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Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation | 9 Months Ended
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Jul. 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. Founded in 1969, FuelCell Energy is a manufacturer of fuel cell clean power platforms delivering power and thermal energy and capable of delivering hydrogen, long-duration hydrogen energy storage, and carbon capture applications. FuelCell Energy is focused on growing its global presence in delivering environmentally-responsible distributed baseload power solutions through its 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 platform. We are working to expand the proprietary technologies that we have developed over the past five decades into new product platforms, applications, markets and geographies. Our mission and purpose is to utilize our proprietary, state-of-the-art fuel cell platforms to enable a world empowered by clean energy and contribute to climate change mitigation. FuelCell Energy’s platforms are capable of reducing the global environmental footprint of baseload power generation by providing environmentally responsible solutions for reliable electrical power, distributed hydrogen, electrolysis, long-duration hydrogen-based energy storage, carbon capture, microgrid applications, hot water, steam, and chilling. 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 and nine months ended July 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, share-based compensation expense, fair value measurements, allowance for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization, impairment of goodwill and 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 depend 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 budget overages or the total cost of the projects, (ii) increase cash flows from its generation portfolio, including by meeting conditions required to timely commence operation of new projects, operating its generation portfolio in compliance with minimum performance guarantees and operating its generation portfolio in accordance with revenue expectations, (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, or obtain other financing, (iv) obtain permanent financing for its projects once constructed, (v) increase order and contract volumes, which would lead to additional product sales, services agreements and generation revenues, (vi) 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, (vii) implement the cost reductions necessary to achieve profitable operations and (viii) access the capital markets to raise funds through the sale of equity securities, convertible notes, other equity-linked instruments and/or other debt instruments. Our business model requires substantial outside financing arrangements and satisfaction of the conditions of such financing arrangements to construct and deploy our projects and facilitate the growth of our business. We may seek to obtain such financing in both the debt and equity markets. If financing is not available to us on acceptable terms if and when needed, or on terms acceptable to us or our lenders, if we do not satisfy the conditions of our financing arrangements, if we spend more than the financing approved for projects, if project costs exceed an amount that the Company can finance, or if we do not generate sufficient revenues or obtain capital sufficient for our corporate needs, we may be required to reduce planned spending, reduce staffing, sell assets, seek alternative financing and take other measures, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operations. There are indicators that substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern exists, including, but not limited to, historical losses and negative cash flows, increasing costs of debt financing, restrictive debt covenants and restrictions imposed by the Company’s current lenders, limited availability of assets to support borrowing that have not already been pledged to existing lenders, and the need for additional financing to carry out the Company’s business plans. When indicators of substantial doubt exist, GAAP requires management to make an assessment of whether substantial doubt is alleviated by management’s plans. Even though equity and debt financings and other sources of funds may be available in the future, when assessing whether substantial doubt is alleviated, management is not able to place reliance on uncommitted sources of financing. As of the date of these financial statements, management assessed the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern through analysis of existing cash on hand, expected receipts under existing agreements, and release of short-term restricted cash less expected disbursements over the next twelve months and expects that the Company will meet its obligations for at least one year from the date of issuance of these financial statements (assuming that there are no extraordinary or unanticipated impacts to its business as a result of COVID-19 or otherwise). Execution of the Company’s business plan will require additional financing or other measures to generate cash inflows and reduce cash outflows as early as the expected filing of the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2020 in order to alleviate substantial doubt in future periods. The key agreements which have impacted and may in the future impact the Company’s liquidity position include:
| • | Orion Facility and the Fifth Orion Amendment.
On October 31, 2019, the Company and certain of its affiliates as guarantors entered into a Credit Agreement (as amended from time to time, the “Orion Credit Agreement”) 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, for a $200.0 million senior secured credit facility (the “Orion Facility”). The Orion Facility is structured as a delayed draw term loan to be provided by the lenders primarily to fund certain of the Company’s construction and related costs for fuel cell projects which meet the requirements of the Orion Facility. 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, up to $120.0 million, over the first 18 months following the Initial Funding and subject to the Agent’s approval, to fund project-related expenses consisting of: (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. Except as may be approved by the Agent and the lenders under the Orion Facility (and except as provided in the Fifth Orion Amendment), the Company cannot use the Orion Facility to fund its working capital or other expenses at the corporate level. On June 8, 2020, the Company and certain of its affiliates as guarantors entered into a fifth amendment to the Orion Credit Agreement with the Agent and the lenders (the “Fifth Orion Amendment”). Pursuant to the terms of the Fifth Orion Amendment and the amended Orion Credit Agreement, the lenders have committed to make available certain delayed-draw loans to the Company in an aggregate principal amount of up to $35 million (the “Secondary Facility Loans”) between the execution date and September 14, 2020. Such Secondary Facility Loans may be used for general corporate purposes of the Company or the guarantors in accordance with either (i) the then effective operating budget of the Company or the guarantors or (ii) the cash use forecast delivered by the Company to the Agent on June 6, 2020. Any draws under the Secondary Facility Loans must be repaid by September 1, 2021. As of September 10, 2020, the Company has not made any draws under the Secondary Facility Loans. The lenders and the Agent under the Orion Facility have broad approval rights over the Company’s ability to raise additional capital, obtain other debt financing, and draw, allocate and use funds from the Orion Facility. If the Company is unable to obtain such approvals when the Company seeks to raise additional capital, obtain other debt financing, or use funds under the Orion Facility, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operations.
| • | EMRE Joint Development Agreement.
