Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]
Note 4 – Commitments and Contingencies
 
Investor Relations Agreements
 
Effective January 13, 2014, the Company entered into an agreement with a vendor (“IR Firm”) to provide investor relations services to the Company. Pursuant to the agreement, in addition to monthly cash compensation of $8,000 per month, on March 27, 2014 the Company issued to the IR firm a consulting warrant (“IR Consulting Warrant”) for the purchase of 36,000 shares of common stock. The IR Consulting Warrant has a strike price of $7.80, representing 130% of the IPO price. The IR Consulting Warrant had an initial catch up vesting equivalent to 3,000 shares per month of service, partial months to be prorated on a thirty (30) day basis, from the effective date of this agreement until March 27, 2014. Thereafter, the IR Consulting Warrant vested at a rate of 3,000 shares per month of service. On February 26, 2015, the Company issued to the IR Firm incentive warrants (“IR Incentive Warrants”) to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock with a strike price of $7.80 based upon certain qualified investors and/or institutional or brokerage firms having purchased at least $250,000 in value of the Company’s common shares at the IPO price or greater in the open market on or after the 46 th day following March 27, 2014. All IR Incentive Warrants granted during a six month period will collectively vest at each six month anniversary. Both the IR Consulting Warrant and IR Incentive Warrants will have an expiration date four (4) years from the grant date. The shares underlying both the IR Consulting Warrant and the IR Incentive Warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis if at the time of exercise, such warrant shares have not been registered.
 
As of March 31, 2015, all 36,000 shares under the IR Consulting Warrant were vested. The Company incurred stock-based compensation expense of $0 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and $0 and $39,410 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, in connection with the IR Consulting Warrant, which was included in general and administrative expense.
 
On February 4, 2015, the Company entered into a six month consulting agreement with a consultant to provide the Company with investor relations services. Compensation under the agreement included the Company’s issuance on February 26, 2015, of 15,000 shares of common stock valued at $147,900 and monthly cash payments of $5,000. The total value of the common stock compensation was recorded as a prepaid expense and was being amortized over the six month contract period. The contract was renewed for an additional six month period starting in August 2015 for $25,000. This initial fee was amortized over the six month renewal period, plus monthly cash payments of $5,000 were made during the renewal period. The Company incurred amortization expense of $0 and $6,250 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively and $36,975 and $147,900 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, which was included in general and administrative expense.
 
Operating Leases
  
On September 10, 2014, the Company entered into a Lease Agreement (the “Lease”) with Balzer Family Investments, L.P. (the “Landlord”) related to space located at Northpointe Business Center, 3590 North First Street, San Jose, California. The initial term of the lease is 60 months, with initial monthly base rent of $36,720 and the lease is subject to certain annual escalations as defined in the agreement. On October 1, 2014, the Company relocated its headquarters to this new location. The Company issued to the Landlord 41,563 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $500,000, of which $400,000 will be applied to reduce the Company’s monthly base rent obligation by $6,732 per month and of which $100,000 was for certain tenant improvements. The Company recorded $400,000 as prepaid rent on its balance sheet, which is being amortized over the term of the lease and recorded $100,000 as leasehold improvements.
 
On February 26, 2015, the Company entered into a sub-lease agreement for additional space in the San Jose area. The agreement has a term which expires on June 30, 2019 and an initial monthly rent of $6,109 per month. On August 25, 2015 the Company entered into an additional amended sub-lease agreement for additional space in San Jose, CA. The agreement has a term which expires on June 30, 2019 and an initial monthly rent of $4,314 per month. These leases are subject to certain annual escalations as defined in the agreements.
 
On July 9, 2015, the Company entered into a sub-lease agreement for additional space in Costa Mesa, CA. The agreement has a term which expires on September 30, 2017 and a monthly rent of $6,376 per month.
 
The future minimum lease payments for leased locations are as follows:
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
Amount
 
2016 (Three Months)
 
$
137,735
 
2017
 
 
572,722
 
2018
 
 
530,531
 
2019
 
 
372,652
 
Total
 
$
1,613,640
 
 
Development and Licensing Agreements
 
Effective January 28, 2015, the Company signed a development and licensing agreement with a consumer electronics company to embed WattUp wire-free charging receiver technology in various products including, but not limited to certain mobile consumer electronics and related accessories. During the development phase and through customer shipment of its first product, Energous will afford this customer an exclusive “time to market advantage” in the licensed product categories.
 
This development and licensing agreement contains both invention and development milestones that the Company will need to achieve during the next two years. Pursuant to the Agreement, on March 23, 2015, the Company received an initial non-refundable payment of $500,000. During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recognized $75,000 and $500,000, respectively, of this payment as revenue and fully recognized the $500,000 payment as revenue during the year ended December 31, 2015. The agreement provides for additional amounts to be received by the Company based upon its achievement of certain milestones. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recognized revenue of $2,000,000 upon the achievement of additional milestones under the agreement.
 
Effective April 3, 2015, the Company entered into an amendment of the development and license agreement with this consumer electronics company to include joint development of wire-free transmitter technology and technology license back to the Company. On June 5, 2015, the Company entered into a second amendment of the development and license agreement with this consumer electronics company to conform the agreement for technical changes in the product delivery milestones. Effective October 1, 2015, the Company entered into a third amendment of the development and license agreement with this consumer electronics company to make certain changes to, among other things, intellectual property ownership, payment terms and the products covered by the agreement. On March 31, 2016, the Company received payment of $500,000 pursuant to the February 15, 2016 commencement of the second phase described in the third amendment, of which the Company recorded $69,573 and $387,755 in revenue during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized revenue of $875,000 upon the achievement of additional milestones under the second phase of the agreement.
 
