Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v3.8.0.1
Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

11. Commitments and Contingencies

Interstate Battery Agreement commitment

Pursuant to the Interstate Battery Investor Rights Agreement, the Company has agreed to compensate Interstate Battery should either Stephen Clarke, the Company’s current chief executive officer, or Selwyn Mould, the Company’s current chief operating officer, no longer hold such positions or no longer devote substantially all of their business time and attention to the Company, whether as a result of resignation, death, disability or otherwise (such an event referred to as a “key-man event”). The Company has agreed to pay Interstate Battery $2.0 million, per occurrence, if either officer is subject to a key-man event during the two years following May 18, 2016. The Company also agreed to pay Interstate Battery $2.0 million if either or both officers are subject to a key-man event during the third year following May18, 2016.

As of the date of this report, Interstate Battery has raised a claim that the Company is in technical breach of a negative covenant under the Interstate Battery convertible loan. The claimed breach relates to the Company’s failure to obtain Interstate Battery’s prior written consent to its acquisition of Ebonex IPR, Ltd. The Company is in negotiations with Interstate Battery to resolve the claim and the Company believes it will be able to resolve that matter. However, in the event the Company is unable to resolve the claim, Interstate Battery may declare a default under the loan and attempt to accelerate the payment of all amounts thereunder. There can be no assurance we will be able to resolve this matter or that Interstate Battery will not declare a default under the loan and attempt to accelerate the payment of all amounts thereunder. The Company estimates that resolving the claim of breach will result in a charge of $0.6 million. The Company has recorded $0.6 million in general and administrative expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 with the offset in accrued liabilities.

Johnson Controls Agreement Commitment

Pursuant to the Johnson Controls Investor Rights Agreement, the Company has agreed to compensate Johnson Controls should either Stephen Clarke, the Company’s current chief executive officer, or Selwyn Mould, the Company’s current chief operating officer, no longer hold such positions or no longer devote substantially all of their business time and attention to the Company, whether as a result of resignation, death, disability or otherwise (such an event referred to as a “key-man event”). The Company has agreed to pay Johnson Controls $1.0 million per occurrence, if either officer is subject to a key-man event during the 18 months following February 7, 2017. The Company also agreed to pay Johnson Controls $1.0 million if either or both key-man events occur after 18 months and prior to 30 months following February 7, 2017.