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Note 5 - Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018
Notes to Financial Statements |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] | Note 5 - Commitments and Contingencies
a. | Indemnity
Our organizational documents provide that our directors or officers will be reimbursed for all expenses, to the fullest extent permitted by law arising out of their performance.
b. | Purchase Commitments
As of December 31, 2018, we have made commitments to purchase approximately $2,848 of production machinery and equipment.
c. | Operating Leases
We lease various buildings, machinery, land, automobiles and office equipment. Rental expenses for all operating leases were approximately $716 and $660 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2018 are as follows:
2019 |  |  | 2020 |  |  | 2021 |  |  | 2022 |  |  | 2023 |
$ | 564 |  |  | $ | 404 |  |  | $ | 142 |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |
d. | China
Our operating facility in China presents risks including, but not limited to, changes in local regulatory requirements, changes in labor laws, local wage laws, environmental regulations, taxes and operating licenses, compliance with U.S. regulatory requirements, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, uncertainties as to application and interpretation of local laws and enforcement of contract and intellectual property rights, currency restrictions, currency exchange controls, fluctuations of currency, and currency revaluations, eminent domain claims, civil unrest, power outages, water shortages, labor shortages, labor disputes, increase in labor costs, rapid changes in government, economic and political policies, political or civil unrest, acts of terrorism, or the threat of boycotts, other civil disturbances and the possible impact of the imposition of tariffs by the U.S. Government on 9 Volt batteries that we manufacture in China as well as any retaliating trade policies or restrictions. Any such disruptions could depress our earnings and have other material adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
e. | Employment Contracts
We have an employment contract with Michael D. Popielec, our President and Chief Executive Officer, which remains in effect until terminated by either party. This agreement provides for a base salary, as adjusted for increases at the discretion of our Board of Directors, and includes incentive bonuses based upon attainment of specified quantitative and qualitative performance goals. This agreement also provides for severance payments in the event of specified events of termination of employment. In addition, this agreement provides for a lump sum payment in the event of termination of employment in connection with a change in control. As part of our employment commencement process, employees are required to enter into agreements providing for confidentiality of certain information and the assignment of rights to inventions made by them while employed by us. These agreements also contain certain non-competition and non-solicitation provisions effective during the employment term and for varying periods thereafter depending on position and location. There can be no assurance that we will be able to enforce these agreements. All of our employees agree to abide by the terms of a Code of Ethics policy that provides for the confidentiality of certain information received during the course of their employment.
f. | Product Warranties
We estimate future warranty costs to be incurred for product failure rates, material usage and service costs in the development of our warranty obligations. Estimated future costs are based on actual past experience and are generally estimated as a percentage of sales over the warranty period. Changes in our product warranty liability during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
|  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Balance, January 1 |  | $ | 149 |  |  | $ | 172 |
Provision for warranties issued |  |  | 7 |  |  |  | 84 |
Settlements made |  |  | (61 | ) |  |  | (107 | )
Balance, December 31 |  | $ | 95 |  |  | $ | 149 |
g . | Legal Matters
We are subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise in the normal course of business. We believe that the final disposition of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Dreamliner Litigation In July 2013, an unoccupied Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft operated by Ethiopian Airlines was damaged by fire while parked at London Heathrow Airport. Following an investigation of this incident conducted by U.K. and U.S. regulatory authorities as well as by the manufacturer of the aircraft, a final report was issued by the Air Accidents Investigative Branch – UK Civil Aviation regulatory authority, with findings indicating that the fire was primarily caused by circumstances related to the plane’s emergency locator transmitter (“ELT”) manufactured and installed by another company. A component of the ELT is a battery pack which incorporates Ultralife’s industry-standard lithium manganese dioxide non-rechargeable D-cell, which Ultralife has produced since 2001, with wide-use in global defense and commercial applications. On May 4, 2015, we were notified of a lawsuit in which we were named, along with other suppliers to the aircraft manufacturer, concerning that 2013 fire, which was filed by Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise in the Commercial Court, Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, London. We immediately referred this matter to our insurers. This lawsuit has now been resolved ( February 2018), the claimant has terminated the action against the Company, and the Court has acknowledged and consented to this termination. The matter was terminated without financial consequences to the Company.

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