Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

4. Commitments and Contingencies

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4. Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Notes to Financial Statements  
4. Commitments and Contingencies
4) Commitments and Contingencies

 

Operating Leases

 

Our corporate offices are currently located at 14 Norfolk Avenue, South Easton, Massachusetts 02375. In November 2007, we signed a lease agreement commencing in February 2008 pursuant to which we lease approximately 5,500 square feet of office space. We extended the lease term until December 31, 2013 with a monthly payment of $4,800.

 

Effective January 1, 2010, we entered into a three-year lease agreement with the University of Massachusetts in Boston, pursuant to which we are leasing laboratory and office space on campus at the university for research and development activities. This lease was amended to expire on December 31, 2014. We pay $5,500 per month for the use of these facilities.

 

Rental costs are expensed as incurred. During the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 we incurred $61,840 and $58,800, respectively, in rent expense for the use of our corporate office and research and development facilities.

 

Royalty Commitments

 

In 1996, we acquired our initial equity interest in BioSeq, Inc., which at the time was developing our original pressure cycling technology. BioSeq, Inc. acquired its pressure cycling technology from BioMolecular Assays, Inc. (“BMA”) under a technology transfer and patent assignment agreement. In 1998, we purchased all of the remaining outstanding capital stock of BioSeq, Inc., and at such time, the technology transfer and patent assignment agreement was amended to require us to pay BMA a 5% royalty on our sales of products or services that incorporate or utilize the original pressure cycling technology that BioSeq, Inc. acquired from BMA. We are also required to pay BMA 5% of the proceeds from any sale, transfer or license of all or any portion of the original pressure cycling technology. These payment obligations terminate in 2016. During the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, we incurred $7,343 and $11,672, respectively, in royalty expense associated with our obligation to BMA.

 

In connection with our acquisition of BioSeq, Inc., we licensed certain limited rights to the original pressure cycling technology back to BMA. This license is non-exclusive and limits the use of the original pressure cycling technology by BMA solely for molecular applications in scientific research and development and in scientific plant research and development. BMA is required to pay us a royalty equal to 20% of any license or other fees and royalties, but not including research support and similar payments, it receives in connection with any sale, assignment, license or other transfer of any rights granted to BMA under the license. BMA must pay us these royalties until the expiration of the patents held by BioSeq, Inc. in 1998, which we anticipate will be in 2016. We have not received any royalty payments from BMA under this license.

 

 

Battelle Memorial Institute

 

In December 2008, we entered into an exclusive patent license agreement with the Battelle Memorial Institute ("Battelle"). The licensed technology is described in the patent application filed by Battelle on July 31, 2008 (US serial number 12/183,219). This application includes subject matter related to a method and a system for improving the analysis of protein samples, including through an automated system utilizing pressure and a pre-selected agent to obtain a digested sample in a significantly shorter period of time than current methods, while maintaining the integrity of the sample throughout the preparatory process. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement we paid Battelle a non-refundable initial fee of $35,000. In addition to royalty payments on net sales on “licensed products”, we are obligated to make minimum royalty payments for each year that we retain the rights outlined in the patent license agreement and we are required to have our first commercial sale of the licensed products within one year following the issuance of the patent covered by the licensed technology. Our only obligation for 2012 was a minimum annual royalty payment of $10,000. Our minimum annual royalty payment for 2013 is $12,500.

 

Target Discovery Inc.

 

In March 2010, we signed a strategic product licensing, manufacturing, co-marketing, and collaborative research and development agreement with Target Discovery Inc. (“TDI”). TDI’s Chief Executive Officer is a board member of Pressure BioSciences, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, we have been licensed by TDI to manufacture and sell a highly innovative line of chemicals used in the preparation of tissues for scientific analysis ("TDI reagents"). The TDI reagents were designed for use in combination with our pressure cycling technology. The companies believe that the combination of PCT and the TDI reagents can fill an existing need in life science research for an automated method for rapid extraction and recovery of intact, functional proteins associated with cell membranes in tissue samples. In April 2012 we announced an expanded license agreement and collaboration with TDI with a first target goal to meet unmet needs in treatment guidance for ovarian cancer. We did not incur a royalty liability on sales through June 30, 2013.

 

Severance and Change of Control Agreements

 

Each of Mr. Schumacher, Dr. Ting, Dr. Lazarev, and Dr. Lawrence, executive officers of the Company, is entitled to receive a severance payment if terminated by us without cause. The severance benefits would include a payment in an amount equal to one year of such executive officer’s annualized base salary compensation plus accrued paid time off. Additionally, the officer will be entitled to receive medical and dental insurance coverage for one year following the date of termination.

 

Each of these executive officers, other than Mr. Schumacher, is entitled to receive a change of control payment in an amount equal to one year of such executive officer’s annualized base salary compensation, accrued paid time off, and medical and dental coverage, in the event of a change of control of the Company. In the case of Mr. Schumacher, this payment would be equal to two years of annualized base salary compensation, accrued paid time off, and two years of medical and dental coverage. The severance payment is meant to induce the executive to become an employee of the Company and to remain in the employ of the Company, in general, and particularly in the occurrence of a change in control.

 

Promissory Note

 

On November 4, 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with a former placement agent, pursuant to which the Company and the placement agent released each other of their respective obligations under a prior investment banking agreement. In connection with this agreement, the Company issued the placement agent a promissory note with an original principal amount of $150,000 and a maturity date of May 4, 2012. The promissory note was interest free until May 4, 2012. On November 15, 2012, $75,000 of principal and $16,125 of accrued and unpaid interest were converted into 18,225 shares of the Company’s Series G Convertible Preferred Stock. The $75,000 principal balance remaining as of June 30, 2013 earns interest at a rate of 18% per year.

