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Redeemable Preferred Stock
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2018
Preferred Stock [Abstract]  
Redeemable Preferred Stock

Note 11.  Redeemable Preferred Stock

The Company is authorized to issue up to 250,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, issuable in one or more series.  Of these authorized shares, the Company had, as of April 30, 2018, issued and outstanding shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock and 5% Series B Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock in the amounts described below.

Series C Preferred Stock

The Company issued an aggregate of 33,500 shares of its Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock” and such shares, the “Series C Preferred Shares”), $0.01 par value and $1,000 stated value per share, during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.  As of April 30, 2018 and October 31, 2017, there were 14,548 and 33,300 shares of Series C Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, respectively, with a carrying value of $12.1 million and $27.7 million, respectively.

During the six months ended April 30, 2018, holders of our Series C Preferred Stock converted 18,752 shares of the Series C Preferred Stock into common shares through installment conversions resulting in a reduction of $15.6 million to the carrying value being recorded to equity.  Installment conversions in which the conversion price is below the fixed conversion price of $1.84 per share result in a variable number of shares being issued to settle the installment amount and are treated as a partial redemption of the Series C Preferred Shares.  Installment conversions during the three and six months ended April 30, 2018 that were settled in a variable number of shares and treated as redemptions resulted in deemed dividends of $4.2 million and $7.7 million, respectively.  The deemed dividend represents the difference between the fair value of the common shares issued to settle the installment amounts and the carrying value of the Series C Preferred Shares.

Based on review of pertinent accounting literature including Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 470 – Debt, ASC 480 - Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC 815 - Derivative and Hedging, the Series C Preferred Shares are classified outside of permanent equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and were recorded at fair value on the issuance date (proceeds from the issuance, net of direct issuance cost).  An assessment of the probability of the exercise of the potential redemption features in the Certificate of Designations (as defined below) for the Series C Preferred Stock is performed at each reporting date to determine whether any changes in classification are required.  As of April 30, 2018 and October 31, 2017, the Company determined that none of the contingent redemption features were probable.  As Series C Preferred Shares are converted to common shares, a proportional reduction in the carrying value will be recorded to equity.  

A summary of certain terms of the Series C Preferred Stock are described as follows:

Conversion Rights. The Series C Preferred Shares are convertible into shares of common stock subject to the beneficial ownership limitations provided in the Certificate of Designations for Series C Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designations”), at a conversion price equal to $1.84 per share of common stock (“Conversion Price”), subject to adjustment as provided in the Certificate of Designations, at any time at the option of the holder.  In the event of a triggering event, as defined in the Certificate of Designations, the Series C Preferred Shares are convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion price of the lower of $1.84 per share and 85% of the lowest volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) of the common stock of the five trading days immediately prior to delivery of the applicable conversion notice.  The holders will be prohibited from converting Series C Preferred Shares into shares of common stock if, as a result of such conversion, such holder, together with its affiliates, would own more than 8.99% of the total number of shares of common stock then issued and outstanding. Each holder has the right to increase its maximum percentage up to 9.99% upon 60 days’ notice to the Company.

Installment Payments. On November 1, 2017 and on the sixteenth day and first day of each calendar month thereafter until March 1, 2019, subject to extension in certain circumstances (the “Maturity Date”), inclusive, the Company will redeem the stated value of Series C Preferred Shares in thirty-three equal installments of $1.0 million (each bimonthly amount, an “Installment Amount” and the date of each such payment, an “Installment Date”). The holders will have the ability to defer installment payments, but not beyond the Maturity Date. In addition, during each period commencing on the 11th trading day prior to an Installment Date and prior to the immediately subsequent Installment Date, the holders may elect to accelerate the conversion of Series C Preferred Shares at the then applicable installment conversion price, provided that the holders may not elect to effect any such acceleration during such installment period if either (a) in the aggregate, all the accelerations in such installment period exceed the sum of three other Installment Amounts, or (b) the number of Series C Preferred Shares subject to prior accelerations exceeds in the aggregate twelve Installment Amounts.

Subject to certain conditions as provided in the Certificate of Designations, the Company may elect to pay the Installment Amounts in cash or shares of common stock or in a combination of cash and shares of common stock.

