Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

18. Commitments and Contingencies

Procurement agreements in connection with next-generation satellites

On May 5, 2008, the Company entered into a procurement agreement with Sierra Nevada Corporation (“SNC”) pursuant to which SNC is constructing eighteen low-earth-orbit satellites in three sets of satellites (“shipsets”) for the Company’s next-generation satellites (the “Initial Satellites”). Under the agreement, SNC is also providing launch support services, a test satellite (excluding the mechanical structure), a satellite software simulator and the associated ground support equipment.

The total contract price for the Initial Satellites under the procurement agreement is $117,000, subject to reduction upon failure to achieve certain in-orbit operational milestones with respect to the Initial Satellites or if the pre-ship reviews of each shipset are delayed more than 60-120 days after the specified time periods described below. The Company has agreed to pay SNC up to $1,500 in incentive payments for the successful operation of the Initial Satellites five years following the successful completion of in-orbit testing for the third shipset of eight satellites.

On August 31, 2010, the Company entered into two additional task order agreements with SNC in connection with the procurement agreement discussed above. Under the terms of the launch vehicle changes task order agreement, SNC will perform the activities to launch eighteen of the Company’s next-generation satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 1E or Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The total price for the launch activities is cost reimbursable up to $4,110 that is cancelable by the Company, less a credit of $1,528. Any unused credit can be applied to other activities under the task order agreement, or the original procurement agreement if application to the task order agreement becomes impossible or impracticable. Under the terms of the engineering change requests and enhancements task order agreement, SNC will design and make changes to each of the next-generation satellites in order to accommodate an additional payload-to-bus interface. The total price for the engineering changes requests is cost reimbursable up to $317. Both task order agreements are payable monthly as the services are performed, provided that with respect to the launch vehicle changes task order agreement, the credit in the amount of $1,528 will first be deducted against amounts accrued thereunder until the entire balance is expended.

On August 23, 2011, the Company and SNC entered into a definitive First Amendment to the procurement agreement (the “Amendment”). The Amendment amends certain terms of the procurement agreement dated May 5, 2008 and supplements or amends five separate task order agreements, dated as of May 20, 2010 (Task Order #1), August 31, 2010 (Task Orders #2 and #3), and December 15, 2010 (Task Orders #4 and #5) (collectively, the “Task Orders”).

The Amendment modifies the milestone payment schedule under the procurement agreement dated May 5, 2008 but does not change the total contract price (excluding optional satellites and costs under the Task Orders) of $117,000. Payments under the Amendment extend into the second quarter of 2014, subject to SNC’s successful completion of each payment milestone.

Under the Amendment, SNC has reaffirmed their agreement to provide the Company with optional secured financing for up to $20,000, commencing July 1, 2012 through April 30, 2014, if the Company elects to establish and use the financing, pursuant to terms to be set forth in a definitive agreement to be entered into by the parties.

The Amendment also settles the liquidated delay damages triggered under the procurement agreement dated May 5, 2008 and provides an ongoing mechanism for the Company to obtain pricing proposals to order up to thirty optional satellites substantially identical to the Initial Satellites for which firm fixed pricing previously had expired under the procurement agreement dated May 5, 2008.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company has made milestone payments of $42,120 under the SNC procurement agreement. The Company anticipates making payments under the agreement of $15,000 during the remainder of 2011.

On August 28, 2009, the Company and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (“SpaceX”) entered into a Commercial Launch Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) pursuant to which SpaceX will provide launch services (the “Launch Services”) using multiple SpaceX Falcon 1e launch vehicles for the carriage into low-Earth-orbit for the Company’s 18 next-generation commercial communications satellites currently being constructed by SNC. Under the Agreement, SpaceX will also provide to the Company launch vehicle integration and support services, as well as certain related optional services. The Company and SpaceX are finalizing terms to an amended agreement to provide launch services on Falcon 9 launch vehicles instead of the Falcon 1e launch vehicle.

The Company anticipates that the Launch Services will be performed between early 2012 and 2014, subject to certain rights of the Company and SpaceX to reschedule any of the particular Launch Services as needed. The Agreement also provides the Company the option to procure, prior to each Launch Service, reflight launch services whereby in the event the applicable Launch Service results in a failure due to the SpaceX launch vehicle, SpaceX will provide comparable reflight launch services at no additional cost to the Company beyond the initial option price for such reflight launch services.

The total price under the Agreement (excluding any options or additional launch services) is $46,600, subject to certain adjustments. The amounts due under the Agreement are payable in periodic installments from the date of execution of the Agreement through the performance of each Launch Service. The Company may postpone and reschedule the Launch Services for any reason at its sole discretion, following 12 months of delay for any particular Launch Services. The Company also has the right to terminate any of the Launch Services subject to the payment of a termination fee in an amount that would be based on the date the Company exercises its termination right.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company has made milestone payments of $10,080 under the SpaceX Agreement. The Company does not anticipate making payments under the agreement during the remainder of 2011.

AIS Satellite Deployment and License Agreement

On September 28, 2010, the Company and OHB entered into an AIS Satellite Deployment and License Agreement (the “AIS Satellite Agreement”) pursuant to which OHB, through its affiliate Luxspace Sarl (“LXS”), will (1) design, construct, launch and in-orbit test two AIS microsatellites and (2) design and construct the required ground support equipment. Under the AIS Satellite Agreement, the Company will receive exclusive licenses for all data (with certain exceptions as defined in the AIS Satellite Agreement) collected or transmitted by the two AIS microsatellites (including all AIS data) during the term of the AIS Satellite Agreement and nonexclusive licenses for all AIS data collected or transmitted by another microsatellite expected to be launched by LXS.

The AIS Satellite Agreement provides for milestone payments totaling $2,000 (inclusive of in-orbit testing) subject to certain adjustments. Payments under the AIS Satellite Agreement began upon the execution of the agreement and successful completion of each milestone through to the launch of the two AIS microsatellites. In addition, to the extent that both AIS microsatellites are successfully operating after launch, the Company will pay OHB lease payments of up to $546, subject to certain adjustments, over thirty-six months. At the Company’s option after thirty-six months it can continue the exclusive licenses for the data with a continuing payment of up to $6 per month. In addition, OHB will also be entitled to credits of up to $500 to be used solely for the microsatellites AIS data license fees payable to the Company under a separate AIS data resale agreement.

On October 12, 2011, the first of two AIS microsatellites was launched and is currently undergoing in-orbit testing. The Company expects the AIS microsatellite to be placed in commercial service by December 31, 2011. The second AIS microsatellite is scheduled for launch in early 2012.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company has made milestone payments of $1,100 under the AIS Satellite Agreement.

Airtime credits

In 2001, in connection with the organization of ORBCOMM Europe LLC and the reorganization of the ORBCOMM business in Europe, the Company agreed to grant certain country representatives in Europe approximately $3,736 in airtime credits. The Company has not recorded the airtime credits as a liability for the following reasons: (i) the Company has no obligation to pay the unused airtime credits if they are not utilized; and (ii) the airtime credits are earned by the country representatives only when the Company generates revenue from the country representatives. The airtime credits have no expiration date. Accordingly, the Company is recording airtime credits as services are rendered and these airtime credits are recorded net of revenues from the country representatives. For the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, airtime credits used totaled approximately $8 and $9, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, airtime credits used totaled approximately $24 and $63, respectively. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, unused credits granted by the Company were approximately $2,167 and $2,191, respectively.

Litigation

From time to time, the Company is involved in various claims or litigation matters involving ordinary and routine claims incidental to its business. Management currently believes that the outcome of these proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.