UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

þ

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2009.

¨

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ________________ TO ________________.

 

Commission File Number:        1-8403      

ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE

38-1749884

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

2956 Waterview Drive, Rochester Hills, Michigan

48309

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

(248) 293-0440

 

Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

þ  Yes              ¨  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

¨  Yes              ¨  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “Non-accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer
þ

Accelerated filer
¨

Non-accelerated filer    ¨
(do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company
¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

¨  Yes              þ  No

As of May 8, 2009, there were 45,743,407 shares of ECD’s Common Stock outstanding.

Page 1 of 53 Pages

             

 


 

ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Financial Statements

  1

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

30

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

46

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

47

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

48

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

48

Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

52

Item 6.

Exhibits

52

SIGNATURES

53

 

i

 

 


 
Table of Contents

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Nine Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product sales

$

60,190

 

$

65,367

 

$

248,978

 

$

159,391

 

Royalties

 

1,477

 

 

1,537

 

 

4,365

 

 

4,044

 

Revenues from product development agreements

 

3,967

 

 

2,691

 

 

10,316

 

 

8,490

 

Other revenues

 

372

 

 

387

 

 

1,220

 

 

1,548

 

TOTAL REVENUES

 

66,006

 

 

69,982

 

 

264,879

 

 

173,473

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sales

 

42,693

 

 

45,296

 

 

167,284

 

 

122,109

 

Cost of revenues from product development
agreements

 

2,451

 

 

1,863

 

 

6,974

 

 

5,391

 

Product development and research

 

2,424

 

 

1,653

 

 

6,568

 

 

7,699

 

Preproduction costs

 

1,325

 

 

751

 

 

5,133

 

 

5,575

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

12,314

 

 

12,461

 

 

43,742

 

 

37,080

 

Loss on disposal of assets

 

677

 

 

 

 

1,086

 

 

 

Restructuring charges

 

139

 

 

2,386

 

 

574

 

 

7,457

 

TOTAL EXPENSES

 

62,023

 

 

64,410

 

 

231,361

 

 

185,311

 

INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS

 

3,983

 

 

5,572

 

 

33,518

 

 

(11,838

)

OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

712

 

 

1,508

 

 

4,783

 

 

6,037

 

Interest expense

 

(2,268

)

 

(66

)

 

(7,860

)

 

(66

)

Other nonoperating expense (net)

 

(552

)

 

(3

)

 

(1,392

)

 

(57

)

TOTAL OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME

 

(2,108

)

 

1,439

 

 

(4,469

)

 

5,914

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

1,875

 

 

7,011

 

 

29,049

 

 

(5,924

)

Income Taxes

 

549

 

 

37

 

 

822

 

 

95

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

$

1,326

 

$

6,974

 

$

28,227

 

$

(6,019

)

Basic Net Income (Loss) Per Share

$

.03

 

$

.17

 

$

.67

 

$

(.15

)

Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share

$

.03

 

$

.17

 

$

.66

 

$

(.15

)

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

1


Table of Contents

 

ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

ASSETS

 

March 31,

 

June 30,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash, including cash equivalents of $244,877 at March 31, 2009
and $468,361 at June 30, 2008

$

260,176

 

$

484,492

 

Short-term investments

 

79,667

 

 

14,989

 

Accounts receivable (net)

 

61,609

 

 

53,525

 

Inventories

 

66,274

 

 

31,337

 

Assets held for sale

 

1,358

 

 

1,539

 

Other

 

6,258

 

 

4,130

 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

 

475,342

 

 

590,012

 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buildings and improvements

 

84,321

 

 

58,913

 

Machinery and other equipment

 

340,210

 

 

253,424

 

Assets under capitalized leases

 

26,518

 

 

26,822

 

 

 

451,049

 

 

339,159

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(81,897

)

 

(60,877

)

NET DEPRECIABLE ASSETS

 

369,152

 

 

278,282

 

Land

 

1,526

 

 

1,157

 

Construction in progress

 

223,159

 

 

124,680

 

TOTAL PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 

593,837

 

 

404,119

 

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

 

34,079

 

 

32,277

 

OTHER ASSETS

 

14,281

 

 

15,559

 

TOTAL ASSETS

$

1,117,539

 

$

1,041,967

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

2

 


Table of Contents

 

ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

March 31,

 

June 30,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$

87,586

 

$

39,017

 

Salaries, wages and amounts withheld from employees

 

2,554

 

 

3,160

 

Amounts due under incentive plans

 

 

 

6,747

 

Restructuring reserve

 

410

 

 

831

 

Deferred revenues

 

27

 

 

309

 

Other liabilities

 

2,506

 

 

2,039

 

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

93,083

 

 

52,103

 

CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES

 

316,250

 

 

316,250

 

LONG-TERM RESTRUCTURING RESERVE

 

361

 

 

414

 

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

 

31,468

 

 

31,288

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

441,162

 

 

400,055

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE H)

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized – 100,000,000 shares at March 31, 2009
and at June 30, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issued and outstanding – 45,754,652 shares at March 31, 2009 and
45,575,554 shares at June 30, 2008

 

458

 

 

456

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

976,308

 

 

969,421

 

Treasury stock

 

(700

)

 

(700

)

Accumulated deficit

 

(296,938

)

 

(325,165

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(2,751

)

 

(2,100

)

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

676,377

 

 

641,912

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

$

1,117,539

 

$

1,041,967

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

3

 


Table of Contents

ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

Nine Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$

28,227

 

$

(6,019

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

23,632

 

 

15,059

 

Provision for slow moving and obsolete inventory

 

6,616

 

 

1,793

 

Stock-based compensation

 

4,885

 

 

1,506

 

Other-than-temporary impairment of investment

 

969

 

 

 

Other

 

7,567

 

 

1,206

 

Changes in working capital:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(13,084

)

 

(8,398

)

Inventories

 

(41,674

)

 

4,667

 

Other assets

 

(125

)

 

(1,632

)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

17,584

 

 

5,689

 

Restructuring reserve

 

(594

)

 

(1,374

)

Deferred revenues

 

(282

)

 

(17

)

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

33,721

 

 

12,480

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment (including
construction in progress)

 

(193,508

)

 

(88,768

)

Purchases of investments

 

(68,357

)

 

(67,909

)

Proceeds from sales of investments

 

2,700

 

 

115,038

 

Proceeds from maturities of investments

 

 

 

22,591

 

Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

392

 

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

(259,165

)

 

(18,656

)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal payments for assets under capitalized lease obligations

 

(787

)

 

(878

)

Proceeds from sale of stock and exercise of stock options, net of expenses

 

1,966

 

 

7,039

 

NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

1,179

 

 

6,161

 

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

(51

)

 

(65

)

NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

(224,316

)

 

(80

)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

 

484,492

 

 

80,770

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

$

260,176

 

$

80,690

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

4


Table of Contents

 

ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Nine Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncash transactions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital lease obligations to finance capital equipment

$

 —

 

$

362

 

Accounts payable to finance capital expenditures

$

23,135

 

$

  —

 

Auction rate securities rights

$

3,964

 

$

  —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

5

 


Table of Contents

 

ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except for share and per share data)

Note A – The Company and Summary of Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements for the interim periods have been included. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) rules and regulations. The Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. It is highly recommended that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s latest annual report on Form 10-K, which is available on the Company’s website www.ovonic.com.

Financial Statement Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (“ECD”) and its 100%-owned subsidiaries United Solar Ovonic LLC and United Solar Ovonic Corporation (collectively referred to as “United Solar”) and its 91.4%-owned subsidiary Ovonic Battery Company, Inc. (“Ovonic Battery” or “OBC”) (collectively the “Company”). No minority interest related to Ovonic Battery is recorded in the consolidated financial statements because there is no additional funding requirement by the minority stockholders.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note A, “The Company and Summary of Accounting Policies,” of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended June 30, 2008 as reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The only change to our significant accounting policies since June 30, 2008 has been the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115”, SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” and FSP FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8, “Disclosures by Public Entities (Enterprises) about Transfers of Financial Assets and Interest in Variable Interest Entities.”

6

 


Table of Contents

 

ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note A – The Company and Summary of Accounting Policies (Continued)

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported therein. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may be based upon amounts that differ from those estimates.

Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share

The basic net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. The Company uses the treasury stock method to calculate diluted earnings per share. Potential dilution exists from stock options, warrants and convertible senior notes. The weighted average number of shares outstanding and basic and diluted net income (loss) per share for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 are computed as follows:

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Nine Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

Weighted average number of shares
outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  For basic net income (loss) per share

 

42,303,307

 

 

40,317,300

 

 

42,265,769

 

 

40,099,639

 

  Dilutive effect of stock warrants

 

 

 

55,582

 

 

173,668

 

 

 

  Dilutive effect of stock options

 

89,078

 

 

346,464

 

 

381,086

 

 

 

  For diluted net income (loss) per share

 

42,392,385

 

 

40,719,346

 

 

42,820,523

 

 

40,099,639

 

Net income (loss) from operations before
income taxes

$

1,875

 

$

7,011

 

$

29,049

 

$

(5,924)

 

Income taxes

 

549

 

 

37

 

 

822

 

 

95

 

Net income (loss)

$

1,326

 

$

6,974

 

$

28,227

 

$

(6,019

)

For 2009, the weighted average shares for both basic and diluted earnings per share do not include 3,444,975 shares issued in June 2008 pursuant to the share lending agreement executed in conjunction with the issuance of the convertible senior notes.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note A – The Company and Summary of Accounting Policies (Continued)

Securities of 404,650 and 112,558 for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2009, respectively, were excluded from the earnings per share calculations as these securities would have been antidilutive regardless of the Company’s net income or loss. The convertible senior notes also would have been antidilutive regardless of the Company’s net income or loss.

Due to the Company’s net losses in 2008, the weighted average shares of potential dilutive securities of 529,806 for the nine months ended March 31, 2008 were excluded from the calculations of diluted loss per share, as inclusion of these securities would have been antidilutive to the net loss per share. Additionally, securities of 93,295 and 48,709 for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2008, respectively, were excluded from the 2008 calculations, as these securities would have been antidilutive regardless of the Company’s net income or loss.

Change in Accounting for Warranty Liability

During the quarter ended December 31, 2008, the Company updated its methodology for calculating its warranty liability. The updated methodology estimates warranty liability using a percentage based on historical claims and expected future claims. The effect of this change was to reduce net income for the nine months ended March 31, 2009 by $592 and earnings per share by $.01.

