NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION, OPERATIONS, AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

SOBR Safe, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our”) is a hardware and software company headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Our company integrates proprietary software with our patented touch-based alcohol detection products, SOBRcheck™ and SOBRsure™, enabling non-invasive alcohol detection, biometric identity verification, and real-time cloud-based alerts and reporting. Currently our principal markets are located in North America.

On April 28, 2022, we effected a 1-for-3 reverse stock split with our planned listing on Nasdaq. All share and per share amounts have been adjusted in these consolidated financial statements to reflect the effect of the reverse stock split.

On May 16, 2022, our common stock began trading on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker symbol “SOBR.” Prior to this, our common stock was quoted on the “OTCQB” tier of the OTC Markets, also under the ticker symbol “SOBR.”

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) as promulgated in the United States of America and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the presentation of annual financial information.

In management’s opinion, the audited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (including reclassifications and normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, and results of operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying audited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority owned subsidiary, TransBiotec-CA, of 98.62%. We have eliminated all intercompany transactions and balances between entities consolidated in these audited financial statements.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of audited consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Specifically, such estimates were made by the Company for the recoverability and useful lives of long-lived assets, the intellectual technology, the valuation of the derivative liabilities, beneficial conversion feature expenses, stock-based compensation and the valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Financial Instruments 

The Company is required to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The fair value hierarchy is based on the level of independent, objective evidence surrounding the inputs used to measure 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. The Company prioritizes the inputs into three levels that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1

Level 1 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2

Level 2 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets: quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.

Level 3

Level 3 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses, accrued interest payable, related party payables, notes payable, convertible debentures, and other liabilities. The fair value of our derivative liabilities is determined based on “Level 3” inputs. We believe that the recorded values of all of our other financial instruments approximate their current fair values because of their nature and respective maturity dates or durations.

The following table presents assets and liabilities that are measured and recognized on a recurring basis at fair value as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021:

Cash

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less as cash equivalents. The Company does not have any cash equivalents as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable is derived from sales to a limited number of customers during the year ended December 31, 2022. Customer accounts are monitored for potential credit losses based upon management’s assessment of expected collectability and the allowance for doubtful accounts is reviewed periodically to assess the adequacy of the allowance. In making this assessment, management takes into consideration any circumstances of which the Company is aware regarding a customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations to the Company, and any potential prevailing economic conditions and their impact on the Company’s customers. The Company had no allowance for doubtful accounts at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

Inventory

Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The cost of substantially all the Company’s inventory is determined by the FIFO cost method. Inventory is comprised primarily of component parts and finished products. The Company evaluates the need for reserves for excess or obsolete inventory determined primarily based upon estimates of future demand for the Company’s products. The Company had no reserves for obsolescence at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

Prepaid Expenses

Amounts incurred in advance of contractual performance or coverage periods are recorded as prepaid assets and recognized as expense in the period service or coverage is provided.

Beneficial Conversion Features

From time to time, the Company may issue convertible notes that may contain a beneficial conversion feature. A beneficial conversion feature exists on the date a convertible note is issued when the fair value of the underlying common stock to which the note is convertible into is in excess of the remaining unallocated proceeds of the note after first considering the allocation of a portion of the note proceeds to the fair value of the warrants, if related warrants have been granted. The intrinsic value of the beneficial conversion feature is recorded as a debt discount with a corresponding amount to additional paid-in capital. The debt discount is amortized to interest expense over the life of the note using the effective interest method.

Derivative Instruments

The Company evaluates all of its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instruments are initially recorded at their fair values and are then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the consolidated statements of operations under other income (expense). The accounting treatment of derivative financial instruments requires that the Company record the embedded conversion option at its fair value as of the inception date of the agreement and at fair value as of each subsequent balance sheet date. Any change in fair value is recorded as non-operating, non-cash income or expense for each reporting period at each balance sheet date. If the classification changes as a result of events during the period, the contract is reclassified as of the date of the event that caused the reclassification. As a result of entering into warrant agreements, for which such instruments contained a variable conversion feature with no floor, the Company has adopted a sequencing policy whereby all future instruments may be classified as a derivative liability with the exception of instruments related to share-based compensation issued to employees or directors. For stock-based derivative financial instruments, the Company uses a Monte Carlo Simulation model to value the derivative instruments at inception and on subsequent valuation dates.

