UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

 

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  October 27, 2017

 

 

FuelCell Energy, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware

1-14204

06-0853042

(State or other jurisdiction

(Commission

(IRS Employer

of incorporation)

File Number)

Identification No.)

 

3 Great Pasture Road, Danbury, Connecticut

06810

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (203) 825-6000

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Amendment to Hercules Loan and Security Agreement

 

In April 2016, FuelCell Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a loan and security agreement with Hercules Capital, Inc. (“Hercules”) for an aggregate principal amount of up to $25.0 million, subject to certain terms and conditions. Among other things, the loan and security agreement required the Company to maintain an unrestricted cash balance of at least (a) 75% of the outstanding loan balance plus (b) the amount of accounts payable not paid within 90 days of the date payment was issued.

 

On September 5, 2017, the Company and Hercules (and certain other borrower and lender parties) entered into the first amendment to loan and security agreement (such amendment, the “ First Amendment”) (1) to require the Company to maintain an unrestricted cash balance of at least the greater of (x) (a) $20.0 million plus (b) the amount of accounts payable not paid within 90 days of the date payment was issued and (y) (a) 100% of the outstanding loan balance plus (b) the amount of accounts payable not paid within 90 days of the date payment was issued and (2) to add an event of default in the event of the delivery of a Triggering Event Redemption Notice (as defined in the Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of the Series C Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company (the “Certificate of Designations”)) pursuant to the Certificate of Designations.  Pursuant to the First Amendment, the $20.0 million cash balance was required to be maintained in a deposit account subject to a Blocked Account Control Agreement (as defined in the First Amendment).

 

On October 27, 2017, the Company, Versa Power Systems, Inc. and Versa Power Systems, Ltd. (collectively, the “Borrowers”) entered into the second amendment to loan and security agreement (such amendment, the “Second Amendment”) with Hercules Funding II, LLC and Hercules (as agent).  In the Second Amendment, the requirement to maintain a Blocked Account Control Agreement in favor of Hercules was removed and the minimum cash covenant was reduced and revised to require the Borrowers to maintain an unrestricted cash balance in accounts subject to an account control agreement in favor of Hercules of at least the greater of (x) (a) 75% of the outstanding loan balance plus (b) the amount of accounts payable (as defined under GAAP) not paid within 90 days of the invoice date and (y) (a) at all times prior to the Stockholder Approval Date (as defined in the Certificate of Designations), $20.0 million and (b) at all times on and after the Stockholder Approval Date, $10.0 million (t he Stockholder Approval Date is the date on which stockholder approval of the issuance of certain shares upon the conversion and or redemption of the Company’s Series C Convertible Preferred Stock is obtained).

The foregoing summary of the terms of the Second Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Second Amendment, a copy of which is filed and attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

No.

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Second Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated October 27, 2017, by and among FuelCell Energy, Inc., Versa Power Systems, Inc., Versa Power Systems Ltd., Hercules Capital, Inc. and Hercules Funding II, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 



SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.

 

 

Dated:  November 1, 2017

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael S. Bishop

 

 

Michael S. Bishop

 

 

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

EXHIBIT 10.1

SECOND AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

THIS SECOND AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “ Amendment ”), dated as of October 27, 2017 (the “ Amendment Effective Date ”), is entered into by and among FuelCell Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”), Versa Power Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Versa Delaware ”), Versa Power Systems Ltd. a corporation organized under the laws of Alberta, Canada (“ Versa Canada ”), and each of Parent’s Subsidiaries that delivers a Joinder Agreement pursuant to Section 7.13 of the Loan and Security Agreement (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Borrowers ” and each, a “ Borrower ”), the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties thereto as Lender, constituting the Required Lenders, and HERCULES CAPITAL, INC., a Maryland corporation, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent for itself and the Lender (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, “ Agent ”).

Borrower the Lender and Agent are parties to a Loan and Security Agreement dated as of April 14, 2016 (as amended, restated or modified from time to time, the “ Loan and Security Agreement ”).  The Borrowers have requested that Agent and Lender agree to certain amendments to the Loan and Security Agreement.  Agent and Lender have agreed to such request, subject to the terms and conditions hereof.

Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1 Definitions; Interpretation.

(a) Terms Defined in Loan and Security Agreement .  All capitalized terms used in this Amendment (including in the recitals hereof) and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Loan and Security Agreement.

(b) Interpretation .  The rules of interpretation set forth in Section 1.1 of the Loan and Security Agreement shall be applicable to this Amendment and are incorporated herein by this reference.

SECTION 2 Amendments to the Loan and Security Agreement.

(a) The Loan and Security Agreement shall be amended as follows effective as of the Amendment Effective Date:

(i) Section 7.12 .  Section 7.12 is hereby amended by removing the word “and” at the end of clause (e) therein and adding the following after clause (f):

“and (g) an account with JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., Seoul Branch with a Beneficiary Account Number of XXXX5999 so long as such account holds no more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000).  With respect to the aforementioned account in clause (g) of this Section 7.12, Borrower shall be permitted a period of three (3) Business Days to transfer any amounts deposited in excess of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) to an account which is subject to an Account Control Agreement.”

(ii) Section 8.2 .  Section 8.2 is hereby amended and restated as follows:

8.2 Minimum Unrestricted Cash Balance.  At all times, Borrower shall maintain an unrestricted Cash balance in accounts subject to an Account Control Agreement in favor of Agent of at least the greater of (x) (a) 75% of the outstanding Loan balance plus (b) the amount of accounts payable (as defined under GAAP) not paid within 90 days of the invoice date and (y) (a) at all times prior to the Stockholder Approval Date (as defined in the Series C Convertible Preferred Certificate), Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) and (b) at all times on and after the Stockholder Approval Date, Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000).

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Borrower shall provide Lender evidence of compliance with the financial covenants under this Section 8 in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent and any supporting documentation reasonably requested by Agent, including certification of such compliance by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of Borrower.

(b) References within Loan and Security Agreement .  Each reference in the Loan and Security Agreement to “this Agreement” and the words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder,” or words of like import, shall mean and be a reference to the Loan and Security Agreement as amended by this Amendment.

SECTION 3 Conditions of Effectiveness.   The effectiveness of Section 2 of this Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent:

(a) Fees and Expenses .  The Parent shall have paid all attorney fees and other costs and expenses then due in accordance with Section 5(e) , and (ii) all other fees, costs and expenses, if any, due and payable as of the Amendment Effective Date under the Loan and Security Agreement.

(b) This Amendment .  Agent shall have received this Amendment, executed by Agent, the Lender and the Borrowers.

(c) Representations and Warranties; No Default .  On the Amendment Effective Date, after giving effect to the amendment of the Loan and Security Agreement contemplated hereby:

(i) The representations and warranties contained in Section 4 shall be true and correct on and as of the Amendment Effective Date as though made on and as of such date; and

(ii) There exist no Events of Default or events that with the passage of time would result in an Event of Default.

SECTION 4 Representations and Warranties .  To induce Agent and Lender to enter into this Amendment, each Borrower hereby confirms, as of the date hereof, (a) that the representations and warranties made by it in Section 5 of the Loan and Security Agreement and in the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects; provided , however , that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof; (b) that there has not been and there does not exist a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) that the information included in the Perfection Certificate delivered to Agent on the Effective Date remains true and correct.   For the purposes of this Section 4 , (i) each reference in Section 5 of the Loan and Security Agreement to “this Agreement,” and the words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder,” or words of like import in such Section, shall mean and be a reference to the Loan and Security Agreement as amended by this Amendment, and (ii) any representations and warranties which relate solely to an earlier date shall not be deemed confirmed and restated as of the date hereof (provided that such representations and warranties shall be true, correct and complete as of such earlier date).

SECTION 5 Miscellaneous.

(a) Loan Documents Otherwise Not Affected; Reaffirmation .  Except as expressly amended pursuant hereto or referenced herein, the Loan and Security Agreement, as amended, and the other Loan Documents shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects.  The Lender’s and Agent’s execution and delivery of, or acceptance of, this Amendment shall not be deemed to create a course of dealing or otherwise create any express or implied duty by any of them to provide any other or further amendments, consents or waivers in the future.  Each Borrower hereby reaffirms the grant of security under Section 3.1 of the Loan and Security Agreement and hereby reaffirms that such grant of security in the Collateral secures all Secured Obligations under the Loan and Security Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(b) Conditions .  For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 3 , each Lender that has signed this Amendment shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or

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satisfactory to a Lender unless Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the Amendment Effective Date specifying its objection thereto.

