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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

18. Commitments and Contingencies

Contingent Consideration

In connection with its acquisitions of Quantum Technology Sciences, Inc. (“Quantum”) and the OptoSeis® fiber optic sensing technology business, the Company recorded contingent purchase price payments, or contingent consideration, that may be owed in the future.  For both acquisitions, the contingent payments are based on future receipt of contract awards and the resulting revenue derived from such contracts.  The Company reviews and assesses the fair value of its contingent earn-out liabilities on a quarterly basis.  The Company utilizes the services of independent valuation consultants to assist with the estimation of the fair value of this contingent consideration.  The determination of fair value is inherently unpredictable since it requires estimates and projections of future revenue, including the size, length, timing and, in the case of Quantum, the extent of gross profits earned under its future contracts.  As a result, the Company anticipates fair value adjustments to these liabilities over the respective earn-out periods, and these adjustments will result in either charges or credits to the Company’s operating expenses when the fair value of the contingent consideration increases or decreases, respectively.  

The Company recorded an initial contingent earn-out liability of $7.7 million in connection with its July 2018 acquisition of Quantum.   Contingent payments, if any, may be paid in the form of cash or Company stock and will be derived from eligible revenue generated during a four-year earn-out period ending July 2022.  The maximum amount of contingent payments is $23.5 million over the four-year earn-out period.  In fiscal year 2020, the Company made a cash earn-out payment of $0.1 million to the former shareholders of Quantum.  At September 30, 2020, the contingent earn-out liability was valued at $5.8 million.  During fiscal year 2021, the Company recorded adjustments of $2.7 million to decrease the earn-out liability due to a decrease in projected future eligible revenue.  In September 2021 and October 2021, the Company made cash earn-out payments of $1.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively, to the former shareholders of Quantum.  The payments were primarily attributable to revenue earned on Quantum’s $10 million contract with the CBP to provide a technology solution to the Department of Homeland Security.  At September 30, 2021, the contingent earn-out liability was valued at $0.8 million related to projected future eligible revenue.              

The Company recorded an initial contingent earn-out liability of $4.3 million in connection with its November 2018 acquisition of all the intellectual property and related assets of the OptoSeis® fiber optic sensing technology.  Contingent cash payments, if any, will be derived from eligible revenue generated during a five-and-a-half year earn-out period ending in May 2024.  In order for revenue to be considered eligible, sales contracts must be entered into during the first four years of the earn-out period ending in November 2022. The maximum amount of contingent payments is $23.2 million over the five-and-a-half year earn-out period. At September 30, 2021, the contingent earn-out liability was valued at $5.2 million.  During fiscal year 2021, the Company recorded net adjustments of $0.8 million to decrease the earn-out liability to an estimated value of $4.4 million.  No earnout-payments have been made to date on the acquisition.    

Contingent Compensation Costs

In connection with the acquisition of Aquana in July 2021, the Company is subject to additional contingent cash payments to the former members of Aquana, LLC. over a six-year earn-out period.  The contingent payments, if any, will be derived from certain eligible revenue generated during the earn-out period from products and services sold by Aquana. There is no maximum limit to the contingent cash payments that could be made.  The merger agreement with Aquana requires the continued employment of a certain key employee and former member of Aquana, LLC for the first four years of the six year earn-out period in order for any of Aquana’s former members to be eligible to any earn-out payments.  As discussed in Note 3, due to the continued employment requirement, no liability has been recorded for the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out payments for this transaction.  Earn-outs achieved, if any, will be recorded as compensation expense when incurred.

Operating Leases

The Company leases office space and certain equipment for terms of seven years or less.  Rent expense was approximately $0.5 million for each of fiscal years 2021 and 2020.  At September 30, 2021, future minimum lease payments was $1.4 million.  See Note 9 for additional information.   

Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in various pending legal actions in the ordinary course of its business.  Management is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these actions, because of the inherent uncertainty of such actions.  However, management believes that the most probable, ultimate resolution of current pending matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.