Commitments and contingencies |
Jul. 09, 2020 |
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| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| Commitments and contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies Operating Lease Obligations
We lease office space and warehouse facilities under various lease agreements which expire through January 2031. Total rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 amounted to $812,515 and $811,664, respectively. See Note 14. "Leases" for further discussion.
Finance Lease Obligations
We lease motor vehicles under a master vehicle lease agreement, effective December 19, 2023, which expire through December 2028. See Note 14. "Leases" for further discussion.
Legal Matters
On November 23, 2022, we were served with a suit filed against us on August 24, 2022 in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice by The Corporation of the Town of Milton, Milton Energy Generation Solutions Inc. and Milton Hydro Distribution Inc (the "Plaintiffs"), all of whom are municipal corporations incorporated in the Province of Ontario. The plaintiffs sued for damages in the amount of CDN $1,000,000, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, legal fees, and any further relief the court may deem, alleging breach of contract, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentations and nuisance. Plaintiffs allege that on or about July 10, 2022, a Tecogen cogenerator installed by us at the plaintiffs facility caught fire, causing damage to the cogenerator and the plaintiff's facility. We have filed a response denying liability and are being represented by Canadian counsel. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we reserved $150,000 for anticipated damages which may not be covered by our insurance and continue to maintain the reserve at December 31, 2023.
Guarantees
In connection with the sale of energy producing assets, we made certain guarantees to the purchaser as discussed in Note 5. "Sale of Energy Producing Assets and Goodwill Impairment." Based upon an analysis of these energy producing assets expected future performance, as of December 31, 2023 we do not expect to make any material payments under the guarantee.
Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan
On July 9, 2020, our compensation committee of the board of directors adopted the Tecogen Inc. Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan ("Plan"). The Plan provides for up to 12 months of severance benefits for certain of our key management employees who are selected as plan participants by the plan administrator and who have executed a Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan Participation Notice. On July 9, 2020, Robert A. Panora, our President and Chief Operating Officer, and John K. Whiting, IV, our General Counsel and Secretary, were each designated as participants in the Plan.
Under the Plan, upon the occurrence of certain termination events following a change in control of the Company, the executive participants would receive cash severance payments equal to 12 months’ salary and bonus payments, continuation of certain health benefits, the acceleration of bonus awards, and immediate vesting of outstanding unvested options (including
performance options) to acquire our common stock. The severance payments are required to be paid in a single lump sum. The Plan has a term of three years and will automatically extend for successive additional one-year terms unless we provide written notice at least six months in advance of a then current term.
An executive will be entitled to severance under the Plan only if there has been a “Change in Control” of the Company and the termination of employment or service occurs during the period that is three months prior to and 18 months following a change in control of the Company. Also, a participant's employment with the Company may be terminated by a participant for “Good Reason” or be an “Involuntary Termination Without Cause” by the Company, as those terms are defined in the Plan. In order to be eligible to receive severance benefits under the Plan, an executive must comply with the terms of the Plan, including the release of claims in favor of the Company and certain confidentiality, non-compete, non-solicitation, and non-disparagement covenants during and following termination of employment. The Plan will be administered by the compensation committee of the board of directors (or by the full board of directors or such other committee as the board may designate).
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