -       12,700  
                 
(Increase) decrease in
               
Accounts receivable
    (2,619 )     (425,799 )
Inventory
    (44,765 )     8,017  
Other assets
    99,868       69,996  
Increase (decrease) in
               
Accounts payable
    100,284       (15,776 )
Accrued payroll and other expenses
    24,443       26,244  
Accrued bonuses to officers
    63,749       23,845  
Accrued income taxes
    36,591       128,633  
Accrued warranty and service costs
    (8,135 )     7,246  
Deferred revenue
    67,620       (50,000 )
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    966,126       334,344  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities
               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (24,353 )     (7,348 )
Capitalized computer software development costs
    (200,538 )     (201,649 )
                 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (224,891 )     (208,997 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities
               
Repurchase of common stock
    (285,123 )     -  
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
    43,743       48,806  
                 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    (241,380 )     48,806  
                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 499,855     $ 174,153  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    7,473,485       5,889,601  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 7,973,340     $ 6,063,754  
                 
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
               
                 
Interest paid
  $ 302     $ -  
                 
Income taxes paid
  $ 130,232     $ -  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
4

 
Simulations Plus, Inc. and Subsidiary

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
November 30, 2009 and 2008
(Unaudited)
 
Note 1: GENERAL

This report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2009, should be read in conjunction with the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2009, filed with the SEC on November 30, 2009. As contemplated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Article 8 of Regulation S-X, the accompanying financial statements and footnotes have been condensed and therefore do not contain all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles. The interim financial data are unaudited; however, in the opinion of Simulations Plus, Inc. ("we", "our", "us"), the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those to be expected for the full year.

Note 2: SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses.  These estimates and assumptions are affected by management’s application of accounting policies.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Significant accounting policies for us include revenue recognition, accounting for capitalized computer software development costs, valuation of stock options, and accounting for income taxes.

Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Simulations Plus, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Words+, Inc.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenues related to software licenses and software maintenance in accordance with guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).  Software products revenue is recorded when the following conditions are met: 1) evidence of arrangement exists, 2) delivery has been made, 3) the amount is fixed, and 4) collectability is probable.  Post-contract customer support ("PCS") obligations are insignificant; therefore, revenue for PCS is recognized at the same time as the licensing fee, and the costs of providing such support services are accrued and amortized over the obligation period.  For Words+ products, the revenue is recorded at the time of shipment, net of estimated allowances and returns.

As a byproduct of ongoing improvements and upgrades for the new programs and new modules of software, some modifications are provided to customers who have already purchased software at no additional charge. Other software modifications result in new, additional cost modules that expand the functionality of the software. These are licensed separately. We consider the modifications that are provided without charge to be minimal, as they do not significantly change the basic functionality or utility of the software, but rather add convenience, such as being able to plot some additional variable on a graph in addition to the numerous variables that had been available before, or adding some additional calculations to supplement the information provided from running the software. Such software modifications for any single product have typically occurred once or twice per year, sometimes more, sometimes less. Thus, they are infrequent.  The Company provides, for a fee, additional training and service calls to its customers and recognizes revenue at the time the training or service call is provided.

 
5

 

Generally, we enter into one-year license agreements with customers for the use of our pharmaceutical software products.  We recognize revenue on these contracts when all the criteria are met.

Most license agreements have a term of one year; however, from time to time, we enter into multi-year license agreements. We generally unlock and invoice software one year at a time for multi-year licenses. Therefore, revenue is recognized one year at a time.

We recognize contract study revenue either equally over the term of the contract or using the percentage of completion method, depending upon how the contract studies are engaged, in accordance with guidance issued by the FASB.  To recognize revenue using the percentage of completion method, we must determine whether we meet the following criteria:  1) there is a long-term, legally enforceable contract, 2) it is possible to reasonably estimate the total project costs, and 3) it is possible to reasonably estimate the extent of progress toward completion.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the statements of cash flows, we consider all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable
The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses that may arise if any of its customers are unable to make required payments.  Management specifically analyzes the age of customer balances, historical bad debt experience, customer credit-worthiness, and changes in customer payment terms when making estimates of the collectability of the Company’s trade accounts receivable balances.  If the Company determines that the financial conditions of any of its customers deteriorated, whether due to customer-specific or general economic issues, an increase in the allowance may be made.  Accounts receivable are written off when all collection attempts have failed.  The Company also estimates the contractual discount obligation for third party funding such as Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies.  Those estimated discounts are reflected in the allowance for doubtful accounts and contractual discounts.

Inventory
Inventory is stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out basis) or market and consists primarily of computers and peripheral computer equipment.

Capitalized Computer Software Development Costs
Software development costs are capitalized in accordance with guidance issued by the FASB.  Capitalization of software development costs begins upon the establishment of technological feasibility and is discontinued when the product is available for sale.

The establishment of technological feasibility and the ongoing assessment for recoverability of capitalized software development costs require considerable judgment by management with respect to certain external factors including, but not limited to, technological feasibility, anticipated future gross revenues, estimated economic life, and changes in software and hardware technologies. Capitalized software development costs are comprised primarily of salaries and direct payroll-related costs and the purchase of existing software to be used in our software products.

 
6

 

Amortization of capitalized software development costs is provided on a product-by-product basis on the straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the products (not to exceed five years).  Amortization of software development costs amounted to $150,366 and $123,831 for the three months ended November 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  We expect future amortization expense to vary due to increases in capitalized computer software development costs.