(c) Release .  In consideration of the agreements of Agent and each Lender contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each Borrower, on behalf of itself and its successors, assigns, and other legal representatives, hereby fully, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably releases, remises and forever discharges Agent and each Lender, and its successors and assigns, and its present and former shareholders, affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, predecessors, directors, officers, attorneys, employees, agents and other representatives (Agent, Lenders and all such other persons being hereinafter referred to collectively as the “ Releasees ” and individually as a “ Releasee ”), of and from all demands, actions, causes of action, suits, covenants, contracts, controversies, agreements, promises, sums of money, accounts, bills, reckonings, damages and any and all other claims, counterclaims, defenses, rights of set-off, demands and liabilities whatsoever of every name and nature, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, both at law and in equity, which any Borrower, or any of its successors, assigns, or other legal representatives may now or hereafter own, hold, have or claim to have against the Releasees or any of them for, upon, or by reason of any circumstance, action, cause or thing whatsoever which arises at any time on or prior to the day and date of this Amendment, including, without limitation, for or on account of, or in relation to, or in any way in connection with the Loan Agreement, or any of the other Loan Documents or transactions thereunder or related thereto.  Each Borrower understands, acknowledges and agrees that the release set forth above may be pleaded as a full and complete defense and may be used as a basis for an injunction against any action, suit or other proceeding which may be instituted, prosecuted or attempted in breach of the provisions of such release.  Each Borrower agrees that no fact, event, circumstance, evidence or transaction which could now be asserted or which may hereafter be discovered shall affect in any manner the final, absolute and unconditional nature of the release set forth above.  Borrower waives the provisions of California Civil Code section 1542, which states:

A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER, MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.

(d) No Reliance .  Each Borrower hereby acknowledges and confirms to Agent and the Lender that such Borrower is executing this Amendment on the basis of its own investigation and for its own reasons without reliance upon any agreement, representation, understanding or communication by or on behalf of any other Person.

(e) Costs and Expenses .  Each Borrower agrees to pay to Agent on the Amendment Effective Date the out-of-pocket costs and expenses of Agent and the Lenders party hereto, and the fees and disbursements of counsel to Agent and the Lenders party hereto (including allocated costs of internal counsel), in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment and any other documents to be delivered in connection herewith on the Amendment Effective Date or after such date.

(f) Binding Effect .  This Amendment binds and is for the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of each party.  

(g) Governing Law.   This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, excluding conflict of laws principles that would cause the application of laws of any other jurisdiction.

(h) Complete Agreement; Amendments .  This Amendment and the Loan Documents represent the entire agreement about this subject matter and supersede prior negotiations or agreements with respect to such subject matter.  All prior agreements, understandings, representations, warranties, and negotiations between the parties about the subject matter of this Amendment and the Loan Documents merge into this Amendment and the Loan Documents.  

(i) Severability of Provisions.   Each provision of this Amendment is severable from every other provision in determining the enforceability of any provision.

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(j) Counterparts .  This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered , is an original, and all taken together, constitute one Amendment.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by facsimile, portable document format (.pdf) or other electronic transmission will be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

(k) Loan Documents . This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document.

[Balance of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Amendment, as of the date first above written.

 

BORROWERS:

 

 

 

FuelCell Energy, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Signature:

/s/ Michael S. Bishop

 

 

 

 

Print Name:

Michael S. Bishop

 

 

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, Chief

 

 

Financial Officer & Treasurer

 

 

 

 

Versa Power Systems, Inc .

 

 

 

 

Signature:

/s/ Michael S. Bishop

 

 

 

 

Print Name:

Michael S. Bishop

 

 

 

 

Title:

Treasurer

 

 

 

 

Versa Power Systems Ltd.

 

 

 

Signature:

/s/ Michael S. Bishop

 

 

 

 

Print Name:

Michael S. Bishop

 

 

 

 

Title:

Treasurer

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement]


 

 

AGENT:

 

 

 

HERCULES FUNDING II, LLC

 

 

 

 

Signature:

/s/ Zhuo Huang

 

 

 

 

Print Name:

Zhuo Huang

 

 

 

 

Title:

Associate General Counsel

 

 

 

LENDER:

 

 

 

HERCULES FUNDING II, LLC

 

 

 

 

Signature:

/s/ Zhuo Huang

 

 

 

 

Print Name:

Zhuo Huang

 

 

 

 

Title:

Associate General Counsel

 

 

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement]