SEC Company Response from FUELCELL ENERGY (FCEL) — Aug 31, 2006
FUELCELL ENERGY INC
Date: Aug. 31, 2006 · CIK: 0000886128 · Accession: 0001144204-06-036596
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File numbers found in text: 001-14204
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CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
Unassociated Document
Richard
A. Krantz
Financial
Centre
695
East Main Street
P.O.
Box 10305
Stamford,
CT 06904-2305
Main
(203) 462-7500
Fax
(203) 462-7599
rkrantz@rc.com
Direct
(203) 462-7505
Also
admitted in New York
and
Massachusetts
August
31, 2006
Ms.
Kate
Tillan
Assistant
Chief Accountant
United
States Securities and Exchange Commission
450
Fifth
Street, N.W.
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Re:
FuelCell Energy
Inc.
Form 10-K for the year ended
October
31, 2005
Filed January 17,
2006
File No.
001-14204
Dear
Ms.
Tillan:
This
correspondence is in response to the Staff’s request to receive in writing the
prepared remarks of FuelCel Energy, Inc.(“FuelCell”) on the August 30, 2006
conference call between FuelCell and the Staff.
Those
remarks included discussion of the following:
1.
A
review of the history of the Enbridge, Inc. Preferred stock (from
issuance
by Global Thermoelectric Inc. in 2000 to
present).
2.
Discussion
of the answers to the factual questions posed by the SEC Staff on
August
16th&
18th
2006 conference calls.
3.
A
review of the following Preferred stock and guarantee accounting
considerations:
§
Consolidation
of Global and FuelCell Energy, Ltd.
§
Presentation
of Series 1 Preferred as equity vs. minority
interest
§
Equity
vs. debt characteristics of Series 1 Preferred
§
Analysis
of the guarantee under FAS 133
§
Temporary
vs. permanent equity classification of the Series 1
Preferred
Ms.
Kate
Tillan
Securities
and Exchange Commission
August
31, 2006
Page
2
1. History
of the Enbridge, Inc. Preferred Stock
In
July 2000,
Global
Thermoelectric Inc. (“Global”) entered
into a Joint Development Agreement (“JDA”) with Enbridge Inc. (“Enbridge”) to
develop solid oxide fuel cell products (“SOFC”) suitable
for the on-site supply of electric power and heating to homes. Under the terms
of the JDA, Enbridge had exclusive distribution rights in Canada of the
residential fuel cell products if developed. Also, under the terms of this
alliance with Enbridge, Global issued Cumulative Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Shares, Series 2 ( “Series 2 Preferred Shares”) for gross proceeds of
Cdn$25.0 million which were used to fund technology, design and product
development work. Global accounted for the Preferred issuance as permanent
equity with Face Value of Cdn. $25 million. In periods subsequent to July 2000,
Global saw significant declines in its market cap and began considering
strategic alternatives for the company.
In
the Summer of 2003,
FuelCell
made a formal offer to the Board of Global to acquire Global. FuelCell,
in a letter agreement and discussions with Enbridge, offered to guarantee the
minimum dividend of Cdn.$500 thousand per year under the terms of the Series
2
Preferred should FuelCell acquire Global.
In
November 2003,
FuelCell
acquired Global. The consideration in this transaction was calculated at
approximately U.S.$94.8 million which included assumption of the Global Series
2
Preferred shares (held by Enbridge) and the related guarantee provided to
Enbridge by FuelCell. The discounted fair value, based on future projected
cash
flows, of the Series 2 Preferred shares held by Enbridge was estimated to be
$9.1 million with the assistance of an independent expert in accordance with
FAS
141. Upon acquisition, FuelCell classified the Series 2 Preferred shares as
permanent equity at their discounted fair value. The fair value discount of
the
Preferred shares is periodically accreted to APIC.
In
May of 2004,
FuelCell
sold Global and its generator business which was not core to FuelCell’s
business. FuelCell retained the operations and assets of Global’s SOFC division
and transferred them into a newly-formed wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary,
FuelCell Energy, Ltd. (FCE Ltd.). FuelCell issued Series 1 Preferred shares
to
Enbridge out of the Canadian subsidiary in order to maintain Enbridge’s economic
position for a tax advantaged dividend. The terms of the Series 1 Preferred
shares mirror the terms of the Global Series 2 Preferred shares. Global canceled
the Series 2 Preferred shares. FuelCell also signed a guarantee for the existing
obligations of FCE, Ltd. to Enbridge, which were the Series 1 Preferred stock
and the JDA. This guarantee did not impact FuelCell’s accounting at the time, as
it was viewed as a legal transaction which did not change the original
underlying obligations of the consolidated FuelCell entity.
Ms.
Kate
Tillan
Securities
and Exchange Commission
August
31, 2006
Page
3
In
November of 2004,
FuelCell
sold the operations and assets of the SOFC division to Versa Power, Inc. (also
a
developer of SOFC technology). FCE Ltd. retained the Series 1 preferred. The
JDA
was assigned to Versa, eliminating any remaining obligation of FuelCell or
FCE
Ltd. Enbridge consented to this assignment. As of April 30, 2006, the accreted
value of the Series 1 Preferred shares on the consolidated financial statements
totaled $12.2M and was classified as permanent equity. FCE Ltd. has assets
totaling approximately $1.0 million included in the consolidated financial
statements. FCE Ltd. continues to make minimum dividend payments to Enbridge
under the terms of the Series 1 Preferred shares.
2.
Answers
to Factual Questions Asked by the SEC Staff on August
16th&
18th
2006 Conference Calls
Question
# 1
Does
FuelCell have the sole discretion and power to liquidate FCE, Ltd.? If so,
why
are there liquidation provisions in the terms of the Preferred
Stock?
FuelCell,
as owner of all of the common stock of FCE, Ltd., has the sole power and
discretion to voluntarily liquidate FCE, Ltd. Although it is true that FCE,
Ltd.
could be liquidated as a result of an involuntary bankruptcy, FCE
Ltd. has no operations or creditors and bankruptcy is not a realistic
possibility.
The
liquidation provisions in the terms of the Preferred Stock provide priority
for
the preferred holders over the common holders in the event of a
liquidation.
Ms.
Kate
Tillan
Securities
and Exchange Commission
August
31, 2006
Page
4
Question
# 2
In FuelCell's
response letter of May 5, 2006 (in the first bullet on page 10), it was asserted
that if Enbridge converted its Preferred Stock, FuelCell could satisfy this
obligation either in cash or shares of FuelCell. This seems contrary to Section
5.2 of the terms of the Preferred Stock.
Section
5.2 refers to the “Final Exchange Price” which is the price after July 31, 2020.
Section, 5.2 provides that after July 31, 2020, FCE, Ltd. may, at
its option,
satisfy
the exchange obligation with cash in lieu of stock of FuelCell. Until July
31,
2020, the holder of Series 1 Preferred Stock may exchange the stock for common
stock of FuelCell pursuant to the “Current Exchange Price” defined in Section
1.6 of the terms of the preferred stock.
Question
# 3
The
SEC
has reviewed the interplay among Sections 2.1, 2.2 and 2.5 of the Preferred
Stock. Specifically, is FCE, Ltd. required to pay a dividend? Is the failure
to
pay quarterly dividends a default? What are the consequences of its failure
to
pay on the guarantee of FuelCell?
FCE,
Ltd.
must pay dividends, as and when declared by the Board of Directors, at the
stated rate in Section 2.1. If the dividends are not currently paid, they will
accrue and be subsequently payable when declared by FCE, Ltd. FCE Ltd. is not
required to actually declare and pay the dividend if it is not permitted to
do
so by the Canadian Income Tax Act without incurring special taxes. This
effectively sets a minimum payment obligation of Cdn.$500,000 annually. The
instrument provides the board discretion on when during the year and how much
is
paid on a quarterly basis (unpaid amounts are accrued). If FCE Ltd. fails to
pay
at least Cdn.$500,000 annually, it would be in violation of these provisions.
Any failure by FCE Ltd. to meet its obligations would be covered by FuelCell’s
guarantee and FuelCell would be required to meet such obligations.
Ms.
Kate
Tillan
Securities
and Exchange Commission
August
31, 2006
Page
5
Question
# 4
The
Guarantee of FuelCell to Enbridge seems to be a guarantee of all obligations
of
FCE, Ltd. Elsewhere, FuelCell seems only to have an obligation to pay Enbridge
dividends of Cdn.$500,000 per year. How do these reconcile? Are the obligations
of FCE, Ltd. broader than those guaranteed by FuelCell?
Pursuant
to the terms of the Guarantee, so long as Enbridge holds the Preferred Shares,
FuelCell has guaranteed all of its obligations pursuant to the terms of the
Preferred Shares. Currently, FCE, Ltd. only has an obligation to pay dividends
of Cdn.$500,000 annually (under the terms of Section 2.5 of the Preferred Share
agreement), which is the extent of paragraph (c) of the FuelCell Guarantee.
