9. Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2013 |
Notes to Financial Statements | ' |
NOTE 9 - Commitments and Contingencies | ' |
St. George Investments |
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On March 10, 2011, the Company entered into a Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with St. George Investments, LLC, (“St. George”) an Illinois limited liability company (the "Investor") whereby the Company issued and sold, and the Investor purchased: (i) Secured Convertible Promissory Notes of the Company in the principal amount of $1,105,500 (the "Company Note") and (ii) a Warrant to purchase common stock of the Company (the "Warrant"). The Investor paid $250,000 in cash as an initial payment to the Company and executed and delivered six separate “Secured Buyer Notes” (the “Buyer Notes”), as consideration in full for the issuance and sale of the Company Note and Warrants. |
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The principal amount of the Company Note is $1,105,500 ("Maturity Amount") and the Company Note is due 48 months from the issuance date of March 10, 2011. The Company Note has an interest rate of 6.0%, which would increase to a rate of 12.0% on the happening of certain Trigger Events, including but not limited to: a decline in the 10-day trailing average daily dollar volume of the common shares in the Company’s primary market to less than $30,000 of volume per day at any time; the failure by the Company or its transfer agent to deliver Conversion Shares (defined in the Company Note) within 5 days of Company’s receipt of a Conversion Notice (defined in the Company Note). Due to a triggering event occurring, the current interest rate is 12%. The total amount funded (in cash and notes) was $1,000,000, representing the Maturity Amount less an original issue discount of $100,500 and the payment of $5,000 to the Investor to cover its fees, with payment consisting of $250,000 advanced at closing and $750,000 in a series of six secured convertible Buyer Notes of $125,000 each, with interest rates of 5.0%. To date, St. George has paid the total amount due. |
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The Buyer Notes are secured by an Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit (“Letter of Credit”). The warrant also contains a net exercise /cashless exercise provision. St. George may elect to convert all or part of the principal and any accrued unpaid interest on the Company Note on or before the aforementioned maturity date, subject to certain limitations. The conversion price under the Company Note is eighty percent (80%) of the average of the closing bid prices for the three (3) Trading Days (defined in the Purchase Agreement) with the lowest closing bids over the twenty (20) Trading Days immediately preceding the Conversion Date (defined in the Company Note), subject to adjustments as set forth in the Company Note. Due to adjustments, St. George’s current conversion ratio inserts fifty-five percent (55%) in the aforementioned formula, in place of eighty percent (80%). |
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The Investor has also received a five year warrant entitling it to purchase shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price determined under the terms of the Warrant. The warrant also contains a net exercise /cashless exercise provision. |
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As of December 31, 2013 the balance due to St. George Investments was $248,039 in principal and $8,735 in accrued interest. |
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The Company Note, Warrant and related documentation, including any amounts owed by the Company to St. George based thereon, are in dispute and are the subject of litigation, as described more fully in Note 15. Legal Proceedings. |
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Tonaquint, Inc. |
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In a transaction that closed on June 29, 2012, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with Tonaquint, Inc. (“Tonaquint”) a Utah corporation whereby the Company issued and sold, and Tonaquint purchased a Secured Convertible Promissory Note of the Company in the principal amount of $1,252,000 (the "Company Note"). |
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The Company Note was issued June 27, 2012 and is due 20 calendar months after the issuance date. The Company Note has an interest rate of 6.0%, which would increase to a rate of 18.0% on the happening of certain Events of Default (defined in the Company Note), including but not limited to: failure to pay and the failure by the Company or its transfer agent to deliver Conversion Shares (defined in the Company Note) within 3 Trading Days of the Company’s receipt of a Conversion Notice (defined in the Company Note). As of March 31, 2013, Tonaquint claimed an interest rate of 18%, which is being disputed by the Company. The total amount funded in cash at closing was $1,120,000, representing the principal amount less an original issue discount of $112,000 and the payment of $20,000 to Tonaquint to cover its fees. |
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Tonaquint has the right to convert, subject to restrictions described in the Company Note, all or a portion of the outstanding amount of the Company Note into shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $0.03. So long as Tonaquint has not extinguished the Company Note in its entirety pursuant to such conversions, the Company shall make monthly payments to Tonaquint on the Company Note, through either the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock or by payment in cash, at the election of the Company. Payments commence six months from the date of issuance of the Company Note and continue until the Company Note has been paid in full. The amount of the monthly payments is the greater of (i) $100,000, plus the sum of any accrued and unpaid interest as of the applicable Installment Date (defined in the Company Note) and accrued and unpaid Late Charges (defined in the Company Note), if any, under the Company Note as of the applicable Installment Date (defined in the Company Note), and any other amounts accruing or owing to Investor under the Company Note as of such Installment Date, or (ii) the then-outstanding balance of the Company Note divided by the number of Installment Dates remaining prior to the Maturity Date. |
