COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Payroll Tax Examination In December 2021, the Company was notified that its European subsidiary, CytoSorbents Europe GmbH, would be subject to an audit of their payroll tax and social cost filings for the four-year period from 2018 through 2021. The Company has determined that payroll taxes and social costs were not paid on certain employee expense reimbursements as is required by German tax rules. Accordingly, the Company has accrued approximately $598,000 as an estimate of this liability. This liability is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022. Approximately $154,000 of this liability relates to 2021, approximately $131,000 relates to 2020, approximately $175,000 relates to 2019 and approximately $138,000 relates to 2018. The audit is on-going and is expected to be completed in 2022, subject to the availability of the German tax authorities. Employment Agreements On July 30, 2019, CytoSorbents Corporation entered into amended and restated executive employment agreements with its principal executives, Dr. Phillip P. Chan, Chief Executive Officer, Vincent Capponi, President and Chief Operating Officer, and Kathleen P. Bloch, Chief Financial Officer. Each of the agreements has an initial term of three years and was retroactively effective as of January 1, 2019. On April 12, 2020, CytoSorbents Corporation entered into an executive employment agreement with Dr. Efthymios Deliargyris, who began employment as Chief Medical Officer on May 1, 2020, with an initial term that expired on December 31, 2021. After the expiration of the initial terms, the employment agreements will automatically renew for additional terms of one year unless either party provides written notice of non-renewal at least 60 days prior to a renewal. In January 2022, these employment agreements automatically renewed for an additional 1 year. The foregoing employment agreements each provide for base salary and other customary benefits which include participation in group insurance plans, paid time off and reimbursement of certain business-related expenses, including travel and continuing educational expenses, as well as bonus and/or equity awards at the discretion of the Board of Directors. In addition, the agreements provide for certain termination benefits in the event of termination without “Cause” or voluntary termination of employment for “Good Reason”, as defined in each agreement. The agreements also provide for certain benefits in the event of a “Change of Control” of the Company, as defined in each agreement. Litigation The Company is, from time to time, subject to claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company intends to defend vigorously against any future claims and litigation. The Company is not currently a party to any legal proceedings. Royalty Agreement Pursuant to an agreement dated August 11, 2003, an existing investor agreed to make a $4 million equity investment in the Company. These amounts were received by the Company in 2003. In connection with this agreement the Company granted the investor a perpetual royalty of 3% on all gross revenues received by the Company from the sale of its CytoSorb device which such rights were assigned to an existing investor in 2017. For the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded royalty expenses of approximately $208,000 and $339,000, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded royalty expenses of approximately $440,000 and $640,000, respectively. These expenses are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. License Agreement In an agreement dated September 1, 2006, the Company entered into a license agreement which provides the Company the exclusive right to use its patented technology and proprietary know how relating to adsorbent polymers for a period of 18 years. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company has agreed to pay license fees of 2.5% to 5% on the sale of certain of its products if and when those products are sold commercially for a term not greater than 18 years commencing with the first sale of such product. For the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 pursuant to the terms of the license agreement, the Company recorded licensing expenses of approximately $347,000 and $564,000, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 pursuant to the terms of the license agreement, the Company recorded licensing expenses of approximately $734,000 and $1,066,000, respectively. These expenses are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2022

6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Payroll Tax Examination

In December 2021, the Company was notified that its European subsidiary, CytoSorbents Europe GmbH, would be subject to an audit of their payroll tax and social cost filings for the four-year period from 2018 through 2021. The Company has determined that payroll taxes and social costs were not paid on certain employee expense reimbursements as is required by German tax rules. Accordingly, the Company has accrued approximately $598,000 as an estimate of this liability. This liability is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022. Approximately $154,000 of this liability relates to 2021, approximately $131,000 relates to 2020, approximately $175,000 relates to 2019 and approximately $138,000 relates to 2018. The audit is on-going and is expected to be completed in 2022, subject to the availability of the German tax authorities.

Employment Agreements

On July 30, 2019, CytoSorbents Corporation entered into amended and restated executive employment agreements with its principal executives, Dr. Phillip P. Chan, Chief Executive Officer, Vincent Capponi, President and Chief Operating Officer, and Kathleen P. Bloch, Chief Financial Officer. Each of the agreements has an initial term of three years and was retroactively effective as of January 1, 2019. On April 12, 2020, CytoSorbents Corporation entered into an executive employment agreement with Dr. Efthymios Deliargyris, who began employment as Chief Medical Officer on May 1, 2020, with an initial term that expired on December 31, 2021. After the expiration of the initial terms, the employment agreements will automatically renew for additional terms of one year unless either party provides written notice of non-renewal at least 60 days prior to a renewal. In January 2022, these employment agreements automatically renewed for an additional 1 year.

The foregoing employment agreements each provide for base salary and other customary benefits which include participation in group insurance plans, paid time off and reimbursement of certain business-related expenses, including travel and continuing educational expenses, as well as bonus and/or equity awards at the discretion of the Board of Directors. In addition, the agreements provide for certain termination benefits in the event of termination without “Cause” or voluntary termination of employment for “Good Reason”, as defined in each agreement. The agreements also provide for certain benefits in the event of a “Change of Control” of the Company, as defined in each agreement.

Litigation

The Company is, from time to time, subject to claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company intends to defend vigorously against any future claims and litigation. The Company is not currently a party to any legal proceedings.

Royalty Agreement

Pursuant to an agreement dated August 11, 2003, an existing investor agreed to make a $4 million equity investment in the Company. These amounts were received by the Company in 2003. In connection with this agreement the Company granted the investor a perpetual royalty of 3% on all gross revenues received by the Company from the sale of its CytoSorb device which such rights were assigned to an existing investor in 2017. For the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded royalty expenses of approximately $208,000 and $339,000, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded royalty expenses of approximately $440,000 and $640,000, respectively. These expenses are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

License Agreement

In an agreement dated September 1, 2006, the Company entered into a license agreement which provides the Company the exclusive right to use its patented technology and proprietary know how relating to adsorbent polymers for a period of 18 years. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company has agreed to pay license fees of 2.5% to 5% on the sale of certain of its products if and when those products are sold commercially for a term not greater than 18 years commencing with the first sale of such product. For the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 pursuant to the terms of the license agreement, the Company recorded licensing expenses of approximately $347,000 and $564,000, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 pursuant to the terms of the license agreement, the Company recorded licensing expenses of approximately $734,000 and $1,066,000, respectively. These expenses are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.