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Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]
(9)  Commitments and Contingencies
 
In the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings, workers' compensation and product liability disputes.  The Company is of the opinion that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse affect on the results of operations, cash flows or the financial position of the Company.
 
As a result of environmental studies performed at the Company's former facility located in Sarasota, Florida, the Company became aware of soil and groundwater contamination at the Company site. The Company engaged an environmental engineering consultant to assess the level of contamination and to develop a remediation and monitoring plan for the site. Soil remediation at the site was completed during the year ended December 31, 2010. Groundwater remediation at the site is expected to begin by the end of 2013, upon state regulatory approval of a remedial action plan. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, environmental remediation costs incurred were immaterial. At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had accrued an undiscounted liability of $1,340 related to future remediation. At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, $733 was recorded as a component of accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets while the remaining amounts were recorded as a component of other long-term liabilities. A majority of the costs associated with the recorded liability will be incurred at the start of the groundwater remediation, with the balance relating to monitoring costs to be incurred over multiple years. The recorded liability is based on assumptions of the proposed remedial action plan. In December 2011, the Company sold the Sarasota facility and related property. However, the liability to remediate the site contamination remains the responsibility of the Company. Due to the ongoing site remediation, the closing terms of the sale agreement included a requirement for the Company to maintain a $2,000 letter of credit for the benefit of the buyer.
 
On May 24, 2013, the State Revenue Services of São Paulo issued a tax deficiency notice against PST, our 74% owned consolidated subsidiary, claiming that the vehicle tracking and monitoring services it provides should be classified as communication services, and therefore subject to the State Value Added Tax – ICMS. The State Revenue Service assessment imposed the 25.0% ICMS tax on all revenues of PST related to the vehicle tracking and monitoring services during the period from January 2009 through December 2010. The Brazilian real (“R$”) and (U.S. dollar equivalent “$”) of the aggregate tax assessment is approximately R$92,500 ($41,700) which is comprised of Value Added Tax – ICMS of R$13,200 ($6,000), interest of R$11,400 ($5,100) and penalties of R$67,900 ($30,600).
 
The Company’s vehicle tracking and monitoring services are non-communication services, as defined under Brazilian tax law, subject to the municipal ISS tax, not communication services subject to state ICMS tax as claimed by the State Revenue Service of São Paulo. PST has, and will continue to collect the municipal ISS tax on the vehicle tracking and monitoring services in compliance with Brazilian tax law and will defend its tax position. PST has received a legal opinion that the merits of the case are favorable to PST, determining among other things that the imposition on the subsidiary of the State ICMS by the State Revenue Services of São Paulo is not in accordance with the Brazilian tax code.   Management believes, based on the legal opinion of PST’s Brazilian legal counsel and the results of the Brazil Administrative Court's ruling in favor of another vehicle tracking and monitoring company related to the tax deficiency notice it received, the likelihood of loss is not probable although it may take years to resolve.  As a result of the above, as of June 30, 2013, no provision has been made with respect to the tax assessment.  An unfavorable judgment on this issue for the years assessed and for subsequent years could result in significant costs to PST and adversely affect its results of operations.
 
Also, PST has civil, labor and other tax contingencies for which the likelihood of loss is deemed to be reasonably possible, but not probable, by its legal advisors, and, therefore, no accrual was recorded. Such contingencies amount to $11,531 and $11,925 at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.
 
Product Warranty and Recall
 
Amounts accrued for product warranty and recall claims are established based on the Company's best estimate of the amounts necessary to settle future and existing claims on products sold as of the balance sheet dates.  These accruals are based on several factors including past experience, production changes, industry developments and various other considerations.  The Company can provide no assurances that it will not experience material claims in the future or that it will not incur significant costs to defend or settle such claims beyond the amounts accrued or beyond what the Company may recover from its suppliers.  The current portion of product warranty and recall is included as a component of accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.  Product warranty and recall includes $528 and $494 of a long-term liability at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, which is included as a component of other long-term liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
 
The following provides a reconciliation of changes in product warranty and recall liability:
 
Six months ended June 30
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Product warranty and recall at beginning of period
 
$
6,107
 
$
5,301
 
Accruals for products shipped during period
 
 
2,215
 
 
594
 
Aggregate changes in pre-existing liabilities due to claim developments
 
 
1,229
 
 
251
 
Settlements made during the period (in cash or in kind)
 
 
(3,369)
 
 
(1,313)
 
Product warranty and recall at end of period
 
$
6,182
 
$
4,833