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In the event the Company is unable to make payments in cash or otherwise elects not to make a payment or payments in cash, the number of common shares delivered to the Investor upon conversion will be calculated by dividing the amount of the Company Note that is being converted by the market price of the common stock, which is defined as 80% of the arithmetic average of the three (3) lowest volume weighted average prices of the shares of the Company’s common stock during the twenty three (23) consecutive trading day period immediately preceding the date as of which such price determination is required (such as the effective date of a conversion). |
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As of December 31, 2013, the amount owed to Tonaquint was $1,252,000 of principal and $320,420 in accrued interest in accordance with Tonaquint’s claim which is being disputed by the Company. |
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The Company Note, Purchase Agreement and other related documents, including any amounts owed by the Company to Tonaquint based thereon, are in dispute and are the subject of litigation, as described more fully in Note 15. Legal Proceedings. |
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VidaPlus |
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On January 24, 2011, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement to acquire up to 51% of the capital stock in VidaPlus, an umbilical cord processing and storage company headquartered in Madrid, Spain. The Agreement is organized into three tranches; the first executed at closing with an initial investment of approximately $204,000 (150,000 Euro) for an amount equivalent to 7% as follows; 1% of share capital in initial equity or approximately $30,000 and 6% or an estimated $174,000 as a loan convertible into equity within 12 months of closing. The initial investment was secured by a Pledge Agreement on 270 VidaPlus samples that are incurring annual storage fees. The second tranche provides the opportunity for an additional 28% in share capital through monthly investments based on the number of samples processed in that month (up to a maximum of 550,000 EUR). In connection with Tranche 2, the Company has loaned VidaPlus $246,525 to date. Converting the investment from a loan into equity will take place within 24 months of the date the amount of shares due to the Company pursuant to the second tranche is calculated. The third tranche follows a similar loan to equity agreement as tranche two but for an additional 16% equity at the option of the Company (up to a maximum of 550,000 EUR). VidaPlus contracts through Stellacure and their relationship with the German Red Cross for their processing and storage. |
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In connection with the VidaPlus Stock Purchase Agreement entered into on January 24, 2011, the Company is obligated to make monthly loans to VidaPlus based on the number of new samples processed and up to a maximum of 550,000 Euro for each of Tranche 2 and 3 of the Agreement. Tranche 2 did contain provisions that provided the Company an option to discontinue funding if certain performance targets were not met. |
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In January 2012, the Company exercised its right to convert its Tranche 1 loan into 6% of the outstanding shares of VidaPlus, and as a result, the Company owns a total of 7% of the outstanding shares. At the time of the equity conversion, the Company no longer maintained its Pledge on the 270 VidaPlus samples associated with Tranche 1; however, the Company maintained a liquidation preference in VidaPlus over the money invested by the Company in VidaPlus. Additionally, the Company declined to make any further investment (loan or otherwise) to VidaPlus under whether Tranche 2, Tranche 3 or otherwise. CBAI holds a pledge over the umbilical cord blood maintenance and storage contracts between VidaPlus and certain of its customers, and all rights contained therein, including but not limited to the rights to administer those contracts and the rights to collect the revenues derived from those contracts, for 328 samples. CBAI holds that pledge until such time as it converts the monies paid to VidaPlus under Tranche 2 of the Stock Purchase Agreement into equity into Vidaplus, in accordance with the formulas set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement. CBAI must make that conversion within two years of when the calculation was made as to the amount of shares to which CBAI is entitled pursuant to Tranche 2, which means that such conversion shall take place around or before February 2014. CBAI also holds a liquidation preference in VidaPlus for the money the Company invested in VidaPlus. On February 14, 2014, CBAI delivered to VidaPlus its election to convert its loan under Tranche 2 into shares of stock in VidaPlus as described more fully in Note 17. Subsequent Events |
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Patent License Agreement |
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PharmaStem Therapeutics claims to hold certain patents relating to the storage, expansion and use of hematopoietic stem cells. In the past several years, PharmaStem has commenced suit against numerous companies involved in cord blood collection and preservation alleging infringement of its patents. In October 2003, after a jury trial, judgment was entered against certain of our competitors and in favor of PharmaStem in one of those suits. In February 2004, PharmaStem commenced suit against Cord Partners and certain of its competitors alleging infringement of its patents. Management of Cord Partners determined to settle, rather than to litigate, this matter. As a result, PharmaStem and Cord Partners entered into a Patent License Agreement in March 2004. Pursuant to the Patent License Agreement, Cord Partners could, on a non-exclusive basis, collect, process and store cord blood utilizing PharmaStem’s claimed technology and processes allegedly covered by its patents for so long as the patents may remain in effect. Most of the patents at issue expired in 2010. PharmaStem could claim, arguendo, Cord Partners is obligated under the Patent License Agreement to pay royalties to PharmaStem of 15% of all revenues generated by Cord Partners from the collection and storage of cord blood on and after January 1, 2004. Other than, potentially royalties, which would be disputed by Cord, no amount is payable by Cord Partners to PharmaStem. All litigation between the parties was dismissed and all prior claims were released. As of 2008, Cord ceased paying all royalties to PharmaStem. The patents have been declared void under a final decision on appeal, and as such, there is no pending litigation in this matter. As of December 31, 2013, the Company included approximately $226,000 in accounts payable and $120,000 included in accrued expenses to account for this liability since 2008, though the Company disputes that it owes any royalties to Pharmastem. |
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Contingencies |
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Lindsay Bays |
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On or around September 21, 2011, Lindsay Bays, et. al filed a case against the Company, along with additional defendants Corcell, Inc., Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC, and Bergen Community Blood Center in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia, case number 11-C-1664, alleging claims of breach of contract, negligence, and other related claims. After the filing, the case was removed by the defendants to the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, where it was Civil Action No. 2:11-0939. The Plaintiff alleged that she entered into a contract with Corcell, Inc. for the collection and storage of her child’s cord blood. She claimed that though her child was accepted as a candidate for auto reinfusion treatment of her child’s cerebral palsy in the Duke University Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, her child was unable to participate, purportedly due to the defendants’ actions in labeling and shipping the blood. She sought monetary damages for injuries and losses, punitive damages, interest and attorneys’ fees. On or around December 5, 2011, the Company filed a Motion to Dismiss the action. Defendants Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC and Bergen Community Blood Center also filed motions to dismiss. |
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On or around May 8, 2012, the Court denied the Company’s Motion to Dismiss, without prejudice, and further ordered that the Plaintiffs be given leave until July 16, 2012 to conduct jurisdictional discovery regarding the Company’s and CorCell’s contacts with the state of West Virginia and granting the Company leave to, by motion, renew its challenge to personal jurisdiction no later than July 23, 2012. The Court granted motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction filed by defendants Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC and Bergen Community Blood Center. On July 18, 2012, Plaintiff and the Company filed a Stipulation of Dismissal Pursuant to Rule 41(A), dismissing the case against Cord Blood America, Inc., without prejudice. In the event Plaintiff files another case involving these circumstances, the Company will continue to vigorously defend against the claims. |
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BioCells |
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In September 2010, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”), with the Shareholders of Biocordcell Argentina S.A., a corporation organized under the laws of Argentina (“Bio”), providing for the Company’s acquisition of 50.1% of the outstanding shares of Bio (the “Shares). |
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Under the Agreement, the Company paid $375,000 in cash at the closing, and was obligated to pay an additional $350,000 in October, 2010, $150,000 of which is part of the fixed portion of the purchase price for the shares, for a total minimum purchase price of $525,000. The remaining $200,000 of this payment represents advances against the contingent payments due based on Bio’s 2010 and 2011 net income performances. In 2011, the Company negotiated and paid out the amount of $500,000 in connection with the 2010 earn out. |
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As of June 22, 2012, the Company entered into an Agreement with the shareholders of Bio from whom the Company purchased its majority ownership interest in Bio in 2010 (the "Sellers") relating to the 2011 earn out. Under the Agreement, the Company was to pay the Sellers the following: $25,000 on or before June 30, 2012; $10,000 on or before July 31, 2012; and $25,000 on or before September 30, 2012, for a total cash payment of $60,000. In addition, the Sellers will collect the Company’s portion of BioCells shareholders’ dividends for fiscal years 2012 and 2013, up to a maximum amount of $440,000, if any. There were no shareholder dividends earned or paid for the 2012 and 2013 fiscal years. Also, if BioCells is sold before April 2014 and certain thresholds for purchase price and payment are met or exceeded, then the Sellers could receive additional compensation, specifically an amount which equals $705,000 minus any amounts paid pursuant to the cash payments and payments from the Company’s shareholder dividends, which are detailed above. That sum would be paid to the Sellers out of the proceeds of such a sale. As a result of this Agreement with the Sellers of BioCells, the Company has paid the total cash amount due of $60,000 as of December 31, 2012 and there have been no earned portion of Company’s dividends paid to Sellers for fiscal years 2012 and 2013. |
