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Debt
 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2023
Debt  
Debt

Note 11. Debt

Debt as of October 31, 2023 and 2022 consisted of the following (in thousands):

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

October 31,

​

October 31,

​

    

2023

    

2022

Connecticut Green Bank Loan

​

$

—

​

$

4,800

Connecticut Green Bank Loan (Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project)

​

​

—

​

​

3,507

Liberty Bank Term Loan Agreement (Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project)

​

​

—

​

​

5,382

Fifth Third Bank Term Loan Agreement (Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project)

​

​

—

​

​

5,382

Connecticut Green Bank Loan (Subordinated Back Leverage Loan Facility)

​

​

8,000

​

​

—

Liberty Bank Loan (Senior Back Leverage Loan Facility)

​

​

5,876

​

​

—

Amalgamated Bank Loan (Senior Back Leverage Loan Facility)

​

​

5,873

​

​

—

Finance obligation for sale-leaseback transactions

​

​

18,814

​

​

56,625

State of Connecticut Loan

​

​

6,908

​

​

7,774

Finance lease obligations

​

​

12

​

​

57

OpCo Financing Facility

​

​

77,510

​

​

—

Deferred finance costs

​

​

(3,526)

​

​

(1,152)

Total debt and finance obligations

​

​

119,467

​

​

82,375

Current portion of long-term debt and finance obligations

​

​

(10,067)

​

​

(13,198)

Long-term debt and finance obligations

​

$

109,400

​

$

69,177

​

Aggregate annual principal payments under our loan agreements, finance obligation, and finance lease obligations for the years subsequent to October 31, 2023 are as follows (in thousands):

​

​

​

​

​

Year 1

    

$

10,712

Year 2

​

 

12,534

Year 3

​

 

12,475

Year 4

​

 

8,487

Year 5

​

 

9,858

Thereafter (1)

​

 

59,858

​

​

$

113,924

(1)The annual principal payments included above only include sale-leaseback payments whereas the difference between debt outstanding as of October 31, 2023 and the annual principal payments represent accreted interest and amounts included in the finance obligation that exceed required principal payments.

During fiscal year 2023, the Company entered into the OpCo Financing Facility (described below),  the proceeds of which were used, in part, to pay off (i) approximately $1.8 million of the Company’s long-term indebtedness to Connecticut Green Bank (the “Connecticut Green Bank Loan”), and (ii) all of the outstanding senior and subordinated indebtedness of the Company and/or its subsidiaries to Liberty Bank, Fifth Third Bank and Connecticut Green Bank related to the Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project. In addition, during fiscal year 2023, the Company entered into new financing facilities for the Groton Project, a portion of the proceeds of which were used to repay, in full, all of the Company’s remaining indebtedness under the Connecticut Green Bank Loan.

​

OpCo Financing Facility

​

On May 19, 2023, FuelCell Energy Opco Finance 1, LLC (“OpCo Borrower”), a wholly owned subsidiary of FuelCell Energy Finance, LLC (“FCEF”), which, in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of FuelCell Energy, Inc. (“Parent”), entered into a Financing Agreement (as amended, the “Financing Agreement”) with, by and among Investec Bank plc in its capacities as a lender (“Investec Lender”), administrative agent (“Administrative Agent”), and collateral agent (“Collateral Agent”); Investec, Inc. as coordinating lead arranger and sole bookrunner; Bank of Montreal (Chicago Branch) in its capacity as a lender (“BMO Lender”) and as mandated lead arranger; and each of Liberty Bank, Amalgamated Bank and Connecticut Green Bank as lenders (collectively with Investec Lender and BMO Lender, the “Lenders”) for a term loan facility in an amount not to exceed $80.5 million (the “Term Loan Facility” and such term loan, the “Term Loan”) and a letter of credit facility in an amount not to exceed $6.5 million (the “LC Facility” and together with the Term Loan Facility, the “OpCo Financing Facility”).

 

OpCo Borrower’s obligations under the Financing Agreement are secured by Parent’s interest in six operating fuel cell generation projects: (i) the Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project, located in Bridgeport, Connecticut; (ii) the Central CT State University Project, located in New Britain, Connecticut; (iii) the Pfizer Project, located in Groton, Connecticut; (iv) the LIPA Yaphank Project, located in Long Island, New York; (v) the Riverside Regional Water Quality Control Plant Project, located in Riverside, California; and (vi) the Santa Rita Jail Project, located in Alameda County, California (each, a “Project” and collectively, the “Projects”).

  

Immediately prior to the closing on the OpCo Financing Facility, which closing occurred on May 19, 2023, Parent caused to be transferred to OpCo Borrower all of the outstanding equity interests in: (i) Bridgeport Fuel Cell, LLC (the “Bridgeport Project Company”), the entity that owns the Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project; (ii) New Britain Renewable Energy, LLC (the “CCSU Project Company”), the entity that owns the Central CT State University Project; (iii) Groton Fuel Cell 1, LLC (the “Pfizer Project Company”), the entity that owns the Pfizer Project; (iv) Riverside Fuel Cell, LLC (the “Riverside Project Company”), the entity that owns the Riverside Regional Water Quality Control Plant Project; (v) SRJFC, LLC (the “Santa Rita Project Company”), the entity that owns the Santa Rita Jail Project; and (vi) Fuel Cell YT Holdco, LLC (the “Class B Member”), the entity that owns Parent’s Class B membership interest in YTBFC Holdco, LLC (the “Yaphank Tax Equity Partnership”), the tax equity partnership with Renewable Energy Investors, LLC (the “Class A Member”), as tax equity investor, which Yaphank Tax Equity Partnership, in turn, owns Yaphank Fuel Cell Park, LLC (the “Yaphank Project Company”), the entity that owns the LIPA Yaphank Project.

​

At the time of closing on the OpCo Financing Facility: (i) the Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project was encumbered by senior and subordinated indebtedness to Liberty Bank, Fifth Third Bank and Connecticut Green Bank in the aggregate amount of approximately $11.4 million; and (ii) the Pfizer Project, the Riverside Regional Water Quality Control Plant Project and the Santa Rita Jail Project were subject to sale and leaseback transactions and agreements with PNC Energy Capital, LLC (“PNC”) in which the lease buyout amounts, including sales taxes, were approximately $15.7 million, $3.7 million and $2.8 million, respectively. In connection with closing on the OpCo Financing Facility, all of the foregoing indebtedness and lease buyout amounts were repaid and extinguished with proceeds of the Term Loan and funds of approximately $7.3 million that were released from restricted and unrestricted reserve accounts held at PNC at the time of closing, resulting in the applicable project companies re-acquiring ownership of the three leased projects from PNC, the termination of the agreements with PNC related to the sale-leaseback transactions, and the termination of the senior and subordinated credit agreements with, the related promissory notes issued to, and the related pledge and security agreements with, Liberty Bank, Fifth Third Bank and Connecticut Green Bank related to the Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project. Further, in connection with the closing on the OpCo Financing Facility and the termination of the senior and subordinated credit agreements with Liberty Bank, Fifth Third Bank and Connecticut Green Bank related to the Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project, Fifth Third Bank and the Bridgeport Project Company agreed that the obligations arising out of the swap transactions contemplated by their related interest rate swap agreement were terminated and waived and the swap agreement was effectively terminated. In addition, in connection with closing on the OpCo Financing Facility, proceeds of the Term Loan were used to repay a portion of Parent’s long-term indebtedness to Connecticut Green Bank in the amount of approximately $1.8 million.

 

At the closing, $80.5 million, the entire amount of the Term Loan portion of the OpCo Financing Facility, was drawn down. After payment of fees and transaction costs (including fees to the Lenders and legal costs) of approximately $2.9 million in the aggregate, the remaining proceeds of approximately $77.6 million were used as follows: (i) approximately $15.0 million was used (in addition to the approximately $7.3 million released from restricted and unrestricted reserve accounts held at PNC) to pay the lease buyout amounts and sales taxes referred to above and to re-acquire the three projects owned by PNC as referred to above; (ii) approximately $11.4 million was used to extinguish the indebtedness to Liberty Bank, Fifth Third Bank, and Connecticut Green Bank relating to the Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project; (iii) approximately $1.8 million was used to repay a portion of Parent’s long-term indebtedness to Connecticut Green Bank; (iv) $14.5 million was used to fund a capital expenditure reserve account required to be maintained pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement (which is classified as restricted cash on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets); and (v) approximately $34.9 million was distributed to Parent for use as Parent determines in its sole discretion. In addition, in connection with the extinguishment of the Company’s indebtedness to Liberty Bank and Fifth Third Bank referred to above, approximately $11.2 million of restricted cash was released to the Company from Liberty Bank and Fifth Third Bank. Taking into consideration the release of such funds, the total net proceeds to the Company from these transactions were approximately $46.1 million.

 

The Term Loan portion of the OpCo Financing Facility will accrue interest on the unpaid principal amount calculated from the date of such Term Loan until the maturity date thereof at a rate per annum during each Interest Period (as defined in

the Financing Agreement) for such Term Loan equal to (A) with respect to SOFR Rate Loans, (i) the Adjusted Daily Compounded SOFR for such Interest Period with respect to SOFR Rate Loans plus (ii) the Applicable Margin, and (B) with respect to Base Rate Loans, (i) the Base Rate from time to time in effect plus (ii) the Applicable Margin (in each case as defined in the Financing Agreement). The Applicable Margin for SOFR Rate Loans is 2.5% for the first four years of the term and thereafter, 3%. The Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans is 1.5% for the first four years of the term and thereafter, 2%. At the closing, in connection with the draw down of the entire amount of the Term Loan, OpCo Borrower elected to make such draw down a SOFR Rate Loan with an initial Interest Period of three months. After the initial Interest Period of three months, OpCo Borrower may elect both the applicable Interest Period (i.e., one month, three months or six months) and whether the Term Loan will be treated as a SOFR Rate Loan or a Base Rate Loan for such Interest Period. Interest payments are required to be made quarterly.

 

Quarterly principal amortization obligations are also required to be made (based on 17-year principal amortization designed to be fully repaid in 2039), with quarterly amortization payments based on a 1.30x debt service coverage ratio sizing based on contracted cash flows (before giving effect to module replacement expenses and module replacement drawdown releases). The Term Loan has a seven-year term, maturing on May 19, 2030.

​

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement, OpCo Borrower is required to maintain a capital expenditures reserve to pay for expected module replacements. The total reserve balance is required to reach $29.0 million, $14.5 million of which was funded out of the closing advance of the Term Loan and the remainder of which is to be funded pursuant to an agreed upon funding schedule through cash flows generated by the Projects set forth in the Financing Agreement for the period of June 30, 2023 through December 31, 2029.

 

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement, OpCo Borrower is required to maintain a debt service reserve of not less than six months of the scheduled principal and interest payments. The letter of credit component of the OpCo Financing Facility is for the purpose of obtaining letters of credit to satisfy such obligation; at the closing, an Irrevocable Letter of Credit was issued by Investec Bank plc as the issuing bank in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in the amount of $6.5 million to satisfy the debt service reserve funding obligation.

​

Pursuant to the Financing Agreement, within 30 days of the financial close of the Financing Agreement, OpCo Borrower was required to enter into one or more hedge transactions, with a Lender or an affiliate thereof pursuant to one or more interest rate agreements, to hedge OpCo Borrower’s interest rate exposure relating to the Term Loan from floating to fixed. Such hedge transactions are required to be in effect at all times during the entire amortization period and have an aggregate notional amount subject to the hedge transactions at any time equal to at least 75% and no more than 105% of the aggregate principal balance of the Term Loan outstanding (taking into account scheduled amortization of the Term Loan).

 

Upon closing, on May 19, 2023, OpCo Borrower entered into an ISDA 2002 Master Agreement (the “Investec Master Agreement”) and an ISDA Schedule to the 2002 Master Agreement (the “Investec Schedule”) with Investec Bank plc as a hedge provider, and an ISDA 2002 Master Agreement (the “BMO Master Agreement”) and an ISDA Schedule to the 2002 Master Agreement (the “BMO Schedule”) with Bank of Montreal (Chicago Branch) as a hedge provider. On May 22, 2023, OpCo Borrower executed the related trade confirmations for these interest rate swap agreements with these hedge providers to protect against adverse price movements in the floating SOFR rate associated with 100% of the aggregate principal balance of the Term Loan outstanding. Pursuant to the terms of such agreements, OpCo Borrower will pay a fixed rate of interest of 3.716%. The net interest rate across the Financing Agreement and the swap transaction is 6.366% in the first four years and 6.866% thereafter. The obligations of OpCo Borrower to the hedge providers under the interest rate swap agreements are treated as obligations under the Financing Agreement and, accordingly, are secured, on a pari passu basis, by the same collateral securing the obligations of OpCo Borrower under the Financing Agreement, which collateral is described below. The Company has not elected hedge accounting treatment and, as a result, the derivative will be remeasured to fair value quarterly, with the resulting gains/losses recorded to other income/expense. The fair value adjustments for the year ended October 31, 2023 resulted in a gain of $3.3 million.

​

The Financing Agreement contains certain reporting requirements and other affirmative and negative covenants which are customary for transactions of this type. Included in the covenants are covenants that: (i) the Yaphank Project Company obtain ongoing three year extensions of its current gas agreement; (ii) any annual operating expense budget that exceeds 115% of the Base Case Model (as defined in the Financing Agreement) for that year be approved by the Required Lenders (i.e., Lenders constituting more than 50% of the amounts loaned); (iii) OpCo Borrower maintain a debt service coverage ratio of not less than 1.20:1.00 (based on the trailing 12 months and tested every six months); and (iv) the Class B Member is required to exercise its option to purchase the Class A Member’s interest in the Yaphank Tax Equity Partnership during

the six month period following the “Flip Point” as set forth in the limited liability company agreement for the Yaphank Tax Equity Partnership. The Financing Agreement also contains customary representations and warranties and customary events of default that cause, or entitle the Lenders to cause, the outstanding loans under the Financing Agreement to become immediately due and payable.

