Unassociated Document
As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 8, 2005.
 
REGISTRATION NO. 333-122216

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
 


AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO
FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
 
3629
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number
 
06-0853042
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
3 Great Pasture Road
Danbury, Connecticut 06813
(203) 825-6000
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,
of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
 
Jerry D. Leitman
President
FuelCell Energy, Inc.
3 Great Pasture Road
Danbury, Connecticut 06813
(203) 825-6000
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)


 
Copies of All Communications to:

Richard A. Krantz, Esq.
Robinson & Cole LLP
Financial Centre
695 East Main Street
Stamford, Connecticut  06904
(203) 462-7500
 
Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Sale to the Public: Promptly after the effective date of this registration statement.
 
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. x.
 
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
 
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, check the following box. o


 
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of Securities
to Be Registered
Amount
To Be
Registered 
Proposed
Maximum Offering
Price Per Share(1 )
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(1) 
Amount of
Registration Fee
Common Stock
 
1,800,000
 
$8.90
 
$16,020,000
 
$1,885.55(2)  

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933 based upon the average of the high and low prices of the common stock of the Registrant as reported by the Nasdaq National Market on January 19, 2005.
 
(2) Previously paid.
 
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
 

 
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL [__], 2005

PROSPECTUS
[LOGO]

1,800,000 Shares of Common Stock
 

 
FuelCell Energy, Inc. is filing this prospectus in connection with:
 
• our issuance of up to 300,000 shares of our common stock to certain of our employees as partial payment of annual bonuses earned with respect to our fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 and future periods; and
 
• our offer and sale of up to 1,500,000 shares of our common stock, the proceeds of which will be used to pay dividends to holders of our 5% Series B Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (“Series B preferred stock”) for each of the eight quarterly periods ending on May 15, August 15 and November 15, 2005, February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, 2006, and February 15, 2007. A holder of our Series B preferred stock may alternatively elect to receive as payment of dividends shares of our common stock in lieu of the proceeds received from the sale of shares of our common stock. In the event a holder of our Series B preferred stock exercises this election, those shares issued as payment of dividends may be offered and sold from time to time by the holder of these shares under this prospectus.
 
 
We will commence offering promptly, and sell from time to time, up to 1,500,000 shares of our common stock. The offering price for these shares will range between $9.50 and $11.50 per share. For additional information on the method and manner of sale, refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” on page 86. We will use the net proceeds received from the sale of these shares to make dividend payments to holders of our Series B preferred stock. The net proceeds from the sale of these shares are intended to cover dividends payable for eight quarterly periods.
 
In the event a holder of our Series B preferred stock alternatively elects to receive as payment of dividends shares of our common stock in lieu of the proceeds received from the sale of shares of our common stock, we will issue these holders, referred to in this prospectus as the “selling shareholders”, the shares pursuant to an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933. These shares may be offered and sold, from time to time, by the selling shareholders and any pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest of the selling shareholders, through public or private transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares by the selling shareholders. Information regarding the identities of the selling shareholders, the manner in which they acquired or will acquire their shares and the manner in which the shares are being offered and sold is provided in the “Selling Shareholders” and “Plan of Distribution” sections of this prospectus. As of the date of this prospectus, no holder of our Series B preferred stock has elected to receive shares in lieu of cash as dividend payments on our Series B preferred stock.
 

 
Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “FCEL”. The last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq National Market on March 31, 2005 was $9.98 per share.
 
Our principal executive offices are located at 3 Great Pasture Road, Danbury, Connecticut 06813, and our telephone number is (203) 825-6000.
 
Investing in our common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7.
 
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
The date of this prospectus is April [__], 2005.
 

 
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.
 

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Page 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
ii
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
 
ii
BACKGROUND
 
iii
SUMMARY
 
1
RISK FACTORS
 
7
USE OF PROCEEDS
 
18
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
 
19
DIVIDEND POLICY
 
19
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
19
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
21
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
39
BUSINESS
 
40
MANAGEMENT
 
63
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
68
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
73
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
73
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN AND WARRANT INFORMATION (1)
 
77
LIMITATION ON LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION MATTERS
 
77
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
78
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
 
85
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
86
LEGAL MATTERS
 
89
EXPERTS
 
89
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
 
89
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
91

i

 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This prospectus includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “approximates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intends” and “hopes” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  We intend such forward-looking statements, all of which are qualified by this statement, to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are including this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions.  We have based these statements on our current expectations and projections about future events.  These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these statements.  These risks and uncertainties include those set forth under “Risk Factors.”  The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus include, among others, statements about:
 
 
·  
the development and commercialization schedule for our fuel cell technology and products;
 
·  
future funding under government research and development contracts;
 
·  
the expected cost competitiveness of our fuel cell technology and products;
 
·  
our intellectual property;
 
·  
the timing and availability of our products;
 
·  
the electric power supply industry and the distributed generation market;
 
·  
our business strategy; and
 
·  
general economic conditions in the electric power supply industry and our target markets.
 
Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the federal securities laws, we are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this prospectus might not occur.
 
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
 
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. Under this registration statement, securities may be sold by us and/or the selling shareholders, from time to time, as described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered under this prospectus. Each time securities are sold, we or the selling shareholders, as the case may be, are required to provide you with this prospectus and, in certain cases, a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of the securities being offered. That prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
 
ii

 
BACKGROUND
 
Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “FuelCell,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to FuelCell Energy, Inc. Direct FuelCell® and DFC® are registered trademarks of FuelCell Energy, Inc.

Information contained in this prospectus concerning the electric power supply industry and the distributed generation market, our general expectations concerning this industry and this market, and our position within this industry are based on market research, industry publications, other publicly available information and on assumptions made by us based on this information and our knowledge of this industry and this market, which we believe to be reasonable. Although we believe that the market research, industry publications and other publicly available information are reliable, including the sources that we cite in this prospectus, they have not been independently verified by us and, accordingly, we cannot assure you that such information is accurate in all material respects. Our estimates, particularly as they relate to our general expectations concerning the electric power supply industry and the distributed generation market, involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading entitled “Risk Factors”.

We define distributed generation as small (typically 50 MW or less) electric generation plants (combustion-based such as engines and turbines as well as non-combustion-based such as fuel cells) located at or near the end use customer. This is contrasted with central generation that we define as large power plants (typically hundreds to 1,000 megawatts or larger) that deliver electricity to end users through a comprehensive transmission and distribution system.

As used in this prospectus, all degrees refer to Fahrenheit (oF), and kilowatt and megawatt numbers designate nominal or rated capacity of the referenced power plant. As used in this prospectus, “efficiency” or “electrical efficiency” means the ratio of the electrical energy (AC) generated in the conversion of a fuel to the total energy contained in the fuel (lower heating value, the standard for power plant generation, which assumes the water in the product is in vapor form; as opposed to higher heating value, which assumes the water in the product is in the liquid form); “overall energy efficiency” refers to efficiency based on the electrical output plus useful heat output of the power plant; “kilowatt” (kW) means 1,000 watts; “megawatt” (MW) means 1,000,000 watts; “gigawatt” (GW) means 1,000,000,000 watts; “terawatt” (TW) means 1,000,000,000,000 watts; “kilowatt hour” (kWh) is equal to 1 kW of power supplied to or taken from an electric circuit steadily for one hour; “megawatt hour” (MWh) is equal to 1 MW of power supplied to or taken from an electric circuit steadily for one hour; “gigawatt hour” (GWh) is equal to 1 GW of power supplied to or taken from an electric circuit steadily for one hour; “terawatt hour” (TWh) is equal to 1 TW of power supplied to or taken from an electric circuit steadily for one hour; and “MMBtu” is equal to one million British Thermal Unit (the amount of heat necessary to raise one pound of pure water from 59oF to 60 oF at a specified constant pressure).

All dollar amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

Additional technical terms and definitions:
 
Availability -An industry standard (IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 762, "Definitions for Use in Reporting Electric Generating Unit Reliability, Availability and Productivity") used to compute total operating period hours less the amount of time a power plant is not producing electricity due to planned or unplanned maintenance. "Availability" percentage is calculated as total operating hours since commercial acceptance date (mutually agreed upon time period when our DFC power plants have operated at a specific output level for a specified period of time) less hours not producing electricity due to planned and unplanned maintenance divided by total period hours. Grid disturbances, force majeur events and site specific issues such as a lack of available fuel supply or customer infrastructure repair do not penalize the calculation of availability according to this standard.
 
iii

 
Co-generation Configuration - A power plant configuration featuring simultaneous on-site generation of electricity and recovery of waste heat to produce process steam or hot water, or to use heat for space heating.
 
Ceramic Electrolyte - An active fuel cell component placed between the anode and cathode electrodes in a ceramic (SOFC) fuel cell, in which current is carried by the movement of oxide ions.
 
Cathode - An active fuel cell component functioning as a positive (electrically) electrode, where reduction of oxidant occurs. Also referred to as “Oxidant Electrode”.
 
Anode - An active fuel cell component functioning as a negative electrode, where oxidation of fuel occurs. Also referred to as “fuel electrode”.
 
Metallic Bipolar Plates - The conductive plates used in a fuel cell stack to provide electrical continuity from active components of one cell to those in an adjacent cell. The plates also provide isolation of fuel and air fed to the fuel cell.
 
Anaerobic Digester Gas - Fuel gas (rich in methane) produced in biomass digesters employing bacterial and controlled oxygen environment, in a municipal or an industrial wastewater treatment facility.
 
Humid Flue Gas - Exhaust gas from fuel cell and other power plants or a furnace. The gas typically contains humidity (moisture).
 
Reforming - Catalytic conversion of hydrocarbon fuel (such as pipeline natural gas) to hydrogen-rich gas, using steam. The hydrogen-rich gas serves as a fuel for the electrochemical reaction.
 
Synthesis Gas - A gas mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide generally derived from gasification of coal or other biomass. It can serve as a fuel for the fuel cell after any required fuel clean up.
 
Microturbine - A gas turbine limited in power output to less than 200 kW. Microturbines are characterized by low-pressure ratios (less than 5) and high-speed alternators. Waste heat from fuel cell may be fed to a microturbine to generate additional electricity. This system is referred to as “Hybrid” power plant.

iv

 
SUMMARY
 
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information you should consider in making your investment decision. You should read this summary together with the more detailed information, including our financial statements and the related notes, included elsewhere in this prospectus. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors.”

FuelCell Energy, Inc.

We are a leader in the development and manufacture of fuel cell power plants for clean, efficient and reliable electric power generation. We have been developing fuel cell technology since our founding in 1969. We are currently commercializing our core carbonate fuel cell products and continuing to develop our next generation of fuel cell products.
 
Our executive offices are located at 3 Great Pasture Road, Danbury, Connecticut 06813.  Our telephone number is (203) 825-6000. We maintain a web site at the following Internet address: www.fuelcellenergy.com. The information on our web site is not part of this prospectus.
 
Direct FuelCell (DFC) Power Plants

Our proprietary DFC power plants electrochemically produce electricity from readily available hydrocarbon fuels such as natural gas and wastewater treatment gas. Our current commercial products, the DFC 300A, DFC 1500 and DFC 3000, are rated in capacity at 250 kW, 1 MW and 2 MW, respectively, and are scalable for distributed applications up to 50 MW. Our DFC products are designed to meet the base load power requirements of a wide range of commercial and industrial customers, including wastewater treatment plants, data centers, manufacturing and industrial facilities, office buildings, hospitals, universities and hotels, as well as for use in grid support applications for utility customers. In addition, our DFC products produce high quality by-product heat energy that can be harnessed for combined heat and power (CHP) applications. Through February 2005, more than 62 million kWh of electricity have been generated from power plants incorporating our DFC technology at customer sites throughout the world.

Our primary focus is carbonate fuel cell technology, which we have advanced from the laboratory into standard DFC products. We believe we have established a leading position for our DFC products in the commercial distributed generation marketplace due to a number of factors, including:

·  
We are selling ‘ultra-clean’ high-temperature fuel cell power plants for stationary base load power, which provide high fuel efficiency and high-value waste heat for cogeneration applications.
·  
We have strong global distribution partners, including original equipment manufactures (OEMs) and energy service companies (ESCOs), with expertise in selling and marketing energy products and services to commercial and industrial customers worldwide.
·  
We obtained commercial product certifications for safety, interconnection, installation and performance.
·  
We are operating a fleet of DFC power plants at customer sites throughout the world, with a backlog that we expect will double the fleet in service in the next 12-18 months.
·  
We have established production facilities, with equipment in place to produce 50 MW of DFC products annually.
·  
We achieved our 2004 value-engineering cost reduction target of 25 percent and are confident we can continue to reduce costs.
·  
We have expanded our sales and service capabilities to support our DFC products.
·  
We have a strong balance sheet, with over $230 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments (U.S. Treasury Securities) as of January 31, 2005 to support our growth.

1

 
Strategically, we are focused on developing sustainable markets targeting customer applications with the greatest opportunity for multiple and repeat orders. Our success will depend in part on reducing product cost and increasing operating experience for our core DFC products. By reducing component costs and improving fuel cell stack output, we believe we can lower the overall cost of electricity generated by our products enabling the price of our DFC power plants to be competitive with existing technologies. As more units are delivered, operating hours will increase, which should allow us to refine our products, our manufacturing processes and our marketing efforts. As a result of successes to date and initiatives under way, we believe we can achieve operating break-even at annual production volumes of approximately 100 MW. Our production volume was approximately 6 MW for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

In April 2003, we were selected by the Department of Energy (DOE) to lead a project team for its 10-year, $139 million Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) program. The goal of the SECA program is to accelerate the commercialization of low-cost solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) for residential, commercial and light industrial applications ranging in product size from 3 kW to 10 kW each for applications up to 100 kW. To strengthen our commercialization capabilities for this contract, we have recently made strategic investments in SOFC technology including our August 2003 investment of $2.0 million in Versa Power Systems, Inc., (Versa), our November 2003 acquisition of the SOFC operations of Global Thermoelectric Inc. (Global), and our November 2004 transfer of substantially all of our SOFC assets (including those acquired in our acquisition of Global) and operations to Versa in exchange for an additional equity interest in Versa. Versa was formed to produce a range of products for the distributed generation market incorporating its patented reduced temperature SOFC system. If successfully commercialized, these products would be complementary to our larger scale DFC product line.

Recent Developments
 
On November 3, 2003 we completed our acquisition of Global Thermoelectric Inc. (Global) located in Calgary, Canada. At the time of acquisition, Global had been developing solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power plants since 1997 with the goal of commercializing its technology for residential, commercial and light industrial applications ranging in size from 3 to 10 kW. Through its thermoelectric generator (TEG) product line, Global also sold thermoelectric generators for use as a source of electrical power in remote areas.
 
In connection with the acquisition, we issued, in the aggregate, approximately 8.2 million of our common shares and exchangeable shares (exchangeable shares) issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd., our wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary (formerly FCE Canada Inc.). We also assumed Global’s Series 2 preferred shares. Total consideration for the acquisition was approximately $94.8 million.
 
On May 28, 2004, we sold Global’s TEG business for approximately $16 million. The sale of the TEG business was effected through a sale of all of the outstanding common shares of Global. Prior to the sale, Global transferred substantially all of its assets and liabilities not relating to its TEG business (including substantially all of Global’s assets and liabilities relating to its SOFC business and substantially all of its cash) to FuelCell Energy, Ltd. In addition, prior to the sale, the Global Series 2 preferred shares were cancelled and replaced with substantially equivalent Class A cumulative redeemable exchangeable preferred shares (which we refer to as the Series 1 preferred shares) issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd.
 
2

 
On October 29, 2004, we redeemed all of the approximately two million issued and outstanding exchangeable shares issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd. The exchangeable shares were redeemed in exchange for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis. The redemption had no impact on the total number of shares of our common stock deemed outstanding.
 
On November 1, 2004, we transferred substantially all of FuelCell Energy, Ltd.’s SOFC assets and operations to Versa Power Systems, Ltd., a Canadian corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Versa Power Systems, Inc. (Versa). In exchange, we received additional shares of Versa common stock, increasing our ownership position in Versa to 42 percent. We also received a second seat on Versa’s board, which was increased from six to seven members.
 
Following the transaction, we pledged the Versa shares we received in the transaction to Enbridge, Inc., the holder of all of the Series 1 preferred shares issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd. The pledge secures our guaranty of the obligations of FuelCell Energy, Ltd. under the Series 1 preferred shares to Enbridge.
 
On November 11, 2004 we entered into a purchase agreement with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Adams Harkness, Inc., and Lazard Freres & Co., LLC (collectively referred to as the “Initial Purchasers”) for the private placement under Rule 144A of up to 135,000 shares of our 5% Series B Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (Liquidation Preference $1,000). On November 17, 2004, we closed on the sale of 100,000 shares of Series B preferred stock to the Initial Purchasers. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the Initial Purchasers were granted an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 35,000 shares of Series B preferred stock through January 25, 2005. On January 14, 2005, we sold an additional 5,875 shares of our Series B preferred stock to the Initial Purchasers as part of the over-allotment option. Net proceeds to us were approximately $99 million.

3

 
The Offering

Common stock offered
1,800,000 shares.
 
Common stock to be outstanding after this offering
49,993,986 shares.(1)
 
Use of proceeds
Up to 300,000 shares of our common stock will be issued to certain of our employees as partial payment for annual bonuses earned with respect to our performance targets for our fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 and future periods. The proceeds from the sale of up to 1,500,000 shares of our common stock that may be sold by us pursuant to this prospectus, net of any brokers’ fees or commissions, shall be used by us to make dividend payments to holders of our Series B preferred stock for eight quarterly periods. In the alternative, a holder of our Series B preferred stock may elect to receive as payment of dividends shares of our common stock in lieu of the proceeds received from the sale of shares of our common stock. In the event a holder of our Series B preferred stock elects to receive shares in lieu of cash, we will not receive any portion of the proceeds from the resale of these shares by the selling shareholders. See sections entitled “Use of Proceeds” and “Plan of Distribution.”
 
Risk factors
See section entitled “Risk Factors” and other information in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock.
 
Dividend policy
We have never paid a cash dividend on our common stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on common stock in the foreseeable future.  
 
Nasdaq National Market symbol
FCEL.
 
(1) The above outstanding share information is based upon shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2005. The above outstanding share information excludes approximately 9,010,640 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of 105,875 shares of our Series B preferred stock (see “Description of Capital Stock - Series B Preferred Stock”), 225,286 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series 1 preferred shares issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd., our wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary (formerly known as FCE Canada, Inc.) (see “Description of Capital Stock - Series 1 Preferred Shares and Exchangeable Shares”); 1,500,000 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding at March 31, 2005 at a weighted average exercise price of $16.75 per share; 5,493,659 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of options outstanding at March 31, 2005 at a weighted average exercise price of $10.52 per share under our stock option plans; 1,021,318 shares of our common stock available for future issuance under our stock option plans; and 416,145 shares of our common stock available for future issuance under our employee stock purchase plan.

4

 
Summary Financial Information

The selected consolidated financial data presented below for each of the years in the five-year period ended October 31, 2004 and for the three month period ended January 31, 2005 have been derived from our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements, respectively, together with the notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. The data set forth below is qualified by reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, such financial statements and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus.    
 
(Amounts presented in thousands, except for per share amounts)

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data: 
 
   
Year Ended October 31,
 
Three Months Ended January 31,
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
 
2005
 
2004
 
Revenues:
                             
Research and development contracts
 
$
18,750
 
$
17,709
 
$
33,575
 
$
20,882
 
$
17,986
 
$
2,522
 
$
5,366
 
Product sales and revenue
   
12,636
   
16,081
   
7,656
   
5,297
   
2,729
   
5,032
   
2,028
 
Total revenues
   
31,386
   
33,790
   
41,231
   
26,179
   
20,715
   
7,554
   
7,394
 
Costs and expenses:
                                           
Cost of research and development contracts
   
27,290
   
35,827
   
45,664
   
19,033
   
12,508
   
2,814
   
7,471
 
Cost of product sales and revenues
   
39,961
   
50,391
   
32,129
   
16,214
   
4,968
   
13,713
   
7,623
 
Administrative and selling expenses
   
14,901
   
12,631
   
10,451
   
9,100
   
8,055
   
3,130
   
3,701
 
Research and development expenses
   
26,677
   
8,509
   
6,806
   
3,108
   
1,917
   
5,233
   
5,865
 
Purchased in-process research and development
   
12,200
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
12,200
 
Total costs and expenses
   
121,029
   
107,358
   
95,050
   
47,455
   
27,448
   
24,890
   
36,860
 
Loss from operations
   
(89,643
)
 
(73,568
)
 
(53,819
)
 
(21,276
)
 
(6,733
)
 
(17,336
)
 
(29,466
)
License fee income, net
   
19
   
270
   
270
   
270
   
266
   
71
   
67
 
Interest expense
   
(137
)
 
(128
)
 
(160
)
 
(116
)
 
(141
)
 
(42
)
 
(37
)
Loss from equity investments
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
(340
)
 
--
 
Interest and other income, net
   
2,472
   
6,012
   
4,876
   
5,684
   
2,138
   
875
   
918
 
Minority interest
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
11
   
--
   
--
 
Provision for income taxes
   
--
   
--
   
7
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
Net loss from continuing operations
   
(87,289
)
 
(67,414
)
 
(48,840
)
 
(15,438
)
 
(4,459
)
 
(16,772
)
 
(28,518
)
Discontinued operations, net of tax
   
846
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
(1,252
)
 
656
 
Net loss
 
$
(86,443
)
$
(67,414
)
$
(48,840
)
$
(15,438
)
$
(4,459
)
$
(18,024
)
$
(27,862
)
Preferred stock dividends
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
(1,342
)
 
(240
)
Net loss to common shareholders
 
$ 
--
 
$ 
--
 
$ 
--
 
$ 
--
 
$ 
--
 
$ 
(19,366
)
$ 
(28,102
)
Basic and diluted loss per share
                                           
Continuing operations
 
$
(1.82
)
$
(1.71
)
$
(1.25
)
$
(0.45
)
$
(0.16
)
$
(0.37
)
$
(0.60
)
Discontinued operations
 
$
0.01
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
(0.03
)
$
0.01
 
Net loss to common shareholders
 
$
(1.81
)
$
(1.71
)
$
(1.25
)
$
(0.45
)
$
(0.16
)
$
(0.40
)
$
(0.59
)
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
   
47,875
   
39,342
   
39,135
   
34,359
   
28,298
   
48,153
   
47,369
 
 
5


Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
   
As of October 31,
 
As of January 31,
 
   
2004
 
2005
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
 
2005
 
Cash, cash equivalents and short term investments (U.S. treasury securities)
 
$
152,395
 
$
134,750
 
$
205,996
 
$
274,760
 
$
74,754
 
$
220,438
 
Working capital
   
156,796
   
143,998
   
218,423
   
276,173
   
71,576
   
226,803
 
Total current assets
   
178,866
   
160,792
   
234,739
   
289,225
   
79,405
   
245,451
 
Long-term investments (U.S. treasury securities)
   
--
   
18,690
   
14,542
   
15,773
   
--
   
10,999
 
Total assets
   
236,510
   
223,363
   
289,803
   
334,020
   
91,028
   
312,700
 
Total current liabilities
   
22,070
   
16,794
   
16,316
   
13,052
   
7,588
   
18,648
 
Total non-current liabilities
   
1,476
   
1,484
   
1,785
   
1,252
   
--
   
1,217
 
Total shareholders’ equity
   
212,964
   
205,085
   
271,702
   
319,716
   
83,251
   
292,835
 
Book value per share(1)
 
$
4.42
 
$
5.20
 
$
6.93
 
$
8.20
 
$
2.65
 
$
6.08
 

(1) Calculated as total shareholder’s equity divided by common shares issued and outstanding as of the balance sheet date.
 
6

 
RISK FACTORS
 
Investing in our securities involves risks. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the following risk factors as well as the other information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, or results of operations and could be materially and adversely affected. In such cases, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

We have recently incurred losses and anticipate continued losses and negative cash flow.

We have been transitioning from a U.S. government contract research and development company to a commercial products developer and manufacturer. As such, we have not achieved profitability since our fiscal year ended October 31, 1997 and expect to continue to incur net losses and generate negative cash flow until we can produce sufficient revenues to cover our costs.

We incurred net losses of $86.4 million and $18.0 million for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 and the three months ended January 31, 2005, respectively. We anticipate that we will continue to incur losses and generate negative cash flow until we can cost-effectively produce and sell our Direct FuelCell products, which we do not expect to occur for several years. We may never become profitable. Even if we do achieve profitability, we may be unable to sustain or increase our profitability in the future. For the reasons discussed in more detail below, there are substantial uncertainties associated with our achieving and sustaining profitability.

Our cost reduction strategy may not succeed or may be significantly delayed, which may result in our inability to offer our products at competitive prices and may adversely affect our sales.

Our cost reduction strategy is based on the assumption that a significant increase in production will result in economies of scale. In addition, certain aspects of our cost reduction strategy rely on advancements in our manufacturing process, engineering design and technology (including projected power output) that, to a large degree, are currently not ascertainable. Our failure to achieve a lower Direct FuelCell product cost structure through economies of scale, improvements in the manufacturing process and engineering design and technology maturation would have a material adverse effect on our commercialization plans and, therefore, our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

The production costs of our initial commercial products are higher than their sales prices. We recognize that successfully implementing our strategy and obtaining a significant share of the distributed generation market requires that we offer our Direct FuelCell products at competitive prices, which can only be accomplished when production costs are cut substantially from current levels. If we are unable to produce Direct FuelCell products at competitive prices relative to alternative technologies and products, our target market customers will be unlikely to buy our fuel cell products.

Our products will compete with products using other energy sources, and if the prices of the alternative sources are lower than energy sources used by our products, sales of our products will be adversely affected.

Our Direct FuelCell has been operated using a variety of hydrocarbon fuels, including natural gas, methanol, diesel, biogas, coal gas, coal mine methane and propane. If these fuels are not readily available or if their prices increase such that electricity produced by our products costs more than electricity provided by other generation sources, our products would be less economically attractive to potential customers. In addition, we have no control over the prices of several types of competitive energy sources such as oil, gas or coal. Significant decreases in the price of these fuels could also have a material adverse effect on our business because other generation sources could be more economically attractive to consumers than our products.

7

 
Commercialization of our products depends on conducting successful field trials, and any delay, performance failure or perceived problem with our field trials could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

One key aspect of our strategy is to leverage the success of our demonstration, field trial and field follow projects into long-term distributor-type relationships that will result in these distributors marketing our Direct FuelCell products directly to energy customers. For example, we are operating fourteen Direct FuelCell units in the United States and five Direct FuelCell units in Japan and MTU CFC Solutions GmbH is currently field-testing eight 250 kW power plants in Germany and Spain that incorporate the Direct FuelCell as their fuel cell components. We believe that our Direct FuelCell commercialization program depends upon our conducting additional commercial field trials and demonstration projects of our power plants and completing substantial additional research and development.

Our demonstration, field trial and field follow projects may encounter problems and/or delays for a number of reasons, including the failure of our technology, the failure of the technology of others (including our balance of plant suppliers), the failure to combine these technologies properly (including control system coordination) and the failure to maintain and service the test prototypes properly. Many of these potential problems and delays are beyond our control. A failure by us to conduct field trials and demonstration projects of our megawatt class products or a failure to site the scheduled sub-megawatt power plants and complete these commercial field trials and research and development as currently planned could delay the timetable by which we believe we can begin to commercially sell our Direct FuelCell products. The failure of planned commercial field trials to perform as well as we anticipate could also have a material adverse effect on our commercialization plans, including the ability to enter into long-term distributor-type relationships for our Direct FuelCell products. Any delay, performance failure or perceived problem with our field trials could hurt our reputation in the distributed generation market and, therefore, could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

We currently face and will continue to face significant competition.

Our Direct FuelCell currently faces, and will continue to face, significant competition. We compete on the basis of our products’ reliability, fuel efficiency, environmental considerations and cost. Technological advances in alternative energy products or improvements in the electric grid or other fuel cell technologies may negatively affect the development or sale of some or all of our products or make our products non-competitive or obsolete prior to commercialization or afterwards. Other companies, some of which have substantially greater resources than ours, are currently engaged in the development of products and technologies that are similar to, or may be competitive with, our products and technologies.

Many companies in the United States are involved in fuel cell development, although we believe we are the only domestic company engaged in significant manufacturing and commercialization of carbonate fuel cells in the sub-megawatt and megawatt classes. Emerging fuel cell technologies (and companies developing them) include proton exchange membrane fuel cells (Ballard Power Systems, Inc.; United Technologies Corp. or UTC Fuel Cells; and Plug Power), phosphoric acid fuel cells (UTC Fuel Cells) and solid oxide fuel cells (Siemens Westinghouse Electric Company, Sulzer Hexis, McDermott, GE/ Honeywell, Delphi and Accumentrics). Each of these competitors has the potential to capture market share in our target markets.

There are other potential carbonate fuel cell competitors internationally. In Asia, Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries is active in developing carbonate fuel cells. In Europe, a company in Italy, Ansaldo Fuel Cells, is actively engaged in carbonate fuel cell development and is a potential competitor. Our licensees in Germany, MTU CFC Solutions GmbH, and its partners have been the most active in Europe.

8

 
Other than fuel cell developers, we must also compete with such companies as Caterpillar, Cummins, and Detroit Diesel, which manufacture more mature combustion-based equipment, including various engines and turbines, and have well-established manufacturing, distribution, and operating and cost features. Significant competition may also come from gas turbine companies like General Electric, Ingersoll Rand, Solar Turbines and Kawasaki, which have recently made progress in improving fuel efficiency and reducing pollution in large-size combined cycle natural gas fueled generators. These companies have also made efforts to extend these advantages to smaller sizes.

We may not meet our product development and commercialization milestones, which may have a material adverse effect on our operations and stock price.

We have established product development and commercialization milestones that we use to assess our progress toward developing commercially viable Direct FuelCell products. These milestones relate to technology and design improvements as well as to dates for achieving development goals. To gauge our progress, we operate, test and evaluate our Direct FuelCell products under actual conditions. If our systems exhibit technical defects or are unable to meet cost or performance goals, including power output, useful life and reliability, our commercialization schedule could be delayed and potential purchasers of our initial commercial Direct FuelCell products may decline to purchase them or choose to purchase alternative technologies. We cannot be sure that we will successfully achieve our milestones in the future or that any failure to achieve these milestones will not result in potential competitors gaining advantages in our target market. Failure to meet publicly announced milestones might have a material adverse effect on our operations and our stock price.

We have limited experience manufacturing our Direct FuelCell products on a commercial basis, which may adversely affect our planned increases in production capacity and our ability to satisfy customer requirements.

To date, we have focused primarily on research and development and conducting demonstrations and field trials. We have limited experience manufacturing our Direct FuelCell products on a commercial basis. We have installed equipment that will allow us to produce 50 MW of Direct FuelCell products per year. We expect that we will then increase our manufacturing capacity based on market demand. We believe that we can expand our manufacturing capacity to between 125 and 150 MW of Direct FuelCell products at our current facility. We cannot be sure that we will be able to achieve our planned increases in production capacity. Also, as we scale up our production capacity, we cannot be sure that unplanned failures or other technical problems relating to the manufacturing process will not occur.

Even if we are successful in achieving our planned increases in production capacity, we cannot be sure that we will do so in time to meet our product commercialization schedule or to satisfy the requirements of our customers. Given our dependence on government research and development contracts and the necessity of providing government entities with substantial amounts of information, our sales process has historically been long and time-consuming. We will need to continue to shorten the time from initial contact to final product delivery if we hope to expand production, reach a wider customer base and forecast revenues with any degree of certainty. Additionally, we cannot be sure that we will be able to develop efficient, low-cost manufacturing capabilities and processes (including automation) that will enable us to meet our cost goals and profitability projections. Our failure to shorten the sales cycle for our Direct FuelCell products or to develop these advanced manufacturing capabilities and processes, or meet our cost goals, could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

Unanticipated increases or decreases in business growth may result in adverse financial consequences for us.

If our business grows more quickly than we anticipate, our existing and planned manufacturing facilities may become inadequate and we may need to seek out new or additional space, at considerable cost to us. If our business does not grow as quickly as we expect, our existing and planned manufacturing facilities would, in part, represent excess capacity for which we may not recover the cost; in that circumstance, our revenues may be inadequate to support our committed costs and our planned growth and our gross margins and business strategy would be adversely affected.

9

 
Our commercialization plans are dependent on market acceptance of our Direct FuelCell products.

Our commercialization plans are dependent upon market acceptance of, as well as enhancements to, those products. Fuel cell systems represent an emerging market, and we cannot be sure that potential customers will accept fuel cells as a replacement for traditional power sources. As is typical in a rapidly evolving industry, demand and market acceptance for recently introduced products and services are subject to a high level of uncertainty and risk. Since the distributed generation market is new and evolving, it is difficult to predict with certainty the size of the market and its growth rate. The development of a market for our Direct FuelCell products may be affected by many factors that are out of our control, including:

 the cost competitiveness of our fuel cell products;

 the future costs of natural gas and other fuels used by our fuel cell products;

 consumer reluctance to try a new product;

 consumer perceptions of the safety of our fuel cell products;

 the pace of utility deregulation nationwide, which could affect the market for distributed generation;

 local permitting and environmental requirements; and

 the emergence of newer, more competitive technologies and products.

If a sufficient market fails to develop or develops more slowly than we anticipate, we may be unable to recover the losses we will have incurred in the development of Direct FuelCell products and may never achieve profitability.

As we continue to commercialize our Direct FuelCell products, we will continue to develop warranties, production guarantees and other terms and conditions relating to our products that will be acceptable to the marketplace, and continue to develop a service organization that will aid in servicing our products and obtain self-regulatory certifications, if available, with respect to our products. Failure to achieve any of these objectives may also slow the development of a sufficient market for our products and, therefore, have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Our government research and development contracts are subject to the risk of termination by the contracting party and we may not realize the full amounts allocated under the contracts due to the lack of Congressional appropriations.

Our fuel cell revenues have been principally derived from a long-term cooperative agreement and other contracts with the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”), the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Navy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. These agreements are important to the continued development and commercialization of our technology and our products.

Generally, our U.S. government research and development contracts, including the DOE (Product Design Improvement) cooperative agreement, are subject to the risk of termination at the convenience of the contracting agency. Furthermore, these contracts, irrespective of the amounts allocated by the contracting agency, are subject to annual congressional appropriations and the results of government or agency sponsored audits of our cost reduction efforts and our cost projections. We can only receive funds under these contracts ultimately made available to us annually by Congress as a result of the appropriations process. Accordingly, we cannot be sure whether we will receive the full amount allocated by the DOE under our DOE cooperative agreements or the full amounts awarded under our other government research and development contracts. Failure to receive the full amounts under any of our government research and development contracts could materially and adversely affect our commercialization plans and, therefore, our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

10

 
The United States government has certain rights relating to our intellectual property, including restricting or taking title to certain patents.

Many of our United States patents relating to our carbonate fuel cell technology are the result of government-funded research and development programs, including the DOE cooperative agreement. Four of our patents that were the result of DOE-funded research prior to January 1988 (the date that we qualified as a “small business”) are owned by the United States government and have been licensed to us. This license is revocable only in the limited circumstances where it has been demonstrated that we are not making an effort to commercialize the invention. We own all patents resulting from research funded by our DOE contracts awarded after January 1988 to date, based on our “small business” status when each contract was awarded. Under current regulations, patents resulting from research funded by government agencies other than the DOE are owned by us, whether or not we are a “small business.”

Fourteen United States patents that we own have resulted from government-funded research and are subject to the risk of exercise of “march-in” rights by the government. March-in rights refer to the right of the United States government or a government agency to exercise its non-exclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable worldwide license to any technology developed under contracts funded by the government if the contractor fails to continue to develop the technology. These “march-in” rights permit the United States government to take title to these patents and license the patented technology to third parties if the contractor fails to utilize the patents. In addition, our DOE-funded research and development agreements also require us to agree that we will not provide to a foreign entity any fuel cell technology subject to that agreement unless the fuel cell technology will be substantially manufactured in the U.S. Accordingly, we could lose some or all of the value of these patents.

A failure to qualify as a “small business” could adversely affect our rights to own future patents under DOE-funded contracts.

Qualifying as a “small business” under DOE contracts allows us to own the patents that we develop under DOE contracts. A “small business” under applicable government regulations generally consists of no more than 500 employees. If we continue to grow, we will no longer qualify as a “small business” and no longer own future patents we develop under contracts, grants or cooperative agreements funded by the DOE based on such certification, unless we obtain a patent waiver from the DOE. As a result of our acquisition of Global, the number of our employees increased and therefore, we temporarily did not qualify as a “small business.” Following the sale of Global and its TEG product line on May 27, 2004, we again qualify as a “small business”; however, we cannot assure you that we will continue to qualify as a “small business” in the future.

Our future success and growth is dependent on our distribution strategy.

We do not plan to establish a direct distribution infrastructure for our Direct FuelCell products. A key aspect of our strategy is to use multiple third-party distribution channels to ultimately service our diverse customer base. Depending on the needs of the customer, our Direct FuelCell products could be distributed through a value-added distributor who could provide a package of our products and various other components such as flywheels and battery storage devices; through an energy services company that could arrange various ancillary services for the customer; or through power generation equipment suppliers.

11

 
We cannot assure you that we will enter into distributor relationships that are consistent with, or sufficient to support, our commercialization plans or our growth strategy or that these relationships will be on terms favorable to us. Even if we enter into these types of relationships, we cannot assure you that the distributors with which we form relationships will focus adequate resources on selling our products or will be successful in selling them. Some of these distributor arrangements have or will require that we grant exclusive distribution rights to companies in defined territories. These exclusive arrangements could result in us being unable to enter into other arrangements at a time when the distributor with which we form a relationship is not successful in selling our products or has reduced its commitment to marketing our products. In addition, two of our current distributor arrangements include, and some future distributor arrangements may also include, the issuance of equity and warrants to purchase our equity, which may have an adverse effect on our stock price. To the extent we enter into distributor relationships, the failure of these distributors in assisting us with the marketing and distribution of our products may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

We cannot be sure that MTU will continue to, or original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) will, manufacture or package products using our Direct FuelCell components. In this area, our success will largely depend upon our ability to make our products compatible with the power plant products of OEMs and the ability of these OEMs to sell their products containing our products. In addition, some OEMs may need to redesign or modify their existing power plant products to fully incorporate our products. Accordingly, any integration, design, manufacturing or marketing problems encountered by MTU or other OEMs could adversely affect the market for our Direct FuelCell products and, therefore, our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

We depend on third party suppliers for the development and supply of key components for Direct FuelCell products.

We purchase several key components of our Direct FuelCell products from other companies and rely on third-party suppliers for the balance-of-plant components in our Direct FuelCell products. There are a limited number of suppliers for some of the key components of Direct FuelCell products. A supplier’s failure to develop and supply components in a timely manner or to supply components that meet our quality, quantity or cost requirements or technical specifications or our inability to obtain alternative sources of these components on a timely basis or on terms acceptable to us could harm our ability to manufacture our Direct FuelCell products. In addition, to the extent the processes that our suppliers use to manufacture components are proprietary, we may be unable to obtain comparable components from alternative suppliers.

We do not know when or whether we will secure long-term supply relationships with any of our suppliers or whether such relationships will be on terms that will allow us to achieve our objectives. Our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed if we fail to secure long-term relationships with entities that will supply the required components for our Direct FuelCell products.

We depend on our intellectual property, and our failure to protect that intellectual property could adversely affect our future growth and success.

Failure to protect our existing intellectual property rights may result in the loss of our exclusivity or the right to use our technologies. If we do not adequately ensure our freedom to use certain technology, we may have to pay others for rights to use their intellectual property, pay damages for infringement or misappropriation or be enjoined from using such intellectual property. We do not currently conduct freedom to operate analyses. We rely on patent, trade secret, trademark and copyright law to protect our intellectual property. The patents that we have obtained will expire between 2005 and 2023 and the average remaining life of our U.S. patents is approximately 10.7 years.

Some of our intellectual property is not covered by any patent or patent application and includes trade secrets and other know-how that is not patentable, particularly as it relates to our manufacturing processes and engineering design. In addition, some of our intellectual property includes technologies and processes that may be similar to the patented technologies and processes of third parties. If we are found to be infringing third-party patents, we do not know whether we will able to obtain licenses to use such patents on acceptable terms, if at all. Our patent position is subject to complex factual and legal issues that may give rise to uncertainty as to the validity, scope and enforceability of a particular patent. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that:

12

•  any of the U.S., Canadian or other foreign patents owned by us or other patents that third parties license to us will not be invalidated, circumvented, challenged, rendered unenforceable or licensed to others; or

•  any of our pending or future patent applications will be issued with the breadth of claim coverage sought by us, if issued at all.

In addition, effective patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret protection may be unavailable, limited or not applied for in certain foreign countries.

We also seek to protect our proprietary intellectual property, including intellectual property that may not be patented or patentable, in part by confidentiality agreements and, if applicable, inventors’ rights agreements with our subcontractors, vendors, suppliers, consultants, strategic partners and employees. We cannot assure you that these agreements will not be breached, that we will have adequate remedies for any breach or that such persons or institutions will not assert rights to intellectual property arising out of these relationships. Certain of our intellectual property has been licensed to us on a non-exclusive basis from third parties that may also license such intellectual property to others, including our competitors. If our licensors are found to be infringing third-party patents, we do not know whether we will be able to obtain licenses to use the intellectual property licensed to us on acceptable terms, if at all.

If necessary or desirable, we may seek extensions of existing licenses or further licenses under the patents or other intellectual property rights of others. However, we can give no assurances that we will obtain such extensions or further licenses or that the terms of any offered licenses will be acceptable to us. The failure to obtain a license from a third party for intellectual property that we use at present could cause us to incur substantial liabilities, and to suspend the manufacture or shipment of products or our use of processes requiring the use of that intellectual property.

While we are not currently engaged in any material intellectual property litigation, we could become subject to lawsuits in which it is alleged that we have infringed the intellectual property rights of others or commence lawsuits against others who we believe are infringing upon our rights. Our involvement in intellectual property litigation could result in significant expense to us, adversely affecting the development of sales of the challenged product or intellectual property and diverting the efforts of our technical and management personnel, whether or not that litigation is resolved in our favor.

Our future success will depend on our ability to attract and retain qualified management and technical personnel.

Our future success is substantially dependent on the continued services and on the performance of our executive officers and other key management, engineering, scientific, manufacturing and operating personnel, particularly Jerry Leitman, our President and Chief Executive Officer. The loss of the services of any executive officer, including Mr. Leitman, or other key management, engineering, scientific, manufacturing and operating personnel, could materially adversely affect our business. Our ability to achieve our development and commercialization plans will also depend on our ability to attract and retain additional qualified management and technical personnel. Recruiting personnel for the fuel cell industry is competitive. We do not know whether we will be able to attract or retain additional qualified management and technical personnel. Our inability to attract and retain additional qualified management and technical personnel, or the departure of key employees, could materially and adversely affect our development and commercialization plans and, therefore, our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

13

 
Our management may be unable to manage rapid growth effectively.

We expect to rapidly expand our manufacturing capabilities, accelerate the commercialization of our products and enter a period of rapid growth, which will place a significant strain on our senior management team and our financial and other resources. The proposed expansion will expose us to increased competition, greater overhead, marketing and support costs and other risks associated with the commercialization of a new product. Our ability to manage our rapid growth effectively will require us to continue to improve our operations, to improve our financial and management information systems and to train, motivate and manage our employees. Difficulties in effectively managing the budgeting, forecasting and other process control issues presented by such a rapid expansion could harm our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

We may be affected by environmental and other governmental regulation.

