EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 880807
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 880807_10-K_2021_0001437749-21-013956.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1.
BUSINESS
Overview
American Superconductor Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “AMSC®” or the “Company”) was founded on April 9, 1987. We are a leading system provider of megawatt-scale power resiliency solutions that orchestrate the rhythm and harmony of power on the grid™, and protect and expand the capability of the Navy’s fleet. Our system level products leverage the Company’s proprietary “smart materials” and “smart software and controls” to provide enhanced resiliency and improved performance of megawatt-scale power flow.
In the power grid market, we enable electric utilities, industrial facilities, and renewable energy project developers to connect, transmit and distribute smarter, cleaner and better power through our power electronics and superconductor-based systems as well as our transmission planning services. We protect and expand the capability of the U.S. Navy surface fleet with advanced superconductor-based systems which provide superior performance advantages to the traditional methods of mine field protection. In the wind power market, we enable manufacturers to field highly competitive wind turbines through our advanced power electronics and control system products, engineering, and support services. Our power grid and wind products and services provide exceptional reliability, security, efficiency, and affordability to our customers.
Our power system solutions help to improve energy efficiency, alleviate power capacity and other constraints, improve system resiliency, and increase the adoption of renewable energy generation. Demand for our solutions is driven by: the growing needs for modernized grids that improve power reliability, security, and quality, the U.S. Navy’s effort to upgrade in-board power systems to support fleet electrification, and the need for increased renewable sources of electricity, such as wind and solar energy. Concerns about these factors have led to increased spending by corporations and the military, as well as supportive government regulations and initiatives on local, state and national levels, including renewable portfolio standards, tax incentives, and international treaties.
On October 1, 2020, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) with the selling stockholders named therein. Pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement and concurrently with entering into such agreement, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding (i) shares of capital stock of Northeast Power Systems, Inc., a New York corporation (“NEPSI”), and (ii) membership interests of Northeast Power Realty, LLC, a New York limited liability company, which holds the real property that serves as NEPSI’s headquarters (the “NEPSI Acquisition”). NEPSI is a U.S.-based global provider of medium-voltage metal-enclosed power capacitor banks and harmonic filter banks for use on electric power systems. As a result of this transaction, NEPSI became a wholly-owned subsidiary and is operated by our Grid business segment.
On May 6, 2021, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) with the selling stockholders named therein. Pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement and concurrently with entering into such agreement, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding (i) shares of capital stock of Neeltran, Inc., a Connecticut corporation (“Neeltran”) and (ii) Neeltran International, Inc., a Connecticut corporation (“International”). Neeltran, Inc., is a U.S. based corporation that supplies rectifiers and transformers to industrial customers. As a result of this transaction, Neeltran became a wholly-owned subsidiary and is operated by our Grid business segment.
Market opportunities
We provide solutions that address three key drivers of our business:
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the evolving electric grid;
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the electrification of the Naval fleet; and
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the global demand for renewable energy.
Our power system products address five market opportunities (areas):
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Transmission grid. We provide complete systems that enable electric utilities and renewable energy project developers to connect and transmit power with exceptional efficiency, reliability, security and affordability. We provide planning services that allow us to identify power grid congestion, poor power quality, and other risks, which help us determine how our solutions can improve network performance. These services often lead to sales of our grid interconnection solutions and power quality systems for wind farms and solar power plants.
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Distribution grid. We provide a direct-connect power quality system that is installed on the primary distribution network in communities, business parks, or wherever enhanced power quality is beneficial and is designed to increase the reliability and resiliency of the distribution grid to serve the needs of modern energy consumers. Our systems save utilities time and money by avoiding costly options to strengthen the distribution grid.
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Urban Grid Infrastructure. We design systems to increase the reliability, security and capacity of the urban grid infrastructure. Today, many urban substations are not networked and can only power a small section of a city. Our power dense technology based on proprietary smart materials allows for the inter-connection of substations, controlling the high fault currents that naturally result from such interconnections. If one substation is compromised, other substations help increase capacity and reliability. Our system allows instantaneous power outage recovery, potentially doubling to quadrupling a city’s reliability and resiliency while minimizing grid investment. We design systems that leverage existing grid assets while protecting cities against storms, outages, and cyber- and physical attacks.
• Marine protection systems. We sell advanced degaussing systems to the U.S. Navy. Our degaussing system creates a magnetic signature around a ship to mask the ship against sea mines and torpedoes. Our degaussing system is comprised of much smaller, lighter and higher performing HTS cable coils eliminating 50-80% of the system weight and reducing overall energy consumption versus copper-based degaussing systems.
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Wind Power. Our solutions enable manufacturers to field wind turbines with exceptional power output, reliability, and affordability. We supply advanced power electronics and control systems, license our highly engineered wind turbine designs, and provide extensive customer support services to wind turbine manufacturers. Our design portfolio includes a broad range of drive trains and power ratings of 2 megawatts (“MW”) and higher. We provide a broad range of power electronics and software-based control systems that are highly integrated and designed for optimized performance, efficiency, and grid compatibility.
Our fiscal year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31. When we refer to a particular fiscal year, we are referring to the fiscal year beginning on April 1 of that same year. For example, fiscal 2020 refers to the fiscal year that began on April 1, 2020. Other fiscal years follow similarly.
Competitive strengths
We believe our competitive strengths position us well to execute on our growth plans in the markets we serve.
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Differentiated technologies. Our products leverage the Company’s proprietary smart materials and smart software and controls to provide enhanced resiliency and improved performance of megawatt-scale power flow. Conventional conductors of electricity, such as aluminum and copper wire, lose energy due to resistance. Using a compound of yttrium barium copper oxide (“YBCO”), we manufacture and provide high-temperature superconductor ("HTS") wire that can conduct many times more electricity than conventional conductors with minimal power loss. Our proprietary Amperium® superconductor wire was engineered to allow us to tailor the product via laminations to meet the electrical and mechanical performance requirements of widely varying end-use applications, including power cables and fault current limiters for the Grid market. Our PowerModule™ power converters are based on proprietary software and hardware combinations and are used in a broad array of applications, including our D-VAR® grid interconnection and voltage control systems, as well as our wind turbine electrical control systems. Our unique proprietary cooler technology enables our ship protection systems ("SPS") to perform in harsh environmental conditions in a quiet and efficient manner.
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Turnkey systems. We have developed full system solutions that we sell directly to customers. This business model leverages our applications expertise, drives value beyond the wire and enables us to recognize revenue and take ownership over the marketing and sales of the full systems.
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Scalable, low-cost manufacturing platform. Our manufacturing of proprietary wind turbine electrical control systems and power electronics products are primarily assembly operations with minimal fixed costs. We can increase the production of these products at costs that we believe are low relative to our competitors. Our proprietary manufacturing technique for Amperium superconductor wire is modular in nature, which allows us to expand manufacturing capacity at a relatively low incremental cost.
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Robust patent position and engineering expertise. We have an extensive portfolio of awarded patents and patent applications worldwide and have rights through exclusive and non-exclusive licenses to additional patents and patent applications worldwide. We believe our technology and manufacturing knowledge base, customer and product expertise and patent portfolio provide a strong competitive position.
• Unique solutions for the markets we serve. We believe we provide wind turbine manufacturers with a unique and integrated approach of wind turbine design and engineering, customer support services and power electronics and control systems. We also believe we are the only company in the world that is able to provide transmission planning services, grid interconnection and voltage control systems, as well as superconductor-based distribution systems for power grid operators. This unique scope of supply provides us with greater insight into our customers’ evolving needs and greater cross-selling opportunities.
Strategy
Building on these competitive strengths, we plan to focus on driving revenue growth and enhancing our operating results through the objectives defined below.
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Provide solutions from power generation to delivery. From the generation source to the distribution system, we focus on providing best-in-class engineering, support services, technologies and solutions that make the world’s power supplies smarter, cleaner and more resilient.
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Focus on “megawatt-scale” power offerings. Our research, product development, and sales efforts focus on megawatt-scale offerings ranging from designs of power electronics for large wind turbine platforms to systems that stabilize power flows, integrate renewable power into the grid and carry power to and from transmission and distribution substations.
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Product innovation. We have a strong record of developing unique solutions for megawatt-scale power applications and will continue our focus on investing in innovation. Recently, our product development efforts have included our Resilient Electric Grid ("REG") system for the electricity grid, SPS for the U.S. Navy, and D-VAR Volt Var Optimization (“VVO”).
• Provide resiliency and protection capabilities. Our products provide resiliency and protection capabilities that support an evolving power grid and protect the navy fleet from rising global threats.
• Pursue Emerging Overseas Markets and Serve Key Markets Locally. We focus our sales efforts on overseas markets that are investing aggressively in renewable energy and power grid projects. As part of our strategy, we serve our key target markets with local sales and field service personnel, which enables us to understand market dynamics and more effectively anticipate customer needs while also reducing response time. We currently serve target markets such as Australia, Canada, China, India, Korea, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Jordan, Mexico and the United States.
Grid market overview
It is widely believed that the electricity grids around the world require modernization through widespread technology upgrades if they are to maintain reliability while solving rapidly evolving challenges such as more frequent severe weather, threats of physical- and cyber-attacks, expanded renewable generation (both large and small scale) and new types of customer loads such as electric vehicles. In fact, a series of reports written by the Electric Power Research Institute ("EPRI") in 2016 emphasize the need for increased resiliency, flexibility and connectivity in electric grids. According to the EPRI reports, the number of geophysical, meteorological, hydrological, and climatological events in the U.S. rose to an all-time high of 247 events in 2010 - up from approximately 200 in 2009 and less than 200 in all years combined from 1980 to 2010. Available data further indicate that the existing U.S. electrical grid has been stressed by U.S. wind power generation increasing from 6 Gigawatts ("GW") in 2003 to 122 GW in 2020, and photovoltaics ("PV") power generation increasing from almost zero in 2003 to nearly 98 GW as of the end of 2020.
Growth in both wind power and PV is expected to continue with the vast majority of such intermittent generation sources unsupported by energy storage, placing stress on the power grid. Finally, the Edison Electric Institute estimates that the number of electric vehicles on the road in the U.S. is projected to reach 18.7 million in 2030, up from more than 1.0 million at the end of 2018. These facts and the dependence on the safety, security and economy of the electricity grid have prompted broad recognition worldwide of the need to modernize and enhance the reliability and security of power grids.
The Biden Administration’s new Energy Plan, if enacted, could positively impact the demand for our new energy power systems solutions. The new Energy Plan intends to reform and extend the tax incentives that generate energy efficiency and clean energy jobs as well as to develop financing mechanisms that leverage private sector dollars to maximize investment in the clean energy revolution. The Biden Administration plans to spur the installation of tens of thousands of wind turbines in his first term - including thousands of turbines off the U.S. coasts. We plan to seek to collaborate with top tier wind turbine manufacturers to provide new wind farm connectivity to the U.S. power grid.
The new Presidential administration also intends to spur the installation of millions of solar panels - including utility-scale, rooftop, and community solar systems. Our systems are primarily focused on addressing renewable energy installations for project developers and wind turbine manufacturers. Because solar power is dynamic and intermittently variable in nature, distribution grids will need to enhance their network’s capabilities to accommodate this new resource, while maintaining efficiency and power quality for their customers. Our systems offers electric utilities superior power quality, environmental benefits, and significant cost-savings over traditional solutions.
The President’s Energy Policy also focuses on the next generation of electric grid transmission and distribution, which has been the heart of our long-term growth strategy. We believe our new energy power systems products are well suited to address this enormous challenge.
Power grid operators worldwide face various challenges, including:
• Resiliency. As our electricity mix changes with the proliferation of renewables and distributed generation, so does the need to strengthen the electric grid. New technologies such as the addition of electric vehicles on U.S. roads and urbanization create new challenges for power grid operators.
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Stability. Power grid operators are confronting power quality and stability issues arising from intermittent renewable energy sources and from the capacity limitations of transmission and overhead distribution lines and underground cables.
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Reliability. Traditional transmission lines and cables often reach their reliable voltage stability limit well below their thermal threshold. Driving more power through a power grid when some lines and cables are operating above their voltage stability limit during times of peak demand can cause either unacceptably low voltage in the power grid (a brownout) or risk of a sudden, uncontrollable voltage collapse (a blackout).
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Capacity. The traditional way to enable increases in power grid capacity without losing voltage stability is to install more overhead power lines and underground cables. However, permitting new transmission and distribution lines can take 10 years or more due to various public policy issues, such as environmental, aesthetic, and health concerns. In urban and metropolitan areas, installing additional conventional underground copper cables is similarly challenging, since many existing underground corridors carrying power distribution cables are already filled to their physical capacity and cannot accommodate any additional conventional cables. In addition, adding new conduits requires excavation to expand existing corridors or create new corridors, which are costly and disruptive undertakings.
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Efficiency. Most overhead lines and underground cables use traditional conductors such as copper and aluminum, which lose power due to electrical resistance. At transmission voltage, electrical losses average about 7% in the United States and other developed nations, but can exceed 20% in some locations due to the distance of the line, quality of the conductor, and the power grid’s architecture and characteristics, among other factors.
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Security. Catastrophic equipment failures caused by aging equipment, physical and cyber events, and weather-related disasters can leave entire sections of an urban environment without power for hours or days. It can be difficult to recover from extended power outages in urban load centers, worsening situations where the personal safety of residents and the economic health of businesses are threatened.
Our solutions for the power quality and grid infrastructure market
We address these challenges in the grid market by providing services and solutions designed to increase the power grid’s capacity, resiliency, reliability, security and efficiency. Our solutions orchestrate the rhythm of power on the grid. Our solutions include:
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D-VAR® Systems. Our D-VAR system is a system that consists of power electronics and other static components used for controlling power flow and voltage in the AC transmission system. Our D-VAR system aims to increase controllability and power transferability of a network, which allows more effective utilization of existing assets, and reduces the need for new transmission lines and facilities to increase electricity availability. The power that flows through AC networks comprises both real power, measured in watts, and reactive power, measured in Volt Amp Reactive (“VARs”). In simple terms, reactive power is required to support voltage in the power network. D-VAR systems can provide the reactive power needed to stabilize voltage on the grid. These systems also can be used to connect wind farms and solar power plants to the power grid seamlessly as well as to protect certain industrial facilities against voltage swells and sags. Our D-VAR sales process begins with our group of experienced transmission planners working with power grid operators, renewable energy developers, and industrial system operators to identify power grid constraints and determine how our solutions might improve network performance. These services often lead to sales of grid interconnection solutions for wind farms and solar power plants, and power quality systems for utilities and heavy industrial operations.
• actiVAR® Systems. Our actiVAR system is a fast-switching medium-voltage reactive compensation solution that utilizes passive, fast-switching, and transient-free switching devices. The actiVAR mitigates voltage sags and reduces large inrush currents associated with starting large medium-voltage motors across-the-line. Large motors require significant amounts of reactive power to start. The flow of VARs across the power system network results in voltage sags which cause power quality issues to nearby utility customers, as well as a reduction in the motors ability to start. Traditional solutions to solve these problems utilize complex and costly adjustable speed drives and synchronous transfer switchgear solutions. The actiVAR replaces these items at a fraction of the cost. The solution is prevalent in the pump and compressors stations utilized in industrial industries. Our actiVAR sales process begins with the Engineering and Procurement Companies during feasibility. We identify viable projects for this solution and assist with performance and rating calculations, which eventually lead to the adaption and purchase of the actiVAR solution.
• armorVAR™ Systems. Our armorVAR systems consists of conventionally switched medium-voltage metal-enclosed capacitor banks and harmonic filters banks. These systems are installed for reactive compensation, power factor correction, loss reduction, utility bill savings, and mitigation of common power quality concerns related to power converter-based generation and load devices. They are utilized in all industries including renewables, industrial, utility, commercial, mining, and petro-chemical industries. Our armorVAR systems also support the base VAR requirements of renewable power plants and can include fully integrated D-VAR and D-VAR VVO solutions to form more advanced hybrid solutions that are more economical and easier to install.
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D-VAR VVO®. Our D-VAR VVO serves the distribution power grid market. VVO is designed to be a direct-connect 15 kilovolt class power quality system for a utility's distribution network to optimally control voltage as distribution networks are increasingly impacted by distributed generation, such as roof top and community solar. We believe VVO has the potential to save utilities time and money by avoiding costly options to increase the reliability and resiliency of the distribution grid and to allow utilities to build a “plug 'n play” network to serve the demands of modern energy consumers. Our VVO target markets are electric distribution grids incorporating distributed generation, including where utility grid modernization attributes such as the following are applicable: mandated efficiency upgrades, mass adoption of rooftop solar, community solar, utility-owned micro-grids, variable load conditions on the distribution grid and voltage regulations alternatives.
• REG Systems. Our REG system has two primary applications that increase the reliability and the capacity of the urban infrastructure. For applications focused on reliability improvement, the REG system is used in a “ring” or “loop” configuration to interconnect nearby urban substations. This enables urban utilities to share transmission connections and excess station capacity, while controlling the high fault currents that naturally result from such interconnections, providing protection against the adverse effects that follow the loss of critical substation facilities in urban areas. We believe a utility installing our REG system could double or quadruple its reliability (e.g. N-1 to N-2, or greater) by networking substations, which is a solution that utilities would generally not consider when using conventional technology due to the disruptive nature and economic disadvantages of conventional technology in urban settings. For applications focused on capacity improvement, the REG system can be used in a “branch” configuration. In this application, the REG system connects an existing large urban substation with a new, much smaller, and more simplified substation within the city at a lower cost. The smaller urban substation does not need large power transformers and takes up much less space, thereby significantly reducing real estate, construction, and other related costs in the urban area. The key component to the REG system is a breakthrough cable system that combines very high-power handling capacity with fault current limiting characteristics - features that are attributable to our proprietary Amperium HTS wire.
Marine market overview
Defense spending has increased over the past six years as the U.S. military moves to rebuild and retool for competition against other great powers. In March 2021, the Department of Defense submitted the Navy’s 2021 shipbuilding plan to Congress, covering government fiscal years 2022 to 2051, which if fully carried out, would represent the largest naval buildup since the Reagan Administration in the 1980s.
In September 2020, the Navy’s fleet numbered 290 battle force ships-aircraft carriers, submarines, surface combatants, amphibious ships, combat logistics ships, and some support ships. The Navy’s 2021 shipbuilding plan reflects its 2016 force structure assessment and sets a goal of building and maintaining a fleet of 355 battle force ships.
Since WWII, the Navy fleet has protected its warfare vessels with copper-based degaussing systems. Our HTS-based degaussing system provides world class mine protection while reducing the weight of the degaussing system by 50-80%, and reducing energy consumption.
We believe that our HTS systems are an enabling technology for the Navy in its mission to create an all-electric ship (Super Ship). Our HTS-based SPS degaussing system has been designed into the San Antonio-class amphibious warfare ship platform, starting with LPD 28. AMSC and the U.S. Navy have collaborated on AMSC’s advanced HTS-based ship protection systems. The core components of the ship protection system are common and transferable to other applications being targeted for ship implementation.
Navy fleets worldwide face various challenges, including:
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Power Capacity. Today’s Navy continues to see increased demand for more power applied from both on and off the ship (shore power). This need is driven by many factors, including the continued development of high-power density advanced weapons systems and sensors. Many power dense applications that naval engineers are working on today are already relying on the independent development of improved power distribution systems for its implementation. Free Electron Lasers, High Power Radar, Laser Self Defense Systems, Electro Magnetic Rail Guns and Active Denial (Directed Energy) systems are just a few of the Navy applications that we believe will demand higher capacity and more efficient energy transfer before deployment to a platform in the fleet can be realized.
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Space and Weight Limitations. Advances in sensors and weapons for modern ship applications are expected to drive the need for new power solutions to be light and compact, for weapons’ power draw to be more efficiently cooled and for easing installation on new ships and enabling upgrades on existing ones.
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Efficiency. Increased power demands for routine (peace time) operations are straining the conventional copper based power cable systems that are currently used. The copper cables are very heavy, cumbersome, and hard to handle. The weight of the cables requires a coordinated effort between a crew on the pier and a crew on the ship. In many instances, handling these cables requires the use of a crane or a boom truck to extend them from the pier-side power substations up to the ship’s connection point. More efficient, compact, lighter weight power transfer and distribution systems are expected to be required for tomorrow’s Navy to satisfy its future mission requirements.
Our solutions for the marine market
Each Navy ship can be thought of as having its own power grid. We provide advanced ship protection systems, power management, and power generation systems that are designed to help fleets increase system efficiencies, enhance warfare capabilities, and boost reliability, performance and security. Our systems support the Navy’s mission to “electrify the fleet”. Our systems allow for the ship to generate a large amount of electrical power and distribute the power through an in-board power system to a propulsion motor by way of a much smaller, lighter, and higher performing HTS cable system, enabling a more advanced, reliable, and secure solution with a smaller footprint. Our solutions include:
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Ship Protection Systems. The primary focus of our SPS has been degaussing systems. These systems reduce a naval ship’s magnetic signature, making it much more difficult for a mine to detect and damage a ship. Traditionally made of heavy copper wire, degaussing is required on all U.S. Navy combat ships. Our HTS advanced degaussing system is lightweight, compact, and often outperforms its conventional counterpart. This HTS system is estimated to enable 50-80% reduction in total degaussing system weight, offering significant potential for fuel savings or options to add different payloads. The core components of a degaussing system are transferable to other applications being targeted for ship implementation. Our SPS has been designed into the San Antonio class of amphibious assault vessels. We are also seeking opportunities to propagate SPS throughout the surface fleet, creating a relatively long-term revenue stream.
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In Board Power Delivery Systems. We are working on expanding HTS technology into the fleet through a variety of applications, including in board power flow and management. The Navy continues to see increased demand for more power. This need is driven by many factors, including the continued development of high power density advanced weapons systems and sensors. Many power dense applications that naval engineers are working on today are already relying on improved power distribution systems for their implementation and deployment. Free Electron Lasers, High Power Radar, Laser Self Defense Systems, Electro Magnetic Rail Guns and Active Denial (Directed Energy) systems are just a few of the Navy applications that will demand higher capacity and more efficient energy transfer before deployment to a platform in the fleet can be realized. Continued space and weight limitations for these ship applications are expected to drive the need for new power solutions to be light and compact, easing installation on new ships and enabling upgrades on existing ones. Our HTS power cables enable high density energy transfer at unsurpassed efficiency levels in a compact, lightweight package.
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Power Generation Systems. We are also working on expanding HTS technology into the fleet through a variety of applications including power generation and electric propulsion. The same HTS technology used in SPS and in board power delivery systems when applied to rotating machines results in high power density motors and generators. This enables dramatically more power to be produced in the same machinery space used for conventional systems, which in turn affords the Navy additional power for high energy density weapons without significant structural changes to the ship.
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Propulsion systems. Our development work in power generation systems for the Navy extends to HTS-based electric power propulsion. In board power delivery systems and power generation systems, when applied to high power density motors, enable the transition to electric propulsion. This is expected to make new ships more fuel-efficient. Our technology and systems allow the Navy to free up space for additional war-fighting capability.
Wind market overview
The global energy mix is transitioning towards an increasing amount of renewable energy, including wind power. Wind power is unlimited in supply and its generation is a zero-emission process. Wind power has become a major pillar of power supply throughout the world. Wind power is expected to play a key role in the achievement of the objectives of the Paris Climate Change agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.
According to GlobalData, a research firm, approximately 84 GW of wind generation capacity were added worldwide in calendar 2020, as compared to 59 GW in calendar 2019. GlobalData anticipates that more than 87 GW of additional capacity will be added in 2021.
According to GlobalData, annual wind installations in India for calendar 2020 were 1.7 GW and for calendar 2021 are estimated to be 3 GW.
Several factors are expected to drive the future growth in the wind power market, including substantial government incentives and mandates that have been established globally, technological improvements, turbine cost reductions, the development of the offshore wind market, and increasing cost competitiveness with existing power generation technologies. Technological advances, declining turbine production cost and fluctuating prices for some fossil fuels continue to increase the competitiveness of wind versus traditional power generation technologies.
Our solutions for the wind market
We address the challenges of the wind power market by designing and engineering wind turbines, providing extensive support services to wind turbine manufacturers, and manufacturing and selling critical components for wind turbines.
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Electrical Control Systems. We provide full electrical control systems (“ECS”) to manufacturers of wind turbines designed by us. Our ECS regulate voltage, control power flows and maximize wind turbine efficiency, among other functions. To date, we have shipped enough core electrical components and complete ECS to power over 16,000 Megawatts (“MW”) of wind power. We believe our ECS represent approximately 5-10% of a wind turbine’s bill of materials.
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Wind Turbine Designs. We design and develop entire state-of-the-art onshore and offshore wind turbines with power ratings of 2 MWs and higher for manufacturers who are in the business of producing wind turbines or who plan to enter the business of manufacturing wind turbines. These customers typically pay us licensing fees, and in some cases royalties, for wind turbine designs, and purchase from us the ECS needed to operate the wind turbines.
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Customer Support Services. We provide extensive customer support services to wind turbine manufacturers. These services range from providing designs for customers’ wind turbine manufacturing plants to establishing and localizing their supply chains and training their employees on proper wind turbine installation and maintenance. We believe these services enable customers to accelerate their entry into the wind turbine manufacturing market and lower the cost of their wind turbine platforms.