 

The Term Loan may be prepaid at any time at the option of OpCo Borrower without premium or penalty other than any “liquidation costs” if such prepayment occurs other than at the end of an Interest Period. In addition, there are certain mandatory repayments required under the Financing Agreement, including in connection with any sale or disposition of all of the Projects or of any of the LIPA Yaphank Project, the Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project or the Pfizer Project. If the Company disposes of any of the Riverside Regional Water Quality Control Plant Project, the Santa Rita Jail Project or the Central CT State University Project, OpCo Borrower is required to prepay an amount of the Term Loan based on the then stipulated value of the disposed Project.

​

Simultaneously with OpCo Borrower entering into the Financing Agreement, FCEF (as pledgor), OpCo Borrower and each of the Bridgeport Project Company, the Pfizer Project Company, the Riverside Project Company, the Santa Rita Project Company, the CCSU Project Company and the Class B Member, each as a subsidiary grantor party and guarantor, entered into an Omnibus Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement (the “Security Agreement”) with Investec Bank plc as Collateral Agent, pursuant to which, as collateral for the Term Loan Facility, the LC Facility and the hedge agreements (i) FCEF granted to Collateral Agent a security interest in all of FCEF’s equity interest in OpCo Borrower; (ii) OpCo Borrower granted to Collateral Agent a security interest in all of OpCo Borrower’s assets consisting of its equity interests in the Bridgeport Project Company, the Pfizer Project Company, the Riverside Project Company, the Santa Rita Project Company, the CCSU Project Company and the Class B Member; (iii) each of the Bridgeport Project Company, the Pfizer Project Company, the Riverside Project Company, the Santa Rita Project Company and the CCSU Project Company granted to Collateral Agent a security interest in all of each such entity’s assets consisting principally of the respective generation facilities and project agreements; and (iv) the Class B Member granted to Collateral Agent a security interest in all of such Class B Member’s assets, consisting principally of its equity interest in the Yaphank Tax Equity Partnership. Pursuant to the Security Agreement, each of the subsidiary grantor parties jointly and severally guaranteed payment of all of the obligations secured by the Security Agreement.

 

Simultaneously with the execution of the Financing Agreement, OpCo Borrower, Investec Bank plc as Collateral Agent and Administrative Agent and Liberty Bank as Depositary Agent entered into a Depositary Agreement (the “Depositary Agreement”) pursuant to which OpCo Borrower established certain accounts at Liberty Bank, all of which were pledged to Collateral Agent as security for the Term Loan Facility, the LC Facility and the hedge agreements, including a Revenue Account; a Debt Service Reserve Account; a Redemption Account (for prepayments); a Capital Expenditure Reserve Account; and a Distribution Reserve Account (in each case as defined in the Depositary Agreement). Pursuant to the terms of the Financing Agreement and the Depositary Agreement, OpCo Borrower may make quarterly distributions to FCEF and Parent provided that: (i) no Event of Default or Default (in each case as defined in the Financing Agreement) exists under the OpCo Financing Facility; (ii) all reserve accounts have been funded; (iii) no letter of credit loans or unpaid drawings are outstanding with regard to any drawn down letter of credit under the LC Facility; (iv) OpCo Borrower has maintained a greater than 1.20:1.00 debt service coverage ratio for the immediate 12 month period; and (v) no Cash Diversion Event (i.e., certain events that would adversely impact distributions to the Class B Member in connection with the LIPA Yaphank Project, as further defined in the Financing Agreement) has occurred. Beginning with the quarter ending June 2025 and continuing until the quarter ending March 2026, prior to making contributions to the Debt Service Reserve Account or the Capital Expenditure Reserve Account or having funds available for distribution, out of operating cash flow, OpCo Borrower is required to make a quarterly payment to the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Lenders) in the amount of $675,000 per quarter to be applied to outstanding principal.

​

Back Leverage Financing

On August 18, 2023, FuelCell Energy Finance Holdco, LLC (“Holdco Borrower”), a wholly owned subsidiary of FCEF, which, in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, entered into: (i) a Credit Agreement (the “Senior Back Leverage Credit Agreement”) with, by and among Liberty Bank, in its capacities as a lender (“Liberty Lender”), administrative agent (the “Senior Administrative Agent”), and lead arranger, and Amalgamated Bank, in its capacity as a lender (“Amalgamated Lender” and, collectively with Liberty Lender, the “Senior Back Leverage Lenders”), for a term loan facility in an amount not to exceed an aggregate of $12.0 million to be provided 50% by Liberty Lender and 50% by Amalgamated Lender (such facility, the “Senior Back Leverage Loan Facility,” each such term loan, a “Senior Back Leverage Loan” and such term loans together, the “Senior Back Leverage Loans”); and (ii) a Credit Agreement (the “Subordinated Back Leverage Credit Agreement”) with Connecticut Green Bank, as administrative agent (the

“Subordinated Administrative Agent”) and lender (“Subordinated Back Leverage Lender”), for a term loan facility in an amount not to exceed $8.0 million (such facility, the “Subordinated Back Leverage Loan Facility” and such term loan, the “Subordinated Back Leverage Loan”). The Senior Back Leverage Lenders and the Subordinated Back Leverage Lender are referred to collectively as the “Back Leverage Lenders.”

Holdco Borrower’s obligations under the Senior Back Leverage Credit Agreement and the Subordinated Back Leverage Credit Agreement are secured by a lien on all of Holdco Borrower’s assets, consisting principally of its Class B Member Interests (the “Class B Interests”) in Groton Station Fuel Cell Holdco, LLC (the “Groton Tax Equity Holdco”).  Class A Membership Interests (the “Class A Interests”) in the Groton Tax Equity Holdco are held by East West Bank.  Holdco Borrower is also the Managing Member of the Groton Tax Equity Holdco.  The Groton Tax Equity Holdco’s primary asset is ownership of all of the outstanding equity interests in Groton Station Fuel Cell, LLC (the “Groton Project Company”).  The Groton Project Company, in turn, is the owner of the fuel cell power plant at the U.S. Navy Submarine Base New London located in Groton, Connecticut (the “Groton Project”).  As additional context concerning the relationship among the parties with respect to the Senior Back Leverage Loan Facility and the Subordinated Back Leverage Loan Facility more fully described below, on December 16, 2022, the Groton Project Company and Parent entered into an Amended and Restated Power Purchase Agreement (the “Amended and Restated PPA”) with Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (“CMEEC”), pursuant to which the Groton Project Company agreed to sell to CMEEC, and CMEEC agreed to purchase from the Groton Project Company, all of the  electricity output produced by the Groton Project pursuant to the terms and conditions  of the Amended and Restated PPA.

​

At the closing (the “Closing”) of each of the Senior Back Leverage Loan Facility and the Subordinated Back Leverage Loan Facility, which occurred simultaneously on August 18, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), the entire amount of each of the Senior Back Leverage Loan Facility and the Subordinated Back Leverage Loan Facility was drawn down in the aggregate amount of $20.0 million.  After payment of fees and transaction costs (including fees to the Back Leverage Lenders and legal costs) of approximately $0.4 million in the aggregate, the remaining proceeds of approximately $19.6 million were used as follows: (i) approximately $1.7 million was used to fund debt service reserve accounts (“DSCR Reserve Accounts”) for the Senior Back Leverage Lenders in equal amounts of approximately $0.83 million for Liberty Lender and approximately $0.83 million for Amalgamated Lender; (ii) approximately $6.5 million was used to fund operations and maintenance and module replacement reserve accounts for the Senior Back Leverage Lenders in equal amounts of approximately $3.25 million for Liberty Lender and approximately $3.25 million for Amalgamated Lender; (iii) approximately $0.3 million was used to fund a DSCR Reserve Account for the Subordinated Back Leverage Lender; and (iv) the remaining amount of approximately $11.1 million was released to Parent from the Back Leverage Lenders. As discussed in additional detail below, simultaneous with the Closing, a portion of the proceeds were used to: (a) make Output Shortfall Payments (which are cash payments required to be made by the Groton Project Company in the event that the Groton Project produces electricity in any year less than the minimum required amount for such year) totaling approximately $1.3 million, which were deposited into a payment reserve account, and (b) pay approximately $3.0 million to Connecticut Green Bank, which represented payment, in full, of all outstanding obligations under Parent’s loan agreement with Connecticut Green Bank. After taking into account such Output Shortfall Payments and such payment to Connecticut Green Bank, approximately $6.8 million will be classified as unrestricted cash on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The portion of the Senior Back Leverage Loan provided by Liberty Lender will accrue interest on the unpaid principal amount calculated from the date of such Senior Back Leverage Loan until the maturity date at a rate per annum equal to 6.75%.  The portion of the Senior Back Leverage Loan provided by Amalgamated Lender will accrue interest on the unpaid principal amount calculated from the date of such Senior Back Leverage Loan until the maturity date thereof at 6.07% during all times at which a “Carbon Offset Event” is not continuing and 7.32% at all times at which a “Carbon Offset Event” has occurred and is continuing.  A “Carbon Offset Event” is deemed to occur if Holdco Borrower, Parent or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof does not purchase carbon offsets from an Acceptable Carbon Offset Provider (as defined below) each fiscal year in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the Annual Carbon Offset Requirement for such fiscal year, which is derived based on a formula equal to the outstanding balance of the Senior Back Leverage Loan provided by Amalgamated Lender multiplied by the Groton Project’s annual carbon emissions for such year and divided by the total project costs of the Groton Project, and (ii) the Annual Carbon Offset Cap for such fiscal year, which is $12.66 multiplied by the Annual Carbon Offset Requirement and divided by the Carbon Offset Price for such fiscal year. The “Carbon Offset Price” means the price, per metric ton of carbon dioxide, of the carbon offsets available for purchase from an Acceptable Carbon Offset Provider. An “Acceptable Carbon Offset Provider” is either Climate Vault or any other seller of carbon offsets acceptable to Amalgamated Lender.

Quarterly principal amortization and interest payments are required to be made by Holdco Borrower on the Senior Back Leverage Loans based on a ten-year amortization period.  The Senior Back Leverage Loans have a seven-year term, maturing on August 18, 2030, at which time all outstanding principal is due.

The Subordinated Back Leverage Loan will accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to 8% for the period of time prior to the “Step Down Date” and, after the “Step Down Date,” at the lesser of 8% or the interest rate on a 10 year U.S. Treasury Note plus 275 basis points (subject to a minimum floor of 5% per annum).  The “Step Down Date” is the date on which both of the following events have occurred: Holdco Borrower has purchased East West Bank’s Class A Interests in the Groton Tax Equity Holdco and the Senior Back Leverage Loans have been repaid in full.  Interest is payable each quarter based on an agreed upon schedule.

Pursuant to the Subordinated Back Leverage Loan Facility, during the “Interest Only Period” (as defined below), Holdco Borrower is required to make quarterly payments of principal in amounts equal to 50% of excess cash flow available to Holdco Borrower.  For purposes of the foregoing, excess cash flow is all excess cash flow of Holdco Borrower after the payment of required principal and interest on the Senior Back Leverage Loans, required deposits in the various reserve accounts, the payment of interest on the Subordinated Back Leverage Loan and payment of Holdco Borrower’s operating expenses.  Following the end of the “Interest Only Period,” principal and interest payments are required to be made quarterly in quarterly level payments (“mortgage style”) of principal and interest until the maturity date, which is the first to occur of 20 years following the Groton Project’s commercial operations date and termination of the Amended and Restated PPA.  The maturity date of the Subordinated Back Leverage Loan Facility is currently contemplated to be September 30, 2038.  The “Interest Only Period” is the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending the first to occur of (i) eighty-four months after the Closing Date; or (ii) the date the Senior Back Leverage Loan Facility has been fully repaid.

Each of the Senior Back Leverage Credit Agreement and the Subordinated Back Leverage Credit Agreement contains certain reporting requirements and other affirmative and negative covenants which are customary for transactions of this type. Included in the covenants are covenants that: (i) Holdco Borrower maintain a “Senior” debt service coverage ratio (which is computed taking into account debt service obligations on the Senior Back Leverage Loans) of not less than 1.20:1.00 (based on the trailing 12 months and tested every quarter) and a “Total” debt service coverage ratio (which is computed taking into account debt service obligations on both the Senior Back Leverage Loans and the Subordinated Back Leverage Loan) of not less than 1.10:1.00 (based on the trailing 12 months and tested on a quarterly basis); (ii) Holdco Borrower may make distributions or dividends only if the foregoing debt to equity coverage ratios have been satisfied and Holdco Borrower is not in default under any provisions of either the Senior Back Leverage Credit Agreement or the Subordinated Back Leverage Credit Agreement, including having made all required deposits into reserve accounts; (iii) Holdco Borrower is required to exercise its right under the Groton Tax Equity Holdco limited liability company agreement to acquire the Class A Interests from East West Bank during the ninety day period beginning on the “Flip Point” (which, pursuant to the Groton Tax Equity Holdco limited liability company agreement, is the date on which the holder of Class A Interests has realized a certain return on investment and, accordingly, Holdco Borrower, as holder of the Class B Interests, has the right to purchase the Class A Interests); and (iv) the consent of the Senior Administrative Agent is required prior to Holdco Borrower’s taking certain material actions under the Groton Tax Equity Holdco limited liability company agreement. Each of the Senior Back Leverage Credit Agreement and the Subordinated Back Leverage Credit Agreement also contains customary representations and warranties and customary events of default that cause, or entitle the Back Leverage Lenders to cause, the outstanding loans to become immediately due and payable.  In addition to customary events of default for transactions of this kind, the events of default include if a Change of Control occurs (meaning Parent no longer directly or indirectly owns Holdco Borrower), a cross default (meaning that a default under the Senior Back Leverage Loan Facility shall be deemed a default under the Subordinated Back Leverage Loan Facility and vice versa) or if CMEEC should become insolvent, is in bankruptcy or commits a specified number of payment defaults with regard to its payment obligations to the Groton Project Company.

