v3.8.0.1
Note 10 - Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]
10.
Commitments and
Contingencies
 
Operating Leases
 
In
December 2011,
the Company entered into a non-cancelable lease agreement with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, or the Landlord, referred to as the Existing Lease, for approximately
13,787
square feet of office and laboratory facilities located at
301
Galveston Drive, Redwood City, California, or the Current Premises, which serve as the Company headquarters, effective
April 2012.
Rent expense from the facility lease is recognized on a straight-line basis from the inception of the lease in
December 2011,
the early access date, through the end of the lease.
 
In
May 2014,
the Company entered into an amendment, or the Lease Amendment, to the Existing Lease for the Current Premises. Pursuant to the Lease Amendment, the term of the Existing Lease
was extended for a period of
twenty
(
20
) months and
twenty-two
(
22
) days and expiring on
January 31, 2018,
unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms of the Existing Lease. In addition, the Lease Amendment included a new lease on an additional approximately
12,106
square feet of office space located at
351
Galveston Drive in Redwood City, California, or the Expansion Space, which is adjacent to the Current Premises. The new lease for the Expansion Space has a term of
42
months commencing on
August 1, 2014,
and expiring on
January 31, 2018.
 
On
October 2, 2015,
the Company executed an agreement to sublease
approximately
11,871
square feet of the Expansion Space for a term of
26
months commencing on
December 1, 2015.
The sublessee was entitled to abatement of the
first
two
monthly installments of rent. Subsequent monthly installments of rent start at a rental rate of
$2.05
per square foot (subject to agreed nominal increases). Minimum rents received under this sublease were
$0.3
million for the year ended
December 31, 2017
and are expected to be
$25.0
thousand for the year ending
December 31, 2018.
 
On
June 14, 2017,
the
Company entered into a
second
amendment, or the Second Lease Amendment, to the Existing Lease, and as amended by the Second Lease Amendment, the Lease, with the Landlord, for approximately
25,893
square feet located at
301
351
Galveston Drive, Redwood City, California, or the Current Premises and the Expansion Space, together, the Premises. Pursuant to the Second Lease Amendment, the term of the Existing Lease has been extended for a period of
seventy-two
(
72
) months, or the Extended Term, beginning
February 1, 2018
and expiring
January 31, 2024,
or the Expiration Date, unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms of the Lease.
 
Pursuant to the Lease Amendment, the Company will pay on a monthly basis annual rent of approximately
$1.2
million, with annual increases each
12
-month period beginning
February 1
st
, and the
first
two
months to be abated provided that the Company is
not
in default thereunder. In addition, the Company will pay the Landlord specified percentages of certain operating expenses related to the leased facility incurred by the Landlord.
 
Rent
expense was
$0.6
million,
$0.3
million and
$0.6
million for the Premises during the years ended
December 
31,
2017,
2016
and
2015,
respectively.
 
Future minimum payments under the
Lease as of
December 
31,
2017,
are as follows (in thousands):
 
Year Ending December
31:
       
201
8
  $
959
 
2019
   
1,231
 
2020
   
1,268
 
2021
   
1,305
 
2022
   
1,345
 
Thereafter
   
1,501
 
Total minimum payments
  $
7,609
 
 
 
Litigation
 
From time to time the Company
may
be involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company does
not
have contingent liabilities established for any litigation matters.