Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v3.24.3
Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies.  
Commitments and Contingencies

14. Commitments and Contingencies

Purchase Commitments

As of March 31, 2024 the Company had firm commitments to purchase inventories of approximately $30.7 million through Fiscal 2026. Certain inventory delivery dates and related payments are not scheduled; therefore, amounts under these firm purchase commitments will be payable upon the receipt of the related inventories.

Lease Commitments

See Note 13 – Leases.

Related Party Transactions

In connection with the emergence from the Chapter 11 Cases, on December 7, 2023, Reorganized PrivateCo continues to own assets consisting of (i) all of the Company’s right, title, and interest in and to certain trademarks of the Company and (ii) assets owned by the Company relating to distributor support services ((i) and (ii) together, the “Retained Assets”) and certain income tax attributes that remained with Reorganized PrivateCo.

Services Agreement between Reorganized PrivateCo and Operating Subsidiary

On the Effective Date, Operating Subsidiary entered into the Reorganized PrivateCo Services Agreement by and among Reorganized PrivateCo and Operating Subsidiary. The Reorganized PrivateCo Services Agreement provides that, among other things, Operating Subsidiary will provide certain services to Reorganized PrivateCo, and Reorganized PrivateCo will provide to Operating Subsidiary’s distributors on a subcontracted basis and, where applicable, to Operating Subsidiary, certain ongoing services and transition services related to Reorganized PrivateCo’s distributor support services business. Reorganized PrivateCo will pay to Operating Subsidiary a service fee (the “Reorganized PrivateCo Services Fee”) of an amount in cash equal to 90% of Reorganized PrivateCo’s Income (as defined in the Reorganized PrivateCo Services Agreement) less itemized expenses incurred and actually paid in cash by Reorganized PrivateCo in direct support of Operating Subsidiary’s distributors and in Reorganized PrivateCo’s performance of the services (excluding the Reorganized PrivateCo Services Fees). The Company reported $0.7 million in other income for DSS service fees for Fiscal 2024.

Trademark License Agreement

On the Effective Date, the Company entered into a Trademark License Agreement (the “Trademark License Agreement”) by and between Reorganized PrivateCo, as licensor, and the Company, as licensee. The Trademark License Agreement provides that, among other things, Reorganized PrivateCo grants the Company a non-exclusive, royalty-bearing, non-transferable, non-sublicensable (except to the Company’s affiliates), worldwide, perpetual (subject to the terms and conditions of the Trademark License Agreement), irrevocable (subject to the terms and conditions of the Trademark License Agreement), limited license, under all of its right, title and interest in and to the Capstone Trademarks (as defined in the Trademark License Agreement) to use the Capstone Trademarks solely in connection with the Business (as defined in the Trademark License Agreement).  In consideration for the license, the Company pays to Reorganized PrivateCo an annual royalty of $100,000. Reorganized PrivateCo may not assign the Capstone Trademarks to any third party without the Company’s consent, not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned (subject to the terms and conditions of the Trademark License Agreement).  If Reorganized PrivateCo does not use any of the Capstone Trademarks for six consecutive months, then the Capstone Trademarks will be assigned to the Company for no further consideration.

Services Agreement between the Company and Operating Subsidiary

In connection with the emergence from the Chapter 11 Cases, on the Effective Date, the Company entered into a Services Agreement (the “Services Agreement”) by and among the Company and Operating Subsidiary. The Services Agreement provides, among other things, that the Company will provide certain services to Operating Subsidiary, in its capacity as a majority equity holder of Operating Subsidiary, and in consideration for the services provided by the Company, Operating Subsidiary will reimburse the Company for its reasonable audit, board and executive compensation expenses incurred in connection with being a publicly traded company (the “New Capstone Services Fee”). The New

Capstone Services Fee for the Company’s fiscal year 2023 will not exceed $2,500,000, in the aggregate (the “Services Fee Cap”), which amount will be prorated based on the number of days in such fiscal year following execution of the Services Agreement.  Effective as of April 1 of each year, beginning with April 1, 2024, the Services Fee Cap will increase for each fiscal year by an amount equal to the greater of (a) 3.5000% and (b) the Consumer Price Index, as set by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and available on March 31 of each year; provided that such increase effective on April 1, 2024, shall be equal to 1.7500%.

Other Commitments

The Company has agreements with certain of its distributors requiring that, if the Company renders parts obsolete in inventories the distributors own and hold in support of their obligations to serve fielded microturbines, then the Company is required to replace the affected stock at no cost to the distributors. While the Company has never incurred costs or obligations for these types of replacements, it is possible that future changes in the Company’s product technology could result and yield costs to the Company if significant amounts of inventory are held at distributors. As of March 31, 2024, no significant inventories of this nature were held at distributors.

Legal Matters

Capstone Turbine Corporation v. Turbine International, LLC.

On February 3, 2020, Capstone Turbine Corporation filed suit against its former distributor, Turbine International, LLC (“Turbine Intl.”), in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles under the following caption: Capstone Turbine Corporation v. Turbine International, LLC; Case No. 20STCV04372 (“Capstone-Turbine Intl. Litigation”). The Company has alleged claims against Turbine Intl. for breach of contract and for injunctive relief relating to the parties’ prior distributor relationship, which terminated at the end of March 2018, and Turbine Intl.’s failure to satisfy its payment obligations under certain financial agreements, namely an accounts receivable agreement and promissory note in favor of Capstone. As remedies for these claims, the Company is seeking compensatory and consequential damages, along with injunctive relief and attorney’s fees, interest, and costs.  

On March 18, 2020, Turbine Intl. filed its answer and cross-claims in the Capstone-Turbine Intl. In its cross-claims, Turbine Intl. asserted claims against Capstone, and individually against Mr. James Crouse, Capstone’s Chief Revenue Officer, for breach of contract under the distributor agreement, accounts receivable agreement and promissory note, fraud, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment and constructive trust, negligent misrepresentation, violation of the California unfair practices act, violation of the racketeer influenced corrupt organizations act, and conspiracy to commit fraud. As remedies for these alleged claims, Turbine Intl. is seeking compensatory, consequential, and punitive damages along with attorney’s fees, interest, and costs. Capstone answered the cross-claims on May 7, 2020.

On June 29, 2020, Capstone filed a motion to file a First Amended Complaint to add, among other things, a claim for enforcement of a guaranty signed by an entity related to Turbine Intl., Hispania Petroleum, S.A., and personal claims against the principals of Turbine Intl. and Hispania. That motion was granted on August 19, 2020, and the First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) was filed. All of the additional defendants were served and have filed answers.

As of March 31, 2024, discovery had been served and answered on both sides. On May 17, 2024, the trial was set for July 29, 2024; and the court ordered the parties to mediate the matter by June 19, 2024. On July 2, 2024, Turbine Intl. petitioned the court for a continuance and to reopen discovery. The court granted the continuance and set the trial date for December 2, 2024 and rejected the request to reopen discovery. Mediation remains court ordered. The Company has not recorded a liability as of March 31, 2024, as the Company is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of possible loss.

SEC Investigation

In June 2023, prior to the issuance of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board commenced an Investigation into certain accounting and internal control matters of the Company, principally focused on certain revenue recognition matters (the “Revenue Recognition Investigation”), and self-reported its findings to the Division of Enforcement of the SEC. Following the self-report, the SEC Enforcement Division commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the restatement of

the Company’s quarterly and annual financial statements (the “SEC Investigation”). The Audit Committee further self-reported its findings pursuant to an investigation into FPP related practices to the SEC. The Company is cooperating with the SEC in connection with its investigation. Investigations of this nature may be costly and require management to devote significant time and attention away from the ongoing operation of the business. The Company has not recorded a liability as of March 31, 2024, as a loss cannot be reasonably estimated.

Cal Microturbine Arbitration

On March 13, 2024, Cal Microturbine, a distributor of the Company, submitted a demand for arbitration before the American Arbitration Association seeking, among other things, approximately $24.5 million in damages and alleging that the Company breached its distributor agreement with Cal Microturbine and committed fraud in allowing another company, Capstone Engineered Solutions, to sell, rent and service turbines in Cal Microturbine’s exclusive territory under the distribution agreement. The parties have completed selection of an arbitration panel; and the arbitration panel has provided two possible dates in June and October 2025 for a hearing date. On August 18, 2024, Cal Microturbine amended its complaint and reduced its damage claim to $18.8 million. The Company has not recorded a liability as of March 31, 2024, as the Company is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of possible loss.

Spitzer v. Flexon, Jamison, Juric, Robinson, and Hencken

On October 13, 2023, a putative securities class action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, captioned Spitzer v. Flexon, et al., Case No. 2:23-cv-08659, naming certain of the Company’s current and former directors and officers as defendants. The suit alleges claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder based on allegedly false and misleading statements regarding, and allegedly inadequate disclosure surrounding, the Company’s business, operations and prospects and the circumstances leading up to the restatement of the Company’s quarterly and annual financial statements. The suit is purportedly brought on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired the Company’s securities between June 14, 2021 and September 22, 2023 and seeks to recover unspecified compensatory damages and other relief, including attorney’s fees. The Company may incur significant legal expenses in defending the legal matters described above during the pendency of these matters, and in connection with any other potential legal matters, including expenses for the potential reimbursement of legal fees of officers and directors under indemnification obligations. The Company anticipates these legal fees to not exceed the insurance deductible of $1.2 million and has not recorded a liability as of March 31, 2024, as a loss cannot be reasonably estimated and the outcome of this matter is uncertain. The Company incurred legal fees of $0.1 million as of March 31, 2024.

Rouse v. Capstone Green Energy Corporation

On June 18, 2024, a complaint for damages was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles captioned Mark Rouse v. Capstone Green Energy Corporation alleging violations of the California labor code, breach of contract, conversion, breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing and wrongful termination. The complaint seeks damages, medical expenses, attorneys’ fees, interest and costs related to the termination of Mr. Rouse’s employment and alleged non-payment of sales commissions in excess of $300,000. The Company resolved the dispute entering into a settlement agreement on September 15, 2024 for a non-material amount.  

Mark Estrada and Ricardo Montalvo, vs. Capstone Green Energy LLC and Erick Kim.

August 19, 2024, a Class Action, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 382 was filed  in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, Case No. 24STCV21118, on behalf of Plaintiffs and all other current and former non-exempt California employees employed by or formerly employed by Defendants claiming failure to pay overtime wages, failure to pay minimum wages, failure to provide meal periods, failure to provide rest periods, waiting time penalties, wage statement violations, failure to timely pay wages, failure to indemnify, violation of Labor Code 227.3, and unfair competition. The Court has not ruled to certify the Class. The Company has not recorded a liability as of March 31, 2024, as the Company is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of possible loss. The Company intends to fight the claims vigorously.

DV Energy, LLC vs Capstone Green Energy Holdings, Inc, Capstone Turbine Corporation, Capstone Green Energy Corporation, and Capstone Green Energy, LLC.

On August 26, 2024, DV Energy, LLC (“DV Energy”), a distributor of the Company, filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles claiming breach of contract, restitution, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, account stated, money had and received, open book account, unfair business practices, accounting, and conversion, all related to DV Energy’s deposit for parts ordered.  DV Energy has asserted $715,552 in damages plus interest, attorney’s fees and costs. The complaint relates to a deposit for product order that the Company is restricted from delivering due to U.S. sanctions laws.  The Company intends to meet its obligation to deliver the product once it can do so in accordance with U.S. Sanctions laws.  The Company’s Distributor Agreement defines deposits as non-refundable. The value of the DV Energy deposit is recorded in the Company’s financial statements as current liability. The Company is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of possible loss and intends to fight the claims vigorously.