The Senior Back Leverage Loans may be prepaid at any time at the option of Holdco Borrower provided that (i) each prepayment on or prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date shall require a prepayment fee of 3% of the principal amount being prepaid; (ii) each prepayment after the second anniversary of the Closing Date but on or prior to the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date shall require a prepayment fee of 2% of the principal amount being prepaid; and (iii) each prepayment after the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date but on or prior to the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date

shall require a prepayment fee of 1% of the principal amount being prepaid. The Subordinated Back Leverage Loan may be prepaid at any time without premium or penalty.

Orion Energy Partners Investment Agent, LLC Credit Agreement

On October 31, 2019, the Company and certain of its affiliates as guarantors entered into a Credit Agreement (as amended, the “Orion Credit Agreement”) with Orion Energy Partners Investment Agent, LLC, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (the “Orion Agent ”), and certain lenders affiliated with the Orion Agent for a $200.0 million senior secured credit facility (the “Orion Facility”). On November 30, 2020, the Company, its subsidiary guarantors, and the Orion Agent entered into a payoff letter with respect to the Orion Credit Agreement (the “Orion Payoff Letter”). Pursuant to the Orion Payoff Letter, on December 7, 2020, the Company paid a total of $87.3 million to the Orion Agent, representing the outstanding principal, accrued but unpaid interest, prepayment premium, fees, costs and other expenses due and owing under the Orion Facility and the Orion Credit Agreement and related loan documents, in full repayment of the Company’s outstanding indebtedness under the Orion Facility and the Orion Credit Agreement and related loan documents. In accordance with the Orion Payoff Letter, the aggregate prepayment premium set forth in the Orion Credit Agreement was reduced from approximately $14.9 million to $4.0 million and the Orion Agent, on behalf of itself and the lenders, agreed that any portion of the prepayment premium that would otherwise be required to be paid pursuant to the Orion Credit Agreement in excess of $4.0 million was waived by the Orion Agent and the lenders. The Company expensed the remaining deferred finance costs and debt discount of $7.1 million. The Company classified the $4.0 million prepayment premium and the deferred finance costs and debt discount expense as loss in Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt and finance obligations on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.

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Connecticut Green Bank Loans

The outstanding balance under the Company’s long term loan agreement with the Connecticut Green Bank related to the Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project of $4.8 million was paid off in full during fiscal year 2023 (refer to the sections above entitled “OpCo Financing Facility” and “Back-Leverage Financing” for additional information regarding the payoffs).

Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project Loans

The outstanding balance of $3.5 million under the subordinated credit agreement with Connecticut Green Bank (which was entered into in May 2019 in connection with the closing of the purchase of the 14.9 MW Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project) was paid off on May 19, 2023 using a portion of the proceeds received from the OpCo Financing Facility. In addition, the outstanding balance of an aggregate of $8.4 million under the senior credit agreement with Liberty Bank and Fifth Third Bank (which was entered into in May 2019 in connection with the closing of the purchase of the 14.9 MW Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project) was paid off on May 19, 2023 using a portion of the proceeds received from the OpCo Financing Facility.

In addition, the May 2019 interest rate swap agreement with Fifth Third Bank, which was entered into in connection with the May 2019 senior credit agreement with Liberty Bank and Fifth Third Bank and the May 2019 subordinated credit agreement with Connecticut Green Bank (each of which was entered into in connection with the purchase of the Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project), was terminated during the year ended October 31, 2023 in connection with the payoff of the senior and subordinated indebtedness of the Company to Liberty Bank, Fifth Third Bank and Connecticut Green Bank related to the Bridgeport Fuel Cell Project (as discussed above).

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Finance obligations for sale-leaseback agreements

Several of the Company’s project subsidiaries previously entered into sale-leaseback agreements with PNC and Crestmark for commissioned projects where the Company had entered into a PPA with the site host/end-user of produced power.  The Company did not recognize as revenue any of the proceeds received from the lessor that contractually constitute payments to acquire the assets subject to these arrangements. Instead, the sale proceeds received were accounted for as finance obligations. The outstanding finance obligation balance as of October 31, 2023 and 2022 was $18.8 million and $56.6 million, respectively. The decrease in the balance reflects the extinguishment of the sale-leasebacks for the PNC owned projects (refer to the section above entitled “OpCo Financing Facility” for more information on the lease buyouts). The outstanding finance obligation for the remaining leases includes $9.1 million in excess of future required payments which represents imputed interest, not including amounts for the potential repurchase price of the project assets which is based on fair value. The sale-leaseback arrangements with Crestmark include a purchase right for the greater of fair market value or 31% of the purchase price.

