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Related Party Transactions
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Related Party Transactions
9. Related Party Transactions:

Financings—In February 2014 the Company entered in an arrangement with Aston, an affiliate of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to which the company borrowed $3.5 million for general corporate purposes (the “February Note”). The borrowing bore interest at 9% annually and originally matured on April 1, 2015. The Company had the option to prepay the note at any time without penalty. In April 2014, the Company borrowed an additional $1 million from Aston for general corporate purposes on the same terms and conditions as the February Note (the “ April Note”). Also in April 2014 the company borrowed $10.8 million from RVL to fund the acquisition of Value Lighting (the “RVL Note”) which bears interest at 9% annually and originally matured on the earliest of April 1, 2015 or the date on which the Company received proceeds from any debt, factoring or other similar facility or equity securities in the commercial banking, private placement or public markets.

In June 2014, the company exchanged RVL Note of $10.8 million and $1.6 million of the February Note plus related accrued interest for an equivalent amount of Series G preferred stock.

In addition, Aston advanced an additional $ 2.7 million for general corporate purposes in four separate transactions during May and June 2014. In July 2014 the advances, the February note and the April Note were consolidated in a new promissory note with a principal amount of $5.7 million, bearing interest at 9% annually and matures on April 1, 2016. Company has the right to prepay the promissory note at any time. As of July 31, 2014, the Audit Committee ratified these advances and approved the issuance of a promissory note.

The Company has accrued interest on such borrowings of $38,000 at June 30, 2014 on debt outstanding at such date and recorded interest expense of $313,000 and $344,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014.

Investment AgreementsThe Company has entered into four separate investment agreements and an Exchange Agreement with RVL, an affiliate of Aston and the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, whereby the Company issued to RVL Series B, C, E, F and G preferred stock. Cash received by the Company for the issuance for Series B, C, E, and F preferred stock aggregated to $26.0 million. Cash received for debt exchanged for Series G preferred stock aggregated to $12.5 million. The terms of the Series B, C, E, F and G preferred stock are described in note 7 of the financial statements. In addition, in 2013 an affiliate of RVL purchased 75,000 shares of common stock from the Company for $192,000 at the closing market price of the stock on the date purchased.

Customer FinancingIn 2013, Aston provided $9.9 million in financing to a related group of customers of the Company who used the proceeds to repay its obligations to the Company for the purchase of Company products. The Company has no obligations to Aston with respect to the financing arrangements between the customer and Aston. The Company’s obligations to the customer are limited to the standard warranty obligation on the products sold.

Management Agreement—On April 9, 2013, the Company ratified a management services agreement with Aston (the “Management Agreement”) to memorialize certain management services that Aston has been providing to the Company since RVL acquired majority control of the Company’s voting securities in September 2012. Pursuant to the Management Agreement, Aston provides consulting services in connection with financing matters, budgeting, strategic planning and business development, including, without limitation, assisting the Company in (i) analyzing the operations and historical performance of target companies; (ii) analyzing and evaluating the transactions with such target companies; (iii) conducting financial, business and operational due diligence, and (iv) evaluating related structuring and other matters. In consideration of the services provided by Aston under the Management Agreement, the Company issued 500,000 shares of restricted common stock to Aston to vest in three equal annual increments, with the first such vesting date being September 25, 2013. On April 21, 2014, the Company granted an additional 300,000 shares of restricted stock to Aston which vest in three annual installments with the first such vesting date being September 25, 2014. The Audit Committee of the Board will consider from time to time (at a minimum at such times when the Compensation Committee of the Board evaluates director compensation) whether additional compensation to Aston is appropriate given the nature of the services provided.

 

Relocation of Corporate HeadquartersDuring the first quarter of 2013, the Company relocated its corporate headquarters to Stamford, Connecticut to a space also occupied by affiliates of the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The terms and conditions of the arrangement have not been finalized but the Audit Committee of the Board agreed to an allocation of the costs of the Stamford headquarters between an affiliate of Aston and the Company. The Company pays to an affiliate of Aston $21,355 monthly, representing its proportionate share of the space under the underlying lease. Costs allocated to the Company amounted to $116,000 and $97,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 and $207,000 and $165,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013. Amounts due to the affiliate of Aston at June 30, 2014 amounted to $452,000.

RVL Transaction FeesPursuant to the Series E and Series F Investment Agreement with RVL, the Company agreed to pay certain transaction costs incurred by RVL in connection with its investment. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company incurred $33,000 related to these costs. Pursuant to the Series G Exchange Agreement with Aston and RVL, the Company also agreed to pay certain transaction costs incurred by Aston in connection with the issuance of the Series G stock.

Business Relationship—A related party to the President and Chief Financial Officer purchases products from our Seesmart subsidiary. The amount for the six months ended June 30, 2014 is immaterial.