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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies
Operating Leases - The Company has operating lease agreements for administrative, research and development, manufacturing and sales and marketing facilities and equipment that expire at various dates. The Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term and records the difference between cash rent payments and the recognition of rent expense as a deferred rent liability. See Note 12 - Related Party Agreements for additional information on related party operating leases.
Indemnification Agreements - In the ordinary course of business, the Company may provide indemnifications of varying scope and terms to customers, vendors, lessors, business partners, and other parties with respect to certain matters, including, but not limited to, losses arising out of breach of such agreements, services to be provided by the Company or intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with directors and certain officers and employees that will require the Company, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors, officers or employees. While the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company does not believe that the outcome of any claims under indemnification arrangements will have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
Legal Proceedings - A lawsuit was filed on December 17, 2015 by SRAM Corporation (“SRAM”) in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, against the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, RFE Canada Holding Corp. (“RFE Canada”). The lawsuit alleges patent infringement of U.S. Patent number 9,182,027 ("'027 Patent") and violation of the Lanham Act. SRAM filed a second lawsuit in the same court against RFE Canada on May 16, 2016, alleging patent infringement of U.S Patent number 9,291,250 ("'250 Patent").  The Company believes the lawsuits are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself.  As such, the Company has filed, before the U. S. Patent and Trademark Appeals Board ("PTAB"), for Interparties Reviews ("IPR") of the '027 Patent and separately the same for the '250 Patent. In April 2018, the PTAB issued opinions in the ‘027 Patent petition cases stating that the Company has not shown the claims of the ‘027 Patent to be obvious. Regarding the PTAB ‘027 opinions, the Company has filed a Notice of Appeal to the Court of Appeals ("CAFC") for the Federal Circuit. Regarding that appeal the Company has further moved the CAFC for remand of the ‘027 IPR to the PTAB. The IPR for the ‘250 patent is pending in the PTAB and the PTAB has stayed the ex-parte re-exam of the ‘250 patent.
In a separate action the Company filed a lawsuit on January 29, 2016 in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California against SRAM. That lawsuit alleges SRAM’s infringement of two separate Company owned patents, specifically U.S. Patent numbers 6,135,434 and 6,557,674. A second lawsuit was filed by the Company on July 1, 2016 in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California against SRAM alleging infringement of the Company’s U.S. Patent numbers 8,226,172 and 8,974,009. These lawsuits have been moved to U.S. District Court, District of Colorado and are otherwise proceeding. The stay of the SRAM lawsuits against the Company has been lifted by the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. The Company filed and SRAM filed lawsuits are now moving forward in the respective courts.
Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the Company is not able to predict either the outcome or a range of reasonably possible losses, if any, at this time. Accordingly, no amounts have been recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the settlement of these matters. Were an unfavorable ruling to occur, or if factors indicate that a loss is probable and reasonably estimable, the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
The Company is involved in other legal matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. Based on information currently available, management does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Other Commitments - On November 30, 2017, the Company through FF US Holding Corp. acquired an 80% interest in the business of Flagship, Inc. ("Tuscany"). The stockholders' agreement provides the Company with a call option (the "Call Option") to acquire the remaining 20% of Tuscany any time from November 30, 2019 through November 30, 2024 at a value which approximates fair market value. In addition, if the Call Option has not been exercised as of November 30, 2024, the non-controlling owners shall be entitled to exercise a put option on November 30, 2024 and for a 180 day period thereafter, which would require the Company to purchase all of the remaining shares held by the non-controlling owners at a price that approximates fair market value.
Other Contingencies - On June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court (the “Court”) decided South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., et al., holding that internet retailers do not have to maintain a physical presence in a state in order to be required to collect the state’s sales and use tax.  Ultimately, the Court remanded the case to the South Dakota Supreme Court on the question of “whether some other principle in the Court’s Commerce Clause doctrine might invalidate the Act,” which may delay federal legislation on the issue. However, as a result of the Court’s decision, additional states may now begin requiring all remote sellers, primarily those engaged in e-commerce, to register, collect and remit sales and use taxes on transactions with in-state customers. Numerous states have either enacted legislation or informally indicated that they will not assert liability for uncollected taxes on a retroactive basis.  Nevertheless, the Company believes that it is possible that it will incur a liability for uncollected sales tax on some portion of its e-commerce sales through September 28, 2018. Any retroactively imposed liability is not expected to be material to the Company’s results of operations or financial position because direct end-user sales in states where the Company is not registered comprise a small portion of total revenues.