Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v3.4.0.3
Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

OPERATING LEASES

 

On July 31, 2015, the lease agreement for the Company’s corporate headquarters in Miami Beach, Florida was amended such that the amended lease term begins on August 1, 2015 and ends on September 30, 2018. Monthly lease payments are approximately $20,000 for a total of approximately $755,000 for the total term of the lease.

 

Total rent expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $88,905 and $318,149, respectively, and $88,103 and $311,691 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

  

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

 

On March 24, 2015, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Ira Feintuch to serve as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer for an initial three year term renewable annually unless written notice is provided 60 days prior to the renewal term. In consideration thereof, Mr. Feintuch is to receive an annual salary of $250,000 and shall participate in all benefit programs of the Company. In addition, Mr. Feintuch will receive 1,000,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, 1,500 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock and 1,500,000 shares of common stock. The stock awards are payable 50% upon the signing of the employment agreement and 50% upon the one year anniversary of the employment agreement. The total fair value of the stock awards was $1,750,000, of which $875,000 was recognized immediately upon issuance and the remaining $875,000 will be recognized over the one year service period. The Company estimated the fair value of the common stock and Series C Convertible Preferred Stock based on observed prices of sales and/or exchanges of identical securities within the last six months. The Company estimated the fair value of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock based on observed prices of sales and/or exchanges of similar securities within the last six months. In addition, options to purchase an aggregate of 1,495,665 shares of common stock held by Mr. Feintuch with exercise prices ranging from $1.00 to $1.46 per share had their expiration dates extended to March 24, 2018, such that the value of modified options on the modification date was an aggregate of $192,147, which was $47,536 higher than the value of the original options on the modification date. As a result, the Company recorded option modification expense of $47,536 during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

 

On July 29, 2015 (the “Effective Date”), the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Michael J. Calise to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to which Mr. Calise will be compensated at the rate of $275,000 per annum. In addition, Mr. Calise will be entitled to receive (1) 3,584,400 options with an exercise price of $0.70 per share, (2) 1,588,016 options with an exercise price of $1.00 per share, (3) 26,422 options with an exercise price of $1.50 per share, (4) 287,970 options with an exercise price of $2.00 per share and (5) 1,500 options with an exercise price of $3.00 per share. The option quantities were derived from a percentage of the total options and warrants outstanding on the Effective Date (the “Underlying Instruments”) and can be adjusted downward on a pro rata basis as a result of an expiration or amendment of the Underlying Instruments. Each of the options shall vest and become exercisable at the rate of 25% of the total number of shares on the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Effective Date and 1/16 of the total number of shares each quarter thereafter on each quarterly anniversary of the Effective Date, however, no option shall be exercisable prior to the exercise of the Underlying Instruments. The options shall have a four (4) year term from each of the respective vesting dates. The option grant requires stockholder approval of an increase in the number of shares authorized to be issued pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plan. Pursuant to ASC 718, the options are not deemed to be granted until stockholder approval is obtained. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had not obtained stockholder approval and, accordingly, (i) the options are not considered outstanding as of September 30, 2015 and (ii) the Company accrued approximately $64,000 of compensation expense related to the contractual obligation to issue options which is included within accrued expenses as accrued issuable equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015.

 

In addition, Mr. Calise will receive a signing bonus consisting of (i) 220,588 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $75,000 and (ii) a $25,000 cash payment. Within thirty (30) days of Mr. Calise’s acceptance of this position, Mr. Calise and the Board of the Directors will mutually set the Key Performance Indicators (“KPIs”) for Mr. Calise’s annual performance bonus. Mr. Calise will be initially eligible to receive an annual performance bonus in the amount of $100,000. Any entitled annual performance bonus shall be payable in January after the end of each year, and awarded for meeting the KPIs mutually set by Mr. Calise and the Board of Directors for the prior calendar year. Mr. Calise and the Board of Directors will meet at the beginning of each calendar year for set the KPIs and the annual bonus amount for that calendar year. Mr. Calise may receive an additional bonus in the form of cash and/or stock, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, or pursuant to one or more written plans adopted by the Board of Directors. Mr. Calise is entitled to paid time off of 20 days per annum. Upon termination by the Company other than for cause, death, disability, or if Mr. Calise resigns for good reason, Mr. Calise will be entitled to: (i) a lump sum payment equal to nine (9) months of salary, then in effect, (ii) a prorated annual performance bonus, (iii) reimbursement of COBRA premiums for a period of (12) months and (iv) (9) months of accelerated vesting with respect to Mr. Calise’s then-outstanding equity awards. In addition to the preceding termination benefits, if Mr. Calise is terminated three months or less prior to, or upon, or within twelve months following a change of control, Mr. Calise will be entitled to accelerated vesting of then-outstanding equity awards ranging from an additional three months up to 100% acceleration of vesting.

