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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark one)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
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OR
[_] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE OF 1934
For the transition period from to
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Commission File Number 0-15472
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Environmental Power Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 04-2782065
(State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
500 Market Street, Suite 1-E, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
(603) 431-1780
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $.01 par value
Indicate by check mark whether the 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.
Yes [X] No [_]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to the
Form 10-K. [_]
State the aggregate market value for the voting stock held by non-affiliates of
the registrant: The aggregate market value, computed by reference to the closing
price of such stock on April 4, 1997, was $2,667,154.
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of
common stock, as of the last practicable date: On April 4, 1997 there were
11,076,783 outstanding shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, of the
registrant.
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1
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and delivered to shareholders in connection with the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held on June 30, 1997 are incorporated by
reference into Part III of this Annual Report filed on Form 10-K. The portions
of the Proxy Statement under the headings "Report of the Compensation Committee"
and the "Stock Performance Graph" are not incorporated by reference and are not
a part of this Form 10-K Report.
2
PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS
General
Environmental Power Corporation (individually "EPC" or consolidated "the
Company"), a Delaware Corporation, owns a 22 year leasehold interest in an
approximately 83 Mw (net) waste coal-fired electric generating facility (the
"Scrubgrass Project") located in Pennsylvania, the lease for which commenced on
June 30, 1994. Until December 31, 1994 the Company also held varying ownership
interests (100% to approximately 40%) in and oversaw the operation of an
approximately 51 Mw (net) waste coal-fired electric generating facility (the
"Sunnyside Project") located in Utah. Both facilities sell power under long-term
contracts to specified Utility Companies whose contracts have been approved by
the respective Public Utility Commission. In the case of these projects, the
Company either acting alone or in conjunction with others had selected and
arranged for the acquisition of the site, obtained control over their waste coal
fuel sources, negotiated contracts for the design and construction of the
facilities and the sale of their output to the utilities purchasing the power,
arranged for financing, and negotiated contracts for the operation and
maintenance of the projects. The Company has one additional project (the
"Milesburg Project") in the development stage, but believes that it has limited
opportunities for additional similar project development in the United States
for the foreseeable future. Since December 31, 1994, the Company's power
generation revenues have come solely from the Scrubgrass Project.
EPC was incorporated in Massachusetts in November, 1982 as Cresci
Associates, Inc. and reincorporated in Delaware in September, 1986. In recent
years the Company has concentrated its efforts on the three waste coal projects
referred to above, two of which became operational and a third which is in the
development stage. From 1983 to 1990 the Company acquired, developed, operated
in certain cases, and sold five hydroelectric power facilities located in Maine,
Vermont and Connecticut.
The Company's Projects
The following summaries outline the Company's projects and their
development status (including the Sunnyside Project in which the Company held an
ownership interest until December 31, 1994). In reading the summaries, the
following points should be kept in mind:
--"Megawatt" (Mw) is a measure of electrical power equal to 1,000,000
watts and is used to measure a project's capacity for output.
--"Kilowatt-hour" (Kwh) is a measure of electrical energy equal to a
continuous generation of 1,000 watts for one hour and is used to
measure a project's output over a period of time. Projection estimates
for waste coal facilities are based on a plant capacity factor and
engineering estimates of plant heat rates and values for the heat
content of specific fuels to be used. There can be no assurance that
the facilities will perform as represented herein, however the
design/build and operating and maintenance agreements generally
include certain performance guarantees.
Waste Coal
Coal mining operations have historically produced a substantial amount
of residue, herein called waste coal or tailings, which were considered unusable
in conventional furnaces because the high percentage of rock or other substances
negatively affecting combustion of the coal and the low BTU volume per ton
increased material handling costs and reduced output of equipment. The
development of the circulating fluidized bed combustion
3
system ("CFB") made the use of tailings as fuel technically and economically
feasible. In a CFB system, fuel is burned in a hot, turbulent bed of ash, sand
and, usually, limestone.
Rapid flow of upward moving air suspends fuel and bed particles in a
"fluidized" manner during combustion, creating a turbulence which causes the
tailings to break up, and allows for a more complete combustion of the coal as
well as a greater opportunity for a reaction of sulfur with the limestone.
Further, the circulating nature of CFB is designed to separate larger
particulate from stack gases and to reintroduce the material back into the
combustor for more complete burn and greater reaction with the limestone. Lower
temperatures and longer residence time of the fuel in the combustor decreases
the formation of nitrogen oxide.
The Company obtains coal tailings on a long-term basis primarily from
active mining operations and from reclaiming insitu deposits from prior coal
------
mining activities. The coal tailings are plentiful and generally create
environmental hazards, such as acid drainage, when not disposed of properly.
Scrubgrass Project
The Scrubgrass Project located on a 600 acre site in Venango County,
Pennsylvania is an approximately 83 Mw (net) waste coal-fired electric
generating station (the "Facility") which has been constructed by Bechtel Power
Corporation. The construction contract, which was completed by the contractor in
June 1994, provided for a guaranteed net electrical output of 82.85 Mw.
On June 30, 1994, Buzzard Power Corporation ("Buzzard"), a wholly owned
subsidiary of EPC, entered into an agreement to lease the Facility from
Scrubgrass Generating Company, L.P. (the "Lessor"), a joint venture of PG&E
Enterprises and Bechtel Enterprises Inc. The lease provides for an initial term
of 22 years with a renewal option for up to 3 years. Pursuant to the lease, the
Lessor assigned to Buzzard all principal project agreements and its rights and
obligations thereunder including, but not limited to the power purchase
agreement, operations and maintenance agreement, limestone agreements, ground
lease agreements, fuel agreements and transportation and materials handling
agreements. EPC has pledged Buzzard's stock to the Lessor as security for
Buzzard's performance of its obligations as lessee. Buzzard has entered into a
management services contract with U.S. Generating Company ("U.S. Gen"), a joint
venture of PG&E Enterprises and Bechtel Enterprises Inc., to manage the
Scrubgrass Project.
Electric output is being sold to Pennsylvania Electric Company
("PENELEC") pursuant to a 25-year agreement, which commenced in 1993, at fixed
rates averaging approximately 4.68 cents/Kwh and escalates at 5% per year for
the calendar years 1994-1999. Commencing in the year 2000 and through 2012, the
agreement provides for a rate equal to the greater of a scheduled rate or a rate
based on the PJM Billing Rate (the monthly average of the hourly rates for
purchases by the General Public Utilities Group ("GPU") from, or sale by GPU, to
the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection). For the years 2013
through 2015 and 2016 through 2018, if the renewal term option is exercised, the
agreement provides for a rate equal to the lower of the average monthly PJM
Billing Rate or the rate paid for the calendar year 2012 adjusted annually by
the percentage change in the Gross National Product Deflator less 1%. On
June 8, 1993, the Facility reached commercial operation.
The Facility is being operated by US Operating Services Company pursuant
to a 15-year Operations and Maintenance Agreement ("O & M"). A budget for all
operational expenses including a fixed management fee is approved annually.
Failure to achieve approved annual budgets can result in operator liability
and/or termination of the O & M.
Buzzard, as assignee, entered into a Limestone Purchase and Sale
Agreement with Quality Aggregates, Inc. to supply the Scrubgrass Project with
limestone for an initial term of five years which, in December 1995, was
extended through the year 2000 and which may be extended up to 15 additional
years. The Scrubgrass Project also maintains an agreement with an initial term
of 15 years for the transportation of fuel, ash and limestone with Savage
Industries, Inc. The costs established under this agreement will escalate at
partially fixed and partially indexed rates.
4
Buzzard's revenues earned by the Scrubgrass Project are deposited into
an account administered by a disbursement agent. Before Buzzard can receive cash
generated by the Scrubgrass Project, all operating expenses, base lease payments
(which include the Lessor's debt as described below), certain maintenance
reserve payments and other subordinated payments must be satisfied. Buzzard, as
lessee, is required to pay the Lessor, in addition to a specified base rent,
consisting of all of the Lessor's debt service and related fees and expenses, an
additional rent of 50 percent of the net cash flows Buzzard receives from
project operations. Buzzard is not required to fund operating losses, or
otherwise invest further, from sources outside of the Scrubgrass Project.
Until December 22, 1995 the Lessor's debt consisted of $135.6 million of
variable rate tax-exempt bonds maturing in 2012, a $20.8 million term loan
maturing in 2005, $4.2 million of demand debt and $2.4 million of junior
subordinated debt maturing in 1999. The Lessor entered into interest rate swaps
which had the effect of fixing the interest rate on the tax-exempt bonds until
May 18, 1996 at approximately 3.72% and fixing the interest rate over the life
of the $20.8 million term loan at 6.42%. After May 18, 1996, the Company's
specified base rent was incurred based on floating rates on the Lessor's tax-
exempt bonds ranging from 3.2% to 3.85%. On December 22, 1995, the Lessor
restructured certain of its project debt, the primary effect of which was to
extend the term of its demand debt and a portion of its junior subordinated debt
through 2004. In connection with the Lessor's debt restructuring, Buzzard also
extended the term of $4 million of its own current liabilities through 2004.
In March 1996, the Company received proceeds of $900,000 from Bechtel
Power Corporation in final settlement of certain warranty and start-up matters
which is included in other income in the accompanying consolidated statement of
operations. See Notes A, B, E, F, G, H and L to the Consolidated Financial
Statements for additional information regarding the Scrubgrass Project.
During the fourth quarter of 1996, after learning about a generator
failure at an electric generating facility with an identical generator to the
Scrubgrass facility, the manufacturer asked the Company to perform certain tests
to determine the Scrubgrass generator's condition. Based on the results of these
tests, which became available during the first quarter of 1997, the Company
believes the Scrubgrass facility's generator exhibits certain conditions which
indicate that a similar failure might occur at some time in the future.
Accordingly, the Company is investigating courses of action to remedy this
situation which have not been finalized at the time of filing this Form 10-K.
See Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations and Note O to the Consolidated Financial Statements for
further discussion of this matter.
Sunnyside Project
Sunnyside is an approximately 51 Mw (net) waste coal-fired facility at a
site located adjacent to the Sunnyside Coal Mine in Carbon County, Utah which
was constructed by Parsons Main, Inc., ("PMI"). The facility reached commercial
operation on November 19, 1993. The Sunnyside Project is owned by Sunnyside
Cogeneration Associates ("SCA"), a joint venture in which the Company owned
varying majority interests from 100% to approximately 70% until September 28,
1994 and thereafter an approximate 40% interest until December 31, 1994 at which
time the Company sold its remaining interest in SCA.
In connection with the sale, the Company received consideration of $2.79
million in cash on January 5, 1995 and promissory notes aggregating $3.25
million, bearing interest at 10% per annum. Interest is payable to the Company
quarterly and principal of $312,500 was received by the Company on September 30,
1995, principal of $1,187,500 was due on December 31, 1996 and the remaining
principal of $1,750,000 is due on December 31, 1997. However, as more fully
described under Item 3 - Legal Proceedings, the purchasers of the Company's
interest in SCA have entered into a legal proceeding with the Company. Pending
the resolution of the legal proceeding, the purchasers have withheld their
scheduled payments of principal and interest due on the promissory notes since
June 1996. As of December 31, 1996, the purchasers have principal and interest
payments in arrears of $1,187,500 and $221,318, respectively. In addition, the
Company recorded in 1994 a receivable related to a purchase price adjustment, as
provided for in the Purchase and Sale Agreement, of approximately $1.1 million,
of which $708,000 was received in April 1995. The balance of purchase price
adjustment is also being disputed in
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the legal proceeding with the purchasers. The Company also retained certain
inchoate rights, including potential refundable sales taxes and certain legal
settlements, arising out of activities prior to the date of the sale. The
retained rights were fully satisfied after the Company received sales tax
refunds aggregating $1.1 million and $42,078 in 1995 and 1996, respectively, and
received $540,000 to settle a legal proceeding in 1996. See Notes A, B, G, H and
N to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
Milesburg Project
On April 30, 1987, the Company purchased, for an aggregate purchase
price of $5,400,000, all of the outstanding capital stock of Milesburg Energy,
Inc. ("MEI"), the company which controlled the development rights to an existing
43 Mw (net) oil-fired electric generating facility, which was retired from
service in 1984. In connection with the stock purchase, the Company paid
$100,000 in cash and issued promissory notes totaling $5,120,000 and a
subsidiary of the Company assumed pre-acquisition MEI liabilities totaling
$180,000. The notes payable, pre-acquisition liabilities and other liabilities
incurred subsequent to the purchase become payable only under certain
conditions, the most significant of which relates to the closing of construction
financing and commencement of construction for the Milesburg Project. If this
project is developed, the Company would replace this facility with a waste coal-
fired electric generating facility.
In 1987, MEI executed a 30 year power purchase agreement with West Penn
Power Company ("WPPC") for the sale of all of the facility's electrical output
with a fixed capacity rate component and an additional fluctuating rate
component which is derived from WPPC's avoided energy cost. The power purchase
agreement was approved by the Public Utilities Commission of the State of
Pennsylvania ("PUC"), and was subsequently appealed to the Commonwealth Court of
Pennsylvania by certain industrial intervenors. During the lengthy appeals
process, which extended beyond certain contract milestone dates in the power
purchase agreement, WPPC requested that its original petition to approve the
power purchase agreement be dismissed by the PUC since the power purchase
agreement had expired by its own terms. In September 1989, in response to MEI's
efforts to preserve its contractual rights, the PUC, by court order, ordered
WPPC to execute a new power purchase agreement with MEI. The new power purchase
agreement would include extended contract milestone dates and rates which would
be recalculated due to the later start-up date for this project necessitated by
the delays caused by the appeal. This order has been appealed by the same
industrial intervenors and WPPC through various courts, including the United
States Supreme Court, and upheld in every case in favor of MEI. In August 1995,
the PUC issued a tentative order for final contract rates. The order had been
temporarily stayed by mutual agreement of MEI and WPPC pending discussions
pertaining to a buy-out of the power purchase agreement which began in October
1995 and have not yet been finalized. However, MEI recently lifted the stay and
is proceeding to finalize the terms of the power purchase agreement.
Despite ongoing efforts to reach a buy-out arrangement with WPPC, the
Company has continued to invest its financial resources to protect its legal and
contractual interests and to support its ability to commence construction in the
event that a buy-out arrangement under mutually agreeable terms cannot be
reached with WPPC. In July 1996, in furtherance of these objectives, the Company
entered into a joint development agreement with U.S. Gen. U.S. Gen is a joint
venture of PG&E Enterprises and Bechtel Enterprises, Inc. and has considerable
experience as one of America's largest independent power companies. In addition,
the Company and U.S. Gen have a history of working together in the co-
development and ongoing operation of the Scrubgrass Project which has now been
operating profitably for more than a year. As a result of the joint development
agreement, the Company has greater financial and technical resources available
to pursue the development of the Milesburg Project. Since the signing of the
joint development agreement, the Company and U.S. Gen have been pursuing various
development activities and are continuing ongoing discussions with WPPC
concerning a possible buy-out of the power purchase agreement. The Company plans
to continue efforts towards both the development of the Milesburg Project and
the negotiation of a buy-out of the power purchase agreement until it becomes
apparent which alternative will be in the best interest of the Company and its
shareholders. In that regard, the Company's development efforts have increased
in 1996. Under the terms of the joint development agreement, U.S. Gen has the
responsibility to manage the development activities and finance a majority of
the development period expenses prior to financial closing. Based on the
progress made in recent development activities and buy-out negotiations,
management believes that it is more likely than not that the Company
6
will recover its net investment in the Milesburg Project. However, there can be
no assurance that the Milesburg Project will be successfully developed, that the
Company will receive a buy-out proposal, or that the Company will realize any
value from the Milesburg Project. See Item 7 - Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Certain Factors That
May Affect Future Results and Notes A, B, D and H to the Consolidated Financial
Statements for additional information regarding this project.