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Employment Agreements |
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On September 12, 2011 (the “Company”), entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Joseph R. Vicente, then the Company’s Chief Operating Officer and Vice President and appointed Chairman and President on May 15, 2012 by the Board of Directors, which was effective as of August 1, 2011 and shall terminate as of December 31, 2014, unless earlier terminated by the Company or Mr. Vicente. Mr. Vicente’s Executive Employment Contract had an initial term from August 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011, and is renewable annually thereafter for up to three additional, successive years, and provides for a base salary equal to his previous year’s annual salary, which said salary was set under the provisions of the previous employment agreement entered between Mr. Vicente and the Company in July of 2008. Mr. Vicente voluntarily reduced his annual salary by 12.5% until otherwise determined by Mr. Vicente, along with the advice and consent of the Company’s Board of Directors. It also provides for an annual bonus, payable at the discretion of the Board of Directors, equal to 25% of Mr. Vicente’s prior year base salary. The Agreement provides for a change of control termination bonus, which provide that if Mr. Vicente is terminated, his compensation reduced, or Mr. Vicente terminates his employment within one year after a change of control, then Mr. Vicente is entitled to a termination benefit in an amount equal to the average annual cash compensation over the three (3) year period preceding the Triggering Event (defined in the agreements) multiplied (2.00). The Agreement also provides for termination payments in the absence of a change of control in the event the Company terminates Mr. Vicente without cause in an amount equal to all compensation paid by the Company to Mr. Vicente for the 24 months preceding the termination, along with health plan and 401k incentives (if any were to be offered – the Company terminated its 401k earlier in 2012), as stated in the agreement. |
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The Company entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Stephen Morgan (the “Employee”) on August 10, 2012, with July 1, 2012 as the effective date of the Agreement. The Agreement provides for a change of control termination bonus, whereby if the Employee is terminated, his compensation reduced, or the Company terminates the Employee’s employment within one year after a change in control, then the Employee is entitled to a termination benefit in an amount equal to the employee’s cash compensation over the one (1) year preceding the Triggering Event (defined in the Agreement). The Agreement also provides for termination payments in the absence of a change of control in the event the Company terminates the Employee without cause in an amount equal to all compensation paid by the Company to the Employee for the 12 months preceding the termination, along with health plan and 401k incentives (if any were to be offered – the Company terminated its 401k earlier in 2012), as stated in the Agreement. The Agreement provides for an annual salary of $125,000, along with a bonus, payable at the discretion of the Board of Directors of up to an annual amount of 20% of the Employee’s salary. Mr. Morgan’s compensation, as set forth in the Agreement has not increased as a result of his election to the officer positions of Vice President and Secretary on May 15, 2012 in addition to his retention of his previous position, General Counsel. The Company believes the assumption of additional roles by existing management and other individuals in leadership positions, including filling recently vacated roles, will reduce overall management costs while also leading to greater efficiency within the organization. |
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Operating Leases |
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CBAI and its subsidiaries lease office space in Las Vegas, NV under a non-cancelable operating lease expiring in 2014. The lease for the facility in Las Vegas has two options to renew for an additional five years each, extending the term to 2024. On January 21, 2014, the Company amended its current lease to include an extension through September 30, 2019. The monthly lease payments will be adjusted in accordance with the amendment, along with possible adjustments to the CAM charges and potential rent abatement associated with total lease square footage and other factors, all as set forth more fully in Note 17. Subsequent Events. CBAI's subsidiaries lease office and warehouse space in Argentina (Bio). The lease for Bio is for three years ending in April 2014. Commitments for future minimum rental payments, by year, and in the aggregate, to be paid (and received) under such operating leases as of December 31, 2013, are as follows: |
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to be paid |
2014 | | | 103,454 | |
Total | | $ | 103,454 | |
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Total rent expense for 2013 and 2012 under the operating leases amounted to $232,829 and $237,390 respectively. |
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