XML 34 R8.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.1

Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Jan. 31, 2020
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation | Note 1. Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation FuelCell Energy, Inc., together with its subsidiaries (the “Company”, “FuelCell Energy”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), is a leading integrated fuel cell company with a growing global presence in delivering environmentally-responsible distributed baseload power solutions through our proprietary, molten-carbonate fuel cell technology. We develop turn-key distributed power generation solutions and operate and provide comprehensive service for the life of the power plant. We are working to expand the proprietary technologies that we have developed over the past five decades into new products, markets and geographies. Our mission and purpose remains to utilize our proprietary, state-of-the-art fuel cell power plants to reduce the global environmental footprint of baseload power generation by providing environmentally responsible solutions for reliable electrical power, hot water, steam, chilling, hydrogen, micro-grid applications, and carbon capture. Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regarding interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not contain all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the Company’s financial position and results of operations as of and for the three months ended January 31, 2020 and 2019 have been included. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The balance sheet as of October 31, 2019 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but it does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019, which are contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K previously filed with the SEC. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full fiscal year. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates are used in accounting for, among other things, revenue recognition, contract loss accruals, excess, slow-moving and obsolete inventories, product warranty accruals, loss accruals on service agreements, share-based compensation expense, fair values, allowance for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization, impairment of goodwill and in-process research and development intangible assets, impairment of long-lived assets (including project assets), lease liabilities and right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and contingencies. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically, and the effects of revisions are reflected in the consolidated financial statements in the period they are determined to be necessary. Liquidity The Company’s future liquidity will be dependent on its ability to (i) timely complete current projects in process within budget, including approved amounts that have been financed, as financing does not cover overages, (ii) increase cash flows from its generation portfolio, including by meeting conditions required to timely commence operations of new projects and operating its generation portfolio in compliance with minimum performance guarantees, (iii) obtain approval of and receive funding for project construction under its Credit Agreement with Orion Energy Partners Investment Agent, LLC and its affiliated lenders and meet conditions for release of funds, (iv) increase order and contract volumes, which would lead to additional product sales and services agreements, (v) obtain funding for and receive payment for research and development under current and future Advanced Technology contracts, including achieving a $5 million technological performance milestone under its Joint Development Agreement with ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company (“EMRE”) during calendar year 2020, and (vi) implement the cost reductions necessary to achieve profitable operations. Our business model requires substantial outside financing arrangements and satisfaction of the conditions of such financing arrangements to deploy our projects and facilitate the growth of our business. If financing is not available to us on acceptable terms if and when needed, if we do not satisfy the conditions of our financing arrangements or if we spend more than the financing approved for projects, we may be required to reduce planned spending, sell assets, seek alternative financing and take other measures, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operations. The key definitive agreements which support the Company’s future liquidity position include:
| • | On October 31, 2019, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries as guarantors entered into a $200.0 million senior secured credit facility with Orion Energy Partners Investment Agent, LLC, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (the “Agent”), and its affiliates, Orion Energy Credit Opportunities Fund II, L.P., Orion Energy Credit Opportunities Fund II GPFA, L.P., and Orion Energy Credit Opportunities Fund II PV, L.P., as lenders (the “Orion Facility”). The Orion Facility is structured as a delayed draw term loan to be provided by the lenders. In conjunction with the closing of the Orion Facility, on October 31, 2019, the Company drew down $14.5 million (the “Initial Funding”). The Company drew down an additional $65.5 million on November 22, 2019 (the “Second Funding”). The Company may draw the remainder of the Orion Facility, $120.0 million, over the first 18 months following the Initial Funding and subject to the Agent’s approval to fund: (i) construction costs, inventory and other capital expenditures of additional fuel cell projects with contracted cash flows (under power purchase agreements (“PPAs”) with creditworthy counterparties) that meet or exceed a mutually agreed coverage ratio; and (ii) inventory, working capital, and other costs that may be required to be delivered by the Company on purchase orders, service agreements, or other binding customer agreements with creditworthy counterparties.
| • | On November 5, 2019, the Company signed a two-year Joint Development Agreement (“JDA”) with EMRE, pursuant to which the Company will continue exclusive research and development efforts with EMRE to evaluate and develop new and/or improved carbonate fuel cells to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industrial and power sources, in exchange for (a) payment of (i) an exclusivity and technology access fee of $5.0 million, (ii) up to $45.0 million for research and development efforts, and (iii) milestone-based payments of up to $10.0 million after certain technological milestones are met, and (b) certain licenses.
As of January 31, 2020, we had 14,034,171 shares of common stock available for issuance, of which 10,275,873 shares were reserved for issuance under various convertible securities, options, and warrants, under our stock purchase and incentive plans, and under our at-the-market sales plan. The limited number of shares available for issuance limits our ability to raise capital in the equity markets and satisfy obligations with shares instead of cash, which could adversely impact our ability to fund our business and operations. We must obtain stockholder approval to increase the number of shares of common stock we are authorized to issue under our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. In our definitive proxy statement, which was filed on February 14, 2020, the Board of Directors has requested that our stockholders vote to approve a 112,500,000 increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock, which would bring the total number of authorized shares of common stock to 337,500,000. While there can be no assurances, we anticipate raising additional required capital from new and existing investors and lenders. We expect to work with lenders and financial institutions to secure long-term debt, tax equity and sale-leasebacks for our project asset portfolio as we achieve the commercial operation dates for these projects. This financing, if received, may allow the Company to recycle capital from these projects by reinvesting the capital in other projects (subject to the approval of the lenders and the Agent under the Orion Facility) and to pay down the Orion Facility over time. There can be no assurance that the Company can obtain such financing on terms acceptable to the Company or that the lenders and the Agent under the Orion Facility will consent to such financing. If the Company is unable to obtain such financing or raise additional capital, the Company may reduce its expenditures or slow its project spending. If the Company cannot obtain such financing, cannot obtain such financing on terms acceptable to the Company, or cannot obtain the necessary consents to such financing under the Orion Facility, it would negatively impact the Company’s business model, operations, and liquidity. It should also be noted that the lenders and the Agent under the Orion Facility have broad approval rights over our ability to draw, allocate and use funds from the Orion Facility, including funds in our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents accounts that are expected to be spent for project asset development and to satisfy service and maintenance obligations. We believe that our cash flows from our existing backlog, including PPAs, service agreements and Advanced Technology contracts, combined with our current unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, cash which is expected to become unrestricted upon our performance of certain milestones under our financing agreements with PNC Energy Capital, LLC (“PNC”), and available borrowings under the Orion Facility will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for at least the next 12 months.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122149 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2197479 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration