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Joint Venture
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
Joint Venture

NOTE 10 – JOINT VENTURE

 

On March 22, 2010, we, Phosphagenics Limited (“PSI Parent”), an Australian corporation, Phosphagenics Inc. (“PSI”), a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of PSI Parent, and Phusion, a Delaware limited liability company, entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement (the “LLC Agreement”) of the Phusion joint venture and additional related agreements for the purpose of developing and commercializing, for worldwide distribution and sale, a wide range of non-prescription remedies using PSI Parent’s proprietary patented TPM™ technology (“TPM”). TPM facilitates the delivery and depth of penetration of active molecules in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and other products. Pursuant to the LLC Agreement, we and PSI each own a 50% membership interest in the Phusion joint venture.

 

In connection with the LLC Agreement, PSI Parent granted to us, pursuant to the terms of a License Agreement, dated March 22, 2010 (the “Original License Agreement”), (i) an exclusive, royalty-free, world-wide (subject to certain limitations), paid-up license to exploit OTC drugs and certain other products that embody certain of PSI Parent’s TPM-related patents and related know-how (collectively, the “PSI Technology”) and (ii) a non-exclusive, royalty-free, world-wide (subject to certain limitations), paid-up license to exploit certain compounds that embody the PSI Technology for use in a product combining one or more of such compounds with an OTC drug or in a product that is part of a regimen that includes the application of an OTC drug.

 

Pursuant to the Original License Agreement, we issued 1,440,000 shares of our Common Stock having an aggregate value of approximately $2.6 million to PSI Parent (such shares, the “PSI Shares”, which PSI no longer owns), and made a one-time payment to PSI Parent of $1.0 million. We recorded an intangible asset valued at $3.6 million in March 2010 for the acquisition of the PSI Technology license.

 

In September 2014, we began implementing a series of new product development and pre-commercialization initiatives principally in the dietary supplement category. While several of our product development initiatives have advanced, including those specific to the dietary supplement category, our Phusion product development initiatives had not progressed to management’s satisfaction.

 

During the third quarter of Fiscal 2014, our evaluation of the Company’s progress in its new product development pipeline and delays in Phusion product development caused management to reassess projections (including income projections) relied upon in December 2013. Accordingly, management performed an impairment analysis for the period ended September 30, 2014 for the licensed technology. As a consequence of our impairment assessment, we determined that a full impairment occurred of the intangible asset, licensed technology. As a consequence, we charged to operations a $3.6 million impairment charge during the third quarter of Fiscal 2014.

 

PROPHASE LABS, INC. PROPHASE LABS, INC. FOR THE BENEFIT OF PHUSION LABORATORIES, LLC vs. Phosphagenics, Inc., Phosphagenics, LTD and Phusion Laboratories, LLC as a nominal defendant

 

On October 17, 2014, we initiated a demand for arbitration with the American Arbitration Association, case number 01-14-0001-7373. This demand for arbitration pertains to our Phusion joint venture and the matter is against PSI Parent and PSI (collectively known as the “Phosphagenics Entities”).

 

In November 2016, the arbitration case was resolved and is now concluded. The arbitrator rejected all of the counterclaims asserted by Phosphagenics that ProPhase pay damages to Phosphagenics. The arbitrator also awarded to ProPhase recovery of approximately $350,000 (net of the payment of certain wind down expenses) that had been invested in the Phusion joint venture entity; terminated the intellectual property license that had been granted to Phusion from Phosphagenics; and directed the wind down and termination of Phusion Laboratories LLC, the joint venture entity.

 

Phusion a variable interest entity (“VIE)” and its financial statements are consolidated with the Company’s financial statements for each period presented. As a consequence of Phusion qualifying as a VIE, the $350,000 award was effected through the transfer of cash from the Phusion bank account to the Company’s solely controlled bank account and no gain or loss is realized as a result of the award. The steps to wind down and terminate Phusion Laboratories LLC, the joint venture entity, were initiated in December 2016 and it is expected to be completed in the first half of Fiscal 2017. The operations of the Phusion VIE, other than the impairment of the intangible asset (see above), were not material to any of Fiscal 2016, 2015 or 2014.