UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-K
x
ANNUAL
REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
For
the fiscal year ended
December
31, 2008
¨
TRANSITION
REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
Commission
file number
000-50542
HYDROGEN
ENGINE CENTER, INC.
(Exact name of registrant
as specified in its charter)
Nevada
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82-0497807
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(State
or other jurisdiction of
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(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
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incorporation
or organization)
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2502
East Poplar Street, Algona, Iowa 50511
(Address
of principal executive offices)
(515)
295–3178
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
Securities
registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
None
Securities
registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:
$0.001
par value Common Stock
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
¨
Yes
x
No
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 of Section 15(d) of the Act.
¨
Yes
x
No
Indicate
by check mark whether registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed
by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days.
x
Yes
¨
No
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K (Code Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein,
and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definite
proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this
From 10-K or any amendment to this form.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” and
“smaller reporting company” in Rule 12-b-2 of the Exchange
Act. (Check one):
Large
accelerated filer
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Accelerated
Filer
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Non-accelerated
filer
¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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Smaller
Reporting Company
x
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Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
¨
Yes
x
No
As of June 30, 2008, we had 13,206,486 shares held by
persons not considered affiliates of the company. The closing price
on that date was $0.47 for an aggregate market value of shares held by
non-affiliates of $6,207,048.
As of March 24, 2009, we had 30,214,902 common shares
outstanding.
DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The registrant has incorporated by
reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K portions of its
definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year covered by this
Annual Report.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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PART I
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ITEM 1.
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BUSINESS
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4
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ITEM 1A.
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RISK
FACTORS
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16
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ITEM 2.
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PROPERTIES
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25
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ITEM 3.
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LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
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25
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ITEM 4.
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SUBMISSION
OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
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25
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PART II
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ITEM 5.
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MARKET
FOR COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLER MATTERS
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26
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ITEM 7.
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MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
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29
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ITEM 8.
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FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
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39
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ITEM 9.
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CHANGES
IN AND DISAGREEMENT WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURES
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70
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ITEM 9A(T).
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CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
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70
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ITEM 9B.
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OTHER
INFORMATION
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71
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PART III
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ITEM 10.
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DIRECTORS,
EXECUTIVES, OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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71
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ITEM 11.
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EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
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71
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ITEM 12.
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SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
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71
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ITEM 13.
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CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
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72
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ITEM 14.
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PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
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72
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PART IV
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ITEM 15.
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EXHIBITS,
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
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73
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SIGNATURES
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74
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AVAILABLE
INFORMATION
Information
about us is also available at our website at
www.hydrogenenginecenter.com
,
under “Investor Relations, SEC Filings,” which includes links to reports we have
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The contents of
our website are not incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K.
PART
I.
ITEM
1. BUSINESS.
Business
Development
Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc.,
a Nevada corporation
(the “company,” “HYEG,”
“us,” “we,” or “our”)
was organized for the
purpose of developing and commercializing clean solutions for today’s energy
needs. We offer technologies that provide alternative-fuel energy
solutions for the industrial and power generation markets. Our
systems use spark-ignited internal combustion engines (ICE) powered by
alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, or ammonia. We
use our proprietary engine controller and software to efficiently distribute
ignition spark and fuel to injectors. Our business plan is centered
on technologies that we expect to play an increasing role in addressing the
world’s energy needs as well as its environmental concerns. We expect
future revenue generation from the sale of hydrogen engines and gensets for
dedicated uses, such as airport ground support and wind power
generation.
Our
common stock trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol
“HYEG.OB.”
Our
Founder, Ted Hollinger, formerly Director of Engineering at Ford Motor Company
and Vice President of the Power Conversion Group at Ballard Power Systems and
Dr. Tapan Bose who was President of HEC Canada until his death in 2008, are
recognized leaders in the development of technologies for the use of hydrogen as
a fuel.
Our
primary objective is to provide the most reliable, most efficient and lowest
emission energy storage and power generation solutions, utilizing renewable
fuels, to the global industrial market and to become the undisputed leader in
the development and deployment of turn-key low carbon and carbonless fueled
energy solutions.
We are currently focusing on the
following market segments:
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Distributed
power generation via renewable power
support
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Power
generation using clean-burning by-product gases such as
hydrogen
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Industrial
applications for our engine controls and fuel distribution
systems
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Since inception, we have invested in
the resources and technology we believe necessary to deliver carbon free energy
technology. As such, we have incurred substantial operating losses
and we expect to incur additional losses in 2009. We continue to take
steps to lower our monthly cash expenditures.
During 2008, we sold all of our
“remanufactured” 4.9L engine inventory and most of our “new” 4.9L engine
inventory to fund our operations. We believe that we overestimated
the market size for these engines which resulted in increased costs per engine
unit. In an effort to achieve profitability we plan to eliminate our
traditional-fueled products and concentrate on selling products with increased
profit margins, such as the hydrogen products we offer.
In March 2009, we signed an
agreement to be involved in a hydrogen demonstration project focused on testing
hydrogen technologies and fueling infrastructures for the ground support
industry. We have received purchase orders totaling $470,572
under this agreement. Once the agreement has been accepted by all
parties involved, we expect that numerous hydrogen usages will be tested as part
of this project. We are pursuing strategic alliances to assist us in
marketing our hydrogen products. We plan to concentrate our efforts
on “wind to hydrogen” projects like the project we have completed with Xcel
Energy and the project we have underway with Newfoundland Labrador
Hydro. We also expect to engage in a capital
raise. However, a capital raise could be adversely affected due to
the severe weakening of the economy and the recent fluctuation and general
decline in the trading price of our shares.
Effective March 17, 2009, Ted
Hollinger, our Company’s founder, entered into an agreement with Steven C.
Waldron, under which Mr. Hollinger granted Mr. Waldron the option to purchase
all of his shares of Common Stock of the Company at a price of $0.02 per
share. Mr. Hollinger currently owns 15,661,037 shares or 51.83% of
the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Mr.
Waldron has paid the amount of $15,000 to acquire the option. If the
option is not exercised, Mr. Hollinger will be obligated to transfer 750,000
shares of his stock to Mr. Waldron. In the event Mr. Waldron
exercises the option, he will pay Mr. Hollinger an additional
$298,221.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mr.
Waldron has the right to conduct due diligence on our Company over a period of
45 days before determining whether to exercise his option. If the
option is exercised, Mr. Waldron will have purchased voting control of our
Company and will be able to control the business plans and direction of the
Company. Mr. Waldron is associated with Pinnacle Wind Energy, a
company dedicated to the efficient development of wind power. Should
Mr. Waldron gain control of our Company, Company resources likely will be
primarily dedicated to this goal. Subject to approval of the Board of
Directors, the March 17 agreement would also have allowed Mr. Hollinger to
retain five patent applications not directly associated with wind energy
generation and would have granted us a right of first refusal to license any
technologies associated with those patents. In order to allow him to
develop the patents, the agreement also anticipated that Mr. Hollinger would be
released from his agreement not to compete with us. The Board was
generally supportive of the agreement, but requested that a royalty agreement,
or other means of providing compensation to the company, be put in
place. However, on March 24, 2009, Mr. Hollinger and Mr. Waldron
modified the agreement by removing the provisions regarding the patents and Mr.
Hollinger’s noncompete.
Corporate
History
Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc., an Iowa
corporation (“HEC Iowa”) was incorporated on May 19, 2003 by Theodore G.
Hollinger, formerly Director of Engineering at Ford Motor Company and Vice
President of the Power Conversion Group at Ballard Power Systems responsible for
development of hydrogen engine gensets. Operations commenced with the
lease of the facilities in Algona, Iowa. Mr. Hollinger left Ballard
with the ultimate intention of continuing the commercialization of hydrogen
engines. HEC Iowa was founded with the goal of establishing a
“hydrogen engine center of excellence” to foster the development of alternative
fuel engines and generator systems.
On August 25, 2005, we incorporated
Hydrogen Engine Centre (HEC) Canada, Inc., a Canadian corporation (“HEC
Canada”). HEC Canada is located in Quebec and works with Universite
Du Quebec at Trois-Rivieres on matters related to hydrogen research. HEC Canada
was founded with the goal of establishing a research and development center to
assist in the development of alternative fuel and hydrogen engines and generator
systems. The actual development and assembly of our products is
completed in the United States. An engine controller used to program
the engines to run on alternative fuels and hydrogen has been manufactured in
small quantities at the Universite Du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres in
Canada.
The company (previously known as Green
Mt. Labs, Inc.) was originally organized in Idaho on July 12, 1983 to acquire
and develop mining claims. The company initially acquired certain
unpatented mineral claims located in the Miller Mountain Mining District near
Idaho City, but the claims were eventually written off in
1997. Corporate records do not indicate the extent to which the
company developed the property. Because the company had no available
funds, it was unable to continue to pay the necessary assessment fees related to
the claims. In 1997, the claims were abandoned and written off
because management was unable to determine the future value of the
claims.
In January 1996, the company effected a
1 share for 10 shares reverse stock split of its 10,000,000 shares of common
stock then issued and outstanding. This reverse split resulted in
1,000,000 shares being issued and outstanding.
In August 2000, the company formed a
new Nevada corporation for the purpose of transferring the company's domicile
from Idaho to Nevada. In March 2001, the company implemented the
change of domicile by effecting a merger between the Idaho and Nevada
corporations, resulting in the Nevada corporation being the surviving entity and
the Idaho corporation being dissolved.
On August 30, 2005, we completed the
acquisition of HEC Iowa. The acquisition was made pursuant to an
Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into on June 3, 2005, and revised on July
6, 2005 and July 29, 2005. To accomplish the acquisition, we merged
our newly created, wholly-owned subsidiary, Green Mt. Acquisitions, Inc., with
and into HEC Iowa with HEC Iowa being the surviving entity. Just
prior to the acquisition, we had completed a 3.8 shares for 1 share forward
stock split of our issued and outstanding common stock. As a result
of the forward stock split, our outstanding shares of common stock increased
from 1,006,000 shares to approximately 3,822,800 shares, representing 19% of the
total outstanding shares following consummation of the
acquisition. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, we issued
16,297,200 shares of our post-split common stock (representing 81% of our total
outstanding shares (post-split) immediately following the transaction) to Ted
Hollinger, who was the sole stockholder of HEC Iowa, in exchange for 100% of HEC
Iowa’s outstanding capital stock. HEC Iowa has become our
wholly-owned subsidiary. In connection with the acquisition, we
changed our name from Green Mt. Labs, Inc. to Hydrogen Engine Center,
Inc.
As a result of the merger transaction
and acquisition of HEC Iowa, we assumed all of the operations, assets and
liabilities of HEC Iowa and HEC Canada. HEC Iowa and HEC Canada are
both development stage companies engaged in designing, developing and
manufacturing internal combustion engines and generation systems that use
alternative fuels.
We funded our operations from inception
through December 31, 2008, through a series of financing transactions, including
$7,126,964 gross proceeds from two private offerings of common stock (as
described below), $3,022,500 in gross proceeds from the private offering of
Series A Preferred Stock, $3,865,692 in gross proceeds from the private offering
of Series B Preferred Stock, $57,131 in gross proceeds under our Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement and convertible loans in the amount of
$557,051.
On October 11, 2005, we closed a
private placement of our common stock (“First Private Offering”) at $1.00 per
share. We sold 3,948,500 shares of our common stock, $.001 par value,
for a total of $3,948,500 to 93 investors, which represents 13.07% of the
30,214,902 issued and outstanding shares of common stock as of March 24,
2009. We sold the shares in a private transaction and we relied on an
exemption from registration pursuant to Regulation D, Rules Governing the
Limited Offer and Sale of Securities without Registration under the Securities
Act of 1933.
On October 2, 2006, we closed the sale
of 930,000 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock at $3.25 per share, (the
“Series A Preferred Offering”), for a total of $3,022,500. All of the
shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been converted into 1,511,250 shares of
common stock, which number represents 5.00% of the 30,214,902 issued and
outstanding shares of common stock at March 24, 2009.
On October 15, 2006, we closed the sale
of 978,009 shares of common stock in our Second Private Offering of common stock
(“Second Private Offering”) at $3.25 per share for a total of $3,178,464 to 41
investors, which represents 3.24% of the 30,214,902 issued and outstanding
shares of common stock at March 24, 2009.
On May 31, 2007 we closed the sale of
1,932,846 shares of our Series B Preferred Stock (the “Series B Offering”) at
$2.00 per share for a total of $3,865,692 to 19 investors. All of the
shares of Series B Preferred Stock have been converted into 1,932,846 shares of
common stock, which represents 6.40% of the 30,214,902 issued and outstanding
shares of common stock at March 24, 2009.
On April 11, 2008, we entered into a
Standby Equity Distribution Agreement (“SEDA”) to sell up to a maximum of
$4,000,000 in equity securities over twenty-four months to an
investor. The agreement required that we register stock prior to
receiving any funds and subject to certain limitations, allows us to issue
shares under the SEDA periodically in amounts not to exceed $350,000 at one
time. The per share price for shares issued under the SEDA is
dependent upon the market value of our stock at the time of
funding. Our registration statement covering 4,054,541 of such equity
securities, filed on May 20, 2008, was declared effective by the Securities and
Exchange Commission on August 5, 2008.
It has not been possible to depend on
the SEDA to fund our operations. According to the terms of the SEDA,
once an advance is requested, the investor can begin selling shares which
consequently drives the price of the stock lower. We began accessing the SEDA
funds in August and at March 12, 2009, have sold 305,325 shares at an average
price of $.21 and have received $63,531 in capital. The number of
shares we can sell under the SEDA has also been adversely affected by the recent
fluctuation and general decline in the trading price of our shares.
The shares in all of our private
placements (the “Private Offerings”) were sold in reliance upon an exemption
from registration pursuant to Regulation D, Rules Governing the Limited Offer
and Sale of Securities without Registration under the Securities Act of
1933. All of the shares in the Private Offerings, other than those
held by affiliates of the company, are now freely tradable under Rule 144 of the
Securities Act of 1933.
In order to continue our operations we
need to raise additional capital. If we are unable to raise
additional capital within the next thirty to sixty days, we may be required to
seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. This could cause our
investors to sustain a loss of their investment in our shares.
Principal
Products and Markets
Our goal
is to develop cost effective, market driven products and technologies that will
provide clean-energy solutions to the world’s energy needs. We
manufacture and market products under the brand name Oxx Power
®
Oxx
Power
®
engines and gensets are assembled and tested at our Algona, Iowa
facility. Our Oxx Boxx
™
engine
controller, which is critical to our ability to offer clean energy solutions,
was developed through HEC Canada in collaboration with the University of
Quebec. We expect the airport ground support industry and “wind to
hydrogen projects” to offer a near-term opportunity for revenue
generation.
Current Product Offerings
and Commercial Applications of our Products
Our
current product line includes:
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Zero-Emissions
Engines for Industrial Mobile
Equipment
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o
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4.9L,
6 Cylinder
Oxx
Power
®
Hydrogen Engines
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Add-On
Systems for the Wind Power Industry
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o
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Hydrogen-fueled
50kW
Oxx
Power
®
Generator Systems
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Hydrogen-fueled
250kW
4 + 1™
Generator Systems
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Zero-Emissions Engines for
Industrial Mobile Equipment
We have
produced an immediate solution for Ground Support Equipment (GSE) markets, as
well as other industrial mobile equipment markets, to allow immediate conversion
of existing off-road mobile fleets to hydrogen-fueled engines. The
Oxx Power® hydrogen-fueled engine is capable of meeting the needs of industrial
markets while providing clean power. We believe many airports are
seeking clean-energy solutions for operation of ground support vehicles. The Oxx
Power® hydrogen-fueled engine can be utilized in the GSE fleets of many
logistical service companies.
We have
achieved near-zero NOx emissions when using hydrogen fuel in our
engines. CO and CO
2
are not
present. The projected cost of a hydrogen internal combustion engine
is as little as one-tenth the cost of a comparable fuel cell. The
hydrogen internal combustion engine has the benefit of being understood by
experienced engine technicians with only a basic review of differences
respective of this engine. It can then be serviced by these
technicians using the tools they already possess. There is no need to
change the transmission or any other part of the power train to use a hydrogen
engine. Oil changes and other servicing are similar to gasoline
engines with few exceptions. There is no need for a catalytic
converter nor is there a danger from the exhaust fumes. Special spark
plugs, engine tuning, engine control system and a crank case ventilation system
are required, but they appear merely as transparent or additional items to the
service technician.
In March 2009, we signed an agreement
to be involved in a hydrogen demonstration project. Once the
agreement has been accepted by all parties involved, we expect that numerous
hydrogen usages will be tested as part of this project.
Add-On
Systems for the Wind Power Industry
To
provide continuous power, a wind-hydrogen system links wind turbines to
electrolyzers, which pass wind-generated electricity through an electrolyzer to
split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is then stored and
used later during slack wind conditions to generate electricity through our
integrated power generation systems.
A
combined wind and hydrogen energy system adds considerable value to wind power
producers, allowing them to produce constant power by:
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Providing
start-up energy to off-the-grid wind power
facilities;
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Storing
energy produced during off-peak hours
to
be used during peak hours;
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Serving
as a backup source of power when wind becomes
unavailable;
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Allowing
wind producers to meet their bid
obligations;
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Absorbing
excess wind power when transmission lines are congested;
and
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Providing
backup energy to the grid.
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We have focused our attention on
developing and marketing our turn-key, 1 MW N+1
TM
power
generation system to be used to store energy and generate electricity with wind
power. Wind power is the fastest growing electricity source in the
world. According to the Global Wind Energy Council (“GWEC”), global
wind energy capacity grew by 28.8% last year, even higher than the average over
the past decade, to reach total global installations of more than 120.8 GW at
the end of 2008. Over 27 GW of new wind power generation capacity
came online in 2008, 36% more than in 2007.
In line with the tremendous
opportunities existing in wind storage, our systems, which store clean energy
and generate electricity, are designed to be tied to the power
grid. The systems stabilize the peaks and valleys in wind energy
production. This is a valuable feature to wind power producers, who
need to prove “constant power” in order to gain access to the grid.
Our current involvement with
wind-to-hydrogen projects with Xcel Energy and Newfoundland Labrador Hydro
provide examples of how our power generation systems can be combined with a
renewable resource to provide intermittent or continuous power
generation. In these systems, when the wind blows, the wind turbines
provide electric power. If the power created exceeds the demand,
excess electricity will be used to create hydrogen through electrolysis
(separation of water into hydrogen and oxygen). The hydrogen is then
stored to be utilized to fuel our power generation system during peak usage of
electricity or when wind energy is unavailable.
We believe that we are the only company
that can provide wind storage for constant power generation. Many
other technologies, including fuel cells, are in early or development
stage. Our primary target market is on-the-grid and
off-the-grid wind power facilities, where wind storage could contribute
substantially to the value proposition of this renewable source of
energy.
Integrated Engine and Power
Generator Systems (N+1
TM
)
We expect the flagship of our energy
systems, the power generation system, will be marketed under the name N+1
TM
. Individual
key components of the power generation system are marketed under the brand names
Oxx Power
®
(engines), and Oxx Boxx
®
(engine
controllers). We plan to integrate our power generation modules with
wind power generation plants to produce additional power and manage power
loads. Another application of such systems is the direct generation
of electrical power from hydrogen and in some cases the “unwanted” byproducts of
other processes.
The
core of our turn-key energy systems will have a modular, standardized design.
The systems’ front end will easily adapt to different fuel delivery systems. To
deliver the systems, we plan to partner with companies that have extensive
expertise in the areas of hydrogen production, transport and
storage.
The
N+1
TM
format refers to interchangeable modules that can produce more or less
energy, depending on the customer’s demand. Each N+1
TM
power
generation module comprises an N number of internal combustion engines (Oxx
Power®) with controllers (OxxBoxx®), and power generators, plus another complete
redundancy set (hence the name N+1
TM
). For example, a 1 MW 4 + 1
®
power
generation system comprises a total of five (four + 1) 250 kW engine/generator
combinations running and generating power. Four of the engine/generators
combinations are working, while the fifth one is waiting in standby, should it
be needed. The systems will combine all the switching technology on
board to minimize installation effort and complexity. Emissions from
the N+1
TM
will be virtually eliminated. The near zero emissions will be achieved
by using non petroleum-based hydrogen fuel and a lean-burn strategy. The only
carbon-based emissions will be from a minuscule amount of burned and unburned
oil present in the combustion chamber.
Synergistic
Collaborations
We are constantly seeking synergistic
collaborations with others in the development and marketing of our
technologies. In addition to our efforts related to the ground
support industry, we have entered into other collaborative projects for the
purpose of developing, testing and promoting the use of the company’s hydrogen
genset technology. Some of those projects are discussed
below.
|
·
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We
entered into a strategic alliance with Startech Environmental Corporation,
a Connecticut based firm, on February 19, 2008. Startech
designs and manufactures plasma conversion waste processing
equipment. Startech believes that it can produce gas from its
waste mitigation process that can be used to create power from both
traditional and non-traditional power generation systems. We
have supplied Startech a single 50kW genset which has been integrated with
its system in order to prove concept. Trials have been
successful and we are pursuing joint sales
opportunities.
|
|
·
|
In
January 2007, we shipped one of our 4 + 1
™
250 kW Oxx Power
®
generator systems to a demonstration site in Toronto as part of our
contract to deliver the generator system to Natural Resources Canada
(“NRCan”). The HEC Oxx Power
®
generator system was successfully tested in Canada for several
months, generating power by burning non-polluting hydrogen fuel. The
generator system is controlled by our Oxx Boxx
™
technology developed by HEC Canada, whereby four engines run in parallel
while one is always in reserve. This design maximizes both
output and reliability, to become a key part of extending the use of both
wind power and the power grid.
|
On August
15, 2008, we received a purchase order from Newfoundland Labrador Hydro for
$145,510 for additional work to provide grid connectivity to the 4 + 1® which
was purchased by Natural Resources Canada. The unit has been returned
to Iowa for the additional work. We estimate that the generator
enhancements will be completed by the end of March and the unit installed on the
Ramea Island, sometime during the second quarter of 2009. We believe
that this Oxx Power
®
4 + 1™
system is highly scalable and can be an integral part of large-scale power
generation systems. NRCan is seeking power generation solutions that
are environmentally clean and economically viable. By integrating wind-based
energy with our Oxx Power
®
generator system, NRCan, Newfoundland Labrador Hydro, and HEC plan to
bring on-line a sustainable solution that extends the reach of wind energy, and
reduces customers’ dependence on petroleum and gas burning technology. During
slack wind conditions, hydrogen, which is produced by water electrolysis when
the wind is blowing, will be used to fuel the 4 + 1
™
power
generation system, thereby extending the use of wind energy
sources.
|
·
|
On
November 6, 2006, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with ITM
Power plc (“ITM”), one of the UK’s leading innovators within the
alternative energy industry. The parties plan to jointly develop products
for a non-polluting, grid-independent energy system which can undergo
early field trial testing. We anticipate that ITM can offer an assured
supply of hydrogen using ITM’s low cost electrolyzer technology. ITM
anticipates that HEC will provide an early route to the provision of a
complete system package using our proven engine technology. The
combination of a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine and a low cost
electrolyzer could provide the essential technology to convert low-value,
intermittent, renewable energy (wind, solar) into a reliable, non-fossil
energy supply. Subject to the production of satisfactory results from the
field trials, the company and ITM will progress into detailed discussions
with the intention of entering into a more formal commercial exploitation
arrangement.
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In
April 2006, we received a purchase order from National Renewable Energy
Lab and Xcel Energy Services Inc. for the purchase of one 50kW hydrogen
fueled genset. This genset was delivered in December 2006 and
is being tested in a wind farm setting in Colorado. The
following internet link provides an animation where the overall process
can be reviewed;
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http://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/proj_wind_hydrogen_animation.html
During 2009, we do not expect to
generate more than nominal revenue from our power generation products until the
fourth quarter of 2009; however we do expect that we will be aggressively
booking business for future orders of our hydrogen products.