Our approach to the wind energy markets allows our customers to use our world-class turbine engineering capabilities while minimizing their research and development costs. These services and our advanced ECS provide our customers with the ability to produce standardized or next-generation wind turbines at scale for their local market or the global market quickly and cost-effectively. Our team of highly experienced engineers works with clients to customize turbine designs specifically tailored to local markets while providing ongoing access to field services support and future technological advances.
Customers
We serve customers globally through a localized sales and field service presence in our core target markets. We have served over 100 customers in the grid market since our inception, including Commonwealth Edison, YMC Incorporated, the U.S. Navy, SSE plc in the United Kingdom, Consolidated Power Projects (Pty) Ltd in South Africa, Fuji Bridex in Singapore, Vestas Wind Systems A/S in Denmark, and Ergon Energy in Australia. Additionally, our sales personnel in the United States are supported by manufacturers' sales representatives. We have designed wind turbines for and licensed wind turbine designs to wind turbine manufacturing customers including Inox Wind Limited ("Inox") in India and Doosan Heavy Industries (“Doosan”) in Korea.
In fiscal 2020, EPC Services Company accounted for 13% of our total revenues. In fiscal 2019, Department of Homeland Security accounted for 10% of our total revenues. In fiscal 2018, Inox accounted for 34% of total revenues. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of our total revenues in each of fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018.
Facilities and Manufacturing
Our primary facilities and their primary functions are as follows:
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Ayer, Massachusetts - Corporate headquarters; Grid and Wind segment manufacturing, and research and development
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Westminster, Massachusetts - Grid segment manufacturing
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Pewaukee, Wisconsin - Grid segment research and development
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Richland, Washington - Grid segment research and development
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Klagenfurt, Austria -Wind segment project engineering, customer support and research and development
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Queensbury, New York - Grid segment manufacturing
• New Milford, Connecticut - Grid segment manufacturing
Our global footprint also includes sales and/or field service offices in Australia, India, South Korea, the United Kingdom and McLean, VA. During fiscal 2020 we closed facilities in Romania and China following the move of our Wind manufacturing to corporate headquarters.
The principal raw materials used in the manufacture of the Company’s products are nickel, silver, yttruim, copper, brass, and stainless steel. Major components are insulated gate bi-polar transistors, heatsinks, inductors, enclosures, transformers, and printed circuit boards. Most of these raw materials are available from multiple sources in the United States and world markets. Generally, the Company believes that adequate alternative sources are available for the majority of its key raw material and purchased component needs, however, the Company is dependent on a single or limited number of suppliers for certain materials and components.
Sales and Marketing
Our strategy is to serve customers locally in our core target markets through a direct sales force operating out of sales offices worldwide. In addition, we utilize manufacturers’ sales representatives in the United States and Canada to market our products to utilities in North America. The sales force also leverages business development staff for our various offerings as well as our team of wind turbine engineers and power grid transmission planners, all of whom help to ensure that we have an in-depth understanding of customer needs and provide cost-effective solutions for those needs.
Segments
We segment our operations into two market-facing business units: Grid and Wind. We believe this market-centric structure enables us to more effectively anticipate and meet the needs of power generation project developers, the Navy's ship protection systems, electric utilities and wind turbine manufacturers.
Competition
We face competition in various aspects of our technology and product development. We believe that competitive performance in the marketplace depends upon several factors, including technical innovation, range of products and services, product quality and reliability, customer service and technical support.
We face competition from other companies offering FACTS systems similar to our D-VAR products. These include adaptive VAR compensators, Dynamic voltage restorers (“DVRs”), and STATCOMs produced by ABB, Siemens, RXHK, NR Electric Co,. and Ingeteam, and battery-based uninterruptable power supply (“UPS”) systems offered by various companies around the world.
With our HTS-based REG product, we are offering a new approach that provides alternatives to utilities for power system design. Therefore, we believe that we compete with traditional approaches such as new full-sized substations, overhead and underground transmission, and urban power transformers.
We believe we are currently the only company that can offer HTS-based SPS products that have been fully qualified for use aboard U.S. Navy surface combatants. Therefore, the primary competition for our SPS products is currently coming from defense contractors that provide the copper-based systems that our lighter, more efficient HTS versions have been developed to replace. Companies such as L3, Excelis, Raytheon, and Textron have the bulk of the copper-based business today.
Our power module conversion equipment and our electrical control systems are designed and integrated into our wind turbine designs in a way to achieve maximum performance of the turbine. Typically, we are the exclusive provider of the power module conversion equipment and electrical control systems for our wind turbine designs. As a result, our power conversion equipment and electrical control systems see limited competition. Other companies that serve the wind turbine components industry include ABB, and Semikron. We also face indirect competition in the wind energy market from global manufacturers of wind turbines, such as Siemens Gamesa, General Electric, and Suzlon. We face competition for the supply of wind turbine engineering design services from design engineering firms such as Aerodyn.
Patents, licenses and trade secrets
Patent Background
An important part of our business strategy is to develop a strong worldwide patent position in all of our technology areas. Our intellectual property (“IP”) portfolio includes both patents we own and patents we license from others. We devote substantial resources to building a strong patent position. Together with the international counterparts of our patents and patent applications, we own an extensive portfolio of patents and patent applications worldwide and have rights through exclusive and non-exclusive licenses. We believe that our current patent position, together with our ability to obtain licenses from other parties to the extent necessary, will provide us with sufficient proprietary rights to develop and sell our products. However, for the reasons described below, we cannot assure you that this will be the case.
Despite the strength of our patent position, a number of U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications of third parties relate to our current products, to products we are developing, or to technology we are now using in the development or production of our products. We may need to acquire licenses to those patents, contest the scope or validity of those patents, or design around patented processes or products as necessary. If companies holding patents or patent applications that we need to license are competitors, we believe the strength of our patent portfolio will improve our ability to enter into license or cross-license arrangements with these companies. We have already successfully negotiated cross-licenses with several competitors.
Failure to obtain all necessary patents, licenses and other IP rights upon reasonable terms could significantly reduce the scope of our business and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. We do not now know the likelihood of successfully contesting the scope or validity of patents held by others. In any event, we could incur substantial costs in challenging the patents of other companies. Moreover, third parties could challenge some of our patents or patent applications, and we could incur substantial costs in defending the scope and validity of our own patents or patent applications whether or not a challenge is ultimately successful.
Grid Patents
We have received patents and filed a significant number of additional patent applications on power quality and reliability systems, including our D-VAR products. Our products are covered by patents and patents pending worldwide on both our systems and power converter products. The patents and applications focus on inventions that significantly improve product performance and reduce product costs, thereby providing a competitive advantage.
HTS Patents
Since the discovery of high temperature superconductors in 1986, rapid technical advances have characterized the HTS industry, which in turn have resulted in a large number of patents, including overlapping patents, relating to superconductivity. As a result, the patent situation in the field of HTS technology and products is unusually complex. We have obtained licenses to patents and patent applications covering some HTS materials. We currently have non-exclusive rights to a fundamental U.S. patent (U.S. 8,060,169 B1) covering 2G and similar HTS wire and applications and may elect in the future to allow our rights under this license to lapse. However, we may have to obtain additional licenses to HTS materials.
We are focusing on the production of our Amperium wire, and we intend to continue to maintain a leadership position in 2G HTS wire through a combination of patents, licenses and proprietary expertise. In addition to our owned patents and patent applications in 2G HTS wire, we have obtained licenses from (i) MIT for the MOD process we use to deposit the YBCO layer, and (ii) Alcatel-Lucent on the YBCO material.
We have extensive patents and patents pending covering applications of HTS wire, such as HTS fault current limiting technology including our fault current limiting cable, HTS rotating machines and ship protection systems. Since the superconductor rotating machine and the fault current limiting cable applications are relatively new, we believe that we have a particularly strong patent position in these areas. At present, we believe we have the world’s broadest and most fundamental patent position in superconductor rotating machines technology. We have also filed a series of patents on our concept for our proprietary fault current limiting technology. However, there can be no assurance that that these patents will be sufficient to assure our freedom of action in these fields without further licensing from others. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” for more information regarding the status of the commercialization of our Amperium wire products.
Wind Patents
Under our Windtec™ Solutions brand, we design a variety of wind turbine systems and license these designs, including expertise and patent rights, to third parties for an upfront fee, plus in some cases, future royalties. Our wind turbine designs are covered by patents and patents pending worldwide on wind turbine technology. We have patent coverage on the unique design features of our blade pitch control system, which ensures optimal aerodynamic flow conditions on the turbine blades and improves system efficiency and performance. The pitch system includes a patented SafetyLOCK™ feature that causes the blades to rotate to a feathered position to prevent the rotor blades from spinning during a fault.
Trade Secrets
Some of the important technology used in our operations and products is not covered by any patent or patent application owned by or licensed to us. However, we take steps to maintain the confidentiality of this technology by requiring all employees and all consultants to sign confidentiality agreements and by limiting access to confidential information. We cannot provide any assurance that these measures will prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of that information. In addition, we cannot provide any assurance that others, including our competitors, will not independently develop the same or comparable technology that is one of our trade secrets.
Human Capital
We provide a safe and positive work environment for our employees that emphasizes respect for individuals and high standards of integrity. The health and safety of our employees is of utmost importance to us. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken proactive measures to safeguard our employees and their families and the communities in which we live and work. We implemented social distancing policies at our locations around the world, maintained rigorous cleaning schedules, enabled non-manufacturing personnel to work from home and suspended all unnecessary local and international business travel. Recognizing and respecting our global presence, we strive to maintain a diverse and inclusive workforce everywhere we operate. As of March 31, 2021, we employed 225 persons. None of our employees is represented by a labor union.
We believe our employees are the foundation of our success and that our future growth depends, in part, on our ability to continue to attract and retain the best and brightest talent, including key management professionals, scientists, engineers, researchers, manufacturing personnel, and marketing and sales professionals. In order for us to attract the best talent, we provide a collaborative, inclusive and innovative work environment, competitive compensation, and opportunities for our employees to grow. We are focused on continuing to build an inclusive culture that inspires leadership, encourages innovative thinking, and supports the development and advancement of all.
Our human capital management objectives include attracting, incentivizing, and integrating our existing and future employees. We strive to attract and retain talented employees by offering competitive compensation and benefits that support their health and financial well-being. We use a combination of fixed and variable pay including base salary, bonuses, performance awards and stock-based compensation. The principal purposes of our equity incentive plans are to attract, retain and motivate employees through the granting of stock-based compensation awards. We offer employees benefits that vary by country and are designed to address local laws and cultures and to be competitive in the marketplace.
Available information
Our internet address is www.amsc.com. We are not including the information contained in our website as part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this document. We make available, free of charge, through our website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish such materials to, the SEC.
We intend to disclose on our website any amendments to, or waivers of, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that are required to be disclosed pursuant to the SEC or the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC.
Information about our Executive Officers
The table and biographical summaries set forth below contain information with respect to our executive officers as of the date of this filing:
Name
Age
Position
Daniel P. McGahn
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
John W. Kosiba, Jr.
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Daniel P. McGahn joined us in December 2006 and has been chief executive officer and a member of our board of directors since June 2011 and chairman of the board since July 2018. He previously served as president and chief operating officer from December 2009 to June 2011, as senior vice president and general manager of our AMSC Superconductors business unit from April 2008 until December 2009, as vice president of our AMSC Superconductors business unit from March 2007 to April 2008 and as vice president of strategic planning and development from December 2006 to March 2007. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. McGahn served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Konarka Technologies. We believe Mr. McGahn’s qualifications to sit on our board of directors include his extensive experience with our company, including serving as our president since 2009, experience in the power electronics industry and strategic planning expertise gained while working in senior management as a consultant for other public and private companies.
John W. Kosiba, Jr. was appointed senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer effective April 4, 2017. Mr. Kosiba joined us as managing director, finance operations, in June 2010. He then served as vice president, finance operations, from September 2011 to May 2013. Prior to his appointment as senior vice president and chief financial officer, Mr. Kosiba served most recently as senior vice president, Gridtec solutions and finance operations, where he was responsible for (i) overseeing finance and accounting operations, budgeting, strategic planning and financial planning and analysis for the company, and (ii) managing the day-to-day business operations of our Gridtec solutions’ business segment. From January 2008 until June 2010, Mr. Kosiba served as division director and controller of Amphenol Aerospace, a division of Amphenol Corporation and a manufacturer of interconnect products for the military, commercial aerospace and industrial markets. In this role, Mr. Kosiba was responsible for overseeing finance, accounting, budgeting, audit and all aspects of financial planning and analysis for the division.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A.
RISK FACTORS
Risks Related to Our Financial Performance
We have a history of operating losses, which may continue in the future. Our operating results may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and may fall below expectations in any particular fiscal quarter.
We were not profitable in fiscal 2020 and have recorded net losses in two of the last three fiscal years. While we did report net income of $26.8 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, it was largely as a result of the receipt of payments from Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement described further herein. We may not be profitable in fiscal 2021 or future years.
There is currently substantial uncertainty in our business, which makes it difficult to evaluate our business and future prospects. In addition, our operating results historically have been difficult to predict and have at times fluctuated from quarter to quarter due to a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control. As a result of all of these factors, comparing our operating results on a period-to-period basis may not be meaningful, and you should not rely on our past results as an indication of our future performance. In addition, we have in the past, and may continue to, provide public guidance on our expected operating and financial results for future periods. Such guidance is comprised of forward-looking statements subject to the risks and uncertainties described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other public filings and statements. Our actual results may not always be in line with or exceed the guidance we have provided. If our revenue or operating results fall below the expectations of investors or any securities analysts that follow our company in any period or we do not meet our guidance, the trading price of our common stock would likely decline.
Our operating expenses do not always vary directly with revenue and may be difficult to adjust in the short term. As a result, if revenue for a particular quarter is below our expectations, we may not be able to proportionately reduce operating expenses for that quarter, and therefore such a revenue shortfall would have a disproportionate effect on our operating results for that quarter.
We have a history of negative operating cash flows, and we may require additional financing in the future, which may not be available to us.
As of March 31, 2021, we had approximately $80.7 million of cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash, and during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, we used $8.7 million in cash for our operating activities. We have historically experienced net losses, although we did report net income of $26.8 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019. We plan to continue to closely monitor our expenses and, if required, will further reduce operating costs and capital spending to enhance liquidity.
Our liquidity is highly dependent on our ability to profitably grow our revenues, control our operating costs, and secure additional financing, if required. We may require additional capital to conduct our business and adequately respond to future business challenges or opportunities, including, but not limited to, the need to develop new products or enhance existing products, maintain or expand research and development projects, collateralize performance bonds or letters of credit, and the need to build inventory or to invest other cash to support business growth. In order to raise additional capital, we may offer shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of each of our existing stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders.
In the event that additional liquidity is required, there can be no assurance that such financing would be available or, if available, that such financing could be obtained upon terms acceptable to us, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and prospects.
We may be required to issue performance bonds or provide letters of credit, which restricts our ability to access any cash used as collateral for the bonds or letters of credit.
While we have been required to provide performance bonds in the form of surety bonds or other forms of security and letters of credit in the past, the size of the bonds and letters of credit was not material. In recent years, we have entered into contracts that require us to post bonds and to deliver letters of credit of significant magnitude. For example, as part of the agreement with Commonwealth Edison Company (“ComEd”) to install the Resilient Electric Grid (“REG”) system in Chicago, we delivered an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount of $5.0 million to secure certain of our obligations under the Subcontract Agreement and deposited $5.0 million in an escrow account as collateral to secure such letter of credit. Similarly, in many other instances, we have been required to deposit cash in escrow accounts as collateral for these instruments, which is unavailable to us for general use for significant periods of time. Should we be unable to obtain performance bonds or letters of credit in the future, significant future potential revenue could become unavailable to us. Further, should our working capital situation deteriorate, we would not be able to access the restricted cash to meet working capital requirements.
Changes in exchange rates could adversely affect our results of operations.
Currency exchange rate fluctuations could have an adverse effect on our revenues and results of operations, and we could experience losses with respect to hedging activities. In fiscal 2020, 41% of our revenues were recognized from sales outside of the United States. In addition, approximately 17% of our revenues in fiscal 2020 were derived under sales contracts where prices were denominated in the Euro. Unfavorable currency fluctuations could require us to increase prices to foreign customers, which could result in a lesser number of orders, and therefore lower revenues, from such customers. Alternatively, if we do not adjust the prices for our products in response to unfavorable currency fluctuations, our results of operations could be adversely affected. In addition, most sales made by our foreign subsidiaries are denominated in the currency of the country in which these products are sold, and the currency they receive in payment for such sales could be less valuable at the time of receipt as a result of exchange rate fluctuations. However, we cannot be certain that our efforts will be adequate to protect us against significant currency fluctuations or that such efforts will not expose us to additional exchange rate risks.
If we fail to maintain proper and effective internal control over financial reporting, our ability to produce accurate and timely financial statements could be impaired and may lead investors and other users to lose confidence in our financial data.
Maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to produce reliable financial statements. In the quarter ended December 31, 2020, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
In connection with the preparation of our financial statements for the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, we identified that a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting existed, relating to our failure to maintain proper controls, processes and procedures over the initial purchase accounting and the continuing fair value accounting associated with the acquisition of Northeast Power Systems, Inc. (“NEPSI”) and related assets (the “NEPSI Acquisition”) that were adequately designed, documented and executed to support the accurate and timely reporting of our financial results. Specifically, the modeling assumptions and the calculation performed by our third-party valuation specialist as it relates to fair value accounting for contingent consideration on the purchase accounting for the NEPSI Acquisition included errors resulting in a $1.3 million overstatement in both the fair value of the earnout payment and the preliminary estimated purchase price paid to NEPSI that we failed to detect, which were reflected in Exhibit 99.3 of our Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on December 14, 2020. Subsequently, we made post-closing adjustments necessary to properly reflect the fair value of the contingent consideration liability in the financial statements.
Our management, with the oversight of our audit committee, took additional measures to remediate the underlying causes of the material weakness, which included the development and implementation of new procedures, policies, and processes, including revising precision level of management review controls and gaining additional assurance regarding timely completion of our outside service providers’ quality control procedures. Although the material weakness was remediated during the quarter ended March 31, 2021, if our remedial measures are insufficient to address the material weakness, or if additional material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting are discovered or occur in the future, our consolidated financial statements may contain material misstatements and we could be required to restate our financial results.
If we are unable to maintain effective internal controls, we may not have adequate, accurate or timely financial information, and we may be unable to meet our reporting obligations or comply with the requirements of the SEC or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which could result in the imposition of sanctions, including the inability of registered broker dealers to make a market in our common stock, or an investigation by regulatory authorities. Any such action or other negative results caused by our inability to meet our reporting requirements or to comply with legal and regulatory requirements or by our disclosure of an accounting, reporting or control issue could adversely affect the trading price of our securities and our business. Significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting could also reduce our ability to obtain financing or could increase the cost of any financing we obtain.
Risks Related to Our Operations
We may not realize all of the sales expected from our backlog of orders and contracts.
We cannot assure you that we will realize the revenue we expect to generate from our backlog in the periods we expect to realize such revenue, or at all.
In addition, the backlog of orders, if realized, may not result in profitable revenue. Backlog represents the value of contracts and purchase orders received for which delivery is expected in the next twelve months. Our customers have the right under some circumstances and with some penalties or consequences to terminate, reduce or defer firm orders that we have in backlog. In addition, our government contracts are subject to the risks described below. If our customers terminate, reduce or defer firm orders, we may be protected from certain costs and losses, but our sales will nevertheless be adversely affected, and we may not generate the revenue we expect.
Although we strive to maintain ongoing relationships with our customers, there is an ongoing risk that they may cancel orders or reschedule orders due to fluctuations in their business needs or purchasing budgets.
This has had, and may continue to have, an adverse effect on our ability to grow our revenues. In addition, current and future suppliers may be less likely to grant us credit, resulting in a negative impact on our working capital and cash flows.
Our contracts with the U.S. government are subject to audit, modification or termination by the U.S. government and include certain other provisions in favor of the government. The continued funding of such contracts remains subject to annual congressional appropriation, which, if not approved, could reduce our revenue and lower or eliminate our profit.
As a company that contracts with the U.S. government, we are subject to financial audits and other reviews by the U.S. government of our costs and performance, accounting, and general business practices relating to these contracts. Based on the results of these audits, the U.S. government may adjust our contract-related costs and fees. We cannot be certain that adjustments arising from government audits and reviews would not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Our U.S. government contracts customarily contain other provisions that give the government substantial rights and remedies, many of which are not typically found in commercial contracts, including provisions that allow the government to:
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obtain certain rights to the intellectual property that we develop under the contract;
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decline to award future contracts if actual or apparent organizational conflicts of interest are discovered, or to impose organizational conflict mitigation measures as a condition of eligibility for an award;
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suspend or debar us from doing business with the government or a specific government agency; and
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pursue criminal or civil remedies under the False Claims Act, False Statements Act and similar remedy provisions unique to government contracting.
All of our U.S. government contracts, as well as certain of our contracts with third parties that are dependent on U.S. government contracts, can be terminated by the U.S. government for its convenience, including our contract with the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) to deploy our REG system in ComEd’s electric grid in Chicago, Illinois (“Project REG”). Termination-for-convenience provisions typically provide only for our recovery of costs incurred or committed, and for settlement of expenses and profit on work completed prior to termination. In addition to the right of the U.S. government to terminate its contracts with us, U.S. government contracts are conditioned upon the continuing approval by the U.S. Congress of the necessary spending to honor such contracts. Congress often appropriates funds for a program on a fiscal year basis even though contract performance may take more than one year. Consequently, at the beginning of many major governmental programs, contracts often may not be fully funded, and additional monies are then committed to the contract only if, as and when appropriations are made by the U.S. Congress for future fiscal years. In addition, government shutdowns could prevent or delay such contracts from being funded.
We cannot be certain that our U.S. government contracts, including our contract for Project REG, or our contracts with third parties that relate to projects for the U.S. government will not be terminated or suspended in the future. The U.S. government’s termination of, or failure to fully fund, one or more of our contracts would have a negative impact on our operating results and financial condition. Further, in the event that any of our government contracts are terminated for cause, it could affect our ability to obtain future government contracts which could, in turn, seriously harm our ability to develop our technologies and products.
The COVID-19 pandemic could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Since March 2020, COVID-19 has spread throughout the globe, including in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where our headquarters are located, and in other areas where we have business operations. In response to the outbreak, we have followed the guidelines of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") and applicable state government authorities to protect the health and safety of our employees, their families, our suppliers, our customers and our communities. While these existing measures, and COVID-19 generally, have not materially disrupted our business to date, any future actions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic may result in disruption to our business.
Our suppliers may become adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, we could face delays or difficulty sourcing products, which could negatively affect our business and financial results. Even if we are able to find alternate sources for such products, they may cost more, which could adversely impact our profitability and financial condition.
Inox’s ability to perform under the supply contract has been and may continue to be hampered by the prolonged impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our other customers may become adversely impacted by the prolonged impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the deterioration in economic conditions, our customers and potential customers may reduce demand for our products, decrease their spending or reconsider orders, all of which would adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve. The extent to which the outbreak impacts our business, liquidity, results of operations and financial condition will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the pandemic, the location, duration and magnitude of future waves of infection, new mutations of the virus, timing, effectiveness and adoption of vaccines, travel restrictions and social distancing in the United States and other countries, the duration and extent of business closures or business disruptions and the effectiveness of actions taken to contain and treat the disease. If we, our customers or suppliers experience prolonged shutdowns or other business disruptions, our business, liquidity, results of operations and financial condition and the trading price of our common stock are likely to be materially adversely affected, and our ability to access the capital markets may be limited.
Changes in U.S. Government Defense Spending Could Negatively Impact Our Financial Position, Results of Operations, Liquidity and Overall Business.
We have several contracts with the U.S. government, including defense-related programs with the U.S. Department of Defense. Changes in U.S. government defense spending for various reasons, including as a result of potential changes in policy positions or priorities that may result from the recent U.S. presidential and congressional election, could negatively impact our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. Our programs are subject to U.S. government policies, budget decisions and appropriation processes which are driven by numerous factors including: (1) geopolitical events; (2) macroeconomic conditions; and (3) the ability of the U.S. government to enact relevant legislation, such as appropriations bills. In recent years, U.S. government appropriations have been affected by larger U.S. government budgetary issues and related legislation. In prior years, the U.S. government has been unable to timely complete its budget process before the end of its fiscal year, resulting in governmental shut-downs or providing only enough funds for U.S. government agencies to continue operating at prior-year levels. Significant changes in U.S. government defense spending or changes in U.S. government priorities, policies and requirements could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
We rely upon third-party suppliers for the components and subassemblies of many of our Grid and Wind products, making us vulnerable to supply shortages and price fluctuations, which could harm our business.
Many of our components and subassemblies are currently manufactured for us by a limited number of qualified suppliers. Any interruption in the supply of components or subassemblies, or our inability to obtain substitute components or subassemblies from alternate sources at acceptable prices in a timely manner, could impair our ability to meet the demand of our customers, which would have an adverse effect on our business and operating results.
In order to minimize costs and time to market, we have and will continue to identify local suppliers that meet our quality standards to produce certain of our subassemblies and components. These efforts may not be successful. In addition, any event which negatively impacts our supply, including, among others, wars, terrorist activities, natural disasters and outbreaks of infectious disease, including the COVID-19 pandemic, could delay or suspend shipments of products or the release of new products or could result in the delivery of inferior products. Our revenues from the affected products would decline or we could incur losses until such time as we are able to restore our production processes or put in place alternative contract manufacturers or suppliers. Even though we carry business interruption insurance policies, we may suffer losses as a result of business interruptions that exceed the coverage available under our insurance policies.
Uncertainty surrounding our prospects and financial condition may have an adverse effect on our customer and supplier relationships.
Our relationships with our customers and suppliers are predicated on the belief that we will continue to operate. Our customers, particularly in the utility industry, are generally risk averse and may not enter into sales contracts with us if there is uncertainty regarding our ability to support working capital needs of large-scale projects.
We may experience difficulties re-establishing our HTS wire production capability in our Ayer, Massachusetts facility.
As part of our effort to increase manufacturing efficiency, we moved from our former manufacturing facility located in Devens, Massachusetts to our smaller-scale leased facility located in Ayer, Massachusetts. Moving our HTS wire manufacturing operations to a different plant involves various risks, including the inability to commence HTS wire manufacturing within the cost and time frame estimated and the inability to produce a high-quality product with an acceptable yield and cost. Failure to successfully commence the manufacturing of our HTS wire due to these and other unforeseen risks could adversely affect our ability to meet customer demand for our products and could increase the cost of production versus projections, both of which could adversely impact our operating and financial results.
Our success is dependent upon attracting and retaining qualified personnel and our inability to do so could significantly damage our business and prospects.
We have attracted a highly skilled management team and specialized workforce, including scientists, engineers, researchers, manufacturing, personnel, and marketing and sales professionals. Hiring and retaining good personnel for our business is challenging, and highly qualified technical personnel are likely to remain a limited resource for the foreseeable future. We may not be able to hire the necessary personnel to implement our business strategy. In addition, we may need to provide higher compensation or more training to our personnel than we currently anticipate. Moreover, any officer or employee can terminate his or her relationship with us at any time. Losing the services of any of our executive officers or key employees could materially and adversely impact our business.
Historically, a significant portion of our revenues have been derived from a single customer. If this customer’s business is negatively affected, it could adversely impact our business.
Revenues from Inox are supported by a supply contract to purchase, and a license to make, use and supply, wind turbine ECS. Inox has been active in the new central and state government auction regime in India and has over 1,350 MW of orders from the first four Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (“SECI”) central government auctions, and 50 MW from the Maharashtra state government auction. However, we cannot predict if and how successful Inox will be in executing on these orders or in obtaining new orders under the new central and state auction regime. In addition, Inox’s ability to perform under the supply contract has been and may continue to be hampered by the prolonged impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, India’s manufacturing facilities have been closed at the direction of India’s government and are expected to remain closed for so long as the impacted regions remain highly affected by COVID-19. Any failure by Inox to succeed under this regime, or any delay in Inox’s ability to deliver its wind turbines, could result in fewer ECS shipments to Inox. Inox has historically failed to post letters of credit and take delivery of forecasted ECS quantities. If Inox again fails to post letters of credit and take delivery of forecasted ECS quantities, cancels, does not otherwise fully perform under the supply contract or discontinues future purchases from us under the supply contract, then our business, operating results and financial position could be adversely affected.
Our success in addressing the wind energy market is dependent on the manufacturers that license our designs.
Because an important element of our strategy for addressing the wind energy market involves the license of our wind turbine designs to manufacturers of those systems, the financial benefits to us from our products for the wind energy market are dependent on the success of these manufacturers in selling wind turbines based on our designs. We may not be able to enter into marketing or distribution arrangements with third parties on financially acceptable terms, or at all, and third parties may not be successful in selling our products or applications incorporating our products.
Our business and operations would be adversely impacted in the event of a failure or security breach of our information technology infrastructure.
We rely upon the capacity, reliability, and security of our information technology hardware and software infrastructure and our ability to expand and update this infrastructure in response to our changing needs. Any failure to manage, expand, and update our information technology infrastructure or any failure in the operation of this infrastructure could harm our business. In addition, the costs associated with updating and securing our information technology infrastructure are likely to increase as such security measures become more complex, which may harm our operating results and financial condition.
Despite our implementation of security measures, our systems are vulnerable to damages from computer viruses, natural disasters, unauthorized access and other similar disruptions. Our business is also subject to break-ins, sabotage, and intentional acts of vandalism by third parties as well as employees. Our business activities in China may increase our risks to such breaches. Any system failure, accident, or security breach could result in disruptions to our operations. To the extent that any disruption or security breach results in a loss or damage to our data, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential information, it could harm our reputation, result in substantial remediation costs, lead to lost revenues and litigation, increase our insurance premiums and have other adverse effects on our business.
Failure to comply with evolving data privacy and data protection laws and regulations or to otherwise protect personal data, may adversely impact our business and financial results.
We are subject to many rapidly evolving privacy and data protection laws and regulations in Europe and around the world. This requires us to operate in a complex environment where there are significant constraints on how we can process personal data across our business. The European General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”), which became effective in May 2018, has established stringent data protection requirements for companies doing business in or handling personal data of individuals in the European Union. The GDPR imposes obligations on data controllers and processors including the requirement to maintain a record of their data processing and to implement policies and procedures as part of their mandated privacy governance framework. Breaches of the GDPR could result in substantial fines, which in some cases could be up to four percent of our worldwide revenue. In addition, a breach of the GDPR or other data privacy or data protection laws or regulations could result in regulatory investigations, reputational damage, orders to cease/change our use of data, enforcement notices, as well potential civil claims including class action type litigation. There is a risk that we may be subject to fines and penalties, litigation and reputational harm if we fail to properly process or protect the data or privacy of third parties or comply with the GDPR, CCPA or other applicable data privacy and data protection regimes.
Many of our revenue opportunities are dependent upon subcontractors and other business collaborators.
Many of the revenue opportunities for our business involve projects, such as the installation of superconductor cables in power grids and electrical system hardware in wind turbines, in which we collaborate with other companies, including suppliers of cryogenic systems, manufacturers of electric power cables and manufacturers of wind turbines. As a result, most of our current and planned revenue-generating projects involve business collaborators on whose performance our revenue is dependent. If these business collaborators fail to deliver their products or perform their obligations on a timely basis or fail to generate sufficient demand for the systems they manufacture, our revenue from the project may be delayed or decreased, and we may not be successful in selling our products.
If we fail to implement our business strategy successfully, our financial performance could be harmed.
Our future financial performance and success are dependent in large part upon our ability to implement our business strategy successfully. Our business strategy envisions several initiatives, including driving revenue growth and enhancing operating results by increasing customer adoption of our products by targeting high-growth segments with commercial and system-level products. We may not be able to implement our business strategy successfully or achieve the anticipated benefits of our business plan. If we are unable to do so, our long-term growth and profitability may be adversely affected. Even if we are able to implement some or all of the initiatives of our business plan successfully, our operating results may not improve to the extent we anticipate, or at all. In addition, to the extent we have misjudged the nature and extent of industry trends or our competition, we may have difficulty in achieving our strategic objectives. Any failure to implement our business strategy successfully may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we may decide to alter or discontinue certain aspects of our business strategy at any time.
Our ability to implement our business strategy could also be affected by a number of factors beyond our control, such as increased competition, legal developments, government regulation, general economic conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, or increased operating costs or expenses.
Problems with product quality or product performance may cause us to incur warranty expenses and may damage our market reputation and prevent us from achieving increased sales and market share.
Consistent with customary practice in our industry, we guarantee our products and/or services to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service. We generally provide a one- to three-year warranty on our products, commencing upon installation. A provision is recorded upon revenue recognition to cost of revenues for estimated warranty expense based on historical experience. The possibility of future product failures or issues related to services we provided could cause us to incur substantial expenses to repair or replace defective products or re-perform such services potentially in excess of our reserves. Furthermore, widespread product failures may damage our market reputation and reduce our market share and cause sales to decline.
Many of our customers outside of the United States may be either directly or indirectly related to governmental entities, and we could be adversely affected by violations of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar worldwide anti-bribery laws outside the United States.
The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar worldwide anti-bribery laws in non-U.S. jurisdictions generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to non-U.S. officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Many of our customers outside of the United States are, either directly or indirectly, related to governmental entities and are therefore subject to such anti-bribery laws. Our policies mandate compliance with these anti-bribery laws. We operate in many parts of the world that have experienced governmental corruption to some degree, and in certain circumstances strict compliance with anti-bribery laws may conflict with local customs and practices. Our internal control policies and procedures may not always protect us from reckless or criminal acts committed by our employees or agents. Violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We have had limited success marketing and selling our superconductor products and system-level solutions, and our failure to more broadly market and sell our products and solutions could lower our revenue and cash flow.
To date, we have had limited success marketing and selling our superconductor products and system-level solutions. Once our products and solutions are ready for widespread commercial use, we will have to develop a marketing and sales organization that will effectively demonstrate the advantages of our products over more traditional products, competing superconductor products and other technologies. We may not be successful in our efforts to market this technology and we may not be able to establish an effective sales and distribution organization.
We may decide to enter into arrangements with third parties for the marketing or distribution of our products, including arrangements in which our products, such as Amperium wire, are included as a component of a larger product, such as a power cable system. By entering into marketing and sales alliances, the financial benefits to us of commercializing our products will be dependent on the efforts of others.
We may acquire additional complementary businesses or technologies, which may require us to incur substantial costs for which we may never realize the anticipated benefits.
Our recent acquisitions require substantial integration and management efforts. As a result of any additional acquisition we pursue, management’s attention and resources may be further diverted from our other businesses. An acquisition may also involve the payment of a significant purchase price, which could reduce our cash position or dilute our stockholders and require significant transaction-related expenses.
Achieving the benefits of any acquisition involves additional risks, including:
•
difficulty assimilating acquired operations, technologies and personnel;
•
inability to retain management and other key personnel of the acquired business;
•
changes in management or other key personnel that may harm relationships with the acquired business’s customers and employees;
•
unforeseen liabilities of the acquired business;
•
diversion of management’s and employees’ attention from other business matters as a result of the integration process;
•
mistaken assumptions about volumes, revenues and costs associated with the acquired business, including synergies;
•
limitations on rights to indemnity from the seller;
•
mistaken assumptions about the overall costs of equity or debt used to finance the acquisition; and
•
unforeseen difficulties operating in new product areas, with new customers, or in new geographic areas.
We cannot provide any assurance that we will realize any of the anticipated benefits of any acquisition, including our NEPSI Acquisition in October 2020, and Neeltran, Inc. acquisition completed in May 2021, and if we fail to realize these anticipated benefits, our operating performance could suffer.
Risks Related to Our Markets
Our success depends upon the commercial adoption of the REG system, which is currently limited, and a widespread commercial market for our products may not develop.
To date, there has been no widespread commercial use of the REG system. It is uncertain whether a robust commercial market for those new and unproven products will ever develop.
In addition, we believe in-grid demonstrations of REG systems are necessary to convince utilities and power grid operators of the benefits of this technology. Even if a project is funded, completion of projects can be delayed as a result of other factors. It is possible that the market demands we currently anticipate for our REG system will not develop and that they will never achieve widespread commercial acceptance. In such event, we would not be able to implement our strategy, and our results of operations could be reduced or eliminated. Even if a commercial market for our REG systems were to develop, commercial terms requested by utilities and power grid operators relating to bonding requirements, limitations of liability, warranty periods, or other contractual provisions, may not be acceptable to us, which could impede our ability to enter into contractual arrangements for the sale of our REG system.
Adverse changes in domestic and global economic conditions could adversely affect our operating results.
We have become increasingly subject to the risks arising from adverse changes in domestic and global economic conditions. In recent years, and particularly in fiscal 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of both the domestic and global economies has been uncertain due to the difficulty in obtaining credit, and financial market volatility. Adverse credit conditions in the future could have a negative impact on our ability to execute on future strategic activities. In addition, if credit is difficult to obtain in the future, some customers may delay or reduce purchases. Similarly, inflationary pressures may increase our costs or force us to increase prices for our products. These events could result in reductions in sales of our products, longer sales cycles, slower adoption of new technologies, increased accounts receivable and inventory write-offs and increased price competition. Any of these events would likely harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We have operations in, and depend on sales in, emerging markets, including India, and global conditions could negatively affect our operating results or limit our ability to expand our operations outside of these markets. Changes in India’s political, social, regulatory and economic environment may affect our financial performance.
We have operations in India and in recent years a significant portion of our total revenues has been derived from customers in this market. Our financial performance depends upon our ability to carry on our operations and sell our products in markets such as India, as well as other emerging markets around the world. We are, and will continue to be, subject to financial, political, economic and business risks in connection with our operations and sales in these emerging markets. In addition to the business risks inherent in developing and servicing these markets, economic conditions may be more volatile, legal and regulatory systems less developed and predictable, and the possibility of various types of adverse governmental action more pronounced in emerging markets. In addition, inflation, fluctuations in currency and interest rates, competitive factors, civil unrest, public health emergencies and labor problems could affect our revenues, expenses and results of operations. Our operations could also be adversely affected by acts of war, terrorism or the threat of any of these events as well as government actions such as controls on imports, exports and prices, tariffs, new forms of taxation, or changes in fiscal regimes and increased government regulation in the countries in which we operate or service customers. Unexpected or uncontrollable events or circumstances in any of these markets could have a material adverse effect on our financial results and cash flows.
Our financial performance could be affected by the political and social environment in India. In recent years, India has experienced civil unrest and terrorism and has been involved in conflicts with neighboring countries. The potential for hostilities between India and Pakistan has been high in light of tensions related to recent terrorist incidents in India and the unsettled nature of the regional geopolitical environment, including events in and related to Afghanistan and Iraq.
With respect to our activities in all emerging markets, we may be impacted by issues with managing foreign sales operations, including long payment cycles, potential difficulties in accounts receivable collection and, especially from significant customers, fluctuations in the timing and amount of orders. The adverse effect of any of these issues on our business could be increased due to the concentration of our business with a small number of customers. Operations in foreign countries also expose us to risks relating to difficulties in enforcing our proprietary rights, currency fluctuations and adverse or deteriorating economic conditions. If we experience problems with obtaining registrations, compliance with foreign country or applicable U.S. laws, or if we experience difficulties in payments or intellectual property matters in foreign jurisdictions, or if significant political, economic or regulatory changes occur, our results of operations would be adversely affected.
Our products face competition, which could limit our ability to acquire or retain customers.
The markets for our products are competitive and many of our competitors have substantially greater financial resources and research and development, manufacturing and marketing capabilities than we do. In addition, as our target markets develop, other large industrial companies may enter these fields and compete with us.
We face competition from other companies offering FACTS systems similar to our D-VAR products. These include adaptive VAR compensators, Dynamic voltage restorers (“DVRs”), and STATCOMs produced by ABB, Siemens, RXHK, NR Electric Co,. and Ingeteam, and battery-based uninterruptible power supply (“UPS”) systems offered by various companies around the world.
With our HTS-based REG product, we are offering a new approach that provides alternatives to utilities for power system design. Therefore, we believe that we compete with traditional approaches such as new full-sized substations, overhead and underground transmission, and urban power transformers.
We believe we are currently the only company that can offer HTS-based SPS products that have been fully qualified for use aboard U.S. Navy surface combatants. Therefore, the primary competition for our SPS products is currently coming from defense contractors that provide the copper-based systems that our lighter, more efficient HTS versions have been developed to replace. Companies such as L3, Excelis, Raytheon, and Textron have the bulk of the copper-based business today.
As the HTS wire, superconductor electric motors and generators, and power electronic systems markets develop, other large industrial companies may enter those fields and compete with us. If we are unable to compete successfully, it may harm our business, which in turn may limit our ability to acquire or retain customers.
With respect to our Wind business, other companies that serve the wind turbine components industry include ABB, Hopewind, and Semikron. We also face indirect competition in the wind energy market from global manufacturers of wind turbines, such as Siemens Gamesa, General Electric, and Suzlon. We face competition for the supply of wind turbine engineering design services from design engineering firms such as Aerodyn.
Our international operations are subject to risks that we do not face in the United States, which could have an adverse effect on our operating results.
In recent years, a substantial amount of our consolidated revenues were recognized from customers outside of the United States. For example, 41% of our revenues in fiscal 2020 and 51% of our revenues in fiscal 2019 were recognized from sales outside the United States. We also manufacture certain of our products and purchase a portion of our raw materials and components from suppliers in other foreign countries. Our international operations are subject to a variety of risks that we do not face in the United States, including:
•
potentially longer payment cycles for sales in foreign countries and difficulties in collecting accounts receivable;
•
difficulties in staffing and managing our foreign offices and the increased travel, infrastructure and legal compliance costs associated with multiple international locations;
•
additional withholding taxes or other taxes on our foreign income and repatriated cash, and tariffs or other restrictions on foreign trade or investment, including export duties and quotas, trade and employment restrictions;
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imposition of, or unexpected adverse changes in, foreign laws or regulatory requirements;
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increased exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk;
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reduced protection for intellectual property rights in some countries; and
•
natural disasters, pandemics, political unrest, war or acts of terrorism.
Trade tensions between the U.S. and China, as well as those between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico and other countries have been escalating in recent years. For example, the prior U.S. presidential administration imposed tariffs on products imported from China in recent years, which had an impact on our products and supplies imported from China to the U.S., and the Chinese government countered with additional retaliatory tariffs on U.S. manufactured goods. We cannot predict whether the United States or any other country will impose new quotas, tariffs, taxes or other trade barriers upon the importation or exportation of our products or gauge the effect that new barriers would have on our financial position or results of operations. These new tariffs or any additional tariffs or other trade barriers may cause our costs to increase, our products to be less competitive, and our business, results of operations and financial position to be materially adversely affected.
Our overall success in international markets depends, in part, upon our ability to succeed in differing legal, regulatory, economic, social and political conditions. We may not be successful in developing and implementing policies and strategies that will be effective in managing these risks in each country where we do business or conduct operations. Our failure to manage these risks successfully could harm our international operations and reduce our international sales, thus lowering our total revenue and increasing losses.
Growth of the wind energy market depends largely on the availability and size of government subsidies, economic incentives and legislative programs designed to support the growth of wind energy.
At present, the cost of wind energy exceeds the cost of conventional power generation in many locations around the world. Various governments have used different policy initiatives to encourage or accelerate the development and adoption of wind energy and other renewable energy sources. Renewable energy policies are in place in the European Union, certain countries in Asia, including India, China, Japan and South Korea, and many of the states in Australia and the United States. Examples of government sponsored financial incentives include capital cost rebates, feed-in tariffs, tax credits, net metering and other incentives to end-users, distributors, system integrators and manufacturers of wind energy products to promote the use of wind energy and to reduce dependency on other forms of energy. In the United States, various legislation and regulations designed to support the growth of wind energy have been implemented or proposed by the federal government, such as the Production Tax Credit for Renewable Energy (“PTC”) and the Clean Power Plan. Governments, including the U.S. government, may decide to reduce or eliminate these economic incentives, or curtail legislative programs supportive of wind energy technologies for political, financial or other reasons. Any reductions in, or eliminations of, government subsidies, economic incentives or favorable legislative programs before the wind energy industry reaches a sufficient scale to be cost-effective in a non-subsidized marketplace could reduce demand for our products and adversely affect our business prospects and results of operations.
Lower prices for other fuel sources may reduce the demand for wind energy development, which could have a material adverse effect on our ability to grow our Wind business.
The wind energy market is affected by the price and availability of other fuels, including nuclear, coal, natural gas and oil, as well as other sources of renewable energy. To the extent renewable energy, particularly wind energy, becomes less cost-competitive due to reduced government targets, increases in the cost of wind energy, as a result of new regulations, and incentives that favor alternative renewable energy, cheaper alternatives or otherwise, demand for wind energy and other forms of renewable energy could decrease. Slow growth or a long-term reduction in the demand for renewable energy could have a material adverse effect on our ability to grow our Wind business.
Risks Related to Our Technologies
We may be unable to adequately prevent disclosure of trade secrets and other proprietary information.
We rely on trade secrets to protect our proprietary technologies, especially where we do not believe patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. We rely, in part, on confidentiality agreements with our employees, contractors, consultants, outside scientific collaborators and other advisors to protect our trade secrets and other proprietary information. These agreements may not effectively prevent disclosure of confidential information and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. In addition, others may independently discover our trade secrets or independently develop processes or products that are similar or identical to our trade secrets and courts outside the United States may be less willing to protect trade secrets. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive business position.
Our patents may not provide meaningful protection for our technology, which could result in us losing some or all of our market position.
We own or have licensing rights under many patents and pending patent applications. However, the patents that we own or license may not provide us with meaningful protection of our technologies and may not prevent our competitors from using similar technologies for a variety of reasons, such as:
•
the patent applications that we or our licensors file may not result in patents being issued;
•
any patents issued may be challenged by third parties; and
•
others may independently develop similar technologies not protected by our patents or design around the patented aspects of any technologies we develop.
Moreover, we could incur substantial litigation costs in defending the validity of or enforcing our own patents. We also rely on trade secrets and proprietary know-how to protect our intellectual property. However, our non-disclosure agreements and other safeguards may not provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets and other proprietary information. If the patents that we own or license or our trade secrets and proprietary know-how fail to protect our technologies, our market position may be adversely affected.
There are a number of technological challenges that must be successfully addressed before our superconductor products can gain widespread commercial acceptance, and our inability to address such technological challenges could adversely affect our ability to acquire customers for our products.
Many of our superconductor products are in the early stages of commercialization, while others are still under development. There are a number of technological challenges that we must successfully address to complete our development and commercialization efforts for superconductor products. We will also need to improve the performance and reduce the cost of our Amperium wire to expand the number of commercial applications for it. We may be unable to meet such technological challenges or to sufficiently improve the performance and reduce the costs of our Amperium wire. Delays in development, as a result of technological challenges or other factors, may result in the introduction or commercial acceptance of our superconductor products later than anticipated.
Third parties have or may acquire patents that cover the materials, processes and technologies we use or may use in the future to manufacture our Amperium products, and our success depends on our ability to license such patents or other proprietary rights.
We expect that some or all of the HTS materials, processes and technologies we use in designing and manufacturing our products are or will become covered by patents issued to other parties, including our competitors. The owners of these patents may refuse to grant licenses to us, or may be willing to do so only on terms that we find commercially unreasonable. If we are unable to obtain these licenses, we may have to contest the validity or scope of those patents or re-engineer our products to avoid infringement claims by the owners of these patents. It is possible that we will not be successful in contesting the validity or scope of a patent, or that we will not prevail in a patent infringement claim brought against us. Even if we are successful in such a proceeding, we could incur substantial costs and diversion of management resources in prosecuting or defending such a proceeding.
Our technology and products could infringe intellectual property rights of others, which may require costly litigation and, if we are not successful, could cause us to pay substantial damages and disrupt our business.
In recent years, there has been significant litigation involving patents and other intellectual property rights in many technology-related industries. There may be patents or patent applications in the United States or other countries that are pertinent to our products or business of which we are not aware. The technology that we incorporate into and use to develop and manufacture our current and future products, including the technologies we license, may be subject to claims that they infringe the patents or proprietary rights of others. The success of our business will also depend on our ability to develop new technologies without infringing or misappropriating the proprietary rights of others. Third parties may allege that we infringe patents, trademarks or copyrights, or that we misappropriated trade secrets. These allegations could result in significant costs and diversion of the attention of management. If a successful claim were brought against us and we are found to infringe a third party’s intellectual property rights, we could be required to pay substantial damages, including treble damages if it is determined that we have willfully infringed such rights, or be enjoined from using the technology deemed to be infringing, or using, making or selling products deemed to be infringing. If we have supplied infringing products or technology to third parties, we may be obligated to indemnify these third parties for damages they may be required to pay to the patent holder and for any losses they may sustain as a result of the infringement. In addition, we may need to attempt to license the intellectual property right from such third party or spend time and money to design around or avoid the intellectual property. Any such license may not be available on reasonable terms, or at all. An adverse determination may subject us to significant liabilities and/or disrupt our business.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
Our common stock has experienced, and may continue to experience, market price and volume fluctuations, which may prevent our stockholders from selling our common stock at a profit and could lead to costly litigation against us that could divert our management’s attention.
The market price of our common stock has historically experienced volatility and may continue to experience such volatility in the future. Factors such as our financial performance, liquidity requirements, technological achievements by us and our competitors, the establishment of development or strategic relationships with other companies, strategic acquisitions, new customer orders and contracts, and our introduction of commercial products may have a significant effect on the market price of our common stock. The stock market in general, and the stock of high technology companies, in particular, have, in recent years, experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, which are often unrelated to the performance or condition of particular companies, such as in connection with the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Such broad market fluctuations have and could continue to adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Due to these factors, the price of our common stock may decline, and investors may be unable to resell their shares of our common stock for a profit. Following periods of volatility in the market price of a particular company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. In the past, we have been subject to a number of class action lawsuits which were filed against us on behalf of certain purchasers of our common stock. If we become subject to additional litigation of this kind in the future, it could result in additional litigation costs, a damages award against us and the further diversion of our management’s attention.
General Risk Factors
Unfavorable results of legal proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
From time to time, we may become subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise in or outside the ordinary course of business. Results of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. Our insurance coverage may be insufficient, our assets may be insufficient to cover any amounts that exceed our insurance coverage, and we may have to pay damage awards or otherwise may enter into settlement arrangements in connection with such claims. Any such payments or settlement arrangements in legal proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition. Regardless of merit, legal proceedings could result in substantial costs and significantly and adversely impact our reputation and divert management’s attention and resources, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition. In addition, such lawsuits may make it more difficult to finance our operations.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2.
PROPERTIES
Our corporate headquarters, Grid and Wind manufacturing operations are located in a leased 88,000-square-foot facility in Ayer, Massachusetts. Additionally, we have Grid manufacturing operations located in a leased 77,500 square-foot facility in Westminster, Massachusetts as well as an owned 35,000 square-foot facility in Queensbury, New York.
We also occupy leased facilities located in Australia, Austria, India, Wisconsin, Washington and the United Kingdom with a combined total of approximately 72,000 square feet of space. These leases have varying expiration dates through November 2027 which can generally be terminated at our request after a six-month advance notice. These locations focus primarily on research and development, sales and/or field service and do not have significant leases or physical presence. We believe all of these facilities are well-maintained and suitable for their intended uses.
The following table summarizes information regarding our significant properties, as of March 31, 2021:
Location
Supporting
Square footage
Owned/Leased
United States
Ayer, Massachusetts
Corporate & Grid Segment
88,000
Leased
Westminster, Massachusetts Grid Segment
77,500
Leased
Queensbury, New York
Grid Segment
35,000
Owned

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are not party to any material legal proceedings.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not Applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Our common stock has been listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “AMSC” since 1991.
Holders
The number of holders of record of our common stock on May 28, 2021 was 178.
Dividend Policy
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain earnings, if any, to fund the development and growth of our business and do not anticipate paying cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Payment of future cash dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors after taking into account various factors, including our financial condition, operating results, current and anticipated cash needs and plans for expansion.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock from March 31, 2016 to March 31, 2021 with the cumulative total return of (i) the Nasdaq Composite Index and (ii) the Nasdaq Electrical Components & Equipment Index.
This graph assumes the investment of $100.00 on March 31, 2016 in our common stock, the Nasdaq Composite Index and the Nasdaq Electrical Components & Equipment Index, and assumes any dividends are reinvested. Measurement points are March 31, 2016; March 31, 2017; March 31, 2018; March 31, 2019; March 31, 2020; and March 31, 2021.
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
Among American Superconductor Corporation,
the Nasdaq Composite Index and the Nasdaq Electrical Components & Equipment Index
Fiscal year ended March 31,
Company/Index
American Superconductor Corporation
100.00
90.26
76.58
169.21
72.11
249.47
Nasdaq Composite Index
100.00
122.88
148.39
164.16
165.30
286.62
Nasdaq Electrical Components & Equipment Index
100.00
126.01
140.76
139.85
115.97
215.47

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
This item is not required for smaller reporting companies.

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7.
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Executive Overview
We are a leading system provider of megawatt-scale power resiliency solutions that orchestrate the rhythm and harmony of power on the grid™, and protect and expand the capability of our Navy's fleet. Our solutions enhance the performance of the power grid, protect our Navy’s fleet, and lower the cost of wind power. In the power grid market, we enable electric utilities, industrial facilities, and renewable energy project developers to connect, transmit and distribute smarter, cleaner and better power through our transmission planning services and power electronics and superconductor-based systems. In the wind power market, we enable manufacturers to field highly competitive wind turbines through our advanced power electronics and control system products, engineering, and support services. Our power grid and wind products and services provide exceptional reliability, security, efficiency and affordability to our customers.
Our power system solutions help to improve energy efficiency, alleviate power grid capacity constraints, improve system resiliency, and increase the adoption of renewable energy generation. Demand for our solutions is driven by the growing needs for modernized smart grids that improve power reliability, security and quality, the U.S. Navy's effort to upgrade in-board power systems to support fleet electrification, and the need for increased renewable sources of electricity, such as wind and solar energy. Concerns about these factors have led to increased spending by corporations and the military, as well as supportive government regulations and initiatives on local, state, and national levels, including renewable portfolio standards, tax incentives and international treaties.
We manufacture products using two proprietary core technologies: PowerModule™ programmable power electronic converters and our Amperium® high temperature superconductor ("HTS") wires. These technologies and our system-level solutions are protected by a broad and deep intellectual property portfolio consisting of hundreds of patents and licenses worldwide.
We operate our business under two market-facing business units: Grid and Wind. We believe this market-centric structure enables us to more effectively anticipate and meet the needs of power generation project developers, the Navy's ship protection systems, electric utilities and wind turbine manufacturers.
• Grid. Through our Gridtec™ Solutions, our Grid business segment enables electric utilities and renewable energy project developers to connect, transmit and distribute power with exceptional efficiency, reliability, security and affordability. We provide transmission planning services that allow us to identify power grid congestion, poor power quality, and other risks, which help us determine how our solutions can improve network performance. These services often lead to sales of our grid interconnection solutions for wind farms and solar power plants, power quality systems and transmission and distribution cable systems. We also sell ship protection products to the U.S. Navy through our Grid business segment.
•
Wind. Through our Windtec™ Solutions, our Wind business segment enables manufacturers to field wind turbines with exceptional power output, reliability and affordability. We supply advanced power electronics and control systems, license our highly engineered wind turbine designs, and provide extensive customer support services to wind turbine manufacturers. Our design portfolio includes a broad range of drivetrains and power ratings of 2 MW and higher. We provide a broad range of power electronics and software-based control systems that are highly integrated and designed for optimized performance, efficiency, and grid compatibility.
Our fiscal year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31. When we refer to a particular fiscal year, we are referring to the fiscal year beginning on April 1 of that same year. For example, fiscal 2020 refers to the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2020. Other fiscal years follow similarly.
On October 31, 2018, we entered into a Subcontract Agreement with Commonwealth Edison Company (“ComEd”) (the “Subcontract Agreement”) for the manufacture and installation of our resilient electric grid (“REG”) system within ComEd’s electric grid in Chicago, Illinois (the “Project”). As provided in the Subcontract Agreement, the Subcontract Agreement became effective upon the signing of an amendment by us and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) to the existing contract (the “Prime Contract”) between ourselves and DHS on June 20, 2019. Unless terminated earlier by us, ComEd or DHS according to the terms of the Subcontract Agreement, the term of the Subcontract Agreement will continue until we complete our warranty obligations under the Subcontract Agreement. Under the terms of the Subcontract Agreement, we have agreed, among other things, to provide the REG system and to supervise ComEd’s installation of the REG system in Chicago. As part of our separate cost sharing arrangement with DHS under the Prime Contract, we expect funding provided by DHS in connection with the Subcontract Agreement to be between $9.0 to $11.0 million, which represents the total amount of revenues we are expected to recognize over the term of the Subcontract Agreement and includes up to $1.0 million that we have agreed to reimburse ComEd for costs incurred by ComEd while undertaking its tasks under the Subcontract Agreement (the "Reimbursement Amount”). In addition, we have agreed to deliver an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount of $5.0 million to secure certain obligations under the Subcontract Agreement, which we have done, and deposited $5.0 million in an escrow account as collateral to secure such letter of credit. ComEd has agreed to provide the site and provide all civil engineering work required to support the installation, operation and integration of the REG system into ComEd’s electric grid. Other than the Reimbursement Amount, ComEd is responsible for its own costs and expenses. Substation work on the project began in late 2019, and we have delivered the REG project hardware. The REG system is expected to be operational in 2021.
On October 1, 2020, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) with the selling stockholders named therein. Pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement and concurrently with entering into such agreement, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding (i) shares of capital stock of Northeast Power Systems, Inc., a New York corporation (“NEPSI”), and (ii) membership interests of Northeast Power Realty, LLC, a New York limited liability company, which holds the real property that serves as NEPSI’s headquarters (the "NEPSI Acquisition"). NEPSI is a U.S.-based global provider of medium-voltage metal-enclosed power capacitor banks and harmonic filter banks for use on electric power systems. As a result of this transaction, NEPSI became a wholly-owned subsidiary and is operated by our Grid business segment.
The NEPSI purchase price was $26.0 million in cash on hand, including cash from the settlement of our $25 million certificate of deposit during the three months ended September 30, 2020, and 873,657 restricted shares of our common stock. As part of the transaction, in the future, the selling stockholders may receive up to an additional 1,000,000 restricted shares of our common stock upon the achievement of certain specified future revenue objectives during varying periods of up to four years after the closing.
On October 26, 2020, we completed an offering of 3,670,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $15.00 per share under our then-existing Registration Statement on Form S-3. We received net proceeds of approximately $51.5 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. See Note 1, “Nature of the Business and Operations and Liquidity,” for further information about this offering.
On May 6, 2021, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of (i) Neeltran, Inc., a Connecticut corporation (“Neeltran”) that supplies rectifiers and transformers to industrial customers, and (ii) Neeltran International, Inc., a Connecticut corporation (“International”), as well as the real property that served as Neeltran’s headquarters. For additional information, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below.
In 2020, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and spread throughout the globe, including in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where our headquarters are located, and in other areas where we have business operations. In response to the outbreak, we have followed the guidelines of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and applicable state government authorities to protect the health and safety of our employees, their families, our suppliers, our customers and our communities. While these measures and, COVID-19 generally, have not materially disrupted our business to date, any future actions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic may result in disruption to our business.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rapidly evolve. The extent to which the outbreak impacts our business, liquidity, results of operations and financial condition will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the continued geographic spread of the disease, the duration of the pandemic, the location, duration and magnitude of future waves of infection, new mutations of the virus, availability and adoption of vaccines, effectiveness of vaccines against the virus and its mutations, travel restrictions and social distancing in the United States, the European Union, India and other countries, the duration and extent of business closures or business disruptions and the effectiveness of actions taken to contain and treat the disease.
Results of Operations
Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020
For a discussion of our results of operations for the year ended March 31, 2019, including a year-to-year comparison between fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018, refer to Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020.
Revenues
Total revenues increased by 36% to $87.1 million in fiscal 2020 from $63.8 million in fiscal 2019. Our revenues are summarized as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
Revenues:
Grid
$ 70,528
$ 49,585
Wind
16,597
14,253
Total
$ 87,125
$ 63,838
Revenues in our Grid business unit are derived from our D-VAR product sales, NEPSI product sales, HTS wire sales, ship protection systems ("SPS"), government-sponsored electric utility projects, license contracts and other prototype development contracts. We also engineer, install and commission our products on a turnkey-basis for some customers. The Grid business unit accounted for 81% of total revenues in fiscal 2020 and 78% in fiscal 2019. Grid revenues increased 42% to $70.5 million in fiscal 2020 from $49.6 million in fiscal 2019. The increase in revenues was driven by the contribution from the NEPSI Acquisition as well as growth in the D-VAR, Volt Var Optimization ("VVO") and SPS product lines.
Revenues in our Wind business unit are derived from wind turbine electrical control systems and core components, wind turbine license and development contracts, service contracts and consulting arrangements. Our Wind business unit accounted for 19% of total revenues in fiscal 2020 and 22% in fiscal 2019. Revenues in the Wind business unit increased 16% to $16.6 million in fiscal 2020 from $14.3 million in fiscal 2019. The increase over the prior year period was driven by increased shipments of Electrical Control Systems ("ECS") to Inox and an increase in spares revenue. As further described in Note 1 “Nature of the Business and Operations and Liquidity,” Inox was delinquent on its obligations to post letters of credit for sets of ECS that Inox had agreed to purchase under the terms of the supply contract, and on May 29, 2020, we sent written notice to Inox notifying Inox of its default under the supply contract due to Inox’s failure to post letters of credit in the amount of €6.0 million for the payment of ECS that Inox is obligated to purchase under the terms of the supply contract. On October 1, 2020, Inox delivered approved letters of credit for payment of the remaining ECS that Inox had been obligated to purchase as a result of its then existing forecast under the terms of the Supply Contract and cured the default set forth in the May 29, 2020 default notice. Should Inox submit a forecast for purchases under the Supply Contract in the future, its ability to perform its obligations with respect to such forecasted purchases may be hampered by the prolonged impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, or otherwise. Inox has been active in the new central and state government auction regime in India and has a cumulative order book of over 1.4 GW. However, we cannot predict if and how successful Inox will be in executing on these orders or in obtaining new orders under the new central and state auction regime. Any failure by Inox to succeed under this regime, or any delay in Inox’s ability to deliver its wind turbines, could result in fewer ECS shipments to Inox.
Cost of Revenues and Gross Margin
Cost of revenues increased by 28% to $69.7 million in fiscal 2020, compared to $54.4 million in fiscal 2019. Gross margin increased to 20% in fiscal 2020 from 15% in fiscal 2019. The increase in gross margin in fiscal 2020 was driven by additional revenues and a more favorable product mix. Cost of revenues in fiscal 2020 includes $0.5 million for amortization on our backlog intangible asset as result of the NEPSI Acquisition. In addition, a fair value purchase adjustment of approximately $1.0 million for the step-up basis assigned to acquired inventory, to properly reflect the fair value in purchase accounting, was charged to cost of revenues in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. The step up was assigned to acquired work-in-progress and finished goods inventory that were completely delivered during fiscal 2020.
Operating Expenses
Research and development
Research and development (“R&D”) expenses increased by 15% to $11.0 million, or 13% of revenue in fiscal 2020, compared to $9.6 million, or 15% of revenue, in fiscal 2019. The increase in R&D expenses is a result of additional compensation expense, additional stock compensation expenses and higher outside services expenses.
Selling, general, and administrative
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses increased by 12% to $25.3 million, or 29% of revenue in fiscal 2020 from $22.7 million, or 36% of revenue, in fiscal 2019. The increase in SG&A expenses is primarily the result of higher compensation, higher stock compensation expense and additional outside services expenses.
Amortization of acquisition related intangibles
We recorded $1.2 million in fiscal 2020 and $0.3 million in fiscal 2019 in amortization expense related to our core technology and know-how, customer relationships, and other intangible assets. The increase in amortization expense is primarily a result of the NEPSI Acquisition.
Change in fair value of contingent consideration
The change in fair value of our contingent consideration for the earnout payment on the NEPSI Acquisition resulted in a loss of $3.0 million in the year ended March 31, 2021. The change in the fair value was primarily driven by the change in our stock price, which is a key valuation metric. There was no contingent consideration for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020.
Operating loss
Our operating loss is summarized as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
Operating loss:
Grid
$ (13,318 )
$ (13,508 )
Wind
(3,302 )
(7,699 )
Unallocated corporate expenses
(6,545 )
(1,922 )
Total
$ (23,165 )
$ (23,129 )
The Grid segment generated an operating loss of $13.3 million in fiscal 2020 and $13.5 million in fiscal 2019. The operating loss held relatively steady despite an increase in revenue primarily due to the acquisition related adjustments in cost of revenues discussed above.
The Wind segment generated an operating loss of $3.3 million in fiscal 2020 and $7.7 million in fiscal 2019. The decrease in operating loss for fiscal 2020 was driven by improved gross margins due to additional revenues as well as less operating expenses.
Unallocated corporate expenses in fiscal 2020 consisted of a loss on contingent consideration of $3.0 million and stock-based compensation expense of $3.5 million. Unallocated corporate expenses in fiscal 2019 consisted of stock-based compensation expense of $1.9 million.
Change in fair value of warrants
There were no warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and 2020. The change in the fair value of warrants of $4.6 million in the year ended March 31, 2020 was primarily due to changes in our stock price, which is a key valuation metric, as well as the exercise in June 2019 of warrants previously issued to Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. (the “Hercules Warrants”) in June 2019 and the exercise and expiration in November 2019 of warrants previously issued to Hudson Bay Capital (the “Hudson Warrants”) in November 2019.
Interest income, net
Interest income, net was $0.4 million in fiscal 2020 compared to $1.3 million for fiscal 2019. The decrease in interest income, net, was driven primarily by higher cash balances in the first half of fiscal 2019 as well as lower interest rates applicable in fiscal 2020.
Other (expense) income, net
Other expense, net was $0.8 million in fiscal 2020, compared to other income, net of $0.3 million in fiscal 2019. The decrease in other income, net was due to foreign currency losses in fiscal 2020.
Income Taxes
We recorded an income tax benefit of $0.8 million in fiscal 2020 compared to income tax expense of $0.2 million in fiscal 2019. The decrease in income tax expense is a result of purchase accounting for the acquired intangible assets and the resulting deferred tax liability from the NEPSI Acquisition. The Company recorded a deferred tax liability of $1.7 million, primarily for the difference in book and tax basis on the intangible assets acquired in fiscal 2020. As a result, the Company was able to benefit additional deferred tax assets and therefore released a corresponding valuation allowance of $1.7 million during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. The tax benefit was offset during the fiscal year for income tax expense in foreign jurisdictions.
Net loss
Net loss was $22.7 million in fiscal 2020, compared to net loss of $17.1 million in fiscal 2019. The increase in net loss was driven primarily by the loss on contingent consideration of $3.0 million and additional amortization expenses tied to the NEPSI Acquisition.
Please refer to the “Risk Factors” section in Part I, Item 1A, for a discussion of certain factors that may affect our future results of operations and financial condition.
Non-GAAP Measures
Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position or cash flow that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). The non-GAAP measures included in this Form 10-K, however, should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to the comparable measure prepared in accordance with GAAP.
We define non-GAAP net loss as net loss before stock-based compensation, amortization of acquisition-related intangibles, acquisition costs, changes in fair value of contingent consideration and warrants, and other non-cash or unusual charges. We believe non-GAAP net loss assists management and investors in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding these non-cash charges and other items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. In addition, we use non-GAAP net loss as a factor to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP net loss is set forth in the table below (in thousands, except per share data):
Year ended March 31,
Net loss
$ (22,678 )
$ (17,096 )
Stock-based compensation
3,485
1,922
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles
1,697
Acquisition costs
-
Change in fair value of contingent consideration and warrants
3,060
(4,648 )
Non-GAAP net loss
(14,123 )
(19,482 )
Non-GAAP net loss per share
$ (0.59 )
$ (0.93 )
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted
23,879
20,985
We incurred non-GAAP net losses of $14.1 million or $0.59 per share for fiscal 2020, compared to $19.5 million, or $0.93 per share, for fiscal 2019. The decrease in non-GAAP net loss in fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019 was driven by higher revenues, a more favorable product mix and the change in fair value of contingent consideration and warrants.
For a description and reconciliation of our other non-GAAP financial measure, non-GAAP operating cash flow, see below under “Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Non-GAAP Operating Cash Flow.”
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have experienced recurring operating losses and as of March 31, 2021 had an accumulated deficit of $1,001.3 million.
Our cash requirements depend on numerous factors, including the successful completion of our product development activities, our ability to commercialize our REG and ship protection system solutions, the rate of customer and market adoption of our products, collecting receivables according to established terms, the continued availability of U.S. government funding during the product development phase of our superconductor-based products and whether Inox is successful in executing on Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited orders or in obtaining additional orders under the new central and state auction regime.
As described above, on October 1, 2020, we acquired NEPSI. The NEPSI purchase price was $26.0 million in cash, which included cash from the settlement of our $25 million certificate of deposit during the three months ended September 30, 2020, and 873,657 restricted shares of our common stock. As part of the transaction, the selling stockholders may receive up to an additional 1,000,000 restricted shares of our common stock upon the achievement of certain specified revenue objectives in the future.
As described above, on October 26, 2020, we completed an offering of 3,670,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $15.00 per share. We received net proceeds of approximately $51.5 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. In addition, we had granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 550,500 shares of common stock at the public offering price which they did not exercise.
In February 2021, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that will expire in February 2024 (the “Form S-3”). The Form S-3 allows us to offer and sell from time-to-time up to $250 million of common stock, debt securities, warrants or units comprised of any combination of these securities. The Form S-3 is intended to provide us flexibility to conduct registered sales of our securities, subject to market conditions, in order to fund our future capital needs. The terms of any future offering under the Form S-3 will be established at the time of such offering and will be described in a prospectus supplement filed with the SEC prior to the completion of any such offering.
As described above, on May 6, 2021, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of (i) Neeltran, that supplies rectifiers and transformers to industrial customers, and (ii) International, for: (a) $1.0 million in cash, and (b) 301,556 shares of the Company’s common stock, which were paid and issued to the selling stockholders of Neeltran. We also paid $1.1 million to the selling stockholders of Neeltran at closing to pay off previous loans made by them to Neeltran. [Placeholder for registration of shares].
Also on May 6, 2021, our subsidiary, AMSC Husky LLC, purchased the real property that served as Neeltran’s headquarters for $4.3 million, of which (a) $2.4 million was paid in immediately available funds by AMSC Husky to the owners of such real property, and (b) $1.9 million was paid directly to TD Bank as full payment for the outstanding indebtedness secured by the mortgage on such real property. Additionally, we paid approximately $7.6 million, including $1.9 million of indebtedness secured by the mortgage on the real property, directly to Neeltran lenders at closing to extinguish outstanding Neeltran indebtedness to third parties. All cash payments associated with the Neeltran acquisition were funded with cash on hand.
At March 31, 2021, we had cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash of $80.7 million, compared to $66.1 million at March 31, 2020 an increase of $14.6 million. As of March 31, 2021, we had approximately $3.2 million of cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash in foreign bank accounts. Our cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash are summarized as follows (in thousands):
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 67,814
$ 24,699
Marketable securities
5,140
35,195
Restricted cash
7,725
6,165
Total cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash
$ 80,678
$ 66,059
Net cash used in operating activities was $8.7 million and $16.5 million in fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively. The decrease in net cash used in operations in fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019 was due primarily to the overall impact of increased sales activities on the operating accounts in fiscal 2020.
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities was $2.5 million and ($36.6 million) in fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively. The decrease in net cash used in investing activities in fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019 was due primarily to the purchase of the $35.0 million certificate of deposit in the year ended March 31, 2020 with no such transaction in the fiscal 2020 period and the sale of the $30.0 million in certificates of deposit in the year ended March 31, 2021, offset by cash that was used to pay for the NEPSI Acquisition.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $50.8 million and $5.8 million in fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase in net cash provided by financing activities in fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019 was primarily due to the proceeds from the October 2020 offering.
At March 31, 2021, we had $5.6 million of restricted cash included in long-term assets and $2.2 million of restricted cash in short-term assets. At March 31, 2020, we had $5.7 million of restricted cash included in long-term assets and $0.5 million of restricted cash in short-term assets. These amounts included in restricted cash primarily represent collateral deposits to secure surety bonds and letters of credit for various customer contracts including the Subcontract Agreement with ComEd. These deposits are held in interest bearing accounts.
We believe we have sufficient available liquidity to fund our operations and capital expenditures for the next twelve months. In addition, we may seek to raise additional capital, which could be in the form of loans, convertible debt or equity, to fund our operating requirements and capital expenditures. Our liquidity is highly dependent on our ability to increase revenues, including our ability to collect revenues under our agreements with Inox, control our operating costs, and our ability to raise additional capital, if necessary. There can be no assurance that we will be able to raise additional capital on favorable terms or at all, or execute on any other means of improving our liquidity as described above. Additionally, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global financial markets may reduce our ability to raise additional capital, if necessary, which could negatively impact our liquidity. We also continue to closely monitor our expenses and, if required, we intend to reduce our operating and capital spending to enhance liquidity.
Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Non-GAAP Operating Cash Flow
We define non-GAAP operating cash flow as operating cash flow before the Sinovel settlement (net of legal fees and expenses); tax effect of adjustments; and other unusual cash flows or items. The tax effect of adjustments relates primarily to the Sinovel settlement, net. We believe non-GAAP operating cash flow assists management and investors in comparing our operating cash flow across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding these non-recurring cash items that it does not believe are indicative of our core operating cash flow. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP operating cash flow is set forth in the table below (in thousands).
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2020
Operating cash flow
$ (8,681 )
$ (16,497 )
Sinovel settlement (net of legal fees and expenses)
-
1,000
Tax effect of Sinovel settlement, net
-
3,323
Non-GAAP operating cash flow
$ (8,681 )
$ (12,174 )
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we are involved in legal and administrative proceedings and claims of various types. We record a liability in our consolidated financial statements for these matters when a loss is known or considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. We review these estimates each accounting period as additional information is known and adjust the loss provision when appropriate. If a matter is both probable to result in liability and the amounts of loss can be reasonably estimated, we estimate and disclose the possible loss or range of loss to the extent necessary to make the consolidated financial statements not misleading. If the loss is not probable or cannot be reasonably estimated, a liability is not recorded in our consolidated financial statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined under SEC rules, such as relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, which are often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, established for the purpose of facilitating transactions that are not required to be reflected on our balance sheet except as discussed below.
We occasionally enter into construction contracts that include a performance bond. As these contracts progress, we continually assess the probability of a payout from the performance bond. Should we determine that such a payout is probable, we would record a liability.
