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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

 

  22. Commitments and Contingencies

 

  (a) Capital and Other Commitments

 

As of December 31, 2022, the Group had other commitments of approximately $1,112. These commitments were solely related to contracts signed with vendors for research and development by the Group and are expected to be paid in one year.

 

  (b) Contingencies

 

On January 26, 2018, Sinsin Group filed a complaint against the Group requesting the payment of outstanding purchase price and related interest of $43,595 (EUR 38,054). On June 25, 2018, an interim measures judgment was made which appointed an interim management of Sinsin, consisting of two members elected by Sinsin Group and one member elected by the Group. The interim management would manage the bank accounts of Sinsin and collect the proceeds of electric energy revenue. On October 29, 2020, an arbitration decision was made that the Group will need to pay the outstanding purchase price of $43,595 (EUR 38,054), together with interest at 6% accruing from November 20, 2015 on half of the outstanding purchase and from June 30, 2016 on the remaining half of the outstanding purchase price to the date of eventual payment. The Group filed an application for appeals in the court of Malta but was turned down by the court of Malta in November 2021. The Group furtherly filed an application of retrial and suspension of the enforcement of the awards. The application of retrial was rejected by the court of Malta on March 30, 2022. On November 2, 2022, Sinsin filed an action to confirm these arbitral awards pursuant to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards of June 10, 1958 (“New York Convention”) as implemented by the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) before U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, and the management is in progress of negotiation with Sinsin to achieve a settlement to suspend the enforcement of the arbitration decision. On April 11, 2023, Sinsin filed a motion seeking leave to amend its petition to add a request for an award of attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with the petition, add detail on the allegedly owed costs and liabilities, and request that the court issue an injunction against asset dissipation pending satisfaction of the requested judgment. The Group will be opposing the motion for leave to amend, and the hearing is set for May 18, 2023.

 

On February 16, 2023, Streeterville delivered a Redemption Notice to the Group to redeem $350 of the 2022 Note with a deadline to pay the Redemption Amount by February 22, 2023 (See Note 14 and Note 26). The Group failed to pay the Redemption Amount on time and such failure to pay is an Event of Default under the 2022 Note. Due to this Event of Default, (i) the base interest of the 2022 Note was increased to 15% per annum; (ii) the outstanding balance of the 2022 Note was increased by 15%; and (iii) the entire outstanding balance of the 2022 Note was accelerated and due on March 3, 2023. The Group failed to pay the outstanding balance of the 2022 Note by March 3, 2023 and as a result, Streeterville filed a complaint in the third judicial district court of Salt Lake County, requesting for actual damages in an amount not less than $2,676, plus applicable interest, damages, charges, fees, attorney fees, and collection costs. On March 31, 2023, a hearing was held and the temporary restraining order requiring the Group to pay the 2022 Note in full from the proceeds of the IPO of its subsidiary, SolarJuice Co., Ltd.

 

From time to time, the Group is involved in various other legal and regulatory proceedings arising in the normal course of business. While the Group cannot predict the occurrence or outcome of these proceedings with certainty, it does not believe that an adverse result in any pending legal or regulatory proceeding, individually or in the aggregate, would be material to the Group’s consolidated financial condition or cash flows; however, an unfavorable outcome could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s results of operations.