Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

16. Commitments and Contingencies

Contingencies:

Legal

We are subject to legal proceedings, claims and liabilities which arise in the ordinary course of business. We accrue for losses associated with legal claims when such losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. These accruals are adjusted as additional information becomes available or circumstances change. Legal fees are charged to expense as they are incurred.

Commitments:

Leases

The Company and its subsidiaries lease certain manufacturing, laboratory and office facilities. The leases generally provide for the Company to pay either an increase over a base year level for taxes, maintenance, insurance and other costs of the leased properties or the Company’s allocated share of insurance, taxes, maintenance and other costs of leased properties. The leases contain renewal provisions.

Future minimum rental payments required under non-cancelable operating leases (with initial or remaining lease terms in excess of one year) as of December 31, 2011 are (dollars in thousands): $279 in 2012, $285 in 2013 and $266 in 2014. Rent expense under all leases was $307, $528, and $564 thousand for 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively. Rent expense was reduced during the year ended December 31, 2011 as a result of the Supplemental Lease Extension and Modification Agreement dated September 29, 2011 between Kingfisher, LLC and MTI Micro.

Licenses

Under a 2002 NYSERDA contract, MTI Micro agreed to pay NYSERDA a royalty of 5.0% of the sales price of any product sold incorporating IP developed pursuant to the NYSERDA contract. If the product is manufactured by a New York State manufacturer, this royalty is reduced to 1.5%. Total royalties are subject to a cap equal to two times the total contract funds paid by NYSERDA to MTI Micro, and may be reduced to reflect any New York State jobs created by MTI Micro. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, there are no amounts accrued in the consolidated balance sheets related to this royalty provision.

Under the 2010 NYSERDA contract, MTI Micro agreed to pay NYSERDA a royalty of 5.0% of the sales price of any product sold incorporating IP developed pursuant to the NYSERDA contract. The obligation commences on the first date of the first sale of these products and is in place for fifteen years. Total royalties are subject to a cap equal to three times the total contract funds paid by NYSERDA to MTI Micro. However, if the product is manufactured by a New York State manufacturer, this royalty is reduced to 1.5% and total royalties are subject to a cap equal to one times the total contract funds paid by NYSERDA to MTI Micro. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, there are no amounts accrued in the consolidated balance sheets related to this royalty provision.

Employment Agreements

The Company has employment agreements with certain employees that provide severance payments, certain other payments, accelerated vesting and exercise extension periods of certain options upon termination of employment under certain circumstances, as defined in the applicable agreements. As of December 31, 2011, the Company’s potential minimum obligation to these employees was approximately $595 thousand.

Royalty Commitment

On January 28, 2010, MTI Instruments entered into an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement with Ernest F. Fullam, Inc., Peter Fullam and Diane Fullam to acquire the tensile stage line of products from Ernest F. Fullam, Inc, a pioneering microscopy accessories company from Clifton Park, NY. As part of the acquisition, Mr. Peter Fullam joined MTI Instruments as a Product Sales Engineer until September 30, 2011, at which time he became a consultant for MTI Instruments, and MTI Instruments purchased machinery, inventory and the rights to use the Fullam/MTI Instruments product name. Additionally, commencing with the calendar quarter ending March 31, 2010 and ending at the close of the calendar quarter ending December 31, 2012, MTI Instruments will pay Ernest F. Fullam, Inc. a royalty equal to 5% of the Gross Sales achieved on specific Fullam products. Royalty expense related to this agreement was $10 thousand and $12 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.