Installment Amounts paid in shares will be that number of shares of common stock equal to (a) the applicable Installment Amount, to be paid in common stock divided by (b) the least of (i) the then existing conversion price, (ii) 87.5% of the VWAP of the common stock on the trading day immediately prior to the applicable Installment Date, and (iii) 87.5% of the arithmetic average of the two lowest VWAPs of the common stock during the ten consecutive trading day period ending and including the trading day immediately prior to the applicable Installment Date as applicable, provided that the Company meets standard equity conditions. The Company shall make such election no later than the eleventh trading day immediately prior to the applicable Installment Date.

If the Company elects or is required to pay an Installment Amount in whole or in part in cash, the amount paid will be equal to 108% of the applicable Installment Amount.

Dividends. Each holder of the Series C Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive dividends (a) if no triggering event, as defined in the Certificate of Designations, has occurred and is continuing when and as declared by the Board of Directors, in its sole and absolute discretion or (b) if a triggering event has occurred and until such triggering event has been cured, a dividend of 15% per annum based on the holder’s outstanding number of Series C Preferred Shares multiplied by the stated value.  There were no triggering events or dividends declared in fiscal year 2017 or during the six months ended April 30, 2018.

Redemption. In the event of a triggering event, as defined in the Certificate of Designations, the holders of the Series C Preferred Shares can force redemption at a price equal to the greater of (a) the conversion amount to be redeemed multiplied by 125% and (b) the product of (i) the conversion rate with respect to the conversion amount in effect at such time as such holder delivers a triggering event redemption notice multiplied by (ii) the greatest closing sale price of the common stock on any trading day during the period commencing on the date immediately preceding such triggering event and ending on the date the Company makes the entire payment required.

Liquidation. In the event of the Company’s liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, prior to distribution to holders of securities ranking junior to the Series C Preferred Shares, holders of Series C Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive the amount of cash, securities or other property equal to the greater of (a) the stated value thereof on the date of such payment plus accrued dividends, if any and (b) the amount per share such holder would receive if such holder converted such Series C Preferred Shares into common stock immediately prior to the date of such payment.

Ranking and Voting Rights. Shares of Series C Preferred Stock rank with respect to dividend rights and rights upon the Company’s liquidation, winding up or dissolution:

 

senior to shares of our common stock;

 

junior to our debt obligations;

 

junior to our outstanding Series B Preferred Stock; and

 

effectively junior to our subsidiaries’ (i) existing and future liabilities and (ii) capital stock held by others.

The holders of the Series C Preferred Shares have no voting rights, except as required by law. Any amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or the Certificate of Designations that adversely affects the powers, preferences and rights of the Series C Preferred Shares requires the approval of the holders of a majority of the Series C Preferred Shares then outstanding.

Redeemable Series B Preferred Stock

We have 105,875 shares of our 5% Series B Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (Liquidation Preference $1,000.00 per share) (“Series B Preferred Stock”) authorized for issuance. As of April 30, 2018 and October 31, 2017, there were 64,020 shares of Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, with a carrying value of $59.9 million.  Dividends of $1.6 million were paid in cash for each of the six month periods ended April 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Class A Cumulative Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Shares

FCE FuelCell Energy Ltd. (“FCE Ltd”), a subsidiary of the Company, has 1,000,000 Class A Cumulative Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Shares (the “Series 1 Preferred Shares”) outstanding, which are held by Enbridge, Inc. (“Enbridge”), which is a related party.  The Company made its scheduled payments of Cdn. $0.5 million during each of the six month periods ended April 30, 2018 and 2017 under the terms of the Company’s agreement with Enbridge.  The Company also recorded interest expense, which reflects the amortization of the fair value discount of approximately Cdn. $1.4 million and Cdn. $1.3 million for the six months ended April 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.  As of April 30, 2018 and October 31, 2017, the carrying value of the Series 1 Preferred Shares was Cdn. $20.1 million (U.S. $15.7 million) and Cdn. $19.4 million (U.S. $15.1 million), respectively, and is classified as a preferred stock obligation of a subsidiary on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.