Related party transactions |
12 Months Ended |
|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2017 | |
| Related Party Transactions [Abstract] | |
| Related party transactions |
Related party transactions
The Company has two affiliated companies, namely Ultra Emissions Technologies S.ar.L, and TTcogen LLC. These companies are related because either several of the major stockholders of those companies have a significant ownership position in the Company or they are joint ventures between Tecogen and other parties.
In January of 2017, prior to its acquisition of American DG Energy, the Company purchased a large quantity of used equipment from ADGE for approximately $985,000. Tecogen sold the majority of this equipment to specific customers during the year and plans to sell the remainder in the coming year.
In connection with the acquisition of American DG Energy, the Company assumed a loan from John N. Hatsopoulos, the Company's Co-Chief Executive Officer and a Company Director. The loan is in the amount of $850,000 and bears interest at 6%, payable quarterly, and matures and becomes due and payable on May 25, 2018.
Ultra Emissions Technologies S.ar.L
On December 28, 2015, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement relating to the formation of a joint venture company (the “JV”) organized to develop and commercialize Tecogen’s patented technology (“Ultera® Technology”) designed to reduce harmful emissions generated by engines using fossil fuels. The joint venture company, called Ultra Emissions Technologies S.ar.L, formerly known as "Ultra Emissions Technologies Limited" ("Ultratek"), was originally organized under the laws of the Island of Jersey, Channel Islands.
The Company received a 50% equity interest in the JV in exchange for a fully paid-up worldwide license to use Tecogen’s Ultera emissions control technology in the field of mobile vehicles burning fossil fuels. The other half of the joint venture equity interests were purchased for $3,000,000 by a small group of non US investors. Warrants to purchase additional equity securities in the JV were granted to all parties pro rata. If the venture is not successful, all licensed intellectual property rights will revert to Tecogen.
On August 2, 2016, Tecogen exercised 2,000,000 warrants (the "Ultratek Warrants"), to purchase shares of the JV, at $1.00 per share, for an aggregate amount of $2 million. The funds used to exercise the Ultratek Warrants were acquired by the Company from the holders of certain Company warrants (the "Tecogen Warrant Holders"), when they partially exercised their Tecogen warrants (the "Tecogen Warrants"), in July of 2016. The Tecogen Warrant Holders exercised a total of 675,000 Tecogen Warrants with a $4.00 exercise price, resulting in cash proceeds of $2,700,000 to the Company, which the Company then used in part to invest in the JV. An additional $8,500,000 was raised from other outside investors for a total equity investment in the JV to date of $13,500,000. Due to this investment, Tecogen's ownership decreased to 43%.
By unanimous written consent on October 24, 2017, the shareholders of Ultratek voted to dissolve Ultratek, thus terminating the joint venture agreement dated December 28, 2015 and the license agreement between the Company and Ultratek. This joint venture agreement and license agreement is described in its entirety on the Company's Form 8-K that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 31, 2015.
Pursuant to the unanimous shareholder consent dissolving Ultratek, the Company received its full $2,000,000 investment in Ultratek upon the completion of the liquidation process. Further, upon termination of the license agreement all intellectual property immediately reverted to the Company. Upon dissolution, the Company purchased all of the remaining assets of Ultratek, including new intellectual property that Ultratek developed and other assets, for a total purchase price of $400,000. The net amount due from Ultratek as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $0 and $65,631, respectively.
TTcogen LLC
On May 19, 2016, the Company along with Tedom a.s., an unrelated corporation incorporated in the Czech Republic and a European combined heat and power product manufacturer ("Tedom"), entered into a joint venture, pursuant to which the Company held a 50% participating interest and the remaining 50% interest was held by Tedom. As part of the joint venture, the parties agreed to create a Delaware limited liability company, TTcogen LLC ("TTcogen"), to carry out the business of the venture. Tedom granted TTcogen the sole and exclusive right to market, sell, offer for sale, and distribute certain products as agreed to by the parties throughout the United States. The product offerings of the joint venture expand the current Tecogen product offerings to the MicroCHP of 35kW to large 4,000kW plants. Tecogen agreed to refer all appropriate sales leads to TTcogen regarding the products agreed to by the parties, and Tecogen had the first right to repair and maintain the products sold by TTcogen.
The Company accounts for its interest in TTcogen's operations using equity method accounting. Any initial operating losses of TTcogen are to be borne and funded by Tedom. To the extent any such losses are borne and funded solely by Tedom, the Company will not recognize any portion of such losses because the Company did not guarantee the obligations of the joint venture nor commit to provide funding to the joint venture.
On September 22, 2017, the Company notified Tedom and Tedom USA Inc., a Delaware subsidiary of Tedom (“Tedom USA”) that it was exercising its rights under the Joint Venture Agreement dated May 19, 2016 ("JVA") and the TTcogen LLC Operating Agreement ("LLC Operating Agreement"), to terminate the JVA and LLC Operating Agreement. This notice began the dissolution process under the LLC Operating Agreement. The Company is working with Tedom to wind up TTcogen as provided for in the JV Agreement and LLC Operating Agreement.
Revenue from sales of cogeneration and chiller systems, parts, installations and service to TTcogen during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 amounted to $347,275 and $93,143, respectively. The amounts due to Tecogen from TTcogen and Tedom USA as of December 31, 2017 was $585,492 and $10,259, respectively. The amounts due to Tecogen from TTcogen and Tedom USA as of December 31, 2016 was $107,377 and $692, respectively. These amounts are recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as due from related parties.
During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had a loan with John N. Hatsopoulos, the Co-Chief Executive Officer of both companies. Details of these transactions can be found in Note 9. "Convertible debentures and loan due to related party".
On December 23, 2013, the Company entered into a Senior Convertible Promissory Note with Michaelson Capital Special Finance Fund LP. On April 1, 2016, this note was amended to extend the maturity date and revise the security and conversion price. On December 14, 2017 the note was discharged. Details of this payoff and discharge can be found in Note 9. "Convertible debentures and loan due to related party".
John N. Hatsopoulos’ salary is $1.00 per year. On average, Mr. Hatsopoulos spends approximately 50% of his business time on the affairs of the Company; however such amount varies widely depending on the needs of the business and is expected to increase as the business of the Company develops.
The Company subleases portions of its corporate offices and manufacturing facility to sub-tenants under annual sublease agreements. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company received $34,995 and $48,092, respectively, from ADGE pre-merger and others.
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