Recent Pronouncements

On December 4, 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – An Amendment of ARB No. 51.” SFAS No. 160 establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. Specifically, this statement requires the recognition of a noncontrolling interest (minority interest) as equity in the consolidated financial statements and separate from the parent’s equity. The amount of net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest will be included in consolidated net income on the face of the income statement. SFAS No. 160 clarifies that changes in a parent’s ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in deconsolidation are equity transactions if the parent retains its controlling financial interest. In addition, this statement requires that a parent recognize a gain or loss in net income when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. Such gain or loss will be measured using the fair value of the noncontrolling equity investment on the deconsolidation date. SFAS No. 160 also includes expanded disclosure requirements regarding the interests of the parent and its noncontrolling interest. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier adoption is prohibited. The Company believes this standard will not have an impact on its financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note A – The Company and Summary of Accounting Policies (Continued)

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations,” which is a revision of SFAS 141. SFAS No. 141R changes the accounting for acquisitions. SFAS No. 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The impact of this standard will be determined if and when an acquisition occurs.

SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133, (SFAS No. 133)” was issued in March 2008. The standard requires enhanced disclosures about how and why a company uses derivative instruments, how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133 and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect a company’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 161 during the third quarter of the current fiscal year. The adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles,” was issued in May 2008. The standard defines the order in which various sources of generally accepted accounting principles should be followed. It is effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s amendments to AU 411, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.” The Company believes this standard will not have a significant impact on its financial statements.

In May 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) APB 14-1, “Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion.” The FSP applies to convertible debt instruments that give the issuer the choice of settling the instrument on conversion either (a) entirely in cash or other assets or (b) partially in shares and partially in cash or other assets. The FSP requires issuers to account separately for the liability and equity components of convertible debt instruments that have stated terms permitting settlement on conversion in cash or other assets, with one exception. That accounting does not apply if the embedded conversion option must be accounted for separately as a derivative under SFAS No. 133. Convertible preferred shares accounted for in equity or temporary equity are not subject to the FSP. The FSP is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is not permitted. When effective, FSP APB 14-1 will be applied retrospectively to all periods presented in the financial statements. The cumulative effect of the accounting change on periods before those presented will be recognized as of the beginning of the first period presented, with an offsetting adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings for that period, which would be presented separately. Assuming a market rate of 9.7% at issuance on our Convertible Senior Notes, the implementation of FSP APB 14-1 would result in a reduction of our Convertible Senior Notes of approximately $70,881, an increase in additional paid-in capital of approximately $80,717 and an increase in interest expense of approximately $3,060 and $9,420 for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2009.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note A – The Company and Summary of Accounting Policies (Continued)

In December 2007, the FASB approved Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue 07-1, “Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements,” which defines a collaborative arrangement as a contractual arrangement in which the parties are active participants in the arrangement and are exposed to significant risks and rewards that are dependent on the ultimate commercial success of the endeavor. Whether an arrangement is a collaborative arrangement would be determined at the inception of the arrangement and would be reconsidered when facts and circumstances indicate a change in either a participant’s role in the arrangement or its exposure to significant risks and rewards. Participants in a collaborative arrangement would be required to make certain disclosures in their annual financial statements about the nature and purpose of the arrangement and amounts reported in the income statement. The Company believes this standard will not have a significant impact on its financial statements.

In June 2008, the FASB approved EITF Issue 07-5, “Determining Whether an Instrument (or an Embedded Feature) is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock.” EITF 07-5 provides guidance for determining whether an instrument is indexed to an entity’s own stock and thus meets the scope exception for derivative accounting under FAS 133. The determination is a two step process which requires the evaluation of the instrument’s contingent exercise provisions and the instrument’s settlement provisions. If the instrument does not contain any contingent exercise provisions and the settlement amount is equal to the difference between the fair value of a fixed number of shares and a fixed monetary amount, then the instrument is not considered indexed to the entity’s stock. EITF 07-5 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company believes this standard will not have a significant impact on its financial statements.

EITF 08-6, “Equity Investment Accounting Considerations” was approved by the FASB in November 2008. EITF 08-6 clarifies the accounting for certain transactions and impairment considerations involving equity method investments. EITF 08-6 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, with early adoption prohibited. The Company believes this standard will not have a significant impact on its financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP No. 107-1 and APB 28-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments”, to require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies. An entity is also required to disclose the methods and assumptions used in estimating fair value. FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1 is effective for annual and interim periods ending after June 15, 2009. The Company believes this standard will not have a significant impact on its financial statements.

FSP FAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly”, was approved by the FASB in April 2009 and provides guidance on determining the fair value of a financial instrument when the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability have significantly decreased. If it is determined that the activity for an asset or liability has

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note A – The Company and Summary of Accounting Policies (Continued)

significantly decreased, the quoted market price may not be fair value and the entity must perform additional analysis to determine fair value. This analysis may include the use of valuation techniques other than quoted market prices. If it is determined that a transaction for an asset or liability was not orderly, an entity should place little weight on that transaction when determining fair value. FSP FAS 157-4 is effective for annual and interim periods ending after June 15, 2009. The Company believes this standard will not have a significant impact on its financial statements.

FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments”, modifies the accounting for other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities. If the fair value of a debt security is below its amortized cost and the entity intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the entity will sell the security before recovery of the costs basis, an other-than-temporary impairment exists. The entire impairment is recognized in earnings. If it is more likely than not that the entity will not sell the security before recovery of the costs basis but it is probable the entity will be unable to collect all amounts due under the contractual terms of the security, an other-than-temporary impairment exists. The amount of the impairment related to credit losses is recognized in earnings with the amount of the impairment due to other factors recognized in other comprehensive income. FSP FAS 115- and FAS 124-2 is effective for annual and interim periods ending after June 15, 2009. The Company believes this standard will not have a significant impact on its financial statements.

 

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note B – Investments

Short-Term Investments

Short-term investments consist of corporate bonds and certificates of deposit which mature 91 days or more from the date of acquisition. The following schedule summarizes the unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s short-term investments:

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Gross Unrealized

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

 

Gains

 

(Losses)

 

March 31, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate Bonds

 

$

26,442

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

(1,118

)

 

 

$

25,324

 

U.S. Government Securities

 

 

54,366

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(23

)

 

 

 

54,343

 

 

 

$

80,808

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

(1,141

)

 

 

$

79,667

 

June 30, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate Bonds

 

$

15,156

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

(167

)

 

 

$

14,989

 

 

At March 31, 2009, the Company held a corporate bond issued by Lehman Brothers with a cost of $1,101 and an estimated fair value of $132. Because of the bankruptcy proceedings of Lehman Brothers and the decline in the market for their bonds, the Company has recorded this decline in fair value as an other-than-temporary impairment.

The following schedule summarizes the contractual maturities of the Company’s short-term investments:

 

March 31, 2009

 

June 30, 2008

 

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Market
Value

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Market
Value

 

Due in less than one year

$

80,808

 

$

79,667

 

$

3,401

 

$

3,396

 

Due after one year through five years

 

 

 

 

 

11,755

 

 

11,593

 

 

$

80,808

 

$

79,667

 

$

15,156

 

$

14,989

 

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note B – Investments (Continued)

Long-Term Investments

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Gross Unrealized

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

 

Gains

 

(Losses)

 

March 31, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auction Rate Certificates

 

$

34,300

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

(4,185

)

 

 

$

30,115

 

Auction Rate Securities Rights

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,964

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,964

 

 

 

$

34,300

 

 

 

$

3,964

 

 

 

$

(4,185

)

 

 

$

34,079

 

June 30, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auction Rate Certificates

 

$

34,300

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

(2,023

)

 

 

$

32,277

 

Auction Rate Certificates and Auction Rate Securities Rights

Auction Rate Certificates (ARCs) represent securities with fixed maturity dates the interest rates of which reset monthly. Our ARCs are Student Loan Asset-Backed Securities guaranteed by the Federal Family Education Loan Program. The payments of principal and interest on these student loans are guaranteed by the state or not-for-profit-guaranty agency and the U.S. Department of Education. At the time of our initial investment and through the date of this filing, all of our ARCs are rated as AAA.

The default interest rate on the ARCs, which applies in the absence of an active market for the ARCs, is the lesser of (1) the trailing twelve-month average of the 91 day U.S. Treasury bill rate plus 120 basis points, or (2) the trailing twelve-month average interest rate of the ARC. The weighted average interest rate on the ARCs was 2.56% at March 31, 2009.

The ARCs mature at various dates between December 2033 and December 2045. The ARCs bear interest at rates determined every 28 or 35 days through an auction process, in which the applicable rate is set at the lowest rate submitted in the auction, or, in the absence of an active market for the ARCs, the default rate discussed above. Interest rates on the ARCs are capped between 12% and 18%.

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note B – Investments (Continued)

At March 31, 2009, the Company has valued these securities using a pricing model which is not a market model, but which does reflect some discount due to the current lack of liquidity of the investments as a result of recently failed auctions (see Note K – Fair Value Measurements for a description of the model). This valuation results in a loss of $4,185 as of March 31, 2009.

In October 2008, the Company agreed to an offer from UBS AG (UBS) to sell at par value, at anytime from June 30, 2010 through July 2, 2012, the ARCs purchased from UBS (which represents all of our ARCs). These Auction Rate Securities Rights (ARSR), which are akin to a freestanding put option, are non-transferable and are not traded on any exchange. We have valued the ARSR using a present value model (see Note K – Fair Value Measurements for a description of the model). Using this model, we have determined the fair value of the ARSR to be $3,964 at March 31, 2009.

The ARSR also grants UBS the right to purchase the Company’s ARCs at par value at anytime without notice. As a result, we have reclassified the ARCs as “trading securities” in accordance with SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.” During the quarter ended December 31, 2008, the previously unrealized loss of $5,551 related to the ARCs has been reclassified from other comprehensive income to “other nonoperating (expense) income (net)” in the statement of operations due to the reclassification of the ARCs as trading securities.

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note C – Inventories

Inventories of raw materials, work in process and finished goods for the manufacture of solar cells and nickel hydroxide are valued at the lower of cost (first in, first out) or market. Cost elements included in inventory are materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead.

Inventories (substantially all for United Solar) are as follows:

 

March 31,

 

June 30,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

Finished products

$

27,369

 

$

3,893

 

Work in process

 

23,013

 

 

15,414

 

Raw materials

 

15,892

 

 

12,030

 

 

$

66,274

 

$

31,337

 

The above amounts include an allowance for obsolescence of $11,405 and $4,789 as of March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2008, respectively.

Note D – Variable Interest Entities

The Company has three investments in variable interest entities (i) Cobasys LLC, a joint venture between Ovonic Battery and a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, Chevron Technology Ventures LLC, (“CTV”), each having 50% interest in the joint venture; (ii) Ovonyx, Inc., a 39.3%-owned (or 31.3% on a fully diluted basis after giving effect for exercise of stock options and warrants) corporation with Mr. Tyler Lowrey, Intel Capital, and other investors; and (iii) United Solar Ovonic Jinneng Limited, a joint venture with Tianjin Investment Co. (“TJIC”) in which we have a 25% ownership interest.

