Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

v2.4.1.9
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Principles of Consolidation
 
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include all of the accounts of Algodon Wines & Luxury Development Group, Inc. and the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Use of Estimates
 
To prepare financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the Company must make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts in the financial statements, and the 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. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The significant estimates and assumptions of the Company are the valuation of equity instruments, the useful lives of property and equipment and reserves associated with the realizability of certain assets.
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]
Foreign Currency Translation
 
The Company’s functional and reporting currency is the United States Dollar. The functional currencies of the Company’s operating subsidiaries are their local currencies (United States Dollar, Argentine Peso and British Pound). There has been a steady devaluation of the Argentine Peso relative to the United States Dollar in recent years. Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the balance sheet date (8.5411 and 6.5049 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively) and revenue and expense accounts are translated at a weighted average exchange rate for the period or for the year then ended (8.1095 and 5.4714 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively). Resulting translation adjustments are made directly to accumulated other comprehensive income. Losses arising from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of $223,904 and $259,864 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, are recognized in operating results in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company engages in foreign currency denominated transactions with customers and suppliers, as well as between subsidiaries with different functional currencies.
 
A highly inflationary economy is defined as an economy with a cumulative inflation rate of approximately 100 percent or more over a three-year period. If a country’s economy is classified as highly inflationary, the functional currency of the foreign entity operating in that country must be remeasured to the functional currency of the reporting entity. The official cumulative inflation rate for Argentina over the last three years approximated 44%, although the International Monetary Fund has concerns regarding the accuracy of the official data.
Receivables, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Accounts Receivable
 
Accounts receivable primarily represent receivables from hotel guests who occupy rooms and wine sales to commercial customers. The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts when it determines that it is more likely than not a specific account will not be collected. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $10,530 and $20,215 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Bad debt expense for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $41,299 and $35,591, respectively. Write-offs of accounts receivable for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were $21,424 and $3,154, respectively.
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Inventory
 
Inventories are comprised primarily of vineyard in process, wine in process, finished wine, plus food and beverage items and are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost being determined on the first-in, first-out method. Costs associated with winemaking, and other costs associated with the creation of products for resale, are recorded as inventory. Vineyard in process represents the monthly capitalization of farming expenses (including farming labor costs, usage of farming supplies and depreciation of the vineyard and farming equipment) associated with the growing of grape, olive and other fruits during the farming year which culminates with the February/March harvest. Wine in process represents the capitalization of costs during the winemaking process (including the transfer of grape costs from vineyard in process, winemaking labor costs and depreciation of winemaking fixed assets, including tanks, barrels, equipment, tools and the winemaking building). Finished wines represents wine available for sale and includes the transfer of costs from wine in process once the wine is bottled and labeled. Other inventory represents olives, other fruits, golf equipment and restaurant food.
 
In accordance with general practice within the wine industry, wine inventories are included in current assets, although a portion of such inventories may be aged for periods longer than one year. As required, the Company reduces the carrying value of inventories that are obsolete or in excess of estimated usage to estimated net realizable value. The Company’s estimates of net realizable value are based on analyses and assumptions including, but not limited to, historical usage, future demand and market requirements. Reductions to the carrying value of inventories are recorded in cost of sales. If future demand and/or pricing for the Company’s products are less than previously estimated, then the carrying value of the inventories may be required to be reduced, resulting in additional expense and reduced profitability. Inventory write-downs recorded during 2014 and 2013 were negligible.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Property and Equipment
 
Investments in property and equipment are recorded at cost. These assets are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives as follows:
 
Buildings
10 - 30 years
Furniture and fixtures
3 - 10 years
Vineyards
7 - 20 years
Machinery and equipment
3 - 20 years
Leasehold improvements
3 - 5 years
Computer hardware and software
3 - 5 years
  
The Company capitalizes internal vineyard improvement costs when developing new vineyards or replacing or improving existing vineyards. These costs consist primarily of the costs of the vines and expenditures related to labor and materials to prepare the land and construct vine trellises. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to operating expense as incurred. The cost of properties sold or otherwise disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts at the time of disposal and resulting gains and losses are included as a component of operating income. Real estate development consists of costs incurred to ready the land for sale, including primarily costs of infrastructure as well as master plan development and associated professional fees. Such costs will be allocated to individual lots proportionately based on square meters and those allocated costs will be derecognized upon the sale of individual lots. Given that they are not currently in service, capitalized real estate development costs are currently not being depreciated. Land is an inexhaustible asset and is not depreciated.
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]
Stock-based Compensation
 