We test capitalized computer software development costs for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization.  Depreciation and amortization are provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives as follows:

Equipment
5 years
Computer equipment
3 to 7 years
Furniture and fixtures
5 to 7 years
Leasehold improvements
Shorter of life of asset or lease

Maintenance and minor replacements are charged to expense as incurred.  Gains and losses on disposals are included in the results of operations.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments
For certain of the Company's financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued payroll and other expenses, accrued bonuses to officers, and accrued warranty and service costs, the carrying amounts approximate fair value due to their short maturities.

Effective September 1, 2008, we adopted a new standard issued by the FASB.  This standard does not require any new fair value measurements; rather, it defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with existing GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. In February 2008, FASB guidance was issued, which delayed the effective date of this standard to fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). We elected to defer the adoption of the Standard for these non-financial assets and liabilities and are currently evaluating the impact, if any, that the deferred provisions of the Standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. In October 2008, additional guidance was issued by the FASB which clarifies the application of SFAS 157 in an inactive market and provides an example to demonstrate how the fair value of a financial asset is determined when the market for that financial asset is inactive. This guidance was effective upon issuance, including prior periods for which financial statements had not been issued. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial position or operating results. Beginning September 1, 2008, assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. The categories, as defined by the standard are as follows:


 
7

 


Level Input:
 
Input Definition:
Level I
 
Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date.
Level II
 
Inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level I, that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data at the measurement date.
Level III
 
Unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.

The following table summarizes fair value measurements by level at November 30, 2009 for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

   
Level I
   
Level II
   
Level III
   
Total
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
7,973,340
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
7,973,340
 
                                 
 Total assets
 
$
7,973,340
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
7,973,340
 

Shipping and Handling
Shipping and handling costs, recorded as cost of sales, amounted to $28,293 and $26,241 for the three months ended November 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred until technological feasibility has been established. These costs consist primarily of salaries and direct payroll-related costs.  It also includes purchased software which was developed by other companies and incorporated into, or used in the development of, our final products.

Income Taxes
The Company utilizes guidance issued by the FASB which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns.

Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each year-end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income.  Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.  The provision for income taxes represents the tax payable for the period and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.

The difference between income tax expense attributable to continuing operations and the amount of income tax expenses that would result from applying domestic federal statutory rates to pre-tax income is mainly related to state income taxes, offset by the utilization of research and development credits for federal and state purposes. Our policy is to include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.
 
Customer relationships
The Company purchased customer relationships as a part of the acquisition of certain assets of Bioreason, Inc. in November 2005.  Customer relationships was recorded at a cost of $128,042, and is being amortized over 78 months under the sum-of-the-years’-digits method.  Amortization expense for the three months ended November 30, 2009 and 2008 amounted to $3,990 and $5,486, respectively.  Accumulated amortization as of November 30, 2009 and 2008 was $108,717 and $90,515, respectively.


 
8

 

Earnings per Share
The Company reports earnings per share in accordance with guidance issued by the FASB.  Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares available.  Diluted earnings per share is computed similar to basic earnings per share except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the potential common shares had been issued and if the additional common shares were dilutive.  The components of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended November 30, 2009 and 2008 were as follows:
 
   
11/30/2009
   
11/30/2008
 
Numerator
           
Net income attributable to common shareholders
  $ 462,865     $ 311,722  
                 
Denominator
               
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year
    15,648,630       16,348,818  
Dilutive effect of stock options
    1,126,657       1,167,765  
                 
Common stock and common stock equivalents used for diluted earning per share
    16,775,287       17,516,583  
 
Stock-Based Compensation
Compensation costs related to stock options are determined in accordance with guidance issued by the FASB using the modified prospective method.  Under this method, compensation cost includes: (1) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of September 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS No. 123 amortized over the options’ vesting period, and (2) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted subsequent to September 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with guidance issued by the FASB, amortized on a straight-line basis over the options’ vesting period.  Stock-based compensation was $52,450 and $39,398 for the three months ended November 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and is included in the consolidated statements of operations as Consulting, and Research and Development expense.

Concentrations and Uncertainties
International sales accounted for 31% and 22% of net sales for the three months ended November 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  For Simulations Plus, Inc., four customers accounted for 40%, 9%, 8%, and 8% of net sales during the three months ended November 30, 2009, compared with three customers accounting for 41%, 10%, and 7% of net sales during the three months ended November 30, 2008.  For Words+, Inc., the third party billing, which includes various government agencies, accounted for 72% of net sales during the three months ended November 30, 2009, compared with 58% of net sales during the three months ended November 30, 2008.

The Company operates in the computer software industry, which is highly competitive and changes rapidly.  The Company's operating results could be significantly affected by its ability to develop new products and find new distribution channels for new and existing products.

For Simulations Plus, four customers comprised 20% (a dealer account representing various customers), 19%, 17%, and 11% of its accounts receivable at November 30, 2009, and three customers comprised 48%, 15% (a dealer account representing various customers), and 8% of accounts receivable at November 30, 2008.   For Words+, the third party billing which includes various government agencies comprised 92% of its accounts receivable at November 30, 2009, and 87% of its accounts receivable at November 30, 2008.

 
9

 

The Company’s subsidiary, Words+, Inc., purchases components for its main computer products from four manufacturers. Words+, Inc. also uses a number of pictographic symbols that are used in its software products which are licensed from a third party. The inability of the Company to obtain computers used in its products or to renew its licensing agreement to use pictographic symbols could negatively impact the Company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
 
In September 2009, the FASB issued guidance that amends Statement of Position (“SOP”) 97-2, “Software Revenue Recognition”, to exclude tangible products containing software components and non-software components that function together to deliver the product’s essential functionality.  This guidance applies to revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with early application permitted.  The company expects to adopt this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.  The company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.
 
