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Note 14 - Related Party Transactions
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 14. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS


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, which was a beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of our common stock prior to the August 2014 registered offering. 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-based companies, maximizing technology and product potential and gaining them access to global marketing, distribution licensing, manufacturing and financing resources. Communal has a 50 percent ownership interest in 5 Elements Energy Efficiencies (BVI) Ltd., a beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of our common stock. Yeh-Mei Cheng controls 5 Elements Energy Efficiencies (BVI) Ltd. and owns the other 50 percent. She is Co-Founder of Communal International Ltd. with Mr. Tu and the mother of Simon Cheng, a current member of our Board of Directors and an employee of the Company, and Jennifer Cheng, a member of our Board of Directors from July 25, 2012 to July 15, 2014.


On February 27, 2012, we entered into an Asian Business Development/Collaboration Agreement with Communal. The Agreement has a 60 month term. Additionally, during the term of the Agreement, we will pay Communal a 5 percent 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 September 30, 2014.


Effective 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 twelve 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 paid an additional $425 thousand in 2013, $262 thousand of which was paid during the first nine months of 2013. Nothing was paid during the first nine months of 2014. We recorded expense of $169 thousand under this Agreement during the first nine months of 2014 and 2013. At September 30, 2014, we had $226 thousand and $56 thousand included in the captions “Prepaid and other current assets” and “Other assets,” respectively, in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.