Cobasys designs, develops, manufactures and sells advanced nickel metal hydride (“NiMH”) battery system solutions for transportation markets, including hybrid electric vehicles (“HEVs”), in addition to stationary back-up power supply systems for uninterruptible power supply, telecommunication and distributed generation requirements. Cobasys was formed in 2001 and we have been a member in the joint venture since its formation. We contributed technology and intellectual property for our ownership interest in Cobasys.

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note D – Variable Interest Entities (Continued)

Ovonyx is commercializing our Ovonic Universal Memory (“OUM”) technology through licensing and product development arrangements. OUM is a basic, new type of nonvolatile memory that can replace conventional nonvolatile or FLASH memory in applications requiring retention of stored data when power is turned off. As part of this joint venture arrangement, we have licensed all OUM technology to Ovonyx on an exclusive, worldwide basis and contributed intellectual property, licenses, production processes and know-how. In addition to our equity interest in Ovonyx, we receive 0.5% of Ovonyx’ annual gross revenue as a royalty. We have been a member in Ovonyx since its inception in 1999 and have made cash investments of $1,500 for our ownership interest. We do not have any involvement in the operations of Ovonyx, but two members of our management team are members of Ovonyx’ board of directors.

United Solar Ovonic Jinneng Limited is an entity organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China to manufacture solar products in China for sale in the Chinese market using solar cells purchased from, and technology licensed by, USO. At March 31, 2009, we have $984 recorded as our investment in United Solar Ovonic Jinneng Limited, which represents our initial investment in the joint venture. United Solar Ovonic Jinneng Limited was capitalized in the first quarter of our current fiscal year.

We do not consolidate any of the above entities as the Company is not the primary beneficiary of any of the above joint ventures. We do not absorb a majority of the joint ventures’ losses or receive a majority of the expected residual returns.

Our investments in Cobasys LLC and Ovonyx, Inc. have been written down to zero as our respective share of the losses of these entities exceeds our investment. With respect to Ovonyx and United Solar Jinneng Limited, our maximum exposure to losses in these variable interest entities is limited to our recorded investment. We are currently in arbitration with CTV regarding funding for Cobasys, LLC (see Note N – Litigation).

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note E – Liabilities

Warranty Liability

The following is a summary of the changes in the product warranty liability during the nine months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

 

Nine Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

Liability at beginning of the period

$

1,499

 

$

1,325

 

Amounts accrued for as warranty costs

 

2,845

 

 

344

 

Warranty claims

 

(496

)

 

(176

)

Liability at end of period

$

3,848

 

$

1,493

 

Other Long-Term Liabilities

A summary of the Company’s other long-term liabilities is as follows:

 

 

March 31,

 

June 30,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

Capital leases

$

22,719

 

$

23,508

 

Long-term retirement

 

2,171

 

 

2,316

 

Customer deposits

 

2,270

 

 

680

 

Deferred revenue

 

337

 

 

309

 

Deferred patent license fees

 

5,476

 

 

6,190

 

Other

 

882

 

 

935

 

 

 

33,855

 

 

33,938

 

Less amounts included in current liabilities

 

2,387

 

 

2,650

 

Total Other Long-Term Liabilities

$

31,468

 

$

31,288

 

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note F – Derivative Financial Instruments

Our primary exposure to foreign currency risk is forecasted transactions denominated in yen. The Company periodically enters into forward contracts to mitigate the risks associated with changes in exchange rates between the dollar and the yen. Our sole exposure to foreign currency changes is for commitments to purchase equipment from a supplier located in Japan. We use forward contracts exclusively to hedge forecasted transactions. We do not use forward contracts for speculative purposes.

At March 31, 2009, we had one forward contract with a fair value of ($60) recorded in other current liabilities. We recognize the effective portion of the changes in fair value of forward contracts as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). At March 31, 2009, the ineffective portion recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) was ($59). The ineffective portion is recorded in earnings as a component of “other nonoperating income (expense)”. For the three and nine months ended March 31, 2009, we had recorded losses of $431 and $526, respectively. This contract was settled on April 30, 2009.

Note G – Convertible Senior Notes

In June 2008, the Company completed an offering of $316,250 of 3.00% convertible senior notes. Proceeds to the Company were $306,762, net of debt issuance costs of $9,488. An additional $1,258 of debt issuance costs were also incurred and paid directly by the Company. All debt issuance costs are being amortized over the life of the convertible senior notes using the interest method. Amortization expense for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2009 was $508 and $1,610. Unamortized debt issuance costs were $9,120 at March 31, 2009.

Note H – Commitments and Contingencies

The Company enters into purchase commitments for capital equipment. As of March 31, 2009, the Company had purchase commitments of approximately $105,678 related to its previously announced goal of expanding United Solar’s manufacturing capacity.

The Company presently intends to fund this additional expansion through existing funds and cash from operations.

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note I – Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has common stock reserved for issuance as follows:

 

Number of Shares

 

March 31, 2009

 

June 30, 2008

Stock options

 

1,508,304

 

 

 

1,692,968

 

Warrants

 

400,000

 

 

 

400,000

 

Convertible Investment Certificates

 

5,210

 

 

 

5,210

 

Total reserved shares

 

1,913,514

 

 

 

2,098,178

 

The Company records the fair value of stock-based compensation grants as an expense. In order to determine the fair value of stock options on the date of grant, the Company applies the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Inherent in this model are assumptions related to expected stock-price volatility, option life, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. While the risk-free interest rate and dividend yield are less subjective assumptions, typically based on factual data derived from public sources, the expected stock-price volatility and option life assumptions require a greater level of judgment.

The weighted average fair value of the options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 and the nine months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 is estimated based on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Nine Months Ended
March 31,

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

Dividend Yield

 

0%

 

 

 

0%

 

 

 

0%

 

 

 

0%

 

Volatility %

 

70.43%

 

 

 

60.49%

 

 

 

63.43%

 

 

 

61.65%

 

Risk-Free Interest Rate

 

1.71%

 

 

 

3.04%

 

 

 

3.09%

 

 

 

4.14%

 

Expected Life

 

7.33 years

 

 

 

6.59 years

 

 

 

6.97 years

 

 

 

6.45 years

 

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note I – Stock-Based Compensation (Continued)

Stock Options

A summary of the transactions during the nine months ended March 31, 2009 with respect to the Company’s stock options follows:

 

Shares

 

Weighted-Average
Exercise Price

 

Aggregate
Intrinsic Value(1)

Outstanding at June 30, 2008

 

964,586

 

 

 

 

$

21.24

 

 

 

 

 

$

50,541

 

 

Granted

 

63,270

 

 

 

 

$

74.68

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(127,566

)

 

 

 

$

12.96

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

(3,340

)

 

 

 

$

32.77

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

(160

)

 

 

 

$

10.40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2008

 

896,790

 

 

 

 

$

26.15

 

 

 

 

 

$

3,705

 

 

Granted

 

15,000

 

 

 

 

$

23.77

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(30,600

)

 

 

 

$

10.68

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

(2,676

)

 

 

 

$

44.39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at March 31, 2009

 

878,514

 

 

 

 

$

26.59

 

 

 

 

 

$

285

 

 

Exercisable at June 30, 2008

 

801,110

 

 

 

 

$

19.02

 

 

 

 

 

$

43,753

 

 

Exercisable at March 31, 2009

 

694,854

 

 

 

 

$

21.31

 

 

 

 

 

$

285

 

 

                                                

(1)

The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the current market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option.

The weighted average grant date fair value per option granted and the total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the three and nine months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 were as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Nine Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

Weighted average grant date fair value per
option granted

$

16.14

 

$

15.48

 

$

40.88

 

$

17.12

 

Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised

$

487

 

$

231

 

$

7,116

 

$

6,597

 

 

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note I – Stock-Based Compensation (Continued)

Restricted Stock Awards

Restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) consist of shares of common stock of ECD issued at a price of $0. Upon issuance, RSAs become outstanding and have voting rights. The shares issued to employees are subject to forfeiture and to restrictions which limit the sale or transfer during the restriction period. The fair value of the RSAs is determined on the date of grant based on the market price of ECD’s common stock and is recognized as compensation expense. The value of RSAs granted to employees is amortized over their three-year vesting period, while the value of RSAs granted to nonemployee directors is amortized over a two- to nine-year vesting period. Information concerning RSAs awarded under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan during the three and nine months ended March 31, 2009 is as follows:

 

Number of Shares

 

Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Outstanding at June 30, 2008

 

89,834

 

 

 

$

31.49

 

 

Awarded

 

23,500

 

 

 

$

46.21

 

 

Released from restriction

 

(2,348

)

 

 

$

29.82

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2008

 

110,986

 

 

 

$

34.64

 

 

Awarded

 

3,000

 

 

 

$

18.38

 

 

Cancelled

 

(5,568

)

 

 

$

35.92

 

 

Released from restriction

 

(5,000

)

 

 

$

21.93

 

 

Outstanding at March 31, 2009

 

103,418

 

 

 

$

34.72

 

 

 

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note I – Stock-Based Compensation (Continued)

Restricted Stock Units

RSUs settle on a one-for-one basis in shares of ECD common stock and vest in accordance with the terms of the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan or the Executive Severance Plan, as applicable. The fair value of the RSUs is determined on the date of grant based on the market price of ECD’s common stock and is recognized as compensation expense. Information concerning RSUs awarded during the three and nine months ended March 31, 2009 is as follows:

 

Number of Shares

 

Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Outstanding at June 30, 2008

 

2,500

 

 

 

 

$

73.64

 

Awarded

 

183,721

 

 

 

 

$

56.92

 

Forfeited

 

(1,720

)

 

 

 

$

62.34

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2008

 

184,501

 

 

 

 

$

57.10

 

Awarded

 

19,104

 

 

 

 

$

23.01

 

Outstanding at March 31, 2009

 

203,605

 

 

 

 

$

53.90

 

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note J – Restructuring Charges

In fiscal 2007, management decided to consolidate the photovoltaic and machine-building activities into United Solar and reduce costs in both the Ovonic Materials segment and Corporate Activities. The charges were primarily for severance and costs associated with the closing of facilities. In March 2009, the Company announced plans to consolidate certain production capabilities into one plant, which will result in annual cost savings. Charges for this consolidation will be for severance and relocation of equipment.

The following summarizes activity in the Company’s restructuring reserve through March 31, 2009.

 

Employee-
Related Expenses

 

Other Expenses

 

Total

Balance June 30, 2008

 

$

1,086

 

 

 

$

159

 

 

 

 

$

1,245

 

 

Charges

 

 

377

 

 

 

 

197

 

 

 

 

 

574

 

 

Utilization or payment

 

 

(692

)

 

 

 

(356

)

 

 

 

 

(1,048

)

 

March 31, 2009

 

$

771

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

$

771

 

 

We plan on incurring additional restructuring costs of $3,000 to $4,000 for the remainder of fiscal 2009 under the plan announced in March 2009.

Note K – Fair Value Measurements

Effective July 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which establishes a framework for fair value and expands disclosures about financial instruments measured at fair value. Financial instruments held by the Company include investments classified as held for sale, derivatives, convertible debt and money market funds.

SFAS No. 157 requires the use of valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Observable inputs consist of market data obtained from independent sources while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s own market assumptions. These inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:

 

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

 

Level 2 – Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities or all other inputs that are observable

 

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data which require the Company to develop its own assumptions

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note K – Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

If the inputs used to measure the fair value of a financial instrument fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the financial instrument is categorized based upon the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.         

Whenever possible, we use quoted market prices to determine fair value. In the absence of quoted market prices, we use independent sources and data to determine fair value. At March 31, 2009, the fair value of corporate bonds, money market funds, senior convertible notes and foreign currency hedges was determined using quoted prices in active markets. The fair value of assets held for sale was determined using independent appraisers.

As described in Note B, our investments in auction rate certificates (ARCs) are not valued using a market model due to the recent absence of auctions. Each ARC was valued using a discounted cash flow analysis because there is presently no active market for the ARCs from which to determine value. The valuation analyses utilized discount rates based on the reported rates for comparable securities (i.e., similar student loan portfolios and holding periods) in active markets, plus a factor for the present market illiquidity associated with the ARCs. The reported rate for a comparable security was the sum of (1) the base rate that is used in the reporting of that security, in this case three month LIBOR, and (2) the interest rate spread above the base rate, as reported from the active markets for that security. The illiquidity factor was established based on the credit quality of the ARC determined by the percentage of the underlying loans guaranteed by the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). The resulting discount rates used in the valuation analyses ranged from 3.3% to 6.8% based on the ARC.

Since they are non-transferable and not traded on any exchange, the Company has elected to measure the Auction Rate Securities Rights (ARSR) using the fair value option permitted by SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Liabilities.” The ARSR represents a guarantee of the par value of the ARCs, and we have valued the ARSR using a present value model as permitted by SFAS No. 157. In valuing the ARSR, we calculated the present value of the difference between the par value of the ARCs and the current fair value of the ARCs. The present value model utilized a discount rate of 4.33%, which is a combination of the credit default swap rate risk of UBS (2.75%) and the rate on a U.S. Treasury interest rate swap (1.19%). The sum of those rates was increased by an additional 10% to account for any potential liquidity risk should UBS not be able to fulfill its obligation under the ARSR agreement. The ARSR are included in “Long-Term Investments” in the consolidated balance sheet (see Note B – Investments).

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note K – Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

At March 31, 2009, information regarding our assets and liabilities measured at fair value is as follows:

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

Auction rate certificates

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

30,115

 

$

30,115

 

Auction rate securities rights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,964

 

 

3,964

 

Assets held for sale

 

 

 

$

1,358

 

 

 

 

 

1,358

 

Corporate bonds

$

25,324

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,324

 

U.S. Government securities

 

54,343

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

54,343

 

Money market funds

 

244,877

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

244,877

 

Senior convertible notes

 

176,784

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

176,784

 

Foreign currency hedges

 

60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

60

 

The following table presents the changes in Level 3 assets for the nine months ended March 31, 2009:

 

Auction Rate
Certificates

 

Auction Rate
Securities Rights

Balance at July 1, 2008

 

$

32,277

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

Gains (losses) included in investment loss

 

 

(2,162

)

 

 

 

 

3,964

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2009

 

$

30,115

 

 

 

 

$

3,964

 

 

 

Note L – Business Segments

Effective April 1, 2007, we organized our business into two operating business segments, United Solar and Ovonic Materials. In addition to these two operating segments, there are certain Corporate Activities, including our investments in two of our joint ventures, Cobasys LLC and Ovonyx, Inc., which are not allocated to the above segments.

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note L – Business Segments (Continued)

 

United Solar
Ovonic

 

Ovonic
Materials

 

Corporate
Activities

 

Consolidating
Entries

 

Consolidated

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2009

 

$

63,006

 

 

 

$

2,948

 

 

 

$

52

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

66,006

 

March 31, 2008

 

 

66,736

 

 

 

 

3,178

 

 

 

 

253

 

 

 

 

(185

)

 

 

 

69,982

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2009

 

$

254,461

 

 

 

$

10,258

 

 

 

$

160

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

264,879

 

March 31, 2008

 

 

160,343

 

 

 

 

12,840

 

 

 

 

797

 

 

 

 

(507

)

 

 

 

173,473

 

Income (Loss) from Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2009

 

$

8,504

 

 

 

$

948

 

 

 

$

(5,531

)

 

 

$

62

 

 

 

$

3,983

 

March 31, 2008

 

 

13,735

 

 

 

 

940

 

 

 

 

(9,175

)

 

 

 

72

 

 

 

 

5,572

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2009

 

$

51,551

 

 

 

$

2,427

 

 

 

$

(20,642

)

 

 

$

182

 

 

 

$

33,518

 

March 31, 2008

 

 

15,352

 

 

 

 

639

 

 

 

 

(27,983

)

 

 

 

154

 

 

 

 

(11,838

)

Sales to two customers represented approximately 40% of product sales in the United Solar segment for the three months ended March 31, 2009. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, sales to two customers accounted for approximately 40% of United Solar’s product sales. Two customers accounted for approximately 25% of United Solar’s product sales for the nine months ended March 31, 2009. Sales to two customers represented approximately 35% of sales for the nine months ended March 31, 2008.

Note M – Income Taxes

In the first quarter of fiscal 2008, the Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), “Accounting for Uncertainty for Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.” FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement methodology for recording within the financial statements uncertain tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, in tax returns. It also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods and disclosure related to uncertain tax positions. As of March 31, 2009, the Company has no unrecognized tax benefits as defined in FIN 48.

The Company files U.S. federal, state and foreign income tax returns. Due to its net operating loss carryforwards, federal income tax returns from fiscal 1994 forward are still subject to examination. In addition, open tax years related to various state and foreign jurisdictions remain subject to examination.

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note M – Income Taxes (Continued)

Tax expense relates to U.S. operations and our subsidiaries located in Mexico and Germany. Due to the availability of net operating losses in the U.S., no income tax expense is recorded for U.S. operations, except for alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) and state income taxes. The AMT is creditable against future regular taxable income and the related deferred tax benefit for this asset is fully reserved for and included in our valuation allowance.

As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2009, a full valuation allowance has been recorded against our net deferred tax assets of $117,000 (consisting primarily of U.S. net operating loss carryforwards which expire in various amounts between the current year and 2028, and basis differences in intangible assets). Based upon our operating results for the preceding years, we determined that it was more likely than not that the deferred tax assets would not be realized.

In assessing whether or not the deferred tax assets are realizable in accordance with SFAS No. 109, the Company considers both positive and negative evidence using a more likely than not standard when measuring the need for a valuation allowance. In making such judgments, significant weight is given to evidence that can be objectively verified, including the ability to demonstrate recent cumulative profitability over the past several years. Future realization of the deferred tax asset is dependent on generating sufficient taxable income prior to the expected reversal of the deferred tax assets, including loss carryforwards. In addition, the expiration dates of tax attribute carryforwards need to be evaluated.

Although a full valuation allowance is recorded against our deferred tax assets, the amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable could be significantly increased in the near term if the Company continues to generate positive pretax income. The Company will forecast its ability to generate sufficient positive pre-tax income based on the most objective information available, including our sales backlog, in order to assess whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realizable in the future.

Note N – Litigation

Cobasys. On September 10, 2007, CTV issued a notice of dispute and filed claims in arbitration against the Company and OBC relating to Cobasys. CTV’s original arbitration claim asserted damages in the amount of $162,000 and sought injunctive and other relief and alleged that the Company and OBC breached and anticipatorily repudiated obligations to provide certain funding to Cobasys under the Operating Agreement. CTV subsequently filed a supplemental notice of dispute amending its claims to assert that the Company and OBC had dishonored CTV’s preferred interest in Cobasys and that OBC had breached its obligation to use diligent efforts to approve a 2008 annual budget for Cobasys. At a hearing on January 28-29, 2008, CTV requested that the arbitrator declare that the Company and OBC be obligated to fund our share of Cobasys’ necessary costs and expenses through capital contributions favored by CTV but opposed by OBC. The Company and OBC requested that the arbitrator declare that under

 

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note N – Litigation (Continued)

the Operating Agreement neither Cobasys member is required to make any capital contribution absent a unanimously approved annual budget and an agreement by the members that a capital contribution must be made.

The Company and OBC dispute and have been vigorously defending the claims asserted by CTV and have pursued counterclaims against CTV. In our view, the Operating Agreement is clear that the Company and OBC have no present obligation to provide funding to Cobasys; OBC is not in default of the Operating Agreement; any future funding obligation would arise only upon unanimous approval by Cobasys’ members, OBC and CTV, of (i) an annual budget and operating plan for Cobasys, and (ii) agreed capital contributions by the members; and CTV has no right unilaterally to provide funding or to authorize spending by Cobasys without an approved annual budget and operating plan, or otherwise then as approved by OBC. In our view, the Operating Agreement is also clear that the Company and OBC have not dishonored CTV’s preferred interests; OBC has an unqualified right to refuse to sell its interests in Cobasys on terms that it does not consider appropriate; and OBC may determine in its discretion whether to approve any sale of Cobasys or sale of CTV’s interests in Cobasys.

The members of Cobasys have not approved an annual business plan and budget for 2008 or 2009, and CTV and OBC have not been able to agree on a solution to Cobasys’ business issues or whether Cobasys should continue as a going concern if it cannot be sold in the near future. Cobasys had losses of approximately $74,000 and obtained funding of approximately $84,000 in 2007, and in January 2008 Cobasys management forecast losses of approximately $82,000-$86,000 and funding requirements of approximately $92,000-$94,000 for 2008. Cobasys management has not provided CTV and OBC with a forecast for 2009. Until September 2007, CTV historically funded Cobasys’ loss-generating operations through the purchase of preferred interests. From October 2007 through January 2008, CTV declined to purchase preferred interests and funded Cobasys in a manner that in OBC’s view violated the Operating Agreement and applicable Michigan law. Since February 15, 2008 the arbitration has been suspended pursuant to an interim settlement agreement among the Company, OBC and CTV in order to pursue the potential sale of Cobasys to its largest customer, General Motors Corporation (GM). Also since February 2008, Cobasys received funding support from GM in the form of a loan for capital equipment purchases and a price increase on products sold to GM. While Cobasys has been receiving this funding support, Cobasys management has not sought any funding from the members of Cobasys. Sale negotiations have been ongoing during which the parties to the arbitration have repeatedly amended the interim settlement agreement to extend the deadline for timely consummation of the sale.

On July 30, 2008 Mercedes Benz US International, Inc. (MBUSI) filed suit against Cobasys, CTV and OBC in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (Western Division) alleging that Cobasys had an agreement to produce batteries for a luxury hybrid SUV being developed by MBUSI, that the members made misrepresentations and interfered with that agreement, and seeking unspecified damages and preliminary injunctions (i) to prevent the sale of Cobasys’ assets or rights or the discontinuance of Cobasys’ operations as

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ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note N – Litigation (Continued)

a going concern, and (ii) to enforce Cobasys’ alleged obligation to supply batteries at the alleged agreed purchase price. MBUSI dismissed the claims against the members without prejudice after CTV and OBC provided assurance that the proposed transaction with GM was not an asset sale, but rather a sale of the Cobasys membership interests that would permit Cobasys to continue as a going concern. MBUSI persisted in claims against Cobasys while seeking a supply agreement with GM in anticipation of the closing. The members facilitated negotiations between GM and MBUSI including by (i) commencing a mediation with Cobasys, MBUSI and GM, and (ii) entering into a confidential Settlement Agreement term sheet that would result in dismissal of MBUSI’s claims provided that GM and MBUSI could reach agreement on satisfactory terms for Cobasys to supply an agreed quantity of batteries to MBUSI following GM’s purchase of Cobasys. On February 20, 2009 GM informed the court and the parties that it was reconsidering whether to purchase Cobasys. A hearing on MBUSI’s motion for a preliminary injunction occurred on February 24-25, 2009. On March 31, 2009 the court denied MBUSI’s motion for a preliminary injunction. On April 29, 2009 MBUSI amended its complaint to refile the claims that it had previously asserted against the members. OBC believes that MBUSI’s claims against OBC are without merit and OBC is preparing a vigorous defense.

On March 24, 2009 GM informed the members that, given GM’s current situation, it will not be proceeding with the purchase of Cobasys. GM also has reduced its funding support to Cobasys. GM, Cobasys and the members are in discussions regarding a possible agreement pursuant to which (i) GM would agree to purchase a limited number of batteries and related components to be supplied by Cobasys and extend the maturity of the capital equipment loan, and (ii) the parties would execute mutual releases of all Cobasys related claims, except claims that might arise under the agreement. Negotiations are continuing, but there is no assurance that an agreement will be reached. The members have approved Cobasys’ retention of bankruptcy counsel and a restructuring advisor to advise on bankruptcy-related alternatives. Meanwhile, the members are in active discussions with multiple other potential buyers, while also considering alternative, non-bankruptcy solutions.

The Interim Settlement Agreement expressly contemplates that the parties will devote their efforts to complete the GM sale transaction. However, since GM informed the members that it will not be proceeding with the purchase of Cobasys, the parties have amended the Interim Settlement Agreement three times for the purpose of extending the suspension of the arbitration. The current amendment expires on May 15, 2009. As a result of these developments, CTV, OBC and the Company are in discussions regarding an Amended and Restated Settlement Agreement that would provide for the parties to jointly dismiss the arbitration with prejudice and execute mutual releases upon either the completion of a Cobasys sale or a Cobasys bankruptcy proceeding.

 

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Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

This section summarizes significant factors affecting the Company’s consolidated operating results, financial condition and liquidity for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2009. This section should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this report and the Company’s filed Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2008. All amounts are in thousands.

Overview

We design, manufacture and sell photovoltaic (“PV”) products, known as PV or solar laminates that generate clean, renewable energy by converting sunlight into electricity. Solar laminate sales represent more than 95% of our revenues. We also receive fees and royalties from licensees of our nickel metal hydride (“NiMH”) battery technology and sell high performance nickel hydroxide used in NiMH batteries.

The following key factors should be considered when reviewing our results for the periods discussed:

 

Our consolidated financial results are driven primarily by the performance of our United Solar segment. Our United Solar segment accounted for approximately 95% and 96% of our total revenue in the three and nine months ended March 31, 2009. Our United Solar segment generated operating income of $8,504 and $51,551 for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2009, respectively. Given the expected growth of this segment (as discussed below) relative to our other business activities, our overall success in the foreseeable future will be aligned primarily with the performance of our United Solar segment and subject to the risks of that business.

 

Global economic, capital markets and credit disruptions have significantly impacted current market conditions in the solar market and created uncertainty, but we believe that growth opportunities will resume beginning in calendar year 2010. We believe that there remains strong interest in alternative energy in general and solar in particular, but existing global financial constraints are impacting the funding of solar projects that otherwise have strong strategic rationale and/or financial returns. These macroeconomic conditions are adversely impacting our customers, including some customers with take-or-pay agreements, and as a result our revenues. We are working with our customers to preserve relationships and maximize long term value by, among other things, reallocating product shipments to other customers and pursuing other remedies, as appropriate on a case by case basis. We also continue to be encouraged by the opportunities for large scale restructuring of the energy infrastructure to increase emphasis on renewable energy, such as our solar laminates. Recent government support in this direction includes renewable energy spending and incentive programs included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the solar investment tax credit

 

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initiatives enacted as part of the U.S. Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, including an 8-year extension of the 30%, uncapped investment tax credit for commercial and residential solar installations, and permitting utilities to benefit from these tax credits. Pending energy legislation would also adopt a national renewable portfolio standard. We believe that these programs will begin gaining substantial traction in the second half of calendar year 2009, and will provide meaningful stimulus for US growth beginning in calendar year 2010.

 

Consistent with our demand driven expansion strategy, we are pausing our manufacturing capacity expansion in our United Solar segment to respond to existing uncertainties in the market. We presently have 178MW of nameplate capacity and recently announced that we are taking actions to delay further manufacturing capacity expansion until market demand and visibility improves. We have delayed expansion at our Greenville facility and planned Battle Creek facility, which will reduce our capital expenditures and allow us to preserve and, in strategic situations, redeploy our capital in other areas. When market conditions and visibility improves, we believe that we can quickly re-initiate our manufacturing capacity expansion, as a result of the operational improvements we have made with respect to the construction and ramp of new facilities. We do not presently believe that we will expand to 300MW of nameplate capacity by 2010 and have not concluded regarding our previously-announced plan to expand to 1GW by 2012.

 

We are adjusting our production plans in our United Solar segment and reducing costs to respond to near-term market conditions and improve our overall competitiveness. During the third quarter, we implemented actions, including a temporary production hiatus that reduced third quarter production and a consolidation of certain production operations from our Auburn Hills 1 facility into our newer Auburn Hills 2 facility that will reduce the combined production capacity from these facilities until the project is completed in Fall 2009. This consolidation, which will lower overall costs and improve manufacturing efficiencies, is part of an overall program to reduce costs. Other activities focus on improvement in our operations to generate higher throughput and yield, reductions in administrative costs, and raw material cost reductions. We have incurred restructuring expenses as a result of certain of these activities and may incur additional restructuring expenses as we pursue further cost reduction activities in the future. At the same time, we intend to continue to invest strategically in our business, for example to bolster our sales and marketing functions and to add technical competencies related to application engineering and structured finance. We expect that these activities will improve our competitiveness and margins, both in the near-and long-term.

 

We are enhancing our revenues in our United Solar segment through a demand driven expansion strategy, which includes focusing on customers and markets where our solar laminates have a competitive advantage, particularly the rooftop market. As indicated above, there have been disruptions in the solar markets caused by global macro economic conditions. At the same time, competition within the solar market is increasing primarily as a result of declines in the pricing of polysilicon, a key raw material in traditional, rigid PV modules. We believe that polysilicon prices will continue to decline. We are continuing to concentrate on the rooftop market, particularly the building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) market,

 

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which we believe represents the most attractive opportunity for our solar laminates. The physical flexibility, durability and lightweight nature of our solar laminates makes them an attractive value proposition for the BIPV market, particularly commercial rooftop applications, where our solar laminates can be integrated with roofing materials and other building products. Our strategy is to increase our sales in the rooftop market, which includes developing new channels for rooftop applications, such as the utilities channel, and designing new rooftop applications, such as residential applications. We are also developing new applications that leverage the unique characteristics of our laminates, such as landfill covers.

 

We are commercializing our NiMH battery and Ovonic Unified Memory (OUM) technologies principally through unconsolidated joint ventures, and we account for our interests in these joint ventures under the accounting model based on the equity method of accounting. Our principal joint ventures – Cobasys and Ovonyx – were founded to further develop and commercialize technologies we pioneered. In each case, we participate in the business as equity holders but do not directly manage or have a controlling interest in the entity. We have not reported any earnings or losses from Cobasys because our share of Cobasys’ cumulative losses exceeds our investment. We do record royalties from Ovonyx representing 0.5% of their total revenues.

 

The members of Cobasys are continuing to explore strategic alternatives regarding Cobasys, including a potential sale or bankruptcy restructuring. In 2007, the members of Cobasys agreed to explore strategic alternatives regarding Cobasys. At the same time, as previously reported, certain disputes relating to Cobasys are the subject of pending arbitration, and Cobasys and its members have not agreed on an annual budget and/or business plan for 2008 or 2009. From February 2008 through March 2009 the parties operated under an interim settlement agreement providing for a suspension of the arbitration and a requirement of the parties to use their commercially reasonable best efforts to negotiate definitive agreements for the sale of Cobasys based on a non-binding proposal received from its largest customer, GM. Recently GM informed the members that it will not proceed with the purchase of Cobasys. GM, Cobasys and the members are in discussions regarding an agreement to wind down the GM customer relationship. There is no assurance that an agreement will be reached. The members have approved Cobasys’ retention of bankruptcy counsel and a restructuring advisor to advise on bankruptcy-related alternatives. Meanwhile, the members are in active discussions with multiple other potential buyers, while also considering alternative, non-bankruptcy solutions. As a result of these developments, CTV, OBC and the Company are in discussions regarding an Amended and Restated Settlement Agreement that would provide for the parties to jointly dismiss the arbitration with prejudice and execute mutual releases upon either the completion of a Cobasys sale or a Cobasys bankruptcy proceeding. These activities are ongoing, but the ultimate outcome remains uncertain. If a solution is not found, without an agreed budget and business plan and resolution of pending disputes subject to the arbitration between us and OBC and CTV, Cobasys may not be able to continue as a going concern. See Part II, Item 1 – Legal Proceedings and Item 1A – Risk Factors.

 

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We are operating our Ovonic Materials segment at sustainable levels and are continuing to realize value from our technology portfolio. We have developed proprietary technologies in our Ovonic Materials segment that we believe have substantial value, including technologies for NiMH batteries, solid hydrogen storage, metal hydride fuel cells, and biofuel reformation. The development activities for these technologies have been substantially balanced with external sources of revenues, such as royalties and development agreements (principally government contracts), to align our development commercialization efforts at sustainable levels. We are continually evaluating commercialization opportunities and strategic alternatives to maximize value for these technologies, which may include licenses, joint ventures and sales.

Key Indicators of Financial Condition and Operating Performance. In evaluating our business, we use product sales, gross profit, net income, earnings per share, operating income, cash flow from operations and other key performance metrics. We also use production, measured in megawatts (“MW”) per annum, and gross margins on product sales as key performance metrics for our United Solar segment, particularly in connection with the manufacturing expansion in this segment.

In March 2009, we began implementing an organizational restructuring to consolidate certain production operations from our Auburn Hills 1 facility into our newer Auburn Hills 2 facility that will reduce the combined production capacity from these facilities until the project is completed in Fall 2009. This consolidation, which will lower overall costs and improve manufacturing efficiencies, is part of an overall program to reduce costs. We have incurred total restructuring costs of $139 through March 31, 2009 as a result of certain of these activities and may incur additional restructuring expenses as we pursue further cost reduction activities in the future. We are continuing to evaluate our facilities infrastructure requirements based on our consolidated and realigned business activities to identify additional cost savings opportunities and may undertake additional restructuring activities, and record additional restructuring charges, as a result.

 

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Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2008

The following table summarizes each of our business segment’s operating results (in thousands) for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, together with the revenue and expenses related to Corporate Activities that are not allocated to the business segments during these periods:

 

Revenues

 

Income (Loss) from Operations

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

2009

 

2008

United Solar Ovonic

 

$

63,006

 

 

 

$

66,736

 

 

 

$

8,504

 

 

 

$

13,735

 

Ovonic Materials

 

 

2,948

 

 

 

 

3,178

 

 

 

 

948

 

 

 

 

940

 

Corporate Activities

 

 

52

 

 

 

 

253

 

 

 

 

(5,531

)

 

 

 

(9,175

)

Consolidating entries

 

 

 

 

 

 

(185

)

 

 

 

62

 

 

 

 

72

 

Consolidated

 

$

66,006

 

 

 

$

69,982

 

 

 

$

3,983

 

 

 

$

5,572

 

United Solar Ovonic Segment

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

(in thousands)

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product sales

$

59,654

 

$

64,941

 

Revenues from product development agreements

 

3,352

 

 

1,795

 

TOTAL REVENUES

$

63,006

 

$

66,736

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sales

$

42,246

 

$

45,021

 

Cost of revenues from product development agreements

 

1,992

 

 

1,254

 

Product development and research

 

1,592

 

 

689

 

Preproduction costs

 

1,325

 

 

751

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

6,531

 

 

5,286

 

Loss on disposal of assets

 

677

 

 

 

Restructuring charges

 

139

 

 

 

TOTAL EXPENSES

$

54,502

 

$

53,001

 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

$

8,504

 

$

13,735

 

 

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Our United Solar Ovonic segment’s revenues decreased $3,730 and operating income decreased $5,231 in 2009 as compared to 2008. United Solar Ovonic produced 33.3 and 21.6 megawatts (MWs) of solar laminates during the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

The decrease in revenues in 2009 was attributable to decreased sales volumes ($3,349) and unfavorable product and price mix ($1,938) offset in part by increased revenues from product development agreements ($1,557).

Cost of product sales decreased $2,775, of which approximately $3,763 was a direct result of favorable operating efficiencies and $1,071 from the reversal of amounts accrued under the annual incentive plan. The decreases in cost of product sales were partially offset by $2,059 of unallocated overhead caused by the production hiatus.

The majority of our combined product development and research expenses are funded by government programs under contracts from the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Energy’s Solar America Initiative. We continue to invest in product development and research to improve the throughput of our PV cell manufacturing equipment, reduce the cost of production and increase the sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiency of our PV laminates.

We will incur preproduction costs (consisting of new employee training, facilities preparation, set-up materials and supplies) with each new manufacturing facility until we commence production and the majority of the employee training is complete. These costs are expected to be substantial as we continue to expand our manufacturing capacity from the current 178MW per annum.

Our selling, general and administrative expenses increased due to increased support services ($2,161) and an increase to the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable ($1,501). Those increases were offset in part by the reversal of amounts accrued under the annual incentive plan ($1,552). We expect selling, general and administrative expenses to increase as we continue to enhance our demand-creation activities and develop the strategic infrastructure to achieve and support those activities.

 

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Ovonic Materials Segment

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

(in thousands)

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product sales

$

537

 

$

425

 

Royalties

 

1,477

 

 

1,537

 

Revenues from product development agreements

 

615

 

 

896

 

Other revenues

 

319

 

 

320

 

TOTAL REVENUES

$

2,948

 

$

3,178

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sales

$

509

 

$

356

 

Cost of revenues from product development
agreements

 

459

 

 

609

 

Product development and research

 

833

 

 

964

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

199

 

 

309

 

TOTAL EXPENSES

$

2,000

 

$

2,238

 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

$

948

 

$

940

 

Product sales for our Ovonic Materials segment represent sales of our high performance nickel hydroxide materials. Although sales volumes increased from 2008 to 2009, product sales did not increase at a comparable rate. The sales price is largely dependent upon the cost of the raw materials used to produce it. The price of nickel, a major component of our nickel hydroxide, was 64% lower during the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.

Combined product development and research expenses decreased substantially to $1,292 in 2009 from $1,573 in 2008, reflecting the savings associated with the restructuring plan initiated in late fiscal 2007 and reduced unfunded product development.

 

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Corporate Activities

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

(in thousands)

 

TOTAL REVENUES

$

52

 

$

253

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

$

5,583

 

$

7,042

 

Restructuring costs

 

 

 

2,386

 

TOTAL EXPENSES

$

5,583

 

$

9,428

 

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

$

(5,531

)

$

(9,175

)

Revenues in the Corporate Activities segment consist primarily of facilities and miscellaneous administrative and laboratory services provided to certain affiliates.

In fiscal 2007, we began implementing an organizational restructuring to consolidate and realign our business activities and reduce costs, principally in the Ovonic Materials segment and in Corporate Activities. The initial phase of this plan was substantially completed during fiscal 2007, and we incurred restructuring costs in fiscal 2008 in connection with this phase. As a result, restructuring charges significantly decreased ($2,386) during the three months ended March 31, 2009. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased as a result of the reversal of amounts accrued under the annual incentive plan ($964).

Other Income/Expense

We had other expense of $2,108 in 2009, as compared to other income of $1,439 in 2008, principally due to interest incurred on our convertible senior notes ($2,372) and decreased interest income due to lower prevailing interest rates.

 

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Nine Months ended March 31, 2009 Compared to Nine Months ended March 31, 2008

The following table summarizes each of our segment’s operating results (in thousands) for the nine months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, together with the revenue and expenses related to Corporate Activities that are not allocated to the business segments during these periods:

 

Revenues

 

Income (Loss) from Operations

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

2009

 

2008

United Solar Ovonic

 

$

254,461

 

 

 

$

160,343

 

 

 

$

51,551

 

 

 

$

15,352

 

Ovonic Materials

 

 

10,258

 

 

 

 

12,840

 

 

 

 

2,427

 

 

 

 

639

 

Corporate Activities

 

 

160

 

 

 

 

797

 

 

 

 

(20,642

)

 

 

 

(27,983

)

Consolidating entries

 

 

 

 

 

 

(507

)

 

 

 

182

 

 

 

 

154

 

Consolidated

 

$

264,879

 

 

 

$

173,473

 

 

 

$

33,518

 

 

 

$

(11,838

)

United Solar Ovonic Segment

 

Nine Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

(in thousands)

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product sales

$

246,419

 

$

154,538

 

Revenues from product development agreements

 

8,042

 

 

5,805

 

TOTAL REVENUES

$

254,461

 

$

160,343

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sales

$

164,911

 

$

117,846

 

Cost of revenues from product development
agreements

 

5,434

 

 

3,591

 

Product development and research

 

3,714

 

 

2,723

 

Preproduction costs

 

5,133

 

 

5,574

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

22,655

 

 

15,257

 

Loss on disposal of assets

 

924

 

 

 

Restructuring charges

 

139

 

 

 

TOTAL EXPENSES

$

202,910

 

$

144,991

 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

$

51,551

 

$

15,352

 

Our United Solar Ovonic segment’s revenues increased $94,118 and operating income increased $36,199 in 2009 as compared to 2008, as we continued to rapidly expand our manufacturing capacity and product sales.

 

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The increase in revenues in 2009 was primarily attributable to a significant volume increase in PV product sales ($92,659), offset by unfavorable product and price mix ($778). United Solar Ovonic produced 98.1 and 47.4 MWs of solar laminates during the nine months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Cost of product sales increased $47,065, of which approximately $55,252 was a direct result of the increased sales volume and $2,059 was the result of unallocated overhead caused by the production hiatus. These increases were partially offset by $6,128 of favorable operating efficiencies. The effect of operating efficiencies resulted in an improvement of gross profit margins on product sales from 23.7% in 2008 to 33.1% in 2009.

The majority of our combined product development and research expenses are funded by government programs under contracts from the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Energy’s Solar America Initiative. We continue to invest in product development and research to improve the throughput of our PV cell manufacturing equipment, reduce the cost of production and increase the sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiency of our PV laminates.

Preproduction costs (consisting of new employee training, facilities preparation, set-up materials and supplies) decreased as we neared completion on the expansions at our Greenville and Tijuana, Mexico facilities. We will incur preproduction costs with each new manufacturing facility until we commence production and the majority of the employee training is complete. These costs are expected to be substantial as we continue to expand our manufacturing capacity from the current 178MW per annum.

Consistent with our sales growth, our selling, general and administrative expenses increased due to increased support services ($4,251), sales and marketing ($2,135) and an increase in the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable ($2,361). We expect selling, general and administrative expenses to increase as we continue to enhance our demand-creation activities and develop the strategic infrastructure to achieve and support those activities.

 

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Ovonic Materials Segment

 

 

Nine Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

(in thousands)

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product sales

$

2,559

 

$

4,872

 

Royalties

 

4,365

 

 

4,044

 

Revenues from product development agreements

 

2,274

 

 

2,684

 

Other revenues

 

1,060

 

 

1,240

 

TOTAL REVENUES

$

10,258

 

$

12,840

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sales

$

2,555

 

$

4,519

 

Cost of revenues from product development
agreements

 

1,540

 

 

1,801

 

Product development and research

 

2,854

 

 

4,975

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

882

 

 

906

 

TOTAL EXPENSES

$

7,831

 

$

12,201

 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

$

2,427

 

$

639

 

Our Ovonic Materials results improved due principally to increased royalties and the restructuring plan implemented in late fiscal 2007 that substantially reduced our product development expenses.

Product sales for our Ovonic Materials segment (representing sales of our high performance nickel hydroxide materials) decreased primarily as a result of decreased sales ($2,300) to our largest customer. The sales price is largely dependent upon the cost of the raw materials used to produce it. The price of nickel, a major component of our nickel hydroxide, was 54% lower during the nine months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.

Combined product development and research expenses decreased substantially to $4,394 in 2009 from $6,776 in 2008, reflecting primarily the savings associated with the restructuring plan initiated in late fiscal 2007.

 

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Corporate Activities

 

Nine Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

(in thousands)

 

TOTAL REVENUES

$

160

 

$

797

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

$

20,205

 

$

21,323

 

Loss on disposal of assets

 

162

 

 

 

Restructuring costs

 

435

 

 

7,457

 

TOTAL EXPENSES

$

20,802

 

$

28,780

 

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

$

(20,642

)

$

(27,983

)

Revenues in the Corporate Activities segment consist primarily of facilities and miscellaneous administrative and laboratory services provided to certain affiliates.

In fiscal 2007, we began implementing an organizational restructuring to consolidate and realign our business activities and reduce costs, principally in the Ovonic Materials segment and in Corporate Activities. The initial phase of this plan was substantially completed during fiscal 2007, and we incurred restructuring costs in fiscal 2008 in connection with this phase. As a result, restructuring charges decreased significantly ($7,022) during the nine months ended March 31, 2009.

Other Income/Expense

We had other expense of $4,469 in 2009, as compared to other income of $5,914 in 2008, due to interest incurred on our convertible senior notes ($7,116) and an increase in other nonoperating expense primarily due to the other-than-temporary impairment ($969) of Lehman Brothers bonds we hold.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary liquidity needs are to fund capital expenditures associated with expansion of our United Solar segment’s manufacturing capacity and support our working capital requirements. Our principal sources of liquidity are cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments (which principally represent the proceeds from our June 2008 offering of convertible senior notes and common stock), cash flow from operations, and borrowing available under our credit facility. We believe that cash, cash equivalents, investments, cash flows from operations and borrowing under our credit facility will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs for current operations and expansion for the foreseeable future.

 

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As of March 31, 2009, we had $373,922 in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term and long-term investments consisting of Floating Rate Corporate Notes (“FRNs”), auction rate certificates (“ARCs”), auction rate securities rights (“ARSR”), corporate notes, U.S. Government securities and money market funds. The FRNs, the corporate notes and the U.S. Government securities are classified as “available-for-sale.” The Company has $30,115 in ARCs classified as “trading securities” at March 31, 2009. Presently, there is an absence of auctions for ARCs. As a result, these investments are not currently liquid. We do not anticipate the need to access these funds in the short-term. The investments have maturities up to 12 months, except for the ARCs which have maturities from 26 to 38 years. At March 31, 2009, we had consolidated working capital of $382,259.

An adverse ruling in the pending Cobasys arbitration could adversely affect our liquidity position, while a successful completion of a strategic transaction involving Cobasys could favorably affect our liquidity position. See Part II, Item 1 – Legal Proceedings and Note N - Litigation.

Cash Flows

Net cash provided by our operating activities was $33,721 in 2009 compared to $12,480 in 2008. The significant improvement in our operating results, most importantly our United Solar segment, is the key factor in our increase in operating cash flows. We anticipate that operating cash flows in our United Solar segment will be impacted by changes in working capital resulting from our increasing accounts receivable, inventory and accounts payable balances as we continue to expand our manufacturing and sales activities.

Net cash used in investing activities was $259,165 in 2009 as compared to $18,656 in the corresponding period in 2008. This increase was due to reduced sales and maturities of investments in 2008 ($2,700 in 2009 compared to $137,629 in 2008) and an increase in capital spending ($193,508 in 2009 compared to $88,768 in 2008), principally associated with the expansion of our United Solar segment’s manufacturing capacity. We will continue to invest in the expansion of our facilities as we continue to rapidly expand our manufacturing capacity from the current 178MW.

For details of our cash flows, see the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Short-term Borrowings

On February 4, 2008, our subsidiaries United Solar Ovonic LLC and United Solar Ovonic Corporation entered into Secured Credit Facility Agreements consisting of a $30 million revolving line of credit to finance domestic activities and a separate $25 million revolving line of credit provided under the United States Export-Import Bank’s fast track working capital guarantee program to finance foreign activities. Availability of financing under the lines of credit is determined by reference to a borrowing base comprised of domestic inventory and receivables and foreign inventory and receivables, respectively. At March 31, 2009, there were not any outstanding borrowings on the line of credit. The facilities also contain an aggregate

 

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$10 million sub-limit for standby letters of credit and there were approximately $1,728 of standby letters of credit outstanding at March 31, 2009.

Convertible Senior Notes

On June 24, 2008, we completed our offering of $316,250 of Convertible Senior Notes. The notes bear interest at a rate of 3.00% per year, payable on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 2008. The notes mature on June 15, 2013. Holders of the notes may, under certain circumstances at their option, convert the principal amount of their notes into cash and, with respect to any amounts in excess of the principal amount, shares of our common stock initially at a conversion rate of 10.8932 shares (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $91.80 per share) per $1,000 principal amount of notes. The notes are also convertible on this basis at any time on or after March 15, 2013 and prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date. The applicable conversion rate will be subject to adjustments in certain circumstances. The notes are senior unsecured obligations of ECD and rank equal in right of payment with any future senior unsecured debt of ECD, and senior in right of payment to all of ECD’s existing and future debt, if any, that is subordinated to the notes.

Joint Ventures

Through September 2007, CTV funded Cobasys’ operations in exchange for a preferred interest in Cobasys for which it is entitled to a priority right of repayment in certain situations. From October 2007 through January 2008, CTV declined to purchase preferred interests and funded Cobasys in a manner that in OBC’s view violated the Operating Agreement and applicable Michigan law. Since February 2008, Cobasys has received funding support from a customer in the form of a loan for capital equipment purchases and a price increase on products sold to the customer, during which time Cobasys management has not sought any funding from the members of Cobasys. Further, Cobasys and its members have not agreed on a 2008 budget and/or business plan for 2008 or 2009. In 2007, CTV and OBC agreed to explore strategic alternatives regarding Cobasys, which resulted in us, OBC and CTV commencing negotiations for the sale of Cobasys with a potential buyer in early 2008. These negotiations have been ongoing, but we cannot assure that the proposed sale will be completed by the current deadline under our interim settlement agreement or on terms favorable to us and OBC, or if it will be completed at all. If the proposed sale is not completed, without an agreed budget and business plan and resolution of pending disputes subject to the arbitration between us and OBC and CTV, Cobasys may not be able to continue as a going concern. See Part II, Item 1 – Legal Proceedings and Item 1A – Risk Factors.

Contractual Obligations

The Company announced expansion plans to expand its manufacturing capacity from 118MW of nameplate capacity at June 30, 2008. As of March 31, 2009, the Company had purchase commitments of approximately $105,678 for the previously announced expansion and for our planned Battle Creek facility. The Company presently intends to fund this additional expansion through existing funds and cash from operations.

 

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Significant Accounting Policies

Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note A, “The Company and Summary of Accounting Policies,” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended June 30, 2008 as reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Since June 30, 2008 we have adopted SFAS No. 157, SFAS No. 159, SFAS No. 161 and FSP FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8. Certain of our accounting policies require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates and assumptions are based on our historical experience, the terms of existing contracts, our evaluation of trends in the industry, information provided by our customers and suppliers and information available from other outside sources, as appropriate. However, they are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. As a result, actual results in these areas may differ significantly from our estimates.

We consider an accounting estimate to be significant if it requires us to make assumptions about matters that were uncertain at the time the estimate was made and changes in the estimate would have had a significant impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Income Taxes

As of the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, a full valuation allowance has been recorded against our net deferred tax assets of $117,000 (consisting primarily of U.S. net operating loss carryforwards which expire in various amounts between the current year and 2028, and basis differences in intangible assets). Based upon our operating results for the preceding years, we determined that it was more likely than not that the deferred tax assets would not be realized.

In assessing whether or not the deferred tax assets are realizable in accordance with SFAS No. 109, the Company considers both positive and negative evidence using a more likely than not standard when measuring the need for a valuation allowance. In making such judgments, significant weight is given to evidence that can be objectively verified, including the ability to demonstrate recent cumulative profitability over the past several years. Future realization of the deferred tax asset is dependent on generating sufficient taxable income prior to the expected reversal of the deferred tax assets, including loss carryforwards. In addition, the expiration dates of tax attribute carryforwards need to be evaluated.

Although a full valuation allowance is recorded against our deferred tax assets, the amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable could be significantly increased in the near term if the Company continues to generate positive pretax income. The Company will forecast its ability to generate sufficient positive pre-tax income based on the most objective information available, including our sales backlog, in order to assess whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realizable in the future.

 

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For recently issued accounting pronouncements and their potential effect on our financial statements, refer to “Recent Pronouncements” in Note A of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future sales or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans or intentions relating to acquisitions, business trends and other information that is not historical information. When used in this prospectus, the words “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “foresees,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “goal,” “target” and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us on the date of this report.

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, among other things, the matters discussed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, and in other filings with the SEC from time to time. Any or all of these factors could cause our actual results and financial or legal status for future periods to differ materially from those expressed or referred to in any forward-looking statement. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

There may be other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results referred to in the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

 

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Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

The following discussion about our exposure to market risk of financial instruments contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those described.

Interest Rate Risk

Our holdings of financial instruments are comprised of debt securities. All such instruments are classified as securities available-for-sale. We do not invest in portfolio equity securities, or commodities, or use financial derivatives for trading purposes. Our debt security portfolio represents funds held temporarily, pending use in our business and operations. The Company had $324,544 and $483,350 of these investments on March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2008, respectively. It is the Company’s policy that investments (including cash equivalents) shall be rated “A” or higher by Moody’s or Standard and Poor’s, no single investment (excluding cash equivalents) shall represent more than 10% of the portfolio and at least 10% of the total portfolio shall have maturities of 90 days or less. Our market risk primarily relates to the risks of changes in the credit quality of issuers. An interest rate increase or decrease of 1% would decrease or increase the value of our portfolio by approximately $432 and $268, respectively.

The Company invests in auction rate certificates (ARCs). Our ARCs are Student Loan Asset-Backed Securities guaranteed by the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). The payments of principal and interest on these student loans are guaranteed by the state or not-for-profit-guaranty agency and the U.S. Department of Education. At the time of our initial investment and through the date of this filing, all of our ARCs are rated as AAA. The ARCs mature at various dates between December 2033 and December 2045. The ARCs bear interest at rates determined every 28 or 35 days through an auction process.

Presently, there is an absence of auctions for ARCs. As a result, these investments are not currently liquid. We do not anticipate the need to access these funds in the short-term. These funds will not be accessible until a successful auction occurs, the issuer redeems the ARC, a buyer is found outside the auction process or the securities mature. In October 2008, the Company agreed to an offer from UBS AG (UBS) to sell at par value, at anytime from June 30, 2010 through July 2, 2012, the ARCs purchased from UBS.

Our investments in ARCs are not valued using a market model due to the recent absence of auctions. The valuation analyses utilized discount rates based on the reported rates for comparable securities (i.e., similar student loan portfolios and holding periods) in active markets, plus a factor for the present market illiquidity associated with the ARCs. The reported rate for a comparable security was the sum of (1) the base rate that is used in the reporting of that security, in this case three month LIBOR, and (2) the interest rate spread above the base rate, as reported from the active markets for that security. The illiquidity factor was established based on the credit quality of the ARC determined by the percentage of the underlying loans guaranteed by FFELP. The resulting discount rates used in the valuation analyses ranged from 3.3% to 6.8% based on the ARC. At March 31, 2009, we held $30,115 of ARCs and have classified them as long term investments.

 

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Our convertible senior notes are subject to interest rate and market price risk due to the convertible feature of the notes. Since the notes are convertible to common stock, as the fair market value of our common stock increases, so will the fair market value of the notes. Conversely, as the fair market value of our common stock decreases, the fair market value of the notes will decrease as well. As interest rates rise, the fair market value of the notes will decrease and as interest rates fall, the fair market value of the notes will increase. At March 31, 2009, the estimated fair market value of our Convertible Senior Notes was approximately $176,784. An increase in market interest rates of 1% would decrease the fair value of our Convertible Senior Notes by approximately $4,428. A decrease of 1% would increase the fair value by approximately $3,384.

Foreign Exchange Risk

A significant portion of the equipment acquisitions necessary for our planned expansion are denominated in yen. We have entered into contracts for equipment purchases that are denominated in yen. In order to mitigate the risk associated with these transactions, we have entered in currency forward contracts to buy or sell yen at future dates. As of March 31, 2009, we have forward contracts to purchase approximately 295.8 million yen. At March 31, 2009, an increase or a decrease in exchange rates of 1% would increase or decrease our capital equipment purchases by approximately $30. We are unable to predict the future exchange rates between the dollar and the yen and, therefore, we cannot estimate the impact on our future operating results.

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

Please see Note N to the accompanying unaudited financial statements for a summary of material pending litigation.

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

 

The continuing global economic, capital markets and credit disruptions pose risks for our business segments.

The risks include slower economic activity and investment in new construction projects that make use of our products. These factors, particularly decreased credit availability, have reduced demand for solar products, including our solar laminates. While credit availability is not presently a limiting factor for our planned manufacturing operations and expansion, the current volatile credit markets have diminished credit availability for some of our customers.

Also, we conduct our business in U.S. dollars which may impact our foreign customers and suppliers as a result of changes in the currency exchange rates. These factors may adversely impact our existing or future take-or-pay agreements and require that we reallocate product shipments to other customers or pursue other remedies.

We face intense competition from other companies producing solar energy and other renewable energy products.

The solar energy market is intensely competitive and rapidly evolving. The number of solar energy product manufacturers is rapidly increasing due to the growth of actual and forecast demand for solar energy products and the relatively low barriers to entry. If we fail to attract and retain customers in our target markets for our current and future core products, namely solar laminates, we will be unable to increase our revenue and market share. Some of our competitors have established more prominent market positions, and if we fail to attract and retain customers and establish successful distribution networks in our target markets for our products, we will be unable to increase our sales. Our competitors include Sharp Corporation, Q-Cells AG, Evergreen Solar, Inc., Kyocera Corporation, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., SunPower Corp., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., all of which currently manufacture predominantly crystalline or polycrystalline silicon solar modules, and First Solar, Inc., which currently manufactures thin film, cadmium telluride solar energy laminates on glass substrates. In addition, the price of polysilicon, a key raw material for polycrystalline silicon solar modules, has decreased substantially over the last several months thereby enhancing the competitiveness of these modules as compared to other solutions, including our solar laminates.

We may also face competition from new entrants to the solar energy market, including those that offer more advanced technological solutions or that have greater financial resources. A significant number of our competitors are developing or currently producing products based on more advanced solar energy technologies, including amorphous silicon, string ribbon and

 

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nano technologies, which may eventually offer cost advantages over the technologies currently used by us. A widespread adoption of any of these technologies could result in a rapid decline in our position in the solar energy market and our revenue if we fail to adopt such technologies. Furthermore, the entire solar energy industry also faces competition from conventional energy and non-solar renewable energy providers. Due to the relatively high manufacturing costs compared to most other energy sources, solar energy is generally not competitive without government incentive programs.

Many of our existing and potential competitors have substantially greater financial, technical, manufacturing and other resources than we do. Our competitors’ greater size in some cases provides them with a competitive advantage with respect to manufacturing costs because of their economies of scale and their ability to purchase raw materials at lower prices. As a result, those competitors may have stronger bargaining power with their suppliers and may have an advantage over us in negotiating favorable pricing, as well as securing supplies in times of shortages. Many of our competitors also have greater brand name recognition, more established distribution networks and larger customer bases. In addition, many of our competitors have well-established relationships with our current and potential distributors and have extensive knowledge of our target markets. As a result, they may be able to devote more resources to the research, development, promotion and sale of their products or respond more quickly to evolving industry standards and changes in market conditions than we can. Our failure to adapt to changing market conditions and to compete successfully with existing or new competitors may materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Our customers increasingly need financing to purchase our products, which exposes us to additional business and credit risks.

Availability and cost of financing are significant factors that affect demand for our products. Developers and owners of solar facilities typically require project financing before initiating a solar installation. Roofing contractors and other solar integrators must obtain working capital financing to carry inventory of our products and maintain their operations. Historically most of our customers have arranged their own financing without assistance from us, but with the illiquidity of current financing markets some of our customers have sought various forms of credit support from us. From time to time we may provide credit support to certain customers through open account sales or extended payment terms. Due to our size and capital constraints, we are not able to satisfy all credit requests by our customers. These credit support transactions expose us to credit risk, including the risk of default by customers.  In addition, if we are unable to provide credit to our customers, or otherwise induce third parties to satisfy customer credit demands, we could lose sales and be unable to sustain our future business plan.

 

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Our Cobasys affiliate faces uncertain prospects and is a defendant in pending litigation with an affiliate of Daimler and the subject of a pending arbitration with an affiliate of Chevron the outcome of which is uncertain but may expose us to material liability if not settled or resolved favorably.

Cobasys, our joint venture formed to commercialize our NiMH battery technology, has generated losses since its formation. Cobasys had losses of approximately $74 million and obtained funding of approximately $84 million in 2007, and in January 2008 Cobasys management forecast losses of approximately $82-86 million and funding requirements of approximately $92-94 million for 2008. Cobasys management has not provided the members of Cobasys – OBC and CTV – with a current forecast for 2009. Nor have the members approved a 2008 or 2009 business plan and budget or been able to agree on a solution to Cobasys’ business issues or whether Cobasys should continue as a going concern if it cannot be sold in the near future. From February 2008 through March 2009 Cobasys received funding support from GM, its largest customer and potential purchaser, in the form of a loan for capital equipment purchases and a price increase on products sold to GM. In March 2009 GM informed CTV and OBC that it would not purchase Cobasys and GM began to curtail its funding support.

Cobasys is also a defendant in pending litigation initiated by MBUSI alleging that Cobasys is in breach of an agreement to produce batteries for MBUSI. MBUSI also claims that the members made misrepresentations and interfered with that alleged agreement. There is no assurance that Cobasys or the members will prevail in defending against the claims asserted by MBUSI or settling on satisfactory terms. If Cobasys does not prevail or settle on satisfactory terms it may not be able to continue as a going concern and the members’ efforts to sell Cobasys may be frustrated. If OBC does not prevail or settle on satisfactory terms it may be subject to material liability.

The members have approved Cobasys’ retention of bankruptcy counsel and a restructuring advisor to advise on bankruptcy-related alternatives. Meanwhile, the members are in active discussions with multiple other potential buyers, while also considering alternative, non-bankruptcy solutions. There is no assurance that Cobasys’ existing customer funding support will continue, what the future funding requirements may be or that the support, if provided, will otherwise be sufficient to permit Cobasys to continue as a going concern.

On September 10, 2007, CTV issued a notice of dispute and filed claims in arbitration against us and OBC relating to Cobasys. CTV’s original arbitration claim asserted damages in the amount of $162 million and sought injunctive and other relief and alleged that we and OBC breached and anticipatorily repudiated obligations to provide certain funding to Cobasys under the Operating Agreement. CTV subsequently filed a supplemental notice of dispute amending its claims to assert that we and OBC had dishonored CTV’s preferred interest in Cobasys and that OBC had breached its obligation to use diligent efforts to approve a 2008 annual budget for Cobasys. Until September 2007, CTV historically funded Cobasys’ loss-generating operations through the purchase of preferred interests cumulating in excess of $168 million. From October 2007 through January 2008, CTV declined to purchase preferred interests and funded Cobasys in a manner that in our view violated the Cobasys Operating Agreement and applicable Michigan law. Since February 15, 2008 the arbitration has been suspended pursuant to an interim settlement agreement among us, OBC and CTV in order to pursue the potential sale of Cobasys to GM.  Since GM informed the members that it will not be proceeding with the purchase of Cobasys, the parties have amended the Interim Settlement Agreement three times

 

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for the purpose of extending the suspension of the arbitration. The parties are in discussions regarding an Amended and Restated Settlement Agreement that would provide for the parties to jointly dismiss the arbitration with prejudice and execute mutual releases upon either the completion of a Cobasys sale or a Cobasys bankruptcy proceeding. There is no assurance that Cobasys will be sold or that a bankruptcy proceeding will be commenced and concluded or that the arbitration will be dismissed with prejudice. If a sale or bankruptcy proceeding is not timely completed and the arbitration is resumed, we cannot assure you that we and OBC would prevail or otherwise avoid material liability.

 

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Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

None

Item 6.

Exhibits

 

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

 

ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC.

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

Date: May 11, 2009

By:

/s/ Harry W. Zike

 

 

Harry W. Zike
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

Date: May 11, 2009

By:

/s/ Mark D. Morelli

 

 

Mark D. Morelli
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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