In September 2009, the FASB issued guidance that requires an entity to use an estimated selling price when vendor-specific objective evidence or acceptable third-party evidence does not exist for any products or services included in a multiple element arrangement.  The arrangement consideration should be allocated among the products and services based upon their relative selling prices, thus eliminating the use of the residual method of allocation.  This guidance also requires expanded qualitative and quantitative disclosures regarding significant judgments made and changes in applying the guidance.  This guidance applies to fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2010, with early application permitted.  The company expects to adopt the standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.  The company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued guidance that provides for the FASB Accounting Standards Codification to become the single official source of authoritative, nongovernmental generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. This guidance does not change GAAP but reorganizes the literature. This statement is effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.
 
In May 2009, the FASB issued guidance which provides guidance on events that occur after the balance sheet date but prior to the issuance of the financial statements. This guidance distinguishes events requiring recognition in the financial statements and those that may require disclosure in the financial statements. Furthermore, this standard requires disclosure of the date through which subsequent events were evaluated. this standard was effective for interim and annual periods after June 15, 2009. The Company adopted this standard for the annual reporting period ended August 31, 2009.
 
In April 2008, the FASB issued guidance that amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset. The objective of the Staff Position is to improve the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset.  This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company believes the adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
 

 
10

 

In December 2008, the FASB issued guidance that establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, any resulting goodwill, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree. This guidance also provides for disclosures to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. This guidance is effective for the Company in the current fiscal quarter of 2010 and must be applied prospectively to business combinations completed on or after this fiscal quarter of 2010.  The Company believes that the adoption of this guidance will not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

In December 2008, the FASB issued guidance which establishes accounting and reporting standards for noncontrolling interests (“minority interests”) in subsidiaries. This guidance clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary should be accounted for as a component of equity separate from the parent’s equity. This guidance is effective for the Company in the first fiscal quarter of 2010 and must be applied prospectively, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which will apply retrospectively. The Company believes that the adoption of the standard will not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
 
Note 3:  INVESTMENT

The Company owned Auction Rated Securities (“ARS”) through UBS Financial Services Inc.  On August 8, 2008, UBS announced a comprehensive settlement, in principle, to all who hold ARS, that they will buy back ARS, at par, from most clients during a two-year time period beginning January 2, 2009.  On January 2, 2009, UBS bought back all of our ARS, and we no longer hold such an investment.
 
Note 4:  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment as of November 30, 2009 consisted of the following:

Equipment
  $ 80,830  
Computer equipment
    376,457  
Furniture and fixtures
    61,498  
Automobile
    21,769  
Leasehold improvements
    53,898  
     Sub total
    594,452  
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (546,808 )
     Net Book Value
  $ 47,644  

Note 5:  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Employment Agreement
On August 31, 2009, the Company entered into an employment agreement with its President/Chief Executive Officer that expires in August 2011.  The employment agreement provides for an annual base salary of $275,000 per year, and a performance bonus in an amount not to exceed 10% of Employee’s salary, or $27,500 per year, at the end of each fiscal year.  The specific amount of the bonus to be awarded will be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, based on the financial performance and achievements of the Company for the previous fiscal year.  The agreement also provides Employee stock options, exercisable for five years, to purchase fifty (50) shares of Common Stock for each one thousand dollars ($1,000) of net income before taxes at the end of each fiscal year up to a maximum of 120,000 options over the term of the agreement.  The Company may terminate the agreement upon 30 days' written notice if termination is without cause.  The Company's only obligation would be to pay its President the greater of a) 12 months salary or b) the remainder of the term of the employment agreement from the date of notice of termination.


 
11

 

Litigation
The Company is not a party to any litigation at this time and is not aware of any pending litigation of any kind.

Note 6: SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Stock Repurchase
On October 23, 2008, the board of directors authorized a share repurchase program enabling the buyback of up to $2.5 million in shares during a 12-month period beginning Monday, October 27, 2008.  The actual repurchase started on December 2, 2008; therefore the board of directors extended it through December 1, 2009 in order to have a full 12-month period.  The Company has opened an account with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney for the purchase of such securities. Funds for any stock purchases will be drawn from the Company’s cash reserves.

The details of repurchases made during the three months ended November 30, 2009 are listed in the following table:

Period
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
   
Average Price Paid
per Share
   
Remaining Funds Available Under the Share Repurchase Plan (including broker’s fees)
 
          As of 08/31/09
    846,842       $ 1.2569       $ 1,416,564    
09/01/09 to 09/30/09
    82,630       $ 1.6989       $ 1,274,155    
10/01/09 to 10/31/09
    52,364       $ 1.5685       $ 1,190,386    
11/01/09 to 11/30/09
    42,061       $ 1.4884       $ 1,126,560    
 
       As of 11/30/09
    1,023,897       $ 1.3181              
 
Stock Option Plan
In September 1996, the Board of Directors adopted, and the shareholders approved, the 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan") under which a total of 1,000,000 shares of common stock had been reserved for issuance.  In March 1999, the shareholders approved an increase in the number of shares that may be granted under the Option Plan to 2,000,000.  In February 2000, the shareholders approved an increase in the number of shares that may be granted under the Option Plan to 4,000,000.  In December 2000, the shareholders approved an increase in the number of shares that may be granted under the Option Plan to 5,000,000.  Furthermore, in February 2005, the shareholders approved an additional 1,000,000 shares, resulting in the total number of shares that may be granted under the Option Plan to 6,000,000. The 1996 Stock Option Plan terminated in September 2006 by its term.

On February 23, 2007, the Board of Directors adopted and the shareholders approved the 2007 Stock Option Plan under which a total of 1,000,000 shares of common stock had been reserved for issuance.


