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Note 7 - Notes Payable - Levys
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]
NOTE G – NOTES PAYABLE – LEVYS

To satisfy our short-term liquidity needs, Jay Levy, Jean Levy, Warren Levy and Ronald Levy (the Levys) from time to time (prior to 2003) made loans to us. Jay Levy, our former director, Chairman of the Board, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary, and Jean Levy are/were the parents of Warren Levy and Ronald Levy, our former executive officers and directors. Total interest expense on all Levy loans was approximately $442,000 and $412,000, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. As of March 31, 2012, total accrued interest on all Levy loans was $7,676,074 and the principal amount of the outstanding loans by the Levys to us totaled $14,737,518, for an aggregate owed to them of $22,413,592. These loans are collateralized by secondary security interests in our equipment and certain of our patents.

In March 2010, in conjunction with the Victory Park refinancing (see Note H), the Levy loans were amended and restated to modify their terms. The amended notes, which continue to be secured by a secondary lien on certain of our equipment and certain of our United States patents and patent applications, bore interest at a rate of 9% per annum (non-compounding) from May 10, 2007 to March 17, 2010 and 12% per annum (non-compounding) thereafter. On March 10, 2011, we entered into the Settlement and Release Agreement and Amendments (the Settlement Agreement) by and among the Company and the Estate of Jean Levy, The Jaynjean Levy Family Limited Partnership, Dr. Warren Levy, our former president, and Dr. Ronald S. Levy, our former executive vice president (collectively, the Levy Parties).

Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the parties agreed to settle any and all claims, whether known or unknown, arising from or relating to the Levy employment agreements, the deferred compensation program for Dr. Warren Levy and Dr. Ronald Levy and the amended notes and the Levy Parties agreed to release their secondary mortgage and related liens on certain of our real property. In connection with this settlement, we agreed, among other things, to make the following payments, which modified certain terms of the Levy employment agreements and the deferred compensation program referred to above:

1.
In March 2011, we paid (a) Dr. Warren Levy a lump-sum severance payment in the amount of $327,750; (b) Dr. Ronald Levy a lump-sum severance payment in the amount of $280,250; and (c) into escrow remaining severance payments in the aggregate amount of $303,996, $163,875 of which was released to Dr. Warren Levy and $140,125 of which was released to Dr. Ronald Levy, each in accordance with his respective employment agreement in monthly increments beginning September 2011 through February 2012;

2.
In March 2011, we paid (a) $151,268 to Dr. Warren Levy representing a portion of his vacation pay and (b) $136,736 to Dr. Ronald Levy representing a portion of his vacation pay;

3.
On October 11, 2012 and November 13, 2012, we are obligated to pay an aggregate of $162,296: $85,241 to Dr. Warren Levy and $77,055 to Dr. Ronald Levy, in full satisfaction of their respective vacation pay; and

4.
On November 13, 2012 and December 11, 2012, we are obligated to pay an aggregate of $200,000 into Rabbi Trust Accounts, $100,000 into an account for the benefit of Dr. Warren Levy and $100,000 into an account for the benefit of Dr. Ronald Levy, in full satisfaction of our obligations to each of them under the deferred compensation program.

Loan payments under the amended notes of $500,000 previously due on November 10, 2010 and $250,000 due on May 10, 2011 have been postponed under the Settlement Agreement. The new payment schedule specifies five monthly payments of $150,000 from May 2012 through September 2012.

Furthermore, we agreed that if we receive net cash proceeds (the Proceeds) totaling at least $10,000,000 from a single transaction or transactions, subject to certain exceptions and qualifications described in the Settlement Agreement, before all of the payments due pursuant to the Settlement Agreement are paid in full, we are obligated to pay certain specified remaining payments due under the Settlement Agreement in full within five business days of receipt of the Proceeds.

Accordingly, among other things, the Settlement Agreement (i) settled a disagreement between us and Dr. Warren Levy and Dr. Ronald Levy regarding the aggregate amount of, and the timing of the payments in respect of, their vacation pay; (ii) required that a portion of the previously agreed to severance payments be placed into escrow and then be released to Dr. Warren Levy and Dr. Ronald Levy at the times previously agreed; (iii) required our payment in 2012 of an aggregate of $200,000 under the deferred compensation program for Dr. Warren Levy and Dr. Ronald Levy, $100,000 to each of two Rabbi Trust Accounts; and (iv) accelerates the payment of certain remaining payments under the Settlement Agreement upon the receipt of the Proceeds.