Commitments and contingencies |
9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2017 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| Commitments and contingencies |
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company guarantees certain obligations of a former subsidiary of American DG Energy, EuroSite Power Inc. These guarantees include a payment performance guarantee in respect of collateralized equipment financing loans, with a remaining principal amount outstanding subject to the guarantee at September 30, 2017 of approximately $301,000 due ratably in equal installments through September 2021, and certain guarantees of performance in respect of certain customer contracts. Based on current conditions, the Company does not believe there to be any amounts probable of payment by the Company under any of the guarantees and has estimated the value associated with the non-contingent aspect of the guarantees is approximately $10,000 which is recorded as liability in the accompanying financial statements.
Legal Proceedings
Tecogen is not currently a party to any material litigation arising from its operations, and it is not aware of any pending or threatened litigation against it relating to its operations that could have a material adverse effect on its business, operating results or financial condition. However, it is or has been a party to a claim in the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and named as a defendant in a case in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, described below, related to the Merger.
Massachusetts Superior Court Action
On or about February 6, 2017, ADGE, John Hatsopoulos, George N. Hatsopoulos, Charles T. Maxwell, Deanna M. Petersen, Christine Klaskin, John Rowe, Joan Giacinti, Elias Samaras, Tecogen, and Merger Sub were served with a Verified Complaint by William C. May ("May"), individually and on behalf of the other shareholders of ADGE as a class. The action was commenced in the Business Litigation Session of the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Civil Action No. 17-0390. The complaint alleged class action claims arising out of the proposed Merger. On May 31, 2017, May voluntarily dismissed the action and consolidated his claims with the pending federal action in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. If the complaint in the federal court is dismissed, it is possible that May or another plaintiff will recommence an action in state court with similar claims to those asserted by May.
United States District Court Action
On or about February 15, 2017, a lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts by Lee Vardakas (“Vardakas”), individually and on behalf of other stockholders of ADGE, naming ADGE, John N. Hatsopoulos, George N. Hatsopoulos, Benjamin Locke, Charles T. Maxwell, Deanne M. Petersen, Christine M. Klaskin, John Rowe, Joan Giacinti, Elias Samaras, Tecogen., Merger Sub., and Cassel Salpeter and Co., LLC, as defendants. The action is captioned Vardakas v. American DG Energy, Inc., Case No. 17-CV-10247(LTS). At the time Vardakas commenced the action, his complaint challenged the proposed Merger between Tecogen and ADGE.
On May 18, 2017, ADGE’s and Tecogen’s shareholders approved the Merger.
Following the consummation of the Merger (and the appointment of May, from the Massachusetts Superior Court Action, as lead plaintiff), Vardakas filed an Amended Class Action Complaint (the “Amended Complaint”). The Amended Complaint discontinued the claims against Cassel Salpeter & Co., LLC but asserted against the remaining defendants claims under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and SEC Rule 14a-9; claims against certain defendants for control person liability under § 20(a) of the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Federal Securities Law Claims”); and common law claims for breach of fiduciary duty and aiding and abetting (the “State Law Claims”). The Federal Securities Law Claims allege, in substance, that defendants made material nondisclosure in the proxy statement about the process leading to the Merger and about the fairness opinion relied upon by ADGE’s Board of Directors in recommending the Merger to shareholders. The State Law Claims assert, in substance, that defendants breached their fiduciary duties in negotiating and approving the Merger, which, plaintiff claims, deprived ADGE’s nonaffiliated shareholders of fair value for their shares.
On July 19, 2017, defendants moved to dismiss the Amended Complaint. In their motion papers, defendants contend that the Federal Securities Law Claims are not sufficiently pleaded and fail to state a viable claim. Defendants also assert that if the Federal Securities Law Claims are dismissed, the district court must also dismiss the State Law Claims because it would lack subject matter jurisdiction. The parties are awaiting a decision from the court.
The Company believes that the lawsuit is without merit and intends to defend vigorously. The Amended Complaint does not specify the amount of damages claimed and the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome is not reasonably estimable.
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