During 2008, we generated $1,358,647 in
total sales, including $706,607 in revenue from the sale of products utilizing
remanufactured Oxx Power
®
engines,
$245,705 from the sale of products utilizing our new Oxx Power
®
engines,
and $406,335 from the sale 4.9L engine parts and miscellaneous
items. We expect the revenue from the sale of our traditional fueled
4.9L engines to decrease dramatically as we begin selling hydrogen powered 4.9L
engines in 2009.
Distribution
Methods for our Products and Services
Sales of our hydrogen powered generator
systems and our hydrogen fueled engines are made directly by our internal sales
staff. As we develop our products and intellectual property, we
expect to add dealers and distributors to sell and support our products, both
domestically and abroad. We are also constantly seeking synergistic
collaborations with others in the development and marketing of our
technologies.
During 2006, 2007 and 2008 we
distributed our traditional engines through an existing network of industrial
engine distributors. We entered into distribution agreements with
major distributors in this industrial engine network. Two of these distributors
are in Canada. This gives us nearly coast-to-coast distribution
capability in both the United States and Canada. During 2008,
we sold all of our “remanufactured” 4.9L engine inventory and most of our “new”
4.9L engine inventory. However, we plan to be able to use this
existing distribution system for our hydrogen engines as demand
grows.
Competition
The power generation and alternative
fuel industry is highly competitive and is marked by rapid technological
growth. Although there are several companies developing and/or
marketing hydrogen engines, we are not aware of any significant production of
alternative fueled industrial engines as of this date. We believe
that the companies targeting production of hydrogen-fueled engines are
automotive engine builders, such as Ford, GM, Honda, and BMW. We
further believe that those engines will initially be used for automobiles and
then for industrial applications. The gasoline-fueled industrial
engine market is also served by GM and Ford.
Other competitors and potential
competitors include H2Car Co., Cummins/Westport, Mazda, and
Caterpillar. Many existing and potential competitors have greater
financial resources, larger market share, and larger production and technology
research capability, which may enable them to establish a stronger competitive
position than we have, in part through greater marketing opportunities, however,
we believe our size and flexibility is an asset in that we can respond rapidly
to an emerging need.
Fuel
cells may be perceived to be competition to our products, but we believe they
are not at this time. Fuel cells cannot be currently manufactured in
sufficient quantity to compete with hydrogen and other alternative fuel internal
combustion engines. Also, fuel cells are more costly than the
hydrogen internal combustion engines. However, the governments of the
United States, Canada, Japan and certain European countries have provided
significant funding to promote the development and use of fuel
cells. Tax incentives have also been initiated in Japan, and have
been proposed in the United States and other countries, to stimulate the growth
of the fuel cell market by reducing the cost of these fuel cell systems to
consumers. Our business does not currently enjoy any such advantages
and, for that reason, may be at a competitive disadvantage to the fuel cell
industry.
A major
concern is that some competitors are likely to have considerably greater
resources than we would have, thus potentially putting us at a
disadvantage. We believe we can lessen that risk by exploiting our
ability to react quickly to customer needs. Our larger competitors
may not be able to act as quickly because of cumbersome internal processes and
procedures.
Principal
Suppliers
We out-source manufactured parts and
bring them into our production facility as components ready for the assembly
line. We then assemble all components to produce our
products.
We purchase parts for our
Oxx
Power
®
engines
and gensets from several different industrial parts suppliers. The
parts are sourced from destinations located all over the world, including
China. Our new Oxx Power
®
engine
blocks were sourced to a supplier in China. We have rejected most of
the engine blocks received from that supplier. Under the Warranty and
Replacement Terms dated March 22, 2007, the supplier has agreed to replace the
rejected products. We are aggressively pursuing efforts to recover
losses we have recognized because of these rejected products. We
visited the factory during 2008 to witness the production and participate in the
inspection of the Oxx Power
®
blocks. We have also retained an engineer who can be on-site
to inspect the engine blocks before they are shipped. One replacement
block has been shipped to us and we are testing it to assure its
quality. In addition, we have a relationship with a consultant who
can assist us with the procurement of parts from China.
There are risks and uncertainties with
respect to the supply of certain component parts that could impact availability
in sufficient quantities to meet our needs. If, for any reason, a manufacturer
is unable or refuses to manufacture our component parts, our business, financial
condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely
affected.
Dependence
on One or Few Major Customers
We do not anticipate dependence on one
or few major customers at this time.
Intellectual Property and Patent
Protection
Hydrogen Engine Center is built on the
vision of carbon-free energy independence through the development and
commercialization of clean solutions for today’s energy needs. We
have been working to expand our intellectual property portfolio and developing
technologies to allow engines and gensets to generate and use clean power on
demand, where needed. Some products and technologies are available
today.
We believe that our developing
technologies have the potential to revolutionize our world by removing the
political and environmental problems generated by our ever-increasing appetite
for energy sources. As our founder Ted Hollinger is fond of saying,
there is no shortage of energy. There is only a shortage of wisdom
and creativity in the methods we use to harness the energy that is all around
us.
We have a number of patents pending and
a number of potential patents in the development stage. These patents
relate to energy efficiency and the use of hydrogen, ammonia and other
alternative fuels for the production of cleaner energy. We also rely
on trade secrets, common law trademark rights and trademark
registrations. We intend to protect our intellectual property via
non-disclosure agreements, license agreements and limited information
distribution.
Our current patent filings are listed
and briefly described below:
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Precision Hi-speed
Generator Alignment Fixture
- A patent has been issued covering a
method and apparatus allowing for precise alignment between engines and
hi-speed alternators. The device solves the issue of misalignment, the
cause of most failures associated with using hi-speed engines with 2-pole
3000 or 3600 rpm alternators. The device’s precise alignment of +/-.004
between engine crankshaft and alternator rotor shaft greatly reduces
vibration and significantly increases the system’s life span. The device
also acts as a safety hub preventing the destruction of the alternator,
should there be a catastrophic failure of the
coupler.
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Permanent Magnet
Generator Cooling
- A patent has been filed and is pending covering
the method and apparatus for the more efficient transfer of heat away from
the permanent magnet generator. Permanent magnet generators
represent a major step forward in the evolution of power generation. A
stumbling block to the future widespread implementation of this technology
is the increased heat associated with the design. Our method of reducing
this heat represents a significant breakthrough in this area. These heat
deflection capabilities will allow us to produce prime power alternators
with one-third of the footprint of their air-cooled
counterparts.
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Dual Connecting Rod
Piston
- A patent has been filed and is pending covering a large
displacement piston and connecting rod. The piston comprises a
large bore piston and a plurality of connecting rods. A very
large displacement engine is built using one piston with the plurality of
connecting rods, wherein the one piston has the combined diameter of two
pistons in a smaller bore engine. The connecting rods are
spaced to operatively connect with a standard crankshaft style, where each
connecting rod of the two smaller, standard pistons would connect to the
crankshaft.
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Indexed Segmented
Crankshaft
- A patent has been filed and is pending relating to the
manufacture and assembly of a crankshaft for an internal combustion or
diesel engine. The invention is comprised of a crankshaft that
is made up of pieces or segments that are assembled together with the
proper segment indexing to achieve a design that could not be achieved by
casing or machining as a single component. Crankshafts are
generally made by molding and designing to fit a specific engine and
specific stroke. This design allows for changing the crankshaft
design without having to make a new mold or undertake other associated
steps.
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Large Displacement
Engine
- A patent has been filed and is pending covering an engine
block with a plurality of relatively large piston bores. The
engine block is adapted for use of relatively large bore pistons, and
preferably dual connecting rod pistons. Configured in this
manner, the engine block has a relatively large displacement and is
especially suited for use of low-btu fuels, more particularly
hydrogen.
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Laminated Internal
Combustion Engine Design and Fabrication Technique
- A patent has
been filed and is pending covering an engine block for an internal
combustion engine that is fabricated from laminated pieces of material
instead of cast iron or cast aluminum. The advantages of this
design are several. There is the flexibility of the
design. Each lamination piece can be designed to complex three
dimensional structures and/or passages. The lamination material
itself can be changed to improve strength, thermal conductivity, reduce
cost, or any other parameter that one might like to adjust. We
believe this engine will have a manufacturing cost of half, or less, than
the cost of a traditional cost engine.
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Sealing system for
Laminated I
nternal
Combustion
Engine -
A
patent has been filed and is pending covering a method of sealing the
laminations of a laminated engine block to prevent water and other
contaminants from entering the piston
cylinders.
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Carbon Free
Hyd
rogen
and Ammonia Fueled Internal Combustion Engine
- A patent has been
filed and is pending covering a spark ignited internal combustion engine
with a dual-fuel system and a special engine control system, including
special software. The engine control system starts the engine
on either H
2
or
on a combination of H
2
and
NH
3
where in the latter case the percentage of H
2
is
adjusted to ensure proper starting. Once the engine is running,
the engine control system adjusts the percentage of hydrogen needed for
proper operation. The percentage of hydrogen can be from about
5% to 100%, while the percentage of ammonia can be from 0% to about
95%. NH
3
provides greater power and requires less storage space and is therefore
the preferred fuel. The preferred way to operate the engine is
to start with a hydrogen rich mixture and slowly decrease the percentage
of H
2
until the minimum amount required for proper engine operation is
achieved. This minimum will be determined by several
factors. The most notable is the flame velocity. At
higher engine speeds (rpms) greater amounts of hydrogen will be
required.
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Gaseous/Liquid and
Ammonia Fueled Internal Combustion Engine
- A patent has been filed
and is pending covering a spark ignited internal combustion engine with a
dual-fuel system and a special engine control system, including special
software. The engine control system starts the engine with
either 100% of a gaseous or liquid fuel (such as natural gas, gasoline or
ethanol and referred to as “standard fuel”) or a combination of standard
fuel and NH
3
. In
the latter case, the percentage of standard fuel is adjusted to ensure
proper starting. Once the engine is running, the engine control
system adjusts the percentage of standard fuel needed for proper
operation. The percentage of standard fuel can be from
approximately 5% to 100%, while the percentage of ammonia can be from 0%
to approximately 95%. NH
3
produces no CO
2
emissions and is therefore the preferred fuel. The preferred
way to operate the engine is to start with a gaseous fuel rich mixture and
slowly decrease the percentage of standard fuel until the minimum amount
required for proper engine operation is achieved. This minimum
will be determined by several factors. The most notable is the
flame velocity. At higher engine speeds (rpms) greater amounts
of standard fuel will be required.
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We also rely on trade secrets, common
law trademark rights and trademark registrations. We intend to
protect our intellectual property via non-disclosure agreements, license
agreements and limited information distribution. The current status
of our federal trademarks is summarized below:
Mark
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Status
|
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Reg./Serial No.
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|
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|
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TM:
4 + 1
|
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Registered
|
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78/807,600
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TM:
HEC
|
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Pending
Filed
on 4/5/2007
|
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77/149,385
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TM:
OXX & Design
|
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Registered
|
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78/841,069
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TM:
OXX BOXX
|
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Registered
|
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78/846,909
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TM:
OXX POWER
|
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Registered:
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78/537,731
|
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TM:
OXX WORKS
|
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Registered
|
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78/807,587
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|
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TM:
Part of the Solution
|
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Allowed
|
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77/036,246
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Research
and Development
We have
spent a total of $4,075,731 on research and development activities with $825,228
being spent during calendar year 2008. As we are a development stage
company, the costs of our research and development are not at this time borne
directly by customers.
Hydrogen as a
Fuel
Concerns motivating increased hydrogen
acceptance include national security, economy, and the environment. An
alternative fuel such as hydrogen would not be subject to the price volatility
risk inherent in fossil fuels, and will reduce the country’s dependency on
foreign fuels.
Federal
and local governments in the US are enacting policies like the Hydrogen Fuel
Initiative to encourage the use of alternative fuel, and establish goals for
potentially requiring the use of alternatives. California’s Executive Order S704
orders building up a network of hydrogen fueling stations sufficient to make
hydrogen available in the State by 2010.
Our
system allows engines to run on a variety of fuels, including
hydrogen. We believe that one of the key attributes of our technology
is that a standard production internal combustion engine can be modified to
achieve near-zero emissions. We have established a process for
converting certain internal combustion engines to operate efficiently with
hydrogen as a fuel.
We have achieved near-zero NOx
emissions when using hydrogen fuel in our engines. CO and CO
2
are not
present. The projected cost of a hydrogen internal combustion engine
is as little as one-tenth the cost of a comparable fuel cell. A
further advantage of a spark-ignited, hydrogen-fueled engine is that it can run
on regular welding grade hydrogen, or on mixed gases such as natural gas and
hydrogen, versus the ultra pure hydrogen typically required for fuel cells, or
on mixed gases such as natural gas and hydrogen. When produced renewably it has
the potential to eliminate carbon based emissions.
The hydrogen internal combustion engine
has the benefit of being understood by experienced engine technicians with only
a basic review of differences respective of this engine. It can then
be serviced by these technicians using the tools they already
possess. There is no need to change the transmission or any other
part of the power train to use a hydrogen engine. Oil changes and
other servicing are similar to gasoline engines with few
exceptions. There is no need for a catalytic converter nor is there a
danger from the exhaust fumes. Special spark plugs, engine tuning,
engine control system and a crank case ventilation system are required, but they
appear merely as transparent or additional items to the service
technician.
Issues Related to Government
Approvals or Governmental Regulations
Our
facilities are subject to health and safety regulations, building codes, and
other regulations customary in any manufacturing enterprise in the United
States.
Demand
for alternative fuel technology abroad and in the United States could be
influenced by numerous factors, such as the availability of affordable fossil
fuels in troubled regions of the world, mandates by various government entities
calling for the introduction of clean-energy alternatives, and the long-term
acceptance of the Kyoto Treaty.
Approximately
183 countries and one regional economic integration organization, including all
industrialized countries other than the United States, have signed the Kyoto
Protocol. We believe the Kyoto Protocol could have substantial impact
on the company. This treaty requires many of the large industrialized
nations of the world to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Any weakening of
this treaty or its symbolic value could have a negative impact on the potential
demand for our products.
We may
also be affected by governmental regulations relating to environmental matters,
specifically emission standards.
Cost
of Compliance with Environmental Laws
We
out-source all manufactured parts and bring them into our production facility as
components ready for the assembly line. We then assemble all
components to produce our products. The assembly process uses no
hazardous materials nor do they create any hazardous waste. Our
engine-testing facility hot tests all engines on a dynamometer to ensure that
they meet our specifications. This process is subject to air and
water environmental laws and regulations. These laws and regulations
will vary with the fuel choice that the testing procedure requires.
We have
designed our buildings and have written our procedures to meet or exceed current
environmental and fire code laws. Any changes in the laws at the
state or federal level could require us to modify our testing procedures to
comply with future environmental regulations.
Employees
As of
December 31, 2008, HEC Iowa had 12 employees, all of whom were full
time. During the first quarter of 2009, we began intermittently
laying our employees off due to insufficient financing and lack of work in these
slow economic times. Commencing with the first pay period in March 2008, Ted
Hollinger, Sandy Batt and Mike Schiltz began receiving only 50% of their
salaries. These steps were taken to reduce costs and preserve our
available cash. As of December 31, 2008, HEC Canada had three
employees, one full-time and two part-time. Beginning March 16, 2009,
we laid off one full-time and one part-time employee of HEC Canada in order to
conserve cash. Our employees are not members of any union, and they
have not entered into any collective bargaining agreements. We
believe that our relationship with our employees is good.
As of
March 31, 2009, HEC Iowa has 10 employees, 6 of whom are currently working full
time and 4 of which have been laid off temporarily. HEC Canada has
three employees one of which is working part time and two of which have been
temporarily laid off.
ITEM
1A. RISK FACTORS. -
THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED NOTES APPEARING IN THIS FORM
10-K. THIS DISCUSSION CONTAINS FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT
INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. OUR ACTUAL RESULTS WILL DEPEND UPON
A NUMBER OF FACTORS BEYOND OUR CONTROL AND COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE
ANTICIPATED IN THE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS. SOME OF THESE FACTORS
ARE DISCUSSED BELOW AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS FORM 10-K.
Additional
financing to proceed with our anticipated business activities is
required. There can be no assurance that financing will be available
on terms beneficial to us, or at all.
In order to continue our operations, we
have reduced expenses by reducing salaries and eliminating other
expenses. If we raise additional capital by selling equity or
equity-linked securities, these securities will dilute the ownership percentage
of our existing stockholders. Similarly, if we raise additional
capital by issuing debt securities, those securities may contain covenants that
restrict us in terms of how we operate our business, which could also affect the
value of our common stock. We have financed our operations since
inception primarily through equity and debt financings and loans from our
officers, directors and stockholders. Although we expect to offer
securities of the company for sale during 2009, there can be no assurance that
we will successfully complete such an offering or that the proceeds of the
offering, if completed, would be sufficient to satisfy our capital
requirements. If we are unable to raise additional capital within the
next thirty to sixty days, we may be required to seek protection under the
bankruptcy laws. This could cause our investors to sustain a loss of
their investment in our shares.
If we raise additional capital by
issuing equity securities, our existing stockholders' percentage ownership will
be reduced which may cause them to experience substantial
dilution. We may also issue equity securities that provide for
rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of our common
stock. If we raise additional funds by issuing debt securities, these
debt securities would have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those
of our common stock, and the terms of the debt securities issued could impose
significant restrictions on our operations. If we raise additional
funds through collaborations and licensing arrangements, we may be required to
relinquish some rights to our technology, or to grant licenses on terms that are
not favorable to us. If adequate funds are not available or are not
available on acceptable terms, our ability to fund our operations, take
advantage of opportunities, develop products and technologies, and otherwise
respond to competitive pressures could be significantly delayed or limited, and
we may need to downsize or halt our operations.
If we are
not able to obtain the needed financing in a timely fashion, our ability to
achieve profitability will be materially impaired.
We
have a limited operating history and have not recorded an operating profit since
our inception. Continuing losses may exhaust our capital resources
and force us to discontinue operations.
HEC Iowa was incorporated on May 19,
2003, has a limited operating history, and has incurred net losses since
inception. We incurred $3,358,255 of losses during the year ended
December 31, 2008 and $15,863,933 of losses since inception. Prior to
the merger of August 30, 2005, the company (then known as “Green Mt. Labs,
Inc.”) had been inactive for several years. The potential for us to
generate profits depends on many factors, including the following:
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timely
receipt of required financing which has to date been delayed beyond our
initial expectations;
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successful
pursuit of our research and development
efforts;
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protection
of our intellectual property;
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|
quality
and reliability of our products;
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|
ability
to attract and retain a qualified work force in a small
town;
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|
size
and timing of future customer orders, milestone achievement, product
delivery and customer acceptance;
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success
in maintaining and enhancing existing strategic relationships and
developing new strategic relationships with potential
customers;
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|
actions
taken by competitors, including suppliers of traditional engines, hydrogen
fuel cells and new product introductions and pricing
changes;
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reliability
of our suppliers, which to date have been less reliable than we had
expected;
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reasonable
costs of maintaining our facilities and our
operations;
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We cannot assure you we will achieve
success as to any of the foregoing factors or realize profitability in the
immediate future or at any time.
A
potential change in management creates uncertainty regarding our future business
plans.
Effective March 17, 2009, our founder,
Theodore G. Hollinger, entered into an agreement with Steven C. Waldron, under
which Mr. Hollinger granted Mr. Waldron the option to purchase all of his shares
of common stock. If the option is exercised, Mr. Waldron will
have purchased voting control of the company and will be able to control the
business plans and direction of the company. Mr. Waldron is
associated with Pinnacle Wind Energy, a company dedicated to the efficient
development of wind power. We cannot, however, at this time predict
with any degree of certainty the future direction of our business
plans. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations – Plan of Operation” below.
The
effects of the recent global economic crisis may impact our ability to raise
capital.
The
recent global economic crisis has caused disruptions and extreme volatility in
global financial markets and increased rates of default and bankruptcy, and has
impacted levels of investing. If the banking system or the financial markets
continue to deteriorate or remain volatile, investors will be skeptical about
new investments. These developments could adversely affect our ability to raise
capital.
There
are substantial risks associated with the Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement.
In order to obtain needed capital, we
entered into a Standby Equity Distribution Agreement (the “SEDA”) with YA Global
Investments, L.P., (the “Investor”) in April 2008. The terms of the
SEDA are described below under “Liquidity and Capital Resources - Terms of the
SEDA.”
The sale
of shares pursuant to the SEDA has a dilutive impact on our
stockholders. We believe the Investor has promptly re-sold the shares
we have issued to them under the SEDA and that such re-sales have caused the
market price of our common stock to decline significantly with Advances under
the SEDA. To the extent of any such decline, any subsequent Advances
would require us to issue a greater number of shares of common stock to the
Investor in exchange for each dollar of the Advance. Under this
circumstance our existing stockholders may have experienced greater dilution
than we initially anticipated when we entered into the SEDA. The sale
of our stock under the SEDA may have encouraged short sales by third parties,
which may have contributed to the further decline of our stock
price.
We began
accessing the SEDA funds in August 2008 and at March 12, 2009 have sold 305,325
shares at an average price of $.21 and have received $63,531 in capital. The
fees we have paid for the SEDA have been relatively expensive in relation to the
capital we have received. We likely will not access further funds
under the SEDA and therefore we will have to turn to other sources for needed
future capital.
Reliance on
principal suppliers
.
We
contract the manufacture of many of the components for our Oxx Power
®
engines
to third parties, mainly in the United States and China. In many
cases, we do not have an alternative supplier. Although finding a
suitable replacement is time-consuming and expensive, we continue our efforts to
find suitable alternative sources in different regions. We have
experienced problems receiving quality parts needed for production of our Oxx
Power
®
engines. These problems have adversely affected our operations
and our financials results. If these problems persist, our business,
financial condition, and results of operations could be materially and adversely
affected.
We are dependent on a small number of
vendors to supply the components for our 4.9L engines. We have
rejected most of the engine blocks received from our Chinese
supplier. Based upon the Warranty and Replacement Terms agreement
with the supplier, dated March 22, 2007, and visits to the factory in China, we
expect that the supplier will replace the rejected products at no additional
cost to us. One replacement block has been shipped to us and we are
testing it to assure its quality. There is, however, no assurance
that we will not incur additional unexpected costs or that the replacement
blocks we may receive will meet our quality standards. Continued
problems with suppliers may have a materially adverse effect on our
operations.
Because
our capital raising has been slower than anticipated we may be required to take
additional actions to reduce our operating costs in the near
future.
During
2008 we took action to reduce our operating costs. The actions we
have taken include a reduction in our workforce and the reduction of hours for
some employees. We have also delayed payment of 50% of the salaries
for the four officers of HEC Iowa. If we are not able to secure
additional financing in the near future, we will be required to take additional
steps to reduce costs. These reductions have an adverse impact on our
ability to pursue our business plans and could have a materially adverse effect
on our results of operation. We anticipate that some of the
reductions (such as unpaid salary) will be temporary. There is no
assurance that we will be successful in raising additional capital or that the
disruption caused by these reductions will not have a permanent and material
adverse effect on our operations.
We
may be unable to hire the qualified employees we will need to pursue our
business plans.
Because
of our unmet needs for capital, we have been forced to reduce our workforce and
have been unable to undertake efforts to recruit much-needed employees to assist
with our engineering and marketing efforts. If we do receive
sufficient capital, our history of financial losses may make it difficult to
successfully recruit qualified people. Any inability on our part to
do so will have a materially adverse effect on our product development,
business, financial condition, and results of operations. As of
December 31, 2008, HEC Iowa had 12 employees, all of whom were full
time. During the first quarter of 2009, we began intermittently
laying our employees off due to lack of work in these slow economic
times. These steps were taken to reduce costs and preserve our
available cash. As of December 31, 2008, HEC Canada had three
employees, one full-time and two part-time. Beginning March 16, 2009,
we laid off one full-time and one part-time employee of HEC Canada in order to
conserve cash. Our employees are not members of any union, and they
have not entered into any collective bargaining agreements. We
believe that our relationship with our employees is good.