Competition
The Company generates electricity using alternative energy sources which
is sold on a wholesale basis to utilities under contracted rates established in
power purchase agreements. There are a large number of suppliers in the
wholesale market and a surplus of capacity which has led to intense competition
in this market. The principal sources of competition in this market include
traditional utilities who have excess capacity, energy brokers and traders,
contractors, equipment suppliers and other independent power producers who have
entered, or are attempting to enter the energy market. Competition in this
industry is substantially based on price with competitors discovering lower cost
alternatives to providing electricity. Presently, the Company does not believe
it will be significantly impacted by competition in the wholesale energy market
since its revenues are subject to contracted rates which are substantially fixed
for several years. However, the contracted rates in the later years of the
Scrubgrass and Milesburg power purchase agreements switch to rates which vary
more closely with existing market conditions. Should ensuing competition in the
later years of the Company's power purchase agreements create downward pressure
on wholesale energy rates, the Company's profitability could be impacted.
The Company also competes in the market to develop power generation
facilities. The primary bases of competition in this market are quality of
development plans, ability (including financial ability) of the developer to
complete the project and the price to be paid for the development opportunity.
In certain cases, competitive bidding for a development opportunity is required.
Competition for attractive development opportunities is expected to be intense
as there are a number of competitors in the industry interested in the limited
number of such opportunities. Many of the companies competing in this market
have substantially greater resources than the Company. The Company believes its
project development experience and its experience in creating strategic
alignments with other development firms with greater financial and technical
resources could enable it to continue to compete effectively in the development
market when opportunities arise. However, the Company believes it has limited
opportunities for additional project development in the United States for the
foreseeable future.
Regulation
The Company's projects are subject to regulation under federal and state
energy laws and regulations and federal, state and local environmental and
mining laws and regulations. The Company's facilities are either self-certified
as a qualifying facility under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of
1978 ("PURPA"), or formally certified as a qualifying facility by the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"). Pursuant to PURPA, FERC has promulgated
regulations which exempt certain qualifying facilities from the Federal Power
Act of 1920, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, and, except under
certain limited circumstances, state laws regulating the rates charged by
electric utilities. In order to qualify under PURPA, the Company's facilities
must meet certain size, fuel and ownership requirements and/or co-generate. In
addition to regulation of qualifying facilities, PURPA requires that electric
utilities purchase electric energy produced by qualifying facilities at
negotiated rates or at a price equal to the incremental or avoided cost that
would have been incurred by the utility if it were to generate the power itself
or purchase it from another source.
The Company's projects must also comply with applicable federal, state
and local laws relating to the protection of the environment, primarily in the
areas of water and air pollution. As regulations are enacted or adopted the
Company cannot predict the effect of compliance therewith on its business.
Failure to comply with all applicable requirements could result in required
modifications to facilities including the inability to operate during periods of
non-compliances. The Company is responsible for ensuring compliance of its
facilities with all applicable requirements and, accordingly, attempts to
minimize these risks by dealing with reputable contractors.
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The Company is not presently subject to regulation under the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935. The Company does not presently intend to
engage in any activities that would cause it to be so regulated.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has recently passed legislation which
significantly restructures the electric industry, primarily in the retail
market, beginning in 1997. Presently, none of this recently passed legislation
directly impacts the Company. However, the Company cannot predict whether its
operating or development activities will be indirectly impacted by any such
legislation in the future.
Employees
As of December 31, 1996 and at the time of making this filing, the
Company had four full-time employees. The loss of any of its executive officers
could have a material adverse effect on the Company. None of the Company's
employees is represented by a collective bargaining agreement. The Company
considers relations with its employees to be good.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
The Company, through a subsidiary, leases the Scrubgrass waste coal-
fired electric generating facility located on approximately 600 acres in Venango
County, Pennsylvania. The Company, through a subsidiary, owns the decommissioned
Milesburg oil-fired electric generating facility located on approximately 10
acres in Centre County, Pennsylvania. The Company, through a subsidiary, owns
approximately 80 acres in Fayette County, Pennsylvania for which it has
abandoned efforts to development electric generating facilities utilizing coal
mine-fire technology. (See "The Company's Projects" above under Item 1 for a
description of various property rights the Company has or is seeking with
respect to its present and proposed projects).
The Company is a tenant pursuant to a three-year lease, which commenced
in February 1996, at its headquarters in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for which the
current monthly payments are $1,400.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On May 3, 1996, B&W Sunnyside L.P., NRG Sunnyside Inc., NRG Energy Inc.,
and Sunnyside Cogeneration Associates (collectively the "Plaintiffs") filed a
complaint, which was amended on June 27, 1996, against the Company and three of
its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively in this Item 3 hereafter "the
Company") in Seventh District Court for Carbon County, State of Utah. The
amended complaint alleges that the Company breached the purchase and sale
agreement by which the Company transferred all of its interest in SCA, a joint
venture which owned and operated a nominal 51 megawatt waste coal fired facility
located in Carbon County, Utah. The amended complaint also alleges that the
Company made certain misrepresentations in connection with the purchase and sale
agreement. As a result of the alleged breaches of contract and
misrepresentations, the Plaintiffs allege that they suffered damages in an
unspecified amount that exceed the aggregate outstanding principal and interest
balances due to the Company by B&W Sunnyside L.P. and NRG Sunnyside, Inc. under
certain notes receivable, which amounted to $2,937,500 and $221,318,
respectively at December 31, 1996 (See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital
Resources"). In addition to alleging unspecified damages, the Plaintiffs also
request rescission of the purchase and sale agreement. On July 30, 1996, in
response to the Plaintiffs' amended complaint, the Company filed an answer and
counterclaim. In the answer to the amended complaint, the Company denied all
material allegations of the amended complaint and asserted numerous affirmative
defenses. In the counterclaim, the Company alleges numerous causes of action
against the Plaintiffs which include breach of contract, breach of the
promissory notes, intentional, malicious and willful breach of contract,
intentional tort, interference and misrepresentation. Through the counterclaim,
the Company seeks remedies which include: (1) compensatory, consequential and
punitive damages; (2) acceleration and immediate payment in full of the
promissory notes; and (3) injunctions which require the Plaintiffs to continue
making payments under the promissory notes during the pendency of this action
and until the promissory notes are paid in full and
8
which enjoin the Plaintiffs from continuing certain malicious and intentional
actions that are alleged in the counterclaim, together with interest, reasonable
attorney's fees, costs and other such relief as the court deems proper. On
August 30, 1996, the Plaintiffs filed a reply to the Company's counterclaim in
which they denied all material allegations of the counterclaim and asserted
numerous affirmative defenses. The Company plans to vigorously defend against
the amended complaint and vigorously pursue the causes of action stated in the
counterclaim. The matter is currently in the discovery stage.
The Company is involved in various additional lawsuits. However, other
than the aforementioned litigation involving the sale of the Company's interest
in SCA, the Company is not engaged in any other litigation which management
believes would, if resolved adversely to the Company, have a material impact on
the financial position or results of operations of the Company.
Item 4. SUBMISSIONS OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
The Common Stock of the Company (the "Common Stock") is traded over-the-
counter on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotation ("NASDAQ") Small-Cap Market under the symbol POWR. As of April 4, 1997
there were approximately 300 holders of record of the Common Stock. Insofar as
many of the shares are held in street name, the Company believes that the number
of beneficial holders is substantially higher.
The following table shows the quarterly high and low bid prices on the
over-the-counter market for 1995 and 1996 as reported in the NASDAQ Small-Cap
Market. Such bid prices reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, bid
down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
Year Period High Low
---- ------ ---- ---
1995 First Quarter 5/8 7/16
Second Quarter 9/16 1/4
Third Quarter 1/2 7/16
Fourth Quarter 7/16 5/32
1996 First Quarter 11/16 1/4
Second Quarter 1-5/16 5/8
Third Quarter 31/32 7/16
Fourth Quarter 1-3/16 7/16
In December 1995, the Company declared and paid a dividend of 8 cents
per share. Prior to that date, the Company's policy had been to retain earnings,
if any, for use in its business. Beginning during 1996, the Company initiated a
quarterly dividend policy which is subject to review and consideration by the
Board of Directors each quarter. In respect of this dividend policy, the Company
declared and paid quarterly dividends of 3 cents per share and a special year
end dividend of 2 cents per share resulting in aggregate dividends of 14 cents
per share during 1996. The payment of any future dividends will depend on the
Board of Directors' evaluation based on the Company's then current and projected
operating performance and capital requirements. See Item 7 - Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
9
During 1995, the Company acquired 498,100 shares of treasury stock
through open market purchases at an average price of $.19 per share. No open
market purchases were made during 1996 or 1994. For additional information with
respect to treasury shares acquired in private transactions, see Note K of Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In November 1996, NASDAQ proposed changes in the listing requirements
for the SmallCap Market. Under the existing rules, issuers with securities
trading below a $1 minimum bid price (such as the Company) may remain listed if
they meet an alternative test based on the market value of public float and
capital and surplus. The proposed changes would eliminate this alternative to
the $1 bid price requirement. If the proposed rules become effective, and the
bid price of the Company's stock remains below $1, the Company's Common Stock
would no longer be eligible for listing in the NASDAQ Small-Cap Market.
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected financial data for the five years ended December 31, 1996,
included on the following page, are derived from the audited consolidated
financial statements of the Company. The data should be read in conjunction with
the consolidated financial statements and other financial information included
elsewhere herein.
10
Year Ended December 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
--------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------
(000's omitted except per share data)
Results of Operations Data:
Power generation revenues $ 47,854 $ 40,693 $ 30,705 $ 1,571 $ ---
--------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------
Costs and expenses:
Operating expenses 18,190 16,975 16,123 1,088 ---
Lease expense 24,964 23,020 10,538 --- ---
General and administrative expenses 3,062 3,668 2,998 1,613 831
Depreciation and amortization 205 167 3,018 428 44
Litigation settlement --- --- --- --- 84
--------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------
46,421 43,830 32,677 3,129 959
--------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------
Operating income (loss) 1,433 (3,137) (1,972) (1,558) (959)
Other income (expense):
Other Income 484 1,285 5,311 1 1
Interest income 499 468 695 161 72
Interest expense (165) (107) (8,830) (1,376) (13)
Amortization of deferred gain 308 308 154 --- ---
Warranty income 900 --- --- --- ---
Realized gain on sale of marketable securities --- --- --- 1,678 ---
Gain on sale of affiliate/project --- --- 3,946 --- 44
Minority interest --- --- 1,866 --- ---
Equity in net loss of affiliate --- --- (84) --- ---
--------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------
2,026 1,954 3,058 464 104
--------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------
Income (loss) before income taxes 3,459 (1,183) 1,086 (1,094) (855)
Income tax (expense) benefit (1,894) 448 (416) 414 177
--------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------
Net income (loss) $ 1,565 $ (735) $ 670 $ (680) $ (678)
========= ========= ========= ========== ==========
Net income (loss) per share $ 0.14 $ (0.07) $ 0.06 $ (0.11) $ (0.12)
Dividends paid per share $ 0.14 $ 0.08 $ --- $ --- $ ---
Weighted average number of shares outstanding 11,322 10,649 11,321 8,592 7,586
Balance Sheet Data:
Total assets $ 52,503 $ 45,226 $ 35,962 $ 149,788 $ 301,285
Working capital (deficit) 3,847 3,224 1,212 7,201 (484)
Long-term obligations 34,337 24,405 11,533 130,360 104,425
Deferred gain (1) 6,014 6,322 6,631 6,785 ---
Deferred revenue (1) --- 3,065 2,826 --- ---
Liabilities and net proceeds of project transferred
under contractual arrangement --- --- --- --- 189,962
Shareholders' equity 2,680 2,797 4,443 3,303 5,443
___________
(1) See Notes A and B of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
Overview of the Company
The Company owns a 22 year leasehold interest in an approximately 83 Mw
(net) waste coal-fired electric generating facility (the "Scrubgrass Project")
located in Pennsylvania, the lease for which commenced on June 30, 1994. Until
December 31, 1994 the Company also held varying ownership interests (100% to
approximately 40%) in and oversaw the operation of an approximately 51 Mw (net)
waste coal-fired electric generating facility (the "Sunnyside Project") located
in Utah. The Company has one additional project (the "Milesburg Project") in the
development stage, but believes that it has limited opportunities for additional
similar project development in the United States for the foreseeable future. The
following Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
11
Condition and Results of Operations compares the Company's results of operations
for the years ending December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994. However, the following
factors should be considered when reading this information which make the
results of operations for each of these periods very different.
Sunnyside Operations - The Company owned varying majority interests from
100% to approximately 70% in the Sunnyside Project until September 28, 1994
and thereafter owned an approximate 40% interest until December 31, 1994
when the Company sold its remaining interest in the Sunnyside Project.
Accordingly, during the year ended December 31, 1994, the Company
consolidated the results of operations of its majority interests in the
Sunnyside Project until September 28, 1994 and reported its approximate 40%
interest in the Sunnyside Project during the period from September 28, 1994
to December 31, 1994 under the equity method. As a result of the sale of its
interest in the Sunnyside Project, the Company recorded a gain on the sale
of approximately $3.9 million and recognized other income for management
services and interest income aggregating approximately $5.3 million which is
included in other income in the Company's 1994 consolidated statement of
operations. The Company had previously earned these management fees and
interest income from services and loans provided to SCA but such amounts had
been either eliminated in consolidation or deferred prior to the sale.
Scrubgrass Operations - The Company commenced a 22 year lease of the
Scrubgrass Project on June 30, 1994. Accordingly, the Company's results of
operations include six months of operations of the Scrubgrass Project in
1994 and a full year of operations of the Scrubgrass Project for each of
1995 and 1996.
Cautionary Statement
This Annual Report on Form 10K contains "forward-looking statements", as
defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, in order to
provide investors with prospective information about the Company. For this
purpose, any statements which are not statements of historical fact may be
deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the
words "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "expects" and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. There are a number of important
factors which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from
those indicated by the forward looking statements. These factors include,
without limitation, those set forth below under the caption "Certain Factors
That May Affect Future Results".
Results of Operations
Year ended December 31, 1996 ("1996") compared with the year ended
December 31, 1995 ("1995")
Net income in 1996 amounted to $1,565,279 or 14 cents per share as
compared to a net loss of $734,611 or 7 cents per share in 1995. The overall
increase is primarily attributable to favorable operating performance of the
Scrubgrass Project, the recognition of certain revenues of $3,064,965 which were
previously deferred under the Scrubgrass power purchase agreement, the
settlement of a warranty issue related to the Scrubgrass Project for $900,000
and the settlement of a legal proceeding for approximately $340,000, net of
legal fees. In light of the Company's favorable earnings in 1996, the Company
paid dividends in 1996 of $1,549,250 or 14 cents per share as compared to
dividends paid in 1995 of $923,786 or 8 cents per share.
Power generation revenues in 1996 amounted to $47,853,639 as compared to
$40,693,465 in 1995. The overall increase in power generation revenues during
1996 is primarily attributable to the recognition of certain revenues of
$3,064,965 which were previously deferred under the Scrubgrass power purchase
agreement and an increase in the power generation and contracted rates billed to
the utility. The increase in power generation occurred primarily because the
plant operated at 90.6% of its capacity in 1996 as compared to 85.3% of its
capacity in 1995. The overall increase in power generation revenues was offset
in part by a reduction in the revenue recorded as a result of the straight-line
accounting treatment of certain revenues under the power purchase agreement
which amounted to $9,294,789 in 1996 as compared to $9,850,365 in 1995. All
power generation revenues earned by the Company in 1996 and 1995 related to the
Scrubgrass Project.
12
Operating expenses in 1996 amounted to $18,190,037 as compared to
$16,975,186 in 1995. The overall increase is primarily due to higher fuel costs
and operator fees because of the higher capacity rate in 1996 and the
recognition of maintenance expenses associated with the anticipated repair of
the Scrubgrass generator (See Note O to the consolidated financial statements
for a further discussion of the repair to the Scrubgrass generator). During
1996, due to maintenance modifications and additional operating experience, fuel
costs were only 27% of power generation revenues, as compared to 30% of power
generation revenues in 1995. Moreover, the operating expenses incurred during
the 1995 annual plant outage were significantly greater by comparison to those
incurred during the 1996 annual plant outage. For both of these reasons, the
increase in 1996 operating expenses was not as significant as the increase in
power generation revenues.
Lease expense in 1996 amounted to $24,963,407 as compared to $23,020,132
in 1995. The overall increase in lease expense during 1996 is primarily due to
an increase in equity rents paid to the lessor based on the favorable
performance of the Scrubgrass plant in 1996. The increase is partially offset by
a decrease in the lease expense recorded as a result of the straight-line
accounting treatment of lease expenses ($9,294,789 in 1996 as compared to
$9,850,365 in 1995) and the lowering of interest rates which occurred in 1996
and which reduced the lessor's loan costs that were passed through to the
Company in its facility lease expenses.
General and administrative expenses in 1996 amounted to $3,061,931 as
compared to $3,668,066 in 1995. The overall decrease in general and
administrative expenses during 1996 is primarily due to the Company's efforts to
reduce its corporate overhead expenses. The Company's major steps to reduce its
corporate overhead in 1996 included a consolidation of its Vermont and New
Hampshire offices into one office in New Hampshire, a reduction in its executive
officer compensation and a reduction in its employee headcount by an equivalent
of two full-time employees. However, during 1996, the Company continued to incur
substantial management and professional fees to negotiate certain contractual
matters and defend its position in certain legal matters. Accordingly, the full
effect of the Company's efforts to reduce corporate overhead expenses has not
yet been shown in its 1996 operating results.
Warranty income in 1996 amounted to $900,000 and resulted from a
settlement with an engineering and construction contractor for the Scrubgrass
plant which was received in March 1996. There was no warranty income in 1995.
Other income in 1996 consisted primarily of proceeds from a legal
settlement of $540,000 and Sunnyside Project sales tax refunds of approximately
$42,000 arising out of activities prior to the date of sale. Other income in
1995 consisted primarily of Sunnyside Project sales tax refunds of $1.1 million
arising out of activities prior to the date of sale and fee income related to
the Scrubgrass Project. The other income in 1996 and 1995 were both offset in
part by the provisions made for the continued decline in value of the Company's
preferred stock investment in Hamilton Technologies, Inc., a privately held
Massachusetts developer of computer aided software engineering (CASE) software.
Income tax expense in 1996 amounted to $1,894,035 as compared to an
income tax benefit of $447,984 in 1995. The income tax expense resulted
primarily from the Company's favorable earnings during 1996. Furthermore, in
1996, the Company's deferred state income tax expense includes a charge related
to state net operating loss carryforwards which have expired and a charge
related to a valuation allowance which was established because the Company
estimates that it may not realize all of the recorded tax benefits of its state
net operating loss carryforwards. The Company's effective tax rate on its 1996
earnings amounted to 54.8% as compared to an effective tax benefit rate of 37.9%
on its net loss in 1995. The increase in the 1996 effective tax rate is
primarily as a result of the additional charges to deferred state tax expense
and because the taxability of temporary differences reversing in 1996 occurred
in states with higher tax rates.
Year ended December 31, 1995 ("1995") compared with the year ended
December 31, 1994 ("1994")
Power generation revenues in 1995 amounted to $40,693,465 as compared to
$30,704,589 in 1994. In 1995, power generation revenues were all attributable to
the Scrubgrass Project. In 1994, the Company's power generation revenues were
attributable to operations of the Sunnyside Project until September 28, 1994
($12,522,288) and six months
13
of operations of the Scrubgrass Project ($18,182,301). The overall increase in
power generation revenues during 1995 is primarily attributable to a full year
of operations of the Scrubgrass Project and an increase in the power generation
and contracted rates billed to the utility for the Scrubgrass Project. The
increase in power generation occurred primarily because the Scrubgrass plant
operated at 85.3% of its capacity in 1995 as compared to 83.4% of its capacity
in 1994.
Operating expenses in 1995 were $16,975,186 and related to the operation
of the Scrubgrass Project for twelve months as compared to operating expenses of
$16,122,617 in 1994 which related to the operation of the Scrubgrass and
Sunnyside Projects for six and nine months, respectively. The overall increase
is primarily due to the change in the mix of operating activities between
projects during each period.
Lease expense in 1995 amounted to $23,020,132 as compared to $10,537,623
in 1994. Lease expense, which relates to the Scrubgrass Project, reflected an
increase in 1995 primarily due to a full year of operations of the Scrubgrass
Project.
General and administrative expenses in 1995 were $3,668,066 and include
the operation of the Scrubgrass Project for twelve months as compared to
operating expenses of $2,998,325 in 1994 which include the operation of the
Scrubgrass and Sunnyside Projects for six and nine months, respectively. The
overall increase is primarily due to the change in the mix of operating
activities between projects during each period.
Depreciation and amortization amounted to $167,333 in 1995 as compared to
$3,017,766 in 1994. The decrease is primarily attributable to the absence of
depreciation on the Sunnyside facility in 1995.
Other income in 1995 was $1,284,403 and consisted primarily of Sunnyside
Project sales tax refunds of $1.1 million arising out of activities prior to the
date of sale and fee income related to the Scrubgrass Project. Other income in
1994 was $5,311,213 and consisted primarily of the recognition of construction
management and interest income related to the Sunnyside Project when such
project was sold.
Interest income amounted to $468,626 in 1995 as compared to $695,142 in
1994. The decrease is primarily due to the absence of the earnings on investment
balances related to the Sunnyside Project.
Interest expense amounted to $106,783 in 1995 as compared to $8,829,893
in 1994. The decrease was primarily attributable to the absence of Sunnyside
Project debt obligations in 1995 since the Company's interest in the Sunnyside
Project was sold in 1994.
In 1994, the aggregate income from gain on sale of affiliate, minority
interest and equity in net loss of affiliate amounted to $5,726,799, which
related to the Sunnyside Project which was sold in December 1994.
1997 Outlook
During the fourth quarter of 1996, after learning about a generator failure
at an electric generating facility with an identical generator to the Scrubgrass
facility, the manufacturer asked the Company to perform certain tests to
determine the Scrubgrass generator's condition. Based on the results of these
tests, which became available during the first quarter of 1997, the Company
believes the Scrubgrass facility's generator exhibits certain conditions which
indicate that a similar failure might occur at some time in the future. In light
of these test results, the generator manufacturer has recommended that the
Company perform a complete rewind on the Scrubgrass facility's generator during
its 1997 annual plant outage which is scheduled to begin in April 1997. While
the extent of damage to the generator will not be known until the generator is
disassembled and inspected during the 1997 annual plant outage, based on the
generator test results, the generator manufacturer has advised the Company that
the complete rewind currently appears to be the best course of action to repair
the anticipated damage, and to ensure the operation of the generator on a long-
term basis. As a result of the recommended generator repair, the Company
currently estimates it would incur an additional expense of approximately
$660,000 to perform the rewind procedure, $564,000 of which was recorded in 1996
(See Note O to the consolidated financial statements), and would expect to lose
net revenues which average approximately $80,000 per day for each additional day
the facility is inoperative during the scheduled outage. Presently, the
manufacturer of the generator
14
has indicated that the rewind is expected to take no longer than 44 days, which
would necessitate that the Scrubgrass plant be shutdown for 35 days longer than
the original shutdown planned by the facility operator. The impact of the repair
and extended shutdown on the Company's operating results and/or cash flows could
be mitigated by a shortening of the repair period, recovery from the generator
manufacturer, proceeds from insurance coverage, and/or modifications to the
Scrubgrass Project's financing. However, there can be no assurance that any of
such mitigating factors will occur. See "Certain Factors That May Affect Future
Results" below.
Until the generator repair is completed, it is not possible to accurately
predict its effect on the Company's results of operations in 1997. However,
without giving effect to the negative impact of the generator repair on the
Company's 1997 operating results, the Company's management expects that the
Company would still be less profitable in 1997 as compared to 1996. In 1996, the
Company enjoyed the benefit of certain non-recurring revenues including the
recognition of $3,064,965 of revenues which were previously deferred under the
Scrubgrass power purchase agreement, the settlement of a warranty issue related
to the Scrubgrass Project for $900,000 and the settlement of a legal proceeding
for approximately $340,000, net of legal fees. In addition, the Company expects
to incur additional lease expense in 1997 of approximately $790,000 as a result
of a principal payment due on one of the Lessor's term loans. However, the
Company expects that the absence of the 1996 non-recurring revenues and the
impact of the additional 1997 lease expense would be partially offset by some
factors with a favorable impact on its results of operations in 1997. These
factors include an increase in certain power generation revenues resulting from
an approximate 5% increase in the contracted rates charged for energy produced
by the Scrubgrass Project, a reduction in lease expense from anticipated lower
equity rents and bank fees, and a reduction of general and administrative
expenses largely because approximately $800,000 of such expenses incurred in
1996 are not expected to recur in 1997. Furthermore, the Company expects that a
material portion of its 1997 expenses will continue to consist of non-cash
items, including deferred income taxes, maintenance reserves, and depreciation
and amortization. As such, although there can be no assurance that the Company
will continue to pay future dividends, the Company expects that its cash
generated from operations will continue to be greater than its operating
results, which would enhance the likelihood that cash resources would be
available for the payment of dividends.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
See Note B to the Consolidated Financial Statements for recently issued
accounting standards which are required to be adopted in 1997.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Operating Activities
Operating activities continue to be the Company's principal source of
liquidity with cash provided by operating activities amounting to $2,319,272 in
1996 as compared to $2,007,186 in 1995. During 1996, the Company primarily
generated cash from operating activities from the operating profits of the
Scrubgrass Project, from investment earnings, from the settlement of a warranty
issue related to the Scrubgrass Project for $900,000 and from the settlement of
a legal proceeding for approximately $340,000, net of legal fees. During 1995,
the Company's cash from operating activities primarily came from proceeds
received from the sale of Sunnyside Project, from investment earnings and from
the receipt of sales tax refunds related to the Sunnyside Project arising out of
activities prior to the date of the sale. The following changes in operating
assets and liabilities most notably impacted cash provided by operating
activities:
Receivable from utility - The Company's receivable from utility relates to
the Scrubgrass Project and amounted to $5,892,879 as of December 31, 1996
as compared to $6,536,506 as of December 31, 1995. The decrease is largely
attributable to a nonrecurring receivable amounting to $545,000 at December
31, 1995 which primarily pertained to the utility's payment of a portion of
the contracted rates for energy produced by the Scrubgrass plant in excess
of 80 Mw in any hour.
15
Deferred income tax asset - The Company's deferred income tax asset
amounted to $3,840,105 as of December 31, 1996 as compared to $5,543,229 as
of December 31, 1995. The decrease is largely attributable to the
utilization of net operating loss carryforwards and the reversal of the tax
benefits associated with deferred revenue which were both recorded for the
year ended December 31, 1996.
Other current liabilities- The Company's other current liabilities amounted
to $3,188,758 as of December 31, 1996 as compared to $2,298,686 at December
31, 1995. The increase is primarily due to additional borrowings from the
working capital loan to pay Scrubgrass expenses. The Company believes that
the balance of the working capital loan was lower than average as of
December 31, 1995 since the Company had just refinanced approximately $4
million of its current liabilities in December 1995. The increase was
offset in part by the repayment of the current portion of the Scrubgrass
note obligation in the amount of $300,000.
Deferred gain, net - The Company's deferred gain, net amounted to
$6,014,008 as of December 31, 1996 as compared to $6,322,419 as of December
31, 1995. The decline is due to the amortization of the deferred gain
related to the Scrubgrass Project, which is being amortized on a straight-
line basis over 22 years.
Deferred revenue - The Company's deferred revenue, which represents power
generation revenues of the Scrubgrass Project which were deferred pursuant
to conditions set forth in the power purchase agreement, amounted to $0 as
of December 31, 1996 as compared to $3,064,965 as of December 31, 1995. The
decrease is attributable to power generation revenues which were earned
during the year ended December 31, 1996.
Maintenance reserve - The Company's maintenance reserve, which relates to
the Scrubgrass Project, increased to $1,533,829 as of December 31, 1996
from $699,429 as of December 31, 1995 due to scheduled reserves provided
for the ongoing maintenance of the plant and an additional provision in
light of the anticipated repair to the generator.
Investing Activities
The Company utilized $343,070 and $174,460 for investing activities
during the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The Company's
investing activities are concentrated primarily in the following areas:
Notes receivable - The Company presently has notes receivable related to
the 1994 sale of the Sunnyside Project and related to fees earned in 1995
for the Scrubgrass Project. The Company collected $482,681 from notes
receivable related to the Scrubgrass Project in 1996 and collected $312,500
from notes receivable related to the Sunnyside Project in 1995. The notes
receivable related to the Sunnyside Project, with a principal balance of
$2,937,500 and accrued interest balance of $221,318 as of December 31,
1996, are the subject of a legal proceeding. See Certain Factors That May
Impact Future Results, Item 3 and Note N to the Company's consolidated
financial statements for further information.
Restricted cash - The Company is presently required to make scheduled
deposits to a major maintenance fund to ensure that funds are available in
the future for scheduled maintenance procedures. During 1996, scheduled
deposits and interest earned on the major maintenance fund aggregated
$614,561.
Property plant and equipment - The Company invested $257,059 in 1996 and
$66,449 in 1995 in property plant and equipment expenditures. The
expenditures primarily relate to development activities for the Company's
Milesburg Project for which development efforts increased in 1996.
16
Financing Activities
The Company utilized $1,809,500 and $1,177,431 in financing activities
during the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The Company's
financing activities are concentrated primarily in the following areas:
Dividends - The Company declared and paid its first dividend of 8 cents per
share in December 1995 which amounted to $923,786. Prior to that date, the
Company's policy had been to retain earnings, if any, for use in its
business. Beginning in 1996, the Company initiated a quarterly dividend
policy which is subject to review and consideration by the Board of
Directors each quarter. In respect of this dividend policy, the Company
declared and paid quarterly dividends of 3 cents per share and a special
year end dividend of 2 cents per share resulting in aggregate dividends of
$1,549,250 paid in 1996.
Treasury Stock - The Company from time to time makes purchases of its own
common stock. During 1996, the Company purchased 520,540 shares of common
stock from a resigning executive officer for $287,876 representing all of
the officer's holdings in the Company. The Company's note receivable from
the officer in the amount of $72,876 was collected by reducing the proceeds
paid to the officer for the common stock. The Company also paid $93,395 for
open market purchases made during 1995.
Notes payable - The Company presently has long-term obligations related to
its Milesburg Project and Scrubgrass Project in the amount of $5,858,767
and $2,487,813, respectively. The Company also had short-term installment
obligations related to its Sunnyside Project and Milesburg Project which
were fully satisfied by aggregate payments of $112,500 and $186,000 during
1996 and 1995, respectively. The Milesburg Project long-term obligations
are noninterest-bearing and payable only under certain conditions, the most
significant of which relates to the closing of construction financing and
commencement of construction for the Milesburg Project. The next
installment for the Scrubgrass Project long-term obligation is not due
until 1998.
1997 Outlook
During 1997, the Company expects that its principal sources of cash to fund
its business activities will be from available cash balances, investment
earnings and cash which may become available from the Scrubgrass Project. As
discussed in Note A to the consolidated financial statements, the Company is not
able to receive cash from the Scrubgrass Project until all operating expenses,
base lease payments (which include the Lessor's debt service), certain
maintenance reserve payments and other subordinated payments of the Scrubgrass
Project are first satisfied. Furthermore, as described in this Item under
Results of Operations - 1997 Outlook and in Note O to the consolidated financial
statements, the Company expects to make significant repairs to the generator of
the Scrubgrass Project during its 1997 annual plant outage. If the Company were
required to fund the proposed generator repairs and lost net revenues on an
immediate basis, the Company would expect to experience a significant cash
shortfall beginning shortly after the 1997 annual plant outage. However, based
on recent discussions with the Scrubgrass Project's lending institutions and
generator manufacturer, the Company currently expects that it may be able to
spread the financial impact of the generator repair over a period ranging from
four to six years through debt financing or through extended terms with the
generator manufacturer. Furthermore, in light of the favorable performance of
the Scrubgrass Project which is expected to resume once the necessary generator
repairs are made, the Company expects that the Scrubgrass Project will be
capable of supporting the increases in the debt service requirements proposed
under the generator repair financing scenarios without compromising any of its
existing debt covenants. As such, the Company expects that it will receive
sufficient cash from the Scrubgrass Project, which when combined with its
available cash balances and investment earnings, would be sufficient to sustain
it business activities on a long-term basis. However, there can be no assurance
that the financial impact of the generator repair can be spread over a number of
years or that the favorable performance of the Scrubgrass Project will continue.
See "Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results" below.
17
Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results
The following important factors, among others, could cause actual results
to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements made in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Ownership of Single Operating Asset
The Company owns a 22 year leasehold interest in the Scrubgrass Project,
an approximate 83 Mw (net) waste-coal fired electric generating facility located
in Pennsylvania, the lease for which commenced on June 30, 1994. Presently, all
the Company's operating revenues are attributable to power generation from the
Scrubgrass Project. Accordingly, the Company's operations are largely dependent
upon the successful and continued operation of the Scrubgrass Project. In
particular, if the Scrubgrass Project experiences unscheduled shutdowns of
significant duration, the Company's results of operations will be materially
adversely affected.
Dependence Upon Key Employees
The success of the Company is largely dependent upon a staff of four
employees, including three executive officers. The loss of any of these
employees could adversely effect the Company's operations.
Third Party Project Management
The Company has entered into a management services agreement with U.S.
Gen to manage the Scrubgrass Project and a 15-year operations and maintenance
agreement with US Operating Services to operate the facility. Under the terms of
these agreements, there are provisions which limit the Company's participation
in the management and operation of the Scrubgrass Project, and provisions which
provide for recourse against the manager and operator for unsatisfactory
performance. However, the Company does not exercise control over the operation
or management of the Scrubgrass Project. As such, decisions may be made
affecting the Scrubgrass Project, notwithstanding the Company's opposition,
which may have an adverse affect on the Company.
Scheduled and Unscheduled Shutdowns
The Scrubgrass Project from time to time experiences both scheduled and
unscheduled shutdowns. Periodically, the Scrubgrass Project incurs scheduled
shutdowns in order to perform maintenance procedures to equipment that cannot be
performed while the equipment is operating. Occasionally, the Scrubgrass
Project may also incur unscheduled shutdowns or may be required to operate at
reduced capacity levels following the detection of equipment malfunctions, or
following minimum generation orders received by the utility. During periods
when the Scrubgrass Project is shutdown or operating at reduced capacity levels,
the Company may incur losses due to the loss of its operating revenues and/or
due to additional costs which may be required to complete any maintenance
procedures. It is not possible for the Company to predict the frequency of
future unscheduled shutdowns or to predict the extent of maintenance which may
be required during shutdowns related to equipment maintenance. As previously
discussed in this Item 7, the Scrubgrass Plant is scheduled to shut down in
April 1997 for its annual plant outage. During this scheduled outage, the plant
operator will be performing significant repairs to the generator. The Company's
expected operating results could be affected if the duration of the outage or
the maintenance expenses incurred during the outage exceed the Company's
expectations.
Legal Proceedings
As discussed in Item 3 and Note N to the Company's consolidated financial
statements, the Company is involved in a legal proceeding with the purchasers of
the Company's interest in the Sunnyside Project which was sold in 1994. Pending
the resolution of the legal proceeding, the purchasers have withheld scheduled
payments of principal and interest due on the promissory notes since June 1996,
which amounted to $1,187,500 and $221,318, respectively as of December 31, 1996.
In addition, the Company recorded in 1994 a receivable related to a purchase
price adjustment, as provided for in the Purchase and Sale Agreement, of
approximately $1.1 million, of
18
which $708,000 was received in April 1995. The balance of purchase price
adjustment is also being disputed in the legal proceeding with the purchasers.
Although the Company's cash provided by operating activities has been sufficient
to fund the Company's investing and financing activities, the withholding of
scheduled principal and interest payments has adversely affected the Company's
cash flow. At this time, while management believes the Company's position in
this litigation is meritorious, the Company cannot predict whether it will
prevail in the litigation and to what extent it will incur professional fees to
defend its position in the litigation. An unfavorable resolution and/or
extensive professional fees to defend the litigation could adversely affect the
Company's results of operations.
Financial Results
To date the Company has incurred substantial losses, primarily due to its
development activities, which have resulted in an accumulated deficit of
$7,282,306 as of December 31, 1996. In addition, except during 1996 when the
Scrubgrass Project became profitable, the Company has incurred losses in recent
years. Financial results can be affected by numerous factors, including without
limitation general economic conditions, cyclic industry conditions, the amount
and rate of growth of expenses, transportation and quality of raw materials,
inflation, levels of energy rates, uncertainties relating to government and
regulatory policies, the legal environment and volatile and unpredictable
developments. The Company believes it is well positioned to handle such matters
as they may arise during the course of its future business activities. However,
there can be no assurance that the Company will be profitable in the future.
Development Uncertainties
The Company is currently pursuing efforts towards either the development
of the Milesburg Project or the negotiation of a buy-out of the Milesburg
Project's power purchase agreement with West Penn Power Company. However, there
can be no assurance that the Milesburg Project will be successfully developed,
that the Company will receive a buy-out proposal, or that the Company will
realize any value from the Milesburg Project. In the event the Company and its
joint development partner, U.S. Gen, seek to continue development efforts, there
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain all of the necessary
site agreements, fuel supply contracts, design/build agreements, power sales
contracts, licenses, environmental and other permits, local government approvals
or financing commitments required for the successful completion of this project.
To date, the Company's efforts to develop the Milesburg Project have been
proceeding on schedule. However, the failure to accomplish any of the
aforementioned steps could materially increase the cost or prevent the
successful completion of the Milesburg Project, or cause the Company to abandon
the Milesburg Project and incur the loss of its investment to date, which could
materially impact the Company's business and results of operations.
Project Financing
The Milesburg Project, if successfully developed, will require
substantial financing. Presently, the Company has discussed financing proposals
with certain financing sources and believes the Milesburg Project could be
financed. However, there can be no assurance that such financing can be
successfully arranged. Any such financing is likely to be collateralized by the
assets of the Milesburg Project, with repayment to be from the revenues
attributable to the Milesburg Project. The Company may also be required to
guarantee all or a portion of the project debt or may be required to give up
significant equity interests in the Milesburg Project in order to arrange the
financing.
Potential Liability, Damages and Insurance
The Company's power generation activities involve significant risks to
the Company for environmental damage, equipment damage and failures, personal
injury and fines and costs imposed by regulatory agencies. In the event a
liability claim is made against the Company, or if there is an extended outage
or equipment failure or damage at the Company's power plant for which it is
inadequately insured or subject to a coverage exclusion, and
19
the Company is unable to defend such claim successfully or obtain
indemnification or warranty recoveries, there may be a material adverse effect
on the Company.
Circulating Fluidized Bed Technology
The Company's Scrubgrass Project employs circulating fluidized bed
technology to produce electricity. Certain aspects of this technology, as well
as the conversion of waste products into electricity, are relatively new areas
being explored by the alternative energy market in the last ten years.
Accordingly, this technology carries greater risk than more established methods
of power generation such as hydropower. As such, the long-term costs and
implications of maintaining this technology have not been established by
historical industry data.
Customer Concentration
The Company's power generation revenues are earned under a long-term
power purchase agreement with one customer, Pennsylvania Electric Company. The
Company expects that the concentration of its revenues with this customer will
continue for the foreseeable future. Although, the Company's Milesburg Project
is in the development stage and presents an opportunity in the future for the
Company to expand its revenue sources and lessen its revenue concentration.
However, there can be no assurance that the Milesburg Project will be
successfully developed.
Interest Rates
The Company's subsidiary, as a lease cost of the Scrubgrass facility, is
required to fund the Lessor's debt service which primarily consists of $135.6
million of variable rate tax-exempt bonds maturing in 2012, a $20.8 million term
loan maturing in 2005, a $9.5 million variable rate term loan maturing in 2004
and $1.3 million in remaining junior subordinated debt obligations which mature
through 2004. The Company's subsidiary is also required to fund a variable rate
working capital loan and a $2.5 million variable rate term loan maturing in
2004. The Lessor entered into interest rate swaps which had the effect of
fixing the interest rate on the tax-exempt bonds until May 18, 1996 at
approximately 3.72% and fixing the interest rate over the life of the $20.8
million term loan at 6.42%. After May 18, 1996, the Company's specified base
rent was incurred based on floating rates on the Lessor's tax-exempt bonds. As
such, except for the Lessor's $20.8 million term loan and $1.3 million remaining
junior subordinated debt obligations, the Company will be required to fund debt
service consisting of rates which will vary with market conditions. Presently,
the Company is not able to predict how future interest rates will affect its
lease expense or debt service. Should market interest rates rise significantly,
the Company's operating results may be significantly impacted. Notwithstanding,
the Company believes the Lessor has good relationships with the project lenders
who would continue to support lending terms which would not have a material
adverse affect on the operating results of the Scrubgrass Project. However,
there can be no assurance that the Lessor could renegotiate its credit
facilities under terms which would ensure continuing profitable operating
results of the Scrubgrass Project.
Fuel Quality
The Company obtains coal tailings primarily from coal mining companies on
a long-term basis because coal tailings are plentiful and generally create
environmental hazards, such as acid drainage, when not disposed of properly. The
coal tailings are burned in the Scrubgrass facility using a circulating
fluidized bed combustion system. During the circulating fluidized bed combustion
process, the coal tailings are treated with other substances such as limestone
to facilitate the breakdown of the coal tailings and the resulting power
generation process. Depending on the quality of the coal tailings, the facility
operator may need to add additional coal tailings or other substances to create
the appropriate consistency of fuel for maximum power generation. Therefore, the
cost of generating power is directly impacted by the quality of the coal
tailings which supply the Scrubgrass power generation facility. The facility
operator maintains certain controls over obtaining higher quality coal tailings.
However certain conditions, such as poor weather, can create situations where
the facility operator has less control
20
over the quality of the coal tailings. The Company cannot predict the extent to
which poor fuel quality may impact its future operating results.
Competition
The Company generates electricity using alternative energy sources which
is sold on a wholesale basis to utilities under contracted rates established in
power purchase agreements. There are a large number of suppliers in the
wholesale market and a surplus of capacity which has led to intense competition
in this market. The principal sources of competition in this market include
traditional utilities who have excess capacity, energy traders and brokers,
contractors, equipment suppliers and other independent power producers who have
entered, or are attempting to enter the energy market. Competition in this
industry is substantially based on price with competitors discovering lower cost
alternatives to providing electricity. Presently, the Company does not believe
it will be significantly impacted by competition in the wholesale energy market
since its revenues are subject to contracted rates which are substantially fixed
for several years. However, the contracted rates in the later years of the
Scrubgrass Project and Milesburg Project power purchase agreements switch to
rates which vary more closely with existing market conditions. Should ensuing
competition in the later years of the Company's power purchase agreements create
downward pressure on wholesale energy rates, the Company's profitability could
be impacted.
The Company also competes in the market to develop power generation
facilities. The primary bases of competition in this market are quality of
development plans, ability (including financial ability) of the developer to
complete the project and the price to be paid for the development opportunity.
In certain cases, competitive bidding for a development opportunity is required.
Competition for attractive development opportunities is expected to be intense
as there are a number of competitors in the industry interested in the limited
number of such opportunities. Many of the companies competing in this market
have substantially greater resources than the Company. The Company believes its
project development experience and its experience in creating strategic
alignments with other development firms with greater financial and technical
resources could enable it to continue to compete effectively in the development
market as development opportunities arise. However, the Company believes it has
limited opportunities for additional project development in the United States
for the foreseeable future.
Regulation
The Company's projects benefit from regulation under federal and state
energy laws and regulations which require electric utilities to purchase energy
produced by qualifying facilities. The Company also benefits from and must
comply with certain regulations enacted pursuant to the Public Utility
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ("PURPA") exempting certain qualifying
facilities from certain provisions of the Federal Power Act of 1920, the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, and, except under certain limited
circumstances, state laws regulating the wholesale rates charged by electric
utilities. The Company cannot predict the affect on its business if these laws
or regulations are amended or repealed.
The Company's projects must also comply with applicable federal, state
and local laws relating to the protection of the environment, primarily in the
areas of water and air pollution. As regulations are enacted or adopted the
Company cannot predict the effect of compliance therewith on its business.
Failure to comply with all applicable requirements could result in required
modifications to facilities including the inability to operate during periods of
non-compliances. The Company is responsible to ensure compliance of its
facilities with all applicable requirements and, accordingly, attempts to
minimize these risks by dealing with reputable contractors.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has recently passed legislation which
significantly restructures the electric industry, primarily in the retail
market, beginning in 1997. Presently, none of this recently passed legislation
directly impacts the Company. However, the Company cannot predict whether its
operating or development activities will be indirectly impacted by any such
legislation in the future.
21
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The financial statements listed in the following Index to Financial
Statements are filed as a part of this annual report under Item 14 - Exhibits,
Index to Financial Statements, and Reports on Form 8-K.
Index to Financial Statements
Page
----
ENVIRONMENTAL POWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Independent Auditor's Report F-1
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996 and 1995 F-2
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 F-3
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 1996,
1995 and 1994 F-4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 F-5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-6
Item 9. DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
N/A
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Information with respect to the directors of the Company may be found in
the section captioned "Occupations of Directors" appearing in the definitive
Proxy Statement to be delivered to shareholders in connection with the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held on June 30, 1997. Such information is
incorporated herein by reference.
The executive officers of the Company are as follows:
Name Age Position
---- --- --------
Joseph E. Cresci 54 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Donald A. Livingston 54 President and Chief Operating Officer
William D. Linehan 31 Treasurer, Secretary and Chief Financial Officer
Officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors and serve at the
discretion of the Board.
Joseph E. Cresci, a founder of the Company, has served as Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer since the Company's inception in 1982, as Treasurer of
the Company from its inception until September 1987 and as President from
inception until September 1991. From 1976 to 1982, Mr. Cresci was President and
Chief Executive
22
Officer of G.E. Stimpson Co., Inc. and Stimpson Systems, Inc., a distributor of
office and printing products. From 1972 to 1975, Mr. Cresci was President of
Ogden Recreation, Inc., a subsidiary of Ogden Corp. (NYSE) where he was
responsible for the operation of racing facilities, a hotel/resort, a parking
company and a promotions company providing services to large crowd facilities.
Mr. Cresci was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Garden
State Racing Association from 1969 to 1972. From 1967 to 1969, he was an
associate lawyer with the Philadelphia law firm of Townsend, Elliott and Munson.
Mr. Cresci holds a B.A. degree from Princeton University and a law degree from
Cornell Law School and is a member of the Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Bar
Associations.
Donald A. Livingston, a founder of the Company, has served as President
and Chief Operating Officer since September 1991, and as Executive Vice
President from the Company's inception until September 1991. From 1974 to 1982,
Mr. Livingston was President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Mountain
Outfitters, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of large plastic parts. During
the three previous years, he was a partner in the financial services firm of
Capital Resources, Inc., where he was involved in obtaining debt and equity
funds, and negotiating mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Livingston was a registered
representative in the retail stock brokerage business with Baxter, Blyden and
Selheimer from 1967 to 1971 and Bellamah, Neuhauser & Barrett from 1965 to 1967.
William D. Linehan has served as Treasurer, Secretary and Chief Financial
Officer of the Company since March 29, 1996. Prior to his employment with the
Company, Mr. Linehan was most recently employed since 1993 as manager in the
audit and consulting practice of Moody, Cavanaugh and Company, where he
specialized in providing audit, tax advisory and business consulting services to
closely-held corporations. From 1991 to 1993, Mr. Linehan was the Controller of
Technology Procurement, Inc. and later the Secretary and Treasurer of Computer
Finance and Rental, Inc., a corporation formed in 1993 after a corporate
reorganization of Technology Procurement, Inc., where he was responsible for
managing the accounting and financial activities of these corporations, which
both were distributors and lessors of computer equipment and related peripheral
products. From 1987 to 1991, Mr. Linehan was employed in the middle market
audit and consulting practice of KPMG Peat Marwick, where he advanced to the
position of supervisor and specialized in providing audit and management
advisory services to publicly-traded and privately-held growth companies. Mr.
Linehan, who received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy from Bentley
College in 1987, is a Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants.
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information with respect to this item may be found in the section
captioned "Compensation and Other Information Concerning Directors and Officers"
appearing in the definitive Proxy Statement to be delivered to shareholders in
connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on June 30, 1997.
Such information is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Information with respect to this item may be found in the sections
captioned "Principal Holders of Voting Securities" and "Election of Directors"
appearing in the definitive Proxy Statement to be delivered to shareholders in
connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held June 30, 1997.
Such information is incorporated herein by reference.
23
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Information with respect to this item may be found in the section
captioned "Compensation and Other Information Concerning Directors and Officers"
appearing in the definitive Proxy Statement to be delivered to shareholders in
connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held June 30, 1997.
Such information is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
Item 14. EXHIBITS, INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
The following documents are filed as part of this annual report:
(a)1. Consolidated Financial Statements
ENVIRONMENTAL POWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Page
----
Independent Auditor's Report F-1
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996 and 1995 F-2
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 F-3
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 1996,
1995 and 1994 F-4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 F-5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-6
(a)2. Financial Statement Schedules
The Company is not required to file any financial statement schedules
which are outlined in Article 5 of the Securities and Exchange Commission
regulations.
(a)3. Exhibits
The following Exhibits are included in this report:
Exhibit Incorporation
Number Description Reference
------ ----------- ---------
3.01 Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. A
4.02 Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended. AB
10.01 Joint Development Agreement among Milesburg Energy, Inc., U.S. Gen and AE
Environmental Power Corporation dated July 30, 1996 (a written request for
confidential treatment of certain proprietary information in this agreement has
been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission)
10.03 Cash Bonus Plan A
24
10.12 Stock Purchase Agreement for 20,000 shares of common stock of Milesburg
Energy, Inc., between Environmental Power Corporation and Neil W.
Hedrick, Richard Mase and Sylvia B. Mase, dated April 30, 1987.
10.13 Non-resource Secured Note of Environmental Power Corporation to Neil W.
Hedrick, Richard Mase and Sylvia B. Mase for $220,000, dated April 30,
1987.
10.14 Non-resource Secured Note of Environmental Power Corporation to Neil W.
Hedrick, Richard Mase and Sylvia B. Mase for $4,900,000, dated April 30,
1987.
10.15 Note of Milesburg Energy, Inc., to Antrim Mining, Inc., for $41,000,
dated April 30, 1987.
10.16 Note of Milesburg Energy, Inc., to Richard Mase and Sylvia B. Mase for
$139,000, dated April 30, 1987.
10.17 Electric Energy Purchase Agreement between West Penn Power Company and
Milesburg Energy, dated February 25, 1987.
10.18 Agreement for the Sale of Electric Energy from the Scrubgrass Generating
Plant by and between Pennsylvania Electric Company and Scrubgrass Power
Corporation dated August 7, 1987 which was assigned by Scrubgrass Power
Corporation to Scrubgrass Generating Company, L.P. on December 15, 1990
and assigned by Scrubgrass Generating Company, L.P. to Buzzard Power
Corporation on June 17, 1994.
10.19 Supplemental Agreement for the Sale of Electric Energy from the
Scrubgrass Generating Plant by and between Pennsylvania Electric Company
and Scrubgrass Power Corporation dated February 22, 1989, as amended by
letter agreement dated March 28, 1989, which was assigned by Scrubgrass
Power Corporation to Scrubgrass Generating Company, L.P. on December 15,
1990 and assigned by Scrubgrass Generating Company, L.P. to Buzzard
Power Corporation on June 17, 1994.
10.20 Second Supplemental Agreement for the Sale of Electric Energy from the
Scrubgrass Generating Plant by and between Pennsylvania Electric Company
and Scrubgrass Power Corporation dated September 27, 1989 which was
assigned by Scrubgrass Power Corporation to Scrubgrass Generating
Company, L.P. on December 15, 1990 and assigned by Scrubgrass Generating
Company, L.P. to Buzzard Power Corporation on June 17, 1994.
10.21 Third Supplemental Agreement for the Sale of Electric Energy from the
Scrubgrass Generating Plant by and between Pennsylvania Electric Company
and Scrubgrass Power Corporation dated August 13, 1990 which was
assigned by Scrubgrass Power Corporation to Scrubgrass Generating
Company, L.P. on December 15, 1990 and assigned by Scrubgrass Generating
Company, L.P. to Buzzard Power Corporation on June 17, 1994.
10.22 Amendment to the Third Supplemental Agreement for the Sale of Electric
Energy from the Scrubgrass Generating Plant by and between Pennsylvania
Electric Company and Scrubgrass Power Corporation dated November 27,
1990 which was assigned by Scrubgrass Power Corporation to Scrubgrass
Generating Company, L.P. on December 15, 1990 and assigned by Scrubgrass
Generating Company, L.P. to Buzzard Power Corporation on June 17, 1994.
25
10.23 Letter Agreement dated December 20, 1990 amending the Agreement for the
Sale of Electric Energy from the Scrubgrass Generating Plant by and
between Pennsylvania Electric Company and Scrubgrass Power Corporation
dated August 7, 1987, as amended and supplemented from time to time
through November 27, 1990, which was assigned by Scrubgrass Power
Corporation to Scrubgrass Generating Company, L.P. on December 15, 1990
and assigned by Scrubgrass Generating Company, L.P. to Buzzard Power
Corporation on June 17, 1994.
10.57 1990 Stock Plan with forms of Incentive Stock Option Agreement and Non-
Qualified Stock Option Agreement.
10.60 Management Services Agreement by and between Scrubgrass Generating
Company, L.P. and PG&E-Bechtel Generating Company dated December 15,
1990 which was assigned by Scrubgrass Generating Company, L.P. to
Buzzard Power Corporation on June 17, 1994. PG&E-Bechtel Generating
Company has assigned its rights to this agreement ultimately to U.S.
Gen. Exhibit A to this agreement was omitted because it was previously
filed as Exhibit 10.67.
10.61 Agreement for Operation and Maintenance of the Scrubgrass Cogeneration
Plant between Scrubgrass Generating Company, L.P. and Bechtel Power
Corporation dated December 21, 1990 which was assigned by Scrubgrass
Generating Company, L.P. to Buzzard Power Corporation on June 17, 1994.
Bechtel Power Corporation has assigned its rights to this agreement
ultimately to U.S. Operating Services Company.
10.62 First Amendment to the Agreement for Operation and Maintenance of the
Scrubgrass Cogeneration Plant between Buzzard Power Corporation and U.S.
Operating Services Company dated December 22, 1995.
10.67 Appendix I to the Amended and Restated Participation Agreement, dated as AD
of December 22, 1995, among Buzzard Power Corporation, Scrubgrass
Generating Company, L.P., Environmental Power Corporation, Bankers Trust
Company and Credit Lyonnais, which Appendix defines terms used and not
otherwise defined in other contracts.
10.69 Transfer Agreement, dated as of December 19, 1991, between Environmental V
Power Corporation and Scrubgrass Generating Company, L.P.
10.70 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated December 19, 1991, between Environmental V
Power Corporation and Scrubgrass Generating Company, L.P
10.71 Amended and Restated Participation Agreement, dated as of December 22, AD
1995, among Buzzard Power Corporation, Scrubgrass Generating Company,
L.P., Environmental Power Corporation, Bankers Trust Company and Credit
Lyonnais.
10.73 Director Option Plan. AB
10.80 Amended and Restated Lease Agreement between Scrubgrass Generating
Company, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, as Lessor, and Buzzard
Power Corporation, a Delaware corporation, as Lessee, dated as of
December 22, 1995. Schedules and similar attachments listed in the Lease
have been omitted and the Company agrees to furnish supplementally a
copy of any omitted schedule or attachment to the Securities and
Exchange Commission upon request.
26
10.81 Purchase and Sale Agreement by and among NRG Sunnyside Inc. and B&W AC
Sunnyside L.P. and Kaiser Systems, Inc., Kaiser Power of Sunnyside,
Inc., Sunnyside Power Corporation and Environmental Power Corporation,
dated December 31, 1994. Schedules and similar attachments of the
Purchase and Sale Agreement have been omitted; the Company agrees to
furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the Securities
and Exchange Commission upon request.
10.82 Lease between Meadow Holdings Corporation and Environmental Power
Corporation, dated February 20, 1996.
10.83 Amended and Restated Disbursement and Security Agreement between
Scrubgrass Generating Company, L.P., as Lessor, Buzzard Power
Corporation, as Lessee, Bankers Trust Company as Disbursement Agent and
Credit Lyonnais acting through its New York Branch as Agent, dated as of
December 22, 1995. Schedules and similar attachments listed in this
agreement have been omitted and the Company agrees to furnish
supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or attachment to the
Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
10.84 Amended and Restated Lessee Working Capital Loan Agreement between
Scrubgrass Generating Company, L.P., as Lender, and Buzzard Power
Corporation, as Lessee, dated as of December 22, 1995.
11 Computation of Earnings per Share
21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
99.01 Order of Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in connection with
Milesburg Energy, Inc., adopted September 21, 1989.
Incorporation References
A Previously filed as part of Registration Statement No. 33-9808 (the
"Registration Statement"), filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on October 28, 1986.
V Previously filed as part of the Company's Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1991.
AB Previously filed as part of the Company's Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1993.
AC Previously filed as part of the Company's Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1994.
AD Previously filed as part of the Company's Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1995.
AE Previously filed as part of the Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the
period ended September 30, 1996.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
Not Applicable.
27
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: ENVIRONMENTAL POWER CORPORATION
April 14, 1997 By /s/ Joseph E. Cresci
-------------------------------
Joseph E. Cresci, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of registrant
and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
/s/ Joseph E. Cresci Chairman, Chief April 14, 1997
- -------------------------- Executive Officer,
Joseph E. Cresci & Director (Principal
Executive Officer)
/s/ Donald A. Livingston President & Chief April 14, 1997
- -------------------------- Operating Officer
Donald A. Livingston
/s/ William D. Linehan Treasurer, Chief April 14, 1997
- -------------------------- Financial Officer
William D. Linehan & Secretary (Principal
Financial Officer)
/s/ Peter J. Blampied Director April 14, 1997
- --------------------------
Peter J. Blampied
/s/ Edward E. Koehler Director April 14, 1997
- --------------------------
Edward E. Koehler
/s/ Robert I. Weisberg Director April 14, 1997
- --------------------------
Robert I. Weisberg
28
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Environmental Power Corporation
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Environmental
Power Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995 and the
related statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996. These consolidated
financial statements are the responsibility of the Corporation's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements
based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are
free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the consolidated financial position of Environmental Power
Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results
of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the
period ended December 31, 1996 in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
March 19, 1997
F-1
ENVIRONMENTAL POWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31
-----------------------------------------
1996 1995
----------------- -----------------
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents (Note B) $ 1,178,524 $ 1,011,822
Restricted cash (Note B) 1,864,899 1,250,338
Receivable from utility 5,892,879 6,536,506
Notes receivable (Note A) 2,973,629 1,673,091
Receivable from sale of affiliate (Note A) 276,444 276,444
Other current assets (Note C) 1,132,791 1,008,540
----------------- -----------------
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 13,319,166 11,756,741
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET (Notes A, B, D and I) 7,312,299 7,075,907
DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSET (Notes B and J) 3,840,105 5,543,229
LEASE RIGHTS, NET (Notes A and B) 2,906,523 3,055,526
NOTES RECEIVABLE (Note A) 85,190 1,868,409
ACCRUED POWER GENERATION REVENUE (Note B) 24,456,478 15,161,689
OTHER ASSETS (Notes A and E) 583,383 764,923
----------------- -----------------
$ 52,503,144 $ 45,226,424
================= =================
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (Note F) $ 6,283,775 $ 6,338,160
Other current liabilities (Note G) 3,188,758 2,298,686
----------------- -----------------
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 9,472,533 8,636,846
DEFERRED GAIN, NET (Note B) 6,014,008 6,322,419
SECURED PROMISSORY NOTES PAYABLE
AND OTHER BORROWINGS (Notes A and H) 8,346,580 8,543,767
ACCRUED LEASE EXPENSE (Note B) 24,456,478 15,161,689
DEFERRED REVENUE (Notes A and B) -- 3,064,965
MAINTENANCE RESERVE (Note B) 1,533,829 699,429
----------------- -----------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES 49,823,428 42,429,115
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Note K)
Preferred Stock ($.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares
issued at December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively) -- --
Common Stock ($.01 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized;
12,195,423 shares and 12,145,423 shares issued at
December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively;
11,076,783 shares and 11,547,323 shares outstanding at
December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively) 121,954 121,454
Additional paid-in capital 11,057,495 12,592,808
Accumulated deficit (7,282,306) (8,847,585)
----------------- -----------------
3,897,143 3,866,677
Treasury stock (1,118,640 and 598,100 common shares, at cost, as of
December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively) (456,271) (168,395)
Notes receivable from officers (761,156) (834,032)
Unearned compensation -- (66,941)
----------------- -----------------
2,679,716 2,797,309
----------------- -----------------
$ 52,503,144 $ 45,226,424
================= =================
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-2
ENVIRONMENTAL POWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended December 31
-------------------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994
----------------- ------------------ ------------------
POWER GENERATION REVENUES $ 47,853,639 $ 40,693,465 $ 30,704,589
----------------- ------------------ ------------------
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Operating expenses 18,190,037 16,975,186 16,122,617
Lease expense (Notes A, B and L) 24,963,407 23,020,132 10,537,623
General and administrative expenses 3,061,931 3,668,066 2,998,325
Depreciation and amortization 205,341 167,333 3,017,766
----------------- ------------------ ------------------
46,420,716 43,830,717 32,676,331
----------------- ------------------ ------------------
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) 1,432,923 (3,137,252) (1,971,742)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Other income (Note A) 484,295 1,284,403 5,311,213
Interest income 498,975 468,626 695,142
Interest expense (Note I) (165,290) (106,783) (8,829,893)
Amortization of deferred gain (Note B) 308,411 308,411 154,205
Warranty income (Note A) 900,000 -- --
Gain on sale of affiliate/project (Note A) -- -- 3,945,494
Minority interest (Note A) -- -- 1,866,017
Equity in net loss of affiliate -- -- (84,712)
----------------- ------------------ ------------------
2,026,391 1,954,657 3,057,466
----------------- ------------------ ------------------
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES 3,459,314 (1,182,595) 1,085,724
INCOME TAX (EXPENSE) BENEFIT (Notes B and J) (1,894,035) 447,984 (415,894)
----------------- ------------------ ------------------
NET INCOME (LOSS) $ 1,565,279 $ (734,611) $ 669,830
================= ================== ==================
PRIMARY AND FULLY DILUTIVE EARNINGS (LOSS) PER
COMMON SHARE (Note B) $ 0.14 $ (0.07) $ 0.06
================= ================== ==================
DIVIDENDS PAID $ 1,549,250 $ 923,786 $ --
================= ================== ==================
DIVIDENDS PAID PER COMMON SHARE $ 0.14 $ 0.08 $ --
================= ================== ==================
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-3
ENVIRONMENTAL POWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred Common Unrealized
Stock Stock Additional Loss on
($.01 Par ($.01 Par Paid-in Marketable Unearned
Value) Value) Capital Securities Compensation
----------- ------------ -------------- ----------------- ----------------
BALANCE AT JANUARY 1, 1994 $ 187 $ 106,822 $ 13,963,993 $ (390,325) $ (227,621)
Net income
Unrealized loss related to affiliate
sold 390,325
Amortization of unearned
compensation (Note K) 80,340
----------- ------------ -------------- ----------------- ----------------
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 1994 187 106,822 13,963,993 0 (147,281)
Net loss
Preferred stock retired (187) (890,673)
Exercise of options 14,632 443,274
Purchase of common shares
Amortization of unearned
compensation (Note K) 80,340
Dividends paid (Note K) (923,786)
----------- ------------ -------------- ----------------- ----------------
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 1995 0 121,454 12,592,808 0 (66,941)
Net income
Exercise of options 500 13,937
Purchase of common shares
Amortization of unearned
compensation (Note K) 66,941
Dividends paid (Note K) (1,549,250)
----------- ------------ -------------- ----------------- ----------------
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 1996 $ 0 $ 121,954 $ 11,057,495 $ 0 $ 0
=========== ============ ============== ================= ================
Notes
Receivable
Accumulated Treasury From
Deficit Stock Officers
-------------- ------------- ---------------
BALANCE AT JANUARY 1, 1994 $ (8,782,804) $ (965,860) $ (401,876)
Net income 669,830
Unrealized loss related to affiliate
sold
Amortization of unearned
compensation (Note K)
-------------- ------------- ---------------
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 1994 (8,112,974) (965,860) (401,876)
Net loss (734,611)
Preferred stock retired 890,860
Exercise of options (432,156)
Purchase of common shares (93,395)
Amortization of unearned
compensation (Note K)
Dividends paid (Note K)
-------------- ------------- ---------------
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 1995 (8,847,585) (168,395) (834,032)
Net income 1,565,279
Exercise of options
Purchase of common shares (287,876) 72,876
Amortization of unearned
compensation (Note K)
Dividends paid (Note K)
-------------- ------------- ---------------
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 1996 $ (7,282,306) $ (456,271) $ (761,156)
============== ============= ===============
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4
ENVIRONMENTAL POWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Year Ended December 31
-------------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994
-------------- -------------- --------------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss) $ 1,565,279 $ (734,611) $ 669,830
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net
cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 205,341 167,333 3,017,766
Deferred income taxes 1,703,124 (547,984) 415,894
Amortization of deferred gain (308,411) (308,411) (154,205)
Amortization of unearned compensation 66,941 80,340 80,340
Accrued power generation revenue (9,294,789) (9,850,365) (5,311,324)
Accrued lease expense 9,294,789 9,850,365 5,311,324
Other expense (income) 100,000 (77,982) (5,460,367)
Minority interest --- --- (1,866,017)
Gain on sale of interest in affiliate --- --- (3,945,494)
Equity in net loss of affiliate --- --- 84,712
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in receivable from utility 643,627 (1,166,408) (4,393,710)
Decrease (increase) in receivable from sale of affiliate --- 3,576,956 (3,853,400)
Increase in notes receivable --- --- (701,272)
(Increase) decrease in other current assets (124,251) 713,763 (2,074,902)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and
accrued expenses (54,385) 803,436 1,821,548
(Decrease) increase in deferred revenue (3,064,965) 238,993 2,825,972
Increase (decrease) in other current liabilities 752,572 (1,187,668) 1,798,035
Increase in maintenance reserve 834,400 449,429 250,000
-------------- -------------- --------------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 2,319,272 2,007,186 (11,485,270)
-------------- -------------- --------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from the collection of notes receivable 482,681 312,500 ---
Increase in restricted cash (614,561) --- ---
Decrease (increase) in other assets 45,869 (420,511) 1,000,078
Property, plant and equipment expenditures (257,059) (66,449) (165,741)
Reduction in cash as a result of conversion to equity method
of accounting for investment in affiliate --- --- (5,872,438)
Conversion to equity method of accounting for investment in
affiliate --- --- 3,496,675
Lease rights expenditures --- --- 415,974
-------------- -------------- --------------
Net cash used in investing activities (343,070) (174,460) (1,125,452)
-------------- -------------- --------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Dividend payments (1,549,250) (923,786) ---
Repayment of secured promissory notes payable and
other borrowings (112,500) (186,000) (327,500)
Purchase of treasury stock (287,876) (93,395) ---
Proceeds from the collection of notes receivable from officers 72,876 --- ---
Proceeds from other borrowings 52,813 --- ---
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock 14,437 25,750 ---
Proceeds from tax exempt borrowings and equity bridge loans --- --- 4,229,336
-------------- -------------- --------------
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (1,809,500) (1,177,431) 3,901,836
-------------- -------------- --------------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 166,702 655,295 (8,708,886)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD 1,011,822 356,527 9,065,413
-------------- -------------- --------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $ 1,178,524 $ 1,011,822 $ 356,527
============== ============== ==============
See Note B for supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing
activities.
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
NOTE A--BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATION
Business: Environmental Power Corporation (individually "EPC" or
consolidated "the Company") owns a 22 year leasehold interest in an
approximately 83 Mw (net) waste coal-fired electric generating facility (the
"Scrubgrass Project") located in Pennsylvania, the lease for which commenced on
June 30, 1994. Until December 31, 1994 the Company had varying ownership
interests (100% to approximately 40%) in, and oversaw the operation of, an
approximately 51 Mw (net) waste coal-fired electric generating facility located
in Utah. Both facilities sell power under long-term contracts to specified
Utility Companies whose contracts have been approved by the respective Public
Utility Commission. In the case of these two projects, the Company, either
acting alone or in conjunction with others, has selected and arranged for the
acquisition of the site, obtained control over their waste coal fuel sources,
negotiated contracts for the design and construction of the facilities and the
sale of their output to the utilities purchasing the power, arranged for
financing, and negotiated contracts for the operation and maintenance of the
projects. The Company has one additional project (the "Milesburg Project") in
the development stage.
Scrubgrass
The Scrubgrass Project located on a 600 acre site in Venango County,
Pennsylvania, is an approximately 83 Mw (net) waste coal-fired electric
generating station (the "Facility") which has been constructed by Bechtel Power
Corporation. The construction contract provided for a guaranteed net electrical
output of 82.85 Mw. Final completion was achieved by the contractor in June
1994.
On June 30, 1994, Buzzard Power Corporation ("Buzzard"), a wholly owned
subsidiary of EPC, entered into an agreement to lease the Facility from
Scrubgrass Generating Company, L.P. (the "Lessor"), a joint venture of PG&E
Enterprises, Inc. and Bechtel Enterprises, Inc. The lease provides for an
initial term of 22 years with a renewal option for up to 3 years. Pursuant to
the lease, the Lessor assigned to Buzzard all principal project agreements and
its rights and obligations thereunder including, but not limited to the power
purchase agreement, operations and maintenance agreement, limestone agreements,
ground lease agreements, fuel agreements and transportation and materials
handling agreements. EPC has pledged Buzzard's stock to the Lessor as security
for Buzzard's performance of its obligations as lessee. The Scrubgrass Project
is managed by U.S. Gen, a joint venture of PG&E Enterprises and Bechtel
Enterprises, Inc.
Electric output is being sold to Pennsylvania Electric Company
("PENELEC") pursuant to a 25-year agreement, which commenced in 1993, at fixed
rates averaging approximately 4.68 cents/Kwh and escalates at 5% per year for
the calendar years' 1994-1999. Commencing in the year 2000 and through 2012, the
agreement provides for a rate equal to the greater of a scheduled rate or a rate
based on the PJM Billing Rate (the monthly average of the hourly rates for
purchases by the General Public Utilities Group ("GPU") from, or sale by GPU,
to, the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection). For the years 2013
through 2015 and 2016 through 2018, if the renewal term option is exercised, the
agreement provides for a rate equal to the lower of the average monthly PJM
Billing Rate or the rate paid for the calendar year 2012 adjusted annually by
the percentage change in the Gross National Product Deflator less 1%. On June 8,
1993, the Facility reached commercial operation.
The Facility is being operated by US Operating Services Company
pursuant to a 15-year Operations and Maintenance Agreement ("O & M"). A budget
for all operational expenses, including a fixed management fee, is approved
annually. Failure to achieve approved annual budgets can result in operator
liability and/or termination of the O & M.
Buzzard, as assignee, entered into a Limestone Purchase and Sale
Agreement with Quality Aggregates, Inc. to supply the Scrubgrass Project with
limestone for an initial term of five years which, in December 1995, was
extended through the year 2000 and which may be extended up to 15 additional
years. The Scrubgrass Project also maintains an agreement with an initial term
of 15 years for the transportation of fuel, ash and limestone with
F-6
Savage Industries, Inc. The costs established under this agreement will escalate
at partially fixed and partially indexed rates.
Buzzard's revenues earned by the Scrubgrass Project are deposited into
an account administered by a disbursement agent. Before Buzzard can receive cash
generated by the Scrubgrass Project, all operating expenses, base lease payments
(which include the Lessor's debt as described below), certain maintenance
reserve payments and other subordinated payments must be satisfied. Buzzard, as
lessee, is required to pay the Lessor, in addition to a specified base rent,
consisting of all of the Lessor's debt service and related fees and expenses, an
additional rent of 50 percent of the net cash flows Buzzard receives from
project operations. Buzzard is not required to fund operating losses, or
otherwise invest further, from sources outside of the Scrubgrass Project.
Until December 22, 1995 the Lessor's debt consisted of $135.6 million
of variable rate tax-exempt bonds maturing in 2012, a $20.8 million term loan
maturing in 2005, $4.2 million of demand debt and $2.4 million of junior
subordinated debt maturing in 1999. The Lessor entered into interest rate swaps
which had the effect of fixing the interest rate on the tax-exempt bonds until
May 18, 1996 at approximately 3.72% and fixing the interest rate over the life
of the $20.8 million term loan at 6.42%. After May 18, 1996, the Company's
specified base rent was incurred based on floating rates on the Lessor's
tax-exempt bonds ranging from 3.2% to 3.85%. On December 22, 1995, the Lessor
restructured certain of its project debt, the primary effect of which was to
extend the term of its demand debt and a portion of its junior subordinated debt
through 2004. In connection with the Lessor's debt restructuring, Buzzard also
extended the term of $4 million of its own current liabilities through 2004.
In March 1996, the Company received proceeds of $900,000 from Bechtel
Power Corporation in final settlement of certain warranty and start-up matters
which is included in other income in the accompanying consolidated statement of
operations.
Sunnyside
The Sunnyside Project is an approximately 51 Mw (net) waste coal-fired
facility at a site located adjacent to the Sunnyside Coal Mine in Carbon County,
Utah which was constructed by Parsons Main, Inc., ("PMI"). The facility reached
commercial operation on November 19, 1993. The Sunnyside Project is owned by
Sunnyside Cogeneration Associates ("SCA"), a joint venture in which the Company
owned varying majority interests from 100% to approximately 70% until September
28, 1994 and thereafter an approximate 40% interest until December 31, 1994 at
which time the Company sold its remaining interest in SCA.
In connection with the sale, the Company received consideration of
$2.79 million in cash on January 5, 1995 and promissory notes aggregating $3.25
million, bearing interest at 10% per annum. Interest is payable to the Company
quarterly and principal of $312,500 was received by the Company on September 30,
1995, principal of $1,187,500 was due on December 31, 1996 and the remaining
principal of $1,750,000 is due on December 31, 1997. However, as more fully
described in Note N, the purchasers of the Company's interest in SCA have
entered into a legal proceeding with the Company. Pending the resolution of the
legal proceeding, the purchasers have withheld all payments of principal and
interest due on the promissory notes since June 1996. As of December 31, 1996,
the purchasers have principal and interest payments in arrears of $1,187,500 and
$221,318, respectively. In addition, the Company recorded in 1994 a receivable
related to a purchase price adjustment, as provided for in the Purchase and Sale
Agreement, of approximately $1.1 million, of which $708,000 was received in
April 1995. The balance of purchase price adjustment is also being disputed in
the legal proceeding with the purchasers. The Company also retained certain
inchoate rights, including potential refundable sales taxes and certain legal
settlements arising out of activities prior to the date of the sale. The
retained rights were fully satisfied after the Company received sales tax
refunds aggregating $1.1 million and $42,078 in 1995 and 1996, respectively, and
received $540,000 to settle a legal proceeding in 1996, which have all been
included in other income in the accompanying consolidated statements of
operations.
In 1994, as a result of the sale of its interest in SCA, the Company
recorded a gain on the sale of approximately $3.9 million and recognized other
income for management services and interest income aggregating
F-7
approximately $5.3 million which is included in other income on the accompanying
consolidated statement of operations. The Company had previously earned these
management fees and interest income from services and loans provided to SCA but
such amounts had been eliminated in consolidation prior to the sale.
Milesburg
On April 30, 1987, the Company purchased, for an aggregate purchase
price of $5,400,000, all of the outstanding capital stock of Milesburg Energy,
Inc. ("MEI"), the company which controlled the development rights to an existing
43 Mw (net) oil-fired facility, which was retired from service in 1984. In
connection with the stock purchase, the Company paid $100,000 in cash and issued
promissory notes totaling $5,120,000 and a subsidiary of the Company assumed
pre-acquisition MEI liabilities totaling $180,000. The notes payable,
pre-acquisition liabilities and other liabilities incurred subsequent to the
purchase become payable only under certain conditions, the most significant of
which relates to the closing of construction financing and commencement of
construction for the Milesburg Project. If this project is developed, the
Company would replace this facility with a waste coal-fired electric generating
facility.
In 1987, MEI executed a 30 year power purchase agreement with West Penn
Power Company ("WPPC") for the sale of all of the facility's electrical output
with a fixed capacity rate component and an additional fluctuating rate
component which is derived from WPPC's avoided energy cost. The power purchase
agreement was approved by the Public Utilities Commission of the State of
Pennsylvania ("PUC"), and was subsequently appealed to the Commonwealth Court of
Pennsylvania by certain industrial intervenors. During the lengthy appeals
process, which extended beyond certain contract milestone dates in the power
purchase agreement, WPPC requested that its original petition to approve the
power purchase agreement be dismissed by the PUC since the power purchase
agreement had expired by its own terms. In September 1989, in response to MEI's
efforts to preserve its contractual rights, the PUC, by court order, ordered
WPPC to execute a new power purchase agreement with MEI. The new power purchase
agreement would include extended contract milestone dates and rates which would
be recalculated due to the later start-up date for this project necessitated by
the delays caused by the appeal. This order has been appealed by the same
industrial intervenors and WPPC through various courts, including the United
States Supreme Court, and upheld in every case in favor of MEI. In August 1995,
the PUC issued a tentative order for final contract rates. The order had been
temporarily stayed by mutual agreement of MEI and WPPC pending discussions
pertaining to a buy-out of the power purchase agreement which began in October
1995 and have not yet been finalized However, MEI recently lifted the stay and
is proceeding to finalize the terms of the power purchase agreement.
Despite ongoing efforts to reach buy-out arrangement with WPPC, the
Company has continued to invest its financial resources to protect its legal and
contractual interests and to support its ability to commence construction in the
event that a settlement under mutually agreeable terms cannot be reached with
WPPC. In July 1996, in furtherance of these objectives, the Company entered into
a joint development agreement with U.S. Gen. U.S. Gen, a joint venture of PG&E
Enterprises and Bechtel Enterprises, Inc., has considerable experience as one of
America's largest independent power companies. In addition, the Company and U.S.
Gen have a history of working together in the co-development and ongoing
operation of the Scrubgrass Project which has now been operating profitably for
more than a year. As a result of the joint development agreement, the Company
has greater financial and technical resources available to pursue the
development of the Milesburg Project. Since the signing of the joint development
agreement, the Company and U.S. Gen have been pursuing various development
activities and are continuing ongoing discussions with WPPC concerning a
possible buy-out of the power purchase contract. The Company plans to continue
efforts towards both the development of the Milesburg Project and the
negotiation of a buy-out of the power purchase agreement until it becomes
apparent which alternative will be in the best interest of the Company and its
shareholders. In that regard, the Company's development efforts have increased
in 1996. Under the terms of the joint development agreement, U.S. Gen has the
responsibility to manage the development activities and finance a majority of
the development period expenses prior to financial closing. Based on the
progress made in recent development activities and buy-out negotiations,
management believes that it is more likely than not that the Company will
recover its net investment in the Milesburg Project. However, there can be no
assurance that the Milesburg Project will be successfully developed, that the
Company will receive a buy-out proposal, or that the Company will realize any
value from the Milesburg Project.
F-8
NOTE B -- SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements
include the accounts of Environmental Power Corporation and its wholly-owned and
majority owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and
transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In 1994, the Company used
the equity method to account for its investment in SCA when the Company held
less than a majority interest in SCA.
Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that effect 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 income and expenses during
the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash Flows: The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a
maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. In 1995,
non-cash investing and financing activities include the retirement of preferred
treasury shares ($890,860), the issuance of a non-current obligation to
refinance a trade obligation ($250,000), the issuance of a secured note payable
($2,435,000) to refinance certain trade obligations ($1,184,662) and provide
restricted cash for plant maintenance ($1,250,338), the exchange of notes
receivable for the purchase of the Company's common stock ($439,156) and the
issuance of notes receivable to refinance accrued interest receivable ($63,228).
Concentrations of Credit Risk: The Company's financial instruments that
are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash
equivalents, notes receivable and receivable from utility. The Company's cash
equivalents represent certificates of deposit issued from reputable financial
institutions. Notes receivable represent amounts due from the acquirers of the
Company's interest in the Sunnyside Project. The Company believes these
acquirers are credit worthy entities which have the ability to pay the scheduled
note obligations (See Note N regarding the Company's legal proceeding with the
acquirers of the Sunnyside Project). Receivable from Utility represent amounts
due from the Company's sole customer PENELEC, a public utility with a credit
rating of A- by Standard & Poors, pursuant to the terms of the 22 year power
purchase agreement.
Restricted Cash: Restricted Cash includes all cash held by the
disbursement agent for the Scrubgrass Project pursuant to project agreements
which require requisition and/or certification by the Lessor or bank to withdraw
(See Note A). The Company makes scheduled deposits to restricted cash accounts
which are restricted primarily for approved capital expenditures and scheduled
maintenance procedures.
Property, Plant and Equipment: Property, Plant and Equipment are stated
at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of the Sunnyside power
generating facility, which was sold on December 31, 1994, was computed using the
straight-line method over a composite life of 35 years. Significant renewals and
betterments that increase the useful lives of the assets are capitalized while
maintenance and dispositions are recorded in current operations as incurred.
Facility Under Development represents project acquisition costs and costs
incurred during the development stage of the Milesburg Project. Costs include
professional services, salaries and other costs that are directly related to the
Milesburg Project. In addition, certain indirect costs are also allocated to the
Milesburg Project. If and when the facility becomes operational, such costs will
be amortized over the useful life of the project. Accumulated costs of
development projects may be expensed in the year that it becomes probable, in
management's opinion, that the costs will not be recovered. Depreciation for
office equipment and furniture is computed using the straight-line method over
five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method
over the asset's useful life or the remaining lease term, whichever period is
less.
Deferred Financing Costs: In 1995, the Company incurred $300,000 in
connection with the restructuring of certain debt related to the Scrubgrass
Project. Such costs are being amortized over nine years, the life of the debt
F-9
(See Note E). The Company amortized deferred financing costs related to the
Sunnyside Project over the terms of the Sunnyside Project debt. From November
19, 1993 to September 28, 1994, the date through which SCA was consolidated into
the Company's operations, the Company charged the amortization of such costs to
operations. Accumulated amortization related to deferred financing costs was
$35,670 and $0 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Lease Rights: Lease Rights are recorded at cost and are being amortized
over the 22 year lease term related to the Scrubgrass facility. Accumulated
amortization related to the lease rights was $372,537 and $223,534 at December
31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Accrued Power Generation Revenue and Accrued Lease Expense: As
discussed in Note A, the Company has entered into a long term agreement, to
provide electricity to PENELEC, which provides for scheduled rate increases. In
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, revenue has been
recorded on the straight-line basis over the 22 year lease term. The accrual for
power generation revenue is limited to the amount of accrued lease expense, as
described below. Therefore, no amount for the straight-lining of future
revenues, which would result in profits, has been provided for in the
consolidated financial statements. Accrued power generation revenue was
$24,456,478 and $15,161,689 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, and
represents that portion of revenue earned that has not yet been received.
As discussed in Note A, the Company has entered into a long term lease
agreement for the Scrubgrass Project which provides for scheduled lease expense
increases. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, lease
expense has been recorded on the straight-line basis over the 22 year lease
term. Accrued lease expense was $24,456,478 and $15,161,689 at December 31, 1996
and 1995, respectively, and represents that portion of lease expense that has
not yet been paid.
Deferred Gain: The sale of the Scrubgrass Project by the Company on
December 28, 1990 was not treated as a sale for financial accounting purposes.
This was originally due to the existence of an option which enabled the Company
to reacquire Buzzard and to lease the Scrubgrass Project for a substantial
portion of its commercial operation. This option constituted a significant
continuing involvement by the Company which provided evidence that it had
retained substantial risks or rewards of ownership of the Scrubgrass Project. In
December, 1993 the Company agreed to a modification to the proposed form of
lease thereby relinquishing the fair market value purchase option. Accordingly,
the Company removed from the balance sheet the gross assets and liabilities of
the Scrubgrass Project and recorded a deferred gain of $6,785,035 arising from
the original sale of the Scrubgrass Project in 1990. The deferred gain is being
amortized over the 22 year minimum lease term, which commenced on June 30, 1994.
Accumulated amortization of the deferred gain at December 31, 1996 and 1995 was
$771,027 and $462,616, respectively.
Deferred Revenue: Deferred revenue represents amounts received for
power generation from the Scrubgrass Project at rates in excess of forecasted
rates as set forth in the power sales agreement which are being deferred until
earned. As of December 31, 1995, the Company had deferred revenue of $3,064,965
which was all earned during 1996.
Maintenance Reserve: The Company records the expense of major equipment
overhauls related to the Scrubgrass Project on a straight-line basis using
management's best estimate of future outlays. Amounts are charged to expense and
are credited to the reserve in anticipation of future outlays for major
overhauls.
Income Taxes: The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 109, "Accounting for
Income Taxes". This standard requires, among other things, recognition of future
tax benefits, measured by enacted tax rates, attributable to deductible
temporary differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of
assets and liabilities, and net operating loss carryforwards to the extent that
realization of such benefits is more likely than not. Deferred income taxes are
recognized for temporary differences between the financial statement and income
tax bases of assets and liabilities
F-10
and net operating loss carryforwards for which the Company expects income tax
benefits will be realized in future years.
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share: The Company computes its earnings
(loss) per common share by dividing net income (loss) for the period by the
weighted average number of shares of common stock and dilutive common stock
equivalents outstanding during the period. For purposes of calculating primary
earnings (loss) per share, the Company considers its shares issuable in
connection with stock options to be dilutive common stock equivalents when the
exercise price is less than the average market price of the Company's common
stock for the period. The weighted average number of shares of common stock and
dilutive common stock equivalents for the calculation of primary earnings (loss)
per share was 11,265,853, 10,649,161 and 11,321,178 for the years ended December
31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. For purposes of calculating fully diluted
earnings (loss) per share, the Company considers its shares issuable in
connection with stock options to be dilutive common stock equivalents when the
exercise price is less than the higher of the market price of the Company's
common stock at the end of the period or the average price of the Company's
common stock for the period. The weighted average number of shares of common
stock and dilutive common stock equivalents for the calculation of fully diluted
earnings (loss) per share was 11,321,901, 10,649,161 and 11,321,178 for the
years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
Long-Lived Assets: Effective January 1, 1996, the Company adopted SFAS
No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived
Assets to Be Disposed Of". SFAS No. 121 establishes the accounting for the
impairment of long-lived assets, certain identifiable intangibles and goodwill
related to those assets to be held and used and for long-lived assets and
certain identifiable intangibles to be disposed of. Pursuant to SFAS No. 121,
the Company is required to evaluate the recoverability of the carrying value of
its Long-Lived Assets based on considerations such as the underlying fair market
value of the asset or the estimated future cash flows expected to result from
the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. In situations where the
Company estimates that it will not recover the carrying value of the Long-Lived
Asset, the Company is required to recognize an impairment loss. The adoption of
SFAS No. 121 had no effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or
results of operations.
Stock Options: Effective January 1, 1996, the Company adopted SFAS No.
123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation". SFAS No. 123 defines a fair
value method of accounting for the issuance of stock options and other equity
instruments. Under the fair value method, compensation is measured at the grant
date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized over the service
period, which is usually the vesting period. Pursuant to SFAS No. 123, companies
are encouraged, but not required, to adopt the fair value method of accounting
for employee stock-based transactions. Companies are also permitted to continue
to account for such transactions under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No.
25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees", but would be required to
disclose in a note to the financial statements pro forma net income and per
share amounts as if the company had applied the new method of accounting. SFAS
No. 123 also requires increased disclosures for stock-based compensation
arrangements regardless of the method chosen to measure and recognize
compensation for employee stock-based arrangements. The Company has elected to
continue to account for its stock option transactions under the principles of
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 and has disclosed in Note K of its
consolidated financial statements the pro forma net income and per share amounts
as if the Company had applied the provisions of SFAS No. 123.
New Accounting Standard: In October 1996, the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position ("SOP") 96-1,
"Environmental Remediation Liabilities". SOP 96-1, which is effective for the
Company's financial statements beginning in 1997, provides that environmental
remediation liabilities should be accrued when the criteria for SFAS No. 5,
"Accounting for Contingencies", are met. In the opinion of the Company's
management, the adoption of SOP 96-1 will not have a material effect on the
Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Reclassification: Certain amounts in 1995 and 1994 have been
reclassified to conform with the current period presentation.
F-11
NOTE C -- OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
Other current assets consists of the following as of December 31, 1996 and 1995:
1996 1995
-------------- ----------------
Interest receivable $237,926 $139,319
Fuel inventory 741,290 484,991
Prepaid expenses 150,469 380,138
Deposits 1,675 4,092
Other 1,431 -------
-------------- ------------------
$ 1,132,791 $ 1,008,540
============== ==================
NOTE D -- PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation
and consists of the following as of December 31, 1996 and 1995:
1996 1995
-------------- --------------
Power generating facilities:
Facility under development - Milesburg $8,224,348 $7,981,987
Less: Reserve for non-recovery of costs - Milesburg (940,144) (940,144)
-------------- ---------------
7,284,204 7,041,843
-------------- ---------------
Office:
Equipment and furniture 106,707 92,009
Less: Accumulated depreciation (78,612) (57,945)
-------------- ---------------
28,095 34,064
============== ===============
$7,312,299 $7,075,907
============== ===============
During 1996 and 1994, the Company capitalized salary costs and indirect
costs aggregating $48,983 and $157,177, respectfully, for project development
activities. The indirect costs were allocated to the project development
activities based on overhead rates applied to direct salary costs incurred for
such activities. There were no salary costs or indirect costs capitalized in
1995.
NOTE E -- OTHER ASSETS
Other assets consists of the following as of December 31, 1996 and 1995:
1996 1995
-------------- ------------
Scrubgrass Project receivable $ 210,619 $ 261,311
Deferred financing costs - Note B 264,330 300,000
Note receivable and accrued interest due from officer 108,434 103,612
Hamilton investment --------- 100,000
-------------- ---------------
$ 583,383 $ 764,923
============== ===============
Scrubgrass Project receivables represent deposits in connection with fuel
reserves under long term leases.
F-12
Hamilton investment represents a $250,000 investment in the preferred stock of
Hamilton Technologies, Inc. ("Hamilton"), a privately held Massachusetts
developer of computer aided software engineering (CASE) software. During each of
1994 and 1995, the Company made provisions of $75,000 to reserve against the
continued decline in the value of this investment. During 1996, the Company made
a provision of $100,000 to reserve against the remaining value of this
investment.
NOTE F -- ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses consists of the following as of December
31, 1996 and 1995:
1996 1995
-------------- --------------
Accounts payable $3,356,239 $3,437,670
Accrued expenses 2,927,536 2,900,490
--------- ---------
$6,283,775 $6,338,160
========== ==========
Accounts payable at December 31, 1996 and 1995 includes $2,613,968 and
$2,505,085, respectively which are related to Scrubgrass Project operations.
Accrued expenses at December 31, 1996 and 1995 includes $2,502,424 and
$2,672,912, respectively which are related to Scrubgrass Project operations.
NOTE G -- OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
Other current liabilities consists of the following as of December 31, 1996 and
1995:
1996 1995
---------- ----------
Scrubgrass working capital loan $2,696,143 $1,628,143
Sunnyside borrowings 250,000 -----
Scrubgrass note payable ----- 300,000
Other 242,615 370,543
---------- ----------
$3,188,758 $2,298,686
========== ==========
The Scrubgrass note payable represents the current portion of an obligation
related to the Scrubgrass Project (See Note H). The current portion of this
obligation was paid in January 1996.
The Sunnyside borrowings represent selling expenses in connection with the
sale of the Sunnyside Project which are payable upon receipt of the principal
proceeds from the notes receivable which become due December 31, 1997 (See Notes
A and N).
The Scrubgrass working capital loan represents outstanding borrowings under
a Lessee Working Capital Loan Agreement with the Lessor whereby the Lessor has
provided Buzzard with a $4 million line of credit for the ongoing working
capital requirements of the Scrubgrass Project. The outstanding borrowings under
the Lessee Working Capital Loan Agreement incur interest at the LIBOR rate plus
1.125% (ranging from 6.44% to 6.75% during 1996).
F-13
NOTE H -- SECURED PROMISSORY NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER BORROWINGS
Secured promissory notes payable and other borrowings consists of the
following as of December 31, 1996 and 1995:
1996 1995
--------- ------------
Milesburg Project obligations $5,858,767 $5,858,767
Scrubgrass Project note payable 2,487,813 2,435,000
Sunnyside Project obligations ------- 250,000
---------- ----------
$8,346,580 $8,543,767
========== ==========
The Milesburg Project obligations are noninterest-bearing and payable only
under certain conditions, the most significant of which relates to the closing
of construction financing and commencement of construction for the Milesburg
Project. Milesburg Project obligations of $5,120,000 are collateralized by all
of the common stock of MEI (See Note A).
The Scrubgrass Project note payable represents the non-current portion
of an obligation related to the Scrubgrass Project (See Note G). The scheduled
aggregate annual repayments for the Scrubgrass Project note obligation are
$77,677 in 1998, $77,677 in 1999, $72,708 in 2000, $398,587 in 2001 and
$1,861,164 thereafter.
The Sunnyside Project obligations represent selling expenses in connection
with the sale of the Sunnyside Project which are payable upon receipt of the
principal proceeds from the notes receivable which become due December 31, 1997
(See Notes A and N). The obligations were reclassified to other current
liabilities in 1996.
NOTE I -- INTEREST CAPITALIZED
Interest costs consists of the following for the years ended December 31, 1996,
1995, and 1994:
1996 1995 1994
----------------- ------------- -----------------
Total interest costs incurred $ 176,795 $ 119,696 $8,850,266
Amounts included in operations 165,290 106,783 8,829,893
-------------- -------------- -----------------
Amounts capitalized in development and construction
of projects $ 11,505 $ 12,913 $ 20,373
============== ================ ================
Total interest paid during the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
amounted to $148,052, $111,913 and $11,109,122, respectively.
Interest costs incurred for each period presented do not include debt
service related to the Scrubgrass Project which is included in lease expense.
F-14
NOTE J -- INCOME TAXES
Income tax expense (benefit) consists of the following for the years ended
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994:
1996 1995 1994
---------------- ------------- -----------------
Current:
Federal $ 22,229 $ 100,000 --
State 168,682 -- --
-------------- --------------- ---------------
Total current tax expense 190,911 100,000 --
-------------- --------------- ---------------
Deferred:
Federal 879,370 (477,175) $ 350,227
State 823,754 (70,809) 65,667
-------------- --------------- ---------------
Total deferred tax expense (benefit) 1,703,124 (547,984) 415,894
-------------- --------------- --------------
$ 1,894,035 $ (447,984) $ 415,894
============== =============== ==============
In 1996, the Company's deferred state income tax expense includes a
charge of $205,382 related to state net operating loss carryforwards which have
expired. In addition, the Company estimates that it may not realize all of the
recorded tax benefits of its state net operating loss carryforwards and
accordingly, has provided a valuation allowance in the amount of $299,745 in its
1996 provision for deferred state income taxes.
The components of the net deferred income tax asset as of December 31,
1996 and 1995 are as follows:
1996 1995
----------- -----------
Deferred tax assets:
Accrued lease expense $ 9,927,716 $ 5,757,502
Accrued expenses 763,836 322,572
Deferred tax effect of the sale of the Scrubgrass Project for which
the gain was deferred for financial reporting purposes 1,200,111 918,578
Federal and state net operating loss carryforwards 2,800,565 3,748,800
Federal alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards 131,394 137,390
Deferred compensation --- 70,548
Reserve for non-recovery of certain project costs not currently
deductible for income tax purposes 433,794 435,908
Deferred revenue --- 1,164,591
------------- ---------------
15,257,416 12,555,889
------------- ---------------
Deferred tax liabilities:
Accrued power generation revenue 9,927,716 5,757,502
Installment sale-Sunnyside 1,198,801 1,255,158
Other 92,962 ---
------------- ---------------
11,219,479 7,012,660
------------- ---------------
Deferred income tax asset-net 4,037,937 5,543,229
Valuation allowance, net of federal benefit (197,832) ---
============= ===============
$ 3,840,105 $ 5,543,229
============= ===============
F-15
A reconciliation between the actual income tax expense (benefit) and the
income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the statutory federal income
tax rate to the income (loss) before income taxes, for the years ended December
31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 is as follows:
1996 1995 1994
----------------- ------------- -----------------
Federal tax expense (benefit) at 34% $1,176,167 $(402,082) $368,880
State tax expense (benefit), net of federal tax 655,008 (46,734) 43,340
Deferred compensation 60,471 -- --
Nondeductible portion of meals and entertainment 1,873 832 3,674
Other 516 -- --
============= =============== ================
$1,894,035 $(447,984) $415,894
============= =============== ================
The Company's net operating loss carryforwards of $7,616,260 expire
between 2003 and 2008. The Company's alternative minimum tax credit
carryforwards of $131,394 do not expire and can be credited against future
regular taxes to the extent they exceed alternative minimum taxes. Of the
Company's two major development projects, the Sunnyside Project was sold on
December 31, 1994, and the Scrubgrass Project became fully operational on June
30, 1994, at which time the Company commenced leasing the Scrubgrass Project
(See Note A). Management believes that it is more likely than not that future
income resulting from the operations of the Scrubgrass Project will be
sufficient to realize the recorded tax benefits resulting from the Company's net
operating loss carryforwards and reversing temporary differences. Alternatively,
management believes that the Company could implement tax planning strategies
including the sale or disposition of its lease rights to the Scrubgrass Project
to generate sufficient income to realize the recorded tax benefits. For these
reasons, except for the valuation allowance against the recorded tax benefits of
certain state net operating carryforwards in the amount of $299,745, the Company
has not recorded a valuation allowance against its deferred tax asset balances
as of December 31, 1996 and 1995.
NOTE K -- SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Stock Options
The Company has reserved 175,000 shares of common stock for issuance upon
exercise of stock options which are outstanding under the Company's 1986 and
1990 Stock Plans, 500,000 shares of common stock for issuance upon exercise of
stock options which are outstanding or may be granted under the Company's 1993
Director Plan, and 80,000 shares of common stock for the issuance of stock
options granted outside of such plans. The options granted under these plans
were intended to constitute incentive stock options under the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 or non-qualified options principally at an option price of 100
percent of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of the grant
(110 percent of the fair market value in the case officers or other employees
holding 10% or more of the Company's common stock for the 1990 plan). All
options are fully vested at the date of grant and expire on the 10th anniversary
of the date of grant. As of December 31, 1996, the Company has options for
405,000 shares available for grant under the 1993 Director Plan and no shares
available for grant under either of the 1986 or 1990 Stock Plans.
F-16
Stock option transactions during 1996, 1995 and 1994 are summarized as
follows:
Options Outstanding
---------------------------------
Shares Price
-------------- ---------------
Balance at January 1, 1994 1,963,244 $.125 - .625
Options granted 60,000 .5625
-------------- ---------------
Balance at December 31, 1994 2,023,244 .125 - .625
Options granted 30,000 .25 - .4375
Options canceled (250,000) .5625
Options exercised (1,463,244) .125 - .625
-------------- ---------------
Balance at December 31, 1995 340,000 .14 - .5625
Options granted 60,000 .6875-1.00
Options exercised (50,000) .14 - .4375
-------------- ---------------
Balance at December 31, 1996 350,000 .25 - 1.00
============== ===============
The following table summarizes information about the Company's options
outstanding as of December 31, 1996:
Outstanding Weighted-Average
Exercise and Remaining
Price Exerciseable Contractual Life
-----------------------------------------------------
$ .2500 20,000 8.46 years
.4375 185,000 5.18 years
.5625 75,000 7.13 years
.6250 10,000 7.42 years
.6875 30,000 9.33 years
.8125 10,000 9.42 years
.9375 10,000 9.50 years
1.0000 10,000 9.42 years
-----------------------------------------------------
$ .5214 350,000 6.57 years
=====================================================
Under the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion ("APB") No.
25, the Company does not recognize compensation expense for stock option awards
since the underlying options have exercise prices equal to 100 percent of the
fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant (110 percent of the
fair market value in the case officers or other employees holding 10% or more of
the Company's common stock for the 1990 plan). However, pursuant to the
provisions of SFAS No. 123, the Company is required to calculate the fair market
value of its stock options using different criteria from the provisions of APB
No. 25. Using the fair market value criteria required by SFAS No. 123 to
calculate compensation expense on stock options granted during 1996 and 1995,
the Company would have incurred proforma net income of $1,549,676 and proforma
net earnings per share of $.14 in 1996, and proforma net loss of $737,994 and
proforma net loss per share of $.07 in 1995.
The estimated fair market values of the Company's options granted during
1996 and 1995 were $.43 per share and $.18 per share, respectively. The fair
market values were calculated using the Binomial Option Pricing Model assuming a
dividend yield of 12%, an expected volatility of 104.65%, a risk free interest
rate of 5.99% and an expected useful life of 5 years.
F-17
Other Equity Transactions
During 1993 the Company issued 594,356 shares of restricted common
stock to executive officers. The shares were subject to a three year vesting
period based upon continued employment through November, 1996. The Company
incurred unearned compensation for the market value of the restricted common
stock when the shares were issued and amortized the unearned compensation
ratably over the restricted period. During 1996, 1995 and 1994, the Company
amortized unearned compensation of $66,941, $80,340 and $80,340, respectively,
in the statement of operations.
The Company has notes receivable from officers for shares purchased in
connection with the Company's 1990 Stock Plan which amounted to $761,156 and
$834,032 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, and which are classified
as a reduction of shareholders' equity. The notes are payable upon demand and
bear interest at a floating rate which is payable monthly.
In March 1996, the Company purchased 520,540 shares of common stock from a
resigning executive officer for $287,876 representing all of the officer's
holdings in the Company. The Company's note receivable from the officer in the
amount of $72,876 was collected by reducing the proceeds paid to the officer for
the common stock.
Pursuant to an agreement with Drexel Burnham Lambert Incorporated
("Drexel") dated January 26, 1990 the Company issued to Drexel 18,740 shares of
non-voting Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share (the
Preferred Stock). The Preferred Stock was convertible into common stock at a
ratio of 1:181 and had a liquidation value of $1,874,000. Dividends on the
Preferred Stock accrued at a rate of 14% per annum (total of $1,030,812 at
December 31, 1993) and were payable either in cash out of funds legally
available therefore or, at the option of the Company, in additional shares of
Preferred Stock. On January 24, 1994, the Company entered into an agreement with
Drexel's successor, The DBL Liquidating Trust ("The Trust"), under which the
Company acquired the Preferred Stock. Under the terms of the agreement the
Company acquired the Trust's rights to all of its Preferred Stock. In addition,
the Company was not required to pay dividends accrued on such Preferred Stock.
The agreement also provided that the Company pay the Trust an aggregate of
$1,850,000 over 30 monthly installments beginning January 1994. During 1994, the
Company made monthly installments aggregating $300,000. On December 31, 1994,
the parties agreed to settle the remaining outstanding obligation for $1,475,000
which was paid on January 5, 1995 and at which time the Preferred Stock was
retired.
In December 1995, the Company declared and paid a dividend of 8 cents
per share. Prior to that date, the Company's policy had been to retain earnings,
if any, for use in its business. Beginning during 1996, the Company initiated a
quarterly dividend policy which is subject to review and consideration by the
Board of Directors each quarter. In respect of this dividend policy, the Company
declared and paid quarterly dividends of 3 cents per share and a special year
end dividend of 2 cents per share resulting in aggregate dividends of 14 cents
per share during 1996.
NOTE L -- COMMITMENTS
Corporate
The Company is obligated to make payments under various operating leases
for office space and automotive vehicles. The Company is also obligated under
leases or other agreements relating to the Scrubgrass Project (see Note A).
F-18
Future minimum payments due under non-cancelable leases in effect at
December 31, 1996, are as follows:
1997 $ 30,302
1998 21,848
1999 1,500
-----------
Total $ 53,650
===========
Rent expense totaled $44,868, $70,722 and $56,397 in 1996, 1995 and 1994,
respectively.
Scrubgrass Project
Pursuant to the lease agreement for the Scrubgrass Project the Company
is obligated to make estimated minimum lease payments at December 31, 1996, over
the remaining 19.5 year base term of the lease as follows:
1997 $ 12,421,000
1998 13,269,000
1999 13,531,000
2000 14,265,000
2001 13,687,000
Thereafter 373,322,000
---------------
Total $ 440,495,000
===============
Lease expense in 1996, 1995 and 1994 was $24,963,407, $23,020,132 and
$10,537,623, respectively.
In addition, the Company has been assigned various long-term noncancelable
obligations under contractual agreements for fuel handling and excavation,
limestone supply, and waste disposal. The contractual terms are generally for 5
to 15 years and provide for renewal options.
Future minimum payments due under these noncancelable obligations at December
31, 1996 are as follows (See Notes A and F):
1997 $ 679,000
1998 706,000
1999 734,000
2000 763,000
2001 794,000
Thereafter 1,303,000
--------------
Total $ 4,979,000
==============
F-19
NOTE M -- DISCLOSURES ABOUT FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The following disclosure of the estimated fair value of financial
instruments is made in accordance with the requirements of SFAS No. 107,
"Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments". The estimated fair
value amounts have been determined by the Company using available market
information and appropriate valuation methodologies. However, considerable
judgment is necessarily required in interpreting market data to develop the
estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not
necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize in a
current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or
estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value
amounts.
The following tables summarize the carrying amount and estimated fair value
of financial instruments as of December 31, 1996 and 1995:
December 31, 1996
---------------------------------
Carrying Estimated
Amount Fair Value
-------------- ---------------
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,178,524 $ 1,178,524
Other current assets 12,140,642 12,140,642
Notes receivable 85,190 85,190
Other assets 25,039,861 25,039,861
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 6,283,775 6,283,775
Other current liabilities 3,188,758 3,188,758
Long-term debt:
Secured promissory notes payable and other borrowings 8,346,580 8,346,580
Other liabilities 24,456,478 24,456,478
December 31, 1995
----------------------------------
Carrying Estimated
Amount Fair Value
-------------- ----------------
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,011,822 $ 1,011,822
Other current assets 10,744,919 10,744,919
Notes receivable 1,868,409 1,868,409
Other assets 15,926,612 15,826,612
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 6,338,160 6,338,160
Other current liabilities 2,298,686 2,298,686
Long-term debt:
Secured promissory notes payable and other borrowings 8,543,767 8,543,767
Other liabilities 15,161,689 15,161,689
F-20
NOTE N -- LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On May 3, 1996, B&W Sunnyside L.P., NRG Sunnyside Inc., NRG Energy Inc.,
and Sunnyside Cogeneration Associates (collectively the "Plaintiffs") filed a
complaint, which was amended on June 27, 1996, against the Company and three of
its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively hereafter in Note N "the Company")
in Seventh District Court for Carbon County, State of Utah. The amended
complaint alleges that the Company breached the purchase and sale agreement by
which the Company transferred all of its interest in Sunnyside Cogeneration
Associates, a joint venture which owned and operated a nominal 51 megawatt waste
coal fired facility located in Carbon County, Utah. The amended complaint also
alleges that the Company made certain misrepresentations in connection with the
purchase and sale agreement. As a result of the alleged breaches of contract and
misrepresentations, the Plaintiffs allege that they suffered damages in an
unspecified amount that exceed the aggregate outstanding principal and interest
balances due to the Company by B&W Sunnyside L.P. and NRG Sunnyside, Inc. under
certain notes receivable, which amounted to $2,937,500 and $221,318,
respectively at December 31, 1996. In addition to alleging unspecified damages,
the Plaintiffs also request rescission of the purchase and sale agreement. On
July 30, 1996, in response to the Plaintiffs' amended complaint, the Company
filed an answer and counterclaim. In the answer to the amended complaint, the
Company denied all material allegations of the amended complaint and asserted
numerous affirmative defenses. In the counterclaim, the Company alleges numerous
causes of action against the Plaintiffs which include breach of contract, breach
of the promissory notes, intentional, malicious and willful breach of contract,
intentional tort, interference and misrepresentation. Through the counterclaim,
the Company seeks remedies which include: (1) compensatory, consequential and
punitive damages; (2) acceleration and immediate payment in full of the
promissory notes; and (3) injunctions which require the Plaintiffs to continue
making payments under the promissory notes during the pendency of this action
and until the promissory notes are paid in full and which enjoin the Plaintiffs
from continuing certain malicious and intentional actions that are alleged in
the counterclaim, together with interest, reasonable attorney's fees, costs and
other such relief as the court deems proper. On August 30, 1996, the Plaintiffs
filed a reply to the Company's counterclaim in which they denied all material
allegations of the counterclaim and asserted numerous affirmative defenses. The
Company plans to vigorously defend against the amended complaint and vigorously
pursue the causes of action stated in the counterclaim. The matter is currently
in the discovery stage.
NOTE O -- FOURTH QUARTER OPERATING RESULTS
During the fourth quarter of 1996, after learning about a generator
failure at an electric generating facility with an identical generator to the
Scrubgrass facility, the manufacturer asked the Company to perform certain tests
to determine the Scrubgrass generator's condition. Based on the results of these
tests, which became available during the first quarter of 1997, the Company
believes the Scrubgrass facility's generator exhibits certain conditions which
indicate that a similar failure might occur at some time in the future. In light
of these test results, the generator manufacturer has recommended that the
Company perform a complete rewind on the Scrubgrass facility's generator during
its 1997 annual plant outage which is scheduled to begin in April 1997. While
the extent of damage to the generator will not be known until the generator is
disassembled and inspected during the 1997 annual plant outage, based on the
generator test results, the generator manufacturer has advised the Company that
the complete rewind currently appears to be the best course of action to repair
the anticipated damage, and to ensure the operation of the generator on a
long-term basis. As a result of the recommended generator repair, the Company
currently estimates it would incur an additional expense of approximately
$660,000 to perform the rewind and would expect to lose net revenues which
average approximately $80,000 per day for each additional day the facility is
inoperative during the scheduled outage. Presently, the manufacturer of the
generator has indicated that the rewind is expected to take no longer than 44
days, which would necessitate that the Scrubgrass plant be shutdown for 35 days
longer than the original shutdown planned by the facility operator. The impact
of the repair and extended shutdown on the Company's operating results and/or
cash flows could be mitigated by a shortening of the repair period, recovery
from the generator manufacturer, proceeds from insurance coverage, and/or
modifications to the Scrubgrass Project's financing. Shortly before issuing its
consolidated financial statements, the Company received an offer from the
generator manufacturer to finance the cost of the recommended rewind in six
equal installments of $110,000, without interest, over a five year period. As of
F-21
December 31, 1996, the Company recorded the present value of the future
installments to finance the rewind, discounted at the Scrubgrass Project's
incremental borrowing rate (6.75%), which amounted to $564,000. The Company has
included the current installment of $110,000 in its accounts payable and accrued
expenses and the present value of the long-term installments of $454,000 in its
maintenance reserve in the accompanying balance sheet as of December 31, 1996.
F-22