Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v3.7.0.1
Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements  
Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies

a) Walloon Region Grant

 

On March 16, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with the Walloon Region government in Belgium wherein the Walloon Region would fund up to a maximum of $1,119,453 (€1,048,020) to help the research endeavors of the Company in the area of colorectal cancer. The Company had received the entirety of these funds in respect of approved expenditures as of June 30, 2014. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company is due to repay $335,836 (€314,406) of this amount by installments over the period June 30, 2014 to June 30, 2023. The Company has recorded the balance of $783,617 (€733,614) to other income in previous years as there is no obligation to repay this amount. In the event that the Company receives revenue from products or services as defined in the agreement, it is due to pay a 6% royalty on such revenue to the Walloon Region. The maximum amount payable to the Walloon Region, in respect of the aggregate of the amount repayable of $335,836 (€314,406) and the 6% royalty on revenue, is twice the amount of funding received. As at March 31, 2017, $242,906 (€227,406) was outstanding to be repaid to the Walloon Region under this agreement.

 

b) Consulting Agreement

 

On May 11, 2016, Singapore Volition, upon the review and approval by the Company’s Compensation Committee, entered into a consultancy agreement with PB Commodities Pte Ltd (“PB Commodities”), for the services of Cameron Reynolds (the “2016 Reynolds Consulting Agreement”). Under the terms of the 2016 Reynolds Consulting Agreement, PB Commodities shall receive $25,925 per month for the services provided to Singapore Volition by Mr. Reynolds on its behalf. The 2016 Reynolds Consulting Agreement replaced and terminated the existing consultancy agreement for the provision of office space, office support staff, and consultancy services between Singapore Volition and PB Commodities dated August 6, 2010, as amended. The 2016 Reynolds Consulting Agreement was terminated on March 31, 2017 in connection with Mr. Reynolds entering into an Employment Agreement with Volition Diagnostics UK Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Volition Diagnostics”), effective April 1, 2017.

 

c) Lease Obligations Payable

 

The Company leases three Tecan machines (automated liquid handling robots) under a lease classified as a capital lease. The total cost of this leased laboratory equipment is $587,973 (€550,454). The leased equipment is amortized on a straight line basis over five years. Total amortization charged to the income statement, related to the leased equipment is $29,322 (€27,523) for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and $31,252 (€27,522) for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

On October 4, 2016, and effective on October 25, 2016, Belgian Volition entered into a Real Estate Capital Lease Agreement (the “Capital Lease Agreement”) with ING Asset Finance Belgium S.A. (“ING”).  The Capital Lease Agreement became a contractual obligation of Belgian Volition upon the execution of the Deed of Sale to acquire the Company’s new research and development facility described below.  Pursuant to the Capital Lease Agreement, ING paid $1.2 million (€1.12 million) in return for Belgian Volition granting to ING a right of emphyteusis (a form of leasehold) on the property located in the Belgian Créalys zoning at 5032 Isnes-Spy, Rue Phocas Lejeune 22, Gembloux cadastre, 8th division, Section B, n 55 (the “Property”) for a period of 27 years, extendable to the authorized maximum legal term of 99 years.  In addition, the Capital Lease Agreement provides that ING shall grant Belgian Volition a 15-year lease over the Property with an option for Belgian Volition to purchase the Property outright upon payment of $35,890 (€33,600) at the end of the lease. The Capital Lease Agreement provides that Belgian Volition shall make the first lease payment of $469,990 (€440,000) following the execution of the Capital Lease Agreement, and then quarterly lease payments of approximately $14,364 (€13,447), based on a fixed rate of 2.62% for the term of the lease. On October 25, 2016, Belgian Volition acquired the Property by entering into a Deed of Sale to the Sale Agreement with Gerard Dekoninck S.A. The purchase price for the Property consisted of $1.3 million (€1.2 million), exclusive of any closing costs (the “Purchase Price”).  The Purchase Price was funded by Belgian Volition with cash on hand and the monies received under the Capital Lease Agreement. Occupation of the Property occurred in March 2017.

   

The following is a schedule showing the future minimum lease payments under capital leases by years and the present value of the minimum payments as of March 31, 2017.

 

 

2017   $ 109,065  
2018   $ 145,417  
2019   $ 145,418  
2020   $ 99,984  
2021   $ 57,453  
Thereafter   $ 596,055  
         
Total minimum lease payments   $ 1,153,392  
         
Less: Amount representing interest   $ (158,567 )
         
Present value of minimum lease payments   $ 994,825  

    

The Company also leases premises and facilities under operating leases with terms ranging from 12 months to 60 months. The annual non-cancelable operating lease payments on these leases are as follows:

 

 

2017   $ 167,394  
2018   $ 164,757  
Thereafter   $ 66,982  
         
Total   $ 399,133  

  

d) Bonn University Agreement

 

On July 11, 2012, the Company entered into a collaborative research agreement with Bonn University, Germany, relating to a program of samples testing. The agreement was for a period of two years from June 1, 2012 to May 31, 2014. The total payments made by the Company in accordance with the agreement were $416,582 (€390,000). On April 16, 2014, the Company entered into a two-year extension of this agreement through May 31, 2016. The total payments made by the Company in accordance with the extension of the agreement were $416,582 (€390,000). On May 25, 2016, the Company entered into a further extension to the agreement through May 31, 2017. The total payments to be made by the Company in accordance with the extension of the agreement are $224,314 (€210,000).

 

e) Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark Agreement

 

On November 2, 2016, the Company entered into a clinical research agreement with Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen in Denmark, relating to a program of samples testing associated with CRC and other diseases. The first phase of the agreement will expire on September 30, 2018 and the Company may participate in additional phases upon its election (and payment of required amounts). Total payments (inclusive of local taxes) to be made by the Company under the agreement for the first phase are $2,016,645 (DKR 15,000,000).

 

f) Long Term Debt: Preface S.A. Loan Agreement

 

On September 16, 2016, Belgian Volition SPRL (“Belgian Volition”) entered into an unsecured loan agreement with Namur Invest or Preface S.A. for the amount of $469,990 (€440,000) (the “Loan Agreement”). The proceeds from the Loan Agreement were received by Belgian Volition on October 20, 2016. The Loan Agreement provides for an approximate 7-year term, a fixed interest rate at 4.85%, and interest only payments between the receipt of proceeds and June 30, 2017. See Note 9 (c) for the use of the proceeds from the Loan Agreement.

 

g) Long Term Debt: ING Loan Agreement

 

On October 25, 2016, Belgian Volition entered into a second secured loan agreement with ING for an amount up to $288,403 (€270,000) (the “Supplemental Loan”). The Supplemental Loan provides for a 15-year term commencing on March 31, 2017, a fixed interest rate at 2.96%, and quarterly repayments of $5,914 (€5,536), commencing on April 28, 2017. The maximum amount of the loan facility had been drawn down by Belgian Volition by the loan commencement date of March 31, 2017 and interest only payments were made from the initial draw down of the loan until March 31, 2017.

 

h) Legal Proceedings

 

There are no legal proceedings which the Company believes will have a material adverse effect on its financial position.