Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Note 5 - Operating Leases and Rental Expense

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Note 5 - Operating Leases and Rental Expense
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Leases of Lessee Disclosure [Text Block]
Note 5.        Operating Leases and Rental Expense

The Company’s corporate headquarters is located in approximately 5,100 square feet of office space located in Chicago, Illinois. On March 10, 2011, the Company signed a lease amendment, effective November 1, 2010, which extended the lease term for this office space for a five year period commencing on November 1, 2011 and ending on October 31, 2016.  The lease amendment grants the Company a five month lease abatement beginning November 1, 2010, reduces base rent and provides a tenant improvement allowance.  The lease requires escalating monthly payments ranging from $6,797 to $7,859, plus real estate taxes, utilities and maintenance expenses from April 1, 2011 to October 31, 2016.  The lease stipulates that after five years, the Company shall have a one-time right to extend the term of the lease for an additional three years by giving the landlord no less than twelve months prior notice in writing.

Through June 2010, the Company leased 40,000 square feet of office, manufacturing and warehouse space in London, England (Note 13).  Beginning in June 2010, the Company began leasing 6,400 square feet of office space located in London, England. The lease, which expires in June 2020, includes an option by the Company to terminate the lease in 2015 by giving the landlord no less than six months prior notice in writing. The lease requires quarterly payments of approximately $13,500 through December 2011 and quarterly payments of approximately $27,000 from January 2012 through June 2015.  The lease stipulates that after 5 years (June 2015) the principal rent will be reviewed and adjusted to the higher of the principal rent immediately prior to the review date or the market rate. Per the terms of the lease agreement, the Company was also required to make a security deposit equivalent to six months’ rent (approximately $66,000).

The Company leases 16,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Selangor D.E., Malaysia under a lease that requires monthly payments of approximately $13,000 through August 2013 and may be renewed at the option of the Company for an additional three year term.  The Company also leases 11,000 square feet of warehouse space in Selangor D.E., Malaysia under a lease that requires monthly payments of approximately $4,000 through February 2012 and may be renewed at the option of the Company for an additional one year term.

The Company also leases equipment under a number of lease agreements which expire at various dates through June 2015.  The aggregate monthly rental was $491 at September 30, 2011. Details of operating lease expense, including real estate taxes and insurance, for the years ended September 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Factory and office leases
  $ 414,380     $ 403,955     $ 871,235  
Other
    5,887       1,414       52,872  
Total
  $ 420,267     $ 405,369     $ 924,107  

The Company is party to several leases classified as capital leases which, in the aggregate, require monthly payments of $1,458 through March 2012.

Future minimum payments under leases consisted of the following as of September 30, 2011:

   
Operating
   
Capital
 
   
leases
   
leases
 
2012
  $ 316,980     $ 13,361  
2013
    302,979       -  
2014
    210,065       -  
2015
    212,614       -  
2016
    214,194       -  
Thereafter
    341,214       -  
Total minimum lease payments
  $ 1,598,046       13,361  
Less amounts representing interest
            (745 )
Present value of net minimum lease payments
            12,616  
Less current obligations, included in accrued expenses and other
            (12,616 )
Long-term obligations
          $ -