Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved in a variety of claims and other legal proceedings generally incidental to its normal business activities. While the outcome of any of these proceedings cannot be accurately predicted, the Company does not believe the ultimate resolution of any of these existing matters would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.
Solar Tariff Contingency
In October 2012, the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) announced its final determination in the anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations of imports of solar cells manufactured in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), including solar modules containing such cells. Commerce’s final determination confirmed its previously published anti-dumping duty of 249.96%, in the case of the Company, and increased its countervailing duty from 3.61% to 15.24%; both duties are applied to the value of imports of solar modules containing PRC cells. Under Commerce’s determination, the anti-dumping and countervailing duties both were to apply retroactively 90 days from the date each preliminary decision was published to February 25, 2012 and December 21, 2011, respectively. On November 7, 2012, the International Trade Commission announced its final determination upholding the duties, but eliminating the retroactive periods. Since early 2012, the Company has been importing solar modules containing PRC cells, though it ceased doing so in July 2012 in response to these duties. The Company is monitoring and evaluating its alternatives for obtaining a separate and reduced anti-dumping duty rate. Depending on whether the maximum anti-dumping duty rate of 249.96% or some lower rate applies, the Company may be liable for combined duties of up to approximately $3.3 million.
The Company has established a reserve reflecting its current estimate of its ultimate exposure to these assessments.
Commitments as a Result of Acquisitions
Related to the Company’s acquisition of FAME in the third quarter of 2012 (see Note 3), the former stockholders of FAME, who are now employees of the Company, may be entitled to receive up to an estimated $865,000 in additional consideration if FAME meets certain financial performance milestones. As of September 30, 2013 the Company had not recorded any accrual based on the valuation of the current commitment.
Related to the Company’s acquisition of Applied Energy Group, Inc., (“AEG”) in the third quarter of 2011, the former stockholders of AEG, who are now employees of the Company, may be entitled to receive up to $5,000,000 in additional consideration if AEG meets certain financial performance milestones. As of September 30, 2013 the Company had recorded $1,075,112 as a liability for the valuation of the current estimate.