Agreement Termination Charges

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Agreement Termination Charges [Abstract]

Agreement Termination Charges

(15) Agreement Termination Charges

On August 20, 2010, we entered into a Settlement and Termination Agreement (the "Settlement Agreement") with Altana Chemie GmbH ("Altana"). The Settlement Agreement terminated the Joint Development Agreement dated March 23, 2004, as amended on July 7, 2008 (the "JDA"), between Nanophase and Altana Chemie AG, where Altana Chemie AG was a predecessor of Altana, except for certain surviving provisions of the JDA, including each party's respective rights in its patents, patent applications and other intellectual property, each party's confidentiality obligations, and the protocol for resolving any subsequent disputes concerning the JDA. Under the Settlement Agreement, Nanophase and Altana both agreed to end their exclusive relationship with one another approximately nineteen months prior to the scheduled termination of the JDA and each agreed to release and discharge the other party from all claims, demands, obligations, losses, causes of action, costs, expenses, attorneys' fees and liabilities of any nature which relate to or arise from the JDA. Additionally, we agreed to pay Altana $350,000 in cash on August 20, 2010, and provided Altana a percentage discount on future purchases under the Supply Agreement (as defined below), up to $350,000 as additional consideration for terminating the JDA. As a result of this agreement, we incurred a total of $700,000 of combined cash and non-cash charges. For the periods ending December 31, 2011 and 2010, the accrued discount liability on future purchases was $116,103 and $296,235, respectively, and is recorded as a current liability on our balance sheets.

Simultaneously with the Settlement Agreement, Nanophase and Altana entered into a Supply Agreement ("Supply Agreement"). The Supply Agreement establishes a non-exclusive supply arrangement between Nanophase and Altana and has a term of five years, which term may be extended by joint action of both Nanophase and Altana. Altana may source materials from any supplier, including the Company, and has no commitment to purchase any materials from us. Nanophase, similarly, may sell materials to any customer, including Altana. Additionally, we have agreed to fulfill orders placed by Altana for specified products during the term of this Supply Agreement, with committed quantities, lead times, pricing, and other elements detailed in the Supply Agreement.