Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

Oregon State University

On March 8, 2016, the Company entered into a lease agreement with Oregon State University, to lease office and laboratory space located at HP Campus Building 11, 1110 NE Circle Blvd, Corvallis, Oregon, for approximately $400 monthly. On July 1, 2016, the Company entered into the first amendment to the lease agreement which increased the monthly lease expense to approximately $1,200. On October 1, 2017, the Company entered into a sublease agreement, which provides for additional office space and the monthly lease payment increased to approximately $1,800. The lease expired on June 30, 2018 and the Company extended the lease through June 30, 2019. The monthly lease payment increased to approximately $4,500 for the months ended June 30 2018 through November 30, 2018, and increased to approximately $7,550 for the months ended December 31, 2018 through June 30, 2019.

On July 1, 2019, the Company entered into the fourth amendment to its lease with Oregon State University, which extends the lease expiration date to June 30, 2022. Beginning on July 1, 2020, and each July 1 thereafter, the monthly Operating Expense Reimbursement, as defined will be increased by no more than three percent.

On July 1, 2020, the Company entered into the fifth amendment to its lease with Oregon State University which adjusts the Operating Expense Reimbursement payment due dates from monthly to quarterly, with the payments due in advance on the first of July, October, January and April. Effective July 1, 2020, the quarterly operating expense will be $23,097.

On September 1, 2021, the Company entered into the seventh amendment to its lease with Oregon State University which expands the lease to now include approximately 703 square feet of lab space, 576 square feet of cubicle space, 1096 square feet of Highbay lab space, and 376 square feet of High bay storage space in a building commonly known as Building 11. Effective September 1, 2021, the quarterly operating expense will be $31,647 covering all utility and facility tooling costs. The sublease is extended until June 30, 2025.

On January 24, 2022, the Company entered into the eighth amendment to its lease with Oregon State University which expands the lease to now include approximately 703 square feet of lab space, 768 square feet of cubicle space, 2,088 square feet of Highbay lab space, and 376 square feet of High bay storage space in a building commonly known as Building 11. Effective January 24, 2022, the quarterly operating expense will be $44,252 covering all utility and facility tooling costs. The sublease expires June 30, 2025.

Hudson 11601 Wilshire, LLC

On March 4, 2021, the Company entered into a lease agreement with Hudson 11601 Wilshire, LLC, to lease 3,500 square feet of office space located in Los Angeles, California. The lease term is 39 months and expires on June 30, 2024. The monthly lease expense is as follows:

The Company paid a security deposit totaling $20,373 at the lease inception date.

HP Inc.

On May 4, 2021, the Company entered into a lease agreement with HP Inc. to lease office and lab space located in Corvallis, Oregon. The lease term is 5 years and the lease commencement date is April 1, 2021. The monthly lease expense is $7,388 and increases 3% on each anniversary of the lease commencement date. The Company will pay a security deposit totaling $8,315. The Company has the option to extend the lease for an additional 5 years. On January 26, 2022, the Company entered into the first amendment to its lease with HP Inc., which amends the lease commencement date to January 26, 2022 and the lease expiration date to January 31, 2027.

Pacific N.W. Properties, LLC

On October 5, 2021, the Company entered into a lease agreement with Pacific N.W. Properties, LLC to lease 26,963 square feet of warehouse, manufacturing, production and office space located in Salem Oregon. The commencement date of the lease is October 1, 2021, the lease term is 62 months and expires on November 30, 2026.

On December 9, 2021, the Company entered into the first amendment to its lease agreement with Pacific N.W. Properties, LLC. The lease amendment revises the lease commencement date to December 9, 2021 and the lease expiration date to February 28, 2027. The revised monthly lease expense is as follows:

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, the Company recognized rent expense of approximately $0.1 million.

During the nine months ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized rent expense of approximately $0.2 million.

As of December 31, 2021, future minimum payments are as follows (in thousands):

Litigation

From time to time, the Company is also involved in various other claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. Although the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these actions will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, liquidity or capital resources. 

Future litigation may be necessary to defend ourselves and our partners by determining the scope, enforceability and validity of third party proprietary rights or to establish the Company’s proprietary rights. The results of any current or future litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, and regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on the Company because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.