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Note 6 - Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Notes to Financial Statements  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]
Note
6
- 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, 2019,
we have made commitments to purchase approximately
$1,185
of production machinery and equipment.
 
c.
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.
 
d.
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.
 
e.
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, 2019
and
2018
were as follows:
 
   
201
9
   
201
8
 
Balance, January 1
  $
95
    $
149
 
Assumed warranty obligations – SWE
   
145
     
-
 
Provision for warranties issued
   
114
     
7
 
Settlements made
   
(159
)    
(61
)
Balance, December 31
  $
195
    $
95
 
 
f
.
Contingencies and
L
egal Matters
 
We are subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise from time to time in the normal course of business. We believe that the final disposition of any such matters will
not
have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, recognizing that legal matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, there exists the possibility that ultimate resolution of these matters could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows in the period in which any such effects are recorded. We are
not
aware of any such situations at this time.