 

Effective July 24, 2015, the Company amended its employment agreement with Mr. Michael D. Farkas, such that Mr. Farkas was appointed the Company’s Chief Visionary Officer and shall no longer serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Farkas will continue to serve as the Company’s Executive Chairman of the Board. The employment agreement had a four month term. The amended employment agreement specified the following: (i) in the event of a sale of the Company within one year of July 24, 2015, Mr. Farkas shall be entitled to receive an incentive payment equal to 1% of the gross sale price; (ii) in satisfaction of amounts previously owed to Mr. Farkas, the Company is to issue 4,444 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred stock valued at $400,000 (of which, as of September 30, 2015, 4,000 shares had been issued by the Company and the value of the remaining 444 shares is included within accrued expenses on the condensed consolidated balance sheet); and (iii) all outstanding options and warrants shall vest immediately.

 

BUSINESS AGREEMENTS

 

On April 2, 2015, Nissan North America (“Nissan”) notified the Company of the termination of the joint marketing agreement with the Company as a result of the Company’s material default of the agreement in 2015. As a result, Nissan notified the Company of its intent to repossess the 31 uninstalled fast chargers currently held at a third party facility that had a carrying amount of $462,552 and was included within other assets and deferred revenue on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. The parties reached an agreement on July 23, 2015 that Nissan would take possession of 28 uninstalled fast chargers held at the third party facility, at which time the amount included within other assets and deferred revenue was written off.

 

On May 19, 2015, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase 15,000 chargers over three years pending: (i) the submission of a purchase order for 15,000 chargers to be delivered in a mutually agreed product delivery forecast, (ii) the payment of an initiation fee, as defined, (iii) sign off on a mutually agreed product schedule and (iv) a three year delivery forecast. The value of the chargers in the aggregate is in the range of $10.3 million to $16.5 million depending on model and ordering quantity of respective model. On June 26, 2015, the Company paid the initiation fee of $83,000 in full.

 

LITIGATION AND DISPUTES

 

On July 28, 2015, a Notice of Arbitration was received stating ITT Cannon has a dispute with Blink for the manufacturing and purchase of 6,500 charging cables by Blink, who has not taken delivery or made payment on the contract price of $737,425. ITT Cannon also seeks to be paid the cost of attorney’s fees as well as punitive damages. The parties have agreed on a single arbitrator and are working to schedule the arbitration. The Company contends that the product was not in accordance with the specifications in the purchase order and, as such, believes the claim is without merit. The parties have agreed on a single arbitrator and are working to schedule the arbitration while simultaneously pursuing settlement options.

 

On September 9, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit of Chicago, Illinois affirmed the ruling of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in the matter of JNS Power & Control Systems, Inc. v. 350 Green, LLC in favor of JNS, which affirmed the sale of certain assets by 350 Green to JNS and the assumption of certain 350 Green liabilities by JNS. On April 7, 2016, JNS amended the complaint to add CCGI alleging lost revenues from the chargers, among other matters, caused by the defendants. Plaintiff also seeks indemnity for its costs in connection with enforcing the Asset Purchase Agreement in courts in New York and Chicago. CCGI and 350 Green must respond to the amended complaint on or before June 20, 2016.

 

From time to time, the Company is a defendant or plaintiff in various legal actions that arise in the normal course of business.

  

350 GREEN, LLC

 

There have been five lawsuits filed against 350 Green by creditors of 350 Green regarding unpaid claims. These lawsuits relate solely to alleged pre-acquisition unpaid debts of 350 Green. Also, there are other unpaid creditors, aside from those noted above, that claim to be owed certain amounts for pre-acquisition work done on behalf of 350 Green solely, that potentially could file lawsuits at some point in the future.

 

On August 7, 2014, 350 Green received a copy of a complaint filed by Sheetz, a former vendor of 350 Green alleging breach of contract and unjust enrichment of $112,500. The complaint names 350 Green, 350 Holdings LLC and CCGI in separate breach of contract counts and names all three entities together in an unjust enrichment claim. CCGI and 350 Holdings will seek to be dismissed from the litigation, because, as the complaint is currently plead, there is no legal basis to hold CCGI or 350 Green liable for a contract to which they are not parties. The parties held a mediation conference on May 15, 2015, but no settlement was reached. The parties continue to negotiate a settlement.

 

See Note 4 – Assets and Liabilities Transferred to Trust Mortgage - 350 Green.