On November 5, 2019, the Company signed a two-year Joint Development Agreement 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 capture and 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.
| • | Paycheck Protection Program Loan.
On April 20, 2020, the Company entered into a Paycheck Protection Program Promissory Note, dated April 16, 2020 (the “PPP Note”), evidencing a loan to the Company from Liberty Bank under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). Pursuant to the PPP Note, the Company received total proceeds of approximately $6.5 million on April 24, 2020. In accordance with the requirements of the CARES Act, as amended by the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (the “PPP Flexibility Act”), at least 60% of the proceeds used by the Company were used to pay eligible payroll costs. Under the requirements of the CARES Act, as amended by the PPP Flexibility Act, the loan may be fully forgiven if (i) proceeds are used to pay eligible payroll costs, rent, mortgage interest and utilities and (ii) full-time employee headcount and salaries are either maintained during the 24-week period following disbursement or restored by December 31, 2020. Any forgiveness of the loan will be subject to approval by the U.S. Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) and Liberty Bank and will require the Company to apply for such treatment in the future. In order to obtain the consent of the Agent and the lenders under the Orion Facility to enter into the PPP Note, the Agent and the lenders have required the Company to apply for forgiveness within 30 days after the last day of the loan forgiveness period as designated under the PPP regulations in effect as of June 6, 2020. While the Company may apply for forgiveness of the PPP Note in accordance with the requirements and limitations under the CARES Act, as amended by the PPP Flexibility Act, and the SBA regulations and requirements, no assurance can be given that any portion of the PPP Note will be forgiven.
| • | Open Market Sale Agreement.
On June 16, 2020, the Company entered into an Open Market Sale Agreement (the “Open Market Sale Agreement”) with Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”), with respect to an at the market offering program under which the Company may offer and sell up to $75 million of shares of the Company’s common stock from time to time. From the date of the Open Market Sale Agreement through August 6, 2020, 28.3 million shares were sold under the Open Market Sale Agreement at an average sales price per share of $2.55, resulting in gross proceeds of $72.3 million, before deducting expenses and sales commissions. Commissions of $2.2 million were paid to Jefferies in connection with these sales, resulting in net proceeds to the Company of approximately $70.1 million. As the Company has sold $72.3 million of common stock under the Open Market Sale Agreement as of September 10, 2020, it may sell up to approximately $2.7 million of shares in the future under the Open Market Sale Agreement. The Company’s cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash consist of (a) restricted cash and cash equivalents, which consist of amounts pledged as performance security, reserved for future debt service requirements, reserved for letters of credit for certain banking requirements and contracts and reserved to pay down the Orion Facility which can be accessed or redeployed into other project financing at the option of and only with the approval of the lenders and the Agent under the Orion Facility or other lenders or third parties; (b) project cash and cash equivalents, which consist of amounts borrowed under the Orion Facility which can be used only by our consolidated wholly-owned project subsidiaries in the normal course of operations for project construction, purchase of equipment (including inventory from FuelCell Energy, Inc.) and working capital for projects approved under the Orion Facility in accordance with each project’s construction budget and schedule and which are classified as unrestricted cash on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets; and (c) unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, which can be used by the Company for general corporate purposes, including working capital at the corporate level. Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, as presented on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, consist of the amounts described in (b) and (c) above. As of July 31, 2020, unrestricted cash and cash equivalents totaled $66.3 million compared to $9.4 million as of October 31, 2019. Of this amount, project cash and cash equivalents funded under the Orion Facility totaled $16.2 million as of July 31, 2020 compared to $0 as of October 31, 2019. Excluding project cash and cash equivalents, unrestricted cash and cash equivalents totaled $50.1 million as of July 31, 2020 compared to $9.4 million as of October 31, 2019. In future periods, the Company expects to seek lower-cost long-term debt and tax equity (e.g., sale-leaseback and partnership transactions) for its project asset portfolio as these projects commence commercial operations. The proceeds of any such financing, if obtained, may allow the Company to fund other fuel cell projects (subject to the approval of the lenders and the Agent under the Orion Facility) and/or pay down the outstanding principal balance of the Orion Facility. 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. The Company may also seek to raise funds through the sale of equity securities, convertible notes, other equity-linked instruments and/or other debt instruments. If the Company is unable to obtain such financing or raise additional capital, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operations, and could require the Company to reduce its expenditures or slow its project spending.

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