 

Convertible Debt

 

Loans in the aggregate amount of $155,000 were received from two individuals in the quarter ended March 31, 2013. We accrued interest at a rate of 6% on the loans.  These loans, along with $863,000 of other prior outstanding loans and unpaid interest, were converted to the Company’s Series J Convertible Preferred Shares in February 2013.

 

 

On April 11, 2013, we signed a promissory note in the amount of $275,000. The lender paid $125,000, net of $12,500 of original issue discount, upon closing of the note. The lender paid an additional $50,000, net of $5,000 original issue discount, on June 26, 2013. The balance of the Consideration shall be paid in the amounts and the dates as the lender chooses. The note and unpaid interest on the note are due and payable one year from the effective date of each payment. The lender has the right to convert all or part of the unpaid principal and interest into common stock at a conversion price of 60% of the lowest trade price in the 25 trading days prior to conversion after six months from the effective date of each closing. The Company has the right to repay the notes at any time within six months of the effective date of each closing. If the Company repays the note within 90 days of the effective date interest is 0%. If the note is not repaid within the 90 days a one time interest charge of 12% will be applied. The Company has reserved at least 6,000,000 shares of common stock for conversion under this note. The Company evaluated the terms of this note in accordance with ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging Contracts in Entity’s Own Stock. The Company determined that the conversion feature met the definition of a liability and therefore, bifurcated the conversion feature and account for it as a derivative liability. The derivative liability is measured at the end of each reporting period and the difference in fair value is recorded as other expense or income in the statement of operations.

 

The proceeds from the convertible debt issued on April 11, 2013, were allocated between the host debt instrument and the convertible option based on the residual method. The estimated fair value of the convertible option was determined using a binomial formula, resulting in an allocation of $274,840 to the convertible option and accounted for as a liability in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. In accordance with the provisions of ASC 815-40, the entire gross proceeds of $137,500 is offset by a debt discount of $137,500 which will be amortized to interest expense over the twelve month life of the debt. The additional $149,840 adjustment between the convertible option liability and the debt discount is charged to other expense.

 

The proceeds from the convertible debt issued on June 26, 2013, were allocated between the host debt instrument and the convertible option based on the residual method. The estimated fair value of the convertible option was determined using a binomial formula resulting in an allocation of $84,146 to the convertible option and accounted for as a liability in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. In accordance with the provisions of ASC 815-40, the entire gross proceeds of $55,000 is offset by a debt discount of $55,000 which will be amortized to interest expense over the twelve month life of the debt. The additional $34,146 adjustment between the convertible option liability and the debt discount is charged to other expense.

 

So long as the note is outstanding, the Company shall notify the lender of the issuance of any security with a term more favorable to the holder, and the lender may at its option, include the terms as a part of the transaction documents.

 

The fair value of the conversion feature was $260,881 at June 30, 2013 and reflected in the conversion option liability line in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

 

On May 24, 2013, we signed a Convertible Redeemable Note. The lender paid $97,500, net of $2,500 in legal fees, on the closing date. The note does not bear interest. The $100,000 principal is due on May 24, 2015. At any time six months after the closing date, the lender at its option may convert part, or all, of the note then outstanding into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of 70% of the average weighted average price of the common stock for the 10 trading days preceding the conversion date. The Company shall have the right to redeem the note at 120% of the unpaid principal if paid within 90 days of the issuance day, 130% of the unpaid principal if repaid between 91 and 180 days following the issuance day and 150% at any time thereafter. The Company has reserved 1,000,000 shares of common stock for conversion under this note. The Company determined that the conversion feature met the definition of a liability and therefore, bifurcated the conversion feature and accounted for it as a derivative liability. The derivative liability is measured at the end of each reporting period and the difference in fair value is recorded as other expense or income in the statement of operations.

 

The proceeds from the convertible debt issued on May 24, 2013, were allocated between the host debt instument and the convertible option based on the residual method. The estimated fair value of the convertible option was determined using a binomial formula, resulting in an allocation of $122,223 to the convertible option and accounted for as a liability in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. In accordance with the provisions of the ASC 815-40, the entire gross proceeds of $100,000 is offset by a debt discount of $100,000 which will be amortized to interest expense over the twenty-four month life of the debt. The additional $24,723 adjustment between the convertible option liability and the debt discount is charged to other expense.

 

The fair value of the conversion feature was $124,559 at June 30, 2013 and reflected in the conversion option liability line in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

 

On June 6, 2013, we signed a convertible debenture in the amount of $500,000. The lender paid an initial payment of $213,000 net of a “finder’s fee” discount of $25,000 and $12,000 in legal fees, on the closing date. The lender has the right, anytime after six months from the issue date to convert any or part of the outstanding and unpaid principal into shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $0.40 per share subject to adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends or rights offerings. The Company shall have the right to prepay the debenture for a payment of 120% of the outstanding principal plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Company is required to reserve at least 2.5 times the number of shares actually issuable upon full conversion of this debenture. The Company determined that the conversion feature met the definition of a liability in accordance with ASC 815-40 and therefore bifurcated the conversion feature and account for it as a derivative liability. The fair value of the conversion feature was accounted for as a note discount and will be amortized to interest expense over the life of the loan.

 

The proceeds from the convertible debt issued on June 6, 2013, were allocated between the host debt instrument and the convertible option based on the residual method. The estimated fair value of the convertible option was determined using a binomial formula, resulting in an allocation of $158,715 to the convertible option and accounted for as a liability in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. In accordance with the provisions of ASC 815-40, the gross proceeds of $250,000 is offset by a debt discount of $195,715 which will be amortized to interest expense over the twelve month life of the debt.

 

The fair value of the conversion feature was $112,061 at June 30, 2013 and reflected in the conversion option liability line in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.