In addition, we have various contractual arrangements, under which we have committed to purchase certain minimum quantities of goods or services on an annual basis.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amendments in ASU 2016-13 provide more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that year. Following the release of ASU 2019-10 in November 2019, the new effective date, as long as we remain a smaller reporting company, would be annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of ASU 2016-13 may have on our consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The amendments in ASU 2018-13 provide for increased effectiveness of the disclosures made around fair value measurements while including consideration for costs and benefits. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those periods. As of April 1, 2020, we have adopted ASU 2018-13 and noted no material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The amendments in ASU 2019-12 provide for simplified accounting to several income tax situations and removal of certain accounting exceptions. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those periods. We do not expect the impact of the adoption of ASU 2019-12 to be material to our consolidated financial statements.
We do not believe that other recently issued accounting pronouncements will have a material impact on our financial statements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires that we make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ under different assumptions or conditions. Our accounting policies that involve the most significant judgments and estimates are as follows:
•
Revenue recognition;
•
Business acquisitions;
•
Marketable securities;
•
Accounts receivable;
•
Inventory;
•
Valuation of long-lived assets;
• Leases;
•
Goodwill;
•
Income taxes;
•
Stock-based compensation;
•
Contingencies;
•
Product warranty; and
•
Fair value of financial instruments.
Revenue recognition
Revenue contracts are defined as an arrangement that creates enforceable rights and obligations of both parties where collection of the contract price is deemed probable. We record revenue based on a five-step model which includes verifying the existence of the contract, identifying the performance obligations, determining the transaction price, allocating the contract transaction price to the performance obligations, and recognizing the revenue when (or as) control of goods or services is transferred to the customer. The transfer of control can occur at the time of delivery, installation or post-installation where applicable.
The Company's equipment and system product line includes certain contracts which do not meet the requirements of an exchange transaction and therefore do not fall within the scope of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606. As these non-exchange transaction contracts are considered grant revenue and do not fall within any specific accounting literature, the Company follows guidance within ASC 606 by analogy to recognize grant revenue over time.
For certain arrangements, such as contracts to perform research and development, prototype development contracts and certain customized product sales, we record revenues using the over-time method, measured by the relationship of costs incurred to total estimated contract costs. Over-time revenue recognition accounting is predominantly used on certain turnkey power systems installations for electric utilities and long-term prototype development contracts with the U.S. government. We follow this method when any of the three following criteria are met: when the customer receives the benefits as they are performed, control transfers to the customer as the work is performed, or there is no alternative use to us and there is an enforceable right to payment including a reasonable profit through the life of the contract. However, the ability to reliably estimate total costs at completion is challenging, especially on long-term prototype development contracts, and could result in future changes in contract estimates. For contracts where reasonably dependable estimates of the revenues and costs cannot be made, we follow the point in time method.
We enter into sales arrangements that may provide for multiple performance obligations to a customer. Sales of certain products may include extended warranty and support or service packages, and at times include performance bonds. As these contracts progress, we continually assess the probability of a payout from the performance bond. Should we determine that such a payout is likely, we would record a liability. We would reduce revenue to the extent a liability is recorded. In addition, we enter into licensing arrangements that include training services.
Performance obligations are separated into more than one unit of accounting when (1) the delivered element(s) have value to the customer on a stand-alone basis, and (2) our promise to transfer the goods or services to the customer is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. In general, revenues are separated between the different product shipments which have stand-alone value, and the various services to be provided. Revenues for product shipments are generally recognized at a point in time where control of the product is transferred to the customer, while revenues for the services are generally recognized over the period of performance. We identify all goods and/or services that are to be delivered separately under a sales arrangement and allocate the transaction price to each distinct performance obligation using the respective standalone selling price ("SSP") which is determined primarily using the cost plus expected margin approach for products and a relief from royalty method for licenses. Revenue allocated to each performance obligation is recognized when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. We review SSP and the related margins at least annually.
Our license agreements provide either for the payment of contractually determined paid-up front license fees or milestone based payments in consideration for the grant of rights to manufacture and or sell products using our patented technologies or know-how. Some of these agreements provide for the release of the licensee from past and future intellectual property infringement claims. When we can determine that we have no further obligations other than the grant of the license and that we have fully transferred the technology know-how, we recognize the revenue under a point in time model. In other license arrangements, we may also agree to provide training services to transfer the technology know-how. In these arrangements, we have determined that the licenses have no standalone value to the customer and are not separable from training services as we can only fully transfer the technology know-how through the training component. Accordingly, we account for these arrangements as a single unit of accounting, and recognize revenue over the period of its performance using the over-time method. Costs for these arrangements are expensed as incurred.
Existing customers are subject to ongoing credit evaluations based on payment history and other factors. If it is determined that collectability of any portion of the contract value is not probable, an analysis of variable consideration will be performed using either the most likely amount or expected value method to determine the amount of revenue that must be constrained until the scenario causing the variability has been resolved. For contractual arrangements that involve variable consideration, we recognize revenue for these amounts upon reaching the constraining event successfully. We do not generally provide for extended payment terms or provide our customers with a right of return.
Infrequently, we receive requests from customers to hold product being purchased from us for a valid business purpose. We recognize revenues for such arrangements provided the transaction meets, at a minimum, the following criteria: a valid business purpose for the arrangement exists; risk of ownership of the purchased product has been transferred to the buyer; there is a fixed delivery date that is reasonable and consistent with the buyer’s business purpose; the product is ready for shipment; we have no continuing performance obligation in regards to the purchased product and these products have been segregated from our inventories and cannot be used to fill other orders received. There were no such transactions during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 or 2020.
We have elected to record taxes collected from customers on a net basis and do not include tax amounts in revenue or costs of revenue.
Our contract assets and liabilities primarily relate to the timing differences between cash received from a customer in connection with contractual rights to invoicing and the timing of revenue recognition following completion of performance obligations. Our accounts receivable balance is made up entirely of customer contract related balances.
See Note 4, “Revenue Recognition,” for further information regarding the Company’s adoption of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.
Business Acquisitions
We account for acquisitions using the purchase method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. The purchase price for each acquisition is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The excess purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Intangible assets, if identified, are also recorded.
Determining the fair value of certain assets and liabilities assumed is judgmental in nature and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions as well as the use of specialists as needed.
The consideration for our acquisitions may include future payments that are contingent upon the occurrence of a particular event. We record a contingent consideration obligation for such contingent consideration payments at fair value on the acquisition date. We estimate the fair value of contingent consideration obligations through valuation models that incorporate probability adjusted assumptions related to the achievement of the milestones and the likelihood of making related payments. Each period we revalue the contingent consideration obligations associated with the acquisition to fair value and record changes in the fair value within the operating expenses in our consolidated statements of income. Increases or decreases in the fair value of the contingent consideration obligations can result from changes in assumed revenue risk premium and volatility, as well as changes in the stock price and assumed probability with respect to the attainment of certain financial and operational metrics, among others. Significant judgment is employed in determining these assumptions as of the acquisition date and for each subsequent period. Accordingly, future business and economic conditions, as well as changes in any of the assumptions described above, can materially impact the fair value of contingent consideration recorded at each reporting period. See Note 3, "NEPSI Acquisition," for additional information.
Marketable Securities
Marketable securities consist of certificates of deposit with maturities of greater than 12 months that are measured using such inputs as quoted prices and are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. We determine the appropriate classification of marketable securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluate such classification as of each balance sheet date. All marketable securities are considered available for sale and are carried at fair value. Changes in fair value are recorded to other income (expense), net. We periodically review the realizability of each short and long term marketable security when impairment indicators exist with respect to the security. If other than temporary impairment of value of the security exists, the carrying value of the security is written down to its estimated fair value.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consist of amounts owed by commercial companies and government agencies. Accounts receivable are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts. Our accounts receivable relate principally to a limited number of customers. As of March 31, 2021, Naval Surface Warfare Center accounted for approximately 28%, and RWE Renewables, LLC accounted for approximately 11% of our accounts receivable balance, with no other customers accounting for greater than 10% of the balance. As of March 31, 2020, Fuji Bridex Pte. Ltd. accounted for approximately 25%, Department of Homeland Security accounted for 18%, and Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd. accounted for approximately 17% of our accounts receivable balance, with no other customers accounting for greater than 10% of the balance. Changes in the financial condition or operations of our customers may result in delayed payments or non-payments which would adversely impact our cash flows from operating activities and/or our results of operations. As such, we may require collateral, advanced payment or other security based upon the customer history and/or creditworthiness. In determining the allowance for doubtful accounts, we evaluate the collectability of accounts receivable based primarily on the probability of recoverability based on historical collection and write-off experience, the age of past due receivables, specific customer circumstances, and current economic trends. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payment, additional allowances may be required. Failure to accurately estimate the losses for doubtful accounts and ensure that payments are received on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Inventory
Inventories include material, direct labor and related manufacturing overhead, and are stated at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in, first-out basis, or net realizable value determined on a first-in, first-out basis as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. We record inventory when we take delivery and title to the product according to the terms of each supply contract.
Program costs may be deferred and recorded as inventory on contracts on which costs are incurred in excess of approved contractual amounts and/or funding, if future recovery of the costs is deemed probable.
At each balance sheet date, we evaluate our ending inventories for excess quantities and obsolescence. Inventories that management considers excess or obsolete are reserved. Management considers forecasted demand in relation to the inventory on hand, competitiveness of product offerings, market conditions and product life cycles when determining excess and obsolescence and net realizable value adjustments. Once inventory is written down and a new cost basis is established, it is not written back up if demand increases.
We recorded inventory reserves of $1.8 million and $1.3 million during fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively, based on evaluating our ending inventories for excess quantities and obsolescence.
Valuation of long-lived assets
We periodically evaluate our long-lived assets, consisting principally of fixed and amortizable intangible assets for potential impairment. In accordance with the applicable accounting guidance for the treatment of long-lived assets, we review the carrying value of our long-lived assets or asset group that is held and used, including intangible assets subject to amortization, for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Under the held and used approach, the asset or asset group to be tested for impairment should represent the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities. The determination of our asset groups involves a significant amount of judgment, assumptions and estimates. We evaluate our long-lived assets whenever events or circumstances suggest that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable from the estimated undiscounted future cash flows.
Our judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on market and operational performance. Indicators of potential impairment include:
•
a significant change in the manner in which an asset group is used;
•
a significant decrease in the market value of an asset group;
•
identification of other impaired assets within a reporting unit;
•
a significant adverse change in its business or the industry in which it is sold;
•
a current period operating cash flow loss combined with a history of operating or cash flow losses or a projection or forecast that demonstrates continuing losses associated with the asset group; and
•
significant advances in our technologies that require changes in our manufacturing process.
There were no indicators requiring further impairment testing on our long-lived assets during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 or 2020.
Leases
Leases include all agreements in which we obtain control of a physical asset. Leases are captured on the balance sheet as both a right of use asset and associated lease liability and are valued based on the commencement of our control of the asset, after being discounted by our incremental borrowing rate. Our lease portfolio is made up primarily of real estate leases for our various offices, but also includes items such as vehicles, IT equipment and other miscellaneous tools and equipment needed for manufacturing. Our incremental borrowing rate was determined through an analysis to identify what rates we could obtain if we were to secure external financing for similar transactions, and includes considerations of both the market and our current credit ratings. An analysis will be performed annually, or upon execution of any individually material agreement, to ensure that the rates being applied to newly acquired leases are still accurate.
The majority of our leases are classified as operating leases, and therefore the expense is captured in income from operations each period.
We have elected to exclude all leases of less than twelve months from the balance sheet presentation. We have also elected a policy in which we will not segregate lease components from non-lease components, so in the event we execute an agreement which includes a non-lease component our asset and liability recorded to the balance sheet will include the value of that non-lease component as well. This policy will be applied to all classifications of leases.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of cost over net assets of acquired businesses that are consolidated. We perform our annual assessment of goodwill on February 28th of each fiscal year and whenever events or changes in circumstances or a triggering event indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Determining whether a triggering event has occurred often involves significant judgment from management. An entity is permitted to first assess qualitatively whether it is necessary to perform a goodwill impairment test. The quantitative impairment test is required only if the entity concludes that it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. We determine the fair value of a reporting unit based on an income approach utilizing a discounted cash flow adjusted for entity specific factors. In evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, an entity should consider the totality of all relevant events or circumstances that affect the fair value or carrying amount of a reporting unit. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, then an impairment charge is recognized reducing the goodwill by the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value, not to exceed the total amount of the goodwill, allocated to that reporting unit. See Note 5, “Goodwill” for further information and discussion.
We performed our annual assessment of goodwill on February 28, 2021 and noted no triggering events from the analysis date to March 31, 2021 and determined that there was no impairment to goodwill.
Income taxes
Our provision for income taxes is comprised of a current and a deferred portion. The current income tax provision is calculated as the estimated taxes payable or refundable on tax returns for the current fiscal year. The deferred income tax provision is calculated for the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences and carryforwards using expected tax rates in effect in the years during which the differences are expected to reverse. All deferred tax assets and liabilities are presented as non-current in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
We regularly assess our ability to realize our deferred tax assets. Assessments of the realization of deferred tax assets require that management consider all available evidence, both positive and negative, and make significant judgments about many factors, including the amount and likelihood of future taxable income. Based on all the available evidence, we have recorded valuation allowances to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realizable due to the taxable losses that have been incurred since our inception and uncertainty around our future profitability.
Accounting for income taxes requires a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if, based on the technical merits, it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We reevaluate these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled issues under audit and new audit activity. Any changes in these factors could result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision. We include interest and penalties related to gross unrecognized tax benefits within the provision for income taxes. See Note 13, “Income Taxes,” of our consolidated financial statements for further information regarding our income tax assumptions and expenses.
Stock-based compensation
We measure compensation cost arising from the grant of share-based payments to employees and non-employees at fair value and recognize such cost over the period during which the employee and non-employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, usually the vesting period. Total stock-based compensation expense recognized during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $3.5 million and $1.9 million, respectively. For awards with service conditions only, we recognize compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service/vesting period. For awards with performance conditions, accruals of compensation cost are made based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions. The cumulative effect of changes in the probability outcomes are recorded in the period in which the changes occur.
Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of share-based payment awards requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected life of the share-based payment awards and stock price volatility. Management determined that expected volatility rates should be estimated based on historical and implied volatilities of our common stock. The expected term represents the average time that the options that vest are expected to be outstanding based on the vesting provisions and our historical exercise, cancellation and expiration patterns. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of share-based payment awards represent management’s best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management judgment. As a result, if circumstances change and we use different assumptions, our stock-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future. In addition, we are required to estimate an expected forfeiture rate and only recognize expense for those shares expected to vest. If our actual forfeiture rate is materially different from our estimate, the stock-based compensation expense could be significantly different from what we have recorded in the current period. See Note 15, “Stockholders’ Equity,” of our consolidated financial statements for further information regarding our stock-based compensation assumptions and expenses.
We account for share-based payments made to non-employees in the same manner as other share-based payments for employees, with the measurement being based on the fair value at the grant date. The non-employee share based payments will be included within our stock compensation currently reported.
Contingencies
From time to time, we are involved in legal and administrative proceedings and claims of various types. We record a liability in our consolidated financial statements for these matters when a loss is known or considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. We review these estimates each accounting period as additional information is known and adjust the loss provision when appropriate. If the loss is not probable or cannot be reasonably estimated, a liability is not recorded in our consolidated financial statements. If, with respect to a matter, it is not both probable to result in liability and the amount of loss cannot be reasonably estimated, an estimate of possible loss or range of loss shall be disclosed unless such an estimate cannot be made. We do not recognize gain contingencies until they are realized. Legal costs incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred. See Note 16, “Commitments and Contingencies”, of our consolidated financial statements for further information.
Product Warranty
Warranty obligations are incurred in connection with the sale of our products. We generally provide a one to three year warranty on our products, commencing upon installation. The costs incurred to provide for these warranty obligations are estimated and recorded as an accrued liability at the time of sale. Future warranty costs are estimated based on historical performance rates and related costs to repair given products. The accounting estimate related to product warranty involves judgment in determining future estimated warranty costs. Should actual performance rates or repair costs differ from estimates, revision to the estimated warranty liability would be required.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Our financial instruments consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, accounts receivable, notes receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses, and warrants. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued expenses due to their short term nature approximate fair value at March 31, 2021 and 2020. The estimated fair values have been determined through information obtained from market sources and management estimates. Marketable securities consist of certificates of deposit with maturities of greater than 12 months that are measured using such inputs as quoted prices and are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. We determine the appropriate classification of our marketable securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluate such classification as of each balance sheet date. All marketable securities are considered available for sale and are carried at fair value. Changes in fair value are recorded to other income (expense), net. The fair value for the debt and warrant arrangements were historically estimated by management based on the terms that we believe we could obtain in the current market for debt with the same terms and similar maturities. The warrants were subject to revaluation at each balance sheet date, and any change in fair value was recorded as a change in fair value in other (expense) income until the earlier of the warrants’ exercise or expiration. We relied on assumptions used in a lattice model to determine the fair value of the warrants. We have appropriately valued the warrants within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
This item is not required for smaller reporting companies.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of American Superconductor Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of American Superconductor Corporation and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of March 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Revenue Recognition
As described in Notes 1 and 4 of the consolidated financial statements, a significant portion of the Company’s revenue is generated pursuant to nonstandard written contractual arrangements to design, develop, and/or manufacture products, and to provide related technical and other services according to the specifications of the customers. Because of the uniqueness of the terms and conditions in the customer contracts, there is significant analysis, and at times significant judgments, that are made by management when evaluating the contracts for proper revenue recognition. The Company’s performance obligations under these contractual agreements are satisfied over time or at a point in time. For performance obligations satisfied over time, revenue is generally recognized by measuring progress through costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion, which requires management to estimate both total expected project costs and expected gross margin, including evaluating customer change orders, to determine the appropriate amount of revenue to recognize, which can require significant management judgment. For contracts with multiple performance obligations when the standalone selling price is not directly observable, the Company uses its best estimate of the standalone selling price of each distinct good or service in the contract using the cost-plus reasonable margin approach and a relief from royalty method for licenses, which include significant management estimates.
We identified revenue recognition pertaining to customer contracts as a critical audit matter as there are significant judgments exercised by management in determining revenue recognition. Given the high degree of management judgment involved in analyzing the terms and conditions of the Company’s unique customer contracts and the various management estimates that are used in the revenue calculations, the audit effort required to evaluate management’s judgments in determining revenue recognition for the Company’s contracts was extensive and required a high degree of auditor judgment.
Our audit procedures related to revenue recognition included the following, among others:
●
We obtained an understanding of the relevant controls related to revenue recognition and tested controls specific to management’s analysis of customer contract terms and application of relevant accounting guidance as well as determination of significant assumptions used in computing revenue for design and operating effectiveness,
●
We selected a sample of contracts with customers and related revenue transactions and performed the following audit procedures:
o
Obtained customer contract, related invoices, purchase orders, and management revenue recognition analysis for each testing selection, to evaluate if relevant contractual terms and transaction price were appropriately considered by management and conclusions on revenue recognition method were in accordance with the relevant accounting guidance;
o
Evaluated management’s estimations of total contract cost and contract profit by assessing actual costs to date against projections made throughout the course of the contract term;
o
Evaluated the reasonableness of management’s estimates of standalone selling prices through review of historical data supporting estimate of gross margin and extended warranty costs used in management’s calculations
Valuation of Intangible Asset and Contingent Consideration in Business Combination
As described in Note 3 of the consolidated financial statements, the Company completed the acquisition of Northeast Power Systems, Inc. and Northeast Power Realty, LLC on October 1, 2020 for total consideration of $42.4 million. The total consideration included contingent consideration in the form of seller earn out provisions with a fair value of $4.0M at the acquisition date. The Company accounted for this transaction under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. Accordingly, the total consideration paid was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective fair values, including identified intangible assets of $7.3 million and resulting goodwill of $32.9 million. Of the identified intangible assets acquired, the most significant included a customer relationships intangible asset of $6.1 million. The Company estimated the fair value of the customer relationship intangible asset using the multi-period excess earnings method, which required management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to forecasted revenue and earnings, expected economic life of the asset, contributory asset charges, attrition rates, and the selection of discount rates. The Company estimated fair value of the contingent consideration using a Monte Carlo simulation, which is a complex valuation model that required use of a management third-party specialist as well as required management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to forecasted revenue targets, discount rates and revenue volatility.
We identified the valuation of the customer relationship intangible asset and contingent consideration as a critical audit matter because of the significant estimates and assumptions management used in the fair value determination as well as the complexity of the Monte Carlo simulation model used to value the contingent consideration. Auditing management’s forecasts of future revenues and cash flows, the selection of the discount rates as well as testing the Monte Carlo simulation model required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort when performing audit procedures, including the use of our valuation specialists.
Our audit procedures related to the customer relationship intangible asset and contingent consideration included the following, among others:
●
With the assistance of our valuation specialists, we prepared an independent calculation of the fair value of the contingent consideration to test the accuracy of the Company’s valuation model.
●
We evaluated the reasonableness of management’s forecasts of revenue, probabilities of achieving revenue metrics, future cash flows and attrition rates by comparing the projections to historical results as well as industry benchmarks
●
With the assistance of our valuation specialists, we evaluated the reasonableness of the Company’s valuation methodologies and significant assumptions by:
o
Testing the source information underlying the determination of the discount rates and verifying the accuracy of the calculations, including the contributory asset charges.
o
Developing an analysis for the discount rates and compared that analysis to the discount rates selected by management.
/s/ RSM US LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2013.
Boston, Massachusetts
June 2, 2021
AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
March 31,
March 31,
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 67,814
$ 24,699
Marketable securities
5,140
30,149
Accounts receivable
13,267
16,987
Inventory
13,306
18,975
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
3,546
2,959
Restricted cash
2,157
Total current assets
105,230
94,277
Marketable securities, long term portion
-
5,046
Property, plant and equipment, net
8,997
8,565
Intangibles, net
9,153
3,550
Right-of-use asset
3,747
3,359
Goodwill
34,634
1,719
Restricted cash
5,568
5,657
Deferred tax assets
1,223
1,551
Other assets
Total assets
$ 168,866
$ 124,109
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$ 19,810
$ 22,091
Lease liability, current portion
Contingent consideration
7,050
-
Deferred revenue, current portion
13,266
18,430
Total current liabilities
40,738
40,960
Deferred revenue, long term portion
7,991
7,712
Lease liability, long term portion
3,246
3,000
Deferred tax liabilities
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
52,274
51,890
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized; 27,988,536 and 22,902,288 shares issued and 27,593,400 and 22,604,410 shares outstanding at March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
1,121,495
1,053,507
Treasury stock, at cost, 395,136 and 297,878 shares at March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively
(3,593 )
(2,666 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(277 )
(216 )
Accumulated deficit
(1,001,313 )
(978,635 )
Total stockholders' equity
116,592
72,219
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$ 168,866
$ 124,109
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
Revenues
$ 87,125
$ 63,838
Cost of revenues
69,671
54,393
Gross profit
17,454
9,445
Operating expenses:
Research and development
11,015
9,565
Selling, general and administrative
25,322
22,669
Amortization of acquisition related intangibles
1,222
Loss on contingent consideration
3,060
-
Total operating expenses
40,619
32,574
Operating loss
(23,165 )
(23,129 )
Change in fair value of warrants
-
4,648
Interest income, net
1,327
Other (expense) income, net
(771 )
Loss before income tax expense
(23,510 )
(16,901 )
Income tax (benefit) expense
(832 )
Net loss
$ (22,678 )
$ (17,096 )
Net loss per common share
Basic
$ (0.95 )
$ (0.81 )
Diluted
$ (0.95 )
$ (1.03 )
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
Basic
23,879
20,985
Diluted
23,879
21,069
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In thousands)
Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
Net loss
$ (22,678 )
$ (17,096 )
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation losses
(61 )
(211 )
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax
(61 )
(211 )
Comprehensive loss
$ (22,739 )
$ 17,307
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)
Common Stock
Additional
Accumulated Other
Total
Number of Shares
Par Value
Paid-in Capital
Treasury Stock
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Accumulated Deficit
Stockholders' Equity
Balance at March 31, 2019
21,652
$
$ 1,044,622
$ (2,101 )
$ (5 )
$ (961,539 )
$ 81,193
Issuance of common stock - ESPP
-
-
-
-
Issuance of common stock - restricted shares
(4 )
-
-
-
-
Stock-based compensation expense
-
-
1,922
-
-
-
1,922
Issuance of stock for 401(k) match
-
-
-
Issuance of common stock-warrant exercise
6,425
-
-
-
6,433
Repurchase of treasury stock
-
-
-
(565 )
-
-
(565 )
Cumulative translation adjustment
-
-
-
-
(211 )
-
(211 )
Net loss
-
-
-
-
-
(17,096 )
(17,096 )
Balance at March 31, 2020
22,902
$
$ 1,053,507
$ (2,666 )
$ (216 )
$ (978,635 )
$ 72,219
Exercise of stock options
-
$
-
-
-
$
Issuance of common stock - ESPP
-
-
-
-
Issuance of common stock - restricted shares
(5 )
-
-
-
-
Stock-based compensation expense
-
-
3,485
-
-
-
3,485
Issuance of stock for 401(k) match
-
-
-
-
Issuance of common stock - equity offering
3,670
51,440
-
-
-
51,477
Issuance of common stock - NEPSI acquisition
12,424
-
-
-
12,433
Repurchase of treasury stock
-
-
-
(927 )
-
-
(927 )
Cumulative translation adjustment
-
-
-
-
(61 )
-
(61 )
Net loss
-
-
-
-
-
(22,678 )
(22,678 )
Balance at March 31, 2021
27,988
$
$ 1,121,495
$ (3,593 )
$ (277 )
$ (1,001,313 )
$ 116,592
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss
$ (22,678 )
$ (17,096 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operations:
Depreciation and amortization
5,352
4,308
Stock-based compensation expense
3,485
1,922
Provision for excess and obsolete inventory
1,762
1,276
Deferred income taxes
(1,221 )
(1,714 )
Change in fair value of contingent consideration
3,060
-
Change in fair value of warrants
-
(4,648 )
Non-cash interest income
(94 )
(308 )
Other non-cash items
Unrealized foreign exchange loss/(gain) on cash and cash equivalents
(319 )
Changes in operating asset and liability accounts:
Accounts receivable
5,193
(9,159 )
Inventory
8,106
(8,143 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
(5,047 )
5,894
Deferred revenue
(8,057 )
10,788
Net cash used in operating activities
(8,681 )
(16,497 )
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(1,764 )
(3,630 )
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment
-
3,001
Purchase of marketable securities
-
(35,000 )
Sale of marketable securities
30,152
-
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash received
(26,000 )
-
Purchase of intangible assets
-
(1,000 )
Change in other assets
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
2,469
(36,621 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
Employee taxes paid related to net settlement of equity awards
(927 )
(565 )
Proceeds from exercise of warrants
-
6,139
Proceeds from public equity offering, net
51,477
-
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options and ESPP
Net cash provided by financing activities
50,828
5,776
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
44,675
(47,334 )
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year
30,864
78,198
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year
$ 75,539
$ 30,864
Supplemental schedule of cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds
$
$ 3,653
Non-cash investing and financing activities
Issuance of common stock in connection with the purchase of Northeast Power Systems, Inc
12,433
-
Issuance of common stock to Hercules to settle warrant liability
-
Issuance of common stock to settle liabilities
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
1. Nature of the Business and Operations and Liquidity
Nature of the Business and Operations
American Superconductor Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “AMSC®” or the “Company”) was founded on April 9, 1987. The Company is a leading system provider of megawatt-scale power resiliency solutions that orchestrate the rhythm and harmony of power on the grid™ and protect and expand the capability of the Navy's fleet. The Company’s products leverage its proprietary “smart materials” and “smart software and controls” to provide enhanced resiliency and improved performance of megawatt-scale power flow.
The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) instructions to Form 10-K. The going concern basis of presentation assumes that the Company will continue operations and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business.
Liquidity
The Company has historically experienced recurring operating losses and as of March 31, 2021, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $1,001.3 million. In addition, the Company has historically experienced recurring negative operating cash flows. At March 31, 2021, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $73.0 million. Marketable securities includes a certificate of deposit with maturity in six months. Cash used in operations for the year ended March 31, 2021 was $8.7 million.
In December 2015, the Company entered into a set of strategic agreements valued at approximately $210.0 million with Inox Wind Ltd. (“Inox” or “Inox Wind”), which includes a multi-year supply contract pursuant to which the Company will supply electrical control systems to Inox and a license agreement allowing Inox to manufacture a limited number of electrical control systems. After Inox purchases the specified number of electrical control systems required under the terms of the supply contract, Inox agreed that the Company will continue as Inox’s preferred supplier and Inox will be required to purchase from the Company a majority of its electrical control systems requirements for an additional three-year period. Pursuant to these strategic agreements, Inox must forecast future purchase orders of sets of Electrical Control Systems ("ECS") which become firm orders three months prior to shipment, and Inox must post letters of credit before the Company will ship such orders. During the year ended March 31, 2020, Inox was delinquent on its obligation to post letters of credit for sets of ECS that Inox had agreed to purchase under the terms of the supply contract. On May 29, 2020, the Company sent written notice to Inox notifying Inox of its default under the supply contract due to Inox’s failure to post letters of credit in the amount of €6.0 million for the payment of ECS that Inox is obligated to purchase under the terms of the supply contract. If Inox failed to post letters of credit in the amount of €6.0 million in accordance with the terms of the supply contract within the ninety day cure period after receipt of the default notice, then the Company could have terminated the supply contract by providing written notice of such termination to Inox. On September 2, 2020, Inox delivered approved letters of credit in the amount of €1.3 million for the payment of a portion of the ECS that Inox was obligated to purchase under the terms of the supply contract. On September 11, 2020, the Company notified Inox that due to (i) the Company’s business relationship with Inox, and (ii) Inox’s delivery of approved letters of credit in the amount of €1.3 million as described above, the Company gave Inox until October 5, 2020 to regain compliance with the terms of the supply contract by providing approved letters of credit in the amount of €4.7 million for payment of the remaining ECS that Inox currently was obligated to purchase under the terms of the supply contract. On October 1, 2020, Inox delivered approved letters of credit for payment of the remaining ECS that Inox was obligated to purchase as a result of its then existing forecast under the terms of the supply contract and cured the default set forth in the May 29, 2020 default notice.
On October 1, 2020 (the "Acquisition Date"), the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) with the selling stockholders named therein. Pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement and concurrently with entering into such agreement, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding (i) shares of capital stock of Northeast Power Systems, Inc., a New York corporation (“NEPSI”), and (ii) membership interests of Northeast Power Realty, LLC, a New York limited liability company, which holds the real property that serves as NEPSI’s headquarters (the "NEPSI Acquisition"). NEPSI is a U.S.-based global provider of medium-voltage metal-enclosed power capacitor banks and harmonic filter banks for use on electric power systems. NEPSI is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and is operated by its Grid business unit. The purchase price was $26.0 million in cash and 873,657 restricted shares of common stock of the Company. As part of the transaction, the selling stockholders may receive up to an additional 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company upon the achievement of certain specified revenue objectives in the future.
On October 22, 2020, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., as representative of the several underwriters named therein, relating to the issuance and sale (the "2020 Offering") of 3,670,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a public offering price of $15.00 per share. The net proceeds to the Company from the 2020 Offering were approximately $51.5 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company. The 2020 Offering closed on October 26, 2020. In addition, the Company had granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 550,500 shares of common stock at the public offering price which was not exercised.
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the disease caused by the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19“) to be a pandemic. COVID-19 has spread throughout the globe, including in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where the Company’s headquarters are located, and in other areas where the Company has business operations. In response to the outbreak, the Company has followed the guidelines of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and applicable state government authorities to protect the health and safety of the Company’s employees, families, suppliers, customers and communities. While these existing measures and, COVID-19 generally, have not materially disrupted the Company’s business to date, any future actions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic may result in disruption to the Company’s business.
While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rapidly evolve, the Company continues to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to best mitigate risk and continue the operations of the Company’s business. The extent to which the outbreak impacts the Company’s business, liquidity, results of operations and financial condition will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including new information that may emerge concerning the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and the actions to contain it or treat its impact, among others. If the Company, its customers or suppliers experience prolonged shutdowns or other business disruptions, the Company’s business, liquidity, results of operations and financial condition are likely to be materially adversely affected, and the Company’s ability to access the capital markets may be limited.
The Company believes that based on the information presented above and its annual management assessment, it has sufficient liquidity to fund its operations and capital expenditures for the next twelve months following the issuance of the financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2021. The Company’s liquidity is highly dependent on its ability to increase revenues, including its ability to collect revenues under its agreements with Inox, its ability to control its operating costs, and its ability to raise additional capital, if necessary. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global financing markets may reduce the Company's ability to raise additional capital, if necessary, which could negatively impact the Company's liquidity. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to raise additional capital, on favorable terms or at all, from other sources or execute on any other means of improving liquidity described above.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated. Certain reclassifications of prior year amounts have been made to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net income, cash flows from operating activities or stockholders’ equity.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, collectability of receivables, realizability of inventory, goodwill and intangible assets, contingent consideration, warranty provisions, stock-based compensation, tax reserves, and deferred tax assets. Provisions for depreciation are based on their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Some of these estimates can be subjective and complex and, consequently, actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. While for any given estimate or assumption made by the Company’s management there may be other estimates or assumptions that are reasonable, the Company believes that, given the current facts and circumstances, it is unlikely that applying any such other reasonable estimate or assumption would materially impact the financial statements.
Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid instruments with maturities of three months or less that are regarded as high quality, low risk investments and are measured using such inputs as quoted prices, and are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. Cash equivalents consist principally of certificates of deposits and money market accounts.
Marketable Securities
Marketable securities consist of certificates of deposit with maturities of less than 12 months that are measured using such inputs as quoted prices and are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. The Company determines the appropriate classification of its marketable securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such classification as of each balance sheet date. All marketable securities are considered available for sale and are carried at fair value. Changes in fair value are recorded to other income (expense), net. The Company periodically reviews the realizability of each short and long term marketable security when impairment indicators exist with respect to the security. If other than temporary impairment of value of the security exists, the carrying value of the security is written down to its estimated fair value.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consist of amounts owed by commercial companies and government agencies. Accounts receivable are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts. The Company’s accounts receivable relate principally to a limited number of customers. As of March 31, 2021, Naval Surface Warfare Center accounted for approximately 28%, and RWE Renewables, LLC accounted for approximately 11% of the Company's accounts receivable balance, with no other customers accounting for greater than 10% of the balance. As of March 31, 2020, Fuji Bridex Pte. Ltd. accounted for approximately 25%, Department of Homeland Security accounted for 18%, and Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd. accounted for approximately 17% of the Company's accounts receivable balance, with no other customers accounting for greater than 10% of the balance. Changes in the financial condition or operations of the Company’s customers may result in delayed payments or non-payments which would adversely impact its cash flows from operating activities and/or its results of operations. As such, the Company may require collateral, advanced payment or other security based upon the customer history and/or creditworthiness. In determining the allowance for doubtful accounts, the Company evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable based primarily on the probability of recoverability based on historical collection and write-off experience, the age of past due receivables, specific customer circumstances, and current economic trends. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payment, additional allowances may be required. Failure to accurately estimate the losses for doubtful accounts and ensure that payments are received on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Inventory
Inventories include material, direct labor and related manufacturing overhead, and are stated at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in, first-out basis, or net realizable value determined as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. The Company records inventory when it takes delivery and title to the product according to the terms of each supply contract.
Program costs may be deferred and recorded as inventory on contracts on which costs are incurred in excess of approved contractual amounts and/or funding, if future recovery of the costs is deemed probable.
At each balance sheet date, the Company evaluates its ending inventories for excess quantities and obsolescence. Inventories that management considers excess or obsolete are reserved. Management considers forecasted demand in relation to the inventory on hand, competitiveness of product offerings, market conditions and product life cycles when determining excess and obsolescence and net realizable value adjustments. Once inventory is written down and a new cost basis is established, it is not written back up if demand increases.
For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded inventory reserves of approximately $1.8 million and $1.3 million, respectively, based on evaluating its ending inventory on hand for excess quantities and obsolescence.
Leases
Leases include all agreements in which the Company obtains control of a physical asset. Leases are captured on the balance sheet as both a right of use asset and associated lease liability and are valued based on the commencement of the Company's control of the asset, after being discounted by its incremental borrowing rate. The Company's lease portfolio is made up primarily of real estate leases for its various offices, but also include items such as vehicles, IT equipment and other miscellaneous tools and equipment needed for manufacturing. The Company's incremental borrowing rate was determined through an analysis to identify what rates it could obtain if the Company were to secure external financing for similar transactions, and includes considerations of both the market and its current credit ratings. An analysis is performed annually, or upon execution of any individually material agreement, to ensure that the rates being applied to newly acquired leases are still accurate.
The majority of the Company's leases are classified as operating leases, and therefore the expense is captured in income from operations each period.
We have elected to exclude all leases of less than twelve months from the balance sheet presentation. We have also elected a policy in which we will not segregate lease components from non-lease components, so in the event we execute an agreement which includes a non-lease component our asset and liability recorded to the balance sheet will include the value of that non-lease component as well. This policy will be applied to all classifications of leases.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The Company accounts for depreciation and amortization using the straight-line method to allocate the cost of property, plant and equipment over their estimated useful lives as follows:
Asset Classification
Estimated Useful Life in Years
Machinery and equipment
3-10
Furniture and fixtures
3-5
Leasehold improvements
Shorter of the estimated useful life or the remaining lease term
Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Upon retirement or other disposition of assets, the costs and related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in operating expenses.
Valuation of Long-Lived Assets
The Company periodically evaluates its long-lived assets, consisting principally of fixed assets and amortizable intangible assets, for potential impairment. In accordance with the applicable accounting guidance for the treatment of long-lived assets, the Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets or asset group that is held and used, including intangible assets subject to amortization, for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Under the held and used approach, the asset or asset group to be tested for impairment should represent the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities. The Company evaluates its long-lived assets whenever events or circumstances suggest that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable from the estimated undiscounted future cash flows.
There were no indicators requiring impairment testing on the Company's long-lived assets during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of cost over net assets of acquired businesses that are consolidated. The Company performs its annual assessment of goodwill on February 28th of each fiscal year and whenever events or changes in circumstances or a triggering event indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Determining whether a triggering event has occurred often involves significant judgment from management. An entity is permitted to first assess qualitatively whether it is necessary to perform a goodwill impairment test. The quantitative impairment test is required only if the entity concludes that it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. The Company determines the fair value of a reporting unit based on an income approach utilizing a discounted cash flow adjusted for entity specific factors. In evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, an entity should consider the totality of all relevant events or circumstances that affect the fair value or carrying amount of a reporting unit. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, then an impairment charge is recognized reducing the goodwill by the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value, not to exceed the total amount of the goodwill allocated to the that reporting unit. See Note 5, "Goodwill" for further information and discussion.
The Company performed its annual assessment of goodwill on February 28, 2021 and noted no triggering events from the analysis date to March 31, 2021 and determined that there was no impairment to goodwill. Additionally, there was no impairment identified for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 based on the assessment performed in the prior fiscal year.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue contracts are defined as an arrangement that creates enforceable rights and obligations of both parties where collection of the contract price is deemed probable. The Company records revenue based on a five-step model which includes confirmation of contract existence, identifying the performance obligations, determining the transaction price, allocating the contract transaction price to the performance obligations, and recognizing the revenue when (or as) control of goods or services is transferred to the customer. The transfer of control can occur at the time of delivery, installation or post-installation where applicable.
The Company's equipment and system product line includes certain contracts which do not meet the requirements of an exchange transaction and therefore do not fall within the scope of ASC 606. As these non-exchange transaction contracts are considered grant revenue and do not fall within any specific accounting literature, the Company follows guidance within ASC 606 by analogy to recognize grant revenue over time.
For certain arrangements, such as contracts to perform research and development, prototype development contracts and certain customized product sales, the Company records revenues using the over-time method, measured by the relationship of costs incurred to total estimated contract costs. Over-time revenue recognition accounting is predominantly used on certain turnkey power systems installations for electric utilities and long-term prototype development contracts with the U.S. government. The Company follows this method when any of the three following criteria are met: when the customer receives the benefits as they are performed, control transfers to the customer as the work is performed, or there is no alternative use to the Company and there is an enforceable right to payment through the life of the contract. However, the ability to reliably estimate total costs at completion is challenging, especially on long-term prototype development contracts, and could result in future changes in contract estimates. For contracts where reasonably dependable estimates of the revenues and costs cannot be made, the Company follows the point in time method.
The Company enters into sales arrangements that may provide for multiple performance obligations to a customer. Sales of certain products may include extended warranty and support or service packages, and at times include performance bonds. As these contracts progress, the Company continually assesses the probability of a payout from the performance bond. Should the Company determine that such a payout is likely, the Company would record a liability. The Company would reduce revenue to the extent a liability is recorded. In addition, the Company enters into licensing arrangements that include training services.
Performance obligations are separated into more than one unit of accounting when (1) the delivered element(s) have value to the customer on a stand-alone basis, and (2) the Company's promise to transfer the goods or services to the customer is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. In general, revenues are separated between the different product shipments which have stand-alone value, and the various services to be provided. Revenue for product shipments is generally recognized at a point in time where control of the product is transferred to the customer, while revenues for the services are generally recognized over the period of performance. The Company identifies all goods and/or services that are to be delivered separately under a sales arrangement and allocates the transaction price to each distinct performance obligation using the respective standalone selling price ("SSP") which is determined primarily using the cost plus expected margin approach for products and a relief from royalty method for licenses. Revenue allocated to each performance obligation is recognized when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. The Company reviews SSP and the related margins at least annually.
The Company’s license agreements provide either for the payment of contractually determined paid-up front license fees or milestone based payments in consideration for the grant of rights to manufacture and/or sell products using its patented technologies or know-how. Some of these agreements provide for the release of the licensee from past and future intellectual property infringement claims. When the Company can determine that it has no further obligations other than the grant of the license and that the Company has fully transferred the technology know-how, the Company recognizes the revenue under a point in time model. In other license arrangements, the Company may also agree to provide training services to transfer the technology know-how. In these arrangements, the Company has determined that the licenses have no standalone value to the customer and are not separable from training services as the Company can only fully transfer the technology know-how through the training component. Accordingly, the Company accounts for these arrangements as a single unit of accounting, and recognizes revenue over the period of its performance using the over-time method. Costs for these arrangements are expensed as incurred.
Existing customers are subject to ongoing credit evaluations based on payment history and other factors. If it is determined that collectability of any portion of the contract value is not probable, an analysis of variable consideration will be performed using either the most likely amount or expected value method to determine the amount of revenue that must be constrained until the scenario causing the variability has been resolved. For contractual arrangements that involve variable consideration, the Company recognizes revenue for these amounts upon reaching the constraining event successfully. The Company does not generally provide for extended payment terms or provide its customers with a right of return.
The Company has elected to record taxes collected from customers on a net basis and does not include tax amounts in revenue or costs of revenue.
The Company’s contract assets and liabilities primarily relate to the timing differences between cash received from a customer in connection with contractual rights to invoicing and the timing of revenue recognition following completion of performance obligations. The Company's accounts receivable balance is made up entirely of customer contract related balances.
See Note 4, “Revenue Recognition,” for further information regarding the Company’s adoption of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.
Business Acquisitions
The Company accounts for acquisitions using the purchase method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. The purchase price for each acquisition is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Intangible assets, if identified, are also recorded at fair value. The excess purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill.
Determining the fair value of certain assets and liabilities assumed is judgmental in nature and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions as well as the use of specialists as needed.
The consideration for its acquisitions may include future payments that are contingent upon the occurrence of a particular event. The Company records a contingent consideration obligation for such contingent consideration payments at fair value on the acquisition date. The Company estimates the fair value of contingent consideration obligations through valuation models that incorporate probability adjusted assumptions related to the achievement of the milestones and the likelihood of making related payments. Each period the Company revalues the contingent consideration obligations associated with the acquisition to fair value and records changes in the fair value within the operating expenses in its consolidated statements of operations. Increases or decreases in the fair value of the contingent consideration obligations can result from changes in assumed revenue risk premium and volatility, as well as changes in the stock price and assumed probability with respect to the attainment of certain financial and operational metrics, among others. Significant judgment is employed in determining these assumptions as of the acquisition date and for each subsequent period. Accordingly, future business and economic conditions, as well as changes in any of the assumptions described above, can materially impact the fair value of contingent consideration recorded at each reporting period. See Note 3, "NEPSI Acquisition," for additional information.
Product Warranty
Warranty obligations are incurred in connection with the sale of the Company’s products. The Company provides assurance-type warranties on all product sales for a term of typically one to three years, and extended service-type warranties at the customers’ option for an additional term ranging up to four additional years. The Company accrues for the estimated warranty costs for assurance warranties at the time of sale based on historical warranty experience plus any known or expected changes in warranty exposure. For all extended service-type warranties, the Company recognizes the revenue ratably over time during the effective period of the service. The costs incurred to provide for these warranty obligations are estimated and recorded as an accrued liability at the time of sale. Future warranty costs are estimated based on historical performance rates and related costs to repair given products. The accounting estimate related to product warranty involves judgment in determining future estimated warranty costs. Should actual performance rates or repair costs differ from estimates, revision to the estimated warranty liability would be required.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
Income Taxes
The Company’s provision for income taxes is comprised of a current and a deferred portion. The current income tax provision is calculated as the estimated taxes payable or refundable on tax returns for the current fiscal year. The deferred income tax provision is calculated for the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences and carry-forwards using expected tax rates in effect in the years during which the differences are expected to reverse.
Deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future fiscal years of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each fiscal year end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce net deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The Company has provided a valuation allowance against its U.S., Romania and China deferred income tax assets since the Company believes that it is more likely than not that these deferred tax assets are not currently realizable due to uncertainty around profitability in the future.
Accounting for income taxes requires a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if, based on the technical merits, it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company reevaluates these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled issues under audit and new audit activity. Any changes in these factors could result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision. The Company includes interest and penalties related to gross unrecognized tax benefits within the provision for income taxes. See Note 13, “Income Taxes,” for further information regarding its income tax assumptions and expenses.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based payment transactions using a fair value-based method and recognizes the related expense in the results of operations.
Stock-based compensation is estimated at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period of the award. The fair value of restricted stock awards is determined by reference to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of awards with service and performance conditions. For awards with service conditions only, the Company recognizes compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service/vesting period. For awards with performance conditions, estimates of compensation cost are made based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions. The cumulative effect of changes in the probability outcomes are recorded in the period in which the changes occur.
Determining the appropriate fair value model and related assumptions requires judgment, including estimating stock price volatilities of the Company’s common stock and expected terms. The expected volatility rates are estimated based on historical and implied volatilities of the Company’s common stock. The expected term represents the average time that the options that vest are expected to be outstanding based on the vesting provisions and the Company’s historical exercise, cancellation and expiration patterns.
The Company estimates pre-vesting forfeitures when recognizing compensation expense based on historical and forward-looking factors. Changes in estimated forfeiture rates and differences between estimated forfeiture rates and actual experience may result in significant, unanticipated increases or decreases in stock-based compensation expense from period to period. The termination of employment of certain employees who hold large numbers of stock-based awards may also have a significant, unanticipated impact on forfeiture experience and, therefore, on stock-based compensation expense. The Company will update these assumptions on at least an annual basis and on an interim basis if significant changes to the assumptions are warranted.
The Company accounts for share-based payments made to non-employees in the same manner as other share-based payments for employees, with the measurement being based on the fair value at the grant date. The non-employee share based payments will be included within the Company's stock compensation currently reported.
Computation of Net Loss per Common Share
Basic net loss per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the period, calculated using the treasury stock method. Common equivalent shares include the effect of restricted stock, exercise of stock options and warrants and contingently issuable shares. For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, common equivalent shares of 436,139, and 354,748, respectively, were not included in the calculation of diluted EPS as they were considered antidilutive. The following table reconciles the numerators and denominators of the EPS calculation for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands except per share amounts):
Fiscal year ended March 31,
Numerator:
Net loss
$ (22,678 )
$ (17,096 )
Less: decrease in fair value of warrants, net of income tax
-
(4,648 )
Plus: change in fair value due to exercise of warrants
-
Net loss - diluted
$ (22,678 )
$ (21,662 )
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding
24,991
21,937
Weighted-average shares subject to repurchase
(1,112 )
(953 )
Shares used in per-share calculation - basic
23,879
20,985
Common stock warrants
-
Shares used in per-share calculation - diluted
23,879
21,069
Net loss per share - basic
$ (0.95 )
$ (0.81 )
Net loss per share - diluted
$ (0.95 )
$ (1.03 )
Foreign Currency Translation
The functional currency of all the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar, except for AMSC Austria, for which the local currency (Euro) is the functional currency, and AMSC China, for which the local currency (Renminbi) is the functional currency. The assets and liabilities of AMSC Austria and AMSC China are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date and income and expense items are translated at average rates for the period. Cumulative translation adjustments are excluded from net loss and shown as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Net foreign currency gains and losses are included in other income (expense), net on the consolidated statements of operations and were $0.7 million and $0.1 million, for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company has no restrictions on the foreign exchange activities of its foreign subsidiaries, including the payment of dividends and other distributions.
Risks and Uncertainties
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates and would impact future results of operations and cash flows.
The Company invests its available cash in high credit, quality financial instruments and invests primarily in investment-grade marketable securities, including, but not limited to, government obligations, money market funds and corporate debt instruments.
Several of the Company’s government contracts are being funded incrementally, and as such, are subject to the future authorization, appropriation, and availability of government funding. The Company has a history of successfully obtaining financing under incrementally-funded contracts with the U.S. government and it expects to continue to obtain additional contract modifications in the year ending March 31, 2022 and beyond as incremental funding is authorized and appropriated by the government.
Contingencies
From time to time, the Company may be involved in legal and administrative proceedings and claims of various types. The Company records a liability in its consolidated financial statements for these matters when a loss is known or considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Management reviews these estimates in each accounting period as additional information is known and adjusts the loss provision when appropriate. If the loss is not probable or cannot be reasonably estimated, a liability is not recorded in the consolidated financial statements. If, with respect to a matter, it is not both probable to result in liability and the amount of loss cannot be reasonably estimated, an estimate of possible loss or range of loss is disclosed unless such an estimate cannot be made. The Company does not recognize gain contingencies until they are realized. Legal costs incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred. See Note 16, “Commitments and Contingencies,” for further information.
Disclosure of Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company’s financial instruments consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, marketable securities, accounts payable, accrued expenses, warrants to purchase shares of common stock, and derivatives. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, short-term debt, accounts payable, and accrued expenses due to their short nature approximate fair value at March 31, 2021 and 2020. The estimated fair values have been determined through information obtained from market sources and management estimates. Marketable securities consist of certificates of deposit with maturities of less than 12 months that are measured using such inputs as quoted prices and are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. The Company determines the appropriate classification of its marketable securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such classification as of each balance sheet date. All marketable securities are considered available for sale and are carried at fair value. Changes in fair value are recorded to other income (expense), net. The fair value for the contingent consideration is estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation and subject to revaluation at each balance sheet date. The fair value for the warrant arrangements was historically estimated by management based on various assumptions in a lattice model and was subject to revaluation at each balance sheet date. The Company classifies the estimates used to fair value these instruments as Level 3 inputs. See Note 6, “Fair Value Measurements” for a full discussion on fair value measurements.
3. NEPSI Acquisition
Acquisition of NEPSI
As described in Note 1, Nature of the Business and Operations and Liquidity, on the Acquisition Date, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of NEPSI and membership interests of Northeast Power Realty, LLC, a New York limited liability company, which holds the real property that serves as NEPSI’s headquarters. NEPSI is a U.S.-based global provider of medium-voltage metal-enclosed power capacitor banks and harmonic filter banks for use on electric power systems. Prior to the NEPSI Acquisition, the Company had purchased $0.4 million of products from NEPSI in fiscal year 2019 for which NEPSI was paid and had recorded revenue.
Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of NEPSI, and membership interest in the realty entity, for which the Company paid $26.0 million in cash and issued 873,657 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock. Additionally, the Company may issue to the selling stockholders up to an additional 1,000,000 shares of common stock upon NEPSI’s achievement of specified revenue objectives during varying periods of up to four years following closing of the NEPSI Acquisition. This contingent consideration is recorded as a derivative liability based on a Monte Carlo simulation to determine fair value at the time of issuance. NEPSI is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and is operated and reported as a component of its Grid business unit.
The NEPSI Acquisition completed by the Company during the twelve months ended March 31, 2021 has been accounted for under the purchase method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. The Company allocated the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price paid by the Company over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired has been recorded as goodwill. As NEPSI was previously a private company, the adoption of ASC 606 was completed as part of the NEPSI Acquisition. See Note 4 "Revenue Recognition" for further details. There were no leases acquired and the NEPSI Acquisition had no impact to the Company's reporting under ASC 842.
The total purchase price of approximately $42.4 million includes the fair value of shares of the Company’s common stock issued at closing, cash paid, and contingent consideration as follows (in millions):
Cash payment
$ 26.0
Issuance of 873,657 shares of Company’s common stock
12.4
Contingent consideration
4.0
Total consideration
42.4
At the Acquisition Date, in addition to the $26.0 million cash, the Company valued the Company’s common stock, using $14.23 per share, which was the closing price on the day that the Company acquired NEPSI and $4.0 million of contingent consideration for the earnout liability valued as of the Acquisition Date. Acquisition costs of $0.3 million were recorded in selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") costs for the year ended March 31, 2021.
The fair value of the contingent consideration was determined using a Monte Carlo model and is accounted for as a derivative liability which is revalued at the fair value determined at each subsequent balance sheet date until the contingencies are resolved and the shares to be issued are determined, with the change in fair value recorded in the current period operating loss. See Note 12, "Warrants and Derivative Liabilities" for further details and a summary of key assumptions used to determine fair value in each period.
The following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price based on the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and related deferred income taxes in connection with the NEPSI Acquisition (in millions):
Net working capital (excluding inventory and deferred revenue)
$ 0.1
Inventory
4.2
Property, plant and equipment
2.3
Deferred revenue
(2.7 )
Deferred tax liability
(1.7 )
Net tangible assets/(liabilities)
2.2
Backlog
0.6
Trade names and trademarks
0.6
Customer relationships
6.1
Net identifiable intangible assets/(liabilities)
7.3
Goodwill
32.9
Total purchase consideration
$ 42.4
Inventory includes a $1.0 million adjustment to step up the inventory balance to fair value consistent with the purchase price allocation. The fair value was determined based on the estimated selling price of the inventory, less the remaining manufacturing and selling cost and a normal profit margin on those manufacturing and selling efforts. The $1.0 million step up adjustment increased cost of revenue in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, as the inventory was sold. This increase is not reflected in the pro forma condensed combined statements of operations because it does not have a continuing impact beyond the first year.
Backlog of $0.6 million was evaluated using the multi period excess earnings method under the income approach. The contracts with customers do not provide for any guarantees to source all future requirements from the Company. The amortization method being utilized is economic consumption estimated over a two year period with the expense being allocated to cost of revenues.
Customer relationships of $6.1 million relates to customers currently under contract and was determined based on a multi period excess earnings method under the income approach. The method of amortization being utilized is the economic consumption over 7 years with the expense being allocated to SG&A.
Trade names and trademarks of $0.6 million were reviewed, using the assumption that the Company would continue to utilize the NEPSI trade name indefinitely. The relief from royalty method was utilized using an 8% royalty rate on revenues with a 13% discount rate over 8 years.
Goodwill represents the value associated with the acquired workforce and expected synergies related to the business combination of the two companies. Goodwill resulting from the NEPSI Acquisition was assigned to the Company’s Grid segment. Goodwill recognized in the NEPSI Acquisition is not deductible for tax purposes. This purchase price allocation is preliminary and has not been finalized as the analysis on the assets and liabilities acquired, primarily the tax related liability may require further adjustments to our purchase accounting that could result in a measurement period adjustment that would impact our reported net assets and goodwill as of October 1, 2020. Material changes, if any, to the preliminary allocation summarized above will be reported once the related uncertainties are resolved, but no later than October 1, 2021. The $1.7 million of deferred tax liability is primarily related to inventory step up and intangibles.
Unaudited Pro Forma Operating Results
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations for the year ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 is presented as if the NEPSI Acquisition had occurred on April 1, 2019.
Twelve Months Ended March 31,
Revenues
$ 99,462
$ 88,578
Operating loss
(22,158 )
(20,781 )
Net loss
$ (23,050 )
$ (12,922 )
Net loss per common share
Basic
$ (0.97 )
$ (0.59 )
Diluted
$ (0.97 )
$ (0.59 )
Shares - basic
23,879
21,859
Shares - diluted
23,879
21,943
The pro forma amounts include the historical operating results of the Company and NEPSI with appropriate adjustments that give effect to acquisition related costs, income taxes, intangible amortization resulting from the NEPSI Acquisition and certain conforming accounting policies of the Company. The fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 includes a $3.0 million increase in operating loss and net loss for the change in fair value on the contingent consideration. The pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred if the NEPSI Acquisition and related transactions had been completed at the beginning of the applicable periods presented. In addition, the pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of operating results in future periods.
In the consolidated results for the year ended March 31, 2021, NEPSI’s operations are included in the Company’s consolidated results from the date of Acquisition of October 1, 2020. NEPSI contributed $13.2 million of revenue and $0.3 million in net income for the Company for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. Amortization expense of $1.2 million is included in the year ended March 31, 2021 as a result of the NEPSI acquired intangible assets. In addition, $1.0 million for the step-up basis assigned to acquired inventory was charged to cost of revenues in the year ended March 31, 2021.
4. Revenue Recognition
The Company’s revenues in its Grid segment are derived primarily through enabling the transmission and distribution of power, providing planning services that allow it to identify power grid needs and risks, and developing ship protection systems for the U.S. Navy. The Company’s revenues in its Wind segment are derived primarily through supplying advanced power electronics and control systems, licensing its highly engineered wind turbine designs, and providing extensive customer support services to wind turbine manufacturers. The Company records revenue based on a five-step model in accordance with ASC 606. For its customer contracts, the Company identifies the performance obligations, determines the transaction price, allocates the contract transaction price to the performance obligations, and recognizes the revenue when (or as) control of goods or services is transferred to the customer. As of March 31, 2021, 78% of revenue was recognized at the point in time when control transferred to the customer, with the remainder being recognized over time. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, 72% of revenue was recognized at the point in time when control transferred to the customer, with the remainder being recognized over time.
Following the NEPSI Acquisition, the Company evaluated all open NEPSI contracts at the Acquisition Date against a five-step model in accordance with ASC 606 as NEPSI, as a private company, had deferred adopting ASC 606 prior to the Acquisition, as permitted. The Company identified two NEPSI revenue streams which are (1) the sale of its major components, which falls under the equipment and systems product line and (2) the sale of spare parts, which falls under the service product line. Further details on each of these product lines can be found below. The Company does not expect a material impact to its consolidated statements of operations on an ongoing basis resulting from the adoption of the ASC 606 standard for the NEPSI business, and NEPSI revenue streams will follow the existing policies noted below.
In the Company's equipment and system product line, each contract with a customer summarizes each product sold to a customer, which typically represents distinct performance obligations. A contract's transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation using the respective standalone selling price which is determined primarily using the cost plus expected margin approach and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. The majority of the Company’s product sales transfer control to the customer in line with the contracted delivery terms and revenue is recorded at the point in time when title and risk transfer to the customer, as the Company has determined that this is the point in time that control transfers to the customer.
The Company's equipment and system product line includes certain contracts which do not meet the requirements of an exchange transaction and therefore do not fall within the scope of ASC 606. As these non-exchange transaction contracts are considered grant revenue and do not fall within any specific accounting literature, the Company follows guidance within ASC 606 by analogy to recognize grant revenue over time. In the year ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded $3.9 million in grant revenue, which is included in the Company’s Grid revenue. There was $6.4 million in grant revenue recorded in the year ended March 31, 2020, which is included in the Company's Grid revenue.
In the Company's service and technology development product line, there are several different types of transactions and each begins with a contract with a customer that summarizes each product sold to a customer, which typically represents distinct performance obligations. The technology development transactions are primarily for activities that have no alternative use and for which a profit can be expected throughout the life of the contract. In these cases, the revenue is recognized over time, but in the instances where the profit cannot be assured throughout the entire contract then the revenue is recognized at a point in time. Each contract's transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation using the respective standalone selling price which is determined primarily using the cost plus expected margin approach. The ongoing service transactions are for service contracts that provide benefit to the customer simultaneously as the Company performs its obligations, and therefore this revenue is recognized ratably over time throughout the effective period of these contracts. The transaction prices on these contracts are allocated based on an adjusted market approach which is re-assessed annually for reasonableness. The field service transactions include contracts for delivery of goods and completion of services made at the customer's requests, which are not deemed satisfied until the work has been completed and/or the requested goods have been delivered, so all of this revenue is recognized at the point in time when the control changes, and at allocated prices based on the adjusted market approach driven by standard price lists. The royalty transactions are related to certain contract terms on transactions in the Company's equipment and systems product line based on activity as specified in the contracts. The transaction prices of these agreements are calculated based on an adjusted market approach as specified in the contract. The Company reports royalty revenue for usage-based royalties when the sales have occurred. In circumstances when collectability is not assured and a contract does not exist under ASC 606, revenue is deferred until a non-refundable payment has been received for substantially all the amount that is due and there are no further remaining performance obligations.
The Company's service contracts can include a purchase order from a customer for specific goods in which each item is a distinct performance obligation satisfied at a point in time at which control of the goods is transferred to the customer which occurs based on the contracted delivery terms or when the requested service work has been completed. The transaction price for these goods is allocated based on the adjusted market approach considering similar transactions under similar circumstances. Service contracts are also derived from ongoing maintenance contracts and extended service-type warranty contracts. In these transactions, the Company is contracted to provide an ongoing service over a specified period of time. As the customer is consuming the benefits as the service is being provided the revenue is recognized over time ratably.
The Company’s policy is to not accept volume discounts, product returns, or rebates and allowances within its contracts. In the event a contract was approved with any of these terms, it would be evaluated for variable consideration, estimated and recorded as a reduction of revenue in the same period the related product revenue was recorded.
The Company provides assurance-type warranties on all product sales for a term of typically one to three years, and extended service-type warranties at the customers’ option for an additional term ranging up to four additional years. The Company accrues for the estimated warranty costs for assurance warranties at the time of sale based on historical warranty experience plus any known or expected changes in warranty exposure. For all extended service-type warranties, the Company recognizes the revenue ratably over time during the effective period of the services.
The Company records revenue net of sales tax, value added tax, excise tax and other taxes collected concurrent with revenue-producing activities. The Company has elected to recognize the cost for freight and shipping when control over the products sold passes to customers and revenue is recognized. The Company has elected to recognize incremental costs of obtaining a contract as expense when incurred except in contracts where the amortization period would exceed twelve months; in such cases the long term amount will be assessed for materiality. The Company has elected to not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component if the period of financing is twelve months or less.
The Company’s contracts with customers do not typically include extended payment terms and may include milestone billing over the life of the contract. Payment terms vary by contract type and type of customer and generally range from 30 to 60 days from delivery.
The following tables disaggregate the Company’s revenue by product line and by shipment destination:
Year Ended March 31, 2021
Product Line:
Grid
Wind
Equipment and systems
$ 65,930
$ 14,362
Services and technology development
4,598
2,235
Total
$ 70,528
$ 16,597
Region:
Americas
$ 54,168
$
Asia Pacific
11,326
16,207
EMEA
5,034
Total
$ 70,528
$ 16,597
Year Ended
March 31, 2020
Product Line:
Grid
Wind
Equipment and systems
$ 44,065
$ 12,282
Services and technology development
5,520
1,971
Total
$ 49,585
$ 14,253
Region:
Americas
$ 33,207
$
Asia Pacific
10,407
13,996
EMEA
5,971
Total
$ 49,585
$ 14,253
In the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, 41% and 51% of the Company’s revenues, respectively, were recognized from sales outside the United States. The Company maintains operations in Austria and the United States and sales and service support centers around the world.
As of March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020, the Company’s contract assets and liabilities primarily relate to the timing differences between cash received from a customer in connection with contractual rights to invoicing and the timing of revenue recognition following completion of performance obligations. The Company's accounts receivable balance is made up entirely of customer contract related balances. Changes in the Company’s contract assets, which are included in “Unbilled Accounts Receivable” and “Deferred program costs” (see Note 7, “Accounts Receivable” and Note 8, “Inventory” for a reconciliation to the condensed consolidated balance sheet) and contract liabilities, which are included in the current portion and long term portion of “deferred revenue” in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets, are as follows:
Unbilled AR
Deferred Program Costs
Contract Liabilities
Beginning balance as of March 31, 2020
$ 5,711
$ 1,631
$ 26,142
Increases for balances acquired
-
2,700
Increases for costs incurred to fulfill performance obligations
-
7,674
-
Increase (decrease) due to customer billings
(8,687 )
-
52,988
Decrease due to cost recognition on completed performance obligations
-
(8,346 )
-
Increase (decrease) due to recognition of revenue based on transfer of control of performance obligations
8,640
-
(61,183 )
Other changes and FX impact
-
Ending balance as of March 31, 2021
$ 5,765
$
$ 21,257
Unbilled AR
Deferred Program Costs
Contract Liabilities
Beginning balance as of March 31, 2019
$ 2,213
$
$ 15,521
Increases for costs incurred to fulfill performance obligations
-
4,844
-
Increase (decrease) due to customer billings
(11,516 )
-
47,877
Decrease due to cost recognition on completed performance obligations
-
(3,525 )
-
Increase (decrease) due to recognition of revenue based on transfer of control of performance obligations
15,017
-
(37,009 )
Other changes and FX impact
(3 )
(6 )
(247 )
Ending balance as of March 31, 2020
$ 5,711
$ 1,631
$ 26,142
The Company’s remaining performance obligations represent the unrecognized revenue value of the Company’s contractual commitments. The Company’s performance obligations may vary significantly each reporting period based on the timing of major new contractual commitments. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had outstanding performance obligations on existing contracts under ASC 606 to be recognized in the next twelve months of approximately $54.9 million. There are also approximately $16.9 million of outstanding performance obligations to be recognized over a period of thirteen to sixty months. The remaining performance obligations are subject to customer actions and therefore the timing of revenue recognition cannot be reasonably estimated. The twelve month performance obligations include anticipated shipments to Inox based on the twelve month rolling forecast provided by Inox on the multi-year supply contract. The quantities specified in any forecast provided by Inox related to the multi-year supply contract are firm and irrevocable for the first three months of a twelve-month rolling forecast. The timing of the performance obligations beyond the twelve-month forecast provided by Inox are not determinable and therefore are not included in the total remaining performance obligations.
The following table sets forth customers who represented 10% or more of the Company’s total revenues for the year ended March 31, 2021 and 2020:
Year Ended
Reportable
March 31,
Segment
EPC Services Company
Grid
13%
0%
Department of Homeland Security
Grid
<10%
10%
5. Goodwill
The guidance under ASC 805-30 provides for the recognition of goodwill on the Acquisition Date measured as the excess of the aggregate consideration transferred over the net of the Acquisition Date amounts of net assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company's goodwill balance relates to the NEPSI Acquisition in fiscal 2020 and Infinia Technology Corporation in fiscal 2017 and is reported in the Grid business segment.
Goodwill represents the difference between the purchase price and the fair value of the identifiable tangible and intangible net assets when accounted for using the purchase method of accounting. Goodwill is not amortized but reviewed for impairment. Goodwill is reviewed annually on February 28th and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the goodwill might not be recoverable.
The following table provides a roll forward of the changes in our Grid business segment goodwill balance:
Goodwill
March 31, 2020
$ 1,719
NEPSI Acquisition
32,915
March 31, 2021
$ 34,634
There was no change in goodwill during the year ended March 31, 2020.
The Company performed its annual assessment of goodwill on February 28, 2021 and noted no triggering events from the analysis date to March 31, 2021 and determined that there was no impairment to goodwill. Additionally, no impairment resulted from the assessment performed in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020.
6. Fair Value Measurements
A valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs to valuation used to measure fair value has been established. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three broad levels as follows:
Level 1
-
Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.
Level 2
-
Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs).
Level 3
-
Unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The Company develops these inputs based on the best information available, including its own data.
The Company provides a gross presentation of activity within Level 3 measurement roll-forward and details of transfers in and out of Level 1 and 2 measurements. A change in the hierarchy of an investment from its current level is reflected in the period during which the pricing methodology of such investment changes. Disclosure of the transfer of securities from Level 1 to Level 2 or Level 3 is made in the event that the related security is significant to total cash and investments. The Company did not have any transfers of assets and liabilities from Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value measurement hierarchy during the year ended March 31, 2021.
A financial asset’s or liability’s classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
Valuation Techniques
Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid instruments with maturities of three months or less that are regarded as high quality, low risk investments and are measured using such inputs as quoted prices, and are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. Cash equivalents consist principally of certificates of deposits and money market accounts.
Marketable Securities
Marketable securities consist of certificates of deposit with maturities of less than 12 months that are measured using such inputs as quoted prices and are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. The Company determines the appropriate classification of its marketable securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such classification as of each balance sheet date. All marketable securities are considered available for sale and are carried at fair value. Changes in fair value would be recorded to other income (expense), net. The Company recognized less than a $0.1 million in unrealized gains on marketable securities, which is recorded in other income, in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. The Company recognized $0.1 million in unrealized gains on marketable securities, which is recorded in other income, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020.
The Company periodically reviews the realizability of each short and long term marketable security when impairment indicators exist with respect to the security. If other than temporary impairment of value of the security exists, the carrying value of the security is written down to its estimated fair value.
Contingent Consideration
Contingent consideration relates to the earnout payment for the NEPSI Acquisition. See Note 3 "NEPSI Acquisition" and Note 12, "Warrants and Derivative Liabilities" for further discussion. The Company relied on a Monte Carlo simulation pricing method to determine the fair value of the contingent consideration on the Acquisition Date and will continue to revalue the fair value of the contingent consideration at each subsequent balance sheet date until the final settlement date, with the resulting gain or loss recorded in operating expenses.
The following table provides the assets and liabilities carried at fair value on a recurring basis, measured as of March 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Total Carrying Value
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
March 31, 2021:
Assets:
Cash equivalents
$ 54,104
$ 54,104
$ -
$ -
Marketable securities
$ 5,141
$ 5,141
$ -
$ -
Derivative liabilities:
Contingent Consideration
$ 7,050
$ -
$ -
$ 7,050
Total Carrying Value
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
March 31, 2020:
Assets:
Cash equivalents
$ 19,394
$ 19,394
$ -
$ -
Marketable securities
$ 35,195
$ 35,195
$ -
$ -
The table below reflects the activity for the Company’s major classes of liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):
Acquisition Contingent Consideration
April 1, 2020
$ -
Issuance of contingent consideration
3,990
Mark to market adjustment
3,060
March 31, 2021
$ 7,050
Warrants
April 1, 2019
$ 4,942
Mark to market adjustment
(4,648 )
Exercise of in-the-money warrants
(294 )
March 31, 2020
$ -
7. Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable at March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020 consisted of the following (in thousands):
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2020
Accounts receivable (billed)
$ 7,502
$ 11,276
Accounts receivable (unbilled)
5,765
5,711
Accounts receivable
$ 13,267
$ 16,987
8. Inventory
Inventory, net of reserves, at March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020 consisted of the following (in thousands):
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2020
Raw materials
$ 8,255
$ 10,739
Work-in-process
3,297
1,345
Finished goods
5,260
Deferred program costs
1,631
Inventory
$ 13,306
$ 18,975
The Company recorded inventory reserves of $1.8 million and $1.3 million for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. These write downs were based on evaluating its inventory on hand for excess quantities and obsolescence.
Deferred program costs as of March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020 primarily represent costs incurred on programs accounted for upon completion of the project when control has transferred to the customer before revenue and costs will be recognized.
9. Property, Plant and Equipment
The cost and accumulated depreciation of property and equipment at March 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows (in thousands):
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2020
Land
$
$ -
Construction in progress - equipment
3,130
Buildings
1,630
-
Equipment and software
41,652
41,737
Furniture and fixtures
1,333
1,302
Leasehold improvements
6,308
2,477
Property, plant and equipment, gross
51,413
48,646
Less accumulated depreciation
(42,416 )
(40,081 )
Property, plant and equipment, net
$ 8,997
$ 8,565
Depreciation expense was $3.7 million and $4.0 million, for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Construction in progress - equipment primarily includes capital investments in the Company's HTS equipment and leasehold improvements in the Company's leased facility in Ayer, Massachusetts. The increase in land and building relates to the property added as part of the NEPSI Acquisition.
10. Intangible Assets
Intangible assets at March 31, 2021 and 2020 consisted of the following (in thousands):
Gross Amount
Accumulated Amortization
Net Book Value
Gross Amount
Accumulated Amortization
Net Book Value
Estimated Useful Life
Backlog
(475 )
-
-
-
Trade names and trademarks
-
-
-
-
Indefinite
Customer relationships
6,100
(739 )
5,361
-
-
-
Core technology and know-how
5,970
(2,903 )
3,067
5,970
(2,420 )
3,550
5-10
Intangible assets
$ 13,270
$ (4,117 )
$ 9,153
$ 5,970
$ (2,420 )
$ 3,550
The Company recorded intangible amortization expense of $1.2 million and $0.3 million, for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively. Additionally, in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded $0.5 million related to intangible amortization related to backlog that is reported in cost of revenues.
Expected future amortization expense related to intangible assets is as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal years ending March 31,
Total
$ 2,115
1,808
1,393
1,077
Thereafter
1,300
Total
$ 8,553
The Company's intangible assets relate entirely to the Grid business segment operations in the United States.
11. Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable and accrued expenses at March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020 consisted of the following (in thousands):
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2020
Accounts payable
$ 5,353
$ 10,045
Accrued inventories in-transit
1,460
Accrued other miscellaneous expenses
2,369
1,986
Advanced deposits
1,035
Accrued compensation
7,018
5,683
Income taxes payable
Accrued product warranty
2,053
2,015
Total
$ 19,810
$ 22,091
The Company generally provides a one to three year warranty on its products, commencing upon installation. A provision is recorded upon revenue recognition to cost of revenues for estimated warranty expense based on historical experience.
Product warranty activity was as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
Balance at beginning of period
$ 2,015
$ 1,545
Acquired Warranty Obligation
-
Change in accruals for warranties during the period
Settlements during the period
(752 )
(72 )
Balance at end of period
$ 2,053
$ 2,015
12. Warrants and Derivative Liabilities
Contingent Consideration
The Company evaluated the NEPSI Acquisition earnout payment set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement (see Note 3, "NEPSI Acquisition" for further details), which may require settlement in the Company's common stock, and determined the contingent consideration qualified for liability classification and derivative treatment under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. As a result, for each period, the fair value of the contingent consideration will be remeasured and the resulting gain or loss will be recognized in operating expenses until the share amount is fixed.
The following is a summary of the key assumptions used in a Monte Carlo simulation to calculate the fair value of the contingent consideration related to the NEPSI Acquisition:
Fiscal Year 2020
March 31, 2021
December 31, 2020
October, 1, 2020
Revenue risk premium
6.70 %
6.90 %
7.10 %
Revenue volatility
%
%
%
Stock Price
$ 18.96
$ 23.42
$ 14.23
Payment delay (days)
-
Fair value
$7.1 million
$6.7 million
$4.0 million
Warrants
The Company accounted for its warrants as liabilities due to certain adjustment provisions within the instruments, which required that they be recorded at fair value. The warrants were subject to revaluation at each balance sheet date and any change in fair value was recorded as a change in fair value of warrants until the earlier of its expiration or its exercise at which time the warrant liability was reclassified to equity. The Company calculated the fair value of the warrants utilizing an integrated lattice model. See Note 6, "Fair Value Measurements," for further discussion. As of March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had no remaining outstanding warrants.
Hercules Warrant
On December 19, 2014, the Company entered into a second amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement with Hercules (the "Hercules Second Amendment"). In conjunction with the Hercules Second Amendment, the Company issued Hercules a warrant to purchase 58,823 shares of the Company's common stock (the "Hercules Warrant"). The Hercules Warrant was exercisable at any time after its issuance at an exercise price of $7.85 per share, subject to certain price-based and other anti-dilution adjustments, including the equity offering in May 2017, the acquisition of Infinia Technology Corporation ("ITC") with common stock in September 2017 and sales of common stock under the ATM entered into in January 2017. This warrant had a fair value of $0.4 million as of March 31, 2019. On April 8, 2019, Hercules notified the Company of its intent to exercise this warrant on a cashless basis. Hercules received 22,821 shares of the Company's common stock on April 17, 2019. As a result of this exercise the Company recorded a net gain of $0.1 million to change in fair value of warrants, resulting from the decrease in the fair value of the Hercules Warrant during the year ended March 31, 2020.
Hudson Warrant
On November 13, 2014, the Company completed an offering of 909,090 units of the Company’s common stock with Hudson Bay Capital. Each unit consisted of one share of the Company’s common stock and 0.9 of a warrant to purchase one share of common stock, or warrants to purchase in the aggregate 818,181 shares (the "Hudson Warrants"). The Hudson Warrants were exercisable at any time, at an exercise price equal to $7.81 per share, subject to certain price-based and other anti-dilution adjustments including those noted above. On November 13, 2019, Hudson partially exercised the Hudson Warrants for 786,000 restricted shares of Company common stock at $7.81 per share. The remaining 32,181 warrants expired on November 13, 2019. The Company recorded a net gain of $4.6 million to change in fair value of warrants, resulting from the decrease in the fair value of the Hudson Warrants during the year ended March 31, 2020.
13. Income Taxes
(Loss) income before income taxes for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021, and 2020 are provided in the table as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal years ended March 31,
Income/(Loss) before income tax expense:
U.S.
$ (26,721 )
$ (18,260 )
Foreign
3,211
1,359
Total
$ (23,510 )
$ (16,901 )
The components of income tax expense (benefit) attributable to continuing operations consist of the following (in thousands):
Fiscal years ended March 31,
Current
Federal
$
$ 1,814
Foreign
Total current
1,909
Deferred
Federal
(1,602 )
(1,524 )
Foreign
(190 )
Total deferred
(1,221 )
(1,714 )
Income tax (benefit) expense
$ (832 )
$
The reconciliation between the statutory federal income tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate is shown below.
Fiscal years ended March 31,
Statutory federal income tax rate
(21 )%
(21 )%
Foreign income tax rate differential
(20 )
True-up of NOLs
GILTI
Other
(1 )
(6 )
Valuation allowance
(1 )
Effective income tax rate
(4 )%
%
The following is a summary of the principal components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities (in thousands):
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2020
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards
$ 184,455
$ 195,504
Research and development and other tax credit carryforwards
13,280
13,244
Accruals and reserves
5,416
5,352
Fixed assets and intangible assets
1,414
1,697
Other
1,149
1,565
Gross deferred tax assets
205,714
217,362
Valuation allowance
(200,081 )
(199,989 )
Total deferred tax assets
5,633
17,373
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intercompany Debt
(4,205 )
(14,365 )
Other
(479 )
(1,637 )
Total deferred tax liabilities
(4,684 )
(16,002 )
Net deferred tax assets
$
$ 1,371
On March 27, 2020, the United States enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act"). The CARES Act is an emergency economic stimulus package that includes spending and tax breaks to strengthen the United States economy and fund a nationwide effort to curtail the effect of COVID-19. While the CARES Act provides sweeping tax changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the more significant provisions include removal of certain limitations on utilization of net operating losses, increasing the loss carryback period for certain losses to five years, and increasing the ability to deduct interest expense, as well as amending certain provisions of the previously enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The CARES Act is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
The Company has provided a full valuation allowance against its net deferred income tax assets in the U.S., Romania and China since it is more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will not be realizable. After consideration of all the available evidence, both positive and negative, the Company has determined that a $200.1 million valuation allowance at March 31, 2021 is necessary to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that will more likely than not be realized which is a $0.1 million increase from the $200.0 valuation allowance as of March 31, 2020.
At March 31, 2021, the Company had aggregate net operating loss carryforwards in the U.S. for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $780.5 million and $211.1 million, respectively, which expire in the years ending March 31, 2021 through 2040. For U.S. federal tax purpose, approximately $68.2 million of federal net operating losses have an indefinite carryforward period. Included in the U.S. net operating loss are $3.7 million of acquired losses from Power Quality Systems, Inc. and $0.3 million of acquired losses from Infinia Technology Corporation. Research and development and other tax credit carryforwards amounting to approximately $10.6 million and $3.0 million are available to offset federal and state income taxes, respectively, and will expire in the years ending through 2040.
At March 31, 2021, the Company had aggregate net operating loss carryforwards for its Chinese operation of approximately $30.1 million, which can be carried forward for five years and begin to expire December 31, 2021.
At March 31, 2021, AMSC Romania had aggregate net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $0.9 million, which can be carried forward for seven years and begin to expire at March 31, 2028.
Section 382 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”), provides limits on the extent to which a corporation that has undergone an ownership change (as defined) can utilize any net operating loss ("NOL") and general business tax credit carryforwards it may have. The Company updated its study in 2020 to determine whether Section 382 could limit the use of its carryforwards in this manner. After completing this study, the Company has concluded that the limitation will not have a material impact on its ability to utilize its NOL carryforwards. If there were material ownership changes subsequent to the study, such changes could limit the Company's ability to utilize its NOL carryforwards.
The total amount of undistributed foreign earnings available to be repatriated at March 31, 2021 was $1.7 million resulting in the recording of a $0.3 million deferred tax liability for foreign withholding taxes.
The Company has not recorded a deferred tax asset for the temporary difference associated with the excess of the tax greater than the book basis in its Chinese and Romanian subsidiaries as the future tax benefit is not expected to reverse in the foreseeable future.
Accounting for income taxes requires a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if, based on the technical merits, it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company reevaluates these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled issues under audit and new audit activity. Any changes in these factors could result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision. The Company did not identify any uncertain tax positions at March 31, 2021. The Company did not have any gross unrecognized tax benefits at March 31, 2021 or 2020.
There were no reversals of uncertain tax positions in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.
The Company accounts for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as part of its provision for federal and state income taxes. Any unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would favorably affect its effective tax rate in any future period. The Company does not expect that the amounts of unrecognized benefits will change significantly within the next twelve months.
The Company conducts business globally and, as a result, its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. Major tax jurisdictions include the U.S., China, Romania and Austria. All U.S. income tax filings for fiscal years ended March 31, 1996 through 2021 remain open and subject to examination.
All fiscal years from the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019 through 2021 remain open and subject to examination in Austria. As of March 31, 2021, the Company remains open to audit for the calendar years 2016 and forward in China. Tax filings in Romania for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2016 through 2021 remain open and subject to examination.
14. Leases
On April 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) ("ASC 842"), using the modified retrospective approach. The Company elected the package of practical expedients available in the standard and as a result, did not reassess the lease classification of existing contracts or leases or the initial direct costs associated with existing leases. The Company did not elect the hindsight practical expedient and evaluated lease terms for existing leases. The Company has also elected the practical expedient to not separate lease components and non-lease components and will account for the leases as a single lease component for all classes of leases.
All significant lease arrangements are recognized at lease commencement. Operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at commencement. The operating lease right-of-use asset includes any lease payments related to initial direct cost and prepayments and excludes any lease incentives. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company enters into a variety of operating lease agreements through the normal course of its business, but primarily real estate leases to support its operations. The agreements generally provide for fixed minimum rental payments and the payment of real estate taxes and insurance. Many of these leases have one or more renewal options that allow the Company, at its discretion, to renew the lease for varying periods up to five years or to terminate the lease. Only renewal options or termination rights that the Company believed were likely to be exercised were included in the lease calculations.
The Company also enters into leases for vehicles, IT equipment and service agreements, and other leases related to its manufacturing operations that are also included in the right-of-use asset and lease liability accounts if they are for a term of longer than twelve months. However, many of these leases are either short-term in nature or immaterial. The Company has made the policy election to exclude short-term leases from the balance sheet.
The discount rate was calculated using an incremental borrowing rate based on an assessment prepared by the Company through the use of Company credit ratings, consideration of its lease populations potential risk to its total capital structure, and a market rate for a collateralized loan for its risk profile, calculated by a third party. The Company elected to apply the discount rate using the remaining lease term at the date of adoption.
The Company did not identify any leases that are classified as financing leases.
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases at March 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2020
Operating Leases:
Right-of-use assets
$ 3,747
$ 3,359
Total right-of-use assets
3,747
3,359
Lease liabilities - ST
$
$
Lease liabilities - LT
3,246
3,000
Total operating lease liabilities
$ 3,858
$ 3,439
Weighted-average remaining lease term
5.82
6.91
Weighted-average discount rate
6.72 %
7.08 %
The costs related to the Company's leases for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 are included in selling, general and administrative costs and are as follows:
Year ended
Year ended
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2020
Operating Lease:
Operating lease costs - fixed
$
$
Operating lease costs - variable
Short-term lease costs
1,083
Total lease costs
$ 2,031
$ 1,357
The Company’s estimated minimum future lease obligations under the Company's leases are as follows:
Operating Leases
Year ended March 31,
$
Thereafter
Total minimum lease payments
4,695
Less: interest
(837 )
Present value of lease liabilities
$ 3,858
15. Stockholders’ Equity
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
As of March 31, 2021, the Company had two active stock plans: the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2007 Plan”) and the Amended and Restated 2007 Director Stock Plan (the “2007 Director Plan”). On August 1, 2019, the Company’s stockholders approved amendments to the 2007 Plan and the 2007 Director Plan. The amendment to the 2007 Plan increased the total number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2007 Plan from 3,400,000 shares to 4,600,000 shares. The amendment to the 2007 Director Plan increased the total number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2007 Director Plan from 230,000 shares to 280,000 shares.
The 2007 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the IRC of 1986, as amended, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. In the case of options, the exercise price is no less than the fair market value of the common stock, as determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board of Directors, on the date of grant. The contractual life of options is generally 10 years. Options generally vest over a 3-5 year period while restricted stock generally vests over a 3 year period.
The 2007 Director Plan provides for the grant of nonstatutory stock options and stock awards to members of the Board of Directors who are not also employees of the Company ("outside directors"). Under the terms of the 2007 Director Plan, each outside director is granted an option to purchase shares of common stock with an aggregate grant date value equal to $40,000 upon his or her initial election to the Board with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. These options vest in equal annual installments over a two-year period. In addition, each outside director is granted an award of shares of common stock on the third business day following the last day of each fiscal year with an aggregate value equal to $40,000 using the closing price of the Company's common stock two business days following the last day of each fiscal year, subject to proration for any partial fiscal year of service.
As of March 31, 2021, the 2007 Plan had 793,499 shares available for future issuance and the 2007 Director Plan had 81,133 shares available for future issuance.
Stock-Based Compensation
The components of stock-based compensation for the years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal years ended March 31,
Stock options
$
$
Restricted stock and stock awards
3,428
1,870
Employee stock purchase plan
Total stock-based compensation expense
$ 3,485
$ 1,922
The estimated fair value of the Company’s stock-based awards, less expected annual forfeitures, is amortized over the awards’ service period. The total unrecognized compensation cost for unvested outstanding stock options was less than $0.1 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. This expense will be recognized over a weighted-average expense period of approximately 0.2 years. The total unrecognized compensation cost for unvested outstanding restricted stock was $4.4 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. This expense will be recognized over a weighted-average expense period of approximately 1.7 years.
The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense by financial statement line item for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Fiscal years ended March 31,
Cost of revenues
$
$
Research and development
Selling, general and administrative
2,803
1,522
Total
$ 3,485
$ 1,922
The following table summarizes the information concerning currently outstanding and exercisable employee and non-employee options:
Options / Shares
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (thousands)
Outstanding at March 31, 2020
140,281
$ 49.95
Granted
-
-
Exercised
(2,588 )
24.30
Canceled/forfeited
(10,528 )
129.53
Outstanding at March 31, 2021
127,165
$ 44.37
2.0
$
Exercisable at March 31, 2021
127,140
$ 44.38
2.0
$
Fully vested and expected to vest at March 31, 2021
124,196
$ 45.18
1.9
$
The Company did not grant any options to purchase shares of common stock during the year ended March 31, 2021. The Company granted options to purchase 5,939 shares of common stock during the year ended March 31, 2020. The stock options granted during the year ended March 31, 2020 will vest over 2 years. The weighted average assumptions used in the Black Scholes valuation model for stock options granted during the year ended March 31, 2020 are as follows:
Fiscal years ended March 31,
Expected volatility
66.5 %
Risk-free interest rate
1.8 %
Expected life (years)
5.91
Dividend yield
None
The following table summarizes the employee and non-employee restricted stock activity for the year ended March 31, 2021:
Shares
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Intrinsic Aggregate Value (thousands)
Outstanding at March 31, 2020
982,247
$ 6.26
Granted
712,824
6.97
Vested
(414,449 )
5.84
Forfeited
(232,708 )
4.30
Outstanding at March 31, 2021
1,047,914
$ 7.17
$ 19,868
The total fair value of restricted stock that was granted during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $5.1 million and $3.4 million, respectively. The total fair value of restricted stock that vested during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $4.3 million and $2.9 million, respectively.
There were 255,000 performance-based restricted shares awarded during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 for which the performance conditions are deemed probable to be met and the expense is being recorded over the expected vesting period. There were 94,500 performance-based restricted shares awarded during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 for which the performance conditions are deemed probable to be met and the expense is being recorded over the expected vesting period.
The remaining shares awarded vest upon the passage of time. For awards that vest upon the passage of time, expense is being recorded over the vesting period.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Company maintains the 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (the "ESPP") which provides employees with the opportunity to purchase shares of common stock at a price equal to the market value of the common stock at the end of the offering period, less a 15% purchase discount. As of March 31, 2021, the ESPP had 187,868 shares available for future issuance. The Company recognized less than $0.1 million of compensation expense for both the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, related to the ESPP.
16. Commitments and Contingencies
Purchase Commitments
The Company periodically enters into non-cancelable purchase contracts in order to ensure the availability of materials to support production of its products. Purchase commitments represent enforceable and legally binding agreements with suppliers to purchase goods or services. The Company periodically assesses the need to provide for impairment on these purchase contracts and records a loss on purchase commitments when required.
Lease Commitments
During the year ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 all leases were recorded in selling, general and administrative expense. See Note 14, "Leases" for further details.
Legal Contingencies
From time to time, the Company is involved in legal and administrative proceedings and claims of various types. The Company records a liability in its consolidated financial statements for these matters when a loss is known or considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The Company reviews these estimates each accounting period as additional information is known and adjusts the loss provision when appropriate. If a matter is both probable to result in a liability and the amounts of loss can be reasonably estimated, the Company estimates and discloses the possible loss or range of loss to the extent necessary to make the consolidated financial statements not misleading. If the loss is not probable or cannot be reasonably estimated, a liability is not recorded in its consolidated financial statements.
Other
The Company enters into long-term construction contracts with customers that require the Company to obtain performance bonds. The Company is required to deposit an amount equivalent to some or all the face amount of the performance bonds into an escrow account until the termination of the bond. When the performance conditions are met, amounts deposited as collateral for the performance bonds are returned to the Company. In addition, the Company has various contractual arrangements in which minimum quantities of goods or services have been committed to be purchased on an annual basis.
As of March 31, 2021, the Company had $5.6 million of restricted cash included in long-term assets and $2.2 million of restricted cash in current assets. These amounts included in restricted cash primarily represent deposits to secure letters of credit for various supply contracts or collateral deposits including the irrevocable letter of credit in the amount of $5.0 million to secure certain of the Company’s obligations under the Subcontract Agreement with Commonwealth Edison Company. These deposits are held in interest bearing accounts.
17. Employee Benefit Plans
The Company has implemented a defined contribution plan (the “Plan”) under Section 401(k) of the IRC. Any contributions made by the Company to the Plan are discretionary. The Company has a stock match program under which the Company matched, in the form of Company common stock, 50% of the first 6% of eligible contributions. The Company recorded expense of $0.4 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, and $0.3 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, and recorded corresponding charges to additional paid-in capital related to this program.
18. Business Segments
The Company reports its financial results in two reportable business segments: Grid and Wind. In accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting, we aggregate two operating segments into one reporting segment for financial reporting purposes due to their similar operating and financial characteristics. Our operating segments reflect the way in which internally-reported financial information is used to make decisions and allocate resources.
Through the Company’s power grid offerings, the Grid business segment enables electric utilities, industrial facilities, and renewable energy project developers to connect, transmit and distribute smarter, cleaner and better power through its transmission planning services, power electronics, and superconductor-based systems. The sales process is enabled by transmission planning services that allow it to identify power grid congestion, poor power quality and other risks, which helps the Company determine how its solutions can improve network performance. These services often lead to sales of grid interconnection solutions for wind farms and solar power plants, power quality systems, and transmission and distribution cable systems. The Company also sells ship protection products to the U.S. Navy through its Grid business segment.
Through the Company’s wind power offerings, the Wind business segment enables manufacturers to field highly competitive wind turbines through its advanced power electronics and control system products, engineered designs, and support services. The Company supplies advanced power electronics and control systems, licenses its highly engineered wind turbine designs, and provides extensive customer support services to wind turbine manufacturers. The Company’s design portfolio includes a broad range of drive trains and power ratings of 2 megawatts ("MWs") and higher. The Company provides a broad range of power electronics and software-based control systems that are highly integrated and designed for optimized performance, efficiency, and grid compatibility.
The operating results for the two business segments are as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
Revenues:
Grid
$ 70,528
$ 49,585
Wind
16,597
14,253
Total
$ 87,125
$ 63,838
Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
Operating loss:
Grid
$ (13,318 )
$ (13,508 )
Wind
(3,302 )
(7,699 )
Unallocated corporate expenses
(6,545 )
(1,922 )
Total
$ (23,165 )
$ (23,129 )
Total assets for the two business segments as of March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020 are as follows (in thousands):
March 31, 2021
March 31, 2020
Grid
$ 81,253
$ 44,044
Wind
6,098
14,250
Corporate assets
81,515
65,815
Total
$ 168,866
$ 124,109
The accounting policies of the business segments are the same as those for the consolidated Company. The Company’s business segments have been determined in accordance with the Company’s internal management structure, which is organized based on operating activities. The Company evaluates performance based upon several factors, of which the primary financial measures are segment revenues and segment operating loss. The disaggregated financial results of the segments reflect allocation of certain functional expense categories consistent with the basis and manner in which Company management internally disaggregates financial information for the purpose of assisting in making internal operating decisions. In addition, certain corporate expenses which the Company does not believe are specifically attributable or allocable to either of the two business segments have been excluded from the segment operating loss.
Unallocated corporate expenses primarily consist of loss on contingent consideration of $3.0 million and stock-based compensation expense of $3.5 million, in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. Unallocated corporate expenses primarily consist of stock-based compensation of $1.9 million in the year ended March 31, 2020.
Geographic information about property, plant and equipment associated with particular regions is as follows (in thousands):
March 31,
North America
$ 8,777
$ 8,113
Europe
Asia Pacific
Total
$ 8,997
$ 8,565
19. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amendments in ASU 2016-13 will provide more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that year. Following the release of ASU 2019-10 in November 2019, the new effective date, as long as the Company remains a smaller reporting company, would be annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of ASU 2016-13 may have on its consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The amendments in ASU 2018-13 provide for increased effectiveness of the disclosures made around fair value measurements while including consideration for costs and benefits. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those periods. As of April 1, 2020, the Company has adopted ASU 2018-13 and noted no material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The amendments in ASU 2019-12 provide for simplified accounting to several income tax situations and removal of certain accounting exceptions. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those periods. The Company does not expect the impact of the adoption of ASU 2019-12 to be material to its consolidated financial statements.
20. Subsequent Events
The Company has performed an evaluation of subsequent events through the time of filing this Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC, and has determined that other than the details below, there are no such events to report.
O﻿n May 6, 2021, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of (i) Neeltran Inc. ("Neeltran"), that supplies rectifiers and transformers to industrial customers, and (ii) Neeltran International, Inc. ("International"), for: (a) $1.0 million in cash, and (b) 301,556 shares of the Company’s common stock, which were paid and issued to the selling stockholders of Neeltran. The Company also paid $1.1 million to the selling stockholders of Neeltran at closing to pay off previous loans made by them to Neeltran.
Also on May 6, 2021, the Company's wholly-owned Connecticut subsidiary, AMSC Husky LLC, purchased the real property that served as Neeltran’s headquarters for $4.3 million, of which (a) $2.4 million was paid in immediately available funds by AMSC Husky to the owners of such real property, and (b) $1.9 million was paid directly to TD Bank as full payment for the outstanding indebtedness secured by the mortgage on such real property. Additionally, the Company paid approximately $7.6 million, including the $1.9 million of indebtedness secured by the mortgage on the real property, directly to Neeltran lenders at closing to extinguish outstanding Neeltran indebtedness to third parties. All cash payments associated with the Neeltran acquisition were funded with cash on hand.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2021. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2021, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, a company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, and effected by the board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and includes those policies and procedures that:
(1) Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of assets;
(2) Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors; and
(3) Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
As disclosed in Item 4, Controls and Procedures in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, during the third quarter of fiscal 2020 we identified a material weakness in internal controls related to the initial purchase accounting and the continuing fair value accounting associated with the acquisition of Northeast Power Systems, Inc. ("NEPSI") and related assets (the "NEPSI Acquisition").
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, management implemented new procedures, policies and processes, including revising the precision level of management review controls and gaining additional assurance regarding timely completion of our outside service providers’ quality control procedures, in order to remediate the material weakness. During this same quarter, we completed our testing of the operating effectiveness of the implemented controls and found them to be effective. As a result, we have concluded that the material weakness has been remediated as of March 31, 2021.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, an evaluation was conducted of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission’s Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013 Edition). Our evaluation excluded the NEPSI Acquisition, which was acquired on October 1, 2020. Our Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended March 31, 2021 included revenue of approximately $13.1 million and our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2021 included total assets of approximately $48.8 million attributable to the NEPSI Acquisition. In accordance with guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, companies are allowed to exclude acquisitions from their assessment of internal control over financial reporting during the first year subsequent to the acquisition while integrating the acquired operations. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of March 31, 2021.
This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm on our internal control over financial reporting because we do not qualify as an accelerated or a large accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended).
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Other than changes related to our material weakness remediation efforts and new procedures associated with business combinations in general, initial purchase accounting and continuing fair value accounting specifically as described above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the year ended March 31, 2021 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION
None.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The response to this item is contained in part under the caption “Executive Officers” in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in part in our Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2021 (the “2021 Proxy Statement”) in the sections “Corporate Governance - Members of the Board,” “Corporate Governance - Code of Business Conduct and Ethics,” “Corporate Governance -Board Committees” and “Corporate Governance - Board Committees - Audit Committee,” “Corporate Governance - Director Nomination Process”, “Corporate Governance - Board Determination of Independence”, which sections are incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The sections of the 2021 Proxy Statement titled “Information About Executive and Director Compensation,” “Information About Executive and Director Compensation - Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Information About Executive and Director Compensation - Compensation Committee Report” are incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The sections of the 2021 Proxy Statement titled “Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Information about Executive Officer and Director Compensation - Securities Authorized for Issuance Under our Equity Compensation Plans” are incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The sections of the 2021 Proxy Statement titled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Corporate Governance - Board Determination of Independence” and “Corporate Governance - Board Committees” are incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The section of the 2021 Proxy Statement titled “Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Proposal 2)” is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) Document filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
1. Financial Statements
The following financial statements of American Superconductor Corporation, supplemental information and report of independent registered public accounting firm required by this item are included in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” in this Form 10-K:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Financial Statement Schedules
All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, not required or the required information is shown in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
3. Exhibits Required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act.
See (b) Exhibits.
(b) Exhibits
The list of Exhibits filed as a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is set forth on the Exhibit Index immediately following Item 16, “Form 10-K Summary”, and is incorporated herein by reference.