The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic
740 - Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). Under the provisions of ASC 740,
management is required to evaluate whether a valuation allowance
should be established against its deferred tax assets. We currently
have a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets. As
of each reporting date, the Company’s management considers new
evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact
management’s view with regard to future realization of deferred tax
assets. For the twenty-six weeks ended June 27, 2020, there was no
material change from fiscal year ended 2019 in the amount of the
Company's deferred tax assets that are not more likely than not to
be realized in future years.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security Act (“CARES Act”) was enacted in response to the COVID-19
pandemic. The CARES Act contains numerous income tax provisions,
such as relaxing limitations on the deductibility of interest and
the use of net operating losses arising in taxable years beginning
after December 31, 2017. Due to the existence of previously
incurred losses, the NOL carryback provisions of the CARES Act did
not result in a cash benefit to the Company, however, we do
anticipate increased interest expense deductions for tax purposes
in 2020 and 2021 as a result of the relaxation of the limitations
on the deductibility of interest.
Note 6 – Commitments and Contingencies
Leases
During March and April 2020, the Company entered into new lease
agreements for office space for its Philippines subsidiary and
Torrance headquarters, respectively.
Philippines office lease: The
lease commenced on March 15, 2020 with a ten-year lease term set to
expire in March of 2030. The Company is obligated to pay
approximately $500 in annual base rent, which shall increase by 5%
each year beginning on the second year of the lease term and then
increase by 4% each year beginning on the sixth year of the lease
term. In accordance with ASU 842 – Leases (“ASC 842”), the Company recorded
$5,325 in Right-of-use assets – operating, non-current, and $4,981
in Right-of-use obligation – operating, non-current, with $344
recorded in Right-of-use obligation – operating, current, on the
consolidated balance sheet at the commencement of the lease.
Torrance headquarters office
lease: The lease commenced on April 13, 2020 with a
seventy-month lease term set to expire in March of 2026. The
Company is obligated to pay approximately $73 in monthly base rent
(free rent for five months in the first two years), which shall
increase by 3% each year beginning on the second-year anniversary
of the lease term. In accordance with ASU 842 – Leases (“ASC 842”), the Company recorded
$4,338 in Right-of-use assets – operating, non-current, and $3,916
in Right-of-use obligation – operating, non-current, with $422
recorded in Right-of-use obligation – operating, current, on the
consolidated balance sheet at the commencement of the lease.
Legal Matters
Asbestos. A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company,
Automotive Specialty Accessories and Parts, Inc. and its
wholly-owned subsidiary Whitney Automotive Group, Inc.
("WAG"), are named defendants in several lawsuits involving claims
for damages caused by installation of brakes during the late 1960’s
and early 1970’s that contained asbestos. WAG marketed certain
brakes, but did not manufacture any brakes. WAG maintains liability
insurance coverage to protect its and the Company’s assets from
losses arising from the litigation and coverage is provided on an
occurrence rather than a claims made basis, and the Company is not
expected to incur significant out-of-pocket costs in connection
with this matter that would be material to its consolidated
financial statements.
Customs
Issues. On April 2,
2018, the Company filed a complaint against the United States of
America, the United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”),
in the United States Court of International Trade (the “Court”)
(Case No. 1:18-cv-00068) seeking (i) relief from a single entry
bonding requirement set by the United States Customs and Border
Protection (“CBP”), at a level equivalent to three times the
commercial invoice value of each shipment (the “Bonding
Requirement”), (ii) a declaration that the Bonding Requirement is
unlawful, (iii) an injunction prohibiting additional delayed entry
for all of the Company’s currently-held goods being denied entry
into the United States. The genesis for the action is CBP’s
wrongful seizure of aftermarket vehicle grilles and associated
parts being imported by the Company (“Repair Grilles”) on the basis
that the Repair Grilles allegedly bear counterfeit trademarks of
the original automobile manufacturers (i.e., original-equipment
manufacturers, or “OEMs”). Generally, these trademarks, as applied
against the Company, purport to cover the shape of the grilles
themselves, or the OEM’s logo or name. However, the Repair Grilles
are not counterfeit and do not cause a likelihood of confusion
amongst purchasers or