As we begin to commercialize our Direct FuelCell products, we will be subject to federal, state, provincial or local regulation with respect to, among other things, emissions and siting. Assuming no co-generation applications are used in conjunction with our larger Direct FuelCell plants, they will discharge humid flue gas at temperatures of approximately 700-800o F, water at temperatures of approximately 10-20 o F above surrounding air temperatures and carbon dioxide. These emissions will require permits that we expect (but cannot ensure) will be similar to those applicable to generating units.

In addition, it is possible that industry-specific laws and regulations will be adopted covering matters such as transmission scheduling, distribution and the characteristics and quality of our products, including installation and servicing. This regulation could limit the growth in the use of carbonate fuel cell products, decrease the acceptance of fuel cells as a commercial product and increase our costs and, therefore, the price of our Direct FuelCell products. Accordingly, compliance with existing or future laws and regulations as we begin to commercialize and site our products could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

Utility companies could impose customer fees or interconnection requirements on our customers that could make our products less desirable.

Utility companies commonly charge fees to larger, industrial customers for disconnecting from the electric grid or for having the capacity to use power from the electric grid for back up purposes. These fees could increase the cost to our customers of using our Direct FuelCell products and could make our products less desirable, thereby harming our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

Several states (Texas, New York, California and others) have created and adopted or are in the process of creating their own interconnection regulations covering both technical and financial requirements for interconnection to utility grids. Depending on the complexities of the requirements, installation of our systems may become burdened with additional costs that might have a negative impact on our ability to sell systems. There is also a burden in having to track the requirements of individual states and design equipment to comply with the varying standards. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has been working to create an interconnection standard addressing the technical requirements for distributed generation to interconnect to utility grids. Many parties are hopeful that this standard will be adopted nationally when it is completed to help reduce the barriers to deployment of distributed generation such as fuel cells; however this standard may be delayed or never completed thereby limiting the commercial prospects and profitability of our fuel cell systems.

14

 
Changes in government regulations and electric utility industry restructuring may affect demand for our Direct FuelCell products.

Our target market, the distributed generation market, is driven by deregulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry in the United States and elsewhere and by the requirements of utilities, independent power producers and end users. Deregulation of the electric utility industry is subject to government policies that will determine the pace and extent of deregulation. Many states have recently delayed the implementation of deregulation as a result of power disturbances in California several summers ago. Changes in government and public policy over time could further delay or otherwise affect deregulation and, therefore, adversely affect our prospects for commercializing our Direct FuelCell products and our financial results. We cannot predict how the deregulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry will ultimately affect the market for our Direct FuelCell products.

We could be liable for environmental damages resulting from our research, development or manufacturing operations.

Our business exposes us to the risk of harmful substances escaping into the environment, resulting in personal injury or loss of life, damage to or destruction of property, and natural resource damage. Depending on the nature of the claim, our current insurance policies may not adequately reimburse us for costs incurred in settling environmental damage claims, and in some instances, we may not be reimbursed at all. Our business is subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations that govern environmental protection and human health and safety. These laws and regulations have changed frequently in the past and it is reasonable to expect additional and more stringent changes in the future.

Our operations may not comply with future laws and regulations and we may be required to make significant unanticipated capital and operating expenditures. If we fail to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations, governmental authorities may seek to impose fines and penalties on us or to revoke or deny the issuance or renewal of operating permits and private parties may seek damages from us. Under those circumstances, we might be required to curtail or cease operations, conduct site remediation or other corrective action, or pay substantial damage claims.

We may be required to conduct environmental remediation activities, which could be expensive.

We are subject to a number of environmental laws and regulations, including those concerning the handling, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous materials. These environmental laws generally impose liability on present and former owners and operators, transporters and generators for remediation of contaminated properties. We believe that our businesses are operating in compliance in all material respects with applicable environmental laws, many of which provide for substantial penalties for violations. We cannot assure you that future changes in such laws, interpretations of existing regulations or the discovery of currently unknown problems or conditions will not require substantial additional expenditures. Any noncompliance with these laws and regulations could subject us to material administrative, civil or criminal penalties or other liabilities. In addition, we may be required to incur substantial costs to comply with current or future environmental and safety laws and regulations.

Our products use inherently dangerous, flammable fuels, operate at high temperatures and use corrosive carbonate material, each of which could subject our business to product liability claims.

Our business exposes us to potential product liability claims that are inherent in hydrogen and products that use hydrogen. Hydrogen is a flammable gas and therefore a potentially dangerous product. Hydrogen is typically generated from gaseous and liquid fuels that are also flammable and dangerous, such as propane, natural gas or methane, in a process known as reforming. Natural gas and propane could leak into a residence or commercial location and combust if ignited by another source. In addition, our Direct FuelCell products operate at high temperatures and our Direct FuelCell products use corrosive carbonate material, which could expose us to potential liability claims. Any accidents involving our products or other hydrogen-using products could materially impede widespread market acceptance and demand for our Direct FuelCell products. In addition, we might be held responsible for damages beyond the scope of our insurance coverage. We also cannot predict whether we will be able to maintain our insurance coverage on acceptable terms.

15

 
We are subject to risks inherent in international operations.

Since we plan to market our Direct FuelCell products both inside and outside the United States and Canada, our success depends, in part, on our ability to secure international customers and our ability to manufacture products that meet foreign regulatory and commercial requirements in target markets. We have limited experience developing and manufacturing our products to comply with the commercial and legal requirements of international markets. In addition, we are subject to tariff regulations and requirements for export licenses, particularly with respect to the export of some of our technologies. We face numerous challenges in our international expansion, including unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, longer accounts receivable requirements and collections, difficulties in managing international operations, potentially adverse tax consequences, restrictions on repatriation of earnings and the burdens of complying with a wide variety of international laws. Any of these factors could adversely affect our operations and revenues.

We have large and influential stockholders, which may make it difficult for a third party to acquire our common stock.

MTU currently owns approximately 5.7% of our outstanding common stock (based upon the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2005). James D. Gerson beneficially owns approximately 2.8% of our outstanding common stock. Loeb Investors Co. LXXV and Warren Bagatelle (a managing director of an affiliate of Loeb Investors Co. LXXV) collectively beneficially own approximately 2.3% of our outstanding common stock (based upon the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2005). These ownership levels could make it difficult for a third party to acquire our common stock or have input into the decisions made by our board of directors, which include Michael Bode (Chief Executive Officer of MTU CFC Solutions GmbH), James D. Gerson, Warren Bagatelle and Thomas L. Kempner (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of an affiliate of Loeb Investors Co. LXXV). MTU is also a licensee of our technology and a purchaser of our Direct FuelCell products. Therefore, it may be in MTU’s interest to possess substantial influence over matters concerning our overall strategy and technological and commercial development. In addition, Wellington Management Company, LLP owns approximately 13.8% of our outstanding common stock and is therefore in a position to substantially influence matters submitted to a vote of our security holders.

MTU may develop competing technologies for its own products.

MTU is currently developing carbonate fuel cell technologies based on the know-how that we have provided to MTU under license. If MTU develops its own carbonate fuel cell design before our license expires in 2010, it must use good faith efforts to license the technology to us. If MTU is successful but does not grant us a license, it may be directly competing with us while having a significant ownership interest in us, and a seat on our board of directors. We have agreed with MTU to continue developing products with as much commonality as possible. However, the license agreement between us and MTU provides that each of us retains the right to independently pursue the development of carbonate fuel cell technologies.

Our stock price has been and could remain volatile.

The market price for our common stock has been and may continue to be volatile and subject to extreme price and volume fluctuations in response to market and other factors, including the following, some of which are beyond our control:

16

 
 failure to meet our product development and commercialization milestones;

 variations in our quarterly operating results from the expectations of securities analysts or investors;

 downward revisions in securities analysts’ estimates or changes in general market conditions;

 announcements of technological innovations or new products or services by us or our competitors;

 announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;

 additions or departures of key personnel;

 investor perception of our industry or our prospects;

 insider selling or buying;

 demand for our common stock; and

 general technological or economic trends.

In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of their stock, many companies have been the subjects of securities class action litigation. If we became involved in securities class action litigation in the future, it could result in substantial costs and diversion of management’s attention and resources and could harm our stock price, business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

Provisions of Delaware and Connecticut law and of our charter and by-laws may make a takeover more difficult.

Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and by-laws and in Delaware and Connecticut corporate law may make it difficult and expensive for a third party to pursue a tender offer, change in control or takeover attempt that is opposed by our management and board of directors. Public stockholders who might desire to participate in such a transaction may not have an opportunity to do so. These anti-takeover provisions could substantially impede the ability of public stockholders to benefit from a change in control or change in our management and board of directors.

We depend on relationships with strategic partners, and the terms and enforceability of many of these relationships are not certain.

We have entered into relationships with strategic partners for design, product development and distribution of our existing products, and products under development, some of which may not have been documented by a definitive agreement. The terms and conditions of many of these agreements allow for termination by the partners. Termination of any of these agreements could adversely affect our ability to design, develop and distribute these products to the marketplace. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully negotiate and execute definitive agreements with any of these partners, and failure to do so may effectively terminate the relevant relationship.

Future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock could affect the market price of our common stock.

Future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into shares of our common stock, into the public market, including shares of our common stock issued upon exercise of options and warrants, or perceptions that those sales could occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock and our ability to raise capital in the future.

17

 
The rights of the Series 1 preferred shares and Series B preferred shares could negatively impact our company.

The terms of the Series 1 preferred shares issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd., our wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary, provide rights to the holder, Enbridge, Inc. (Enbridge), including dividend and conversion rights among others that could negatively impact us. For example, the terms of the Series 1 preferred shares provide that the holders are entitled to receive cumulative dividends for each calendar quarter for so long as such shares are outstanding. Assuming the exchange rate for Canadian dollars is Cdn.$1.3104 to U.S.$1.00 at the time of the applicable dividend payment date, we could be required to pay a preferred dividend of approximately $238,477 per calendar quarter, subject to reduction in accordance with the terms of the Series 1 preferred shares. The terms of the Series 1 preferred shares also require that the holder be paid any accrued and unpaid dividends on December 31, 2010. To the extent that there is a significant amount of accrued dividends that is unpaid as of December 31, 2010 and we do not have sufficient working capital at that time to pay the accrued dividends, our financial condition could be adversely affected. We have guaranteed these dividend obligations, including paying a minimum of Cdn.$500,000 in cash annually to Enbridge for so long as Enbridge holds the Series 1 preferred shares. We have also guaranteed the liquidation obligations of FuelCell Energy, Ltd. under the Series 1 preferred shares.

We are also required to issue common stock to the holder of the Series 1 preferred shares if and when the holder exercises its conversion rights. The number of shares of common stock that we may issue upon conversion could be significant and dilutive to our existing stockholders. For example, assuming the holder of the Series 1 preferred shares exercises its conversion rights after July 31, 2020, the exchange rate for Canadian dollars is Cdn.$1.3104 to U.S.$1.00 at the time of such conversion and our common stock price is $14.62 at the time of such conversion, we would be required to issue approximately 1,373,615 shares of our common stock.
 
The terms of the Series B preferred shares also provide rights to their holders that could negatively impact us.   Holders of the Series B preferred shares are entitled to receive cumulative dividends at the rate of $50 per share per year, payable either in cash or in shares of our common stock.   To the extent the dividend is paid in shares, additional issuances could be dilutive to our existing stockholders and the sale of those shares could have a negative impact on the price of our common stock.  The Series B preferred stock is also convertible into common stock at a price of $11.75 per share.  Conversion of the Series B preferred stock at a time when the price of our common stock is greater than $11.75 per share would also have a dilutive impact on our existing stockholders.  Furthermore, the conversion rate applicable to the preferred stock is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events.
 
USE OF PROCEEDS
 
Up to 300,000 shares of our common stock registered on a registration statement on Form S-1, for which this prospectus forms a part, will be issued to certain of our employees as partial payment for annual bonuses earned with respect to our performance targets for our fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 and future periods.
 
The proceeds from the sale of up to 1,500,000 shares of our common stock that may be offered promptly and sold by us from time to time pursuant to this prospectus, net of any broker’s fee or commissions, shall be used to make dividend payments to holders of our Series B preferred stock for each of the eight quarterly periods ending on May 15, August 15 and November 15, 2005, February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, 2006 and February 15, 2007. (See section entitled “Plan of Distribution”). In the alternative, a holder of our Series B preferred stock may elect to receive as payment of dividends shares of our common stock in lieu of the proceeds received from the sale of shares of our common stock. Shares issued to holders of our Series B preferred stock as dividend payments may be offered and sold from time to time by the selling shareholders under this prospectus and we will not receive any portion of the proceeds from the sale of these shares by the selling shareholders.
 
18

 
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
 
Our common stock has been publicly traded since June 25, 1992. From September 21, 1994 through February 25, 1997, it was quoted on the NASDAQ National Market, and from February 26, 1997 through June 6, 2000 it was traded on the American Stock Exchange.

Our common stock has traded under the symbol “FCEL” on the Nasdaq Stock Market since June 7, 2000. The following table sets forth the high and low closing sale prices for our common stock for the fiscal periods indicated as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market during the indicated quarters.
 

 
 
Common Stock Price
 
 
 
High 
 
Low 
 
Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2002
         
First Quarter
 
$
21.85
 
$
13.55
 
Second Quarter
 
$
18.46
 
$
15.15
 
Third Quarter
 
$
16.73
 
$
6.62
 
Fourth Quarter
 
$
8.01
 
$
4.58
 
 
Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2003
             
First Quarter
 
$
9.05
 
$
5.39
 
Second Quarter
 
$
6.22
 
$
5.03
 
Third Quarter
 
$
9.90
 
$
6.28
 
Fourth Quarter
 
$
15.37
 
$
6.81
 
 
Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2004
             
First Quarter
 
$
17.25
 
$
11.44
 
Second Quarter
 
$
19.44
 
$
11.86
 
Third Quarter
 
$
17.23
 
$
8.36
 
Fourth Quarter
 
$
13.14
 
$
7.42
 
 
Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2005
             
First Quarter
 
$
13.01
 
$
8.02
 
Second Quarter (through March 31, 2005)
 
$
11.85
 
$
8.88
 

 
On March 31, 2005, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market was $9.98 per share. As of March 31, 2005, there were 823 holders of record of our common stock.
 
DIVIDEND POLICY
 
We have never paid a cash dividend on our common stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.   In addition, the terms of our Series B preferred shares prohibit the payment of dividends on our common stock unless all dividends on the Series B preferred stock have been paid in full.
 
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
The selected consolidated financial data presented below for each of the years in the five-year period ended October 31, 2004 and for the three month period ended January 31, 2005 have been derived from our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements, respectively, together with the notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. The data set forth below is qualified by reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, such financial statements and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus.    
 
19

 
(Amounts presented in thousands, except for per share amounts)

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data: 
 
   
Year Ended October 31,
 
Three Months Ended January 31,
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
 
2005
 
2004
 
Revenues:
                             
Research and development contracts
 
$
18,750
 
$
17,709
 
$
33,575
 
$
20,882
 
$
17,986
 
$
2,522
 
$
5,366
 
Product sales and revenue
   
12,636
   
16,081
   
7,656
   
5,297
   
2,729
   
5,032
   
2,028
 
Total revenues
   
31,386
   
33,790
   
41,231
   
26,179
   
20,715
   
7,554
   
7,394
 
Costs and expenses:
                                           
Cost of research and development contracts
   
27,290
   
35,827
   
45,664
   
19,033
   
12,508
   
2,814
   
7,471
 
Cost of product sales and revenues
   
39,961
   
50,391
   
32,129
   
16,214
   
4,968
   
13,713
   
7,623
 
Administrative and selling expenses
   
14,901
   
12,631
   
10,451
   
9,100
   
8,055
   
3,130
   
3,701
 
Research and development expenses
   
26,677
   
8,509
   
6,806
   
3,108
   
1,917
   
5,233
   
5,865
 
Purchased in-process research and development
   
12,200
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
12,200
 
Total costs and expenses
   
121,029
   
107,358
   
95,050
   
47,455
   
27,448
   
24,890
   
36,860
 
Loss from operations
   
(89,643
)
 
(73,568
)
 
(53,819
)
 
(21,276
)
 
(6,733
)
 
(17,336
)
 
(29,466
)
License fee income, net
   
19
   
270
   
270
   
270
   
266
   
71
   
67
 
Interest expense
   
(137
)
 
(128
)
 
(160
)
 
(116
)
 
(141
)
 
(42
)
 
(37
)
Loss from equity investments
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
(340
)
 
--
 
Interest and other income, net
   
2,472
   
6,012
   
4,876
   
5,684
   
2,138
   
875
   
918
 
Minority interest
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
11
   
--
   
--
 
Provision for income taxes
   
--
   
--
   
7
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
Net loss from continuing operations
   
(87,289
)
 
(67,414
)
 
(48,840
)
 
(15,438
)
 
(4,459
)
 
(16,772
)
 
(28,518
)
Discontinued operations, net of tax
   
846
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
(1,252
)
 
656
 
Net loss
 
$
(86,443
)
$
(67,414
)
$
(48,840
)
$
(15,438
)
$
(4,459
)
$
(18,024
)
$
(27,862
)
Preferred stock dividends
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
(1,342
)
 
(240
)
Net loss to common shareholders
 
$ 
--
  $ 
--
  $ 
--
  $ 
--
  $ 
--
  $ 
(19,366
)
$ 
(28,102
)
Basic and diluted loss per share
                                           
Continuing operations
 
$
(1.82
)
$
(1.71
)
$
(1.25
)
$
(0.45
)
$
(0.16
)
$
(0.37
)
$
(0.60
)
Discontinued operations
 
$
0.01
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
(0.03
)
$
0.01
 
Net loss to common shareholders
 
$
(1.81
)
$
(1.71
)
$
(1.25
)
$
(0.45
)
$
(0.16
)
$
(0.40
)
$
(0.59
)
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
   
47,875
   
39,342
   
39,135
   
34,359
   
28,298
   
48,153
   
47,369
 

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
 
   
As of October 31,
 
As of January 31,
 
   
2004
 
2005
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
 
2005
 
Cash, cash equivalents and short term investments (U.S. treasury securities)
 
$
152,395
 
$
134,750
 
$
205,996
 
$
274,760
 
$
74,754
 
$
220,438
 
Working capital
   
156,796
   
143,998
   
218,423
   
276,173
   
71,576
   
226,803
 
Total current assets
   
178,866
   
160,792
   
234,739
   
289,225
   
79,405
   
245,451
 
Long-term investments (U.S. treasury securities)
   
--
   
18,690
   
14,542
   
15,773
   
--
   
10,999
 
Total assets
   
236,510
   
223,363
   
289,803
   
334,020
   
91,028
   
312,700
 
Total current liabilities
   
22,070
   
16,794
   
16,316
   
13,052
   
7,588
   
18,648
 
Total non-current liabilities
   
1,476
   
1,484
   
1,785
   
1,252
   
--
   
1,217
 
Total shareholders’ equity
   
212,964
   
205,085
   
271,702
   
319,716
   
83,251
   
292,835
 
Book value per share(1)
 
$
4.42
 
$
5.20
 
$
6.93
 
$
8.20
 
$
2.65
 
$
6.08
 

(1) Calculated as total shareholder’s equity divided by common shares issued and outstanding as of the balance sheet date.
 
20

 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is provided as a supplement to the accompanying financial statements and footnotes to help provide an understanding of our financial condition, changes in our financial condition and results of operations. The MD&A is organized as follows:
 
Overview and recent developments. This section provides a general description of our business. We also briefly summarize any significant events occurring subsequent to the close of the reporting period.
 
Critical accounting policies and estimates. This section discusses those accounting policies and estimates that are both considered important to our financial condition and operating results and require significant judgment and estimates on the part of management in their application.

Results of operations. This section provides an analysis of our results of operations for the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, and the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004. In addition, a description is provided of transactions and events that impact the comparability of the results being analyzed.

Liquidity and capital resources. This section provides an analysis of our cash position and cash flows.

Recent accounting pronouncements. This section summarizes recent accounting pronouncements and their impact on the company.

Factors that may affect future results.    In this section, we detail risk factors that affect our quarterly and annual results, but which are difficult to predict.

OVERVIEW AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Overview

FuelCell is a world leader in the development and manufacture of fuel cell power plants for clean, efficient and reliable electric power generation.  We have been developing fuel cell technology since our founding in 1969. We are currently commercializing our core carbonate fuel cell products (Direct FuelCell® or DFC® Power Plants), stationary applications for commercial and industrial customers, and continuing to develop our next generation of carbonate fuel cell products. In addition, we are beginning the development of another high temperature fuel cell system, planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology, as a prime contractor in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) Program and through our 42 percent ownership interest in Versa Power Systems (Versa).

Direct FuelCell Power Plants

Increasing demand for reliable power worldwide, supplemented by air pollution concerns caused by older, combustion power generation, and unreliable electrical grid delivery systems present significant market opportunities for our core distributed generation products. Our proprietary carbonate DFC power plants electrochemically produce electricity directly from readily available hydrocarbon fuels, such as natural gas and wastewater treatment gas.  We believe our products offer significant advantages compared to other power generation technologies, including:
 
21


·  
High fuel efficiency;
·  
Ultra-clean emissions;
·  
Improved reliability;
·  
Quiet operation;
·  
Flexible siting and permitting requirements;
·  
Scalability;
·  
Ability to provide electricity and heat for cogeneration applications, such as district heating, process steam, hot water and absorption chilling for air conditioning;
·  
Potentially lower operating, maintenance and generation costs than alternative distributed power generation technologies; and
·  
Because our DFC power plants produce hydrogen from readily available fuels such as natural gas and wastewater treatment gas, they can be used to cost-effectively cogenerate hydrogen as well as electricity and heat.

Our current products, the DFC300A, DFC1500 and DFC3000, are rated in capacity at 250 kW, 1 MW and 2 MW, respectively, and are scalable for distributed applications up to 10 MW or larger.  Our products are designed to meet the base load power requirements of a wide range of commercial and industrial customers including wastewater treatment plants (municipal, such as sewage treatment facilities, and industrial, such as breweries and food processors), data centers, manufacturing facilities, office buildings, hospitals, universities, prisons, mail processing facilities and hotels, as well as in grid support applications for utility customers.  We are currently operating 29 power plants that incorporate our DFC technology at customer sites throughout the U.S., Europe and Japan. Through February 2005, more than 62 million kilowatt hours of electricity have been generated by fuel cell power plants worldwide incorporating our DFC technology. This is more than double the 27 million kilowatt hours reported a year ago. Approximately 5 percent was generated from our first megawatt DFC1500 power plant for King County. This increased operating hours at customer sites has provided additional experience for improvement of the performance and availability of DFC power plants. From January 2003 through January 2005, the fleet availability for the our DFC power plants was 87 percent.

On November 3, 2003, we completed our acquisition of Global located in Calgary, Canada. At the time of the acquisition, Global had been developing SOFC power plants since 1997 with the goal of commercializing its technology for residential, commercial and light industrial applications ranging in size from 3 to 10 kW. Through its thermoelectric generator (TEG') product line, Global also sold thermoelectric generators for use as a source of electrical power in remote areas. In connection with the acquisition, we issued, in the aggregate, approximately 8.2 million shares of our common stock and exchangeable shares, the latter of which were issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd., our wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary (formerly FCE Canada Inc.). We also assumed Global's Series 2 Preferred Shares. Total consideration for the acquisition was approximately $94.8 million.

On May 28, 2004, we sold Global's TEG business for proceeds of approximately $16 million. The sale of the TEG business was affected through a sale of all of the outstanding common shares of Global. Prior to the sale, Global transferred substantially all of its assets and liabilities not relating to its TEG business (including substantially all of Global's assets and liabilities relating to its SOFC business and substantially all of its cash) to FuelCell Energy, Ltd. In addition, prior to the sale, the Global Series 2 Preferred Shares were cancelled and replaced with substantially equivalent Class A cumulative redeemable exchangeable preferred shares (which we refer to as the Series 1 preferred shares) issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd.

On October 31, 2004, we redeemed all of the approximately two million issued and outstanding exchangeable shares issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd. The exchangeable shares were redeemed in exchange for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis. The redemption had no impact on the total number of shares of our common stock deemed outstanding.

22

 
Recent Developments

Preferred Share Offering

On November 11, 2004 we entered into a purchase agreement with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Adams Harkness, Inc., and Lazard Freres & Co., LLC (collectively referred to as the “Initial Purchasers”) for the private placement under Rule 144A of up to 135,000 shares of our 5% Series B Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (Liquidation Preference $1,000). On November 17, 2004, we closed on the sale of 100,000 shares of Series B preferred stock to the Initial Purchasers. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the Initial Purchasers were granted an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 35,000 shares of Series B preferred stock through January 25, 2005. On January 14, 2005, we sold an additional 5,875 shares of our Series B preferred stock to the Initial Purchasers as part of the over-allotment option. Net proceeds to us were approximately $99 million.

Sale of Canadian Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Operation to Versa Power Systems, Inc.

On November 1, 2004, pursuant to an asset purchase agreement, dated October 19, 2004, by and among us, our wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, FuelCell Energy, Ltd., Versa Power Systems, Inc. (Versa), a Delaware corporation, and Versa Power Systems, Ltd., a Canadian corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Versa Power Systems, Inc., FuelCell Energy, Ltd. transferred substantially all of its solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) assets and operations (including manufacturing and test equipment, intellectual property and personnel) to Versa Power Systems, Ltd. In exchange, we received 5,714 shares of Versa Power Systems, Inc. common stock, increasing our ownership position in Versa to 7,714 shares, or 42 percent. No cash was exchanged in the transaction.

Assets sold to Versa totaled approximately $12.4 million and were classified as held for sale on the balance sheet as of October 31, 2004. Upon closing of the sale on November 1, 2004, our total investment in Versa was approximately $14.4 million and will be classified as “Equity investments”. We will account for this investment under the equity method in future periods.

Pursuant to the terms of the transaction, we expect to incur cash costs in the range of approximately $1.0 million to $1.5 million related to severance and facility consolidations in Calgary, Canada. Approximately $0.1 million of this amount is related to severance payments to employees paid during the quarter ended October 31, 2004. The remaining payments are expected to be made during fiscal year 2005. In addition, we have committed to paying future severance costs for time and service accrued up to November 1, 2004 by employees that are moving to Versa in the event that they are terminated by Versa Power Systems, Ltd. (or its parent). Our liability for such severance costs is limited to the period commencing on November 1, 2004 through the earlier of (1) award of Phase 2 of the SECA program to FuelCell, (2) one year after completion of Phase 1 of the SECA program, or (3) February 26, 2008. Subsequent to this period, Versa Power Systems, Ltd. (or its parent) will be responsible for the severance liability for such employees. We estimate this liability at approximately $0.8 million.
 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Revenue Recognition

We contract with our customers to perform research and development or manufacture and install fuel cell components and power plants under long-term contracts. We recognize revenue on a method similar to the percentage-of-completion method.

Revenues on fuel cell research and development contracts are recognized proportionally as costs are incurred and compared to the estimated total research and development costs for each contract. In many cases, we are reimbursed only a portion of the costs incurred or to be incurred on the contract. Revenues from government funded research, development and demonstration programs are generally multi-year, cost reimbursement and/or cost shared type contracts or cooperative agreements. We are reimbursed for reasonable and allocable costs up to the reimbursement limits set by the contract or cooperative agreement.

23

 
While government research and development contracts may extend for many years, funding is often provided incrementally on a year-by-year basis if contract terms are met and Congress has authorized the funds. As of October 31, 2004 and January 31, 2005, research and development sales backlog totaled $16.4 million, of which 79 percent is funded, and $24.7 million, of which 58 percent is funded, respectively. Should funding be temporarily delayed or if business initiatives change, we may choose to devote resources to other activities, including internally funded research and development.

Fuel cell product sales and revenues include revenues from product sales and service contracts. Revenues from fuel cell product sales are recognized proportionally as costs are incurred and assigned to a customer contract by comparing the estimated total manufacture and installation costs for each contract to the total contract value. Revenues from service contracts are recognized ratably over the contract term while costs are expensed as incurred. As our fuel cell products are in their initial stages of development and market acceptance, actual costs incurred could differ materially from those previously estimated. Once we have established that our fuel cell products have achieved commercial market acceptance and future costs can be reasonably estimated, then estimated costs to complete an individual contract, in excess of revenue, will be accrued immediately upon identification.

Warrant Value Recognition

Warrants have been issued as sales incentives to certain of our business partners. These warrants vest as orders from our business partners exceed stipulated levels. Should warrants vest, or when management estimates that it is probable that warrants will vest, we will record a proportional amount of the fair value of the warrants against related revenue as a sales discount. During the three months ended April 30, 2004, a tranche of 200,000 warrants issued to one of our business partners vested with the receipt of a 4 MW order. The fair value of these warrants was determined to be $0.5 million. This has been recorded as other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet with the offsetting entry to additional paid in capital. In accordance with our warrant value recognition policy, as we recognize the associated revenue for orders placed in accordance with these sales agreements, a proportional amount of the fair value of the warrants will be recorded against the revenue as a sales discount. To date, approximately $0.1 million of sales discounts have been recognized.

Inventories

During the procurement and manufacturing process of a fuel cell power plant, costs for material, labor and overhead are accumulated in raw materials and work-in-process (WIP) inventory until they are transferred to a customer contract.

Our inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market price. As we sell products at or below cost, we provide for a lower of cost or market (LCM) adjustment to the cost basis of inventory. This adjustment is estimated by comparing the current sales prices of our power plants to estimated costs of completed power plants. In certain circumstances, for long-lead time items, we will make advance payments to vendors for future inventory deliveries, which are recorded as a component of other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet. We also provide for a LCM adjustment to the advance payments to vendors.

As of January 31, 2005 and October 31, 2004, the LCM adjustment to cost basis of inventory and advance payments to vendors was approximately $8.4 million and $12.4 million respectively, each of which equates to a reduction of approximately 36 and 42 percent respectively of the inventory value. As of October 31, 2004, our balance of plant inventory and advances to vendors had increased over the prior year-end due to our current production schedule. However, as of January 31, 2005, our gross balance of plant and advances to vendors balances declined from the October 31, 2004 balances due to plants being completed for customer orders. As inventory levels increase or decrease, appropriate adjustments to cost basis are made.

24

 
Internal Research and Development Expenses

We conduct internally funded research and development activities to improve current or anticipated product performance and reduce product life-cycle costs. These costs are classified as research and development expenses on our statements of operations.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Management evaluates the results of operations and cash flows using a variety of key performance indicators. Indicators that management uses include revenues compared to prior periods and internal forecasts, costs of our products and results of our “cost-out” initiatives, and operating cash use. These are discussed throughout the ‘Results of Operations’ and ‘Liquidity and Capital Resources’ sections contained under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Comparison of the Years Ended October 31, 2004 and October 31, 2003

Revenues and costs of revenues
 
The following tables summarize our revenue and cost mix for the years ended October 31, 2004 and 2003 respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):


 
 
Year Ended
October 31, 2004
 
Year Ended
October 31, 2003
 
Percentage
Increase /
 
Revenues:
 
Revenues
 
Percent of Revenues
 
Product Revenues
 
Percent of Revenues
 
(Decrease) in Revenues
 
Research and development contracts
 
$
18,750
   
60
%   
$
17,709
   
52
%
 
6
%
Product sales and revenues
   
12,636
   
40
%
 
16,081
   
48
%
 
(21
%)
Total
 
$
31,386
   
100
%
$
33,790
   
100
%
 
(7
%)
 
   
Year Ended
October 31, 2004
 
Year Ended
October 31, 2003
 
Percentage Increase /
 
Cost of revenues:
 
Costs of Revenues
 
Percent of Costs of Revenues
 
Costs of Revenues
 
Percent of Costs of Revenues
 
(Decrease)
 in Costs of Revenues
 
Research and development contracts
 
$
27,290
   
41
%   
$
35,827
   
42
%
 
(24
%)
Product sales and revenues
   
39,961
   
59
%
 
50,391
   
58
%
 
(21
%)
Total
 
$
67,251
   
100
%
$
86,21
   
100
%
 
(22
%)
 
Total revenues for the year ended October 31, 2004 decreased by $2.4 million, or 7 percent, to $31.4 million from $33.8 million during the same period last year. The components of our revenues and cost of revenues are further described as follows:
 
Research and development contracts

Revenue from research and development contracts will vary from year to year depending on government funding levels, new contracts and work on existing contracts. Revenue from research and development contracts increased 6 percent during the year ended October 31, 2004 to $18.8 million from $17.7 million in same period of the prior year. Revenues have increased on the Vision 21 and Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) contracts with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). These increases were offset by lower revenue from the Clean Coal contract as the installation phase for this two megawatt DFC3000 power plant was completed.

25

 
The cost of research and development contract revenue declined by $8.5 million for the year ended October 31, 2004 (fiscal 2004) compared to the prior year due to the mix of cost shared contracts and reduced costs for the Clean Coal, Product Design Improvement (PDI), and King County contracts as major tasks were completed on those contracts. The ratio of costs to contract revenues was 1.5 to 1, which decreased from 2.0 to 1 when compared to the same period of the prior year. The primary driver of the improved cost ratio was increased funding for the PDI program during fiscal 2004. Significant cost share contracts in fiscal 2004 included Clean Coal, PDI, Vision 21, King County, Navy Phase II and SECA. We concluded work on the PDI contract during the quarter ended October 31, 2004 and do not expect significant future revenues or costs related to this contract.

For strategic reasons, we currently plan to continue to participate in government cost share contracts that advance the development of fuel cells. As a result, we expect that costs on these contracts will be higher than revenues received.
 
Fuel cell product sales and revenues and product costs

Fuel cell product sales were $12.6 million for the year ended October 31, 2004 compared to $16.1 million in the same period of a year ago. The lower product sales and revenues were due to production scheduling for customer requirements and production on power plants for power purchase agreements where product revenues are not recognized until power is sold to the customer over an extended term. Power plant production was at approximately the same level as the prior year (6 MW). As of October 31, 2004, product sales backlog totaled approximately $26.3 million, compared to $14.4 million as of October 31, 2003. This backlog does not include 1.5 MW of orders for power purchase agreements for Santa Barbara and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Product costs decreased with lower revenue to $40.0 million from $50.4 million. The ratio of costs to revenue increased slightly from 3.1 to 3.2 to 1 over the prior year due to costs totaling approximately $2.0 million associated with the power purchase agreements noted above. This increase was partially offset by lower overall product costs recognized on power plants built in 2004 when compared to the prior year due to progress on our cost out program.

Our products do not ship on an even production schedule. The shipment date to customers depends on a number of factors that are outside of our control, including siting requirements, construction and permits. We do not have the sales or order history to quantify trends as of yet.

Administrative and selling expenses

Excluding costs from our Canadian SOFC operations, administrative and selling expenses increased by $1.1 million or 9 percent, to $13.7 million during the year ended October 31, 2004 compared to $12.6 million in the prior year. Approximately $0.8 million of this increase was due to increased sales and marketing expenses and $0.2 million was due to higher investor relations costs related to our increased shareholder base. In addition, we incurred $1.2 million of administrative and selling expenses in our Canadian SOFC operations as a result of our acquisition during the year ended October 31, 2004. We do not expect to incur any significant administrative and selling expenses related to the Canadian SOFC operation in our fiscal year ending October 31, 2005 (fiscal 2005) as it was sold effective November 1, 2004.

Research and development expenses

Excluding costs from our Canadian SOFC operations, research and development expenses increased to $17.6 million during year ended October 31, 2004 compared to $8.5 million recorded in 2003. The increase is due to continued focus on our “cost-out” program (implemented in fiscal 2003), product documentation and engineering support for products in the field. During fiscal 2004, we expanded our cost out program by hiring additional engineering employees. Our cost-out program is expected to: reduce material costs, simplify design, improve manufacturing yields, reduce product assembly labor, and reduce production cycle time of our DFC products. In addition, we incurred $9.0 million of research and development expenses in our Canadian SOFC operations as a result of our acquisition during the year ended October 31, 2004. We do not expect to incur any significant research and development expenses related to the Canadian SOFC operation in fiscal 2005, as it was sold effective November 1, 2004.

26

 
Purchased in-process research and development

The $12.2 million in-process research and development (IPR&D) charge relates to SOFC technology acquired in the Global transaction. In 1997, Global began developing SOFC technology, which is still in development. The $12.2 million allocated to IPR&D was determined using two established valuation techniques. An average of the cost valuation and market valuation approaches were used to determine the IPR&D amount. The amounts estimated in this valuation were calculated using a risk-adjusted discount rate of 30 percent. As the acquired technology has not yet reached technological feasibility and no alternative future uses existed, it was expensed upon acquisition in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 2, “Accounting for Research and Development Costs.”

The IPR&D acquired was related to one project, the development of a solid oxide fuel cell. Prior to the transaction date, Global spent approximately five years developing this technology. In 2003, we received notice of an award to participate in the DOE’s ten-year SECA program to develop low cost solid oxide fuel cells for residential, commercial, and light industrial applications. We currently estimate that it will take approximately five to ten years to complete the development. The SECA program is a cost-share program totaling approximately $139 million. This technology was subsequently sold to our partner in the SECA program, Versa, along with fixed assets in exchange for stock, which increased our ownership in Versa to approximately 42 percent.

Loss from operations

The loss from operations for the year ended October 31, 2004 totaled $89.6 million compared to the $73.6 million recorded in 2003. The loss from operations for the year ended October 31, 2004 totaled $67.2 million compared to the $73.6 million recorded in 2003 or a reduction of approximately 9 percent excluding the Canadian SOFC operation. The reduction in operating loss was due to lower cost of research and development and product revenues partially offset by increased administrative, selling and internal research and development costs.

We expect to incur operating losses in future reporting periods as we continue to participate in government cost share programs, sell products at prices lower than our current production costs, and invest in our “cost out” initiatives. As a result of selling our Canadian SOFC operations, we expect to reduce our annual cash use by approximately $10.0 million. The Global and SOFC operations were part of Global, which was acquired by us in November 2003, thus there are no comparable periods of the prior year.

Interest and other income, net

Interest and other income, net, declined by $3.5 million when comparing the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 to the prior year. During the year ended October 31, 2003, we realized Connecticut state research and development incentives totaling $3.4 million. We did not realize tax incentives during the year ended October 31, 2004 although we have applied for approximately $1.5 million of such credits. During the year ended October 31, 2004, we realized foreign currency gains totaling approximately $0.5 million, which offset a decline (compared to the prior year) of interest income totaling approximately $0.9 million. The reduction in interest income is due to reduced average interest rates on the invested cash.

27

 
Provision for income taxes

We believe, that due to our efforts to commercialize our DFC technology, we will continue to incur losses. Based on projections for future taxable income over the period in which the deferred tax assets are realizable, management believes that significant uncertainty exists surrounding the recoverability of the deferred tax assets. Therefore, no tax benefit has been recognized related to current year losses and other deferred tax assets.

Discontinued operations, net of tax

Discontinued operations reflects the net income of $0.8 million of the TEG business segment that was sold on May 28, 2004. Refer also to Note 2 - Discontinued Operations of our consolidated financial statements. The Global TEG business segment was acquired by us in November 2003, thus there are no results from discontinued operations in the comparable period of the prior year.

Comparison of the Years Ended October 31, 2003 and October 31, 2002

Revenues and cost of revenues
 
The following tables summarize our revenue and cost mix for the years ended October 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):

Revenues:
 
Year Ended
October 31, 2003
 
Year Ended
October 31, 2002
 
Percentage Increase /
 
   
Revenues
 
Percent of
Revenues
 
Revenues
 
Percent of
Revenues
 
(Decrease) in Revenues
 
Research and development contracts
 
$
17,709
   
52
%   
$
33,575
   
81
%
 
(47
%)
Product sales and revenues
   
16,081
   
48
%
 
7,656
   
19
%
 
110
%
Total
 
$
33,790
   
100
%
$
41,231
   
100
%
 
(18
%)
 
Cost of revenues:
 
Year Ended
October 31, 2003
 
Year Ended
October 31, 2002
 
Percentage
 
 
 
Cost of Revenues
 
Percent of Costs of Revenues
 
Cost of Revenues
 
Percent of Costs of Revenues
 
Increase /
Decrease)
 in Cost
 
Research and development contracts
 
$
35,827
   
42
%   
$
45,664
   
59
%
 
(22
%)
Product sales and revenues
   
50,391
   
58
%
 
32,129
   
41
%
 
57
%
Total
 
$
86,218
   
100
%
$
77,793
   
100
%
 
11
%

Total revenues for the year ended October 31, 2003 decreased by $7.4 million or 18 percent, to $33.8 million from $41.2 million during the prior year. This decrease in total revenues was comprised of a 47 percent decrease in government research and development contracts partially offset by a 110 percent increase in product sales revenue.

Research and development contracts

Fiscal 2002 research and development contract revenue included a large portion of our one-megawatt and two megawatt power plants for King County, Washington and Clean Coal, respectively. Combined revenue on these contracts was lower in 2003. Also, in 2003, under budgetary constraints, funding from the U.S. government for certain of our other contracts was delayed. 

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Cost of research and development contracts decreased to $35.8 million during the year ended October 31, 2003, compared to $45.7 million during fiscal 2002. The decrease was partially due to completion of tasks on the King County, Washington project and delayed funding on certain government contracts. While our funding was reduced due to timing and budgetary constraints, we continue to participate in cost-share contracts and invest in developing fuel cell technology. Our significant cost share contracts during fiscal 2003 included Clean Coal, Department of Energy, King County, and Navy Phase II. The ratio of costs to contract revenues increased in 2003 as the mix of cost-share contracts increased during the year.
 
Product sales and revenues

The fiscal 2003 increase in product sales revenue was related to increased manufacturing and delivery of our DFC300A power plants for both our distribution partners and direct customers. As a percent of total revenues, product revenues comprised 48 percent compared to 19 percent in the prior year as we continue to focus our business initiatives on the manufacture and delivery of our fuel cell products.
 
Cost of product sales and revenues increased to $50.3 million during the year ended October 31, 2003 compared to $32.1 million during the prior year. This increase was due to additional product sales recorded during the year. The ratio of costs to contract revenues decreased in 2003 as we have reduced overall product costs through our “cost-out” initiatives and incurred less “first time” costs including qualifying multiple vendors for materials and components.

Administrative and selling expenses

Administrative and selling expenses increased by 21 percent, to $12.6 million during the year ended October 31, 2003 compared to $10.5 million in the prior year. This increase was primarily comprised of higher business insurance costs, sales and marketing salaries and franchise taxes.

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses increased 25 percent, to $8.5 million during the year ended October 31, 2003 compared to the $6.8 million recorded in fiscal 2002. This increase is primarily due to increased investment in development costs associated with the design, engineering, fabrication and installation of our products.

Loss from operations

The net result of our revenues and costs was a loss from operations during the year ended October 31, 2003 totaling $73.6 million. This operating loss is approximately 37 percent higher than the $53.8 million loss recorded in fiscal 2002. We continue to invest in the standardization of our DFC power plants. For strategic reasons, we also continue to participate in government cost share contracts to advance the development of fuel cells. These factors contributed to our operating loss. Other factors impacting the operating loss included reduced funding on certain government contracts, development of our distribution network, and increases in operating costs including depreciation on new production equipment, business insurance premiums, information systems and infrastructure.

Interest and other income, net

Interest and other income, net, increased by 23 percent, to $6.0 million during the year ended October 31, 2003 compared to the $4.9 million recorded in fiscal 2002. We have participated in a program available from the State of Connecticut that allows certain taxpayers to exchange the amount of research and development credits generated during a taxable year for cash to be received over a three-year period. The increase to interest and other income, net was due, in part, to tax credits generated in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 totaling $3.4 million being recorded in fiscal 2003. There were no tax credits recorded during fiscal 2002. Interest income for the year declined by $2.3 million or 47 percent as a result of reduced interest rates and lower cash and investment balances compared to the prior year.

29

 
Taxes

We believe that due to our efforts to commercialize our DFC technology, we have and will continue to incur losses. Based on projections for future taxable income over the period in which the deferred tax assets are realizable, management believes that significant uncertainty exists surrounding the recoverability of the deferred tax assets. Therefore, no tax benefit has been recognized related to current year losses and other deferred tax assets.
 

Comparison of Three Months ended January 31, 2005 and January 31, 2004
 
Revenues and costs of revenues
 
The following tables summarize our revenue mix for the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004 (dollar amounts in thousands), respectively:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
January 31, 2005
 
Three Months Ended
January 31, 2004
 
Percentage
 Increase /
 
Revenues:
 
Revenues
 
Percent of Product Revenues
 
Product Revenues
 
Percent of Product Revenues
 
(Decrease)
in Product Revenues
 
Fuel cell product sales and revenues
 
$
5,032
   
67
%   
$
2,028
   
27
%
 
148
%
Research and development contracts
   
2,522
   
33
%
 
5,366
   
73
%
 
(53
%)
Total
 
$
7,554
   
100
%
$
7,394
   
100
%
 
2
%
 
   
 
Three Months Ended
January 31, 2005
 
Three Months Ended
January 31, 2004
 
Percentage
Increase /
 
Cost of revenues:
 
Costs of Revenues
 
Percent of Costs of Revenues
 
Costs of Revenues
 
Percent of Costs of Revenues
 
(Decrease)
 in Costs of Revenues
 
Fuel cell product sales and revenues
 
$
13,713
   
83
%   
$
7,623
   
51
%
 
80
%
Research and development contracts
   
2,814
   
17
%
 
7,471
   
49
%
 
(62
%)
Total
 
$
16,527
   
100
%
$
15,094
   
100
%
 
9
%
 

Total revenues for the three months ended January 31, 2005 increased by $0.2 million, or 2 percent, to $7.6 million from $7.4 million during the same period last year.

Fuel cell product sales and revenues

Fuel cell product sales and revenue increased $3.0 million to $5.0 million for the three months ended January 31, 2005, compared to $2.0 million for the same period in 2004. As of January 31, 2005, our fuel cell product sales backlog totaled approximately $22.9 million, up from $16.3 million in the same period a year ago. Included in these figures are $1.4 million and $0.7 million, respectively, related to long-term service agreements.

30

 
Cost of product sales and revenues increased to $13.7 million during the three months ended January 31, 2005 compared to $7.6 million during the same period of the prior year. Included in cost of sales during the three months ended January 31, 2005 was a non-cash fixed asset impairment charge totaling $0.9 million. This was related to a planned change in manufacturing processes that is expected to increase electrical output (“uprate”) for improved product performance and reduced cost in future periods.

The increase in product sales and revenues and costs of product sales and revenues was due to primarily to the progress on power plants for Marubeni and Chevron Energy Solutions customers as well as DFC component shipments for MTU CFC Solutions, GmbH.  The ratio of product cost to sales improved from 3.8-to-1 during the three months ended January 31, 2004 compared to 2.5-to-1 during the three months ended January 31, 2005 when adjusted for the one-time asset impairment charge described above. This ratio is inclusive of costs related to power purchase agreements that had no corresponding revenues as if they were equipment sales. The ratio of costs to product sales improved from the same quarter of a year ago as we recognized savings related to its cost out program.

We expect to continue to sell our DFC products at prices lower than our production costs until such time as we are able to reduce product costs through our engineering and manufacturing efforts and production volumes increase.

Research and development contracts

Research and development revenue decreased $3.0 million to $2.5 million for the three months ended January 31, 2005, compared to $5.4 million for the same period in 2004. Cost of research and development contracts decreased to $2.8 million during the three months ended January 31, 2005, compared to $7.5 million for the same period in 2004.

Research and development contract revenues and costs declined with the completion of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Product Design Improvement and Bath Iron Works contracts, and lower revenues on the Clean Coal and U.S. Navy contracts. Research and development contract revenue and costs were primarily related to SOFC development under the DOE’s Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance Program, the combined cycle Direct FuelCell/Turbine® development under DOE’s Vision 21 program, and the Ship Service Fuel Cell contract with the U.S. Navy. The ratio of research and development cost to revenue improved over the same quarter a year ago due to the current mix of cost share contracts. As of January 31, 2005, our research and development sales backlog totaled approximately $24.7 million of which Congress has authorized funding of $14.4 million.  This compares to research and development sales backlog totaling $25.7 million ($14.8 million funded) as of January 31, 2004.
 
Administrative and selling expenses

Administrative and selling expenses decreased by 26 percent, to $3.1 million during the three months ended January 31, 2005 compared to $3.7 million in the same period of the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to our acquisition of Global in 2003, which had increased the fiscal year 2004 amount by approximately $0.8 million and which was subsequently divested. We do not expect to incur any significant administrative and selling expenses related to the Canadian SOFC operation in our fiscal year ending October 31, 2005, as it was sold effective in November 1, 2004.

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses decreased, to $5.2 million during the three months ended January 31, 2005 compared to $5.9 million recorded in the same period of the prior year. This decreases was primarily due to the combining of our Canadian SOFC operations with Versa Power Systems (Versa). We do not expect to incur any significant research and development expenses related to the Canadian SOFC operation in our fiscal year ending October 31, 2005, as it was sold effective in November 1, 2004.
 
31

 
Purchased in-process research and development

We recorded a charge totaling $12.2 million during the three months ended January 31, 2004 for in-process research and development acquired in the Global transaction. In 1997, Global began developing SOFC technology, which is still in development. Global's SOFC is a ceramic planar (flat, square or rectangular) cell, with a solid electrolyte that is anode supported (the thickest component to which all other materials are subsequently mounted) and conducts oxygen ions. Global has developed a proprietary microstructure that gives its fuel cells very high power densities (the amount of power measured in watts per square centimeter of surface area).

The $12.2 million allocated to in-process research and development (IPR&D) was determined using established valuation techniques through a qualified third party valuation. As the SOFC technology is in the early stages of development, the valuation was based, in part, on the cost approach. The cost approach was used because the SOFC technology, while demonstrating substance, is nonetheless so early in its development cycle that reliable forecasts of future benefit do not exist. The valuation also used the market approach as a second method to estimate the implied value of the SOFC business line, by estimating the fair value of the generator product line, adding net cash assumed in the acquisition, and then subtracting this total amount from the cash and stock consideration paid, giving effect to the stage of completion at the acquisition date. An average of these two valuation techniques was used to determine the IPR&D amount. The amounts estimated in this valuation were calculated using a risk-adjusted discount rate of 30 percent. As the acquired technology had not yet reached technological feasibility and no alternative future uses exist, it was expensed upon acquisition in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 2, “Accounting for Research and Development Costs.”

The acquisition had no impact on consolidated costs for the three month period ending January 31, 2005.

Loss from operations

The net result of our revenues and costs was a loss from operations for the three months ended January 31, 2005 totaling $17.3 million. This operating loss is approximately 41 percent lower than the $29.5 million loss recorded in the comparable period last year due primarily to the acquisition related charge of purchased in-process research and development in the prior year totaling $12.2 million.

Other factors impacting the operating loss included reduced funding on certain government contracts, development of our distribution network, and increases in operating costs including depreciation on new production equipment, business insurance premiums, information systems and infrastructure. We expect to incur operating losses in future reporting periods as we continue to participate in government cost share programs, sell products at prices lower than our current production costs, and invest in our “cost out” initiatives.

Interest and other income, net

Interest and other income, net, was $0.9 million for the three months ended January 31, 2005, unchanged compared to the same period of the prior year. Interest income increased from $0.6 million to $0.9 million due to higher cash balances and interest rates. This increase was offset by a lower net foreign currency gain totaling approximately $0.3 million. We recognized approximately $0.03 million in foreign currency loss and $0.3 million in foreign currency gain during the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

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Discontinued operations, net of tax

During the three months ended January 31, 2005 we exited certain facilities in Canada and as a result recorded fixed asset impairment charges totaling approximately $0.9 million. In addition, we incurred approximately $0.4 million of exit costs related to these facilities which resulted in total loss from discontinued operations of approximately $1.3 million.

During fiscal 2004, we acquired, Global Thermoelectric Inc. (Global) and subsequently divested its generator business unit through the sale of Global on May 28, 2004. As a result, historical results were reclassified as discontinued operations. Income, net of taxes related to the generator business totaled approximately $0.7 million for the three months ended January 31, 2004.

Provision for income taxes

We believe that due to our efforts to commercialize our DFC technology, we will continue to incur losses. Based on projections for future taxable income over the period in which the deferred tax assets are realizable, management believes that significant uncertainty exists surrounding the recoverability of the deferred tax assets. Therefore, no tax benefit has been recognized related to current or prior year losses and other deferred tax assets.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

We had approximately $152.4 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments as of October 31, 2004 compared to $153.4 million as of October 31, 2003. Net cash and investments used during the year was $1.0 million, consisting of approximately $70 million used in operations offset by $69 million of cash and investments received in the Global Thermoelectric Inc. (Global) transactions. Cash used during the year included approximately $10.9 million related to our Canadian operations. As our Canadian operations were sold in fiscal 2004, we expect reduced cash use in Canada in future periods.

Subsequent to our fiscal year end, we received net proceeds of approximately $93.5 million from our preferred stock sale, which closed on November 17, 2004.

We had approximately $231.4 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments as of January 31, 2005. Net cash and investments provided during the past three months was $79.0 million, consisting of approximately $99.0 million from the sale of preferred stock, offset by approximately $19.0 million used for continuing operations, and approximately $1.0 million used in our discontinued Canadian operations.

Sources and Uses of Cash and Investments

We continue to invest in new product development and bringing our products to market and, as such, we are not currently generating positive cash flow from our operations.  Our operations are funded primarily through sales of equity securities and cash generated from operations. Cash from operations includes revenue from government research and development contracts, product sales, license fees and interest income. Our future cash requirements depend on numerous factors including future involvement in research and development contracts, implementing our cost reduction efforts on our fuel cell products and increasing annual order volume.

Future involvement in research and development contracts

Our research and development contracts are generally multi-year, cost reimbursement type contracts.  The majority of these are U.S. Government contracts that are dependent upon the government’s continued allocation of funds and may be terminated in whole or in part at the convenience of the government. We will continue to seek research and development contracts. To obtain these contracts, we must continue to prove the benefits of our technologies and be successful in our competitive bidding.
33

 
Implementing our cost reduction efforts on our fuel cell products

We believe that reducing product cost is essential for us to penetrate the market for our fuel cell products and is critical to achieving profitability.  We believe this will reduce and/or eliminate the need for incentive funding programs that are currently available to allow our product pricing to compete with grid-delivered power and other distributed generation technologies. In 2003, we began a “cost-out” program that focuses on three key areas:
 
·  
increased performance output;
·  
increased stack life; and
·  
design simplification and materials replacement and/or elimination to reduce product cost.

Increasing annual order volume

We believe that increased production volumes will spread fixed costs over more units of production, resulting in a lower per unit cost. Our manufacturing, testing and conditioning facilities have equipment in place to accommodate 50 MW of annual production. Our multi-disciplined cost reduction program is expected to significantly reduce our product costs over time.  We currently believe that we can achieve operating break-even at annual production volumes of approximately 100 MW. Our fiscal 2004 production volume was approximately 6 MW.
     
We anticipate that our existing capital resources, together with anticipated revenues, will be adequate to satisfy our planned financial requirements and agreements through at least the next twelve months.

Cash Inflows and Outflows

Year Ended October 31, 2004

During year ended October 31, 2004, total cash and cash equivalents and investments decreased by $1.0 million, compared with a decrease of $67.1 million during the year ended October 31, 2003.  In fiscal 2004, we had a net cash use of approximately $70.0 million offset by cash and investments acquired in the Global acquisition and subsequent disposition (net of fees) totaling $69.0 million.

The key components of our cash inflows and outflows from continuing operations were as follows:

Operating Activities: During the year ended October 31, 2004, we used $64.6 million in cash in our operating activities, which consists of a net loss for the period of approximately $86.4 million, offset by non-cash adjustments totaling $20.6 million, cash generated from working capital of approximately $2.0 million and income from discontinued operations of approximately $.8 million.  This compares to an operating cash usage of $58.8 million during the year ended October 31, 2003. 

Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable as of October 31, 2004 increased by approximately $2.7 million from October 31, 2003 due to approximately $3.2 million more in product receivables offset by a decline of government accounts receivable totaling $0.5 million. The increase in product receivables is due to greater milestone billings to customers consistent with the expanded product backlog. We bill our fuel cell contracts based upon certain milestones that generally commence with contract signing and extend to commissioning of a completed power plant. We generally bill our government contracts on a monthly basis as costs are incurred. As revenues increase or decrease, billings and accounts receivable will increase or decrease as well.

34

 
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable and accrued expenses combined have increased by approximately $2.7 million since October 31, 2003 due to the timing of inventory payments related to our current production schedule. In addition we had accrued approximately $0.8 million in severance costs as of October 31, 2004 related to our sale of the SOFC business to Versa.
 
Investing Activities:  We acquired Global on November 3, 2003 by issuing, in total, approximately 8.2 million common and exchangeable shares.  In connection with the acquisition, we acquired $55.8 million of cash and investments.  The cash acquired from Global was offset by approximately $2.8 million of transaction and professional fees. In May 2004, we completed our sale of the Global entity and its TEG product line for net proceeds of approximately $16.0 million.

Capital expenditures for the year ended October 31, 2004 were approximately $7.9 million compared to $6.6 million in the prior period. Reductions in systems and infrastructure spending during fiscal 2004 have been offset by capital expenditures totaling approximately $4.7 million related to power plants being built for power purchase agreements. In addition, there were capital expenditures totaling approximately $1.0 million relating to one DFC300A that we have provided to the Department of Defense (DoD) Fuel Cell Test and Evaluation Center (FCTec).

Financing Activities:  During the year ended October 31, 2004, we generated $2.7 million from financing activities through the exercise of stock options, partially offset by repayments of debt and preferred dividends.  This compares with $0.5 million generated in the year ended October 31, 2003.
 
Three Months Ended January 31, 2005

During three months ended January 31, 2005, total cash and cash equivalents and investments increased by $79.0 million. During the quarter cash increased by approximately $99.0 million as a result of our Series B Convertible share offering which was offset by net cash use totaling $20 million.

The key components of our cash inflows and outflows from continuing operations were as follows:

Operating Activities: During the three months ended January 31, 2005, we used $16.7 million in cash in our operating activities, which consists of a net loss for the period of approximately $18.0 million, offset by non-cash adjustments totaling $3.2 million, cash used in working capital of approximately $2.0 million and loss from discontinued operations of approximately $1.3 million.  This compares to an operating cash usage of $13.5 million during the three months ended January 31, 2004. 

.  
Investing Activities:  During the three months ended January 31, 2005, net cash provided by investing activities totaled $40.6 million. Capital expenditures totaled $3.3 million for the three months ended January 31, 2005. This included $2.8 million for equipment being built for power purchase agreements in our Alliance entities. During the quarter approximately $59.2 million of investments in U.S. Treasury Securities matured with new treasury purchases totaling $15.4 million. Subsequent to January 31, 2005 we invested approximately $90 million of money market funds in U.S. Treasuries in order to increase investment yield. This compares with approximately $54.4 million generated in the three months ended January 31, 2004. During the quarter ended January 31, 2004 we acquired Global Thermoelectric, Inc. which resulted in a net increase to cash totaling $53.0 million.
.  
.  
Financing Activities:  During the three months ended January 31, 2005 we closed on a Series B cumulative convertible preferred perpetual preferred stock offering which resulted in net proceeds to us totaling $99.0 million. We generated $0.2 million from financing activities through the exercise of stock options, partially offset by repayments of debt totaling approximately $0.1 million.  This compares with approximately $0.8 million generated in the three months ended January 31, 2004.
 
35

 
Commitments and Significant Contractual Obligations

Year Ended October 31, 2004
 
A summary of our significant future commitments and contractual obligations as of October 31, 2004 and the related payments by fiscal year is summarized as follows (in thousands):

   
Payments Due by Period
 
Contractual Obligation:
 
Total
 
Less 
than
1 Year
 
1 - 3
Years
 
3 - 5
Years
 
More
than
5 Years
 
Lease commitments(1)
 
$
5,222
 
$
1,328
 
$
1,751
 
$
1,545
 
$
598
 
Term loan (principal and interest)
   
1,580
   
433
   
864
   
283
   
--
 
Purchase commitments(2)
   
14,855
   
14,734
   
121
   
--
   
--
 
Preferred dividends payable (3) (4)
   
20,452
   
379
   
758
   
758
   
18,557
 
Totals
 
$
42,109
 
$
16,874
 
$
3,494
 
$
2,586
 
$
19,155
 
 
(1)  
Future minimum lease payments on capital and operating leases.
(2)  
Short-term purchase commitments with suppliers for materials supplies, and services incurred in the normal course of business.
(3)  
Quarterly dividends of Cdn.$312,500 accrue on the Series 1 preferred shares (subject to possible reduction pursuant to the terms of the Series 1 preferred shares on account of increases in the price of FuelCell’s common stock). We have agreed to pay a minimum of Cdn.$500,000 in cash or common stock annually to Enbridge, Inc., the holder of the Series 1 preferred shares, so long as Enbridge holds the shares. Interest accrues on cumulative unpaid dividends at a 2.45 percent quarterly rate, compounded quarterly, until payment thereof. Cumulative unpaid dividends and interest at October 31, 2004 were approximately $2.8 million. For the purposes of this disclosure, we have assumed that the minimum dividend payments would be made through 2010. In 2010, we would be required to pay any unpaid and accrued dividends. From 2010 through 2020, we would be required to pay annual dividend amounts totaling Cdn.$1.25 million.
(4)  
We have assumed a constant exchange rate for the purposes of this disclosure at 0.76 U.S. dollars to 1.0 Canadian dollar.

On June 29, 2000, we entered into a loan agreement, secured by machinery and equipment, and have borrowed an aggregate of $2.2 million under the agreement. The loan is payable over seven years, with payments of interest only for the first six months and then repaid in monthly installments over the remaining six and one-half years with interest computed annually based on the ten-year U.S. Treasury note plus 2.5 percent. Our current interest rate at July 31, 2004 is 7.2 percent and the outstanding principal balance on this loan is approximately $1.5 million.

Approximately $0.6 million of our cash and cash equivalents have been pledged as collateral for certain banking relationships in which we participate.

36

 
Research and Development Cost-Share Contracts

We have contracted with various government agencies as either a prime contractor or sub-contractor on cost-share contracts and agreements. Cost-share terms require that participating contractors share the total cost of the project in an agreed ratio with the government agency. For example, our DOE sponsored demonstration of our two-megawatt DFC 3000 power plant operating on synthesis gas derived from coal has a total project value of $34.5 million. The DOE will reimburse us 50 percent of the cost on this project and we will incur the balance. Thus, over the life of this program and assuming that funding is approved annually by Congress, our share of the total research and development expenditures would be approximately $17.3 million for this program. As of October 31, 2004, our research and development sales backlog totaled $16.4 million. As this backlog is funded in future periods, we will incur additional research and development cost-share totaling approximately $15.5 million for which we would not be reimbursed by the government.

Product Sales Contracts

Our fuel cell power plant products are in the initial stages of development and market acceptance. As such, costs to manufacture and install our products exceed current market prices. As of October 31, 2004, we had product sales backlog of approximately $26.3 million. We do not expect sales from this backlog to be profitable.

Three Months Ended January 31, 2005

A summary of our significant future commitments and contractual obligations as of January 31, 2005 and the related payments by fiscal year is summarized as follows (in thousands):

   
 
Payments Due by Period
Contractual Obligation:
 
Total
 
Less 
than
1 Year
 
1 - 3
Years
 
3 - 5
Years
 
More
than
5 Years
 
Capital and Operating lease commitments (1)
$
4,566
 
$
1,028
 
$
1,590
 
$
1,480
 
$
468
 
Term loans (principal and interest)
 
1,505
   
447
   
891
   
167
   
--
 
Purchase commitments(2)
 
19,356
   
19,188
   
168
   
--
   
--
 
Series I Preferred dividends payable (3)
 
20,449
   
378
   
757
   
758
   
18,556
 
Series B Preferred dividends payable (4)
 
26,418
   
5,284
   
10,567
   
10,567
   
--
 
Totals
$
72,294
 
$
26,325
 
$
13,973
 
$
12,972
 
$
19,024
 
 
(1)  
Future minimum lease payments on capital and operating leases.
(2)  
Short-term purchase commitments with suppliers for materials supplies, and services incurred in the normal course of business.
(3)  
Quarterly dividends of Cdn.$312,500 accrue on the Series 1 preferred shares (subject to possible reduction pursuant to the terms of the Series 1 preferred shares on account of increases in the price of our common stock). We have agreed to pay a minimum of Cdn.$500,000 in cash or common stock annually to Enbridge, Inc. the holder of the Series 1 preferred shares, so long as Enbridge holds the shares. Interest accrues on cumulative unpaid dividends at a 2.45 percent quarterly rate, compounded quarterly, until payment thereof. Cumulative unpaid dividends and interest at October 31, 2004 were approximately $2.8 million. For the purposes of this disclosure, we have assumed that the minimum dividend payments would be made through 2010. In 2010, we would be required to pay any unpaid and accrued dividends. From 2010 through 2020, we would be required to pay annual dividend amounts totaling Cdn.$1.25 million.
(4)  
Dividends on Series B preferred stock accrue at an annual rate of 5% paid quarterly. The obligations schedule assumes we will pay preferred dividends on these shares through November 20, 2009, at which time the preferred shares may be subject to mandatory conversion. We have the option of paying the dividends in stock or cash.

On June 29, 2000, we entered into a loan agreement, secured by machinery and equipment, and have borrowed an aggregate of $2.2 million under the agreement. The loan is payable over seven years, with payments of interest only for the first six months and then repaid in monthly installments over the remaining six and one-half years with interest computed annually based on the ten-year U.S. Treasury note plus 2.5 percent. Our current interest rate at January 31, 2005 is 7.2 percent and the outstanding principal balance on this loan is approximately $1.3 million.
 
37

 
Approximately $0.6 million of our cash and cash equivalents have been pledged as collateral for certain banking relationships in which we participate.

Research and Development Cost-Share Contracts

We have contracted with various government agencies as either a prime contractor or sub-contractor on cost-share contracts and agreements. Cost-share terms require that participating contractors share the total cost of the project in an agreed ratio with the government agency. For example, our DOE sponsored demonstration of our two-megawatt DFC 3000 power plant operating on synthesis gas derived from coal has a total project value of $34.5 million. The DOE will reimburse us 50 percent of the cost on this project and we will incur the balance. Thus, over the life of this program and assuming that funding is approved annually by Congress, our share of the total research and development expenditures would be approximately $17.3 million for this program. As of January 31, 2005, our research and development sales backlog totaled $24.7 million. As this backlog is funded in future periods, we will incur additional research and development cost-share totaling approximately $11.7 million for which we would not be reimbursed by the government.

Product Sales Contracts

Our fuel cell power plant products are in the initial stages of development and market acceptance. As such, costs to manufacture and install our products exceed current market prices. As of January 31, 2005, we had product sales backlog of approximately $22.9 million. We do not expect sales from this backlog to be profitable.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123 (revised 2004) (SFAS No. 123R), “Share-Based Payment” which revised SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. This statement supercedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” The revised statement addresses the accounting for share-based payment transactions with employees and other third parties, eliminates the ability to account for share-based compensation transactions using APB 25 and requires that the compensation costs relating to such transactions be recognized in the consolidated statement of operations. The revised statement is effective as of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2005. We are currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS No. 123R and will adopt it on August 1, 2005 as required.

In November 2004, the FASB ratified the consensus reached by the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF), on Issue No. 03-13, “Applying the Conditions in Paragraph 42 of FASB Statement No. 144 in Determining Whether to Report Discontinued Operations”. The Issue provides a model to assist in evaluating (a) which cash flows should be considered in the determination of whether cash flows of the disposal component have been or will be eliminated from the ongoing operations of the entity and (b) the types of continuing involvement that constitute significant continuing involvement in the operations of the disposal component. Should significant continuing ongoing involvement exist, then the disposal component shall be reported in the results of continuing operations on the consolidated statements of operations and cash flows. We applied the provisions of this accounting standard to our financial statements.

In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs,” which amends the guidance in ARB No. 43, Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing,” to clarify the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material. This Statement requires that those items be recognized as current-period charges regardless of whether they meet the criterion of “so abnormal.” In addition, this Statement requires that allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. We are currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS No. 151 and will adopt it on November 1, 2005, as required.

38

 
In December 2003, the FASB issued FIN No. 46R, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” which requires an entity to consolidate a variable interest entity if it is designated as the primary beneficiary of that entity even if the entity does not have a majority of voting interests. A variable interest entity is generally defined as an entity where its equity is inadequate to finance its activities or where the owners of the entity lack the risk and rewards of ownership. We have evaluated the provisions of FIN No. 46R, as required, and determined that we did not have any material variable interest entities and did not have any variable interest entities that require consolidation into our financial statements.
 
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Interest Rate Exposure

Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates, relates primarily to our investment portfolio and long term debt obligations. Our investment portfolio includes both short-term United States Treasury instruments with maturities averaging three months or less, as well as U.S. Treasury notes with fixed interest rates with maturities of up to twenty months. Cash is invested overnight with high credit quality financial institutions. Based on our overall interest exposure at October 31, 2004 and January 31, 2005, including all interest rate sensitive instruments, a near-term change in interest rate movements of 1 percent would affect our results of operations by approximately $0.5 and $1.7 million, respectively, annually.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

We are subject to foreign exchange risk although we have taken steps to mitigate those risks where possible. As of October 31, 2004 and January 31, 2005 approximately $2.4 million (or 2 percent) and $1.5 million (or 0.06 percent), respectively, of our total cash, cash equivalents and investments was in currencies other than U.S. dollars.

Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar as is our foreign subsidiary FuelCell Energy, Ltd. as the majority of our cash is invested in U.S. dollar investments.
 
We recognized a foreign currency gain totaling $0.5 million during the year ended October 31, 2004, and a foreign currency loss totaling $0.03 million during the three months ended January 31, 2005. This has been recorded as a component of interest and other income on our consolidated statement of operations. Although we have not experienced significant foreign exchange rate losses to date, we may in the future, especially to the extent that we do not engage in hedging activities. We do not enter into derivative financial instruments. The economic impact of currency exchange rate movements on our operating results is complex because such changes are often linked to variability in real growth, inflation, interest rates, governmental actions and other factors. These changes, if material, may cause us to adjust our financing and operating strategies. Consequently, isolating the effect of changes in currency does not incorporate these other important economic factors.
 
39

 
BUSINESS
 
FuelCell Energy, Inc. is a world leader in the development and manufacture of fuel cell power plants for clean, efficient and reliable electric power generation.  We have been developing fuel cell technology since our founding in 1969. We are currently commercializing our core carbonate fuel cell products (Direct FuelCell® or DFC® Power Plants), offering stationary applications for commercial and industrial customers and continuing to develop our next generation of carbonate fuel cell products. In addition, we are beginning the development of another high temperature fuel cell system, planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology, as a prime contractor in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) Program and through our 42 percent ownership interest in Versa Power Systems (Versa).

Direct FuelCell (DFC) Power Plants

Increasing worldwide demand for reliable power presents significant market opportunities for our core distributed generation products. Our proprietary carbonate DFC power plants electrochemically produce electricity directly from readily available hydrocarbon fuels, such as natural gas and wastewater treatment gas.  We believe our products offer significant advantages compared to other power generation technologies, including:

·  
High fuel efficiency;
·  
Ultra-clean emissions;
·  
Improved reliability;
·  
Quiet operation;
·  
Flexible siting and permitting requirements;
·  
Scalability;
·  
Ability to provide electricity and heat for cogeneration applications, such as district heating, process steam, hot water and absorption chilling for air conditioning;
·  
Potentially lower operating, maintenance and generation costs than alternative distributed power generation technologies; and
·  
Because our DFC power plants produce hydrogen from readily available fuels such as natural gas and wastewater treatment gas, they can be used to cost-effectively cogenerate hydrogen as well as electricity and heat.

Our current products, the DFC300A, DFC1500 and DFC3000, are rated in capacity at 250 kW, 1 MW and 2 MW, respectively, and are scalable for distributed applications up to 10 MW or larger.  Our products are designed to meet the base load power requirements of a wide range of commercial and industrial customers including wastewater treatment plants (municipal, such as sewage treatment facilities, and industrial, such as breweries and food processors), telecommunications/data centers, manufacturing facilities, office buildings, hospitals, universities, prisons, mail processing facilities, hotels and government facilities, as well as in grid support applications for utility customers.  Through February 2005, more than 62 million kWh of electricity has been generated from power plants incorporating our DFC technology at customer sites throughout the world.

We see significant market potential for our DFC products.  In October 2004, Energy User News reported that Allied Business Intelligence (ABI) projected distributed generation to the grid may increase to 200,000 MW worldwide by 2011 compared with 65,000 MW currently, with 6 percent or 12,000 MW from fuel cells. A year earlier, ABI reported that global stationary fuel cell cumulative shipments would rise from 55 MW cumulative through 2003 to nearly 18,000 MW cumulative through 2013, according to its moderate forecast.  Another study, prepared by the DOE/Energy Information Administration (EIA) in 2000, estimated the potential market for combined heat and power (CHP) plant installations in the United States to be greater than 77,000 MW.  This includes 6,500 MW for hotels/motels, 8,000 MW for hospitals, 19,000 MW for schools/colleges/universities, and over 18,600 MW for office buildings. 
 
40

 
We have invested more than $450 million in the development of our fuel cell technology, including funding from various U.S. government agencies such as the DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency. Our primary focus is carbonate fuel cell technology, which we have advanced from the laboratory into standard DFC products. We believe we have established a leading position for our DFC products in the commercial distributed generation marketplace due to a number of factors, including:

·  
We are selling ‘ultra-clean’ high-temperature fuel cell power plants for stationary base load power, which provide high fuel efficiency and high-value waste heat for cogeneration applications.
·  
We have strong global distribution partners, including original equipment manufactures (OEMs) and energy service companies (ESCOs), with expertise in selling and marketing energy products and services to commercial and industrial customers worldwide.
·  
We obtained commercial product certifications for safety, interconnection, installation and performance.
·  
We are operating a fleet of DFC power plants at customer sites throughout the world, with a backlog that we expect will double the fleet in service in the next 12-18 months.
·  
We have established production facilities, with equipment in place to produce 50 MW of DFC products annually.
·  
We achieved our 2004 value-engineering cost reduction target of 25 percent and are confident we can continue to reduce costs.
·  
We have expanded our sales and service capabilities to support our DFC products.
·  
We have a strong balance sheet, with over $230 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments (U.S. Treasury Securities) as of January 31, 2005 to support our growth.

We believe there are positive trends within the distributed generation and fuel cell markets that will benefit our DFC power plant business. Increasing worldwide demand for reliable power, concerns over air pollution caused by combustion power generation, and unreliable electrical grid delivery systems present significant market opportunities for our core DFC products. Furthermore, because of their non-combustion, non-mechanical power generation process, fuel cells are more efficient, produce significantly less pollutant emissions, are better suited to provide combined heat and power (CHP) and offer more quiet and flexible siting distributed generation solutions than comparable conventional power plants.

In introducing our products to the marketplace, we face obstacles that can lengthen the sales cycle.  At the macro-economic level, these include varying energy demand, capital appropriation cycles and changing economic environments such as rising fuel prices.  For example, in the short term, the sales effort for DFC projects and other distributed generation projects operating on natural gas were adversely affected in 2004 by higher fuel prices. Grid-delivered electricity prices can have a regulatory lag of up to one year or more before fuel costs are reflected in local utility rates. Over the longer term, our higher fuel efficiency should result in customer preference for base load power generation using our DFC products.

Other market obstacles vary by region, but include regulatory uncertainty for distributed generation, monopoly-based electricity markets, interconnect issues, disparate recognition of the locational value and environmental benefits of distributed generation, standby power costs and stranded asset exit fees.  We believe that the marketplace is responding to these issues.

In the U.S., which is among the most difficult regulatory environments, interconnect standards, standby charges and exit fees are being adjusted to accommodate newer technologies that generate electricity with greater fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.  New York and Massachusetts adopted exemptions from these charges for our DFC products in 2004, following California’s lead in 2003. We expect that this trend will continue and help to accelerate the market penetration of our DFC power plants.

To further stimulate the market, significant incentive programs are available in Asia, the U.S. and Europe, with many being renewed and new ones being introduced. For example, new energy policies in Japan and Korea were announced to meet clean energy requirements in those countries, and new initiatives in Connecticut and New York are requesting large scale renewable projects of 10 MW or larger. California renewed its Self Generation Incentive Program in 2004, with funding approved for clean distributed generation projects through 2007. European incentive programs are similar and our partner, MTU CFC Solutions, Gmbh (MTU), a DaimlerChrysler subsidiary, has technology, manufacturing and distribution rights for carbonate fuel cell power plants and is focused on the European market.

41

 
High product cost due to the early stage of commercializing our DFC power plants results in our product pricing being substantially higher than competing products that are more mature.  Available government subsidies make us more competitive with other sources of delivered electrical energy, but the approval and funding process for these government incentive programs can be protracted. We are beginning to see evidence that timing for this process is shortening, e.g., in California, where we are participating with government agencies in an increasing number of projects.

Our products produce electricity and thermal energy which are commodities to end users. While our products compete essentially on price, the attributes of our DFC products enhance our value proposition. For example, in some global regions with strict air emissions controls, the ‘ultra-clean’ designation of our DFC power plants enables our products to be sited where combustion-based technologies cannot. We believe our DFC products can provide more favorable attributes such as improved reliability, quiet operation, scalability, ability to provide electricity and heat for cogeneration applications, such as district heating, process steam, hot water and absorption chilling for air conditioning, and ultra low emissions at less cost with volume production. We are currently selling our products to customers in high cost electricity markets at prices that, when combined with government incentives, are economically competitive with other power sources. We believe that our progress in 2004 enhances our opportunity to increase sales and continue to reduce costs to market clearing prices for our DFC products. In the higher cost regions of the U.S., i.e., California and the Northeast, we believe that market clearing prices are between $2,000 and $3,000 per kW. In regions where electricity prices are even higher, i.e., Asia and Europe, and for mission critical applications that demand higher reliability, we believe market clearing prices can be higher. The cost of our standard sub-MW product design at the end of 2004 was reduced from over $8,000 per kW to approximately $6,000 per kW, which is a 25 percent reduction in cost. Our MW-class products have an inherent 20 to 25 percent cost advantage over the sub-MW product due to economies of scale primarily in the balance of plant. With our currently achieved and projected annual cost reduction targets, we believe we can reach gross margin break-even on product sales at a sustained annual order and production volume of approximately 35 MW to 50 MW, depending on product mix, geographic location and other variables such as fuel prices. We believe that Company net income break-even can be achieved at a sustained annual order and volume production of approximately 100 MW. Our fiscal 2004 production volume was approximately 6 MW.

Our strategy for 2005 is to continue our cost reduction program and focus our selling efforts on markets that have the potential for repeatable volume. These markets have some combination of high electrical costs, strict emissions controls, grid constraints and other characteristics that require a clean, efficient distributed generation solution. In addition, we are focusing on market segments that offer sufficient funding availability to make our current product pricing competitive with the local cost of electricity and cogeneration. We see these markets as a bridge to support our order activity while we are operating at higher cost and lower volume. We will concentrate our market efforts on Japan/Asia, California and the Northeast United States where such programs are most prevalent, while MTU will focus on Europe. As the results of our product cost reduction efforts enable us to lower prices, we expect we will move from these bridge markets to broad market acceptance.

DIRECT FUEL CELL® (DFC®) TECHNOLOGY

Direct FuelCell power plants represent an environmentally friendly alternative power generation source when compared to traditional combustion technologies, such as gas turbines or internal combustion engines. These fuel cell power plants can potentially yield a lower cost of electricity. Less restrictive permitting requirements, due to the favorable DFC emissions profiles, can reduce installation costs. Greater fuel efficiency, minimal moving parts and remote monitoring can provide lower ongoing fuel and maintenance costs.

42

 
A fuel cell converts a hydrocarbon fuel, such as natural gas or wastewater treatment gas, into electricity without the combustion of the fuel. The primary byproducts of the fuel cell are heat, water, reduced emissions of carbon dioxide and virtually no sulfur dioxide (SOX) or nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions. A fuel cell power plant can be thought of as having two basic segments: the fuel cell stack module, the part that actually produces the electricity, and the balance of plant (BOP), which includes various fuel handling and processing equipment, such as pipes, blowers, and electrical interface equipment such as inverters to convert the direct current (DC) output of the fuel cell to alternating current (AC).
 
Conventional non-nuclear power plants generate electricity by combustion of hydrocarbon fuels, such as coal, oil or natural gas.  In the case of reciprocating engines, combustion of the fuel takes place within the engine that drives a generator.  In a gas turbine combined cycle plant, fuels, such as natural gas, are burned in the gas turbine to generate electricity. The exhaust heat from the gas turbine is used to boil water, converting it to high-pressure steam, which is used to rotate a steam turbine generating additional electricity. Each step in these processes consumes some of the potential energy in the fuel, and the combustion process typically creates emissions of SOX and NOX, carbon monoxide, soot and other air pollutants.
 
The following table shows our estimates of the electrical efficiency, operating temperature, expected capacity range and certain other operating characteristics of the principal types of fuel cells being developed for commercial applications:

Fuel Cell Type
 
Electrolyte
 
Electrical
Efficiency
%
 
Operating
Temperature
oF
 
Expected
Capacity Range
 
 
By-Product Heat Use
PEM
 
Polymer
Membrane
 
30-35
 
180
 
5kW to
250 kW
 
Warm Water
Phosphoric Acid
 
Phosphoric
Acid
 
35-40
 
400
 
50kW to
200 kW
 
Hot Water
Carbonate
(Direct FuelCell®)
 
Potassium/Lithium
Carbonate
 
45-57
 
1200
 
250 kW to
3 MW
 
High Pressure
Steam
Solid Oxide (Tubular)
 
Stabilized Zirconium dioxide Ceramic
 
45-50
 
1800
 
100 kW to
3 MW
 
High Pressure
Steam
Solid Oxide (Planar)
 
Stabilized Zirconium dioxide Ceramic
 
40-60
 
1200-1600
 
3 kW to 10 kW
 
High Pressure Steam

Our carbonate fuel cell, known as the Direct FuelCell, operates at approximately 1200°F. This temperature avoids the use of precious metal electrodes required by lower temperature fuel cells, such as proton exchange membrane (PEM) and phosphoric acid, and the more expensive metals and ceramic materials required by higher temperature fuel cells, such as solid oxide (tubular). As a result, we are able to use less expensive catalysts and readily available metals in our designs.  In addition, our fuel cell produces high quality by-product heat energy (700°F) that can be harnessed for CHP applications using hot water, steam or chiller water to heat or cool buildings.

Our Direct FuelCell has been demonstrated using a variety of hydrocarbon fuels, including natural gas, methanol, diesel, biogas, coal gas, coal mine methane and propane.  Our commercial DFC power plants currently can achieve an electrical efficiency of between 45 percent and 47 percent, and are expected to achieve an electrical efficiency of up to 57 percent at product maturity.  Depending on location, application and load size, we expect that a co-generation configuration will reach an overall energy efficiency of between 70 percent and 80 percent.  The following diagram shows the difference between a typical low temperature, external reforming fuel cell and our Direct FuelCell in the conversion of fuel into electricity.

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LOW TEMPERATURE EXTERNAL
REFORMING FUEL CELL
(Other Companies’ Technology)
HIGH TEMPERATURE INTERNAL
REFORMING DIRECT FUELCELL
(FuelCell Energy Technology)
 
 
Our Direct FuelCell is so named because of its ability to generate electricity directly from a hydrocarbon fuel, such as natural gas or wastewater treatment gas, by reforming the fuel inside the fuel cell to produce hydrogen. We believe that this "one-step" process results in a simpler, more efficient and cost-effective energy conversion system compared with external reforming fuel cells. External reforming fuel cells, such as PEM and phosphoric acid, generally use complex, external fuel processing equipment to convert the fuel into hydrogen. This external equipment increases capital cost and reduces electrical efficiency.
 
Our initial market entry commercial products are rated at 250 kW, 1 MW and 2 MW in capacity.  Our products are targeted for utility, commercial and industrial customers in the growing distributed generation market for applications up to 10 MW or larger. We are also developing additional DFC products based on our core carbonate technology including:

·  
Direct FuelCell/Turbine® (DFC/T®) - a combined-cycle system that produces additional electricity from by-product heat energy using an unfired gas turbine with electrical efficiency expected to approach 70 percent in large applications; and

·  
Ship Service Fuel Cell (SSFC) - a DFC power plant that operates on marine-diesel fuel with applications such as hotel power (non-propulsion) for naval vessels and cruise ships, as well as power generation for islands.

Value Proposition

Our products produce electricity and thermal energy which are commodities to end users. While our products compete essentially on price, the attributes of our DFC products enhance our value proposition. For example, in some global regions with strict air emissions controls, the ‘ultra-clean’ designation of our DFC power plants enables our products to be sited where combustion-based technologies cannot. We believe our DFC products can provide more favorable attributes, such as improved reliability, quiet operation, scalability, ability to provide electricity and heat for cogeneration applications, such as district heating, process steam, hot water and absorption chilling for air conditioning, and ultra low emissions at less cost with volume production. We are currently selling our products to customers in high cost electricity markets at prices that, when combined with government incentives, are economically competitive with other power generating sources. Over time, as our cost-out program enables us to reduce our prices, we believe we will be less reliant on and eventually eliminate the need for government subsidies to price our products at market clearing prices. A specific example of how the economics would work currently is set forth below.

Based on a $7.00/MMBtu gas price, the raw life cycle cost of electricity to the end user at the prices we are quoting today (absent any subsidies), is between $0.15 and $0.20/kWh. With an incentive of $2,500/kW, the cost of electricity to the end user is in the low-teens per kWh, a competitive price in many high cost energy regions of the world. Factoring in the value of the heat used for cogeneration ($0.01-$0.02/kWh), the added value of increased reliability ($0.005 to $0.015/kWh), and the offset due to emissions credits (up to $0.01/kWh if regionally available), the net cost to the end user could be $0.10/kWh or less, depending on location. In many areas of the world, this competes with grid-delivered electricity.

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The recent rise in the cost of natural gas during the past year has made our products as well as other conventional distributed generation technologies less competitive with the grid (grid-delivered electricity prices are not immediately affected by spot changes in energy prices such as natural gas, coal and oil due to previously secured long-term supply contracts and a regulatory system that takes 6 months to a year or more to approve rate increases when requested by local utilities). Specifically, the average delivered price of natural gas sold to commercial consumers in the California and Northeastern U.S. markets of $6.00/MMBtu to $6.50/MMBtu for commercial customers increased to as high as $9.00/MMBtu in mid-2004. We estimate that each $1.00/MMBtu change in natural gas prices increases the cost of electricity of our DFC products by $0.0083/kWh. Natural gas prices have subsided from their recent peak, but variability has increased ($2.00/MMBtu depending on demand and weather). Over time, energy prices tend to revert to the oil price per barrel equivalent, so we view the disparate fuel and electricity prices as a short-term phenomenon that will be resolved over time.

DISTRIBUTED GENERATION MARKETS

The demand for reliable power, increasing concerns about the emission of harmful greenhouse gases and particulate matter, and the inability of central power generation systems to cogenerate heat and electricity, have created demand for new technologies that can provide clean, economic on-site generation. Consequently, projected demand for distributed generation is growing throughout the world.  In October 2004, Energy User News reported that ABI projected distributed generation to the grid may increase to 200,000 MW worldwide by 2011 compared with 65,000 MW currently, with 6 percent or 12,000 MW from fuel cells. A year earlier, ABI reported that global stationary fuel cell cumulative shipments would rise from 55 MW cumulative through 2003 to nearly 18,000 MW cumulative through 2013, according to its moderate forecast. 

We believe distributed generation using our Direct FuelCell power plants are an alternative power generation solution because they:

.  
Increase reliability by locating power closer to the end user.  On-site power generation bypasses the congested transmission and distribution system, increasing electrical reliability to the end user.
 
.  
Provide better economics.  The economic justification for distributed generation is a result of a number of factors, such as avoidance of transmission and distribution system investment, reduction of line losses, and utilization of the heat by-product from on-site power generation.
 
.  
Ease congestion in the transmission and distribution system.  Each kilowatt of on-site power generation removes the same amount from the transmission and distribution system, thereby easing congestion that can cause power outages and hastening the grid recovery after electrical infrastructure problems have been resolved.
 
.  
Provide greater capacity utilization in less time.  Distributed generation can be added in increments that more closely match expected demand in a shorter time frame (weeks to months) compared with traditional central power generating plants and transmission and distribution systems (often 12 to 36 months or longer) which require more extensive siting and right of way approvals.
 
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.  
Enhance security.  By locating smaller, incremental power plants in dispersed locations closer to energy consumers, distributed generation can reduce dependence on a vulnerable centralized electrical infrastructure.

Our DFC power plants provide the following attributes:

.  
Offer higher operational efficiency Our DFC power plants currently achieve electrical efficiencies of 45 to 47 percent and have the potential to reach an electrical efficiency 57 percent at product maturity in single-cycle applications. In addition, our DFC power plants can achieve overall energy efficiency of 70 to 80 percent for combined heat and power applications. This is greater than the fuel efficiency of competing fuel cell and combustion-based technologies of similar size and potentially results in a lower cost per kWh over the life of the power plant.
 
.  
Lower emissions.  Our DFC power plants have significantly lower emissions of greenhouse gases and particulate matter than conventional combustion-based power plants. They emit virtually no NOX or SOX and have been designated "ultra-clean" by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).  Comparative emissions of fuel cell power plants versus traditional combustion-based power plants as compiled by the DOE/National Energy Technology Laboratory and company product specification sheets are as follows:

 
 
Emissions (Lbs. Per MWh)
 
 
 
Nox
 
SO2
 
Average U.S. Fossil Fuel Plant
   
4.200
   
9.210
 
Microturbine (60-kW)
   
0.490
   
0.000
 
Small Gas Turbine (250-kW)
   
0.467
   
0.000
 
Combined Cycle Gas Turbine
   
0.230
   
0.005
 
Fuel Cell, Single Cycle (DFC)
   
0.016
   
0.000
 

.  
Utilize multiple fuels.  Our DFC power plants can utilize many fuel sources, such as natural gas, industrial and municipal wastewater treatment gas, propane, and coal gas (escaping gas from active and abandoned coal mines as well as synthesis gas processed from coal), thereby enhancing energy independence from imported oil.

Many governments at various levels, both in the U.S. and abroad, are proactively pursuing incentive programs to stimulate the development of distributed generation in general and fuel cells in particular. New programs have emerged in Connecticut, New York, Japan, Korea and Canada, and an existing program was renewed and extended in California. We believe we can capitalize on the substantial global incentives available for distributed generation, alternative energy and renewable technologies, which include subsidies ranging up to 55 percent of project costs depending on the application and the site.  We and our partners have been able to take advantage of specific incentives in the U.S., Japan and Germany.

In the near-term, we believe these government-sponsored incentive programs will facilitate DFC product sales.  In the longer term, we believe that our product cost reduction program and higher production volumes will lessen or eliminate the need for incentives.

We continue to target our initial commercialization efforts for the following stationary power applications:

·  
Customers in regions with high electricity prices.
·  
Customers with 24/7 base load power requirements.
·  
Customers with electric grid distribution or transmission shortages or congestion.
·  
Commercial and industrial customers who can use the high-quality heat by-product for cogeneration applications.
·  
Customers with opportunity fuels such as anaerobic digester gas from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities.
·  
Customers in regions with strict air pollution requirements.

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These customer characteristics are prevalent in selected regions in the United States, such as California and the northeastern states, and internationally in Canada, Europe, Japan and Korea.  These are areas where government incentives and other approved legislation support distributed generation in general and fuel cells in particular.  We are focusing on market segments that offer sufficient incentive funding available to make our current product pricing competitive with the local cost of electricity and cogeneration.  We see these markets as a bridge to support order activity while we are operating at higher cost and lower volume.  As the results of our product cost out efforts enable us to lower our prices, we expect we will move from these bridge markets to broad commercial acceptance.

Because our DFC products can operate on wastewater treatment gas, a biomass renewable fuel, we can provide one of the few sources of base load distributed generation within the renewable portfolio standards (RPS) many states and countries are beginning to implement. In some jurisdictions, our DFC power plants, due to their favorable ultra-low emissions and 'ultra-clean' status, can qualify for RPS programs when operating on natural gas.  This classifies our fuel cell products similar to wind and solar projects that are eligible for funding under these programs.

Geographical Markets

We are pursuing a strategy of global geographic penetration through our strong strategic partners, which has enabled us to introduce our products in early adopter markets throughout the world.  In selected regions, local market conditions, incentives and regulations have evolved which have enabled customers to purchase our products.  These early adopters recognize the environmental and economic value of our DFC power plants.

Japan

Japan's electricity prices are among the highest in the world.  In addition, the government has strict emissions goals, following the Kyoto Protocol, which have resulted in the need to reduce emissions from the power-generating sector.  Employing CHP technology is an important means to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, however, Japanese air pollution protection laws restrict installing and operating traditional generating technologies in urban areas.  Since the Japanese Ministry of Environmental Protection has approved our DFC power plants as meeting or exceeding all Japanese air pollution control laws, we believe demand for our DFC products will increase.  We have seen the most progress with our DFC products in this market, with Marubeni ordering 1.25 MW in 2001 followed by repeat orders of 3 MW and 4 MW in 2003 and 2004, respectively.

There are a number of other market drivers beyond strict emissions requirements that we believe will stimulate demand for our DFC power plants in Japan.  First, a new regulation requires the use of wastewater treatment facilities for agriculture and farming. The Japanese government is subsidizing these new wastewater treatment facilities, including any power generation equipment that makes efficient use of “opportunity fuels” that result from wastewater treatment. Second, a national RPS for the power generation sector was adopted. The initial targets are approximately 3,500 MW by 2010. Our DFC products operating on anaerobic digester gas qualify under this standard. Third, a number of government-backed subsidy programs are available to DFC products, with incentives ranging from 35 percent to 55 percent. The aggregate annual budget by the various Japanese ministries for these programs total $50 million. Fourth, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced a new energy program with the goal of 2,200 MW of fuel cell power by 2010. Our Japanese partner, Marubeni Corporation (Marubeni), has been successful in working with various Japanese ministries to obtain approvals for broad siting flexibility to meet the growing demand for our DFC products.

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Korea

With the addition of POSCO as a sub-distributor and eventual packager of our DFC products for Marubeni, we have broadened our Asian marketing presence to include Korea. In 2004, fuel cells were identified as one of the 10 economic growth engines for the Korean economy and POSCO was assigned by the Korean government to develop and commercialize large stationary fuel cell power plants. POSCO selected our DFC products through Marubeni to pursue this effort, which we believe further confirms our leadership position in large stationary fuel cell power plants for the commercial and industrial customers. The Korean government’s goal is to install 300 stationary fuel cell power plants, sized 250-kW to 1 MW, by 2012, and has designated $1.6 billion to support this effort.

North America - U.S.

The U.S. is characterized by high electricity costs and grid-constraints in selected regions, such as California and the northeastern states such as New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. We have found that the utility monopoly status is more entrenched in the U.S. than in other global markets, but we are seeing developments that favor clean and efficient distributed generation such as our DFC power plants. Existing programs are being renewed, and new initiatives are being implemented.

California has become a leader in regulatory policy.  For example, our DFC power plants have been certified to meet interconnection standards of investor owned electric utilities.  In addition, our DFC power plants meet the strict emissions requirement of the California Air Resources Board standard for 2007, and have been designated as an 'ultra-clean' distributed generation technology. As a result, customers have access to certain incentive funding for the purchase of our DFC power plants.  In addition, customers who install and operate our DFC power plants are exempt from exit fees and stand-by charges, saving them from paying fees of approximately $.025-$0.03/kWh.  End-users of fuel cell power plants are eligible to sell back unused power to publicly owned utilities during off-peak hours at wholesale or generation-based rates of approximately $0.04-$0.05/kWh.  The California Self Generation Program provides $100 million per year of incentive funding for 'ultra-clean' technologies on the basis of $2,500/kW for our DFC products operating on natural gas and $4,500/kW for our DFC products operating on renewable fuels such as anaerobic gas from wastewater treatment facilities. 

We were able to demonstrate the competitiveness of our DFC products through this program during the past 12 months. In fiscal year 2004, Alliance Power secured two customers through this program (City of Santa Barbara, 500 kW, and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., 1MW). Chevron Energy Solutions secured our first DFC1500 project in the State with the Santa Rita Correctional Facility in Alameda County, and, early in fiscal 2005, secured a 250-kW project for the San Francisco Mail Processing Facility. This program has been extended through 2007, enabling over 20 MW of project funding per year.
 
In Connecticut, legislation was recently passed that will require the state’s utility distribution companies to have 100 MW of generation from renewable technologies contracted by mid-2007. The request for proposals for the first round (30 MW) was issued and project submissions (between 1 MW and 15 MW) are due March 17, 2005. Final projects are expected to be selected by September 30, 2005. The Round 2 (30 MW) and the Round 3 (40 MW) selection process are expected to follow in succession. Our DFC power plants operating on natural gas are a Class I renewable technology and meet the eligibility requirements for this program.

Other states are also implementing policies to accelerate the installation of clean distributed generation technologies.  For example, New York State exempts our DFC power plants from stand-by charges if the installation represents less than 15 percent of the customer's maximum potential demand. In addition, the New York Public Service Commission adopted a renewable energy policy to increase electricity from renewable sources to 25 percent by 2013. To meet this requirement, it is estimated that New York State will need up to 3,700 MW of generation from renewable technology. Our DFC power plants operating on natural gas meet the renewable eligibility requirements in New York State.

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These renewable energy initiatives in Connecticut and New York may provide us with opportunities for large scale multi-MW projects sized to 10-15 MW or larger.

At the U.S. federal level, in addition to significant research and development funds that we receive from the U.S. federal government, the U.S. Department of Defense Climate Change Fuel Cell Program grants funds to fuel cell power plant buyers, providing up to $1,000 per kW of plant capacity (not to exceed one-third of total program costs). In fiscal year 2005, there is approximately $1.2 million available for buyers of these fuel cell system incentive grants. While the Energy Policy Act of 2003 was not passed by Congress, it contained important incentives, including: (1) an investment tax credit of 30 percent or $1,000 per kW, whichever is less, for fuel cell power plant installations; and, (2) an advanced power system technology incentive program which provided for a 1.8 to 2.5 cents per kWh subsidy to owner-operators of qualifying facilities, including fuel cells, turbines and hybrid power systems. As a result of the November 2004 election, we expect an energy bill will be initiated in fiscal year 2005. We expect to benefit should similar provisions be included in a renewed energy bill.

North America - Canada

Our distribution partner, Enbridge, Inc., is currently developing provincial relationships in Canada to have our DFC products included in a portfolio approach to replace more than 100 MW of coal and nuclear power plants and other projects with funding through the country’s Cdn$250 million Sustainable Development Technology Program Enbridge, Inc., is the owner and operator of Canada’s largest natural gas distribution company, Enbridge Gas Distribution, which provides natural gas to industrial, commercial and residential customers in Ontario, Quebec and New York State.

Europe

While, electricity prices in Europe are not as high as they are in Japan and in the more expensive regions of the U.S., emphasis remains on reducing carbon dioxide emissions and grid-connected CHP projects are encouraged. The CHP Law, enacted in 2002, provides a €0.0511/kWh subsidy payable for 10 years for grid-connected CHP power plants, up to 2 MW. We estimate that this is the equivalent of a $1,000 to $2,000 per kW capital cost subsidy. In 2004, Germany’s Renewable Energy Law opened up eligibility for fuel cells to receive up to €0.20/kWh, including a €0.02/kWh premium over combustion-based technologies. RWE, Europe’s largest investor owned utility, has invested in and has partnered with our German partner, MTU CFC Solutions GmbH, a DaimlerChrysler subsidiary. In a June 2003 report commissioned by World Wildlife Fund For Nature in co-operation with Fuel Cell Europe, it was reported that RWE expects 1,000 to 5,000 MW of German electricity demand to be supplied by distributed power by 2015.

In the broader European market, the European Union has earmarked €100 million for research and demonstration projects for hydrogen and fuel cells through 2006.

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Target Applications

Our products are designed to meet the base load power requirements of a wide range of commercial and industrial customers including wastewater treatment plants, data centers, manufacturing and industrial facilities, office buildings, hospitals, mission critical applications, universities and hotels, as well as in grid support applications for utility customers.  Some specific markets we are targeting have substantial market potential as set forth in the table below.

 
Source: DOE/Onsite Sycom Energy Corp., “The Market and Technical Potential for Combined Heat and Power in the Commercial/Industrial Sector,” January 2000 (Revision 1)

Some specific applications of these representative applications include:
 
·  
Wastewater treatment plants.  This application provides a unique opportunity because the methane generated from the anaerobic gas digestion process is used as fuel for the DFC power plant, which in turn generates the electricity to operate the wastewater treatment equipment at the facility.  Wastewater treatment gas is considered a renewable fuel eligible for many government incentive funding for project installations throughout the world.
 
o  
Industrial. We delivered our first commercially available DFC300A power plant to the Kirin Brewery in Japan in January 2003. In 2005, we expect to install 1-MW of DFC power (4 DFC300A power plants) for a beer brewery at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico, Calif. through our North American distribution partner, Alliance Power, and a 250-kW DFC300A power plant for a food recycling facility for Bioenergy Co. at Tokyo ‘Super Eco Town’ in Japan through our Asian distribution partner, Marubeni Corp.
 
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o  
Municipal. We began operating our first MW-class DFC1500 at the King County Wastewater Facility in Washington State on natural gas in 2004 that has now switched over to operation on anaerobic digester gas. We have installed 250-kW DFC300A power plants to the following municipal wastewater treatment facilities - the City of Fukuoka (through Marubeni Corp.), Terminal Island for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (direct sale), Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (through Caterpillar), and the City of Santa Barbara (two units through Alliance Power).
 
·  
Hotels.  Our DFC 300A power plants at the 300-room Sheraton Edison and Sheraton Parsippany hotels in New Jersey provide each hotel with their 250 kW base load electricity requirements and 25 percent of their hot water needs. Our recently installed DFC300A power plant at the 1,750-room Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers in Manhattan will provide approximately 10 percent of the electricity and hot water requirements.
 
·  
Institutional - Universities.  At the Environmental Science Center near Yale University’s Peabody Museum in New Haven, Connecticut, our DFC 300A power plant provides approximately 25 percent of the building’s electricity needs, with the heat byproduct being used primarily to maintain tight temperature and humidity controls for its artifact storage facility. At the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center at Grand Valley State University in Muskegon, Mich., our DFC300A power plant is part of a comprehensive grid-independent energy system (includes solar panels and batteries for load following power requirements) that provides substantially all of the facility’s base load electricity and uses the heat byproduct for heating and cooling. At Ocean County College in New Jersey, our DFC300A power plant provides 90 percent of the daily power requirements for three of the campus’ buildings and 20 percent of the heating needs for six buildings. One of the three DFC300A power plants purchased by Marubeni’s Korean sub-distributor, POSCO, is expected to be installed at the Pohang University Science and Technology Center in Pohang City, Korea.
 
·  
Institutional - Hospitals.  MTU has provided its sub-MW carbonate fuel cell power plant, which incorporates our DFC components, for a number of hospitals and clinics in Germany that supply electricity to the local clinic grid and the hot exhaust air is used to produce process steam for the facilities. Installations include the Rhon Klinikum Bad Neustadt (which completed its field trial in August 2004 after operating for more than 21,000 hours), Rhon Klinikum Bad Berka, Magdeburg Clinic and the Gruenstadt Clinic/Pfalzwerke.
 
·  
Industrial. MTU has installed its sub-MW carbonate fuel cell power plant for industrial CHP applications in Europe, such as a Michelin tire factory in Germany and a IZAR ship building factory in Spain. Marubeni has installed two DFC power plants for an Epson factory in Japan and a natural gas gathering station at Japex, also in Japan. Caterpillar has installed and operated a DFC300A power plant at its technology center in Peoria, Illinois.
 
·  
Institutional - Telecommunications/Data Centers. MTU has installed a sub-MW carbonate fuel cell power plant for Deutsche Telecom in Munich, Germany that provides DC backup power for a telecommunications center.
 
·  
Institutional - Prisons. We announced our first one-MW DFC1500 power plant sale in California to Alameda County for the Santa Rita Correctional Facility in Dublin, Calif. This also was the first fuel cell project with our North American distribution partner, Chevron Energy Solutions, and delivery is expected in calendar year 2005.
 
·  
Grid Support. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has been a long-standing customer of ours, and operated one of our first field trial units. They have installed two separate DFC300 power plants that provide electricity to the grid - one at their corporate headquarters and one at another downtown location. In 2004, we delivered a DFC300A power plant to a Westerville, Ohio substation facility for American Municipal Power-Ohio for its municipal distribution system. In 2005, we expect to deliver a DFC300A power plant for the Salt River project. This unit will be located at the Arizona State University East Campus in Mesa, Ariz. and provide electricity to the local grid.
 
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·  
Federal. We are targeting the U.S. Government as an end-use customer for our DFC products. Since the blackout of August 2003, we have seen a growing interest by the government in increasing the reliability of power for mission critical applications. There is a DFC300A power plant installed at the Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod in Bourne, Mass. that was sold through our North American distribution partner, PPL Energy Plus. Our North American distribution partner, Chevron Energy Solutions, sold a 250-kW DFC300A power plant to the U.S. Postal Service’s San Francisco Processing and Distribution Center that is expected to be delivered in calendar year 2005. The market for combined heat and power applications for federal facilities is estimated to be 1,590 MW.

We have installed a DFC300A power plant at the Fuel Cell Test and Evaluation Center in Johnstown, Penn., for a combined heat and power demonstration. The goals of this demonstration are to (1) analyze the use of available system heat output for trigeneration - the supply of electricity as well as chilled and hot water in a combined system - and (2) analyze the simultaneous operation on natural gas and propane for dual-fueled capability. This is part of a $7 million fiscal 2005 budget appropriation by the U.S. Government for carbonate fuel cells, which also includes funding for two other MW-class systems.

Strategic Alliances/Market Development Agreements

Our sales and marketing strategy is to work predominantly with established OEMs and ESCOs who have significant expertise in selling equipment and/or comprehensive services to energy users.   These relationships strengthen our ability to bring our stationary fuel cell power plants to key target markets and applications and provide valuable input for our cost reduction and product improvement efforts. In certain circumstances, we sell our products directly to end-users. 

Our OEM partners have extensive experience in designing, manufacturing, distributing and servicing energy products worldwide.  We believe our strength in the development of fuel cell products coupled with their understanding of sophisticated commercial and industrial customers, products and services will enhance the sales, service and product development of our high temperature stationary fuel cell power plants.
   
Our energy service company partners have extensive experience in selling comprehensive energy services to commercial and industrial customers that include demand side management, product selection and commodity procurement. They have added our DFC power plants to their offering of power generation products and services as a cost effective energy solution to their customers.

Through our field trial program, we have directly partnered with certain customers who have hosted our product demonstrations. These customer partners have the option to negotiate arrangements for the sale, distribution and service of FuelCell's DFC power plants upon completion of the project. 

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) Partners

MTU CFC Solutions GmbH, a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler.  MTU, headquartered in Munich, Germany, has been an investor in our company and co-developer of our DFC technology since 1989. The sub-MW power plant is a collaborative effort utilizing our DFC technology and the Hot Module® BOP design of MTU.  In July 2003, RWE Fuel Cells GmbH, a subsidiary of RWE AG, Germany’s largest electric utility, established a joint venture with MTU and RWE Fuel Cells GmbH holds a 25.1 percent stake in MTU CFC Solutions, GmbH.

MTU currently has sub-MW fuel cell power plant installations at eight locations in Europe (in Germany unless otherwise noted), including an energy park at RWE; a telecommunications center for Deutsche Telecom; a tire manufacturing facility for Michelin; at a Berlin-based utility, Vattenburg/BeWag (first European dual-fueled carbonate fuel cell power plant); at Bad Berka Hospital; at Magdeburg Clinic; at Gruendstat Clinic; and at IZAR, a shipbuilder, in Spain. MTU has announced that it will install two additional units in 2005, including the first European digester gas carbonate power plant in Ahlen, Germany.

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We have two agreements with MTU, a Cell License Agreement and a Balance of Plant License Agreement.  Under our current Cell License Agreement, which has been extended through December 2009, we license our DFC technology to MTU for use exclusively in Europe and the Middle East and non-exclusively in Africa and South America.  We also sell our DFC components and stacks to MTU under this agreement.  Under the Cell License Agreement, MTU also granted us an exclusive, royalty-free license to use any of their improvements to our Direct FuelCell that MTU developed as of December 1999 under a previous license agreement.  In addition, MTU has agreed to negotiate a license grant of any separate carbonate fuel cell know-how it develops once it is ready for commercialization.  Under our Balance of Plant Cross Licensing and Cross-Selling Agreement, we may sell to MTU our MW-class modules and MTU may sell their sub-MW class modules to us.  The Balance of Plant License continues through July 2008 and may be extended for up to three additional 5-year terms, at the option of either MTU or us.  As an OEM developer of stationary fuel cell power plants, MTU assembles and stacks the DFC components that we sell to them and then adds their mechanical and electrical balance of plants for ultimate sale to their customers.  MTU owns approximately 2.7 million shares of our common stock and is represented on our board of directors.  

Marubeni Corporation.  Marubeni delivered DFC 300A units in Japan to the Kirin Brewery near Tokyo; the City of Fukuoka municipal wastewater treatment facility; Japex’s Katakai natural gas gathering station located in the Niigata Prefecture; and two units to Epson’s Quartz Device Division in the City of Ina, Nagano Perfecture, Japan.

Under our agreement with Marubeni extended in 2004, Marubeni ordered an additional 4 MW of our DFC power plants, and to date has a commitment for 8.25 MW of our DFC power plants.  Marubeni invested $10 million in FuelCell in 2001 through the purchase of approximately 268,000 shares.  In addition, we have granted Marubeni warrants to purchase an additional 1.0 million shares of our common stock that vest based on order commitments for our DFC products.  The exercise prices of the warrants range from $13.78 to $18.73 per share and the warrants will expire between April 2005 and April 2007, if not exercised sooner. Warrants to purchase 200,000 shares have vested to date.

Late in fiscal 2004, FuelCell and Marubeni entered into strategic alliances with leading industrial companies to be sub-distributors and packagers of DFC products and to participate in our cost-out program.

·  
Kawasaki Heavy Industries. In October 2004, Marubeni, FuelCell and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) entered into an agreement for KHI to become Marubeni’s packaging partner for Japan to design and manufacture balance of plant components, and to be a sub-distributor to Marubeni in Japan. KHI is a leader in the field of stationary power generation, and is a leading international supplier of ultra-clean gas turbines. KHI has stated it believes the greatest opportunity for DFC power plants is in high efficiency, cogeneration applications for large commercial and light industrial sectors, particularly due to reduced greenhouse gas emissions. As part of the agreement, Kawasaki purchased a DFC300A power plant from Marubeni, to be installed at the Kawasaki Akashi Works near Osaka, Japan.

·  
POSCO. In November 2004, Marubeni, FuelCell and POSCO entered into an agreement for POSCO to become Marubeni’s packaging partner for Korea to design and manufacture balance of plant components, and to be a sub-distributor to Marubeni in Korea. POSCO is a world leader in the materials industry, and is a top producer of steel for the global market. POSCO has extensive experience in power plant project development, building over 2,400 MW of power plants, equivalent to 3.7 percent of Korea’s national capacity, for its various facilities. As part of the agreement, POSCO purchased three DFC300A power plants through Marubeni, with the first unit to be sited at the Pohang University of Science and Technology in Pohang City, Korea.

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·  
Subsequent to the end of our fiscal year, Marubeni announced the siting of a DFC300A power plant for Bioenergy Co. of Japan for a food recycling facility at the Tokyo ‘Super Eco Town’ Project.

Caterpillar, Inc.  Caterpillar operated a DFC 300A power plant at its Technology Center near its corporate headquarters in Peoria, Illinois and is expected to do so again in 2005. In addition, we have shipped DFC 300A power plants for two Caterpillar customers: American Municipal Power-Ohio for a grid-support application at a substation in the City of Westerville, Ohio, and a municipal wastewater treatment application for the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County.  Caterpillar is currently offering our DFC products to its customers and has stated it intends to offer its own branded fuel cell power plant that will incorporate our DFC technology.

Under our ten-year agreement with Caterpillar, customers are able to purchase our DFC power plants from Caterpillar dealers in selected regions in North America.  The agreement calls for us to jointly develop Caterpillar-branded power plants in the 250 kW to 3 MW size range, incorporating our fuel cell modules.  In December 2003, Caterpillar announced plans to market a hybrid fuel cell/natural gas generator product which would combine our MW-class DFC power plant with Caterpillar’s gas engine-driven generator to provide clean, efficient and economical base load and peaking power requirements for commercial and industrial customers. 

Energy Service Company Partners

We have five Energy Service Company (ESCO) distribution partners for our DFC products. 

PPL Energy Plus. PPL, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation, ordered 1.75 MW of DFC power plants and currently has units installed at three Starwood Resorts properties (Sheraton Edison and Sheraton Parsippany in New Jersey and Sheraton New York Towers in Manhattan); one unit at the U.S. Coast Guard station in Bourne, Massachusetts; and one unit at Ocean County College in New Jersey.

Enbridge, Inc.  Enbridge, a leader in energy transportation and distribution in North America and internationally, entered into a three-year distribution agreement with us in November 2003 to distribute our current DFC products in Canada.  As part of the agreement, Enbridge received warrants to purchase up to 500,000 shares of our common stock which vest based on order commitments for our fuel cell products. The exercise prices of the warrants range from $14.65 to $19.04 per share and the warrants will expire in November 2006, if not exercised sooner. These warrants have not yet vested.

Alliance Power, Inc.  In June 2003, we signed an agreement with Alliance Power, Inc. to integrate our ‘ultra-clean’ DFC power plants into its portfolio of distributed generation solutions. Alliance Power is a developer of distributed generation facilities ranging in size from 1 MW to 49 MW. Alliance has been initially focusing its efforts in California. In fiscal 2004, we announced two multi-unit projects - 500 kW for a municipal wastewater treatment facility for the City of Santa Barbara (2 DCF300A power plants) and 1 MW for an industrial wastewater facility for the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico, Calif. (4 DFC300A power plants).

Chevron Energy Solutions.  We entered into an agreement with Chevron Energy Solutions (Chevron), a subsidiary of ChevronTexaco, in December 2001, to jointly market and sell DFC power plants, with initial projects targeted for the northeastern U.S. and California. Chevron partners with institutions and businesses to improve facilities and increase their efficiency, help reduce energy expenses and help ensure reliability, high quality power for critical operations. In October 2004, Chevron announced the sale of a one-MW DFC1500 power plant in California to Alameda County for the Santa Rita Correctional Facility. In December 2004, Chevron announced the sale of a DFC300A power plant for the U.S. Postal Service’s San Francisco Processing and Distribution Center. Both power plants are expected to be installed in 2005.

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LOGANEnergy Corp.   We entered into an agreement with LOGANEnergy Corp. (LOGAN) in July 2004 to jointly market and sell DFC power plants with an initial focus on MW-class systems in California. LOGAN has been specializing in planning, designing, developing and implementing fuel cell projects since 1994 and has been involved with over 40 commercial, small-scaled fuel cell projects representing more than 7 MW of capacity at 21 locations in 12 states.

Customer Partners

Through our field trial program, we have partnered directly with certain customers who have hosted our product demonstrations. These customer partners have the option to negotiate arrangements for the sale, distribution and service of our DFC power plants upon completion of the project. 

Our longest standing customer partner relationship is with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the largest municipal utility in the U.S. with 640,000 water customers and 1.4 million electric customers.  LADWP participated with us on our 2 MW Santa Clara Demonstration Project in 1996-1997 and currently has three DFC 300A power plant installations (grid-connected units at its Main Street facility and headquarters building, and a wastewater treatment plant installation at Terminal Island).

Other customer partners include the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority, which participated in the operation of a sub-MW DFC power plant at a Mercedes-Benz manufacturing facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and completed in December 2003.

MEETING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS

A focused commercial ‘cost-out’ program cannot begin until there are a number of units in the field operating at customer sites. We delivered our first DFC300A power plant to the Kirin Brewery in January 2003 and since then have delivered 34 units, including our first one-MW DFC1500 and our first two-MW DFC3000, to customer sites throughout the world. These units constitute our ‘field follow’ program.

We went into our ‘field follow’ program anticipating there would be operational issues that would cause service interruptions, such as fuel and water variability, as well as site-specific issues such as temperature and altitude. This is not uncommon with the introduction of a new technology.

Approximately one-third of all service interruptions affecting our DFC power plant are the result of grid disturbances. Software controls were developed to allow our units to maintain operating temperature (hot standby mode) during these disturbances and return to producing electricity once the grid situation was resolved.
 
Beyond grid disturbances, some of the other lessons learned include fuel variations at different sites. For example, our DFC power plants might encounter fuel composition instability due to seasonal variations (e.g., peak-shaving gas during winter months). In addition, industrial wastewater treatment facilities, such as beer breweries, are subject to fuel variability depending on the type of beer being processed which can change the hydrocarbon content of the fuel. We resolved this by developing software controls that allow the DFC power plant to react quickly to these changes and installing hardware to facilitate these rapid changes.

Many of our customers require the ability to switch fuel sources. For example, our one-MW DFC1500 power plant at King County, Washington, switches fuel between anaerobic digester gas and natural gas. Software controls were developed to automate this. Similarly, our DFC300A power plant at the Kirin Brewery in Japan switches from anaerobic digester gas to liquefied petroleum gas (during the weekends when beer is not brewed). We developed the appropriate software controls and installed the appropriate hardware to facilitate this.

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We have operated our DFC power plants in cold weather environments (to minus 40ºF in Montana) and hot weather environments (120ºF in California). Appropriate weather packages were developed and installed to minimize service interruptions due to these temperature extremes.

Natural gas applications incur differences in the odorants that are employed. To accommodate for this, a new type of carbon mix was developed for the desulfurizer beds.

From these experiences and others, we are learning about the reliability of our DFC power plant components in varying applications and customer environments. All failed components are returned to our service center in Danbury and undergo rigorous analyses. This is done to improve the reliability of the components by allowing us and our component vendors to develop comprehensive technical solutions. We are measuring the mean time between failure of key components to ensure they are improving. We are also using this data to develop predictive maintenance practices and plans.

A year into our ‘field follow’ program, we wanted to better understand our customer requirements. We sent out a customer satisfaction survey in which we polled 85 percent of the operating units in the U.S. and Japan, soliciting feedback on all aspects of our customer service, i.e., operations, engineering, project management, quality, sales/marketing, and service. Quantitative results produced a satisfactory rating. Additionally, our customers requested a multi-level training program, a 24/7 customer service call center and a web-based portal that allows them to obtain real-time power plant data. All of these were successfully implemented in 2004. Customer feedback also indicated that power plant size is not as important to them as the ability to service and maintain the units. This has been incorporated into future designs and modifications.

We regularly monitor the availability of our DFC power plants and the average availability of our DFC power plants to date is approximately 87 percent as of January 10, 2005. The industry standard in the power industry for availability is 95 percent, and we believe we will improve our availability to achieve or exceed that benchmark.

COST REDUCTION

Reducing product cost is essential for us to penetrate the market for our high temperature fuel cell products.  Cost reduction will reduce and/or eliminate the need for incentive funding programs that are currently available to allow our product pricing to compete with grid-delivered power and other distributed generation technologies, and is critical to achieving and sustaining profitability. We recognized this during our initial product development efforts leading up to our 2-MW Santa Clara ‘proof-of-concept’ project in 1996-1997. We continued our cost reduction and performance improvement efforts as we developed commercial designs for our products, incorporating lessons learned from this project, our 250-kW Danbury project in 1999 as well as our U.S. field trials with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Mercedes-Benz facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (project partnership with Southern Company Services, Inc., Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, the Alabama Electric Authority) in 2001-2002. Cost per kW was declining substantially during this period, from over $20,000 per kW to approximately $10,000 per kW at the start of commercial ‘cost-out’ program in mid-2003.
 
A more focused commercial ‘cost-out’ program, however, could not commence until we had a number of units in the field. Six months into our ‘field-follow’ program we concluded that our DFC power plants were meeting customer expectations and we decided to move forward with our ‘cost-out’ program.

Our value-engineering cost reduction program commenced in mid-2003 and is focused on reducing initial capital costs of the products as well as testing, conditioning, installation, operation and maintenance expenses. We expect further cost reductions from increasing volume production above our current levels. Product cost reduction comes from three areas - our ‘field follow’ program, our ‘cost-out’ program and our ‘performance improvement’ program. Engineers and scientists are dedicated to each area, but it is a collaborative effort that contributes to the overall serviceability, cost-reduction and performance improvement of our DFC products. We have created an interdepartmental team that regularly analyzes, verifies and tests value-engineering initiatives. Presently, approximately 20 percent of our employees are involved in this ‘cost-out’ program, including a staff of 20 engineers dedicated exclusively to this effort, and contributions are solicited and considered from our distribution partners, component suppliers, packaging engineering firms and directly from end-use customers. In addition, we expect to leverage the capabilities and resources of our distribution partners and key suppliers to enhance our cost reduction efforts.  These continuing efforts are expected to reduce material costs, simplify design, improve manufacturing yields, reduce product assembly labor and reduce production cycle time.

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Selected examples of successful cost reduction initiatives include changing the material of our bipolar plates and reforming unit separators within our fuel cells, switching our piping material, changing our nitrogen purging methodologies in our sub-MW product balance of plant, and substituting a standard shipping container for the custom-made balance of plant enclosure. We are building global sourcing capabilities for the most cost effective component and material supply.

We have achieved significant cost reductions since the program’s inception. Product design changes are introduced in blocks rather than individually to minimize impact to manufacturing and to the customer. For example, in 2004 we reduced the cost of our DFC300A power plant by approximately 25 percent in two block changes. Block One changes were released into production beginning in late calendar year 2004 and block two changes will be implemented in products released for production in the summer of 2005.

Concurrent with our field follow and cost-out programs, we continue to advance the performance of our core stack technology to increase power output and extend stack life.  Increasing power output will reduce the initial capital cost per/kW and increasing stack life will reduce operation and maintenance costs to make our products even more competitive. Subscale testing of our carbonate fuel cells has successfully demonstrated an increase in power output. Efforts are underway to validate these advances in larger stacks before we incorporate these improvements into our commercial DFC products.

Recently, we have demonstrated trouble-free operation of our DFC power plants on U.S. commercial grade propane, a commonly available storable fuel that potential customers are telling us is required for certain critical power applications. We plan to operate a DFC300A unit on propane in 2005 to show readiness for critical power/Homeland Security applications. Field operating experience has shown that plant trips from grid-related disturbances are a significant factor contributing to plant outages. To alleviate the impact of this, we have demonstrated going from a trip disturbance to hot standby followed with full power recovery in less than ten minutes in a full-scale engineering unit subsequent to a grid disturbance-related outage. This feature will be incorporated into the product in 2005. 

We have established value-engineering cost targets of 20 to 25 percent for each year through 2006. The cost of our standard sub-MW product design at the end of 2004 was reduced from over $8,000 per kW to approximately $6,000 per kW, which is a 25 percent reduction in cost. Our MW-class products have an inherent 20 to 25 percent cost advantage over the sub-MW product due to economies of scale of the balance-of-plant and other components. We believe that increasing our annual production volume to our production capacity of 50 MW can yield up to 30 percent of additional cost reduction. Realization of these cost reductions in our financial statements is dependent upon inventory levels, procurement and production decisions and order flow. We believe that we can reach market clearing prices in the higher energy cost regions of the world.

Manufacturing, Service, Testing and Conditioning

We have established a 65,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Torrington, Connecticut where, since 2001, we have produced our repeating fuel cell components: the anode and cathode electrodes and the electrolyte matrix. After the components have been produced, they are combined in sub-assembly operations to create the final fuel cell package and delivered to final assembly for stacking into our 250 kW (nominal rating) building block stacks, which comprise our fuel cell modules. These modules are then delivered to our test and conditioning facilities in Danbury, Connecticut, and combined with the balance of plant to complete our DFC300A power plants. The completed DFC300A power plant is tested and conditioned in Danbury before being shipped to the customer site. Our MW-modules for the DFC1500 and DFC3000 are tested in Danbury and then shipped to the customer site for final testing with an assembled balance of plant.

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Our manufacturing, testing and conditioning facilities have equipment in place for a production capacity of 50 MW per year. We believe manufacturing capacity can be increased to 125 - 150 MW within our existing Torrington facility through the addition of parallel production lines and additional machinery. We also have additional land access surrounding our Torrington facility, on which we could expand to 400 MW of annual production of our repeating fuel cell components. Expansion of our manufacturing facilities beyond 50 MW would also require new facilities for the fuel cell stack and module assembly, test and conditioning which could be deployed regionally. These regional assembly, test and conditioning facilities are expected to provide additional cost savings as they will reduce shipping costs, enhance delivery times and improve customer service.

Our service organization offers comprehensive service and maintenance programs including total fleet management, refurbishment and recycling services, and complete product support including spare parts inventory.  We are offering service agreements at various levels for one to five years, with flexible renewal options. Our service business is located at our Danbury facility.

Government Regulation

We presently are, and our fuel cell power plants will be, subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to, among other things, land use, safe working conditions, handling and disposal of hazardous and potentially hazardous substances and emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere. Emissions of SOX and NOX from our fuel cell power plants will be much lower than conventional combustion-based generating stations, and are well within existing and proposed regulatory limits. The primary emissions from our DFC power plants, assuming no cogeneration application, is humid flue gas that is discharged at a temperature of approximately 700-800° F, water that will be discharged at a temperature of approximately 10-20° F above ambient air temperatures and carbon dioxide at levels below many competing technologies because of our high efficiency. In light of the high temperature of the gas emissions, we will likely be required by regulatory authorities to site or configure our power plants in a way that will allow the gas to be vented at acceptable and safe distances. We believe that this regulation of the gas emissions will be similar to the regulation of other power plants with similar heat and discharge temperatures. The discharge of water from our power plants will likely require permits whose terms will depend on whether the water is permitted to be discharged into a storm drain or into the local wastewater system. Lastly, as with any use of hydrocarbon fuel, the discharge of particulates will have to meet emissions standards. While our products have very low carbon monoxide emissions, there could be additional permitting requirements in smog non-attainment areas with respect to carbon monoxide if a number of our units are aggregated together.

Proprietary Rights and Licensed Technology

To compete in the marketplace, align effectively with business partners and protect our proprietary rights, we rely primarily on a combination of trade secrets, patents, confidentiality procedures and agreements and patent assignment agreements. In this regard, we have 40 current U.S. patents (including four allowed awaiting issuance by the Patent and Trademark Office) and 89 international patents covering our fuel cell technology (in certain cases covering the same technology in multiple jurisdictions). All of the 40 U.S. patents relate to our Direct FuelCell technology. We also have submitted 27 U.S. and 85 international patent applications. 

The patents we have obtained will expire between 2005 and 2023, and the average remaining life of our patents is approximately 10.6 years. In 2004, two new U.S patents were issued, four more were allowed and four U.S. patents expired. The expiration of these patents has no material impact on our current or anticipated operations. We also have 19 invention disclosures in process with our patent counsel that may result in additional patent applications.
 
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Many of our U.S. patents are the result of government-funded research and development programs, including the DOE cooperative agreement. Three of our patents, which resulted from government-funded research before January 1988 (when we qualified as a “small business”), are owned by the U.S. government and have been licensed to us.

U.S. patents that we own that resulted from government-funded research are subject to the government exercising “march-in” rights. We believe, however, that the likelihood of the U.S. government exercising these rights is remote and would only occur if we ceased our commercialization efforts and there was a compelling national need to use the patents.

We have also entered into certain license agreements through which we have obtained the rights to use technology developed under joint projects.  Through these agreements we must make certain royalty payments on the sales of products that contain the licensed technology, subject to certain milestones and limitations.

Competition

We compete on the basis of our products’ reliability, fuel efficiency, environmental considerations and cost.  We believe that our DFC carbonate fuel cell offers competitive advantages over most other fuel cell designs for stationary base load power generation. These benefits include high fuel efficiency, significantly lower emissions, scalability, the proven ability to utilize multiple fuels and potentially lower operating, maintenance and generation costs.  We believe that we are the most advanced high temperature stationary fuel cell company.

Several companies in the U.S. are involved in fuel cell development, although we believe we are the only domestic company engaged in significant manufacturing and commercialization of carbonate fuel cells in the sub-MW and MW classes. Emerging fuel cell technologies (and companies developing them) include PEM fuel cells (Ballard Power Systems, Inc.; UTC Fuel Cells; and Plug Power), phosphoric acid fuel cells (UTC Fuel Cells) and solid oxide fuel cells (Siemens Westinghouse Electric Company, Sulzer Hexis, McDermott, GE/Honeywell, Delphi and Accumentrics).  Each of these competitors has the potential to capture market share in our target markets.

There are other potential carbonate fuel cell competitors internationally.  In Asia, Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries is active in developing carbonate fuel cells.  In Europe, a company in Italy, Ansaldo Fuel Cells, is actively engaged in carbonate fuel cell development and is a potential competitor. Our licensees in Germany, MTU, and its partners have been the most active in Europe.

Other than fuel cell developers, we must also compete with such companies as Caterpillar, Cummins Inc., and Detroit Diesel Corporation (a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler AG), which manufacture more mature combustion-based equipment, including various engines and turbines, and have more established manufacturing, distribution, operating and cost features.  Significant competition may also come from gas turbine companies like General Electric, Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited, Solar Turbines Incorporated and Kawasaki, which have recently made progress in improving fuel efficiency and reducing pollution in large-size combined cycle natural gas fueled generators. These companies have also made efforts to extend these advantages to smaller sizes.  We believe, however, that these smaller gas turbines will not be able to match our fuel efficiency or favorable environmental characteristics.

Research and Development

The goal of our research and development efforts is to improve our core DFC products and expand our technology portfolio in complementary high temperature fuel cell systems, such as SOFC.  In addition, we are also conducting limited development work on advanced applications for other fuel cell technologies, such as PEM. A significant portion of our research and development has been funded by government contracts and is classified as cost of research and development contracts in our consolidated financial statements. For the fiscal years ended 2004, 2003 and 2002, total research and development expenses, including amounts received from the DOE, other government departments and agencies and our customers, and amounts that have been self-funded, were $44.9 million, $44.3 million and $52.5 million, respectively.

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Government Research and Development Contracts

Since 1975, we have worked on the development of our DFC technology with various U.S. government departments and agencies, including the DOE, the Navy, the Coast Guard, the Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.  Government funding, principally from the DOE, provided approximately 60 percent, 52 percent, and 81 percent of our revenue for the fiscal years ended 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  From the inception of our carbonate fuel cell development program in the mid-1970s to date, approximately $450 million has been invested to support the development of our DFC technology. This includes approximately $280 million from government agencies, with the balance provided by private entities such as FuelCell, utility organizations and licensees. 

DFC Programs

Product Design Improvement (PDI) In 1994, we entered into a cooperative agreement with the DOE to focus on our DFC technology and system optimization for cost reduction, product design development and fuel cell system field trials.  Since 1994, the aggregate dollar amount expended under the DOE contract is approximately $213 million, with the DOE providing approximately $135 million in funding. Work under this agreement was completed in 2004.

King County, Washington In 2001, we signed an agreement with King County, Washington to deliver a 1 MW DFC 1500 power plant to operate on anaerobic digester gas from its municipal wastewater treatment facility.  This MW-class field trial demonstration, with a total project value of approximately $18.8 million, is cost-shared by King County through a cooperative grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and us.  We began operating the unit on natural gas in July 2004 and then switched to anaerobic digester gas in August 2004. This demonstration project is expected to run through 2006.

Clean Coal Project In July 2002, we received approval from the DOE to accelerate the demonstration of our 2 MW DFC 3000 power plant operating on synthesis gas derived from coal.  The total value of the project is $34.6 million, with 50 percent of the cost shared by the DOE.  We installed the DFC3000 power plant at a coal gasification site in Indiana in July 2004 and expect to begin operating the unit when the gasification facility is operational. Coal is the dominant fuel for electric power generation in the U.S., with a little more than 50 percent of the power coming from coal-fired plants in 2002.

Ohio Coal Mine Methane Project In 2000, we were selected by the DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory to demonstrate the ability of DFC power plants to generate electricity using coalmine methane emissions that otherwise escape into the atmosphere.  We delivered a sub-MW DFC power plant to an AEP Ohio Coal LLC Rose Valley Site in Hopedale, Ohio in August 2003 and completed the successful operation phase of this project in December 2003. 

Future Products

Direct FuelCell/Turbine In October 2002, we received a modification to our existing Vision 21 program agreement with the DOE to demonstrate two additional sub-MW power plants based on our DFC/T technology.  This modification provides an additional $16 million to the budget, cost-shared by the DOE and us.  We will test the first DFC/T at our facility in Danbury, Connecticut and demonstrate the second DFC/T plant in Montana.  In fiscal year 2004, we successfully completed our proof-of-concept test of a 250 kW power plant integrated with a 60 kW micro turbine, and completed the design of our first packaged sub-MW alpha unit. This power plant will be assembled for factory testing in Danbury in the third calendar quarter of 2005.  In this patented technology, heat generated by the fuel cell is used to drive an unfired modified micro turbine to generate additional electricity.  The ultimate objective of this program is the design of a 10 to 40 MW DFC/T power plant that is expected to approach the 75 percent efficiency goal specified by the DOE’s Vision 21 program.  The DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy established its Vision 21 Program in 1999 with the objective of developing a “21st Century Energy Plant” that can generate electricity, heat/steam, clean fuels, chemicals and hydrogen from a variety of feedstocks such as fossil fuels and biomass with high efficiency and low environmental impact.

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DFC Marine/Diesel We are currently working on marine applications of our DFC products under programs with the U.S. Navy.  These ship service fuel cell (SSFC) power plants are required to operate on liquid fuels such as diesel.  We have a contract with the Office of Naval Research to deliver a 500 kW SSFC power plant for land-based demonstration at the Naval Sea Systems Command in Philadelphia.  We have assembled the balance of plant process equipment for the DFC power plant and initiated testing in Danbury. Upon successful completion of this phase of the project, the balance of plant will be integrated with two 250-kW fuel cell stacks. The complete power plant is expected to be tested in Danbury during the summer of 2005. This $21.6 million cost-shared project started in 2000 and is a continuation of an earlier $4.6 million contract that completed the conceptual design and testing of the critical components for the marine fuel cell module. 

Additionally, we are performing a number of smaller contracts related to the development of SSFC products.  In October 2003, we received a $954,000 subcontract award for a supplemental program.  Specific tasks for this program include the design engineering for installing diesel-fueled DFC power plants at naval facilities and on ships, operational testing of a DFC 300A power plant in Danbury from a control center in Maine, and development of a marine fuel cell simulator for use as an operator training aid.    We expect that successful demonstration of this project can lead to additional diesel fuel cell power plant applications for commercial ships and island power generation.

SECA Program In September 2004, we entered into a contract with the DOE to lead a project team for its SECA program.  The goal of the SECA program is to accelerate the commercialization of low-cost solid oxide fuel cells, a part of the DOE’s commitment to developing clean, efficient, reliable and affordable power generation. We plan to do this by reducing the operating temperature of the SOFC system to introduce cheaper materials in its construction and extend the operating life of the SOFC systems. The FuelCell team members currently include Versa, Materials and Systems Research, Inc. (MSRI), University of Utah (UU), Gas Technology Institute (GTI), Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Dana Corporation (Dana) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Additional SECA industrial team leaders include Acumentrics, Cummins Power Generation, Delphi Automotive Systems, General Electric Power Systems, and Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation.

The 10-year, $139 million program has three phases. The first phase will develop stationary modules in the 3 to 10 kilowatt size range and scalable systems for applications up to 100 kW operating on natural gas with target efficiencies of 45 percent. Phase one is a three-year, $24 million program to be cost-shared by the DOE ($15 million) and the FuelCell team ($9 million). This contract for this first phase was finalized in September 2004.

Phases two and three will focus on enhancing system efficiencies to 50 percent and 55 percent, respectively, as well as operating on additional fuels such as propane and diesel. The development of hybrid power plants combining fuel cells with turbines and stirling engines will also be evaluated in the latter phases.  These latter two phases are also to be cost shared by the DOE ($52 million) and the project’s participants ($63 million).  Advancement to these stages is dependent upon successes achieved in Phase one, selection by the DOE as a continuing project participant and subsequent congressional appropriations. 
 
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On November 1, 2004, we consolidated our Canadian SOFC operations into Versa in exchange for stock in Versa, increasing our ownership interest from 16 percent to 42 percent. We believe consolidating SOFC development into a single entity provides a greater opportunity to commercialize SOFC products under the DOE’s SECA program.

Versa, founded in 1991, is a joint venture of GTI, EPRI, UU, MSRI and FuelCell. Versa’s proprietary intellectual property (19 patents and pending patent applications), mutually developed and owned by the joint venture partners, includes a patented planar SOFC system and process that uses a unique cell configuration and components designed to enable operation at much lower temperature with increased power density.

Our former Canadian SOFC operations, part of Global Thermoelectric Inc. acquired in November 2003, initiated its SOFC research and development program in 1997. This Canadian SOFC operation has developed a key proprietary fuel cell design and pilot manufacturing processes and methods. This cell design, combined with advanced stack technology, is now being tested in complete systems, with a focus on the development of stationary natural gas-fueled prototypes.

We continue as a prime contractor under SECA and we are collaborating with Versa and other partners on SOFC systems development. Versa established its headquarters in Colorado and continues technology development in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. A 2-kW SOFC system is currently being tested as part of expected delivery of a 3-kilowatt system for the DOE in 2006.

Target markets for these SOFC products include remote sites, telecommunications facilities, commercial and residential buildings, back-up, mobile standby and auxiliary power units. If successfully commercialized, these SOFC products, ranging in size from 3-kW to 100-kW, will be complementary to our larger-scaled DFC power plants, ranging in size from 250-kW to 2-MW, that we are delivering to commercial, industrial and government customers today.

BACKLOG

Our backlog as of October 31, 2004 was approximately $47 million compared with backlog of approximately $46 million as of October 31, 2003. Backlog refers to the aggregate revenues remaining to be earned at a specified date under contracts we hold. For U.S. government contracts, we include the total contract value including any unfunded portion of the total contract value in backlog. U.S. government contract backlog was approximately $16 million and $31 million as of October 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The unfunded portion of our U.S. government contracts amounted to approximately $4 million and $17 million respectively as of October 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Due to the long-term nature of our government contracts, fluctuations from year to year are not an indication of any future trend. Although backlog reflects business that is considered firm, cancellations or scope adjustments may occur and will be reflected in our backlog when known. Product order backlog was approximately $26 million and $15 million as of October 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Product orders represent approximately 62 percent of our total funded backlog.

EMPLOYEES

As of March 31, 2005, we had 326 full-time employees, of whom 93 were located at the Torrington, Connecticut manufacturing plant, and 233 were located at the Danbury, Connecticut facility or various field offices. All employees in our SOFC business were transferred to Versa Power Systems, Inc. effective November 1, 2004 and are not included in these numbers.

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PROPERTIES

Our headquarters are located in Danbury, Connecticut. The following is a summary of our offices and locations:
 
 Location
 
 
Business Use
 
Square
Footage
 
Lease
Expiration Dates
Danbury, Connecticut
  
Corporation Headquarters, Research and Development, Sales, Marketing, Purchasing and Administration
 
72,000
  
Company owned
             
Torrington, Connecticut
  
Manufacturing
 
65,000
  
December 2010 (1)
             
Danbury, Connecticut
  
Manufacturing and Operations
 
38,000
  
October 2009
             
Pasadena, California
 
Sales & Marketing
 
200
 
June 2005
             
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
 
Research and Development
 
103,000
 
January 2006(2)
 

(1) We have an option to extend the lease for an additional five years.
(2) Facilities acquired with the acquisition of Global Thermoelectric Inc. on November 3, 2003 for which we have remaining lease obligations. We are currently sub-leasing part of this facility to Versa Power Systems, Inc.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings that, either individually or taken as a whole, we believe could materially harm our business, prospects, results of operations or financial condition.
 
MANAGEMENT
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF FUELCELL

Our executive officers and their ages are as follows:

NAME
AGE
POSITION WITH FUELCELL
Jerry D. Leitman
 
62
 
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
 
R. Daniel Brdar
 
45
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
 
Dr. Hansraj C. Maru
 
60
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Technical Officer
 
Christopher R. Bentley
 
62
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
 
Joseph G. Mahler
 
52
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer & Corporate Secretary
 
Herbert T. Nock
55
Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales

Jerry D. Leitman. Mr. Leitman has been our President and Chief Executive Officer since August 1997 and became Chairman of our board of directors in June 2002. Mr. Leitman was previously President of Jaydell Inc., a personal investment-Sub S Corporation from 1995 to 1997. From 1992 to 1995, Mr. Leitman was President of Asea Brown Boveri’s (ABB) global air pollution control businesses. Prior to joining ABB, Mr. Leitman was Group Executive Vice President of FLAKT AB, a Swedish multinational company, responsible for FLAKT’s worldwide industrial businesses from 1989 to 1992. Mr. Leitman is also a Director and Chairman of the compensation committee of Esterline Technologies Inc.  

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R. Daniel Brdar. Mr. Brdar became our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in February 2005. Mr. Brdar joined us in January 2001 as Vice President of Distributor Operations and became Vice President of Product Development in June 2003. Prior to joining FuelCell, Mr. Brdar was the Gas Turbine Product Manager for General Electric's (GE) Power Systems business. Before joining GE, he led the U.S. Department of Energy’s Power Systems Product Management organization. Mr. Brdar received his BS in Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1981.

Dr. Hansraj C. Maru. Dr. Maru has been our Executive Vice President since December 1992 and was appointed our Chief Technology Officer in August 2000. Mr. Maru was a director of FuelCell from December 1992 to March 2004. Dr. Maru was Chief Operating Officer from December 1992 to December 1997. Prior to that he was Senior Vice President—Research and Development. Prior to joining us in 1977, Dr. Maru was involved in fuel cell development at the Institute of Gas Technology. Dr. Maru received a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1975.

Christopher R. Bentley. Mr. Bentley has been our Executive Vice President since September 1990 and our Chief Operating Officer since August 2000. Mr. Bentley was a director of FuelCell from June 1993 to March 2004. Mr. Bentley was President of Fuel Cell Manufacturing Corporation, our former subsidiary, from September 1990 to December 1997. From 1985 through 1989, he was Director of Manufacturing (1985), Vice President and General Manager (1985-1988) and President (1988-1989) of the Turbine Airfoils Division of Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corporation, a major manufacturer of gas turbine hardware. Mr. Bentley received a BSME from Tufts University in 1966.

Joseph G. Mahler. Mr. Mahler joined us in October 1998 as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Mahler worked for Ernst & Young from 1974 - 1992 in the New York and Hartford offices. In Hartford, he was a partner in the Entrepreneurial Services Group. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Mahler was Vice President—Chief Financial Officer at Earthgro, Inc. Mr. Mahler received a BS in Accounting from Boston College in 1974.

Herbert T. Nock. Mr. Nock joined us in August 2000 as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales. Mr. Nock previously worked for General Electric’s Power Systems business for 29 years, most recently as Product General Manager for small gas turbine products. Mr. Nock received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1971 and his MBA from Boston University in 1977.

We have a Code of Ethics, as defined in SEC rules, that applies to our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer and our principal accounting officer.

DIRECTORS OF FUELCELL

Our directors and their ages are as follows:

NAME
AGE
DIRECTOR SINCE
Jerry D. Leitman
62
1997
Warren D. Bagatelle
66
1988
Michael Bode
60
1993
Thomas R. Casten
62
2000
James D. Gerson
61
1992
Thomas L. Kempner
77
1988
William A. Lawson
71
1988
Charles J. Murphy
57
2002
George K. Petty
63
2003
John A. Rolls
63
2000

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Jerry D. Leitman. Mr. Leitman has been our President and Chief Executive Officer since August 1997 and became Chairman of our board of directors in June 2002. Mr. Leitman was previously President of Jaydell Inc., a personal investment-Sub S Corporation from 1995 to 1997. From 1992 to 1995, Mr. Leitman was President of Asea Brown Boveri’s (ABB) global air pollution control businesses. Prior to joining ABB, Mr. Leitman was Group Executive Vice President of FLAKT AB, a Swedish multinational company, responsible for FLAKT’s worldwide industrial businesses from 1989 to 1992. Mr. Leitman is also a Director and Chairman of the compensation committee of Esterline Technologies Inc.  

Warren D. Bagatelle. Mr. Bagatelle has been a Managing Director of Loeb Partners Corporation since 1988 and a general partner of Loeb Investors Co. LXXV, an investment partnership and an affiliate of Loeb Partners Corporation. Mr. Bagatelle is a Director of Electro Energy, Inc.

Michael Bode. Mr. Bode became Chief Executive Officer of MTU CFC Solutions GmbH, a company of Daimler Chrysler, AG, in January 2003. Mr. Bode was Executive Vice President and Director of the New Technology Group of MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH from July 1993 to February 2003. From 1990 to 1993, Mr. Bode was Vice President and Director of the New Technology group of the Space Transportation and Propulsion Systems division of Deutsche Aerospace AG a subsidiary of Daimler-Benz Corp. Mr. Bode joined Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH in 1974, where he held a variety of positions. Mr. Bode serves as a Director of BI New Energy Solutions.

Thomas R. Casten. Mr. Casten currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Primary Energy Ventures, LLC, which has, via its predecessor Private Power LLC, been in operation since 2001. From 1989 to 2000, Mr. Casten was President and Chief Executive Officer of Trigen Energy Corporation, a company involved in alternative energy generation. Mr. Casten is the Chairman of the World Alliance for Decentralized Energy working to advance distributed power worldwide. Mr. Casten serves as a Director of Primary Energy Holdings, LLC.

James D. Gerson. Mr. Gerson is a private investor. He was Vice President of Oppenheimer & Co. (formerly Fahnestock & Co., Inc.) from March 1993 until April 2003, where he held a variety of positions in the corporate finance, research, and portfolio management areas. Mr. Gerson also serves as a Director of American Power Conversion Corp. and is Chairman of the Board of Evercel, Inc.

Thomas L. Kempner. Mr. Kempner was Chairman of our board of directors from March 1992 to August 1997. He has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Loeb Partners Corporation since 1979 and a general partner of Loeb Investors Co. LXXV, an investment partnership and an affiliate of Loeb Partners Corporation. Mr. Kempner is also a Director of IGENE Biotechnology, Inc., Intermagnetics General Corporation, CCC Information Services Group, Inc., Insight Communications Company, Inc., Dyax Corporation, and Intersections, Inc. and Director Emeritus of Northwest Airlines, Inc.

William A. Lawson. Mr. Lawson has been President of W.A. Lawson Associates, an industrial and financial consulting firm, since 1987. Mr. Lawson is past Chairman of the board of directors of Newcor, Inc. Mr. Lawson is a Director of Evercel, Inc.

Charles J. Murphy. Mr. Murphy is currently a Senior Advisor at Credit Suisse First Boston as well as an Adjunct Professor at NYU's Stern School of Business. Over the last several years he has worked as a senior investment banker/advisor at Allegheny Energy, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith and J.P. Morgan, specifically in the Energy, Power and Energy Technology areas. From 1976 to 1996, Mr. Murphy was an investment banker at Credit Suisse First Boston where he was a member of the Executive Board, the head of the Global Equity Department and co-head of the Investment Banking Department.

George K. Petty. Mr. Petty has been Chairman and President of AmCan, Inc., a corporation specializing in the telecommunications field since 1999. Mr. Petty was President and Chief Executive Officer of Telus Corporation, a Canadian telecommunications company, from 1994 to 1999. Previously, he was Vice President of Global Business Service for AT&T and Chairman of the Board of World Partners, the Global Telecom Alliance. Mr. Petty is a Director of AmCan, Inc, Enbridge, Inc., Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P, Enbridge Energy Management, Inc. and Enbridge Energy Company, Inc.

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John A. Rolls. Mr. Rolls has been President, Chief Executive Officer and a principal investor in Thermion Systems International since 1996. He is a Director and Chairman of the Finance Committee of both Bowater Inc. and MBIA Inc. Mr. Rolls was President and Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Bank North America from 1992 through 1996. From 1986 through 1992, Mr. Rolls was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for United Technologies Corp. Previously, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of RCA Corporation.
 
Our bylaws provide that our board of directors shall have between 3 and 16 members, as determined from time to time by resolution of the board. Our board currently has ten members, all of whom were elected at our 2004 Annual Meeting held on March 30, 2004. We have agreed to nominate Jerry D. Leitman as a director pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement. We have agreed to allow Enbridge, Inc. to nominate one member to our board of directors until February 2008. George K. Petty currently serves as the nominee of Enbridge.
 
Committees of the Board of Directors
 
Our board of directors has established four committees: the audit committee, the compensation committee, the nominating committee and the executive committee.
 
Audit Committee
 
The audit committee is composed of three independent directors under applicable Nasdaq and SEC rules.  Members of the audit committee are appointed by the board.
 
The audit committee is responsible for, among other things:
 
·  
appointing, establishing the compensation for, supervising and, where appropriate, replacing our independent accountants;
 
·  
considering the qualifications and independence of our independent accountants;
 
·  
approving all audit and non-audit services provided by our independent accountants; and
 
·  
reviewing and discussing our financial statements with management and our independent accountants.
 
Our independent accountants are required to report directly to the audit committee.  The audit committee also reviews our accounting policies, internal control procedures and systems and compliance activities and also reviews the charter of the audit committee. 
 
The board of directors has determined that at least one of the independent directors serving on the Audit Committee, Warren D. Bagatelle, is an audit committee financial expert, as the Securities and Exchange Commission has defined that term.
 
Compensation Committee
 
The compensation committee is composed of four independent directors under applicable Nasdaq rules.   Members of the compensation committee are appointed by the board.
 
The compensation committee is responsible for implementing and reviewing executive compensation plans, policies and programs in an effort to ensure the attraction and retention of executive officers in a reasonable and cost-effective manner, to motivate their performance in the achievement of our business objectives and to align the interests of our executive officers with the long-term interests of our shareholders. To that end, it is the responsibility of the compensation committee to develop and approve periodically a general compensation policy and salary structure for our executive officers which considers business and financial objectives, industry and market pay practices and such other information as may be deemed appropriate.  It is also the responsibility of the compensation committee to:
 
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·  
review and recommend for approval by our independent directors the compensation (salary, bonus and incentive compensation) of our chief executive officer and review and approve the compensation (salary, bonus and incentive compensation) of our other executive officers;
 
·  
review and approve perquisites offered to our executive officers;
 
·  
review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our executive officers and evaluate performance in light of the goals and objectives; and
 
·  
review and approve employment, retention and severance agreements for our executive officers. 
 
The compensation committee also:
 
·  
acts on behalf of the board in administering compensation plans approved by the board and/or our shareholders in a manner consistent with the terms of the plans;
 
·  
reviews and makes recommendations to the board with respect to new compensation incentive plans and equity-based plans; and
 
·  
reviews and make recommendations to the board on changes in major benefit programs for our executive officers. 
 
The compensation committee also reviews the management succession program for our chief executive officer and certain of our other executive officers. 
 
Nominating Committee
 
The nominating committee is composed of four independent directors under applicable Nasdaq rules.   Members of the nominating committee are appointed by the board.
 
The principal purpose of the nominating committee is to identify individuals qualified to become members of the board and recommend the persons to be nominated by the board for election as directors at the annual meeting of shareholders.
 
In addition, the nominating committee:
 
·  
is responsible for identifying individuals to be elected by the board to fill any vacancies on the board;  
 
·  
is responsible for reviewing with the board, on an annual basis, the requisite skills and criteria for new board members as well as the composition of the board as a whole; and
 
·  
is required to review the qualifications and backgrounds of all directors and nominees as well as the overall composition of the board of directors, and recommend a slate of directors to be nominated for election at the annual meeting of shareholders, or in the case of a vacancy on our board of directors, recommend a director to be elected by our board to fill this vacancy.   
 
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Executive Committee
 
The executive committee is comprised of Jerry D. Leitman, our president, chief executive officer and chairman, and three other directors. The executive committee is authorized to exercise the general powers of the board managing our business and affairs between meetings of the full board.
 
 
Director Compensation
 
Each director not employed by us, except for Michael Bode, receives $10,000 per annum. New directors also receive 40,000 non-qualified stock options upon acceptance to the board. The stock options are granted pursuant to our 1998 Equity Incentive Plan. The options are exercisable commencing one year after grant, vest at the rate of 25% per year from date of grant and have restrictions as to transferability. An additional $3,000 per annum is paid to the Chairman and $2,000 per annum is paid to each non-employee member of the Executive, Nomination, Compensation and Audit Committees. We reimburse directors for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as directors.
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
Annual and Long-Term Compensation

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth the annual and long-term compensation for services in all capacities to FuelCell for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, of those persons who were at October 31, 2004 (i) the Chief Executive Officer and (ii) the four other most highly compensated executive officers of FuelCell.


 
 
ANNUAL COMPENSATION
 
LONG TERM COMPENSATION
AWARDS
 
 
 
NAME AND
PRINCIPAL
POSITION
 
FISCAL
YEAR
 
SALARY
($)
 
BONUS
($)
 
SECURITIES UNDERLYING 
OPTIONS
# 
 
ALL OTHER
COMPENSATION
(1) ($)
 
 
                       
Jerry D. Leitman
   
2004
   
388,250
   
186,000
   
-0-
   
14,014
 
President, Chief Executive Officer
   
2003
   
383,711
   
180,500
   
-0-
   
19,571
 
     
2002
   
373,888
   
180,000
   
200,000
   
18,000
 
                                 
Christopher R. Bentley
   
2004
   
274,673
   
65,750
   
20,000
   
11,663
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
   
2003
   
271,269
   
63,750
   
10,000
   
15,752
 
     
2002
   
261,908
   
76,000
   
45,000
   
18,000
 
                                 
R. Daniel Brdar
   
2004
   
183,885
   
50,000
   
35,000
   
9,341
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
   
2003
   
160,529
   
40,000
   
50,000
   
24,810
 
     
2002
   
135,714
   
35,000
   
34,000
   
7,752
 
                                 
Joseph G. Mahler
   
2004
   
237,154
   
60,000
   
20,000
   
11,480
 
Senior Vice President
   
2003
   
234,731
   
55,000
   
10,000
   
15,242
 
Chief Financial Officer Corporate Secretary and Treasurer
   
2002
   
226,161
   
67,000
   
45,000
   
18,000
 
                                 
Hansraj C. Maru
   
2004
   
216,135
   
50,700
   
10,000
   
10,385
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
   
2003
   
215,983
   
47,000
   
10,000
   
14,838
 
     
2002
   
209,405
   
53,000
   
30,000
   
18,000
 
                                 
Herbert T. Nock
   
2004
   
207,981
   
47,500
   
15,000
   
10,192
 
Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales
   
2003
   
204,923
   
50,000
   
50,000
   
14,905
 
     
2002
   
193,914
   
53,000
   
50,000
   
21,090
 
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(1) Represents employer contributions to the Defined Contribution Pension Plan and employer contributions to the Section 401(k) Plan.

Prior to February 14, 2005, Mr. Bentley was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. On February 14, 2005, Mr. Bentley became Executive Vice President, Government R & D Operations and Strategic Manufacturing Development.

Prior to February 14, 2005, Mr. Brdar was Vice President of Product Development. On February 14, 2005, Mr. Brdar became Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
 
The following two tables set forth certain information with respect to (i) option grants to the named executive officers of FuelCell during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004, and (ii) the aggregated number and value of options exercisable and unexercisable by the named executive officers as of October 31, 2004.

Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year

NAME
 
NUMBER OF SECURITIES UNDERLYING OPTIONS/SARs GRANTED (1)
 
PERCENT OF TOTAL OPTIONS/SARs GRANTED TO EMPLOYEES IN FISCAL YEAR
 
EXERCISE OR BASE PRICE ($/SH)
 
EXPIRATION DATE
 
POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE AT ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION FOR OPTION TERM (2)
5% ($) 10% ($)
 
                           
Jerry D. Leitman
   
-0-
   
-0-
   
-0-
   
N/A
   
N/A
   
N/A
 
                                       
Christopher Bentley
   
20,000
   
3.34
 
$
13.782
   
3/30/2014
   
173,283
   
439,195
 
                                       
R. Daniel Brdar
   
35,000
   
5.84
 
$
13.782
   
3/30/2014
   
303,246
   
768,592
 
                                       
Joseph G. Mahler
   
20,000
   
3.34
 
$
13.782
   
3/30/2014
   
173,283
   
439,195
 
                                       
Hansraj C. Maru
   
10,000
   
1.67
 
$
13.782
   
3/30/2014
   
86,642
   
219,598
 
                                       
Herbert T. Nock
   
15,000
   
2.50
 
$
13.782
   
3/30/2014
   
129,963
   
329,397
 
 

(1)  The options were granted under our 1998 Equity Incentive Plan. These options become exercisable in four equal annual installments on each anniversary date of the date of grant. Options that have been issued may not be exercised beyond the earlier of (a) ten years from the date of grant, or (b) three months after the holder ceases to be employed by us, except in the event of termination by reason of death or permanent disability, in which event the option may be exercised for up to one year following termination.

(2)  The assumed rates are compounded annually for the full term of the options.
 
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Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option Values 
 
NAME
SHARES ACQUIRED ON EXERCISE (#)
VALUE REALIZED ($)
NUMBER OF SECURITIES UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED OPTIONS AT 10/31/04
EXERCISABLE/
UNEXERCISABLE (#)
VALUE OF UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT 10/31/04 EXERCISABLE/
UNEXERCISABLE (1) ($)
         
Jerry D. Leitman
160,000
2,506,596
1,348,000 (2)
100,000 (3)
13,328,640 (2)
-0- (3)
         
Christopher R. Bentley
4,900
80,262
193,000 (2)
58,000 (3)
1,436,560 (2)
51,600 (3)
         
R. Daniel Brdar
-0-
-0-
89,500 (2)
89,500 (3)
86,000 (2)
258,000 (3)
         
Joseph G. Mahler
63,150
897,216
212,800 (2)
58,000 (3)
1,726,754 (2)
51,600 (3)
         
Hansraj C. Maru
-0-
-0-
181,500 (2)
40,500 (3)
1,421,960 (2)
51,600 (3)
         
Herbert T. Nock
12,500
154,200
345,000 (2)
77,500 (3)
-0- (2)
258,000 (3)
 

(1)
Based upon the closing price of $12.335 on October 29, 2004 of our common stock on the Nasdaq National Market minus the respective option exercise price.
(2) Exercisable.
(3)
Unexercisable.
 
Employment Agreements
 
In August 1997, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Leitman upon hiring him as our President and Chief Executive Officer. The employment agreement was subsequently modified in June 2002. Under the agreement, which is terminable by either party upon 30 days notice, Mr. Leitman is entitled to a minimum annual salary and a bonus based upon an incentive compensation plan to be developed by Mr. Leitman with the compensation committee. In addition, upon entering into the agreement, we granted Mr. Leitman options to purchase 1,500,000 shares of our common stock. The agreement also provides Mr. Leitman with the opportunity to participate in insurance plans and other employment benefits as may be generally available to other of our employees. In certain circumstances, if Mr. Leitman’s employment is terminated, including a termination by Mr. Leitman upon a change of control, Mr. Leitman will be entitled to a severance benefit equal to (i) two times his then base salary, plus (ii) an amount equal to Mr. Leitman’s bonus from us for the immediately preceding year. The agreement also contains non-disclosure provisions and prohibits Mr. Leitman from competing with us during the term of his employment and for a period of two years thereafter. Under the agreement, we have agreed to use our best efforts to cause Mr. Leitman to be elected to our board of directors and to appoint Mr. Leitman as a member of the executive committee of our board of directors.
 
  In October 1998, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Mahler upon hiring him as our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Corporate Secretary. Under the agreement, which is terminable by either party upon 30 days notice, Mr. Mahler is entitled to a minimum annual salary and a bonus based upon our incentive compensation plan. In addition, upon entering into the agreement, we granted Mr. Mahler options to purchase 300,000 shares of our common stock. The agreement also provides Mr. Mahler with the opportunity to participate in insurance plans and other employment benefits as may be generally available to other of our employees. In certain circumstances, if Mr. Mahler’s employment is terminated, Mr. Mahler will be entitled to a severance benefit equal to (i) his then base salary, plus (ii) an amount equal to Mr. Mahler’s bonus from us for the immediately preceding year. The agreement also contains non-disclosure provisions and prohibits Mr. Mahler from competing with us during the term of his employment and for a period of two years thereafter.
 
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In February 2005, we entered into an employment arrangement with Mr. Brdar upon his promotion to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Under the at-will agreement, Mr. Brdar is entitled to an annual base salary of $250,000 and a bonus based upon our incentive compensation plan. In addition, we granted Mr. Brdar options to purchase 250,000 shares of our common stock. If Mr. Brdar’s employment is terminated in the event of a change of control of us or without cause, Mr. Brdar will be entitled to a severance benefit equal to one year’s salary.
 
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
 
Decisions regarding executive compensation are principally made by the compensation committee, which is composed of Messrs. Lawson, Casten, Rolls and Petty. No member of the compensation committee during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 was an officer or employee of FuelCell or any of its subsidiaries or was formerly an officer of FuelCell or any of its subsidiaries. None of our executive officers during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 has served as a director or member of the compensation committee (or other committee serving an equivalent function) of any other entity whose executive officers served as a director of our board of directors or member of our compensation committee.
 
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation

The compensation committee reviews our compensation plan on a regular basis. The compensation committee periodically retains independent consultants on an as needed basis to provide current market data with regard to base salary structure, short-term cash incentives and with the development of long-term incentive plans. The compensation committee regularly updates its assessment of various long-term incentive tools including stock options, restricted stock, performance-based equity, and other alternatives that might be available.

Our primary objective in developing executive compensation policies is to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified and effective leaders. The compensation policy includes various components of compensation that are intended to align management behaviors and priorities directly with our strategic objectives and to encourage management to act in the best long-term interest of us and our shareholders. Our executive officer compensation policy generally consists of three elements: base compensation, annual cash bonus and long-term incentive compensation.

Cash Compensation

Annual cash compensation consists of two elements: base salary and annual cash bonus. Each officer is offered a base salary that is commensurate for the role that he or she is performing. In setting compensation, the compensation committee strives to maintain base compensation for our executive officers at levels which the compensation committee, based on its experience, believes are competitive with the compensation of comparable executive officers in similarly situated companies.

Increases in base salary are based on a periodic review and evaluation of the performance of the operation or function for which the executive has responsibility, and is measured against defined performance criteria. The executive is also reviewed according to his or her competence as an effective leader in FuelCell, which includes an evaluation of the skills and experience required for the job, coupled with a comparison of these elements with similar elements for other executives both within and outside of FuelCell.
 
Executive officers are eligible to participate in a bonus plan. The compensation committee determines awards under the bonus plan. The compensation committee considers input of our Chief Executive Officer with respect to the bonus to be awarded to the other executive officers. The executive officers, as well as other key employees, may receive bonuses based upon meeting the performance objectives of FuelCell and their contributions to FuelCell.
 
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The compensation paid by us to our Chief Executive Officer for fiscal 2004 was based upon an employment agreement negotiated with Mr. Leitman. The compensation committee has recently conducted a survey of compensation packages of Chief Executive Officers in comparable companies, and believes, based upon the individual experience of its members, that the compensation package for Mr. Leitman for fiscal 2004 was reasonable based upon Mr. Leitman’s experience, his level of responsibility and the contributions made and expected to be made by him to FuelCell. See section “Executive Compensation--Employment Agreement” for a description of Mr. Leitman’s employment agreement.
 
Long-term incentive compensation
 
Each of the executive officers and all employees are eligible to receive awards under the 1998 Equity Incentive Plan. The 1998 Equity Incentive Plan will be used to align a portion of the officers’ compensation with the shareholders' interest and the long-term success of us by encouraging the executive officers and other employees to remain with us, and by enabling optionees to develop and maintain a significant, long-term stock ownership position in our common stock. The value realizable from exercisable options is dependent upon the extent to which our performance is reflected in the market price of our common stock at any particular point in time.
 
In determining the number of options to be granted to each executive officer, the compensation committee considers input of our Chief Executive Officer with respect to the executive officers, other than our Chief Executive Officer. These determinations are based upon compensation surveys conducted during fiscal 2001 of executive officers and certain key employees in comparable companies.
 
The members of the compensation committee have submitted this report.
 

Compensation Committee
 
William Lawson (Chairman)
Thomas Casten
John Rolls
 
Performance Graph
 
The following graph compares the annual change in our cumulative total shareholder return on our common stock for the five fiscal years ended October 31, 2004 with the cumulative total return on the Russell 2000 and a peer group consisting of SIC Group Code 369 companies listed on The American Stock Exchange, Nasdaq National Market and New York Stock Exchange for that period.
 
FISCAL YEAR ENDED

COMPANY/INDEX/MARKET
 
10/31/1999
 
10/31/2000
 
10/31/2001
 
10/31/2002
 
10/31/2003
 
10/31/2004
 
                           
FuelCell Energy, Inc.
   
100.00
   
895.89
   
365.79
   
135.03
   
357.59
   
288.67
 
Misc Electric Equip, Supplies
   
100.00
   
114.39
   
58.25
   
56.40
   
86.05
   
90.45
 
Russell 2000 Index
   
100.00
   
115.87
   
99.68
   
89.96
   
122.97
   
136.48
 
 
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
MTU-Friedrichshafen GmbH
 
MTU-Friedrichshafen GmbH holds 2,746,548 shares of our common stock. We have certain business relationships with its subsidiary; MTU CFC Solutions (MTU).
 
In December of 1999, we entered into an agreement with Daimler Chrysler affiliate MTU-Friedrichshafen GmbH granting an exclusive license to use our Direct Fuel Cell (DFC) patent rights and know how in Europe and the Middle East and a non-exclusive license in South America and Africa subject to certain rights of us and others.  This license agreement was assigned to MTU in February 2003. MTU has agreed to make any improvements to our DFC available to us.  MTU plans to conduct further research, development, manufacturing and marketing programs in the area of carbonate fuel cell technology and has agreed to negotiate a license grant of the results to us.  In addition, MTU has agreed to pay a royalty based on kilowatts of electrical generating capacity using our DFC made or sold by MTU or its permitted licensees, including a minimum annual royalty commencing in 2000.  Pursuant to this agreement, MTU paid us $300,000 in royalties in fiscal year 2004.
 
In July 1998, we entered into a Cross-Licensing and Cross-Selling Agreement with MTU-Friedrichshafen GmbH which was also assigned to MTU in February 2003. In this license MTU and we have granted to each other the right to manufacture and sell each other's stationary power fuel cell products in their respective regions. Each company will pay the other royalties based upon sales. Mr. Bode, a director of FuelCell, is an executive officer of an affiliate of MTU, and MTU is a significant shareholder of FuelCell.  We believe that the terms of our transactions with MTU are no less favorable to us than it could have obtained from an unaffiliated third party.
 
During fiscal year 2004, we sold to MTU fuel cell components for approximately $1.6 million.
 
Strategic Alliance with Enbridge, Inc.
 
On November 4, 2003, we entered into a strategic alliance agreement with Enbridge to distribute our products in Canada. As part of the agreement, Enbridge received warrants to purchase 500,000 shares of our common stock. The agreement calls for the warrants to be exercisable on a graduated scale based on order flow generated by Enbridge. The full quantity of warrants will vest with order commitments for 20 megawatts of DFC power plants. The exercise prices of the warrants range from $14.65 to $19.04 per share and the warrants will expire in November 2006.  Enbridge also holds shares of Series 2 Preferred Stock issued by Global, a subsidiary of FuelCell, which are presently convertible into 225,286 shares of the our common stock.  George K. Petty, a member of our board of directors, is a director of Enbridge.
 
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
The following table sets forth certain information as of March 31, 2005 with respect to: (a) the only shareholders known to management to own beneficially more than 5% of our outstanding common stock; (b) each of our directors; (c) each of our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table under the heading “Executive Compensation--Annual and Long-Term Compensation; and (d) in summary, all of our directors and executive officers as a group. Information in this table with respect to our common stock includes shares of our common stock issuable upon the exchange of exchangeable shares.
 
Unless indicated otherwise the address of each holder is in care of FuelCell Energy, Inc., 3 Great Pasture Road, Danbury, Connecticut 06813-1305.
 
73

 
               
   
Shares of
 
 
 
Percentage of
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
 
 
Outstanding
 
 
 
owned
 
 
 
Common
 
Name
 
Beneficially
 
 
 
Stock (1)
 
               
Jerry D. Leitman
   
1,420,056
   
(2
 
2.86
 
                     
Warren D. Bagatelle
   
1,094,992
   
(3) (4
)
 
2.27
 
c/o Loeb Partners Corp.
                   
61 Broadway
                   
New York, NY 10006
                   
                     
Christopher R. Bentley
   
397,900
   
(5
 
*
 
                     
Michael Bode
   
2,746,548
   
(6
 
5.70
 
c/o MTU CFC Solutions GmbH
                   
Postfach
                   
D-81663 München
                   
Germany
                   
                     
R. Daniel Brdar
   
121,399
   
(7
)  
*
 
                     
Thomas R. Casten
   
40,000
   
(8
)  
*
 
c/o Primary Energy
                   
200 York Road
                   
Suite 129
                   
Oak Brook, IL 60523
                   
                     
James D. Gerson
   
1,342,796
   
(9
 
2.79
 
                     
Thomas L. Kempner
   
507,192
   
(3) (10
)
 
1.05
 
c/o Loeb Partners Corp.
                   
61 Broadway
                   
New York, NY 10006
                   
                     
William A. Lawson
   
91,000
   
(11
)  
*
 
                     
Joseph G. Mahler
   
282,806
   
(12
)  
*
 
                     
Hansraj C. Maru
   
233,353
   
(13
)  
*
 
                     
Charles J. Murphy
   
20,000
   
(14
)  
*
 
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston
                   
11 Madison Avenue
                   
19th Floor
                   
New York, NY 10010
                   
                     
Herbert T. Nock
   
373,750
   
(15
)  
*
 
                     
George K. Petty
   
235,286
   
(16
)  
*
 
 
74

 
             
   
Shares of
 
 
 
Percentage of
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
 
 
Outstanding
 
 
 
owned
 
 
 
Common
 
Name
 
Beneficially
 
 
 
Stock (1)
 
                     
John A. Rolls
   
48,000
   
(17
)  
*
 
c/o Thermion Systems International
                   
611 Access Road
                   
Stratford, CT 06615
                   
                     
Daimler Benz affiliate
   
2,746,548
         
5.70
 
MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH (“MTU”)
                   
Maybachplatz 1
                   
88045 Friedrichshafen
                   
Germany
                   
                     
Wellington Management Company, LLP
   
6,647,200
   
(18
)  
13.79
 
75 State Street
                   
Boston, MA 02109
                   
                     
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group
   
5,717,338
   
(19
)  
11.18
 
(15 persons)
                   
* Less than one percent.
 
(1)    Unless otherwise noted, each person identified possesses sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares listed.
(2)    Mr. Leitman’s shareholdings include options to purchase 1,398,000 shares of our common stock, which are currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days.
(3)  
Warren Bagatelle and Thomas L. Kempner, by virtue of being general partners of Loeb Investors Co. LXXV, may each be deemed to beneficially own 491,192 shares of stock owned by Loeb Investors Co. LXXV.
(4)  
Mr. Bagatelle’s shareholdings include options to purchase 16,000 shares of our common stock, which are currently exercisable and 491,192 shares of stock owned by Loeb Investors Co. LXXV.
(5)  
Mr. Bentley’s shareholdings include options to purchase 219,750 shares of our common stock, which are currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days. Mr. Bentley’s shareholdings include 100 shares held by his wife, Karen Bentley. Mr. Bentley disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by his wife.
(6)  
Mr. Bode is an executive officer of MTU CFC Solutions GmbH, a company of Daimler Chrysler, AG. MTU-Friedrichshafen GmbH holds 2,746,548 shares of our common stock.
(7)  
Mr. Brdar’s shareholdings include options to purchase 119,250 shares of common stock, which are currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days.
(8)  
Mr. Casten’s shareholdings include options to purchase 40,000 shares of our common stock, which are currently exercisable.
(9)  
Mr. Gerson’s shareholdings include 113,200 shares held by his wife, Barbara Gerson, as custodian for one child and 241,800 shares held by a private foundation, of which Mr. Gerson is President and a director. Mr. Gerson disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by his wife and by the private foundation. Mr. Gerson’s shareholdings include options to purchase 16,000 shares of our common stock, which are currently exercisable.
(10)  
Mr. Kempner’s shareholdings include options to purchase 16,000 shares of our common stock, which are currently exercisable and 491,192 shares of stock owned by Loeb Investors Co. LXXV.
(11)  
Mr. Lawson’s shareholdings include options to purchase 16,000 shares of our common stock, which are currently exercisable.
(12)  
Mr. Mahler’s shareholdings include options to purchase 239,550 shares of our common stock, which are currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days.
 
75

 
(13)  
Dr. Maru’s shareholdings include options to purchase 202,000 shares of our common stock, which are currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days.
(14)  
Mr. Murphy’s shareholdings include options to purchase 20,000 shares of our common stock, which are currently exercisable.
(15)  
Mr. Nock’s shareholdings include options to purchase 373,750 shares of our common stock, which are currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days.
(16)  
Mr. Petty, by virtue of being a director of Enbridge, may be deemed to beneficially own 225,286 shares of our common stock, which are issuable upon conversion of the Global Preferred Stock held by Enbridge. Mr. Petty is a director of Enbridge. Mr. Petty disclaims beneficial interest of these shares. Mr. Petty’s shareholdings include options to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock, which are currently exercisable.
(17)  
Mr. Roll’s shareholdings include options to purchase 40,000 shares of our common stock, which are currently exercisable.
(18)  
Based upon information contained in Schedule 13G/A filed on February 5, 2005.
(19)  
Includes options to purchase 2,726,300 shares of our common stock, which are currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days and 225,286 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the FuelCell Energy, Ltd. Series 1 preferred shares.
 
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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN AND WARRANT INFORMATION (1)
 
Plan Category
 
Number of Common Shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
 
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
 
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans
 
Plans approved by security holders:
             
Stock option plans
   
5,353,791
 
$
10.63
   
1,641,048
 
Employee stock purchase plan (2)
   
15,593
 
$
10.49
   
431,738
 
Warrants issued to business partners not approved by security holders (3)
   
1,640,000
 
$
35.51
   
-
 
Total
   
7,009,384
 
$
16.45
   
2,072,786
 

(1) As of the end of our fiscal year ended October 31, 2004.

(2) We offer a stock purchase plan that allows employees to purchase shares of our common stock at a discounted cost.

(3) We have issued warrants to certain of our business partners as sales incentives.
 
LIMITATION ON LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION MATTERS
 
Our certificate of incorporation contains provisions that limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Consequently, our directors will not be personally liable to us or our shareholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for the following:
 
·  
Any breach of their duty of loyalty to us or our shareholders;
 
·  
Acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
 
·  
Unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or 
 
·  
Any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
 
Our bylaws provide for the indemnification of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. We believe that these bylaw provisions are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. We also maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.
 
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other shareholders. Furthermore, a shareholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers as required by these indemnification provisions. At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors and officers regarding which indemnification is sought, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.

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Insofar as the provisions of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws provide for indemnification of directors or officers for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is therefore unenforceable.
 
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
General

The following is a summary of the rights of our common stock and preferred stock and related provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. For more detailed information, please see our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as amended.

Authorized and Outstanding Capital Stock

Our authorized capital stock consists of 150,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.0001 per share, and 250,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, issuable in one or more series designated by our board of directors, of which 135,000 shares of our preferred stock have been designated as 5% Series B Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock. On March 31, 2005, 48,193,986 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and 105,875 shares of our Series B preferred stock were issued and outstanding. No other shares of our preferred stock are issued and outstanding.

In addition, as of March 31, 2005, there were outstanding options to purchase 5,493,659 shares of our common stock under our stock options plans, 1,021,318 shares of our common stock were available for future issuance under our stock option plans, 416,145 shares of our common stock were available for future issuance under our employee stock purchase plan, and there were outstanding warrants to purchase 1,500,000 shares of our common stock. In addition, as of November 3, 2004, we were obligated to issue approximately 225,286 shares of our common stock upon conversion of the Series 1 preferred shares. At March 31, 2005, there were 823 holders of record of our common stock.

Common Stock

Voting Rights

The holders of our common stock have one vote per share. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to vote cumulatively for the election of directors. Generally, all matters to be voted on by shareholders must be approved by a majority, or, in the case of the election of directors, by a plurality, of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present by all shares of our common stock present in person or represented by proxy, voting together as a single class, subject to any voting rights granted to holders of any then outstanding preferred stock.

Dividends

Holders of our common stock will share ratably in any dividends declared by the board of directors, subject to the preferential rights of any of our preferred stock then outstanding. Dividends consisting of shares of our common stock may be paid to holders of shares of our common stock.

Other Rights

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, after payment of liabilities and liquidation preferences on any of our preferred stock then outstanding, the holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets available for distribution. Holders of shares of our common stock have no preemptive rights or rights to convert their shares of our common stock into any other securities. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock.

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Preferred Stock

Under our certificate of incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further shareholder action, to issue from time to time, preferred stock in one or more series and for such consideration as may be fixed from time to time by our board of directors. Our board also has the authority to fix and determine, in the manner provided by law, the relative rights and preferences of the shares of any series so established, such as dividend and voting rights. Our certificate of incorporation authorizes 250,000 shares of preferred stock. Prior to the issuance of each series of preferred stock, our board will adopt resolutions creating and designating the series as a series of preferred stock. The board of directors may, without shareholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of our common stock and could have anti-takeover effects.

Series 1 Preferred Shares and Exchangeable Shares

On August 4, 2003, we entered into a combination agreement with Global Thermoelectric Inc. to combine Global with us in a share-for-share exchange pursuant to a Plan of Arrangement subject to approval by the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, Canada. On October 31, 2003, our shareholders and the shareholders of Global approved the combination. On October 31, 2003, the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta issued an order approving the combination. On November 3, 2003, the combination transaction was consummated. In the aggregate, we issued approximately 8.2 million shares of our common stock and exchangeable shares in the acquisition. Following our acquisition of Global, Global’s Series 2 preferred shares remained outstanding in Global. At the time of the sale of our TEG business, the holder of the Series 2 preferred shares exchanged them for Series 1 Class A cumulative redeemable exchangeable preferred shares (which were referred to as the Series 1 preferred shares) issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd., one of our indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries. We have guaranteed the obligations of FuelCell Energy, Ltd. under the Series 1 preferred shares.

Series 1 Preferred Shares

The Series 1 preferred shares may be converted into shares of our common stock at the following “conversion prices”:

 Cdn.$110.97 per share of our common stock until July 31, 2005;

 Cdn.$120.22 per share of our common stock after July 31, 2005 until July 31, 2010;

 Cdn.$129.46 per share of our common stock after July 31, 2010 until July 31, 2015;

 Cdn.$138.71 per share of our common stock after July 31, 2015 until July 31, 2020; and

 at any time after July 31, 2020, the price equal to 95% of the then current market price (converted to Cdn.$ at the time of such calculation) of shares of our common stock at the time of conversion.

The foregoing “conversion prices” are subject to adjustment for certain subsequent events. As illustrated below, the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series 1 preferred shares after July 31, 2020 may be significantly greater than the number of shares issuable prior to that time.

The following examples illustrate the number of shares of our common stock that we will be required to issue to the holder(s) of the Series 1 preferred shares if and when the holder(s) exercise their conversion rights pursuant to the terms of the Series 1 preferred shares. The following examples are based upon Cdn.$25,000,000 of Series 1 preferred shares outstanding (which is the amount currently outstanding) and assume that all accrued dividends on the Series 1 preferred shares have been paid through the time of the conversion and, in the case of conversions occurring after July 31, 2020, that the exchange rate for Canadian dollars is Cdn.$1.3104 to U.S.$1.00 at the time of the conversion:

79

 
 if the Series 1 preferred shares convert prior to July 31, 2005, we would be required to issue approximately 225,286 shares of our common stock;

 if the Series 1 preferred shares convert after July 31, 2005, but prior to July 31, 2010, we would be required to issue approximately 207,952 shares of our common stock;

 if the Series 1 preferred shares convert after July 31, 2010, but prior to July 31, 2015, we would be required to issue approximately 193,110 shares of our common stock;

 if the Series 1 preferred shares convert after July 31, 2015, but prior to July 31, 2020, we would be required to issue approximately 180,232 shares of our common stock; and

 if the Series 1 preferred shares convert any time after July 31, 2020, assuming our common stock price is U.S.$14.62 at the time of conversion, we would be required to issue approximately 1,373,615 shares of our common stock.

Subject to the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), the holder of the Series 1 preferred shares is not entitled to receive notice of or to attend or vote at any meeting of the FuelCell Energy, Ltd. common shareholders. At present, we own all of the FuelCell Energy, Ltd. common stock.

Quarterly dividends of Cdn.$312,500 accrue on the Series 1 preferred shares (subject to possible reduction pursuant to the terms of the Series 1 preferred shares on account of increases in the price of our common stock). We have agreed to pay a minimum of Cdn.$500,000 in cash or common stock annually to Enbridge, the sole current holder of the Series 1 preferred shares, as long as Enbridge holds the shares. Interest accrues on cumulative unpaid dividends at a 2.45% quarterly rate, compounded quarterly, until payment thereof. All cumulative unpaid dividends must be paid by December 31, 2010. From 2010 through 2020, we would be required to pay annual dividend amounts totaling Cdn.$1.25 million. Cumulative unpaid dividends of $2.8 million on the Series 1 preferred shares were outstanding as of October 31, 2004. We have guaranteed the dividend obligations of FuelCell Energy, Ltd. under the Series 1 preferred shares.

Subject to the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), we may redeem the Series 1 preferred shares, in whole or part, at any time, if on the day that the notice of redemption is first given, the volume-weighted average price at which our common stock is traded on the applicable stock exchange during the 20 consecutive trading days ending on a date not earlier than the fifth preceding day on which the notice of redemption is given was not less than a 20% premium to the current conversion price on payment of Cdn.$25.00 per Series 1 Preferred Share to be redeemed, together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed for redemption. On or after July 31, 2010, the Series 1 preferred shares are redeemable by us at any time on payment of Cdn.$25.00 per Series 1 Preferred Share to be redeemed together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed for redemption. There are currently 1,000,000 Series 1 preferred shares outstanding.

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of FuelCell Energy, Ltd., whether voluntary or involuntary, or any other distribution of its assets among its shareholders for the purpose of winding up its affairs, the holder of the Series 1 preferred shares will be entitled to receive the amount paid on such Series 1 preferred shares (currently Cdn.$25,000,000) together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, before any amount will be paid or any of FuelCell Energy, Ltd.’s property or assets will be distributed to the holders of FuelCell Energy, Ltd.’s common stock. After payment to the holder of the Series 1 preferred shares of the amounts so payable to them, the holder of the Series 1 preferred shares will not be entitled to share in any other distribution of FuelCell Energy, Ltd.’s property or assets. We have guaranteed the liquidation obligations of FuelCell Energy, Ltd. under the Series 1 preferred shares.

80

 
Exchangeable Shares

On October 29, 2004, we redeemed all of the then issued and outstanding exchangeable shares issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd. The exchangeable shares were redeemed in exchange for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis. The redemption had no impact on the total number of shares of our common stock deemed outstanding.

The exchangeable shares were structured to be the economic equivalent of our common stock, and were issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd. (formerly FCE Canada Inc.). We indirectly own all of the outstanding voting shares of FuelCell Energy, Ltd. The exchangeable shares were issued in the combination to generally enable Canadian Global common shareholders to defer recognition of gain or loss on their Global common shares for Canadian federal income tax purposes for as long as they held exchangeable shares.

Series B Preferred Stock

On November 11, 2004, we entered into a purchase agreement with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Adams Harkness, Inc., and Lazard Freres & Co., LLC (collectively referred to as the “Initial Purchasers”) for the private placement under Rule 144A of up to 135,000 shares of our 5% Series B Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (Liquidation Preference $1,000). On November 17, 2004, we closed on the sale of 100,000 shares of Series B preferred stock to the Initial Purchasers. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the Initial Purchasers were granted an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 35,000 shares of Series B preferred stock through January 25, 2005. On January 14, 2005, we sold an additional 5,875 shares of our Series B preferred stock to the Initial Purchasers as part of the over-allotment option. Net proceeds to us were approximately $99 million.  

The following is a summary of certain provisions of our Series B preferred stock. The shares of our Series B preferred stock and the shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of our Series B preferred stock are covered by a registration rights agreement.

Ranking

Shares of our Series B preferred stock rank with respect to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, winding up or dissolution:

·  
senior to shares of our common stock;
·  
junior to our debt obligations; and
·  
effectively junior to our subsidiaries' (i) existing and future liabilities and (ii) capital stock held by others.
 
81


Dividends

The Series B preferred stock pays cumulative annual dividends of $50 per share which are payable quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, commencing February 15, 2005, when, as and if declared by the board of directors. Dividends will be paid on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Dividends on the shares of our Series B preferred stock will accumulate and be cumulative from the date of original issuance. Accumulated dividends on the shares of our Series B preferred stock will not bear any interest.

The dividend rate on the Series B preferred stock is subject to upward adjustment as set forth in the certificate of designation, as amended, of the Series B preferred stock if we fail to pay, or to set apart funds to pay, dividends on the shares of our Series B preferred stock for any quarterly dividend period. The dividend rate on the Series B preferred stock is also subject to upward adjustment as set forth in the registration rights agreement entered into with the Initial Purchasers if we fail to satisfy our registration obligations with respect to the Series B preferred shares (or the underlying common shares) set forth in the registration rights agreement.

No dividends or other distributions may be paid or set apart for payment upon our common shares (other than a dividend payable solely in shares of a like or junior ranking) unless all accumulated and unpaid dividends have been paid or funds or shares of common stock therefor have been set apart on our Series B preferred stock.

We may pay dividends on the Series B preferred stock:

·  
in cash; or
·  
at the option of the holder, in shares of our common stock which will be registered pursuant to a registration statement to allow for the immediate sale of these common shares in the public market; or
·  
any combination thereof.

Liquidation

The Series B preferred stock has a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company resulting in a distribution of assets to the holders of any class or series of our capital stock, each holder of shares of our Series B preferred stock will be entitled to payment out of our assets available for distribution of an amount equal to the liquidation preference per share of Series B preferred stock held by that holder, plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends on those shares to the date of that liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, before any distribution is made on any junior shares, including shares of our common stock, but after any distributions on any of our indebtedness or senior shares (if any). After payment in full of the liquidation preference and all accumulated and unpaid dividends to which holders of shares of our Series B preferred stock are entitled, holders of shares of our Series B preferred stock will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of our assets.

Conversion

A share of our Series B preferred stock may be converted at any time, at the option of the holder, into 85.1064 shares of our common stock (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of $11.75 per share) plus cash in lieu of fractional shares. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, as described below, but will not be adjusted for accumulated and unpaid dividends. Upon conversion, holders of Series B preferred stock will not receive a cash payment for any accumulated dividends. Instead accumulated dividends, if any, will be cancelled.

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On or after November 20, 2009 we may, at our option, cause shares of our Series B preferred stock to be automatically converted into that number of shares of our common stock that are issuable at the then prevailing conversion rate. We may exercise our conversion right only if the closing price of our common stock exceeds 150% of the then prevailing conversion price for 20 trading days during any consecutive 30 trading day period, as described in the certificate of designation, as amended, for the Series B preferred stock.

If there is a fundamental change in the ownership or control of FuelCell (as described in the certificate of designation, as amended), holders of our Series B preferred stock may require us to purchase all or part of their shares at a redemption price equal to 100% of the liquidation preference of the shares of our Series B preferred stock to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, in the manner set forth in the certificate of designation, as amended.

If holders of shares of our Series B preferred stock elect to convert their shares in connection with certain fundamental changes (as described in the certificate of designation, as amended), we will in certain circumstances increase the conversion rate by a number of additional shares of common stock upon conversion or, in lieu thereof, we may in certain circumstances elect to adjust the conversion rate and related conversion obligation so that shares of our Series B preferred stock are converted into shares of the acquiring or surviving company, in each case as described in the certificate of designation, as amended.

The conversion price of the Series B preferred stock is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances as set forth in the certificate of designation, as amended, to prevent dilution of the interests of the holders of the Series B preferred shares, including on account of the following:

·  
issuances of common stock as a dividend or distribution to holders of our common stock;
·  
common stock share splits or share combinations;
·  
issuances to holders of our common stock of any rights, warrants or options to purchase our common stock for a period of less than 60 days; and
·  
distributions of assets, evidences of indebtedness or other property to holders of our common stock.

Voting

Holders of shares of our Series B preferred stock have no voting rights unless (1) dividends on any shares of our Series B preferred stock or any other class or series of stock ranking on a parity with the shares of our Series B preferred stock with respect to the payment of dividends shall be in arrears for dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, containing in the aggregate a number of days equivalent to six calendar quarters or (2) we fail to pay the repurchase price, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, on the fundamental change repurchase date for shares of our Series B preferred stock following a fundamental change (as described in the certificate of designation, as amended, for the Series B preferred stock). In each such case, the holders of shares of our Series B preferred stock (voting separately as a class with all other series of other preferred stock on parity with our Series B preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, if any) will be entitled to vote for the election of two directors in addition to those directors on the board of directors at such time at the next annual meeting of shareholders and each subsequent meeting until the repurchase price or all dividends accumulated on the shares of our Series B preferred stock have been fully paid or set aside for payment. The term of office of all directors elected by the holders of shares of our Series B preferred stock will terminate immediately upon the termination of the right of holders of shares of our Series B preferred stock to vote for directors.

So long as any shares of our Series B preferred stock remain outstanding, we will not, without the consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of our Series B preferred stock outstanding at the time (voting separately as a class with all other series of preferred stock, if any, on parity with our Series B preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) issue or increase the authorized amount of any class or series of shares ranking senior to the outstanding shares of our Series B preferred stock as to dividends or upon liquidation. In addition, we will not, subject to certain conditions, amend, alter or repeal provisions of our certificate of incorporation, including the certificate of designation, as amended, relating to our Series B preferred stock, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to adversely amend, alter or affect any power, preference or special right of the outstanding shares of our Series B preferred stock or the holders thereof without the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the issued and outstanding shares of our Series B preferred stock.

83

 
Anti-Takeover Provisions

Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws

A number of provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws concern matters of corporate governance and the rights of shareholders. Some of these provisions, including, but not limited to, the inability of shareholders to take action by unanimous written consent, supermajority voting provisions with respect to any amendment of voting rights provisions, the filling of vacancies on the board of directors by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, and the ability of the board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock and to set the voting rights, preferences and other terms thereof, without further shareholder action, may be deemed to have anti-takeover effect and may discourage takeover attempts not first approved by the board of directors, including takeovers which shareholders may deem to be in their best interests. If takeover attempts are discouraged, temporary fluctuations in the market price of shares of our common stock, which may result from actual or rumored takeover attempts, may be inhibited. These provisions, together with the ability of the board of directors to issue preferred stock without further shareholder action, could also delay or frustrate the removal of incumbent directors or the assumption of control by shareholders, even if the removal or assumption would be beneficial to our shareholders. These provisions could also discourage or inhibit a merger, tender offer or proxy contest, even if favorable to the interests of shareholders, and could depress the market price of our common stock. The board of directors believes these provisions are appropriate to protect our interests and the interests of our shareholders. The board of directors has no present plans to adopt any further measures or devices which may be deemed to have an “anti-takeover effect.”

Delaware Anti-Takeover Provisions

We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination,” except under certain circumstances, with an “interested shareholder” for a period of three years following the date such person became an “interested shareholder” unless:

 before such person became an interested shareholder, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the interested shareholder becoming an interested shareholder;

 upon the consummation of the transaction that resulted in the interested shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85 percent of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding shares held by directors who are also officers of the corporation and shares held by employee stock plans; or

 at or following the time such person became an interested shareholder, the business combination is approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized at a meeting of shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of 66 2/3 percent of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation which is not owned by the interested shareholder.

The term “interested shareholder” generally is defined as a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or, within the three years prior to the determination of interested shareholder status, owned, 15 percent or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting stock. The term “business combination” includes mergers, asset or stock sales and other similar transactions resulting in a financial benefit to an interested shareholder. Section 203 makes it more difficult for an “interested shareholder” to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period. The existence of this provision would be expected to have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the board of directors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of our common stock held by shareholders. A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of Section 203 with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or any amendment thereto. Our certificate of incorporation does not contain any such exclusion.

84

Connecticut Anti-Takeover Provisions

The laws of the State of Connecticut, where our principal executive offices are located, impose restrictions on certain transactions between certain foreign corporations and significant shareholders. Section 33-840 of the Connecticut Business Corporation Act prohibits certain publicly-held foreign corporations that are based in Connecticut from engaging in a “business combination” (including the issuance of equity securities which have an aggregate market value of 5 percent or more of the total market value of the outstanding shares of the company) with an “interested shareholder” as defined in the Connecticut Business Corporation Act for a period of five years from the date of the shareholder’s purchase of stock, unless approved in a prescribed manner. The application of this statute could prevent a change of control. Generally, approval is required by the board of directors, by 80 percent of the outstanding voting shares and two-thirds of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the voting stock other than shares held by the interested shareholder. We can give no assurance that these provisions would not prevent us from entering into a business combination that otherwise would be beneficial to us or to our shareholders.
 
Transfer Agent and Registrar 
 
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock and preferred stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, New York, New York.
 
 
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
 
In the event a holder of our Series B preferred stock elects to receive shares in lieu of cash as payment of dividends on our Series B preferred stock, the shares received by the holder (referred to herein as a “selling shareholder”) may be offered and sold from time to time by the selling shareholder under this prospectus. The name of each selling shareholder and the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by each selling shareholder that may be offered from time to time under this prospectus will be set forth under this heading in this prospectus. As of the date of this prospectus, no holder of our Series B preferred stock has elected to receive shares in lieu of cash. This prospectus will be supplemented or amended to set forth the name and other information about each selling shareholder intending to sell these shares. The prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment will also disclose whether any selling shareholder selling in connection with such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has held any position or office with, been employed by or otherwise has had a material relationship with, us or any of our affiliates during the three years prior to the date of the prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment.
 
85

 
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
 
Bonus Shares
 
Up to 300,000 shares of our common stock have been registered on a registration statement on Form S-1 for which this prospectus forms a part, and will be issued to certain of our employees as partial payment for annual bonuses earned with respect to our performance targets for our fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 and future periods.
 
Dividend Shares
 
Background
 
On November 11, 2004, we entered into a Purchase Agreement with Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Adams Harkness, Inc. and Lazard Feres & Co., LLC (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”) for the private placement under Rule 144A of up to 135,000 shares of 5% Series B Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (liquidation preference $1,000). On November 17, 2004, we completed a $100 million offering of 100,000 shares of our Series B preferred stock. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the Initial Purchasers were granted an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 35,000 shares of Series B preferred stock through January 25, 2005. On January 14, 2005, we sold an additional 5,875 shares of our Series B preferred stock to the Initial Purchasers as part of the over-allotment option.
 
Holders of our Series B preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of funds legally available for payment, cumulative dividends on each share of Series B preferred stock at an annual rate of 5 percent of the liquidation preference per share, which is equivalent to $50 per share annually. Dividends are payable quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, commencing on February 15, 2005 (or if any such day is not a business day, on the next succeeding business day), and will be paid on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Accumulated but unpaid dividends will not bear interest. See section entitled “Description of Capital Stock - Series B Preferred Stock” for a description of our Series B preferred stock.
 
A holder of our Series B preferred stock may elect to receive shares of our common stock in lieu of cash by delivering a written notice to us at least 30 days prior to the applicable dividend payment date. Shares received in lieu of cash may be offered and sold from time to time by the holder of these shares.
 
Sale of Common Shares

We have paid our first quarterly (February 15, 2005) dividend in cash to holders of our Series B Preferred Stock. We have registered up to 1,500,000 shares of our common stock on a registration statement on Form S-1, for which this prospectus forms a part, to allow for our prompt offering of these shares and the immediate sale of these shares in the public market from time to time when dividends become payable. With a reasonable time prior to the applicable dividend payment date, we intend to sell a number of shares of our common stock in an amount equal to the cash dividends payable.
 
The distribution of these 1,500,000 shares of our common stock is not subject to any underwriting agreement. We will promptly offer, and sell from time to time, up to 1,500,000 shares of our common stock. The offering price of these shares will range between $9.50 and $11.50 per share. We may sell these shares through customary brokerage channels, either through broker-dealers acting as agents or brokers, or through broker-dealers acting as principals, who may then resell the shares, or at private sale or otherwise, at fixed prices, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected in one or more transactions (which may involve block transactions):
 
86

 
 
on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the shares of our common stock may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;
     
  •  in the over-the-counter market;
 
 
in transactions otherwise than on exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market; or
     
  •  through the writing of options.
 
We may effect such transactions by selling the shares to or through broker-dealers, and such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts, concessions, commissions, or fees from us and/or purchasers of the shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agent or to whom they sell as principal, or both (which compensation to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions).
 
We may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers in connection with distributions of the shares or otherwise. In these transactions, broker-dealers may engage in short sales of the shares in the course of hedging the positions they assume with us. We may also sell shares short and redeliver the shares to close out such short positions. We may enter into options or other transactions with broker-dealers that require the delivery to the broker-dealer of the shares. The broker-dealer may then resell or otherwise transfer such shares pursuant to this prospectus. We may also loan or pledge the shares to a broker-dealer. The broker-dealer may sell the shares so loaned, or upon default, the broker-dealer may sell the pledged shares pursuant to this prospectus.

Any broker-dealers that participate with us in the distribution of the 1,500,000 shares being offered pursuant to this prospectus may be deemed to be underwriters and any commissions received by them and any profit on the resale of shares positioned by them might be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), in connection with such sales. If we enter into an agreement with a broker-dealer or underwriter for the sale of shares covered by this prospectus, we will file a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This supplement or amendment will include the following information:

·  
the name of the participating broker-dealer(s) or underwriters;
·  
the number of shares involved;
·  
the price(s) at which the shares were sold;
·  
the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed by the selling stockbrokers to the broker-dealers or underwriters, if any; and
·  
other information material to the transaction.

We may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
 
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, our common stock will be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states, our common stock may not be sold unless the shares have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with. We will bear all fees and expenses, including selling expenses, commissions and discounts, in connection with the registration and sale by us of the shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus.
 
Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “FCEL”.
 
87

 
Common Shares in Lieu of Cash and Resale of Common Shares
 
A holder of our Series B preferred stock may alternatively elect to receive as payment of dividends shares of our common stock in lieu of the proceeds received from the sale of shares of our common stock. In the event we receive notice from a holder of our Series B preferred stock, within 30 days from the applicable payment dividend date, electing to receive shares of our common stock in lieu of cash, we will deliver to or for the account of the holder on the applicable dividend payment date, shares of our common stock having a value equal to the cash dividends otherwise payable to such holder based on the average of the closing sale price per share of our common stock (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the closing bid and ask prices) on the Nasdaq National Market (or such other national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the shares of our common stock are then listed or authorized for quotation, or if not so listed or authorized for quotation, an amount determined in good faith by our board of directors to be the fair value of the shares of our common stock), over the five trading day period ending on the third business day prior to the applicable dividend payment date. The issuance of these shares will be made pursuant to an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
 
In lieu of issuing fractional shares of our common stock, we will pay a cash adjustment in respect of any fractional interest in an amount equal to the fractional interest multiplied by the last reported closing sale price per share of our common stock (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the closing bid and ask prices) on the Nasdaq National Market (or such other national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the shares of our common stock are then listed or authorized for quotation, or if not so listed or authorized for quotation, an amount determined in good faith by our board of directors to be the fair value of the shares of our common stock), on the trading day preceding the date shares of our common stock are issued to pay dividends.
 
Holders of our Series B preferred stock who elect to receive shares in lieu of cash as dividend payments are referred to as the “selling shareholders” in this prospectus. The shares issued by us to the selling shareholders may be sold by the selling shareholders or by pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest of the selling shareholders for their respective own accounts.
 
We will not receive any portion of the proceeds from the sale of the shares being offered and sold by the selling shareholders. We will bear all of the expenses in connection with the registration of these shares, but all charges and expenses incurred in the sale of these shares (including brokerage commissions) will be borne by the selling shareholders.
 
The distribution of the shares by the selling shareholders is not subject to any underwriting agreement. The shares offered by the selling shareholders may be sold from time to time at fixed prices, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. In addition, the selling shareholders may sell their shares covered by this prospectus through customary brokerage channels, either through broker-dealers acting as agents or brokers, or through broker-dealers acting as principals, who may then resell the shares, or at private sale or otherwise, at fixed prices, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected in one or more transactions (which may involve block transactions):
 
 
on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the shares of our common stock may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;
     
  •  in the over-the-counter market;
     
  in transactions otherwise than on exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market; or
     
  •  through the writing of options.
 
88

The selling shareholders may effect such transactions by selling the shares to or through broker-dealers, and such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts, concessions, commissions, or fees from the selling shareholders and/or purchasers of the shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agent or to whom they sell as principal, or both (which compensation to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions).

The selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers in connection with distributions of the shares or otherwise. In these transactions, broker-dealers may engage in short sales of the shares in the course of hedging the positions they assume with selling shareholders. The selling shareholders may also sell shares short and redeliver the shares to close out such short positions. The selling shareholders may enter into options or other transactions with broker-dealers that require the delivery to the broker-dealer of the shares. The broker-dealer may then resell or otherwise transfer such shares pursuant to this prospectus. The selling shareholders also may loan or pledge the shares to a broker-dealer. The broker-dealer may sell the shares so loaned, or upon default, the broker-dealer may sell the pledged shares pursuant to this prospectus.

Any broker-dealers that participate with the selling shareholders in the distribution of the shares being offered pursuant to this prospectus may be deemed to be underwriters and any commissions received by them and any profit on the resale of shares positioned by them might be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions within the meaning of the Securities Act, in connection with such sales.
 
Any shares covered by this prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
 
Each selling shareholder will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the associated rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, including Regulation M, which provisions may limit the timing of purchases and sales of shares of our common stock by the selling shareholders.
 
LEGAL MATTERS
 
The validity of the shares of our common stock offered hereby has been passed upon for us by Robinson & Cole LLP, Stamford, Connecticut.
 
EXPERTS
 
Our consolidated financial statements as of October 31, 2004 and 2003, for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2004, have been included in this prospectus and in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and upon the authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
 
We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of our common stock offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. For further information about us and the common stock offered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. A copy of the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed therewith may be inspected without charge at the public reference room maintained by the SEC, located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1200, Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies of all or any part of the registration statement may be obtained from such offices upon the payment of the fees prescribed by the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. The SEC also maintains an Internet web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the site is http://www.sec.gov.
 
89

 
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, therefore, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.  Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available for inspection and copying at the public reference room and web site of the SEC referred to above. Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, and you may also inspect and copy our SEC filings at the offices of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. located at 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. 
 
You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus and the registration statement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information.  These securities are not being offered in any state where the offer is not permitted.  You should assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the dates of those documents.  Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
 
90

 
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
   
Page
 
       
FuelCell Energy, Inc. Consolidated Financial Statements
     
       
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,
     
dated January 11, 2005
   
F-1
 
         
Consolidated Balance Sheets - October 31, 2004 and 2003
   
F-2
 
     
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years
   
 
 
ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
   
F-3
 
         
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
       
for the Years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
   
F-4
 
         
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years ended
       
October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
   
F-5
 
         
Notes to Consolidated Audited Financial Statements
   
F-6
 
         
FuelCell Energy, Inc. Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
       
         
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2005 and
       
October 31, 2004 (Unaudited)
   
F-31
 
         
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended
       
January 31, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited)
   
F-32
 
         
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended
       
January 31, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited)
   
F-33
 
         
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
   
F-34
 
 
91

 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
FuelCell Energy, Inc:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of FuelCell Energy, Inc. and subsidiaries as of October 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended October 31, 2004. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of FuelCell Energy, Inc and subsidiaries as of October 31, 2004 and 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended October 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

/s/ KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP
Hartford, Connecticut
January 11, 2005
 
F-1


FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)


   
 
October 31,
2004
 
October 31,
2003
 
ASSETS
              
Current assets:
              
Cash and cash equivalents
       
$
45,759
 
$
41,000
 
Investments: U.S. treasury securities
         
106,636
   
93,750
 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $79 and $60, respectively
         
7,599
   
4,948
 
Inventories, net
         
14,619
   
15,954
 
Other current assets
         
4,253
   
5,140
 
Total current assets
         
178,866
   
160,792
 
                     
Property, plant and equipment, net
         
42,254
   
39,778
 
Investments: U.S. treasury securities
         
--
   
18,690
 
Assets held for sale
         
12,344
   
--
 
Equity investments
         
2,125
   
2,116
 
Other assets, net
         
921
   
1,987
 
Total assets
       
$
236,510
 
$
223,363
 
 
                   
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                   
Current liabilities:
                   
 Current portion of long-term debt and other liabilities
       
$
539
 
$
323
 
Accounts payable
         
9,526
   
6,667
 
Accrued liabilities
         
5,255
   
5,369
 
Deferred license fee income
         
37
   
37
 
Deferred revenue
         
6,713
   
4,398
 
Total current liabilities
         
22,070
   
16,794
 
                     
Long-term debt and other liabilities
         
1,476
   
1,484
 
Total liabilities
         
23,546
   
18,278
 
                     
Shareholders’ equity
                   
Common stock ($.0001 par value); 150,000,000 shares authorized at October 31, 2004 and October 31, 2003; 48,132,694 and 39,423,133 shares issued and outstanding at October 31, 2004 and October 31, 2003, respectively
         
5
   
4
 
Preferred shares of subsidiary
         
10,259
   
--
 
Additional paid-in capital
         
424,621
   
340,559
 
Accumulated deficit
         
(221,921
)
 
(135,478
)
 Total shareholders’ equity
         
212,964
   
205,085
 
 
                   
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
       
$
236,510
 
$
223,363
 
 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-2

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 
 
 
 Years Ended October 31,
 
   
2004
 
2003 
 
2002
 
Revenues:
               
Research and development contracts
 
$
18,750
 
$
17,709
 
$
33,575
 
Product sales and revenues
   
12,636
   
16,081
   
7,656
 
Total revenues
   
31,386
   
33,790
   
41,231
 
                     
Costs and expenses:
                   
Cost of research and development contracts
   
27,290
   
35,827
   
45,664
 
Cost of product sales and revenues
   
39,961
   
50,391
   
32,129
 
Administrative and selling expenses
   
14,901
   
12,631
   
10,451
 
Research and development expenses
   
26,677
   
8,509
   
6,806
 
Purchased in-process research and development
   
12,200
   
--
   
--
 
Total costs and expenses
   
121,029
   
107,358
   
95,050
 
                     
Loss from operations
   
(89,643
)
 
(73,568
)
 
(53,819
)
                     
License fee income, net
   
19
   
270
   
270
 
Interest expense
   
(137
)
 
(128
)
 
(160
)
Interest and other income, net
   
2,472
   
6,012
   
4,876
 
                     
Loss before provision for income taxes
   
(87,289
)
 
(67,414
)
 
(48,833
)
                     
Provision for income taxes
   
--
   
--
   
7
 
                     
Net loss from continuing operations
 
$
(87,289
)
$
(67,414
)
$
(48,840
)
                     
Discontinued operations, net of tax
   
846
   
--
   
--
 
Net loss
   
(86,443
)
 
(67,414
)
 
(48,840
)
 
                   
Loss per share basic and diluted:
                   
                     
Continuing operations
 
$
(1.82
)
$
(1.71
)
$
(1.25
)
Discontinued operations
   
0.01
   
--
   
--
 
Net loss
 
$
(1.81
)
$
(1.71
)
$
(1.25
)
                     
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
   
47,875,342
   
39,342,345
   
39,135,256
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
F-3

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

   
Shares
Of
Common
Stock
 
 
Shares of Preferred Stock
 
 
 
Common
Stock
 
 
 
Preferred
Stock
 
 
Additional
Paid-In Capital
 
 
Accumulated Deficit
 
 
Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 
Balance at October 31, 2001
   
38,998,788
   
--
 
$
4
 
$
--
   
338,936
 
$
(19,224
)
$
319,716
 
                                             
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans
   
16,324
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
219
   
--
   
219
 
Stock options exercised
   
213,716
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
307
   
--
   
307
 
Common stock and equity investment costs
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
300
   
--
   
300
 
Net loss
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
(48,840
)
 
(48,840
)
Balance at October 31, 2002
   
39,228,828
   
--
 
$
4
 
$
--
   
339,762
 
$
(68,064
)
$
271,702
 
                                             
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans
   
33,620
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
171
   
--
   
171
 
Stock options exercised
   
165,068
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
666
   
--
   
666
 
Common stock retired for non-cash exercise of options
   
(4,383
)
 
--
   
--
   
--
   
(40
)
 
--
   
(40
)
Net loss
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
(67,414
)
 
(67,414
)
Balance at October 31, 2003
   
39,423,133
   
--
 
$
4
 
$
--
   
340,559
 
$
(135,478
)
$
205,085
 
                                             
Issuance of common stock and assumption of stock options in connection with acquisition, net
   
8,159,657
   
--
   
1
   
--
   
81,811
   
--
   
81,812
 
Assumption of preferred stock in connection with acquisition, at fair value
   
--
   
1,000,000
   
--
   
9,100
   
--
   
--
   
9,100
 
Accretion of fair value discount of preferred stock
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
1,159
   
(1,159
)
 
--
   
--
 
FuelCell Energy, Inc. warrants earned
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
534
   
--
   
534
 
Payment of preferred dividends
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
(378
)
 
--
   
(378
)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans
   
34,106
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
279
   
--
   
279
 
Stock options exercised
   
515,798
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
2,975
   
--
   
2,975
 
Net loss
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
(86,443
)
 
(86,443
)
Balance at October 31, 2004
   
48,132,694
   
1,000,000
 
$
5
 
$
10,259
 
$
424,621
 
$
(221,921
)
$
212,964
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
   
Years Ended October 31,
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
               
Cash flows from operating activities:
             
Net loss
 
$
(86,443
)
$
(67,414
)
$
(48,840
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
                   
net cash used in operating activities, net of effects of acquisitions:
                   
(Income) from discontinued operations
   
(846
)
 
--
   
--
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
8,411
   
6,374
   
3,783
 
Purchased in-process research and development
   
12,200
   
--
   
--
 
Deferred income taxes
   
--
   
--
   
291
 
Loss on disposal of property
   
8
   
29
   
63
 
Provision for doubtful accounts
   
(32
)
 
(25
)
 
(65
)
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:
                   
Accounts receivable
   
(2,619
)
 
5,515
   
(3,263
)
Inventories
   
1,333
   
(1,973
)
 
(7,647
)
Other current assets
   
2,436
   
(1,824
)
 
(2,659
)
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
                   
Accounts payable
   
1,388
   
1,955
   
33
 
Accrued liabilities
   
(2,762
)
 
(2,403
)
 
1,141
 
Deferred revenue
   
2,315
   
932
   
2,068
 
Deferred license fee income and other
   
--
   
(1
)
 
1
 
                     
Net cash used in operating activities
   
(64,611
)
 
(58,835
)
 
(55,094
)
                     
Cash flows from investing activities:
                   
Capital expenditures
   
(7,921
)
 
(6,630
)
 
(15,373
)
Cash acquired from acquisition of Global
   
53,004
   
--
   
--
 
Thermoelectric, Inc., net of transactions costs
                   
Sale of Global Thermoelectric Inc., net of transaction costs
   
15,913
   
--
   
--
 
Treasury notes matured
   
101,546
   
155,659
   
82,500
 
Treasury notes purchased
   
(96,433
)
 
(150,680
)
 
(167,288
)
Investment in Versa Power Systems
   
--
   
(1,500
)
 
(500
)
                     
Net cash used in investing activities
   
66,109
   
(3,151
)
 
(100,661
)
                     
Cash flows from financing activities:
                   
Long term debt borrowings
   
--
   
--
   
787
 
Repayment on long-term debt
   
(160
)
 
(306
)
 
(233
)
Payment of preferred dividends
   
(378
)
 
--
   
--
 
Common stock and equity investment costs
   
--
   
--
   
300
 
Common stock issued for option and stock purchase plans
   
3,240
   
797
   
526
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
2,702
   
491
   
1,380
 
                     
Net Cash provided by discontinued operations
   
559
   
--
   
--
 
                     
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
   
4,759
   
(61,495
)
 
(154,375
)
                     
Cash and cash equivalents-beginning of year
   
41,000
   
102,495
   
256,870
 
Cash and cash equivalents-end of year
 
$
45,759
 
$
41,000
 
$
102,495
 
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
 
F-5

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Nature of Business

FuelCell Energy, Inc. is engaged in the development and commercialization of carbonate fuel cell technology for stationary power generation. We manufacture carbonate fuel cells, generally on a contract basis. We are currently in the process of commercializing our Direct FuelCell technology and expect to incur losses as we expand our product development, commercialization program and manufacturing operations.

The consolidated financial statements include accounts of FuelCell Energy, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Alliance Monterrey, LLC and Alliance Chico, LLC are joint ventures with Alliance Power, Inc. to construct fuel cell power plants and sell power under power purchase agreements with the City of Santa Barbara and the Sierra Nevada Brewery Co. The financial results of the joint ventures were consolidated with those of FuelCell Energy, which owns 80 percent of each entity.

Certain reclassifications have been made to our prior year financial statements to conform to the 2004 presentation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist primarily of investments in money market funds and United States Treasury securities with original maturities averaging three months or less at date of acquisition. We place our temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions.

Investments

Investments consist of United States Treasury securities with original maturities of greater than three months at the date of acquisition. The notes are classified as held to maturity since we have the ability and intention to hold them until maturity. The notes are being carried at amortized cost, which is par value, plus or minus unamortized premium or discount. Such notes are classified as current assets when remaining maturities are one year or less, and as non-current assets when remaining maturities are greater than one year.
 
Inventories

Inventories consist principally of raw materials and work-in-process and are stated at the lower of cost or market.

Raw materials consist mainly of various nickel powders and steels, and various other components used in producing cell stacks. Work-in-process inventory is comprised of material, labor, and overhead costs incurred by us to build fuel cell stacks, which are subcomponents of power generation systems, which have not yet been dedicated to a particular research and development contract, field trial, or commercial customer, (collectively the “end users”), and which are estimated to be fully recovered from the end users. In instances where costs incurred exceed anticipated recovery, those excess costs are charged to cost of product sales and revenues as incurred.
 
F-6

FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the term of the lease.

When property is sold or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations for the period.

Intellectual Property

Intellectual property, including internally generated patents and know-how, is carried at no value.

Impairment of Long Lived Assets

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. If events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable, we compare the carrying amount of the assets to future undiscounted net cash flows, excluding interest costs, expected to be generated by the assets and their ultimate disposition. If the sum of the undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value, less costs to sell.

Revenue Recognition

Our revenue is primarily generated from agencies of the U.S. government and customers located throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. We generally require a down payment with the acceptance of a purchase order from a customer.

We contract with our customers to perform research and development or manufacture and install fuel cell components and power plants under long-term contracts. We recognize revenue on a method similar to the percentage-of-completion method.

Revenues on fuel cell research and development contracts are recognized proportionally as costs are incurred and compared to the estimated total research and development costs for each contract. In many cases, we are reimbursed only a portion of the costs incurred or to be incurred on the contract. Revenues from government funded research, development and demonstration programs are generally multi-year, cost reimbursement and/or cost shared type contracts or cooperative agreements. We are reimbursed for reasonable and allocable costs up to the reimbursement limits set by the contract or cooperative agreement.

While government research and development contracts may extend for many years, oftentimes funding is provided incrementally on a year-by-year basis if contract terms are met and Congress has authorized the funds. As of October 31, 2004, research and development sales backlog totaled $16.4 million, of which 78 percent is funded. Should funding be temporarily delayed or if business initiatives change, we may choose to devote resources to other activities, including internally funded research and development.

F-7

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Product sales and revenues include revenues from product sales and service contracts. Revenues from fuel cell product sales are recognized proportionally as costs are incurred and assigned to a customer contract by comparing the estimated total manufacture and installation costs for each contract to the total contract value. Revenues from service contacts are recognized ratably over the contract term while costs are expensed as incurred.

As our fuel cell products are in their early stages of development and market acceptance, actual costs incurred could differ materially from those previously estimated. Once we have established that our fuel cell products have achieved commercial market acceptance and future costs can be reasonably estimated, then estimated costs to complete an individual contract, in excess of revenue, will be accrued immediately upon identification.

License Fee Income / Expense Recognition

License fee income arises from an agreement with MTU CFC Solutions GmbH (“MTU”), a division of DaimlerChrysler, our European partner, in which we granted MTU an exclusive license to use our Direct FuelCell patent rights and know-how in Europe and the Middle East, and a non-exclusive license in South America and Africa, subject to certain rights of others and us, in each case for a royalty. Amounts received are deferred and recognized ratably over the term of the agreement. We recognized approximately $0.3 million of license fee income during each of the fiscal years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002.

License fee expense arises from royalty agreements with MTU, Santa Clara and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) pursuant to which we have agreed to pay royalties based upon certain milestones or events relating to the sale of carbonate fuel cells. We have accrued approximately $0.3 million of royalty expense under these agreements in fiscal 2004 (which was off-set against royalty income on the consolidated statements of operations).

Deferred Revenue

We bill customers based upon certain milestones being reached. These billings are deferred and recognized as revenue based upon the Revenue/License Fee Revenue Recognition policy summarized above. 

Warrant Value Recognition

Warrants have been issued as sales incentives to certain of our business partners. As we recognize the associated revenue for orders placed in accordance with these sales agreements, a proportional amount of the fair value of the warrants will be recorded against the revenue.

Research and Development

Our cost of research and development contracts reflects costs incurred under specific customer-sponsored research and development contracts. These costs consist of both manufacturing and engineering labor, including applicable overhead expenses, materials to build prototype units, materials for testing, and other costs associated with our research and development contracts.

Our research and development expenses reflect costs incurred for internal research and development projects conducted without specific customer-sponsored contracts. These costs consist primarily of labor, overhead, materials to build prototype units, materials for testing, consulting fees and other costs associated with our internal research and development expenses.

F-8

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded against deferred tax assets if it is unlikely that some or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and revenues and expenses during the period reported. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates are used in accounting for, among other things, allowances for uncollectible receivables, excess or slow-moving inventories, obsolete inventories, impairment of assets, product warranty, depreciation and amortization, taxes, 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.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) is the increase or decrease in equity from sources other than owners. Our comprehensive loss equals net loss as reported on our consolidated statement of operations totaling $(86,443), $(67,414), and $(48,840) for the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
 
F-9

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Stock-Based Compensation

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, encourages entities to recognize the fair value of all stock-based awards on the date of grant as expense over the vesting period. Alternatively, SFAS No. 123 allows entities to continue to apply the intrinsic value method provisions of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25 and provide pro forma net income and pro forma earnings per share disclosures for employees’ stock option grants as if the fair-value-based method defined in SFAS No. 123 had been applied. We apply the pro forma disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123. Accordingly, no compensation expense was recorded in the statement of operations. The following table illustrates the effect on net loss and net loss per basic and diluted share as if we had applied the fair value method to our stock-based compensation, as required under the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123: 

   
 
Years ended October 31,
 
       
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Net loss, as reported
       
$
(86,443
)
$
(67,414
)
$
(48,840
)
Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value method for all awards
         
(9,690
)
 
(8,911
)
 
(8,412
)
Pro forma net income
       
$
(96,133
)
$
(76,325
)
$
(57,252
)
                           
Loss per basic and diluted common share, as reported
       
$
(1.81
)
$
(1.71
)
$
(1.25
)
Pro forma loss per basic and diluted common share
       
$
(2.01
)
$
(1.94
)
$
(1.46
)

Foreign Currency Translation

Our Canadian operations are considered financially and operationally integrated and therefore the temporal method of translation of foreign currencies is followed. Under the temporal method, foreign currency gains or losses are recorded on the statement of operations. The functional currency is U.S. dollars. Monetary items are translated at period end exchange rates; non-monetary items are translated at historical exchange rates; revenue and expense items are translated at average rates of exchange prevailing during the period; and depreciation and amortization are translated at the same exchange rate as the assets to which they relate. Monetary items consist primarily of current assets and current liabilities, such as cash, cash equivalents and investments and accounts payable, which are denominated in non-U.S. currencies. We recognized approximately $0.5 million in foreign currency gain during the year ended October 31, 2004. This amount has been classified in interest and other income on our consolidated statement of operations. No foreign currency gain or loss was recognized in prior years.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 (revised 2004) (“SFAS No. 123R”), “Share-Based Payment” which revised SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. This statement supercedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” The revised statement addresses the accounting for share-based payment transactions with employees and other third parties, eliminates the ability to account for share-based compensation transactions using APB 25 and requires that the compensation costs relating to such transactions be recognized in the consolidated statement of operations. The revised statement is effective as of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS No. 123R and will adopt it on August 1, 2005 as required.

F-10

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
In November 2004, the FASB ratified the consensus reached by the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”), on Issue No. 03-13, “Applying the Conditions in Paragraph 42 of FASB Statement No. 144 in Determining Whether to Report Discontinued Operations”. The Issue provides a model to assist in evaluating (a) which cash flows should be considered in the determination of whether cash flows of the disposal component have been or will be eliminated from the ongoing operations of the entity and (b) the types of continuing involvement that constitute significant continuing involvement in the operations of the disposal component. Should significant continuing ongoing involvement exist, then the disposal component shall be reported in the results of continuing operations on the consolidated statements of operations and cash flows. The Company has applied the provisions of this accounting standard to its financial statements. Refer to Note 2. - Discontinued Operations and Sale of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Assets.

In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs,” which amends the guidance in ARB No. 43, Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing,” to clarify the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material. This Statement requires that those items be recognized as current-period charges regardless of whether they meet the criterion of “so abnormal.” In addition, this Statement requires allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS No. 151 and will it adopt on November 1, 2005, as required.

In December 2003, the FASB issued FIN No. 46R, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” which requires an entity to consolidate a variable interest entity if it is designated as the primary beneficiary of that entity even if the entity does not have a majority of voting interests. A variable interest entity is generally defined as an entity where its equity is inadequate to finance its activities or where the owners of the entity lack the risk and rewards of ownership. The Company has evaluated the provisions of FIN No. 46R, as required, and determined that the Company did not have any material interest entities and did not have any variable interest entities that require consolidation into the Company’s financial statements.

Note 2.    Discontinued Operations and Sale of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Assets

During fiscal 2004, we acquired, Global Thermoelectric Inc. (Global) and subsequently divested its business units through the sale of Global on May 28, 2004 and the combination of our Canadian solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operations with Versa Power Systems (Versa), which was agreed to in October 2004 and closed in November 2004.

Sale of Global Thermoelectric Inc.

On May 28, 2004, we completed the sale of Global, and its TEG product line, for proceeds of approximately U.S. $15.9 million. Our SOFC technology development group, including intellectual property, employees, and manufacturing, research and development facilities, was consolidated into a new Canadian subsidiary, FuelCell Energy, Ltd. (formerly FCE Canada Inc.). Assets and liabilities relating to the SOFC business and the majority of Global’s cash was transferred to FuelCell Energy, Ltd. and FuelCell Energy, Inc. prior to the sale. In addition, the Global Series 2 Preferred Shares were cancelled, and replaced with substantially equivalent Series 1 Preferred Shares issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd.

F-11

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
The following assets and liabilities of Global were divested:

Assets
     
Cash
 
$
731
 
Accounts receivable, net
   
3,245
 
Inventories, net
   
3,836
 
Other assets
   
156
 
Intangible assets
   
1,733
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
1,573
 
Goodwill
   
10,457
 
Total assets sold
 
$
21,731
 
         
Liabilities
       
Accounts payable
 
$
536
 
Accrued liabilities
   
3,225
 
Long-term debt and other liabilities
   
417
 
Total liabilities sold
 
$
4,178
 

The following table represents the results of this discontinued operation, net of related income taxes:

   
 
 
Year Ended
October 31, 2004(1)
 
Product sales and revenues
       
$
13,079
 
Cost of product sales
         
9,853
 
Operating expenses
         
2,217
 
Operating income
         
1,009
 
Provision for income taxes
         
163
 
Discontinued operations, net of tax
       
$
846
 
 

(1) As we acquired Global on November 3, 2003, there were no discontinued operations in the prior year.

Sale of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Assets

On October 19, 2004, we signed a definitive agreement to transfer substantially all of our Canadian SOFC assets and operations (including manufacturing and test equipment, intellectual property and personnel) to Versa Power Systems, Ltd. In exchange, we received 5,714 shares of Versa Power Systems, Inc. common stock, increasing our ownership position in Versa to 7,714 shares, or 42 percent. No cash was exchanged in the transaction. The consideration received by us in the transaction was determined based upon arms-length negotiations of the parties. This transaction closed on November 1, 2004. Refer to Note 20. - Subsequent Events.

Assets sold to Versa totaled approximately $12.4 million and are classified as held for sale on the consolidated balance sheet as of October 31, 2004.
 
F-12

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
The following assets of the SOFC operation were divested:

Assets
     
Property, plant and equipment, net
 
$
7,489
 
Goodwill
   
4,816
 
Other assets
   
39
 
Total assets sold
 
$
12,344
 

As defined by EITF Issue 03-13, the Company will have an ongoing significant involvement in SOFC Operation given its 42 percent ownership interest. Therefore, results of the Canadian SOFC operation have been reported as continuing operations in the consolidated statements of operations and cash flows. In future periods, we will account for our ownership in Versa Power Systems, Inc, under the equity method of accounting.

Note 3. Business Combinations

Fiscal 2004 Summary
 
In November 2003, we acquired Global Thermoelectric Inc. (Global), a leading developer of SOFC technology, headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Global was comprised of two divisions:
 
·  Manufacture and sale of thermoelectric generators (TEG).
·  Research and development of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC)

This purpose of this acquisition was to strengthen our capabilities for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) program, which is funding the research and development of small scale SOFC technology. The acquisition also improved our financial position as Global had a cash and investment balance totaling approximately $55.7 million and property, plant and equipment in the SOFC division valued at approximately $11.2 million.

In May 2004, we sold Global and the TEG product line. We retained the SOFC technology development group including intellectual property, employees, and manufacturing, research and development facilities. On October 19, 2004, we signed a definitive agreement to transfer substantially all of our Canadian SOFC assets and operations (including manufacturing and test equipment, intellectual property and personnel) to Versa Power Systems, Ltd. Refer to Note 2 - Discontinued Operations and Sale of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Assets for further disclosure on these divestitures.

Acquisition of Global Thermoelectric Inc.

On November 3, 2003, we completed our acquisition of Global, a leading developer of SOFC technology, headquartered in Calgary, Canada. We believe this acquisition strengthens our capabilities for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) program. 

As consideration in this acquisition, we issued approximately 8.2 million shares of common stock (or equivalents) valued at approximately $80.8 million. We also assumed the Global stock option plan valued at approximately $1.0 million, preferred shares with a fair value at the time of acquisition of approximately $9.1 million, and incurred transaction costs of approximately $3.9 million. The total purchase price was calculated at approximately $94.8 million. Pursuant to the terms of the Global acquisition agreement, there was a collar set in determining the exchange ratio. Specifically, if FuelCell’s stock price closed at a 20 day “daily volume-weighted-average trading price”:

F-13

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
·  greater than $9.74, the exchange ratio would be 0.279 shares of FuelCell Energy common stock for each share of Global common stock;
·  less than $7.96, the exchange ratio would be 0.342 shares of FuelCell Energy common stock for each share of Global common stock; and
·  between $7.96 and $9.74, the Global common shareholders would receive approximately $2.72 of FuelCell Energy common stock (or exchangeable shares) for each Global share held.

The measurement date was determined in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 99-12 - “Determination of the Measurement Date for the Market Price of Acquirer Securities Issued in a Purchase Business Combination”. EITF 99-12 states that the measurement date is the date at “which the number of acquirer shares and the amount of consideration become fixed and determinable without subsequent revision.” In this transaction, the measurement date on which the shares to be issued became fixed and determinable was September 11, 2003 and the common stock valuation price was $9.91. Given this valuation price and according to the terms of the combination agreement, the exchange ratio was 0.279.
 
In accordance with SFAS 141, “Business Combinations”, we allocated the purchase price to the tangible assets, liabilities and intangible assets acquired, as well as in-process research and development based on their estimated fair values. The excess purchase price over the fair value was recorded as goodwill. The initial purchase price allocation was subsequently adjusted due to the sale of Global and the TEG product line. Assets and liabilities of the TEG product line were classified as held for sale as of the acquisition date. The adjusted purchase price allocation is as follows:

   
Purchase Price Allocation
 
Cash and investments
 
$
55,781
 
Property and equipment
   
11,193
 
Other assets
   
641
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
   
(5,185
)
Accrued restructuring costs
   
(1,261
)
Long term debt and other liabilities
   
(353
)
Purchased in-process research and development
   
12,200
 
Assets held for sale(1)
   
19,107
 
Liabilities held for sale
   
(2,061
)
Goodwill
   
4,760
 
Investment in Global
 
$
94,822
 
 

(1) - Assets held for sale includes goodwill totaling approximately $10.5 million. The amount of goodwill allocated as held for sale was determined to be the cash price paid by the acquiring company (net of selling costs) less the net fair value of the assets and liabilities sold.
 
Purchased in-process research and development
 
In 1997, Global began developing SOFC technology, which is a ceramic planar (flat, square or rectangular) cell, with a solid electrolyte that is anode supported (the thickest component to which all other materials are subsequently mounted) and conducts oxygen ions. Global has developed a proprietary microstructure that gives its fuel cells very high power densities (the amount of power measured in watts per square centimeter of surface area).

F-14

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
The $12.2 million allocated to in-process research and development (IPR&D) was determined using two established valuation techniques. The cost approach valuation method was used because the SOFC technology is early in its development cycle and reliable forecasts of future benefit do not exist. The market approach method was used to estimate the implied value of the SOFC technology by estimating the fair value of the generator product line, adding net cash assumed in the acquisition, and then subtracting this total amount from the cash and stock consideration paid. An average of these two valuation techniques was used to determine the IPR&D amount. The amounts estimated in this valuation were calculated using a risk-adjusted discount rate of 30 percent. As the acquired technology has not yet reached technological feasibility and no alternative future uses exist, it was expensed upon acquisition in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 2, “Accounting for Research and Development Costs.”
 
The IPR&D acquired was related to one project, the development of a solid oxide fuel cell. Prior to the transaction date, Global spent approximately five years developing this technology. In 2003, we received notice of an award to participate in the DOE’s ten-year SECA program to develop low cost solid oxide fuel cells for residential, commercial, and light industrial applications. We currently estimate that it will take between five and ten years to complete the development. The SECA program is a ten-year cost-share program totaling approximately $139 million.
 
Proforma Financial Information
 
Proforma information has not been provided as the businesses acquired were subsequently sold during fiscal 2004.

Note 4. Investments

Our short and long term investments are in U.S. treasury securities, which are held to maturity. The following table summarizes the amortized cost basis and fair value at October 31, 2004 and 2003:

 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
(losses)
 
Fair
Value
 
At October 31, 2004
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government obligations
 
$
106,636
 
$
--
 
$
(190
)
$
106,446
 
At October 31, 2003
   
   
   
   
 
 U.S. government obligations
 
$
112,440
 
$
108
 
$
(17
)
$
112,531
 

Reported as:

   
2004
 
2003
 
Short-term investments
 
$
106,636
 
$
93,750
 
Long-term investments
   
--
   
18,690
 
Total
 
$
106,636
 
$
112,440
 

Short-term investments securities have maturity dates ranging from November 15, 2004 to August 31, 2005, and estimated yields ranging from 1.0 percent to 2.1 percent.
 
F-15

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Note 5. Inventories

The components of inventory at October 31, 2004 and October 31, 2003 consisted of the following:

   
2004
 
2003
 
           
Raw materials
 
$
1,663
 
$
3,611
 
Work-in-process
   
12,956
   
12,343
 
Total
 
$
14,619
 
$
15,954
 

Our inventories are stated at the lower of recoverable cost or market price. We provide for a lower of cost or market (LCM) adjustment against gross inventory values. Our LCM adjustment, reducing gross inventory values to the reported amounts, was approximately $12.4 million and $10.8 million at October 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

Note 6. Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable at October 31, 2004 and 2003 consisted of the following:

   
2004
 
2003
 
           
U.S. Government:
         
Amount billed
 
$
850
 
$
725
 
Unbilled recoverable costs
   
1,804
   
1,594
 
Retainage
   
44
   
919
 
     
2,698
   
3,238
 
Commercial Customers:
             
Amount billed
   
1,368
   
878
 
Unbilled recoverable costs
   
3,533
   
831
 
Retainage
   
-
   
1
 
     
4,901
   
1,710
 
 
 
$
7,599
 
$
4,948
 

Retainage represents amounts billed but not paid by customers pursuant to retainage provisions in the contracts that will be due upon completion of the contracts and acceptance by the customer and that may be collected over more than one year.

Unbilled recoverable costs represent amounts of revenue recognized on costs incurred on contracts in progress that are generally billed within the next 30 days.
 
F-16

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Note 7. Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment at October 31, 2004 and 2003 consisted of the following:

   
 
2004
 
 
2003
 
Estimated
Useful Life
 
Land
 
$
524
 
$
524
   
 
Building and improvements
   
6,824
   
5,837
   
10-30 years
 
Machinery, equipment and software
   
48,576
   
48,225
   
3-8 years
 
Furniture and fixtures
   
2,217
   
2,184
   
6-10 years
 
Assets available for lease(1)
   
2,063
   
--
   
3 years
 
Construction in progress(2)
   
6,645
   
2,825
       
   
$
66,849
 
$
59,595
       
Less, accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
(24,595
)
 
(19,817
)
     
Total
 
$
42,254
 
$
39,778
       
 

(1)  
- Assets available for lease are two DFC 300 power plants which the company has designated available for lease. One of these assets is currently under lease to a customer and another is on loan to a government test facility.
(2)  
- Included in construction in progress are costs to build power plants, which will service power purchase agreement (PPA) contracts. These plants are being constructed by joint ventures, which the Company is an 80 percent owner and, as a result, consolidated on our financial statements.

Depreciation expense was $6.5 million, $5.5 million and $3.1 million for the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Note 8. Other Assets

The components of other current assets at October 31, 2004 and October 31, 2003 consisted of the following:
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
Advance payments to vendors (1)
 
$
2,256
 
$
169
 
Prepaid transaction costs (2)
   
-
   
2,582
 
R&D tax credit receivable (3)
   
456
   
1,120
 
Prepaid expenses and other
   
1,541
   
1,269
 
Total
 
$
4,253
 
$
5,140
 
 
(1)  
- Advance payments to vendors related to inventory purchases. We provide for a lower of cost or market adjustment against these advance payments. This adjustment totaled approximately $1.1 million and $0.2 million at October 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
(2)  
- Consists of legal and professional costs accumulated related to the acquisition of Global Thermoelectric Inc. which were in the purchase price accounting as of the time of acquisition.
(3)  
- Current portion of state research and development tax credits receivable. The majority of this balance is expected to be collected in fiscal 2005.
 
F-17

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Other long-term assets at October 31, 2004 and 2003 consisted of the following:
 
 
 
2004
 
2003
 
Power plant license (1)
 
$
531
 
$
820
 
State research and development tax credits receivable
   
--
   
1,045
 
Deposits and other
   
390
   
122
 
Total
 
$
921
 
$
1,987
 
 

(1)  
- The power plant license is being amortized over 10 years on a straight-line basis. Accumulated amortization was $2.0 million and $1.7 million at October 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Note 9. Equity investments

Equity investments include our investment in Versa Power Systems, Inc. totaling $2.0 million, which we account for on the cost basis of accounting. As of October 31, 2004 we held an ownership interest of approximately 16 percent in this non-public entity. Refer to Note - 20 subsequent events regarding our additional investment in Versa. We also have a 25 percent ownership interest in Xiamen Technology Co. LTD totaling approximately $0.1 million in which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Note 10. Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities at October 31, 2004 and 2003 consisted of the following:

   
2004
 
2003
 
           
Accrued payroll and employee benefits
 
$
3,004
 
$
2,842
 
Accrued contract and operating costs
   
913
   
1,955
 
Accrued severance related costs
   
808
   
--
 
Accrued taxes and other
   
530
   
572
 
Total
 
$
5,255
 
$
5,369
 
 
Note 11. Long-Term Debt and Other Liabilities

Long-term debt and other liabilities include long term debt, capital leases and other long-term liabilities.

Long-term debt

Long-term debt at October 31, 2004 and 2003 consisted of the following:

   
2004
 
2003
 
           
Notes payable
 
$
1,388
 
$
1,685
 
Less - current portion
   
(345
)
 
(323
)
Long-term debt, less current portion
 
$
1,043
 
$
1,362
 

On June 29, 2000, we entered into a loan agreement, secured by machinery and equipment, and have borrowed an aggregate of $2.2 million under the agreement. The loan is payable over seven years, with payments of interest only for the first six months and then repaid in monthly installments over the remaining six and one-half years with interest computed annually based on the ten-year U.S. Treasury note plus 2.5 percent. Our current interest rates at October 31, 2004 and October 31, 2003 were 7.2 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively.

F-18

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
In October 2004 we entered in to a term loan agreement secured by the underlying asset to finance the purchase of a vehicle. Aggregate amount borrowed was approximately $0.02 million with an interest rate of 0.9 percent.

Aggregate annual principal payments under the loan agreements for the years subsequent to October 31, 2004 are as follows:
 
2005
 
$
345
 
2006
   
371
 
2007
   
396
 
2008
   
276
 
Thereafter
   
--
 
 
 
$
1,388
 
Capital leases

In fiscal 2004, we entered into capital equipment leases for a telephone and voice mail system that expire in 2 years. At October 31, 2004 and 2003, the gross amount of plant and equipment and related accumulated amortization recorded under capital leases were as follows:
 
   
 
2004
 
 
2003
 
Machinery, equipment and software
 
$
390
 
$
--
 
Less, accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
(8
)
 
--
 
Total
 
$
382
 
$
--
 

 
Amortization of assets held under capital leases is included with depreciation expense.
 
Future minimum capital lease payments (principal and interest) as of October 31, 2004 are:
 
       
Capital
 
Year ending October 31:
 
leases
 
2005 
   
 
 
$
215
 
2006 
   
 
   
126
 
Thereafter
         
--
 
Total minimum lease payments
         
341
 
Less amount representing interest (at rates of approximately 9.91%)
 
(25
)
Present value of net minimum capital lease payments
         
316
 
Less current installments of obligations under capital leases
 
(194
)
Obligations under capital leases, excluding current installments
       
$
122
 
 
F-19

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Other long term liabilities

Other long term liability balances at October 31, 2004 and 2003 totaled:

   
2004
 
2003
 
           
Other long term liabilities
 
$
311
 
$
122
 

Note 12. Shareholders' Equity

Options and Stock Purchase Plan

At October 31, 2004, 1,641,048 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance pursuant to our stock option plans and our Section 423 Stock Purchase Plan. Refer to Note - 14 for additional disclosure related to these plans.

Preferred shares of subsidiary

In conjunction with our acquisition of Global, the Company assumed the preferred share obligation comprised of 1,000,000 Series 2 non-voting Preferred Shares. With the sale of the Global entity in May of 2004, the Global Series 2 Preferred Shares were cancelled, and replaced with substantially equivalent Series 1 Preferred Shares (Preferred Shares) issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd. The Preferred Shares are convertible at the option of the holder into a number of our common shares based on the fraction by which their face value of Cdn.$25.00 is of the conversion prices (in Canadian dollars) identified below:

Period of conversion
 
Conversion price per share of FuelCell common stock in Canadian Dollars(1)
 
Conversion price per share of FuelCell common stock
in U.S. Dollars (1) (2)
To July 31, 2005
 
Cdn.$110.97
 
$ 84.34
August 1, 2005 to July 31, 2010
 
Cdn.$120.22
 
$ 91.31
August 1, 2010 to July 31, 2015
 
Cdn.$129.46
 
$ 98.39
August 1, 2015 to July 31, 2020
 
Cdn.$138.71
 
$ 105.42
After July 31, 2020
 
95% of the market trading price of FuelCell Energy’s common stock at the time of conversion (expressed in Canadian dollars)
 
95% of the market trading price of FuelCell Energy’s common stock at the time of conversion
 

(1)  
The foregoing “conversion prices” are subject to adjustment for certain subsequent events.
(2)  
While the conversion of preferred shares is based on the prices of FuelCell Energy’s common stock expressed in Canadian dollars, we have provided this example of conversion prices in U.S. dollars assuming a constant exchange rate of 0.76 U.S. dollars to 1.00 Canadian dollar (which was the exchange rate at the date of acquisition). The conversion price in U.S. dollars will increase or decrease over time as currency rates fluctuate.

The number of our common shares issuable upon conversion will decline as the conversion prices increase according to the table above until July 31, 2020. After July 31, 2020, the holder has the right to convert the preferred shares into FuelCell common stock at a price equal to 95 percent of our common stock’s trading price at the time of conversion. Thus, the number of common shares issuable after July 31, 2020, could be greater than amounts issuable prior to that date.
 
F-20

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Quarterly dividends of Cdn.$312,500 accrue on the Preferred Shares (subject to possible reduction pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Shares on account of increases in the price of FuelCell’s common stock). We have agreed to pay a minimum of Cdn.$500,000 in cash or common stock annually to Enbridge, Inc., the holder of the Preferred Shares, so long as Enbridge holds the shares. Interest accrues on cumulative unpaid dividends at a 2.45 percent quarterly rate, compounded quarterly, until payment thereof. All cumulative unpaid dividends must be paid by December 31, 2010. From 2010 through 2020, we would be required to pay annual dividend amounts totaling Cdn.$1.25 million. During the year ended October 31, 2004, we paid cash dividends totaling Cdn. $500,000 to Enbridge.
 
The Preferred Shares may be redeemed by the Company, in whole or part, if on the day that the notice of redemption is first given, the volume-weighted average price at which FuelCell's common shares are traded is at least a 20 percent premium to the current conversion price on payment of Cdn.$25.00 per Preferred Share to be redeemed, together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed for redemption. On or after July 31, 2010, the Preferred Shares are redeemable at any time on payment of Cdn.$25.00 per Preferred Share to be redeemed together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed for redemption.

As of the November 3, 2003 acquisition date of Global, the fair value of the preferred shares was determined to be $9.1 million. This valuation of these shares was performed using the income approach to estimate the fair value of the securities based on expected future economic benefits. In applying this method, cash flows are estimated for the life of the securities and then discounted to present value to arrive at an indication of fair value. Amounts projected and then discounted included future dividend payments and conversion of the securities in 2020. Implicit in this valuation are certain assumptions regarding timing and payment of dividends and the ultimate conversion of the securities. In discounting future cash flows, a discount rate of 13 percent was used which is a rate comparable to yield indexes of technology high yield bonds trading as of the valuation date. In addition to the discount rate, as these securities are not publicly traded, the valuation assumed an additional marketability discount of 15 percent.

The fair value of the preferred shares is adjusted quarterly to reflect dividend payments and accretion of the fair value discount.

Warrants

On April 6, 2004, we issued warrants to purchase 1,000,000 shares of our common stock to Marubeni Corporation (Marubeni) in conjunction with a revised distribution agreement. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, Marubeni placed orders for 4 megawatts of DFC power plants, and committed to creating a sub-distributor network and to provide additional support for our products. All previously issued warrants to Marubeni were cancelled. As part of the new warrant agreements, the warrants vest in separate tranches once Marubeni has ordered totals of between 5 MW and 45 MW of our products. The exercise prices of the warrants range from $13.78 to $18.73 per share and the warrants will expire between April 2005 and April 2007, if not exercised sooner.

Concurrent with the April 6, 2004 agreement, the first tranche of 200,000 warrants vested. The fair value of these warrants was determined to be $0.5 million. This has been recorded as other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet with the offsetting entry to additional paid in capital. In accordance with our warrant value recognition policy, a proportional amount of the fair value of the warrants will be recorded against the revenue, when recognized, as a sales discount. To date, discounts of approximately $0.1 million have been recognized against revenue. As of October 31, 2004, these warrants had not been exercised.

F-21

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
On November 4, 2003, we signed an agreement with Enbridge, Inc. to sell DFC products in Canada. As part of the agreement, Enbridge received warrants to purchase 500,000 shares of FuelCell Energy common stock exercisable on a graduated scale based on order flow. The full quantity of warrants will vest with order commitments for 20 megawatts of DFC power plants. The exercise prices of the warrants range from $14.65 to $19.04 per share and the warrants will expire in November 2006, if not exercised sooner. As of October 31, 2004 these warrants had not vested.

We had issued warrants enabling Caterpillar, Inc. (Caterpillar) to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of our common stock that would be earned on a graduated scale contingent upon the level of order commitments to purchase our products. These warrants have expired as of October 31, 2004.
 
Investments by Strategic Partners
 
Three of our key business partners are shareholders of FuelCell Energy; MTU CFC Solutions GmbH (“MTU”), PPL Energy Plus LLC (“PPL”) and Marubeni, Inc. (“Marubeni”). These business partners have less then a 10 percent ownership interest in the Company and do not exercise management control over the business.

Note 13. Segment Information and Major Customers
 
Under SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” we use the “management” approach to reporting segments. The management approach designates the internal organization that is used by management for making operating decisions and assessing performance as the source of reportable segments. SFAS No. 131 also requires disclosures about products and services, geographic areas, and major customers. Under SFAS No. 131, we have identified one business segment: fuel cell power plant production and research.
 
Enterprise-wide Information
 
Enterprise-wide information provided on geographic revenues is based on the customer’s ordering location. The following table presents net revenues by country:

 
 
 
 
Years ended October 31,
 
Revenues:
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
United States
 
$
23,355
 
$
25,060
 
$
36,473
 
Germany
   
1,605
   
3,935
   
4,183
 
Japan
   
6,426
   
4,795
   
575
 
Total
 
$
31,386
 
$
33,790
 
$
41,231
 
 
We have approximately $0.8 million of long-lived assets in Canada.
 
F-22

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Information about Major Customers
 
We contract with a small number of customers for the sales of our products or research and development contracts. Those customers that accounted for greater than ten percent of our total net revenues during the three years ended October 31, 2004 are as follows:

 
 
Years ended
October 31,
 
   
2004
 
 2003
 
 2002
 
U.S. Government (1)
   
60
%
 
52
%
 
81
%
MTU
   
*
%
 
12
%
 
10
%
Marubeni
   
20
%
 
14
%
 
*
 

* - Less than 10 percent of total revenues in period.
(1) - Includes government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Navy either directly or through prime contractors.
 
Note 14. Employee Benefit Plans
 
Employee Savings Plans

The Capital Accumulation Plan (the “Plan”) for employees of FuelCell Energy, Inc. was established by us on January 19, 1987 and was last amended in June 2004. A three-member committee administers the Plan. The Plan is a 401(k) plan covering our full time employees who have completed and provides for tax-deferred salary deductions for eligible employees (beginning the first month following an employee’s hire date). Employees may choose to make voluntary contributions of their annual compensation to the Plan, limited to an annual maximum amount as set periodically by the Internal Revenue Service. We provide matching contributions equal to the employee’s deferred compensation, up to a maximum of 6 percent of the employee’s annual compensation. Participants are required to contribute a minimum of 3 percent in order to be eligible to participate and receive a Company match. Company contributions begin vesting after one year and are fully vested after five years. Under the Plan, there is no option available to the employee to receive or purchase our common stock. We charged $1.1 million, $1.1 million and $0.6 million under this plan to expense during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

The FuelCell Energy, Inc. Money Purchase Plan, a defined contribution plan, was established on May 10, 1976 and was terminated and merged into the Capital Accumulation Plan effective February 1, 2003. All participant balances were transferred to the Capital Accumulation Plan. The Money Purchase Plan covered our full-time employees who completed one year of service. We contributed $0.0 million, $0.2 million and $0.5 million under this plan which was charged to expense during the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Stock Option Plans

The Board adopted the 1988 and 1998 Stock Option Plans (collectively the Plans). Under the terms of the Plans, options to purchase up to 10,206,000 shares of common stock may be granted to our officers, key employees and directors. Pursuant to the Plans, the Board is authorized to grant incentive stock options or nonqualified options and stock appreciation rights to our officers and key employees and may grant nonqualified options and stock appreciation rights to our directors. Stock options and stock appreciation rights have restrictions as to transferability. The option exercise price shall be fixed by the Board but in the case of incentive stock options, shall not be less than 100 percent of the fair market value of the shares subject to the option on the date the option is granted. Stock appreciation rights may be granted in conjunction with options granted under the Plans. Stock options that have been granted are generally exercisable commencing one year after grant at the rate of 25 percent of such shares in each succeeding year. There were no stock appreciation rights outstanding at October 31, 2004 and 2003. Costs for fixed awards with pro-rata vesting are recognized on a straight-line basis.

F-23

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
The following table summarizes the Plans' activity for the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002:

   
 
Number of shares
 
Weighted average
option price
 
Outstanding at October 31, 2001
   
4,156,802
 
$
9.62
 
Granted
   
1,283,250
 
$
12.70
 
Exercised
   
(213,716
)
$
1.55
 
Cancelled
   
(92,750
)
$
17.94
 
               
Outstanding at October 31, 2002
   
5,133,586
 
$
10.57
 
Granted
   
655,000
 
$
6.00
 
Exercised
   
(165,068
)
$
4.86
 
Cancelled
   
(289,252
)
$
15.69
 
               
Outstanding at October 31, 2003
   
5,334,266
 
$
9.94
 
Granted and assumed in acquisitions
   
955,846
 
$
13.523
 
Exercised
   
(515,798
)
$
5.718
 
Cancelled
   
(420,523
)
$
12.224
 
               
Outstanding at October 31, 2004
   
5,353,791
       
 
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at October 31, 2004:  
 
 
Options Outstanding
Options Exercisable
 
Range of exercise prices
 
Numbers outstanding
Weighted average remaining contractual life
Weighted average exercise price
 
Number exercisable
Weighted average exercise price
$0.28
-
$5.10
1,742,348
3.1
$1.67
1,738,598
$1.67
$5.10
-
$9.92
815,575
7.5
$6.26
337,820
$6.63
$9.92
-
$14.74
1,487,250
7.9
$13.47
494,375
$13.56
$14.74
-
$19.56
692,618
6.2
$17.51
588,743
$17.74
$19.56
-
$24.39
308,500
6.4
$23.05
235,750
$23.07
$24.39
-
$29.21
28,750
6.1
$26.09
23,750
$26.27
$29.21
-
$34.03
214,750
6.0
$29.91
162,000
$29.91
$34.03
-
$43.67
60,000
5.9
$38.00
60,000
$38.00
$43.67
-
$48.49
4,000
6.0
$45.97
4,000
$45.97
     
5,353,791
5.9
$ 10.63
3,645,036
$9.79
 
F-24

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 
Our shareholders adopted a Section 423 Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) on April 30, 1993, which has been amended from time to time by the Board. The total shares allocated to the ESPP are 900,000. Under the ESPP, eligible employees have the right to subscribe to purchase shares of common stock at the lesser of 85 percent of the high and low market prices on the first day of the purchase period or the last day of the purchase period. As of October 31, 2004, there were 431,738 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP. These shares may be adjusted for any future stock splits. As of October 31, 2004, we had 121 employees enrolled and participating in the ESPP.
 
Plan activity for the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, was as follows:
   
Number of
Shares
 
Balance at October 31, 2001
   
515,788
 
Issued @ $13.29
   
(6,338
)
Issued @ $13.47
   
(9,986
)
         
Balance at October 31, 2002
   
499,464
 
Issued @ $4.905
   
(13,855
)
Issued @ $5.20
   
(19,765
)
         
Balance at October 31, 2003
   
465,844
 
Issued @ $5.338
   
(22,560
)
Issued @ $13.77
   
(11,546
)
         
Balance at October 31, 2004
   
431,738
 
 
SFAS No. 123 Assumptions and Fair Value
 
We have provided pro forma disclosures in Note 1 of these Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the effect on net loss and loss per share as if the fair value method of accounting for stock compensation had been used for our employee stock option grants and employee stock purchase plan purchases. These pro forma effects have been estimated at the date of grant and beginning of the period, respectively, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
               
Employee Stock Options:
             
Expected life (in years)
   
7.3
   
8.2
   
7.5
 
Risk-free interest rate
   
4.1
%
 
4.13
%
 
4.25
%
Volatility
   
66.7
%
 
66.8
%
 
87.6
%
Dividend yield
   
0
%
 
0
%
 
0
%
                     
Employee Stock Purchase Plan Shares:
     
Expected life (in years)
   
.5
   
.5
   
.5
 
Risk-free interest rate
   
1.26
%
 
1.26
%
 
2.93
%
Volatility
   
64.3
%
 
69.0
%
 
89.2
%
Dividend yield
   
0
%
 
0
%
 
0
%
 
F-25

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
The following is a summary of weighted average grant date option values generated by application of the Black-Scholes model:
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
               
Employee Stock Option Plan
 
$
8.94
 
$
4.20
 
$
10.24
 
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 
$
3.47
 
$
1.68
 
$
8.41
 
 
Note 15. Income Taxes

The components of (loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 are as follows:

   
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
               
United States
 
$
(65,740
)
$
(67,414
)
$
(48,840
)
Foreign
   
(21,549
)
 
--
   
--
 
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes
 
$
(87,289
)
$
(67,414
)
$
(48,840
)

The components of Federal income tax expense (benefit) were as follows for the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002:

   
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
               
Current:
             
Federal
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
(284
)
Foreign
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
 
   
--
   
--
   
(284
)
Deferred:
                   
Federal
   
--
   
--
   
291
 
Foreign
   
--
   
--
   
-
 
 
   
--
   
--
   
291
 
                     
Total income tax expense
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
7
 

Franchise tax expense (income), which is included in administrative and selling expenses, was $0.5 million, $0.3 million and $(0.1) million for the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

The reconciliation of the Federal statutory income tax rate to our effective income tax rate for the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was as follows:
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
               
Statutory Federal income tax rate
   
(34.0
%)
 
(34.0
%)
 
(34.0
%)
Nondeductible expenditures
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
Other, net
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
Valuation Allowance
   
34.0
%
 
34.0
%
 
34.0
%
Effective income tax rate
   
0.0
%
 
0.0
%
 
0.0
%
 
F-26

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Our Federal and State deferred tax assets and liabilities consisted of the following at October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002:
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Deferred tax assets:
             
Compensation and benefit accruals
 
$
799
 
$
895
 
$
348
 
Bad debt and other reserves
   
387
   
371
   
361
 
Capital loss and tax credit carryforwards
   
102
   
102
   
140
 
Net Operating Loss
   
64,357
   
50,926
   
26,328
 
Inventory reserve
   
5,285
   
4,202
   
3,069
 
           
       
Gross deferred tax assets
   
70,840
   
56,496
   
30,246
 
Valuation allowance
   
(67,871
)
 
(54,010
)
 
(28,811
)
Deferred tax assets after
valuation allowance
   
2,969
   
2,486
   
1,435
 
Deferred tax liability:
                   
Accumulated depreciation
   
2,969
   
(2,486
)
 
(1,435
)
           
       
Gross deferred tax liability
   
(2,969
)
 
(2,486
)
 
(1,435
)
           
       
Net deferred tax assets (State and Federal)
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
--
 

We continually evaluate our deferred tax assets as to whether it is "more likely than not" that the deferred tax assets will be realized. In assessing the realizability of our deferred tax assets, management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies. Based on the projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are realizable, management believes that significant uncertainty exists surrounding the recoverability of the deferred tax assets. As a result, we recorded a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets. Approximately $2.5 million of the valuation allowance will reduce additional paid in capital upon subsequent recognition of any related tax benefits.
 
At October 31, 2004, we had available, for Federal and State income tax purposes, net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $166.9 million and $151.7 million, respectively. The Federal net operating loss carryforwards expire in varying amounts from 2020 through 2024 while State net operating loss carryforwards expire in varying amounts from 2005 through 2024.

Certain transactions involving the Company’s beneficial ownership have occurred in Fiscal 2004 and prior years which may have resulted in a stock ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. We have not yet determined if any of the NOL and credits generated will be subject to limitation under Section 382. Management is currently reviewing whether or not an ownership change has occurred.
 
F-27

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Note 16. Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated using the following data:
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Weighted average basic common shares
   
47,875,342
   
39,342,345
   
39,135,256
 
Effect of dilutive securities(1)
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
Weighted average basic common shares adjusted for diluted calculations
   
47,875,342
   
39,342,345
   
39,135,256
 
 

(1)  
- We computed earnings per share without consideration to potentially dilutive instruments due to the fact that losses incurred would make them antidilutive. For the three years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, the shares of potentially dilutive (in-the-money) stock options were, 3,645,036, 4,063,398 and 2,078,818 respectively. We also have issued warrants, which vest and expire over time. These warrants, if dilutive, would be excluded from the calculation of EPS since their vesting is contingent upon certain future performance requirements that are not yet probable.
 
Note 17. Commitments and Contingencies

Lease agreements

We lease certain computer and office equipment, the Torrington, CT manufacturing facility, additional manufacturing space in Danbury, CT, and office space in Pasadena, CA, under operating leases expiring on various dates through 2011. Rent expense was $1.2 million, $1.2 million and $1.0 million for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Aggregate minimum annual payments under the lease agreements for the years subsequent to October 31, 2004 are as follows;

2005
 
$
1,328
 
2006
   
876
 
2007
   
876
 
2008
   
773
 
2009
   
773
 
Thereafter
   
598
 
 
 
$
5,224
 
 
Service and warranty agreements

Once a fuel cell is installed at a customer site, the Company generally provides a one-year warranty period. As we have limited operating experience these costs are expensed as incurred. In addition, certain customers have agreed to extended service agreements whereby they will contract with us to provide routine maintenance, minimum operating levels and warranty on certain parts.

Royalty agreements

We have royalty agreements with MTU, Santa Clara and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) pursuant to which we have agreed to pay royalties based upon certain milestones or events relating to the sale of carbonate fuel cells. We have accrued approximately $0.3 million of royalty expense under these agreements. Through October 31, 2004, we have not paid any royalties. In connection with certain contracts and grants from the United States Department of Energy (DOE), we have agreed to pay the DOE 10 percent of the annual license income received from MTU, up to $0.5 million in total. Through 2004, we have paid the DOE a total of $0.4 million.

F-28

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Legal Proceedings

We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings that, either individually or taken as a whole, that we believe could materially harm our business, prospects, results of operations or financial condition.

 Note 18. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

The following represents supplemental cash flow information:

   
Year Ended October 31,
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
               
Cash paid during the period for:
             
Interest
 
$
137
 
$
128
 
$
160
 
Taxes
 
$
480
 
$
151
 
$
218
 
                     
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
                   
Common stock issued in acquisitions
 
$
81,825
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
Capital lease obligations in connection with property and  equipment
 
$
390
 
$
--
 
$
--
 

Capital lease obligations are grouped with current and long term portion of long-term debt and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. 

Note 19.    Quarterly Information (Unaudited)
 
The following tables contain selected unaudited consolidated statement of operations data for each quarter of fiscal years 2004 and 2003. We believe that the following information reflects all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the information for the periods presented. The operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any future period.
 
 
 
First
 
Second
 
Third
 
Fourth
 
Full
 
 
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Year
 
                       
Year ended October 31, 2004:
                     
                       
Revenues
 
$
7,394
 
$
7,049
 
$
8,068
 
$
8,875
 
$
31,386
 
Operating loss
 
$
(29,466
)
$
(19,663
)
$
(19,226
)
$
(21,288
)
$
(89,643
)
Net loss from continuing operations
 
$
(28,518
)
$
(19,155
)
$
(18,883
)
$
(20,784
)
$
(87,289
)
Net loss1)
 
$
(27,862
)
$
(18,869
)
$
(18,928
)
$
(20,784
)
$
(86,443
)
Loss per basic and diluted
                               
common share:
                               
Continuing operations
 
$
(0.60
)
$
(0.40
)
$
(0.39
)
$
(0.43
)
$
(1.82
)
Discontinued operations
 
$
0.01
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
0.01
 
Net loss
 
$
(0.59
)
$
(0.40
)
$
(0.39
)
$
(0.43
)
$
(1.81
)
                                 
                                 
Year ended October 31, 2003:
                               
                                 
Revenues
 
$
10,293
 
$
8,900
 
$
7,276
 
$
7,321
 
$
33,790
 
Operating loss
 
$
(16,976
)
$
(22,899
)
$
(15,893
)
$
(17,800
)
$
(73,568
)
Net loss(1)
 
$
(16,026
)
$
(20,988
)
$
(15,020
)
$
(15,380
)
$
(67,414
)
Loss per basic and diluted common share:
 
$
(0.41
)
$
(0.53
)
$
(0.38
)
$
(0.39
)
$
(1.71
)


(1) - During the year ended October 31, 2004 we acquired and subsequently sold Global Thermoelectric Inc. As a result, we recognized losses from discontinued operations related to this entity during fiscal 2004. There were no losses related to this entity in fiscal 2003.
 

Note 20.    Subsequent Events

Preferred Share Offering

On November 11, 2004, FuelCell Energy, Inc. entered into a Purchase Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Adams Harkness, Inc., and Lazard Freres & Co., LLC (the “Initial Purchasers”) for the private placement under Rule 144A of up to 135,000 shares of 5% Series B Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (Liquidation Preference $1,000) (“Series B preferred stock”). On November 17, 2004, the Company closed on the sale of 100,000 shares of Series B preferred stock to the Initial Purchasers. Net proceeds to the Company were approximately $93.5 million.

Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Initial Purchasers have an option through January 25, 2005 to purchase the remaining 35,000 shares and are entitled to indemnification from us in certain circumstances.

Sale of Canadian Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Operation to Versa Power Systems, Inc.

On November 1, 2004, pursuant to an asset purchase agreement (the “Agreement”), dated October 19, 2004, by and among FuelCell Energy, Inc. (“FuelCell”), its wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, FuelCell Energy, Ltd., Versa Power Systems, Inc. (Versa), a Delaware corporation, and Versa Power Systems, Ltd., a Canadian corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Versa Power Systems, Inc., FuelCell Energy, Ltd. transferred substantially all of its solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) assets and operations (including manufacturing and test equipment, intellectual property and personnel) to Versa Power Systems, Ltd. In exchange, FuelCell received 5,714 shares of Versa Power Systems, Inc. common stock, increasing FuelCell’s ownership position in Versa to 7,714 shares, or 42 percent. No cash was exchanged in the transaction. The consideration received by FuelCell in the transaction was determined based upon arms-length negotiations of the parties.

Pursuant to the terms of the transaction, we expect to incur cash costs in the range of approximately $1.0 million to $1.5 million related to severance and facility consolidations in Calgary, Canada. Approximately $0.1 million of this amount is related to severance payments to employees paid during the quarter ended October 31, 2004. The remaining payments are expected to be made during fiscal year 2005. In addition, we have committed to paying future severance costs for time and service accrued up to November 1, 2004 by employees that are moving to Versa in the event that they are terminated by Versa Power Systems, Ltd. (or its parent). Our liability for such severance costs is limited to the period commencing on November 1, 2004 through the earlier of (1) award of Phase 2 of the SECA program to FuelCell, (2) one year after completion of Phase 1 of the SECA program, or (3) February 26, 2008. Subsequent to this period, Versa Power Systems, Ltd. (or its parent) will be responsible for the severance liability for such employees. We estimate this liability at approximately $0.8 million.

F-29

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended October 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Assets sold to Versa totaled approximately $12.4 million and were classified as held for sale on the consolidated balance sheet as of October 31, 2004. Upon closing on November 1, 2004, our total investment in Versa was approximately $14.4 million and will be classified as “Equity investments” in subsequent periods. We will account for this investment under the equity method in future periods.
 
F-30

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
   
 
January 31,
2005
(Unaudited)
 
October 31,
2004
 
ASSETS
              
Current assets:
              
Cash and cash equivalents
       
$
168,744
 
$
45,759
 
Investments: U.S. treasury securities
         
51,694
   
106,636
 
Accounts receivable, net
         
7,721
   
7,599
 
Inventories, net
         
13,285
   
14,619
 
Other current assets, net
         
4,007
   
4,253
 
Total current assets
       
$
245,451
 
$
178,866
 
                     
Property, plant and equipment, net
         
41,892
   
42,254
 
Investments: long-term U.S. treasury securities
         
10,999
   
--
 
Assets held for sale
         
--
   
12,344
 
Equity Investments
         
13,685
   
2,125
 
Other assets, net
         
673
   
921
 
Total assets
       
$
312,700
 
$
236,510
 
 
                   
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                   
Current liabilities:
                   
Current portion of long-term debt and other liabilities
       
$
562
 
$
539
 
Accounts payable
         
5,835
   
9,526
 
Accrued liabilities
         
6,288
   
5,255
 
Deferred license fee income
         
263
   
37
 
Deferred revenue
         
5,700
   
6,713
 
Total current liabilities
       
$
18,648
 
$
22,070
 
                   
Long-term debt and other liabilities
         
1,217
   
1,476
 
Total liabilities
       
$
19,865
 
$
23,546
 
                     
Shareholders’ equity:
                   
Preferred stock ($0.01 par value); 200,000 shares authorized at January 31, 2005 and October 31, 2004:
                   
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock; 105,875 shares issued and outstanding at January 31, 2005.
         
1
   
--
 
Common stock ($.0001 par value); 150,000,000 shares authorized and 48,163,474 and 48,132,694 shares issued and outstanding at January 31, 2005 and October 31, 2004, respectively
         
5
   
5
 
Preferred shares of subsidiary
         
10,181
   
10,259
 
Additional paid-in capital
         
522,825
   
424,621
 
Accumulated deficit
         
(240,177
)
 
(221,921
)
 Total shareholders’ equity
       
$
292,835
 
$
212,964
 
 
                   
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
       
$
312,700
 
$
236,510
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-31

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
       
Three Months Ended
January 31, 
 
       
2005 
 
2004 
 
Revenues:
              
Product sales and revenues
       
$
5,032
 
$
2,028
 
Research and development contracts
         
2,522
   
5,366
 
Total revenues
       
$
7,554
 
$
7,394
 
                     
Costs and expenses:
                   
Cost of product sales and revenues
         
13,713
   
7,623
 
Cost of research and development contracts
         
2,814
   
7,471
 
Administrative and selling expenses
         
3,130
   
3,701
 
Purchased in-process research and development
         
--
   
12,200
 
Research and development expenses
         
5,233
   
5,865
 
Total costs and expenses
       
$
24,890
 
$
36,860
 
                     
Loss from operations
       
$
(17,336
)
$
(29,466
)
                     
License fee income, net
         
71
   
67
 
Interest expense
         
(42
)
 
(37
)
Loss from equity investments
         
(340
)
 
--
 
Interest and other income, net
         
875
   
918
 
Net loss from continuing operations before provision for income tax
       
$
(16,772
)
$
(28,518
)
                     
Provision for income taxes
         
--
   
--
 
                            
Net loss from continuing operations
       
$
(16,772
)
$
(28,518
)
                     
Discontinued operations, net of tax
         
(1,252
)
 
656
 
                     
Net loss
       
$
(18,024
)
$
(27,862
)
 
                   
Preferred stock dividends
         
(1,342
)
 
(240
)
                     
Net loss to common shareholders
       
$
(19,366
)
$
(28,102
)
                     
Loss per share basic and diluted:
                   
Continuing operations
       
$
(0.37
)
$
(0.60
)
Discontinued operations
         
(0.03
)
 
0.01
 
Net loss to common shareholders
       
$
(0.40
)
$
(0.59
)
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
         
48,152,998
   
47,368,764
 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-32

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 

   
Three Months Ended
January 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
         
Net loss
 
$
(18,024
)
$
(27,862
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
             
operating activities, net of effects of acquisition:
             
(Income)/loss from discontinued operations
   
1,252
   
(656
)
Asset impairment
   
994
   
--
 
Loss in equity investments
   
340
   
--
 
Purchased in process research and development
   
--
   
12,200
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
1,897
   
2,569
 
Loss on disposal of assets
   
--
   
6
 
Provision for doubtful accounts
   
6
   
(10
)
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:
             
Accounts receivable
   
(128
)
 
(2,577
)
Inventories
   
1,336
   
1,377
 
Other current assets
   
491
   
3,201
 
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
             
Accounts payable
   
(3,691
)
 
(8,374
)
Accrued liabilities
   
(420
)
 
3,548
 
Deferred revenue
   
(1,013
)
 
2,899
 
Deferred license fee income and other
   
225
   
225
 
Net cash used in operating activities
 
$
(16,735
)
$
(13,454
)
               
Cash flows from investing activities:
             
Capital expenditures
   
(3,264
)
 
(752
)
Treasury notes matured
   
59,253
   
11,353
 
Treasury notes purchased
   
(15,354
)
 
(9,249
)
Cash acquired from acquisition of Global Thermoelectric, Inc., net of transaction costs
   
--
   
53,029
 
               
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
 
$
40,635
 
$
54,381
 
               
Cash flows from financing activities:
             
Repayment on long-term debt
   
(84
)
 
(76
)
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock
   
99,007
   
--
 
Common stock issued for Option and Stock Purchase Plans
   
161
   
889
 
               
Net cash provided by financing activities
 
$
99,084
 
$
813
 
               
Net Cash provided by discontinued operations
   
--
   
200
 
               
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
122,984
 
$
41,940
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents-beginning of period
   
45,759
   
41,000
 
Cash and cash equivalents-end of period
 
$
168,743
 
$
82,940
 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-33

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
For the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

FuelCell Energy, Inc. is engaged in the development and commercialization of carbonate fuel cell technology for stationary power generation. We manufacture carbonate fuel cells, generally on a contract basis. We are currently in the process of commercializing our Direct FuelCell technology and expect to incur losses as we expand our product development, commercialization program and manufacturing operations.

Basis of Presentation - Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, for interim financial information, and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not contain all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly our financial position as of January 31, 2005 have been included. The balance sheet as of October 31, 2004 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date.

The results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended January 31, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The reader should supplement the information in this document with prior disclosures in our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Alliance Monterrey, LLC and Alliance Chico, LLC are joint ventures with Alliance Power, Inc. to construct fuel cell power plants and sell power under power purchase agreements with the City of Santa Barbara and the Sierra Nevada Brewery Co. The financial results of the joint ventures were consolidated with those of FuelCell, which owns 80 percent of each entity.

Certain reclassifications have been made to our prior year amounts to conform to the 2005 presentation.

Foreign Currency Translation

Our Canadian subsidiary, FuelCell Energy, Ltd. is financially and operationally integrated and therefore the temporal method of translation of foreign currencies is followed. Under the temporal method, foreign currency gains or losses are recorded on the statement of operations. The functional currency is U.S. dollars. As of November 1, 2004, all Canadian business operations were transferred to Versa Power Systems, Inc. (refer to Note 2 - Discontinued Operations and Sale of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Assets) but we do retain the legal entity in Canada with certain monetary balances (primarily cash). We recognized approximately $0.03 million in foreign currency loss and $0.3 million in foreign currency gain during the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. These amounts have been classified in interest and other income on our consolidated statement of operations.
 
F-34

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
For the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Stock-Based Compensation

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, encourages entities to recognize the fair value of all stock-based awards on the date of grant as expense over the vesting period. Alternatively, SFAS No. 123 allows entities to continue to apply the intrinsic value method provisions of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25 and provide pro forma net income and pro forma earnings per share disclosures for employees’ stock option grants as if the fair-value-based method defined in SFAS No. 123 had been applied. We apply the pro forma disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123. Accordingly, no compensation expense was recorded in the statement of operations. The following table illustrates the effect on net loss and net loss per basic and diluted share as if we had applied the fair value method to our stock-based compensation, as required under the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123:
 
   
Three Months Ended January 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
Net loss to common shareholders, as reported
 
$
(19,366
)
$
(28,102
)
Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value method for all awards
   
(1,625
)
 
(2,238
)
Pro forma net loss to common shareholders
 
$
(20,991
)
$
(30,340
)
               
Loss per basic and diluted common share to common shareholders, as reported
 
$
(0.40
)
$
(0.59
)
Pro forma loss per basic and diluted common share to common shareholders
 
$
(0.44
)
$
(0.64
)

These pro forma amounts may not be representative of future disclosures since the estimated fair value of stock options is amortized to expense over the vesting period, and additional options may be granted in future years. The pro forma amounts assume that the corporation had been following the fair value approach since the beginning.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss totaled $(18,256) for the three months January 31, 2005. Comprehensive loss included an adjustment to retained earnings totaling approximately $0.2 million as a result from switching from the cost to equity method of accounting for our investment in Versa Power, Ltd. Refer also to Note 3 - Equity Investments.

Comprehensive loss totaled $(27,862) for the three months ended January 31, 2004.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 (revised 2004) (“SFAS No. 123R”), “Share-Based Payment” which revised SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. This statement supercedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” The revised statement addresses the accounting for share-based payment transactions with employees and other third parties, eliminates the ability to account for share-based compensation transactions using APB 25 and requires that the compensation costs relating to such transactions be recognized in the consolidated statement of operations. The revised statement is effective as of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2005. We are currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS No. 123R and will adopt it on August 1, 2005 as required.

F-35

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
For the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
In November 2004, the FASB ratified the consensus reached by the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”), on Issue No. 03-13, “Applying the Conditions in Paragraph 42 of FASB Statement No. 144 in Determining Whether to Report Discontinued Operations”. The Issue provides a model to assist in evaluating (a) which cash flows should be considered in the determination of whether cash flows of the disposal component have been or will be eliminated from the ongoing operations of the entity and (b) the types of continuing involvement that constitute significant continuing involvement in the operations of the disposal component. Should significant continuing ongoing involvement exist, then the disposal component shall be reported in the results of continuing operations on the consolidated statements of operations and cash flows. We applied the provisions of this accounting standard to our financial statements.

In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs,” which amends the guidance in ARB No. 43, Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing,” to clarify the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material. This Statement requires that those items be recognized as current-period charges regardless of whether they meet the criterion of “so abnormal.” In addition, this Statement requires that allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. We are currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS No. 151 and will adopt it on November 1, 2005, as required.

Note 2.    Discontinued Operations and Sale of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Assets
 
.  
During fiscal 2004, we acquired, Global Thermoelectric Inc. (Global) and subsequently divested its generator business unit through the sale of Global on May 28, 2004. The following table represents the results of discontinued operations, net of related income taxes:

 
     
Three months ended January 31, 
 
     
2005(1) 
   
2004(2) 
 
Product sales and revenues
 
$
--
 
$
5,945
 
Cost of product sales
   
--
   
4,354
 
Asset impairments and facility exit costs
   
1,252
   
--
 
Operating expenses
   
--
   
764
 
Operating income / (loss)
 
$
(1,252
)
$
827
 
Provision for income taxes
   
--
   
171
 
Discontinued operations, net of tax
 
$
(1,252
)
$
656
 
 

(1)  
During the three months ended January 31, 2005 we exited certain facilities in Canada and as a result recorded fixed asset impairment charges totaling approximately $0.9 million. In addition, we incurred approximately $0.4 million of exit costs related to these facilities which resulted in total loss from discontinued operations of approximately $1.3 million.
(2)  
During fiscal 2004, we acquired Global Thermoelectric Inc. (Global) and subsequently divested its generator business unit through the sale of Global on May 28, 2004. As a result, historical results were reclassified as discontinued operations. Income, net of taxes related to the generator business totaled approximately $0.7 million for the three months ended January 31, 2004.
 
F-36

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
For the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Sale of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Assets

On October 19, 2004, we signed a definitive agreement to transfer substantially all of our Canadian SOFC assets and operations (including manufacturing and test equipment, intellectual property and personnel) to Versa Power Systems, Ltd. This transaction closed on November 1, 2004. In exchange, we received 5,714 shares of Versa Power Systems, Inc. common stock, increasing our ownership position in Versa to 7,714 shares, or 42 percent. No cash was exchanged in the transaction. The consideration received by us in the transaction was determined based upon arms-length negotiations of the parties.

The following assets and liabilities of the SOFC operation were divested:
 
Assets
     
Property, plant and equipment, net
 
$
7,429
 
Goodwill
   
4,816
 
Other assets
   
39
 
Total assets sold
 
$
12,284
 
         
Long term debt sold
 
$
152
 

As defined by EITF Issue 03-13, we will have an ongoing significant involvement in SOFC Operation given our 42 percent ownership interest. Therefore, the fiscal 2004 results of the Canadian SOFC operation have been reported as continuing operations in the consolidated statements of operations and cash flows.

Note 3. Equity investments

Equity investments include our investment in Versa Power Systems, Inc., totaling approximately $13.6 million and $2.0 million as of January 31, 2005 and as of October 31, 2004, respectively. We began accounting for this investment under the equity method of accounting as of November 1, 2004, at which time our ownership had increased from 16 percent to 42 percent.

With the change from the cost to the equity method of accounting, we recorded an adjustment of $0.2 million to accumulated deficit to account for our share of the historical losses in this entity assuming the Company had always been under the equity method. Our share of equity losses for the three months ended January 31, 2005, totaled $0.3 million.

We also have a 25 percent ownership interest in Xiamen Technology Co. Ltd., valued at approximately $0.1 million which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Note 4. Investments in U.S. treasury securities

Our short and long-term investments are in U.S. treasury securities, which are held to maturity. The following table summarizes the amortized cost basis and fair value at January 31, 2005 and October 31, 2004:

F-37

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
For the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
(Losses)
 
Fair
Value
 
At January 31, 2005
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government obligations
 
$
62,693
 
$
--
 
$
(163
)
$
62,530
 
                           
At October 31, 2004
   
   
   
   
 
U.S. government obligations
 
$
106,636
 
$
--
 
$
(190
)
$
(106,446
)
 
Reported as:
 
   
January 31,
 
October 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
Short-term investments
 
$
51,694
 
$
106,636
 
Long-term investments
   
10,999
   
--
 
Total
 
$
62,693
 
$
106,636
 

Short-term investments securities have maturity dates ranging from February 28, 2005 to January 31, 2006, and estimated yields ranging from 1.11 percent to 2.69 percent. Long-term investments securities have maturity dates ranging from February 28, 2006 to May 31, 2006, and estimated yields ranging from 2.25 percent to 2.86 percent. Our weighted average yield on our short and long-term investments was 2.03 percent as of January 31, 2005.

Note 5. Inventories
 
The components of inventory at January 31, 2005 and October 31, 2004 consisted of the following:

   
January 31,
 
October 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
           
Raw materials
 
$
595
 
$
1,663
 
Work-in-process and finished goods
   
12,690
   
12,956
 
Total
 
$
13,285
 
$
14,619
 

Our inventories are stated at the lower of recoverable cost or market price. We provide for a lower of cost or market (LCM) adjustment against gross inventory values. Our LCM adjustment, reducing gross inventory values to the reported amounts, was approximately $7.7 million and $11.3 million at January 31, 2005 and October 31, 2004, respectively.
 
Note 6. Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment at January 31, 2005 and October 31, 2004 consisted of the following:

   
January 31, 2005
 
October 31, 2004
 
Estimated Useful Life
 
Land
 
$
524
 
$
524
   
 
Building and improvements
   
5,891
   
6,824
   
10-30 years
 
Machinery, equipment and software
   
47,665
   
48,576
   
3-8 years
 
Furniture and fixtures
   
2,210
   
2,217
   
6-10 years
 
Assets available for lease(1)
   
2,063
   
2,063
   
3 years
 
Construction in progress(2)
   
9,802
   
6,645
       
   
$
68,155
 
$
66,849
       
Less, accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
(26,263
)
 
(24,595
)
     
Total
 
$
41,892
 
$
42,254
       
 

(1)  
- Assets available for lease are two DFC 300 power plants which we have designated available for lease. One of these assets is currently under lease to a customer and another is on loan to a government test facility.
(2)  
- Included in construction in progress are costs to build power plants, which will service power purchase agreement (PPA) contracts. These plants are being constructed by joint ventures, we are a 80 percent owner and, as a result, consolidated on our financial statements.
 
F-38

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
For the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Depreciation expense was approximately $1.8 million and $2.5 million for the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

During the three months ended January 31, 2005 we recorded a fixed asset impairment charge related to an obsolete catalyst extruding system totaling $0.9 million, against cost of product sales. This was related to a planned change in manufacturing processes that is expected to improve product performance and reduce costs in future periods. In addition, during the three months ended January 31, 2005 we recorded a fixed asset impairment charge to discontinued operations totaling $0.9 million related to excess facilities in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Note 7. Shareholders' Equity
 
Changes in shareholders’ equity
 
Changes in shareholders’ equity were as follows for the quarter ended January 31, 2005:

Balance at October 31, 2004
 
$
212,964
 
Issuance of Series B Preferred shares
   
99,007
 
Accretion of fair value discount of preferred stock
   
300
 
Reduction of additional paid in capital for accretion of discount
   
(300
)
Series B preferred dividends accrued
   
(1,041
)
Proceeds from sales of shares through employee stock plans
   
161
 
Equity method losses in Versa Power Systems, Inc.(1)
   
(232
)
Net loss
   
(18,024
)
Balance at January 31, 2005
 
$
292,835
 
 

(1) With an increase of ownership in Versa Power Systems, Inc. to 42 percent, we now account for our investment under the equity method of accounting. As a result, we recorded a $0.2 million adjustment against retained earnings to record historical losses as if the investment had been accounted for under the equity method since our original investment in fiscal 2002.
 
F-39

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
For the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Series B Preferred Shares

On November 11, 2004, we entered into a purchase agreement with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Adams Harkness, Inc., and Lazard Freres & Co., LLC (the “Initial Purchasers”) for the private placement under Rule 144A of up to 135,000 shares of our 5% Series B Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (Liquidation Preference $1,000). On November 17, 2004, we closed on the sale of 100,000 shares of Series B preferred stock to the Initial Purchasers. Net proceeds to us were approximately $93.5 million.

Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the Initial Purchasers had an option through January 25, 2005 to purchase the remaining 35,000 shares and are entitled to indemnification from us in certain circumstances. On January 18, 2005, we closed on the sale of 5,875 shares of Series B preferred stock to the Initial Purchasers. Net proceeds to us were approximately $5.5 million.

The following is a summary of certain provisions of our Series B preferred stock. The shares of our Series B preferred stock and the shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of our Series B preferred stock are covered by a registration rights agreement.

Ranking

Shares of our Series B preferred stock rank with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, winding up or dissolution:

·  senior to shares of our common stock;
·  junior to our debt obligations; and
·  effectively junior to our subsidiaries' (i) existing and future liabilities and (ii) capital stock held by others.

Dividends

The Series B preferred stock pays cumulative annual dividends of $50 per share which are payable quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, commencing February 15, 2005, when, as and if declared by the board of directors. Dividends will be paid on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Dividends on the shares of our Series B preferred stock will accumulate and be cumulative from the date of original issuance. Accumulated dividends on the shares of our Series B preferred stock will not bear any interest.

We may pay dividends on the Series B preferred stock:

·  in cash;
·  at the option of the holder, in shares of our common stock, which will be registered pursuant to a registration statement to allow for the immediate sale of these common shares in the public market; or
·  any combination thereof.

Liquidation

The Series B preferred stock has a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company resulting in a distribution of assets to the holders of any class or series of our capital stock, each holder of shares of our Series B preferred stock will be entitled to payment out of our assets available for distribution of an amount equal to the liquidation preference per share of Series B preferred stock held by that holder, plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends on those shares to the date of that liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, before any distribution is made on any junior shares, including shares of our common stock, but after any distributions on any of our indebtedness or senior shares (if any). After payment in full of the liquidation preference and all accumulated and unpaid dividends to which holders of shares of our Series B preferred stock are entitled, holders of shares of our Series B preferred stock will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of our assets.
 
F-40

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
For the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Conversion

A share of our Series B preferred stock may be converted at any time, at the option of the holder, into 85.1064 shares of our common stock (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of $11.75 per share) plus cash in lieu of fractional shares. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, as described below, but will not be adjusted for accumulated and unpaid dividends. Upon conversion, holders of Series B preferred stock will not receive a cash payment for any accumulated dividends. Instead, accumulated dividends, if any, will be cancelled.

On or after November 20, 2009 we may, at our option, cause shares of our Series B preferred stock to be automatically converted into that number of shares of our common stock that are issuable at the then prevailing conversion rate. We may exercise our conversion right only if the closing price of our common stock exceeds 150% of the then prevailing conversion price for 20 trading days during any consecutive 30 trading day period, as described in the certificate of designation, as amended, for the Series B preferred stock.

If there is a fundamental change in the ownership or control of FuelCell (as described in the certificate of designation, as amended), holders of our Series B preferred stock may require us to purchase all or part of their shares at a redemption price equal to 100% of the liquidation preference of the shares of our Series B preferred stock to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, in the manner set forth in the certificate of designation, as amended.

Voting

Holders of shares of our Series B preferred stock have no voting rights unless (1) dividends on any shares of our Series B preferred stock or any other class or series of stock ranking on a parity with the shares of our Series B preferred stock with respect to the payment of dividends shall be in arrears for dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, containing in the aggregate a number of days equivalent to six calendar quarters or (2) we fail to pay the repurchase price, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, on the fundamental change repurchase date for shares of our Series B preferred stock following a fundamental change (as described in the certificate of designation, as amended, for the Series B preferred stock).

Preferred shares of subsidiary

In conjunction with our acquisition of Global, we assumed the preferred share obligation comprised of 1,000,000 Series 2 non-voting Preferred Shares. With the sale of the Global entity in May of 2004, the Global Series 2 Preferred Shares were cancelled, and replaced with substantially equivalent Series 1 Preferred Shares (Preferred Shares) issued by FuelCell Energy, Ltd. The Preferred Shares are convertible at the option of the holder into a number of our common shares based on the fraction by which their face value of Cdn.$25.00 is of the conversion prices (in Canadian dollars) identified below:

F-41

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
For the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Period of conversion
 
Conversion price per share of FuelCell common stock in Canadian Dollars(1)
 
Conversion price per share of FuelCell common stock
in U.S. Dollars (1) (2)
To July 31, 2005
 
Cdn.$110.97
 
$ 84.34
August 1, 2005 to July 31, 2010
 
Cdn.$120.22
 
$ 91.31
August 1, 2010 to July 31, 2015
 
Cdn.$129.46
 
$ 98.39
August 1, 2015 to July 31, 2020
 
Cdn.$138.71
 
$ 105.42
After July 31, 2020
 
95% of the market trading price of FuelCell’s common stock at the time of conversion (expressed in Canadian dollars)
 
95% of the market trading price of FuelCell’s common stock at the time of conversion
 

(1)  
The foregoing “conversion prices” are subject to adjustment for certain subsequent events.
(2)  
While the conversion of preferred shares is based on the prices of our common stock expressed in Canadian dollars, we have provided this example of conversion prices in U.S. dollars assuming a constant exchange rate of 0.76 U.S. dollars to 1.00 Canadian dollar (which was the exchange rate at the date of acquisition). The conversion price in U.S. dollars will increase or decrease over time as currency rates fluctuate.
 
Quarterly dividends of Cdn.$312,500 accrue on the Preferred Shares (subject to possible reduction pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Shares on account of increases in the price of our common stock). We have agreed to pay a minimum of Cdn.$500,000 in cash or common stock annually to Enbridge Inc., the holder of the Preferred Shares, so long as Enbridge holds the shares. Interest accrues on cumulative unpaid dividends at a 2.45 percent quarterly rate, compounded quarterly, until payment thereof. All cumulative unpaid dividends must be paid by December 31, 2010. From 2010 through 2020, we would be required to pay annual dividend amounts totaling Cdn.$1.25 million. During the year ended October 31, 2004, we paid cash dividends totaling Cdn. $500,000 to Enbridge.

The Preferred Shares may be redeemed by us, in whole or part, if on the day that the notice of redemption is first given, the volume-weighted average price at which our common shares are traded is at least a 20 percent premium to the current conversion price on payment of Cdn.$25.00 per Preferred Share to be redeemed, together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed for redemption. On or after July 31, 2010, the Preferred Shares are redeemable at any time on payment of Cdn.$25.00 per Preferred Share to be redeemed together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed for redemption.

As of the November 3, 2003 acquisition date of Global, the fair value of the Preferred Shares was determined to be $9.1 million. The fair value of the Preferred Shares is adjusted quarterly to reflect dividend payments and accretion of the fair value discount. As of January 31, 2005, this was valued at $10.2 million.
 
Warrants

On April 6, 2004, we issued warrants to purchase 1,000,000 shares of our common stock to Marubeni Corporation (Marubeni) in conjunction with a revised distribution agreement. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, Marubeni placed orders for 4 megawatts of DFC power plants, and committed to creating a sub-distributor network and to provide additional support for our products. All previously issued warrants to Marubeni were cancelled. As part of the new warrant agreements, the warrants vest in separate tranches once Marubeni has ordered totals of between 5 MW and 45 MW of our products. The exercise prices of the warrants range from $13.78 to $18.73 per share and the warrants will expire between April 2005 and April 2007, if not exercised sooner.

F-42

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
For the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Concurrent with the April 6, 2004 agreement, the first tranche of 200,000 warrants vested. The fair value of these warrants was determined to be $0.5 million. This has been recorded as other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet with the offsetting entry to additional paid in capital. In accordance with our warrant value recognition policy, a proportional amount of the fair value of the warrants will be recorded against the revenue, when recognized, as a sales discount. To date, discounts of approximately $0.1 million have been recognized against revenue. As of January 31, 2005, these warrants had not been exercised.

Note 8. Segment Information and Major Customers
 
Under SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” we use the “management” approach to reporting segments. The management approach designates the internal organization that is used by management for making operating decisions and assessing performance as the source of reportable segments. SFAS No. 131 also requires disclosures about products and services, geographic areas, and major customers. Under SFAS No. 131, we have identified one business segment: fuel cell power plant production and research.

Enterprise-wide Information
 
Enterprise-wide information provided on geographic revenues is based on the customer’s ordering location. The following table presents revenues (greater than ten percent of our total revenues):
 
     
Three months ended
January 31, 
 
Revenues:    
2005
   
2004 
 
United States
 
$
4,795
 
$
6,719
 
Germany
   
1,450
   
*
 
Japan
   
1,309
   
*
 
Total
 
$
7,554
 
$
7,394
 
 

* - Less than ten percent of total revenues in period.

Information about Major Customers
 
We contract with a small number of customers for the sales of our products or research and development contracts. Those customers that accounted for greater than ten percent of our total revenues during the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004 are as follows:

   
 
Three months endedJanuary 31,  
       
2005
 
 2004
 
U.S. Government (1)
   
   
33
%
 
73
%
MTU CFC Solutions, GmbH
         
19
%
 
*
%
Chevron Energy Solutions
   
   
18
%
 
*
 
Marubeni, Inc.
   
   
17
%
 
*
 
Caterpillar, Inc
         
*
   
10
%
 

* - Less than ten percent of total revenues in period.
(1) - Includes government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Navy either directly or through prime contractors.
 
F-43

 
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
For the three months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004
(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Note 9. Earnings Per Share
 
Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated using the following data:
 
   
Three months ended
January 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
Weighted average basic common shares
   
48,152,998
   
47,368,764
 
Effect of dilutive securities(1)
   
-
   
-
 
Weighted average basic common shares adjusted for diluted calculations
   
48,152,998
   
47,368,764
 
 

(1)  
We computed earnings per share without consideration to potentially dilutive instruments due to the fact that the losses incurred would make them antidilutive. For the three months ended January 31, 2005, and 2004 the shares of potentially dilutive (in-the-money) stock options were 5,234,778 and 3,110,898, respectively. We also have issued warrants, which vest and expire over time. These warrants, if dilutive, would be excluded from the calculation of EPS since their vesting is contingent upon certain future performance requirements that are not yet probable. The Company also has convertible preferred stock outstanding which has also been excluded from this calculation as the effect would be antidilutive.

 Note 10. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

The following represents supplemental cash flow information:

   
Three Months Ended
January 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
Cash paid during the period for:
         
Interest
 
$
42
 
$
37
 
Taxes
 
$
72
 
$
250
 
               
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
             
Common stock issued in acquisitions
 
$
--
 
$
81,825
 
Assets and liabilities, net, invested in Versa Power Systems, Inc.
 
$
12,132
 
$
--
 
 
F-44





 
[LOGO]

1,800,000 Shares of Common Stock


______________



PROSPECTUS



APRIL [__], 2005




 

 
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
Item 13.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
 
The following table sets forth all expenses payable by us in connection with the offering of the securities being registered. All such expenses are being borne by us.

SEC Registration Fee
 
$
1,885.55
 
Accounting Fees and Expenses*
 
$
25,000.00
 
Legal Fees and Expenses*
 
$
75,000.00
 
Miscellaneous Expenses*
 
$
18,114.45
 
 
   
 
Total*
 
$
120,000.00
 
 
* Estimated.
 
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
 
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation may indemnify any person, including an officer and director, who was or is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.  The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of such corporation, and, with respect to any criminal actions and proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.  A Delaware corporation may indemnify any person, including an officer or director, who was or is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or contemplated action or suit by or in the right of such corporation, under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if such person is adjudged to be liable to such corporation.  Where an officer or director of a corporation is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or any claim, issue or matter herein, the corporation must indemnify such person against the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) which such officer or director actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.
 
Our certificate of incorporation provides that none of our directors will be personally liable to us or our shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
 
Our by-laws provide for indemnification of our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. We also maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies. 
 

 
Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
 
On November 17, 2004, we issued an aggregate of 100,000 shares of our Series B preferred stock for $100 million in a private placement to Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Adams Harkness, Inc. and Lazard Feres & Co., LLC (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”), pursuant to a Purchase Agreement dated November 11, 2004 between FuelCell and the Initial Purchasers. The shares of our Series B preferred stock were issued to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the Initial Purchasers were granted an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 35,000 shares of Series B preferred stock through January 25, 2005 and are entitled to indemnification from us in certain circumstances. On January 14, 2005, we sold an additional 5,875 shares of our Series B preferred stock to the Initial Purchasers as part of the over-allotment option. Each of the shares of our Series B preferred stock will be convertible at the holder’s option at any time into 85.1064 shares of our common stock, subject to adjustment, which represents an initial conversion price of $11.75 per share of our Series B preferred stock. On and after November 29, 2004, if the closing price of our common stock exceeds 150 percent of the conversion price for 20 trading days during any consecutive 30 trading day period, we may, at our option, cause the shares of our Series B preferred stock to be automatically converted into shares of our common stock at the then prevailing conversion rate.
 
On April 6, 2004, we issued warrants to purchase 1,000,000 shares of our common stock to Marubeni Corporation. The warrant agreements call for the warrants to be exercisable on a graduated scale based on order flow generated by Marubeni. The full quantity of warrants will vest with order commitments for 45 megawatts of DFC power plants. The exercise prices of the warrants range from $13.78 to $18.73 per share and the warrants expire between April 2005 and April 2007. The warrants were issued pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. All warrants issued to Marubeni prior to April 6, 2004 were cancelled in conjunction with the April 6, 2004 warrant agreements.
 
On November 4, 2003, we signed a distribution agreement with Enbridge, Inc. to distribute our products in Canada. As part of the agreement, Enbridge received warrants to purchase 500,000 shares of our common stock. The agreement calls for the warrants to be exercisable on a graduated scale based on order flow generated by Enbridge. The full quantity of warrants will vest with order commitments for 20 megawatts of DFC power plants. The exercise prices of the warrants range from $14.65 to $19.04 per share and the warrants expire in November 2006. The warrants were issued pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
 
On November 3, 2003, in connection with our acquisition of Global, we issued an aggregate of approximately 8.2 million common shares and exchangeable shares to the former shareholders of Global. The common and exchangeable shares were issued pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
On April 26, 2002, we signed an alliance agreement with Caterpillar, Inc. As part of the agreement, Caterpillar received warrants to purchase 1,500,000 shares of our common stock with exercise prices ranging from $17 to $23 per share. The warrants vest on a graduated scale contingent upon the first 45 MW’s of order commitments to purchase our products. The warrants were issued pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 
 

 
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
 
(a) EXHIBITS 
 
The following exhibits are included or incorporated herein by reference:
 
Exhibit No. Description 
   
3.1
 
Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended, July 12, 1999 (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's Form 8-K dated September 21, 1999)
 
3.1.1
 
Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated October 31, 2003 (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's Form 8-K dated November 4, 2003)
 
3.1.2
 
FuelCell Energy, Inc. Certificate of Designation 135,000 Shares of 5% Series B Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's Form 8-K dated November 22, 2004)
 
 
3.1.3
 
Amended Certificate of Designation 105,875 Shares of 5% Series B Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in Amendment No. 1 to the Company's registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-122216) filed with the SEC on March 14, 2005)
 
 
3.2
 
Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, dated July 13,1999 (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's Form 8-K dated September 21, 1999)
 
4
 
Specimen of Common Share Certificate (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10K/A for fiscal year ended October 31, 1999)
 
5
Opinion of Robinson & Cole LLP
 
10.1
Purchase Agreement, dated November 11, 2004, among FuelCell Energy, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Adams Harkness, Inc., and Lazard Freres & Co., LLC. (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's Form 8-K dated November 22, 2004)
 
10.2
Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 17, 2004, among FuelCell Energy, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Adams Harkness, Inc., and Lazard Freres & Co., LLC. (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's Form 8-K dated November 22, 2004)
 

 
Exhibit No. Description 
10.3
Preferred Stock Transfer Agency Agreement dated as of November 17, 2004 between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in Amendment No. 1 to the Company's registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-122216) filed with the SEC on March 14, 2005)
 
10.4
Amendment dated March 9, 2005 to Preferred Stock Transfer Agency Agreement (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in Amendment No. 1 to the Company's registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-122216) filed with the SEC on March 14, 2005)
 
10.6
 
**License Agreement, dated February 11, 1988, between EPRI and the Company (confidential treatment requested) (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-47233) dated April 14, 1992)
 
10.21
 
*FuelCell Energy, Inc. 1988 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's Amendment No. 1 to its Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-47233) dated June 1, 1992)
 
10.26
 
Addendum to License Agreement, dated as of September 29, 1989, between Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm and the Company (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's Amendment No. 3 to its Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-47233) dated June 24, 1992)
 
10.27
 
Cross-Licensing and Cross-Selling Agreement, as amended December 15, 1999, between the Company and MTU Motoren-Und Turbinen-Union Friedrichshafen GmbH (“MTU”) (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2000)
 
10.31
 
License Agreement for The Santa Clara Demonstration Project between the Company and the Participants in the Santa Clara Demonstration Project, dated September 16, 1993 (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's 10-KSB for fiscal year ended October 31, 1993, dated January 18, 1994)
 
10.32
 
Security Agreement for the Santa Clara Demonstration Project, dated September 16, 1993 (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's 10-KSB for fiscal year ended October 31, 1993, dated January 18, 1994)
 
10.33
 
Guaranty By FuelCell Energy, Inc., dated September 16, 1993, for the Santa Clara Demonstration Project (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's 10-KSB for fiscal year ended October 31, 1993, dated January 18, 1994)
 
 

 
Exhibit No. Description 
10.36
 
*The FuelCell Energy, Inc. Section 423 Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's 10-KSB for fiscal year ended October 31, 1994 dated January 18, 1995)
 
10.39
 
**Cooperative Agreement, dated December 20, 1994, between the Company and the United States Department of Energy, Cooperative Agreement #DE-FC21-95MC31184 (confidential treatment requested) (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's 10-KSB for fiscal year ended October 31, 1994 dated January 18, 1995)
 
10.40
 
Loan and Security Agreement between the Company and MetLife Capital Corporation (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's 10-KSB for fiscal year ended October 31, 1995 dated January 17, 1996)
 
10.41
 
*Amendment No. 2 to the FuelCell Energy, Inc. Section 423 Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's 10-Q for the period ended April 30, 1996 dated June 13, 1996)
 
10.42
 
*Amendments to the FuelCell Energy, Inc. 1988 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company's 10-Q for the period ended April 30, 1996 dated June 13, 1996)
 
10.47
 
Amendment of Cooperative Agreement dated September 5, 1996 between the Company and the United States Department of Energy, Cooperative Agreement #DE-FC21-95MC31184 (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company’s 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998)
 
10.48
 
*Employment Agreement between FuelCell Energy, Inc. and the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, dated October 5, 1998 (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company’s 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998)
 
10.49
 
*Employment Agreement between FuelCell Energy, Inc. and the President and Chief Executive Officer, dated August 1, 1997 (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company’s 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997)
 
10.50
 
**Technology Transfer and License Agreement between the Company and the Joint Venture owned jointly by the Xiamen Daily-Used Chemicals Co., Ltd. of China and Nan Ya Plastics Corporation of Taiwan, dated February 21, 1998 (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company’s 10-Q for the period ended April 30, 1998)
 
10.54
 
*The FuelCell Energy, Inc. 1998 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company’s 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 1998)
 
 

 
Exhibit No. Description 
10.55
 
Lease agreement, dated March 8, 2000, between the Company and Technology Park Associates, L.L.C. (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company’s 10-Q for the period ended April 30, 2000)
 
10.56
 
Security agreement, dated June 30, 2000, between the Company and the Connecticut Development Authority (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company’s 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2000)
 
10.57
 
Loan agreement, dated June 30, 2000, between the Company and the Connecticut Development Authority (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company’s 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2000)
 
10.58
 
*Modification, dated June 20, 2002, to the Employment Agreement between FuelCell Energy, Inc. and the President and Chief Executive Officer (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company’s 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2002)
 
10.59
 
Combination Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2003, by and between by and between FuelCell Energy, Inc., and Global Thermoelectric Inc. (incorporated by reference to exhibit 2.1 contained in the Company's Form 8-K dated June 14, 2004)
 
10.60
 
Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 19, 2004, by and between FuelCell Energy, Inc., FCE Canada Inc., Global Thermoelectric Inc., GTI Acquisition Inc. and Rockwood Equity Partners LLC (incorporated by reference to exhibit 99.1 contained in the Company's Form 8-K dated August 4, 2003)
 
10.61
 
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated October 19, 2004, by and among FuelCell Energy, Inc., FuelCell Energy, Ltd., Versa Power Systems, Inc. and Versa Power Systems, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to exhibit 99.1 contained in the Company's Form 8-K dated October 25, 2004)
 
10.62
 
Share Pledge Agreement, dated November 1, 2004, between FuelCell Energy, Inc. and Enbridge, Inc. (incorporated by reference to exhibit 99.1 contained in the Company's Form 8-K dated November 10, 2004)
 
10.63
 
Guaranty, dated May 27, 2004 , between FuelCell Energy, Inc. and Enbridge, Inc. (incorporated by reference to exhibit 99.2 contained in the Company's Form 8-K dated November 10, 2004)
 
10.64
 
Share Structure Attached to and Forming Part of the Restated Articles of FuelCell Energy, Inc. filed with the Alberta Registrar of Corporations On May 27, 2004 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 99.3 contained in the Company's Form 8-K dated November 10, 2004)
 
21
 
Subsidiaries of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company’s 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004)
 
 

Exhibit No. Description 
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2
Consent of Robinson & Cole LLP (included in Exhibit 5)
   
24
Power of attorney (incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number contained in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on January 21, 2005)
 
 

* Management Contract or Compensatory Plan or Arrangement.
**Confidential Treatment has been granted for portions of this document.
 
(B)  FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

Financial statement schedules are not provided because of the absence of conditions under which they are required or because the required information is given in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
 

 
Item 17. Undertakings 
 
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
 
1. To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
 
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
 
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high and of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement.
 
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
 
2.  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
3.  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
 
4.  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 


Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 2 to this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Danbury, State of Connecticut, on April 7, 2005.
 
     
  FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:   /s/ Jerry D. Leitman
 
Jerry D. Leitman
  President and Chief Executive Officer
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
SIGNATURE
TITLE
DATE
 
 
 
*
Chairman of the Board, President and
April 7, 2005
Jerry D. Leitman
Chief Executive Officer
 
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
April 7, 2005
Joseph G. Mahler
Officer, Corporate Secretary and Treasurer
 
 
(Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Director
---------
Warren D. Bagatelle
 
 
     
     
 
 
 
*
Director
April 7, 2005
Michael Bode
 
 
 
 
 
*
Director  
April 7, 2005
James D. Gerson
 
 
 
 
 
*
Director
April 7, 2005
Thomas L. Kempner
 
 
 
 
 
 
Director
---------
William A. Lawson
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
*
Director
April 7, 2005
Charles J. Murphy
 
 
 
 
 
*
Director
April 7, 2005
John A. Rolls
 
 
 
 
 
*
Director
April 7, 2005
Thomas R. Casten
   
     
 
Director
---------
George K. Petty
 
 
 
* By /s/ Jerry D. Leitman
 
 
Jerry D. Leitman
Attorney-in-Fact
   
 


INDEX OF EXHIBITS
 
 
Exhibit No.
 
 
 
Description
 
     
5
 
Opinion of Robinson & Cole LLP
23.1
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2
 
Consent of Robinson & Cole LLP (included in Exhibit 5)