Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v3.22.2
Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies  
Commitments and Contingencies

12. Commitments and Contingencies

Purchase Commitments

As of March 31, 2022, the Company had firm commitments to purchase inventories of approximately $40.5 million through Fiscal 2023. 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

In June 2019, the Company entered into a new lease of approximately 9,216 square feet of warehouse space at 16701 Stagg Street in Van Nuys, California. Upon the lease commencement date in July 2019, the Company recorded $0.5 million of right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities.

In May 2021, the Company entered into new lease of office and warehouse spaces at Unit 800 & 810 Fareham Reach, Fareham Road, Gosport, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Upon commencement of the lease, the Company recorded $1.9 million of right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities.

The Company leases offices and manufacturing facilities under various non-cancelable operating leases expiring at various times through Fiscal 2037. All of the leases require the Company to pay maintenance, insurance and property taxes. The lease agreements for primary office and manufacturing facilities provide for rent escalation over the lease term and renewal options for five-year periods. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

The components of lease expense were as follows (in thousands):

Year Ended March 31,

    

2022

    

2021

Operating lease cost

$

1,157

    

$

1,051

Supplemental balance sheet information related to the leases was as follows (in thousands):

March 31, 2022

March 31, 2021

Operating lease right-of-use assets

$

5,959

$

4,741

Total operating lease right-of-use assets

$

5,959

$

4,741

Operating lease liability, current

$

586

$

485

Operating lease liability, non-current

 

5,619

 

4,456

Total operating lease liabilities

$

6,205

$

4,941

Weighted average remaining lease life

 

8.35 years

 

6.51 years

Weighted average discount rate

12.00%

13.00%

The Company records its right-of-use assets within other assets (non-current) and its operating lease liabilities within current and long-term portion of notes payable and lease obligations.

Supplemental cash flow information related to the leases was as follows (in thousands):

Year Ended March 31,

2022

2021

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities

    

Operating cash flows from operating leases

$

1,106

$

1,116

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations

Operating leases

$

1,877

$

Other supplemental operating lease information consists of the following:

At March 31, 2022, the Company’s minimum commitments under non-cancelable operating leases were as follows (in thousands):

Operating

Year Ending March 31,

    

Leases

2023

$

1,297

2024

1,324

2025

 

1,248

2026

 

1,243

2027

 

1,279

Thereafter

3,358

Total lease payments

$

9,749

Less: imputed interest

(3,544)

Present value of operating lease liabilities

$

6,205

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, 2022, no significant inventories 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 of 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, consequential, 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. Litigation. 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 racketeer influenced corrupt organizations act, and conspiracy to commit fraud. As remedies for these alleged claims, Turbine Intl. are 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 that would 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”) is now on file. All of the new defendants have been served and have filed answers. A trial date in the matter has been set for December 12, 2022. Discovery is ongoing. The Company has not recorded any liability as of March 31, 2022 as the matter is too early to estimate.