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Note 16 - Related Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]

16.    Related Party Transactions


On August 11, 2011, we entered into a Letter of Credit Agreement (“LOC”) with Mark Plush, our former Chief Financial Officer, in the amount of $250 thousand. As an incentive to enter into the LOC, we issued five-year, detached warrants to purchase 125,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share. Effective July 8, 2013, Mr. Plush stepped down from his role and left the Company. On July 3, 2013, the LOC was paid in full. For a full description of the terms of the LOC, see Note 9, Debt.


The former Vice President of EFLS, who resigned on December 31, 2011, was also a minority owner in TLC Investments, LLC (“TLC”), a Tennessee limited liability company, as well as in Woodstone Energy, LLC (“Woodstone”), a Tennessee limited liability company, both of which are located in Nashville, Tennessee. EFLS renders lighting design and lighting solution services to these related parties within the scope of their ordinary business activities. Conversely, these related parties, operating as electrical subcontractors, provide installation support services to EFLS as part of their normal business. As of January 1, 2012, TLC and Woodstone were no longer related parties of the Company. For 2011, related party revenue from TLC and Woodstone totaled $1.6 million. Subcontractor installation support services provided by these related parties totaled $6.2 million in 2011.


On June 28, 2013, we entered into a Settlement Agreement with EFLS, TLC Investments, LLC, Jamie Hall and Robert E. Wilson, terminating the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement and related agreements that the parties had entered into at the end of December 2009 in connection with our acquisition of Stones River Companies, LLC. As part of the Settlement Agreement, our obligation to pay a $500 thousand special fee and a $500 thousand convertible promissory note including interest of $92 thousand were cancelled in their entirety in exchange for a $200 thousand payment and the forgiveness of a net receivable due to us of $78 thousand. Additionally, we recognized a $66 thousand favorable adjustment related to the change in the estimate of a performance-related contingent obligation for a 2.5% payout based upon the fair value of projected annual billings of EFLS. See Note 11, Settlement of Acquisition Obligations, and Note 12, Commitments and Contingencies, for further information.


On December 31, 2009, we issued warrants to Woodstone to purchase up to 600,000 shares of our common stock. The warrants have an exercise price of $0.40 per share and expire on December 31, 2014. 400,000 of the warrants became exercisable by Woodstone upon the written commitment of $10 million in specific secured contracts, and 200,000 warrants become exercisable upon the written commitment of an additional $5 million in specific secured contracts. See Note 13, Shareholders’ Equity, for further information.


The agreement for the acquisition of Stones River Companies, LLC, now referred to as EFLS, provided for payment of a management fee by us to TLC for overhead expenses for installation support services on projects that were pending at the date of acquisition. For the year ending December 31, 2011, we incurred management fees of $340 thousand, representing 8% of billings for the specified projects.


On December 12, 2012, our Board of Directors appointed James Tu to serve as our non-executive Chairman. On April 30, 2013, Mr. Tu became the Executive Chairman assuming the duties of the Principal Executive Officer. On October 30, 2013 Mr. Tu was appointed Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Directors. Mr. Tu is also the Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of 5 Elements Global Advisors, an investment advisory and management company managing the holdings of 5 Elements Global Fund LP, a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock. 5 Elements Global Advisors focuses on investing in clean energy companies with breakthrough, commercialized technologies and near-term profitability potential. Mr. Tu is also Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Communal International Ltd. “(Communal”), a British Virgin Islands company dedicated to assisting clean energy solutions companies maximize their technology and product potential and gain access to global marketing, distribution licensing, manufacturing and financing resources. Communal has a 50% ownership interest in 5 Elements Efficiencies (BVI) Ltd., a beneficial owner of more than 10% of our common stock. Yeh-Mei Cheng controls 5 Elements Energy Efficiencies (BVI) Ltd. and owns the other 50%. She is the co-founder of Communal International Ltd. with Mr. Tu and the mother of Simon Cheng and Jennifer Cheng, who are members of our Board of Directors. Mr. Cheng is an employee of the Company.


On February 27, 2012, we entered into an Asian Business Development/Collaboration Agreement with Communal. The agreement has a 60 month term, under which we paid $523 thousand to Communal during 2012. We recorded $270 thousand of expense in 2012 under this agreement. Additionally, during the term of the agreement, we will pay Communal a 5% commission on the net sales that occur within the Territory, as defined by the agreement. We have incurred no commissions due under this agreement through December 31, 2013.


Effective on January 1, 2013, the Asian Business Development/Collaboration Agreement with Communal was amended to reflect the extension of the terms of the agreement for an additional 12 months, and the addition of certain services and countries in the territory covered by the agreement. In connection with the amended and restated agreement, we agreed to pay an additional $425 thousand through December 2013. After December 31, 2013, we may terminate the agreement upon 30 days written notice. We paid $425 thousand related to this agreement during 2013, and recorded expense of $226 thousand in 2013.