As of
March 31, 2009, HEC Iowa has 10 employees, 6 of whom are currently working full
time and 4 of which have been laid off temporarily. HEC Canada has
three employees one of which is working part time and two of which have been
temporarily laid off.
We
may not be able to manage growth effectively, which could adversely affect our
operations and financial performance.
If we were to receive sufficient
capital to effect our business plans, the ability to manage and operate our
business as we execute our development and growth strategy will require
effective planning. Significant rapid growth could strain our
management and other resources, leading to increased cost of operations, an
inability to ship enough products to meet customer demand, and other problems
that could adversely affect our financial performance. We expect that
such efforts to grow would place a significant strain on personnel, management
systems, infrastructure, and other resources. Our management team is
currently under considerable strain with the current level of our operations and
our limited financial capacity. Our ability to manage future growth
effectively will require us to successfully attract, train, motivate, retain,
and manage new employees and continue to update and improve our operational,
financial, and management controls and procedures. If we do not
manage our growth effectively, our operations could be materially adversely
affected, resulting in slower growth and a failure to achieve or sustain
profitability.
If
we are unable to continue to effectively and efficiently implement the necessary
internal controls and procedures, there could be an adverse effect on our
operations or financial results.
Our
President and our Board of Directors continue to work with our Chief Financial
Officer to update our internal controls and disclosure controls, and
procedures in accordance with Sarbanes Oxley 404. This process has
been challenging given the fact that our human resources and capital resources
are strained.
Our
future success depends on hiring, retaining and assimilating key
employees. The loss of key employees or the inability to attract new
key employees could limit our ability to execute our growth strategy, resulting
in lost sales and a slower rate of growth.
Our
future success depends in part on our ability to retain key
employees. We currently do not carry "key man" insurance on our
executives; however, we are considering the purchase of such
insurance. It would be difficult for us to replace any one of these
individuals. In addition, as we grow we will need to hire additional key
personnel. We may experience difficulty in recruiting experienced
engineers, management personnel, and others who are interested in living and
working in the Algona area.
We
may experience labor shortages.
Our production facilities are located
in Algona, Iowa, a town with a population of approximately 5,500
people. To date, we have successfully attracted employees who possess
a solid work ethic. We may find it difficult to hire and retain a
workforce sufficient to meet our production needs and allow for sustained growth
of our operations. Our ability to hire and retain qualified employees
for our production facilities will be key to our success. Our
inability to do this may have a materially adverse effect on our future
results.
We have
experienced delays in the commencement of production, which could materially and
adversely impact our sales and financial results and the ultimate acceptance of
our products.
We have,
to date, been unable to transition to full production in our new facility or to
fully finance the development of our intellectual property. Delays
have been caused by lack of funding and unforeseen quality control
issues. The disruption resulting from these delays may have a
materially adverse effect on results of operation
.
Our
products may contain design faults.
Though we
believe it unlikely, the technologies we have developed and are developing, and
the products we produce in our new facility, could contain undetected design
faults despite our careful design and testing. We may not discover
these faults or errors until after our customers have used a
product. Any such faults or errors may cause delays in product
introduction and shipments, require design modifications, or harm customer
relationships, any of which could adversely affect our business and competitive
position. We understand that customer service is an important part of
our mission and we feel poised to address any issues that may
arise. If we are unable to successfully address any such issues, our
results of operation could be materially and adversely affected.
We
cannot assure you that there will be an active trading market for our common
stock.
Even though our common stock is quoted
on the OTC Bulletin Board, shares that may be issued in a private offering will
be "restricted securities" within the meaning of Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC
and are therefore subject to certain limitations on the ability of holders to
resell such shares. Restricted shares may not be sold or otherwise
transferred without registration or reliance upon a valid exemption from
registration. Thus, holders of restricted shares of our common stock
may be required to retain their shares for a long period of time.
Acceptance
of hydrogen and ammonia as alternative fuels will affect our ability to achieve
commercial application of our products and technologies.
Members of the public may be wary of
hydrogen because hydrogen, as compared to other fuels, has the largest
flammability limit (4% to 77% of hydrogen in air). This means that it
takes very little hydrogen to start a fire. On the other hand,
hydrogen is a light gas. As such, if there is a hydrogen leak, it
will immediately diffuse into the surrounding air. People may be wary
of ammonia because of its toxicity. With proper precaution, we
believe that hydrogen and ammonia could be as safe as any other
fuel. However, because neither hydrogen nor ammonia have been tested
extensively as fuels in the market place, there can be no assurance that proper
precautions will be taken, or that the costs of necessary precautions will be
commercially reasonable. The main benefit of hydrogen or ammonia as a
fuel is that it produces little or no pollution or greenhouse gases when it is
used in an internal combustion engine. The development of a market
for our technologies is dependent in part upon the development of a market for
hydrogen and ammonia as fuels, which may be impacted by many factors,
including:
|
·
|
consumer
perception of the safety of hydrogen and ammonia and
willingness to use engines powered by hydrogen or
ammonia;
|
|
·
|
the
cost competitiveness of hydrogen or ammonia as a fuel relative to other
fuels;
|
|
·
|
the
future availability of hydrogen or ammonia as a
fuel;
|
|
·
|
adverse
regulatory developments, including the adoption of onerous regulations
regarding hydrogen, or ammonia, use or
storage;
|
|
·
|
barriers
to entry created by existing energy providers;
and
|
|
·
|
the
emergence of new competitive technologies and
products.
|
Certain
government regulations concerning electrical and hydrogen generation, delivery
and storage of fuels and other related matters may negatively impact our
business.
Our business is subject to and affected
by federal, state, local, and foreign laws and regulations. These may
include state and local ordinances relating to building codes, public safety,
electrical and hydrogen production, delivery and refueling infrastructure,
hydrogen storage, and related matters. The use of hydrogen inside a
building will require architectural and engineering changes in the building to
allow the hydrogen to be handled safely. We have received approval
from the Iowa State Fire Marshall for limited use of hydrogen in the dynamometer
room where we test our engines. Full occupancy was delayed subject to
final inspection once new dynamometers, testing equipment, and sensors were
installed. Similar delays could be experienced at other locations
involving the use of hydrogen inside a building. As our engines and
other new products are introduced into the market commercially, governments may
impose new regulations. We do not know the extent to which any such
regulations may impact our business or our customers’ businesses. Any
new regulation may increase costs and could reduce our potential to be
profitable.
The
industry in which we operate may become competitive in the future and such
competition could affect our results of operations, which would make
profitability even more difficult to achieve and sustain.
The power generation and alternative
fuel industry may become highly competitive and is marked by rapid technological
growth. Other competitors and potential competitors include H2Car
Co., Cummins, General Motors, BMW, Mazda, and Caterpillar. Many
existing and potential competitors have greater financial resources, larger
market share, and larger production and technology research capability, which
may enable them to establish a stronger competitive position than we have, in
part through greater marketing opportunities. The governments of the
United States, Canada, Japan, and certain European countries have provided
funding to promote the development and use of fuel cells. Tax
incentives have also been initiated in Japan, and have been proposed in the
United States and other countries, to stimulate the growth of the fuel cell
market by reducing the cost of these fuel cell systems to
consumers. Our business does not currently enjoy any such advantages
and, for that reason, may be at a competitive disadvantage to the fuel cell
industry. If we fail to address competitive developments quickly and
effectively, we will not be able to grow.
Our
business could be adversely affected by any adverse economic developments in the
power generation industry and/or the economy in general.
We depend on the perceived demand for
the application of our technology and resulting products. Our
products are focused on reducing CO
2
emissions and upon the use of alternative fuels for industrial uses, such as
ground support vehicles, and for the power generation
business. Therefore, our business is susceptible to downturns in the
airline industry and the genset portion of the distributed power industry and
the economy in general. Any significant downturn in the market or in
general economic conditions would likely hurt our business.
We
believe that we carry a reasonable amount of insurance. However,
there can be no assurance that our existing insurance coverage would be adequate
in term and scope to protect us against material financial effects in the event
of a successful claim.
We could
be subject to claims in connection with the products that we
sell. There can be no assurance that we would have sufficient
resources to satisfy any liability resulting from any such claim, or that we
would be able to have our customers indemnify or insure us against any such
liability. There can be no assurance that our insurance coverage
would be adequate in term and scope to protect us against material financial
effects in the event of a successful claim.
If
we fail to keep up with changes affecting our technology and the markets that we
will ultimately serve, we will become less competitive and future financial
performance would be adversely affected.
In order to remain competitive and
serve our potential customers effectively, we must respond on a timely and
cost-efficient basis to the need for new technology, as well as changes in
technology, industry standards and procedures, and customer
preferences. We need to continuously develop new technology,
products, and services to address new technological developments. In
some cases changes may be significant and the cost of implementation may be
substantial. We cannot assure you that we will be able to adapt to
any changes in the future or that we will have the financial resources to keep
up with changes in the marketplace. Also, the cost of adapting our
technology, products, and services may have a material and adverse effect on our
operating results.
Our
long-term success depends upon our ability to develop and commercialize our
technologies.
Our technologies are in the development
stage. If we or our collaboration partners fail to complete the
development and/or commercialize our technologies, we will not be able to
generate significant revenues from the sale of licenses or from sales of our
technologies. There is a risk that development and testing will
demonstrate that our anticipated technologies are not suitable for
commercialization, because they are inefficient, or too costly to manufacture,
or because third party competitors market a more effective or more
cost-effective product.
If we or our collaboration partners are
unable to successfully develop and commercialize our technologies, we will not
have a sufficient source of revenue.
Our
ability to enter into successful collaborations cannot be assured.
A material component of our business
strategy is to establish and maintain collaborative arrangements with third
parties to co-develop our technologies and to commercialize products made using
our technology. We also intend to establish collaborative
relationships to obtain domestic or international sales, marketing and
distribution capabilities.
The process of establishing
collaborative relationships is difficult, time-consuming and involves
significant uncertainty. Our partnering strategy entails many risks,
including:
|
·
|
we
may be unsuccessful in entering into or maintaining collaborative
agreements for the co-development of our technologies or the
commercialization of products incorporating our
technology;
|
|
·
|
we
may not be successful in applying our technology to or otherwise
satisfying the needs of our collaborative
partners;
|
|
·
|
our
collaborators may not be successful in, or may not remain committed to,
co-developing our technologies or commercializing products incorporating
our technology;
|
|
·
|
our
collaborators may seek to develop other proprietary
alternatives;
|
|
·
|
our
collaborators may not commit sufficient resources to incorporating our
technology into their business;
|
|
·
|
our
collaborators are not obligated to market or commercialize our
technologies or products incorporating our technology, and they are not
required to achieve any specific commercialization
schedule;
|
|
·
|
our
collaborative agreements may be terminated by our partners on short
notice.
|
Furthermore, even if we do establish
collaborative relationships, it may be difficult for us to maintain or perform
under such collaboration arrangements, as our funding resources may be limited
or our collaborators may seek to renegotiate or terminate their relationships
with us due to unsatisfactory field results, a change in business strategy, or
other reasons.
If we
or any collaborator fails to fulfill any responsibilities in a timely manner, or
at all, our research, development or commercialization efforts related to that
collaboration could be delayed or terminated.
It may also become
necessary for us to assume responsibility for activities that would otherwise
have been the responsibility of our collaborator.
Further, if we are unable
to establish and maintain collaborative relationships on acceptable terms, we
may have to delay or discontinue further development of one or more of our
product candidates, undertake development and commercialization activities at
our own expense or find alternative sources of funding.
Local,
state, national, and international laws or regulations could adversely affect
our business.
Our future success depends in part on
laws and regulations that exist, or are expected to be enacted, around the
world. Should these laws or regulations take an adverse turn, this
could negatively affect our business and anticipated revenues. We
cannot guarantee a positive outcome in direction, timing, or scope of laws and
regulations that may be enacted which will affect our business.
We are limited in our ability to offer
and sell our engines until the engines have been certified to have passed U.S.
Emissions Regulations, which are defined and enforced by the Environmental
Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board. Engine
certification is necessary for us to sell engines to original equipment
manufacturers for mobile off-road applications and will also be necessary for
distributed power generation applications and stand-by power generation
applications. To certify an engine to meet regulations for exhaust
emissions, an engine must successfully pass stringent third-party
testing. We have been delayed in the certification process because of
our inability to obtain the necessary financing.
The
use of hydrogen and ammonia may expose us to certain safety risks and potential
liability claims.
Our business will expose us to
potential product liability claims that are inherent in hydrogen or ammonia and
products that use hydrogen or ammonia. Hydrogen is a flammable gas
and therefore a potentially dangerous product. Ammonia is quite
toxic. Any accidents involving our engines or other hydrogen- or
ammonia-using products could materially impede widespread market acceptance and
demand for our 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, or at all.
We
may be unable to protect our intellectual property adequately or cost
effectively, which may cause us to lose market share or reduce
prices.
Our future success depends in part on
our ability to develop, protect, and preserve our proprietary rights related to
our technology and resulting products. We cannot assure you that we
will be able to prevent third parties from using our intellectual property
rights and technology without our authorization. We have currently
been issued one patent and nine patent applications are pending. We
also rely on trade secrets, common law trademark rights, and trademark
registrations. We intend to protect our intellectual property via
non-disclosure agreements, contracts, and limited information distribution, as
well as confidentiality and work-for-hire, development, assignment, and license
agreements with our employees, consultants, third party developers, licensees,
and customers. However, these measures afford only limited protection
and may be flawed or inadequate. Also, enforcing intellectual
property rights could be costly and time-consuming and could distract
management’s attention from operating business matters.
Our
intellectual property may infringe on the rights of others, resulting in costly
litigation.
In recent years, there has been
significant litigation in the United States involving patents and other
intellectual property rights. In particular, there has been an
increase in the filing of suits alleging infringement of intellectual property
rights, which pressure defendants into entering settlement arrangements quickly
to dispose of such suits, regardless of their merits. Other companies
or individuals may allege that we infringe on their intellectual property
rights. Litigation, particularly in the area of intellectual property
rights, is costly and the outcome is inherently uncertain. In the
event of an adverse result, we could be liable for substantial damages and we
may be forced to discontinue our use of the subject matter in question or obtain
a license to use those rights or develop non-infringing
alternatives. Any of these results would increase our cash
expenditures, adversely affecting our financial condition.
If
the estimates we make and the assumptions on which we rely in preparing our
financial statements prove inaccurate, our actual results may vary
significantly.
Our financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires
us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of our
assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, the amounts of charges taken by us
and related disclosure. Such estimates and judgments include the
carrying value of our property, equipment and intangible assets, revenue
recognition and the value of certain liabilities. We base our
estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other
assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the
circumstances. However, these estimates and judgments, or the
assumptions underlying them, may change over time, which could require us to
restate some of our previously reported financial information. A
restatement of previously reported financial information could cause our stock
price to decline and could subject us to securities litigation. For a
further discussion of the estimates and judgments that we make and the critical
accounting policies that affect these estimates and judgments, see "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates" elsewhere in this annual
report on Form 10-K.
Being
a public company involves increased administrative costs, which could result in
lower net income and make it more difficult for us to attract and retain key
personnel.
As a public company, we incur
significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we would not incur as a
private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well
as new rules subsequently implemented by the SEC, have required changes in
corporate governance practices of public companies. These rules and
regulations increase our legal and financial compliance costs and make some
activities more time consuming. For example, in connection with being
a public company, we are required to create several board committees, implement
and disclose additional internal controls and procedures retain a transfer agent
and financial printer, adopt an insider trading policy, and incur costs relating
to preparing and distributing periodic public reports in compliance with our
obligations under securities laws. These rules and regulations could
also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of
our board of directors, particularly to serve on our audit committee, and
qualified executive officers.
We
do not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. This could make
our stock less attractive to potential investors.
We anticipate that we will retain any
future earnings and other cash resources for future operation and development of
our business and do not intend to declare or pay any cash dividends in the
foreseeable future. Any future payment of cash dividends will be at
the discretion of our board of directors after taking into account many factors,
including our operating results, financial condition, and capital
requirements. Corporations that pay dividends may be viewed as a
better investment than corporations that do not.
The
authorization and issuance of blank–check preferred stock may prevent or
discourage a change in our management.
Our amended certificate of
incorporation authorizes the board of directors to issue up to 10 million shares
of preferred stock without stockholder approval having terms, conditions,
rights, preferences and designations as the board may determine. The
board of directors has designated 1,000,000 of the authorized preferred shares
as the Series A Preferred Stock and 5,000,000 shares of the Series B Preferred
Stock. Additional shares of preferred stock could be designated in
the future. The rights of the holders of our common stock will be
subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of
existing preferred stock and any preferred stock that may be issued in the
future. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing desirable
flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate
purposes, could have the effect of discouraging a person from acquiring a
majority of our outstanding common stock.
It
may be difficult for a third party to acquire us, and this could depress our
stock price.
Nevada corporate law includes
provisions that could delay, defer, or prevent a change in control of our
company or our management. These provisions could discourage
information contests and make it more difficult for you and other stockholders
to elect directors and take other corporate actions. As a result,
these provisions could limit the price that investors are willing to pay in the
future for shares of our common stock. For example:
|
·
|
Without
prior stockholder approval, the board of directors has the authority to
issue one or more classes of preferred stock with rights senior to those
of common stock and to determine the rights, privileges, and preferences
of that preferred stock;
|
|
·
|
There
is no cumulative voting in the election of directors;
and
|
|
·
|
Stockholders cannot call a
special meeting of
stockholders.
|
We
may experience continued losses due to inventory and building
impairments.
Since inception we have written down
inventory by $1,223,487 to reflect changes in our marketing efforts of our
remanufactured engine inventory. During 2008, we sold all of our
“remanufactured” 4.9L engine inventory and most of our “new” 4.9L engine
inventory to fund our operations. If demand for our products is less
than we anticipate or our marketing efforts are unsuccessful, we may be forced
to write down the inventory further to properly reflect the fair market
value.
We do not currently have sufficient
liquidity to continue to make the payments on all of our building loans unless
we are able to raise additional capital and refinance or restructure existing
debt. Since inception we have not been able to utilize the full
capacity of our existing buildings. We could realize a loss due to
the impairment of the value of one or more of our buildings if we are forced to
sell them at less than recorded value.
ITEM
2. PROPERTIES.
We commenced operations in a 12,000
square foot armory, built in approximately 1949. This building is
located at 602 Fair Street in Algona, Iowa and was under lease from the Kossuth
County Agricultural Association. This facility was adequate for our
initial needs and continued to serve us as the research and testing facility
until March 14, 2008, when an agreement was entered into to buy out the
lease. The lease required monthly rental payments of $700 and was to
expire in May 2008. The total buyout totaled approximately $2,100
which included reimbursement for utilities.
On June
27, 2005 we purchased Lots 3, 4, and 5 of the Dana Hollinger Industrial Park on
Poplar Street in Algona, Iowa. The land was purchased from the Algona
Area Economic Development Corporation using proceeds of a loan from that entity,
the terms of which are described below. Construction of our 30,000
square foot manufacturing facility on this site was completed in March 2006 and
production of the 4.9L remanufactured engine began in April
2006. Construction costs on the new manufacturing building totaled
approximately $1.6 million. We implemented an ‘engine cell’
production method in the new facility that we believe can speed production and
reduce work-in-process inventory. Under this method, each engine cell
is designed to match the assembly time of the next cell to eliminate inventory
between cells, and minimize overall assembly time.
To reduce engine assembly contaminants
introduced by forced-air heating, the new building has over five miles of PEX
radiant heat pipe in the production floor. It also has a unique
mono-roof design that allows planned building expansion without production line
shut-down.
Late in December of 2005 we acquired an
existing 30,000 square foot building shell located on Lot #1 of the Dana
Hollinger Industrial Park in Algona, Iowa for a purchase price of $332,901. The
building is located across the street from the new manufacturing building on
Poplar Street. We have finished a portion of the building to provide
office space. The building was only a shell when purchased and some interior
construction was necessary to make the building useful to
us. Construction costs on this building totaled approximately
$547,000. We are currently using the building only for
storage.
At December 31, 2008, our facilities
are subject to mortgages in favor of Iowa State Bank in the amount of $540,161;
Farmers State Bank for $576,747; Algona Area Economic Development Corporation in
the amounts of approximately $146,124 and $87,500; City of Algona in the amount
of $140,000 and the Iowa Department of Economic Development
$400,000. The mortgages to Algona Area Development Corporation
include a subordination in favor of Iowa State Bank.
HEC Canada leases a small facility from
the Universite Du Quebec at Trois-Rivieres for approximately US $812 per
month.
We believe that
all of our properties are adequately insured.
ITEM
3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
None.
ITEM
4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
None.
ITEM
5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS.
Market
Information
Our common stock is quoted on the OTC
Bulletin Board under the trading symbol "HYEG.OB." Inclusion on the OTC Bulletin
Board permits price quotations for our shares to be published by such
service.
The
following table sets forth the high and low bid quotations for our common stock
for the period from January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2008.
|
|
High Bid
|
|
|
Low Bid
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
Quarter ended March 31, 2007
|
|
|
3.55
|
|
|
|
2.50
|
|
Second
Quarter ended June 30, 2007
|
|
|
3.08
|
|
|
|
1.35
|
|
Third
Quarter ended September 30, 2007
|
|
|
1.75
|
|
|
|
0.95
|
|
Fourth
Quarter ended December 31, 2007
|
|
|
1.85
|
|
|
|
0.65
|
|
First
Quarter ended March 31, 2008
|
|
|
.80
|
|
|
|
.32
|
|
Second
Quarter ended June 30, 2008
|
|
|
.51
|
|
|
|
.40
|
|
Third
Quarter ended September 30, 2008
|
|
|
.47
|
|
|
|
.23
|
|
Fourth
Quarter ended December 31, 2008
|
|
|
.40
|
|
|
|
.07
|
|
The
foregoing quotations represent inter-dealer prices without retail mark-up,
mark-down, or commission, and may not represent actual
transactions.
As of
March 24, 2009, there were 231 holders of record of the company’s common stock,
including broker-dealers and clearing firms holding shares on behalf of their
clients, as reported by our transfer agent. This figure does not take
into account those individual shareholders whose certificates are held in the
name of broker-dealers or other nominees.
As of March 24, 2009, we had 30,214,902
shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Of the total
outstanding shares, all may be sold, transferred or otherwise traded in the
public market without restriction, unless held by an affiliate or controlling
shareholder. Of these shares we have identified 16,021,327 shares as
being held by affiliates.
Under Rule 144 as currently in effect,
a person who is not an affiliate (and has not been an affiliate for the
preceding three months) of an issuer that has met reporting requirements for at
least 90 days, may resell the securities after a six-month holding
period. If the issuer has not filed all required reports for at least
twelve months prior to the sale (or for a shorter period if the issuer has been
subject to reporting requirements for less than twelve months), the holding
period is extended to one year.
If the
issuer has met reporting requirements for at least 90 days and has filed all
required reports for at least twelve months prior to the sale (or for a shorter
period if the issuer has been subject to reporting requirements for less than
twelve months), an affiliate can resell securities after the expiration six
months, subject to certain other conditions:
|
·
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The
number of securities to be resold must fall within specified volume
limitations;
|
|
·
|
The
resale must comply with the revised "manner of sale" conditions;
and
|
|
·
|
The
seller may be required to file a Form 144 reporting the sale (or proposed
sale), subject to the new reporting
threshold.
|
A person who is not deemed to be an
"affiliate" and has not been an affiliate for the most recent three months, and
who has held restricted shares for at least one year would be entitled to sell
such shares without regard to the reporting status of the issuer.
We have
never paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying cash
dividends in the foreseeable future.
Securities authorized for
issuance under equity compensation plans as of December 31,
2008
We have granted employees, directors
and consultants restricted stock and stock options under our incentive
compensation plan:
|
|
Stock
Option
Awards
|
|
|
Exercise
Price
|
|
|
|
Restricted
Stock
Awards
|
|
|
Grant
Date Fair
Value
|
|
Employees
and directors
|
|
|
212,500
|
|
|
$
|
1.34
|
|
Employees
and directors
|
|
|
356,000
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
|
|
|
93,000
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
$
|
.40
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
$
|
.20
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
365,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
356,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consultants
|
|
|
139,666
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
Consultants
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
$
|
.50
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
169,666
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
The above numbers include shares issued
upon exercise of options to purchase a total of 8,000 shares at $1.00 per
share. These numbers do not include options to purchase 845,834
shares that have been cancelled, or 65,000 shares of restricted stock that have
been forfeited, because of termination of service.
Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted
the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123R. As prescribed
in SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment,” we elected to use the ‘‘modified
prospective method.” Under this method, we are required to recognize stock-based
compensation for all new and unvested stock-based awards that are ultimately
expected to vest as the requisite service is rendered, beginning January 1,
2006. Prior to January 1, 2006, we applied the intrinsic method as provided in
Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25 (“APB No. 25”),
Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees, and related interpretations.
In March 2005, the Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 107
providing supplemental implementation guidance for SFAS 123R. We have
applied the provisions of SAB 107 in its adoption of SFAS 123R. We
record restricted stock awards at the fair value at the date of the grant and
amortize the expense over the vesting period as services are
performed.
The following table provides
information as of December 31, 2008.
Plan Category
|
|
Number of Securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a)
|
|
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(b)
|
|
|
Number of securities
remaining available for future
issuance under equity
compensation plans, excluding
securities reflected in column (a)
(c)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity compensation
plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
535,166
|
1
|
|
$
|
1.02
|
|
|
|
1,103,834
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
795,270
|
2
|
|
$
|
2.14
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1,330,436
|
|
|
$
|
1.69
|
|
|
|
1,103,834
|
3
|
1.
Options
issued under the company’s 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan to purchase 535,166
shares, including employee/director options for 365,500 shares and consultant
options for 169,666 shares, less options to purchase 8,000 shares that have been
exercised. Does not include 361,000 shares of restricted stock issued
under the company’s 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan, 46,000 of which remain
subject to forfeiture as of December 31, 2008.
2.
795,270
shares of common stock underlying warrants, 69,640 of which were issued in the
First Private
Offering,
134,346 of which were issued in the Second Private Offering, 120,900 of which
were issued in the
Series A
Preferred Offering, 57,985 of which were issued in the Series B Preferred
Offering, 12,399 of which will be issued under the SEDA, 375,000 of which were
issued to settle a vendor dispute and 25,000 of which were issued for the
purchase of inventory.
3.
This
amount equals the number of shares remaining to be issued under the company’s
2005 Incentive Compensation Plan.
ITEM
7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS.
Hydrogen
Engine Center, Inc. (“HEC” or the “company”) was organized for the purpose of
developing and commercializing clean solutions for today’s energy
needs. We offer technologies that provide alternative-fuel energy
solutions for the industrial and power generation markets. Our
systems, when coupled with traditional wind-driven generators, enable the
generation of constant power. We accomplish this by using excess
energy produced by wind turbines to first make hydrogen, and then use this
hydrogen to power a proprietary engine/generator system to produce electricity
during wind-still times. Our systems use spark-ignited internal
combustion engines (ICE) powered by alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ethanol,
methanol, or ammonia. We use our proprietary engine controller and
software to efficiently distribute ignition spark and fuel to
injectors. Our business plan is centered on technologies that we
expect to play an increasing role in addressing the world’s energy needs as well
as its environmental concerns. We expect future revenue generation
from the sale of hydrogen engines and gensets for dedicated uses, such as
airport ground support and power generation. However, because of a
possible change in control of the company as discussed below, we cannot
describe, with any degree of certainty, the future course of our business
plans.
THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED NOTES APPEARING IN THIS FORM
10-K. THIS DISCUSSION CONTAINS FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT
INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. OUR ACTUAL RESULTS WILL DEPEND UPON
A NUMBER OF FACTORS BEYOND OUR CONTROL AND COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE
ANTICIPATED IN THE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS. SOME OF THESE FACTORS
ARE DISCUSSED UNDER “RISK FACTORS” AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS FORM 10-K.
The accompanying consolidated balance
sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and the consolidated statements of
operations, consolidated statement of stockholders equity, and the consolidated
statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 and for
the period from inception (May 19, 2003) to December 31, 2008 respectively,
consolidate the historical financial statements of the company with HEC Iowa
after giving effect to the Merger where HEC Iowa is the accounting acquirer and
after giving effect to the Private Offerings.
Overview
As a result of the Merger, we own all
of the issued and outstanding shares of HEC Iowa and all of the issued and
outstanding shares of Hydrogen Engine Center (HEC) Canada, Inc. (“HEC
Canada”). HEC Iowa is a development stage company being built upon
the vision of carbon-free, energy independence. We are working to
build engines and gensets that provide the ability to generate and use clean
power on demand, where needed.
We have funded our operations from
inception through December 31, 2008, through a series of financing transactions,
including the convertible loans and the Private Offerings described
above. In April 2008, we entered into a Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement (the “SEDA”), which was intended to provide us the opportunity to
access limited additional capital.
We did not receive the amount of
capital we anticipated receiving from investors during 2008. We have
also experienced delays in the receipt of quality parts for our
engines. These factors caused us to focus during 2008 on efforts to
generate revenue through the sale of engines and open power units using our
high-quality, reliable remanufactured engines. In an effort to
achieve profitability we plan to eliminate our traditional-fueled products and
concentrate on selling products with increased profit margins, such as the
hydrogen products we offer.
In March 2009, we secured an agreement
to be involved in a hydrogen demonstration project focused on testing hydrogen
technologies and fueling infrastructures for the ground support
industry. We are pursuing strategic alliances to assist us in
marketing our hydrogen products. We also plan to concentrate our
efforts on “wind to hydrogen” projects like the project we have completed with
Xcel Energy and the project we have underway with Newfoundland Labrador
Hydro. We also expect to engage in a capital raise. We
believe that the combination of these opportunities and potentials can help
provide needed cash flow for our operations.
Effective March 17, 2009, Ted
Hollinger, the Company’s founder, entered into an agreement with Steven C.
Waldron, under which Mr. Hollinger granted Mr. Waldron the option to purchase
all of his shares of Common Stock of Hydrogen Engine Center at a price of $0.02
per share. Mr. Hollinger currently owns 15,661,037 shares, or 51.83%
of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Mr.
Waldron has paid the amount of $15,000 to acquire the option. If the
option is not exercised, Mr. Hollinger will be obligated to transfer 750,000
shares of his stock to Mr. Waldron. In the event Mr. Waldron
exercises the option, he will pay Mr. Hollinger an additional
$298,221.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mr.
Waldron has the right to conduct due diligence on our Company over a period of
45 days before determining whether to exercise his option. If the
option is exercised, Mr. Waldron will have purchased voting control and will be
able to control the business plans and direction of the Company. Mr.
Waldron is associated with Pinnacle Wind Energy, a company dedicated to the
efficient development of wind power. Should Mr. Waldron gain control
of the Company, our resources likely will be primarily dedicated to this
goal. Subject to approval of the Board of Directors, the March 17
agreement would also have allowed Mr. Hollinger to retain five patent
applications not directly associated with wind energy generation and would have
granted the Company a right of first refusal to license any technologies
associated with those patents. In order to allow him to develop the
patents, the agreement also anticipated that Mr. Hollinger would be released
from his agreement not to compete with the Company. The Board was
generally supportive of the agreement, but requested that a royalty agreement,
or other means of providing compensation to the company, be put in
place. However, on March 24, 2009, Mr. Hollinger and Mr. Waldron
modified the original agreement by removing the provisions regarding patents and
Mr. Hollinger’s noncompete.
Results
of Operations
A summary statement of our operations,
for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 and for the period from inception
through December 31, 2008 follows:
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
From Inception
(May 19, 2003) to
December 31, 2008
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
1,358,647
|
|
|
$
|
740,799
|
|
|
$
|
2,421,350
|
|
Cost
of Sales
|
|
|
1,544,449
|
|
|
|
1,178,393
|
|
|
|
3,428,256
|
|
Gross
Profit (Loss)
|
|
|
(185,802
|
)
|
|
|
(437,594
|
)
|
|
|
(1,006,906
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Expenses
|
|
|
3,040,277
|
|
|
|
4,828,292
|
|
|
|
14,540,725
|
|
Loss
from Operations
|
|
|
(3,226,079
|
)
|
|
|
(5,265,886
|
)
|
|
|
(15,547,631
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
Income (Expense)
|
|
|
(132,176
|
)
|
|
|
(106,835
|
)
|
|
|
(316,302
|
)
|
Net
Loss
|
|
$
|
(3,358,255
|
)
|
|
$
|
(5,372,721
|
)
|
|
$
|
(15,863,933
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series
A Preferred Stock Beneficial Conversion Feature Accreted as a
Dividend
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(1,889,063
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,889,063
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders
|
|
$
|
(3,358,255
|
)
|
|
$
|
(7,261,784
|
)
|
|
$
|
(17,752,996
|
)
|
Historical information for periods
prior to the Merger is that of HEC Iowa.
We continue to operate as a development
stage company. As a development stage company we are engaging in the
research and development of our products, we continue to foster relationships
with vendors and customers and we are in the process of raising additional
capital to support our business plan.
Revenues
Our revenues in 2008 totaled
$1,358,647, an increase of $617,848 compared to revenues of $740,799 in
2007. The increase in revenues for 2008 resulted from the sale of our
4.9L remanufactured engines and power units, revenues from the sale of our new
4.9L Oxx Power
®
engines
and Oxx Power
®
units
and the sale of 4.9L engine replacement parts. From inception to date
we have realized revenues of $2,421,350.
We also have derived income through
business agreements for the development and/or commercialization of our hydrogen
and ammonia products, which are not reflected in our revenue. We
record income related to business agreements as a reduction in research and
development expense. The expenses we incur are recorded as research
and development costs. We did not realize any revenue from business
agreements in 2008. In 2007, we received project reimbursements of
$222,713 from business agreements we entered into with Natural Resources Canada,
for a 4 + 1
®
hydrogen
generator set and Grasim Industries, Ltd. of India for a 50kW hydrogen generator
set. From inception (May 19, 2003) to December 31, 2008, we have
recorded $273,913, as a reduction in research and development
expense.
During 2009, we do not expect to
generate more than nominal revenue from our power generation products until the
fourth quarter of 2009; however we do expect that we will be aggressively
booking business for future orders of our hydrogen products.
In March 2009, we signed an agreement
to be involved in a hydrogen demonstration project. Once the
agreement has been accepted by all parties involved, we expect that numerous
hydrogen usages will be tested as part of this project.
Cost of Sales and Gross
Profit
We realized negative gross profit on
our revenues of approximately $185,802 in 2008 and $437,594 in 2007, in part as
a result of writing down our new and remanufactured engine inventory,
establishing an inventory allowance account for engine blocks obtained from our
supplier in China and selling inventory at a loss to meet current cash
needs. At this time, we do not expect to record further declines in
the market value of our inventory and we do not expect to increase our inventory
allowance account. We would expect to realize gross profit margins of
approximately 15% as long as our primary sales are composed of traditional
fueled engines. We expect our gross profit margins to increase as we
increase our alternative fuel sales.
In order to sell our remanufactured
engine inventory and our new engine inventory, we recorded a decline in the
market value of our inventory. The inventory mark-down was necessary
in order to align the selling price of our engines with other engine
remanufacturers and resellers. We recorded a decline in the market
value of our inventory, net of recoveries of $261,464 for the year ended
December 31, 2008 and $533,876 for the year ended December 31,
2007. The total decline in market value of inventory, net of
recoveries is $1,223,487 from inception (May 19, 2003) to December 31,
2008. During 2008, we sold all of our “remanufactured” 4.9L engine
inventory and most of our “new” 4.9L engine inventory to fund our
operations.
For the year ended December 31, 2007,
we established an inventory allowance account in the amount of $333,162 for
substandard inventory received from a supplier located in China. The
inventory is covered under warranty. We are aggressively pursuing
efforts to recover losses we have recognized because of these rejected
products. We visited the factory during 2008 to witness the
production and participate in the inspection of the Oxx Power
®
blocks. We have also retained an engineer who can be on-site
to inspect the engine blocks before they are shipped. We are
encouraged by recent news from our engineer and expect to receive an Oxx
Power
®
engine block to test within the next 10 days. In addition, we
have a relationship with a consultant who can assist us with the procurement of
parts from China.
Operating
Expenses
Our sales and marketing expenses for
the years ended 2008 and 2007 are $183,724 and $219,875, respectively and the
total expense from inception to date (May 19, 2003) is
$1,384,760. Assuming receipt of sufficient additional financing, we
will continue our search for technically qualified sales personnel which we feel
is a key element in the success of our company. We expect to be more
involved in the distributed generation and wind energy markets because of the
tightening of governmentally imposed emission standards and our quest to lessen
our dependence on foreign oil. We also plan to aggressively market
our hydrogen products in 2009 and expect that our sales and marketing expense
will increase significantly as we pursue national and international sales
opportunities.
General and administrative expenses
decreased from $2,790,255 for the year ended December 31, 2007 to $2,031,325 for
the year ended December 31, 2008. General and administrative expenses
from inception (May 19, 2003) through December 31, 2008 were
$8,502,734. Our general and administrative costs include payroll,
employee benefits, stock-based compensation, and other costs associated with
general and administrative costs such as investor relations, accounting and
legal fees.
Our general and administrative expenses
also include overhead and direct production expense related to pre-production
costs, which costs, if we had reached production capacity, would be allocated to
products manufactured. Expenses related to pre-production include
salaries for production, personnel, purchasing costs and costs associated with
production ramp up. Total pre-production expenses included in general
and administrative expense for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
respectively, are $437,044 and $621,718. Pre-production expense from
inception (May 19, 2003) through December 31, 2008 totaled
$1,780,478. We do not expect our administrative costs to increase
substantially in 2009, as we begin to align expenses with our
revenues.
We view our stock based compensation as
a key tool that could allow us to attract talented, experienced employees and
directors without having to increase cash compensation. Although we
have been able to preserve cash with this tool, we have recognized $374,194 in
stock option expense for employees and directors in the year ended December 31,
2008 and $499,542 in stock option and restricted stock expense for the year
ended December 31, 2007. Total stock option compensation for
employees and directors from inception (May 19, 2003) through December 31, 2008
was $1,748,613. Stock option expense is allocated among sales and
marketing expense, general and administrative expense and research and
development expense.
Since inception (May 19, 2003), we have
accrued approximately $80,297 in accrued property taxes and approximately
$57,319 in accrued program costs related to forgivable loans and grants from
state and local government sponsored programs. These expenses have
also been recorded as general and administrative expenses. Expenses
related to forgivable loans and grants will continue to accrue until we meet
certain criteria for job creation. If we can comply with the job
creation criteria, these expenses would be recorded, at the time of forgiveness,
as other income.
Costs related to research and
development were $825,228 and $1,370,151 for the years ended December 31, 2008
and 2007, respectively. Total expense for research and development
expense from inception (May 19, 2003) to December 31, 2008 is
$4,075,731. Management believes that, assuming receipt of additional
capital, research and development expenses will increase significantly during
2009. Research and development costs for 2009 is expected to
include the cost of the N + 1
TM
1 MW
Hydrogen Generator System.
Our research and development costs
included costs associated with controller design that we entered into with a
company co-founded by one of the members of our Board of
Directors. The scope of work provided for the development and testing
by the contractor and us working to create a production-ready
controller. The cost of the development work incurred through
December 31, 2008 was $60,203. We estimated the total cost of the
project to be approximately $225,000, however the project was suspended until we
could obtain the financing needed to sustain the development.
For the
years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 respectively, we recorded an expense of
$0 and $448,011 to settle a dispute with a vendor who was supplying us with
engine parts. The settlement payment made in 2007 included the
issuance of 375,000 warrants with a three year term and an exercise price of
$2.00. The fair value of the warrants was calculated using the Black
Scholes Option pricing formula.
Other Income
(Expense)
We had total interest income for the
year ended December 31, 2008 of $6,813 as compared to interest income received
for the year ended December 31, 2007 of $73,057. We realized interest
income from inception (May 19, 2003) to December 31, 2008 of
$170,866.
Interest expense for the year ended
December 31, 2008 was $138,989 and $173,158 for the year ended December 31,
2007. Our interest expense from inception (May 19, 2003) to December
31, 2008 totaled $480,434. We accrue interest expense related to
forgivable loans and grants from state and local government sponsored
programs. From inception (May 19, 2003) through December 31, 2008 we
have accrued approximately $172,000 in accrued interest expense related to our
forgivable loans and grants and will continue to accrue these expenses until we
meet certain criteria for job creation. If we can comply with the job
creation criteria, these amounts would be recorded, at the time of forgiveness,
as other income.
During the year ended December 31, 2007
we realized a loss from the sale of assets of $6,734. We did not
realize a gain or loss from the sale of any assets during the year ended
December 31, 2008.
Net Loss
We recorded a net loss of $3,358,255
for the year ending December 31, 2008 compared to a net loss of $5,372,721 for
the year ended December 31, 2007. We recorded net losses totaling
$15,863,933 from inception (May 19, 2003) through December 31,
2008. We expect to continue to operate at a net loss during
2009.
During the twelve months ended December
31, 2007 we accreted a beneficial conversion dividend to the Series A
stockholders of $1,889,063, resulting in a net loss to common stockholders of
$7,261,784 for that year. We recorded net losses attributable
to common stockholders totaling $17,752,996 from inception (May 19, 2003)
through December 31, 2008. We did not record any dividends during the
twelve months ended December 31, 2007 or 2008.
Critical
Accounting Policies
Our discussion and analysis of our
financial position and results of operations are based upon our consolidated
financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The
preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of the consolidated financial statements and the reported revenues and expenses
during the period.
Inventories
Our inventories consist mainly of
parts, work-in-process and finished goods that are stated at the lower of cost
or market. Certain inventory items have been written down to the
estimated sales price.
Warranty
Reserve
We record a warranty reserve at the
time products are sold or at the time revenue is recognized. We
estimate the liability for product warranty costs based upon industry standards
and best estimate of future warranty claims. Due to a lack of actual
warranty history to use as a basis for our reserve estimate, it is possible that
actual claims may vary significantly from the estimated amounts.
Revenue
Recognition
Revenue from the sale of our products
is recognized at the time title and risk of ownership transfer to
customers. This occurs upon shipment to the customer or when the
customer picks up the goods.
Stock-based
Compensation
We consider certain accounting policies
related to stock-based compensation to be critical to our business operations
and the understanding of our results of operations. See Note 1 of
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information about
stock-based compensation.
Liquidity,
Capital Resources and Going Concern
Operating Budget and
Financing of Operations
Since inception, we have invested in
the resources and technology we believe necessary to deliver carbon free energy
technology. As such, we have incurred substantial operating losses
and we expect to incur operating losses in 2009 as well.
Effective March 17, 2009, Ted
Hollinger, the Company’s founder, entered into an agreement with Steven C.
Waldron, under which Mr. Hollinger granted Mr. Waldron the option to purchase
all of his shares of Common Stock of Hydrogen Engine Center at a price of $0.02
per share. Mr. Hollinger currently owns 15,661,037 shares or 51.83%
of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Mr.
Waldron has paid the amount of $15,000 to acquire the option. If the
option is not exercised, Mr. Hollinger will be obligated to transfer 750,000
shares of his stock to Mr. Waldron. In the event Mr. Waldron
exercises the option, he will pay Mr. Hollinger an additional
$298,221. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Waldron has the right
to conduct due diligence on our Company over a period of 45 days before
determining whether to exercise his option. If Mr. Waldron were
to exercise the option to purchase all of Mr. Hollinger’s shares, he would face
challenging liquidity concerns as the new majority shareholder.
Mr. Hollinger entered into this
agreement because he believes it is in the best interest of HEC and its
shareholders. He believes potential synergies between HEC and
Pinnacle Wind Energy could enhance our ability to commercialize our technology
in the wind industry.
During
2008, liquidity has been our primary concern. On April 11, 2008, we
entered into a Standby Equity Distribution Agreement (the “SEDA”) with YA Global
Investments, L.P., which was intended to provide us with the opportunity to
access additional capital in the maximum amount of $4 million in increments not
to exceed $350,000 each. However, the SEDA has proved to be
ineffective and it has not been possible to depend on the SEDA to fund our
operations. According to the terms of the SEDA, once an advance is
requested, the investor can begin selling shares which consequently drives the
price of the stock lower. We began accessing the SEDA funds in August and at
December 31, 2008, have sold 247,977 shares at an average price of $.23 and have
received gross proceeds of $57,131 in capital. The number of shares
we were able to sell under the SEDA may have been adversely affected by the
severe weakening of the economy and the recent fluctuation and general decline
in the trading price of our shares.
On March 13, 2009, we secured an
agreement to be involved in a hydrogen demonstration project scheduled to be
completed by March 2011. Once the agreement has been accepted by all
parties involved, we expect that numerous hydrogen usages will be tested as part
of this project. We continue to take steps to lower our monthly cash
expenditures and work on the development of our 1 MW N+1
TM
hydrogen generator system. We have received encouraging news from the
engineer we engaged to inspect our new Oxx Power 4.9L engine blocks being
manufactured in China. Therefore, we expect to continue sales of our new 4.9L
Oxx Power engines once these parts arrive. We are pursuing
strategic alliances to assist us in marketing our wind to hydrogen
products. We also expect to engage in a capital raise.
We do not currently have sufficient
liquidity to continue to make the payments on all of our loans, capital leases
and past due payables unless we are able to raise additional capital and
refinance or restructure existing debt. As of March 24, 2008, we had
cash of $30,103, trade receivables of $42,357 and $420,262 in trade
payables. We have sales orders of $545,710 which includes our
hydrogen project agreement of $470,752. We will be dependent on our
ability to raise additional capital as well as on revenue from our existing
projects and engine sales to fund our involvement in new research and
development projects and sustain our operations. If we are unable to
raise additional funds within a thirty to sixty day time period, we may need to
seek reorganization under Chapter 11 or file for protection under Chapter 7 of
the bankruptcy code.
We have not been able to make our first
payment on our Line of Credit which currently carries a principal balance of
$250,000. The payment totals approximately $23,300, including
interest and was due March 1, 2009. The note has additional terms which require
us to pay interest on the unpaid balance at an interest rate of 3.8% above the
current variable rate of 5.5% otherwise payable. In addition, with
this same bank, we have not been able to make our building payment which was due
March 15, 2009. The balance on this note is $537,115. The
note requires a principal and interest payment of $4,484 each month. This note
also has additional terms which require us to pay interest on the unpaid balance
at an interest rate of 3.8% above the variable rate of 5.0% we are currently
paying. The increased interest rate becomes effective for both notes,
if our scheduled payments are more than 3 days past due and becomes retroactive
to the first day the payment becomes past due. We are currently in
negotiations on this matter.
We have defaulted on one of our capital
leases, which according to the lease could cause the lessor to demand payment in
full immediately and any additional costs and fees they may
incur. The balance on the lease is $42,048. Past due
payments total $3,756.
Our
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going
concern basis, which contemplates our continuation of operations, realization of
assets, and liquidation of liabilities in the ordinary course of
business. Since inception, we have incurred substantial operating
losses and expect to incur additional operating losses over the next several
months. As of December 31, 2008, we had an accumulated deficit of
approximately $15.9 million, or $17.8 million including $1.9 million related to
the beneficial conversion feature accreted to common stockholders upon
conversion of the Series A Preferred stock. Our accompanying
financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the
outcome of this uncertainty.
The SEDA
was to provide us the opportunity, for a two-year period beginning August 5,
2008, to sell shares of our common stock to an Investor for a total purchase
price of up to $4 million. For each share of common stock purchased
under the SEDA, the Investor would pay 93% of the lowest daily volume weighted
average price (“VWAP”) during the five consecutive trading days after the
Advance Notice Date (as such term is defined in the SEDA). Each such
sale (“Advance”) may be for an amount not to exceed $350,000 and each Advance
Notice Date was to be no less than five trading days after the prior Advance
Notice Date. The Advance request was reduced to the extent the price
of our common stock during the five consecutive trading days after the Advance
Notice Date is less that 85% of the VWAP on the trading day immediately
preceding the Advance Notice Date.
We paid
$15,000 to the Investor as a Structuring and Due Diligence Fee and issued
$160,000 worth of stock as a Commitment Fee under the SEDA. We have
been obligated to pay a monthly monitoring fee of $3,333 during the term of the
agreement. We have also been obligated to pay 7% of the gross
proceeds of each draw and issue warrants covering shares of common stock equal
to 5% of each draw under an existing investment banking
relationship. We may terminate the SEDA upon 15 trading days of prior
notice to the Investor, as long as there are no Advances outstanding and we have
paid to the Investor all amount then due.
We claim
an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the “Act”) for the private placement of our shares in the SEDA
pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Act and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated
thereunder. The transactions with the Investor do not involve a
public offering, the Investor is an “accredited investor” and/or qualified
institutional buyer and the Investor has access to information about the Company
and its investment.
Cash Flow From
Operations
The following table depicts cash flow
information for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 and from inception
(May 19, 2003) to December 31, 2008:
|
|
|
|
|
From Inception
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
(May 19, 2003) to
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
Net cash
used in operating activities
|
|
$
|
(931,275
|
)
|
|
$
|
(4,067,546
|
)
|
|
$
|
(12,099,587
|
)
|
Net
cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
|
|
114,357
|
|
|
|
89,393
|
|
|
|
(2,976,979
|
)
|
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
135,048
|
|
|
|
3,536,428
|
|
|
|
15,111,397
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities
decreased approximately $3.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2008
compared to the same period in 2007. The decrease is primarily the
result of an increase in sales, a decrease in inventory purchasing activity and
efforts to reduce our operating expenses. From inception (May 19,
2003) through December 31, 2008 we have used $12,099,587 to fund our operating
activities.
At December 31, 2008 we had cash on
hand of $36,482 compared to cash on hand of $713,289 at December 31, 2007,
compared to $1,149,207 at December 31, 2006, compared to $2,346,248 at December
31, 2005, $19,808 at December 31, 2004, and $49,857 as of December 31,
2003.
Cash
Flow Used in Investing Activities
Net cash provided by investing
activities increased by $24,964 during the year ended December 31, 2008. We
withdrew the balance of restricted cash on hand at December 31, 2007, of
$115,157 and we purchased equipment totaling $800. During 2007, we
withdrew $237,427 of restricted cash for operations, sold equipment for $36,500
and purchased property and equipment for $184,534. We have used
approximately $3.0 million for the purchase of property and equipment since
inception (May 19, 2003) through December 31, 2008.
Cash
Flow from Financing Activities
Cash flow from financing activities
decreased approximately $3.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2008
compared to the year ended December 31, 2007. The decrease in net
cash provided from financing activities related to the small amount of capital
funds being raised from the SEDA as compared to the funds that were raised
during our private placement of Series B preferred shares.
Cash from our financing activities from
inception to date (May 19, 2003) came from various financing
transactions:
During the year ended December 31,
2008, we obtained a line of credit from Iowa State Bank, Algona, Iowa, for
$250,000, we also renewed a note with this same bank for $540,161. On
December 27, 2008, we obtained short term financing from First Insurance Funding
Group for $35,314. On March 19, 2009, we renewed our note with
Farmers State Bank in the principal amount of $571,422. Also on March
19, 2009, we secured a new note with Farmers State Bank for
$100,000.
During the year ended December 31,
2007, we renewed our note with Iowa State Bank, Algona, Iowa, in the principal
amount of $561,304 and we renewed our note with Farmers State Bank in the
principal amount of $591,956. In addition, on February 21, 2007, we
obtained a line of credit with Bank of America in the amount of $250,000 and
repaid the line on October 3, 2007 and on December 27, 2007, we obtained short
term financing from First Insurance Funding Group for $33,374.
From inception (May 19, 2003) through
December 31, 2006, we received proceeds from long-term debt in the amount of
$400,000 in forgivable loans from the Iowa Department of Economic Development,
$200,000 from the City of Algona revolving loan fund, and convertible loans in
the amount of $572,052.
During
the year ended December 31, 2008, we raised $32,661, net of expenses from the
SEDA. During the year ended December 31, 2007, we raised
$3,595,095,
net of expenses from the sale of Series B preferred stock in a private
placement. During the year ended December 31, 2006, we received
$2,779,813 in proceeds, net of expenses from the private offering of our Series
A Preferred Stock and we received $3,044,119 in proceeds, net of expenses from
our Second Private Offering of common stock. During the year ended
December 31, 2005, we received $3,594,889 in proceeds, net of expenses from the
First Private Offering of our common stock.
At December 31, 2008, we had total
assets of $3,839,812 and stockholders equity of $602,678 compared to total
assets of $5,985,477 and stockholders’ equity of $3,381,158 in
2007. At December 31, 2006, we had total assets of $7,050,239 and
stockholders equity of $4,045,170. At December 31, 2005, we had total
assets of $4,822,022 and stockholders’ equity of $3,204,533 compared to total
assets of $186,438 and total stockholders' deficit of $118,766 at December 31,
2004, and total assets of $128,934 and total stockholders' equity of $34,523 at
December 31, 2003.
Plan
of Operation
Since inception, we have incurred
substantial operating losses and expect to incur additional operating losses in
2009. We have financed operations since inception primarily through
equity and debt financings. We anticipate our expenses will increase
significantly once we obtain sufficient capital to expand our
operations.
We expect to continue our efforts to
raise additional capital during 2009. We are currently exploring a
variety of opportunities to obtain additional capital. There is no
assurance that we will be able to raise the necessary capital or that the
capital, if available, will be available on terms that will be acceptable to us.
We anticipate that increased sales of our generator products could commence in
late calendar year 2009. In addition, during March 2009, we secured
an agreement to be involved in a hydrogen demonstration project scheduled to be
completed by March 2011. Once the agreement has been accepted by all
parties involved, we expect that numerous hydrogen usages will be tested as part
of this project.
We are a development stage enterprise
and, as such, our continued existence is dependent upon our ability to resolve
our liquidity problems, principally by obtaining additional debt or equity
financing. We have yet to generate a positive internal cash flow, and
until meaningful sales of our products begin, we are dependent upon debt and
equity funding.
In the event that we are unable to
obtain debt or equity financing or we are unable to obtain financing on terms
and conditions that are acceptable to us, we may have to seek reorganization
under Chapter 11 or file for protection under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy
code. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability
to continue as a going concern. So far, we have been able to raise the capital
necessary to reach this stage of product development and have been able to
obtain funding for operating requirements, but there can be no assurance that we
will be able to continue to do so.
We believe future revenues will come
from the sale of hydrogen systems to the wind energy industry. We
intend to aggressively pursue sales of our 1 MW N+1
TM
hydrogen-powered generator sets. We believe that we are ideally
positioned to take advantage of the tremendous growth projected for wind power
use. Our systems can be used to stabilize the peaks and valleys in
wind energy production and vastly extend the applicability and efficiency of
wind-driven generators. Our generator systems not only serve as wind
storage devices, but also as energy enablers to standalone wind-powered,
generation facilities, delivering the initial excitation voltage that all wind
generators need during startup and that, in the case of standalone generators,
cannot be provided by the grid.
Our primary target market is
on-the-grid and off-the-grid wind power facilities, where wind storage could
contribute to substantially enhance the value proposition of wind
energy. Wind power is capable of becoming a major contributor to
America’s electricity supply over the next three decades, according to a report
by the U.S. Department of Energy. New installation capital costs are
projected to expand from $30.1 billion in 2007 to $83.4 billion in
2017. Last year’s global wind power installations reached a record
27,000 MW, equivalent to twenty-seven 1,000 MW conventional power
plants.
We do not anticipate expanding our
manufacturing facilities in 2009. We do not anticipate that we will
have substantial capital expenditures in 2009.
Effective
March 17, 2009, our founder, Theodore G. Hollinger, entered into an agreement
with Steven C. Waldron, under which Mr. Hollinger granted Mr. Waldron the option
to purchase all of his shares of common stock of the Company at a price of $0.02
per share. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Waldron has the
right to conduct due diligence on the company over a period of 45 days before
determining whether to exercise his option. If the option is
exercised, Mr. Waldron will have purchased voting control of the company and
will be able to control the business plans and direction of the
company. Mr. Waldron is associated with Pinnacle Wind Energy, a
company dedicated to the efficient development of wind power.
Grants and Government
Programs
On July 7, 2005, we were notified by
the Iowa Department of Economic Development the following funding
assistance:
·
Community Economic Betterment Account (“CEBA”) Forgivable
Loan
|
|
$
|
250,000
|
|
·
Physical Infrastructure Assistance Program (PIAP) Forgivable
Loan
|
|
$
|
150,000
|
|
·
Enterprise Zone (“EZ”) (estimated value)
|
|
$
|
142,715
|
|
These awards were provided to assist us
in the acquisition of machinery and equipment for our new 30,000 square foot
manufacturing building. As a result, we agreed to make an investment
of $1,543,316 in our Algona location and create 49 full-time equivalent
positions by July 30, 2010. More information regarding these
forgivable loans can be found in Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements.
Our Enterprise Zone Agreement was
amended September 28, 2006 to include both facilities on our production site and
amends the job creation requirement under this program to 59 full-time
equivalent positions by June 30, 2008. Under the Program, we were
eligible for the following benefits provided we met certain Program
requirements:
|
·
|
Funding
for training new employees through a supplemental new jobs withholding
credit equal to 3.0% of gross wages of the new jobs
created;
|
|
·
|
A
refund of 100% of the sales, service and use taxes paid to contractors and
subcontractors during the construction phase of the plant (excluding local
option taxes);
|
|
·
|
A
6.5% research activities tax credit based on increasing research
activities within the State of
Iowa;
|
|
·
|
An
investment tax credit equal to 10% of our capital
investment. This Iowa tax credit may be carried forward for up
to seven years.
|
|
·
|
A
value-added property tax exemption. Our community has approved
an exemption from taxation on a portion of the property in which our
business is located.
|
In order to receive these benefits and
in addition to the job creation requirement, we must pay an average median wage
for of $23.89 per hour and pay 80% of our employees’ medical and dental
insurance. We were also required, within three years of the effective
date of the agreement, to make a capital investment of at least $1,329,716
within the Enterprise Zone. As we did not meet these
requirements, we may have to repay all or a portion of the incentives and
assistance we have received.
On January 21, 2009, we received a
“Notice of Default” from IDED. The notice stated that we had not met
the job requirements required by the Enterprise Zone Agreement. At
December 31, 2008, we had recorded a liability associated with the Notice of
Default for $30,355. In a notice dated March 23, 2009, we were
notified by the Iowa Department of Revenue that they had reviewed our default
notice with the IDED and are requesting repayment of a sales tax refund in the
amount of $30,355 plus accrued interest of $6,891 calculated through March 31,
2009.
We received a partially forgivable loan
in the amount of $146,124 from the Algona Area Economic Development Corporation
(“AAEDC”), used for purchase of land and construction of our manufacturing
facility. If we create 50 new jobs in Algona, Iowa by June 1, 2010
and retain those jobs through June 1, 2015, $67,650 of this loan will be
forgiven. If we create and retain 50 additional new jobs in Algona,
Iowa (total of 100 jobs) by June 1, 2015 another $67,650 of this loan will be
forgiven. The balance of $10,824 will be the only amount we repay to
AAEDC, if we are successful in creating 100 new jobs. A wage must be
paid equal to or greater than the average hourly wage for workers in Kossuth
County, Iowa, as determined annually by Iowa Workforce
Development. If we are unsuccessful we must repay the loan with 8%
interest. We are accruing interest on this loan until we meet the
terms.
Employees
As of
December 31, 2008, HEC Iowa had 12 employees, all of whom were full
time. During the first quarter of 2009, we began intermittently
laying our employees off due to lack of work in these slow economic
times. These steps were taken to reduce costs and preserve our
available cash. As of December 31, 2008, HEC Canada had three
employees, one full-time and two part-time. Beginning March 16, 2009,
we laid off one full-time and one part-time employee of HEC Canada in order to
conserve cash. Our employees are not members of any union, and they
have not entered into any collective bargaining agreements. We
believe that our relationship with our employees is good.
As of
March 31, 2009, HEC Iowa has 10 employees, 6 of whom are currently working full
time and 4 of which have been laid off temporarily. HEC Canada has
three employees one of which is working part time and two of which have been
temporarily laid off.
Net Operating Loss
We have accumulated approximately
$11,490,000 of net operating loss and approximately $145,500 in research and
development credit carryforwards as of December 31, 2008, which may be offset
against taxable income and income taxes in future years. In addition,
we have accumulated a foreign net operating loss carryforward of approximately
$1,100,000. The use of these losses to reduce future income taxes
will depend on the generation of sufficient taxable income prior to the
expiration of the net operating loss carryforwards. The
carry-forwards will begin to expire in the year 2018. The amount and
availability of the net operating loss carryforwards may be subject to annual
limitations set forth by the Internal Revenue Code and foreign taxing
authorities. Factors such as the number of shares ultimately issued
within a three-year look-back period; whether there is deemed more than 50
percent change in control; the applicable long-term tax exempt bond rate;
continuity of historical business; and subsequent income of the company all
enter into the annual computation of allowable annual utilization of the
carryforwards.
Inflation
In our opinion, inflation has not and
will not have a material effect on our operations in the immediate
future. Management will continue to monitor inflation and evaluate
the possible future effects of inflation on our business and
operations.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet
arrangements.
ITEM
8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY
DATA
Financial
Statements begin on page 40.
HYDROGEN
ENGINE CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a
corporation in the development stage)
Index
to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
41
|
|
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007
|
42
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
and the period from inception (May 19, 2003) through December 31,
2008
|
44
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Changes in Stockholder’s Equity (Deficit) and Comprehensive
Loss for the period from inception (May 19, 2003) through December 31,
2008
|
45
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
and the period from inception (May 19, 2003) through December 31,
2008
|
47
|
|
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
49
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board
of Directors
Hydrogen
Engine Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries
We have
audited the accompanying balance sheets of Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. and
Subsidiaries (a corporation in the development stage) as of December 31, 2008
and 2007, and the related statements of operations, stockholder's equity
(deficit) and comprehensive (loss), and cash flows for the years then ended and
the period from May 19, 2003 (inception date) to December 31, 2008. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these 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. The company is not
required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal
control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of
internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit
procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of
expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control
over financial reporting. An audit includes examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
In our
opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. and
Subsidiaries (a corporation in the development stage) as of December 31, 2008
and 2007 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then
ended, and for the period from May 19, 2003 (inception date) to December 31,
2008, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that Hydrogen
Engine Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries (a corporation in the development stage)
will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the
financial statements, the Company has suffered significant losses from
operations, has negative working capital, has defaulted on a capital lease and
bank loans, does not have sufficient liquidity to meet current debt payments and
is dependent on obtaining substantial additional capital. These
factors create substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a
going concern. If the Company is unable to raise additional funds in
the next thirty to sixty days, it may seek reorganization under Chapter 11 or
file for protection under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy
code. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also
discussed in Note 1. The financial statements do not contain any adjustments
that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.
/s/ LWBJ, LLP
|
LWBJ,
LLP
|
West Des Moines, Iowa
|
March
31, 2009
|
HYDROGEN
ENGINE CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a
corporation in the development stage)
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
ASSETS
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
36,482
|
|
|
$
|
713,289
|
|
Restricted
cash
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
115,157
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
|
|
222,415
|
|
|
|
134,237
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
493,742
|
|
|
|
1,655,359
|
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
|
|
61,304
|
|
|
|
89,901
|
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
813,943
|
|
|
|
2,707,943
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property,
Plant and Equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Building
|
|
|
2,271,209
|
|
|
|
2,271,209
|
|
Equipment
|
|
|
900,994
|
|
|
|
908,999
|
|
Land
and improvements
|
|
|
472,504
|
|
|
|
472,504
|
|
|
|
|
3,644,707
|
|
|
|
3,652,712
|
|
Less
accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
618,838
|
|
|
|
375,178
|
|
Net
property and equipment
|
|
|
3,025,869
|
|
|
|
3,277,534
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Assets
|
|
$
|
3,839,812
|
|
|
$
|
5,985,477
|
|
HYDROGEN
ENGINE CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a
corporation in the development stage)
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND EQUITY
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
payable, banks
|
|
$
|
575,475
|
|
|
$
|
594,677
|
|
Current
portion long-term debt
|
|
|
292,737
|
|
|
|
30,350
|
|
Current
installments of obligation under capital lease
|
|
|
58,465
|
|
|
|
45,247
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
342,283
|
|
|
|
146,585
|
|
Accrued
expenses
|
|
|
248,071
|
|
|
|
207,328
|
|
Accrued
interest
|
|
|
179,457
|
|
|
|
129,965
|
|
Deferred
compensation
|
|
|
119,108
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Deferred
revenue
|
|
|
87,306
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Unearned
grants
|
|
|
33,744
|
|
|
|
30,977
|
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
1,936,646
|
|
|
|
1,185,129
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term
debt, net of current maturities
|
|
|
1,277,999
|
|
|
|
1,338,235
|
|
Obligation
under capital lease, excluding current installments
|
|
|
22,489
|
|
|
|
80,955
|
|
|
|
|
1,300,488
|
|
|
|
1,419,190
|
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
|
3,237,134
|
|
|
|
2,604,319
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments
and Contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders'
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
stock - Series B, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized, -0- and
1,932,846 shares issued and outstanding
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,933
|
|
Common
stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 30,157,554 and
27,590,164 shares issued and outstanding
|
|
|
30,158
|
|
|
|
27,590
|
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
16,434,802
|
|
|
|
15,860,725
|
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive income (loss) - foreign currency
|
|
|
1,651
|
|
|
|
(3,412
|
)
|
Deficit
accumulated during the development stage
|
|
|
(15,863,933
|
)
|
|
|
(12,505,678
|
)
|
Total
stockholders' equity
|
|
|
602,678
|
|
|
|
3,381,158
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
|
|
$
|
3,839,812
|
|
|
$
|
5,985,477
|
|
See accompanying notes
HYDROGEN
ENGINE CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a
corporation in the development stage)
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
From Inception
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
(May 19, 2003) to
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales
|
|
$
|
1,358,647
|
|
|
$
|
740,799
|
|
|
$
|
2,421,350
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of Goods Sold
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Material,
labor, and overhead
|
|
|
1,282,985
|
|
|
|
644,517
|
|
|
|
2,204,769
|
|
Inventory
markdown
|
|
|
261,464
|
|
|
|
533,876
|
|
|
|
1,223,487
|
|
|
|
|
1,544,449
|
|
|
|
1,178,393
|
|
|
|
3,428,256
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
Profit (Loss)
|
|
|
(185,802
|
)
|
|
|
(437,594
|
)
|
|
|
(1,006,906
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales
and marketing
|
|
|
183,724
|
|
|
|
219,875
|
|
|
|
1,384,760
|
|
General
and administrative
|
|
|
2,031,325
|
|
|
|
2,790,255
|
|
|
|
8,502,734
|
|
Research
and development
|
|
|
825,228
|
|
|
|
1,370,151
|
|
|
|
4,075,731
|
|
Vendor
settlement
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
448,011
|
|
|
|
577,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,040,277
|
|
|
|
4,828,292
|
|
|
|
14,540,725
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Loss
|
|
|
(3,226,079
|
)
|
|
|
(5,265,886
|
)
|
|
|
(15,547,631
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
Income (Expense)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
6,813
|
|
|
|
73,057
|
|
|
|
170,866
|
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
(138,989
|
)
|
|
|
(173,158
|
)
|
|
|
(480,434
|
)
|
Loss
on disposals of assets
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(6,734
|
)
|
|
|
(6,734
|
)
|
|
|
|
(132,176
|
)
|
|
|
(106,835
|
)
|
|
|
(316,302
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Loss
|
|
$
|
(3,358,255
|
)
|
|
$
|
(5,372,721
|
)
|
|
$
|
(15,863,933
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series
A Preferred stock beneficial conversion feature accreted as a
dividend
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(1,889,063
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,889,063
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Loss Attributable To Common Stockholders
|
|
$
|
(3,358,255
|
)
|
|
$
|
(7,261,784
|
)
|
|
$
|
(17,752,996
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average
shares outstanding
|
|
|
28,929,077
|
|
|
|
26,325,151
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
and diluted net loss per share
|
|
$
|
(0.12
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.28
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes
HYDROGEN
ENGINE CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a
corporation in the development stage)
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) and Comprehensive Loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
|
|
|
Preferred
|
|
|
Preferred
|
|
|
Preferred
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
Unearned
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
During the
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock A
|
|
|
Stock A
|
|
|
Stock B
|
|
|
Stock B
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Paid - in
|
|
|
Stock-Based
|
|
|
Comprehensive
|
|
|
Development
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Loss
|
|
|
Stage
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance
of common stock to founder in exchange for equipment and expenses incurred
by founder
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
2,000
|
|
|
$
|
98,165
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
100,165
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(65,642
|
)
|
|
|
(65,642
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2003
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
|
98,165
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(65,642
|
)
|
|
|
34,523
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
- related expenses paid by founder
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
39,187
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
39,187
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(192,476
|
)
|
|
|
(192,476
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2004
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
|
137,352
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(258,118
|
)
|
|
|
(118,766
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
- related expenses paid by founder
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
12,135
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
12,135
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange
of previous shares by sole shareholder of HEC Iowa
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2,000,000
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
in Green Mt. Labs acquired in reverse merger
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,006,000
|
|
|
|
1,006
|
|
|
|
(1,006
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
split of 3.8 to 1 prior to the merger
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,816,804
|
|
|
|
2,817
|
|
|
|
(2,817
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance
of common stock to the sole shareholder of HEC Iowa
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
16,297,200
|
|
|
|
14,297
|
|
|
|
(14,297
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance
of restricted common stock to employees and directors
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
426,000
|
|
|
|
426
|
|
|
|
425,574
|
|
|
|
(275,332
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
150,668
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance
of common stock in connection with private placement, net of
expenses
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
3,948,500
|
|
|
|
3,949
|
|
|
|
3,590,940
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
3,594,889
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance
of common stock in connection with conversion of debt
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
663,401
|
|
|
|
663
|
|
|
|
556,388
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
557,051
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consultant
compensation associated with stock options
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
133,333
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
133,333
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,329,310
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive
Loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign
currency translation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2,207
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2,207
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(1,122,570
|
)
|
|
|
(1,122,570
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
comprehensive loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(1,124,777
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2005
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
25,157,905
|
|
|
$
|
25,158
|
|
|
$
|
4,837,602
|
|
|
$
|
(275,332
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,207
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,380,688
|
)
|
|
$
|
3,204,533
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reclassification
due to implementation of SFAS 123R
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
(275,332
|
)
|
|
$
|
275,332
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee/Director
compensation associated with stock options and restricted
stock
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
724,209
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
724,209
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consultant
compensation associated with stock options
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
43,777
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
43,777
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance
of preferred stock in connection with private placement, net of
expenses
|
|
|
930,000
|
|
|
|
930
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,778,883
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,779,813
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance
of common stock in connection with private placements, net of
expenses
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
978,009
|
|
|
|
978
|
|
|
|
3,043,141
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
3,044,119
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance
of stock related to option exercises
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
7,992
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,804,451
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive
Loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign
currency translation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(7,012
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(7,012
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(5,752,269
|
)
|
|
|
(5,752,269
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
comprehensive loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(5,759,281
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
930,000
|
|
|
$
|
930
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
26,143,914
|
|
|
$
|
26,144
|
|
|
$
|
11,160,272
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
(9,219
|
)
|
|
$
|
(7,132,957
|
)
|
|
$
|
4,045,170
|
|
-
Continued -
See accompanying notes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
|
|
|
Preferred
|
|
|
Preferred
|
|
|
Preferred
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
Unearned
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
During the
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock A
|
|
|
Stock A
|
|
|
Stock B
|
|
|
Stock B
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Paid - in
|
|
|
Stock-Based
|
|
|
Comprehensive
|
|
|
Development
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Loss
|
|
|
Stage
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee/Director
compensation associated with stock options and restricted
stock
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
499,542
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
499,542
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeiture
of restricted stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(65,000
|
)
|
|
|
(65
|
)
|
|
|
65
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consultant
compensation associated with stock options
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
9,700
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
9,700
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance
of preferred stock in connection with private placement Series B, net of
expenses
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,932,846
|
|
|
|
1,933
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
3,593,162
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
3,595,095
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance
of warrants in vendor dispute
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
577,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
577,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance
of warrants for inventory
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
21,065
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
21,065
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion
of Series A Preferred Stock to Common Stock
|
|
|
(930,000
|
)
|
|
|
(930
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,511,250
|
|
|
|
1,511
|
|
|
|
(581
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,748,072
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive
Loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign
currency translation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5,807
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5,807
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(5,372,721
|
)
|
|
|
(5,372,721
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
comprehensive loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(5,366,914
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,932,846
|
|
|
|
1,933
|
|
|
|
27,590,164
|
|
|
$
|
27,590
|
|
|
$
|
15,860,725
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
(3,412
|
)
|
|
$
|
(12,505,678
|
)
|
|
$
|
3,381,158
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee/Director
compensation associated with stock options and restricted
stock
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
374,194
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
374,194
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeiture
of restricted stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consultant
compensation associated with stock options
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
7,857
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
7,857
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion
of Series B Preferred Stock to Common Stock
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(1,932,846
|
)
|
|
|
(1,933
|
)
|
|
|
1,932,846
|
|
|
|
1,933
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
issuance
for
SEDA Commitment Fee
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
386,567
|
|
|
|
387
|
|
|
|
159,613
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
160,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
issuance for SEDA Draw
,
net of
expenses
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
247,977
|
|
|
|
248
|
|
|
|
32,413
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
32,661
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,955,870
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive
Loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign
currency translation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5,063
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5,063
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(3,358,255
|
)
|
|
|
(3,358,255
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
comprehensive loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(3,353,192
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2008
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
30,157,554
|
|
|
$
|
30,158
|
|
|
$
|
16,434,802
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,651
|
|
|
$
|
(15,863,933
|
)
|
|
$
|
602,678
|
|
See accompanying notes
HYDROGEN
ENGINE CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a
corporation in the development stage)
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
From Inception
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
(May 19, 2003) to
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
$
|
(3,358,255
|
)
|
|
$
|
(5,372,721
|
)
|
|
$
|
(15,863,933
|
)
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
252,465
|
|
|
|
244,403
|
|
|
|
679,308
|
|
Compensation
to directors and employees of stock options and restricted
stock
|
|
|
374,194
|
|
|
|
499,542
|
|
|
|
1,748,613
|
|
Compensation
to consultants of stock options
|
|
|
7,857
|
|
|
|
9,700
|
|
|
|
194,667
|
|
Common
stock given for commitment fee
|
|
|
160,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
160,000
|
|
Warrants
issued in vendor dispute
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
448,011
|
|
|
|
577,500
|
|
Loss
on sale of assets
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
6,734
|
|
|
|
6,734
|
|
Change
in assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
|
|
(88,178
|
)
|
|
|
69,138
|
|
|
|
(222,415
|
)
|
Inventories
|
|
|
1,161,617
|
|
|
|
366,710
|
|
|
|
(472,677
|
)
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
|
|
63,911
|
|
|
|
(41,476
|
)
|
|
|
(47,447
|
)
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
195,698
|
|
|
|
(242,022
|
)
|
|
|
426,139
|
|
Accrued
expenses
|
|
|
40,743
|
|
|
|
51,173
|
|
|
|
294,309
|
|
Accrued
interest
|
|
|
49,492
|
|
|
|
31,920
|
|
|
|
179,457
|
|
Deferred
compensation
|
|
|
119,108
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
119,108
|
|
Deferred
revenue
|
|
|
87,306
|
|
|
|
(102,972
|
)
|
|
|
87,306
|
|
Unearned
grants
|
|
|
2,767
|
|
|
|
(35,686
|
)
|
|
|
33,744
|
|
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
(931,275
|
)
|
|
|
(4,067,546
|
)
|
|
|
(12,099,587
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing
Activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Withdrawal/(deposit)
of restricted cash
|
|
|
115,157
|
|
|
|
237,427
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Proceeds
from sale of assets
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
36,500
|
|
|
|
36,500
|
|
Purchases
of property, plant, and equipment
|
|
|
(800
|
)
|
|
|
(184,534
|
)
|
|
|
(3,013,479
|
)
|
Net
cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
|
|
114,357
|
|
|
|
89,393
|
|
|
|
(2,976,979
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing
Activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds
from notes payable, banks
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
283,374
|
|
|
|
1,839,420
|
|
Payments
on notes payable, banks
|
|
|
(54,516
|
)
|
|
|
(263,144
|
)
|
|
|
(967,660
|
)
|
Proceeds
from long-term debt
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,422,052
|
|
Payments
on long-term debt
|
|
|
(93,097
|
)
|
|
|
(78,897
|
)
|
|
|
(236,992
|
)
|
Proceeds
from exercise of stock option
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
Issuance
of preferred stock (Series A) in private placement, net of
expenses
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,779,813
|
|
Issuance
of preferred stock (Series B) in private placement, net of
expenses
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
3,595,095
|
|
|
|
3,595,095
|
|
Issuance
of common stock in private placements, net of expenses
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
6,639,008
|
|
Issuance
of common stock from SEDA draw, net of expenses
|
|
|
32,661
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
32,661
|
|
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
135,048
|
|
|
|
3,536,428
|
|
|
|
15,111,397
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effect
of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
|
|
5,063
|
|
|
|
5,807
|
|
|
|
1,651
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
|
|
(676,807
|
)
|
|
|
(435,918
|
)
|
|
|
36,482
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and Cash Equivalents – Beginning of Period
|
|
|
713,289
|
|
|
|
1,149,207
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and Cash Equivalents – End of Period
|
|
$
|
36,482
|
|
|
$
|
713,289
|
|
|
$
|
36,482
|
|
See accompanying notes
HYDROGEN
ENGINE CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a
corporation in the development stage)
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
-Continued-
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
From Inception
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
(May 19, 2003) to
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
Cash Flow Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
paid
|
|
$
|
89,497
|
|
|
$
|
141,081
|
|
|
$
|
300,787
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
Disclosures of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
paid-in capital contribution for expenses paid by founder
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
103,636
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance
of common stock for equipment
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
47,851
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance
of common stock for conversion of debt
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
557,051
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquistion
of property, plant, equipment, and prepaid expenses through
financing
|
|
$
|
35,314
|
|
|
$
|
111,450
|
|
|
$
|
727,395
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payables
for construction in progress
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
232,208
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Receivable
for state loan
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series
A Preferred stock beneficial conversion feature accreted as a
dividend
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,889,063
|
|
|
$
|
1,889,063
|
|
See accompanying notes
HYDROGEN
ENGINE CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a
corporation in the development stage)
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
December
31, 2008
1. SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Overview of
Companies
Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc., formerly
known as Green Mountain Labs, Inc. (“Green Mt. Labs”), is a Nevada
corporation. Green Mt. Labs was a public-reporting shell company and,
in connection with our merger, changed its name to Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc.
(the “Company”). Also, as a result of our merger, the Company’s
operations are those of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Hydrogen Engine Center,
Inc., an Iowa corporation (“HEC Iowa”), and Hydrogen Engine Center (HEC) Canada
Inc. (“HEC Canada”).
HEC Iowa was incorporated on May 19,
2003 (“inception date”) for the purpose of commercializing environmentally
friendly internal combustion systems for industrial engines and generator
sets. HEC Iowa’s operations are located in Algona, Iowa.
HEC Canada was incorporated as a
Canadian corporation on August 25, 2005, for the purpose of establishing a
research and development center to assist in the development of alternative fuel
and hydrogen engines and generator sets. HEC Canada is located in
Quebec, and works with the Universite Du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres.
Description of Business – A
Corporation in the Development Stage
We offer technologies that provide
alternative-fuel energy solutions for the industrial and power generation
markets. Our systems, when coupled with traditional wind-driven
generators, for instance enables the generation of constant
power. Our systems use spark-ignited internal combustion engines
(ICE) powered by alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, or
ammonia. We use our proprietary engine controller and software to
efficiently distribute ignition spark to fuel injectors. Our business
plan is centered on technologies that we expect to play an increasing role in
addressing the world’s energy needs as well as its environmental
concerns. We expect future revenue generation from the sale of
hydrogen engines and gensets for dedicated uses, such as airport ground support
and power generation.
Through December 31, 2008, we remain in
the development stage. Development stage is characterized by minimal
revenues, with efforts focused on fund raising and prioritization of
expenditures for the design and development of our products, manufacturing
processes, intellectual property and strategic sales and
marketing.
Principles of
Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements
include the accounts of our Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, HEC Iowa
and HEC Canada. All intercompany balances and transactions have been
eliminated in consolidation.
Liquidity and Going
Concern
Since inception, we have invested in
the resources and technology we believe necessary to deliver carbon free energy
technology. As such, we have incurred substantial operating losses
and we expect to incur operating losses in 2009 as well.
Effective March 17, 2009, Ted
Hollinger, the Company’s founder, entered into an agreement with Steven C.
Waldron, under which Mr. Hollinger granted Mr. Waldron the option to purchase
all of his shares of Common Stock of Hydrogen Engine Center at a price of $0.02
per share. Mr. Hollinger currently owns 15,661,037 shares, or 51.83%
of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Mr.
Waldron has paid the amount of $15,000 to acquire the option. If the
option is not exercised, Mr. Hollinger will be obligated to transfer 750,000
shares of his stock to Mr. Waldron. In the event Mr. Waldron
exercises the option, he will pay Mr. Hollinger an additional
$298,221. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Waldron has the right
to conduct due diligence on our Company over a period of 45 days before
determining whether to exercise his option.
During
2008, liquidity has been our primary concern. On April 11, 2008, we
entered into a Standby Equity Distribution Agreement (the “SEDA”) with YA Global
Investments, L.P., which was intended to provide us with the opportunity to
access additional capital in the maximum amount of $4 million in increments not
to exceed $350,000 each. However, the SEDA has proved to be
ineffective and it has not been possible to depend on the SEDA to fund our
operations. According to the terms of the SEDA, once an advance is
requested, the investor can begin selling shares which consequently drives the
price of the stock lower. We began accessing the SEDA funds in August and at
December 31, 2008, have sold 247,977 shares at an average price of $.23 and have
received $32,661 in capital, net of expenses. The number of shares we
can sell under the SEDA also may have been adversely affected by the severe
weakening of the economy and the recent fluctuation and general decline in the
trading price of our shares. We have no plans at this time to access
any additional funds from the SEDA.
On March 13, 2009, we secured an
agreement to be involved in a hydrogen demonstration project scheduled to be
completed by March 2011. Once the agreement has been accepted by all
parties involved, we expect that numerous hydrogen usages will be tested as part
of this project. We continue to take steps to lower our monthly cash
expenditures and work on the development of our 1 MW N+1
TM
hydrogen generator system. We have received encouraging news from the
engineer we engaged to inspect our new Oxx Power 4.9L engine blocks being
manufactured in China. Therefore, we expect to continue sales of our new 4.9L
Oxx Power engines once these parts arrive. We are pursuing
strategic alliances to assist us in marketing our wind to hydrogen
products. We also expect to engage in a capital
raise. However, with the weakening economy and the decline in and
fluctuation of our stock price it may be difficult to raise
capital.
We are in default on two of our loans
and one of our capital leases because the March 2009 payments have not been
made. We are currently in negotiations with the bank holding the
loans and the finance company holding the lease is charging late
fees. We do not currently have sufficient liquidity to continue to
make the payments on all of our loans, capital leases and past due payables
unless we are able to raise additional capital and refinance or restructure
existing debt. As of March 24, 2008, we had cash of $30,103, trade
receivables of $42,357 and $420,262 in trade payables. We have sales
orders of $545,710 which includes our hydrogen project agreement of $470,752
that are subject to certain contingencies.
We are dependent on the funds expected
from our potential new investor, and revenue from our existing projects and
engine sales to fund our involvement in new research and development projects
and sustain our operations. If we are unable to raise additional
funds within a thirty to sixty day time period, we may need to seek
reorganization under Chapter 11 or file for protection under Chapter 7 of the
bankruptcy code.
Our financial statements have been
prepared on the basis of accounting principles applicable to a going
concern. As a result, they do not include adjustments that would be
necessary if we were unable to continue as a going concern and would therefore,
be obligated to realize assets and discharge its liabilities other than in the
normal course of operations.
Fair Value of Financial
Instruments
Due to the short-term nature of cash,
cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, we
believe that the carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet approximate
their fair values at the balance sheet date. The fair value of
long-term debt is estimated based on anticipated interest rates, which
management believes would currently be available for similar issues of debt,
taking into account our current credit risk and other market factors, which
approximate fair value.
Foreign Currency
Translation
Our results of operations and cash
flows of foreign subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars at average period
currency exchange rates. Assets and liabilities are translated at
end-of-period exchange rates. Foreign currency translation
adjustments related to foreign subsidiaries using the local currency as their
functional currency are included in
Accumulated
other comprehensive
(loss).
Cash and Cash
Equivalents
We consider highly-liquid investments
with an original maturity of ninety days or less to be cash
equivalents. We maintain cash balances in four
institutions. At times, our cash and cash equivalent balances may
exceed amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. We believe
we are not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash
equivalents.
Restricted
Cash
In 2007, we had a letter of credit with
a financial institution which was secured by a certificate of
deposit. As long as the certificate of deposit was retained as
security for the letter of credit, it was recorded as restricted
cash.
Accounts
Receivable
Accounts receivable are recorded at
their estimated net realizable value. We follow a policy of providing
an allowance for doubtful accounts. However, based on the evaluation
of receivables at December 31, 2008, and December 31, 2007, we believe that such
accounts will be collectible and thus, an allowance is not
necessary. Accounts are considered past due if payment is not made on
a timely basis in accordance with our credit policy. Accounts
considered uncollectible are written off. Credit terms are extended
to customers in the normal course of business. We perform ongoing
credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition and, generally, require
no collateral.
Inventories
Inventories
consist mainly of parts, work-in-process and finished goods that are stated at
the lower of cost (determined by the first-in, first-out method) or market value
(Note 3). We record inventories that are marked down as cost of
sales, in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 96-9,
“Classification of Inventory Markdowns and Other Costs Associated with a
Restructuring” and note 13 of Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 100,
“Restructuring and Impairment Charges.”
Property,
Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are
recorded at cost. Once assets are placed in service, depreciation is
provided over estimated useful lives by using the straight-line
method. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the life of the
lease. Depreciation expense was $252,465 and $244,403 for the years
ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Depreciation expense
was $679,308 from inception (May 19, 2003) to December 31,
2008. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred; major
improvements and betterments are capitalized.
We review our property, plant and
equipment for indicators of impairment when events or changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. If the
evaluation indicates that the carrying amount of the asset may not be
recoverable and an impairment loss exists, the amount of the loss will be
recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.
Warranty
Reserve
We record a warranty reserve at the
time products are sold and the revenue is recognized and include it in accrued
expenses. We estimate the liability for product warranty costs based upon
industry standards and best estimate of future warranty claims based on our
warranty period of 1.5 to 3 years. The following table summarizes the
activity for warranty reserve for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Warranty
reserve at December 31, 2007
|
|
$
|
36,556
|
|
Reduction
for warranty claims
|
|
|
(56,987
|
)
|
Addition
for warranty on products sold
|
|
|
38,423
|
|
Addition
for change in warranty estimate
|
|
|
28,727
|
|
Warranty
reserve at December 31, 2008
|
|
$
|
46,719
|
|
Revenue
Recognition
Revenue from the sale of our products
is recognized at the time title and risk of ownership transfer to
customers. This occurs upon shipment to the customer or when the
customer picks up the goods.
Shipping and Handling
Costs
Amounts
charged to customers and costs we incur for shipping and handling are currently
treated as expense reimbursements and are not included in revenue and cost of
goods sold, respectively, in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”)
Issue No. 00-10, “Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and
Costs.”
Stock
Conversion
As per EITF 00-27, we evaluated the
embedded beneficial conversion feature of the Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock transaction. This beneficial conversion feature was accreted to
the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock as a dividend because the preferred
stock was convertible immediately upon issuance. The accretion is
included on the income statement and the statement of stockholders equity as a
quasi dividend to determine net loss attributable to common
shareholders.
Business
Agreements
Income is also derived through business
agreements for the development and/or commercialization of products based upon
our proprietary technology. Some of the business agreements have
stipulated performance milestones and deliverables where others require “best
efforts” with no performance criteria. The business agreements
require that payments be made to us as certain milestones are reached prior to
delivery of the product to the customer. Accordingly, income related to business
agreements are recorded as a reduction in research and development expense, when
title and risk of ownership transfers to the customer. Expenses we
incur are recorded as research and development costs. As of December
31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, we have recorded $0 and $222,713, respectively
as a reduction in research and development expense. From inception
(May 19, 2003) to December 31, 2008, we have recorded $273,913, as a reduction
in research and development expense.
Grants and Incentive
Programs
We
recognize grant income as reimbursement of expenses incurred, when it is
reasonably probable that the conditions of the grant will be met. For
reimbursements of capital expenditures, the grants are recognized as a reduction
of the basis of the asset upon complying with the conditions of the
grant. We record the receipt of funds when compliance is
uncertain as “Unearned grants” (Note 7).
Sales and Marketing
Costs
Sales and marketing expenses include
payroll, employee benefits, stock-based compensation, and other costs associated
with sales and marketing personnel and advertising, promotions, tradeshows,
seminars and other marketing-related programs. We expense advertising costs as
incurred. Advertising costs for the years ended December 31, 2008 and
2007 are $9,118 and $28,244. For the period from inception (May 19,
2003) to December 31, 2007 advertising costs were $244,392.
General and Administrative
Costs
General and administrative costs
include payroll, employee benefits, stock-based compensation, and other costs
associated with general and administrative costs including administrative
personnel, professional fees, consulting fees and office expense. We
allocate overhead and direct production expense to products
manufactured. However, because we have not reached our production
capacity, excess manufacturing costs are expensed as incurred as general and
administrative costs. Expenses related to pre-production include
salaries for production personnel, purchasing costs and the costs associated
with production ramp up. Total pre-production costs included in
general and administrative expenses for the years ending December 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007 totaled $437,044 and $621,718, respectively. For
the period from inception (May 19, 2003) to December 31, 2008 pre-production
expense was $1,780,478.
Research and Development
Costs
Research and development costs include
payroll, employee benefits, stock-based compensation, and other costs associated
with product development and are expensed as they are
incurred. Accordingly, our investments in technology and patents are
recorded at zero on our balance sheet, regardless of their value.
Income
Taxes
As of January 1, 2007, we adopted FASB
Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”,
which supplements Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 109, “Accounting
for Income Taxes”, by defining the confidence level that a tax position must
meet in order to be recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48
requires that the tax effect of a position be recognized only if it is
“more-likely-than-not” to be sustained based solely on its technical merits as
of the reporting date. If a tax position is not considered
more-likely-than-not to be sustained based solely on its technical merits, no
benefits of the position are recognized. This is a different standard
for recognition than was previously required. The
more-likely-than-not threshold must continue to be met in each reporting period
to support continued recognition of a benefit. We have reviewed our
tax positions and have not identified any positions that fail the
more-likely-than-not threshold. Due to our full valuation allowance
on the deferred tax asset, the adoption of FIN 48 had no material impact on our
financial statements (Note 9).
Net Loss Per
Share
Under the provisions of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, “Earnings Per Share” (“SFAS 128”) and
Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 98 (“SAB 98”),
basic loss per share is computed by dividing our net loss for the period by the
weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the
period.
The following table sets forth the
computation of basic net loss per share of common stock:
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Basic
and diluted net loss per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss attributable to common shareholders
|
|
$
|
(3,358,255
|
)
|
|
$
|
(7,261,784
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
common shares outstanding
|
|
|
28,975,077
|
|
|
|
26,417,151
|
|
Unvested
restricted common shares
|
|
|
(46,000
|
)
|
|
|
(92,000
|
)
|
Weighted-average
common shares outstanding
|
|
|
28,929,077
|
|
|
|
26,325,151
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
and diluted net loss per share
|
|
$
|
(.12
|
)
|
|
$
|
(.28
|
)
|
Diluted net loss per share excludes
potential common shares since the effect is anti-dilutive.
In 2008, the following shares were not
included in the calculation of basic earnings per share due to their
antidilutive effect:
|
a.
|
400,166
shares related to exercisable employee and non-employee incentive stock
options.
|
|
b.
|
46,000
unvested restricted shares.
|
Use of
Estimates
The preparation of financial statements
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 financial statements and the reported amounts
of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Our actual
results could differ from our estimates.
Stock-Based
Compensation
Effective
January 1, 2006, we adopted the fair value recognition provisions of Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS
123R”). As prescribed in SFAS 123R, we have elected to use the
modified prospective transition method, and accordingly, prior periods have not
been restated to reflect the impact of SFAS 123R. Under this method,
we are required to recognize stock-based compensation for all new and unvested
stock-based awards that are ultimately expected to vest as the requisite service
is rendered, beginning January 1, 2006. We record stock-based
compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite period, which
is generally a four-to five-year vesting period. Historically, we
applied the intrinsic method as provided in Accounting Principles Board (“APB”)
Opinion No. 25 (“APB No. 25”), “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and
related interpretations and accordingly, no compensation cost had been
recognized for stock options issued to employees in years prior to
2006.
In March
2005, SAB 107 provided supplemental implementation guidance for SFAS
123R. We applied the provisions of SAB 107 in our adoption of SFAS
123R. As a result of adopting the fair value method for stock
compensation, all stock options and restricted stock awards are expensed over
the award vesting period. These awards are expensed under the same approach
using the fair value measurements which were used in calculating pro forma
stock-based compensation expense under SFAS 123.
SFAS 123R requires the use of a
valuation model (Note 13), to calculate the fair value of stock-based awards. We
have elected to utilize the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the
fair value of options.
Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R, we
accounted for stock-based awards to employees and directors using the intrinsic
value method in accordance with APB No. 25 as allowed under SFAS No.
123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS
123”). As permitted by SFAS 123, we chose to follow APB No. 25 and
related interpretations for its employee stock-based
compensation. Under APB No. 25, no compensation expense was
recognized at the time of option grant if the exercise price of the employee
stock option is fixed and equals or exceeds the fair value of the underlying
common stock on the date of grant and the number of shares to be issued pursuant
to the exercise of such option are known and fixed at the date of
grant. We use the fair value of common stock at the close of business
on the date the option is approved by our Board of Directors.
We account for options issued to
non-employees (other than directors) under SFAS 123R and EITF No. 96-18,
“Accounting for Equity Instruments that are Issued to Other Than Employees for
Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods, or
Services.” Therefore, the fair value of options issued to
non-employees, as calculated, using the Black Scholes Option pricing formula
(Note 13), is recorded as an expense over the vesting terms. Options
issued to non-employees and employees are issued using the same methodology and
assumptions.
The following table illustrates the
effect on net loss as if we had applied, prior to January 1, 2006, the fair
value recognition provisions for stock-based employee compensation of SFAS 123,
as amended by SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation —
Transition and Disclosure.”
|
|
Period from Inception
|
|
|
|
(May 19, 2003) to
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss attributable to common shareholders, as reported
|
|
$
|
(17,752,996
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Add:
options and restricted stock-based employee compensation
expense
included in reported net loss
|
|
|
1,748,613
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deduct:
options and restricted stock-based employee compensation
expense
determined under fair value based method
|
|
|
(1,934,415
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro
forma net loss attributable to common shareholders
|
|
$
|
(17,567,194
|
)
|
Total employee non-cash stock
compensation expense, net of forfeitures, for December 31, 2008 and 2007 was
$374,194 and $499,542, respectively.
For
purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options
granted is amortized to expense over the option vesting periods as services are
performed (Note 13).
Warrants
We have granted warrants to certain
finders in our private placements. Based on EITF 00-19, “Accounting
for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settle in, a
Company's Own Stock,” the sale of the warrants was reported in permanent equity
and accordingly, there is no impact on our financial position and results of
operation. Subsequent changes in fair value will not be recognized as
long as the warrants continue to be classified as an equity instrument (Note
12).
Effect of Recent Accounting
Pronouncements
In June
2007, the FASB issued Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) 07-3, “Accounting for
Nonrefundable Advance Payments for Goods or Services Received for Use In Future
Research and Development Activities”. EITF 07-3 clarifies the treatment for
nonrefundable payments from research and development activities. It
was determined that such amounts should be deferred or capitalized and should be
expensed as the related goods are delivered or the related services are
performed. This statement is effective for us beginning January 1,
2009. We do not expect the impact of the adoption of EITF 07-3 to be
material.
In
November 2007, the FASB issued Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) 07-1,
“Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements”. EITF 07-1 defines collaborative
arrangements and establishes reporting requirements for transactions between
participants in a collaborative arrangement and between participants in the
arrangement and third parties. EITF 07-1 will be applicable to us on
January 1, 2009. We do not expect the impact of the adoption of EITF
07-3 to be material.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS
141R. SFAS 141R establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer
recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets
acquired, the liabilities assumed, any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree
and the goodwill acquired. SFAS 141R also establishes disclosure requirements to
enable the evaluation of the nature and financial effects of the business
combination. This statement is effective for us beginning January 1, 2009. The
impact of the adoption of SFAS 141R on our consolidated financial position and
results of operations will largely be dependent on the size and nature of the
business combinations completed after the adoption of this
statement.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 160. SFAS 160 establishes accounting and
reporting standards for ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties
other than the parent, the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the
parent and to the noncontrolling interest, changes in a parent’s ownership
interest, and the valuation of retained noncontrolling equity investments when a
subsidiary is deconsolidated. SFAS 160 also establishes disclosure requirements
that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and
the interests of the noncontrolling owners. This statement is effective for us
beginning January 1, 2009. We do not expect the impact of the adoption of SFAS
160 to be material.
In
February 2008, the FASB issued FSP 157-2, which delays the effective date of
SFAS 157 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those
that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a
recurring basis (at least annually). SFAS 157 establishes a framework for
measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. FSP
157-2 partially defers the effective date of SFAS 157 to fiscal years beginning
after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years for items
within the scope of this FSP. The adoption of SFAS 157 for all nonfinancial
assets and nonfinancial liabilities is effective for us beginning January 1,
2009. In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP 142-3. This guidance is intended to
improve the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset
under SFAS 142, and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair
value of the asset under SFAS 141R when the underlying arrangement includes
renewal or extension of terms that would require substantial costs or result in
a material modification to the asset upon renewal or extension. Companies
estimating the useful life of a recognized intangible asset must now consider
their historical experience in renewing or extending similar arrangements or, in
the absence of historical experience, must consider assumptions that market
participants would use about renewal or extension as adjusted for SFAS 142’s
entity-specific factors. FSP 142-3 is effective for us beginning January 1,
2009. We do not expect the impact of this adoption to be material.
In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No.
162 “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”. SFAS No. 162
identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting
the principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements of
nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles. SFAS No. 162 is effective 60 days following the
Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board Auditing amendments to AU Section 411, “
The Meaning of
Present Fairly
in Conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.” This statement
will not have an impact on our financial statements.
In June 2008, the FASB issued FSP
Emerging Issues Task Force 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in
Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities”. FSP EITF 03-6-1
clarified that all outstanding unvested share-based payment awards that contain
rights to nonforfeitable dividends participate in undistributed earnings with
common shareholders. Awards of this nature are considered participating
securities and the two-class method of computing basic and diluted earnings per
share must be applied. FSP EITF 03-6-1 will be applicable to us on January 1,
2009. The impact of the adoption of FSP EITF 03-6-1 on our
consolidated financial position and results of operations will largely be
dependent on the size and nature of any future capital raise completed after the
adoption of this statement.
In June
2008, the FASB issued Emerging Issues Task Force 07-5, “Determining Whether an
Instrument (or Embedded Feature) Is Indexed to an Entity’s Own
Stock. The objective of EITF 07-5 is to provide guidance for
determining whether an equity-linked financial instrument is indexed to an
entity’s own stock. EITF 07-5 is effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2008, and will be applicable to us January 1,
2009. The impact of the adoption of EITF 07-5 on our consolidated
financial position and results of operations will largely be dependent on the
size and nature of any future capital raise completed after the adoption of this
statement.
2. FAIR
VALUE INSTRUMENTS
Effective
January 1, 2008, we adopted SFAS 157, except as it applies to the nonfinancial
assets and nonfinancial liabilities subject to FSP SFAS 157-2. SFAS 157
clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would
be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly
transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based
measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market
participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. As a basis for
considering such assumptions, SFAS 157 establishes a three-tier value hierarchy,
which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring
fair value:
Level 1
- Observable inputs
that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in
active markets.
Level 2
- Include other inputs
that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.
Level 3
- Unobservable inputs
which are supported by little or no market activity.
The fair
value hierarchy also requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs
and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair
value.
When
determining the fair value measurements for assets or liabilities required or
permitted to be recorded at and/or marked to fair value, we consider the
principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and consider
assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or
liability. When possible, we look to active and observable markets to
price identical assets. When identical assets are not traded in
active markets, we look to market observable data for similar
assets. Nevertheless, certain assets are not actively traded in
observable markets and we must use alternative valuation techniques to derive a
fair value measurement.
The
following table provides information on those assets and liabilities measured at
fair value on a recurring basis.
|
|
Carrying Amount In
|
|
|
Fair Value Measurement
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Balance Sheet
|
|
|
Using Level I
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Money
Market Funds
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
144,870
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
144,870
|
|
Effective
January 1, 2008, we also adopted SFAS 159,
The Fair Value Option for Financial
Assets and Financial Liabilities – including an Amendment of FASB Statement No.
115
, which allows an entity to choose to measure certain financial
instruments and liabilities at fair value on a contract-by-contract basis.
Subsequent fair value measurement for the financial instruments and liabilities
an entity chooses to measure will be recognized in earnings. As of December 31,
2008, we did not elect such option for our financial instruments and
liabilities.
3. INVENTORIES
Inventories are stated at the lower of
cost or market value. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out
method:
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Component
parts
|
|
$
|
354,597
|
|
|
$
|
1,266,612
|
|
Work
in process
|
|
|
37,962
|
|
|
|
10,407
|
|
Finished
goods
|
|
|
101,183
|
|
|
|
378,340
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
493,742
|
|
|
$
|
1,655,359
|
|
We follow the provisions of SFAS 151,
“Inventory Costs” that amends the guidance in Accounting Research Bulletin No.
43, Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing” (ARB No. 43). Under this guidance,
we allocate fixed production overhead to inventory based on the normal capacity
of the production facilities, any expense incurred as a result of idle facility
expense, freight and handling costs are expensed as period costs. For
the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we allocated approximately $31,000
and $23,400, respectively, of overhead to inventory. We allocated
approximately $76,400 of overhead to inventory from inception (May 19, 2003) to
December 31, 2008. The balance of fixed production overhead is
recorded in general and administrative costs.
Loss on
inventory
As a result of changes in our efforts
to market our excess 4.9L remanufactured engine inventory, we recorded an
inventory write-down, net of recoveries for the years ended December 31, 2008
and 2007, of $261,464 and $533,876, respectively. The inventory
write-downs consisted of component parts and finished goods. The
amount of inventory write-down from inception (May 19, 2003) through December
31, 2008 was $1,223,487.
We recorded a loss of $324,696 in
component parts for engine blocks purchased from our supplier in China in 2007.
We have rejected most of the engine blocks received from this
supplier. Based upon the Warranty and Replacement Terms agreement
with the supplier, dated March 22, 2007, and visits to the factory in China, the
supplier has agreed to replace the rejected products at no additional cost to
us. In 2008, we also engaged an auto parts engineer, who is located
in China, to inspect the blocks at the factory before they are shipped to
us. Despite our efforts to recover our investment in this inventory,
unexpected vendor delays have caused us to be concerned with the reliability of
this vendor and doubt whether the blocks will be replaced in a timely
manner. Therefore, we continue to carry the originally established
allowance account for the full value of this inventory at December 31,
2008. It is our intent to use all available resources to obtain
the warranted blocks, including additional planned trips to the
factory.
4. NOTES
PAYABLE, BANKS
At December 31, 2007, we had a letter
of credit with a bank in the amount of $108,000. The letter of credit
bears interest equal to the bank’s prime rate. The balance of the
letter of credit at December 31, 2008 was $0 and the agreement expired on
October 16, 2008. This letter of credit was secured by a certificate of deposit
in the amount of $115,157.
On December 5, 2008, we renewed a note
from a bank for $540,161. This note matures on December 15,
2009, and carries a variable interest rate equal to the base rate on corporate
loans posted by at least 75% of the nation’s largest banks (Wall Street Journal
U.S. Prime Rate), with a minimum rate of 5.0%. At December 31, 2009,
the note bears an interest rate of 5.0% with monthly interest and principal
payments of $4,484 until maturity. The balance of this note on
December 31, 2008 was $540,161. The loan is secured by real
estate. As of March 31, 2009, we have not been able to make our March
15, 2009 payment on this note. We are currently in negotiations with
the bank on this matter.
On December 27, 2008, we obtained
funding for our yearly D&O insurance premium through a loan
agency. The original loan amount was $35,314 and requires nine
monthly payments of $4,055 beginning January 27, 2009. The loan
carries an interest rate of 7.95%.
On March 19, 2009, we obtained a loan
from a bank for $100,000. The note requires payment in full on July
1, 2009, and carries an interest rate of 5.95%. The note is secured
by real estate.
5. LONG-TERM
DEBT
Long-term debt consists of the
following:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note
payable to City of Algona. See (a)
|
|
$
|
140,000
|
|
|
$
|
160,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note
payable to Algona Area Economic Development Corporation. See
(b)
|
|
|
146,124
|
|
|
|
146,124
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note
payable to Algona Area Economic Development Corporation. See
(c)
|
|
|
57,865
|
|
|
|
61,827
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
payable to Iowa Department of Economic Development. See
(d)
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note
payable to finance company. See (e)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
6,388
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note
payable to bank. See (f)
|
|
|
576,747
|
|
|
|
594,246
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note
payable to bank. See (g)
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,570,736
|
|
|
|
1,368,585
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less
amounts due within one year
|
|
|
292,737
|
|
|
|
30,350
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Totals
|
|
$
|
1,277,999
|
|
|
$
|
1,338,235
|
|
Future
maturities of long-term debt at December 31, 2008 are as follows:
2010
|
|
$
|
806,421
|
|
2011
|
|
|
200,330
|
|
2012
|
|
|
148,800
|
|
2013
|
|
|
51,494
|
|
2014
|
|
|
27,168
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
|
43,786
|
|
Total
long-term debt
|
|
$
|
1,277,999
|
|
(a) In
September 2005, we obtained $200,000 from the City of Algona. The
note requires quarterly payments of $5,000 starting January 1, 2006, with the
final payment due October 1, 2015. There is no interest on this loan
provided we create and retain at least 42 new full-time positions for five
years. If such requirements are not met, interest on the loan will be
payable at 10% per annum. At December 31, 2008, the
requirements have not been met. Therefore, as of December 31, 2008,
we have accrued interest on the note in the amount of $56,944. The
loan is collateralized by real estate.
(b) On
June 27, 2005, we executed a note payable of $146,124 from the Algona Area
Economic Development Corporation in exchange for land received to be used for
the construction of a new facility. The loan is a ten-year partially
forgivable loan with interest at 8%, conditioned upon us achieving performance
targets as follows:
|
·
|
$67,650
of principal and interest will be forgiven if we certify that we have
created 50 new full-time equivalent jobs by June 1, 2010, and continuously
retained those jobs in Algona, Iowa until June 1,
2015.
|
|
·
|
$67,650
of principal and interest will be forgiven if we certify that we have
created and continuously retained 50 additional new full-time equivalent
jobs by June 1, 2015.
|
|
·
|
Balance
of $10,824 due on June 1, 2015, without interest if paid by that
date.
|
|
·
|
Payment
of a wage for the retained jobs that is equal to or greater than the
average hourly wage for workers in Kossuth County, Iowa, as determined
annually by Iowa Workforce
Development.
|
At
December 31, 2008, the requirements have not been met. Therefore, as
of December 31, 2008, we have accrued interest in the amount of
$41,091. The loan is secured by the real estate.
(c) On
December 16, 2005, we assumed a no-interest note provided by the Algona Area
Economic Development Corporation in the amount of $117,500 in conjunction with
the purchase of land and building. This note was recorded at the fair
value of future payments using an interest rate of 10% which amounted to
$70,401, resulting in a total purchase price of the land and building of
$332,901. This note is subordinate to a short-term note held by a
bank. The note requires quarterly payments of $2,500 starting January
1, 2006, with the final payment due July 1, 2017.
(d) On
June 28, 2005, the Iowa Department of Economic Development (“IDED”) awarded us a
Physical Infrastructure Assistance Program (“PIAP”) grant in the amount of
$150,000. This is a five-year forgivable loan and proceeds are to be
used for the construction and equipping of the 30,000 square foot manufacturing
facility. We received payment of this award in December
2005. Other terms of the loan include a minimum contribution of
$1,543,316 for building construction, machinery and equipment, and working
capital. In addition, we must create 49 full-time equivalent
positions, with 38 positions at a starting wage exceeding $11.76 per hour, and
an average wage for all positions of $24.94 per hour. In order to
qualify for the job count, employees must be Iowa residents. We are
required to maintain the minimum employment level through the thirteenth week
after the project completion date. If requirements are not met, the
balance of the forgivable loan determined by IDED as due and payable will be
amortized over three years from the agreement expiration date of July 31, 2010,
at 6% interest per annum with equal quarterly payments. IDED requires
end-of-year status reports to ensure compliance. At December 31, 2008, the
requirements have not been met. Therefore, as of December 31, 2008,
the total amount of interest accrued was $27,764. The note is secured
by a security agreement on our assets.
Also on
June 28, 2005, IDED awarded us a Community Economic Betterment Account (“CEBA”)
forgivable loan in the amount of $250,000. This is a three-year
forgivable loan and proceeds are to be used for the construction of the
plant. We received $150,000 of this award in December
2005. The balance of the award, $100,000, was received in January
2006. The terms of this award are the same as the PIAP award
explained in the previous paragraph. At the project completion date,
if we have fulfilled at least 50% of our job creation/retention and wage
obligation, $6,579 will be forgiven for each new full-time equivalent job
created and retained and maintained for at least ninety days past the project
completion date. The project completion date of this award is July
30, 2010. Any balance (shortfall) will be amortized over a two-year
period, beginning at the project completion date at 6% per annum from the date
of the first CEBA disbursement on the shortfall amount, with that amount accrued
as of the project completion date, being due and payable
immediately. If we have a loan balance, the shortfall balance and
existing balance will be combined to reflect a single monthly
payment. We are accruing interest on this note until the terms of the
note have been met. The total amount of interest accrued at December
31, 2008 was $46,274. The note is secured by a security agreement on
our assets.
|
At
December 31, 2008, we have created 12 jobs to meet the above job creation
requirement.
|
(e)
On March 20, 2006, we acquired manufacturing equipment through an equipment
financing agreement with Wells Fargo Financial Leasing, Inc. The note
requires payments of $2,129 per month for 24 months. The equipment
serves as collateral for the note. At December 31, 2008, the entire
remaining balance of the loan had been paid.
|
(f) On
March 19, 2009, we renewed a note with a bank for
$571,422. The balance of this note on December 31, 2008
was $576,747. This note matures on April 1, 2010, and carries a
variable interest rate equal to the Wall Street Journal U.S. Prime
Rate. At March 19, 2009, the interest rate on the note was
3.25% and requires monthly interest and principal payments of
$3,246. The loan is secured by real
estate.
|
(g) On
March 24, 2008, we obtained a line of credit from a bank for
$250,000. We renewed the line of credit on December 5, 2008, with
repayment terms as follows:
|
·
|
first
principal payment of $20,000, due March 1,
2009;
|
|
·
|
second
principal payment of $30,000, due June 1,
2009;
|
|
·
|
third
principal payment of $50,000, due September 1,
2009;
|
|
·
|
fourth
principal payment of 70,000, due December 1,
2009;
|
|
·
|
final
principal payment, due March 1,
2010
|
The note
requires quarterly interest payments and carries an interest rate equal to 2.0%
above the Wall Street Journal U.S. Prime Rate with a minimum rate of 5.5% with a
maximum rate of 9.0%. At December 31, 2008, the interest rate on the
note was 5.5%. The note is secured by real estate and a business
security agreement.
We were
not able to pay our March 1, 2009 payment on this note of approximately $23,300,
which includes interest. The note carries additional terms which require us to
pay interest on the unpaid balance at an interest rate of 3.8% above the
variable rate of 5.5% we are paying. The increased interest rate
becomes effective if our scheduled payments are more than 3 days past due and
becomes retroactive to the first day the payment becomes past due, which was
March 1, 2009. We are currently in negotiations on this
matter.
6. CAPITALIZED
LEASES
We have three leases for equipment with
original terms of 3 to 5 years. We are obligated to pay costs of
insurance, taxes, repairs and maintenance according to the terms of the
leases. Our leases have bargain purchase options and are being
depreciated over five and seven years.
The net book value of capital lease
assets was $107,432 at December 31, 2008. Amortization of
assets held under capital lease is included with depreciation
expense.
The following is a schedule, by years
of future minimum payments, required under the lease together with their present
value as of December 31, 2008:
2009
|
|
$
|
64,959
|
|
2010
|
|
|
12,377
|
|
2011
|
|
|
11,586
|
|
2012
|
|
|
636
|
|
Total
minimum lease payments
|
|
|
89,558
|
|
Less
amount representing interest
|
|
|
8,604
|
|
Present
value of minimum lease payments
|
|
|
80,954
|
|
Less
amounts due within one year
|
|
|
58,465
|
|
Totals
|
|
$
|
22,489
|
|
Subsequent to December 31, 2008, we
were in default on one of our leases, which according to the lease could cause
the lessor to demand payment in full immediately and any additional costs and
fees they may incur. Past due lease payments which include interest,
total $3,756.
7. GRANTS
AND INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
On June 28, 2005, we signed an
Enterprise Zone (EZ) Agreement with IDED. This agreement was later
amended, September 26, 2006, to include both properties on our production site.
The agreement provides the following benefits:
|
·
|
Funding
for training new employees is allowed through the new jobs and
supplemental new jobs withholding credit equal to 3.0% of gross wages of
the new jobs created;
|
|
·
|
A
refund of 100% of the sales, service and use taxes paid to contractors and
subcontractors during the construction phase of the plant (excluding local
option taxes);
|
|
·
|
A
6.5% research activities tax credit based on increasing research
activities within the State of
Iowa;
|
|
·
|
An
investment tax credit equal to 10% of the capital investment. This Iowa
tax credit may be carried forward for up to seven
years;
|
|
·
|
A
value–added property tax exemption. Our community has approved
an exemption from taxation on a portion of the property in which our
business has located.
|
In order
to receive these benefits, we must create 59 new full-time equivalent jobs at
the project site within three years of the date of the agreement, which was June
28, 2005. We must also pay an average median wage of $23.89 per hour and pay 80%
of the employees' medical and dental insurance. Within three years of the
effective date of the agreement, we must also make a capital investment of at
least $1,329,716 within the Enterprise Zone. As we have not met these
requirements, a portion of the incentives and assistance will have to be repaid,
which will be based on the portion of requirements that we have
met.
On January 21, 2009, we received a
“Notice of Default” from IDED. The notice stated that we had not met
the job requirements required by the Enterprize Zone Agreement. At December
31, 2008, we have recorded approximately $80,000 in property taxes connected
with property tax exemption and $30,355 of the sale, service and use tax, as
accrued expenses.
In August 2005, we entered into an
Industrial New Jobs Training Agreement with Iowa Lakes Community
College. At December 31, 2008, we had received approximately $93,151
of the training grant, with net proceeds available of $104,000. The
“New Jobs Credit from Withholding” and the “Supplemental New Jobs Credit from
Withholding” training programs are funded through payments equaling 3% of gross
wages and are required to be paid quarterly in the same manner as withholding
payments are reported to the Iowa Department of Revenue. The payments
made to the college are deducted from the amount of state withholding tax
collected from employee payroll. There are fees associated with the
administration of this grant. At December 31, 2008, we recorded
$57,319 for fees accrued in connection with the grant as accrued expenses. We
also recorded unearned grant income of $33,744 at December 31, 2008, which is
the net amount received but not repaid through state withholding for the
training grant.
8.
RELATED PARTIES
One of
the members of our Board of Directors from which we purchase engine parts was
the manager of an engine parts distributor until January
2008. Purchases from this company for the year ended December 31,
2008 and 2007 totaled $2,515 and $20,800, respectively. Related party
purchases from this company totaled $158,518 for the period from inception (May
19, 2003) to December 31, 2008. We recorded a payable of $180 to this
company at December 31, 2008.
This same engine parts distributor has
purchased engines from us. The company’s purchases from us for the
year ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 were $18,394 and $62,200. At
December 31, 2008, we have a credit balance on our receivable from this company
in the amount of $1,451.
On September 3, 2008, we commenced
working with a company co-founded by one of the members of our Board of
Directors. The scope of the work was to include the enhancement of
our OxxBoxx controller with wireless technology to produce a remote wireless
engine controller. The work was to provide for development and
testing by the contractor and us working to create a production-ready
controller. The cost of the development work incurred through December 31, 2008
was $60,203. We estimated the total cost of the project to be
approximately $225,000, however the project was suspended until we could obtain
the financing needed to sustain the development. At December
31, 2008, we had recorded a payable of $30,671 to this company.
In addition, we entered into an
agreement with this same Director’s investment banking firm for consulting
services to assist us with the completion of our new business
plan. The total cost of the engagement was $20,000 and all
obligations through December 31, 2008, have been paid.
9.
INCOME TAXES –
Our tax returns filed and to be filed
for years ended December 31, 2006, 2007, and 2008 are open to review by the
Internal Revenue Service. As of March 31, 2009, we have not been
notified that we have any tax returns under review. We
have sustained net operating losses in 2004 through 2008 in the United States
and for 2005 though 2008 in Canada. We h
ave reviewed our tax
positions as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and have not identified any positions
that are uncertain.
The tax effects of significant items
comprising our net deferred tax asset and the related valuation allowance as of
December 31, 2008, and December 31, 2007, are as follows:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Deferred
tax assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
$
|
4,735,000
|
|
|
$
|
3,840,000
|
|
State
|
|
|
655,000
|
|
|
|
530,000
|
|
Foreign
|
|
|
560,000
|
|
|
|
450,000
|
|
Total
|
|
|
5,950,000
|
|
|
|
4,820,000
|
|
Valuation
allowance
|
|
|
(5,950,000
|
)
|
|
|
(4,820,000
|
)
|
Provision
for income taxes, less valuation allowance
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Due to our operating loss and lack of
operating experience, a valuation allowance was provided for our net deferred
tax assets at December 31, 2008, and December 31, 2007.
The reconciliation of federal statutory
income tax rate to our effective income tax rate is as follows:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Rate
Reconciliation:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expected
expense/(benefit) at federal statutory rate
|
|
|
(35
|
)%
|
|
|
(35
|
)%
|
State
tax benefit, net of federal benefit
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
Stock
based compensation
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
Foreign
tax benefit
|
|
|
(17
|
)
|
|
|
(8
|
)
|
Other
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
Valuation
allowance
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
40
|
|
Expected
tax rate
|
|
|
-
|
%
|
|
|
-
|
%
|
Deferred income taxes reflect the net
effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and
liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax
purposes. Significant components of our deferred tax assets and
liabilities are as follows:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Deferred
tax assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
operating loss carryforward
|
|
$
|
4,600,000
|
|
|
$
|
3,840,000
|
|
Foreign
tax benefit
|
|
|
560,000
|
|
|
|
450,000
|
|
Unrealized
inventory impairment loss
|
|
|
560,000
|
|
|
|
380,000
|
|
Warranty
accrual
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
Vacation
accrual
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
Stock
based compensation
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
Research
and development credit
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
120,000
|
|
Total
deferred tax assets
|
|
|
5,960,000
|
|
|
|
4,830,000
|
|
Deferred
tax liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
(10,000
|
)
|
|
|
(10,000
|
)
|
Total
deferred tax liabilities
|
|
|
(10,000
|
)
|
|
|
(10,000
|
)
|
Gross
deferred tax asset
|
|
|
5,950,000
|
|
|
|
4,820,000
|
|
Valuation
allowance
|
|
$
|
(5,950,000
|
)
|
|
$
|
(4,820,000
|
)
|
As of December 31, 2008, we have a net
operating loss carryforward for federal and state income tax purposes of
approximately $11,490,000 which will begin to expire in 2018. Also,
at December 31, 2008, we have a foreign net operating loss carryforward of
approximately $1,120,000. The amount and availability of the net
operating loss carryforward may be subject to annual limitations set forth by
the Internal Revenue Code and foreign taxing authorities.
10. PREFERRED
STOCK
On March 13, 2007, we commenced the
private placement of our Series B Preferred Stock. The Board of
Directors authorized 5,000,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at
$2.00. We sold 1,932,846 shares for $3,865,692 and incurred expenses
of $270,597 as a result of this offering. We also issued 57,985
warrants in connection with the sale of the Series B Preferred
Stock. The warrants were issued at an exercise price of $2.00 and
expire May 15, 2012.
The shares of Series B Preferred Stock
are convertible into a number of shares of Common Stock at a conversion price
determined by dividing the offering price by any lower price at which the
Company may sell shares of Common Stock prior to the expiration of twelve months
from that date of issue, May 31, 2007. All shares of Series B
Preferred Stock were converted to common stock in 2008. See Note 11
for details.
The Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock issued in 2006 had certain anti-dilution rights. As a result of
the issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock in 2007, the conversion price of
the Series A Preferred Stock was reduced from $3.25 per share to $2.00 per
share. This modification resulted in a beneficial conversion totaling
$1,889,063. This beneficial conversion feature was accreted to the
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock as a dividend because the preferred stock
was convertible immediately upon issuance. The accretion was
included on the consolidated statement of operations and the consolidated
statement of stockholders equity (deficit) and comprehensive loss as a quasi
dividend to determine net loss attributable to common
shareholders. All shares of Series A Preferred Stock were converted
during 2007. See Note 11 for details.
11.
COMMON STOCK
Our
registration statement covering 4,054,541 shares of such equity securities,
filed on May 20, 2008, was declared effective by the Commission on August 5,
2008.
We entered into a Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement (the “SEDA”) with an investor on April 11,
2008. For a two-year period beginning on August 5, 2008, we have the
right, at our discretion, to sell registered shares of our common stock to the
Investor for up to $4,000,000. For each share of common stock
purchased under the SEDA, the Investor will pay ninety-three (93%) of the lowest
daily volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) during the five consecutive trading
days after the Advance Notice Date (as such term is defined in the
SEDA). Each such sale (“Advance”) may be for an amount not to exceed
$350,000 and each Advance Notice Date must be no less than five trading days
after the prior Advance Notice Date. The Advance request will be
reduced to the extent the price of our common stock during the five consecutive
trading days after the Advance Notice Date is less than 85% of the VWAP on the
trading day immediately preceding the Advance Notice Date.
Under the
terms of the SEDA, we have paid a structuring fee of $10,000, a due diligence
fee of $5,000 and issued 386,567 shares of common stock to satisfy a $160,000
Commitment Fee. We are also obligated to pay a monthly monitoring fee
of $3,333 during the term of the agreement. We may terminate the SEDA
upon 15 trading days notice, provided there are no Advances outstanding and that
we have paid all amounts then due to the Investor.
We began accessing the SEDA funds in
August 2008 and at December 31, 2008, we have issued 247,977 shares of common
stock at an average price of $.23 and received $57,131 in capital. As
of December 31, 2008, we had 30,157,554 shares of Common Stock issued and
outstanding. We have no plans at this time to access any additional
funds from the SEDA.
On June 1, 2008, 1,932,846 shares of
our Series B Preferred Stock automatically converted to the same number of
common shares per the terms of the Certificate of Designation for the Series B
Preferred Stock dated March 14, 2007.
On September 29, 2007, 465,000 shares
of our Series A Preferred Stock automatically converted to 755,625 shares of
common stock per the terms of the Certificate of Designation for the Series A
Preferred Stock dated September 29, 2006. In addition, on October 4,
2007 the balance of the Series A Preferred Stock of 465,000 shares converted to
755,625 shares of Common Stock.
12. WARRANTS
During 2008, we incurred an obligation
to issue 12,399 warrants in connection with the SEDA draws we made during
2008. The warrants carry a five-year term and an average
exercise price of $0.23.
On August 21, 2007, we issued 25,000
warrants for inventory purchased. The warrants carry a three-year
term and an exercise price of $2.00. Our assumptions included an
expected life of three years, a risk-free interest rate of 4.6%, and a
volatility rate of 96.56%. The calculation, under SFAS 123R and EITF
No. 96-18, yielded a per warrant price of $.84 and total expense of
$21,065. This amount was included as part of the total inventory
cost.
On May 17, 2007, we issued 57,985
warrants in connection with our Series B Private Placement. The
warrants carry a five-year term and an exercise price of $2.00.
On May 3, 2007, we settled a vendor
dispute by agreeing to issue 375,000 warrants as a settlement. The
warrants carry a three year term and an exercise price of $2.00. We
account for warrants issued to vendors and suppliers under SFAS 123R and EITF
No. 96-18, “Accounting for Equity Instruments that are Issued to Other Than
Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods, or
Services.” Therefore, the fair value of options issued to the vendor,
was calculated, using the Black Scholes Option pricing formula. Our
assumptions included an expected life of three years, a risk-free interest rate
of 4.65%, and a volatility rate of 100.73%. The calculation yielded a
per warrant price of $1.54 and total expense of $577,500. We
recognized an expense of $448,011 and $129,489, respectively for the settlement
during the periods ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006. We
have recognized an expense of $577,500 for the period (May 19, 2003) to December
31, 2007.
At December 31, 2008, we have issued or
will issue 795,270 warrants and an average exercise price of $2.14 with
expiration dates beginning in 2010 and ending in 2012.
13.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
On September 1, 2005, we adopted an
Incentive Compensation Plan (“Incentive Plan”) for the purpose of encouraging
key officers, directors, employees and consultants to remain with the Company
and devote their best efforts to the business of the Company. Under
this plan, options may be granted to eligible participants, at a price not less
than the fair market value of the stock at the date of grant. Options granted
under this plan may be designated as either incentive or non-qualified options
and vest over periods designated by the Board of Directors, generally over two
to five years, and expire no later than ten years from the date of
grant. Upon exercise, we issue new shares of Common Stock to the
employee.
We may also issue restricted stock
under the Incentive Plan. Restricted stock awards made under this
program vest over periods designated by the Board of Directors, generally two to
four years. The aggregate number of shares authorized for employee
stock options, non-employee stock options and restricted stock awards is
2,000,000. At December 31, 2008, there were 1,103,834 shares
available for grant and 896,166 shares granted. Of the shares
granted, 361,000 were granted as restricted stock, 169,666 were granted as
non-employee stock options, and 365,500 were granted as employee and director
stock options.
During January 2008, the Board of
Directors approved a modification extending the term of 235,666 vested stock
options until December 31, 2008 for certain employees and nonemployees who had
left the Company. The Board determined that the modification
was appropriate for employees and contractors who provided valuable expertise
during the start-up phase of the Company. The modification affected
six employees and the resulting additional compensation cost was approximately
$18,000. At December 31, 2008, none of these employees exercised
their options and all but 91,666 were forfeited. The remaining
options will expire August 12, 2009.
The following table presents the
weighted-average assumptions post repricing and modification, used to estimate
the fair values of the stock options granted to employees and non-employees in
the periods presented, using the Black-Scholes option pricing
formula. The risk-free interest rate for periods within the
contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in
effect at the time of grant. The expected life is based on our
historical data of option exercise and forfeiture. Expected
volatility is based on the average reported volatility and vesting period of a
representative sample of eight comparable companies in the alternative fuel
technology and services niches with market capitalizations between $2 million
and $2 billion, in addition to our actual history since September
2005.
|
|
|
|
|
Period from Inception
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
(May 19, 2003) to
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Risk-free
interest rate
|
|
|
3.79
|
%
|
|
|
4.72
|
%
|
|
|
4.13
|
%
|
Expected
volatility
|
|
|
81.0
|
%
|
|
|
96.4
|
%
|
|
|
136.1
|
%
|
Expected
life (in years)
|
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
4.7
|
|
|
|
6.4
|
|
Dividend
yield
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Weighted-average
estimated fair value of options granted during the
period
|
|
$
|
.82
|
|
|
$
|
.99
|
|
|
$
|
.83
|
|
The
following table summarizes the activity for outstanding employee and
non-employee stock options for the year ended December 31, 2008:
|
|
Options Outstanding
|
|
|
|
Number of
Shares
|
|
|
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
|
|
|
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in years)
|
|
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(1)
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
884,916
|
|
|
$
|
1.16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
$
|
.34
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(439,750
|
)
|
|
$
|
1.15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2008
|
|
|
535,166
|
|
|
$
|
1.02
|
|
|
|
5.89
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
Vested
and exercisable as of December 31, 2008
|
|
|
400,166
|
|
|
$
|
1.02
|
|
|
|
5.28
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
Vested
and expected to vest as of December 31, 2008
|
|
|
519,111
|
|
|
$
|
1.06
|
|
|
|
5.72
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
(1)
|
The
aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as approximately the difference
between the weighted-average exercise price of the underlying awards and
our closing stock price of $0.12 on December 31, 2008, the last day of
trading in December.
|
There were no stock options exercised
during the year ending December 31, 2008 or December 31,
2007. The total grant date fair value of stock options
vested during 2008, 2007, and inception (May 19, 2003) to December 31, 2008 was
$280,229, $610,453, and $1,631,400.
As of December 31, 2008, there was
approximately $367,035 of unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding
stock options, net of forecasted forfeitures. This amount is expected
to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.4 years. To the
extent the forfeiture rate is different than we have anticipated, stock-based
compensation related to these awards will be different from
expectations.
The following table summarizes the
activity for the unvested restricted stock for the year ended December 31,
2008:
|
|
Unvested Restricted Stock
|
|
|
|
Number of
Shares
|
|
|
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unvested
at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
92,000
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
(46,000
|
)
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
Unvested
at December 31, 2008
|
|
|
46,000
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
As of December 31, 2008, there was
approximately $29,747 of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested
restricted stock. This amount is expected to be recognized over a
weighted-average period of .67 years. To the extent actual forfeiture
rate is different than we have anticipated, the numbers of restricted stock
expected to vest would be different from expectations.
The following table summarizes
additional information about stock options outstanding and exercisable as of
December 31, 2008:
Options Outstanding
|
|
|
Options Exercisable
|
|
Exercise
Price
|
|
Options
Outstanding
|
|
|
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
|
|
|
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|
|
Shares
Exercisable
|
|
|
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|
$0.20
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
|
9.83
|
|
|
$
|
0.20
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.20
|
|
$0.40
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
9.25
|
|
|
$
|
0.40
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.40
|
|
$0.50
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
|
2.12
|
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
$1.00
|
|
|
232,666
|
|
|
|
4.04
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
|
|
206,666
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
$1.34
|
|
|
212,500
|
|
|
|
7.40
|
|
|
$
|
1.34
|
|
|
|
133,500
|
|
|
$
|
1.34
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
535,166
|
|
|
|
5.89
|
|
|
$
|
1.02
|
|
|
|
400,166
|
|
|
$
|
1.02
|
|
14.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement (SEDA)
On June 10, 2008 we issued 386,567
shares to YA Global as a commitment fee under the Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement (“SEDA”) with YA Global dated April 11, 2008. Under the
SEDA we have the right, for a two-year period beginning August 5, 2008, to sell
registered shares of our Common Stock to YA Global for a total purchase price of
up to Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000). For each share of Common
Stock purchased under the SEDA, YA Global will pay 93% of the lowest daily VWAP
during the five (5) consecutive trading days after the Advance notice
date.
For each share of common stock
purchased under the SEDA, The Investor will pay ninety-three (93%) of the lowest
daily volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) during the five consecutive trading
days after the Advance Notice Date (as such term is defined in the
SEDA). Each such sale (“Advance”) may be for an amount not to exceed
$350,000 and each Advance Notice Date must be no less than five trading days
after the prior Advance Notice Date. The Advance request will be
reduced to the extent the price of our common stock during the five consecutive
trading days after the Advance Notice Date is less that 85% of the VWAP on the
trading day immediately preceding the Advance Notice Date.
Under the terms of the SEDA, we have
paid a structuring fee of $10,000 and a due diligence fee of
$5,000. We are also obligated to pay a monthly monitoring
fee of $3,333 during the term of the agreement. We may terminate the
SEDA upon 15 trading days notice, provided there are no Advances outstanding and
that we have paid all amounts then due to the Investor.
These securities were offered and sold
without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 in reliance upon the
exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 of
Regulation D promulgated thereunder, and may not be offered or sold in the
United States in the absence of an effective registration statement or exemption
from the registration requirements under the Securities Act. An
appropriate legend was placed on the securities issued.
Beginning in August 2008, we began
accessing the SEDA funds from YA Global and issued shares for the following
draws:
Advance Notice Date
|
|
Amount
Requested
|
|
|
Amount
Received
|
|
|
Shares
Issued
|
|
|
Purchase Price
of Shares Issued
|
|
August
11, 2008
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
|
|
$
|
8,131
|
|
|
|
27,093
|
|
|
$
|
.3001
|
|
September
3, 2008
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
6,000
|
|
|
|
21,444
|
|
|
$
|
.2798
|
|
September
15, 2008
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
|
29,155
|
|
|
$
|
.2744
|
|
September
22, 2008
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
115,580
|
|
|
$
|
.2163
|
|
October
2, 2008
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
54,705
|
|
|
$
|
.1828
|
|
January
9, 2009
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
|
6,400
|
|
|
|
57,348
|
|
|
$
|
.1116
|
|
February
5, 2009
|
|
|
350,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
453,000
|
|
|
$
|
63,531
|
|
|
|
305,325
|
|
|
|
|
|
At
December 31, 2008, we have received $57,131 in capital and have issued 247,977
shares under the SEDA. As of March 24, 2009, we have received $63,531
and have issued 305,325 shares under the SEDA.
15. SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS
Hydrogen Research and
Development Project
On March 13, 2009, we signed an
agreement to be involved in a hydrogen project with an undisclosed party which
is scheduled to be completed by March 2011. The project is focused on
testing and demonstrating hydrogen technologies and fueling
infrastructures. We have received purchase orders totaling $470,572
that are contingent upon future events. We expect our participation
in this project will allow us to demonstrate a sampling of the carbon-free power
solutions we design and manufacture.
Option Purchase Agreement
and Modification
Effective March 17, 2009, Ted
Hollinger, our Company founder, entered into an agreement with Steven C.
Waldron, under which Mr. Hollinger granted Mr. Waldron the option to purchase
all of his shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.02 per share. Mr.
Hollinger currently owns 15,661,037 shares, or 51.83% of the total number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding. Mr. Waldron has paid the
amount of $15,000 to acquire the option. If the option is not
exercised, Mr. Hollinger will be obligated to transfer 750,000 shares of his
stock to Mr. Waldron. In the event Mr. Waldron exercises the option,
he will pay Mr. Hollinger an additional $298,221.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mr.
Waldron has the right to conduct due diligence on our Company over a period of
45 days before determining whether to exercise his option. If the
option is exercised, Mr. Waldron will have purchased voting control of our
Company and will be able to control our business plans and
direction. Mr. Waldron is associated with Pinnacle Wind Energy, a
company dedicated to the efficient development of wind
power.
Subject to approval of the Board of
Directors, the March 17 agreement would allow Mr. Hollinger to retain five
patent applications not directly associated with wind energy generation and
would grant us a right of first refusal to license any technologies associated
with those patents. In order to allow him to develop the patents, the
agreement also anticipates that Mr. Hollinger would be released from his
agreement not to compete with us. On March 24, 2009, Mr. Hollinger
and Mr. Waldron modified the agreement by removing the provisions regarding the
patents and Mr. Hollinger’s noncompete.
ITEM
9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENT WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE.
None
ITEM
9A(T). CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
EVALUATION
OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Under the supervision and with the
participation of our management, including our Acting President, Michael A.
Schiltz and Chief Financial Officer, Sandra M. Batt have evaluated and reviewed
the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and
procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")) as of December 31,
2008. Disclosure controls and procedures are the controls and other
procedures that we designed to ensure that we record, process, summarize and
report in a timely manner the information we must disclose in reports that we
file with or submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange
Act. Based on this review and evaluation, these officers have
concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure
that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit
under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within
the time periods required by the forms and rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission; and to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by an
issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is
accumulated and communicated to our management including our principal executive
and financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriated
to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
INTERNAL
CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Inherent Limitations Over
Internal Controls
Our internal control over financial
reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability
of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles. Our internal control financial reporting includes those
policies and procedures that:
|
(i)
|
pertain
to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and
fairly reflect the transactions and disposition of our
assets;
|
|
(ii)
|
provide
reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being
made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and
directors; and
|
|
(iii)
|
provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could
have a material effect on the financial
statements.
|
Management, including our Acting
President and our Chief Financial Officer, do not expect that our internal
controls will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control
system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable,
not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are
met. Further, the design of a controls system must reflect the fact
that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be
considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent
limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of internal controls can
provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if
any, have been detected. Also, any evaluation of the effectiveness of
controls in future periods are subject to the risk that those internal controls
may become inadequate because of changes in business conditions, or that the
degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may
deteriorate.
Management’s Annual Report
on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
.
We are responsible for establishing and
maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting and for the
assessment of the effectiveness of those internal controls. As
defined by the SEC, internal control over financial reporting is a process
designed by, or under the supervision of our principal executive officer
and principal financial officer and effected by our Board of Directors,
management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the financial
statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles.
We have assessed the effectiveness of
our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008. In making
this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal
Control-Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment and those
criteria, we have concluded that our internal control over financial reporting
was effective as of December 31, 2008.
This annual report does not include an
attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal
control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject
to attestation by the company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to
temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the
company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
CHANGES
IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING.
There were no changes in our internal
control over financial reporting or in other factors identified in connection
with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or
15d-15 that occurred during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2008 that have
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal
control over financial reporting.
ITEM
9B. OTHER INFORMATION.
None.
PART
III
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVES, OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
The
information required by this item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy
Statement for our 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC
within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008.
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
The
information required by this item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy
Statement for our 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC
within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008.
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
The
information required by this item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy
Statement for our 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC
within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008.
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE.
The
information required by this item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy
Statement for our 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC
within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.
The information required by this item
is incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement for our 2009 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.
IT
EM 15. EXHIBITS.
(a) The
following documents are filed as part of this report:
1 and
2. The following financial statements are included in Item 8 of
this Annual Report:
Report of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Balance
Sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007
Statements
of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
Statements
of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 2008 and
2007
Statements
of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
Notes to
Financial Statements
Exhibit No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
|
|
2.1
|
|
Revised
and Amended Agreement and Plan of Merger with Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc.
and Green Mt. Acquisitions, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to
the preliminary information statement filed with the SEC on July 12,
2005).
|
2.2
|
|
Option
Purchase Agreement, effective date March 17, 2009
|
2.3
|
|
Option
Purchase Agreement Modification, dated March 24, 2009
|
3.1
|
|
Certificate
of Incorporation (Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Form 10−SB filed
January 8, 2004)
|
3.2
|
|
Bylaws
(Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Form 10−SB filed January 8,
2004)
|
3.3
|
|
Certificate
of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (Previously filed as an Exhibit
to the Form 10-QSB filed 11-21-2005)
|
3.4
|
|
Amendment
to Bylaws (Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Form 10-QSB filed
11-21-2005)
|
3.5
|
|
Certificate
of Designation for the Series A Preferred Stock (Previously filed as an
Exhibit to the Form 10-KSB filed April 17, 2007)
|
3.6
|
|
Certificate
of Designation for the Series B Preferred Stock (Previously filed as an
Exhibit to the Form 10-KSB filed April 17, 2007)
|
4.1
|
|
Instrument
defining rights of stockholders (See Exhibits No.
3.1-3.6)
|
10.1
|
|
Iowa
State Bank Note dated 12-05-2008
|
10.2
|
|
Farmers
State Bank Note dated 3-19-2009
|
10.3
|
|
Standby
Equity Distribution Agreement with YA Global Investments, L.P. dated April
11, 2008 (Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Form 10-KSB filed April
15, 2008)
|
10.4
|
|
Registration
Rights Agreement with YA Global Investments, L.P. dated April 11, 2008
(Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Form 10-KSB filed April 15,
2008)
|
10.5
|
|
Iowa
State Bank Note dated 12-05-08 ($250K)
|
10.6
|
|
Farmers
State Bank Note dated 03-19-2009 ($100K)
|
21.1
|
|
List
of subsidiaries of Registrant (Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Form
10-KSB filed April 15, 2008)
|
31.1
|
|
Certification
pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-B, as adopted pursuant to Section 302
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by Michael A. Schiltz, the company's
Chief Executive Officer.
|
31.2
|
|
Certification
pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-B, as adopted pursuant to Section 302
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by Sandra Batt, the Company's Chief
Financial Officer.
|
32.1
|
|
Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by Michael A. Schiltz, the Company's Chief
Executive Officer.
|
32.2
|
|
Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by Sandra Batt, the Company's Chief
Financial
Officer.
|
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
|
|
|
HYDROGEN
ENGINE CENTER, INC.
|
|
|
|
|
Date:
March 31, 2009
|
|
By
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
A. Schiltz
|
|
|
|
Acting
President
|
|
|
|
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
Date: March
31, 2009
|
|
By
|
|
|
|
|
Sandra
Batt
|
|
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
(Principal
Financial
Officer)
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:
Date: March 31, 2009
|
By:
|
/s/
Theodore G. Hollinger
|
|
|
Theodore
G. Hollinger, Chairman and Director
|
|
|
|
Date: March
31, 2009
|
By:
|
|
|
|
Thomas
O. Trimble, Director
|
|
|
|
Date: March
31, 2009
|
By:
|
|
|
|
Stephen
T. Parker, Director
|
|
|
|
Date: March
31, 2009
|
By:
|
/s/
Philip
G. Ruggieri
|
|
|
Philip
G. Ruggieri, Director
|
|
|
|
Date: March
31, 2009
|
By:
|
/s/
Jan
Rowinski
|
|
|
Jan
Rowinski, Director
|
|
|
|
Date: March 31, 2009
|
By:
|
/s/
michael
a. schiltz
|
|
|
Michael
A. Schiltz, Director
|