 
12

 

TRANSACTIONS IN FY 2010

   
Number of Options
   
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Per Share
   
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life
 
                   
Outstanding, August 31, 2009
    2,862,536     $ 0.97        
Exercised
    (223,500 )   $ 0.61        
Expired
    (172,000 )   $ 0.56        
Granted
    -     $ 0.00        
Outstanding, November 30,  2009
    2,467,036     $ 1.03       4.176  
Exercisable, November 30, 2009
    1,814,636     $ 0.78       2.553  

The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which do not have vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility. Because the Company's employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management's opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.

The weighted-average remaining contractual life of options outstanding issued under the Plan was 4.18 years at November 30, 2009.  The exercise prices for the options outstanding at November 30, 2009 ranged from $0.26 to $3.03, and the information relating to these options is as follows:

Exercise Price
   
Awards Outstanding
   
Awards Exercisable
 
Low
   
High
   
Quantity
 
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
   
Quantity
 
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
 
$0.26     $0.50     771,436  
1.2 years
  $0.37     771,436  
1.2 years
  $0.37  
$0.51     $0.75     433,500  
0.4 years
  $0.75     433,500  
0.4 years
  $0.75  
$0.76     $1.25     929,100  
6.9 years
  $1.07     543,100  
5.5 years
  $1.14  
$1.26     $3.03     333,000  
8.3 years
  $2.83     66,600  
  8.3 years
  $2.83  
            2,467,036  
4.2 years
  $1.03     1,814,636  
2.6 years
  $0.78  

Other Stock Options
As of November 30, 2009, the Board of Directors holds options to purchase 63,000 shares of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $0.30 to $6.68, which were granted prior to August 31, 2009.

 
Transactions in FY10
 
Number of Options
   
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Per Share
 
             
Outstanding, August 31, 2009
    51,000     $ 1.89  
Granted
    12,000     $ 1.67  
Exercised
    -     $ -  
Expired
    -     $ -  
Outstanding, November 30, 2009
    63,000     $ 1.85  
Exercisable, November 30, 2009
    42,000     $ 1.63  


 
13

 

Note 7:  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

As of November 30, 2009, included in accrued bonuses to officers was $60,000, which represented 5% of the Company's FY09 net income before bonuses and taxes, not exceeding $60,000, given to the Corporate Secretary, Virginia Woltosz, as an annual bonus.  This last fiscal year’s bonus was paid in December 2009.

The accrued bonuses to officers at November 30, 2009 also include the bonus accrued for the first fiscal quarter of FY10 in the amount of $63,749.  This amount represents 5% of the net income before bonuses and taxes, not exceeding $60,000, given to the Corporate Secretary, and 10% of the net income before bonuses and taxes, not exceeding $27,500, given to the Company’s CEO.

Note 8:  SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC REPORTING

We account for segments and geographic revenues in accordance with guidance issued by FASB.  Our reportable segments are strategic business units that offer different products and services.  Results for each segment and consolidated results are as follows for the three months ended November 30, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):

November 30, 2009
 
   
Simulations Plus, Inc
   
Words +, Inc.
   
Eliminations
   
Total
 
Net Sales
  $ 1,735     $ 702           $ 2,437  
Income (loss) from operations
    578       (13 )           565  
Identifiable assets
    12,435       2,032     $ (1,639 )     12,828  
Capital expenditures
    14       10               24  
Depreciation and Amortization
    147       14               161  

November 30, 2008
 
   
Simulations Plus, Inc
   
Words +, Inc.
   
Eliminations
   
Total
 
Net Sales
  $ 1,430     $ 703           $ 2,133  
Income (loss) from operations
    423       (21 )           402  
Identifiable assets
    11,657       1,862     $ (1,433 )     12,086  
Capital expenditures
    -       7               7  
Depreciation and Amortization
    122       20               142  
 

 
14

 
 
In addition, the Company allocates revenues to geographic areas based on the locations of its customers.  Geographical revenues for the three months ended November 30, 2009 and 2008 were as follows (in thousands):

November 30, 2009
   
North America
   
Europe
   
Asia
   
Oceania
   
South America
   
Total
 
Simulations Plus, Inc.
  $ 995     $ 425     $ 315     $ -     $ -     $ 1,735  
Words+, Inc.
    686       9       -       7       -       702  
Total
  $ 1,681     $ 434     $ 315     $ 7     $ -     $ 2,437  
 
November 30, 2008
   
North America
   
Europe
   
Asia
   
Oceania
   
South America
   
Total
 
Simulations Plus, Inc.
  $ 987     $ 240     $ 203     $ -     $ -     $ 1,430  
Words+, Inc.
    678       7       5       13       -       703  
Total
  $ 1,665     $ 247     $ 208     $ 13     $ -     $ 2,133  

Note 9:  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

The Company maintains a 401(K) Plan for all eligible employees, and makes matching contributions equal to 100% of the employee’s elective deferral, not to exceed 4% of total employee compensation.  We can also elect to make a profit-sharing contribution.  Contributions by the Company to this Plan amounted to $21,208 and $19,376 for the three months ended November 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Note 10:  SUBSEQUENT EVENT

Since December 2008, the Company has been buying back its own shares, and planned to continue its share repurchase in accordance with its share repurchase plan, which authorizes up to $2.5 million for the repurchase program through December 1, 2009.  The details of shares repurchased are listed in the following table:

Period
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
   
Average Price Paid per Share
   
Remaining Funds Available Under the Share Repurchase Plan
 
12/01/2009  (End of program)
    2,586     $ 1.3823     $ 1,122,985  
Total Repurchased During Program Period
    1,026,483     $ 1.3182          
 
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through January 13, 2010, which is the date the condensed consolidated financial statements were issued.


 
15

 

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or the "Report," are "forward-looking statements."  These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the plans, objectives, expectations and intentions of Simulations Plus, Inc., a California corporation (referred to in this Report as the "Company") and other statements contained in this Report that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements in this Report or hereafter included in other publicly available documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the "Commission," reports to our stockholders and other publicly available statements issued or released by us involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause our actual results, performance (financial or operating) or achievements to differ from the future results, performance (financial or operating) or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such future results are based upon management's best estimates based upon current conditions and the most recent results of operations. When used in this Report, the words "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "estimate" and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements, because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties.  There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other factors.

General

BUSINESS

Simulations Plus, Inc. (together with its subsidiary referred to as the “Company,” “us,” “we,” or “our”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Words+, Inc. (“Words+”) produce different types of products: (1) Simulations Plus, incorporated in 1996, develops and produces software for use in pharmaceutical research and for education, as well as provides contract research services to the pharmaceutical industry.  Simulations Plus has also taken over responsibility for producing a personal productivity software program called Abbreviate! originally spun out of products for the disabled by Words+ for the retail market, and (2) Words+, founded in 1981, produces computer software and specialized hardware for use by persons with disabilities. For the purposes of this document, we sometimes refer to the two businesses as “Simulations Plus” when referring to the business that is pharmaceutical software and services, educational software, and Abbreviate!, and “Words+” when referring to the business that is focused on assistive technologies for persons with disabilities.

SIMULATIONS PLUS

PRODUCTS
We currently offer four software products for pharmaceutical research: ADMET Predictor™, ClassPharmer™, DDDPlus™, and GastroPlus™.  In addition to pharmaceutical research products, we offer a personal productivity software, “Abbreviate!” through the on-line Apple store as well as a Windows XP version through our website.

ADMET Predictor
Every drug molecule that fails in clinical trials, and every approved drug that gets withdrawn from the market, was bad from the time its structure was first drawn by a chemist or generated by a computer. They don’t become bad later. Thus, the ability to predict unsuitable characteristics of new molecules as early as possible offers the promise of avoiding costly programs that end up in late-stage failures.  Although not every failure mode can be predicted in this manner, those that can provide a means to reduce the number of failures that frequently occur after years of work and millions of dollars (sometimes over $1.5 billion) have been spent.


 
16

 

ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity) Predictor provides a collection of highly sophisticated and statistically significant numerical models that predict various properties of chemical compounds from just their molecular structures.  Our models are built using machine learning approaches that are based primarily on artificial neural network ensembles (groups of artificial neural networks) that have been demonstrated to provide the most accurate prediction capabilities in any commercially available software today.

This capability means a chemist can merely draw a molecule diagram and get estimates of these properties, even though the molecule has never existed. Drug companies continually search through millions of such “virtual” molecular structures as they attempt to find new drugs. It has been estimated that there are somewhere on the order of 1062 possible drug-like molecular structures. That is such a huge number that it is difficult to comprehend. If we could evaluate a trillion molecules (1012) per second (we cannot), it would still take 1050 seconds to evaluate them all -- that’s about 1042 years. The age of the universe is said to be less than 1010 years. Clearly, we will never be able to make and test all of them, so computerized methods are the only hope to even scratch the surface of the total “chemical space” for potential pharmaceutical products.

The vast majority of drug-like molecules are not suitable as medicines for various reasons. Some have such low solubility that they will not dissolve well, some have such low permeability through cell walls that they will not be absorbed well, some degrade so quickly that they are not stable enough to have a useful shelf life, some bind to proteins (such as albumin) in blood to such a high extent that little unbound drug is available to reach the target, and many will produce a variety of adverse effects. Identification of such properties in the computer (“in silico”) enables researchers to eliminate poor compounds quickly and early before spending time and money to make them and run experiments to identify their weaknesses. Today, many molecules can be eliminated on the basis of the properties predicted by ADMET Predictor.

Several independent studies have been published that compare the accuracy of software programs like ADMET Predictor. In almost every case, ADMET Predictor has been ranked first in accuracy. The specific set of molecules used in such studies, as well as the statistics used for comparison, may favor one program over others; however, across all published studies, ADMET Predictor has been top-ranked far more than any other program. This is a remarkable accomplishment, considering the greater size and resources of many of our competitors.

ADMET Predictor includes ADMET Modeler™. ADMET Modeler was first released in July of 2003 as a separate product, and was integrated into ADMET Predictor in 2006. This powerful program automates the training of the predictive models used in ADMET Predictor, so they are produced in a small fraction of the time once required. For example, new toxicity models were developed in a matter of a few hours once we completed the tedious effort of “cleaning up” the databases (which often contain a significant number of errors). Prior to the availability of ADMET Modeler, we would have needed as much as three months for each new model after cleaning the databases to obtain similar results.

Pharmaceutical companies spend enormous amounts of money conducting a wide variety of experiments on new molecules each year. Using such data to build predictive models provides a second return on this investment; however, in the past, model building has traditionally been a tedious activity performed by specialists. With ADMET Modeler integrated into ADMET Predictor, scientists without model-building experience can now use their own experimental data to quickly create high-quality predictive models.

ADMET Predictor is compatible with the popular Pipeline Pilot™ software offered by SciTegic, a subsidiary of Accelrys. This software serves as a tool to allow chemists to run several different software programs in series to accomplish a set workflow for large numbers of molecules. In early discovery, chemists often work with hundreds of thousands or millions of “virtual” molecules – molecules that exist only in computer files. The chemist needs to decide which few molecules from these large “libraries” should be made and tested. Using Pipeline Pilot with ADMET Predictor (and ClassPharmer™ – see below), perhaps in conjunction with other software products, the chemist can create and screen very large libraries faster and more efficiently than by running each program by itself.


 
17

 

During the first quarter, efforts on our Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have continued with excellent progress. One technical issue relates to training classification models with highly unbalanced data sets, i.e., data sets where most of the molecules do not have a particular attribute (such as a toxicity) and only a small number do. This has always been a challenging mathematical problem for modelers, and we have been working on new approaches to ensure that the predictive models generated provide the greatest possible utility from such unbalanced data sets. Also during the first quarter, we have worked on the ability to predict which atoms in a molecule are most likely to be affected by metabolism by certain enzymes. This is an exciting new capability that is a part of our SBIR grant effort, and we expect it will add an important new capability to ADMET Predictor when it is completed.

ClassPharmer™
ClassPharmer continues to evolve into an ever more powerful tool for medicinal and computational chemists. Coupled with ADMET Predictor, the two programs provide an unmatched capability for chemists to search through huge libraries of compounds to find the most interesting classes and molecules that are active against a particular target. In addition, ClassPharmer with ADMET Predictor can take an interesting (but not acceptable) molecule and generate high quality analogs (i.e., similar new molecules) using several different algorithms to generate new molecules that are both active against a target while also being acceptable in a variety of ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity) properties.

ClassPharmer’s molecule design capabilities provide ways for chemists to rapidly generate large numbers of novel chemical structures based on intelligence from compounds that have already been synthesized and tested, or from basic chemical reactions selected by the user. Export of results is available in Microsoft Excel™ format as well as other convenient file formats requested by users.

During the first quarter, considerable work has gone into “refactoring” the ClassPharmer code to make it faster and more compact, as well as to improve the options available to the user for visualizing various types of information generated by the program.

DDDPlus
DDDPlus sales have continued to grow as more and more formulation scientists recognize the value of this one-of–a–kind simulation software in their work. During 2009, improvements were added to further enhance the value of this product, including numerous user convenience features, as well as more sophisticated handling of dosage forms that incorporate multiple polymers for controlled release formulations. A major new release of DDDPlus was released in late April 2009, which included making the program match the user interface in our flagship GastroPlus product as closely as possible since many formulation scientists can use both programs. Additions to the programs capabilities and built-in databases for excipient ingredients and dissolution media have also been made.

Development efforts on DDDPlus were minimal during the first quarter because of a heavy load of contract consulting studies that required staff time to complete on schedule.

GastroPlus
GastroPlus continues to enjoy its “gold standard” status in the industry for its class of simulation software. At the recent annual conference of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists in Los Angeles in November 2009, GastroPlus was mentioned by every speaker in several different sessions. No other competitive product received such recognition. GastroPlus is used industry-wide from early drug discovery through preclinical development and into early clinical trials.


 
18

 
 
 
At an international conference in Shanghai, China, in May 2008, Pfizer scientists presented a scientific poster describing a two-year study in which all four commercially available PBPK (physiologically based pharmacokinetics) simulation programs were compared for their ability to predict human pharmacokinetics from preclinical (animal and in vitro) data. The study was divided into two arms: intravenous and oral dosing. GastroPlus was ranked first in both arms. No other software was ranked consistently second or third. This independent evaluation, which was accomplished via analysis of 21 Pfizer proprietary compounds with data from early discovery all the way through human trials, provides the strongest possible validation of the superiority of GastroPlus in pharmaceutical research and development.

The insight gained through GastroPlus simulations can guide project decisions in various ways. Among the kinds of knowledge gained through such simulations are: (1) the best estimate for “first dose in human” for a new drug prior to Phase I trials, (2) whether a potential new drug compound is likely to be absorbed at high enough levels to achieve the desired blood concentrations needed for effective therapy, (3) whether the absorption process is affected by certain enzymes and transporter proteins in the intestinal tract that may cause the amount of drug reaching the blood to be very different after absorption from one region of the intestine to another, (4) when certain properties of a new compound are probably adequately estimated through computer (“in silico”) predictions (such as from ADMET Predictor) or simple experiments rather than through more expensive and time-consuming in vitro or animal experiments, (5) what the likely variations in blood and tissue concentration levels of a new drug would be in a large population, in different age groups or in different ethnic groups, and (6) whether a new formulation for an existing approved drug is likely to demonstrate “bioequivalence” (equivalent blood concentration versus time) to the currently marketed dosage form in a human trial.

In November 2009 we released the current version of GastroPlus (version 6.1). This release provides new capabilities for dosing to the oral cavity via lingual (on the tongue), sublingual (under the tongue), and buccal (inside the cheek) dosage forms. We also added better prediction of the dissolution and absorption of certain low-solubility drugs by incorporating the distribution of bile salts in the intestinal tract for both fasted and fed conditions, and a separate improvement that better handles the dissolution and absorption of nanoparticle formulations.

Work on Version 7.0 was also initiated during the first quarter. This will be a very important new release that will incorporate the drug-drug interaction simulation capability that we’ve been developing under our funded collaboration with Roche. Beta versions of the drug-drug interaction module have been in testing at Roche for several months with excellent results. This new version will also include the ocular drug delivery model from our funded collaboration with Pfizer and the pulmonary drug delivery model we developed under our funded collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline. We believe this combination of capabilities will put GastroPlus further in front of the limited competition we see in this market niche.

Our marketing intelligence and reorder history indicate that GastroPlus continues to dominate its market niche in the number of users worldwide. In addition to virtually every major pharmaceutical company, licenses include government agencies in the U.S and abroad, a growing number of smaller pharmaceutical and biotech companies, generic drug companies, and drug delivery companies (companies that design the tablet or capsule for a drug compound that was developed by another company). Although these companies are smaller than the pharmaceutical giants, they can also save considerable time and money through simulation. We believe this part of the industry, which includes many hundreds of companies, represents major growth potential for GastroPlus. Our experience has been that the number of new companies adopting GastroPlus has been growing steadily, adding to the base of annual licenses each year. In addition, consolidation by larger companies has not affected our sales to date. In fact, those companies have adopted in silico tools at ever-greater levels, and our licenses have increased at renewal time even in the face of such consolidation. As an example, our largest renewal this quarter was for one of the top-five pharmaceutical companies for an annual license for GastroPlus, for a total of just over $990,000, up approximately 29% from just over $770,000 last year.

 
 
19

 
 
 
Contract Research and Consulting Services
Our recognized world-class expertise in oral absorption and pharmacokinetics is evidenced by the fact that our staff members have been speakers or presenters at over 50 prestigious scientific meetings worldwide in the past five years. We frequently conduct contracted studies for customers who prefer to have studies run by our scientists rather than to license our software and train someone to use it. The demand for our consulting services has been increasing steadily, and we expect this trend to continue. Long-term collaborations and shorter-term consulting contracts serve both to showcase our technologies and as a way to build and strengthen customer relationships. Revenues recognized from consulting services (not included funded collaborations – only consulting for specific drug projects) during the first quarter of FY10 were approximately $207,000 compared with just over $171,000 in the first quarter of FY09, and we estimate approximately $250,000 of study income for the second quarter based on work in progress, compared with approximately $140,000 in the second quarter of FY09.

Government-Funded Research
We are well along in our $525,000 Phase II SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grant awarded by the NIH (National Institutes of Health). This SBIR grant provides funds that allow us to expand staff and grow the product line without adversely affecting earnings, because the expenses associated with the efforts in the grant study are funded largely through the grant with some company support.

WORDS+ SUBSIDIARY

PRODUCTS
Our wholly owned subsidiary, Words+, Inc., has been an industry pioneer and technology leader for over 28 years in introducing and improving augmentative and alternative communication and computer access software and devices for disabled persons. We intend to continue to be at the forefront of the development of new products. We will continue to enhance our major software products, E Z Keys™ and Say-it! SAM™, as well as our growing line of hardware products. We have also been pursuing acquisitions and other strategic alliances that are complementary to our existing augmentative and alternative communication and computer access business lines. In keeping with this strategy we will begin processing orders for four new additions to our product line on December 1, 2009. The introduction of NetTalk, DuraSAM, Allora, and Mind Express were featured at two national conferences and three regional conferences recently. The Allora (A type-and-talk device) and Mind Express (Augmentative Communication Software) are manufactured by Jabbla, Inc. in Belgium, and are in stock at the time of this writing, and demo units are out to distributors and orders are processing. NetTalk (an in-house-designed communication device based on small, light NetBook computers) and DuraSAM (a smaller, more durable, handheld communication device) are in the production phase, and are expected to be ready for delivery by December 7, 2009.  Both of these products continue to expand the Say-it! SAM technologies acquired from SAM Communications, LLC of San Diego in December 2003. SAM-based products continue to account for a significant share of Words+ revenues. Allora and Mind Express broaden our product line immediately at low development cost so we can dedicate internal resources to other growth-oriented products and projects.


 
20

 

Results of Operations

Comparison of Three Months Ended November 30, 2009 and 2008.

The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations (in thousands) and the percentages that such items bear to net sales:

   
Three Months Ended
 
   
11/30/09
   
11/30/08
 
Net sales
  $ 2,437       100%     $ 2,133       100%  
Cost of sales
    607       24.9       559       26.2  
Gross profit
    1,830       75.1       1,574       73.8  
Selling, general and administrative
    1,004       41.2       904       42.4  
Research and development
    261       10.7       269       12.6  
Total operating expenses
    1,265       51.9       1,173       55.0  
Income from operations
    565       23.2       402       18.8  
Other income
    96       3.9       51       2.4  
Net income before taxes
    661       27.1       453       21.2  
(Provision for) income taxes
    (231 )     (9.5 )     (141 )     (6.6 )
Net income
  $ 430       17.6%     $ 312       14.6%  

Net Sales
Our consolidated net sales increased $304,000, or 14.2%, to $2,437,000 in the first fiscal quarter of Fiscal Year 2010 (“1QFY10”) from $2,133,000 in the first fiscal quarter of Fiscal Year 2009 (“1QFY09)”.  Sales from pharmaceutical software and services increased approximately $305,000, or 21.3%, while our Words+, Inc. subsidiary’s sales between 1QFY10 and 1QFY09 were almost the same with a marginal decrease of $1,000, or 0.1%.  We attribute the increase in pharmaceutical software and services revenues due to an approximately $252,000 increase for license renewals, with the majority from new customers and orders for additional module licenses from existing customers, and an increase of approximately $52,000 in study contracts and a Grant.

For Words+ sales, revenues from “Say-it! SAM” and Conversa™ increased: however this increase was offset by the decrease in revenue from Freedom products, resulting in only a 0.1% difference in revenues between 1QFY10 and 1QFY09.

