Commitments and Contingencies

Leases: Estimated future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases with an initial or remaining term of one year or more are $1.0 million, $0.8 million, $0.8 million, $0.9 million, $0.7 million and $1.4 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 and beyond, respectively.

Operating Lease Obligations: We lease certain facilities and equipment under non-cancelable operating leases. Operating lease amounts exclude property taxes, insurance, and maintenance expenses on leased properties. Our facility leases typically provide for rental adjustments for increases in base rent (up to specific limits), property taxes, insurance, and general property maintenance that would be recorded as rent expense. Option periods have been included in the computation of rent expense where such options are likely to be exercised due to significant economic incentive. Rent expense was approximately $1.3 million, $1.2 million and $1.4 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. There are no off-balance sheet arrangements other than our operating leases.

Asset Retirement Obligation: We have known conditional AROs such as certain asset decommissioning and restoration of rented facilities to be performed in the future. Our ARO includes assumptions related to renewal option periods for those facilities where we expect to extend lease terms. The Company recognizes its estimate of the fair value of its ARO in the period incurred in long-term liabilities. The fair value of the ARO is also capitalized as property, plant and equipment.

In future periods, the ARO is accreted for the change in its present value and capitalized costs are depreciated over the useful life of the related assets. If the fair value of the estimated ARO changes, an adjustment will be recorded to both the ARO and the asset retirement capitalized cost. Revisions in estimated liabilities can result from revisions of estimated inflation rates, changes in estimated retirement costs, and changes in the estimated timing of settling the ARO. The fair value of our ARO was estimated by discounting projected cash flows over the estimated life of the related assets using credit adjusted risk-free rates which ranged from 1.20% to 4.20%.

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, in connection with the Company extending the lease term of the Alhambra facility, the lease and related obligations, including ARO, were revised, resulting in an increase of the estimated ARO obligation by the Company. As a result of the lease extension, the Company increased its ARO associated with the Alhambra facility by $0.1 million.

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, in connection with the Company extending the lease term of the Alhambra facility, the lease and related obligations, including ARO, were revised, resulting in an increase of the estimated ARO obligation by the Company. As a result of the lease extension, the Company increased its ARO associated with the Alhambra facility by $0.1 million.

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, in connection with the Company moving to a new manufacturing facility in China, the lease and related obligations, including ARO, at the former China facility was terminated, resulting in no payment by the Company. As a result of this agreement, the Company reduced its ARO associated with the former China facility by $45,000.

Accretion expense of $0.1 million was recorded during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

EMCORE leases its primary facility in Alhambra, California covering six buildings where manufacturing, research and development, and general and administrative work is performed. In March 2019, amendments to leases for five of the six buildings were signed, extending the terms of the leases for these buildings for an additional three years through September 2023, plus a three year EMCORE option to extend the leases through September 2026. Management has determined that there is a significant economic incentive to exercise the options and the lease period will include the option periods for accounting purposes. In connection with the lease agreement, the Company has recorded an ARO liability of $1.9 million and $1.8 million at September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively. The lease related to the sixth building expired in 2011, and this building is being occupied on a month-to-month basis.

The Company’s ARO consists of legal requirements to return the existing leased facilities to their original state and certain environmental work to be performed due to the presence of a manufacturing fabrication operation and significant changes to the facilities over the past thirty years.

In May 2016 (and retroactively effective on February 1, 2016), the Company entered into a five year lease agreement for facilities in Beijing, China where certain manufacturing and administrative work is currently being performed. In connection with the lease agreement, the Company has recorded an ARO liability in the amount of $0.1 million at September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018.

In February 2019, the lease and related obligations, including ARO, at our former facility in Ivyland, Pennsylvania was terminated, resulting in no payment by the Company. As a result of this termination, the Company reduced its ARO associated with the former Pennsylvania facility by $40,000 and recorded a gain on the termination in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019.

The following table summarizes ARO activity:



Asset Retirement Obligations	September 30,
(in thousands)	2019
Balance at September 30, 2018	$	1,809
Accretion expense	55
Revision in estimated cash flows	26
Balance at September 30, 2019	$	1,890

Indemnifications: We have agreed to indemnify certain customers against claims of infringement of intellectual property rights of others in our sales contracts with these customers. Historically, we have not paid any claims under these customer indemnification obligations. We enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers pursuant to which we agree to indemnify them for certain potential expenses and liabilities arising from their status as a director or executive officer of the Company. We maintain director and officer insurance, which may cover certain liabilities arising from our obligation to indemnify our directors and executive officers in certain circumstances. It is not possible to determine the aggregate maximum potential loss under these indemnification agreements due to the limited history of prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular claim.

Legal Proceedings: We are subject to various legal proceedings, claims, and litigation, either asserted or unasserted, that arise in the ordinary course of business. Except as described below, the outcome of these matters is currently not determinable and we are unable to estimate a range of loss, should a loss occur, from these proceedings. The ultimate outcome of legal proceedings involves judgments, estimates and inherent uncertainties and the results of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty. Professional legal fees are expensed when incurred. We accrue for contingent losses when such losses are probable and reasonably estimable. In the event that estimates or assumptions prove to differ from actual results, adjustments are made in subsequent periods to reflect more current information. Should we fail to prevail in any legal matter or should several legal matters be resolved against the Company in the same reporting period, then the financial results of that particular reporting period could be materially affected.

a) Intellectual Property Lawsuits

We protect our proprietary technology by applying for patents where appropriate and, in other cases, by preserving the technology, related know-how and information as trade secrets. The success and competitive position of our product lines are impacted by our ability to obtain intellectual property protection for our research and development efforts. We have, from time to time, exchanged correspondence with third parties regarding the assertion of patent or other intellectual property rights in connection with certain of our products and processes.

b) Phoenix Navigation Components, LLC Legal Proceedings

On June 12, 2018, Phoenix commenced an arbitration against EMCORE with the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in New York. On August 31, 2018, Phoenix filed a First Amended Demand for Arbitration, asserting the following claims: breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, misappropriation of trade secrets (under the Defend Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1836, and New York law), conversion, unjust enrichment, correction of inventorship relating to U.S. Patent No. 8,773,665, and declaratory relief, relating to EMCORE’s termination of certain agreements entered into between EMCORE and Phoenix related to the purported license of certain intellectual property related to fiber optic gyroscope technology and disputed royalty payments related thereto. On September 14, 2018, EMCORE filed an Answering Statement and Counterclaim, denying all of Phoenix’s claims and asserting counterclaims for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and declaratory relief.