The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative instrument liabilities are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement of the derivative instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

Debt Issuance Costs

Debt issuance costs incurred in connection with the issuance of debt are capitalized and amortized to interest expense over the term of the debt using the effective interest method. The unamortized amount is presented as a reduction of debt on the balance sheet.

Preferred Stock

Preferred shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as liability instruments and are measured at fair value. We classify conditionally redeemable preferred shares (if any), which includes preferred shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within our control, as temporary equity. At all other times, we classified our preferred shares in stockholders’ equity.

Minority Interest (Noncontrolling Interest)

A subsidiary of the Company has minority members representing ownership interests of 1.38% at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The Company accounts for these minority, or noncontrolling interests whereby gains and losses in a subsidiary with a noncontrolling interest are allocated to the noncontrolling interest based on the ownership percentage of the noncontrolling interest, even if that allocation results in a deficit noncontrolling interest balance.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets and identifiable intangibles held for use are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the sum of undiscounted expected future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset or if changes in facts and circumstances indicate, an impairment loss is recognized and measured using the asset’s fair value. No impairment loss was recognized during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Revenue Recognition

The Company enters contracts with customers and generates revenue through various combinations of software products and services which include the sale of cloud-based software solutions, detection and data collection hardware devices, and cloud-based data reporting and analysis services. Depending on the combination of products and services detailed in the respective customer contract, the identifiable components may be highly interdependent and interrelated with each other such that each is required to provide the substance of the value of the Company’s offering and accounted for as a combined performance obligation, or the specific components may be generally distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations. Revenue is recognized when control of these software products and/or services are transferred to the customer in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for these respective services and devices.

The Company determines revenue recognition through five steps which include (1) the identification of the contract or contracts with a customer, (2) identification of individual or combined performance obligations contained in the contract, (3) determination of the transaction price detailed within the contract, (4) allocation of the transaction price to the specific performance obligations, and (5) finally, recognition of revenue as the Company’s performance obligations are satisfied according to the terms of the contract.

Contracts with a Single License/Service Performance Obligation

For contracts with a single performance obligation consisting of a license and/or data services, the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. Where the Company provides a performance obligation as licensed software or data services, revenue is recognized upon delivery of the software or services ratably over the respective term of the contract.

Contracts for Purchase of Hardware Devices Only

Where hardware devices are sold separately by the Company, the entire transaction price is allocated to the device as an individual performance obligation and revenue is recognized at a point in time when either legal title, physical possession or the risks and rewards of ownership have transferred to the customer. Generally, these requirements are satisfied at the point in time the Company ships the product, as this is when the customer obtains control of the asset under SOBR’s standard terms and conditions of the purchase.

Contracts with Multiple Performance Obligations

Where a Company’s contract with a respective customer contains multiple performance obligations and due to the interdependent and interrelated nature of the licensed software, hardware devices and data reporting services, the Company accounts for the individual performance obligations if they are distinct in nature and the transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligations on a directly observable standalone sales price basis. Determining whether products and services are distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately or combined as one unit of accounting may require significant judgment. Standalone selling prices are primarily based upon the price at which the performance obligation is sold separately. The Company may be able to establish a standalone sales price based upon observable products or services sold or priced separately in comparable circumstances, competitor pricing or similar customers. Where the performance obligations are either not distinct or directly observable, the Company estimates the standalone sales price of the performance obligations based upon the overall pricing objectives taking into consideration the value of the contract arrangement, number of licenses, number and types of hardware devices and the length of term of the contract. Professional judgement may be required to determine the standalone sales price for each performance obligation where not directly observable. Revenue for Contracts with Multiple Performance Obligations is recognized on a ratable basis for each respective performance obligation as allocated under the prescribed Transaction Price identification model applied.

The Company requires customers to make payments related to subscribed software licenses and data services on a monthly basis via authorized bank account ACH withdrawal or an automatic credit card charge during the approved term of the respective agreement. The collectability of future cash flows are reasonably assured with any potential non-payment easily identified with future services being discontinued or suspended due to non-payment.