The Company measures the cost of services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award. For employees and directors, the fair value of the award is measured on the grant date and for non-employees, the fair value of the award is generally re-measured on financial reporting dates and vesting dates until the service period is complete. The fair value amount of the shares expected to ultimately vest is then recognized over the period services are required to be provided in exchange for the award, usually the vesting period. The estimation of stock-based awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent actual results or updated estimates differ from original estimates, such amounts are recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are revised. The Company considers many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class, and historical experience.
Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Concentrations
 
The Company maintains cash with major financial institutions. Cash held in US bank institutions is currently insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250,000 at each institution. No similar insurance or guarantee exists for cash held in Argentina bank accounts. There were aggregate uninsured cash balances of $135,098 and $135,335 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
 
During 2013, a single investor/lender comprised 65% of the $5,556,820 of gross proceeds from the issuance of convertible debt obligations and preferred stock.
 
See Note 15 – Related Party Transactions – Liabilities for details associated with a liability concentration.
Foreign Operations [Policy Text Block]
Foreign Operations
 
The following summarizes key financial metrics associated with the Company’s foreign operations (these financial metrics are immaterial for the Company’s operations in the United Kingdom):
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Assets- Argentina
 
$
9,307,515
 
$
11,217,588
 
Assets- U.S.
 
 
1,521,309
 
 
1,269,126
 
Assets- Total
 
$
10,828,824
 
$
12,486,714
 
Liabilities- Argentina
 
$
2,809,734
 
$
2,511,955
 
Liabilities- U.S.
 
 
2,238,467
 
 
5,285,201
 
Liabilities- Total
 
$
5,048,201
 
$
7,797,156
 
 
 
 
For The Years Ended
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Revenues- Argentina
 
$
2,050,966
 
$
2,424,906
 
Revenues- U.S.
 
 
63,946
 
 
419,195
 
Revenues- Total
 
$
2,114,912
 
$
2,844,101
 
Net Loss- Argentina
 
$
2,574,787
 
$
2,247,178
 
Net Loss- U.S.
 
 
6,488,640
 
 
6,545,652
 
Net Loss- Total
 
$
9,063,427
 
$
8,792,830
 
Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a business during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owners sources. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. The guidance requires other comprehensive income (loss) to include foreign currency translation adjustments.
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
 
When circumstances, such as adverse market conditions, indicate that the carrying value of a long-lived asset may be impaired, the Company performs an analysis to review the recoverability of the asset’s carrying value, which includes estimating the undiscounted cash flows (excluding interest charges) from the expected future operations of the asset. These estimates consider factors such as expected future operating income, operating trends and prospects, as well as the effects of demand, competition and other factors. If the analysis indicates that the carrying value is not recoverable from future cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value. Any impairment losses are recorded as operating expenses, which reduce net income. There were no impairments of long-lived assets for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Segment Information
 
The FASB has established standards for reporting information on operating segments of an enterprise in interim and annual financial statements. The Company operates in one segment which is the business of real estate development in Argentina. The Company’s chief operating decision-maker reviews the Company’s operating results on an aggregate basis and manages the Company’s operations as a single operating segment. Certain activities of the Company such as the U.S. Broker Dealer Operations, are considered a service or support division to the Company, by providing capital raising efforts, substantially to support the AWLD real estate development activities, and are not considered a business for segment purposes.
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Revenue Recognition
 
The Company earns revenues from its real estate, hospitality, food & beverage, broker-dealer and other related services. Revenues from rooms, food and beverage, and other operating departments are recognized as earned at the time of sale or rendering of service. Cash received in advance of the sale or rendering of services is recorded as deferred revenue on the consolidated balance sheets. Deferred revenues associated with real estate lot sale deposits are recognized as revenues (along with any outstanding balance) when the lot sale closes and the deed is provided to the purchaser. Other deferred revenues primarily consist of deposits accepted by the Company in connection with agreements to sell barrels of wine. These wine barrel deposits are recognized as revenues (along with any outstanding balance) when the barrel of wine is shipped to the purchaser. Sales taxes and value added (“VAT”) taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are presented on a net basis within revenues in the consolidated statements of operations.
    