Ultimately, the accrued dividends will have to be paid pursuant to the terms
of
the preferred stock, and FuelCell has guaranteed this obligation as well
pursuant to paragraph (d) of the Guarantee.
The
obligations guaranteed by FuelCell under the terms of the Preferred Shares
are
not broader than those of FCE, Ltd.
Question
# 5
Please
tell us whether or not FuelCell has any obligations remaining for the JDA under
the May 27, 2004 Guarantee.
FCE
Ltd,
assigned, with Enbridge’s consent, all of the responsibilities of the JDA to
Versa Power Systems, Ltd. Included in this assignment document, Enbridge
released FCE, Ltd. from all obligations and liabilities related to the JDA.
As a
result of this assignment and release, FCE, Ltd. no longer has an obligation
related to the JDA under the May 27, 2004 Guarantee Agreement.
Question
# 6
What
is
the proper designation for the Preferred Shares of FCE, Ltd? In the Articles
of
Amendment of FCE, Ltd., they are referred to “Class A Cumulative Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Shares”. In FuelCell’s public filings, they are referred
to as “Series 1 Preferred Shares”. Please clarify.
In
public
disclosure documents FuelCell has referred to the Preferred Shares of FCE,
Ltd.
as Series 1 in order to make it clear that this series was issued by an entity
different from the issuer of FuelCell’s Series B preferred shares. The proper
legal designation for the shares is; Class A Cumulative Redeemable Exchangeable
Preferred Shares.
Ms.
Kate
Tillan
Securities
and Exchange Commission
August
31, 2006
Page
6
3.
Review of Preferred Stock and Guarantee Accounting
Considerations
Consolidation
of Global and FuelCell, Ltd.
The
only
ownership interests in FuelCell Energy, Ltd. are FuelCell Energy, Inc. (common
shares) and Enbridge, Inc. (preferred shares). The Preferred shares held by
Enbridge have no voting rights, all voting rights are held by FuelCell Energy,
Inc. Therefore, under the majority voting control provisions of ARB 51, FuelCell
Energy, Inc. is required to consolidate FuelCell Energy, Ltd. The same
conclusions apply with respect to FuelCell Energy, Inc.’s previous ownership
interest in Global.
FuelCell
Energy, Inc. also analyzed the provisions of FIN 46R to determine whether it
would be the primary beneficiary of FuelCell Energy, Ltd. if FuelCell Energy,
Ltd. is a variable interest entity (referred to as a VIE). (Under paragraph
23
of FIN 46R there is no requirement for FuelCell to conclusively determine
whether FuelCell Energy, Ltd. is a VIE if FuelCell Energy, Inc. has majority
voting control of FuelCell Energy, Ltd. and would also be its primary
beneficiary if it were a VIE.) The primary consideration that led FuelCell
Energy, Inc. to conclude that if FuelCell Energy, Ltd. were considered a VIE
the
primary beneficiary would be FuelCell Energy, Inc. and not Enbridge, is that
the
Preferred shares do not participate significantly in profits and losses of
FuelCell Energy, Ltd. and therefore cannot be considered at risk per paragraph
5(a)(1) of FIN 46R. Given FuelCell Energy, Inc’s guarantee of both the Preferred
share dividends and the par value of those shares in the event of liquidation
of
FuelCell Energy, Ltd. and also the right of FuelCell Energy, Inc. to remove
assets out of FuelCell Energy, Ltd. without requiring approval from the
Preferred shareholders, the Series 1 Preferred Shares clearly do not participate
significantly in the losses of FuelCell Energy, Ltd. and do not meet the FIN
46R
paragraph 2(c) definition of a variable interest in FuelCell Energy, Ltd. Thus,
FuelCell Energy, Inc. believes that it is the only variable interest holder
of
FuelCell Energy, Ltd. and would clearly be its primary beneficiary if it is
a
VIE.
FuelCell
Energy, Inc. also concluded that the Series 1 Preferred Shares represent a
variable interest in FuelCell Energy, Inc. under the provisions of FSP FIN
46R-5, providing additional support for its conclusions with respect to the
classification as equity of those shares in the consolidated financial
statements of FuelCell Energy, Inc.
Ms.
Kate
Tillan
Securities
and Exchange Commission
August
31, 2006
Page
7
Presentation
of Preferred stock as equity vs. minority interest
FuelCell
Energy, Inc. believes the substance of the underlying economics dictates that
the Series 1 Preferred shares do not represent a minority ownership interest
in