The Company’s contracts are generally twelve to thirty-six months in duration, are billed monthly in advance and are non-cancelable. The timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. The Company generally has an unconditional right to consideration when customers are invoiced and a receivable is recorded. A contract asset (unbilled revenue) is recognized when revenue is recognized prior to invoicing, or a contract liability (deferred revenue) when revenue will be recognized subsequent to invoicing.

The Company has elected to charge shipping, freight and delivery to customers as a source of revenue to offset respective costs when control has transferred to the customer.

We report revenue net of sales and other taxes collected from customers to be remitted to government authorities.

Estimated costs for the Company’s standard one-year warranty are charged to cost of products sold when revenue is recorded for the related product. Royalties are also charged to cost of products sold.

Stock-based Compensation

The Company uses the fair-value based method to determine compensation for all arrangements under which employees and others receive shares of stock or equity instruments (warrants, options, and restricted stock units). The fair value of each warrant and option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes options pricing model that uses assumptions for expected volatility, expected dividends, expected term, and the risk-free interest rate. The Company has not paid dividends historically and does not expect to pay them in the future. Expected volatilities are based on weighted averages of the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock estimated over the expected term of the awards. The expected term of options granted is derived using the “simplified method” which computes expected term as the average of the sum of the vesting term plus the contract term as historically the Company had limited activity surrounding its awards. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the period of the expected term. The grant date fair value of a restricted stock unit equals the closing price of our common stock on the trading day of the grant date.

Research and Development

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. The Company incurred research and development costs as it acquired new knowledge to bring about significant improvements in the functionality and design of its SOBR products.

Advertising and Marketing Costs

Advertising and marketing costs are charged to operations as incurred. Advertising and marketing costs were $169,010 and $104,738 during the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

Income Tax

Deferred taxes are provided on an asset and liability method whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and operating loss carry forwards and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment. The Company has a deferred tax asset of approximately $7,283,000 and $4,129,000 that is offset by a 100% valuation allowance at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. Therefore, the Company has not recorded any deferred tax assets or liabilities at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

Net Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per share gives the effect to all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period, including stock options, warrants and convertible instruments. Diluted net loss per share excludes all potentially issuable shares if their effect is anti-dilutive. Because the effect of the Company’s dilutive securities is anti-dilutive, diluted net loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the periods presented.

Concentration of Risk

Credit Risk – Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consisted primarily of cash. The Company maintains its cash at two domestic financial institutions. The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of a default by the financial institutions to the extent that cash balances are in excess of the amount insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation of up to $250,000 per institution. The Company places its cash with high-credit quality financial institutions and are managed within established guidelines to mitigate risk. To date, the Company has not experienced any loss on its cash.

Concentration of Customers – The Company has conducted limited sales during the year ended December 31, 2022 to six customers. Should the Company continue to conduct sales to a limited number of customers and remain highly concentrated, revenue may experience significant period to period shifts and may decline if the Company were to lose one or more of its customers, or if the Company were unable to obtain new customers upon the completion of sales agreements.

Concentration of Suppliers – The Company relies on a limited number of component and contract suppliers to assemble its product. If supplier shortages occur, or quality problems arise, production schedules could be significantly delayed or costs significantly increased, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.

Impact of COVID-19 – In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) emerged in China. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak as a pandemic. The extent to which the coronavirus impacts our operations will continue to depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the outbreak, new information which may emerge concerning the severity of the coronavirus and the actions to contain the coronavirus or treat its impact, among others. In particular, the continued spread of the coronavirus globally and emergence of new strains could adversely impact our operations, including our manufacturing, logistics and supply chain. Our operations could be negatively affected if employees are quarantined as the result of exposure to a contagious illness. Similarly, travel restrictions resulting from the rapid spread of contagious illnesses may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Related Parties

Related parties are any entities or individuals that, through employment, ownership or other means, possess the ability to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the Company.

Recently Issued Accounting Guidance

The Company has reviewed recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements and does not believe the future adoptions of any such pronouncements will be expected to cause a material impact on its financial condition or the results of operations.