The Company operates within a single operating segment, because all of its operations are in support of the Company’s branding strategy and its associated real estate development initiatives. However, the Company does track revenues associated with its different products and services, as follows:
 
 
 
For The Years Ended
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Hotel rooms and events
 
$
904,323
 
$
1,189,594
 
Restaurants
 
 
595,284
 
 
671,177
 
Winemaking
 
 
438,082
 
 
401,898
 
Agricultural
 
 
80,529
 
 
210,524
 
Broker-dealer
 
 
(18,606)
 
 
270,401
 
Golf, tennis and other
 
 
115,300
 
 
100,507
 
Total Revenues
 
$
2,114,912
 
$
2,844,101
 
 
For the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded unrealized losses on affiliate warrants of $23,542 and $10,744, respectively, which is included in broker-dealer revenues above.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Income Taxes
 
The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carry forwards. The Company additionally establishes a valuation allowance to reflect the likelihood of realization of deferred tax assets.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Net Loss per Common Share
 
Basic loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, plus the impact of common shares, if dilutive, resulting from the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants and the conversion of convertible instruments.
   
The following securities are excluded from the calculation of weighted average dilutive common shares because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive:
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Options
 
 
7,806,836
 
 
7,136,236
 
Warrants
 
 
1,069,674
 
 
899,156
 
Convertible instruments
 
 
297,805
 
 
7,263,015
 
Total potentially dilutive shares
 
 
9,174,315
 
 
15,298,407
 
Compensation Related Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Prepaid Compensation
 
Loans are given to certain registered representatives of CAP as an incentive for their affiliation with the Company. The registered representatives sign an agreement with CAP which specifies that portions of the loan will be forgiven on specific dates over a specified term, typically up to a five-year period. The loan is then amortized on a straight-line basis, which is included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of operations. In the event a registered representative’s affiliation with the Company terminates prior to the fulfillment of their contract, the registered representative is required to repay the unforgiven balance and the related accrued interest (rates up to 2% currently). The Company considers establishing an allowance for uncollectible amounts to reflect the amount of loss that can be reasonably estimated by management. Determination of the estimated amount of uncollectible loans includes consideration of the amount of credit extended, the affiliation status and the length of time each receivable has been outstanding, as it relates to each individual registered representative. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had $9,000 and $52,000 of unforgiven principal balances with one and two active registered representatives and $2,000 and $10,917 of accumulated amortization, respectively, which is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
Advances and Loans to Registered Representatives [Policy Text Block]
Advances and Loans to Registered Representatives
 
Advances and loans to registered representatives of the Company’s subsidiary CAP represent short-term loans to registered representatives of the Company. The Company has the right to recover such advances from other monies owed to the registered representatives in the ordinary course of business. The determination of the uncollectible accounts is based on the amount of credit extended, the length of time each receivable has been outstanding and future compensation prospects, as it relates to each individual registered representative. The allowance for uncollectible amounts reflects the amount of loss that can be reasonably estimated by management and is included as part of general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of operations. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company has reserved approximately $118,000 and $114,000 for any potential non-collection, respectively.
Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Advertising
 
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $153,696 and $168,703, respectively.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]
New Accounting Pronouncements
 
In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists." This ASU addresses the requirements regarding the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit within ASC Topic 740 for the purpose of providing consistency between the financial reporting of U.S. GAAP entities. Generally, this ASU provides guidance for the preparation of financial statements and disclosures when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. This ASU became effective January 1, 2014 and did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or disclosures.
 
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605 - Revenue Recognition and most industry-specific guidance throughout the ASC. The standard requires that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 is effective on January 1, 2017 and should be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of initial application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 on its consolidated financial statements or disclosures.
 
In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period," ("ASU 2014-12"). The amendments in ASU 2014-12 require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. A reporting entity should apply existing guidance in ASC Topic No. 718, "Compensation - Stock Compensation" as it relates to awards with performance conditions that affect vesting to account for such awards. The amendments in ASU 2014-12 are effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. Entities may apply the amendments in ASU 2014-12 either: (a) prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date; or (b) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the consolidated financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2014-12 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern” (“ASU 2014-15”). ASU 2014-15, which is effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, extends the responsibility for performing the going-concern assessment to management and contains guidance on how to perform a going-concern assessment and when going-concern disclosures would be required under U.S. GAAP. The Company elected to adopt ASU 2014-15 effective with its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Adoption of ASU 2014-15 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or its disclosures.
      
Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standard-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption