FuelCell Energy Announces Registered Direct Offering Of Common Stock

DANBURY, Conn., Jan. 10, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL) a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power plants using renewable and other fuels for commercial, industrial, government, and utility customers, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with an institutional investor to sell an aggregate of 10,160,428 units at a negotiated price of $1.87 per unit, with each unit consisting of (i) one share of its common stock, par value $0.0001 per share ("Common Stock") and (ii) one warrant to purchase 1.0 share of Common Stock, in a registered direct offering for gross proceeds of $19.0 million. The net proceeds from the sale of the units, after deducting the placement agent fees and other estimated offering expenses, will be approximately $17.8 million. The Company intends to use the proceeds from this offering for product development, project financing, expansion of manufacturing capacity, and general corporate purposes. 

The warrants have an exercise price of $2.29 per share and are exercisable beginning on the date that is six months and one day after the closing date and will expire twenty one months after issuance. Additionally, FuelCell Energy will obtain the right, subject to certain conditions, to require the investor to purchase up to 10.0 million additional shares approximately nine months after the initial closing date of the transaction. The sale price for the additional shares will be based on a fixed ten percent discount to a volume weighted average price (VWAP) measurement at the time FuelCell Energy exercises the option. FuelCell Energy cannot require the investor to purchase more than $20 million of additional shares.

The offering is expected to close on or about January 13, 2011, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Lazard Capital Markets LLC served as the sole placement agent for the offering.