State of Connecticut Loan

In November 2015, the Company closed on a definitive Assistance Agreement with the State of Connecticut (the “Assistance Agreement”) and received a disbursement of $10.0 million, which was used for the first phase of the expansion of the Company’s Torrington, Connecticut manufacturing facility. In conjunction with this financing, the Company entered into a $10.0 million promissory note and related security agreements securing the loan with equipment liens and a mortgage on its Danbury, Connecticut location. Interest accrues at a fixed interest rate of 2.0%, and the loan is repayable over 15 years from the date of the first advance, which occurred in November of 2015. Principal payments were deferred for four years from disbursement and began on December 1, 2019. Under the Assistance Agreement, the Company was eligible for up to $5.0 million in loan forgiveness if the Company created 165 full-time positions and retained 538 full-time positions for two consecutive years (as amended from time to time, the “Employment Obligation”) as measured on October 28, 2017 (as amended from time to time, the “Target Date”). The Assistance Agreement was subsequently amended in April 2017 to extend the Target Date by two years to October 28, 2019.

In January 2019, the Company and the State of Connecticut entered into a Second Amendment to the Assistance Agreement (the “Second Amendment”). The Second Amendment extended the Target Date to October 31, 2022 and amended the Employment Obligation to require the Company to continuously maintain a minimum of 538 full-time positions for 24 consecutive months. If the Company met the Employment Obligation, as modified by the Second Amendment, and created an additional 91 full-time positions, the Company would have received a credit in the amount of $2.0 million to be applied against the outstanding balance of the loan. The Second Amendment deleted and canceled the provisions of the Assistance Agreement related to the second phase of the expansion project and the loans related thereto, but the Company had not drawn any funds or received any disbursements under those provisions.

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In April 2023, the Company signed a Third Amendment to the Assistance Agreement (the “Third Amendment”).  The Third Amendment was approved by the State of Connecticut Office of Attorney General on May 18, 2023, and the State of Connecticut Office of Attorney General released, and the Company received, the countersigned Third Amendment on May 24, 2023, at which time the Third Amendment became effective. The Third Amendment further extended the Target Date to October 31, 2024 and amended the Employment Obligation to require the Company to retain 538 full-time positions in Connecticut on or before October 31, 2024 and to maintain such positions for 24 consecutive months. The 24 consecutive month period ending on or before the Target Date (as extended by the Third Amendment) that yields the highest annual average positions will be used to determine compliance with the amended Employment Obligation, provided that no portion of such 24 consecutive months may begin before the date of the Third Amendment. The Third Amendment also requires the Company to furnish a job audit (the “Job Audit”) to the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development (the “Commissioner”) no later than 90 days following the 24-month period described above.  

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If, as a result of the Job Audit, the Commissioner determines that the Company has failed to meet the Employment Obligation (as amended by the Third Amendment), the Company will be required to immediately repay a penalty of $14,225.00 per each full-time employment position below the amended Employment Obligation. The amount repaid will be applied first to any outstanding fees, penalties or interest due, and then against the outstanding balance of the loan.

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If, as a result of the Job Audit, the Commissioner determines that the Company has met the amended Employment Obligation and has created an additional 91 full-time employment positions, for a total of 629 full-time employees, the Company may receive a credit in the amount of $2.0 million, which will be applied against the then-outstanding principal balance of the loan. Upon application of such credit, the Commissioner will recalculate the monthly payments of principal and interest such that such monthly payments shall amortize the then remaining principal balance over the remaining term of loan.

In April of 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Connecticut agreed to defer three months of principal and interest payments under the Assistance Agreement, beginning with the May 2020 payment. These deferred payments will be added at the end of the loan, thus extending out the maturity date by three months.

Deferred Finance Costs

As of October 31, 2023, deferred finance costs related primarily to sale-leaseback transactions entered into with Crestmark, which are being amortized over the 10-year terms of the lease agreements, and payments under the OpCo Financing Facility, the Subordinated Back Leverage Loan Facility, and the Subordinated Back Leverage Loan Facility, which are being amortized using the effective interest rate method. Any deferred finance costs remaining during fiscal year 2023

which related to the debt payoffs mentioned above were written off as a loss on extinguishment of finance obligations and debt.