Effective May 27, 2016, the Company entered into an agreement with a commercial and industrial supply company, under which the Company will develop wire-free charging solutions. Under the first phase of the associated Statement of Work, the Company made certain deliverables for fees totaling $60,000. The first invoice for $30,000 was sent to the customer in June 2016 and revenue was initially deferred until completion of the first phase. The second invoice for $30,000 was issued upon successful completion of the first phase during September 2016 and revenue for the total fees of $60,000 was then recognized.
 
Hosted Design Solution Agreement
 
On June 25, 2015, the Company entered into a three-year agreement to license electronic design automation software in a hosted environment. Pursuant to the agreement, under which services began July 13, 2015, the Company is required to remit quarterly payments in the amount of $100,568 with the last payment due March 30, 2018. On December 18, 2015, the agreement was amended to redefine the hardware and software configuration and the quarterly payments increased to $198,105.
 
Amended Employee Agreement – Stephen Rizzone
 
On April 3, 2015, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement with Stephen R. Rizzone, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (the “Employment Agreement”).
 
The Employment Agreement has an effective date of January 1, 2015 and an initial term of four years (the “Initial Employment Period”). The Employment Agreement provides for an annual base salary of $365,000, and Mr. Rizzone is eligible to receive quarterly cash bonuses with a total target amount equal to 100% of his base salary based upon achievement of performance-based objectives established by the Company’s board of directors.
 
Pursuant to Mr. Rizzone’s prior employment agreement, on December 12, 2013 Mr. Rizzone was granted a ten year option to purchase 275,689 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.68 vesting over four years in 48 monthly installments beginning October 1, 2013 (the “First Option”). Mr. Rizzone was also granted a second option award to purchase 496,546 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $6.00 (the “Second Option”). The Second Option vests over the same vesting schedule as the First Option.
 
Effective with the approval on May 21, 2015 by the Company’s stockholders of its new performance-based equity plan, the Employment Agreement provided and Mr. Rizzone received, a grant of 639,075 Performance Share Units (the “PSUs”). The PSUs, which represent the right to receive shares of common stock, shall be earned based on the Company’s achievement of market capitalization growth between the effective date of the Employment Agreement and the end of the Initial Employment Period. If the Company’s market capitalization is $100 million or less, no PSUs will be earned. If the Company reaches a market capitalization of $1.1 billion or more, 100% of the PSUs will be earned. For market capitalization between $100 million and $1.1 billion, the percentage of PSUs earned will be determined on a quarterly basis based on straight line interpolation. PSUs earned as of the end of a calendar quarter will be paid 50% immediately and 50% will be deferred until the end of the Initial Employment Period subject to Mr. Rizzone’s continued employment with the Company (See Note 6).
 
Mr. Rizzone is also eligible to receive all customary and usual benefits generally available to senior executives of the Company.
 
The Employment Agreement provides that if Mr. Rizzone’s employment is terminated due to his death or disability, if Mr. Rizzone’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or if he resigns for good reason, twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares subject to the First Option and the Second Option shall immediately vest and become exercisable, he will have a period of one year post-termination to exercise the First Option and the Second Option, and if a Liquidation Event (as defined in the Employment Agreement) shall occur prior to the termination of the First Option and the Second Option, one hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject to the First Option and Second Option shall immediately vest and become exercisable effective immediately prior to the consummation of the Liquidation Event. In addition, any outstanding deferred PSUs shall be immediately vested and paid, but any remaining unearned portion of the PSUs shall immediately be canceled and forfeited.
 
Offer Letter – Brian Sereda
 
Effective July 13, 2015, the Company appointed Brian Sereda to serve as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, replacing Interim Chief Financial Officer Howard Yeaton.
 
In connection with Mr. Sereda’s appointment as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Company and Mr. Sereda executed an offer letter effective July 13, 2015 (the “Sereda Offer Letter”). Under the Sereda Offer Letter, Mr. Sereda will receive an annual base salary of $250,000 per year, and is eligible to earn an annual performance bonus of up to 75% of his then current base salary in accordance with performance objectives established by the Company’s independent compensation committee or the Board of Directors. In addition, under the Sereda Offer Letter and as an inducement to join the Company, Mr. Sereda received an inducement restricted stock unit award covering a total of 120,000 shares of common stock. This restricted stock unit award vests over a period of four years in four equal annual installments on July 13 of each of 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, subject to Mr. Sereda’s continued employment with the Company through each vesting date.
 
In the event Mr. Sereda is terminated without cause, he is entitled to (1) six months of his then-current base salary and (2) payment of COBRA premiums for up to six months. In the event of a liquidation event and termination of employment, except for cause, 100% of the inducement award shall immediately vest.
 
Patent Infringement Matter
 
In June 2016, Ossia Inc. filed two post grant review petitions with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) challenging the patentability of one of our issued patents. The Company intends to defend against these challenges in the PTO. However, there can be no assurance that this patent will not be invalidated.