Cost of Sales
Consolidated cost of sales increased $48,000, or 8.6%, to $607,000 in Q1FY10 from $559,000 in Q1FY09, and as a percentage of revenue, cost of sales decreased 1.3%.  For pharmaceutical software and services, cost of sales increased $67,000, or 30.4%, and as a percentage of revenue, cost of sales increased to 16.7% in Q1FY10 from 15.5% in Q1FY09.  A significant portion of cost of sales for pharmaceutical software products is the systematic amortization of capitalized software development costs, which is an independent fixed cost rather than a variable cost related to sales.  This amortization cost increased approximately $27,000, or 23.67%, in 1QFY10 compared with 1QFY09.  Royalty expense, another significant portion of cost of sales, increased approximately $18,000, or 23.2%, in 1QFY10 compared with 1QFY09.  We pay a royalty on GastroPlus basic software sales but not on its modules or other software sales.  We also pay royalties on the Enslein Metabolism Module in our ADMET Predictor software in accordance with our agreement with Enslein Research, Inc., which provides 50% of revenues received from licenses of the Enslein Metabolism Module to Enslein Research, Inc.  The cost of sales for contract studies, which consists mainly of salaries for scientists, increased approximately $22,000 as our revenue from study contracts increased, because these activities are not capitalizable software development activities.

 
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For Words+, cost of sales decreased $19,000, or 5.7%, and as a percentage of revenue, cost of sales also decreased to 45.2% in 1QFY10 from 47.9% in 1QFY09.
 
Gross Profit
Consolidated gross profit increased $256,000, or 16.2%, to $1,830,000 in 1QFY10 from $1,574,000 in 1QFY09.  We attribute this increase to the increased revenues from pharmaceutical software and services, and the increase in Words+ gross profit.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Consolidated selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased $100,000, or 11.1%, to $1,004,000 in 1QFY10 from $904,000 in 1QFY09.  As a percent of sales, SG&A decreased to 41.2% from 42.4% in 1QFY09.  For Simulations Plus, SG&A increased $79,000, or 14.6%.  The major increases in SG&A expense were travel, advertisement, commissions, bonuses to officers, recruiting, and telephone.  This increase outweighed decreases in expenses for trade shows, salaries, and payroll taxes.

For Words+, SG&A expenses increased $21,000, or 5.9%, due to increases in commission expenses, increases in salaries and payroll-related expenses, equipment repairs, and legal fees.  These increases outweighed bad debts, decreases in technical service costs, and depreciation.

Research and Development
We incurred approximately $462,000 of research and development costs for both companies during 1QFY10.  Of this amount, $201,000 was capitalized and $261,000 was expensed.  In 1QFY09, we incurred $471,000 of research and development costs, of which $202,000 was capitalized and $269,000 was expensed. The decrease of $9,000, or 1.9%, in total research and development expenditures from 1QFY09 to 1QFY10 was due to more R&D salaries being recorded as cost of sales for contract studies during 1QFY10 than in 1QFY09.
 
Other income (expense)
Net other income (expense) in 1QFY10 increased by $45,000, or 89.0%, to $96,000 in 1QFY10 from $51,000 in 1QFY09.  This is due primarily to increase in gain from currency exchange which outweighed lower interest rates on our Money Market accounts.

Provision for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes increased by $90,000 or 63.7%, to $231,000 in 1QFY10 from $141,000 in 1QFY09 due to an increase in net income; however the tax rate increased to 35% in 1QFY10 from 31.2% in 1QFY09.

Net Income
Consolidated net income increased by $151,000, or 48.6%, to $463,000 in 1QFY10 from $312,000 in 1QFY09.  We attribute this increase in profit due to the increases in revenue from pharmaceutical software and services and other income which outweighed an increase in expenses.


 
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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our principal sources of capital have been cash flows from our operations.  We have achieved continuous positive operating cash flow in the last six fiscal years.  We believe that our existing capital and anticipated funds from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for working capital and capital expenditures for the foreseeable future.  Thereafter, if cash generated from operations is insufficient to satisfy our capital requirements, we may open a revolving line of credit with a bank, or we may have to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain expanded credit facilities.  In the event such financing is needed in the future, there can be no assurance that such financing will be available to us, or, if available, that it will be in amounts and on terms acceptable to us. If cash flows from operations became insufficient to continue operations at the current level, and if no additional financing was obtained, then management would restructure the Company in a way to preserve its pharmaceutical and disability businesses while maintaining expenses within operating cash flows.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
Our risk from exposure to financial markets is limited to foreign exchange variances and fluctuations in interest rates. We may be subject to some foreign exchange risks.  Most of our business transactions are in U.S. dollars, although we generate significant revenues from customers overseas.  The exception is that we were compensated in Japanese yen by some Japanese customers and one European customer.  As a result, we experienced a larger gain in Q1FY10 than Q1FY09 from currency exchange.  In the future, if foreign currency transactions increase significantly, then we may mitigate this effect through foreign currency forward contracts whose market-to-market gains or losses are recorded in "Other Income or expense" at the time of the transaction.  To date, exchange rate exposure has not resulted in a material impact.
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
 
(a)
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14.  Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company required to be included in the Company’s periodic SEC filings.

 
(b)
Changes in internal controls over financial reporting.
There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 
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Part II.  Other Information

Item 1.                     Legal Proceedings

The Company is not a party to any legal proceedings and is not aware of any pending legal proceedings of any kind.

Item 2.                     Changes in Securities
 None.

Item 3.                     Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 None.

Item 4.                     Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 None.

Item 5.                     Other Information
 None.

Item 6.                     Exhibits and Reports on form 8-K

 
(a)
Exhibits:
 
 
31.1–2
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
 
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Certification pursuant to Sec. 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
10.46
Simulations Plus, Inc. 2007 Stock Option Plan (the “2007 Option Plan”).
 
 
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SIGNATURE

In accordance with Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lancaster, State of California, on January 13, 2009.
 
 
Simulations Plus, Inc.
 
       
Date:  January 12, 2010
By:
/s/ MOMOKO BERAN  
   
Momoko Beran
 
   
Chief Financial Officer
 
       

 
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