On June 21, 2019, an interim award (the “Interim Award”) was issued in connection with all claims in the AAA proceeding other than the claims related to correction of inventorship and declaratory relief relating to U.S. Patent No. 8,773,665 (the “Patent Claims”). While Phoenix ultimately sought $21.2 million in total damages, plus attorneys’ fees and costs, in the Interim Award, the arbitrator found in the Interim Award that (i) Phoenix's claim for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing was denied; (ii) Phoenix's claim for breach of the agreements entered with EMCORE for failure to provide funding for non-recurring engineering was denied; (iii) Phoenix's claim for unjust enrichment was denied; (iv) Phoenix's claim for conversion was granted, but damages for that claim duplicate the damages on the breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secret claims described below and no incremental damages were awarded based on the granting of this claim; (v) EMCORE's request for a declaration that, as between EMCORE and Phoenix, EMCORE owns its proprietary IOC and transceiver was granted.

The arbitrator also found in the Interim Award that (i) EMCORE breached certain license agreements entered into with Phoenix by failing to make royalty payments due and failing to provide required accountings, (ii) Phoenix and its members are no longer subject to prior exclusivity restrictions; (iii) EMCORE's claim for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing was denied; and (iv) the proceedings for the Patent Claims and EMCORE's counterclaim with respect thereto would be established by a future proceeding.

Further, out of the original 97 trade secret subpart claims by Phoenix, the arbitrator found in the Interim Award that EMCORE had misappropriated a total of five trade secret subparts (the “Deemed Trade Secrets”), and found that at least one Deemed Trade Secret was being used in seven EMCORE products (the “EMCORE Products”). The arbitrator found that as a result of the foregoing, royalties of 7.5% of the sale price are owed, to the extent not previously paid, on (i) sales through July 16, 2018 on all fiber optic gyroscopes sold by EMCORE, and (ii) sales from July 16, 2018 through May 31, 2019 of the EMCORE Products whether standalone or incorporated into a larger product, in each case together with interest at the New York statutory rate of 9% simple interest. In addition, the arbitrator found in the Interim Award that Phoenix was the prevailing party, and Phoenix was awarded attorneys' fees and costs in the amount of approximately $3.7 million, which amount was reduced 10% from Phoenix’s attorneys’ fees request.

In the Interim Award, the arbitrator further determined that EMCORE shall pay Phoenix a royalty of 7.5% of the sale price on (i) future customer payments for certain EMCORE product contracts previously entered into and (ii) customer payments for future sales of any product using any Deemed Trade Secret, in each case payable in a single lump sum within one month of completion of the calendar quarter in which payment has been received from the customer, and shall concurrently submit to Phoenix a written report that sets forth the calculation of the amount of the royalty payment in a form similar to previous royalty reports, provided that following the first $1 million of royalty payments on the EMP-1 product only, inclusive of payments made to date, EMCORE will pay to Phoenix a royalty of 2.25% of the sale price (net of any warranty work, returns, rebates, discounts or credits). EMCORE is required to continue to make royalty payments in this manner until such time as it has in good faith determined, and can so document, that it has completely ceased use of the Deemed Trade Secrets, and at such time, EMCORE shall provide Phoenix written notice of same by certified letter, return receipt requested.

On October 1, 2019, the arbitrator issued a Modified Partial Final Award, which incorporated by reference the terms of the Interim Award and ordered and awarded, among other items, (i) an award to Phoenix of attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of approximately $3.8 million, (ii) an award to Phoenix of $1.0 million in damages owing for unpaid royalties through June 30, 2019, of which $0.6 million remained to be paid as of the issuance of the Modified Partial Final Award; (iii) an award to Phoenix of $0.1 million in pre-judgment interest, calculated at the New York statutory rate of 9% simple interest, and (iv) an order that EMCORE make the payments in the foregoing items (i), (ii) and (iii) on or before October 14, 2019. On October 10, 2019, EMCORE made the foregoing payments to Phoenix in an aggregate amount equal to approximately $4.5 million. This amount was accrued as of September 30, 2019.

The Patent Claims were not determined in the Interim Award or the Modified Partial Final Award and remain pending. We believe that the Patent Claims are without merit and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against them.

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, we recorded the award and settlement to Phoenix of attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of approximately $3.8 million, and our legal expenses of approximately $5.7 million within selling, general and administrative expense on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

On June 21, 2018, Phoenix Navigation Components, LLC commenced a special proceeding against EMCORE in the New York Supreme Court, Commercial Division, Index No. 653128/2018. As part of the special proceeding, Phoenix filed an application for a preliminary injunction in aid of arbitration pursuant to CLPR 7502(c), in connection with the AAA arbitration proceeding in New York. On August 6, 2018, Phoenix’s application was resolved pursuant to a stipulation between EMCORE and Phoenix. This special proceeding remains open pending entry of judgment pursuant to the AAA arbitration.