8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 8: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Employment Agreements

The Company’s CEO and COO (the “Executives”) are employed under employment agreements containing severance provisions. In the event of termination of the Executives’ employment for any reason, the Executive will be entitled to receive all accrued, unpaid salary and vacation time through the date of termination and all benefits to which the Executives are entitled or vested under the terms of all employee benefit and compensation plans, agreements and arrangements in which the Executives are participants as of the date of termination.

In addition, subject to executing a general release in favor of the Company, the Executive will be entitled to receive certain severance payments in the event of termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company “other than for cause” or by the Executive with “good reason.” These severance payments include: (i) a lump sum in cash equal to one to two times the Executive’s annual base salary; (ii) a lump sum in cash equal to one to two times the average annual bonus paid to the Executive for the prior two full fiscal years preceding the date of termination; (iii) a lump sum in cash equal to a pro rata portion of the annual bonus payable for the period in which the date of termination occurs based on the actual performance under the Company’s annual incentive bonus arrangement, but no less than fifty percent of Executive’s annual base salary; and (iv) if the Executive’s termination occurs prior to the date that is twelve months following a change of control, then each and every share option, restricted share award and other equity-based award that is outstanding and held by the Executive shall immediately vest and become exercisable.

Subsequent to March 31, 2020, the Company eliminated the position of COO and relieved the COO of his duties pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, and placed him on garden leave for the remainder of his employment through May 31, 2020. In addition to payment of accrued and unpaid salary, vacation time, and other benefits referred to above, and subject to execution of a release of claims by the COO, the Company is required to pay him one time his current annual base salary of $245,000, payable over 12 months.

Litigation

From time to time, the Company is party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company expenses or accrues legal costs as incurred. A summary of the Company’s material legal proceedings is as follows:

On August 6, 2018, GE Oil and Gas UK Ltd. (“GE”) requested that the Company mediate a dispute between the parties in the ICC International Centre for ADR (“ICC”). The dispute involved alleged delays and defects in products manufactured by the Company for GE dating back to 2013. The Company disputed GE’s allegations and vigorously defended itself against these allegations. Mediation took place on November 28, 2018 but was not resolved. On February 22, 2019, GE initiated arbitration proceedings with the ICC. The total amount in dispute was originally $2,630 but was later reduced to $2,252. On February 26, 2020, the parties agreed in principle to settle the dispute, and the parties are working toward finalizing the terms of a definitive settlement agreement. The Company therefore accrued a liability related to this matter in the amount of $750 for the year ended December 31, 2019.

In November 2011, the Company delivered equipment to Aker Solutions, Inc. (“Aker”), but Aker declined to pay the final invoice in the aggregate amount of $270 alleging some warranty items needed to be repaired. The Company made repairs, but Aker continued to claim further work was required. The Company repeatedly attempted to collect on the receivable, and ultimately filed suit on November 16, 2012, in the Harris County District Court. Aker subsequently filed a counterclaim on March 20, 2013 in the aggregate amount of $1,000 for reimbursement of insurance payments allegedly made for repairs. The parties have not reached a resolution on this matter. At this point, it is not clear as to whether an unfavorable outcome is either probable or remote, and the Company is unable to determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or the amount or range of potential loss if the outcome should be unfavorable.